P.E. Supervisors Postpone Decisions on Development Below County Dams

Prince Edward County Supervisors held two public hearings at their regular October 9, 2013 meeting.  The first of these hearings related partially to an amendment to Prince Edward County Zoning Ordinances related to temporary family health care structures.  The occupant of such a structure would be someone who needs temporary medical assistance by a caregiver.  The other portion of this proposed zoning ordinance change and the second subdivision change public hearing related to dam break inundation zones below lakes and ponds (except for small agricultural ponds).  The Piedmont Soil and Water District owns (or controls) the dams for 14 flood control watershed lakes in Prince Edward County.  There are also other privately owned lakes in the county.  If the dam fails (there is a dam break), the flooding water will cover an area of land below the dam.  This land that would be covered is called the dam break inundation zone.  If there are houses or other structures in this inundation zone, then these could be damaged with an economic loss or even injury or loss of life.  In order to agree with changes in the Virginia Code, the County needs to set certain requirement for building in a dam inundation zone.  In some cases, the development poses increased danger of damage to property or injury to people and the dam must be upgraded to prevent this increased hazard.  That is, the hazard level of the dam goes up and the dam must be upgraded to lessen the chance of a dam break, or the damage caused by the dam break.  The proposed changes concern requirements for the County, the dam owner, and the developer.  One of the requirements for the developer is that if the danger from a dam break goes up as a result of the development of at least three residential units (the dam hazard level increases), then he/she will have to pay half the cost of upgrading the dam.  Deanna Fehrer, Manager of the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District, suggested that no development, even a single house, be allowed in a dam inundation zone.  The question arose whether the County could have stricter requirements in dam inundation zones than provided by State Law.  County Attorney Jim Ennis needed more time to research this question.  After a significant amount of discussion on both the zoning proposal and the subdivision proposal, Supervisors voted to table both until County officials meet with the Piedmont Soil and Water District on these questions.

In other business, Supervisors agreed to salary changes for employees in the offices of two constitutional officers.  The Clerk of Circuit Court requested that she move a part-time worker to a full-time position in order to cover the additional workload required for the new case imaging system.  The new system will cost the county $14,500 for the installation and $6,500 annual maintenance.  Because of other savings related to the adoption of the new system, the cost for this fiscal year will be only $10,100.  The total annual salary and other costs for the worker at full-time, will be approximately $36,600 per year.  Supervisor Don Gantt questioned this change since he believed that this new equipment should reduce labor needed, not require additional labor.  However, County Attorney Jim Ennis, whose office is also expected to upgrade an operational system, said it was usual for a new system to require additional employee time, particularly when the system is first installed.  Sheriff Wesley Reed asked to Board to transfer the salary for former full-time employee Richard Raybold to current employee Robert Goldman.  This would increase Deputy Goldman’s salary from $39,643 to $42,502, when he assumes Deputy Raybold’s duties.  Sheriff Reed also wanted to increase the hourly pay for part-time court officer Gary Dudley from $15.89 to $20.00 per hour.  Sheriff Reed said that this new salary was in line with other part-time court officers in surrounding counties.  Supervisor Gantt and Jim Wilck both questioned these changes, saying that the county had agreed to increase employee salaries only at budget time.  Concerning the Deputy Goldman question, Supervisor Gantt was told that the previous Board action only related to changes in employee salary in the same position.  Deputy Goldman would be moving to a new position with increased responsibilities.  The Board passed motions to approve the change for the Clerk’s Office and the change in Deputy Goldman’s position.  The Board tabled the question of the change in Deputy Dudley’s pay.

Many citizens thought the controversy about the proposed, but cancelled, Granite Falls project was over, at least for the time being.  However, one aspect of this project was resurrected at this Board meeting.  Sharon Carney, Director of Prince Edward Economic Development, suggested that the county consider applying for Tobacco Committee grants, and perhaps other grants, to build a stand-alone work force training center.  She also recommended that the county search for partners in the construction and operation of this facility.  A donation of land in the Industrial Park would meet the local match requirements.  A major user of the facility, the Southside Virginia Community College, does not pay any costs for use of an off-campus facility.  Supervisor Jim Wilck said that since the county already has a $900,000 deficit in this year’s budget, supervisors should wait until spring to decide if pursuing this project is a good idea.  He did suggest that Ms. Carney continue planning for the possible project, including looking for economic partners.  This motion passed.

Supervisors agreed to pay the engineering firm of Hurt and Proffitt $6,340 to prepare a master plan for a 13 acre parcel on Granite Falls Boulevard near Route 15 South.  This plan would outline improvements needed to make the property more desirable for potential development.  Supervisors also agreed to postpone consideration of the request by developer Southard Brumfield that the exact location of his easement across the property be identified.  Supervisors will ask Hurt and Proffitt for help in making this determination.

Finally, supervisors decided to postpone a decision on a request that Prince Edward County join Virginia’s Growth Alliance, a regional economic development organization consisting of six counties and one city primarily south and east of Prince Edward.  The annual membership cost would be $23,000.