Washington County

Washington County Lines Up $2.2 Million for Johnson City Water Lines and $500,000 for Baskette and Frank Stanton Roads

Washington County’s Budget Committee agenda for Oct. 16 asked to pay Johnson City up to $2.2 million for finished rural water-line extensions and Chuckey Utility District up to $500,000 for about 5,000 feet of new line on Baskette and Frank Stanton Roads. Here is where every county water project sta

Tracy King

20 Oct 2026 • 6 min read

Washington County is paying utilities to extend public water lines along rural roads. Illustrative photo.

Washington County is getting ready to write two more checks for rural water lines. The county Budget Committee’s Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, agenda listed an authorization to pay Johnson City up to $2,200,000 from the Capital Projects Fund for previously approved water-line extensions, plus a separate authorization to pay Chuckey Utility District up to $500,000 for Phase 2 work that includes Baskette and Frank Stanton Roads.

Both requests draw on the same budget line, 171-95900-309. Both also come after the county’s Water Task Force reported steady progress on extending public water to roads that have relied on wells. The task force met again Monday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse to hear updates from Kingsport, Johnson City, Jonesborough and Chuckey.

For homeowners on those roads, a public water connection can change how a house is valued and how easily it sells. Here is what the county paperwork shows.

The $2.2 million Johnson City payment

An Oct. 6 memo to Mayor Joe Grandy from Finance Director Mitch Meredith explains the larger request. Johnson City submitted a reimbursement request totaling $1,994,195.55 for water-line extension work on Cox Road, Payne Lane, Bob Jobe Lane and Buckingham Road. The memo puts the estimated remaining cost at $177,573.25, for a total anticipated project cost of $2,171,768.80.

The county already said yes to this work once. According to the memo, Resolution 25-10-12 authorized up to $3,000,000 from the Capital Projects Fund for water-line improvements performed by Johnson City on those streets. The memo also notes that the FY27 Capital Projects budget includes $6,000,000 for water-line projects involving Johnson City, Jonesborough and Kingsport, and that sufficient funds are available.

So why bring it back? The memo says the request is coming in a new fiscal year and before a Commission with significant membership changes. Meredith recommended that the Budget Committee reaffirm the county’s commitment and notify the County Commission of anticipated spending of up to $2,200,000.

One street name, two versions

The finance memo lists “Bob Jobe Lane.” The task force’s Sept. 16 minutes, in Johnson City’s update, list “Bob Jobe Road.” Both documents describe the same group of Phase 2 streets with Cox Road, Payne Lane and Buckingham Road.

The $500,000 Chuckey request for Baskette and Frank Stanton Roads

The smaller request started at the Public Works Committee. That committee’s Oct. 8 agenda asked for approval of Baskette Road and Frank Stanton Road as additional water-line projects at a cost not to exceed $500,000, with the Phase II work performed by Chuckey Utility District.

An Oct. 9 memo from Meredith to the mayor says the Public Works committee asked the county to provide $500,000 to install approximately 5,000 linear feet of water lines along Baskette and Frank Stanton Roads. The memo adds that the County Commission will need to approve a resolution authorizing the money from the FY27 Capital Projects Fund $6,000,000 water system improvement appropriation.

The task force had already signaled support. Its Sept. 16 minutes say that at the May 4 meeting it approved a not-to-exceed spend of $500,000 for Phase 2 projects including Baskette Road and Frank Stanton Road, and that the County Commission will proceed with the needed resolution.

Where each water project stands

Provider	Roads named	Status in county records
Johnson City (Phase 2)	Cox Rd., Payne Ln., Bob Jobe Ln./Rd., Buckingham Rd.	Complete; $1,994,195.55 reimbursement requested; up to $2.2 million on Oct. 16 agenda
Johnson City (Phase 3)	Dry Creek Rd., Sinking Creek Rd.	Final design; construction bidding anticipated fall 2027
Johnson City (Phase 4)	Deakins Rd., Brethren Church Rd.	Survey complete; anticipated start spring 2027
Chuckey Utility District (Phase 2)	Baskette Rd., Frank Stanton Rd.	About 5,000 feet; up to $500,000 on Oct. 16 agenda
Jonesborough (county crew)	Adams, Corby, Woodland, Glendale, Lovegrove	Cochran and Dulaney complete; others underway or scheduled
Kingsport	Good Rd., Kincheloe Rd.	Good Road installation begun; Kincheloe expected done by end of November

Source: Washington County Budget Committee packet (Oct. 16, 2026) and Water Task Force draft minutes of Sept. 16, 2026.

Johnson City

Jon Lane of Johnson City told the task force Sept. 16 that the Phase 2 projects on Payne Lane, Bob Jobe Road, Buckingham Road and Cox Road are complete, and that Phase 3 projects on Dry Creek Road and Sinking Creek Road are in final design. Survey work was expected to wrap up by year-end, with construction bidding anticipated for fall 2027. Survey is done for Phase 4, Deakins Road and Brethren Church Road, with an anticipated start in spring 2027. The minutes say Johnson City has installed 27,000 feet of water line in total.

Jonesborough

Kevin Brobeck of the Town of Jonesborough said the county’s crew has installed more than 300,000 feet of waterline since 2021. Cochran and Dulaney are complete, Adams and Corby Roads were expected to finish within about a week of that meeting, and Woodland Road and Glendale Road are planned and scheduled, with Lovegrove Lane added to the Woodland Road project.

Brobeck also told the group that rock is getting harder to dig. He cited the need for a larger rock hammer because of increasing rock excavation and for replacing an excavator that has passed 5,000 operating hours. The task force voted unanimously to have staff obtain pricing for both and bring it back.

Chuckey and Kingsport

Tyson Lamb of Chuckey Utility said about 18,000 feet of water line had been installed, with about 5,000 feet left on the initial phase. Kingsport, in an emailed update, said installation had begun on the Good Road waterline and that crews would then move to Kincheloe Road, expected to be complete by the end of November.

Residents are watching

Public comment at the Sept. 16 task force meeting came from residents of Dry Creek Road in Johnson City and of Woodland Road and Horace Dillow Road in Telford, according to the minutes. Dry Creek Road is in Johnson City’s Phase 3, and Woodland Road is on Jonesborough’s schedule.

Washington County water dates to watch

Oct. 8, 2026 — Public Works Committee agenda lists Baskette and Frank Stanton Roads for up to $500,000.
Oct. 16, 2026, 9 a.m. — Budget Committee agenda lists the $500,000 Chuckey payment and the $2.2 million Johnson City payment.
Oct. 19, 2026, 1 p.m. — Water Task Force meeting, Historic Courthouse.
Oct. 26, 2026, 6 p.m. — Board of County Commissioners meeting, Courtroom 7, George P. Jaynes Justice Center, Jonesborough. Watch that agenda and later ones for the water resolutions.
End of November 2026 — Kingsport’s expected finish on Kincheloe Road.
Spring 2027 — Anticipated start of Johnson City Phase 4.
Fall 2027 — Anticipated bidding for Johnson City Phase 3.

The Oct. 26 commission meeting also includes a public hearing on a Matson Road rezoning. See Washington County Sets Oct. 26 Hearing on 628 Matson Road Rezoning: Staff Backs R-1 to A-1 on 19.2 Acres.

What public water means for rural homeowners

Buyers ask about water first. On rural roads, “city water available” can widen the buyer pool, especially for buyers using loans that require water testing on a private well.
Know your road’s phase. If you live on Dry Creek, Sinking Creek, Deakins or Brethren Church Road, the timelines above tell buyers when service could arrive. Share them in your listing.
Connection is a separate step. A main running past your property does not mean your house is tied in. Ask the utility about tap fees and timing before you price your home.

For more on rural growth in the county, see Gray TN Subdivisions Approved as New-Home Prices Rise 3.8%.

Own a home in Washington County or anywhere in the Tri-Cities and wondering what it would sell for today? Get a free home valuation, or request a cash offer if you want a firm number on your timeline.

How much is Washington County paying Johnson City for water lines?

The Oct. 16, 2026, Budget Committee agenda listed authorization to pay Johnson City up to $2,200,000 from the Capital Projects Fund. Johnson City requested $1,994,195.55, with $177,573.25 in estimated remaining cost.

Which roads are in the Chuckey Utility District request?

Baskette Road and Frank Stanton Road. A county memo says the $500,000 would fund about 5,000 linear feet of water lines along those roads.

Does the County Commission still have to vote?

Yes for the Chuckey money. The finance memo says the County Commission will need to approve a resolution authorizing it. For Johnson City, the memo asks the Budget Committee to reaffirm the commitment and notify the Commission.

When will Dry Creek Road and Sinking Creek Road get water lines?

Johnson City told the Water Task Force those Phase 3 projects are in final design, with construction bidding anticipated for fall 2027.

How much water line has Jonesborough’s crew installed?

Jonesborough told the task force the county’s crew has installed more than 300,000 feet of waterline since 2021.

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