Transfer begins on 56 WCUD customers
The first step in the sale/transfer of 56 Warren County Utility District customers to the city of McMinnville is complete. WCUD board members met on Tuesday and unanimously approved the measure.
“I never have a desire to lose customers or give any up, but in my opinion, it is in the best interest to serve the customers that we look at the transfer or sale of them to the city of McMinnville,” said WCUD general manager Anthony Pelham. “If the line blows apart tonight, it’s going to be a bear to get them on. We have installed one valve north of Pike Hill, so I can put Pike Hill back in service with emergency assistance from McMinnville. That’s only about two-thirds of the 56 customers.”
The remaining customers would be out of water until the district could conduct emergency repairs, which could take days or weeks.
“Ultimately, it’s in the best interest of the customers to transfer them to McMinnville,” said Pelham. “McMinnville can provide them better service, let me say it that way.”
Nathaniel Green, engineer for the city of McMinnville, was in attendance.
“I’ve looked at the area,” he said. “It was an area that was previously served by McMinnville. Honestly, I think this would be the best for these customers due to the potential for that line being compromised in the future. It’s already a little bit compromised. If it were to completely go out, the best solution would be to try to directional drill. Trying to do that would be extremely expensive for that area; almost enough to create a special rate zone.”
A special rate zone is a designated area within a community where water service is charged at a higher rate than the standard rate, often to recoup the cost for an infrastructure project in that area.
Voting in favor of the measure were board president Glen Mitchell and members Trenena Stanley, Lynn McGregor and Danny Martin. Absent was Kevin Dunlap.
Prior to that meeting and decision, a public hearing was held. Among those in attendance were Falcon Rest owners George and Charlien McGlothin.
“If you do this, how long will the water be turned off,” asked Charlien.
Pelham replied, “Probably less than a couple hours to cut into two isolation valves. The actual transition day, when it happens, would probably be less than 15 minutes to swop meters.”
Pelham says the city of McMinnville’s existing water line is only a couple hundred feet from Highway 56 on Pike Hill. There are “old emergency connection” on upper Faulkner. So, McMinnville, with less than 1,000 feet of pipe, would have three connections to maintain resilience of service to those 56 customers.
Charlien asked if residents would receive advanced notice prior to the temporary shutoff, to which Pelham said that they would.
One gentleman asked about the possibility of the city annexing the properties. State law does not allow forced annexation. Annexation is only allowed by property owner request.
With approval in hand by the WCUD board, the offer will be made to McMinnville officials for their consideration. The contract will include a $1,000 charge per each of the 56 customers, a cost to be paid by the city to WCUD.