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.

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The sewer district would be a first phase in replacing septic tanks in the southern part of the county with a pipe to the new Cape Charles wastewater treatment plant. Only commercial properties are affected at this time, but residential properties in and around Cheriton could follow in a second phase.

Neither last week’s information meeting or tonight’s public hearing presents any information about what monthly sewer rates will be for affected property owners.

Town of Cape Charles residents pay a minimum monthly sewage charge of $61 for up to 2,000 gallons. They also pay a $7,475 one-time connection charge. But PSA chairman Bob Panek, who also is the Town’s assistant manager, has said that County property owners will not have to pay a connection charge. The connection fees are supposed to be used for future expansion of the sewer plant.

A letter and additional information from County Administrator Katie Nunez to property owners may be read by clicking here.