CRC Membership Being Debated In Buckingham
Published 4:29 pm Tuesday, December 21, 2010
BUCKINGHAM – Monday night's board of supervisors' meeting began with Supervisor John Kitchen suggesting the board “quit wasting taxpayers' money” on its membership in the Commonwealth Regional Council.
Last month, Kitchen agreed to temporarily serve on the CRC and attend its meetings when Supervisor Danny LeSueur, the board's representative, was unable to because of his work schedule.
“Well I made two trips in one-first and last,” said Kitchen. After using a barnyard analogy, he added, “I would suggest to this board to quit wasting the taxpayers' money and stop sending it over there to them.”
Sandra Moss, a member of Dillwyn Town Council, went to the podium to share that she attended that same CRC meeting as a visitor. “I was interested in what they do because they have done so much to help Dillwyn.”
She requested, “I would ask that you not act on Mr. Kitchen's comments at this time because I want to discuss it with Town Council tomorrow night at their meeting.”
Moss continued, “I find them, personally in my short time on the council, to be very beneficial to Dillwyn.” She added, “It's an association that I think we really, really need.”
At the conclusion of Moss's comments, Kitchen stressed that he expressed his personal opinion.
Later in the meeting, LeSueur said his current work schedule should improve in several months as construction concludes at the Bear Garden Power Station where he works.
He asked his fellow board members to work with him during that time so that the county would have a representative at the CRC meetings.
County Administrator Rebecca Carter pointed-out that the county's dues to CRC are paid through June 2011.
Chairman Monroe Snoddy shared that he served on CRC's forerunner, the Piedmont Planning District Commission. “They were very helpful to the county,” he stated.
LeSueur added that the CRC has been particularly effective with grant writing. He said they had helped with grants for the rescue squad and he was planning to ask for their help with grants for the fire department and rescue squad. “They have been very diligent with the (grant writing) process,” concluded LeSueur.
Three hearings were held during the December 13 meeting. None of the hearings drew comments from the public.
The first hearing focused on changes to section 5-3 of the subdivision ordinance and the inclusion of an appendix.
Rebecca Cobb, zoning administrator/planner, explained the changes would provide the option to rezone property zoned as Rural Small Farm District, RSA, to Residential, R-1.
However, Cobb noted that not all cases would qualify for rezoning to residential. “It would depend on the area that it's in,” she stated.
Concurring with the planning commission, supervisors unanimously approved the changes as presented.
The next hearing dealt with proposed changes in the county's road sign and address marker ordinance. According to County Administrator Rebecca Carter, the revisions bring the ordinance into compliance with state regulations.
After Chairman Snoddy closed the hearing, the board adopted the revised ordinance as presented.
The third and last hearing called for a change in the coyote bounty ordinance. The revision would authorize the animal control officer or his designee to clip the tongue of the coyote carcass rather than the ear, as previously required.
Carter explained the change would accommodate hunters who want to have the animal mounted.
Following the hearing, supervisors approved the change.
Cobb advised supervisors of a request by David LeSueur to rezone his property on Bell Road, Route 650, from Agriculture, A-1, to Agriculture Comprehensive, AC-1. She said the applicant wants to construct and operate two broiler chicken houses.
Cobb asked the board to schedule a public hearing on the request. In turn, the board set the hearing to coincide with its January 10 meeting, scheduling the hearing for 7:15 p.m.
According to information provided in the board packet, the planning commission held a public hearing on the application and is recommending approval of the rezoning with a list of conditions.
Providing supervisors with their monthly report for the Virginia Department of Transportation, Jorg Huckabee-Mayfield, said crews would continue with brush-cutting, shoulder maintenance, and responding to customer service requests.
Referencing the snow that fell overnight, she added that crews were also out that morning applying chemicals and abrasives.
In response to the county's request for flashing lights on Route 60 at a pedestrian crossing used to access a temporary parking area for county employees, Mayfield said VDOT conducted a traffic engineering review of the site and worked with the county's staff to resolve their questions. She added that pedestrian crossing signs have been placed in the area.
Due to construction of the county administration complex, employees have to park across Route 60 at Maysville Baptist Church.
The county administrator advised the cost for the flashing lights would be approximately $15,000. She noted that the lights have to meet VDOT requirements.
After discussing the issue later in the meeting, the board unanimously agreed to take money from the reserve for contingency to pay for the lights, noting that the safety of the employees was paramount.
Continuing with her report, Mayfield said VDOT conducted a review of the intersection at routes 610 and 706. The resultant report recommends increasing the size of the stop sign to a 48-inch-by-48-inch sign and installing a STOP bar on Route 610 for eastbound traffic.
Mayfield advised that a traffic engineering review conducted on Route 623 to determine if School Bus Stop 800 Feet signs were warranted did indicate the signs should be installed for southbound traffic.
However, Mayfield said a request for Slow-Children Playing signs near Fork Union Baptist Church, on Route 638, are not warranted. The site does not meet the federal requirements for pedestrian volumes, stated Mayfield. She explained that VDOT's traffic engineering section advises that installing warning signs at locations where they are not warranted teaches drivers to ignore them.
Supervisor Kitchen, who initiated the request, asked if they could resubmit the request after the church constructs a planned playground. Mayfield responded that they could.
Referencing a citizen petition for hard-surfacing Route 770, Mayfield reported that the preliminary evaluation shows the road would need additional right-of-way donated at the turnaround.
Noting the road would need to be added to the Secondary Six-Year Plan and meet other criteria contained in VDOT's Rural Rustic Program, Mayfield said at this time they have not received directions on the six-year planning process. She shared, “But we are not optimistic about allocations.”
After the report, Supervisor Bill Talbert requested a small section of Route 636 at its intersection with Route 15 be included when chemicals are applied on Route 15.
Talbert said in the past, the truck would come up the hill and then turn around and head back to Route 15.
“We never had any problems,” said Talbert, noting that the truck did not take that route on Monday morning. He added that a two-car collision occurred at the intersection
Mayfield said she would pass the information along.
Before Mayfield left the podium, Supervisor LeSueur expressed his appreciation to her for providing documentation to accompany her oral report.
Supervisors concurred with a request from the school board and approved certain funds from the FY10 budget be carried over to the FY11 budget. Those funds include $202,872 to the school operating fund for instruction; and, $109,790 to the capital project fund for the new HVAC system at Gold Hill.
The board agreed to appropriate $8,000 awarded through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs for the acquisition of a forcible entry simulator.
Changes in the minimum standards in firefighter training resulted in the need to add the simulator to the county's fire training facility.
Karl Carter, assistant county administrator/finance director, advised the board that the county received five proposals for the engineering work on updating the communications system. He said the committee would be interviewing three of the firms in January and would report back to the board.
Supervisors agreed to a request from Ellis Acres Memorial Park, Inc. for an extension of the water bill waiver at the park. The waiver is for the minimum usage.
K. Carter provided information on the possibility of upgrading the county's computer system in conjunction with a grant award to the water department.
He explained that a majority of the water systems functions affect areas of the computer system and Rural Development has agreed the funds can be used for updating the entire computer system.
Noting that the current system dates back to 1996, Carter said a new system would offer taxpayers the ability to pay their taxes and water utility bills online.
According to Carter, the new system would also allow the public to access tax maps and land parcels online.
Rebecca Carter added that it would be a matter of time before the county would have to upgrade the computer system.
“The finance committee saw this as an opportunity and Rural Development approved that the grant money could be used that way,” said Ms. Carter.
Supervisor Talbert led with the successful motion concurring with the finance committee's recommendation to appropriate the funds from Rural Development for the purchase of a new computer operating system for the county.
LeSueur offered, “I think this will be one great piece of equipment and it will reach out to the whole community.”
The board approved a resolution in memoriam for Edward LeSueur, who served on the board of supervisors for 20 years. Prior to being elected to the BOS, LeSueur served on the Dillwyn Town Council for more than a decade and was mayor from 1974 to 1980.
The concluding paragraphs of the resolution offer, “Whereas, Edward J. LeSueur was known and loved by so many. He touched the lives of everyone he met. He gave so much of himself to people and expected nothing in return. Buckingham County has suffered a large void with the loss of Edward J. LeSueur.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors does, in memoriam on this 13th day of December, 2010, pay tribute to and express its highest esteem for Edward J. LeSueur and extends its deepest sympathy to his loved ones.”
Supervisor LeSueur asked for the board's help in finding someone from the business sector to serve as the county's representative on the regional Workforce Investment Board.
Carter added that she had also asked several people without any success.
Chairman Snoddy agreed to another term as the board's representative on the Crossroads Community Services Board.
However, the board tabled action on the appointment of the county's citizen member. Gail Braxton has served in that capacity for three terms.<br />
“She has done a fantastic job,” stated Carter, who received authorization from supervisors to send a letter of appreciation to Braxton.
Restating his desire to continue on the CRC, LeSueur said he wanted to resign as the board's representative on the Comprehensive Services Board.
Offering that Chairman Snoddy had previously served on the Comprehensive Service Board, LeSueur asked him if he would be willing to serve in that capacity again.
Snoddy agreed and supervisors officially appointed him as their representative on that board.
Carter advised that she received audit reports for the Piedmont Regional Juvenile Detention Center; the Annual Report for the Piedmont Court Services; and the Piedmont Regional Jail. “Every thing is in order according to the audits that I have reviewed and according to the reports from the auditors,” she stated.
Updating the board on the status of the county audit, Carter said the auditors have completed the audit and she has received a draft.
According to Carter, everything is in order and the county is in sound financial condition. She applauded the board of supervisors for its good management; the citizens for paying their bills; and the county staff for their efforts.
Carter announced that the county has received designation as a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by drought and excessive heat during the 2010 crop year.
During her report, Carter said the Virginia Cooperative Extension is in the process of restructuring and there is indication that offices may be regionalized.
Supervisor Talbert stated, “Let's do all we can to keep the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service here in Buckingham County.”
Carter shared that she has been appointed to the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative Advisory Board. She said her role would entail keeping supervisors and the public up-to-date on rates for service. Carter advised that CVEC is currently negotiating for the purchase of electricity after its current contract expires in 2012.
Concluding her report with an update on the school construction budget for the schools on Route 20, Carter said the school board is proposing a budget of $24,012,204. She said that she and Karl Carter would be reviewing the proposal and would report to the board.
Concurring with a request from Sheriff William G. Kidd, the board authorized advertising for bids for three 2011 police vehicles.
Complying with requirements for obtaining financial assistance from the USDA, Rural Development, the board approved a resolution of indebtedness for the water system construction project.
According to the county administrator, the county is borrowing $5 million that will be used in conjunction with a $6.2 million grant to finance the new water plant.
