Letters to the Editor: November 19 – 25, 2015
Fairfax Water Responds To Eminent Domain News
Editor,
This letter is in response to the article entitled “Fairfax Water Reveals Plan to Condemn Mosaic-Area Land.”
As usual, you have failed to gather the facts prior to writing an article in your publication. Had you inquired of Fairfax Water about this matter prior to 4:15 p.m. (less than two hours prior to your post) on the day of the publishing of this article or had you returned either of the two messages left on your cell phone the very next morning, Fairfax Water would have gladly provided you the facts concerning this matter.
I provide the following information for your readers’ consideration:
• The federally mediated agreement between the City of Falls Church and Fairfax Water allowed for a time-limited lease of the City-owned Gordon Road Maintenance Facility for use by Fairfax Water. Fairfax Water must find a new site to provide service to its customers, particularly City of Falls Church customers.
• Fairfax Water has made multiple offers to the property owner, none of which has been accepted. Virginia Code requires a governmental entity to offer a fair market value for land being acquired through eminent domain.
• Fairfax Water’s Board of Directors is the only entity that has the authority to exercise eminent domain on behalf of Fairfax Water and is therefore the only entity that is suited to conduct the public hearing on November 19, 2015.
Fairfax Water does not take lightly the responsibility of the act of eminent domain. Fairfax Water’s Board of Directors looks forward to receiving community input regarding this important matter at 6:30 p.m. on November 19, 2015, at a public hearing to be held at its offices at 8570 Executive Park Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031.
Jeanne M. Bennett-Bailey
Public Affairs Officer, Fairfax Water
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