Appomattox planner says water line users would pay less

Partnership between the town and county of Appomattox on the U.S. 460 water line project would result in cheaper rates for water users in both areas, County Planner Johnnie Roark told supervisors Monday night.

He also said a collaboration between the two localities would reduce the cost of the water line per person by about 50 percent.

The 7.5-mileline will stretch east along U.S. 460 from Concord and connect users to Campbell County Utilities and Service Authority’s water supply.

Although construction on the line has yet to begin, the county moved forward with its plans last year by hiring an engineer, purchasing a water tank site in Spout Spring and entering into an agreement with CCUSA to purchase 31,000 gallons of water per day.

A total of 51 Appomattox County users have signed up for the line, but despite numerous discussions between the town and county, Appomattox Town Council has not signed a contract with the county that would allow its 1,726 water users to connect to it.

The town currently runs on a public well system and council members have stated in meetings they worry town users’ water rates will increase if they sign on to the county’s water line.

At the board meeting, Roark disagreed, comparing the town’s 2010 water rates per user with the water rate agreed upon by the county and CCUSA.

Currently, the town’s wholesale water cost is $2.45 per 1,000 gallons while the county would receive water from CCUSA for $2.27 per 1,000 gallons, Roark said.

He added that CCUSA’s rates would change over time, as do all water rates.

Using the current rates, however, Roark said the town would save $.18 per 1,000 gallons or $13,423 per year if it signed a contract with the county.

He said that the public well’s annual cost of about $148,000 includes an additional $33,735 the town has to annually spend to reduce abnormally high copper and zinc levels in the well water.

That extra cost would be eliminated because they would no longer use the town’s wells, he said.

He also said a mutual agreement would increase grant possibilities for the project, reducing the line’s overall cost to the county.

This is because grants are more often awarded to projects that address a public health issue, which would be the case if the town signed on due to its problems with high zinc and copper levels, Roark said.

But regardless of whether town residents use the water line, they will pay part of its cost as county taxpayers.

“They’re going to pay one way or another,” Roark said.

Board Chairman Gary Tanner agreed, saying he felt it was important for town residents to know “they have a huge stake in this game.”

In other news:

The board has scheduled a joint meeting at the county’s school board office at 6:30 p.m. March 22.

Also, the board will hold budget work sessions at 6 p.m. on March 23 and March 30 in the Board of Supervisors room at Central Virginia Community College in Appomattox.

A public hearing on proposed changes to the county’s Building Code and Fire Prevention Code is slated for 6:15 p.m. on April 19.

A public hearing to receive comment on the Proposed Six Year Plan for Secondary Roads and the Secondary System Construction Budget for 2009-10 is also slated on that date at 6 p.m.