Sevier County adopts Storm Water Authority; officials say agricultural land won’t be affected

The Sevier County Commission on Aug. 19 adopted Resolution 2024-08-03 to establish the Sevier County Storm Water Authority and update local stormwater regulations to align county ordinances with recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency runoff-reduction requirements. The resolution passed by roll call vote, 23 Yes, 0 No, with two commissioners absent.

Storm Water Director Doyle Clabo told commissioners the update was overdue — about five years since the last policy revisions — and said the county needed to harmonize ordinance language with EPA requirements that apply to counties and cities sharing the same permit. He said the changes are intended to match updated federal expectations and that agricultural properties would not be affected by the new rules.

Clabo opened his remarks by acknowledging the recent death of his father, former commissioner Ben Clabo, and thanked David Carver for raising the specific regulatory changes. Chairman Mayor Larry Waters offered condolences and praised Ben Clabo’s more than five decades of public service to the county.

Commissioner discussion included a question from Commissioner Bryan Delius about whether the rules would affect farms; Clabo reiterated that agricultural properties would be exempt. A motion to adopt the resolution was made by Commissioner Fred Atchley and seconded by Commissioner Brandon Headrick; the motion passed 23–0 with two absent.

The resolution directs staff to move forward with the updated ordinance language and to coordinate implementation consistent with state and federal permit requirements. No timeline for implementation beyond the adoption was specified in the meeting record.