Two utility districts approached the Gainesboro Board of Aldermen Thursday gauging interest on a regional partnership.
Old Gainesboro Road and Double Springs Utility Districts interested in sharing costs and water supplies through a water plant project. Engineer Nathaniel Green said the collaboration could solve the city’s water capacity issue.
“That would be mutually beneficial to you guys as well as the two other utility districts and the people that you sell to,” Green said. “I see that as being a very viable alternative.”
Gainesboro is currently running at 80 percent of its capacity, a number that triggers state involvement. Green said a partnership could potentially cut that number in half. Green said the partnership would be a better option rather than the town spending $10.5 million for a new plant.
“I’ve crunched numbers for years and years about it, and it still at this point even with prices going up, prices are going up for everybody,” Green said. “So it’s not like its easier for anybody else to do it than it was yesterday.”
Tim Ham is the General Manager of Gainesboro Road Utility District. Ham said the estimated cost for a water treatment facility for his district would cost some $30 million. At the same time, Ham said the district wants to move away from purchasing water from Cookeville.
“This is not a five-to-ten year thing, this is a generational change,” Ham said. “So you’re talking about doing something together that is going to affect your grandkids and your grandkid’s grandkids. To me that means more than just getting past the next five years and getting a treatment plant rebuilt that you need anyways.”
Green said not partnering would push water rates to increase by 25 percent. Green said achieving a partnership would keep yearly rate increases about the same at two percent.
Mayor Lloyd Williams said moving forward, he would like to schedule meetings with each district to consider options.
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