Board of Supervisor's Meeting May 11, 2009-Patrick County
May 11, 2009
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors met on Monday evening at 6:00pm on May 11, 2009. Listed here are the decisions made and other matters of public discussion.
Patrick County Board of Supervisors Meeting, May 11, 2009
Decisions made:
1. Voted unanimously to appoint the following individuals to the Land Use Taxation Committee:
Blue Ridge – Barry Shelor and J. W. Young
Smith River – Roger Tuggle and Gary Griffith
Mayo River – Charles B. Smith and a person yet to be names
Peters Creek – Christina Slate and Karen Spencer
Dan River – Roger Heydon and Bonnie Goad
2. Voted unanimously to approve the 6- Year Plan for VDOT funding of Secondary Roads in Patrick County.
3. On a motion by Jonathan Large, which was unanimously approved, to proceed with construction of a tower in the Dan River District approximately 80 ft. tall, to provide emergency services coverage in the Ararat and Claudville area which is a dead area. This can be used by any County department, such as Sheriff, Emergency Services, School buses, Fire and Rescue, etc... This will be funded with a Homeland Security grant of $45,000. This amount will cover the purchase of land and construction of the tower.
4. Voted unanimously to approve a grant application for $58,500 from Homeland Security, to purchase lap top computers for the Sheriff Dept. and Emergency Services for each vehicle that will be linked to the State Computer System. This requires each County Department to contribute $250 each in order to receive this money.
5. Voted unanimously to have Alan Black prepare an ordnance on cell phone towers that would have these components:
a. Four communication providers can co-locate on the tower
b. Public notification of adjoining property owners and a balloon test to show the view shed.
c. Distance between towers will be spread out so as to get more coverage
d. The tower must permit Emergency 911 and Sheriff Dept. use.
e. Must provide 1 mile distance view shed from the Blue Ridge Parkway, which requires approval from the Blue Ridge Parkway Association.
Other matters covered in the meeting include:
1. Jay Scudder, County Administrator discussed the Jail Project and illustrated to the Board that we are approaching the deadline for completion of a comprehensive agreement with English Construction. Work on the project continues with the planning, engineering and architectural study.
2. Based upon the questions presented in the public comment time about billing for property taxes twice a year the following explanations were given. This will give a one time cash flow improvement and the cost of adding staff will be offset by the money gained. The initial collections will be applied toward debt will hold off on increasing taxes at some later date.
On May 18, the Board will hold a public hearing on the 2009-2010 budget.
There will be no meeting on May 25 due to the Memorial Day holiday.
The next regular meeting will be on June 8 and will focus primarily on voting on the new tax rate and adopting the budget.
Reported by: Tom Bishop
