Bedford Council Raises Electric Rates; Broadband Updates; "Too quiet" on police station deal
Bulletin: Town Manager & Mayor not getting along with Water Authority
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Bedford Bulletin: Town Council Adds Electric Charge
The bitter cold that descended on Bedford just before Christmas caused Bedford’s electric utility to have to purchase large amounts of power at exorbitant rates. In order to recover most of the large un-budgeted cost, Town Council voted last week to add a temporary $10 charge to each residential customer’s bill for nine months.
The town had committed $2 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to sewer and water improvements in the Town and Country subdivision. Unbeknownst to Council, the BRWA had applied for and received a grant for $1.2 million toward the Town and Country project. Key had come to Town Manager Bart Warner asking him to sign off on transferring $1.2 million from the Town and Country project to a project to build a larger water storage tank on Helm Street. The Helm Street project is significantly over budget.
Warner said he refused to do this and told Key that Town Council would have to make that decision. Council voted to invite Key to appear before them to explain the situation to them.
Bedford County Broadband Expansion Continues
BEDFORD, Va. (WSET) — The work is underway in the Big Island and Wheats Valley communities of Bedford County.
This is due to Verizon expanding access to broadband. In January, the Board of Supervisors gave its approval for the County Administrator to execute a contract with Verizon for this expansion.
Verizon will extend service to approximately 349 addresses in the Big Island and Wheats Valley areas. The company has 12 months to complete the project, which would bring broadband to these addresses by spring 2024.