HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Harrisonburg City Council voted unanimously last night to grant an easement to the Town of Dayton for a nature trail.

The parcel of land for the trail will go around Silver Lake in Dayton, which is a water source for the City of Harrisonburg.

Vice Mayor Laura Dent said constructing the trail is a win for both Dayton and Harrisonburg.

“I look forward to walking around it,” Dent said. “It’s a beautiful area, beautiful lake, and the historic preservation of the mill and the wildlife habitat is all win for everybody, including the people now.”

City attorney Chris Brown said during the meeting that the nature trail has been considered for many years preceding the current city council.

Friendly City population analysis

The City of Harrisonburg will begin conducting a population analysis later this year following City Council’s approval at last night’s meeting.

The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center is set to conduct the study, which will examine several population trends in the Friendly City. Those include births, age composition, household types and school enrollment numbers over the past 25 years.

Council member Dany Fleming said that data will be crucial for planning Harrisonburg’s future.

“That’s how we can more effectively plan all our services in our schools as well and housing,” Fleming said. “So, I really look forward to seeing what this projects for us. We’re growing.”

The population analysis is expected to begin in September.

A water and sewer rate increase

Harrisonburg residents and businesses will also see their water and sewer rates go up in the future.

City Council approved planned rate increases of 22 cents per one thousand gallons of water use and 18 cents per a thousand gallons of sewer use. Prior to the unanimous vote, Fleming said the increase will be a necessity.

“This is the continuation of one of the best water systems in the state of Virginia, and this is how we fund it,” Fleming said.

City Attorney Chris Brown added that there is also an increase for the large meter testing of $145, which is carried through the ordinance for the meter sizes.