AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD ON THE 2nd DAY OF FEBRUARY, TWO THOUSAND AND NINE AT TWO O'CLOCK P.M. AT THE COURTHOUSE IN WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA

               Present

             Present

                Absent

Robert P Anderson, Chm. Ronald L Frazier, V-Chm.

S. Bryant Lee      

Roger A Welch

Edward D. Wayland

John McCarthy, Co. Adm.

Peter H. Luke, Co. Attorney

Diane Bruce, Clerk

                  None

 

 

Chairman Anderson called the meeting to order.

 

MINUTES:    On motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. Wayland, the minutes of the January 5, 2009 meeting were unanimously approved as corrected. The vote was recorded as follows:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None. 

 

AGENDA:     On motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. Wayland, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Final Agenda.  The vote was recorded as follows:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None.

 

SCHOOLS:    Dr. Robert Chappell, Superintendent of Schools, made the following report:  (See documents filed with papers of meeting.)

            1)  Performance Contracting (ESCOs):  A meeting will be held February 3, 2009 with Ameresco, one of the two energy saving companies that submitted proposals for the school buildings and several county buildings.  If a decision is made to pursue performance contracting, the schools and county may secure a loan to pay for the energy upgrades.  The loan will be reimbursed through guaranteed energy savings over the years.

            2) Facts 4U setting out special achievements and other school information is filed with papers of meeting.  The Superintendent pointed out that the Quiz Bowl team won the District championship and would be going to Williamsburg on February 28 to compete for the state championship.

           

VDOT REPORT: David Cubbage, Residence Administrator,  reported that the Route 637 and Route 729 bridges are the only two projects on the Six-Year plan that are moving forward. 

            Speed Limits on Unpaved Roads:  Legislation that would reduce the speed limit to 35 mph on unpaved roads in Fauquier and Warren Counties has been introduced in the General Assembly.  VDOT and the County Administrator have submitted requests to include Rappahannock County's unpaved roads in that legislation. 

            At Mr. Cubbage's request, the Board agreed to quarterly VDOT reports instead of monthly reports unless there is a significant issue to be considered, in which case Mr. Cubbage will report as necessary.

 

FIRE LEVY BILLS:  On motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. Frazier, the Board voted unanimously to approve payment of the seven (7) Fire Levy Bills in the total amount of $261,058.49, as set forth in the Fire Levy Board report, marked Exhibit A, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.  The vote was recorded as follows:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None.

            The Board discussed the auditor's recommendations that the companies refrain from paying their own members to mow grass on the various company properties.  Mr. Frazier suggested that a policy be developed regarding the use of taxpayer's money to mow private property.          Mr. McCarthy will consult with the fire departments and report at the March meeting.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

            Kevin Adams, Washington, commented on the lack of visibility of the Stop signs at the intersection of Business 211 and Porter St.

            Phil Irwin, Flint Hill, invited everyone to the BioDiversity Task Force meeting at RCHS on February 7.

            Monira Rifaat, Sperryville, called the Board's attention to the continuing effort to have legislation passed that would reverse the Uranium Mining Ban and asked the Board to continue to resist such an effort.         

 

OLD BUSINESS:

            Emergency Communications Systems Update:  The system is up and running; testing will be conducted on February 3.  The County will continue operate both systems during a test phase.  Mr. Luke is reviewing the contract with Fauquier.  The total budget amount for the project was $800,000; the final costs will be closer to $600,000.

Scrabble School:  Photos of the project in progress were filed.  The project is on schedule with completion expected in April.

            Landfill Closure:  The $700,000 project should be nearly complete by the March meeting.  Three change orders totaling less than $10,000 have been approved.

            Application Fees, Special Use and Special Exceptions:  Continue until the March meeting.

            Credit Card Payments for Taxes:  Continue until the March meeting.

           

NEW BUSINESS:

            Commonwealth Community Action Partnership (Commonwealth CAP):   The partnership is an umbrella organization that has been created to serve a number of counties. The primary benefit to Rappahannock County is to provide a food bank to Rappahannock County residents.   Commonwealth CAP will qualify for money provided by the Commonwealth.  No county funds are required. 

            On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Wayland, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the "Resolution Designating Commonwealth Community Action Partnership as Rappahannock County's Community Action Agency", attached hereto as Exhibit B and made a part of these minutes.  The vote was recorded as follows:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None.

            Civil War Sesquicentennial, Local Liasion Committee:  On motion of Mr. Wayland, seconded by Mr. Welch, the Board voted unanimously to appoint John Tole, Steve Howell and Rudy Seeger to the Local Liasion Committee.  The vote was recorded as follows:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None.

            On motion of Mr. Anderson, seconded by Mr. Welch, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Ronald L. Frazier as the Board member to said Committee.  The vote was recorded as follows:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None.

            John McCarthy will serve as the staff person on the committee.

            HB 1837:  This bill, which would reduce the speed on unpaved roads to 35 mph, is now in the Transportation Committee.

            State Budget Resolution:  The Board agreed by consensus that the language of the resolution is too broad and has no relationship to Rappahannock County.  It was passed indefinitely.

            Use-Value Taxation:  The Commissioners of Revenue in the Piedmont area have been working together on a revision of SLEAC numbers that will more accurately reflect real estate values in the surrounding area and not values in all other areas of the Commonwealth.  By general consensus, this matter was carried over until the March meeting for further action.

            Bottled Water for county employees will be eliminated immediately.  The net annual budget savings will be approximately $2650. 

            Washington Arts Building:  Mr. McCarthy explained that the Board has negotiated to purchase this building, which is located across Gay Street from the old Methodist Church, from Peter Kramer for $975,000 plus $5000 in closing costs.  A public hearing must be held to amend the FY09 budget if the Board agrees to execute a contract to purchase the property. 

            The County has set aside funds for four years to construct a 7500 square foot office building at its Bank Road property.  The Arts building contains 12,500 square feet and can be renovated at a cost of approximately one half the price of constructing a new building on Bank Road.  When considering the rent that is spent for county offices, the investment will pay for itself in a little over 15 years. 

            On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Wayland, the Board voted unanimously to conduct a public hearing on February 12, 2009 at 7:00 o'clock p.m. to consider the purchase and to amend the FY09 budget.

            ESCO Presentation:  Charles Barksdale will make a formal presentation regarding the Performance Contracting (ESCO) proposals at the special February 12, 2009 meeting, commencing at 6:00 o'clock p.m.

             

APPOINTMENTS:    None.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:  None.

 

INFORMATION:

Building Office Report:  Total construction from December 22, 2008 to January 21, 2009 was $144,000.00.  Year to date totals:  (See papers of meeting for additional detail.)                   

Year to date totals:

               2008

               2009

   New Home Construction

                  2

                   1

   Commercial Buildings

                  0

                   0

           

            Building Office Annual Report: 

 

2007

2008

      2007

      2008

New Homes

          44

 

   34

$14,558,371

$13,982,000

Addition/Remodel/Renovation

          62

 

  56

$  6,380,287

$  5,531,677

Storage Building/Garage

          39

 

  41

$  1,570,876

$     688,998

Commercial Bldg/Remodel

            9

 

   3

$     550,500

$     653,000

 

Misc. Per.List Bel.

 

 

$  1,514,710

 

$      547,216

Miscellaneous

 

   4

 

$      212,105

 

 

 

$24,574,744

$ 21,614,987

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uranium Mining Ban:    By general consensus, the Board authorized Mr. McCarthy to submit a letter supporting the ban. (See copy of Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation District's  resolution filed with papers of meeting.)

 

ACCOUNTS:  On motion of Mr. Welch, seconded by Mr. Wayland, the Board voted unanimously to approve accounts payables dated February 2, 2009.  The vote was recorded as follows:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None.

 

Bank Road Property:  The Board discussed its options with regard to retaining the Bank Road property.

 

Zoning Violations (Gouvremont):  Mr. Luke reported that the property owner will (1) plead no contest to a misdemeanor violation of the county ordinance, (2) pay courts costs, (3) court reporter fees and (4) will sign an agreement to relocate the right of way.  The entire matter should be resolved within three weeks. 

           

EXECUTIVE SESSION:   None.

 

There being no further business, the meeting recessed at 4:30 o'clock pm and reconvened at 7:00 o'clock p.m. to conduct the following public hearing.

 

            Yates Rezoning, RZ08-12-02:  Yates LLC has applied to rezone 6.8916 acres of an existing tract of 10 acres from GC (General Commercial) to A (Agricultural.)  Tax Map 28, Parcel 52H, Hampton District.  The use is allowed under §170-134 of the Rappahannock County Code.   The Planning Commission held it's public hearing on January 21, 2009 and unanimously recommended approval.  The file contains a letter of support from neighbor Pat Choate.

            Chairman Anderson opened the public hearing. 

            Greg Yates, the applicant, explained that 6.8916 acres will be removed from the commercial zone and used for residential purposes.  The new lot will be served by a residential right of way.  The residue will be combined with two smaller lots and turned into one commercial parcel. 

            There being no other comments, the Chairman closed the public hearing. 

            On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Wayland, the Board voted unanimously to rezone the property as set forth in RZ08-12-02 application conditioned upon VDOH approval.  The following roll call vote was taken:  AYE:   Anderson, Lee, Welch, Wayland, Frazier.  NAY:  None.

 

            There being no further business, the meeting recessed until the Special Meeting to be held on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 6:0 o'clock p.m.

 

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                                    Robert P. Anderson, Chairman