The Sewanee Utility District Board of Commissionersmet on Sept. 26, to discuss the billing and accounting transition and to consider two applications for sewer and water availability.

SUD Manager Ben Beavers said that they have a training version of the customer service and asset management program so they will be able to use and get familiar with the program before it is implemented. He reported some of the conversion from the old software to the new software was not transferred correctly and they would be doing some training on that by November. As reported in the July 21, 2023 issue the new CUSI billing software will be far more customer friendly, and customers will be able to change email and other account information, sign up for continual credit-card billing, check on their annual water usage and more. CUSI will make a prototype portal available so customers can interact with the software’s features before SUD implements the new platform, expected in January 2024.

Beavers said they now have QuickBooks installed and all the accounts receivable and payable were exported correctly from the old billing system. Vendor and payroll information is also correct.

Beavers will be asking for proposals from local CPAs to do the annual audit and to also be an accounting assistant. He stressed the auditor, and the accounting assistant must be separate, as one firm could not do both. He hopes to have the finished proposals in by the next meeting for the board to consider.

Two applications for water and sewer availability were received. One was for a development on St. Andrew’s-Sewanee property across the highway from the school, where the developer wants to build 115 housing units. The other application is for the University of the South apartment complex on Hwy. 41A, which would include 48 apartments for University faculty and staff.

For developers to go to secure financing for the projects, they must have a guarantee that there is water and sewer capacity for the projects. Beavers said the developers must put in the water and sewer infrastructure based on SUD’s specifications.

“If you deliver the infrastructure like we specify, we say we have the capacity to take on the extra water and sewer, so they can start the project,” Beavers said.

“We all know that plans can change but once the amount of water and sewer is set that has to stay the same,” Beavers said.

Beavers said these two projects were doable, but it would curtail SUD from providing water and sewer to other new projects, such as one the size of the Wiggins Creek development.

To meet increase demand, if SUD does nothing to the sewer system, they would be at 82 percent capacity. Beavers said there is a milestone at 80 percent capacity: you must come up with a plan to meet additional demand. Beavers said that SUD is not getting the flow that they should at the water plant, and they would have to be careful with approving new projects until they come up with a newer plan to meet additional demand.

Both applications for sewer and water availability were approved by the board.

The upcoming election for a seat on the SUD Board of Commissioners is scheduled for January 2024. Board President Charlie Smith is up for reelection. Because of a change in the law governing utility elections by the Tennessee State Legislature, the utility district board members are no longer term limited. The commissioner would still have to stand for election. Smith will be running again.

Anyone interested in running for the commissioner seat should contact a board commissioner. The board members are Doug Cameron, Johnny Hughes, Donnie McBee, Charlie Smith, and Clay Yeatman. The SUD Board will present a slate at the December meeting. Anyone who wishes to be considered after that needs to have a petition signed by 10 customers in good standing. Voting takes place in January 2024.

The next meeting will be at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the board office.—reported by KG Beavers