Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Amherst County Service Authority adopts 2025 infrastructure master plan, prioritizes roughly $1 million in FY‑25 projects
Summary
The Amherst County Service Authority on March 4 approved a living 2025 infrastructure master plan that sets service objectives and prioritizes capital work — including pump station repairs, a parallel feeder and automated meters — with about $1,000,000 of projects budgeted in fiscal year 2025.
The Amherst County Service Authority voted March 4 to adopt its 2025 infrastructure master plan, a “living” document that sets levels-of-service objectives for drinking-water and wastewater systems and identifies near-term capital priorities.
The plan gives the authority targets for system performance and a prioritized capital improvement program (CIP). Adoption clears the way for engineering, easement work and funding applications for projects the authority listed as top priorities for fiscal year 2025.
Mr. Castillo, an ACSA staff presenter, told the board a draft had been presented Jan. 21 and the final report is now available online. “These objectives are included within the master plan,” he said, calling the document a target the authority should “strive for” while recognizing that funding and time will determine what can be achieved. Board members described the plan as a benchmark to measure progress over time.
The staff presentation and board discussion listed the near-term priorities the authority intends to pursue: repair of raw-water pump stations and a treatment-plant repair (staff estimated the raw‑water pump repairs at about $70,000); work to add redundancy to the system via a parallel feeder; upgrades and permanent shelters and generators for pumping stations including Williams Creek and Abbott; an automated meter infrastructure (AMI) program; shell repairs at the Ivanhoe and West Fire treatment plants; continuing GIS work supported by LEAP funding; and beginning site planning for a proposed operations center. Staff said some projects will seek FEMA or VDH funding or principal forgiveness where eligible because the authority serves disadvantaged communities.
Staff told the board the authority budgeted $1,509,968 in FY‑25 for capital items and that the list of top-priority projects totals about $1,000,000 of that budgeted amount. The board emphasized that the plan is an intent and a tool for prioritization, while individual projects will still require funding decisions. One board member recommended involving the chair and vice chair on real‑property negotiations for the proposed operations center and indicated future land purchases would be discussed in closed session as required.
The board approved a motion to adopt the 2025 infrastructure master plan as presented (voice vote; motion carried). The presentation credited Pennoni and Associates as the consultant working on the plan and noted staff will return with project designs, cost estimates, easement needs and grant applications.
Staff also said financial advisors (Deb Horton Company) are reviewing the authority’s financials and the plan’s project list to assess rate impacts and fundability. The plan’s living‑document status means the board expects periodic reviews to track which objectives are met and which require adjustment.
Next steps identified by staff include completing design work, pursuing grant funding for generators and AMI, securing easements, and scheduling follow-up updates to the board and to financial advisors.
