Mount Carmel Officials Discuss Sewer Rate Hike, Trash Collection

Town leaders weigh options to address rising costs and maintain services.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Mount Carmel Board of Mayor and Aldermen held a work session to discuss increasing the town's sewer rate by 4.6% and addressing rising costs for trash collection services provided by the city of Kingsport. The board also discussed applying for grants to purchase a new fire tanker and make improvements to the town's park.

Why it matters

The sewer rate increase and trash collection changes are necessary for Mount Carmel to keep up with rising costs and avoid drastic jumps in rates in the future. The fire department's grant application for a new tanker would improve their ability to fight fires, especially in areas without sufficient water access, while park improvements would benefit the community.

The details

Town Manager Jim Stables said the 4.6% sewer rate increase, taking the base rate from $43.88 to $45.90, is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics and will help the town avoid large rate hikes down the line. The board will also seek bids for trash collection services as Kingsport plans to increase per can rates by 23%, though Stables noted switching providers may not be financially viable. Additionally, the town plans to pursue an ordinance charging a fee with speeding tickets to cover related software costs.

  • The board discussed the sewer rate increase and trash collection changes at a work session on February 12, 2026.
  • The board plans to vote on the sewer rate increase resolution at its February 26, 2026 meeting.
  • Fire Chief Mitch Walker said the grant and eventual purchase of a new fire tanker likely won't come through until next year.

The players

Jim Stables

Mount Carmel Town Manager.

John Gibson

Mayor of Mount Carmel.

Mitch Walker

Mount Carmel Fire Chief.

Tyler Williams

Mount Carmel Assistant Town Manager.

Kingsport

The city that currently provides trash collection services to Mount Carmel.

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What they’re saying

“If we don't do this, we'll let ourselves get behind, and face the same situation [we did in 2025].”

— John Gibson, Mayor (timesnews.net)

“If we're going to provide a service, we need to do it well. Water is the number one thing that fights fires. If you don't have that, the rest of it doesn't make a hill of beans.”

— Mitch Walker, Fire Chief (timesnews.net)

What’s next

The Mount Carmel Board of Mayor and Aldermen will vote on the sewer rate increase resolution at its February 26, 2026 meeting.

The takeaway

Mount Carmel is taking proactive steps to address rising costs and maintain essential services for the community, including increasing sewer rates, evaluating trash collection options, and pursuing grants to improve the fire department and town park.