by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the June 16 meeting, the Sewanee Utility District Board of Commissioners approved service requests for two residential projects, one for water and sewer service to homes the University proposes to build and the other from Sewanee Mountain Partners for water service for a residential development across from St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. The Sewanee Mountain Partners project calls for an onsite sewage disposal facility. In keeping with government regulations, SUD would need to approve another sewage facility operating in its district. The board did not issue a decision on the sewage dispersal question.

The University applied for water and sewer service for 20 residences, 15 on Lake O’Donnell Road and five on Hat Rock Road. The two-inch sewer force main line on Lake O’Donnell Road was at capacity, SUD manager Ben Beavers said. “I told them they will need to upgrade to a four-inch line.” Beavers suggested to the University one grinder pump could serve two homes, instead of just one. “We have plenty of water,” Beavers observed when recommending approval of the project.

The Sewanee Mountain Partners project calls for 36 single family residences and 10 townhomes, two groups of five each. The developers will increase the water service line to the property from two-inches to six-inches. For sewage disposal, each home and each group of townhouses will have a septic tank with the effluent pumped to an onsite drip field for dispersal.

“Water is not an issue. Forty units is not a huge impact, and we get a water line,” Beavers said. “The issue is the sewer.” Tennessee Association of Utility District attorney Don Scholes advised Beavers on the legal ramifications of the proposed onsite sewage disposal facility. Because SUD has a USDA loan for sewer rehabilitation, SUD has the sole right to provide water and sewer service within the boundaries of the district. SUD is also protected by a private act designating the utility as the water and sewer service provider within the district boundaries. In addition to SUD’s approval, the project would also need to be approved by the county mayor, the Tennessee Public Utility Commission, and the USDA Rural Development loan providers.

“I don’t think it’s totally a bad idea not to do the sewer for this.” Beavers said. He cited two options if SUD were to do sewer treatment for the development: the developers could pay for infrastructure upgrades to pump the sewage to SUD or the developers could construct the onsite facility and turn ownership and operation over to SUD. “The problem,” Beavers said, “is it won’t cost us anything up front, but it will cost us $40,000 a year to fund the depreciation.” To offset the additional $40,000 expense per year, the cost divided among 40 residences would mean charging each residence $1,000 per year for 30-50 years. Beavers noted another plus to not owning the on-site sewage dispersal facility was that SUD would not be liable for any Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation violations. Commissioner Donnie McBee pointed out the proposed drip field location was on high ground with the possibility of downhill leaching of dispersed effluent.

Beavers said he would advise the Sewanee Mountain Partners developers granting approval for water service “did not convey approval” of the proposed onsite sewage dispersal facility. “It’s a separate issue that will need to be taken up at a different time,” he stressed. He recommended a meeting with the project engineer before reaching a decision on the sewage dispersal proposal.

In other business, the board also approved increasing the number of paid holidays per year from 10 to 12. Suggesting the increase, Beavers said the average number of holidays was 12 for utility district and municipal government employees in the area. The additional holidays will be designated as “floating holidays” assigned annually. “Every year is different so there are days that might work better than others,” said SUD Board President Charlie Smith, citing the example of holidays falling on a Saturday. Beavers thanked the board for increasing the number of holidays. “The employees will appreciate it, and I do as well.”