The Warren Sentinel

Article Date: January 27, 2005

EDA gets updates on town marketing and Avtex cleanup projects

By: Roger Bianchini

Besides small business incubator initiatives presented through the Warren Incubator Network  (See related story), the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority last week got updated on a town marketing project and other endeavors, as well as the monthly progress report on Avtex remediation and redevelopment.

Acting Town Manager Rhonda North informed the EDA the town plans to hold a news conference to unveil a pamphlet/magazine designed to help town staff inform both newer residents and visitor of “things to do” around Front Royal.

The endeavor entitled “Out and About,” will provide information on entertainment, lodging, recreation, shopping, dining, historical sites and events and will also feature maps of both the town and county.  Out and About will also be available through the town web site,

North anticipated as many as 10,000 of the magazines being distributed per month during peak tourist times of the year.

North explained the project is designed to help harried town staff avoid responding to inquires about what there is to do around town with off-handed “nothing” responses that could lead to the loss of tourism-based revenue.

EDA Executive Director Paul Carroll suggested the town seek distribution of the magazine in other regional locales including Washington D.C.

North also said the town is negotiating to become the first pit stop in the 2005 “Great American Race,” a cross-country vintage automobile race scheduled to start in Washington D.C. on June 25.

Town residents will soon be able to pay utility bills not only by credit card at the town business office, but also on line, North said.  The online service will also provide access to payment histories so residents can anticipate seasonal billing changes or spot billing abnormalities.

North also told the EDA that initial tests of the town’s expanded water treatment system were successful.  The system achieved a 6-million-gallon-a-day flow, 2 million over what the test sought.

FMC Avtex Superfund Site Manager Doug Bement told the EDA that local contractor Rappawan is making good progress at the Soccerplex site.  Two fields are nearing the final stages of grading.  The plan is to have several fields ready for use by Spring 2006.

A planned May announcement from the Army Corps of Engineers is expected to provide a demolition date for the lone remaining major structure on site, the power plant, Bement said.  The plan is to implode the imposing building, which is now being cleared of asbestos and other potential pollutants prior to that major event.  Sometime in September is a possible target date, Bement said.

Accompanying Bement to Friday’s meeting were FMC officials Marjo Carpenter, Judy Smelzer and Bob Carr.  Smelzer is based in Philadelphia and Carr in Buffalo, the EDA was told.

Smelzer works in Corporate Communications and Governmental Affairs and Carr is a media consultant for FMC.