The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors adopted its list of legislative priorities for 2013 during its meeting Dec. 4 in the colonial courthouse. The priorities, which include topics ranging from enabling legislation to regulate alternative onsite sewage systems to urban crescent legislation, will be forwarded to local representatives in the state legislature.

County administrator Brenda Garton said the county is requesting that Gloucester be added to the list of localities in the Code of Virginia authorized to require connection to water and sewage system by owners of property that may be served by such systems.

A bill containing that authorization was submitted during the 2012 General Assembly session. It was referred to the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. Garton said the bill was stricken from the docket, reportedly because of the lack of a formal resolution by the board of supervisors. Consequently, the board of supervisors passed a resolution during its March 20, 2012 meeting requesting that Gloucester be added to the list of counties.

On a separate topic, Garton said Gloucester County supports legislation that provides for local authority over alternative onsite sewage systems, which she said are an important part of safely treating wastewater in portions of the county not served by public sewer or traditional septic.

She said these systems require proper design, installation and maintenance in order to operate effectively. In recent years, Garton said, the General Assembly has decreased the authority of localities and the Virginia Department of Health to oversee these systems adequately.

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