Catoosa Utility District Authority’s chairman Jerry Lee has qualified to seek reelection to the utility board.

“I have served on the utility board for the past twelve years, having served two terms,” Lee said.

“I have been a resident of Catoosa County for 37 years and live in the Morris Estates com-munity. I have been a barber for 47 years.

“During my tenure on the board approximately $14,650,000 has been spent to install new water lines and expand and update older water lines for Catoosa County residents.

“Some of the major projects are Scruggs Road, Three Notch/Potts/Post Oak roads, Tay-lor’s Ridge, Graysville/Haggard roads, Pine Grove and Pin Grove Access, Dailey Hills, Roy and Clara Lee avenues, Cloud Springs Road, Alabama Highway/Industrial Boulevard, Lake-view Drive and Alder Circle.

“This is a listing of 10 out of 90 projects that have been completed during my service on the board. Should any customers have questions about these or other projects please contact me at my home (706) 891-9754.

“My main objective while serving on the board is that all residents of Catoosa County have safe, clean drinking water and fire protection at a reasonable cost. Since I was elected, more than 1,751 fire hydrants have been installed in the county. The last water rate increase was in 1998. A $1 filtration fee was added in 2007.

“There has been no salary increase for any member of the utility board since 1999.

“I was instrumental in purchasing property adjoining Yates Spring to ensure that the county’s water source remains safe and pure.

“Catoosa County is fortunate to have Yates Spring as a water source, but we need to be diligent in protecting our water source and the same time providing emergency water sources should the spring fail. I have been aggressive in negotiations with Eastside Utility to provide additional water to our consumers and improve the utility’s distribution system so that all citizens of this county will have safe viable drinking water.

“I have striven during my terms on the board to see that Catoosa Utility continues on a sound financial path, to serve our consumers and provide jobs in this county. But first and foremost, we must make certain that all our citizens have potable drinking water. That con-tinues to be my goal.”