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Supervisors discuss municipal water, Dixon High surplus land and housing as revenue options
Summary
Board members debated selling surplus land at Dixon High School and pursuing a municipal water system to spur development and new revenues; staff scheduled a scoping meeting with engineers to update a prior water study and to explore grants and design options.
Board members on May 1 discussed using county-owned surplus property and developing a municipal water system as part of a strategy to diversify Mathews County—s revenue stream and encourage housing development.
Mister Barton raised a parcel of 7 to 10 acres at the Dixon High School site that the county originally purchased for a fire station but no longer needs. He suggested changing the zoning to allow smaller lots or townhouses to create housing for teachers, firefighters and police officers and to generate tax revenue. "Rather than just let it sit there, we need to put that to use," he said.
The board discussed infrastructure constraints and water availability. Miss Wilson told supervisors a scoping meeting with Bowman and BHB is scheduled next week to revise an existing water study and provide cost estimates for health-department approval. She said Mathews County has not historically applied to the health department for municipal water grants and that the preliminary engineering work done in 2022 indicated the county "would fare well in receiving grants from the health department" but that the final cost and taxpayer impact would depend on grants versus bonds and user fees.
Members identified potential customers and partners for a municipal system: Crooked Hill (Cricket) Apartments, the nursing home, Main Street merchants and restaurants, and Food Lion were discussed as anchors that could provide a customer base to help pay debt service. A board member asked whether existing public wells could be used or expanded; Miss Wilson and staff said the engineering analysis will assess well capacity, potential treatment (including reverse osmosis), and whether a tank or pressure stations would be required.
There were also questions about sequencing: whether to secure water first before marketing surplus land, and whether the county should seek developer proposals or simply change zoning to make the property more attractive. Board members discussed assessing the property's market value and requested an appraisal or assessment as a next step.
Ending: Staff scheduled follow-up engineering scoping work and will return with an updated cost estimate and a timetable for grant applications and design steps; supervisors asked staff to engage stakeholders and to return with an appraisal and a plan for next steps if municipal water proves viable.
