James City Service Authority to Appropriate $2.49M EPA Grant, Awards $1.38M Water‑main Contract; Board Signals Change to Connection Rule for Forge Road

The James City Service Authority (JCSA) moved Wednesday to accept a $2,490,000 community grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and approved a $1,375,515 contract to replace aging water main in the Lake Toano Estates area. Board members also expressed preliminary agreement with a staff-recommended regulatory clarification for connection requirements affecting a proposed subdivision on Forge Road and asked staff to return next month with a draft resolution.

JCSA staff said the EPA funds will pay for water and sanitary sewer upgrades in the Toano neighborhood. "JCSA received a community grant from the EPA in the amount of $2,490,000 for water and sewer infrastructure improvements in the Toano area," staff presenter Paul Howe told the board, identifying planned work that includes replacing about 3,300 feet of 1970s-era PVC water main with ductile iron and about 3,200 feet of 1950s-era clay sanitary sewer pipe with PVC.

Staff recommended appropriating the grant in FY25 because the award exceeds 1% of the fiscal-year budget and therefore requires a public hearing and board action. The board opened and closed the required public hearing with no speakers and then approved the resolution to amend the FY25 budget and appropriate the grant.

On a related construction item, staff recommended and the board approved a contract award to a Toano contractor to replace water main along Tom Taylor Road, Branches Pond Road and Warrens Pond Road. The project will upsized existing 6-inch mains to 8-inch ductile iron and replace 4-inch thin-wall PVC with 4-inch ductile main; the work also includes new meters, new fire hydrants and abandonment of the old mains. Staff said six bids were received and the low bid was within $100,000 of staff's estimate; roughly 80% of construction costs will be paid with the EPA grant and the remaining 20% from the capital improvement budget.

Separately, the board discussed a staff memo and public comment about whether to change the county/JCSA requirement that minor subdivisions connect to JCSA water and sewer when within a fixed distance of infrastructure. Staff presented several options: do nothing; remove the parcel from the primary service area (PSA); revert to the 2020 formulation (connect if within 55 feet of infrastructure); adopt a new rule requiring connection only if the parcel is within 1,000 feet of "usable" infrastructure; or create a waiver authority for the general manager or board.

Resident Jacob Payne, whose property at 3026 Forge Road is the subject of the request, told the board he supported the "option number 3 b" approach because it would "clarify" a term in the regulation and avoid unintended results. Payne said, "we don't feel [3b] is a change in the regulation, but it's actually just a clarification to one of the key terms that are included in the regulation." Board members expressed concern about potential utility "creep" farther down Forge Road but several said the impact would likely be small; staff said an analysis identified five parcels that could be affected.

The board did not adopt a formal ordinance tonight. Instead, members gave staff guidance and the general manager said he would return at next month’s meeting with a resolution reflecting the board's consensus — staff described the consensus as favoring the "usable infrastructure" variant (3b) limited to minor subdivisions. Board members emphasized that major subdivisions would still be required to connect.

Why it matters: the EPA grant and related contract will fund near-term sanitary and water improvements in Toano that county staff said will reduce failing pipes and improve service. The Forge Road discussion signals potential regulatory change that could alter when small subdivisions are required to connect to public water and sewer, with implications for fire protection and where future lines extend.

Speakers included JCSA staff, a homeowner who spoke during public comment, and multiple JCSA board members. The board asked staff to return with a formal resolution for action next month.

Ending: Staff will bring an ordinance/resolution back next month on the Forge Road connection standard; construction contracts tied to the EPA grant will proceed under the approved terms and funding.