Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Sewer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee presses Rapidan Service Authority for clearer water/sewer maps, EDU policy before development decisions
Summary
County staff told the committee they now have GIS overlays from the Rapidan Service Authority showing current water and wastewater service; members asked RSA to clarify EDU (capacity) policy, financing for a wastewater outfall and whether easements exist before approving related growth plans.
County staff reported to the Madison County Economic Development Committee that they have obtained GIS overlays from the Rapidan Service Authority (RSA) showing where water and wastewater service is presently available and that staff are seeking greater transparency on RSA policies for buying or holding EDUs (equivalent dwelling units).
Staff said the overlay (presented in blue for water and green for wastewater) will help developers know whether public utilities are available at a given parcel today, and that RSA currently expects developers to fund extensions of service. Staff said RSA policy generally requires a shovel‑ready project to purchase capacity; the county identified about 95 privately held wastewater EDUs that RSA and its attorney are reviewing. Options under discussion include sunsetting permanently held, unused EDUs or imposing monthly service fees to discourage hoarding and to return unused capacity to the public supply.
Committee members raised operational and financing questions about RSA’s wastewater-treatment-plant upgrade and the project outfall, asking whether RSA had obtained financing and when easements for the outfall route would be secured. Staff reported the site plan is on its third submission to address ordinance comments and noted that easements and hydraulic modeling will determine what lots can be served without additional infrastructure work.
Committee members asked staff to schedule follow-up briefings with RSA board representatives, indicated concern about governance mix at RSA (members noted RSA governance includes representatives from neighboring counties that can outvote Madison County), and requested staff continue to refine maps and modeling so the board can evaluate where infrastructure should be extended and whether county resources or grants might be required.
