As localities across Hampton Roads consider a hybrid sewer plan that would allow localities to maintain day-to-day customer service while Hampton Roads Sanitation District takes over responsibility for high-dollar changes, James City County officials are unsure the plan is right for its citizens.
The James City County Board of Supervisors got its first briefing Tuesday on a regional sewer plan that emerged last fall after localities did not support study results showing HRSD should take control. Under orders from the state and federal government, Hampton Roads localities and HRSD are required to adopt a plan to prevent overflows, which can happen when rain gets into the sewer system through degrading pipes and manholes.
In August, HRSD proposed localities surrender control of their sewer systems, which it would then be responsible for improving and maintaining. A hybrid plan, devised from several localities’ feedback, would have the municipalities continue to manage their systems and HRSD perform more expensive repairs necessary to meet the state and federal guidelines.
While the hybrid plan would enable JCSA to continue to operate as it always has, supervisors were concerned it would also allow HRSD to hike up citizen costs to make the necessary repairs to the sewer system across Hampton Roads.
The James City Service Authority showed skepticism for HRSD’s original plan because it did not require HRSD to pay JCSA for its sewer system, which it owns with no debt. Also, JCSA Assistant General Manager Stephanie Luton said one of the authority’s main concerns is customer service. The regional plan would strip the authority of its customer service responsibility.
In James City County, residents pay a three-part JCSA bill: one each for water, sewer service to the house from JCSA and sewer treatment from the house by HRSD. The HRSD rate, and associated portion of citizens’ bills, can be raised whenever HRSD decides. JCSA customers would still be billed the same way under the hybrid plan.
“I think the hybrid plan is much better than what originally came out, but I’m not sure our ratepayers are 100 percent protected … against increases,” said Supervisor Mary Jones (Berkeley).
If HRSD is faced with making millions of dollars in repairs to sewer systems across the region, all citizens in the region will bear the burden of paying for repairs. The same holds true if the hybrid plan does not come to fruition.
“Because of the need to address these issues that were identified in the consent order, we just have to anticipate that the rates will be higher in any case, but [the hybrid plan] will allow the rates to be moderated,” said Supervisor John McGlennon (Roberts).
Supervisor Jim Kennedy asked for an overview of how HRSD rates have risen recently, but Luton did not have that information on-hand. She invited the supervisors to pose any questions they had and said she would find the information before the board, which also serves as the JCSA Board of Directors, is required to vote later this month on whether to participate in the hybrid sewer plan.
Kennedy also asked whether salary or costs drive the HRSD rates. Jones wanted to know HRSD’s system for determining the order of repairs to localities’ sewer systems. Supervisor Michael Hipple (Powhatan) requested calculations showing the changes to a citizen’s bill under the hybrid plan, and asked when the cost would level out or begin to decrease. Supervisor Kevin Onizuk (Jamestown) inquired about the cost to citizens if the hybrid plan is not the route chosen.
The board is scheduled to vote on the hybrid plan at its Feb. 25 meeting. All Hampton Roads localities have until Feb. 28 to decide whether to participate. If one locality chooses not to participate, the plan could unravel, leaving individual localities in charge of making the required repairs under the consent order. James City County is looking at more than $80 million in repairs over the next 20 to 25 years for its system.
Related Coverage:
- City on Board for New Regionalization Option
- York Supervisors Doubt Hybrid Sewer Regionalization Plan
- Hybrid Sewer Plan Emerges to Maintain Local Control
- York Supes on Regional Sewer Plan: Probably Not
- York Supervisors to Learn About Regional Consolidated Sewer Plan
- HRSD Supports Full Consolidated Regional Sewer System in Hampton Roads
- City Council Doubts Proposed Regional Sewer Plan
- Williamsburg, James City, York Explore Consolidating Sewers Under HRSD
