Dwyer helped get water to new school

All the students and teachers at the up-and-coming Eastern View High School have John Dwyer to thank, in part, for their running water.

Dwyer, who recently won the Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce's 2007 Chairman's Award, is proof that the behind-the-scenes guy lives to see his day in the sun.

He worked extensively in facilitating discussions between town and county officials when the county's up-and-coming second high school needed it most.

Back in the spring, the Culpeper County School Board's new high school plans were caught in the middle of a water and sewer dispute between the town and county governments.

Dwyer, chairman of the Chamber's Business Development and Assistance (BDA) Committee, helped coordinate and moderate a forum so town and county officials could hammer out the issues.

"(It was) kind of a volatile time," Dwyer said. "Not just the BDA, but the Chamber helped facilitate conversation and they worked their way through the problem."

The school board was nervous it would not get its water and sewer system in place at Eastern View High School, which opens in fall 2008, before its crucial December deadline.

The school, estimated to use about 20,000 gallons per day, wanted the system in place so it could continue building off-site infrastructure projects around it and troubleshoot any arising plumbing issues before fall.

However, its water and sewer system was caught in the balance of a complex and ongoing discussion about who's paying for what and how much.

Though the town and county governments are still arguing over the issue, the school is being taken care of. It got a sledge-holding tank this month to pump and haul sewage until the county's wastewater plant on Route 666 is operational this February.

Dwyer believes the Chamber's participation in the process kept the issue in the public forum and allowed officials and the community to work through its disagreements for a good outcome.

"A lot of work still needs to be done," he said. "At least they're still talking."

Katie Dolac can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .