By Ben Orcutt -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — The town will participate in a regional water supply planning effort in conjunction with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission.

The Town Council voted 5-1 on Monday to participate in the planning effort, with Councilman Thomas H. Sayre dissenting.

Sayre was concerned whether such a study could somehow harm the town in the future.

Steven M. Burke, director of environmental services for the town, told the panel that the program is solely to provide a "road map" of water resources that would be available during a drought emergency.

In other Monday business, the Town Council voted unanimously to:

* Grant a request by Perry Engineering Co. Inc. of Winchester to accept into the town's system water and sewer facilities installed by them at Riverton Commons Shopping Center off U.S. 340-522, just north of the Interstate 66 interchange.

* Approve a $25,000 contract renewal with R.J. Merkel for line painting on various streets within the town.

* Approve a fiber optic franchise agreement and pole attachment agreement with nTelos Inc. for five years.

* Approve an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Co. for painting the underpass designated as Railway Milepost H-61.99, located near the Luray Avenue boat landing, with permission for the town manager to sign the agreement.

* Approve a resolution in support of Warren County for Comcast and/or any other broadband providers to offer high-speed Internet access to county residents and especially during the renegotiation of the franchise contract and agreement, set to expire in about two years.

* Contact Ben Orcutt at borcutt@nvdaily.com

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