
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 14, 1993                   TAG: 9308140213
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW KENT                                LENGTH: Short

BOARD SUED FOR SALE OF WATER

A group of New Kent County residents says the county's Board of Supervisors broke the law when it decided to sell water to Newport News.

The group led by county residents Antoni and Barbara Andrews and the New Kent County Citizens Association filed suit in Circuit Court on Wednesday to block the water agreement.

The suit said the July 13 agreement by the board to sell 2.1 million gallons of water a day to Newport News is illegal. Any money spent to further the contract also violates the law, the suit alleged.

It also alleged that the supervisors "hid from the public; pretended to break off negotiations with Newport News; and met in illegal executive session in order to conduct the public business."

The board's authorization for the water sale came after it rejected a similar proposal in February.

"People are really upset," citizens group member Robert L. Broughman said of the water contract. "We're just trying to deal with the issue tactfully, legally and, hopefully, morally."

The suit asks the court to void the deal. It also seeks repayment of all expenditures and asks that the board be enjoined from "further unlawful meetings."

The July agreement calls for New Kent to build a water system and to set up a $100,000 fund to deal with complaints if pumping causes problems with local wells. The February proposal made Newport News responsible for building the system and establishing the fund.

Newport News officials say they need the water because they anticipate a shortage.

New Kent officials want to build a water system to support economic development.

by CNB