7 APRIL 2025
Chair Commissioner James Lathrop opened the meeting asking Commissioner Roger Reedy to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The Chair then asked attendees that represent the Water Utility Districts that serve Giles County to introduce themselves. Those are Danny Hanson, Fairview, Ritchie Rose, Minor Hill, Chance Motter, Minor Hill, Josh Stafford, Minor Hill, Kirby Carpenter, City of Pulaski, Bobby Page, South Giles, Forrest Bates, South Giles, Chris Edgman, South Giles, Bruce Spaulding, South Giles, Jamie Byrd Fairview, Alton Hethcoat, Hethcoat & Davis/Fairview, Brandon Beard, Minor Hill. The Chair then asked for a motion on the Environmental Committee meeting minutes of 4 August 2023 which were provided by email. Commissioner Annelle Guthrie moved the minutes be approved and with Commissioner Judy Pruett providing the second the minutes were approved.
The Chair then asked County Executive (CE) Graham Stowe to provide an overview of what led to the meeting held today. The CE said about one year ago, during an economic development meeting, a recommendation to conduct a county wide water study was made, in particularly in light of the county’s future growth and that previous studies had addressed individual districts only. He noted one of the biggest issues already known is the water loss through leaks in the various districts; and that Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grants have been obtained to work on some of the losses. He then asked is it beneficial to do a county water study, which he understood to be approximately $400 -500K to obtain. The Chair added that the county has no authority to make decisions for the water districts that might be recommended in such a study, and also noting the county’s future growth, thought the attending representatives might have more insight into whether the county should pursue such a study or not. He then opened the discussion up first for the commissioners. Commissioner Roger Reedy expressed his concern with a single source for the majority of the water supply (Pulaski) and what could happen with a disaster to that supply such as an agriculture “spill”. He discussed having a duplicate source, understanding 500 more houses are projected at a high clip, Exit 14 possible development, and asked if the water districts were looking for a solution to those concerns. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins said if we don’t have funds to fix what we have, then no new water source will help. Commissioner Evan Baddour asked if can locate where the leaks are (generally yes, with meter data). Commissioner Shelly Goolsby asked what is your opinion of doing a water study. The Chair said we don’t know what you the districts are doing and would like your feedback on where you see needs for the county.
Bruce Spaulding, South Giles/Fairview water department said we constantly repair leaks; we have equipment to listen for the leaks, and we meet once a month for review. He added we are at the mercy of the supplier, and also, he believes the districts can work together. Commissioner Erin Curry voiced her support for an overall water study, noting the study would be much broader than just leaks, it would also look where the gaps are and address future growth. Commissioner Tracy Wilburn asked Danny Hanson of Fairview district to provide the history of an earlier request to use water from the Elk River. Mr. Hanson mentioned that Pulaski was involved but dropped out and Limestone took over and that they (Fairview) “dropped the ball”. Re the leaks $2.7M was provided to address that, with Lynnville doing meters to detect the leaks. Commissioner Brad Butler asked about having a water plant in Lynnville with Mr. Handson mentioned the process to get permits, and with Limestone having a ceiling on their permit. Mr. Alton Hethcoat mentioned the Southern Water Authority and said that all Giles water districts need another source of water and that they tried to use Richland Creek but Pulaski and the state objected. The request went to the water control board, but the efforts proved futile. He said even if approved the resources need to connect all the districts, leaving out Pulaski, would be considerable. He said they had looked at other sources such as Richland Creek but there are times in the year when the creek would not support additional water withdraw. He said some of the county’s water now comes from Limestone with a little for Fairview coming from Lewisburg. He said they had looked at springs in the county but none are capable of needed capacity. He said the solution is outside of the county and would need state interest and resources to do, specifically from the Tennessee River or Cumberland River. He considered the county’s efforts best spent on lobbying along with others to petition the state, for example a large pipe from Cumberland. As for the leaks 30% of the water is being lost, with those leaks being repaired/evaluated constantly. The Chair asked about the reasons so much is lost with Mr. Spauling noting the age of the pipes, the rocky terrain, mostly plastic some of the main arteries in creek beds with residentials on higher locations and the constant high pressure to provide so the pipes wiggle constantly. Commissioner David Wamble said we look to you to provide water, what do you need us to do to help, e.g. this study. Mr. Hanson said we know the leak problems some being from pipes 40-50 years old; no dollars to replace all lines; we set aside depreciation today but that is not enough funding in 10 years’ time from today. We know where the zones are and if we all had better meters, we could do better job on the leaks. If do study with just identifying the problems with no solution, that doesn’t help. Commissioner David Wamble addressing question to the CE, what would this study provide with the CE saying it would provide solutions but no funds for those solutions. Commissioner Wamble said with a total map, perhaps pipe size recommendations but they already know. Commissioner Evan Baddour said the recommendation on the study was made by Daryl Williamson and without our understanding of can pipes handle growth, e.g. houses on a hill and we did not know the spring had already been vetted. The CE noted a regional solution is required and beyond our funding to resolve. Commissioner Terry Jones said we need to petition the state with several counties involved, and also anything to help Pulaski now. Mr. Carpenter of Pulaski said every county across Tennessee is facing the same problem, with growth being faster than infrastructure can handle, mentioning farms turning into developed areas. Mr. Kirby Carpenter asked if the study would help the districts understand where needed for growth. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins said for long term growth, you would have to look to the state; that he would prefer funding be used to lobby and asked if that was the consensus, especially in light of no known new water source(s). Commissioner Shelly Goolsby asked if the study would help in fighting for water from other sources, e.g., from Thompson Station down. Mr. Hethcoat said for water sources, the state gives permission based on water flow, which is for Pulaski 3 – 3 1/2 M gallons a day. He noted the Pulaski plant can do 7.5M but permit only allows 3.5M gallons a day, and he didn’t believe the state would approve an additional requirement. He noted Pulaski currently does 3.2 – 4M a day, so already at upper part of that permit. He provided some history on rural development, noting laws were passed for safe, reliable water in rural areas. He also noted before COVID a 6-inch pipe cost $12-14 sq ft and is now $30 a sq ft. He said there are community block grants, but a county can only have one block grant at a time, so if Minor Hill has one, then it would be about three more years before another county district could apply. He said the districts understand their issues; that industry is still going to grow industry (Huntsville moving here); can’t go to the Elk River because Fayetteville would complain so could not get approval.
Paragraph “The chair refocused the discussion to ask you (the water districts, and engineers) if they thought a Water study was necessary and desired. A show of hands showed no interest in pursuing the study.
The Chair refocused the conversation by saying how can we facilitate you coming to a solution; you are all trying to do individually; how can we help you get together to find a wider, county solution. Commissioner Roger Reedy noted all the expertise in the room, so don’t need to spend but need to get ready for a group approach, with representatives from this group. A motion by Commissioner Roger Reedy, seconded by Commissioner Tracy Wilburn, was made to not fund the water study, and to approach organizational elements including public and the districts, to get water from other sources. Commissioner Tracy Wilburn asked about using wells in some locations, and Mr. Hethcoat said the cost for wells is now $2K per sq ft, and they have evaluated several but haven’t found any capable of providing necessary output. The Campbellsville Spring output is around 35K gallons but that is untreated output. He noted Limestone had dug 26 holes with poor results. Commissioner Erin Curry said she still supports a water study and wanted this meeting to accomplish something, i.e., a new coalition or a new authority. The Chair asked for a show of hands on who supported a water study with no raised hands and most raising hands against (some didn’t do show of hands). A motion by Commissioner Annelle Guthrie, seconded by Commissioner Roger Reedy, was made to call for the question. The above motion by Commissioner Roger Reedy was approved.
Unfinished Business – no. New Business Commissioner Roger Reedy asked that the organizational structure mentioned in previous motion be developed. A motion by Commissioner Roger Reedy, seconded by Commissioner Tracy Wilburn to develop a committee to seek out other sources and to include in that committee one representative from each Giles County water district, two county commissioners, and one Giles County citizen. Motion approved. The CE said with a large majority of commissioners in this meeting, he thought this action needed to go no further as in the full commission meeting.
Motion by Commissioner Tracy Wilburn, seconded by Commissioner Brad Butler, was made to adjourn, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of this committee – Chair Commissioner James Lathrop, Commissioners Judy Pruett, Rose Brown, Tracy Wilburn, Annelle Guthrie, Roger Reedy, Brad Butler Other Commissioners in attendance – Carman Brown, Terry Jones, Shelly Goolsby, Joyce Woodard, Erin Curry, Joseph Sutton, David Adams, Matthew Hopkins, Matt Rubelsky, David Wamble, Evan Baddour Others in attendance – County Executive Graham Stowe; EMS staff; Danny Hanson, Fairview, Ritchie Rose, Minor Hill, Chance Motter, Minor Hill, Josh Stafford, Minor Hill, Kirby Carpenter, City of Pulaski, Bobby Page, South Giles, Forrest Bates, South Giles, Chris Edgman, South Giles, Bruce Spaulding, South Giles, Jamie Byrd Fairview, Alton Hethcoat, Hethcoat & Davis/Fairview, Brandon Beard, Minor Hill