Officials discuss funding cuts with Congressman Wolf

By MEGHAN MOESLEIN
The Warren Sentinel

FRONT ROYAL — Front Royal Mayor Gene Tewalt, Town Manager Mike Graham, Strasburg Mayor Tim Taylor and Strasburg Town Manager Kevin Farber all had an opportunity on Wednesday to sit down and do what most American’s dream of — pick the brain of an elected official, in this case, U.S. Rep Frank Wolf (R-10th District).

Gene Tewalt

Wolf has represented the district — covering McLean to Winchester — for 15 terms and sits “on the powerful House Appropriations Committee,” as well as the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee and is “co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a bipartisan organization made up of more than 200 members of Congress who work together to raise awareness about international human rights issues.”

Among the topics the local officials discussed with Wolf was the Clean Water Act requirements that are compelling municipalities to upgrade sewer treatment plants. Over 400 municipalities across the tri-state area — 125 in Virginia alone — are being required to upgrade their sewage/water treatment facilities “creating financial hardships for our communities because of cost.” Many of the municipalities were also promised that up to 50 percent of the costs associated with the upgrades would be covered by state and federal grants.

That financial assistance has been cut, creating what the officials are referring to as a “tremendous burden.” For Front Royal, required upgrades to the treatment facility will include a bill for $40 million, while Strasburg is no better off at $25 million.

Taking on a $40 million project for the Town is something that none of the local officials were counting on. Since the inception of the idea of a new facility, town officials have counted on funding coming in from either state or federal grant opportunities. Without that money it means that the citizens of Front Royal will have to bear the brunt on costs associated, which will most likely carry a hefty price tag.

“During these tough economic times, and with state funding for other projects being cut, we felt we had to talk with our representatives for help in funding these projects,” said Tewalt.

Wolf told both Tewalt and Taylor that he would be happy to meet with Governor Bob McDonnell to discuss the issues further and help to find federal funds that could be available to help. Wolf also informed the local officials he would be seeking help from other legislators in hopes that changes can be made.

While on the topic of projects that municipalities are required to do, Tewalt took some time to discuss a project that municipalities are not required to complete, but encouraged to participate in — clean, green, renewable energy.

Wolf told Tewalt and Graham that he was very interested in seeing the proposed solar farm come to fruition, and seeing the Avtex site put to good use. Wolf has been on the forefront of the fight to have the site remediated and said that he will continue on that path to see that the site is released for use in the future. He plans to visit the site before Easter in order to meet with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) “to help speed up the release process.”