By Katie Northcott, News Director
On Thursday, Feb. 12, Manchester Mayor Joey Hobbs posted on Facebook regarding enforcement action taken against the city by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC).
On Thursday, Feb. 12, Peterson Media Group broke the news that TDEC had assessed a $146,000 fine against the city for failure to comply with the “limitations and conditions” set forth in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems permit. Find that story here.
Peterson Media Group (PMG) reached out to the City of Manchester via email asking for comment. PMG asked how the city planned to address TDEC’s concerns, how the city planned to pay the fine, and whether the city planned to appeal the order. PMG still has not received a direct response.
Hobbs posted the following statement to Facebook about three hours after PMG’s article.
“We take the enforcement action of TDEC seriously. I have been in office for 18 months(Aug. 2024). As most citizens are aware, the system issues identified in the TDEC order developed over a number of years.
“Two months into my tenure, the EPA conducted an audit on MWSD. At that time, we were placed under an EPA moratorium for a year. Shortly after taking office, we contracted with Duke’s Root Control and began extensive repair of our sewer system. We have now removed 250,000 gallons a day of I&I filtration. In 2025, seven taps were approved. Those seven taps add a combined total of 2,100 gallons into the system.
“The fine that has been imposed by TDEC is because of the overflows from January of 2024 to December of 2025, yes 2 years of overflows. It is correct that I approved 7 sewer taps.
“We will comply with the state administered moratorium and TDEC requirements. This means that TDEC will be approving all taps. We have a good working relationship with TDEC, and that will continue.
“The problems that our water and sewer experience did not occur overnight, and they are not going to be remedied overnight. We are going to confront our challenges head on until our system meets all requirements and standards.
“Thanks Mayor Hobbs“
It is unclear from Hobbs’ statement how the city plans to pay the fine.
Hobbs’ statement was met with backlash and citizens asking which sewer taps Hobbs had approved.
After paying a nearly $80 for an open records request to the city for labor fees, PMG obtained a full list of new sewer taps completed during 2025. The list of taps and work orders completed are attached below. The list contains 10 sewer taps.
It is unclear which seven of the 10 sewer taps were approved by Hobbs directly. However, PMG obtained evidence indicating that the sewer tap at 807 Park St. was approved by Hobbs. Find that evidence here.
PMG is currently working to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the amount of flow added to Manchester’s sewer system since Hobbs became mayor. PMG filed a second open records request on Thursday, Feb. 5. PMG received the following email from Finance Director Anthony Burrows, who acts as records custodian for the city, on Friday, Feb. 13.
“Just a quick note to inform you that Director Foley is working to complete your records request. We also have an estimated cost of $77.00 to complete the request. We need your affirmative response accepting the cost.
“I know the fees were not popular with you last time, but again they are very reasonable. Please remember Director Foley is the person doing the work. He is the most reasonable person to complete your request at this time. He has to search through maps and other paperwork manually. The records are not digitized. He will have nearly 3 hours into your request. We rounded down to 2.5 hours and of course per State law gave you the first hour for free, only charging you 1.5 hours. I hope this clarifies the cost.“
PMG responded with the following email.
“Yes, we will pay. Please retrieve the records.
“I appreciate your explanation. Peterson Media Group still contends that the fees are unreasonable. However, we do not wish to fight the city on this point at this time.”
PMG initially contested the open records fees assessed by the city, with concerns over the amount of time the city is claiming to obtain the records and arguing the point that the director is the “most reasonable person” to complete the request.
The post Manchester Mayor Approved Seven out of Ten Sewer Taps Completed in 2025 appeared first on Thunder Radio.
