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By LOU HATTER
Rappahannock N«w« Staff Writer
It somehow seemed fitting, after months of contentious and controversial meetings, that Washington’s Town Council held the final meeting of its four-year term last Wednesday without a single harsh word.
Mayor Dean Morehouse an, nounced that the town has applied .for an additional $111,000 grant to fund the improvements to the town water system, and should receive word on that request in July. If the grant is awarded, he said, it will increase the total grants received to ’$250,000. On top of that, the mayor added, the town has another $320,000 in long-term loans avail. able, bringing the total money available for the project’s first phase to $565,000 ~ nearly half the $1.2 million projected cost.
Mr. Morehouse told the council that if the financing can be arranged, the present timetable calls for construction on the chlorination system and distribution lines to begin in late summer or early fall.
Council member Evelyn Willis r asked if the town’s overhead utilities could be buried in the trenches at the same time the water lines are dug up.
Mr. Morehouse replied that it would be possible, but there would likely be logistical and planning problems. State codes require a twofoot separation between water and utility lines, meaning that a wider trench would have to be dug, increasing the cost.
“Could we at least price it out,” Mrs. Willis asked, “and look into it?”
“You’d better find out where the money is coming from first,” the mayor replied. “I think you are talking about a lot of money . . . the power company estimated $880,000,” when the town explored burying its electric lines.
Planning Commissioner Mitzie Young suggested that if the town’s streets are being dug up, “It would be better to do it all at the same • time.” She also asked if a bond issue could be floated to finance the utility project.
“I’m not sure we should take on any more debt,” Mr. Morehouse said. “We are talking about borrowing $300,000 for the water — that is a necessity.”
Treasurer and Water Authority Chairman Brad Fisher, who has worked closely with the mayor in arranging the overhaul of the town’s aging water system, added that “without the engineering work done it would delay the start of the water project.”
“It would make it considerably more difficult, trying to coordinate with three utility companies,” the mayor said, “with lines crossing over each other. It’s like taking your shoes and tying them together and trying to walk.”
There would be, he explained, three conduits (one each for power, telephone and cable television) running parallel to the water lines. All would run to each home in town, in separate trenches from the water line to each house. “And guess what? The electric and telephone interfaces are not at the same location on the houses, so you have two trenches around each house, around peoples’ plants.”
“We don’t want to make the primary project more difficult,” Councilman Ray Gooch agreed. “Are the two of you saying ‘Please don’t do this?’ ”
“I’m saying please don’t do this to me,” the mayor replied, grimacing.
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