HISTORY

The Clarksburg Sewer System had its origins during the administration of Mayor Jeff Reed.   In 2000, Clarksburg School was cited very strongly by the State Department of Education for deficiencies in handling its sewage. The School's problems had been evolving for several years with sewage seeping above ground during unfavorable weather conditions.  On-site options such as a lagoon were explored, but none proved optimal.  The State Department of Education finally issued an ultimatum to the Board that the School had three years to remedy the situation or face closure.

The Director of Schools met with Mayor Reed to outline the problem and seek a City solution to the problem.  Discussions evolved to an action plan to pursue the beginning of a sewer system for the City with the primary focus on the School.  Mayor Reed discussed the options with officials from the Town of Huntingdon to determine feasibility, the cost to Clarksburg to handle the waste, and sewer line construction issues between Clarksburg and Huntingdon. Public hearings were held, and the City engaged the services of a grant writer to pursue state funding for the project.  Because of the most favorable funding sources in Nashville through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the initial proposal was written to serve only the School through a sewer line connected to the Huntingdon Sewer System.  The School Board agreed to bear the cost of matching funds if the proposal were funded thereby alleviating the City of any costs.  The proposal was eventually funded in the amount of $500,000 and the matching cost was projected at $416,000.  The project, known as Phase I, was completed in 2005.

Once the system was operational, citizens who lived between the intersection of Highway 22/Clarksburg Road and the Bailey residence were given the option to hook up for the cost of making a connection to the line from their homes.  These homes were in close proximity to the sewer line originating at the School and intersecting the Highway 22 right-of-way. 

In March 2006, planning began for Phase II which included sewer installation from the current site of Tom Miller Motorsports (TMM) south to Murphy Lane and west on Highway 424 West to, and including, Kirby Loop.  During this time, Dollar General Corporation contacted the city officials and requested a connection to their proposed site at the intersection of Highway 22 and Highway 424 East.  A condition of their locating to Clarksburg was the availability of sewer.  The City officials recognized the potential economic impact of Dollar General in the city and surrounding area, and city officials promised to do their utmost to seek funding to connect the business to the line.  With that commitment, Dollar General located here and constructed a holding tank to use until the sewer could be built and constructed.

In order to stay within budget for Phase II, engineers devised a plan to mix six inch gravity lines with low pressure lines.  Low pressure lines with residential pumping stations were planned for the east side of Highway 22 from Clarksburg Road to the Dollar General location, from the old Bennett Service Station to Murphy Lane, on Kirby Loop, and Purdy Road from Highway 22 to the northwest corner of Clarksburg Cemetery.  A six inch gravity flow line was installed from the old Bennett Service Station to Tom Miller Motorsports where it crossed Highway 22 to connect with the main line.  A branch of the gravity line was also installed on the south side of Highway 424 West to Kirby Loop.  Phase II was funded in 2007 in the amount of $500,000 with the City's matching portion of $111,524.     These lines were completed in late 2008 adding 35 new customers.  Since the line extended to the Dollar General, the Clarksburg Church of Christ was added because of its proximity even though it was not included in earlier planning.

A third grant proposal was prepared in 2011 to serve Purdy Road plus expansion of the line to the School to serve homes on Clarksburg Road. This grant was funded in 2011 in the amount of $500,000 with the City's matching portion of $90,234.  These lines were completed in 2012.

A fourth grant proposal was prepared in 2013 to serve Murphy Lane and Weatherford Street. The grant proposal was funded in 2014 in the amount of $142,000 with the City's matching portion of $14,000. Further study of the Weatherford Street extension rendered this portion problematic, so this portion was dropped.   The Murphy Lane extension was completed in 2015.

A fifth grant proposal was funded in 2016 in the amount of _____ with the City's matching portion of $57,000 to extend service along Yuma Road. 

No further expansion of the system is planned until the current indebtedness is retired.

 

RATES AND SERVICE

The State of Tennessee requires the operation of the sewer system as an independent entity within the City budget.  This means that the sewer system must depend on current sewer revenues from customers to avoid a deficit, and rates are set accordingly to cover expenses. Sewer rates are based on water usage through the Clarksburg Utility District. Rates and hookup fees may be obtained by calling City Hall.  Applications for service may be obtained at City Hall.

Sewer rates were raised in February 2020 along with adopting a policy of annual increases equal to the Consumer Price Index.  In 2022 because of significant inflation in the nation, a policy was adopted to cap any annual increase at 3% regardless of how high the Consumer Price Index rose.   The current rate is $15.67 per 1000 gallons of water usage plus the minimum bill of $15.00.

SEWER CUSTOMERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEWER SYSTEM MAY CALL CITY HALL BEFORE 4 P.M. EACH DAY.  AFTER 4 P.M. AND ON WEEKENDS, CALL HUNTINGDON CITY HALL AT 986.2900 TO BE ROUTED TO THE "ON CALL" MAINTENANCE PERSON.  THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SEWER ISSUES INSIDE THE CUSTOMER'S RESIDENCE.