After two accidents in a five-day span, the Patrick County Board of Supervisors again raised concerns about the dangerous intersection of U.S. 58, South Mayo Drive, and Spring Road in Patrick Springs. The discussion came during the board’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 8.
Clayton Kendrick, who represents the Mayo River District, said the intersection seems to be getting worse as more accidents occur.
“Last Friday, a really good friend of mine was severely hurt in a two-vehicle accident, broke his shoulder, got bruises all over his body. Then this past Monday, my daughter and three grandchildren were in a bad wreck that totaled both cars at the same intersection,” Kendrick said.
He noted his aunt was also killed in a crash at the same intersection years ago.
“I don’t know what we can do with it. I’ve sent messages and pictures to” Del. Wren Williams, R-Stuart, “to see if he can do anything about it, but I think something else needs to be done,” he said.
Board Chairman Jonathan Wood, of the Peters Creek District, said he was told the stoplight in front of Walmart was partially funded by the company. He asked whether the county would consider paying for a light at the Patrick Springs intersection rather than waiting on the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Kendrick suggested a grant might be available.
“The Smart Scale grant? We’re actually talking to VDOT tomorrow about that for that intersection,” County Administrator Beth Simms said.
“Even if we have to throw skin in the game, I think there’s enough people in the county that would be willing to tighten up the belts a little bit more in the budget cycle to kind of help to make sure that happens,” Wood said.
Wood added he personally avoids the intersection.
“Because I’m not pulling out of that intersection with basically five lanes of traffic in the intersection across with me trying to pull a 25-foot trailer with a tractor. I purposefully avoid that intersection,” he said.
Wood said VDOT may be able to provide a rough estimate of the cost for a stoplight.
“I know some people probably wouldn’t be happy with the inconvenience. I know a lot of people I think would be much happier with it,” he said.
Doug Perry, of the Smith River District, said sunlight played a role in one of the recent crashes.
“All the flashing lights and rumble strips—it’s not going to prevent someone looking east into the sun and not being able to see the lanes of traffic before they pull out in there. So, a stoplight’s pretty much the only way you’re going to fight the sun,” Perry said.
Kendrick added that when the four-lane was designed at the intersection, some VDOT officials opposed the current turn lane.
“One of the engineers” working on the plans “called it a suicide lane,” he said.
He warned the situation will worsen once road construction in the Vesta area is complete.
“It’s going to be more traffic, more truck traffic and everything else, so something needs to be done there,” Kendrick said.
In other business, the board also:
*Heard from Galen Gilbert, who echoed the call for a stoplight.
“As bad as I hate to say it, it seems like the right person has not passed down there. I don’t know what’s going to happen down there, I don’t know what’s going to be the solution to it, but VDOT has done a study that said that intersection needed to be daylighted, and they done that study many, many years ago,” Gilbert said.
He added the study also suggested fixing the curb at the Patrick Springs Post Office.
“None of it’s been done yet. So, I think that intersection needs to be relooked at, and something done,” he said.
*Heard from Steve Allen, the county’s former EMS Coordinator, about the county’s Emergency Medical Services.
“It’s very heartbreaking that after all the years working with the volunteers to get the training equipment we needed for classes. The Patrick County Fire and Rescue Association paid for part of that equipment out of their funds, not funds that the board of supervisors give them. They raised money from back in the ’90s for the Fire and Rescue Association to have things fire and rescue needed,” he said.
Allen said equipment has since been given to Ambulance Services of Lexington, which will operate locally as Patrick County EMS. He noted the county paid for two pieces of equipment, including a training trailer, and that some rescue squads wired their buildings for its use.
“That was just wasted money now that the rescue squads paid,” he said.
Allen added Patrick County EMS plans to have two ambulances on the road.
“The county has two ambulances right now until people start dropping out on account of what the board of supervisors has let the hospital take over. How is the hospital going to improve anything over what the county already has with just two ambulances—they’re not because they’re going to be doing their interfacility transportation and trying to run some 911 calls,” he said.
*Heard from Ed Pool about the legal review of the proposed solar ordinance and a cease-and-desist letter sent to the Planning Commission regarding false claims.
The distribution list in the email “looks like the entire Planning Commission” received the document, as well as the board. “It’s from a fella, Josh Stanfield, in Yorktown, Virginia. It’s in reference to apparently Facebook postings by one of the supervisors,” Pool said.
*Heard from Steve Ferring, who again requested his park recommendations be added to the Oct. 20 meeting agenda for consideration. He said his proposals would be cost neutral.
*Heard from Patrick County Education Foundation Chairman Dr. Stewart Roberson about the Patrick Promise.
*Scheduled a public hearing for the Oct. 20 meeting to amend the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
*Heard a broadband update from Riverstreet Networks and Appalachian Power.
*Approved invoices for Freehouse Meadows of Dan Brewery–Cockram Mill Complex.
*Approved updated tourism sponsorship grant applications.
*Released a $90,000 check to the Patrick Springs Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of a truck.
*Adopted a resolution accepting the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan and approved the county’s participation in the opioid settlement with the Sackler family.
*Approved the Aug. 11 and Aug. 25 meeting minutes.
*Approved bills, claims, and appropriations.
*Heard supervisors’ reports.
