Evening star., 1952-12-31
Fairfax Sets Up
Department Of
Public Works
Board Votes, 5 to !,
Rejecting Sanitation
Authority Proposal

Rejecting Sanitation
Authority Proposal
"A Department of Public Work
was created by the Fairfax Boart
Of County Supervisors yesterda.
as it rejected the idea Of estab'
fishing a sanitation authority.
The vote was S to /. with q
Wallace Carper. chairman, stick.
ing by the authority plan. Hi
said he thought that would bt
the fastest way to meet tht
county's growing sanitation needs
County Executive c. c. Massey
was designated head Of the new
department. A division Of sani.
tation was set up within the new
department and Sanitary En-.
gineer James j. Corbalis, jr., anc
his staff were assigned to the new
division of sanitation in the same
positions they now hold.
For the present. the principal
objective of the public works de-
partment will be to develop sewer
and trash service. Major differ
ence between providing these serv-
ices under the authority plan and
the public works department is
that the former would eliminate
referendums each time a bond
issue is needed.
Under Board Control.
Also, the authority would op-
crate independently from the
Board Of Supervisors while the
public works department will
come directly under the super
visors' control, through the county
executive.
The resolution creating the au.
thority was presented by Mrs. Anne
wilkins, supervisor from Fall.
Church district. It specifies thai
the present sanitary districts shall
be retained and the sanitary en-.
gineer shall proceed to develoI
in these districts services which
are requested by the residents.
The resolution orders the new
public works department to pro.
ceed Immediately" with the prep.
aration of plans for the creation
of an integrated and co-ordinatec
county sanitary sewer system
which will be financed by county
revenue bonds.
Mr.. Massey said after the meet
ing he intended to have sewer
system designed to serve every
area that needs 1t and, finance
the system with a county wide
bond issue. The entire county
would vote on the bond issue, buI
1t would be paid of solely by serv.
ice fees from those residents who
use the system.
County officials said creation OF
the public works department
would not interfere with plans "a
arrange joint use of sewage facili-
ties with Alexandria, which is in
the process of establishing an au-
thority.
Mrs. wilkins resolution specifi-
cally instructs the new Depart
ment Of Public Works to make
every reasonable effort to cooper.
ate with regional bodies. and with
other municipal and county bodies
within the Northern Virginia area
In solving mutual sanitary sewer
and public health problems.
Priority Schedule Asked.
Mr.. Corbalis said he was per.
picked at the instructions to pre-.
pare comprehensive sewer plar
for the entire county and at tht
same time continue planning sew.
ers under the sanitary district sys.
TEN. He said the supervisor.
should determine what project.
they want attended to first arlC
notify him. The supervisors saiC
they would try to set up a priority
schedule as soon as possible.
Mr.. Corbalis favored adoption o.
the authority plan, as did a specia
sanitation committee appointed b,
the supervisors two years ago. TIL.
authority would operate much like
a public utility. Once created BY
the supervisors, its rates and &C.
tions would be subject to scrutiny
OF the State Corporation Commis.
sion. In rejecting the authority
plan, most Of the supervisors sale
they feared the lack of control they
could exert over the authority.
To this Mr.. Corbalis replied that
he trusted the supervisors woulc
pick authority members who woulc
be interested in the welfare of al
the citizens of.the county, and whs
could be removed if they failed IL
this regard. He pointed out thai
there would have to be public hear.
ings, both before the authority ans
the sec. before any rates coulc
be adopted.
Forecasts Amendment.
He said he also believed tn,
General Assembly would amens
existing laws to grant the super
$viSors more control over the au
thority and make other changes 1
circumstances show they becom,
necessary. Legislation permitting
creation Of such authorities wa
just passed in 1850.
Supervisor Maurice Fox o
Dranesville District said he wa
not impressed because the rate
would be subject to sec approval
"Other utility rates go befor'
the sec. What does it amount to-
The rates are still high" he de
clared.
Mr.. Fox said the county nigh
try the public works plan and fist
1t unsuitable. "The authority plal
has some wonderful things in II