Lynchburg council approves engineering agreement for village water project

The Village of Lynchburg Council voted 6-0 Aug. 8 to authorize Mayor James Burton to sign an agreement with Burgess and Niple Engineering Services to provide upgraded engineering services for the village water project.

The vote followed a brief presentation of the new contract terms and a motion from Council member Marty Bailey, seconded by Council member Chris Hamlin. The council did not state a contract dollar amount in the meeting record; the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the engineering agreement advances planning for the village water upgrade and clears an administrative step needed to move the project forward. Council members also flagged near-term road maintenance decisions tied to the project timeline.

Councilors discussed sealing cracks on Short Street before the larger water project begins. Council member Judy Davis asked why crews would seal the road if it was slated for repaving later; members responded that, because the water project timeline could extend, temporary crack sealing would preserve the roadway in the interim. "Since the water project could be awhile, it's better to go ahead and seal the cracks in the meantime," Ashley Campbell, Village Administrator, said.

Mayor James Burton also reported on the status of an Appalachian Grant, saying requested changes had not yet been applied. Village Administrator Ashley Campbell said she had emailed Choice One Engineering seeking updates, and Council member Chris Hamlin said Choice One's most recent packets did not reflect the anticipated revisions, indicating confusion or a lapse in communication among parties.

Next steps: the mayor is authorized to sign the engineering agreement; staff did not provide a firm timetable for contracting or construction during the meeting.