Dozens braved a heavy downpour of rain and blustery winds and attended a public hearing last Thursday night in Lake Tansi to discuss the proposed merger of South Cumberland Utility District and the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority.
After hearing public comments and reviewing the information, Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster signed an order Friday morning approving that merger.
It will now be forwarded to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for final consideration.
The merger will result in a 5% customer rate reduction beginning in January, and the elimination of the debt of South Cumberland Utility District. Employees will also receive a salary increase and no employees will lose their jobs.
Foster said, “This decision marks another important step forward for water service in Cumberland County. With the addition of South Cumberland Utility District, the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority will now serve more than 15,000 customers across our county. That scale matters. Larger, unified systems are better positioned to maintain infrastructure, plan for growth, pursue grant funding, and respond to emergencies. Most importantly, consolidation allows us to focus on reliable service and long term affordability for the people we serve …”
The first merger was between the Crab Orchard Utility District with the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority.
The South Cumberland Utility District merger is the second utility district to merge with CPWA. West Cumberland Utility District recently approved a merger offer with CPWA and a public hearing for that merger will be scheduled in the near future.
“It reflects a shared understanding that cooperation and partnership are essential if we want to meet today’s demands and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. Water infrastructure decisions are generational in nature. The choices we make now will shape the quality, reliability, and cost of water service not just for current customers, but for our children and grandchildren,” Foster said in a social media post.
“I appreciate the leadership of both South Cumberland Utility District and the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority for approaching this process thoughtfully and transparently. I also thank the employees who will continue serving our residents and the customers who participated in the public hearing.”
Cumberland Plateau Water Authority General Manager Jeff Dyer said the more utility districts that come together, the more assets they will have and the more talent and experience they will have with the staff.
“Merging is the future of water supply in Tennessee. What we’re doing is solidifying our future water supply and infrastructure,” Dyer said.
Dyer and the CPWA water board have been working with several other utility districts in nearby areas to discuss merging, as well.