Editor, The Smithfield Times:

The charade that the county played regarding the eastern portion of Windsor getting sewer hooks as part of the Tidewater Logistics Center project came to end as the June 26 Smithfield Times headline stated, “Lovers Lane sewer line deemed too expensive.”

This is the second time the county has played this game in an effort to get citizens to support warehouses. The results have been: two approved projects for the county; zero sewer hookups for citizens.

While I was not around when the Shirley T. Holland CostPlus project was being proposed, neighbors who were have shared that it was pitched that the project would bring sewer lines to the nearby houses.

One might assume that the county has a great interest in helping the citizens. Based on the July 17, 2023, “Community Impact Statement” prepared by Kimberly Horn for The Meridian Group, the county “requested” that the “existing residential development on Lovers Lane and part of Shiloh Drive” be included in the sewer sheds proposed for TLC. The report included a nice color-coded picture showing the area to be included. 

Quoting the Kimberly Horn report: “Sewer Service Area 1 contains 3 industrial buildings on the western parcel of the proposed development as well as the existing residential development on Lovers Lane and part of Shiloh Drive as requested by the County during the pre-application meeting.”

Two years later, after approval has been granted for the project, the county finally gets around to “Sewer line deemed too expensive.”

Multiple times during the two years, citizens asked questions about the feasibility of the residential sewer line and county administration either brushed it off or were indignant that the question was asked. I find it particularly interesting that in a November 2023 meeting that I had with county administration, I specifically asked if the county had money for the residential sewer lines. The answer was a quick NO.

The citizens deserve more than charades from those who are running the county supposedly for the betterment of the citizens.

I expect that this charade will be played again.

 

Glyn Willis

Windsor