Board of supervisors notebook

By Hannah Wever
Review Staff Writer

Published: October 23, 2008

Bloomsbury Road
Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt Bloomsbury Road into Virginia’s secondary road network. The road was relocated by the county a number of years ago using recreational access funds, Orange County Administrator Bill Rolfe explained, but the dead-end travelway was never officially accepted into the state’s system. The road serves Booster Park, and the recently down-sized Timber Truss plant. VDOT Assistant Superintendent Roy Tate explained that his agency would initiate widening and minor surface improvements to Bloomsbury Road once it becomes part of the secondary road network.
“How much are we going to spend building fancy roads to a closed plant?“ District 2 Supervisor Zack Burkett asked.
Tate said planned enhancements to the road could be in the neighborhood of $30,000, but the funding would be derived from state sources.

Regional Health Director
Dr. Dana Bradshaw, the area’s new health director, introduced himself and described his professional background to county officials. Bradshaw said one of the first major projects he will oversee is a drive through flu campaign scheduled for Nov. 3 in Orange and Fauquier counties. The project is similar to a successful one held last year in Madison County, in which residents can receive flu vaccinations without ever leaving their cars.

JTHG
The board approved a resolution recommending to the U.S. Dept. of Interior’s “All American Road” designation for Routes 15, 20, 231, and 22.  The board’s 5-0 vote to pursue the designation also involves the county with a land conservation easement project initiated in conjunction with the Journey Through Hallowed Ground. The private/public partnership of land easements will create a “socially responsible land purchase trust,“ according to JTHG representative Cate Magennis Wyatt. The partnership will purchase land at fair market value along the designated historic corridor “from folks who want to sell it,“ maintain ownership of the property, bearing responsibility for all taxes and encumbrances, and sell the land after about 10 years.

Budget meetings
The board had its first look at the proposed schedule of just short of 20 budget process meetings. The first meeting will be Oct. 28, and county officials will consider FY 2009 projections and the FY 2010 forecast. The budget will ultimately be adopted April 14, 2009, which is also when county officials will set the tax levy and appropriate funds.

VACo annual business meeting
District 4 Supervisor Teri Pace was selected by fellow board members as voting delegate at the Nov. 11, 2008 annual business meeting for the Virginia Association of Counties held at The Homestead resort in Bath County. District 3 Supervisor Teel Goodwin will attend the meeting along with Orange County Assistant Administrator Julie Jordan.

Fire apparatus
The board unanimously approved appropriation of $289,779 for the purchase of replacement fire apparatus. The funds will be equally divided between Mine Run Volunteer Fire Company and Gordonsville Volunteer Fire Company; each company will receive $149,389.50-half of the total amount appropriated. This partial funding of new equipment at both Mine Run and Gordonsville is consistent with the county’s policy, and with the Virginia Fire Chief’s Association’s recommendations for replacing firefighting equipment.
“This money allows individual companies to buy engines and tankers,“ Mine Run Volunteer Fire Company Chief Jimmy Woodcock told board members. “The funds we receive from the public and the county just don’t keep up.“
The apparatus in need of replacement is about two decades old. According to District 5 Supervisor Lee Frame, 20 years is the maximum lifespan for emergency equipment in order to adequately protect citizens.
The appropriation will cover about a third of the cost of new equipment; fire company personnel will rely on fundraising and donations for the balance.
According to the county’s projected schedule for replacement of fire and rescue equipment, LOW Volunteer Fire Company will need a new engine in 2009 and Barboursville Volunteer Fire Company’s tanker will require a replacement in 2010.

Parks & Rec
Orange County Assistant Administrator Julie Jordan briefed supervisors on the status of a number of parks and recreation department programs. Jordan reported that preliminary first quarter results for Orange County Parks and Recreation show revenues of $178,675, expenses of $201,852. Aquatics, soccer, football and childcare programs were reviewed for efficiency and solvency under the board’s decision to slash funding to parks and recreation programs.
“We have tackled a number of program areas with success and are working on completing the remaining programs as quickly as possible,“ Jordan said.