02-18-2004 Continued Meeting
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CONTINUED MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS HELD THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN
THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR
PRESENT: Stan D. Clark, Chairman
Phillip A. Bradshaw, Vice-Chairman
Richard K. MacManus
Thomas J. Wright, III
ALSO PRESENT: Jacob P. Stroman, IV, County Attorney
W. Douglas Caskey, County Administrator
Sheriff Charles W. Phelps
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County
Administrator
Anne F. Seward, Director of Budget and Finance
Jonathan W. Hartley, Director of Planning and
Zoning
Donald. M. Long, Director of Public Works
Alan S. Nogiec, Director of Parks and Recreation
Lyle D. Hornbaker, Information Services
Coordinator
Patrick J. Small, Director of Economic Development. °~
Richard O. Childress, Director of Emergency .'
Services
Sherri A. Bush, Emergency Communications Center
Arthur E. Berkley, Superintendent of Inspections
Debbie J. Sivertson, Administrative Analyst
Chairman Clark called the continued Board meeting to order at 7:00
p.m. for the purpose of conducting a "Community Meeting" at Windsor
Elementary School.
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Following a welcome to all present, .Chairman Clark turned the
proceedings over to Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator.
Mr. Robertson introduced the Board of Supervisors' .members, the County
Attorney, the County Administrator, and staff merr-bers.
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Mr. Robertson provided. a briefing of various legislative issues
endorsed by Isle of Wight. County and their. status at this time during the '
General Assembly session. Such update included information relative to local
issues such as the levy of a local cigarette tax for counties, funding for .public
education, adequate public facilities, preservation of local zoning powers,
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authority to cut high grass, and compensation for livestock or poultry killed
by wild dogs.
Supervisor Bradshaw and Chairman Clark expressed their concern with
the General Assembly as it continues to cut funding and yet mandate
programs to local governments.
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Mr. Robertson briefly described the ground rules for the meeting
advising that all public comments would be recorded. He then opened the
floor for questions and comments by the public, which. were as follows:
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Mr. A. Frank brewery thanked the Board for holding the Community
Meeting, and also thanked Supervisor Wright for his assistance with Poor
House Road. He noted that six (6) other citizens are here tonight in support
of this issue. He stated Poor House Road is number thirteen (13) of fourteen
(14) on the Rural Rustic Road Program, and yet it has the second highest
road count. There is one-fourth (1 /4) of a mile of the road which is not paved.
Chairman Clark stated there is a resolution on the. Board's agenda for
tomorrow evening concerning the Rural Rustic Road Program, but beyond
this action, the issue of Poor House Road lies with the Virginia Department
of Transportation (VDOT). ,
Supervisor Bradshaw recommended that Mr. brewery speak with Mr.
MacFarland Neblett, VDOT Resident Engineer, at tomorrow evening's Board
meeting regarding his concerns with Poor House Road.
Supervisor MacManus noted the VDOT problem .ultimately resides in
Richmond, as adequate funding is not made available for .transportation
maintenance :issues, much less new roadways. Since the Transportation
Referendum endorsed by local governments was rejected by voters,
significant funds are not available to adequately address transportation needs
in the Hampton Roads area.
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Ms. Deloris .(Dee Dee) Darden spoke regarding public safety on Poor
House Road, as the road is traveled by cars, trucks, industrial equipment,
farm equipment, and school buses. She presented letters from both Mr.
Payton Barlow with the County Schools :and Mr. Benjamin Vaughn with Isle
of Wight Academy relative to the difficulty their school buses experience
while travelling this road. It was noted that two. (2) accidents have occurred
involving students.
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Supervisor MacManus stated that VDOT is often more responsive once
accidents have already occurred, and recommended the accident information
be conveyed to VDOT.
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Ms. Mary Griffin stated her support of the previous speakers and her
concern for the safety of the school age children travelling Poor House Road.
Also, Ms. Griffin noted several accidents had taken place where the paved
road comes to an end.
Chairman Clark suggested that perhaps some signage could be placed
where the paved road ends, as there has been some success with this type of
signage in the past.
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Mr. Dwight. Doggett, Jr. stated he was head of the Bus Committee at
Isle of Wight Academy and expressed his support of the previous speakers.
He noted that maintenance of the road should not be too costly, as the State
already possesses the equipment.
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Ms. Shelley Perry stated .her concerns with growth of the County and
its impacts on schools, fire and rescue, etc. She questioned how school
district areas were chosen for rezoning.
Chairman Clark recommended Ms. Perry contact the County Schools
directly relative to her inquiry about school district rezoning.
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Ms. Perry also expressed her concern with the number of stray dogs in
her area, and inquired as to why there was no leash law in her rural section of
the County?
County Attorney Stroman answered that Ms. Perry lives within a
Rural/Agricultural Conservation District whereir. no leash is required for
dogs. This issue has come before the. Board previously, and it is important to
balance requirements imposed on citizens verses the more unregulated
"country" lifestyle experienced in agricultural areas.
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Mr. Pat .Clark noted the sharing of facilities between the County,
Schools and community is good for all (ex. Christian Outreach "Souper
Saturday," Hurricane Isabel).
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Mr. Pat Clark requested the County Attorney be available in a limited
fashion to answer legal questions .for volunteer community organizations at
no charge?
County Attorney Stroman stated that he may be able to do so, unless a
related legal issue is before the Board in which the County's legal. position
could be weakened.
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Ms. Tilenna Lea noted several concerns with Whispering Pines Trail:
half of the road needs. to be paved, there is no speed limit sign' coming off of
Central Hill Road, an autistic child lives there, roadway flooding, streetlight
is out, and the phone line is affected each time the road is scraped.
Supervisor Bradshaw stated. that Ms.. Lea may wish to speak with Mr.
Neblett tomorrow evening at the Board meeting regarding the reoccurring
phone line issue.
Supervisor Bradshaw requested that Mr. Jon Hartley, Director of
Planning and Zoning, check on the road's speed limit and handicapped child
signage. He noted .that Sheriff Phelps was also in the audience to hear of the
speeding concerns on Whispering Pines Trail.
Supervisor Bradshaw further stated the road was on the candidate's list
to start construction in 2006.
Ms. Lea is to contact the Department of Public Works relative to the
streetlight issue.
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Mr. Jack York, Chairman of the local Red Cross .Disaster Services
Chapter, recommended the County continue tofocus on the "lessons learned"
list from Hurricane Isabel.
Supervisor Bradshaw noted he would get in touch with Mr. York
relative to a Red Cross Team for the southern end of the County.
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Ms. Nancy Guill requested a Public Hearing be held to consider
renaming the Newport District to the Carrollton District.
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In response, Supervisor Bradshaw .stated the Newport District was
formed as a Magisterial District, along with Hardy and Windsor, when the
County was formed. Perhaps the renaming. of the Newport Election District,
over which the Board has control, could be considered.
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Additionally, Ms. Guill requested the Planning and Zoning Department
look at the design of a "town center" in Carrollton, as a town center currently
exists in Smithfield and there are discussions relative to a town center for the
Benn's Church area.
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Mr. Herb DeGroft raised issues regarding the County's ability to take
care of its debt service now and in the future (specifically FY `06-'07), and
the Dillion Rule which limits what. the County can do without permission
from the General. Assembly. He inquired as to what we can do to get the
Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) to support anon-violent revolution
against the Dillion Rule?
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Mr. Robertson thanked all of the speakers, and turned the meeting back
over to the Board members for comments.
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Supervisor MacManus extended his appreciation to citizens and staff
present this evening. He stated that the County is now trying. to absorb the
impact of over 3,000 homes .approved in the 1970's and 1980's without any
proffers. The State is not holding up its funding obligations (such as not
funding $2 million for the Standards of Quality), while not giving counties
new options for revenues. Counties have only their real estate taxes to rely
. upon for a revenue source. He stated the County's update of its .Zoning
Ordinance will be a tool for positive growth. The Board is working to ensure
that future growth will pay its own way.
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Supervisor Bradshaw thanked all citizens present and expressed his
appreciation for their communication efforts. He noted that the Board is
working diligently on growth management issues, and to ensure that the
integrity ofthe farm/agric~titure community will be maintained.
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Supervisor Wright. expressed his gratitude to those who came out this
evening to speak as citizen input is valuable. He noted the County's back is
against the wall in .dealing with the General Assembly, but the County will
continue to do its best.
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Chairman Clark stated that it is important that citizens share with the
Board and thanked everyone in attendance. He also noted the General
Assembly continues to show lapses in judgement as it cuts funding for
mental health, schools and transportation. Teachers are lost to North Carolina
on a regular basis.. He noted that if the State continues to cut funding for
schools, it may become necessary to raise local. taxes.
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At 8:40 p.m., Chairman Clark moved the Board adjourn its meeting.
The motion was adopted by a vote of (4-0) with Supervisors MacManus,
Bradshaw, Clark and Wright voting in favor of the motion, and no
Supervisors voting against the motion.
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Stan D. Clark, Chairman
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