Loading...
11-08-2006 Continued Meeting:~,.. ~.~ . -.~1 CONTINUED MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTZ' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD THE EIGHTH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND SIX .PRESENT':. Thomas J. Wright, III, Chairman Stan D. Clark, Vice-Chairman- James B. Brown, Jr. 1 Supervisor Ivy delivered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. I/ Beverly H. Walkup, Director of Planning and Zoning, reviewed with the Board staffs recommendations relative to the capacity in which the County could participate as requested by the Town of Smithfield. Supervisor Ivy inquired as t© what extent the County's ,responsibility would be to a homeowner if that individual's rental property .were to be condemned. Interim County Attorney Burton advised that the County would be required by statute to pay the homeowner the fair market value of the property. He stated if the property. was income-producing, that. should also be taken into .account in determining the fair market value of the property. Supervisor Ivy commented that same of the Pinewood Heights. residents may not wish to relocate to-Booker T. Estates. He inquired if other property, such as those on James and Washington Streets, could be utilized. W. Douglas Caskey, County Administrator E. Wayne Rountree, P,E., Assistant County . Administrator Patrick J. Small, Assistant County Administrator. Carey Mills Storm, Recording Secretary Chairman Wright called the continued meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. for the purpose of .discussing the. Pinewood Heights redevelopment project request from the Town of Smithfield. // Thomas R. Ivy .Phillip A. Bradshaw Also Attending: A. Paul Burton, Interim County Attorney // ~o~~ 24..~:~.14 Ms. Walkup :stated .that staff is recommending that the residents be 1 relocated to Booker T. Estates because the County already has an investment in that neighborhood .and because the Board can offer waivers to tap fees at that location. She advised that staff has alternatively offered some. relocation to County-owned property at James and Washington Streets. She added that rental units .could. be included and those renters who wish to become first- time home buyers could relocate to either property. Su ervisor I -noted _ P vy his preference that owner occupants be the first to receive their preferred location due to their investment in the property. Supervisor Brown relayed the desire- of some. of the residents to have a ~ one (1) story home which could be built. on the lots located on James and Washington Streets. He suggested that the Town. may wish to consider increasing the density for those lots. Supervisor Clark commented that in-kind .services can be utilized in order to reduce the actual. cash paid out: by the County, Ms. Walkup advised that staff intends to work with Habitat for Humanity in an effort to reduce the cost. She further advised that staff has also negotiated with a property owner in the Booker T. Estates Subdivision who is willing to sell hia lots which are all located on a private street. She stated staff is considering utilizing rural funds to bring the street up to the State's. standards. Supervisor Ivy notified Ms. Walkup that Centex Homes is currently at*.~mpting to initiate an affordable housing project. He suggested that Ms. Walkup make contact to determine if Centex Homes is interested in working with staff. Supervisor ivy. moved that the .Board accept staff's recommendations, as follows: The County will offer additional "in-kind" services to assist the Town in identifying and making application for additional funding sources, to the extent .possible, based upon the workload of the County Grants Writer. The :County will participate in a cash match up to $281,200 in property acquisition, to include the acquisition. of rental units and vacant lots. The County's acquisition funds will be utilized to purchase lots closest to the Moody property to the extent feasible, and the County will have the option to take ownership of any lots purchased with these funds. in .order to re-coupe some portion of its investment and .allow for future industrial .marketing activities by the Department of Economic .Development. It is anticipated that it will take approximately ten (10) years to complete. all phases of the Acquisition and Relocation Project, 2 which may require some limited property maintenance on behalf of the County Public Works Department, to include grass mowing. The County will participate in a local match, up to $468,800, in' Residential .Relocation to include $428,800 (cash or in-kind) for the relocation of nine (9) owner occupied and rental units,. to the extent feasible, provided that residents are relocated to the 'Booker T. Estates .neighborhood, and $40,000 (cash) to cover .the cost of the Relocation Specialist. The- Relocation Specialist .shall also provide the administrative .services necessary to cover all associated tasks to complete the relocation, to include working. to identify lots for purchase in .Booker T. Estates, negotiating.. the purchase of lots, drafting the necessary documentation to facilitate closing activities and construction of new residences. Alternatively,. the County may consider offering County-owned property located on the corner. of James Street and Washington Street in Smithfield as a relocation resource in lieu of, or in addition to, lots in Booker T. Estates. The County will not participa#e towards the Demolition Tine item. . The Board approves the expenditure of $750,000 ($250,000 per year in .the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget beginning with Fiscal Year 2007).. The Town of Smithfield will .prepare a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding for execution, to include the substantive arrangements, as herein contained. The motion was adopted by a vote of (5-0) with Supervisors.Bradshaw, Brown, Clark, Ivy and Wright voting in favor of .the motion, and no Supervisors voting against the motion. // Supervisor Bradshaw. reported on the City of Franklin's meeting regarding the Blackwater River, which was attended. by the Corps of Engineers.. He stated that .the counties of Prince Edward,. Southampton,. Sussex, Surry, Isle. of Wight, and Greenville .and the City of Emporia are interested regionally in exploring the Chowan River Basin. He stated if congressional funding is approved, a recognizance study by locality would be conducted and completed next year, followed by a feasibility study to review the specific short-term projects and proposed solutions for detailed areas at a 50/50 split between the Federal Government, State .Government and the locality. He stated that specific projects identified from the feasibility study would then be implemented by the Corps of .Engineers with the State responsible for 75% of the cost and local governments being responsible for the other 25%. He advised that. since 199$, the Blackwater River has experienced six (6) record high water levels. 3 fi i ears .,,. 24 ~ ,. ;. x:16 Chairman Wright advised that staff had met earlier today with the ~ Town. of Franklin, Corps of .Engineers, and Senator Forbes regarding.- the Blackwater River flooding. Supervisor Bradshaw .requested that staff keep the Town. of Smithfield informed as the process moves forward in case the Town wishes to become involved in that regional. effort. County Administrator Casket' advised that a regional letter wilt be developed and' signed by all localities which wilt be sent- to the elected and Congressional Delegation advising of the .localities' concerns relative to .the Blackwater_River flooding. Chairman Wright advised that Thomas Townsend was appointed as the Western Tidewater- Regional Jail's Interim Superintendent and would be reporting to work on Monday, November 13, 2006. // At 3:25 p.m., Supervisor Bradshaw- moved that the Board adjourn its meeting. The emotion. was `adopted by a vote of (5-0) with Supervisors Bradshaw, Brown, Ctark, Ivy and Wright voting in favor of the motion, and no Supervisors voting against the motion. homas J Vrigh II, Chairman W. Dougl key, .Clerk 1 1