State Funding Board Delays Vote on CPWS Loan Request Until July

Issue #757

June 24, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Thursday Weather - Clouds & sunshine w/ high of 89, low of 69

📰 State Funding Board Delays Vote on CPWS Loan Request Until July

📰 After Risking His Life to Save His Son, Spring Hill Father Receives Carnegie Medal

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🇺🇸 Got 4th of July Plans? Check out Our Guide Here! 👈

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

State Funding Board Delays Vote on CPWS Loan Request Until July

From Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt’s post on Tuesday…

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON STATUS OF CPWS LOANS

The State Funding Board deferred the vote to deliberate more on the loans to CPWS yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon, we asked for a “pause” from the State Local Development Funding Board on behalf of all of the citizens of Maury County before Columbia Power and Water amasses a cumulative debt (including that state loan) of over $500 million dollars for their current project that will fall completely on the rate payers of Maury County.

We don’t believe more deliberation is too much to ask for what could amount to a billion dollar question for the people of Maury County.

Our request was not “against” anything. I appreciate what CPWS has done over the years and still do for the people of Maury County. They are Maury County, too.

However, our request was “for” all of the people of Maury County, to make sure that what is proposed is the best possible solution for getting more water to Maury County before we take on a huge 30 year debt.

I urged the Board to wait for the feasibility studies that are currently being conducted by the Governor’s Duck River Water Planning Partnership. That Partnership has been looking for the best possible solutions for almost two years. The preliminary reports of those studies are expected to be released to the DRWPP in September.

I also believe the Board was in total agreement with my comments that the future of water in Tennessee is true Regionalization. The Duck River Utility Commission is a great example.

True Regionalization works on economies of scale. The Duck River Utility Commission’s primary job is to treat and supply drinking water to communities in Coffee County and the surrounding area and sells treated water to them. They have the cheapest water in the state of Tennessee. That should be the model across the State for all Tennesseans. I know of several water utilities in our surrounding counties who are very interested in forming a Commission with Maury County much like the DRUC.

The Board understands that there are currently “water wars” across the State. Many of the water utilities are competing for water and rate payers instead of communicating and collaborating for the good of their customers. In that competition and battle for control, the losers are the people of the State of Tennessee.

There was also a letter sent to the Funding Board that they received right before the meeting. The Board referenced that letter in making their decision.

The letter was signed by Senator Joey Hensley, Representative Kip Capley, Representative Scott Cepicky, Representative Todd Warner, Representative Clay Doggett, Representative Chris Todd, County Commissioners: Kathey Grodi, Gabe Howard, Chairman Danny Grooms, Pam Huffman, Eric Previti, Patti Hollingsworth, Kevin Markham, Scott Sumners and Cindy Hestla.

The letter was also signed by Chris Morris, Jason Gilliam and City Councilman Charlie Huffman.

The vote was to defer to their next meeting on July 27th.

This is a pivotal time. Water is a basic need that matters to everyone. How we move forward makes a huge difference not only to Maury County but across the entire State. The water issue does not stop at the boundaries of a City or a County. We are all in this together and clean water and fairness to all rate payers for our future is paramount.

After Risking His Life to Save His Son, Spring Hill Father Receives Carnegie Medal

A Spring Hill father who suffered serious injuries while rescuing his 7-year-old son from a house fire last summer is being recognized for his actions with one of North America's highest honors for civilian heroism. Brandon Rorer is among this year's recipients of the Carnegie Medal for bravery.

Brandon Rorer rescued Silas Rorer from burning, Spring Hill, Tennessee, August 25, 2025. Silas, 7, was standing near the doorway of his second-floor bedroom after a fire that started on the back deck of his family’s home began to spread into the first and second floors, filling the house with thick, black smoke.

Silas’ father, Rorer, 36, treasury analyst, had re-entered the home on the basement level after attempting to extinguish the fire and was told that Silas had not come downstairs with his mother and sister. Rorer ran up two flights of stairs, calling out to Silas and reaching his arms out in front of him as he attempted to follow the sound of his son’s voice. Rorer was forced back down to the first floor due to difficulty breathing from the smoke and heat.

Rorer ran up the stairs and attempted to find Silas three more times, and on his fourth and final attempt, he felt Silas with his hand, picked him up and put him underneath his arm, and ran back down the two flights of stairs, exiting the home through the garage.

Silas was hospitalized for two days and treated for minor burns on his face, ear, and arm, as well as smoke inhalation injuries; he recovered. Rorer was taken to the hospital in critical condition, suffering second-degree thermal burns on his head, chest, and left upper arm, as well as a serious inhalation injury. He was hospitalized for three weeks and, almost a year later, is still recovering.

Upcoming Local Events

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Thursday, June 25th

Friday, June 26th

Saturday, June 27th

Sunday, June 28th

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🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, June 25

Twisted Punk Bazaar - Twisted Copper Brewery, 5-10:30 PM
Todd Ciprian - Tito’s, 6-9 PM

Friday, June 26
TBA - The Spot: Burgers & Beer, 5-8 PM
Nick Black - Buck & Board, 6-8 PM
Open Mic - Grinder’s Switch Winery, 6-9 PM
Songwriter Series - The Mulehouse, 7:30 PM
Walker County - Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
DownSouth Band - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, June 27
The Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 12-6 PM
Vince Moreno - Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
Grasskickers - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3-7 PM
Tunes for Tails - The Mulehouse, 6 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6-8 PM
Bayou Blues Jam - Southern Bayou Kitchen (Spring Hill), 7 PM
The Tim Turner Band - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7-9 PM
Yonder Grove - Twisted Copper, 7-10 PM
Curated Writers Round - Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
MFT Rebelling - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30 PM
The Howlin Embers - Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Six Strings Revolvers - The Boondox, 8 PM
Luvscene - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, June 28
TBA - Amber Falls Winery, 1-5 PM
Greg Minear - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 2-5 PM
Zmed Brothers - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4 PM

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