Appomattox County counters town’s water offer

By Sarah Watson

Published: May 27, 2008

The Appomattox County Board of Supervisors has responded in writing to last month’s town of Appomattox water line proposal.

The May 23 letter counter offers that the county construct and own a water pipeline to be built along U.S. 460 from Concord to Appomattox, with the town and county jointly pursuing grant money for the project.

Additionally, the letter proposes that the county install a master water meter at the town boundary and sell the town water at “real” cost, which would include the cost of water purchased from Campbell County Utilities and Services Authority and “capital and maintenance costs to bring the water to the town.”

The proposed water line has been a contentious topic in Appomattox for several years, with concerns about costs and whether its construction would increase growth — an effect some town residents say could be detrimental to the community.

Since November, the town and county have exchanged several counter proposals debating ownership and how to pay for the water line.

Last week’s letter also requests that the town consider equalizing the water rates charged to town and county customers. Out-of-town customers currently pay significantly higher water rates than those within the town limits.

“Your serious consideration of the county’s proposal is requested,” wrote Appomattox County Administrator Aileen Ferguson. “The Board of Supervisors and I look forward to working with council in moving forward to assure that an adequate water supply is available to the town and county for residential as well as commercial growth for many years to come.”

The details of the response were drafted during a special May 21 Board of Supervisors session, the letter said.

The county’s response letter comes a little more than a month after town officials sent the first counter offer. The April 15 letter from Appomattox Town Council proposed that the county foot 100 percent of the design and construction bill. That letter also requested that the county transfer full ownership of the pipeline to the town and proposed a “friendly boundary line adjustment” that would significantly expand the town limits.

In November, Ferguson sent a letter proposing that the town pay 25 percent of the construction costs and the county would pay 75 percent. Construction costs have been estimated to be around $5.7 million for the 9-mile pipeline. The town would have the largest concentration of users.

Campbell County is currently building a water line along Virginia 24 to Concord Elementary School and plans to extend a loop to U.S. 460.