|
In Brief . . .
Highland County Board of Supervisors
¦ VDOT Verona residency administrator James White Jr. informed the Highland County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that a public meeting of the Commonwealth Transportation Board on the 2008-13 six-year improvement program, which includes highway, rail and public transportation initiatives, will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15 at the Augusta County Government Center. A special public officials' briefing will be held before the public meeting from 5-6 p.m., but the board did not indicate it would attend. ¦ Extension agent Rodney Leech said this year's multiflora rose eradication program approved 20 applicants and paid 15 of them $1,253 for 50 percent reimbursement for the purchase of authorized chemical pesticides. "I think the program went well," said Leech. He recommended barberry be added to the list of invasive species requiring eradication next year. Barberry is an ornamental bush introduced to the area that is hard to kill and hard to dig up. He also recommended the board consider increasing the rate of compensation to 60-75 percent. Five thousand dollars was allocated this year to the program. "We are at 54 percent of normal for the last 12 months (for precipitation)," added Leech, based on National Weather Service data for Highland County. Based on Leech's recommendation, the board voted to send a resolution to the governor requesting drought assistance so the county can be on record as requesting it. The governor has asked for a federal drought disaster declaration for the state. "Hay and pastures are in a weakened condition and susceptible to more multiflora rose and barberry next year," said Leech. ¦ The board nominated Harry Sponaugle for planning commissioner of the year for the sixth planning district. ¦ The board reappointed Doug Siron, Jerry Moats, Sharon Sponaugle, Jim Whitelaw and Ronald Wimer to the 16-member Local Emergency Planning Committee for three-year terms to expire Sept. 30, 2010. ¦ The board appointed Kathy Cobb to replace Keri Neil on the recreation commission. ¦ The board approved a resolution of support at the request of the Staunton City Council asking the Virginia General Assembly to cap interest rates at 36 percent average percentage rate on consumer loans such as payday lenders and auto title loans. "I think we are better off supporting our sister jurisdictions that support us on things," said supervisor Robin Sullenberger. Supervisor Jerry Rexrode said, "I don't like to get into free enterprise, but I would like to support Staunton." ¦ Rexrode said the McDowell water table was dropping. "It is getting very muddy; there is something going on underground," he said. "We are pumping a lot of water, but it is muddy. Before, we pumped for over 30 days before it cleared up - that's all we could do." ¦ The board held a closed session regarding duties of a county employee. They took no action following the session. ¦ The next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 7.
|
