"All for One" or for just a select few?....

Once again we are back to the Greenville Sewer issue as reported here by the NewsVirginian. It is now reportede that Chairman Pyle's has his own research on the properties involved and has determined that there is no problem at this time and that the entire county should not be paying for one areas problem.... As compared to the now paid staff at select Firehouse & First-aid squads in the County?.....

Augusta Supervisors vote to proceed with Greenville sewer project

By: Bob Stuart | News Virginian
Published: July 12, 2012 Updated: July 12, 2012 - 7:30 AM

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VERONA, Va. -- The Augusta County Board of Supervisors narrowly voted 4-3 on Wednesday night to proceed with the Greenville sewer project after more than an hour of discussion over a funding shortfall of $445,000 for the more than $4.3 million project.

Construction work could be finished by the end of 2013, with the hookups to be completed afterward. Supervisors who supported moving forward with the project, said the three years of work on a sewer system for Greenville would be lost if the project stalled now.

Middle River Supervisor Larry Wills also spoke of the lost opportunity to use $2.5 million in funding from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality if the project stopped. The funding includes a $1 million grant and more than $1.5 million in an interest-free loan from DEQ.

“That money will go somewhere,” Wills said.

Ken Fanfoni, executive director of the Augusta County Service Authority, said a continued delay in a final go-ahead would jeopardize the funding stream available from DEQ. Fanfoni said DEQ is “well aware there is not unanimous support for this project.” But he said at a certain point, the state agency would withdraw its financial support.

Riverheads Supervisor Mike Shull, whose district Greenville lies in, said if the project is turned down the federal Environmental Protection Agency will come back at a later date and ask why that action was taken. Shull said the cost for funding the project would then go to the county, and perhaps a greater cost to property owners in Greenville.

Under the current project design, those hooking up will pay a $1,000 fee and a $55 monthly cost for participating in the sewer project. To date, there are 135 commitments to hook up to the sewer system.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Tracy Pyles said his research with health department authorities showed there are no failing septic systems in Greenville.

Pyles said the problems with septic systems in Greenville are no worse than in other parts of Augusta County. But the board chairman said if the county had to pay the added $445,000 revealed Wednesday, the funds would come from the general fund and all county taxpayers.

Pyles suggested tabling an approval of the project, and going back to all involved to see if there was a way to ask for other funds to cover the shortfall.

South River Supervisor David Beyeler countered by saying that county taxpayers provide the infrastructure funds that all supervisors use in their districts. And, he said, if there is a “sore spot in Augusta County, it affects the whole county.”

The construction bid for building the sewer system was awarded to Fielder’s Choice Enterprises of Charlottesville. That company's bid of $2.875 million included the construction of a gravity line along U.S. 11.

Those supervisors voting to proceed with the project Wednesday night included Shull, Wills, Beyeler and Wayne District Supervisor Jeff Moore. Those opposing the project proceeding with the project now included Pyles, North River Supervisor Marshall Pattie and Beverley Manor Supervisor David Karaffa.

Similar to Pyles’ sentiments, Karaffa motioned to table a vote on proceeding with the project now, but his motion died for a lack of second.

The added $445,000 in funding needed will be covered in a capital improvements fund set up to cover the additional cost of the sewer project. This motion by Wills was approved 7-0.