The town of Signal Mountain is preparing a Request for Proposal so Walden’s Ridge Utility District and Tennessee American Water can have the opportunity to bid on buying our water system. Another option would be to hire a water manager and keep the water system.
The town has approximately 3.2 million in cash and investments, paid into the system by our rate payers, to use for upgrades, repairs, etc. I don’t believe there have been many major improvements to our system in quite a while, hence the huge balance in the water fund.
If the system is sold, the balance in the water fund will go into the Signal Mountain general fund and rate payers will be paying again, with increased rates, for any repairs, upgrades, etc. that TAW or WRUD will make.
On Tuesday, there was an article in the media marking the one year anniversary of WRUD’s ending their relationship with TAW over rate increases and partnering with Hixson Utility. Tennessee American officials said they were simply handing down mandatory increases imposed by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority.
TAW files for rate increases with the TRA and each increase granted by this authority is handed down by TAW to their customers and our water bills increase. These rate increases are requested by TAW, the TRA does not contact them and tell them to up the water rates.
I have looked at the history of American Water, a for profit company. We will pay more and more for water if we sell our system to them.
I hope the citizens of the mountain will pay attention to this issue.
Claire Griesinger
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The Town Council for Signal Mountain is considering options for providing water services for its residents and businesses. For more than 20 years, Tennessee American Water has provided quality water for the community. We are interested in building on our existing partnership with the Town of Signal Mountain.
Our lives revolve around water. Water is involved in everything we do, everything we use. In Tennessee we serve about 390,000 people, in nine communities, supplying high quality water service.
The Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) sets our rules and we carefully follow them. Those regulations are what help to ensure that everyone is receiving high quality water at a fair price.
For over 125 years, we have been the water provider in the Chattanooga area. At Tennessee American Water, we are committed to delivering high quality water to all of our customers.
Daphne Kirksey
External Affairs Manager
Tennessee American Water
Chattanooga