Evening star., 1949-08-29
u. ). Refuses 10 Halt
Proposal 10 Sell
Sewer 10 Fairfax

The Government today refused
to stop the proposed sale of the
Federally -owned Holmes Run
trunk sewer to Fairfax County
The city of Falls Church had
requested that the sale be stopped
because the county plans to in
crease sewer service charges to
the city if it acquires the facility.
Word of the Governments ac-
ton was received by James j.
Corbalis, jr., Fairfax County sani-
tary engineer, who received from
the General Services Admlnistra-
ton a copy of a letter sent to
Falls Church.
The letter stated that the Falls
Church resolution requesting that
the sale be stopped had been con-
sidered and that the Government
was unable to comply with the
resolution"
County Denies Charges.
The Governments letter, which
was signed by Henry j. Sullivan
of the Bureau of Community
Facilities, GSA, stated that the
agency was legally obligated to
dispose of the sewer to the Board
of Supervisors of Fairfax County
under a proper contract of sale"
News of the Governments ac-
ton came as the county was oeny-
ing charges by Falls Church City
Attorney LIE Rue Van Meter that
its proposed $3,000,0 900 sewer bond
program may not be legal. Pur-
chase of the Federally owned
sewer is part of this sewer pro-
gram.
Disagreement over validity of
the sewer program came on the
eve of a referendum in Fairfax
County Sanitary District No. to
decide whether $4,000. 900 in bonds
should be issued for the program.
Mr.. Corbalis said he received
assurance from Mitchell & PERISH
ing, bond attorneys, that the
county's plan to finance the bond
issue is legal, while Mr.. Van Meter
said the same firm has notified
him the financing plan is not the
one they prepared.
Letter Quoted.
Mr.. Corbalis said the bond at
torneys had notified him of Mr..
Van Meters inquiry and in their
letter stated:
I'VE call your attention to the
fact that the plan referred to by
Mr.. Van Meter and Mr.. Walter
(another inquirer is not the plan
involved in the financing"
The letter also states:
LAS we advised you, when this
was first discussed. We
believe that the proposed bond
issue and the method of financing
are constitutional under the Vir-
ginia law"
Mr.. Corbalis said the bond at
torneys had seen the proposed
financing plan outline in
brochure about the bond issue
and confirmed that it was the
plan they approved.
Mr.. Corbalis said the plan out
lined by Mr.. Van Meter in his
inquiry was so jumbled and SO
that it was unlike
the actual financing plans.
Front Foot Charge.
Mr.. Corbalis said the Falls
Church city attorney in his letter
described the front-foot charge
for connections as an assessment.
THE front foot charge is not
an assessment because no one
pays it unless he hooks up to
the sewer. It is strictly a volun-
tary charge, and not in the ma
ture of an assessment. Mr.. Cor
balls said.
Mr.. Corbalis said Mr.. Van
Meter also had described the 20
cent tax levy as an assessment.
The Fairfax sanitary engineer
said Mr.. Van Meter, who is also
commissioner of revenue in Falls
Church, should know the differ
ence between a tax levy and an
assessment.
This action of Mr.. Van Meters
is just another typical attempt to
confuse the people, discredit the
plan and try to influence annexa-
tions" Mr.. Corbalis said.
The sanitary engineer last week
accused Falls Church of trying to
defeat the bond issue because If