County attorney warns Springfield ordinance could cut off water taps outside urban growth boundary

County Attorney Clyde Richard told the Robertson County Commission that a City of Springfield resolution establishes an urban growth boundary and, as written, would stop issuing water service connections outside that area beginning in May of next year. "In effect says anything beyond the red, there will be no further taps, given for water connections," Richard said during the meeting.

Richard said the restriction could affect large parts of northern Robertson County and the Coopertown area even where Springfield water lines run along county roads. He said the issue does not appear to stem from a physical lack of water: "They can't use all the water that they've got available," Richard said, adding that the city manager indicated it is not a water-availability issue and that Springfield may be looking to exit the water-utility business. The county attorney said he has been authorized by Mayor Vogel to pursue negotiations and to look into legal avenues to determine whether the city can abandon service lines or require compensation.

Commissioners asked whether other water districts could serve the affected areas; Richard said there have been preliminary contacts (Crookstown with East Montgomery) and that any transfer of lines could involve negotiation or payment. He also distributed a map the county received showing Springfield's municipal boundary and the city's urban growth boundary, which the county says would take precedence for water-tap approvals within the hatched area.