SUD to Seek American Rescue Plan Funding
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the May 18 meeting, the Sewanee Utility District Board of Commissioners identified projects with a total estimated cost of $600,000, which were potentially eligible for being paid for with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The board also reviewed a draft of the 2020 audit and approved an updated Safety and Health Plan.
The ARPA guidelines stated the funds could be used for a variety of projects ranging from sewer upgrades to cyber security. SUD Manager Ben Beavers said SUD was eligible for ARPA monies through both Marion County and Franklin County, since it served both. Marion County will receive $5.6 million and Franklin County will receive $8.2 million. Beavers cited the need for a new computer at the water plant, a cyber-security priority, (cost $25,000) and replacing the membranes at the water plant (cost $100,000). Beavers noted SUD monitored the membranes daily since, although still functional, they had reached their official lifespan.
Board President Charlie Smith suggested requesting funds to upgrade the sewer system headworks (cost $120,000) and to pay for the relocation of water and sewer lines (cost $330,000) in conjunction with narrowing Highway 41A. Beavers questioned requesting funds for the highway project, but said, “We can try.” He speculated the highway project would not qualify since it had already been contracted out, and, “technically,” it was a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) project, not a SUD project. Beavers will contact the county mayors about the process for requesting funding for the four projects identified.
Updating the board on the highway project, Beavers said no start date had been set. TDOT was probably waiting for materials, and it was possible the farmers’ market lot would be used as a “lay down yard” for temporary material storage, according to Beavers. TDOT undertook the project at the urging of the University for the Sewanee Village Project. Beavers said the University will discuss reimbursing SUD for the cost the utility would incur after the project was completed.
Reviewing the draft audit for 2020, Beavers said, “the only finding was we lost money” which he attributed to “the University being shut down.” He hoped the state comptroller would “give everybody a pass for this past year…especially people like us who can directly prove” the loss occurred due to the pandemic. The comptroller monitors public utilities’ financial viability. SUD showed a $235,000 decrease in revenue in 2020 due to the University being closed.
Reporting on 2021 finances, Beavers said, “I’m more optimistic about how things are going now.” Compared to April of last year, “sales are up 19 percent.” Also “promising,” University summer programs are forecasted to occur.
Looking to the Safety and Health Plan recommended update from the state, Smith said the plan assigned SUD’s appointed inspectors specific duties in the event of an accident and charged them with the task of reporting. Beavers said during the annual training, the TOSHA representative stressed failure to report would result in a penalty. In the case of an on-the-job injury, the medical facility providing treatment also filed a report, Beavers explained, but the burden of reporting fell to SUD. Reports needed to be filed within eight hours.