Appomattox County supervisors to sign contract to purchase water from Campbell

Appomattox County supervisors said Tuesday that they will sign a contract to purchase water from Campbell County Utilities and Services Authority.

Supervisors also plan to meet with Rep. Tom Perriello on Thursday to learn what other financial options might exist to help pay for the planned $5.5 million water line along U.S. 460.

The draft contract, which was approved unanimously during Tuesday’s meeting, says the county can purchase up to 750,000 gallons per day from CCUSA, though the county anticipates only using 11,000 per day in the near term.

However, the contract states that the county must purchase a minimum of 31,000 gallons per day, even if it doesn’t use all of that. The reason for that is to help compensate Campbell County for installing larger piping in its water line along Virginia 24 at Appomattox County’s request, said a letter from Mike Damron, CCUSA administrator. Damron also wrote that CCUSA would be willing to discuss options until Appomattox County’s demand exceeds that 31,000-gallon threshold.

The draft contract also says Appomattox County will pay for any additional CCUSA infrastructure needed to deliver more than 250,000 gallons to the county. Water rates to Appomattox County will be determined using a complex formula based on a 2006 study, the draft contract said.

Appomattox County supervisors again tabled responding to a recent letter from the Town of Appomattox regarding water line negotiations. The town’s response did not provide any concrete conclusions other than asking for 60 days of negotiating time and outlining a list of topics to discuss, including a boundary line adjustment.

The letter came more than a year after the county made its last offer to the town regarding the water line. Board chairman Tom Conrad said supervisors’ reaction to that response was that of expectation. “We basically had an idea of what we were going to get,” he said. “This is something (supervisors) feel needs to be done in this county and we are looking to move forward with it, and certainly there is always the opportunity to be involved with the town afterward. But with or without them, we’re moving forward.”

Conrad said supervisors are heading to Washington on Thursday to meet with Perriello, D-5th District, about additional options to help pay for the project. “We’re not looking so much at other options other than just talking to our congressman about what’s there to help with this project. And just hearing from him (on) what other avenues as far as funding goes, and does he know of anything.”