Officials of the Tennessee Water Company said they learned that the Waldens Ridge Utility District funded a Be Vocal Choose Local campaign.
Attorney Joe Conner said, "Frankly, I was taken aback that WRUD had instigated and financed what appeared to be an independent community group who had mobilized in an attempt to convince the Signal Mountain Town Council and community of the falsehood that Tennessee American supplied 'dirty water' and that WRUD was the better choice."
Both Tennessee American and WRUD have been seeking to buy the Signal Mountain water system. The council has still not decided whether to sell and, if so, who to sell to.
The campaign was led by the Waterhouse Public Relations firm headed by Albert Waterhouse.
The PR firm said in a recent press release, "Be Vocal. Choose Local. is a committee formed by a group of Signal Mountain, Tenn., residents advocating to keep our water local. Our goal is to urge the Town of Signal Mountain to sell its water system to Walden’s Ridge Utility District as opposed to Tennessee American Water Company, a subsidiary of American Water Company, LLC."
Attorney Conner said that earlier WRUD official had declined witch PR firm was involved and who was behind the "citizen" campaign.
Attorney Conner is asking WRUD for a copy of its contract with the PR firm, all correspondence between WRUD and the firm, and all documents about funds paid the firm.