The application for a $700,000 Community Development Block Grant to install a sewage treatment system in Meadows of Dan was not endorsed by the Patrick County Board of Supervisors at its March 13 meeting.
Supervisors agreed on overall support for the project and on its role as a vital step in the Meadows of Dan revitalization effort, but suggested members of the Meadows of Dan Community Association, engineers, landowners and area businesses work together to firm up the funding and the location of the drain field and treatment facility before pursuing the grant.
The community association and engineering firm The Lane Group had hoped the CDBG would cover the entire cost of the project, but estimates for Phase 1 came in at $1.4 million. Phase 1 would include sewer service along Virginia Business 58 from Squirrel Spur Road to the community center.
Phase 2, which was estimated at $629,700, continues the sewer line down Business 58 from the community center to Meadows of Dan Elementary School.
Kevin Heath, vice president and project manager with The Lane Group, said that the first phase would serve approximately 12 potential customers – nine businesses and three single-family houses. In this initial draft, the drain field and pretreatment facility would have been installed on 14.5 acres of the Burnette family farm.
However, Dale Burnette, in representing the Burnette family, spoke in opposition to that route during the meeting’s public hearing for the grant, saying that “our family joins in making it known that no part of this family farm is for sale.” The hilltop where the facility is proposed is one of the highest peaks in Patrick County, and at least one section of the 52-acre farm is home to the endangered bog turtle, Burnette said.
“Needless to say, this is not what I, nor do I think any fellow Patrick County resident, would consider an improvement for the town of Meadows of Dan and the view it would create from the Blue Ridge Parkway as travelers drive along the bypass or overpass of Route 58,” Burnette continued.
Burnette and supervisors suggested finding a different place for the field and treatment facility, and members of the Meadows of Dan Community Association agreed, saying they will look at options such as a parcel belonging to Felecia Shelor, who owns Poor Farmer’s Market on Virginia 58.
“I know a lot of area landowners up there and I don’t know any of them that would give up 10 to 15 acres for a drain field,” said Roger T. Hayden, supervisor for the Dan River District. “Property up there is not cheap, I’ll tell you that whole-heartedly.”
Shelor, who also spoke during the public hearing, said she would be glad to have The Lane Group study her property as a possible site, and that she would consider donating up to 5 acres for the project. She said she did not realize until just before Thursday’s board meeting that the initial proposal involved the Burnette Farm.
“I didn’t think for one second that [this proposal] was written in stone,” Shelor said. “The most important thing I want our supervisors to see is that we have the Parkway there. If we don’t make plans for the future; we’re hanging on by a thread. Because of government regulations there will not be another restaurant, another food-service operation. We have to start somewhere. We have to do something. We don’t have the entire plan. This is not the entire phase.”
Heath agreed that Shelor’s land is a possibility. He noted that it is wooded and houses a creek, but if the soil is suitable there’s no reason not to consider it, he continued. The Burnette Farm was in the initial proposal because it was the best geographic location for the project.
Ricky Fulcher, supervisor for the Peters Creek District, said, “I certainly understand the plight of the businesses up there. It’s not just Meadows of Dan, it’s the plight everywhere: the sewage, how to dispose of it, the hindrance to businesses, restaurants are limited as to the number of seats.
“My biggest concern is that I’m not comfortable supporting a resolution to move forward until there’s a concrete plan in place. When you apply for grant funding, you will need to submit documentation. In my opinion, it looks to me like all of that needs to be in place and finite so when you apply for funds you don’t come up short,” Fulcher continued.
Karl Weiss, supervisor for the Blue Ridge District, also said he wants to ensure the county is not left responsible for the sewer system project should grant funding fall through. Plus, he feels that businesses such as the Blue Ridge Motel, owned by the Alderman family, should be included.
“I was under the impression that this would take in Mr. Alderman’s property as well as some of the other properties west of the Parkway but that’s not happening,” Weiss said of the initial proposal. “He has the only motel up there and this doesn’t help him at all. That little campground down the road there, this doesn’t help them at all. This doesn’t do anything for the folks on the other side of the Parkway.”
Supervisors also discussed some concerns about funding the remainder of the project. One idea was to seek Tobacco Commission grants to cover the remaining $700,000 for Phase 1. County Administrator Tom Rose said he would look into that as some of the guidelines have changed.
Lock Boyce, supervisor for the Mayo River District, said “We seem to be told this grant will take care of all this and now it’s three-quarters of a million dollars short? That’s a lot of money and this county hasn’t got it.
“I’m afraid we need to go back to some kind of drawing board again and explore avenues of funding it and figure out how to get our school on Phase I,” he continued. “I realize the importance to Meadows of Dan and I wish there was a sewer line and a water line running down 58 because that would open the community up and bring in new business, but you need the resources.”
Fulcher and Harris emphasized that the board remains supportive of the project. “The board has not said ‘no’ to anything on this project,” Fulcher said. “The thing is, we would be remiss in our duty as citizens to pat you on the back and say ‘Go for it’ – knowing full well you’re going to trip and fall – for us not to point those things out to you.”
Tax rates
In other issues addressed at the board meeting, there will be a public hearing on the county tax rates on Wednesday, March 29.
County Administrator Tom Rose proposed not raising the tax rate, but leaving it as is at 57 cents per $100 and the personal property tax at $1.71 per $100. Rose said that health insurance costs for county employees are going up by 8 percent this year. The county needs to fund some of that increase to avoid a possible fine, he continued.
Hayden said he’d like to reduce both tax rates.
“They’re too high relative to the income of the county and should be cut. However, there are a lot of things that happened beyond our control in this last year or so, mostly having to do with the Virginia retirement system and our insurance problem, so I’m not going to ask for any tax cut because I don’t think there’s enough support on this board for the cut.”
Fulcher, Weiss and Harris said they were not in favor of raising the tax rate, but also do not want to raise the rate. They would like to leave it at its current rate.
Boyce said he agreed with Hayden that it should be cut, suggesting $1.67 on personal property and 53 cents on real estate.
“I think our tax rate is ridiculous. It’s too high and I think the situation is unfair,” Boyce said. “Large land owners are taxed on a lot of open land due to unfair assessments and due to an extremely high tax rate. It’s close to a mortgage payment. So you got your mortgage paid and this 100- or 200- acre site, you thought it would be paid off? You’ll never have it paid it off. You keep paying the county and paying the county or we’ll take it from you.
“You’ve got to keep this tax rate low, that’s what I’ve learned being on this board,” Boyce said. “With low taxes it means everybody has to tow the line to make their budget and their wants fit … Look at what we have to do. We have to educate our children. We have to make sure when you call 911 you get an ambulance or a policeman. But you know what? That’s pretty much all we have to do.”
Fulcher, Weiss and Harris voted to leave the current tax rate as is; Boyce and Hayden voted no because they would like it lowered.
The board also voted to support a public fishing agreement proposed by Sandra Heath. The agreement would allow the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to extend trout stocking in the South Mayo River from the River Rail Trail parking lot to the end of the trail where the bench is located.
Heath wrote in a letter that she hopes to organize a Kids Fishing Day at the trail’s parking lot area with Conservation Police Officer Dale Owens.
All board members were in support of the idea.
“I agree 100 percent,” Weiss said. “It’s a great area for kids to fish. The bank meets the river at a good angle, and there is lots of room to carry in a chair or have a picnic.”
In personnel matters, board members approved Cindy Fain’s appointment to the Social Services Board.
