| The
Wise County Board of Supervisors met in a Workshop meeting
on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of
Supervisors meeting room located in the Wise County courthouse.
The following were present:
Honorable
Fred A. Luntsford, Chairman
Honorable
Ronnie Shortt, Vice-Chairman
Honorable
Robert R. Adkins
Honorable
Steve Bates
Honorable
Virginia Meador
Honorable
John W. Peace II
Honorable
Leland Branham
Honorable
Robert Robbins - members of said Board and
Glen
A. Skinner - County Administrator
Shannon
C. Scott - Assistant County Administrator
Karen
T. Mullins - County Attorney
Annette
Underwood - Executive Secretary
PRAYER
T. G.
Branson led the Board in prayer.
PLEDGE
All
led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
IN:
PRESENTATION - PSA
PSA
Director Danny Buchanan briefed the Board on requirements
set forth from different agencies regarding possible funding
for sewer projects. He stated that one thing that
is required by all funding agencies is signed "User Agreements".
These "User Agreements" are submitted prior to the submission
of a proposal for funding, which guarantees a revenue source
of repayment of the loan. Of the total households
in the project area, at least 80% must be actual users,
and 51% of those users must be low to moderate income. If
the County adopts a "Mandatory Sewer Connection Ordinance"
it would then have a "history" of enforcing a Mandatory
Ordinance and agreements would not be necessary for future
projects. However, Mr. Buchanan stated that since
the County does not force things on its citizens, if the
majority of the people do not want the service, then there
would be no need to proceed with the project.
IN
RE: PRESENTATION- UPDATE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY
PSA
Director Danny Buchanan gave a brief overview of the activities
of the Public Service Authority and reviewed a list of ongoing
water projects.
IN
RE: PUBLIC HEARING - WISE COUNTY FIVE YEAR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS PLAN
A public
hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive public
input regarding the proposed Wise County Five (5) Year Capital
Improvements Plan FY 2007-2011.
There
being no public comments regarding this Plan, the public
hearing was closed.
IN
RE: PUBLIC HEARING - OSCAR F. POOLE BRIDGE
A public
hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive public
input regarding the naming of a bridge located on Rt 612,
which is over South Fork Powell River, Oscar F. Poole Bridge.
There
being no public comments, the public hearing was closed.
IN
RE: PUBLIC HEARING-REZONING - ELLA MULLINS
A public
hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizen's
comments regarding a request from Ella Jane Mullins for
a proposed rezoning of approximately 17 acres adjacent to
the Wise County Christian School for the purpose of selling
for commercial use.
There
being no public comments, the public hearing was closed.
IN
RE: PUBLIC HEARING - CONDITIONAL ZONING - EMILY EDMONDSON
A public
hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens'
comments regarding a request from Emily Edmondson for a
conditional zoning of property located at 9506 Coeburn Mtn.
Road from a R-1 District to a R-2 District for the purpose
of constructing multi-housing.
Attorney
Greg Gilbert representing Emily Edmondson, stated that his
client is asking for the conditional zoning for the purpose
of building multi-housing units similar to those located
in Woodland Court. These units will be built in phases
and in accordance to Building Code requirements. At
the present time, this property exists as a mobile home
park with seven trailers. The construction of the
multi-housing units will not only benefit families that
are cramped in trailers but will also increase the County's
tax base and provide much needed housing to entice future
growth in Wise County. Mr. Gilbert also pointed out
to the Board that this section of property is in the Comprehensive
Plan for this type of construction.
Bill
Skeens, representing Maxim Engineering, informed the Board
that water and sewer is available for this project and all
the plans have been designed to building and zoning code
requirements.
There
was some discussion on the distance between the proposed
housing and the residential property lines.
There
being no further comments, the public hearing was closed.
IN
RE: PUBLIC HEARING -BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT/REZONING -
VIRGINIA CITY
A public
hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens'
comments regarding a request from the Wise County IDA for
a proposed boundary adjustment/rezoning of property located
in Virginia City from an A-RR District to a M-2 Heavy Industrial
District for the purpose of industrial development.
Beth
Bingman, a resident of the Virginia City area, voiced her
concern regarding industry waste and stressed the fact that
the air and water quality could be threatened by zoning
this area heavy industry. She asked the Board to do
an extensive study of the environmental impact this boundary
adjustment could have on the citizens of Virginia City and
Wise County as a whole.
There
being no further comments, the public hearing was closed.
IN
RE: PUBLIC HEARING - SPECIAL USE PERMIT-RADIO TOWER
A public
hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens'
comments regarding a request from Garnard C. Kincer for
a Special Use Permit for the purpose of erecting a radio
tower and transmitter on Buck Knob below Horn Gap in the
Pound area on part of an 809 acre tract owned by the Heartwood
Forestland Fund IV, LP.
There
being no comments, the public hearing was closed.
IN
RE: PUBLIC EXPRESSION
Commissioner
of Revenue Doug Mullins briefed the Board on the proposed
amendment to the Real Estate Tax Exemption for Elderly and
Disabled Ordinance. This ordinance has set the due
date of the affidavit for individuals receiving a real estate
tax exemption to be May 15 of the taxable year for first
time applicants or hardship cases and October 15 for those
with manufactured homes classified as personal property.
Commissioner
Mullins asked the Board to consider amending the Ordinance
and provide and allow for qualifying individuals filing
after the May 15 deadline to receive pro-rated tax consideration
equal to one-half of the total amount of the exemption.
The filing deadline for the affidavit and certificate of
disability required to receive consideration for this pro-rated
exemption allowance would be October 15.
Commissioner
Mullins also asked the Board to consider allowing for filing
on a three (3) year cycle with an annual certification by
the taxpayer that no information contained on the last preceding
affidavit or written statement filed has changed to violate
the limitations and conditions provided in lieu of the annual
affidavit or written statement. He asked the Board
to consider setting this proposed amendment for public hearing
at next month's meeting.
Karen
Hall, representing the Powell Valley Primary School students,
asked the Board to consider the request for constructing
a gym and additional classrooms for Powell Valley Primary
School. She noted that PE is held in the cafeteria
along with students having lunch. Some school functions
are being held in storage rooms and supply rooms.
Cathy
Selvage addressed the Board with concern regarding air pollution,
constant noise 24/7 from the strip mining that is taking
place in the Stephens area. These operations are taking
place near citizens' homes with no barrier being in place
to protect the homes from the blasts that are being ignited.
Ms. Selvage asked for some assistance from the Board in
getting relief from these disruptions in her community.
IN
RE: ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
Highway
Resident Engineer T. G. Branson gave a brief update on highway
construction throughout the County.
The
resolution on the proposed abandonment due to construction
on Rt. 83 for the Pound High School Turn Lane Project was
reviewed.
There
were brief comments from Board members regarding needs in
their districts.
IN
RE: CONSENT AGENDA
The
following items were reviewed under the consent agenda:
(1)
Set public hearings 6:00 p.m. April 6 @ UVA-Wise
Slemp building as follows:
· On
two proposed E-911 road name additions
· On
a request for conditional zoning for three (3) lots located
at 6230 Hurricane Rd for the purpose of building multi-family
housing
· On
a request for conditional change of use for a 1.50 acre
parcel of land located on 1605 Artesian Well Hollow Road,
Big Stone Gap
· On
a proposed amendment to the Real Estate Tax Exemption for
Elderly and Disabled Ordinance
(2)
Budget Amendment No. 72
IN
RE: OTHER ITEMS REVIEWED
(1) Resolution
- Duffield Development Authority Partial Dissolution Funding
(2) Resolution
Applying for Virginia Community Development Block Grant
Funds
(3) Change
of meeting place for April Workshop
(4) Report
on 150th Year Anniversary Celebration
IN
RE: VALLEY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Brian
Swinney, member of the Valley Volunteer Fire Department,
came before the Board asking its blessing in obtaining Emergency
Ground Transport in this area. Mr. Swinney stated
that there has been an increase in the number of emergency
calls for transportation to the hospital, which has placed
an extra burden on local departments that do transports.
He noted that his department has the necessary equipment
and personnel to support a transport service and would appreciate
the Board consideration of this request.
A letter
was received from the Office of Emergency Medical Services
supporting Valley Volunteer Fire Department's request.
IN
RE: COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
Attorney
Mullins reported on the litter cases that were won in court.
IN
RE: COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
Administrator
Skinner reported that the budget process has begun.
He has had some tentative discussions with his colleagues
in Scott County regarding a program that they have been
utilizing with their School System for the past several
years. In this program, the Scott County School Board
addresses the Scott County Board of Supervisors during the
month of April with a specific local budget request and
the Board acts on that request by affirmation that those
funds would be made available in the upcoming fiscal year.
Mr. Skinner asked the Board to consider having
a similar program with the Wise County School Board in that
it would give the School Board an opportunity to sign new
incoming teacher contracts at an earlier date. He
asked that the Board allow him to pursue this discussion
with the School Board.
Administrator
Skinner reported that he and Dr. Killough are scheduling
a meeting with the architects to start work on the school
projects and in the process try to negotiate the projects
at a lesser cost.
Regarding
the budget, the initial notification has been received from
Anthem, Blue Cross and Blue Shield that there will be a
$176,000.00 increase in health insurance this year, which
represents a 15.1% increase. Mr. Skinner noted that
he and Mr. Scott have had some preliminary discussions with
Alan Bayse, an insurance consultant, who is presently working
with the School Board on their insurance, to ascertain from
him whether or not there can be any reduction in the County's
health insurance costs.
Mr.
Bayse has offered to review the County's insurance costs
and possibly find ways to reduce those costs for a fee of
$1,500.00. If Mr. Bayse finds that he can negotiate
on behalf of the County and substantially reduce the County's
costs, his fee would be $4,000.00 total.
There
was some discussion on the services that Anthem should be
providing to help reduce the insurance costs without hiring
an outside consultant.
BOARD
COMMENTS
The
essence of Board members comments were as follows:
(1) Litter
clean up throughout the County, especially along the roadsides
(2) Tax
rate needs to be set in March for upcoming budget
(3) Assistance
for residents of the Stephens area regarding coal dust and
noise
ADJOURN
There
being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:15
p.m.
ATTEST:
WISE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
___________________
___________________________
Glen
A. Skinner, Clerk
Fred A. Luntsford, Chairman
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