SUD Votes to Move Wetlands Project Ahead

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Oct. 28 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, the board voted on three issues necessary for the design phase to move forward in a trial wetlands project at the SUD Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The board also announced a new election protocol and discussed the budget.

The trial wetlands project, a research effort undertaken jointly by the University of the South and the University of Georgia, will study wetlands’ effectiveness in cleaning wastewater. The board approved a location, allowing researchers and contractors access to the site, and sharing SUD operating data with project engineers.

SUD had no future use planned for the location selected and will not lose income from tree harvest at the site. Cost-efficiency benefits include convenient access and close proximity to electricity and pumping capacity. Tentative plans call for SUD to assume ownership of the wetlands after one year. Project funds needed to be set aside to decommission the site if the project did not continue, SUD manager Ben Beavers said.

A recent review of SUD bylaws by Beavers revealed a change needed to be made in the commissioner election process. According to the bylaws, the commissioners must select three nominees whose names will be placed on the ballot. Other candidates seeking election need to submit a nominating petition with the signatures of ten SUD customers residing in the county where the commissioner vacancy occurs. In the past, SUD used only the nominating petition method.

In Jan. 2015, a vacancy will occur for a Marion County commissioner. SUD President Cliff Huffman’s term will expire; Huffman is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. Prospective nominees should contact the SUD office by phone, 598-5611. Nominees must be SUD customers who reside in Marion County.

Reviewing the 2014 capital improvements budget, Beavers said the budget shows an anticipated withdrawal of $341,000 from cash reserves, but he said, “We won’t need to take that much, if anything.” Beavers expects the automated meter reading (AMR) project to come in $50,000 under budget, because SUD employees were able to provide much of the labor. The AMR technology greatly reduces time employees spend reading meters and frees them to perform other tasks.

Citing other 2014 expense savings, Beavers said the service truck cost less than expected, and some wastewater collection repairs were postponed. A pressure-boosting station planned for Midway will not be constructed, Beavers said. Only 20 customers would benefit. Beavers hopes to find some other means to help Midway customers with low water pressure concerns. SUD no longer anticipates needing to boost pressure to sell water to Monteagle, since recent expansion at the Tracy City water utility will adequately serve Monteagle residents.

Beavers will present the 2015 budget for review at the next meeting.

Reporting on operations, Beavers said the recent Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation inspection at the WWTP “was one of the best ones we’ve had in a long time,” with no violations reported and only minor recommendations related to record-keeping and monitoring.

The SUD board will meet a day early next month, on Monday, Nov. 24. In December, the board will meet a week early, on Tuesday, Dec. 16.