Albemarle commission recommends some cell tower changes, but not all

Albemarle County:

“Albemarle officials consider changes to the approval process for communications towers in the county, some residents are asking that key protections be maintained.

‘Right now, you’re being asked to rule on a decision that will make it easier to place cell towers in established neighborhoods and if you agree to these changes it will have a significant impact on Key West in particular,’ said Bob Toplin, who lives in the Key West neighborhood.

Toplin’s comments came during a recent public hearing before the Planning Commission. Staff wanted input on six distinct changes to the ordinance that governs how and where cell towers can be built. In recent years, industry officials have been asking the county to streamline the approval process so more towers can be erected to satisfy growing demand for mobile data services.”

~Writes Sean Tubbs of Charlottesville Tomorrow

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Carroll to extend natural gas lines

Carroll County:

“The Carroll County Industrial Authority (IDA) agreed at its meeting May 5 to extend the natural gas distribution system to Water and Center streets in Hillsville to pick up more customers. Andy Jackson made the motion to approve the extension, with the project cost not to exceed $30,000. The vote was unanimous.

It was noted that a lot of the expansion work would be handled by Carroll County employees. Earl Hagee, natural gas pipeline and utility specialist, told the IDA that 10 customers are now hooked to the system and that he was receiving calls daily from potential customers. Hagee said Mohawk is the largest customer, using about five million cubic feet a month.

Some of the other customers include the Carroll County Governmental Complex, Carroll County High School, and Classic Creations in the Carroll County Industrial Park. The new STEM Agriculture Lab under construction at the high school will also be hooked to the system after it’s completed.”

~Writes Larry Chambers, Carroll County public info

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Broadband authority wants to add connections more quickly

Nelson County:

“The Nelson County Broadband Authority is considering ways to escalate the speed of installations on and demand for the county’s network. According to a report provided by Baylor Fooks, of Blue Ridge InternetWorks, to the authority at its April 8 meeting, construction for each project is averaging more than 60 days.

 

‘This is a major obstacle to success and a source of a lot of frustration from customers,’ he said.

According to Fooks, installation for all customers in the Paul’s Creek area took six months to complete, and the recent installation at North Branch School took several months, as well. ‘There is no way to get accurate progress information from the contractor,’ Fooks said.”

~Writes Katherine Lacaze of the Nelson County Times

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Firehouse, new citizens group compete for Manassas water tower

City of Manassas:

“The Manassas City Council voted this week to give the city’s 100-year-old water tower a six-month lease on life. After the waiting period, the council will discuss again whether to demolish the locally iconic blue tower, which says ‘Welcome to Manassas’ to motorists approaching the city’s historic center but requires costly upkeep and plays only a small part in the city’s modern water system.

Anticipating an upcoming need for costly repairs, the Water and Sewer Department has sought permission to tear down the tower, which processes only a tiny fraction of the city’s water but costs an estimated $10,000 per year to operate. The Architectural Review Board contested the utility’s request, and it is now up to the council to determine whether the 1914 structure is worth saving for its historic merit. Residents have sent letters and started a 600-member Facebook group in an effort to convince the council of the tower’s significance to their city.

Now, Stephen Hersch, who has led the citizen effort, says that the group is moving beyond Facebook posts. He is leading an effort to incorporate a nonprofit organization that would purchase the tower from the city.”

~Writes Julie Zauzmer of the Washington Post

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Supervisors discuss options for utilities district

Caroline County:

“The Caroline Pines subdivision will eventually need to upgrade its aging water line. The question remains—how will they pay for it? The Board of Supervisors discussed options at its April 8 meeting and will explore the matter further in future work sessions.

Caroline Pines is already set up as a utility service district. This allows the board to increase the real estate tax rate on residences within the service district. The board can also establish a separate water user rate for the district’s customers. The goal in either case would be to recover the costs of repairing and replacing the utilities infrastructure.

Currently, the residents of Caroline Pines pay an extra $46.67 per month on their water bills, and this additional charge goes toward paying off the county’s availability fee—not toward any future repairs. The board had approved a discounted availability fee of $2,800 per customer for the community, which Caroline Pines residents are paying over a five-year period. The more than 350 customers are roughly two years into that arrangement. The county’s current availability fee is about $8,000 per customer.”

~ Writes The Caroline Press

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Board of Supervisors tables tower decision

Greene County:

“Greene County Supervisors have delayed a vote on a request to construct a controversial communications tower on Dyke Road. At its regular board meeting on April 8, the Greene County Board of Supervisors deferred until May 13 the vote on a request to construct the AT&T communications tower.

The decision came after supervisors listened to 15 people on both sides of the issue speak for 45 minutes and then asked questions of their own. ‘Did y’all have a second best choice?’ Supervisor Bill Martin inquired before asking fellow supervisors to defer the vote. The board voted unanimously to table the motion.

Preston Lloyd, attorney at Williams Mullen, told supervisors that AT&T officials chose the Dyke Road location because the site seemed to fit all the criteria mapped out in both AT&T’s regulations and the county’s ordinances.”

~Writes Kane Kashouty of the Greene County Record

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Cell tower proposed off Tide Mill Lane

City of Hampton:

“The City Council will soon act on AT&T's request to build a 145-foot-tall cellular tower in a Riverdale Christmas tree farm on Tide Mill Lane. The proposal is facing opposition from some area residents who see the tower and the technology attached to it as an eyesore in a residential neighborhood.

The Planning Commission unanimously agreed April 3 to recommend the tower at 57 Tide Mill Lane be approved. The Riverdale Regional Civic Association and city planning staff have also backed the request. City staff directs cell tower proposals to areas where fewer residents are affected by the infrastructure.

In 2011, community opposition forced the company to pull its application to build a 120-foot-tell tower at the Elks Lodge, 95 Tide Mill Lane. In 2009, the phone carrier had also submitted and subsequently removed its application for a tower at Burbank Elementary School.

The Riverdale Regional Civic Association opposed both previous proposals. On April 3, the group president Andy Bigelow said the latest site is the best location for the tower. A date has not yet been set for the City Council to act on the proposal.”

~Writes the Daily Press

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Bath-Highland Select Broadband Consultant

Central Shenandoah PDC:

“In January 2014, the Bath-Highland Telecommunications Management Team (TMT) led by CSPDC Regional Planner Robert Huff, solicited proposals for professional broadband telecommunications planning services. A selection committee made up of several TMT members reviewed eight proposals and invited three firms to interview. Consulting Gateway Corporation (CGC), in association with Dewberry Engineers, Inc., was selected to develop the plan. CGC has provided multiple options that the TMT reviewed at their March meeting in order to make service contract recommendations to local officials. 

The TMT is a group of about 30 individuals that have been tasked with improving Bath-Highland broadband services. The TMT acquired state funding  for the preparation of a comprehensive Community Telecommunications Plan, which will include a needs assessment analysis, broadband education and application development, last mile connectivity solutions, preliminary engineering and cost estimates, organizational and operational recommendations, and funding strategies for future implementation projects. The plan is expected to be completed in late summer 2014.”

~ Central Shenandoah PDC

Digital Dead Zones in Albemarle Closer to Getting Service

Albemarle County:

“People living in digital dead zones in rural Albemarle County are closer to getting service. The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will get a presentation Wednesday from the Broadband Task Force. The task force is expected to identify when and how dead zones in the Scottsville, Samuel Miller, and Whitehall districts will be fixed.

‘I understand that we were just recognized, the city of Charlottesville, as being one of the top ten wired communities in the entire country,’ Albemarle County Supervisor Jane Dittmar said. ‘So to drive 15 minutes outside and have people who can't have internet, can't use their cells, or can't get emergency vehicles in there because they don't have that, [it] doesn't make any sense.’

Dittmar says she hopes private broadband service providers and the county can work together. She would like to see effective service everywhere in the county by the end of this year.”

~ Reports nbc29

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Ground broken for new Bland County sewer project

Bland County:

“Bland County celebrated the first day of spring last week by breaking ground on its wastewater project, which leaders hope will help spur economic development in the county… The county has received grants and low-interest loans to pay for the nearly $8 million project. Phase I is about three-fourths of the entire project. It includes three pump stations and the extension of several thousands of feet of line from Bland to the treatment plant in Bastian.

A gravity line pump station will be built on the lower end of the fairgrounds, near the site of Thursday’s groundbreaking. Two other pump stations will be built on Brushy Mountain. The project will serve roughly 200 customers, including Bland elementary and high schools, ABB and Pascor, and the Exit 52 area of Interstate 77.”

~Writes Millie Rothrock of SWVA Today

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Project seeks to smooth way for offshore Va. winds

Coastal Virginia:

“The state is teaming up with Dominion Virginia Power in a research project that is intended to smooth the way for the development of an offshore wind industry. The Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advance Project proposes putting two 6-megawatt wind turbines on platforms designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. The turbines would be located 24 nautical miles (27 statute miles) off Virginia Beach.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced Thursday it is seeking written public comment on the project as it prepares an environmental assessment. It scheduled a meeting for April 3 in Virginia Beach for the public to speak out on the proposal. Last September, Dominion submitted a successful bid of $1.6 million bid to lease nearly 113,000 offshore acres for the development of wind power. Full development of the area could produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 700,000 homes. Besides the turbines, the project would also include cable linking the turbines to the electric grid in Virginia Beach. The project is expected to be operational by 2017. The so-called demonstration project received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Energy Department.”

~Writes The Associated Press

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Board OKs tower amendment, nixes scenic protection language

Nelson County:

“After months of deliberation and a lengthy discussion March 11, the Nelson County Board of Supervisors narrowly approved an amendment to the county’s communication tower ordinance. The board approved a repeal of almost all sections of the previous ordinance, Article 20 in the zoning code, and replaced them with new language that will reduce the requirements for a tower’s minimum setback from Virginia Scenic Byways and the Blue Ridge Parkway and serve as a comprehensive overhaul of previous tower classifications.

But the ordinance does not include proposed requirements that Nelson County Planning & Zoning Director Tim Padalino argued would help protect undeveloped mountain scenery in the county.”

~Writes Katherine Lacaze of Nelson County Times

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First Proposal in for Water Pipeline

Fluvanna County:

“The James River Water Authority (JRWA) announced its receipt of an unsolicited PPEA proposal to construct a utility system and part of a water pipeline in Fluvanna County on Mar. 7. The Public-Private Educational Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002, from which the PPEA proposal draws its name, allows agencies, institutions, and localities to form partnerships with the private sector and work together to complete major projects, according to the website of Virginia Information Technologies Agency.

The proposal was submitted by Faulconer Construction Co., Inc., Timmons Group, and teaming partner MEB General Contractors, to the JRWA, which is comprised of three members from Fluvanna, three from Louisa, and the Louisa County Water Authority. As stated in the inter-jurisdictional agreement passed by the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors last Sept. 18, the JRWA will construct both an intake facility at the James River and a pipeline, ending in a junction, roughly to Rt. 6. This PPEA proposal seeks permission to do just that…

The proposal suggests the system will be allowed by its withdrawal permit to take about 2.85 million gallons per day (GPD) from the James River. Nevertheless, the intake facility will be sized to handle the maximum withdrawal allowed by law, which is 5.7 million GPD. Not included in the public portion of the proposal is the anticipated time frame for the undertaking or its expected cost. Fluvanna and Louisa Counties will equally split the cost of construction, which at one time was estimated to be around $3.5 million, and may since have increased.”

~ Writes Christina Dimeo Guseman of the Fluvanna Review

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Click here for the James River Water Authority Website

Debate Over Lorton Landfill Continues at Public Hearing

Fairfax County:

“The debate over the future of the Lorton landfill continued as community members commented before the Fairfax County Planning Commission at a public hearing on Feb. 27. Over 50 people signed up to speak on the EnviroSolutions application to extend landfill operations until 2040, with the meeting going into the early hours of the morning.

EnviroSolutions, who owns the Lorton landfill, is applying for permission to widen the landfill and continue operations until 2040. EnviroSolutions’ proposed green energy triangle at the site of the landfill, which includes the development of geothermal energy, three wind turbines, and solar panels, was a major topic at the hearing.

Supporters cited the green energy as being beneficial for the county, as well as EnviroSolutions’ commitment to providing the community with $18 million, given out in increments over the course of two decades between 2019 and 2040. Jim Corcoran, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, which endorses the EnviroSolutions application to extend the landfill, said that a green energy triangle will enhance the county’s reputation.”

~Writes Janelle Germanos of The Connection

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Service Authority moves forward with water program

Nelson County:

“The Nelson County Service Authority is approaching a new stage in the process of implementing a program that will help protect the public water supply from potential backflow hazards and drinking water contamination. Called a cross-connection and backflow prevention program, its implementation is a requirement of the Virginia Department of Health.

‘It’s all in the name of public safety and protecting our water supply,’ said George Miller, executive director of authority. According to the department of health, a cross connection is an actual or potential link between a drinking water system and any source of contamination. Backflow is the reversed flow of contaminated or other liquids into a drinking water system.

Miller said the implementation process was started about two years ago when he was directed to go to Albemarle County to check out its successful program. Now the authority is getting ready to survey certain customers in the distribution system to gather information on what is in place and what might need to be installed for the program.”

~Writes Katherine Lacaze of Nelson County Times

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Bedford Weaving drops lawsuit to block SML water project

Bedford County:

“A Bedford business is withdrawing a lawsuit filed last month seeking to halt construction on a massive project to pipe water from Smith Mountain Lake to Bedford and Forest. Bedford Weaving filed an injunction Jan. 7 against the Bedford Regional Water Authority in the county’s Circuit Court. The injunction claimed the entity’s creation as a merged system of the city of Bedford’s water and sewer department and Bedford County Public Service Authority did not properly specify the project as called for in the Virginia Water and Waste Act.

Kevin Mottley, a Richmond attorney representing Bedford Weaving, filed a motion for a non-suit Friday. When reached Monday, he did not address the reason for dismissal or comment further. ‘We’re dropping the suit,’ Mottley said. ‘It is what it is.’ Bedford Weaving, a company with 115 employees, claimed in the suit the project would increase rates and provide treated water from Smith Mountain Lake that could have ‘significantly greater hardness,’ leading to operational problems. The company was a customer for years of the former city and was folded into the BRWA customer base when the city reverted to a town last year.

Sam Darby, attorney for the authority, argued in a Jan. 24 response seeking to dismiss the case that the authority is granted ‘broad powers’ in undertaking projects beyond those specified in articles of incorporation and added the Smith Mountain Lake plan would not cause ‘irreparable harm’ to the company. Megan Rapp, authority spokeswoman, said Monday the non-suit motion does not come as a surprise. She said BRWA Chairman Elmer Hodge and another board member had met recently with Bedford Weaving leaders to alleviate concerns.”

~ Writes Justin Faulconer of The (Lynchburg) News & Advance

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Mount Jackson moves forward on water project

Town of Mount Jackson:

“Mount Jackson embarked on a project that officials say should improve water quality and help the town prepare for the future. Town Council recently approved a contract with Richmond-based firm Kreye Blankenship Inc. to design and build a facility that would treat the water coming from three of its four municipal wells. Council's action comes about two years after a consultant's report recommended the town take this course.

Town Manager Kevin Fauber said Thursday the firm estimates the project would take about 20 weeks to design the project. The town has not yet received an estimate on when the firm would complete the construction, Fauber said. ‘We would have to coordinate construction so that it wouldn't interfere with our system,’ Fauber said.

The $787,000 project also aims to address problems seen in the water Mount Jackson draws from its municipal wells, Fauber said…Mount Jackson may not need to raise water rates to help pay for the loan the town received that covers more than half of the project cost, Fauber said. Mount Jackson provides drinking water to customers in town and Shenandoah County under a health department permit. The town brought two of its newer wells online in the past two years.”

~Writes Alex Bridges of the NV Daily

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Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors approves sewer regionalization proposal

Isle of Wight:

“The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for the county to join with 13 other localities in a regional approach to sewer upgrades at a meeting on Thursday. The measure, which has the support of most of Hampton Roads' localities, is expected to save the county $1 million during the next 10 years, according to documents attached to the agenda for Thursday's meeting.

The Environmental Protection Agency has mandated repairs to the area's sewer system to prevent overflow during heavy rain. A regional sewer authority, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, says it can cut costs if localities empower it to take a regional approach to the overhaul, saving the region as much as $1 billion, but only if all 14 localities are on board.

Frank Haltom, Isle of Wight's director of general services, told the board Thursday that approving the partnership would be a smart move, especially for the wallets of county residents.”

~ Writes Ryan Murphy of the Daily Press

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Click here to learn more about the Hampton Roads Sanitation District

Mount Jackson moving forward with water plant

Shenandoah County:

“Mount Jackson is moving forward with a project to construct a water treatment plant that would add two existing wells to the town’s water system. The project cost is $787,200. It is being paid with a $432,960 30-year loan at 2.5 percent interest from the Health Department’s office of drinking water, plus principal forgiveness, basically a grant, of $354,240.

During its regular meeting Tuesday (Feb. 11), the Mount Jackson Town Council approved an engineering design contract with Kreye Blankenship, Inc., of $73,000 for the project. ‘This project would bring the two wells on line,’ said Kevin Fauber, town manager. ‘Water from the wells would be treated through construction of small treatment plant.’

One well has somewhat high nitrate levels and the other, located in a mountainous area, contains considerable iron, he added. Mount Jackson currently uses four wells, said Fauber. When complete, this project will increase the total number of wells to six, adding two wells to the overall waterworks for the town of 2,000 people.”

~ Writes Jonathon Shacat of The Shenandoah Valley-Herald

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York Supervisors skeptical of regional sewer plan

York County:

“The York County Board of Supervisors remains skeptical of a regional sewer plan proposed by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District. During a meeting Tuesday, the board was told there was still no cost estimate for adopting the plan that consolidates sewer improvement projects under the district. All localities must approve the plan by the end of the month to move forward with a rate study, said Brian Woodward, the county's chief of utilities. ‘How do the powers that be expect a decision on the backs of the taxpayers without knowing what the cost will be?’ Supervisor Walt Zaremba said. ‘They want a blank check.’

The plan leaves systems under local control while placing the burden of high-dollar repairs on the regional body. It means higher rates for residents, but the increases could be greater if the localities decided to tackle the infrastructure work on their own…

The supervisors worry not only that the cost could come back much higher than expected, but also that, because York's sewer system is newer than others in the region, it wouldn't see work done on its pipes and would be subsidizing improvements in older communities.”

~ Writes Ali Rockett of the Daily Press

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Loudoun Water Purchases Beaverdam, Goose Creek Reservoirs

Loudoun County:

“Loudoun Water has finalized the purchase of all Loudoun-based drinking water assets from the City of Fairfax. The $30 million purchase includes the Goose Creek Water Treatment Plant, Goose Creek and Beaverdam reservoirs and a pipeline along the W&OD Trail to the Fairfax County line.

Fairfax established its drinking water system in Loudoun County during the late 1950s. Since that time, Fairfax has provided drinking water to Loudoun Water customers through a wholesale water purchase agreement, while sending the majority of drinking water to its customers via a cross-county transmission pipeline. As a result of Loudoun Water's purchase, City of Fairfax residents will be served by Fairfax Water, and Loudoun Water will dedicate the full 11-million-gallon-per-day capacity of the Goose Creek Water Treatment Plant to serving its growing customer base.

‘By purchasing these assets, we seized a strategic opportunity to own our future and have better control over significant operations impacting our customers,’ Loudoun Water General Manager Fred Jennings said in a statement announcing the purchase. ‘The value of owning these assets is only enhanced by their strategic fit with our initiative to establish new drinking water resources along the Potomac River and Goose Creek. This purchase complements our capital programs and provides our customers reliability and sustainability long into the future.’”

~Writes Erika Jacobson Moore of Leesburg Today

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How much does Urbanna water service actually cost?

Town of Urbanna:

“The Town of Urbanna once provided its residents with sewer service, but turned that responsibility over to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District in the late 1990s. Since then, the most important function of the town office has been to provide drinking water. The job of figuring out how much the water system actually costs has been taken up by council member Joe Heyman.

The town council has been without a designated treasurer since Bob Calves resigned in March, 2013. Although he is not the town treasurer, Heyman has been working with town staff in an attempt to create a monthly budget report. After months of scouring town financial line items, Heyman is trying to figure how much time the town staff devotes to water issues ‘so we can understand how much the water system really does cost us,’ he told council members who were present at the January 16 council work session.

Heyman said it’s vital to figure where the town staff spends most of its time, so the town council can focus on that subject—be it zoning, water, or the Old Tobacco Warehouse. ‘We can’t really explain how much the water system costs us,’ he said. Heyman said that a town employee told him about a year ago that 60% of his time was devoted to the water system.”

 ~Writes Tom Chillemi of the SSentinel

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Recycling center going in despite neighborhood concerns

Henrico County:

“A new recycling center that worried residents and parents in western Henrico County will be built, but with changes to the original plan. The center will be near Pemberton Elementary School, Harry F. Byrd Middle School and West End Montessori School.

Neighbors were worried about the facility’s lights, impact on wildlife, noise and, perhaps most of all, traffic. The Pemberton Elementary School PTA sent its president to talk to the Board of Supervisors, in part about the traffic on Quioccasin Road. The board approved the recycling center last week, despite residents’ reservations. The center — an unmanned facility that is essentially a group of Dumpsters — will be on Shane Road, just off Quioccasin Road. The gated facility will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s intended as a place for residents of multi-family housing who lack curbside recycling pickup to drop off their household recyclables.

County officials have lowered the height proposed for the lights, reworked the grading of the site to limit the removal of vegetation, pledged to make sure the noise isn’t excessive and closely studied the traffic situation. And county officials point out that all of this is far better than any private development of the lot, an idea that has been floated in the past. Recent renovations at a pair of area fire stations squeezed out recycling drop-offs that had been housed at the stations. The proposed center, next to one of those fire stations, would replace the centers that were lost.”

~Writes Ted Strong of the Richmond Times Dispatch

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General Assembly Bills: Dams and Water Impoundments

General Assembly

“Concerning dams and water impoundment structures, the Senate has approved SB 582, which directs DCR to utilize storm-based approach to determine Probable Maximum Precipitation by December 15. The PMP is used to determine whether a dam is rated as high hazard, thus requiring spillway renovations to account for potential loss of life/property. By updating the PMP, it is anticipated that dam owners will have significant cost savings in spillway construction and remediation efforts. Under the bill, no dam renovations will be required until after the analysis is completed. In addition, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee will write a letter to DCR requesting it develop a funding plan for addressing costs of rehabilitating high hazard dams. The House counterpart, HB 1006 is in the House Appropriations Committee.”

~Writes David Blount TJPDC Legislative Liaison

Stafford dedicates largest public works project in its history

Stafford County:

“Northern Virginia’s newest lake started forming in Stafford County with the turning of the pumps to fill the Rocky Pen Run Reservoir on Tuesday morning. The lake is the largest public works project in county history. ‘Our population has more than doubled in the last 20 years and the number of businesses and employee base has risen as well,’ Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Cavalier, Griffis-Widewater District, said. ‘Rocky Pen Run’s 5.5-billion-gallon reservoir will allow us to meet the needs of both our private and corporate citizens for years to come.’

The new reservoir will serve customers in the southern and western portions of Stafford, but water can be pumped throughout the county based on need. Rocky Pen Run will join Abel Lake and Smith Lake in supplying water to county customers. The new reservoir will draw water from the Rappahannock River, doubling the safe yield capacity of the water supply system from what exists today. The new reservoir will also offer recreational opportunities, including fishing and non-motorized boating, such as kayaking.”

~Writes Shannon Howell of the Stafford County Sun

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Buena Vista's Dickinson Well Project

Central Shenandoah PDC

“Construction on Buena Vista's Dickinson Well began in December 2013, thanks to a $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.  Dickinson Well, the City's largest well source, was declared to be under the influence of surface water in November 2009.  At that point, the City shut down the Dickinson Well system and began the process of obtaining professional engineering services to bring the facility in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.  This meant that additional treatment of the water in the form of membrane filtration would have to be provided.  The CSPDC assisted the City in applying for and receiving CDBG funding and continues to provide grant administration services to Buena Vista for the project.  Dickinson Well is expected to be back online in the fall of this year.”

~Central Shenandoah PDC

Landfill gas to power three Lynchburg-area colleges

City of Lynchburg

“It’s an energy source that otherwise would be trashed, but five small Virginia colleges -- three in the Lynchburg area -- are taking advantage of it. It's landfill gas, the toxic methane that landfills routinely capture and flare off. Lynchburg College, Randolph College, Sweet Briar College, Emory & Henry and Hollins University have partnered with Collegiate Clean Energy, a business that is an affiliate of Ingenco, a landfill gas energy operator. The company captures methane off of the landfill and turns it into electricity, which is sold back to utilities.

In a practical sense, the changes at Emory & Henry will be as simple as switching from one electricity provider to another, through Appalachian Power, said Jesse Freedman, energy manager for the college. He said he expects the switch to happen within the next two months. The change will help reduce the college’s carbon footprint and will go a long way toward helping the college reach its carbon neutral goal, he added.”

~Writes Allie Robinson Gibson of the Bristol Herald Courier

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Sewer services coming to Gloucester Point neighborhoods

Gloucester County

“The cost of hooking up to county sewer lines extending into several Gloucester Point neighborhoods could run up to $6,500 per household for dozens of homeowners, according to county projections. But the county is pursuing grant funding to cover a portion of the cost to homeowners and would also offer interest-free financing for a period of five years for part of the fees.

The county is accepting bids from contractors to extend sewer services in two phases to homes in the Terrapin Cove Road area of Gloucester Point. Phase I of the project includes Laurel and Holly roads. Phase II includes Azalea Point, Berkeley, Hoven and Killdee roads. Cost estimates for the sewer extension projects run up to $430,000.”

~Writes Matt Sabo of the Daily Press

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Oceanfront street to undergo 3-year makeover

Virginia Beach

“Pacific Avenue at the Oceanfront is in store for a major makeover that is expected to take three years to complete. The $15 million project is expected to start this fall. Work includes the reconstruction of the southbound lanes from 15th Street to 23rd Street, new pavement heading northbound, new sidewalks and street lights, along with improvements to sewer, water and gas lines.

‘It's been in need of improvements for a long, long time,’ said George Smith, owner of Juice Box Surf Shop on Pacific Avenue. While he knows the project is important, Smith worries about his bottom line during construction.”

~Writes Philip Townsend of 13News Now

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Council Mulls Options for Water Sale Proceeds

City of Falls Church:

“Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields was slated to review a range of options for the use of net cash proceeds of about $14 million from the sale of the Falls Church Water System to the Fairfax Water Authority at a F.C. City Council work session Wednesday night, in advance of a Feb. 3 work session to which he’s invited professional consultants to ‘provide some independent suggestions on the use of the one-time proceeds from the sale.’

Options mulled so far have included investment in the City’s pension plan that could reduce the City’s annual required contribution by $980,000, use of the funds for ‘pay as you go’ to mitigate cost of capital improvement projects now on the drawing boards (such as a new high school), and the formation of an endowment that could generate $371,000 to $651,000 per year.”

~ Writes the Falls Church News-Press

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Decision on easement deferred

Town of Lawrenceville

“In response to concerns raised by citizens, the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors voted to defer action on a resolution to begin the process to acquire easements until they had a chance to talk with citizens. The supervisors held a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 6 to initiate condemnation proceedings to acquire property necessary for the water and sewer project along Route 58. The resolution authorizes the power of eminent domain for the acquisition of certain easements. The water and sewer lines will serve the Dominion Virginia Power project now under construction.”

~Writes Sylvia Allen of the Brunswick Times-Gazette

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Poquoson approves regional sewer rehab plan

City of Poquoson

“The city of Poquoson is one of the first localities in Hampton Roads to approve a plan that consolidates sewer improvement projects under one regional district. The city council unanimously entered into a memorandum of agreement, which must be approved by every municipality if it is to be implemented at all, with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District. This likely means higher rates for residents, but the hikes could be greater if the city decided to tackle the infrastructure work on its own, according to a note to the council from the city's engineer Ellen Roberts.

The hybrid plan leaves systems under local control while placing the burden of high-dollar repairs on the regional body. It is projected to save the region $1 billion throughout 30 years according to a consultant's study.”

~Writes the Ali Rockett of the Daily Press

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Fairfax Water to Supply City of Fairfax Residents

Fairfax County

“The City of Fairfax completed the sale of its water utility to Fairfax Water, beginning the process of merging these two water systems. ‘Fairfax Water is pleased to welcome the customers of the City of Fairfax service area to our family of 1.7 million Northern Virginians who receive water service from Fairfax Water. We look forward to continuing our history of providing exceptional service, quality, and reliability to our customers,’ said Philip W. Allin, Chairman of Fairfax Water.

In commenting on the transition Mayor Silverthorne said, ‘This is a win-win for all parties. City residents will continue to receive plentiful high-quality water plus lower rates for water in the future. In the final analysis, we had to give first consideration to an opportunity that would save our residents money in the near and long term.’

The City Council voted to sell the system in April 2013. In signing the final papers today, Fairfax Water purchased the City of Fairfax water system, transferred employment of the City’s water system employees to Fairfax Water, and guaranteed the reduction of water rates for the City of Fairfax water system customers to be equalized to the Fairfax Water rates within three years.”

~Writes The Connection

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