‘Certain questions have yet to be answered’: Henrico officials eager to discuss Richmond area water crisis with Avula directly

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Henrico County leadership is eager to directly question Richmond Mayor Danny Avula about January's widespread water crisis, saying it has offered the city more than a dozen possible meeting dates and times.

A water crisis in January sent shockwaves through a large portion of the Richmond metropolitan area. As localities like Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties are all connected to Richmond's water system to varying degrees, many in the region were left with little to no water for six days.

Previous reports conducted by both state agencies and independent consultants found that a major contributing factor to the water crisis was poor communication on Richmond's part, with county leaders saying they were left in the dark.

On Friday, June 20, Avula announced that he had invited leaders in those neighboring localities to form a regional advisory group. Per the city, such a group could "explore a path forward to ensure a strong and sustainable water infrastructure for all."

His announcement came just over a week after Henrico and Hanover officials met to discuss the future of the regional water system.

On Monday, June 23, the Henrico County Board of Supervisors issued a statement in response to Avula's invitation. In that statement, the board said it was "encouraged" by his offer.

"Upon receiving the invitation from the mayor’s office for a joint meeting, Henrico responded immediately by offering nearly 20 options, including mornings, afternoons and evenings that span 11 days on or before Aug. 1," the board said. "We look forward to receiving confirmation of the chosen date and time from Richmond."

The board added that it saw the value a regional advisory group could bring. However, it said more Richmond leaders than just Avula needed to be on board for it to function as suggested.

"Ultimately, the creation of a regional body such as this, while supported by the mayor, can only be achieved with the concurrence of City Council, as well," the board said.

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The board's vice chair, Roscoe D. Cooper, III, shared similar thoughts during Hanover and Henrico's joint meeting on June 11.

"It’s one thing to have staff talking to staff, but it’s also another thing to have electeds talking to electeds," Cooper said at the meeting. "I think that we need to do that [with Richmond] just like we have done today with Hanover … There are certain questions that have to be asked and certain questions that have to be answered."

You can read the full statement from the board below:

“We are encouraged to have received Mayor Danny Avula’s letter to set up a joint meeting between the Henrico County Board of Supervisors and the Richmond City Council to address concerns about the city of Richmond’s water treatment plant. As we have seen with our recent and collaborative conversations with the Hanover County Board of Supervisors on June 11, these joint discussions among elected bodies are essential. Henrico remains committed to working with our neighboring localities to improve the redundancy and resiliency of our region’s drinking water system. 

Upon receiving the invitation from the mayor’s office for a joint meeting, Henrico responded immediately by offering nearly 20 options, including mornings, afternoons and evenings that span 11 days on or before Aug. 1. We look forward to receiving confirmation of the chosen date and time from Richmond. 

On Friday, we also received Mayor Avula’s press release, announcing a regional advisory group. We see the potential value in such a group and believe discussions about forming such a group should occur as part of an open dialogue between the two elected bodies of Richmond and Henrico, the city’s largest water consumer. Ultimately, the creation of a regional body such as this, while supported by the mayor, can only be achieved with the concurrence of City Council, as well. 

Henrico Board Vice Chair Roscoe D. Cooper III, of the Fairfield District, emphasized this very point during the June 11 meeting with Hanover. ‘It’s one thing to have staff talking to staff, but it’s also another thing to have electeds talking to electeds,’ he said. ‘I think that we need to do that just like we have done today with Hanover … There are certain questions that have to be asked and certain questions that have to be answered. ...’”   Henrico County Board of Supervisors

As of the time of reporting, Richmond has not announced an official date for the regional advisory group's formatory meeting.