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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