MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Dozens of businesses were forced to close for several days last week because of major disruptions within the city of Milledgeville’s water system.

Although businesses have re-opened, owners and workers are still reeling from the economic impact of last week’s disruptions.

Thousands of dollars were lost as many businesses were closed the majority of the weekend — the busiest time of the week for many local businesses, especially restaurants and others that prepare and serve food.

A special town hall meeting for member businesses of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce will be held at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the conference center at Central Georgia Technical College.

“The purpose of this meeting is to address the recent water crisis, particularly the effect it had on member businesses,” according to a press release issued by the chamber on Monday.

City officials are expected to be in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, according to chamber officials. They are expected to provide an update on the water situation and to talk about future plans of action

pertaining to the city’s infrastructure.

“Information on the necessary steps to implement a contingency plan will be available to (chamber) member businesses in attendance,” according to the chamber press release.

In a separate press release, one made public Saturday, city officials expressed thanks to all city water customers for their patience during the water crisis.

The financial losses were significant to many business owners, as well as employees, some of whom were knocked out of nearly a week’s wages.

Toks Achebe, who owns and operates Bojangles on North Columbia Street, is one such businessman who has sustained some big economic losses this year because of city water woes.

He estimates that he lost $45,000 in sales due to being closed Thursday, Friday, most of the day Saturday and that night, and several hours Sunday.

Achebe, owner of the Cajun-style chicken and biscuits restaurant in Milledgeville, said his overall loss from two different incidents involving water outages this year was $65,000.

Achebe pointed out that the dollar amount includes money he will not be able to recoup. He said the same was true of his workers’ lost wages.

He admitted that he defied orders from officials with the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Baldwin County Health Department to stay closed during the entire time a boil water advisory was in place on Saturday.

So, for three hours, he opened for

business.

Achebe said he closed his business last Wednesday afternoon and remained closed Thursday and Friday, but decided to re-open on his own from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

“I just didn’t think it was fair for some of the restaurants to be opened and others were not,” Achebe said.

A health department official soon discovered that he had opened his doors and made him close again.

“A woman came around and told me to shut down, so I did,” Achebe said, noting the closure came as a result of his not having an approved

contingency plan.

He said he was planning to talk with local health department officials Monday afternoon to get a clearer understanding of how some businesses had to close, while others could remain open.

Colin Duke, environmental manager with the Baldwin County Health Department, explained that businesses with an approved contingency plan could remain open, but businesses without an emergency contingency plan have to remain closed when a boil water advisory is issued.

Achebe said he didn’t know about the contingency plan requirement.

Since a water main break burst back in April and caused more than 100 local businesses to close because a boil water advisory was issued, about 27 businesses have now adopted approved contingency plans, Duke said.

Businesses wishing additional information should call the Baldwin County Health Department at 478-445-1591.

Another business that sustained thousands of dollars in lost revenue sales was Chick-fil-A, located on North Columbia Street.

Franchise owner Curt Flournoy said he could not reveal the total loss in sales, but that it was in the thousands of dollars.

Chick-fil-A, which operates six days a week and is closed on Sundays, was also affected by the April closure of businesses due to a major water main break in the city’s water system.

Flournoy said he was interested in the health department’s contingency plan and was planning to talk about it soon with Chick-fil-A corporate officials.

“It would definitely mean using a lot of water if we decide to go that route,” Flournoy said, noting that every gallon would have to be boiled and reach a certain temperature before it could be used in the restaurant.

Like other business owners whose doors were closed for several days, he said employees were not compensated for lost time.