Chamber News

Patrick County Board of Supervisor's Meeting-Stuart

The Patrick County Board of Supervisors met on Monday, February 29, 2011 at Patrick County High School for a "Work Session" for the distinct purpose of reviewing the County Budget for 2011-2012

Board of Supervisors Meeting on February 28, 2011 Public Comment Period Lisa Martin from the Reynolds Homestead spoke to the board about the Big Read program for the month of March and invited them to some of the events. The Board passed a resolution calling for March to be the Big Read month. Other speakers included: Danny Foley - Mayo River District - about the need to trim trees and brush at the Rich Creek Park and the Transfer Station Jack Horton - Mayo River District - various subjects Dr. Jerry Whitlow and his wife - Emphasized the importance and need for the Bookmobile to come to their Christian School in Claudville where they have 66 students and 12 teachers. Becky McCann - Dan River - Part Time Teacher at Trinity Christian School and part time Claudville Postmaster. She also emphasized the importance of the Book Mobile coming to Claudville and the Christian School James Allen, representing the Caring Hearts Free Clinic and the need for funding from the County budget to support families that are below the Federal poverty level. He said that Caring Hearts is a key component to Health Care in our Community. Johnny Martin - Peters Creek - He spoke about the need to cut the budget more than 5%. He said cut the Sheriff Dept. budget, and cutting maintenance. They need to get the Shooting Range out of a neighborhood. Charles Vivier - Dan River - He talked about the reduction in grantor tax collections due to Real Estate Sales being at an all time low. Clayton Kendrick - Patrick Springs - Kendrick Paving - He urged the Board to lower the personal property tax on small business. He also said we should sell the old Sheriff Dept. office building to a business and generate money for the County. Public comment period ended at 7:00pm Lisa Price Hughes - VDOT - 6 yr. plan She set up a hearing on the 6 year plan to pave certain County Roads for April 11 at 7:00pm and to take public comments. She will bring a copy of what is on the list of road projects in our County, and that is only about $65,000. The approval of this plan is set for the May meeting. U. S. Cellular Monopole Cell Tower near Spencer The Board approved this project to go forward with a unanimous vote. It will be located on the Penn Store Road near the Henry County Line. The location is on the W. Craig Marshall, Jr. property and the provider is U. S. Cellular. The tower will be a 199 Ft. Monopole, that is not lighted. The Consultant engineer is Tom Sciotto, who works for U. S. Cellular. Bull Mountain National Park Service Tower The National Park Service (Michael Molling, Chief of Maintenance and Engineering) will install a new Communication Tower on Bull Mountain and will locate our Sheriff Department Emergency Communications and the State Police Communications on a tower 150 ft. tall at no charge. This leaves the existing 130 ft. tower which belongs to the County. Tyson Naujock, AT&T Government Solutions representative was there to give comment. His company has the contract to do the work. A motion was made by Dr. Lock Boyce to approve this work with the memo of understanding with the exception the use and disposal of the existing tower will be determined in a timely fashion by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The tower location is on Appalachian Power property. Dr. Lock Boyce also one of the land owners, agreed to give free access. Vote on this was approved unanimously. At 7:58 p. m. the meeting stopped for 10 minute break. At 8:15 p. m. the meeting resumed. Public Water System Cross Connection Ordinance The board approved unanimously the ordinance to go to Public Hearing on March 14, at 7:00pm. The purpose of this ordinance is to keep well water systems from contaminating the Patrick Springs Public Water system. This is for public safety purposes for the homeowners. Terry Tilley of the Town of Stuart will inspect homes for compliance. Tourism Web Site The board voted 4-1, with Dr. Boyce voting no, to allow the Tourism Advisory Committee to replace the County Web site and the County Tourism Web site. They have received a $5000 grant from Virginia Tourism Corporation. With this vote the County Tourism will put this project out to bid. Sharing the Extension Agent with Carroll County As a budget reduction, Travis Bunn, our Extension Agent will be shared with Carroll County. The was agreed to with a unanimous vote. At 8:37 p. m. the Board began with the department by department budget review. Budget 2011-2012 All the department heads were at the meeting to give comment and work with the Board to adjust the entire County Budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. On hand for this was, the Sheriff, County Clerk, Building Inspector, Treasurer, and other department heads. At the onset, Dr. Lock Boyce made a motion to reduce the Board’s salaries by 10%. Chairman Roger Hayden, made a motion to amend the motion to make it “by choice� by the Supervisor. The vote on this was 2-3, and was lost with Dr. Boyce, Ron Knight and Crystal Harris voting no. Then the vote on the original motion, passed unanimously. This budget process concluded at about 10:00 p. m. They agreed to take up the budget review again on next Wednesday, March 9 at 6:00 p. m. Writting by Tom Bishop