At the November 11 Middleburg Town Council meeting, Dr. Sheila Johnson's Salamander Inn Project restated their offer to help pay for improvements to Middleburg's water system while simultaneously reminding the council of the approaching deadline for a decision on that offer.

The Salamander Inn management team promised to submit their offer to the council in writing for the first time, in a formal letter to Mayor Tim Dimos.

Salamander is offering Middleburg $1.8 million to pay for capital improvements to town wastewater and sewage systems in exchange for a connection to Middleburg's water utility.

Without a connection to town water, the Salamander Inn will have to construct their own water system, which entails creating their own drain fields and drilling their own well.

The Salamander project managers contend that the Town Council must reach a decision on whether or not to connect the Inn to the town water system no later than December, the latest date possible for Salamander to order the supplies and equipment to build a private system if they are to meet construction schedules for the Inn itself.

"We can get the job done with or without the town's water," said Salamander Inn Project Manager Jeff Zell.

"We've been waiting six or eight months for a decision. We're trying to hold firm for everyone's benefit, but time is just running out."

Although the current plan for the Inn is for 58 rooms, the project hopes to get approval for 120, pending possible special exception hearings.

Town Administrator Mike Casey was asked what increase of water usage and cost of additional lines would be generated by the addition of Salamander Inn.

"We have a study of what it would cost, from June of last year," said Casey. "... it would add about 50,000 gallons and cost around $750,000 in additional lines and improvements."

None of these estimates include any consideration of the Inn's potential tax payments to the town if Middleburg extends its boundaries to include the Inn.

Salamander's Jeff Zell estimates additional tax revenue potential for the Town at roughly $12 million per year if the boundary line is adjusted.

According to Mayor Dimos, the combination of the $1.8 million offered by Salamander for water system improvements plus the tax revenue gained from a Salamander Inn annexed to Middleburg would greatly help town residents.

"This money would absolutely affect the town water customer. The improvements to the system alone will greatly help retard rates that are surely going to go up otherwise," said Mayor Dimos.

Zell emphasized that Dr. Johnson's offer and willingness to wait for the council's decision until the project is "on the one yard line" is motivated by a philanthropic desire to help Middleburg. If a town water connection is made and the Salamander Inn is annexed by the town, according to Zell the additional taxes and fees would cost the Inn 4-5 million dollars more than if the Inn remained only within the dominion of Loudoun County.

"We want to be Middleburg's water/sewer Christmas Santa," said Zell.