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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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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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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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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