A woman who lives in the Dan River District wants to have a World War II Memorial currently situated at the Patrick County Circuit Court, moved to a location where it can be better viewed and appreciated.
Brenda Scales told the Patrick County Board of Supervisors on June 10 that she learned about the memorial before a recent trip to the area.
The memorial, she said, includes “not deceased, but residents who served. So, I came looking for that memorial and I attempted to view it. I thought it was on the inside of the courthouse, the World War II Memorial is actually on the outside doors of the county courthouse,” she said.
Scales said she was told that the public is not allowed to traverse the steps due to leaks in a building underneath.
“I have to tell you the steps were dangerous anyway, and I probably wouldn’t have attempted to go up those anyway,” she said.
Scales said she wanted to view the memorial because her father and three of his brothers fought in WWII.
“I have been told that his name is on that, and one of his brothers, and the other two are not,” she said.
She has also tried to find out information about when the memorial was placed on the outside second floor of the Patrick County Courthouse, but to no avail.
“It’s history, and in its current location it’s not viewable by the public. I am bringing this issue to the board’s attention in an effort to find out what can be done to relocate this piece of our history to a suitable location that will honor our veterans,” she said.
County Courthouse
County Administrator Beth Simms suggested the Circuit Court Judge Marcus Brinks and/or local veterans groups.
“We can talk to relevant parties and get back to you next month,” Simms said.
Scales said she was told approval to change the memorial location would be needed from the board, Simms, Brinks, and Circuit Court Clerk of Court Morgan Boothe.
“I was disappointed when I couldn’t go and look at it. I was told that in eight years that someone had worked there, nobody had asked to see it,” she said.
Interim board chairman Doug Perry, of the Smith River District, said the board will look into moving the memorial.
“It’s a very good point, thank you for bringing it to us. It should be viewable where people can see and appreciate and honor our history,” he said.
In other matters, the board:
*Heard from Valerie Loy, who asked questions about the amount of the county’s debt, a $500,000 appropriation for the county’s mobile health units, how citizens sign a petition to have anything brought into the county as a major resource like solar farms, and where the county’s comprehensive plan can be viewed.
Loy asked how much in debt the county is and noted the rumor it’s in the $40-$60 million range.
Simms said the county’s audit and financial analysis are available on the county’s website.
“But how did our county get this way,” Loy asked.
Perry said the debt is less than $40 million and includes everything from school improvements of years ago, the one percent sales tax increase, building the jail, and others.
“We have a payment schedule just like you would on your mortgage with your house. It’s under $40 million, I want to say roughly $35-$36 million,” he said.
Loy said people would like to know how the county got this far in debt.
“We’re 17,000 people in this county,” she said.
Simms said those were decisions voted on years ago.
“I don’t think the county’s taken on any additional debt in the last” few years. “Once again, you could refer back to minutes,” she said.
If one were to look at the county’s audit, Finance Officer Lori Jones said more than half that debt is not true debt.
“It’s what the state says we owe IRS retirement. It’s the value of if everyone quit today, what you would have to pay them out in leave and sick, and things like that. So, it’s more than just true debt money that we borrowed,” she said.
Simms said local governments, state governments, and federal governments carry debt.
“I’m not going to say anything to have an opinion on it, but that’s just kind of the fact of the matter. I don’t know of any governments that don’t carry some sort of debt,” she said.
*Heard from Trena Anderson about solar energy and the statutory authority Perry quoted regarding the rules of public comment before the meeting.
Perry said the county follows Robert’s Rules of Order.
“I believe you overstepped your boundaries on some of that, and I’m going to seek legal advice of my own for the residents of Patrick County,” she said.
Anderson said she originally attended the meeting to speak about a solar company which put the brakes on a project. She filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request trying to find out why it pulled out of Moscato but was told there was none.
“I’m sorry. I’m 64-years-old, I’ve worked in government and for governments all my adult life since I was 18. You don’t just drop something and there’s no paper trail,” she said.
Simms said for clarification, she got a call on Wednesday, June 5 from an Energix representative.
“She said they were currently not moving forward with the Moscato project. I did not ask any follow up questions,” she said.
For another point of clarification, Simms said in communities where development regularly happens and planning commissions regularly have to act, land use decisions are the local government land use is the first check on developers and investors checklist.
“A lot of times a developer or investor, they will come to the planning commission or board of supervisors before they even purchase the property because they need to know why would they invest money in ENS plans, building plans, etc. not knowing if they have permission to use that property for that reason,” she said.
Simms said she does not know why the company pulled the project, and did not ask.
“If the board would like me to call back and inquire on why they pulled it, I would be happy to,” she said.
Simms added she believes Energix officials have shared their contact information at the various town halls and meetings held locally.
Anderson also asked the board to rescind its approval of the Fairystone solar project.
*Approved the May 13 and May 28 meeting minutes.
*Approved the bills, claims, and appropriations.
*Discussed purchasing new chairs for the board and audience, a podium, and cameras for the Patrick County Administration Building parking lot with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
*Heard the administrator’s report.
*Heard the supervisors’ reports.
*Appointed Chris Prutting to the Tourism Advisory Council (TAC) to serve as the Blue Ridge District representative.
*Heard from Simms about the difference between the county’s mobile health units and Connect Health + Wellness.
