WALHALLA — Two down and one to go.

For anyone keeping score, Seneca and Walhalla have approved an intergovernmental sewer agreement, and Westminster is expected to join the fold early next week.

Signing the agreement is important because it puts the Oconee County Sewer Commission one step closer to fully converting into the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority (OJRSA).

Seneca Administrator Greg Dietterick said Friday the only change being made to the agreement is eliminating any references to Oconee County. That simple change would protect future sewer projects from being challenged under a 2006 South Carolina Supreme Court ruling.

In that opinion, the high court affirmed the position of Mountain Rest resident Susie Cornelius, who maintained that under a 1976 referendum Oconee could not use taxpayers’ money to expand sewer.

OJRSA was formed last year to get Oconee out of the sewer business. Now, the county could contract with OJRSA to construct sewer systems. The first contract between the two is expected to bring sewer at the proposed Golden Corner Commerce Park in Fair Play, which would help spark development along the Interstate 85 corridor in Oconee .

Seneca and Walhalla officials approved the Sewer Water Action Group (SWAG) agreement Tuesday during their respective city council meetings.

Westminster Administrator David Smith said city officials are awaiting the return of their attorney from vacation before taking any action on the agreement. Smith said a special meeting would be called early next week when City Attorney Scott Sprouse returns from vacation.

Dietterick said any changes to the SWAG agreement would await its expiration Dec. 31, 2018.