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09-19-1991 Continued Meetingc~ • BOOK ~4 rw~:' ~~ CONTINUED MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD THE NINETEENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY ONE PRESENT: Henry H. Bradby, Chairman Joel C. Bradshaw, Jr., Vice Chairman Steven W. Edwards Thomas L. Ross Richard L. Turner Also Attending: H. Woodrow Crook, Jr., County Attorney Myles E. Standish, County Administrator W. Douglas Caskey, Assistant .County Administrator/Community Development Donald T. Robertson, Assistant to the County Administrator Carey H. Mills, Assistant Clerk Chairman Bradby called the continued meeting to order at 2:00 P.M. and stated the meeting is for the purpose of listening to presentations from the School Board concerning school construction GOStS. County Administrator Standish stated he would recommend opening the public hearing and that the Board would have two resolutions to consider after comments had been received. Pamela Edwards, Chairman of the School Board, stated the School Board endorses the VPSA bonds as they are obtained with the lower interest rate as compared to other bonds and other methods of financing. Chairman Bradby called for citizens to speak in reference to the school construction matter. William C. Johnston of Smithfield stated the Windsor school site selection by the School Board is not a suitable site because it would have to go through the process of condemnation and negotiation and would require a sewage plant and pump station because he understood it would not perk. Mr. Johnston added that in addition, the location was on the south side of the railroad tracks which would isolate it from the majority of the population. Mr. Johnston stated another site on the north side of Route 460 would be better suited because it perks, is more accessible and is also for sale. Mr. Johnston continued that renovation of the old Windsor high school has not been considered which .would be more economical and questioned why the less costly site has not been chosen and why has a consultant not been contacted. Supervisor Bradshaw stated the majority of the population was from his district and that when he came on the Board sixteen years ago two schools were discussed and only one was approved. Supervisor Bradshaw stated .Smithfield had their school and he wanted one in his district. Mac Cofer of Smithfield stated he was opposed to the VPSA bond issue because bids had not been received. Mr. Cofer further stated after researching the General Obligation bonds it appeared they would be a better deal although the. interest rate may be slightly higher initially. Mr. Cofer continued this would allow the County the opportunity of how the twenty-year debt would be repaid.. Reverend Willie Williams stated he was opposed to the County currently soliciting for a bond issue because of the same reasons stated by Mr. Cofer and urged the Board to disapprove a bond issue until all bids have been received. R. L. Walker of the Hardy District stated he was concerned about the safety of the children crossing the railroad tracks and the racial imbalance. 1 ~ . ,_ . .T_~,. _ -x»-.,~:,~...,~-~m .,.. ~aor, 1,4~ %7 David Hardy stated he was for the best education money could buy and that the County would be the benefactor of both good and bad decisions. 1 Hugh .Gwaltney stated he was not in favor of building two schools simultaneously because of increased taxes. James Brown of the School Board stated the County needed to look at the type of schools being built, where they are being. built., and the impact of such in the years to come. Reverend James H. Johnson of the School Board stated he supported education and urged the Board to not deny the children of the County. Supervisor Edwards asked if it mattered to the School Board whether the County pursued the VPSA issue or the General Obligation bond issue. Dr. Morlino, School Superintendent, urged the Board to pass the resolutions relative to the issuance and sale of School Bonds of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, in the maximum amount of $13,000,000 by the Virginia .Public School Authority. Dr. Morlino continued that as a tax payer of the County, he would not favor participating in .the General Obligation bond issue because the County would be paying more money- for the convenience of structuring a tax rate or a debt structure. 1 Supervisor Bradshaw stated he was surprised at the growth in the southern end of the County and he wanted the northern end. of the County to know that his voting district is carrying close to 40$ of the taxes. Supervisor Turner stated he was criticized for stating an amount to be financed for the schools construction, but that he looked at the different factors involved and applied them to the general average of schools built in the last year. Supervisor Turner urged the School Board to adjust their plans so that it was within the average of the State and that he had researched the different alternatives to finance school construction and did not think the VPSA bonds were flexible. Supervisor Ross stated that while he was not. in favor of putting a limit on the cost of schools, he thought the School Board should be made aware that he was in favor of supporting new schools being built in the. County, but that this should be accomplished in the proper way, and not at a figure of $23,000,000. Chairman Bradby stated the Board is responsible to the citizens of the County and that he does not agree with the way the matter is being handled. Chairman Bradby. continued it would be premature to appropriate money before the .bids have been received and he wanted to see the bids before agreeing to an amount to be financed. Supervisor Edwards suggested that the meeting be continued until 7:00 P.M. to allow all citizens an opportunity to speak on the issue. D Supervisor Turner stated he would not be able to be present at the 7:00 P.M. regular meeting and moved the Board defeat the VPSA bond issue and reconsider options on how the County can finance the school construction. The motion passed (4-1) with all members voting in favor except Supervisor Edwards who voted against the motion. Supervisor Turner then moved the Board approve the following recommendations of the County Administrator for financing school construction: 2 eooK 14~µc~ ~8 1. Board of Supervisors should direct County staff to prepare a recommended finance package to include bond anticipation notes and/or permanent General Obligation debt financing, with the intent to minimize impact on the real estate and other tax rates during the early years of debt service. The issue to be coordinated with the School construction program at the appropriate time and in the appropriate amount 2. Request that the two School projects be put to bid only after they are properly scaled. When bids are received, same should be thoroughly .analyzed and the results reported to the Board of Supervisors with minimum delay 3. If bids received are excessive, designers should be directed to review. and. revise the projects accordingly and report to the Board of Supervisors regarding same The motion passed (4-1) with all members voting fn favor except Chairman Bradby who voted. against the motion. // Chairman Bradby called for Appointments. Supervisor Turner moved the Board appoint Gloria Harris to the Youth Services Board for a three-year term. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). // Supervisor Ross moved the Board adjourn at 3:10 P.M. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). envy rad y, Chai an ~~ ~y Myles Standish, Clerk 3