County reviews easement request after town denies direct water hookup to Bledsoe Creek property

County Attorney Heather Cline presented an easement request on April 6 asking the Board of Commissioners to consider allowing a property near Bledsoe Creek Road to hook to the county fairgrounds water line.

Cline said the property owner cannot connect to the town's main line at the location because town officials would not authorize a hookup; the owner instead proposed to cross county-owned fairgrounds property, install a meter near the Emerson Black building, and pay for the private piping and necessary easement documentation.

Commissioners raised questions about precedent — whether allowing one private connection would obligate the county to permit similar requests farther up Bledsoe Creek Road — and who would be responsible if the county's land and facilities were disturbed during construction. Staff noted the town of Sparta has changed rules around hookups and recommended county staff contact the town and the water authority to clarify the refusal and the applicable rule change.

Why it matters: allowing a private connection to county infrastructure may create maintenance, liability and policy implications for the water authority and county-owned property. Commissioners requested further outreach to Sparta to determine what steps the town would take and whether alternatives exist.

No formal decision was made at the meeting; staff were directed to seek more information from the town and return with recommended next steps.