Middleburg Town Council has cut $25,000 in projected consulting expenses for planning and zoning expenses and postponed plans to install a new $5,000 telephone system in the Town offices. Those and other cost-saving measures have allowed the Town Administrator to reduce the proposed increase in Middleburg's real estate taxes from $0.02 per hundred dollars of valuation to $0.01.

VDOT Funding

The Virginia Department of Transportation also helped. On June 18 it agreed to fully fund its 80% share of Middleburg's long planned street light improvement program. (Middleburg's streets are, in fact, owned by VDOT).

As late as June 12 Town Administrator Martha Semmes was facing two widely different financial scenarios, one of which included VDOT only paying for half its share of the project. Six days later VDOT agreed to fund its full, $413,688, obligation. Middleburg's 20% share will be partially met by funds from the Piedmont Community Foundation and the Middleburg Beautification Commission, totaling more than $63,000. The Town will now only be required to contribute $20,000 to fund the project.

Bank Franchise Taxes

Town Treasurer Debbie Wheeler reported that early estimates of revenues from the Town's bank franchise tax had been underestimated. In February Wheeler had reported that the Town was projected to receive $166,000 from the Middleburg Bank. In fact, Wheeler reported, the Town actually received $238,000.

Well 4 Emergency Meeting

On June 16 Town Council met in a special "emergency" session to authorize the expenditure of funds for a long-term "fix" for a design problem at Middleburg's original water treatment plant at Well 4, next to the American Legion on the Plains Road. The meeting was called at Council member Mark Snyder's request, to get a jump on implementing the Town's engineer's recommendations for fixing the problem before the Town Administrator left for a well deserved two week vacation.

Mayor Davis agreed and quickly called the special meeting.

Snyder, Council's resident expert on Middleburg's water treatment facilities told the Eccentric that Well Number 4's "design deficiency" centered on the system's back-flush process, a procedure designed to help make sure water lines are clean and clear.

"The back-flush process using existing parts was clogging nozzles with minerals in the water," Snyder continued, "primarily iron and manganese."

"The new engineering solution mitigates this issue," Snyder said, "with an inline screening process."

Council also authorized the purchase of two new brine flow meters to replace two that were ruined in January 2013 when the Well 4 plant failed in a backflush process while Loudoun Water was away servicing a facility elsewhere in the county. Loudoun Water has agreed to purchase the new flow meters, but has not yet done so. Council expects them to reimburse the town for the destroyed meters.

"This is good news," Snyder said, "in that it puts us on track to get this water treatment plant back on-line. The treatment plant at well 4 was constructed before we brought on engineering support for our water utility. Hopefully we have what we need to improve services: a high quality full-time operator, Inboden Environmental Services; a professionally-developed rate model to better plan and budget for operations, maintenance and expected replacements; and the newly formed utility committee to oversee it all."

On a motion by Snyder, Council authorized without objection the funding of two quotes for work on Well 4 in amounts not to exceed $18,344 and $5,378.68 respectively, with such funds to come from the Town's Utility Contingency Fund.

David B. Stewart Honored

Town Council unanimously adopted a formal resolution of thanks to departing Council Member David B. Stewart for his service to the town. Mayor Davis presented Stewart with a framed copy of the signed resolution, an official Town Paperweight, and the formal thanks of a grateful council and Town.

Newly elected Council member Erik Scheps will take Stewart's seat at the Council table at its next formal meeting.

Middleburg Business Review

Kennedy Smith of the Arlington-based Clue Group presented preliminary findings from her recent study of the issues facing Middleburg's business community in the years ahead. Of particular significance was the impact of the first year of operation of the Salamander Resort and Spa and its implications for the future.

The Clue Group's mission is to present the Town with a fact-based, impartial analysis of the Town's current state of business development, business strategies, and a marketing strategy for the town.

Prominent among Smith's initial conclusions were that Middleburg could support and benefit from: more restaurants; the addition of more "general merchandise" outlets similar to hardware stores and our own "Fun Shop;" and carrying out plans for the further development of Federal Street.

People really miss "The Coach Stop" restaurant, she noted, both as a restaurant and as a community gathering place. "Christmas in Middleburg," she noted, may have been over-promoted, based on feedback she had received from face to face surveying. People visit Middleburg, Smith observed, less for the things that are formally designed to attract them than for the things that appeal to residents and neighbors . . . the things that make Middleburg, Middleburg. A formal written report with supporting survey and data analysis is expected soon.

New Town Planner and Zoning Administrator

Town Administrator Semmes reported that two strong candidates were in the running to replace former Middleburg Town Planner and Zoning Administrator David Beniamino. A decision is expected soon after the Town completes vetting the two candidates and checking references.

The Pop Up Boutique

Economic Development Coordinator Cindy Pearson reported that a new women's clothing store, The Pop Up Boutique, had opened at 112 West Washington Street. According to the Town Administrator, now serving as Acting Zoning Administrator, the original plan was for two businesses to share the space, each renting for one month each. The proprietors liked the space and the Town so much that they decided to sign a year's lease instead.

A new apple cidery is expected to open in Middleburg in July.

Fallen Policeman to Be Honored

Middleburg Police Chief A. J. Panebianco reported that his department would be honoring Sergeant Henry Milton Seaton, the only Middleburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty, during the upcoming National Night Out festivities in Middleburg, and would at that time present surviving Seaton family members with a plaque. Seaton was killed in 1899 and is already honored on memorials in Richmond and in the nation's capital.

New Police Intern

Chief Panebianco formally introduced Lauren Davis, a new summer intern at the Police Department. Davis, the daughter of Middleburg Mayor Betsy Davis, will spend seven weeks with the force learning all about policies and patrols for college credit.

Panebianco also noted she would be writing daily reports for him and discussing what occurred. An "outsider point of view" of the department's operations, he noted, would be extremely valuable.

Mayor Davis observed that she was "impressed" with the summer course; that Lauren was "doing all kinds of things, including going to the police academy and dispatch center;" and that she had read Chief Panebianco's new policy manual in its entirety."