By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Members of the LaFollette Utility Board (LUB) approved a “tentative” waterline extension bid for phase one of the joint project on Monday evening. The bid is “tentative and contingent on approval from the State Revolving Loan Fund.”

The Utility Board approved the “tentative” bid from Adam’s And Sons Inc. for the waterline extension project at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting held on Monday evening. Also approved was a contract with Cannon And Cannon Inc. to be the project manager and also handle engineering.

The bid award pertains to the split project between LUB and Campbell County and is being funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Planning and engineering for this project have been in the works since early 2022.

During Monday’ workshop, LUB General Manager Regina Kennedy went over the tentative bid award.

“Great news, this is moving forward. The SRF Loan documents have gone through what they need to. The loan amount is $2.875 million with $1.47 million to be forgiven,” Kennedy said.

She said the city of LaFollette would have to approve it as well. She also announced that there will be a public meeting at LUB on Thu., Feb. 6, at 6 pm, in case anyone has any questions about the funding.

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 county identified phase one priorities, and the commission approved it based on the recommendation of the water line committee earlier in the year. 

The original agreement between LUB and the county was made in 2022 for 50-50 sharing in funding for the project at $3 million each; an additional $1.2 million dollars contributed by the county brought the total up to $7.2 million for phase one.

The ARPA funds which are coming from the Federal Government “need to be spent by September of 2026,” according to LUB Board member Jay Willoughby.

Back in July of 2024, Engineering plans were submitted to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and were approved. The plans were also approved by the State Revolving Fund, which now has to approve the bid before the project can start.

August 30th, 2025, is the Construction start requirement date.

On Monday evening, the board also approved an easement and construction related contract for the 2022 SRF Rural Waterline Extension Project with Cannon & Cannon, Inc.

“Canon and Canon is going to be the oversight project manager and they are also handling engineering,” according to LUB’s attorney Kathy Parrott.

She did say that in the future, she did not like the high costs that were going to be passed through to LUB for easement acquisition and that in future the board should look at “handling easements in house.”

“They make it seem like a big deal to get money, but generally here, people want to get water,” Parrott said.

According to LUB General Manager Regina Kennedy the next LUB workshop will be Monday, February 24, at 6pm, with the meeting to follow immediately after. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-01/28/2025-6AM)

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