Town, county continue planning

Despite a legal challenge from town officials that has essentially brought the process to a standstill, the Town and County Interaction Committee agreed Tuesday to continue work on consolidation plans as well as a regional water and sewer authority.

The decision came out of a 15-minute meeting between town and county officials.

A motion filed by the town in September asks the Circuit Court to dismiss the consolidation effort. The town asserts that the effort, initiated by local builder and developer Joe Daniel — who helped obtain 1,000 signatures on a petition — was not conducted in accordance with laws governing such matters.

Daniel has denied that claim and says all applicable laws were followed. Consolidation supporters seek to dissolve the town into the county and create a new, unified, countywide government. However, Town Manager Jeff Muzzy said the town’s consolidation attorney, Carter Glass IV, has indicated that the court will probably not hear the town’s case until January at the earliest.

(The process) appears to be very slow, and it has been,” committee co-chairman Tom Underwood said following the meeting. “But I think the understanding as to the parameters of the challenge is much better now.”

Also not clear is what influence the court case might have on efforts to create a regional water and sewer authority. In July, town and county officials endorsed a preliminary agreement. If accepted, the town would transfer control of its water and sewer infrastructure to the new regional authority. In turn, the town would be allowed to expand its borders, absorbing several commercial areas that lie just outside town limits.

The preliminary regional authority proposal before both the council and the supervisors includes a provision for the town to continue to collect about $900,000 annually from its water and sewer systems for the next decade. That money would be paid by the new service authority to the town to cover anticipated shortfalls for providing service to expanded areas.

Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or