Gordonsville officials are seeking to negotiate, or litigate, water and sewer rates with the Rapidan Service Authority (RSA).
Following a lengthy closed session Monday night, town council members voted unanimously to “authorize the town’s litigation attorney to negotiate or litigate regarding water and sewer rates.” According to a press release issued Monday by town manager Anthony Schienschang, the decision was made following a careful review of the water and sewer rates, usage and billing the town receives from RSA and the impacts on the town’s customers.
Schienschang said the town has two separate contracts with RSA–a circa 1985 sewer contract and a circa 2023 water contract. He said the town has identified several “significant issues” with these contracts, rate calculations, volume calculations, billing and services provided. He said mayor Ron Brooks sought to renegotiate the rates and contracts in May, but RSA categorically rejected negotiations.
“The rates charged by RSA to the town have a different structure and different measurements than the retail service provided to town residents and out-of-town customers,” Schienschang said. “The town only charges its customers for their actual use. RSA does not follow the same principles.”
He said the town operates a town-wide water distribution system with an elevated water tank and miles more water lines than RSA does to provide service to the town. On the sewer side, Schienschang said RSA is charging the town more than the town is charging its customers.
In consultation with experts in water and sewer rates and utility law, Schienschang said the town has determined numerous areas in which RSA is likely in breach of its contractual agreements with the town or the agreements have expired and require renegotiation.
“In light of these issues, the Town of Gordonsville would like to renegotiate the sewer and water contracts with RSA with the ultimate goal of achieving equitable rates for our residents,” he said. “The town reserves the right to pursue other avenues of redress if necessary.”
Schienschang said the town is committed to providing uninterrupted water service to its customers and ensuring RSA continues to provide sewer service. Additionally, he said the town is reviewing its internal rate structure to potentially reduce rates and the amount customers pay, which Brooks called a two-pronged approach.
According to the FY2026 appropriations schedule, in-town customers pay a base rate of $26.87 for the first 1,000 gallons of water and $10.76 for every 1,000 gallons after. The in-town sewer base rate is $34.63 for the first 1,000 gallons and $18.26 per every 1,000 gallons after. Gordonsville purchases its water from Orange who sells water to RSA. Gordonsville handles the billing for sewer.
District 1 Orange County Supervisor elect Jason Capelle questioned the town’s rates during Monday’s meeting. He said Gordonsville’s rates are inflated and discouraged any litigation stating it would cause a full scrutiny of the rates. He said a more productive step would be meeting with RSA face-to-face and said RSA is open to meeting.
District 1 Supervisor and RSA Board of Directors Chairman Mark Johnson also discouraged litigation against RSA when speaking to Madison County Supervisors earlier this month, encouraging instead a sit down meeting. The conversation centered on questions and concerns county officials have in attempting to obtain documents and policies, particularly those pertaining to the distribution of Equivalent Dwelling Units, or EDUs. A meeting between two members of the board and RSA is in the works.
Meanwhile, Gordonsville resident Chester Cooke told council members he’d be happy to testify in court proceedings regarding RSA.
