THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, October 6, 1995                TAG: 9510040183
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER       PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   46 lines

CITY PANEL TO EXPLAIN ADVANTAGE OF BONDS VOTERS TO BE ASKED TO FUND BETTER WATER.

City voters soon will be asked to give their blessing to a bond issue that would pay for $72 million in improvements to the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant.

With the Nov. 7 referendum fast approaching and citizens made grumpy by poor water quality over the past several months, Mayor William E. Ward is trying to inform the public about the issues involved in the referendum.

Ward has appointed a 17-member committee to address citizens' groups, on request, and explain the referendum.

The city must finance the improvements to the treatment plant, whether or not voters approve the bond issue. The water treatment system must be brought in line with new federal clean-water standards.

The difference is, if the bond referendum carries, the city will be able to get the money at a lower interest rate and will save about $5.5 million. If the vote fails, the city will have to borrow at a higher rate, and the project could end up costing as much as $78 million.

Water rates, which were hiked once in August, would have to be raised again if voters don't give the thumbs up.

The bonus for the city, officials say, is that the improved treatment system also will clear up problems with exceptionally salty-tasting water. A new filtering system would remove the unpleasant impurities.

The members of the citizens' committee are charged with explaining all that. Committee members, according to a city news release, are David A. Craymer, George W. Midgett Jr., Joe Walls, Roy A. Robb, Rod Fombell, Roger C. Reinhold, Larry Brayboy, Brenda Johnson, Phil Infantino, Robert Taylor, Ernie Fulford, Colleen Parker, Wayne Peterson, Alice Taylor-Smith and Sonja Lewczyk. Co-chairs are JoAnne Clarke and Burk Perrow.

Chesapeake residents or groups who want to book one of the committee members to speak about the referendum can call the city's public information office at 547-6241. Officials also will offer tours of the Northwest Water Treatment Plant. Call the plant at 421-2146.

KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE BONDS WATER by CNB