Bayview water district patrons overwhelmingly approve bond

It was a watershed, a runaway, the passing of Bayview’s water bond by voters Tuesday was a gusher.

Calvin Nolan was fishing in Utah when the results came in but he kept an ear to the ground anyways.

“It was pretty much of a landslide,” said Nolan, the Bayview Water and Sewer District chair. “Which is good.”

The more than 480 patrons of the Bayview district overwhelmingly approved a $3.4 million bond to fix the district’s water system over the next decade.

Patrons had kiboshed similar measures twice already, but when votes were tallied, 160 voters were in favor of the measure while 42 were against it, resulting in an 80 percent victory for the district.

Patrons decided low pressure and leaking pipes because of an antiquated system needed to be addressed despite being a contentious issue over the past few years.

The bond will pay to refurbish an ancient 225,000-plus gallon water tower that the district leases from the U.S. Navy. The latest plan was more popular with residents who wanted the district to make repairs and refurbish the Word War II-vintage water tower instead of replace it.

The bond will also pay to install a 12-inch water main around town that will jack up pressure in some areas including along the north bay neighborhoods, Nolan said.

Another phase will repair transmission line leaks and the third phase will replace lines that go from the well pumps to the tower.

Nolan said he and the board will try to either have the Navy chip in to refurbish the main water tower, and members will also seek to enter into a deal with the Navy and Farragut State Park to take possession of the wells on their properties.

Nolan, an avid angler and big part of the town’s fishing derbies, became the board chair last year. He said he was pleased with the election results.

“I’m happy to get going on it,” he said.

He plans to break ground this year.

Nolan said patrons were more accepting of the latest measure because the board has become more public friendly and open to public input than the last board.

“I wanted the public to be involved,” he said.

A year ago board members Robyn Edwards and Sharon Meyer were recalled by a wide margin.

The couple was accused of using taxpayer money to hire an attorney to help them resist the recall.

Patrons wanted both women removed, according to court records, because “they failed and lost the public trust … engaged in reckless disregard for the concerns of patrons and voters … (their) leadership has resulted in the mismanagement of assets … engaged in what appear to be predetermined decisions and actions … treated patrons in a condescending manner … engaged in … abuse of authority of office.” according to court records.

Nolan said the latest bond measure carries an interest rate of 1.75%, and would require over a period of 30 years to repay $4.4 million, which includes $3.4 million in principal and $973,000 in interest.