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Supervisors outline priorities on broadband, water & sewer upgrades and economic-development planning
Summary
The board reviewed prioritized goals including broadband completion with providers, the Hoover Ridge Recreation Center fundraising gap, water-and-sewer authority (RSA) service-area and connection policies, and economic-development work focused on Route 29 corridor water/sewer capacity; supervisors also asked staff to evaluate whether a county grant-writing capability and early legislative planning would improve outcomes.
County staff presented a consolidated priorities memo the board will use as a working agenda for FY27, covering broadband deployment, a recreation-center fundraising gap, economic-development area planning and utility infrastructure that underpins prospective business investment.
Broadband and recreation: Staff said county broadband projects with private providers are progressing and noted Firefly/BrightSpeed timelines; the county also discussed issuing an RFP to quantify remaining costs to complete the Hoover Ridge Recreation Center (site work and lighting remain as likely cost drivers).
Economic development and utilities: The board agreed to remove a specific "technology corridor" label in favor of a broader economic-development area and to focus on utility availability (water and sewer) as the gating factor for Route 29 corridor development. Staff and EDC members said water and sewer capacity, service-area definitions and connection-policy language must be finalized so developers and RSA planners know where and how new customers can connect; staff described applying for congressional funding for water-line replacement projects including Thrift Road and a Waverly-to-firehouse extension.
Grant-writing and early legislative planning: Supervisors asked staff to evaluate creating or funding a dedicated grant-writing function (or staff position within Economic Development) to increase access to external capital and to prepare an early summer process to define county legislative priorities and brief regional state legislators before the assembly session.
Next steps: Staff will return with a refined priorities memo, a short survey to gather board input, cost estimates for Hoover Ridge elements, an RSA service-area map with clearer legend and proposed service-connection policy language, and an analysis of whether a grant-writer position is cost-effective.
