UPCOMING: - Thursday, April 14th - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - 9:00am Courthouse - Tuesday, April 19th - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' ZONING WORK SESSION - 6:00pm Courthouse - Thursday, April 21st - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' BUDGET WORK SESSION - 7:00pm Courthouse - Wednesday, April 27th - PLANNING COMMISSION - 7:30pm Courthouse ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Saturday, May 14th 7:00pm-10:00pm and Sunday, May 15th 1:30pm-4:30pm for the Central VA Rodeo at Oak Ridge. We will receive a donation for our work serving beer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Mr. Wood, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Bruguiere present. (Ms. Brennan, Mr. Harris absent). PUBLIC COMMENT - Mr. Gordon Koerner, Shipman, expressed support for the funding of the Gladstone, Schuyler and Rockfish senior centers. He suggested that Supervisors "cleaning the fat" out of the proposed budget would leave funding for the seniors. NELSON COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION - Mr. George Krieger, Executive Director, presented information on existing enabling legislation that, if adopted locally, could provide homeowners with partial tax exemption from the increased value that results when substantial rehabilitation is done on their homes. He noted an example of work just completed by NCCDF on a home with no indoor plumbing in Afton. The occupant is an elderly widow who has lost both legs to complications from diabetes. The home is currently assessed at $4,000. NCCDF has just completed $55,000 in renovations. The client currently pays $138.24 in taxes per year for her house and four acres of land. If now assessed at $60,000 and the land remains the same, her new tax bill will be $540.00, an increase of almost 300%. Mr. Krieger noted that local adoption of Section 58.1-3220 would allow the county to offer a partial exemption from taxation of real estate for residential structures no less than 15 years of age that have undergone substantial rehabilitation, renovation or replacement for residential use. The Section noted would also allow for partial exemption for substantial renovation of commercial or industrial structures no less than 20 years old. Mr. Krieger volunteered to work with a board-appointed committee to study the possible adoption and use of the Section. Both Mr. Bruguiere and Mr. Wood acknowledged the good work done by NCCDF to provide housing in the county. Mr. Wood suggested tabling further discussion until all Supervisors are present. SOLID WASTE PROGRAM - Ms. Susan McSwain reported on the status of the program, noting the latest numbers on the new Rockfish Collection Center. She reported 93 fewer tons of garbage in February at the site from what was collected at Adial, Afton and Stoney Creek during the same time period last year - with 114 few tons at the new site in March. Ms. McSwain noted a substantial increase in the amount of commercial waste taken to the Transfer Station during both months. She attributed the decreased residential tonnage to less out-of-county waste coming into the county, noting the overall decrease at all county sites - 73 tons less garbage for the entire county in February and 197 few tons for the entire county in March. Ms. McSwain said that although the recycling rate has improved at the new Rockfish site over what it was at the three closed sites, it could be better with better public education. She noted that recycling does save citizen tax dollars but must be properly done in order for the county to benefit financially. Ms. McSwain reported that Nelson is currently part of the Region 2000 effort to form a regional trash authority, and that that program could save Nelson quite a lot of money over the next 20 years on waste disposal. She reported that Phase II of the study will begin in early June with a potential regional authority in operation by 2007. Nelson's share of the cost of Phase II would be $8,000-$10,000 but the county would save that and more during the first year of operation in the authority. Ms. McSwain recommended that the county participate in Phase II. (Note: All Supervisors present at this point.) COURTHOUSE RENOVATION PROJECT - Mr. Randy Vaughan with Wiley & Wilson, presented an overview of the work his firm has done with the recommendations of the Courthouse Renovation Committee. He reported that the needs assessment showed that the county would require 78,151 sq ft and 269 parking spaces for the county administration and courthouse center by the year 2015, noting that the current courthouse building is approximately 25,000 sq ft with 100 parking spaces. Mr. Vaughan noted project needs as: Judicial - 34,000 sq ft County Administration - 21,000 sq ft School Administration - 6,000 sq ft. Mr. Vaughan noted the Committee's Design Premises: 1. Historical part of Courthouse to remain; 2. Historical Courthouse to remain the prominent feature of the campus; 3. The Courthouse green to remain intact; 4. All Judicial and County Administration uses to be included on the campus; 5. All facilities must fit on the existing site as no adjacent land is available (existing site 5+ acres); and 6. The facility must continue to function through the construction process. Mr. Vaughan then presented several conceptual drawings, one of which included a three-story addition to the back of the historic section of the Courthouse; 2 three-story buildings for County Administration (25,500 sq ft and 16,100 sq ft). The concept included a two-level parking structure with ingress/egress for the lower level at the bottom of the existing parking lot grade and ingress/egress for the upper level at the higher grade of the existing parking area. In this concept, the existing Sheriff's office and jail building would remain in place. Mr. Vaughan noted preliminary budget projections for the project at $17,116,000. He reported that with an estimated 5% escalation rate for 2 years, the project costs would increase to $17,972,000. Following discussion of the various options, Supervisors directed staff to do the following: 1. Investigate the possible acquisition of land at the northwest corner of the campus to provide additional space for expansion; investigate the acquisition of approximately 2 acres at the back of the existing courthouse. The land acquisition would allow the three-story addition on the back of the Courthouse to be reduced to a two-story addition and allow the small jail building to remain. 2. Investigate the possibilities for relocating the Health Department, Department of Social Services and School Board offices off-site. Supervisors noted that the Service Authority could relocate to treatment facility in Colleen. The off-site location of these departments would eliminate the need for two County Administration buildings. RESOLUTION/WINTERGREEN VALLEY UTILITY SERVICE AREA - Mr. Carter presented a resolution of support for the expansion of the Utility Company to include the recently rezoned 29.188 acres recently added to the Stoney Creek community. Mr. Carter reported that staff had send letters to all applicable authorities (DEQ, NCSA, etc) requesting any comment on the expansion, with only DEQ responding. Ms. Brennan said that she would prefer to receive comment from the Service Authority before considering the resolution. Further discussion tabled for additional information. PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT: NELSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE COMPLEX RENOVATION - Mr. Carter reported that staff has applied to USDA Rural Development for $15.2 million in long-term funding for the project. He said that the advantage to the funding is the 4.25% locked-in interest rate and the length of the financing. He noted the disadvantage, if any, is that if historic resources are impacted, the agency could require extensive studies. After discussion, Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the agreement to proceed. (Note: Mr. Harris absent for the rest of the afternoon session.) PROPOSED ORDINANCE: APPOINTMENTS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS - Mr. Carter, noting that the Board has reviewed and held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance, suggested removing Section 2-154 (dealing with Compensation and Reimbursement) from the ordinance and adopting that section by separate resolution. Supervisors voted 4-0 to adopt the ordinance as written minus Section 2-154. Supervisors then set the following board and commission compensation: Planning Commission $75.00 per meeting; Welfare Board $50.00 per meeting; Service Authority $75.00 per meeting; Economic Development Authority $75.00 per meeting; James River Alcohol Safety Action Program Policy Board $50.00 per meeting; Community Policy & Management Team (CSA) $50.00 per meeting; Board of Zoning Appeals $75.00 per meeting; Building Board of Appeals $50.00 per meeting. Appointees are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with County travel policy. Supervisors voted 4-0 to adopt the resolution on Compensation and Reimbursement. BOARD APPOINTMENTS - Staff reported receipt of a letter of resignation from Mr. Gary Sherwood (South District) for the Service Authority. The vacancy will be advertised this month. FINAL SUBDIVISION REVIEW/MR. GLENN L. & CHARLES E. SIMPSON - With no public comment, Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve a final plat to divide 140.884 acres into three lots. The property is located at the intersection of Laurel Road (Rt. 639) and Brownings Cove (Rt. 719). REQUESTED EXEMPTION/JOCKEY'S RIDGE SUBDIVISION - Ms. Heather Goodwin, representing Oak Ridge Estate, requested an exemption to County Subdivision Ordinance Section 4-5 Fire Protection, (B), Dry Hydrants. The applicant presented a letter from Mr. Daniel T. Johnson, Assistant Chief of Lovingston Fire Department noting that the Fire Department would use the county fire hydrant located 2,810 feet west of the site on Thomas Nelson Highway instead of a dry hydrant on the site. With no public comment, Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the exemption. PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT - DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY CENTER - With no public comment, Supervisors voted 5-0 to amend the Zoning Ordinance to include the definition of Community Center to allow the sale of goods and services by the owner or owner's approved lessee or licensee. WORK SESSIONS - Supervisors set a Zoning Work Session for Tuesday, April 19th at 6:00pm at the Courthouse and a Budget Work Session for Thursday, April 21st at 7:00pm at the Courthouse. Meeting continued to Tuesday, April 19th at 6:00pm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This report, sent to over 600 Nelson County citizens, was made possible by the generous donations of Rural Nelson members and supporters. We need your help to continue this service. Please consider donating. Kim T. Cash Field Officer Rural Nelson, Inc. P. O. Box 401 (622 Front Street) Lovingston, VA 22949 434.263.5000 Email: info@ruralnelson.org www.ruralnelson.org