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Lee County holds public hearing on Lincoln Memorial University wastewater plant; board delays action pending MOU
Summary
The Lee County Board of Supervisors heard a public presentation and concerns about a proposed Lincoln Memorial University wastewater treatment plant that would initially treat 150,000 gallons per day but is permitted up to 300,000; the board declined to act pending a memorandum of understanding and further clarification from the PSA.
The Lee County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing May 20 on a special-use permit requested by Lincoln Memorial University to build a wastewater treatment plant on about 19.34 acres off Beaverbrook Road.
County and project consultants described a multi-phased design. Jeff Cochran of The Lane Group said the permit in place would allow a plant up to 300,000 gallons per day (gpd), while the current design-build would initially serve about 150,000 gpd. Cochran told the board LMU’s main campus needs roughly 75,000 gpd and the university’s veterinary school about 30,000 gpd.
Planning commission members raised capacity and county benefit concerns. Ricky Ellis, a member of the planning commission, questioned whether the plant’s capacity and future expansion would primarily serve LMU or leave adequate capacity for county needs. Cochran said the system could be expanded under the existing permit and that the project originally had a three‑phase plan that would have reached 300,000 gpd in early phases and could be upgraded over time to larger capacities.
County staff and speakers said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between LMU and the Public Service Authority (PSA) remains to be finalized and must be considered before the board takes formal action. One county speaker recommended postponing action until the PSA board can consider and potentially approve the MOU; the board agreed to take no action at the meeting.
The planning commission unanimously recommended approval at its meeting, according to the staff report presented at the hearing. Speakers at the hearing discussed technical and procedural details — including permit thresholds and whether a change from 150,000 to 300,000 gpd would require the item to return to the planning commission — and county staff said they would check that permit-process question with staff (DEQ and related agencies) and with Stacy (county staff) for clarity.
No formal vote or permit decision was recorded at the May 20 meeting; the board indicated it would revisit the item after the MOU and outstanding clarifications are completed.
