saia cermeti.

saia cermeti.

If qualified, the Tbwn of Washington would receive below market financing, from 3 percent to as low as 0.0 percent.

The council has also met with USDA Rural Development in Harrisonburg and have considered options from the Virginia Resources Authority.

“Each one has different requirements, advantages and disadvantages,” related Bennett. “The council will determine which program is most advantageous to town residents.”

Water rates were also brought up as a much neglected issue. “We haven’t raised our rates to meet the cost of the bills,” said Council member Claudia Mitchell.

Water rate survey proposals were brought to the boards attention, however, Bennett remarked that the board should first select its financier to make sure that the study covered all that was needed.

“We need depth and understanding on this issue,” he added.

Mitchell suggested that the town confer with surrounding villages such as Sperryville, which has their own water and sewer authorities, to learn from their experiences.

Annexing Piedmont

Former Town Attorney Doug Baumgardner, representing Bill and Jessica Metcalf, introduced a proposal asking that the Tbwn of Washington confer with the county about expanding its borders, thus annexing nearby Piedmont Avenue.

“Piedmont Avenue looks like Washington, its contiguous with Washington, and the features of the individual properties are consistent with the rest of the town, “ Baumgardner said. “It suggests to the beholder that it is part of the town.”

He also suggested that if Piedmont Avenue residents were brought into the city’s water system, they would raise projected revenues for the water and sewage systems under construction.

“It is not only the smart thing to do, it is the fair thing to do.” he said.

Mitchell reminded the council that a similar proposal was considered back in the 1980s.