Water and Sewer Tap Fees: Are they too high?

Front Royal Town Council Work Session September 9, 2019.

At the Town Council Work Session following the September 9th regular meeting, Council discussion included issues tied with the current water/sewer tap fees. Public Works Director Robert Boyer presented a comparison of Front Royal’s tap fees and service procedures with those of the surrounding towns and cities. A “tap fee” is a one-time charge designed to recover all or a portion of the costs (for material and labor) of connecting into the Town utility system.

The concern discussed at the work session were about the prices charged by the Town of Front Royal.

The overview of water tap services provided in the slideshow sparked a heated discussion about how can the Town reduce the amount charged for tap installation. Councilmen offered different explanations for the exorbitant price difference: Different towns meaning different demand per town perhaps?

“The price is too high,” says Mayor Tederick.

Then Interim Mayor Matt Tederick chimed in: “the towns pricing (for tap fees) has been a sore in my side for over a decade as a citizen. When you have a house that is constructed and priced at a usury levels, with 10% or 12% of the price of the building going to a tap fee? That’s ridiculous.” Mayor Tederick also believed that the high price of tap fees contributed to the stalled growth in Town and the bureaucratic unfriendliness Front Royal has towards businesses.

Councilman Eugene Tewalt disagreed with the Mayor.

Councilman Eugene Tewalt spoke up, objecting to the changing of tap fees on the grounds that it pays back for the infrastructure. Mayor Tederick respectfully disagreed with his argument. Vice-Mayor Bill Sealock also objected to Tewalt’s argument, wanting to gather more information on the details of tap fees. While Councilman Tewalt says that the fees go to pay infrastructure, the financing department disagreed, reporting that only a portion of the tap fees support the infrastructure.

Town Manager Joe Waltz says it could take three months for a study.

Town Manager Joe Waltz reminded Council that the study being underwent by town on water capacity will take at least three months to complete. Mayor Tederick and Vice-Mayor Sealock want action sooner. “We need to build houses in this town, and tap fees are getting in the way of progress.” Council decided after this heated discussion that they would need to push the discussion to a later meeting, as more research needed to be done for anyone to make a clear decision.

Council also discussed the request for water and sewer services to be installed at 3853 Guard Hill road. A project that, if approved, would be scheduled to begin spring 2020, a request from Mr. Chris Ramsey. Mr. Ramsey requested that water and sewer services for the use in building a development on Guard Hill Road. However, according to Councilman Tewalt, the town does not provide both water and sewer, only water, “we are still waiting to receive information on water capacity for the Town.” The study on water capacity needs to be completed because of the growing concerns from citizens on the Crooked Run West project. The area that Mr. Ramsey is requesting receive water and sewer treatment is outside Town limits, meaning that Council would need to approve its servicing. The reason that the plot of land on Guard Hill Road is carved outside of the Town limits is unknown and has a vague history regarding its planning. Council determined that more research needs to be done before any action is taken, and not before the study on water capacity for the Town is completed.

After these issues were discussed, Council moved into a closed session discussing matters concerning the EDA scandal, police department financing, and personnel topics.

Confused as to what all the discussion about tap fees and water capacity studies mean?

Watch the Town Council work session in its entirety here in this Royal Examiner exclusive video and see it for yourself: