MONDAY: Public Hearing on Mandatory County Sewer Tax

Phil Richardson, who runs a tire service on South Bayside Road outside Cheriton, has threatened to close his business if the County doubles his taxes and charges a monthly sewer fee. (Wave photo)

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

September 23, 2013

Northampton County Board of Supervisors meets 7 p.m. Monday, September 23, at the County board room in Eastville to hear public comment on a special sewer tax district for commercial properties near the Cape Charles/Cheriton Route 13 traffic light.  (Click here to view a map of affected properties.)  Residents may take the floor to express their opinions on the issue.

As reported in the Wave last week (click here for story), people turned out in force at a September 16 informational meeting on the proposed sewer district held by the Eastern Shore Public Service Authority. Although every member of the public who spoke was opposed to the proposal, immediately following the meeting PSA members voted unanimously to approve a $70,000 contract with the engineering firm Hurt & Profitt to begin surveying the sewer project. A Hurt & Profitt survey team has been observed working in the vicinity this past week.

The PSA received $130,000 from the County this year before any public hearing was held. Members of the Northampton County Planning Commission have stated that they were not consulted and were not aware of what the PSA was doing.

The Board of Supervisors has already included 25 percent of the cost of the sewer project in this year’s County budget, which means that all County property owners will pay a share. That includes property owners in the Town of Cape Charles as well as Exmore and everywhere else. [Read more…]