Franklin County was voted in as a full-fledged member of the Western Virginia Water Authority this morning in Vinton by the governing bodies that already made-up the regional utility.

Roanoke City Council, the boards of supervisors of Roanoke and Franklin counties and the water authority board unanimously approved Franklin County's membership. Franklin County's membership will now become official upon approval by the State Corporation Commission.

"It's a small step for the water authority but a leap in harnessing resources for southwest Virginia," said  authority Chairman Odell "Fuzzy" Minnix.

Franklin County Supervisor Charles Wagner called the partnership a "historic occasion" for the county.

During the public hearing portion of today's meeting, there was one objection to the partnership by Roanoke County resident Eleanor Dillard. She questioned the financial burden it might put on existing customers.

Contract work on authority-based infrastructure improvements have already begun in Franklin County in advance of it becoming an authority member. The work includes a new $2 million waterline, stretching from the Franklin County-Roanoke County border south to Wirtz Plateau Plaza at the corner of Wirtz Road and U.S. 220. Crews are working from both ends, and, so far, 6,000 feet of pipe has been installed, said Sarah Baumgardner, the authority's spokeswoman.
    
Work on the first phase --  from Clearbrook in Roanoke County to the Franklin County line -- is almost complete, awaiting testing and other final details. There are plans to extend water service along Scruggs Road near Westlake in Franklin County, and the water authority recently acquired a wastewater treatment operation at the lake.