KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Lawmakers voted on proposals Monday that take the first steps toward reducing some "redundant" utility poles across Knox County. According to a proposed resolution, the proposals were focused on protecting public safety.
"The Commission finds and determines that public safety can be compromised when utility lines and equipment remain affixed to utility poles that are weathered, duplicated, or otherwise damaged," the resolution said.
It also said the commission would find that when a new pole is installed, utilities may delay removing lines and equipment from old poles, which would delay the removal of old poles themselves. The resolution said having old poles stay up can be unsafe, as well as "aesthetically unpleasant."
"The Commission finds and determines that roadway safety is of primary importance to the citizens of Knox County and that the Federal Highway Administration has identified roadway departure crashes as one of the most common crash types resulting in 51% of the total of roadway fatalities nationwide," the resolution said.
The resolution starts the process of removing old poles. It said from July 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, people from the Knox County Engineering and Public Works Department would meet quarterly with utility pole owners and utility service providers. During those meetings, the department would identify which utility poles would be removed.
"Among the factors to be considered by the Department in determining which roads and/or rights-of-way to address are the volume of traffic on said roads, the number of duplicate or redundant poles along said roads or their rights-of-way, the location of said poles in relation to the surface of the roads upon which vehicles travel, and other safety factors determined by the Department to be pertinent," the resolution said.
At the meetings, they would also consider the county's 2018 Major Road Plan as they decide which poles to remove. The commission would then meet in July 2025 to decide whether to renew the resolution or adopt other measures to remove old utility poles.
It passed on Monday. However, a corresponding ordinance proposal that would have given the county the ability to enforce rules on utility poles was voted down. It would have formally encouraged utility service providers to collocate facilities wherever it is safe and feasible, to reduce the need for more poles.
It would also have required utility providers to use the National Joint Utility Notification System to communicate changes to utility poles.
The ordinance proposal said if the county reached out to providers about possibly dangerous or damaged poles, the providers would have had seven days to fix safety concerns and make sure the pole was safe. The county would have been able to give providers more time if they needed it.
The ordinance would also have ensured no fines could be levied against providers for not fixing utility poles for at least six months following a natural disaster. It also exempted large projects, such as road-widening projects from the timelines and said they would have been treated on a case-by-case basis.
The ordinance would also have allowed the county to revoke permits for providers to build utility poles or facilities on Knox County roads if they violate the policy.
It failed with three "yes" votes, three "passes" and five "no" votes.