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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Roanoke Water Authority may Help Pay for New SML Water Plant

Bedford County

“Negotiations will continue into next month between water authorities in Bedford County and the Roanoke Valley to extend a buy-sell agreement into a working partnership. The discussion includes potential development of a new water treatment plant in Bedford County that would increase the amount of water drawn from Smith Mountain Lake and purchased by the Western Virginia Water Authority, which services Roanoke and Roanoke and Franklin counties.

An investment from the Roanoke-based authority would shoulder some of the Bedford Regional Water Authority’s burden in the project, which has an early projected price tag of $34 million. A draft agreement could come before each authority’s board as early as February. The costs and logistics for the facility and interconnecting lines will be examined by Black & Veatch Corp. in a study commissioned by the Bedford authority on Tuesday. The examination includes a potential line running from the new facility in Moneta to Bedford along Virginia 122, and then along U.S. 460 to Forest, where service is provided through water purchased from Lynchburg.”

~Writes Alex Rohr of the Roanoke Times

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County Asks Legislators for Ability to Compel Residents to Tie into Utilities

Gloucester County

“Gloucester County is once again asking the Virginia General Assembly to allow it to have the ability to require its residents to connect to county water and sewer if hookups are available. The request was listed as the top priority to be sent to Del. Keith Hodges (R-Middlesex) and State Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) to be considered for legislation in the coming session. The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in March 2012, requesting consideration of the matter by the General Assembly.

This year, Gloucester went a step further. The board took a different approach, asking the General Assembly to allow all localities in the commonwealth which own and maintain their own water and sewer systems to have the ability to require residents to connect to the system where it is available and where the elected governing body is in control of the utilities system.”

~Writes Quinton Sheppard of the Gazette-Journal

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Supervisors Vote to Spend $11 Million Burying Power Lines in Woodbridge

Prince William County

“Part of the clutter marring the overhead scenery along U.S. 1 in Woodbridge– about 80 aging utility poles – will be removed in coming months, thanks to a Prince William County Board of Supervisors’ decision this week. The board voted Tuesday to spend about $11 million in county reserve funds to bury the lines from Mary’s Way to the Fairfax County line.

The work will be conducted in conjunction with a Virginia Department of Transportation project to widen the northern most stretch of U.S. 1 in Prince William County, which is set to begin next year and be completed in 2016. The board’s decision, approved in a five to three vote, comes two weeks after some Woodbridge residents addressed the board to ask that something be done about the unsightly poles, many of which have deteriorated and are leaning onto one another.”

~Writes InsideNova

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Fluvanna Supervisors at Odds Over Approved Aqua Virginia Deal

Fluvanna County

“Some Fluvanna supervisors are fired up after Wednesday night's board meeting. The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a controversial $20 million Aqua Virginia proposal, even though the issue wasn't on the agenda.

Supervisor Donald Weaver called what happened "the shadiest deal the county has ever performed.” And he isn't the only supervisor upset about the unexpected motion. Vice Chair Bob Ullenbruch says he was caught off-guard when fellow board member Joseph Chesser unexpectedly put the motion on the table during old business at the end of the meeting. The vote came so late, most of the public and media had already left.”

~Reports NBC29

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