Celebrate 50 Years of Clean Water with the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts.

 

"2007 marks our 50th Anniversary as the oldest rural water association in the nation." 
-Bill Dobbins, TAUD Executive Director 

 

They’re water, wastewater, gas and firefighters.  They’re the first members of the National Rural Water Association to celebrate 50 years of helping people achieve clean, safe, environmentally friendly and affordable water service, plus a whole lot more.  Who are these folks?  They’re the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts.

 

Their climb to fame in Tennessee began with the dream of a former Tennessee Congressman, Cecil Branstetter.  After serving one term in office, Branstetter, a lawyer by trade, saw the need for utility districts to be represented in congress.  Without a voice, they were being run over by the larger municipalities.  Thus, small towns and rural settings were quickly loosing ground.

 

In 1957, Branstetter, with the help of a few friends started the Tennessee Association of Utility Services.  Twenty years later it was changed to the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts.  Their first office camped out in Branstetter’s law firm. 

 

By the early 1960’s the association gained recognition and prestige.  This was accomplished through hard work, good people, and persistence.  As utility districts secured protection through legislation it became harder for cities to annex property. Additionally, rural residents and small towns finally started to receive dependable service.

 

Branstetter looks back and says, “Fifty years of hard work blows the mind of where we are today.”

 

One of the first board members, George Parks, recalls the time representatives from National Rural Water Association came to Tennessee to encourage the association to join the National group.  Parks and Houston Hankins, T.A.U.D.’s President, were asked to travel to the National Conference to get a better feel of N.R.W.A.

 

Parks remembers coming back from the conference and reporting to the T.A.U.D. board, “If you don’t back the National Rural Water Association then you are crazy because this group gets the big picture and will be a powerful player.”  As a result of Parks’ and Houston’s report, Tennessee joined the National Rural Water Association in 1978.

 

The Tennessee Association of Utility Districts brought over 20 years of knowledge to the new National Association.  While T.A.U.D. serves a diversified group of systems including gas and firefighters, their main strength to National Rural Water Association was their legislative history in the water and wastewater industry.  Additionally, their ability to provide training to the blue-collar worker was a good model for other upcoming state associations.

 

T.A.U.D. creates leaders both inside and outside the association.  Every individual who trains with the association learns lifetime skills such as teamwork, leadership, concern for safe water and the importance of environmentally friendly wastewater.

 

Donald Stafford of East Side Utility has served on T.A.U.D.’s board for 20+ years.  During his tenure he has watched the industry age.  Seasoned leaders are now in place.  Yet, he looks to the association to reach the next generation through its training both in managerial and hands-on field work. 

 

“Training is the biggest thing in my book.  One of our earliest Executive Directors, Jim Sweeney, was a hands-on trainer and he cemented the idea of training firmly into the association’s roots,”  Stafford said.  “T.A.U.D. is set up to train our utility districts.  We need to be the leaders in our industry and continue to grow our training programs,” Stafford stated.

 

The current Executive Director, Bill Dobbins, is proud of his association.  After 50 years, the association really stands out in a number of areas.  First the association responds to members 24 hours a day.  Whether it is a utility problem or a managerial question, T.A.U.D. is always on call.  Secondly, T.A.U.D. provides solid information to allow Utility Districts to perform well and exceed in their jobs.  Finally, T.A.U.D.’s dedicated staff enjoys what they do for a living and loves working with members.

 

“Looking to the future, the association needs to support members in being the ‘utility of choice’ in their community,” Dobbins stated.  “Fifty years ago customers just wanted clean water.  Now they demand more services.  Additionally, operators have to understand all environmental regulations.  T.A.U.D.’s ability to help member utilities in meeting customer needs is imperative.  All of this must be done with changing regulations and legislation in mind.”

 

Bob Scott, Tennessee’s current NRWA Director, summed it up well when he said, “Tennessee Association of Utility Districts is the key to providing up-to-date knowledge to the current operators and utility managers of Tennessee.  It is also the link to legislative and regulatory issues affecting utility districts in the future.   T.A.U.D. is the training resource for our water, wastewater, gas and firefighter utilities.  We must stay focused and continue to expand our training resources.”

 

Thus, after 50 years, the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts continues to focus on the future.  Whether it is in training or legislative action, the association knows it must move forward in its assistance to members.  This is the key to achieving 50 more years of quality service.