Chincoteague Beacon from Chincoteague, Virginia • Page T9

BEACONDELMARVANOW.COM|9 Frustration over lack of progress in reaching an agreement on sewer service for the new hospital oiled over at the Onan- ock Town Council meeting. Onancock will hold a town hall-style meeting to talk about sewer service on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7p.m. he purpose is really present to interested folks how we see he numbers working in terms of where we are now, what the impacts of various decision could be on the citizens of Onan- Town Manager Cabell Lawton said, adding, is still some ime in which to influence the decisions that are being ormer Onancock mayor Shirley Zamora voiced frustration at the apparent stalemate bet ween the town and Accomack County, and the current mayor echoed and expanded upon her comments. I know what the i ssue is, but you know, you wonder about the Palestinians and the Israelis or the Kurds and the Turks or the Syrians if we as a town and as a county come to some acc Zamora said.

keep hearing this ack and forth about who is doing good-faith negotiations. I want you to know the taxpayers care. As a citizen-taxpayer of his town, I am concerned about us getting a special assessment because we ave debts coming due, and as a taxpayer of the county, I am concerned a bout bonds being floated that only will benefit the people who buy those bonds and that the county ill encumber more she said. Zamora is a member of the Accomack County Economic Development A uthority, but said she as commenting as a private citizen. Among concerns is that sewage treatment plant is Meanwhile, Riverside Shore Memoria Hospital needs sewer service at its new location near Onancock.

We have a county that needs services and with the money they would save instead of building their own system they ould extend pipe to Parksley, to Tasley and Accomac, wherever We hould be able to negotiate this situation and frustrated that still go- i ng she said. But Accomack County is pursuing the idea of building its own 100,000 allon-per-day capacity sewage treatment facility in Accomack Airport Industrial Park as an alternative to continuing use plant to erve county customers. The Virginia Department of Health recently issued apermit for the county plant. The town and county split the bill for an analy- is of the treatment cost per gallon using the Onancock plant. That analysis as not yet been completed.

Accomack County aroutine recently approved the a pplication for sewer service, Accomack County Administrator Steve Mine said in an email. town is very aware that the hospital is i the county sewer service area and that it will be served by our he said, adding the county is tarting to compare and consider treatment alternatives as the current contract with the town will be coming to an end ore than five years from ow. regardless which alternative is chosen, the hospital shall remain a customer of the county he said. After Zamora finished er comments, Onancock Mayor Russell Jones said, sister. I a gree Jones recited the timeline of recent negotiations, noting in 2012 the town granted the equest for an increase in its allotment for sewage treatment no cost to he county In the resolution, the town asked to meet and ework a 1978 agreement with the county for sewer service.

No such negotiating meeting came to he aid. Town and county representatives appointed to discuss water and sewer service have met face-to- ace only one time, in Janu ary. Jones said shortly before the meeting town officials received a letter from the county us to come to the table with a solution for the hos- County, town and hospital representatives met a the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce in Melfa, where representatives, including Jones, Lawton and ouncilman T. Lee Byrd, presented a proposal the county to approve our irect working with the hospital to ensure them the lowest rates possible or both sewer and wa- County and Onancock spar over hospital sewer services By Carol Vaughn Staff Writer.