THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 2, 1997 TAG: 9701310015
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 36 lines
Suffolk City Council is being asked to consider conditional-use permits needed by Norfolk for construction of a 48-inch raw-water-transmission main. Eventually Suffolk will grant these permits. Your recent editorials assert that since Norfolk has water to sell, Suffolk is being unreasonable in delaying approval. I say Suffolk is being realistic. Now is the time to find out what these permits are worth to Norfolk, not after saying yes.
Now is the time for Suffolk to secure an abundance of water long-term at an affordable rate, not the Mickey Mouse 2 million gallons per day being discussed. Both Norfolk and Suffolk have something the other needs, so why not stop whining, begin serious discussions, reach a reasonable agreement and get on with life.
However, if Norfolk continues to stonewall and make unreasonable demands, then why should not Suffolk consider imposing a fee per gallon of water transmitted through this main with an escalation clause to cover any increases in the rates charged to Suffolk by Norfolk? After all, these are conditional-use permits.
There is another side to this coin, and all of it isn't bad: If Suffolk doesn't get the water it needs for the future at a reasonable rate, then the majority of the projected growth everyone is upset about will come to a standstill.
So will the need for the $100 million-plus capital plan for the schools, and possibly the corresponding need of a major tax increase. It is one way for Suffolk to manage growth. The city wouldn't have to hire a consultant to understand the message that ``No water is available'' sends to those interested in moving to Suffolk!
RICHARD R. HARRIS
Suffolk, Jan. 16, 1997