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Notwithstanding anything in this part to the contrary, no unified government may take over, assume or acquire any powers, rights, obligations, duties and privileges with respect to any utility service created, authorized or owned by a smaller city not electing to merge into the unified government, unless and until the legislative body of such smaller city expressly consents to the acquisition by the unified government.
Express consent shall be evidenced by the execution by the smaller city of a franchise agreement granting to the service provider rights and authority within the boundary of the smaller city, subject to such terms and conditions as may mutually be agreed upon between the smaller city and service provider.
Notwithstanding anything in this part to the contrary, in the event that a unified government shall take over, assume or acquire by any means the assets, property or rights of any utility district located within the county of the unified government and any of such assets, property or rights are located within or relate to any smaller city not electing to unify, the smaller city shall have the right and option to acquire such assets, property or rights as are located within or relate to, or that reasonably and economically cannot be separated from such assets and property, as are located within the smaller city upon assumption by the smaller city of the debts, obligations and liabilities reasonably incurred or related to such property, assets or rights.
If the parties are not in agreement in writing within sixty (60) days after acquisition by the unified government, the matters upon which agreement have not been reached shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the law of arbitration of the state of Tennessee effective at the time of submission to the arbitrators, except that § 29-5-101(2) shall not apply to any arbitration under this section.
The award so rendered shall be transmitted to the chancery court of the county of the unified government and then shall be subject to review in accordance with §§ 29-5-113, 29-5-115 and 29-5-118.