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Prince Edward Supervisors Hold Regular September, 2013 Meeting

   Written by on September 19, 2013 at 6:28 am

By Wilkie Chaffin, Southside Messenger Staff

The September 10, 2013 meeting of the Prince Edward County Supervisors started with complaints by three citizens. Citizen Sam Campbell questioned an item in the County Administrator’s Report concerning Route 786, sometimes referred to by citizens as the “Road to Nowhere.” Mr. Campbell argued that County Administrator Wade Bartlett’s proposal for improvements to County land adjacent to the road was a result of behind the scenes activities that will cost P.E. citizens millions of dollars. He said that the Board and county administrator had already wasted millions of dollars on the road. He said that citizens had been misled on the road concerning its purpose, cost, and the claim that the developer of the proposed hotel [Robert Fowler] would pay half the road costs. County Administrator Wade Bartlett said that Mr. Campbell was incorrect, since he did not recommend any actual construction be accomplished along Route 786 at this time. Later, in his report presented to Supervisors, Mr. Bartlett listed a set of possible upgrades to the land, including movement of storm water ponds, placement of access points, and new median crossovers. He did recommend that the land be rezoned to C-1. Mr. Bartlett said rezoning the property and considering development options in advance would reduce the time frame for development. Supervisors’ Chair William Fore said there were possibly three pieces of property that might be available for sale: the 94 acre proposed hotel property, a 14 acre parcel near Route 15, and a 25 acre parcel north of Route 786. Mr. Fore said he wanted to appoint a committee to make recommendations to the entire Board of Supervisors on a development plan for the properties. He appointed Bobby Jones, Howard Simpson, and Don Gantt to the committee. Supervisor Jim Wilck asked to be added to the committee. Mr. Fore agreed.

Citizen Henry Shelton questioned Supervisor Howard Simpson about his role as treasurer of H.O.P.E. (Heartland Opportunities for Partnerships and Empowerment) Community Services. Prince Edward is one of seven counties served by H.O.P.E. H.O.P.E. Community Services, a non-profit, community action agency, has been under investigation by the Virginia State Police since June over possible financial or other wrong-doing. Mr. Shelton mentioned checks signed by Mr. Simpson to Executive Director Mary C. “Kitty” Smith after her resignation from her position, and asked about unpaid taxes owed by the organization. He asked Mr. Simpson about the unpaid $26,000 credit card bill. Mr. Shelton said there had been gross mismanagement in the organization and that Mr. Simpson should be removed as treasurer. Mr. Simpson’s only reply was that he did not remember the details concerning the checks.

Finally, Walter Witschey asked Supervisors why his road, Hampden Lane off Five Forks Road, had not been paved and taken into the State System. He asked Supervisors to take care of this problem.

In other Board business, Supervisors discussed extending the County Cooperative Agreement to the Office of the new County Treasurer. This agreement is between the Board of Supervisors and each of the County constitutional officers. Employees of the Treasurer’s Office would be subject to County personnel policies, except for grievance procedures and office operations. In return, the County may provide funds to supplement State Compensation Board salaries. Supervisor Don Gantt disagreed with this process, saying that constitutional officers ignore the County personnel policy when they want to. He said that the County should not supplement state Compensation Board salaries if constitutional officers do not agree, in writing, to follow County policy. The Board did not agree to Mr. Gantt’s suggestion and voted to add the Treasurer’s Office to the Cooperative Agreement.

County Administrator Wade Bartlett reported on Fiscal Year 2013 (July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013) budget results. Real estate taxes collected were $105,000 more than the previous fiscal year, FY12, personal property taxes were $108,000 more than FY12, and local sales tax collected were $77,000 more than last year. These increases helped result in General Fund revenues exceeding budgetary targets by approximately $323,000. Overall, the County cash balance increased by about $400,000 to a total of $11.1 million.

Finally, Supervisors announced four future meetings. The regular October meeting will be on Tuesday, October 8. Supervisors will meet with legislators at noon on October 24, in the Nance Hall Dining Room at Longwood University. That night, at 7 P.M., Supervisors will meet with the P.E. School Board at the Middle School Cafetorium. In order to avoid a conflict with the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO) meeting, Supervisors will hold their regular November meeting on Thursday, November 14. All Supervisors’ Board and committee meetings are open to the public.

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