Members of the Patrick County Action Committee, PatCoVa PAC, spoke to the community of Meadows of Dan on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Ron Haley, PatCoVA PAC president, explained that the committee was created in March for the purpose of trying to put forth local candidates that would be good for the county. County citizens are concerned about the depleted contingency fund, Haley said, and the 20 percent increase in real estate taxes.
Bill Clark, PatCoVa PAC member, explained that there has been misinformation spread by county leadership about such things as the failed hospital and county budgets. The genesis of the new Patrick County action committee was to get the truth out. “There are a lot of untruths being told,” Clark said.
Glen Roycroft, also a PatCoVA PAC member, has served on the Patrick County Economic Development Authority for 20 years. He said there has been a gradual degradation in momentum in the county.
“We need change. The direction we are going right now is unsustainable. We must get people involved, especially young people,” Roycroft said.
PatCoVA PAC supports three candidates who are running for a position on the Patrick County Board of Supervisors in the November election: Denise Stirewalt for the Peters Creek District, Clayton Kendrick for the Mayo River District, and Clyde DeLoach for the Blue Ridge District.
“We feel good about the candidates we have put forth,” Haley told the group in Meadows of Dan.
DeLoach, candidate for the Blue Ridge District, which is Meadows of Dan’s district, said “If you want positive change in Patrick County, then you must change who you vote for. We must have a better atmosphere in our board meetings. We should encourage each other.”
DeLoach said his priorities for Patrick County include 24-hour medical care in the county. He said transparency is also one of his main concerns. He will be at every Meadows of Dan Community Association meeting that he can attend, he said, adding that he also will explain his decisions.
“You may not always agree with my decisions, but you will understand why I made them,” he said. DeLoach said that Meadows of Dan is an undiscovered jewel in Patrick County. It is the second busiest intersection on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The PatCoVA PAC meeting was held at the Meadows of Dan Community building immediately following the Meadows of Dan Community Association Meeting. Trinity Goad, president of the community association began the meeting with a summation of the Meadows of Dan Folk Fair that was held in August.
“It was the biggest, most successful Folk Fair we have ever had,” Goad said. “All the food vendors sold out. There was a very good turnout. The Storyteller event drew a packed house. A very special thank you to Reynolds Homestead for providing the shuttle van that carried visitors from the community building to the businesses and events “uptown.”
Plans are now underway for the Meadows of Dan Christmas Parade, which is always held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, rain or shine. This year the parade will fall on November 30.
Meadows of Dan residents are encouraged to get involved, get to know the candidates, understand the issues, get out and vote, and also to join the Meadows of Dan Community Association, which meets the second Thursday of each month at the Meadows of Dan Community Building at 5:30 p.m.