Tennessee Code Title 7. Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities § 7-35-407

Any city or town acquiring a waterworks or sewerage system under this part shall provide a board of waterworks or sewerage commissioners, to consist of five (5) members, who shall have custody, administration, operation, maintenance and control of such works. The board of commissioners shall be created in the following manner: at the time the governing body of the city or town passes the ordinance authorizing the acquisition of a waterworks or sewerage system, the governing body shall appoint five (5) members from among the property holders, who are and have been residents of the city or town for not less than one (1) year next preceding the date of appointment. The governing body of the municipality may, in its discretion, appoint as one (1) of the five (5) members a member from such governing board of the municipality, but in that event, the term of the member shall never extend beyond the member's term of office in the governing body of the municipality.