By DEREK HODGES

Staff Writer

SEVIERVILLE — Officials with knowledge of the inner workings of the county’s newly formed water department maintain Sevierville hasn’t done its part to uphold the terms of a contract between the two, but say they’re working with city officials to rectify that.

That stance comes despite insistence Monday from Sevierville officials that the city has done everything it has been asked to do by the county under the agreement about providing water service to unincorporated areas. Still, both sides agree leaders with the city are now working to satisfy the county’s requests.

“We have not been getting what we needed from the cities and we have let them know that,” County Mayor Larry Waters said Tuesday. “The main thing now is getting the information we have requested so we can go forward from there. I have talked to (Sevierville Administrator) Steve Hendrix, and Sevierville is in the process of compiling that information.”

The issue of the contract between the cities of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, and the county, first came up during a meeting of the county’s Water Commission a couple of months ago. During that session, commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter to the cities warning them if the information they need and the revenues from the operation of the county’s water line aren’t provided, the county would be “forced to consider necessary actions to achieve a solution.” To those on the committee, that meant legal action.

In that document, signed in 1997 by Sevierville officials, the cities agree to provide water to lines installed to unincorporated areas by the county. Under the deal, the cities would also maintain the pipes and handle administration for the service. In exchange, they would be allowed to keep a portion of the profit.

The contract also requires that the city submit regular reports, then remit the county’s portion of the income.

County leaders have said the most of the reporting has been ignored by both cities, with little documentation provided and no money paid in.

During Monday’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) meeting — the first public response from either city — Hendrix took issue with the county’s complaints, insisting city leaders were told by county officials that the documentation wouldn’t be needed because there likely wouldn’t be much if any profit.

Further, Hendrix claims county leaders have put a rush on securing the information while they are forming their own water department, pushing city staffers about getting the information they previously said they didn’t need and had never asked for.

Waters disagrees with that claim, pointing out the cities should have been keeping up with the information all along as described under the contract.

However, Waters conceded there might be some truth to one issue raised during the BOMA session.

Some city leaders are apparently concerned that, even as county officials create friction with their demands and the threatening letter, there may soon be new calls for water service to county-installed lines. During the BOMA meeting, Sevierville Water Department Director Steve Flynn said city employees have been notified the county will soon be installing two new lines that will require service from the city.

Waters said he’s not aware of what impending projects Flynn was referring to, but pointed out city and county officials have already agreed Sevierville will provide service to a water line extension on Jayell Road. Beyond that, Waters said there may be areas already served by county water lines that are growing.

“I know there are constantly people asking that they be allowed to tie on to county lines,” Waters said. “I don’t know specifically what (the Sevierville officials) are talking about or if that’s what they mean.”

There is a list of possible future projects the Water Commission has compiled that includes efforts like installing a line out Chapman Highway that would likely need to be served by Sevierville. However, no one has discussed those with city leaders, Waters said.

dhodges@themountainpress.com