The North Greene Utility District has made drastic improvements since early 2025 when it appeared the county might be forced to take over operations.
But an update from Utility Board members Dale “Bud” Tucker and Chris Stone at today’s meeting of the Greene County Budget and Finance Committee meeting revealed improvements, both mechanically and financially have helped the utility make improvements in serving their approximately 5,000 customers. The utility, with only two full time maintenance workers, is responsible for over 450 miles of water lines in the district.
Tucker and Stone are two of the new five member board which replaced the former group in the midst of financial difficulties and mechanical failures.
But while no state funds have been received since summer, a local stipend to all local utilities from the county has helped offset some but not all of the cost incurred by the utility. That includes a $300,000 water tank which had to be replaced. Filters, which had to be replaced, were also costly. More state funds for the district, which are sent to the county then disbursed to the utilities as they are invoiced have yet to be received but are expected in February. But the delay in those funds being distributed by the state has created a short time cash flow issue for the utility. Budget and finance committee members, with an endorsement from the county mayor and financial director, agreed to front the utility $412,329.60 from the TDEC grant funds for Greene County to cover those expenses. Once state funds are being distributed again, those monies designated for North Greene will be earmarked for the fund where the loaned money to the utility originated.
This means of assisting utilities and others affected by the flooding has become a common practice in many areas since late 2024.
Tucker said in addition to the county, there were many to thank for assisting the utility in getting back in a better position, including the Old Knox Utility District, which loaned its portion of county funds to North Greene and to Mosheim, which cut its rate in half and made it retroactive to when the problems began for the North Greene District.
Stone, who serves as treasurer of the board, told the committee long term plans are underway to assure the utility continues to improve operations in the future.
The agreement between Greene County and North Greene will require approval of the utility board, which seems assured based on the discussion Wednesday.
