TOP PHOTO: LaFollette Utility Board held its last meeting of 2024 on Monday, approving two agenda items, including an interlocal agreement with the county regarding water line extensions.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The LaFollette Utility Board closed out the year with a brief workshop and meeting on Monday night. The only items on the agenda included approval of the 2025 Banking Service Bids and approval of the third amendment of the interlocal agreement for joint waterline extension projects with the county. 

During the workshop LaFollette Utility Board General Manager Regina Kennedy gave a brief update on the joint water line extension project the Utility has with the county. 

It is a split project between LUB and Campbell County and is being funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Planning and engineering for this project has been in the works since 2021.

Former LUB Manager Kenny Baird is overseeing the waterline project since he was the manager in place when the projects started.

LaFollette Utility General Manager Regina Kennedy gave LUB board members a brief update on the joint waterline extension project between the county and the LUB. 

Phase one of the project has been identified and bids received, but LUB and the county are still waiting on the bid to be approved by the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF).

According to Kennedy, the “wheels are slowly turning.”

“We’re hoping things will get going soon and that the bid can be approved in February,” Kennedy said.

During the LUB meeting on Monday evening, board members approved the third amendment to the Interlocal agreement between LaFollette Utility Board and the County regarding the waterline extension project. The county has already approved the agreement, according to LUB Attorney Kathy Parrott.

This third amendment “further” clarifies the “funding parameters, and the waterline extension projects.”

According to the amendment, the county and LUB received bids for phase 1 of the waterline extension project on Nov. 21 with the low bid “amounting to $3,862,445.00, a 10 % Contingency of $386,244.50, planning fees of $177,500.00, engineering fees of $479,986.25 and construction administration fees of $390,390.00, it is now known that the total cost of the phase 1 waterline extension project is $5,296,565.75 to result in a 50%-50% allocation with the county and LUB each providing $2,648,282.88.”

The phase one projects include 3,600 ft. on Norman Road, 4,600 ft. on Flat Hollow Road, 2,000 ft. on Flat Land Lane, 1,986 ft. on Arthur Circle, 3,100 ft. on Flatwoods Road, and 2,900 ft. on Bark Lane.

“The commission passed it already and the new agreement states that left over funds from phase one could be allocated to Melvin Hollow and Big Four in Stinking Creek,” Parrott said.

Parrott also said she recommended that LUB’s water department put together a “wish list” to be submitted to the county’s water committee of “where water line extension is needed most.”

At Monday’s meeting, board members also approved Builtwell Bank as the banking service provider for LUB.

Builtwell Bank was the only bidder who responded to LUB’s public request for banking service bids.

“We work well with Builtwell and have for a number of years,” Kennedy said. 

LaFollette Utility Board member Laura Byrge abstained from voting and declared a “conflict of interest due to employment at Builtwell Bank.”

LUB GM Regina Kennedy announced that LaFollette Utilities will be closed January 20th due to the holiday, and that the next LaFollette Utility Board workshop and meeting will be January 27th at 6 pm for the workshop, with the meeting to follow immediately after. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-12/31/2024-6AM)

Related