Council nixes tap-in fee hike

As the local housing market continues its decline, the town's water and sewer tap connection fees are holding steady.

Culpeper Town Council voted 4-2 Tuesday night not to increase the tap fees by 33 percent after hearing from two builders during the public hearing.

Councilmen Chip Coleman, Duke duFrane and Jim Risner were absent. Councilmen Steve Jenkins and Mike Olinger voted in favor of raising the tap fees.

"I am here to ask you - to beg you - to please not raise these tap fees again," said local builder Walt Cheatle. "You would have to be in a coma to not know that real estate sales are in the toilet. We are in a downward spiral."

Tacking another $22,000 connection fee on new homes would further dwindle the possibilities for affordable housing, he said.

"This is just not the right time," said Cheatle, encouraging council "to wait awhile."

Orange County builder Jerry Bledsoe, who recently partnered with Culpeper developer Greg Yates on a condo project, echoed his remarks.

"This tap fee increase has not been factored into our projects," he said.

Vice Mayor Billy Yowell made the motion that the fees not be increased at this time.

"I'm not saying I won't review this at a later date," he said. "I'm just saying now is not the right time to do this."

Jenkins voted for the increase because he wanted to prevent the further "Fairfax-ification" of Culpeper. He also said the town needs the extra tap fee revenue to fund its $27 million expansion to the sewer plant.

In other news of taxes and rates, town council unanimously approved creating a special tax district in the Southridge townhouse development in which residents will pay 10-cents more in real estate tax in exchange for the town paving their roads.

The final ordinance will come before council for approval at its meeting next month.

In addition, council approved an 11.8 percent increase, overall, to the cost of power for the town's seven largest customers, including Wal-Mart. The new rate takes effect Nov. 1.

Councilwoman Emma Richards voted against it.

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or .