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Charles City staff to develop five-year utilities plan as county faces rising expenses
Summary
The board directed staff to develop a comprehensive five-year utilities plan to address escalating utility maintenance costs, consider shifting some maintenance responsibilities to homeowners and explore revenue-growth options; staff noted a typical sewer collection system at a house costs about $6,000 uninstalled.
The Charles City County Board of Supervisors asked staff to develop a five-year utilities plan after a presentation by interim public works director Ricky Hicks at the Dec. 19 meeting.
Hicks described escalating costs tied to utility operations and maintenance and proposed objectives including revenue growth from customers, a policy shift to limit county maintenance to the street (rather than to each house), and operational cost reductions. "Right now, the county is taking care of [utility lines] from the street all the way to the house," Hicks said, adding that many localities stop maintenance at the street and that a typical sewer-collection system at a house can cost about $6,000 uninstalled.
Hicks said the plan would examine best practices in surrounding counties, propose a maintenance and homeowner-assistance strategy (especially for aging residents), and return to the board for final approval. Supervisors voiced support for developing the plan and asked staff to ensure comparisons with neighboring counties and to address equity and affordability for low-income or elderly households.
No formal policy change or fee schedule was approved; the board asked staff to produce the plan for future budget and policy consideration.
