News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Warren County Utility District is a few short steps away from acquiring Spencer’s water system.
Earlier this month, Spencer passed a resolution authorizing to sell the rights and assets to its water and water waste systems to the Warren County Utility District. They also authorized Spencer Mayor Alisa Farmer to take all acts needed to negotiate the sell. President of Warren County Utility District Glenn Mitchell said all that is left is to finalize the deal.
“Our attorney here in conjunction with the Spencer attorney will coordinate together to draft agreements to the sale to present to both the Warren County Utility District Board and the Spencer Board of Aldermen for its approval,” Mitchell said.
Spencer has historically been hesitant to give up the rights to its water system. Mitchell said the decision by the aldermen to sell was unanimous.
“There’s an ARP grant for $9.5 million at stake here to make the improvements in the Spencer water and wastewater system, and that is contingent on the acquisition by the Warren County Utility District,” Mitchell said.
The Comptroller’s Office has been pressuring Spencer to sell its systems. Mitchell said Spencer water was not profitable and having quality issues for over a decade.
“It finally forced the state to take a step in and take that action and try to force a sale or acquisition to take over their system,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said the acquisition of Spencer’s water system is all to the benefit of Spencer. He said the Warren County Utility District would be purchasing Spencer’s water system at a low price to offset the risks of the purchase.
“They will be completely out of the water and wastewater business,” Mitchell said. “It’ll be up to the Warren County Utility District to run it from then on and provide good potable water, and we think we have the expertise to do that with the money to make these improvements in their system.”
