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E-911 coordinator, sheriff issue resolved, board says
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
 | | Tuesday night's meeting of the Bath board of supervisors began early at 6 p.m. Millboro supervisor Carol Hardbarger pays close attention to proceedings at her first meeting since being elected in the fall. Warm Springs district supervisor Jon Trees (not pictured) was elected to chair the board for the coming year. |
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WARM SPRINGS - For the second month in a row, the Bath County Board of Supervisors moved its monthly meeting upstairs to the circuit courtroom to accommodate an overflow crowd.
Like last month, most of the citizens attended to make comment, either verbally or by applause, on the E-911 administrator position held by Teresa Shelton. Unlike last month, the audience of 70 people was about evenly divided between those speaking in support of Shelton and those being supportive of new Sheriff Larry Norfleet.
Norfleet told Shelton in November her services with the sheriff's department would not be required after he took office Jan. 1. Shelton had served as a dispatcher in the department and also acted as E-911 administrator.
Last month, in response to citizens' comments and a conversation with Shelton in closed session, the board moved Shelton and the E- 911 position from the sheriff's department to operating under the county administrator.
Norfleet was in Richmond for training at the time, and the board acted without consulting him.
Tuesday night, board chairman Jon Trees commented on the rumors running rampant around the county in the past month. He also apologized to Norfleet for taking action before the board had a chance to meet with him.
Trees addressed citizens in an attempt to dispel rumors. Among things being said, Trees noted, was that the county planned to reverse its action last month taking the E- 911 administrator position under the county's authority, and that the board planned to take away the five road deputy positions funded by the county away. Neither was true, said Trees.
School board member Joyce Hevener said, "A way to avoid rumors is to have open discussion."
Mitchelltown resident Carl Chestnut agreed with Hevener the public should be able to hear the discussions with Norfleet and Shelton.
While speakers spoke in specific support for Shelton or Norfleet, the general emphasis was to keep the process open and have Shelton, as E-911 coordinator, and Norfleet work together in a professional manner. Norfleet stood and pledged to work with Shelton.
Supervisors declined, however, to hold a public discussion with Shelton and Norfleet, and instead brough the two together for 30 minutes in closed session. Afterward, Trees reported, "The bottom line is, everybody is working together, everybody is happy." The issue, he added, was "over, settled."
In other action:
• Supervisors abled two public hearings on a rezoning and subdivision plat at Cedar Creek Village. Attorney Peter Judah, speaking for the applicants, asked the board to table the requests pending a resolution of water and sewer issues.
Bacova resident and Bath County Public Service Authority board member Jay Trinca presented a letter to the board detailing the PSA concerns. He mentioned the need for a detailed engineering study, the last item in the letter, a number of times during the hearing.
Judah discussed the need for another hearing with supervisor Stuart Hall. Hall insisted people need to know and have the opportunity to comment on any agreements reached by the developer with the PSA.
PSA administrator Bugs Phillips also spoke to emphasize the developer has to pay the cost for improvements to water and sewer systems required by new development.
• Millboro supervisor Carol Hardbarger took her seat on the board for her first official meeting. She replaces Cliff Gilchrest, who did not run for re-election. Trees was chosen board chairman for the coming year and Richard Byrd, vice chair.
• Dick Robers made a short presentation on behalf of Total Action Against Poverty, a Roanoke based agency the board designated as its community action agency in August. Robers asked the board to appoint someone to serve on the TAP board of directors. Hardbarger was elected to serve.
• County treasurer Mary Susan Blankenship presented the onehalf inch thick end of year county financial report to the board with a brief summary.
• Thomastown Road resident Lutretia Fuentes complained about dilapidated structures in her neighborhood. "I'll be here every meeting until I see something done," she told the board.
Fuentes said she could not understand how a county with such a "beautiful town to raise my two girls," could allow dilapidated houses. "They are a health hazard; there are six on my road," she said. "I'd like to see my area cleaned up."
• Action on extending the payment of bounties for coyotes was tabled until next month when a hearing will be held to amend the ordinance. The current ordinance places the bounty at $100. The entire $10,000 budgeted for the year has already been spent. The board expressed its desire to reduce the bounty to $50 and add another $5,000 to the fund. A public hearing will be held at the next board meeting, Feb. 12 in room 115 at the courthouse.
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