ROBERT L. (Bobby) GLOVER Light, Gas, and Water Manager Somerville, TN Date of Hire: March 1, 1969

Somerville Electric System was started in 1901. The system was owned by several local investors. The generating plant was destroyed by fire around 1928. The Town of Somerville Electric Department was founded around this time. Mr. J. L. Sanders was Superintendent. The generating plant consisted of two thirty-seven and a half (37 ½ ) horse power Bessemer units.

On January 7th, 1929, Mr. D. D. Parsons became Superintendent. Two years later, a third generator was added. It was a two hundred fifty (250) horse power Buckeye generator.

In May 1932, the system started to expand to rural areas. A line just over two miles was built Northeast of Somerville, along Old Jackson Road, to a Beacon light for the Government, adding more customers along the way.

In 1934, a line was built to "Yo-Yo Inn", including three more residents. In 1935, this line was extended to a creamery, run by a Mr. Demeuth, on property now owned by Ms. Lois Powers.

In 1936, Tennessee Valley Authority ran a thirteen thousand (13,000) volt line from Bolivar, Tennessee, with a connector tap for Whiteville, Tennessee. They also connected Laconia, TN, which had a cotton gin, a large store, a grist mill, along with several residences. In 1937, the line was extended to the Richard Ozier and Wetzler properties, picking up three more residences along the way. The Town of Somerville began buying the rural taps, small transformers, and began hooking up new customers.

In 1938, the people who owned the Interstate Electric System, operated out of Grand Junction, TN, were from Bogalass, Alabama. Several of them were unable to continue this operation. The customers of the Interstate Electric System went to TVA and asked for help. TVA authorities made an appraisal and performed a system study. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Somerville, along with TVA, entered into a contract for those customers to be served by the Somerville Electric Department.

The metering point was between Moscow and LaGrange, TN. The new area was to include Moscow, Rossville, Macon, Oakland, and Williston, with quite a number of new customers. Mr. Parsons and the County Agent, Mr. E.A. Allen and his assistant worked many long hours signing up new customers in these areas.

Then came R.E.A. into the picture. A County meeting was called. Some harsh words came out of the discussion. The Officials of the Town of Somerville, and the Light, and Water Commissioners called a special meeting. Dr. J.W. Morris, who was Chairman of the Light and Water Commission, stated to other members, that the people were getting distributed, and it looked like it would cause bad relations between the Town of Somerville and the rest of the County.

After a lengthy discussion, it was decided to take the matter up with TVA, and recommend to sell the rural areas, if a "Co-Op" could be organized. The deal was finally made for R.E.A. to be organized and an appraisal was made, and the Government funded the money to buy the lines. The newly formed "Co-Op" was named Chickasaw Electric Cooperative.

The Somerville Electric System area covered the Town of Somerville, with approximately ten miles of rural lines, at that time.

HISTORY OF SOMERVILLE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT

1901 Started Unknown 1st Superintendent

Superintendent J.L. Sanders, Sr. 1929 - 1932
(Street Lights were required to be cut off by 9:00 PM.
Ed Moore was the night shift generator operator and
Bill Taylor was the day shift generator operator.
These men used their own car and tools.
Electricity was sold at fifteen cents (15 ¢) per kwh, which is much more than we currently charge today)

Manager Duncan Parsons 1932 - 1968

Manager Otis Ozier, Sr. 1968 - 1979

Manager Kenny German 1979 - 1995

Manager Robert Glover 1991 - Present
(Today, we have approximately 1637 electric customers and one substation with a second substation to be completed by mid-summer 2007.)

GAS DEPARTMENT

The Town of Somerville Gas Department was started in 1955, and currently serves Somerville, Williston, Oakland, and Hickory Withe, Tennessee, with 5,331 gas customers. The Somerville Gas Department has two hundred twenty-four (224) miles of gas mains, including one hundred eight (108) miles of two inch mains, ninety-five (95) miles of four inch mains, and twenty-one (21) miles of six inch mains. The system has two main gate stations, one located at Highway 59, north of Somerville, and the other one located at Highway 64, west of Somerville.

WATER DEPARTMENT

The Town of Somerville Water Plant is a ground water plant with five wells. It has the capability to produce 1.3 million gallons of water per day, but as of now, it averages 600,000 gallons per day, while serving approximately 1,755 water customers.

The Somerville Water Plant is a grade 2 water plant and requires an operator to have a grade 2 certification. Presently, the Town of Somerville has one employee with a grade 2 certification. The Somerville Water Plant has five storage tanks; two 200,000 gallon tanks, two 500,000 gallon tanks, and one 100,000 gallon tank, in addition to two 100,000 gallon capacity clear wells. This is in compliance with all state and federal drinking water regulations.

Citizens can view Water Quality Reports yearly in local newspapers.

Currently serving as the Somerville Light, Gas, and Water Manager, Mr. Robert Glover has been employed by the Town of Somerville for thirty-eight years. He began in an entry level position and has worked his way to the top, pulling all shifts and working all positions.

Mr. Glover is a life-long resident of Fayette County, attended Fayette County Public Schools, and graduated from Fayette County High School in 1962. He is married to the former Pat Perkins of Somerville. They have two daughters, and four grand-daughters. He continues to reside in Somerville.