Ground was broken Monday on a sewer project at Philpott Lake, a move that could open the door to the development of a marina there. On hand for the event were Cong. Rick Boucher, Cong. Perriello, Sen. Roscoe Reynolds.
Source: Martinsville Bulletin
The sewer project, which will connect the park to the Henry County Public Service Authority’s water lines, represents the “next wave of economic development� in Henry County, 5th District U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello said during Monday’s ceremony. Perriello, D-Albemarle County, attended the event along with 9th District U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway, and numerous local officials.
Proponents of the marina say it would boost tourism in the area. Philpott has been without a public marina for about a decade, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials have said. Up to this point, the lack of sewer infrastructure has been a roadblock to a marina’s development.
This project changes that, Boucher indicated.
Construction of the wastewater project “will significantly benefit Henry County’s economic development efforts,� he said.
“More than 750,000 people visit Philpott Lake each year, but the lake has the potential to attract many more visitors if a marina is constructed,� Boucher said.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors approved spending up to $500,000 to build 3,500 feet of 8-inch gravity pipe and 1,900 feet of 4-inch “force fed main line� that will run along Virginia 57 to Philpott property, according to Jerry Lawicki, chairman of the PSA board of directors.
The cost of the county’s share of the project came in at $416,800, officials said.
Boucher and Perriello worked to secure $1.7 million in federal funds — $1.4 million of which was in the form of federal stimulus money — to build facilities inside Philpott to connect with the PSA line, Boucher said.
“Safe and reliable water and wastewater systems are essential to achieving our economic development goals for the region and maintaining our region’s excellent quality of life,� Boucher said.
The sewer project “opens up development opportunities, but in a way that preserves� the heritage of the lake, Perriello said. He predicted the project will have “very positive ripple effects in the community.�
Reynolds said the sewer project “is another step forward in our efforts to make this an even better facility for the people of Henry County, the people of Virginia� and those of other areas.
The sewer project was not the work of one person alone, officials said. Instead, the project “is all about partnerships,� said Debra Buchanan, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. “To accomplish anything of substance takes a team approach.�
Buchanan, as many other speakers, thanked all who participated in bringing the project to fruition, including federal, state and local representatives, as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Craig “Rocky� Rockwell, operations manager at Philpott; and Philpott employees.
Col. Jeff Ryscavage, the Wilmington District commander of the corps of engineers, said he is proud of the staff at Philpott. The corps approved funds for the project but added no additional staff, he said.
Corps employees at Philpott have worked to make the project a reality, Ryscavage said.
Supervisor Jim Adams of the Blackberry District said county officials “have come under fire� by some residents for spending the funds to run a sewer line to Philpott, but sometimes, “there are some folks who cannot see beyond the end� of the path.
He was referring to some local residents’ criticism of the project.
However, by and large, residents support the project because a majority of them realize that Philpott can be more than it has been, “and it has been a crown jewel for this area,� Adams said.
Construction of the sewer line is expected to be completed within six months, according to Tim Pace, the county’s director of engineering.
Several ideas have been put forth for a marina and how it should be funded and managed, but nothing has been finalized, officials have said.
Source: Martinsville Bulletin
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