Rumblings of Eminent Domain
Image Credit: Canva
Tennessee Conservative News [By David Seal] –
Chairman Jason Gilliam, Maury County GOP, has tried for years to persuade public officials in Columbia, Tennessee and surrounding areas to consider all the facts related to the cost of a major water project, and he has called for a pause in grant funding for a proposed pipeline project.
Gilliam’s wish came to fruition on Monday June 22, 2026, when the Tennessee State Funding Board delayed approval of a seventy-five million dollar grant for the Columbia Pipeline Project, all to the dismay of Columbia City officials. The board had received a letter from Gilliam in his capacity as the GOP Chair of Maury County, Tennessee.
Gilliam also serves on the Maury County Water Board, a position that gives him added credibility concerning the pipeline issue. He is calling for transparency and a full analysis of options before any public funds are expended. He stated in part as follows addressing the fiscal impact on rate payers and concern for the endangered Duck River.
“This CPWS project reveals a pattern of incomplete planning, shifting numbers, unacquired easements, potential legal challenges, negative environmental impacts, and a failure to adequately consider far cheaper and more collaborative regional alternatives.”
Maury County Water System would be impacted, without representation, by decisions made by Columbia Power and Water System (CPWS), as would many other utilities and their customers who depend on water from CPWS. Many neighboring utility customers are expected to suffer rate increases without having direct representation.
The letter raised grave questions on the cost and long-term effectiveness of the project.
State funding board members came to the meeting with copies of Gilliam’s letter in hand and expressed the lack of financial information surrounding the water project. According to Gilliam, there is no hard evidence available to determine the cost of completing the project, only vague estimates and lots of unanswered questions.
A complete copy of Gilliam’s letter, co-signed by multiple state legislators and other officials, is linked for review here.
Members of the board will spend the next thirty days hearing from stakeholders on both sides of the funding issue.
“Regarding the vote today in the State Fund Board meeting, it was obvious that inconsistencies in various aspects of the Columbia Power and Water Systems’ intake and water treatment project have caused the board to delay funding. I believe the board sent a clear message that there are simply too many questions that exist in several key areas. What is the total cost of the project? How long will the project provide water with the current and anticipated growth rate? If CPWS were to secure the various lending options available to them, what would the total payback look like and could CPWS actually meet that financial obligation (without putting an undue burden on the rate payers)? These are but a few of the many questions that are unclear. I am thankful that we have individuals in leadership such as Comptroller Mumpower, Secretary of State Hargett and State Treasurer Lillard, who are not afraid to ask the hard questions and make sure that we do not allow a rush to poor decisions simply because some hold the opinion that there are no other options. Monopolies do not create solutions. They create exorbitant water rates and curtail the possibility of collaborative regional efforts which provide redundant service and more affordable water.” – said Jason Gilliam, Maury County GOP Chair
The project itself has grave implications concerning the property rights of landowners in the path of the pipeline. Residents in the easement path expect property to be forcefully taken by the power of eminent domain and plan resistance to the takings.
The proposed pipeline will traverse 17 miles of neighborhoods and communities from the withdrawal intake in Williamsport to the treatment facility in Columbia, an easement that will involve nearly 80 individual properties along the path. According to residents of the area, Columbia Power and Water System may use eminent domain to acquire property from the holdouts.
Some property owners have acquired attorneys to protect their property rights, meaning that litigation could potentially linger in the courts for some time, calling into question how soon properties could be acquired which will impact the starting time for the project.
If you would like to contact members of the City Council of Columbia, Tennessee to express your views on the water pipeline project, or to inquire with questions on the long-term cost of the project, their contact webpage information is linked here.
Mayor Chaz Molder
Office: (931) 560-1505
chaz.molder@columbiatn.gov
700 N Garden Street,
Columbia, TN 38401
Vice Mayor Randy McBroom
Ward 1 Council Member Carl McCullen
Ward 2 Council Member Charlie Huffman
Ward 3 Council Member Cheryl Secrest
Ward 4 Council Member Kenny Marshall
Ward 5 Council Member Brian McKelvy
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
