Regaining compliance with state regulations can take small utilities years, depending on the source of the issue. West Point Utility District accomplished it in just six months. Call it untangling out of chaos.

“We’re proud of where we’re at. We’ve worked hard to get here. We’re going to continue to do so. We want to get bigger and better every year.”

— Chris Sutherland, West Point Utility District Board President

Remarkably, this small district is now firmly on a path toward long-term sustainability.

Westpoint, a small, unincorporated community in Lawrence County, located in south Tennessee near the Alabama border, made the turnaround behind the efforts of its leadership and the technical assistance provided by the Environmental Services Team at Communities Unlimited (CU). Over the final months of 2024, the district made significant strides in overcoming years, even decades of neglect.

West Point Utility District previously operated under retired schoolteacher Linda Misenhimer, who managed the utility with dedication despite limited resources and little formal knowledge of water system management. Records were kept in her home, and the utility’s customers even visited her personally to pay their bills.

Linda’s battle with pancreatic cancer ended as she passed away in July 2024, leaving a leadership void in the utility she had served. That marked a critical juncture for West Point Utility District’s future.

After Chris Sutherland retired from his regular job, a neighbor encouraged him to take on a new role as a county commissioner, which eventually led to his connection with West Point Utility District. One day at a local community club before her passing, Linda approached Chris with a request.

“Chris, it would really help our board out if we had a county commissioner on our water board,” Chris recalled Linda saying. “It would look good.”

Chris agreed, saying, “Well, Linda, I can help you with that.”

He joined West Point Utility District as a board member. Unaware of the challenges ahead — or how quickly Linda’s passing would leave him at the helm — Chris stepped in with determination. A few months after Linda’s passing, he was appointed as board president.

“I did not expect Linda to pass away as quickly as she did,” Chris said. “That brings us to where we are now.”

When Chris joined as a board member, West Point Utility District was in disarray. Critical documents were scattered, missing, or damaged. The utility lacked a central office, an organized management structure, and reliable infrastructure. Years of neglect had left the system with frequent water line breaks, a poorly installed master meter, and incomplete regulatory compliance.

Referred to work with CU’s Environmental Services Team by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), West Point Utility District began working with CU Tennessee State Coordinator Annie Chiodo. Annie provided technical assistance to West Point Utility District, helping to organize records, help stabilize infrastructure, and guide the utility through compliance with TDEC.

Annie worked with TDEC to resolve significant compliance issues, compiling and submitting overdue documents and developing a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to address deficiencies. She also supported the board in adopting updated policies and programs to meet modern standards.

One of the most visible signs of progress has been the establishment of West Point Utility District’s office. Purchased and refurbished for $11,000 using existing funds, the office now serves as a central location for operations and customer service. Chris said having an office building has made a night and day difference for the utility.

“We have all of our records now centralized in one location, which is absolutely huge,” Chris said. “Because to be frank with you, if the state had come down here and said, “All right, we’re here to audit you,” hey, knock yourself out. If you can find the records to audit, go ahead. Because we couldn’t find them. We slowly found these things and, you might say, unearthing them. We’ve got all these records in one filing cabinet now. And we’re slowly building things up the way this needs to be.

“We’re proud of our office building. We’re happy. We have a place for the customers to come to. We were so small that customers would go to Linda’s house to pay their bill. When you’re dealing with the public, you don’t want that. So that’s why it was important that we get ourselves an office set up and people learn where the office is. They come to this office building when they need or want something. But this office is huge for us. I can’t say enough things about it as far as that goes.”

The district brought on a full-time bookkeeper to enhance its financial management processes and hired a new certified water operator to replace the previous operator, who resigned without notice amid an investigation into falsified lead and copper sampling. Annie’s expertise was instrumental in addressing the resulting lead exceedances. She worked closely with TDEC to retest the system, ultimately clearing the utility of contamination concerns and ensuring compliance.

Additionally, in February 2024, CU incorporated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping to assess West Point Utility District’s infrastructure. CU GIS Project Manager Trent Neathery spearheaded this initiative, designing and distributing both digital and physical maps to guide West Point Utility District in creating a strategic roadmap for identifying and prioritizing future infrastructure improvements. Annie also introduced financial planning software and provided computer training for West Point Utility District’s staff.

“Annie and I are like a pair of gloves. She has been an incredible help in so many ways — guiding us through TBOUR (Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation), TDEC, EPA, and all the challenges that come with it. Annie is a wealth of knowledge. If she doesn’t know the answer, she knows exactly where to find it. She’s also been a tremendous help with our paperwork.”

— Chris Sutherland

Addressing violations proactively has saved the utility from potential fines of $46,000. While a feasibility study is underway, the outlook for West Point Utility District remains positive.

“West Point Utility District has come a long way. They have worked so hard. I’m so proud of the work they have put in to get into compliance with TDEC.”

Annie Chiodo

— Annie Chiodo, CU Tennessee State Coordinator

Serving water to 135 customers, West Point Utility District purchases water from the nearby city of Loretto. The district is already seeing growth, with a new connection recently added, signaling a positive trend for the future.

“We’re definitely on a different plane, and we’re operating differently,” Chris said. “We’ve made so many changes, from changing banks to setting up our building. This is a huge step forward and into the future for the West Point Utility District. We’re just going to strive to continue to, as I used to say in the business, ‘get the gear and keep climbing.’”