[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6144840,"mediaKeyId","5533489-eb8b0b5ef77097a49ef46814131ebdfd","parentId",5533489,"title","Amherst service authority pauses Seminole Plaza sewer upgrade; staff to seek property-owner participation","audioSeconds",282,"startMs",841000,"endMs",1123000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533489-eb8b0b5ef77097a49ef46814131ebdfd&start=841&end=1123","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533489-eb8b0b5ef77097a49ef46814131ebdfd/thumbnail_841000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6144840/Amherst-County/Virginia/Amherst-service-authority-pauses-Seminole-Plaza-sewer-upgrade-staff-to-seek-property-owner-participation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144840-3a0fc51282d8bbb7a6decf3989ea81db/orig.mp4?Expires=1775428417&Signature=JmGSkF3bB4BK29YaLJVIUx-qP3oSUc5-NztAiZRuZXeaByp-U3gIc2LCkLiAVbxR5rVcMeA-KRMUstdmOZkg3rq41gTEXVrKH5nacCVaHbBTqj0qYzF5PcbXRCxhfztrN1-sQIaidokDhn0W7lssYSrLX-94djmbuCopl2XsUgg0QNGHmaQIbanKNdE90QZF8Ak~9YQM-BOJ5H6EyHlFTfLJDl2XTF7cFyk8tFC6CA~3ppXQE4eKNsyEk4snh0SlqLgj396~w7y4p~AsEI00ZBqSIL0v88SykaW-vw-5a~cha4GmHOSwjJmpYsntiHXPHeZWCJPq~LN2eYCvc7BW7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Amherst County, VA","date","2025-08-05T23:30:17.42Z","article","The Amherst County Service Authority on Aug. 5 discussed engineering work to make the privately owned Seminole Plaza sewer system construction-ready and agreed to have staff seek participation from the property owner before committing county funds.

The matter matters because the privately owned system has experienced sanitary sewer overflows; the authority would fund engineering to develop construction-ready plans so the project could be eligible for grant programs and to get a firm cost estimate for repairs.

Executive Director (staff member) told the authority the Seminole Plaza system “was brought to me when I first started the job as a need” and described repeated overflows. He said a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) preliminary engineering report gave “preliminary cost for what it would take to solve this problem,” and that the authority had been pursuing federal grant funding. He said the FEMA BRIC grant stream was removed from the federal budget before they could submit and that staff has been talking with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) about alternatives.

The executive director recommended using ARPA-designated sewer extension funds to pay for the next step: engineering to make the project construction-ready and to prepare required easements and plans. He said that would produce a firm construction cost and allow the authority and the property owner to consider a partnership.

A board member raised concerns about using authority funds on a privately owned system and pressed the question of owner responsibility: “So what responsibility does the property owner have?” The executive director replied that “it has been proven that it’s their issue” and that staff has documentation backing that point. The board member noted the roughly $540,000 estimated cost to fix the system and said, “So if we don’t get the grant, we’re gonna be out $40,000 for the engineering.”

Rather than approve payment immediately, the board directed the executive director to discuss cost-sharing or other participation with the property owner and report back. The executive director said he would have those conversations and bring an updated proposal to the authority at a future meeting.

No formal vote to award the engineering contract for Seminole Plaza was taken at the Aug. 5 meeting; the authority left the item pending further conversation with the property owner.

Next steps: staff will approach the property owner about participation, pursue grant options with DHCD as appropriate and return to the authority with a recommended funding arrangement and any contract language needed to proceed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 5, 2025Amherst County Board of Supervisors Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Amherst County Service Authority on Aug. 5 discussed engineering work to make the privately owned Seminole Plaza sewer system construction-ready and asked staff to seek property-owner participation before committing ARPA funds.","taxTitle","Amherst County, Virginia","taxId",30502,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6144830,"Developer tells Amherst service authority site plan, grading nearly complete; rezoning and assisted‑living talks planned",82,293000,375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533489-eb8b0b5ef77097a49ef46814131ebdfd&start=293&end=375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533489-eb8b0b5ef77097a49ef46814131ebdfd/thumbnail_293000.jpg","/articles/6144830/Amherst-County/Virginia/Developer-tells-Amherst-service-authority-site-plan-grading-nearly-complete-rezoning-and-assistedliving-talks-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144830-2214239e96913bbc76eb263bd269d748/orig.mp4?Expires=1775428417&Signature=WyB4ceN7~QQif76vpD3-9nUqanWZ1sUc6i-brtYpSxhdZsy33Ki6pF9Wc-JiFtAwLLW8ZGbrzekJGOoobabmKHF06G6o29JP9Wrg~Xh9FAf0Dn6scrIUxpYl4A4pY-2CUo1~NSslLH7x-qbvB1dsm0U0hKxkwsL-6WROjj02WgPMOYxxpX8R26ByFd~ceVbXLmQfNoFqH~wYWAeZ8v2U5X3y2VkLIzbZHnJZGbgTO34t-Yr1AU5cLE4Y4zDbQ3g-flMC0GU7Ah7W8AigVIsQSkNG3Mv57PlU9bR6qFebKGgaZBaWOJv62odsAcFdZTkoci1mGNBlyMkHRVeTKZEGYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A developer addressing the Amherst County Service Authority on Aug. 5 said site planning and grading are nearly complete for a proposed senior living development and that he intends to ask the county Board of Supervisors to rezone a commercial portion of the property to R‑3.

The developer’s update matters because rezoning would change permitted uses for the parcel and is a required step before construction of senior or assisted‑living units could proceed.

Speaking during the authority’s citizen comment period, the developer said, “we've got our site plan finished. We're in the grading or at least getting the grades all figured, and we're doing a study on 1 little, small hump that we've got right now just to make sure that it doesn't have any significant rock that may impact that final site plan.” He said the site contains a localized, roughly 20‑foot cut and staff had provided a proposal to study whether rock would require blasting or other substantial excavation.

He said, after receiving the geotechnical proposal and completing the site‑grade work, he planned to approach the Board of Supervisors “to see about trying to rezone that commercial section of that property … to R 3.” He also said discussions with potential partners for the senior/assisted‑living component “have gone well.”

When asked whether the geotechnical firm had set a start date, the developer said the firm “is supposed to have given us a proposal on that before the end of this week” and that the study should be scheduled promptly.

The developer did not provide a project timeline for zoning hearings, application materials, or specific partner names; those items were not specified in the meeting record.

Next steps: the geotechnical study for the site’s deep cut is expected immediately after the firm issues a proposal; rezoning will be pursued with the Board of Supervisors following the study’s findings.

","A developer updating the authority said site plans and grading are nearly finished, a geotechnical study of a 20‑foot cut is pending, and he intends to seek rezoning of a commercial portion to R‑3 for a senior/assisted‑living project.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6144835,"Amherst Service Authority approves operations‑center study; staff updates on water permit, LEAP funds and multiple capital projects",1146,774000,1920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533489-eb8b0b5ef77097a49ef46814131ebdfd&start=774&end=1920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533489-eb8b0b5ef77097a49ef46814131ebdfd/thumbnail_774000.jpg","/articles/6144835/Amherst-County/Virginia/Amherst-Service-Authority-approves-operationscenter-study-staff-updates-on-water-permit-LEAP-funds-and-multiple-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144835-b6442d0130f22a5e3aa3a6d70fb95922/orig.mp4?Expires=1775428417&Signature=FAmMQ~CaVA3XMBJ6IO~cl1uvvFvDB4Xp-u40T9B9IuxzYP4SVAulObCoHFr4UXVaJNxKfX8Vh3QLE5K-EmTET0XEnGNHe1XHRLALqmDOzM8L0s5hD4IJa8s9FYkTk37ICzuyolvWxy-jvyDLyBbHF74DrHiEpDJkJbZ3nSI5kmxqGshhOkv~uF0Fle9XzXqD9cE3caUfsUdmmdbZvEfjF8tc0rgq79zyVwclBjcPklvYu66bKCBXTf~IgUdq3-A2TKwgqzzheh00EsvAUJyy3oUfl5ojsT0cjuEa43yUaYWPjfnaEIYk23QRu763FVGFC00whEIyJfE4FBUPc1z6wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Amherst County Service Authority on Aug. 5 authorized an engineering study to define space and facility needs for a future operations center and received progress reports on several capital projects, a water‑withdrawal permit, and federal and state grant-funded work.

The actions are part of the authority’s infrastructure master plan and capital‑budget planning; the operations‑center needs study is intended to produce a space and cost analysis the authority can use for budgeting and design.

The authority voted to authorize the executive director to execute an engineering agreement with Hurt & Proffitt, working with Virginia A&E, to begin an operations center facility needs study. A board member moved the authorization and the motion passed without recorded opposition.

On the water withdrawal permit, staff said the authority’s current permit expired May 7, 2025, and that the replacement permit is not expected until December 2025. Staff said the authority may continue operating under its existing permit while Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) completes review and external-agency coordination. Staff attributed the delay in part to DEQ staffing turnover and lengthy interagency review timelines.

Staff reported a LEAP (Locality service line inventory) reimbursement of $101,399.60 received in July, with about $40,000 remaining in that funding to complete GIS work tied to the inventory.

Contract work was advanced on the Gateway project; staff held a preconstruction meeting July 27 and said the contractor requested an Oct. 1 start to ensure materials are available. The contractor expects about a two‑month schedule and completion by December.

The James River bank stabilization project has advanced; staff received EPA review of phase‑1 contract documents and will add required signage (“government dollars at work”) to phase‑2 contracts. The Campbell Street sewer extension was reported nearly complete with a 2‑inch force main installed and positive feedback from VDOT. For Berkshire Place and an item tied to CVTC (Central Virginia Training Center), staff said they had reached out to the Department of General Services and were awaiting responses.

Staff also reported reconvening an advisory committee to review sewer regulations and proposed language allowing electronic participation in authority meetings. The authority voted to adopt meeting language permitting participation through electronic communications consistent with the county board of supervisors’ policy.

Board members asked questions about risk and timing on the water permit and praised staff’s progress on the Campbell Street work. Staff said they are exploring whether to perform the financial model update in‑house or through consultants; the existing model used to set rates is more than 20 years old and needs updating.

The authority did not change rates at the Aug. 5 meeting; the operations‑center study is expected to inform long‑range budgeting and potential rate changes.

","The authority approved an operations‑center facility needs study, received updates on a delayed water withdrawal permit from DEQ, reported a $101,399.60 LEAP reimbursement, set Gateway project construction to start Oct. 1, and advanced multiple sewer and riverbank projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Amherst service authority pauses Seminole Plaza sewer upgrade; staff to seek property-owner participation

Developer tells Amherst service authority site plan, grading nearly complete; rezoning and assisted‑living talks planned

Amherst Service Authority approves operations‑center study; staff updates on water permit, LEAP funds and multiple capital projects