Voters OK sale of gas company

It wasn't the most difficult decision to make on their ballot, but Blacksburg residents gave their stamp of approval regarding the town's proposed sale of its natural gas company.

Approximately 542 Blacksburg taxpayers voted on the referendum, with 63 percent voting in favor of the sale of the municipally-owned utility.

Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue had a good feeling about the referendum in the days leading up to Nov. 4, fielding questions from some of the town's residents regarding the municipality's deal with York County Natural Gas Authority.

"A dozen and a half or more people talked to me about the referendum, and I didn't hear one negative comment," Hogue said. "I just explained to them that (Blacksburg Town Council) agreed it was the best thing for the town.

"But I also told them in the end it was their decision."

Earlier this year, York County Natural Gas Authority offered $2.5 million to purchase the company, with town officials later agreeing in principle to the sale.

Town officials decided to put the referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot due to legislation that requires the owners — which in this case was Blacksburg taxpayers — to either approve or deny the sale.

Though confident about the referendum being approved by Blacksburg residents, Hogue still wondered how things would turn out.

"A lot of people tell you how they feel about it, but you never really know until the votes are put in the ballot box," Hogue said.

For much of the past two years, York Natural Gas tried to pull town officials to the negotiating table.

But when the town's primary consumer of gas, the Hanson Brick Company, closed its doors last year the two entities put their heads together hoping to strike a deal that would help both the municipality and its residents.

With the passing of the referendum, negotiations will continue between town officials and York Natural Gas.

After the deal is completed, Blacksburg's 624 customers would join the York County utility's service area, which includes approximately 52,000 customers in York County and the northeast portion of Cherokee County.

However, Hogue said York Natural Gas' acquisition of the Blacksburg utility is not etched in stone.

'It's got a pretty good chance of going through," Hogue said. "But you never know, there's always the possibility contract negotiations could break down."

According to officials with York Natural Gas and the Town of Blacksburg, the sale of the gas company will provide immediate financial relief to Blacksburg, with customers seeing lower rates should the two sides complete the deal.