Just visited White House, TN (Hendersonville, Maryville: house prices, high school, earthquakes)

[Ben H]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Hello Ben,
I see this is your first post, welcome to the forum.
I understand you are frustrated and I agree, 200 or more for a water/sewage/trash collection bill is high. However, I am over in North East TN, the Tri-Cities and the set up you described is the same around here. The water Dept's are not owned by the town. The larger cities ones are, but the smaller towns are not. They also double then add a few more for sewage. The trash collection is also on the bill but is another company, but the water company is contracted to collect the fees. This is standard practice in many, many TN towns. This also is not a secret or anything new. Did you not call and check on rates for water and electric before you moved here to TN? Did any of your neighbors that are also from out of state? If you looked on a site like this one, there is A LOT of info from folks that live here about the cost of living including utility costs of cities and towns all over TN. I would hate to be putting down a town or area because I didn't do my research before I moved there. I would find out if there is maybe a reason your rates are high. Is your new development on the outskirts of town? Maybe the developer of that development agree to the higher rates to make up the cost of bringing the water out that far and run the new water/sewer lines? Maybe this is at a larger rate for only the first few years after development and then the rates will return to normal? Is there anything in the paperwork from your developer about this maybe? Just throwing some options out there, hope they help.

Hello, thanks for the post. No, regretfully, we did not check/research the water rates in this community, and now we are paying for that mistake by the hundreds of $$$ every per month.! My mistake on not checking that out more thoroughly is simply just that.... a mistake... I accept that, I am human, and I, like many others, do make mistakes.

We lived in a very trendy city here in Tennessee, previous to moving to White HOUSE. Our water and sewer bill COMBINED was 40 dollars per month. Now its 130 a month and we use the same amount of gallons we did at our other place. If we water anything 200 + a month.

I felt I should put this out there and inform other unsuspecting potential home buyers about my and other homeowners concerns and experiences of living in a rural area such as this. This is a small town, its quiet, and a nice area/place to live and raise a family. The town is growing and we do have a walmart being built as we speak... . maybe the taxes from Walmart will help out our sewer rates?

Finally, potential homebuyers looking to relocated to WHITE HOUSE TN should be prepared to pay extremely high water and sewer bills if you move here. Ive yet to meet a white house resident, who has not complained about how high the costs of water and sewer are here. I read in the paper recently, (THE WHITEHOUSE WATCH) where citizens here refer to the water as "LIQUID GOLD"

WHERE THERE IS SMOKE THERE IS FIRE!

[Ben H]

Originally Posted by 46Barb

Some homes have septic systems instead of sewers; that's what I have. I still love the White House area.

When I lived in one town in Connecticut, the sewer bill up there was the same exact charge as what you water bill was for the month so I know how expensive that can be.

I know when I look for a new place to live, I always ask what the water, heating, etc. bills are to compare to where I am moving from.

It's best to know everything and anything about a place you're moving to before you make a final decision.

Definitely!!! look for homes that do not have the city sewer service. It would be completely worth it and save you a bundle! We wanted to be on the sumner country side of town, and there were lots of new home development areas being built there so we chose a house on that side. If I had to do it again, NO DOUBT, it would not be on WHITE HOUSE city sewer.

[KarenValentine]

While I have to agree with Ben that many residents of White House are not too happy with the recent water/sewer/trash fee changes, I did want to clairfy a few facts. First of all, there were 24 homes sold in White House in September 07, 24 in October and 27 in November, which is pretty close to what is was in Sept., Oct. & Nov. 06. Even if the utility fees are perceived to be higher than that of surrounding communities, White House is still a great place to live. I've lived here for 6 years (Robertson side) and absolutly love it. I do feel that the Sewer Department could have done a better job about communicating the changes. I myself would like a better understaning of how it works and will try to gather that information over the next few weeks and post my findings. Additionally, I believe that shower/laundry water; anything that goes down a drain, is processed through the sewer system. I'll have to check that information as well. I also want to mention that the sewer department has a process for requesting adjustments to your sewer bill for watering, filling pools etc. I believe it is based upon past usage. For example, if your average monthly usage is 6000 gallons and due to watering/car washing it was 8000 in July and August you could request an adjustment for those months. I'll provide the information for requesting an adjustment as well.

[Been There B4]

As a White House resident of amost 3 years (wife has lived here since '96), I can tell you that since I have been here, the growth of White House and surrounding subd's. and communities has put a marked strain on its roadways, namely Hwys. 31W and 76. There is not too much small town feel anymore, when I often sit waiting for a train of vehicles to pass before safely trying to turn onto Hwy 31. Notice the new traffic light going up in front of the spiffy new Walmart, then view how close it is in proximity to the existing signals east and west and it is easy to see what a stop/go cluster this will be during the morning and evening rush. This so-called "small town" is growing at an alarming rate, and it is quickly taking away the pleasure of living here.

Sadly, another older structure (across Hwy 31 from Hollywoods) is recently missing from our "historic district". With most of the old, original buildings intentionally removed, there is not much left of what could have been a real focal point of the town. IMO, White House has shortsightedly sold its character down the river, retaining only a replica of its namesake - which serves as the library with an upstairs museum. White House is little more than a safe place to sleep and go for a walk, as I indicated on another WH thread.

[Ben H]

Yes, thats right, I forgot to mention that the sewer dept does offer a One time adjustment, however, dont get your hopes up, last year, we and most of our neighbors were very disappointed in what they actually credited us back. Two of our neighbors said they could not afford the sewer rates, and would not water their lawns any longer. We watched as their yards turned to a crispy brown. They were paying 450 a month for water and sewer combined. This was in 05 and it was nothing like this years drought.

The way actual sewer usage is calculated here in White House, Tn is a complete joke to say the least. First, they are two months behind on all readings. That alone should tell you something about the way things are being done here and the efficiency of the so called sewer dept.

The reason it is like that is because, the sewer geniuses here in White House, rely on a privately held company (white house water) to submit its companys water meter readings to them, so they can take the total Water usage for the month, and simply use the identical amount of gallons for your sewer bill. Okayyyy. . so a 200 dollar water bill, brings a 230 dollar sewer bill or so, because they add the new and improved monthly trash pickup fee of 15 dollars and some other nonsense charges with it. Sewer is always higher than water. ALWAYS!

Our neighbors are from the east coast, when they got here, they simply could not believe how high their water and sewer bills were. At a neighborhood cookout and gathering, they complained that the water sewer utility bills were higher than they had ever paid in their lives and the rest of us all said, hey.. welcome to WHITE HOUSE! We have all been collectively complaining about this for several years now. There have even been news stories On the Channel 5 Evening News about this VERY issue in WHITE HOUE TN. They quashed the story shortly after it aired tho. Hmmmmm.

The funny thing, is that when several people call and complain to the city sewer dept, or call and ask about getting a sewer meter (available online for 3-400 dollars for municipalities) They all get answers like, theres no such thing as a sewer meter! We've never heard of that. What a joke.

Sorry for the rant folks. But my advice to anyone even remotely thinking about buying a house here in White House Tn, is to make sure that the house your looking at buying has an inground SEPTIC TANK, and that it is NOT on the WHITE HOUSE CITY Sewer system or you will pay through the NOSE with very high Sewer Bills.

Eventually the city and sewer dept will wake up and correct this issue or more and more houses will be empty, and people will move away. We have lost several of our neighbors in the recent past because they all said it was actually cheaper to live in hendersonville.

BEN

Originally Posted by KarenValentine

While I have to agree with Ben that many residents of White House are not too happy with the recent water/sewer/trash fee changes, I did want to clairfy a few facts. First of all, there were 24 homes sold in White House in September 07, 24 in October and 27 in November, which is pretty close to what is was in Sept., Oct. & Nov. 06. Even if the utility fees are perceived to be higher than that of surrounding communities, White House is still a great place to live. I've lived here for 6 years (Robertson side) and absolutly love it. I do feel that the Sewer Department could have done a better job about communicating the changes. I myself would like a better understaning of how it works and will try to gather that information over the next few weeks and post my findings. Additionally, I believe that shower/laundry water; anything that goes down a drain, is processed through the sewer system. I'll have to check that information as well. I also want to mention that the sewer department has a process for requesting adjustments to your sewer bill for watering, filling pools etc. I believe it is based upon past usage. For example, if your average monthly usage is 6000 gallons and due to watering/car washing it was 8000 in July and August you could request an adjustment for those months. I'll provide the information for requesting an adjustment as well.

[Been There B4]

Sleep in safety, excercise outdoors in calm surroundings, but don't become gravely ill in White House after 10 p.m.!

Recently, a friend of ours became quite seriously ill during the late night, requiring prompt EMS attention. After over 30 agonizing minutes of waiting and praying, an EMS ambulance finally arrived to transport him to a Nashville hospital ER. The victim's wife learned the delayed ambulance response was due to the fact that there are NO City ambulance services available after 10 p.m.. Apparently, after 10 p.m., a Sumner or Robertson County ambulance (depending on which side of WH you live) is dispatched to respond. Our friend is currently recovering in the hospital (was in ICU); however, the delayed response could have very easily had a tragic outcome.

I guess White House is STILL a small town (that, to better serve its citizens, ought to re-think its after-10 p.m. local ambulance response policy).

[Ben H]

He Been there,

Well, Ive heard that one too. I will keep your friend in our nightly prayers.
I hope he recovers well and quickly.

When we first moved here, there was talk of a hospital coming out here, but I dont know what happened with that , or it might have just been loose chatter.

White House is a very laid back kinda town, so far, we love everything about it, EXCEPT the miserable sewer dept and the extremely high sewer bill.

Merry Christmas Yall!


Ben

Originally Posted by Been There B4

Sleep in safety, excercise outdoors in calm surroundings, but don't become gravely ill in White House after 10 p.m.!

Recently, a friend of ours became quite seriously ill during the late night, requiring prompt EMS attention. After over 30 agonizing minutes of waiting and praying, an EMS ambulance finally arrived to transport him to a Nashville hospital ER. The victim's wife learned the delayed ambulance response was due to the fact that there are NO City ambulance services available after 10 p.m.. Apparently, after 10 p.m., a Sumner or Robertson County ambulance (depending on which side of WH you live) is dispatched to respond. Our friend is currently recovering in the hospital (was in ICU); however, the delayed response could have very easily had a tragic outcome.

I guess White House is STILL a small town (that, to better serve its citizens, ought to re-think its after-10 p.m. local ambulance response policy).

[12buttons]

Originally Posted by 46Barb

I was visiting a friend in Indiana and she drove me down to check out White House, TN. We were told it would be a great place to live. What a nice town. The people were so friendly. So far I think it's the place for us. Has anyone been to White House, TN? I'd love to know hear any info you have on it. It seems like the BIG news everyone kept sharing with me is that the new Super Walmart is being built. Thanks.

WHite House does not seem like a town to me -more like a pit stop off the highway - traffic going to and from nashville form there is awful and I thought the house prices should be cheaper and the RE up there is run by a few old boy types so I'd be very careful...

[Been There B4]

Originally Posted by 12buttons

WHite House does not seem like a town to me -more like a pit stop off the highway

This is an interesting comment that also describes the overall function of the old White House Inn (WH's centerpiece), established around the mid 1800s, which served as a resting point for travelers and horses in the primary route between Nashville and Louisville.

A great deal of traffic passes through White House today --- but at a much, much faster pace.

[TNNative]

Ah, if you could have only seen the White House of "my day"...

Fields and pastures where now the city park and fast food places sit, a once gravel Sage Road, now converted to a paved racetrack and shortcut to 31W from 76, the "Jr High" was only four rooms and a basement band room, and the high school (now the civic center) had ample room for the kids of both sides of White House, Millersville and the Oakmont area. If you lived in Cottontown, you lived "way out in the country", and going to Springfield seemed like a trip to a faraway town. I-65 was just a thought in TDOT's mind, and Hwy 31W was THE only way to get between Louisville and Nashville on this side of the Springfield. The "convenient" store was the market on the corner by the now-obliterated old "Jr High/Police Station", and the fastest food in town was "The Blue Devil Hut" next to Clearview Apartments. There was ONE flashing yellow light that was actually a school zone light in White House. White House sports consisted of Basketball, and Football....and baseball was a coming trend. There was green fields and farmland as far as the eye could see with houses scattered here and there.

Now...all of the previously written about White House is true. The houses keep going up in price and number, and the lots keep getting smaller til the neighbors can practically have a conversation with you through the kitchen window. The pavement is taking over and the green grass and trees are losing it's place. The traffic is a nightmare in the morning and the afternoons as the cars herd like cattle on and off the interstate. The politicians in White House are ruled by the city manager, who needs lessons in Urban Growth Development, but she's too busy removing the chief of police like a checkmate in chess. The water bills are through the roof and the taxes are up there with them. Buy a house here before you do your homework and you'll only get Suburbia Surprise.

But hey...we got that Walmart..and, at least we don't have earthquakes...yet.