Supervisor Marshall Ecker's report

Comment: Some important dates! Everyone should attend the meetings!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 9:17 AM EDT

I'm still working on getting recyclable bins for plastics and glass in Pittsylvania County.

This is more involved than I thought. Things should not be so difficult when dealing with government and trying to overcome roadblocks.

I did check into how other localities are handling their recyclables. They seem very pleased with the public's positive feedback.

We need to think about the Earth's resources and how we are destroying our environment.

Blue Ridge Drive

The Board of Supervisors voted 7-0 to hold a public hearing on no-thru truck traffic on Blue Ridge Drive.

Some citizens showed up at the Aug.18 board meeting to speak on restricting truck traffic on Blue Ridge Drive.

The public hearing will be on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. in Chatham. I encourage you to come to this board meeting and sign up to speak on this issue.

This has been an ongoing problem for some time.

Grit water line

The Grit water line project has started. The projected completion is February 2010.

I had many citizens ask to have the water line extended pasted Compton's Garage.

I was presented with a petition signed by 100 percent of citizens living along that road wanting the line to Route 668 and Route 640.

The county administrator and service authority interim director estimated a price of $116,000 for an additional 2,500 feet of 10-inch line.

To extend the line to Routes 668 and 640, we would need a booster pump and a water tower for another 3,000 feet.

I will try to get funding for that project, which will exceed $400,000.

The board did vote 7-0 to do engineering and health department requirements and a change order pricing from the construction company doing the installation for Department of Environmental Quality.

Land-use

The Legislative Committee will meet on Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. to discuss changes in land-use.

The county administrator has sent a letter to commissioner of revenue stating that land-use revisions will not be ready for the 2010 tax year.

The commissioner's office should begin to register people who want to sign up for land-use under the existing ordinance in order to meet timing requirements prior to the Jan. 1, 2010 tax year.

If you want to take part in this program, please contact the commissioner of revenue for details.

Anaerobic digesters

The board voted 7-0 to hold a public hearing on anaerobic digester planned for a farming operation near Chatham.

Some citizens feel that we should restrict the wording to only animal waste. I believe we need public input before we decide what we should or should not do. That is why we hold these hearings.

I encourage you to come and present your take on this subject on Sept. 8 and 7 p.m. in Chatham.

Hiring freeze

Supervisors voted 5-2 to temporarily lift the hiring freeze to fill a new position in the economic development office.

Mr. Davis and I voted against this.

I have no problem with filling this new position. However, I feel we should not have a hiring freeze at all if we are still hiring to fill new and vacated positions any time we want.

A freeze means exactly that. I'm sure it makes you rest better at night knowing Pittsylvania County has a hiring freeze.

Other board action

Supervisors voted 7-0 for the following items:

_ Restrict truck traffic on Ringgold Road (Route 734);

_ Resolution to Appalachian Power not to raise rates;

_ Proclamation to recognize Sept. 7-11 as National Suicide Prevention Week;

_ Contract amendment for $22,000 to Dewberry and Davis for phase II monitoring and testing at landfill;

_ $10,000 to purchase 45 electronic poll books and 22 printers for the Electoral Board;

_ $8,550 for meals tax training at the treasurer's office;

_ No-wake buoys at Leesville Lake by Staunton View Farm Association for their cove;

_ Amend Pittsylvania County code 6-6.3 to add Skycross Inc. to exempt their vehicles from county tax as a nonprofit organization.

Public hearings

The board also voted to hold public hearings on the following:

_ Exempting disabled veterans from paying automobile license fees;

_ Donation of 2.3 acres of county land (old Gretna middle school) to Northern Pittsylvania County Food Center.

Mega park

The board voted 5-2 to apply for $10.5 million in grants from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission for the "mega park" near Danville.

I voted against this request because we will have to make matching funds. This is just the beginning of putting many millions into this park.

It would help if we had a plan of who we could attract. There was to be a study to be presented of what kinds of industry would be interested in coming to Pittsylvania County, but that hasn't happen yet.

Quarterly meeting

I will be holding my third quarterly citizens meeting on Sept. 1 from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hurt Town Hall.

Items for discussion include Blue Ridge Drive truck traffic and an update on land-use.

Ken Bowman, our new economic development director, also will be present to greet and answer any questions on economic development.

Board packet

The county has changed the way to access the board packet. It will now download faster for dial-up Internet users (Laserfiche-Weblink)

You need to go to Pittsylvania County home page (www.pittgov.org ) and click on Agendas/Minutes/Packets/Public Hearings.

Then click on public view documents and you can choose board packets.

This is a tool for all citizens to use and help to keep a watchful eye on county business.

Feel free to contact me by telephone at 335-5967. (Please, no phone calls after 9 p.m.) Or you can e-mail me at any hour marshall.ecker@pittgov.org.

I want to know your thoughts or ideas on issues that are important to you.

Marshall Ecker represents the Staunton River District on the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2009/08/27/chatham/opinion/opinion06.txt