According to POA President Bob Brunetti, the Public Service Advisory Committee, Finance Advisory Committee, Finance Department of the POA, Administration of the POA, the POA Board of Directors and Jacobs Engineering — the hired engineering firm to work on Tellico Village's infrastructure — have met many times over the past nine months, spending "countless hours" to discuss the options for handling the Village's infrastructure issues.

'GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS'

While many were eager to learn of the possibilities and solutions that have developed over the months of deliberations, FAC member Brad Spiegel gave a 20-minute presentation on their recommendation on how to pay for the Village's top five projects totaling $36 million.

He explained the financial state of the Village, as well.

“Like most situations, there's good news and bad news,” Spiegel said. “All of us — everybody in this room — are the happy owners of $375 million of assets at replacement costs. That's all of our water system, all our roads, all our sewer systems, all of our buildings, all of our rec centers, our pools, our golf courses, our restaurants. The bad news is it costs a lot of money to maintain $375 million worth of assets.

“Just think about each of our individual homes and those wonderful surprises when the roof leaks (or) when the water heater goes and when the refrigerator blows. We all experience those expenses,” he said.

Every year, Tellico Village has $40 million of revenue, Spiegel postulated to the crowd, with $31 million of expenses and $9 million saved in reserves. Taking into account the infrastructure issues, as well as the other maintenance and repairs that will be required in the next five years, Villagers are looking at approximately $67 million of capital requirements.

Muffled grumblings and whispers filled the church’s sanctuary as Spiegel gave the proposed solution of adding an $80 Water and Sewer Asset Infrastructure Fee (WSF) to each resident’s water bill for 60 months, beginning in September 2024.

This fee is projected to bring in $450,000 a month and more than $29 million in the next five years.

OPINIONS SHARED ON 'LIVE CHAT'

While many spoke among themselves while Spiegel continued with the presentation, no one interjected or spoke up. However, those watching the Town Hall on the Tellico Village Network weren’t as quiet during the presentation and took to the "live chat" feature to offer up their opinions.

Village resident Amanda Rogers said, “I am a two-month-old resident of Tellico Village, (and) I have been quite disheartened to see the water and sewage issues.

"I believe this should have been disclosed while we were in the buying process. We invested in Tellico Village and believe it to be dubious practice to not disclose such issues when purchasing.

“Had we known, we may have invested differently and at least would have ​​appreciated the chance to decide for ourselves with full disclosure; as stated in the meeting, you have been preparing for these projects for YEARS, and none of it was disclosed when we toured the ​​area nor at our real estate closing.

"Now, we are being asked to financially contribute roughly $80 a month for the next five years, on top of our $20 a month for new service over the next two years.

“This is a debt we did not account for when we joined and for problems we didn’t know we were inheriting. In fact, our property did not have any water or sewage lines until 2023 but we’ll be paying for the mistakes of the last 30 years. All the while, Loudon County property taxes will be forthcoming. County taxes are meant to provide services and yet Tellico provides for itself on many levels.

“​​As a newbie, I am wondering what does our Loudon County taxes provide? And can they provide some aid to pay for the water and sewage systems?”

POA CEO Chet Pillsbury, and other members of various organizations and committees when necessary, spent over two hours listening to concerned residents and offering feedback and suggestions to each person.

While many did offer additional questions, suggestions or push back on the proposed fee, others were concerned about the irrigation suggested regulations.

The POA Board will vote on the Water and Sewer Fee on Thursday, July 18, 2024.

OTHER 'HOUSEKEEPING' BUSINESS

In light of the election year, with many candidates coming into the Village to speak and gain support, Pillsbury requested residents welcome these guests and show them the respect they deserve.

“I would just like to encourage you that we, the people of Tellico Village, are kind and humane folks, and we need to send that message to all the people who visit us,” Pillsbury said. “We would not holler and yell or treat rudely anybody coming to our personal home, especially when we've invited them, and I would ask the same of you.

“So, as we move forward into this (political) season, please treat each other and any candidates or any visitors we have with the respect that they deserve and the kindness they deserve, even if you disagree with them,” he continued. “Now, saying that, I'm not telling you not to ask the hard questions. That's your job. But to do so in a way that is at least polite and respectful … Because if you don't let them answer, you're never going to know what they really think, and it's important to all of us.”

Furthermore, he said, according to regulations residents are allowed to have one sign in their yard for each candidate they support. Although he didn’t recommend it, if a resident supports 30 candidates, that resident is legally allowed to have that many signs in her or his yard.

“As to the POA, the board has decided that they do not wish to restrict signs or flags or banners in any way, except one,” he said, “and that is there will be no banners that are inflammatory, make derogatory statements about anybody (or) have profane language in them. Those are completely inappropriate, regardless of whether we approve them or not. They will be asked to be taken down immediately.”

In regards to the final topic of "housekeeping" business, before discussing the impending water and sewer fee, Pillsbury reminded the filled sanctuary, and those tuning into the broadcasted live stream, that irrigation continues to be a "critical issue" due to current weather patterns and he asked Villagers to limit water usage whenever possible.

He suggested residents limit irrigation times to the middle of the night. He also reiterated the recommended water schedule: For those whose house number is odd, water lawns on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and for those whose house number is even, water lawns on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

It’s asked that no one irrigates on Sundays.

“We would ask for the benefit of all parties involved and everybody having enough water to do it, that you follow that plan and stick to it,” he said. “It is for the benefit of all the community itself. It's not just us. It's not about money. It's about everybody having water.”

A livestream of the Town Hall, including the "Question and Answer" segment, is available for rewatch at tellicovillagenetwork.com.