2008 was good year for Town of Blacksburg

"Rock Springs is a big item and to have it on the agenda to be finished toward the beginning of the year is a big deal." - David Hogue Blacksburg mayor While 2008 was a year that most Americans would love to forget, it was a year of progress for the Town of Blacksburg, according to Mayor David Hogue.

Coming into the year, the municipality faced a wealth of problems ranging from trying to help the parched Rock Springs community gain access to water to overwhelming budget concerns.

Though trying to navigate through troubled waters, Hogue said town council made decisions it thought was best for Blacksburg, something that makes him optimistic about what the next year holds.

"I'm looking forward to next year," Hogue said. "The economy is doing pretty bad, but everyone is excited about what 2009 has in store."

Looking back on the year that was, the mayor said a lot got done in the area of water projects.

During the summer of 2007, the 110-home Rock Springs community was without water, victims of the lingering drought affecting the Southeast.

Looking to help neighbors in need, town officials went to work applying for several grants and other sources of income to link the community with the municipality's water lines.

Hogue said the town has nearly finished the job, only needing to put taps on a few homes on Rock Springs Road.

"Rock Springs is a big item and to have it on the agenda to be finished toward the beginning of the year is a big deal," Hogue said. "Everyone did a good job; I'm pleased."

With the country facing uncertain times economically, Blacksburg also found itself having to cut back on certain things this year. One of those was the Blacksburg Gas Company.

Operated locally since 1950, the town-owned utility had been a target of the York County gas provider for much of the past two years. For a while, Blacksburg turned down offers from York Natural Gas.

Earlier this year, York County Natural Gas Authority offered $2.5 million to purchase the municipally-owned utility company. Town officials later agreed in principle to the sale.

Blacksburg residents also signed off on the deal, approving a Nov. 4 referendum for the municipality to complete the transaction.

The Blacksburg utility provides service to approximately 624 customers. Once the deal is complete, those customers would join the estimated 52,000 others in York County and the northeast portion of Cherokee County served by the York company.

"For our town's residents to back the council, that was a big step," Hogue said. "State legislature must still approve certain other things but we're excited to finish this off."

According to Hogue, other decisions like the purchase of rollout trash bins and different departments cutting back on unnecessary spending helped the town stay under budget this year.

"I'm happy to see we didn't go over budget," Hogue said. "The people over our departments have done a good job."

With the seat of town council member Steve Wilson up for election in March, Hogue could potentially find a new face at the table during the governing body's meetings. Though he considers working with Wilson and other current members of the council as a "great experience," Hogue said he will have to work well with whomever is chosen by the residents of the town's 3rd District.

"It doesn't concern me as I can't even vote for that race because it's not in my district," Hogue said. "I wish everyone well and hope we can work together. We've worked well on this council in the past and believe there will be more of the same in the future."