Thomas Cherro

The meeting addressed several key areas, including public comments regarding a potential waterline extension for an adjacent property, which was remanded to the Policies and Projects Committee for further review, along with a request for a mandatory connection waiver. The Financial Report detailed positive operating revenues for December (54%) against a goal of 50%, noting a fraudulent $80,000 check that was intercepted. The Administration Report highlighted an increase in safety training work-hours in 2025 compared to 2024. Operations reported two Notices of Violation for the Wastewater Department, largely due to overflows, underscoring the importance of the Ivy Creek Sewer Project. Project updates included receiving notice to proceed for the Central Water Electrical Phase 1 project and extending the Lead Service Line Inventory VDH grant deadline to May. Committee assignments for 2026 were confirmed to remain the same as 2025.

This Master Plan updates previous water and wastewater studies from 1994 and 2000, presenting the results of a 2008 assessment for Bedford County Public Service Authority. It documents existing water and sewer infrastructure and outlines a roadmap of future projects needed to address growing water and sewer demands from residents and businesses. The plan serves as a guide for orderly planning and budgeting for forthcoming water and wastewater system improvements, designed to support continued growth within the County over a twenty-year period.

The notes for the upcoming Board of Directors meeting highlight several agenda items. The rebranding presentation by Kyle Draper is still being drafted. The Policies and Projects Committee met on February 2, 2026, where they provided a summary of their meeting, noting that their recommendation regarding waterline definitions requires no board action as it follows existing policies. The committee did agree on changes to Resolution 2026-02.01 concerning the Mandatory Connection Policy and requested further definition regarding the capacity waiver. Resolution 2026-02.02, concerning Reservoir Property and the approval of the "Deed of Confirmation and Release," follows discussion from the November 2025 board meeting. An update on Montvale Water indicates the State Corporation Commission has responded with an "Order for Notice and Comment" for the water system transfer, with May 15th being the earliest projected transfer date.

This document is a 2013 amendment to the 2008 Water and Sewer Master Plan, driven by the consolidation of water and wastewater services into the Bedford Regional Water Authority. It updates prior studies to reflect changed planning conditions and infrastructure needs, with a primary focus on ensuring interconnectivity between water systems, optimizing regional water supply from sources like Smith Mountain Lake, and providing a framework for the orderly planning and budgeting of future water and wastewater system improvements across various planning areas.

The notes for the upcoming board meeting highlight several key discussion points on the agenda. These include a proposal for a $750,000 U.S. Senate grant for the Western Hill subdivision sewer replacement project, estimated to cost $1.6 million. A request from Clay Chastain for an exception to the mandatory connection policy for a Ridge Street parcel, due to inadequate water capacity in the existing 1-inch waterline, will be addressed. Concurrently, the Board will consider Resolution 2026-01.01 to revise the mandatory connection policy to account for system capacity exemptions, prompted by the Ridge Street situation. Financial reports reviewed include highlights for December 2025, indicating operating revenues at 54% of the goal and expenses at 44%. The meeting agenda also covers administration, operations, projects reports, committee assignments, and the election of officers for Calendar Year 2026.