ABINGDON, Va. – The Washington County Board of Supervisors is considering a merger of the county’s water and sewer service authority with the Bristol Virginia Utilities, which offers similar services in some of the county’s southern areas.
BVU also offers broadband cable services in some areas of the county.
In a late-night decision Wednesday, following two unrelated closed meetings, the Washington County Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to proceed with a study on the merger. Supervisor Paul Price was not present for the vote.
The supervisors also voted to proceed with a feasibility study on wastewater treatment options for the Bristol end of the county.
Neither issue was on the board’s agenda, and neither was mentioned until after the second closed meeting ended about 10 p.m.
“Both boards have told me that they agreed to that [merger study], and it’s been a while,” said county Supervisor Odell Owens, who serves on the county’s utilities committee.
Odell said the second study would look at the county’s wastewater treatment needs and options for meeting them. Two options have been discussed in the past: Building a sewer plant and buying treatment capacity from BVU.
Asked whether there’s a connection between the proposed merger and BVU’s desire to become independent from city government, Owens said, “I don’t think that has anything to do with it.”
dmccown@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0701
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