Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wastewater Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission withdraws proposed Bedford County Water Authority, asks planning commission for clarification
Summary
Facing public concern and mixed expert input, commissioners withdrew resolution 25-14 to create a Bedford County Water Authority and asked the regional planning commission to provide clarification and a report within six months.
The Bedford County Board of Commissioners withdrew resolution 25-14, a proposed private act to create the Bedford County Water Authority, and asked the regional planning commission to provide clarification on wastewater regulation and return to the commission within six months.
The action followed extended public comment and discussion in which residents, property owners and experts debated whether an authority, a utility district or zoning changes would best regulate decentralized wastewater systems and manage increasing use of step systems.
During public comment, Reed Farmer supported creating an authority to set county standards above minimum state requirements, saying, "I would highly recommend that we have an authority that establishes a good standard that we can all live with that can be reviewed and looked at and dealt with." Farmer argued some decentralized systems installed years ago lack room or mechanisms for repair.
Other speakers opposed the authority. Steven Jordan said the proposal would vest power in an unelected quasi-governmental board with little oversight, and warned of poor outcomes: "I just feel like that this is a really bad idea" and noted the public felt the question was rushed. Another commenter questioned who would be responsible to maintain and repair step systems if they failed, asking whether the county or property owners would bear costs.
Supporters of alternatives said the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) engineer had described three regulatory paths: an authority, a utility district or zoning, and some commissioners and commenters argued zoning or a utility district would preserve more direct oversight by elected officials.
Commissioner Greg Vick, who moved to withdraw the resolution, asked the planning commission for clarification and requested a report back within six months. The motion to withdraw and request clarification was accepted and the resolution was removed from immediate consideration; no vote to adopt the authority occurred.
The commission recorded that the courthouse and property committee had earlier given the measure an unfavorable recommendation. Commissioners agreed that further study and clearer options from planning were needed before the board would consider a creation of an authority.
