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Town Council approves $4 million bond
The Washington Town Council unanimously adopted an ordinance and resolution for the issuance of a $4 million general obligation bond to pay for the new wastewater treatment and collection system at its Nov. 12 council meeting.The vote was the legal equivalent of sighing on the dotted line as the ordinance became law and fully committed the town – and all residents – to the project.
Prior to the vote, Mayor Eugene Leggett opened the meeting for public comment. There were five people present, none had any comments.
The Rappahannock News asked the council what they had considered – in addition to the bond issue – to help assist residents who may not be able to afford the access fee which has been estimated to cost $7,500. Other costs associated with switching from septic fields to a municipal wastewater system could add an additional $2,500 or more.
Leggett was emphatic that the town would not be raising taxes. It was also pointed out by town attorney John Bennett and administrative assistant Laura Dodd that the cost to residents had been in the public record for nearly a year and that residents have had time to consider how they would pay.
Bennett also pointed out that the no-interest loan from the Department of Environmental Quality was in essence a "grant" and that it cut the project cost – and therefore costs for residents – in half.
Several council members expressed concern, however, that the town had not done enough to advise residents on various options available to help pay for the hook up costs.
Leggett and council member John Sullivan did meet with Mike Leake of the Rappahannock National Bank to discus options the bank would be able to offer town residents. Sullivan said the bank was willing to offer a long term, low interest equity loan with a low minimum ($10,000) to residents who owned their homes, but what may be available to other residents was unclear.
The council discussed trying to get a count of how many households would need assistance and to find out what, if any, grant money would be available.
Bennett said there would be no way of knowing what state or federal money would be available until the wastewater fee ordinance was adopted and a date set to levy the access costs.
The fee ordinance was to be discussed by council on Wednesday, Nov. 19, however, it was after the newspaper's deadline.
Bennett also said that "nobody has to pay immediately" upon project commencement – projected to be in January 2009 – and that any due date for the hook up fee was still a year out.
Other project costs, such as repaving the streets, have been put off three to five years, and a contract with the engineering firm (WW & Associates) was amended on terms more favorable to the town.
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