Bristol City Council approves utility and budget-related measures; debates temporary commercial use and right-of-way deal

Bristol, Tennessee — The Bristol City Council on May 6 approved a package of utility rate and municipal service measures, adopted a five‑year consolidated plan for federal housing funds and authorized an agreement letting Brightspeed use city rights of way at a standard per‑foot rental rate. The council debated but rejected a proposed ordinance to allow repeated temporary commercial events on a B‑3 parcel along Sweet Knobbs Trail and did not advance a separate proposal to add RV/boat storage as a special use in B‑3.

Council took the most significant financial actions first: City Manager Kelly Bourgeois presented recommendations based on a Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) rate study and the council approved increases to water and sanitary sewer rates to shore up enterprise balances and avoid state intervention. Bourgeois told the council the city “was in jeopardy of going negative in that enterprise balance.” The increases take effect with the July 2025 billing cycle and include staged percentage adjustments in later years; sanitary sewer discussion also noted ongoing capital needs tied to a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) director’s order on inflow and infiltration that will require later study and likely additional expenditure.

Why it matters: the votes reprice essential services that affect most households, aim to stabilize utility funds and keep local control of operations and rates. The council also used its meeting to approve the city’s HUD consolidated plan and one‑year action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds, and to authorize contracts and operating agreements that affect public infrastructure and facilities.

Key outcomes and context

- Utility rates: The council approved Ordinance 25‑8 (water) and Ordinance 25‑9 (sanitary sewer) on their first reading. Bourgeois said the proposal follows an MTAS study and would set inside‑city water and sewer increases of 10% initially and 20% for outside‑city users, with further staged increases thereafter tied to an index. On sanitary sewer, Bourgeois and staff noted the city is under a TDEC director’s order related to inflow and infiltration (I&I) and that substantial capital pipe improvements are likely; she said those capital needs are not fully quantified yet and will require revisiting the rates when studies are complete. The council’s roll call for both measures was unanimous (5–0).

- Solid waste fees: Resolution 25‑48 increased trash collection pricing modestly and eliminated a second‑can discount. Per the adopted resolution, the per‑container monthly charge will rise by $2 to $18.50 and the previous discount for multiple cans will be eliminated; property‑tax‑relief participants will continue to be charged $9 for a first can with subsequent cans at the standard rate. The council approved the change unanimously (5–0).

- HUD consolidated plan (CDBG/HOME): The council approved Resolution 25‑47 to submit…