The Wise County Board of Supervisors met in a Workshop Meeting on Thursday, October 5, 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 R. Adkins - Chairman

Honorable Virginia Meador - Vice-Chair

Honorable Doug Mullins

Honorable Edgar Mullins

Honorable Betty Cornett

Honorable Douglas Stallard

Honorable Donnie Dowell

Honorable Jeff Salyers - members of said Board and

Shannon C. Scott- Acting County Administrator

Karen Mullins - County Attorney

Annette Underwood-Executive Secretary

PRAYER

Rev. Rose Mincey - Pastor Coeburn United Methodist Church led the Board in prayer.

PLEDGE ALLEGANCE TO THE FLAG

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Donnie Dowell asked that two resolutions be added to the agenda regarding "Children At Play" signs for the Gray Hill area in St. Paul.

IN RE:  PUBLIC  HEARING/SPECIAL USE PERMIT/DAVID ADKINS

A public hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' input regarding a request from David Adkins for a Special Use Permit for a 20 x 20 ft. cemetery lot out of 1.5 acre tract of land.

Chairman Adkins asked for comments from the floor.

There being no public comment, the public hearing was closed.

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING/AMENDMENT TO COUNTY CONSUMER UTILITY TAX ORDINANCE

A public hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' comments regarding a proposed amendment to the Wise County Consumer Utility Tax Ordinance.

Chairman Adkins asked for comments from the floor.

There being no public comments, the public hearing was closed.

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING/ R-O-W EASEMENT THROUGH COUNTY PROPERTY

A public hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' comments regarding a R-O-W easement through County property located at the corner of Bear Creek Road NE and State Rt. 646 adjacent to the Social Services building for the purpose of installing a sewer line to the LP Business Technology Park.

Chairman Adkins asked for comments from the floor.

There being no public comments, the public hearing was closed.

IN RE:  PUBLIC  EXPRESSION

Jack Kennedy, on behalf of Civic Future, invited the Board to the Civic Future Symposium to be held on Monday, October 30, 2000 at 9 AM in the Chapel of All Faiths on the campus of UVA's College at Wise. 

The purpose of this event is to bring the cable companies together for presentations on the wireless project for the LP Business and Technology Park and to discuss future telecommunications.

Kathy Fletcher, a resident of the Coeburn Mountain area, asked the Board for some assistance in possibly getting a portion of the curve removed that is located near Pug's Apple House on Coeburn Mountain for more sight distance.  This is an area where the school bus stops and the children are at risk as well as motorists pulling out from the community behind the apple house.

T. G. Branson said he had checked this area and to remove the curve would be very expensive due to the homes that would need to be purchased.  He suggested moving a spruce tree that is causing some sight distance problems.

Bonnie Aker thanked the Board for appointing her to the Upper Tennessee Roundtable Board.  She asked the Board to attend a meeting on October 26, 2000 which will be focused on protecting and cleaning the Clinch River, one of our valuable resources.

There being no further public comments, the public expression period was closed.

IN RE:  ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

The Coal & Gas Road payments were reviewed.

PRIORITIZED RURAL ADDITION LIST

Mr. Branson asked the Board to be prepared to vote on prioritizing the rural addition list at its next meeting.

SIX YEAR PLAN

Mr. Branson asked that a public hearing be set for next month to receive citizens' input on the Six Year Plan.

RESOLUTION "CHILDREN AT PLAY" SIGN

Mr. Branson reviewed the resolution requesting the "Children At Plan" sign and asked that more detail be given to the exact location of the area for which the sign is to be posted.

There was some discussion on a need for speed signs to be posted in areas where children play.

Mr. Branson noted that a locality must request a Speed Study by means of a resolution before such study could be done.  He also reminded the Board of the cost involved in getting speed studies.  He asked that each request be considered carefully prior to adopting said resolution.

Several Board members made requests for Mr. Branson to review.

VDOT  REMARKS

Mr. Branson gave a brief update on upcoming construction in the county.

IN RE:  SEWER LINE/ UPTON STREET  ESG

Emmett Wampler, Environmental Health Manager for LENOWISCO Health District, came before the Board to advise them of the status of the sewer on Upton Street.

As part of the clean-up project in the ESG area, surveys were taken regarding sewer needs on Upton Street that revealed that there are seven houses that are "straight piping" its sewer into the river.  These residents have agreed to hook on to the BSG Town sewer if it becomes available to them.  This would not only help the residents but would also be a step toward cleaning up the river.   This would entail installing approximately 600 feet of line and the Town of BSG would possibly waive the tap fee of  $650.00 if the Board agreed to turn the system over to the town.  The residents could also be asked to participate in the cost of the construction up to $650.00.

Administrator Scott advised that a request has been made from a resident of Upton Street who wishes to replace her home with a double wide but cannot get a building permit until a proper sewer system has been provided.    

Mr. Dowell voiced the need for addressing a plan for the whole county regarding its sewer needs and not just to help one community.

There was some discussion that perhaps the County could partner with the towns to help the county recoup some of its costs for installing the lines and turn the lines over to the towns for future revenue.  Projects such as this could be considered during the budget process.

Town Manager of BSG George Polly would not make any commitments regarding the work force of the town installing the lines but stated that the town was willing for the residents to hook on to the sewer if the county would provided the funds to lay the lines.  The estimated cost to do this project would probably fall beneath $20,000.

After further discussion, it was the consensus of the Board that estimates be received on doing this project and also define the amount of money that each resident could possible contribute toward this cost.

IN RE:  RATIFICATION OF IMBODEN SUBCONTRACT/WEST VIRGINIA

Emmett Wampler explained that Wise County was invited to participate in an Onsite Demonstration Project for Small Communities that is sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency.  After reviewing several communities, the Imboden Community was selected.  He further explained the mechanics of this project and the Health Department's role in said project.

Health Department Director Bobby Cassell asked that the County be the Fiscal Agent for this project for which the West Virginia University Research Corporation has appropriated $100,000.  There will be no cost to the County and the Health Department will oversee the project.    

IN RE:  OTHER ITEMS DISCUSSED

1. Rezoning/Hudson Branham
2. Resolution/Kitchen Incubator
3. Dance Hall Permit (Set Public Hearing)
4. Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Set Public Hearing)
5. Sale of County Property in Stephens
6. Appropriations/Second Quarter
7. Building Department/Transfer of Funds
8. Building Refund
9. Appointments
10. Special Use Permit
11. Connector Road Purpose & Needs Agreement
12. Ratify Action of Derby Committee
13. Select Committee To Review County Personnel Policy
14. Internet Home Page Agreement
15. Elderly & Disabled Exemption/Landfill Use Fee
16. Payment of Accounts
17. E-911 Payments
18. Blackwood Enterprise Fund Payments
19. Ratify Payment to Ist Union Natl Bank/VRA Bonds
20. Enterprise Fund Payments

IN RE:  MANDATORY HOOK-UP ORDINANCE FOR COUNTY SEWER

Chairman Adkins advised that the Board needs to draft a mandatory hook-up sewer ordinance for Wise County for consideration since sewer grant funds are dependent upon having such an ordinance in place.

Donnie Dowell suggested that the Board may, at the same time, also consider an "availability fee" ordinance for water lines.  This would mean that if citizens has a water line running in front of their homes, and they choose not to hook on to that line, a small monthly service fee would be charged for the water being available to them.  Some of the other counties have already adopted this ordinance.

IN RE: RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR CEMETERY/BOGGS AVE/APPALACHIA

Administrator Scott informed the Board that the county-owned property on Boggs Avenue where the old Appalachia Landfill is located has to be gated off for security of the surface mining in that area.  The operator of that mining project must also make allowance for families to have access to those cemeteries located in that same proximity.  Therefore, the operator has requested financial assistance from the County in the amount of $1,000 to install the necessary gates and fencing that will be necessary to provide the needed security.

Chairman Adkins asked that the language in the request include fencing as well as the gates, and to further ascertain whether or not it would be feasible for the landfill crew to install the needed gates.

After further discussion, Administrator Scott stated that he would talk with the coal company representative prior to the next meeting for further details on this request.

IN RE:  LONESOME PINE OFFICE ON YOUTH ROOF REPAIR

There was some discussion on the roof and drainage problem that has occurred to the county-owned building now being occupied by the LP Office on Youth.

After further discussion, the Board directed Administrator Scott and Building Official Robert Mullins to meet with Town Manager George Polly and Building Official Charles Miller for an update on the construction work that has been done to the building adjacent to the County-owned building and the work that has been done on the County building.  

IN RE:  ANDOVER CAN SITE

Edgar Mullins ask the Board to consider adopting a resolution asking the Town of Appalachia to allow the County to place a manned can site in the town limits of Appalachia.

BOARD  COMMENTS

Jeff Salyers asked that the "Bull Hill Convenience Center Compactor" be placed on the November Agenda.

ADJOURN

There being no further comments, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

ATTEST:                 WISE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

_____________________   _________________________

Clerk                               Chairman

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