Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 8, 1995 TAG: 9503080084
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The authority's board, which includes the same seven men on the county Board of Supervisors, will hold a June 5 public hearing on the proposed rate increase. The board also is proposing increasing the water and sewer connection fees to a uniform $500. The sewer fee is now $400; the current water hookup charge is $450.
If the board approves the changes after the hearing, most water customers would see the increase in their July bills.
The change wouldn't affect the separate and far larger Christiansburg or Blacksburg water systems, though Blacksburg's town manager last week proposed a 6.5 percent increase in water and sewer rates. The Public Service Authority serves the unincorporated, rural areas outside the two towns.
The Montgomery proposal would increase average monthly bills for the 1,290 water customers outside the newly completed Christiansburg-to-Elliston water system. Beginning this month, the 650 Elliston and Shawsville customers already pay a higher rate to cover the cost of the borrowing used to pay for part of the $2.5 million water project. The proposed change would mean all county customers would pay the same rate Elliston residents pay today.
The rate increase would mean the average monthly water bill for 5,000 gallons would jump to $25.75 from $24.10. The change would give the authority a $9,160 surplus, compared with a $29,300 deficit if it sticks with the current rate, according to a report by Utilities Director Gary Gibson.
The sewer and water connection fee change is designed to recoup the authority's actual costs in connecting a new customer to utility lines. The fees covered the costs until recently, board Chairman Ira Long said.
Board members settled on the $500 after hearing a proposal from board member Joe Gorman to push the fee even higher to raise capital for future improvements.
In other business Monday, the PSA board heard again from Sugar Grove community residents concerned about the board's study of a $4.4 million sewage treatment plant on Elliott Creek. The board last month publicly discussed a feasibility study that recommends Elliott Creek as the second-best way to provide sewage service to the Falling Branch industrial park just outside Christiansburg. It also could provide sewer service to a broad swath of the drainage basin just east of the rapidly growing Riner farming community.
The cheaper, preferred alternative is $2.2 million to buy sewage service from Christiansburg's existing Crab Creek plant, something that's been the subject of negotiations between the town and county for months.
The Sugar Grove and Rogers-area residents are worried about the environmental effect a sewage treatment plant would have on the creek, a trout stream that feeds into the South Fork of the Roanoke River. They also worry about odors, because most of them live downwind of the narrow mountain valley envisioned as the site for the plant. And they question the cost estimate.
"Someone's going to have to pay for it and I don't my taxes to go up to pay for it because it won't benefit me at all," said Blase Wagenbrenner, who lives on Bow Hill Road, downwind and downstream of the potential site.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Linkous said last week the plant is not economically feasible and the board will continue to pursue negotiations with Christiansburg.
Ira Long, the service authority board chairman, said Monday he, too, doesn't think the Elliott Creek plant is feasible. "I really like the concept of [the plant] for future growth," he said. But "those people don't have to worry about that, I don't think."
by CNB