James City County will take a final look at a hybrid sewer plan, which would require participation from all Hampton Roads localities, and cast its vote on whether to join the consolidated system at its Tuesday meeting.
The James City Service Authority’s Board of Directors, which is the county’s Board of Supervisors serving in a different capacity, will take up consideration of the plan at a meeting scheduled to follow the supervisors’ 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday. The board was briefed on the hybrid sewer plan at a meeting in February, but expressed doubt on whether the plan was right for county citizens.
In August, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District proposed all Hampton Roads localities surrender control of their sewer systems. Consolidating the system under HRSD would allow the company to improve the system to meet state and federal guidelines to prevent sewer overflows from outside rainwater getting into the system.
A hybrid plan, which would allow the localities to maintain customer service and operations with HRSD footing the bill for high-dollar repairs, came from the original consolidation plan and input from several localities.
JCSA was skeptical of a plan requiring the sewer system be surrendered with no payment for the infrastructure. The county’s Board of Supervisors, however, were skeptical of the hybrid plan, which would have county citizens paying for repairs in other localities.
As the system is currently structured, JCSA deals with the sewer system that runs to homes and businesses, while HRSD deals with the system that runs from buildings and treats wastewater. Customers in James City County pay a three-part bill, with one part each devoted to JCSA, HRSD and water.
Because customers currently pay for HRSD’s services, they are already paying a fee determined by HRSD’s entire customer base in Hampton Roads.
The board members asked for additional information in order to make an educated decision for county citizens. On Tuesday, the board will have the chance to decide whether to join the hybrid sewer system. To date, the other two Historic Triangle localities, York County and the City of Williamsburg, have voted to join the hybrid system. Ultimately, all localities across Hampton Roads must participate in the hybrid system for it to work; the localities have until Feb. 28 to decide.
The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, which will take place in Building F at 101 Mounts Bay Road, is available online. The board’s meeting will be broadcast live online and on JCC TV channel 48. Meetings are rebroadcast with the Board of Supervisors meetings at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. every Thursday on Community Channel 46.
Related Coverage:
- James City County Board Questions Hybrid Regional Sewer Plan’s Cost to Citizens
- 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
