Evening star., 1955-05-19
Foirfox Plans Referendum
On Water System Bonds

Fairfax County officials today
began shaping up plans for a
multi-million- dollar water bond
issue referendum in hopes of
submitting it to the voters some
time this summer.
The Board of County Super
visors yesterday instructed Coun-
ty Executive C. C. Massey to
assemble the necessary infor-
nation for a bond issue referen-
dunn "as soon as possible"
Preliminary plans for a 500
or $34 million county water
system were submitted to the
supervisors last month. Engi-
neers now are going ahead with
more detailed planning of the
project.
The supervisors, however. de-
cided to go ahead with bond
issue referendum preparations
now because no definite steps
can be taken toward solving the
county's water problems until
financial support is assured.
commemorative Attorney
Robert c. Fitzgerald advised the
supervisors there is no way they
could issue bonds without
referendum.
The instructions given to Mr..
Massey specify the referendum
proposal be for a revenue bond
issue, with no tax backing.
May Take Over Water Lines
MIR. Massey said he first
planned to obtain definite out
line of the proposed county water
system from M. H. Klegerman,
consulting engineer. He said he
also would ask attorneys to give
legal opinions about the possibil-
ity of Fairfax County condemn
ing Falls Church water lines in
the county.
The proposed water system
contemplates county acquisition
of all existing water systems
in the county-including Falls
Churchill possible. Another
question on which Mr.. Massey
proposes to seek legal opinions
is whether the county must pay
for donated capital in acquiring
private water companies.
The bond issue referendum
resolution, offered by Mrs. Anne
wilkins, specified at first that
the vote be held simultaneously
with the July IL primary. The
date was deleted, however, and
Mr.. Massey was instructed to
make the referendum prepara-
tions las soon as possible"
Prompted by Speed-up Plan
The Supervisors action was
prompted by a report from Mr..
Massey on discussions with Falls
Church. Arlington and District
officials about the possibility of
obtaining water from those juris-
dictions for a stepped-up supply
program in the county. A group
Of private developers had offered
to install a $2.5 million water
line Immediately to solve the
water crisis at Annandale.
Mr. Massey said officials of all
three Jurisdictions were disin-
clined to promise a water supply
unless they had assurance the
county would proceed soon with
a program to develop its own
supply. The proposed $29 and
$34 million county water prof.
ects contemplate construction of
a pipeline directly to the county
from the Districts Dalecarlia
reservoir.
Mr.. Massey said the county
could not promise to proceed
with this program, however,
until 1t knows how the voters
feel about the idea. He said the
group that proposed to build the
$2.5 million line also wanted as
surance that the county could
buy the line as soon as bond
funds became available. Mr..
Massey said Mr.. Klegerman es-
timated it would cost the county
an extra $1.9 or Sill million to
buy the proposed hurry up
line the private group proposes
to install.
1--WE can't do anything until
we know if a water bond issue
will pass in a referendum" said
Supervisor Arthur Shaffer. "We
might as well go ahead with it
now"
Keith Price Reappointed
Keith Price was reappointed
to a four-year term on the
county planning commission by
o 6-to-1 vote, with Mrs. wilkins
dissenting.
"His term doesn't expire until
July" said Mrs. Wilkins when
Supervisor Arthur Shaffer offered
the motion to reappoint Mr.
Price. whats your hurry?"
She recently suggested that
State legislation should be
changed to make the terms of
slanning commission members