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Supervisors to start talks with Spectrum
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
 | | Vacated 18 years ago, the old Millboro school stands empty, deteriorating at an ever increasing pace. Bath supervisors have agreed to begin deeper discussions with Spectrum Design about selling the property and allowing the developer proceed with plans for apartments. (Recorder file photo) |
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WARM SPRINGS - Bath County supervisors took a bold step Tuesday, voting unanimously to negotiate with Spectrum Design of Roanoke to convert the old Millboro school buildings into apartments.
Chairman Cliff Gilchrest passed the gavel to vice chair Percy Nowlin before making the motion. Gilchrest pointed out the county had held one public meeting and two public hearings on the fate of the buildings, which have been vacant since 1989.
While recognizing a "vocal contingent from Millboro is totally opposed to anything but abatement and demolition" of the buildings, Gilchrest said, "As a board, we have to take into consideration the entire county."
The action to proceed with the Spectrum proposal was not on the agenda and followed the item to ratify cancellation of the request for proposals for the old buildings' asbestos abatement and demolition. The board ratified the cancellation.
The request for proposals was issued following questions at the hearings about the cost of abatement and demolition of part of the buildings as required under the Spectrum proposal, and abatement and demolition of all the buildings. Contractors were reluctant to submit bids without a specified plan, according to county administrator Bonnie Johnson.
If the county did not have a specific abatement plan, contractors said they would include the estimated $50,000 price in their bids. Johnson said to receive good estimates, the county would have to pay to have the plan done and provide the same plan to all contractors. Rather than do that, she polled the board and the request for proposals was cancelled.
Following the vote, Williamsville district resident Jackie Plecker objected strongly to the board's action. "It all boiled down to you didn't have the information," Plecker told supervisors. "I am really disappointed in you gentlemen." She noted the item was not on the action agenda. "If you had a public referendum, you would not get a majority in support," Plecker asserted.
She disagreed with figures used by supervisor Richard Byrd comparing the cost of total demolition to that of the Spectrum proposal. "You don't have anything. You spent all that money on the ad (for the request for proposals) and you didn't have a bit more than you had in August" at the public hearing, she said.
Warm Springs supervisor Jon Trees called the Spectrum proposal a "win-win situation for everybody." He said he was surprised Spectrum hadn't pulled out after all the delays in making a decision by the county.
Wednesday, Trees said he wanted to make it clear why supervisors opted to negotiate with Spectrum. "The main reason is cost savings to the county and we need the housing," he said.
Trees emphasized supervisors have not taken final action. "It depends on what we are able to negotiate with them (Spectrum)," he said.
Carol Hardbarger, newly elected to replace Millboro superintendent Gilchrest in January, attended the meeting. Wednesday she said, "I think it is in order to continue discussions with Spectrum." Like Trees, she noted the board will take further action to complete the deal pending the results of those discussions.
The motion passed by the board names recreation director Mark Nelson, supervisor Stuart Hall, Johnson, and Gilchrest to a committee to negotiate with Spectrum. Trees was appointed as alternate and county attorney Mike Collins will serve as legal council during discussions.
No time frame for completing negotiations was specified in the motion or mentioned during discussion.
Hardbarger said she was concerned the item had not been included on the action agenda. "Perceptions become reality for people," Hardbarger noted. She is concerned that, regardless of the intent of board members, some people will perceive the action as an attempt to avoid further public input.
She did note the board had heard a lot of discussion on the fate of the old buildings and "even though opinions expressed were strongly negative," she agreed, "it is time to move forward." Something has to be done, said Hardbarger, and the Spectrum proposal is the only one on the table in response to the initial request for proposals.
One question raised at the meetings was whether Spectrum could be forced into allowing Section 8 and other lowincome tenants into the proposed apartments. Hardbarger said she felt that question had been answered by Spectrum and the answer was no.
Spectrum Design of Roanoke has proposed to convert the two main structures and the gym into upscale apartments. Part of the space might also be used for professional business offices. The county would pay to abate asbestos and demolish the section of the buildings built in the 1950s.
The buildings and part of the land would be turned over to Spectrum, who would then use tax credits to offset the cost of renovating the historic structures. The renovations would be consistent with the architecture to maintain the historic designation the buildings have received.
Supervisor Richard Byrd said he estimates abatement and complete demolition of the buildings could cost as much as $1 million. The county received a bid from WACO in April 2006 for asbestos abatement. Based on that bid and the estimated cost of demolition, supervisors said the county would save a minimum of $300,000 by going with the Spectrum proposal instead of completely removing the structures.
Byrd also noted the property would move from being a tax liability to being on the county tax rolls producing income. "It is time now to say, move on," said Byrd. "We need a shot in the arm for economic development."
Gilchrest said the board had wrestled with the decision for the past 14 months. "It does take courage" to take a stand at a public meeting, Gilchrest said. "I admire those who spoke opposing (the Spectrum proposal)," he added.
While being concerned for the "quaint, historic village of Millboro," said Gilchrest, the county must consider the cost and long term benefits of what it does with the buildings. He said he "truly has taken to heart the concerns of those who have spoken against the proposal."
Williamsville supervisor Stuart Hall said no matter what choice the county made, it would have to borrow the money to complete the work.
After the vote on the motion, Nowlin passed the gavel back to Gilchrest who chaired the remaining of the meeting.
The next meeting will be held Dec. 11 in room 115 of the courthouse in Warm Springs. last year is not sustainable, said Shuler.
Cedar Creek supervisor Percy Nowlin serves on the Rockbridge Community Services Board. Nowlin urged Shuler to come up with more funding for CSB services.
"All CSB boards in my district have a terrible problem." Shuler said the state decided to move away from the central care model some years ago and close state psychiatric care facilities in preference to local treatment. The problem, he said, "is the money never did follow the policy."
"It took the tragedy at Virginia Tech to bring the underfunding of mental health to the forefront," Shuler said. Even with the state facing a budge shortfall of $650 million, he feels the legislature will find more money for mental health care and services.
Supervisors Stuart Hall and Richard Byrd asked Shuler for more state support of emergency services volunteers. Hall asked for a $3,000 state income credit for volunteers; reimbursement for mandated education; and an increase in the emergency services component of vehicle registration fees.
Byrd tied emergency services funding to the local lodging tax. The county is limited in the percentage it may charge without approval of the House of Delegates. Byrd asked why that higher percentage must all go to promoting tourism. At his request, the board asked Shuler to seek approval of an additional 2 percent for Bath County, half going to emergency services and half to tourism promotion.
Schuler said he thinks "you will see something positive," regarding funding for emergency services volunteers. "To keep volunteers will take some incentives," he added. He expects some of the proposals mentioned by Hall to pass in the coming session.
Hall also asked Shuler to help the county get a share of communication taxes. All Bath County phones are charged a communication tax. The new state tax went into effect the first of the year. Localities that had a local phone service tax receive a portion of the state tax in lieu of the local tax.
Since Bath did not have a local phone tax, it does not receive any of the state tax. County attorney Mike Collins noted many localities enacted a local tax in the year before the state tax went into effect just to capture a portion of the state revenue.
The county has received letters from the governor's office in response to request from the board saying Bath must seek legislative relief to receive any of the state tax money.
Chairman Cliff Gilchrest asked Shuler if there wasn't some grant money "hidden somewhere" the county could apply for to help fund the old Millboro school project.
Shuler said the county needs to form a 501(c)3 foundation to seek money for the school. With a foundation in place and some seed money to use for matching grants, the county could start asking for non-state agency funding, Shuler said.
Shuler listed the Lyric Theater and other projects in the Blacksburg area for which he has secured non-agency money. "In essence, it is pork funding," Shuler said. All legislators seek a certain amount of special project nonagency money, he told the board.
"Some pork smells better than others," Gilchrest responded to Shuler.
Gilchrest thanked Shuler for his time and told him "thank you for your progressive voice on behalf of the people in your district and the state of Virginia."
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