The town of Signal Mountain and its town council are in an enviable position. The council has received two submissions on its Request for Proposals to sell its water system. One is from the Tennessee American Water Company that currently serves the town with water. The other is from the Walden’s Ridge Utility District that serves water to Signal’s sister towns: Lone Oak and Walden.
At last night’s town council meeting several people who were employed by or are still employees of TAWC spoke in favor of selling to their company citing their long time service and expertise in water quality. Various Signal Mountain citizens, including me and David Evans, co-chairmen of Be Vocal Stay Local, stated a different view. Contrary to what was said by the TAWC supporters, those of us who are supporting the sale to WRUD never insinuated that our quality of water is unacceptable. Regulations require water meet certain standards. Rather, Signal Mountain has the chance to improve the water quality as WRUD’s water source is a local aquifer reportedly the cleanest water in the state which needs very little filtration/chemical cleansing before it reaches the public.
Other important points: WRUD is nonprofit while TAWC is a for-profit company with shareholders who want a return on investment, Lone Oak and Walden both ceased their contracts with TAWC which was costly to both towns, and WRUD is local not an out of state business.
I stated that Signal Mountain is in an enviable position: Mayor Howley, Councilman Spaulding and City Manager Boyd already receive WRUD water. Now the council has the chance to extend that privilege to all of us.
Eugenia D. Allderdice
Co-chair Be Vocal Stay Local