By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Nov. 24 to approve the ranking of engineering firms vying to conduct a detailed, multi-phase evaluation of the Orchard Lake Dam and to authorize the county’s evaluation team to begin contract negotiations. The approvals followed the recommendation of a committee made up of County Administrator Gary Larrowe, Deputy County Administrator David Moorman, Capital Projects Manager Rich Evans, and Purchasing Agent Stephanie Sparks, who reviewed proposals and interviewed the finalists.
According to the agenda packet, three firms submitted proposals for engineering services that would include a site assessment, alternatives analysis, a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER), coordination with regulatory agencies, and eventual design and construction-phase services. After evaluating qualifications and conducting interviews on Nov. 5 and 6, the committee recommended the following ranking: 1.Timmons Group; 2.A. Morton Thomas and Associates; and 3. ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC.
Under county procurement policy and the Virginia Public Procurement Act, negotiations will begin with the top-ranked firm. If an agreement cannot be reached, the county will move sequentially through the ranking until a contract is secured or all firms are rejected. The board’s second unanimous vote authorizes the evaluation team to carry out these negotiations and return with a proposed contract— or, if needed, issue a revised request for proposals.
Board Chair Amy White asked Moorman whether the evaluation committee was confident all three firms could successfully perform the required work. Moorman said the team had a high degree of confidence in the capabilities of each firm, and he noted that the ranking reflected “relative strengths and weaknesses” among them. “The scoring was more of a qualitative assessment than quantitative,” he added.
Supervisor Steve Clinton said he believed the Timmons Group was a strong first choice, noting his own positive experience working with the firm. Moorman explained that Timmons rose to the top because they “demonstrated a very good understanding of the project and the scope, and our ask of the firms— which was basically to come in, do an independent assessment, an objective assessment of options for the dam without preconceived notions… and give their best engineering judgment.” He also said Timmons offered a strong public engagement strategy and insight into potential grant opportunities.
Larrowe echoed the committee’s view that all three firms were fully capable.
Before the board’s vote, members of the Orchard Lake community continued to express sharply divided opinions about the future of the dam. Dearl and Julie Fraze— co-owners of the dam along with the county— spoke again about their concerns regarding a leak affecting a high-pressure gas line that runs through the dam. Dearl questioned why the responsibility for determining the dam’s future appears to rest so heavily on their family.
“How is it that the DCR and Roanoke Gas are leaving it up to my family to decide if a dam in a highly dangerous situation like this gets rebuilt or shaved down, leaving the hazard in place permanently?” he asked. He said he feared his family would be blamed if the dam failed and damaged the gas line. The couple said they have spent nearly four years trying to resolve the issue and claimed that neither Roanoke Gas nor the Department of Conservation and Recreation has taken substantive action beyond assuring them that the dam and gas line are safe “as long as the water is clear.”
Julie Fraze told the board she did not want it to “cater to the demand” of neighbors who she said resisted helping with maintenance costs when the issue first surfaced in 2023, and she argued that returning grant funds to DCR would leave her family in danger. She said neighbors had shown little interest for two years and were only now acting surprised that difficult decisions were upon them. Dearl concluded by saying he and his wife would no longer allow the neighborhood to influence the decision.
Several other Orchard Lake property owners urged the county to leave the dam intact. A couple of speakers called for an inundation study to determine whether the dam’s leak constitutes a “high hazard.”
With public comments concluded, the board turned to the agenda items. Both motions—approving the ranking of proposals and authorizing negotiations—passed unanimously.
The selected engineering firm will undertake a comprehensive analysis of options for the dam, including repair, lowering, or breaching, along with cost estimates, regulatory coordination, public presentations, and recommendations. Depending on the county’s chosen path, final design and construction-phase services would follow in later phases.
To watch the full November meeting of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors, visit the @BotetourtCountyVA YouTube channel.
