S.C.U.D. BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES MERGER WITH C.P.W.A.
According to a report by the Crossville Chronicle, the South Cumberland Utility District (SCUD) board of directors unanimously approved a merger with the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority (CPWA) during its Tuesday morning meeting, with board member Joe Salvato motioning to accept CPWA’s offer and petition Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster for consolidation, supported by members Mike Stone and James Barnwell.
CPWA General Manager Jeff Dyer emphasized that the merger will immediately reduce customer water rates by 5%, provide SCUD employees with recommended pay increases ranging from 88 cents to $2 per hour, eliminate duplicated services for significant cost savings, improve operational efficiency, and make the combined entity eligible for state and federal grants that independent districts cannot access. Under the agreement, all SCUD assets, projects, contracts, agreements, and debts will transfer to CPWA. The merger now requires approval from Mayor Foster (who will issue a 30-day public notice and schedule a hearing), the CPWA board, and the state comptroller’s office before an official effective date is set.
SCUD, the second utility district in Cumberland County to join the regional authority created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2022 to meet growing water demands, will continue normal operations until the mayor’s order is issued. Reflecting on the vote, board member Mike Stone noted that it could be the board’s final act, after which the group scheduled what may be its last meeting for December 18.
Jeff Dyer described the consolidation as a major step toward unifying water and sewer services countywide, lowering costs, and preparing for future population growth.
