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

The Roanoke City Council, the boards of supervisors of Roanoke and Franklin counties and the water authority board unanimously approved Franklin County's membership. The membership will become official upon approval by the State Corporation Commission. It's unclear when the SCC will take up the issue.

"It's a small step for the water authority but a leap in harnessing resources for Southwest Virginia," said authority Chairman Fuzzy Minnix. "We welcome Franklin County as our next-door neighbor, our cousins from just a little bit south of us."

Thursday's vote formalizes the partnership between Franklin County and the water authority that has been ongoing for years.

Contract work on authority-based infrastructure improvements has already begun, including 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.

"This regional partnership will provide better rate stability, drought protection and infrastructure planning and maintenance for all customers," Baumgardner said.

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

"Before it was us and them," he said. "Today, it's we."

Gary Robertson, executive director of water operations, agreed.

"In going forward, it's much more important that we're cooperative than competitive," he said.

Last month, the Franklin County board appointed Callaway resident Shirley Holland to represent its interest on the water authority board of directors.

Roanoke city and county each appoint three members to the board.

During the public hearing portion of the 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.