The Crossville City Council will discuss a contract next week for a Water Purchase and Sale Agreement with Crab Orchard Utility District. Attorney Joe Wyatt drafted the contract as City Attorney Randy York is also the attorney for the Crab Orchard Utility District.

From Joe Wyatt, local attorney from Cumberland County:
“I put a bid in for this position as there was a conflict with the city Attorney, Mr. Randy York. Crab Orchard Utility District, it is anticipated they’re going to merge in with the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority. That merger seems to be soon. However, the primary goal of this contract is for the City of Crossville to sell to the Crab Orchard Utility District treated water as a need has been shown by the engineers.”

The Water Purchase and Sale Agreement, prepared by attorney Joseph T. Wyatt, establishes a partnership between the City of Crossville (COC) and Crab Orchard Utility District (COUD) in Cumberland County, Tennessee, to address COUD’s escalating water demand driven by rapid regional growth.

The 20-year agreement enables COC to supply COUD with up to 1 million gallons per day (GPD) of treated water, with a minimum daily purchase of $300,000. An estimated initial rate around $3.75 for every 1,000 gallons. The agreement would also allow for the construction of an interconnection point along Miller Avenue, funded in part by a grant through Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) State Water Infrastructure Grants (SWIG) program.

COC will install water lines and a master meter, while COUD constructs a booster station and additional lines, with costs split based on ownership.

The agreement anticipates COUD’s merger with the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority (CPWA) by May 13, 2025, including CPWA as a party to ensure continuity of obligations post-merger.