Council advances WCUD franchise ordinance amid ongoing utility work and water-quality focus

At its Aug. 29 meeting the Spencer City Council gave a first reading to Ordinance 2024-5, which grants WCUD (and its successors and assigns) the exclusive right to use and occupy public ways within the city for construction, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater distribution and disposal systems.

Vice Mayor Drew Campbell moved the ordinance on first reading and Alderman Darrell Nance seconded it. The roll-call vote listed Alderman Hensley as absent and Aldermen Nance, Campbell, Blankenship and Chandler voting yes.

WCUD representatives and project stakeholders reported operational updates to the council. Zeda Hillis said the IPG was wrapped up with $45.65 remaining and that WCUD will install flow meters and has obtained 911 addresses needed for system updates. WCUD representatives Anthony Pelham and Mike Corley told the council that continued flushing work may cause low pressure or temporary water loss for some customers and that the Piney pump station submission is awaiting final electrical-engineer semantics before filing with TDEC and then TDOT. Council members were informed that water quality remains the main focus.

The ordinance passed first reading; council did not record an adoption date because the measure will return for subsequent reading(s) as required for ordinance approval. WCUD-related operational steps described in the meeting notes (flow-meter installation, flushing, pump-station approvals) are implementation tasks the utility has scheduled.

Council members did not provide dollar figures for project costs or exact timelines in the meeting record; those details were not specified.