| The
Wise County Board of Supervisors met in a Workshop meeting
on Thursday, April 6, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of
Supervisors meeting room located in the Wise County courthouse.
The following were present:
Honorable
Robert Adkins-Chairman
Honorable
Virginia Meador
Honorable
Doug Mullins
Honorable
Edgar Mullins
Honorable
Betty Cornett
Honorable
Doug Stallard
Honorable
Donnie Dowell
Honorable
Jeffrey Salyers - members of said Board and
Shannon
C. Scott-Acting County Administrator
Karen
Mullins - County Attorney
Annette
Underwood-Executive Secretary
PRAYER
Rev.
Darrell Bolling, Pastor Guest River Pentecostal Church,
led the Board in prayer.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
IN
RE: APPROVAL
OF AGENDA
The
following items were added to next week's agenda:
Coeburn
High School/Odyssey of the Mind/Discretionary Funds
Lake
Estonoa Project/Additional Agenda Item
Move
the Big Stone Gap Boundary Adjustment to top of agenda.
IN
RE: BIG STONE
GAP BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
Bobby
Herron, representing the residents living outside the corporate
limits of Big Stone Gap,
presented a petition with approximately 929 signatures
opposing the Big Stone Gap boundary adjustment.
One reason for the opposition is that Big Stone Gap
cannot service the area it now incorporates.
In addition, this tax would place a hardship on the elderly and disabled.
Brian
Willis voiced his opposition to the boundary adjustment
also.
Harry
Meador, representing his engineering business located outside
Big Stone Gap, voiced his
opposition to the boundary adjustment because of
the additional tax load placed on small businesses that
would probably cause some businesses to fold.
He further stated that Big Stone Gap should develop
the area it now incorporates before taking on additional
territory. He
asked the Board to consider the businesses when making its
decision and deny this request.
As
a citizen, Mr.
Meador enforced Mr. Herron's opposition to the proposed
boundary adjustment because of increased taxes with no more
service being provided.
Anthony
Trigiana recommended that a referendum be done to get the
wishes of the people regarding the boundary adjustment that
would take the burden off the Board.
This action would unite the people by doing the will
of the people and the Board would be in a better position
to make its decision.
George
Polly, Big Stone Gap Town Manger, presented the town's Boundary
Adjustment Proposal for the Board to review before its next
meeting.
IN
RE: PUBLIC
EXPRESSION PERIOD
Chairman
Adkins asked for comments for public expression.
IN
RE: RESOLUTION/CONFEDERATE
HISTORY & HERITAGE MONTH
Si Ingram, representing the organization of
Wise County
Camp of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans known as The Wise Partisan Rangers,
which is a genealogical
historical civic organization,
presented a resolution to the Board asking that April
2000 be recognized as Confederate History and Heritage Month.
He further explained the content of the resolution.
IN
RE: LAKE ESTONOA
PROJECT
Nikki
Buffalow, a student at St. Paul High School, presented the
Board with a handout of the proposed Lake Estonoa Project.
The goal of this project is to turn this wet land
area into a learning center and to preserve the land.
The center will promote the study of the wet lands
and encourage the preservation of the conservation of the
natural resource.
This center would be used by the elementary school
and the community itself and possibly other elementary schools.
Ms. Buffalow explained the different phases of construction
for the proposed center.
She asked for any assistance the Board may provide
whether it be finances, man power or letters of support.
Jamie
Gray commented briefly on the different organizations that
have offered their support to make this vision come true.
Steffany
Toliver briefed the Board on the portfolio for the project.
She asked that the Board write a letter of support
for the project and asked that the Board be listed in their
directory as a source of contact.
Terri
Vencil, a teacher at St. Paul High School, asked for the
Board's support in making this dream come true for the St.
Paul High School students.
Jeff
Salyers stated that he had visited the area where this project
is to take place and fully endorses the efforts of the students.
IN
RE: DERBY &
STONEGA HISTORICAL DESIGNATION
Carl
Curtis, Project Manager for Appalachia Technical Services,
provided an information packet regarding the pending Derby
& Stonega Historical
Resources Application.
Phillip
Mullins, President of the Appalachia Technical Services,
addressed the Board regarding the recent movement in Wise
County to get some of the coal camps, particularly
Derby and Stonega to be declared as historical districts.
Mr. Mullins stated that nothing has been said regarding
the potential adverse effects such designation may have
on industry. He
briefed the Board on the strict regulations that have been
placed on the mining industry by the different regulatory
agencies. He
asked the Board to educate themselves on all the facts regarding
this request before
making a decision.
Melvin
Eads, speaking for the residents of
Derby and as President of the Derby Committee for
the Historical Designation of Derby and Stonega, voiced
the community's opposition to mining in the Derby and Stonega
communities. He
commented on the impact mining has had in other communities
and the fact that no historical history has been saved from
such mining.
There
being no further comments, the public expression period
was closed.
IN
RE: ROAD &
HIGHWAYS
The
Coal & Gas Road payments were reviewed.
IN
RE: SALE OF
COUNTY PROPERTY/ CARFAX
Leland
Branham, representing VDOT, informed the Board that a public
hearing needs to be set to receive citizens comments regarding
the sale of county property in the Carfax area.
This property is needed for R-O-W
purposes for a construction project.
IN
RE: RESOLUTION/NEW
ADDITION/KAYWOOD SUBDIVISION
Need
to approve the
resolution requesting the acceptance of the Kaywood Subdivision
road into the secondary system.
IN
RE: STADIUM
TURNING LANES
The
Board needs to authorize the
Chairman to sign the contract for the stadium turning
lane project. The
scheduled start up date is May 1.
VDOT
REMARKS
Mr.
Branham spoke briefly on the work zone safety awareness
week and the distribution of the revenue sharing allocation.
IN
RE: APPALACHIA
LANDFILL CLOSURE
Scott
Wilson, representing Dewberry & Davis, gave the Board
an update on the Appalachia Landfill Closure.
DEQ is expected to approve the closure plan within
the next two/four weeks.
According to the consent order, the county must have
a contractor under contract to do the closure within sixty
days after DEQ approves the plan.
Mr. Wilson asked for an amendment to its existing
contract to do the bidding and construction administration
of the job. The existing contract,
lists bidding and construction administration work as an
Additional Service, with scope and cost to be defined by
amendment. He presented a scope of
needed services for the Board's consideration for
a cost of $14,789.00.
Doug
Stallard questioned the amendment about why these services
were not included in the original contract.
Mr.
Wilson explained that at the time of the original contract
there were many "unknowns" regarding the scope
of services to be rendered at the actual time of the closure.
Also, the actual number of acres to be closed was
uncertain which made it impossible to include these services.
IN
RE: BLACKWOOD
LANDFILL UPDATE
Administrator
Scott gave a brief
update on the Blackwood Landfill noting that everything
is still on schedule.
IN
RE: WISE COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD/SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY/ST PAUL
Scott
Mullins, Attorney for the Wise County School Board, stated
that the Wise County School Board at it meeting on February
8, 2000 held a public hearing to discuss the issue of the
transfer of a certain tract of property generally
known as the St. Paul
Home Economics
Property. After
the public hearing, a resolution was adopted by the School
Board declaring this property to be surplus.
Attorney Mullins
asked for Board approval to allow the School Board to sell
this property and that the proceeds of the sale be placed
in the School Board's Capital Improvement Fund for new school
construction, school renovation and other school maintenance
projects.
There
was some discussion on the options for the sale of this
property.
Attorney
Karen Mullins advised that after the School Board declares
the property to be surplus, the Board of Supervisors has
the option of keeping
the property or sell the property with no restrictions on
where the money is used.
IN
RE: WISE COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD SALE OF SANDY RIDGE PARCEL
Attorney
Scott Mullins informed the Board that the
County School Board held a public hearing on April
11, 2000, to discuss the issue of the transfer of a certain
tract of property generally known as the Old Gibson School
Property located in the Sandy Ridge Section of Wise County
that has been determined surplus property.
Scott
Mullins, Wise County School Board Attorney, explained that
the School Board adopted a resolution directing him to seek
approval from the Wise County Board of Supervisors to sell
the tract of land located on Sandy Ridge
on which the old Gibson School was built. Attorney Mullins explained that Equitable Resources is in the
process of developing the natural gas line in that area
and after doing the title work it was concluded that the
school system owns some real property on Sandy Ridge.
The grantor who granted the property to the school
system, several years later granted the same property to
another person. Under
law, the school system has the legal deed to the property. The property in question is less than one acre in size which
is located on a hill side that has been stripped.
There is a widow woman living on this property with
the assumption that she owns the property.
There is no water nor room for a septic system on
this property and has an appraised value of
approximately $500.
The property, being
of no value to the School Board, has been declared
as surplus property.
He asked for authorization from the Board to sell
the property.
IN
RE: RESOLUTION
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT INCENTIVE BENEFIT PROGRAM
Scott
Mullins, Attorney for the Wise County School Board, spoke
briefly on the Supplemental Retirement Incentive Benefit
Program for school employees.
It is stated in the Virginia Code that before any
changes can be made in the school's retirement system, the
School Board must come before the Board of Supervisors for
approval.
Greg
Perry gave the Board an overview of the proposed supplemental
program. He
commented that the number of employees interested in this
program has grown
and the present program cannot meet the needs of the employees.
He explained the mechanics of the program and the
benefits to be reaped by the participating employees.
This
plan is to be established as a qualified defined benefit
plan under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a) .
The firm of Rutherford Benefit Services based in
Roanoke, Virginia will be utilized in establishing and maintaining
the program.
IN
RE: INDIAN
CREEK WATER PROJECT UPDATE
PSA
Director Danny Buchanan gave the Board an update on the
Indian Creek Water Project.
He also briefly commented on proposed future water
projects and funding sources that are being secured for
said projects.
IN
RE: ALL AMERICAN
CITY AWARD
Christianne
Parker, Assistant Administrator for Washington County, addressed
the Board regarding the All-American City Award.
The All-American Award given to the Tri-Cities TN/VA
region in June
of l999 was the first time in the history of that program
that a region like this one has received this designation.
This award brought 56 jurisdictions together in a
cohesive unit to successfully compete for one of the nation's
most prestigious awards.
She
explained the plan that has been developed by the All-American
City Steering Team
to promote the award within the region to enhance
regional cooperation and to promote the area outside the
region for tourism and economic development purposes.
The
All-American City Steering Team is seeking to identify financial
partners in both the public and private sector to support
a budget of $200,000 for the proposed activities that will
run through the end of the award year June 30, 2000.
The targeted goal for governmental contributions
is $75,000 with the local governments being asked to contribute
.10 cents per capita based on the l990 U.S. Census population.
If these funds are not available this fiscal year,
funding from next year's budget would be appreciated.
Ms.
Parker presented a brochure that included All-America City
Apparel that can be purchased by employees.
She presented sample Static-Cling Decals, Stickers
that can be used to advertised the All-American City logo.
IN
RE: WISE COUNTY
SEWER ALLOCATION/BEAR CREEK
Bill
Skeens speaking for Bear Creek Development came before the
Board requesting an allocation of Wise County's treatment
capacity in the CNW regional wastewater treatment plant
at Coeburn.
Bear
Creek Development has plans to develop a residential subdivision
in the Hurricane section of Wise County.
The first phase, consisting of 36 lots, has already
received Planning Commission approval.
Future plans are to develop up to a total of 125
lots.
The
sewer system for Bear Creek Development will either connect
to the proposed Bear Creek sewer line, or be pumped back
into the Town of Wise sewer system. Regardless of which method
is chosen, treatment will still be with the CNW plant.
PSA has been approached to obtain ownership, operation
and maintenance of both the water and sewer system after
installation.
Based
on Virginia Health Department regulations, the 36 lots will
have a designed flow of 10,800 gallons per day.
The request to the Board is for an allocation from
the County's treatment capacity of 10,800 gallons per day.
For
future development of the subdivision, another allocation
will be requested when 80% of
the above request has been reached.
There
was some discussion as to the demand that will be made on
the County's sewer allocation in the future.
The Board needs to consider doing a study
on the CNW facility for possible upgrade.
Ms.
Meador stated that she was on the Board when the County
bought into the CNW system and at
that time it was the Board's intent to reserve the
County's sewer allocation
for industry.
IN
RE: SMOKING
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
A
public hearing needs to be set for the proposed amendment
to the Smoking Ordinance.
IN
RE: DERBY &
STONEGA HISTORICAL SITES
Richard
Prior reviewed the request for application authorization
and funding request for the Derby and Stonega Historical
Designation.
The
purpose of the grant application is to enable the State
Department of Historical Resources to accomplish an in-field
survey of these two communities that will lead to historical
designation. The
actual survey will be conducted by a consultant hired by
the state agency.
The
scope of the work must be designed for completion within
a fifteen month period starting after the beginning of the
fiscal year.
Wise
County's responsibilities are to submit the application,
provide in-kind services where available to reduce project
cost, and to provide 50% of
the funding.
The
consultants hired by the department generally charge $100
per unit to be surveyed.
The County's share would be
$50 of that charge.
A
preliminary count of structures in the communities indicate
there are l54 surveyable units for a total cost of $15,400.
The County's share of this cost
would be $7,700.
Due
to possible inaccuracies in the present mapping systems
utilized to determine the unit costs and unknown consultant
costs, a total funding request from the County is $10,000.
There
was some discussion regarding the proposed mining in these
areas and the possibility of destroying these historical
sites.
Mr.
Eads, resident of the Derby area, addressed the Board stating
that the people in Derby and Stonega are not against the
coal companies. If
the mining is done in the mountains surrounding the communities
and not in the communities destroying the homes and roads,
the people have no objection to the mining activities.
He asked the Board to support the requested funding
for this project.
Richard
Falin, resident of the Derby community, echoed the sentiments
of Mr. Prior
and Mr. Eads for funding for this project.
There
was some discussion on the sewer problems in the Derby area
and the solutions that have been proposed to correct that
problem.
IN
RE: OTHER ITEMS
DISCUSSED
-
Appropriations
of Funds - Social Services
-
Transfer
of Funds / Sheriff's Department
-
Appropriation
of Drug Seizure Funds/Sheriff's Department
-
Wise
County Zoning Ordinance Amendment/(Set Public Hearing)
-
Disbursement
of Discretionary
Funds
-
Junction
Center For Independent Living, Inc.
-
Building
Refund
-
Appropriations
(4th quarter)
-
Appointments
-
Landfill
Use Fee Refunds
-
Proclamation/Keep
America Beautiful
-
Proclamation/Child
Abuse Prevention Month
-
Judicial
Sale/Additional Appropriation
-
Judicial
Sale/Attorney Fees
-
GIS
Mapping/911 Addresses
-
Southwest
Virginia Technology Council
-
Resolution
of Appreciation
-
Payment
of Accounts
-
E911
Payments
-
Enterprise
Fund Payments
-
Board
Comments
IN
RE: GAS AND
COAL SEVERANCE TAX
On
January 25, 2000, the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors
adopted a proposal to retain the law firm of Sands, Andersons,
Marks & Miller to assist the County in its efforts to
clarify the meaning of gross receipts, for purposes of severance
taxes levied on coal and gas.
This clarification is necessary
to preserve the revenues the counties receive from
this source.
Since
Wise and Buchanan counties are faced with a similar tax
concern, Dickenson County's Board of
Supervisors would like to encourage all three counties
to jointly participate in this matter, and that the localities
agree to share the cost of legal representation.
Ms.
Meador was concerned with the litigation that
Dickenson County is involved in at this time.
Administrator
Scott advised that the litigation is regarding Dickenson
County's audit and not the question regarding the Gas &
Coal Severance Tax issue.
Attorney
Mullins said she
would talk with Commissioner of Revenue Wilson prior to
next week's meeting regarding this request.
IN
RE: PSA
AUDIT COMPONENT
Regarding
the PSA being an audit component,
Edgar Mullins stated that when the County votes to
make a department a part of its audit, the County should
bear the cost of that audit.
He asked that a vote be taken on this matter at the
next meeting.
IN
RE: CNW
SEWER NEEDS
The
Board needs to authorize the Chairman and County Administrator
to meet with CNW representatives to negotiate on
possible changes in the County sewer allocation
from CNW for future growth.
IN
RE: JUDICIAL
SALE/ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS
A
letter was received from Treasurer Holbrook requesting an
additional appropriation of $20,000 to complete the cost
of the title searches for the Judicial Sale.
There
was some concern among Board members regarding the large
amount of funding
when the original amount set aside for this purpose had
not been expended.
It
was noted that Ms. Holbrook would be present at the next
meeting to review this request.
ADJOURN
There
being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:30
p.m.
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