Concerns Over Contamination Stall Major Housing Proposal in Columbia

Issue #719

May 01, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Saturday Weather - Sunshine & clouds mixed w/ high of 67, low of 37

📰 Concerns Over Contamination Stall Major Housing Proposal in Columbia

📰 Spring Hill Homeowner Hit With $7,000 Utility Bill Over Meter Mix-Up

🎶 5/8: An Evening with John Conlee at The Mulehouse

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Concerns Over Contamination Stall Major Housing Proposal in Columbia

Click the image to watch Fox 17’s coverage of this story.

A proposal to redevelop a former Monsanto site in Columbia into a large residential community is facing significant opposition over environmental concerns. The project would include more than 1,300 homes, along with a hotel, golf course, and a planned lake, but the Maury County Regional Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend denying the rezoning request. The property has a long industrial history dating back to the 1930s, when Roundup weed killer was produced there, and questions remain about potential contamination beneath the surface.

Environmental and agricultural attorney Dustin Kittle has raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination and the proximity of the site to the Duck River, a major drinking water source for Middle Tennessee. He also questioned the lifting of past land-use restrictions and said environmental testing may have been incomplete, including a lack of testing for PCBs. At a recent planning commission meeting, numerous residents voiced opposition to the development, citing health and environmental worries. The final decision now rests with the Maury County Commission, which is expected to take up the matter in the coming weeks.

Spring Hill Homeowner Hit With $7,000 Utility Bill Over Meter Mix-Up

A Spring Hill homeowner says she was blindsided by a $7,454 bill from Columbia Power and Water Systems after the company discovered it had assigned the wrong meter to her account when she purchased her townhome in 2020. Carol Baker said she paid her monthly bills in full for five years, unaware that she was being charged for her HOA’s electricity instead of her home’s actual usage. The issue only came to light earlier this year, and the utility is now seeking retroactive payment.

Baker, who has since moved to South Carolina while renting out the home, said she does not believe she should be responsible for a mistake the company has acknowledged was its own. The utility cited requirements from the Tennessee Valley Authority to collect outstanding balances and has offered her a 66-month payment plan. Baker says the large bill would be a major financial burden in retirement and worries others could face similar billing errors without realizing it.

5/8: An Evening with John Conlee at The Mulehouse

John Conlee is a classic American country music singer known for his rich baritone voice and emotionally honest storytelling. Rising to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s, he built a reputation for songs that explored real-life struggles, blue-collar values, and heartfelt relationships.

He scored multiple No. 1 hits, including “Lady Lay Down,” “Backside of Thirty,” and the signature song “Rose Colored Glasses,” which became one of his most recognizable and enduring tracks. His music blends traditional country instrumentation with relatable lyrics that resonate across generations.

A longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry, Conlee remains respected for staying true to traditional country roots while delivering powerful, sincere performances that connect deeply with audiences.

812 S. High St.
Doors: 6:30, Show: 7:30

Click for more info

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, May 1st

Saturday, May 2nd

Sunday, May 3rd

Monday, May 4th 

Tuesday, May 5th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, May 1
Tommy Wheatley - Buck & Board, 6–8 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band - Puckett’s - 6:30–8 PM
Golden Soul Revue - Grinder’s Switch - 7–9 PM
Scott Burt Big Band Series - Riverwalk Park (Free, bring a chair) - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Covered Wagon - Twisted Copper Brewing Company, 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Vintage Voltage - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM
Lost in Paradise - Puckett’s, 8:30–9:30 PM

Saturday, May 2
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Writers Round Curated by Lance Carpenter - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
The Zmed Brothers - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Box of Rox - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
Jason Stout - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
Christian Music Nights - Songwriters Round - 104 E. 6th St., 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Sunday, May 3
Breeze Cable - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM
Fractured Rose - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4–7 PM

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