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Category Archives: water
Water: A Tale Of Two Cities
This past month, the Richmond Times Dispatch featured some interesting editorial back and forth about Norfolk’s tax policies.
Why not also compare the water/sewer rate structure of Richmond and Norfolk?
Richmond water/sewer customers must pay $29 monthly just to be connected to the water supply, but there is no comparable service charge in Norfolk. Though their volume charge is slightly higher, the customer’s bill in Norfolk is directly correlated to the amount of water used. By contrast, Richmond water/sewer customers who conserve water are actually subsidizing those who waste water because of the high base service charge. A Richmond customer who uses 1 unit of water/sewer service monthly (748 gallons) will pay $39.05 monthly, which is over three times what a Norfolk customer pays for 1 unit of service.
Additionally, Richmond water/sewer customers are unjustly slapped with a charge in lieu of federal income tax on every unit of water, but customers in Norfolk do not pay a federal income tax surcharge on their water bills. While the Richmond utilities are authorized to charge the customers a payment in lieu of taxes that a private business would pay to the city, there is no business that pays federal income tax to the city. Altogether the city water/sewer customers are gouged around $5 million annually on their water bills in lieu of federal income tax, and this is the most regressive means of raising general funds revenue for the city. This is especially egregious, given that the City of Richmond sells water to the surrounding counties, who in turn, charge their citizens less.
Let’s learn from Norfolk’s fair water/sewer rate structure that rewards conservation and does not unjustly add a federal income tax surcharge onto the water bill. This should also be a campaign issue for our City and General Assembly political candidates.
Railroad in The Penitentiary Basin
The Penitentiary Basin was dammed at the beginning of the 19th century, between Oregon Hill and Gambles Hill and below the Va. State Penitentiary. It served as an important turning basin for canal boats traveling the James River and Kanawha Canal. Canal boats offloaded supplies, and there was a canal boat building business in the Basin. The 1876 Beers Atlas shows the Basin below Oregon Hill at a time when canal boat traffic was being replaced by the more versatile railroads. In March 1880 the James River and Kanawha Company conveyed all of the canal property to the Richmond Alleghany Railroad, and the Penitentiary Basin soon was filled in and became a busy rail yard with turntable and machine shop. The 1889 Baist Atlas shows the remarkable transition from the previous decade as the extensive railroad infrastructure replaced the canal boat traffic. The water from the James River and Kanawha Canal continued to power the waterwheels at Tredegar Iron Works well into the 20th century. The attached photograph shows a steam engine beside the canal filling up with water from the tower located at the former Penitentiary Basin. Pratt’s Castle on Gambles Hill can be seen directly above the water tower. The former Penitentiary Basin is now owned by NewMarket Corporation, and it is hoped that they will be respectful of the rich history of this site.
Photo credits:
Canal/Railroad photo, Library of Virginia;
Baist Atlas, 1889, VCU Libraries;
Penitentiary Basin, Beers Atlas, 1876, Library of Congress
Canines for Clean Streams Photo Contest
From the contest’s FaceBook page:
Enter the “Canines for Clean Streams” photo contest to win gear for your dog from our great sponsors, Holiday Barn Pet Resorts and Doody Calls. Post a picture of your pet and the photo with the most likes by the end of the contest will win prizes including a $100 gift card to Doody Calls and a Holiday Barn Pet Resorts “Barn Basket” with pet toys and accessories and a certificate for a two night vacation at Holiday Barn!
In order to officially enter the contest you must take the pledge to pick up after your pet here: http://www.mjrt.org/canines-for-clean-streams.html
Holly Street Playground Fountain
Irrigation System Adds To Monroe Park Concerns
Cherry Street neighbor and Monroe Park advocate sent this message yesterday:
Friends-
The following message was received from an employee of DPW today as I was inquiring about the irrigation system that VCU installed about 10 years ago in Monroe Park and that we urgently need to make the park look its best for the UCI race:
———————————————-I sent an update the first week of May and I thought I included you. Sorry but here goes.
We had a water line break near the house. Repaired. We have the need for a dozen new heads, different varieties. Then the real problem. When they were replacing the sidewalk along Franklin St they tore up over 300 ft of water lines and a large number of the 640 heads. They also tore up some sections along Belvidere but nothing like on Franklin. I have notified my superiors about the damage and in addition my lack of funds and active PO to make the necessary purchases. Even if I could make the purchase I only have one irrigation person to make the repairs. It would require weeks of his time and all other systems would suffer. I included Gregg Hall with VCU in my original e-mail and I apologize again for omitting you.
———————————————-
Without the irrigation system, the park and fountain plantings will turn brown and die this Summer before the UCI race. These questions come to mind:
* Since they have to remove the sidewalks to repair this damage, will they do it correctly in brick as specified by the master plan or waste more money on concrete? Will those responsible be held accountable? Where will this money come from to repair the irrigation?
You couldn’t run a business the way this city is being run now. We are hemorrhaging taxpayer money due to blatant incompetence.
I urge you all in the most emphatic terms to contact your city council representative IMMEDIATELY and demand a stop- work order, correct, appropriate and competently installed 7 foot brick sidewalks with environmentally friendly planting strips as specified by the CITY COUNCIL APPROVED Monroe Park master plan (page 79- its on the richmondgov.com website under planning department master plans) and that those responsible for this incompetent foul up be held accountable. Acting CAO Chris Beschler says he takes responsibility for the mistaken concrete sidewalks. Why doesnt he make amends for this tragedy and the incredibly poor supervision on this project.
Thanks,
Todd Woodson
Riggan’s Canal-Blueway Plan
Phil Riggan, who now writes the “Why Richmond, Why?” column for the Richmond Times Dispatch, earlier this week presented his final project for his VCU studies, a plan for making the Kanawha Canal between Oregon Hill and Bosher’s Dam into a recreational ‘blueway” for the James River Park system.
Click here for a copy of his presentation. A full written report/plan should be available in the near future after Riggan makes some final edits.
A couple of points about the plan- It was made with the help of the Friends of James River Park and the James River Outdoor Coalition. Nathan Burrell, the Director of James River Park, afterwards remarked that he thought it was actionable and doable now, as long as there was permission of stakeholders (CSX, Department of Public Utilities (DPU), and others) and available financial resources. It has already received letters of support from the James River Association and the Falls of the James Scenic River Advisory Committee.
Riggan knows about the 1988 canal restoration plan (the one that Venture Richmond ignored) and says he has included it in his final report. It is noteworthy that his plan starts with “Mile 1” at the start of the North Bank Trail near the S. Cherry cul-de-sac, and not “Mile 0” near the Lee Bridge. Riggan’s plan recognizes that DPU needs to complete engineering in order to get the water level right for recreational traffic (elevation verified at 83 feet). Some Oregon Hill neighbors are suspicious that perhaps that was the real goal of the Tredegar Green amphitheater, to damage the historic Kanawha Canal to the point where now the terminus of the “rewatered” canal is at “Mile 1”. That said, Riggan’s plan comes from a recreational paddling sport perspective and if it is successful, it may increase pressure for FULLY renovating, re-watering, and re-connecting Richmond’s historic canals.
Richmond Urban Land Institute Meeting On Wednesday: “Progress on Richmond’s Riverfront: Cultivating Connections with the James River”
It’s not free to attend, but there is a meeting this Wednesday by the Urban Land Institute that is focusing on riverfront connections.
How should Richmond take advantage of the opportunities that the James River offers? What types of infrastructure is necessary to encourage interaction with the James? What progress has already been made?
Join ULI and it’s Young Leader’s Group for a panel-led discussion that will highlight projects that encourage Richmond to engage with the James River. Our distinguished panel will provide commentary on the progress that has been made along Richmond’s Riverfront and will discuss the vision for the future.
Note that it is being moderated by Lucy Meade of Venture Richmond. Can we really expect the public interests to be adequately represented at this meeting?
Strata
From a neighbor, witnessing water utility repair:
Interesting strata shot of the hole in 300 block cherry. You can clearly see cobblestone and trolley layers.
Vigil and Protest At Dominion’s HQ On Wednesday
Virginians are gathering on Tredegar Street this coming Wednesday morning, concerned about the ongoing tragedy of Fukushima and Dominion’s nuclear plans.
I expect a less noisy and more somber event than the recent pipeline protest, but perhaps as equally as important.
From FaceBook event page:
Please join us ~
Wed. March 11, 2015 from 7:30am-10:00am.
We will be participating in the global day of action ~ Commemorating the 4th year of the ongoing nuclear disaster in Fukushima and protesting against Dominion’s plan to build a 3rd nuclear reactor at North Anna on the fault line.8:30am ~Vigil for the victims of Fukushima in plain view of Dominion Executives as they drive into work.
(will we be the next victims?)
10:00am ~ Moment of silence for the victims of Fukushima, followed by a brief memorial tribute and press conference.Our State & Federal government is placing us at enormous risk!
Even with the past nuclear disasters (TMI, Chernobyl and the ongoing/uncontrollable disaster in Fukushima spreading radiation all over the world), nothing has stopped VA Dominion Power from moving forward with a plan for another reactor at North Anna.
