Two towns working together

To the editor,
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the Orange Town Council for their generous support of the area's only public pool. With the TOOT bus available for children whose parents work, we feel the pool is accessible for everyone. I want the children of all localities to know they are welcome, and I encourage all of you to come to the pool often this summer. Whether you want to work on your swimming strokes or just have fun and see your friends, the pool is the cool place to spend your summer.
If you would like to help save the pool, this Sunday, May 17, the Gordonsville VFW is hosting a benefit bingo fundraiser for the "Save the Pool Fund". All proceeds will be donated to the pool fund. The doors will open at 4 p.m. and bingo starts at 5 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Gordonsville. I hope everyone who supports the public pool will join us for an afternoon of fun. The jackpot is $500.
It has been very gratifying to witness the extraordinary cooperation exhibited between the communities of Orange and Gordonsville during this mission to keep the pool open. Many of the early contributions and pledges we received were from Orange businesses. We have received donations from three former Orange council members. A list of all contributors will be included in a forthcoming letter. Since many friends of the effort have put money in collection jars, we can't list these names, but they have our gratitude as well.
While I have called and thanked each Orange council member for his or her vote of support or consideration, I would like to take a moment and clarify several statements quoted in last week's paper. One council member was quoted as saying that Orange doesn't ask Gordonsville for help on their issues. Well, it must be noted that we didn't ask the Town of Orange for a contribution; instead, an Orange Town Council member initiated this gesture. I purposely did not call or lobby any council member before the meeting and only attended in case anyone had questions. Once there, I did thank the Orange businesses and individuals for their support, but specifically said I would not lobby for funds from the town. That said, the donation was welcome and appreciated, but also came with the condition of Orange getting in-town rates for their citizens, to which we have agreed.
Another council member said that it was unprecedented to send money to another community. Although I believe this also was said in good faith, it was offered without knowledge of the extraordinary cooperation that Gordonsville has demonstrated in response to the 2002 drought. Gordonsville currently "donates" approximately $40,000 annually to Orange to help them pay the finance costs on the raw water storage basin. This is separate from the hundreds of thousands of dollars in principal costs amortized in the water rates we pay. A little background is probably necessary here. In response to the drought, and to help finance the construction of the raw water storage basin, Gordonsville voluntarily agreed to help Orange with their interest payments on a basis proportional to our water use. As a result, we have been sending substantial funds to Orange. Therefore, rather than walking away from that significant long-term request and letting Orange go it alone, as was our option, Gordonsville stood shoulder to shoulder with Orange to solve a problem that affects us both - hopefully in a manner fair to both. In addition, we recently agreed, along with RSA, to participate equally in work to be done at the Orange water plant that we hope will lower the disinfection by-product levels in the drinking water. Although we will again be sending money to another community for their facility, we know our citizens will benefit as well.
We have a great relationship with the Orange Town Council and staff, both personally and professionally. This explanation is not meant to be a response to any individual, and no offense was taken at any remarks made, since I believe they were made in good faith. However, I did feel that it was important for the public to understand the true nature of the relationship the towns enjoy and the substantial financial contributions that Gordonsville has made, and continues to make, to the Town of Orange for the benefit of all our citizens.
Robert K. Coiner, Mayor
Town of Gordonsville