Commission dedicates $48M of ARPA-funded utility upgrades to local districts
Summary
Commissioners voted to dedicate ARPA-funded utility assets back to several utility districts, a package mayoral staff said represented roughly $48 million in water and interconnection projects improving resilience in multiple service areas.
The board combined and adopted multiple resolutions Aug. 18 to dedicate ARPA-funded utility assets back to local utility districts, including Knox Chapman, Friendsville, South Blount and Tuckaleechee Utility Districts.
Mayor Ed Mitchell and other officials described the work as a roughly $48 million program of infrastructure upgrades across several jurisdictions. The mayor said projects added redundant water lines and new pumping capacity to reduce vulnerability from single-line failures and to strengthen regional interconnections.
Commissioners voted with a recorded 16 yes votes and one abstention on the combined package. County staff said the projects were largely funded by ARPA grants rather than local tax dollars and that the work had been handled largely in-house with county finance and engineering oversight.
The dedications transfer ownership/operation back to the utility districts and were recorded in the meeting minutes. Officials said the upgrades will increase service reliability for affected communities.
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