03-01-12 FR low res.pdf - Fluvanna Review

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Bridge replacement slated for Rt. 250 at Shadwell The bridge at Shadwell on Rt. 250 – a popular commuter route for Fluvanna residents on their way to Charlottesville -- will be closed for 10 weeks starting this spring. During the closing traffi c that normally uses Rt. 250 in the Shadwell area will be detoured to I-64 between Exit 124, Route 250 (Richmond Road) at Pantops Mountain and Exit 129, Rt. 616 (Black Cat Road). The Virginia Department of Transportation described the bridge as “structurally defi cient and functionally obsolete…The existing concrete bridge, which was built in 1939, is signifi cantly deteriorated. The maximum weight limit for vehicles using the bridge was reduced to 15 tons in March 2011 due to its poor condition. The center turn lane has also been closed because the deck is deteriorated in that area. Most fi re equipment and large commercial vehicles are not able to cross the bridge because of the weight restriction,” VDOT said. The bridge, which spans the Buckingham Branch Railroad trucks, now carries about 15,000 vehicles per day. VDOT and Albemarle County will hold a meeting at 2 p.m. on Friday (March 2) at the Albemarle County offi ce building located just west of the downtown mall to discuss the bridge replacement. – Source: VDOT Lake Monticello Fire & Rescue BINGO! Every Thursday! $1000 Jackpot* 70 or more players to pay $1000 pot. Progressive Game Now $1300 * * As of date 03 01-12 Doors Open at 5:30 p.m. Early Bird 6:45 p.m. 10 Slice Rd. Palmyra (Off Rt. 600, near CVS) Questions? Call 434-591-1018 8 | FLUVANNA REVIEW | March 1, 2012 Supervisors angrily oppose Aqua Virginia rate hike request BY RUTHANN CARR CORRESPONDENT Fluvanna Board of Supervisors Chairman Shaun Kenney has responded to Aqua Virginia’s request for a rate hike with a tersely worded letter calling the request an “undue and disproportionate request that raises serious questions about Aqua Virginia’s business practices.” “On behalf of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors and the 26,000 citizens and taxpayers we represent, I am writing to oppose in the strongest possible terms the imposed rate increase from Aqua Virginia upon the residents of Lake Monticello,” the letter, written earlier this week, states. “Understandably, utilities are provided at a price, and the provision of our resources comes at cost. Nowhere in the Virginia Constitution or Code of Virginia does the Commonwealth guarantee a utility the privilege of making a profi t in bad economic times.” The Lake Monticello Owners Association created an ad hoc committee to study and advise the Board of Directors on how to respond to Aqua Virginia’s rate hike request to the State Corporation Commission. They directors will likely oppose the rate hike. Aqua Virginia Chief Operating Offi cer Greg O’Dell has said his company asked for a 9.9 percent increase overall. For the company’s more than 4,300 households in Fluvanna, the increase translates into a jump in the average monthly water bill to $39.25 from $34.61 and sewer bill to $90.65 from $81.50, O’Dell said. Those fi gures are based on an average usage of about 4,000 gallons. “The increase is based on fi nancial information and capital already spent,” O’Dell told the Fluvanna Review earlier this month. “We’re not looking forward, we’re looking back.” Kenney’s letter questions that reasoning. “Aqua Virginia’s imposed rate increases more closely approximate pillage rather than profi t,” the letter states. “It is an undue and disproportionate request that raises serious questions about Aqua Virginia’s business practices.” Opposition may not do much good, however, as the state gives Aqua Virginia the authority to raise the rates before there is a fi nal ruling on the matter. “We’re allowed to put rates in an interim affect March 31 – subject to a rebate,” O’Dell told the newspaper. That’s what happened with the last rate increase requested in June 2009. The fi nal order wasn’t issued until more than a year later in Oct. 2010, but Aqua Virginia customers’ started paying the increase long before that fi nal order. Those who overpaid were issued a rebate check by Aqua Virginia. LMOA Treasurer Cliff Altschull is not opposed to the ad hoc committee looking into the rate increase. He said the Board of Directors will likely opposed it, but he fears it will do no good. Altschull said the sewage treatment plant was old when Aqua Virginia acquired it and was in need of statemandated repairs. The rate increase is likely to be imposed no matter how much people protest, he said at the LMOA Board meeting Thursday (Feb. 23). “This one (rate increase) is based on upgrading sewer pumps,” Altschull said. “I’m not defending the increase, but the fact is they were sold old equipment that needed to be upgraded.” County’s suit against Davenport dismissed BY RUTHANN CARR CORRESPONDENT Fluvanna County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin N.A. Kendrick Thursday (Feb. 23) dismissed the $18 million lawsuit the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors fi led against Davenport & Co. LLC, the company that advised the supervisors on bonds to fund the new high school. In a statement e-mailed to the Fluvanna Review, lawyers representing Davenport said: “We are pleased that the lawsuit fi led by the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors has been dismissed. We have always been confi dent that Davenport would prevail on the merits of the case, and we remain so, because throughout our long relationship with Fluvanna County we always acted in the county’s best interest. We are gratifi ed that all parties will be spared the time and expense of a trial on this meritless claim.” Full text of the letter sent to Aqua Virginia: On behalf of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors and the 26,000 citizens and taxpayers we represent, I am writing to oppose in the strongest possible terms the imposed rate increase from Aqua Virginia upon the residents of Lake Monticello. Aqua Virginia needs to be reminded that Virginia is a Commonwealth fi rst and foremost. Our resources do not belong to the utilities that provide them. Rather, our resources – and in this particular instance, the water from the Rivanna River – belongs to all the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Aqua Virginia’s imposed rate increases more closely approximate pillage rather than profi t. It is an undue and disproportionate request that raise serious questions about Aqua Virginia’s business practices. Understandably, utilities are provided at a price, and the provision of our resources comes at cost. Nowhere in the Virginia Constitution or Code of Virginia does the Commonwealth guarantee a utility the privilege of making a profi t in bad economic times. In tough economic times, there are many who are seeking to turn a profi t in any way possible. Aqua Virginia’s profi teering based upon the delivery of as basic a resource as water deserves both intensive scrutiny and an immediate investigation by the State Corporation Commission. Aqua Virginia’s rate increases upon already stressed homeowners is iniquitous and wrong. In the strongest possible terms, I ask you to reject this rate increase and investigate ways of driving down water utility rates in the Commonwealth. Sincerely, Shaun Kenney Chairman, Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors Not so fast, said Board President Shaun Kenney. “This is not an unexpected decision,” Kenney said. “The board will discuss this and more than likely vote to take it to the Supreme Court.” Davenport had a long relationship with the board, advising it for more than 15 years before being replaced in 2010. The lawsuit claimed Davenport took advantage of that long-standing relationship for its own benefi t. The suit, fi led about six months ago, accused Davenport offi cials of deliberately misleading the board regarding the best method to fi nance the school construction. Davenport offi cials advised the board not to consider funding through the Virginia Public Schools Authority (VPSA) which offered a more favorable interest rate because VPSA loans could not be refi nanced, the suit alleged. In fact, VPSA bonds can be refi nanced, the suit claimed. The county claimed that Davenport steered the county away from the VPSA fi nancing because Davenport was prevented from dealing with VPSA on behalf of clients because of an ongoing relationship between Davenport and VPSA. If the county chose VPSA fi nancing, Davenport would have had to withdraw from representing the county which would have resulted in the fi rm losing fees, the suit stated. The heart of the legal action is a claim that Davenport received excessive fees, caused Fluvanna County to be liable for nearly $18 million in excess interest payments and gave deceptive and selfserving advice. Davenport vigorously denied the allegation, saying in an e-mail that Davenport “stands behind the advice given to Fluvanna County one hundred percent.” The new high school will open for the 2012/2013 school year and cost the county $73 million.
#1in Fluvanna Sales Since 1984 MEET OUR AGENTS AND VIEW ALL OF THE AREA LISTINGS AT: WWW.MONTICELLOREALTORS.COM 47 Bolling Circle - $644,900 Stunning home built by Taylor Lyn Homes. First floor master bedroom suite & laundry. Gorgeous upgrades, 2 car garage, fin. basement, gentle walk to water & amazing main lake views. Vicki Wilson Owner/Broker (434)960-7044 Cyndi Mylynne Realtor,GRI, ABR, e-PRO (434)981-4629 434-589-3539 • 800-825-LAKE Waterfront Homes SAVE THE DATE! Fluvanna Meals on Wheels Antique Appraisal Show March 10, 2012 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Lake Monticello Fire & Rescue Dept. www.mealsonwheelsfluvanna.org Invest in Land •5 Lake Monticello Lots -- $34,900 & UP •4.18 Acres in Buckingham -- $29,900 •5.89 ACRES IN FLUVANNA.........$66,500 •10 ACRES IN FLUVANNA ..........$79,500 •10.90 ACRES IN FLUVANNA........$98,500 •3.20 ACRES IN FLUVANNA..........$44,500 •17 ACRES COMMERCIAL PROPERTY...$997,000 Bill Lansing Realtor (434)996-7245 13 Corn Pone Lane - $649,000 Custom built by Dickie Herring. Gorgeous, one level with an unfinished basement. .80 acre, private lot with walking trails, 321' water frontage, 2 boat docks and great views! 92 Jefferson Drive - $150,000 Curb appeal & one level living. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, formal dining room, living room with fireplace & a large eat in kitchen. Private, wooded back yard with storage shed. 7 Riverside Drive - $157,900 Immaculate 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with an open floor plan. Large bedrooms each have double closets. Large eat in kitchen & dining room. Fenced in yard & attached garage. . Lisa McCormick Realtor (434)589-6386 Don & Lorraine Wheeler Realtors (434)962-7868 Joan White Associate Broker, GRI, CCREC (434)981-4081 Fluvanna’s Only Certified Residential Brokerage MONTICELLO COUNTRY REALTORS 124 Deerfield Road - Fluvanna $139,000 Built in 2005 with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Located on 3.7 acres near Zion Crossroads. Detached 40' x 30' garage with workshop. 2' x 6' Construction & vaulted ceilings. Lake Monticello Homes 70 Laguna Road - $279,000 Spacious 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath with formal living & dining rooms. Hardwood floors, gas fireplace, vaulted master with walk in closet. Master bath has whirlpool & double vanities. Shirley Saum Realtor (434)964-7063 Lorraine Frisina Realtor, GRI (434)981-3997 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Next to the Main Gate ✔WE OFFER PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERIENCED SERVICE FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS...CONTRACT TO CLOSING Homes With Acreage 225 Mount Burgha Lane - Fluvanna $269,000 Located on 16.6 + acres of land. Partially cleared with fencing, barn & creek. 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, finished terrace level, hardwood floors, brick fireplace & garage. 303 Jefferson Drive - $205,000 Bright home with vaulted ceilings, sunroom, living room with gas fireplace and large dining room. Well equipped kitchen, partially finished basement & oversized 2 car garage. . 4 Slice Road - $209,000 Elegant, one level home with aggregate courtyard. Located near shopping & restaurants. Hardwood floors, vaulted & tray ceilings, fireplace & Florida room with ceramic flooring.. ✔WE ARE A REGISTERED HUD BROKERAGE & WE CAN SEARCH ALL THE FORECLOSURES IN THE AREA. CALL US TODAY! JoAnn Nordlund Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, CRB (434)962-6384 Craig McCormick Owner/Realtor (434)996-5113 March 1, 2012 | FLUVANNA REVIEW | 9
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03-01-12 FR low res.pdf - Fluvanna Review

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