[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6268472,"mediaKeyId","3055414-ed6b03e32665c8be58240ec9589a2ce4","parentId",3055414,"title","Johnson City approves first readings of water and wastewater funding ordinances to finance multi‑year repairs and upgrades","audioSeconds",1192,"startMs",1372000,"endMs",2564000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055414-ed6b03e32665c8be58240ec9589a2ce4&start=1372&end=2564","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055414-ed6b03e32665c8be58240ec9589a2ce4/thumbnail_1372000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268472/Tennessee/Johnson-City-approves-first-readings-of-water-and-wastewater-funding-ordinances-to-finance-multiyear-repairs-and-upgrades","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268472-0b25acd82fa6b81e4da851de1ad6999b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770797649&Signature=R-GSh7DByA6zBjLchlcPMU4EZif2gIRVJ1mg92whyWwXFDMlgxpeDgPILiL4TbriTgJWkc-DQG0mum3jL1rztc8iS4~LrOKLsV8lVKfG33S1T2lWrsLcpP8EQPrfRfEDU9TGeDCTEpIUSBu2O~PIxYDqgQxJFbgy4eMDRBXDSJfl42Z0EzumMuCsyq2SQ0XK2X6HGZYUC~8vYSTdNge13IOKwJsgFN8Gtr2YbxqzLXgJVVrYSRbjmXGFTciAZtJoHPByosqc~4OhbVsyEI~tkTTxMBDHr3GjrYEFur4c-EYiWTCat8dgw9FwJV18r9L11ilLLWoxWksi~yy4cMJW5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Johnson, TN","date","2025-04-19T00:26:55.667Z","article","The Johnson City Commission on April 17, 2025 approved first readings of two ordinances to fund multi‑year capital improvements to the city’s water and wastewater systems.

City Director of Water and Sewer Tom Witherspoon told commissioners the combined program would deliver roughly $54 million in debt-funded capital and about $26 million in rate-funded work. \"The capital improvements in water sewer are for the protection of local lakes, streams, and public health,\" Witherspoon said during the presentation at the Water and Sewer Services Complex.

Why it matters: Commission and staff said the work aims to preserve regulatory compliance and system reliability, reduce outage risk during extreme weather and aging-equipment failures, and maintain fire-protection capacity tied to storage and transmission infrastructure.

Details of the package: Witherspoon described separate water- and wastewater-side project lists. On the water side, staff identified eight debt-funded projects totaling about $13 million that include a new storage tank, upgrades to transmission and pumping, and technology upgrades at treatment plants. On the wastewater side, commissioners heard the plan calls for six debt-funded projects totaling about $41 million, including major renovations at the Knob Creek Wastewater Plant and replacement or rehabilitation of large pump stations; portions of some wastewater facilities date to 1971, Witherspoon said.

Funding approach and customer impact: The city used rate consultants (Raftelus) to recommend a funding schedule designed to spread costs over a four‑year window. Witherspoon told the commission the proposed adjustments would generally range from \"anywhere from around $2 to $5 a month\" for typical accounts and translate to rate increases of roughly 3.75% to 5.75% depending on customer class. He said some capital work will be debt-funded while other recurring replacement and tank re‑coating work will be paid from rate-funded capital.

Staff provided examples of tap‑fee changes included in the ordinances: a typical water tap inside city limits would increase by about $140 in year one and a typical sewer tap by about $400; staff said there are approximately 26 different tap categories that the ordinance updates.

System scale and operations: Witherspoon said the utility serves roughly 48,000 water accounts and about 30,000 sewer accounts across a service area near 166 square miles and produces about 12–13 million gallons per day from the Watauga source plus about 3 million gallons per day from the Unicoi plant (total about 15–16 million gallons per day under normal conditions). He described investments made after events such as the December 2023 freeze and recent flooding as examples of why the upgrades are needed.

Timeline and risk: Commissioners were told projects vary in duration; some may take as little as three years while major plant work could extend seven to eight years. Witherspoon and staff emphasized these are staged, planned projects rather than immediate full‑system replacements.

Action taken: Commissioners approved first reading of ordinance 49-11-25 (water) and first reading of ordinance 49-12-25 (wastewater). The commission voted in favor on each first reading: Commissioner Brock — yes; Commissioner Fowler — yes; Vice Mayor Cox — yes; Mayor Hunter — yes. The ordinances will require subsequent readings for final adoption.

What remained open: Witherspoon and staff answered commissioner questions during the presentation but did not set a final adoption date during the meeting. The ordinances as presented establish the funding framework, tap‑fee changes and the specific capital projects lists included in the first-reading materials.

Ending: Commissioners praised staff planning and emphasized the city’s regulatory obligations under state and federal environmental agencies. The ordinances will return for additional readings before the commission takes final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Johnson City Board of Commissioners Meeting 04-17-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Johnson City Commission on April 17, 2025 approved first readings of two ordinances to fund multi‑year capital improvements to the city’s water and wastewater systems.","taxTitle","Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee","taxId",24786,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6268463,"Votes at a glance: Johnson City Commission actions on leases, bonds, right-of-way abandonment and fire code amendment",1555,1211000,2766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055414-ed6b03e32665c8be58240ec9589a2ce4&start=1211&end=2766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055414-ed6b03e32665c8be58240ec9589a2ce4/thumbnail_1211000.jpg","/articles/6268463/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Johnson-City-Commission-actions-on-leases-bonds-right-of-way-abandonment-and-fire-code-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268463-61d27a4c8e2392cbe4307fe8279ae454/orig.mp4?Expires=1770797649&Signature=L8O2XrbNBqHZH35NZLAnv~qBttmAwqJudc6xgLJX8uivjvV0R0FYFN-fFSvqjC6yWfwZaAGqmdEMirypraec1KhRZKuJ-Z5cd1T43oFLK72Gq-bp5Z7EJh7RQ8PJQFE0qocPA6dWdjTDa2N6B8h-GHKv7o2RgZRGgJZbOuYjjFbMe1A0Y6Uvfi8kNNkKPzv0A32W23zP-VE98nKmGPQ6BjocxBeUES7sPTwbynmoIXMMxOSeJ6TLFFqjc9yPuG4FOhs4a2iFqMOt3sZgHwpa6Q-aZbHswySC4PE~U9Kr6EYxk23IcrrDfAL5~4mbm7gdiPFF34oxVHYxvy4ds-tzLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Johnson City Commission took the following formal actions at its April 17, 2025 meeting at the Water and Sewer Services Complex. Where votes were recorded, commissioners voted in the affirmative as shown.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (agenda item 3.1): The commission approved the minutes for the April 3, 2025 regular meeting. Roll call: Commissioner Brock — yes; Commissioner Fowler — yes; Vice Mayor Cox — yes; Mayor Hunter — yes.

- Consent: Buffalo Mountain tower lease renewal (agenda item 6.10.1): Staff described a proposed lease renewal with VB Nimbus LLC (formerly Cumulus Media) for one tower on Buffalo Mountain. The lease renews for a 10‑year term with options for two additional five‑year extensions and was described as producing about $52,000 in revenue annually for the city. Action: Consent item approved. Roll call: Commissioner Brock — yes; Commissioner Fowler — yes; Vice Mayor Cox — yes; Mayor Hunter — yes.

- Consent: Issuance of private‑activity bonds for DGA Lakewood (agenda item 6.10.3): The commission approved a public‑approval step required under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) to allow issuance of up to $20,000,000 in private‑activity bonds for the owner DGA Lakewood. Staff said the bonds would fund refurbishment of roughly 100 units at the Lakewood Village apartment complex near Swadley and Plymouth Road and that the required public hearing had been advertised with no public objections. Action: Consent item approved. Roll call: Commissioner Brock — yes; Commissioner Fowler — yes; Vice Mayor Cox — yes; Mayor Hunter — yes.

- Right‑of‑way abandonment, Circle Court (agenda item 8.1; ordinance 49-08-25, second reading and public hearing): Development Services presented a request to abandon all of the public right-of-way on Circle Court to facilitate future housing authority development; staff said a 15‑foot utility easement would be retained and that utilities and departments raised no objections. Public hearing: no speakers. Action: Ordinance 49-08-25 approved on second reading. Roll call: Commissioner Brock — yes; Commissioner Fowler — yes; Vice Mayor Cox — yes; Mayor Hunter — yes.

- Fire code amendment (agenda item 8.2; ordinance 49-09-25, second reading and public hearing): The commission approved a second‑reading amendment to Johnson City code to revise the locally adopted 2018 International Fire Prevention Code (Appendix D 107.1). The change raises the threshold that triggers a required second entrance into a new residential development from 30 homes to 50 homes. Staff said the amendment aligns the city with neighboring municipalities and aims to reduce development barriers on certain parcels. Public hearing: no speakers. Action: Ordinance 49-09-25 approved on second reading. Roll call: Commissioner Brock — yes; Commissioner Fowler — yes; Vice Mayor Cox — yes; Mayor Hunter — yes.

Notes on procedure and attribution: Motions on several items were made and seconded; the transcript identifies roll‑call votes for each item as recorded above. Where motion makers or seconders were not named in the transcript, the minutes show the motion was made and seconded but do not record the individual mover/second in the spoken record available in the transcript.

Ending: Other items on the agenda included first readings of water and wastewater funding ordinances and an informational presentation of unaudited financial statements; those items were handled separately in discussion and first‑reading action.
","At its April 17, 2025 meeting the Johnson City Commission approved consent items including a tower lease and private-activity bond approval, and approved ordinances on right‑of‑way abandonment and a fire code amendment; roll-call votes recorded unanimous approval on each recorded item.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6268468,"Johnson City finance director reports $33.9 million fund balance, $21 million drop since June 2024",599,2759000,3358000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055414-ed6b03e32665c8be58240ec9589a2ce4&start=2759&end=3358","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055414-ed6b03e32665c8be58240ec9589a2ce4/thumbnail_2759000.jpg","/articles/6268468/Tennessee/Johnson-City-finance-director-reports-339-million-fund-balance-21-million-drop-since-June-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268468-cffb85412be9550ef4a9f5754b96c61e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770797649&Signature=YnKQB--fEguPd9iad-DNrCjOzZ~UYDA18FZ3HUpHSyroto61Q9Wi7tZLMvynPHFNyRVp5RNkpGsOyX4iUXwzI06sSaqPE01bIeviYYTFUjvsulNypzD0YiiYmn8fz1n01M6MQ0VzvjlUYY8xOEzP2EE9yQ5O4WgvEdGlHelE~vbNaA3S9VSOWvmJkYYUgm87NKUq6E4BBL993t43gem0yStJGNk2bcB429KWPq2a9EMuZ0GXfs99jb-N-DnQyIM~GrCiRWbgUVpGX-QGYqd4iSdxi99YCPstnMZRFOYCuONJq7fQVmJmAlt8Kg5FnIewIslKXHqimuOAh5MK9f3Gkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance Director Stephanie Louse presented unaudited financial statements to the Johnson City Commission on April 17, 2025 covering the nine months ended March 31.

Louse reported a general‑fund balance of $33.9 million as of March 31, a decrease of $21 million from June 2024. \"Our fund balance right now as of March 31 is 33,900,000.0,\" she said. The report reflects a February settlement the city recorded in full as an expense of $27 million; Louse said about $21 million of that payment has been disbursed and the remainder remains as an accrual in payables.

Why it matters: The drop in fund balance reduces the city’s unassigned reserves and leaves the restricted‑fund policy about $1.5 million short of the target two months of expenditures; Louse said departments are tightening budgets to help close that gap.

Key details: Louse said year‑to‑date general‑fund revenues are at about 81.2% of budget and property‑tax collections are strong (she said property taxes were at 95.5%, with 97.4% of a roughly $43 million levy collected). Sales tax receipts trailed earlier expectations and were at about 74.3% of budget for the reporting period; staff said a two‑month reporting lag and recent declines from the prior December temper earlier growth trends and led the finance director to expect sales tax to come in at budget but not above.

Lodging and special events: Louse noted occupancy taxes benefited from a strong month in October tied to activity after Hurricane Helene and that the Big South tournament may influence related collections; the city planned to review final numbers at an upcoming Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting.

Enterprise funds and other items: The water and sewer enterprise was slightly ahead of budget, with a change in net position about $2.5 million (about $1 million ahead of plan) that staff said will help fund capital. Regional and city solid waste and stormwater funds were at or above budget expectations. Louse reported Freedom Hall remained materially behind due to event losses tied to Helene and had a year‑to‑date shortfall she estimated at about $710,000.

Action and next steps: The presentation was informational; commissioners asked questions and thanked staff. Louse said she expects some one‑time items and seasonal receipts to normalize as the fiscal year closes.

Ending: Commissioners did not take formal action on the presentation; finance staff will continue to monitor collections and departmental spending through the fiscal year.","Finance Director Stephanie Louse presented unaudited results for nine months ending March 31, 2025, reporting a $33.9 million fund balance (down $21 million from June 2024), an expense recognition of a $27 million settlement, and sales‑tax trends that staff expect will result in meeting budget but not exceeding it.","actionData","errors"]

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Johnson City approves first readings of water and wastewater funding ordinances to finance multi‑year repairs and upgrades

Votes at a glance: Johnson City Commission actions on leases, bonds, right-of-way abandonment and fire code amendment

Johnson City finance director reports $33.9 million fund balance, $21 million drop since June 2024