West Cumberland Utility Seeking Merger Proposal from City of Crossville

The West Cumberland utility district, currently facing significant debt and the highest water rates in the county, has formally requested a proposal for a merger with the City of Crossville. The proposal was the central topic Tuesday’s work session of the Crossville City Council. West Cumberland recently invested a large sum for system upgrades and is managing approximately $3 million in debt. City staff has been directed to prepare a proposal regarding the potential merger by January. However, the city manager expressed concern about the feasibility of meeting the January deadline. Councilman Dr. Mark Fox stated that he “would like to see some numbers before formulating an opinion.” Any final merger agreement would require the approval of the county mayor. The council plans to revisit the issue and review the progress of the proposal during its December meeting. Meanwhile, the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority has extended an offer of merger that would include paying off the debt, increasing employee pay and decreasing water rates by 5 percent.