VIRGINIA SITE FIGHT: APPOMATTOX GIVES WAL-MART A HANDOUT

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Appomattox waives $90,000 in availability fees to Wal-Mart developers [News Advance (Va.)]

Appomattox Town Council voted Tuesday to waive about $90,000 in water and sewer availability fees to developers of a planned Wal-Mart.

The waived fees, which are not an upfront cost to the town, will help offset about $130,000 in unexpected expenses to the developer, Town Manager David Garrett said.

As part of the ongoing discussions with developers, the town learned it did not own a utility easement next to the proposed property and therefore could not allow the developer to put in a necessary drain pipe, Garrett said. The property owner would grant access if the Wal-Mart developer expanded a connection road. The relocation project includes moving a 10-inch water main that serves the western end of the town and could cost much more than the waived fees, Garrett said.

“This project is in jeopardy of going away if this project has to take on this expense,” Garrett told the board.

Three town citizens asked the board not to approve the fees during a public comment period.

Water and sewer availability fees go to a savings account to help the town pay for infrastructure ex-penses, Garrett said.

Council voted 5-1, with councilmember Bryan Baine voting no.

“(Wal-Mart) can come if they want to,” Baine said. “They are asking for special treatment to absorb an unexpected cost.”

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Posted by Luke West on Wednesday, October 01, 2008