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In Brief . . .
Bath County Board of Supervisors
¦ Last Thursday, Bath supervisors accepted the Capital Improvement Plan as submitted by the planning commission. State code requires localities to have capital improvement requests reviewed by the commission for consistency with the comprehensive plan. The board is not bound by the recommendations of the commission. "Just because we adopt, doesn't mean we'll fund it," supervisor Stuart Hall said of the plan. Supervisor Richard Byrd thanked the commissioners for their work, but said money would be tight. "We must learn to do with less." ¦ County administrator Bonnie Johnson reported the county is taking steps to reduce the hazards of dilapidated buildings. Building officialAndy Seabolt sent letters to seven landowners, Johnson said, informing them structures they owned were in non-compliance with parts of the code. Several steps have to be taken Johnson said, and Seabolt is following the code. Six of the seven landowners have responded to Seabolt and are working to bring the structures into compliance or have them demolished. ¦ The board conditionally approved excluding churches from the construction solid waste fee. Under previous board action, churches do not have to pay building permit fees. However, there was no clear direction as to whether that exemption applied to the waste disposal fee. County attorney Mike Collins said the exemption might require a code amendment. The board approved the exemption pending determination by Collins of whether a code change is required. If so, a public hearing will be scheduled. ¦ Dane Vincent, partner in Celebration Corp., presented plans for a new building containing retail, restaurant and officespace in the empty parking area in downtown Hot Springs. The board approved the request for connections to the public service authority sewer lines. Board approval is required on buildings or developments of more than three units. Vincent said the building, when occupied, could bring 20 to 30 new jobs to Hot Springs. ¦ Over strong objections from Hall and Byrd, the board voted 4-1 to schedule a public hearing May 13 at 7:30 p.m. on the proposed ordinance to allow horses in residential districts as a conditional use. The new ordinance was developed by the planning commission and presented to the board last month. At that time, the board tabled action on setting a public hearing. ¦ The board approved sending a letter of appreciation to Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Jim Shuler to thank them for help in passing the legislature adding Bath County to the list of cities and counties receiving money from the state communication tax. A letter will also be sent to the Virginia Association of Counties thanking it for help. In addition, the board thanked Johnson for her efforts to see this legislation through the general assembly. ¦ Recreation director Mark Nelson asked the board to consider a fourth option for providing mowing and additional labor for the recreation department. Two weeks ago, the board reached a stalemate on the three options presented by Nelson. Byrd was recovering from pneumonia at the time and was unable to attend the first part of the meeting. With all fiveboard members present Thursday, Nelson's fourth option to hire two part-time employees received unanimous approval. Under the plan, one part-time employee will be seasonal and the other can be used as needed throughout the year. ¦ Supervisors approved having the county join the Floodplain Management Association and designated county planner/zoning administrator Sherry Ryder as Bath County floodplain manager. While membership in the organization is optional, Ryder told the board FEMA requires the county have a designated floodplain manager. The fee for organization membership is $35 per year.
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