Water authority urges regionalization; resident pushes Meadow Park raise and demands transparency

Jeff, general manager of the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority, told the Crossville City Council that regionalizing water and sewer services across the Cumberland Plateau could help utilities access grants, reduce duplicated costs and protect customers from steep rate increases for large projects.

"We want to work with everyone," Jeff said, describing a three-step approach: continue operating existing utilities, negotiate mergers and pursue a regional water resource. He said the authority became an official regional entity after Crab Orchard Utility joined and that the enabling act protects employees in any merger, including maintaining pay and benefits tied to current positions.

The nut of the debate centered on Meadow Park Lake and broader supply options. A resident who identified himself during public comment urged the council to "raise Meadow Park Lakebank" — earlier discussions had suggested raising the lake by as much as 20 feet and later roughly 18 feet — and to pursue the maximum practical increase to…