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Winchester approves up to $14 million in water and sewer bonds; residents ask about PFAS and microplastics
Summary
Council approved an ordinance and accompanying resolution to issue and sell water and sewer system revenue bonds not to exceed $14 million; speakers asked about environmental risks to sewage lines.
The Winchester City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve an ordinance and companion resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of water and sewer system revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $14,000,000 to finance capital improvements to the city’s utility system.
Councilors took final action at the Jan. 28 meeting after a public hearing that included one resident’s questions about the composition of sewage lines and potential environmental risks such as microplastics and PFAS. Jack Dansley of ZIP code 22603 asked whether the sewer lines were made of materials that could pose long-term contamination risks; staff offered to discuss technical details after the meeting.
Harry Eisenach and Councilor Bell presented the ordinance at second reading and described it as unchanged from the first reading. Councilors noted the ordinance and the resolution are procedural pairings: council must adopt an ordinance authorizing the borrowing and a resolution setting form details for a given series of bonds. The related resolution providing for taxable water and sewer bonds, series 2025, was presented later in the agenda packet as a separate item but tied to the same financing.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilor Tagnisi and seconded by Councilor Newcomb; that motion carried by roll call 8-0. The separate resolution (R-2024-42) authorizing the form and sale of taxable bonds was moved by Councillor Herbst and seconded by Mayor Beach; that vote also passed 8-0.
City staff clarified during questions that the bond proceeds are for water and sewer system projects and do not fund stormwater projects or stormwater fees. The loan structure and repayment are to be secured by utility system revenues, per the documents included in the council packet. No change in the ordinance or resolution language was reported at second reading.
After adopting the ordinance and resolution, councilors directed staff to finalize the sale documents and proceed with the financing for the utility capital program.
