Published by The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
November 13-19, 2009 Edition
Franklin County Joins Water Authority
The Roanoke City Council, the Boards of Supervisors of Franklin and Roanoke counties, and the Western Virginia Water Authority of Roanoke unanimously approved Franklin County’s membership to the authority last week. The membership will not be official until the State Corporation Commission grants approval. The Western Virginia Water Authority and Franklin County have previously worked together to acquire several private water systems in the Smith Mountain Lake area and to obtain money to extend the water system at Westlake along Scruggs Road.
Before they voted, a public hearing was jointly held on Thursday, November 5 by the City Council of Roanoke, the Boards of Supervisors of Franklin County and Roanoke County and by the Board of Directors of the Western Virginia Water Authority of Roanoke at the Vinton War Memorial.
The Western Virginia Water Authority was formed on July 1, 2004 between Roanoke City and Roanoke County to become a regional entity for providing water and wastewater services to customers. The Authority said this regional approach has benefited customers in the Roanoke area and now stands to benefit current Authority customers as well as Franklin County by providing adequate water supply, fire protection and wastewater services for all customers for years to come. It came about after an earlier period of drought that saw Roanoke City without adequate water supply when Carvins Cove was low; meanwhile neighboring Roanoke County had ample water coming from Spring Hollow Reservoir.
Authority members say this regional approach has benefited customers in the Roanoke Valley by providing adequate water supply, fire protection and wastewater services for all customers, for many years to come.
Fuzzy Minnix, the Western Virginia Water Authority Board Chairman said “things accomplished led by [former Roanoke County Administrator] Elmer Hodge and staff, helped bring about the authority’s leadership by both the County and the City. We welcome Franklin County as cousins just south of us.”
“This is good for the region. It’s a good business decision,” said Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce President Joyce Waugh.
Eleanor Dillard, a local resident attending the hearing, was a bit more cautious: “the more we add localities, the more we stretch our own resources. [But] regional cooperation is good if all are on equal basis.”
Rocky Mount Town Manager James Ervin preferred to see the event in amore positive light: “This is an exciting day and I want to say well done.”
The joint resolution authorizing Franklin County to join the Western Virginia Water Authority was read and presented to Franklin County Administrator Rick Huff.
“It is with a “great deal of pleasure that we the Western Virginia Water Authority, welcome Franklin County as our newest member and it is great to have them on board. Cheers to all,” said Minnix with a final comment. Bedford County already had a connection to water systems in Franklin County; future plans could include a link to Smith Mountain Lake and a return loop to Roanoke that would finalize a complete circuit, able to send water to places where it is needed most.
By: Susan Ayers
