WESTMORELAND, Tenn. (WKRN) — As more rural portions of Sumner County see rapid growth, some residents have built up resentment toward constant development and its pitfalls.
Westmoreland, with a population under 3,000, is in the midst of building a large, 300-home subdivision. Yet some locals told News 2 they have concerns.
“I don’t feel like they have the consumers in mind, I don’t think they want to help us,” said resident and business owner Megan Jimenez. “I feel like we are a number.”
It’s an old tale at this point: another small Tennessee town slowly becoming a suburban hotspot. But Westmoreland’s growth is happening at a rate that residents believe is outpacing their current infrastructure.
One common complaint seen across social media: mysterious water leaks that have caused resident water bills to rise.
For example, Jimenez said her home had a water leak for 69 straight days. Her family did not know of the leak until their water bill skyrocketed.
According to Jimenez, the city never alerted them of any issue.
“We did question with the clerks why the bill was so high. They did not check our history to find out what was going on. The next bill came, and that came at the end of August, and when that bill came, it was over $1,400,” Jimenez explained. “And at that point, we were like, ‘Something is absolutely wrong.'”
When it was all said and done, Jimenez said she was forced to pay over $3,000 in water bills, across just a few months’ time.
She summed up her situation as, “incompetent, and not taking responsibility for actions that they have the technology and resources to figure things out with.”
Meanwhile, Westmoreland Mayor David Leath told News 2 their water supply is strong. He said they are working through their leakage problem.
“We are detecting leaks on the residents’ side that they probably didn’t realize they had,” Leath said. “Our water loss is down. We just installed new meters that is measuring every ounce of water that goes through that meter.”
Mayor Leath said Westmoreland’s real issues are a lack of natural gas—which they’ve worked with Gallatin to resolve—and a poor sewage system. Heading into 2025, the mayor says Westmoreland is focused on adapting and welcoming more growth.
“I don’t have a bit of problem with water, no, to accommodate anything that’s being built. I’m expecting several industrials to commit to building here. I’m expecting [more] residentials [to move in],” Leath said.
Jimenez, however, believes Westmoreland officials need more transparency to handle the change that’s in front of them.
“I would like them to reach out to the community more,” she told News 2’s Sam Chimenti. “I don’t see announcements; I don’t see city council notices; I don’t see anything as a town where they’re trying to get the city involved.”
