Funding for second waterline to Kimball sparks debate among city leaders

The South Pittsburg Board of Water Works & Sewers building.
The South Pittsburg Board of Water Works & Sewers building.

KIMBALL, Tenn. - A request by the South Pittsburg Board of Water Works and Sewers to the Kimball Board of Mayor and Aldermen has sparked a debate about who should pay to extend a backup waterline to Kimball.

At the Kimball board's February meeting, Mayor Rex Pesnell said South Pittsburg plans to apply for the ultra-competitive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant to extend a second waterline to Kimball.

"They can get a better ratio on the money than what Kimball can, so they have asked that if they apply for the grant, would Kimball be interested in paying the match for it," Pesnell said.

The board voted 3-2 to commit up to $47,572 if the grant is awarded to South Pittsburg.

Pesnell said if there were a failure in the current line, it would shut down everything in Kimball.

"It benefits South Pittsburg, but it also benefits Kimball because if we were to have a failure, we'd probably lose more than that amount [in revenue]."

Keith Garth, assistant manager for the South Pittsburg Board of Water Works and Sewers, said the water line's potential failure was not considered an imminent threat, but "with things like that, it could last 30 years, or it could tear up tomorrow."

The project is estimated to cost $529,200, and South Pittsburg is applying for $481,572 in grant money. Kimball's portion would cover the matching funds for that grant.

Alderman Mark Payne has examined the project proposal and said he "doesn't have any problem with it at all" except that he wanted the specifications changed to a 12-inch ductile iron pipe.

He made the motion to provide the funds as long as those changes were made.

"This is something that needs to happen," Payne said.

When South Pittsburg asked Kimball for a similar deal one year ago, the roles were reversed, and South Pittsburg was willing to cover $135,772 in matching funds on the project if the grant was awarded to Kimball.

Kimball didn't get that grant, but the fact that South Pittsburg was willing to cover the project's costs last year and not this year has some Kimball city leaders concerned.

Alderman Johnny Sisk, who voted against the proposal, questioned why Kimball should pay the money even though it benefits the town.

"I'm not against the project," he said. "I'm against us having to use our taxpayers' dollars here to pay for their line."

Alderman John Matthews also voted against the deal and said several residents with which he discussed the project questioned why Kimball would need to pay that money when it's South Pittsburg's responsibility to maintain the flow of water to the town.

"To me, the function of the water company is to supply water and maintain lines," he said. "I wouldn't like to see Kimball's dime spent on that. That's the taxpayers' money."

Garth said the towns were simply swapping positions on the project, but couldn't explain why South Pittsburg wasn't willing to fund it this time.

"There's no sense in us applying for the project if [Kimball's board] does not approve the $47,000," he said.

Matthews questioned who would be responsible for paying any potential cost overruns on the project.

"That would have to be negotiated at the time it ran over," Pesnell said.

"It couldn't be based on what [South Pittsburg Utilities Manager] Donald Blansett said at their meeting," Matthews responded. "He told their mayor and aldermen that it would not cost the city of South Pittsburg one dime."

If the current waterline broke in "the right place," Payne said, Kimball could be out of water for four to five weeks, and that South Pittsburg could have chosen to apply for the grant to address other needs rather than something that would also benefit Kimball.

Matthews didn't deny another water line was needed, but maintained that it should be the water company's financial responsibility.

"I think if it's their desire to do this, it should be funded by them," he said. "It doesn't appear in a right way for the water company to ask one of their customers, Kimball, to pay for their waterline."

Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.

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