Would the Tennessee American Water Company be more efficient if it the County operated it?
That was one question posed Wednesday by Hamilton County Commissioners.
Tenn-Am has requested a 20.59% rate hike, citing increased cost.
Representatives from the group, Fight the Hike, spoke to commissioners in opposition to the request.
Some commissioners suggested Tenn-Am should be run by local government.
Commissioner Warren Mackey said, "I would be very much interested in looking to see if the city of Chattanooga and perhaps the Hamilton County government might, as relates to this utility, do the same thing we've done with the Electric Power Board. That is, that we would look into whether it is feasible and justifiable for us to take ownership of the Tennessee American Water Company."
Commissioner John Allen Brooks said, "I actually got a call yesterday about this very issue and said is there anything you can do to help? You know, we're gonna obviously run into this time after time after time unless we assert ownership of this."
It's not a new concept.
Jon Kinsey tried to take over the water company when he was mayor of Chattanooga.. But failed.
And Ron Littlefield has also talked about trying to buy Tenn-Am.
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