Kingston Springs approves manhole repairs as sewer bills expected to rise $17–$20

Kingston Springs commissioners voted Dec. 5 to move forward with a $560,000 manhole rehabilitation project, the least expensive of the options before them, after a split board ultimately agreed to repair only about 60% of the town’s failing manholes to meet a Dec. 15 state deadline.

The vote came after a lengthy debate in which commissioners were divided between the lowest-cost plan and the most comprehensive option, an $830,000 package that would have repaired all manholes identified as needing work. Members disagreed on how much debt the town should take on as it contends with a series of state-mandated sewer projects.

Mayor Todd Verhoven was the tie-breaking vote, ultimately deciding to take on less debt and repairing less of the manholes. Commissioners Michael Coldwell and Bob Stohler voted in line with Verhoven, whereas Commissioner Keith Allgood and Vice Mayor Mike Hargis voted to spend the $830,000 and fix all repairs to the manholes.

Allgood and Hargis ultimately voted against the cheaper option, making the argument that repairing the full system now would reduce future infiltration and long-term costs.

Although the board approved only the partial manhole plan on Dec. 5, sewer customers are still expected to see significant monthly bill increases over the next year as the town moves through several state-required upgrades tied to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) mandates.

Town officials reiterated a key figure Tuesday: Each $1 million in new debt adds about $8 per month to every sewer customer’s bill.

With the manhole project alone representing more than half a million dollars, and a second major project coming in 2026, commissioners said residents should expect noticeable impacts.

The board’s next major vote comes Dec. 18, when commissioners will decide between its lagoon-liner replacement options:

• $1.6 million to replace the current plastic liner; or
• $2.1 million to replace the liner with clay

The state’s deadline for the lagoon upgrade is Aug. 30, 2024, but commissioners said they want to make a decision before the end of the year to stay ahead of compliance requirements.

Depending on which option is selected, customers could see another $12–$16.80 per month added to their bills, on top of increases related to the manhole project.

Growing interest in selling the system

Throughout the Dec. 5 discussion, several commissioners expressed renewed willingness to consider selling the sewer system to Central States Water Resources. While no vote was taken, board members from multiple perspectives said the town may no longer be able to shoulder the financial and regulatory responsibilities of running a treatment system.

"We're looking at a 20 dollar increase possibility," Mayor Verhoven said. "Do you want that, or do you want us to sell this system in the hopes that [CSWR] manages it better?"

The board agreed to continue discussions about the future ownership of the system at its Dec. 18 meeting.