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In Brief . . .
Highland County Board of Supervisors
¦ As he usually does each new term, Hightown resident Jacob Hevener advocated a pay raise for members of the board of supervisors Tuesday, from $1,800 a year to $5,000. Supervisor Robin Sullenberger said it was too late to consider his pay-raise recommendation for the 2008-09 budget, but thanked him for the suggestion. ¦ Rick Griffin, a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, suggested the county donate one of its excess vehicles (four-door Crown Victoria) to the program. Supervisors agreed and gave Meals on Wheels the choice of one of three vehicles formerly used by the sheriff's office. ¦ Supervisors reviewed Highland County pool construction bids. Two were received - one from National Pools of Roanoke for $239,500; and another one for $362,603, which was rejected because it was sent by fax. Supervisors tabled the issue for 60 days so they would have time for a meeting with the recreation commission to discuss the bid. ¦ Supervisors authorized county landfill operator Richard Waybright and county administrator Roberta Lambert to work with county attorney Melissa Dowd to draft a change to the solid waste ordinance. Waybright said at times, excessive vegetative matter, such as tree stumps over six inches in diameter, were dumped at the county's former landfill site. During the recent statewide ban on burning, the stumps created a disposal problem. Waybright suggested language be inserted into the ordinance restricting the size of the material that could be brought to the site. He resisted the idea that he be given discretionary authority over what material would be acceptable, preferring instead a written directive. ¦ Dowd told supervisors the landfill operator could work with a waste-metal contractor other than Allied Waste (primary waste removal company) as nothing in the contract with Allied Waste prevented it. Waybright said he had a party interested in removing waste metal from the site for less than Allied chargers. ¦ Betty Mitchell, speaking on behalf of the agricultural center steering group, asked supervisors to change the zoning ordinance to allow placing a slaughter house in zones other than general business districts. She said general business districts, which permit slaughter houses, are near major county population centers such as Monterey and McDowell and would not be appropriate locations for a proposed animal processing center. She suggested agriculturally zoned land would be more suitable. Supervisors directed Dowd to prepare a change to the ordinance for the planning commission's initial review at its Dec. 20 meeting. ¦ Dean Beverage was reappointed to a five-year term on the board of building code appeals. His term will expire Dec. 31, 2012. ¦ Wingate Associates received a contract to provide updates to the 2008 land book, the fee not to exceed $5,000, which is the same amount agreed to last year. The update brings in about $10,000 in extra revenue for the county, said supervisor Jerry Rexrode. Commissioner of the Revenue Bobbie Griffin said, "It is beneficial to us because you get the benefit of their knowledge of our homes. We have quite a number of new construction on homes." ¦ Dowd said the county vehicle license fees, as amended two years ago, bring up the question of what the county should do with vehicle owners who claim exemptions. Under the decalfree system, fee notification is mailed directly to the personal property owner as determined by the computer program set up to handle personal property. The board directed Dowd to draft an exemption form that must be signed by the personal property owner who is entitled to the exemption and kept on file at the commissioner's office. "The burden is on the taxpayer to prove they are exempt," said Dowd. "It can't be on the commissioner of the revenue to know every exemption (allowed by law)." ¦ Mitchell asked when the board would review the draft comprehensive plan. Supervisor Robin Sullenberger said the board might get to it during the first quarter of 2008. ¦ Supervisors went into closed session to discuss duties and assignments of personnel. No action was taken following. ¦ Supervisors will meet with Sen. Emmett Hanger and Del. Chris Saxman on Friday, Dec. 21 in conjunction with the county employee holiday party to discuss the agenda for the upcoming legislative session. ¦ The next meeting of the board of supervisors is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2.
 | | County Attorney Melissa Dowd advised supervisors from legal language to ordinances this month. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) |
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