In its June 21 meeting, the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors held two public hearings and voted on a number of business items.

The first public hearing, held jointly with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), concerned the VDOT Six Year Plan for FY2022-2027 as well as the Secondary System Construction Budget for FY2022. Robert Brown, Appomattox residency administrator for VDOT, was on hand to summarize the information and answer questions.

Brown explained that the majority of the work in the plan is for resurfacing unpaved roads. He noted that not a large amount of funding was being provided for it: For fiscal 2022, it was $44,548 and $110,813 (total $155,361). Over the six-year span, the total would be $1,125,597.

At the top of the list is Dreaming Creek Road. It will be split into two phases, the first to be constructed in 2021-22 and the second phase in 2022-23, Brown noted.

The plan also calls for “some county-wide items, engineering surveys, right-of-way charges, miscellaneous surveying costs, traffic services (putting up new signs, guard rails on secondary roads).” It also includes some money for dealing with drainage problems and pipe issues.

Other roads on the list of “rural rustic road” projects include Hancock Road (in two phases) and Cedar Creek Road. Brown informed the board members that they could change the priority order of projects or add roads for which citizens request paving.

Supervisor John Hinkle commented, “Hancock road is in my district. Loggers have torn up that road. Can we move it up?”

Brown replied, “not unless we move Route 605 (Dreaming Creek Road). I was there last month, and it’s pretty good now.”

When the floor was opened for public comment, Elanor Johnson of Pamplin spoke. She said that she was there to ask for help, that she had been diagnosed with an illness in 2009, and that there was a problem with heavy dust on Hawk Lane (Route 709). She noted that there were 80 residents along the road and lots of traffic moved along it day and night.

She lamented, “It’s gotten to where we can’t even go out on the patio or in the yard (because of all the dust)."

Supervisor William Hogan echoed Johnson’s request, adding that he would like to see Hawk Lane put on the list “and done sooner rather than later.” He pointed out that it is a short road and should not cost much.

Brown informed the board that Hawk Lane qualifies for the projects and that the road in question is 0.35 miles long.

Following the public hearing, the board voted unanimously to add Hawk Lane to the plan.

“If there are any leftover funds to pave one-third mile, let’s get it taken care of soon,” Hogan urged. Brown agreed to look into it.

The board then unanimously adopted the six year plan as amended.

The board also held a public hearing on the lease agreement of the Carver-Price Museum. Don Jones spoke on behalf of the museum; he has been working with museum personnel to accomplish the changes to the lease. He explained that the lease change will help get the building on the National Register of Historic Buildings, “which is a major achievement here in Appomattox County."

County Attorney Thomas Lacheney pointed out that the most significant change was switching the lessee from the Carver-Price Alumni Association to the Carver-Price Legacy Museum.

The lease is a five-year, automatically renewing agreement. Rent is one dollar annually, plus responsibility for maintenance costs and utilities. It allows for upgrades and improvements to the property. The lease also stipulates that the lessee has obtained a grant of $570,000 from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and that “the funds will be transferred to the County as fiscal agent for the DHR funds.”

The board voted unanimously to approve the changes to the lease.

In other voting matters, the board voted unanimously to approve the Fiscal Year 2022 budget appropriations resolution, effective July 1, 2021. The budget total is $43,850,902.00.

In unfinished business from the May BOS meeting, the supervisors need to recommend an appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals to fill the unexpired term of James Cheatham, which concludes on June 20, 2022.

Supervisor John Hinkle nominated Bradley Driskill Jr. of Spout Spring and offered a motion to that effect, but there was no second. The board will revisit the nomination in its July meeting.

The board approved a number of appropriations to various departments, none of which required new local funds. They included $1,802.73 to the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library for books and office supplies; $790 in equipment donations to the Sheriff’s Office (donation from Woodmen of the World Chapter 71); $50 in donations to the Sheriff’s Office DARE Program; $3,903 to the Circuit Court Clerk’s office for “reimbursement from the State Technology Trust Funds for five computers and printers purchased through the Supreme Court of Virginia;” $25,319.59 to the Public Utilities - Waterline for water, telecommunications, and electrical services, from a reimbursement from the Town of Appomattox; and $14,279.11 to the Department of Social Services for reimbursement for May payroll deductions.

County Administrator Susan Adams notified the board that next month Library Board and Social Services board appointments would be on the July agenda.

In the "supervisor concerns" portion of the meeting, Chairman Carter expressed appreciation for the fine “job the sheriff’s department has done in cleaning up the litter of our highways and byways.”

Before going into closed session, Carter thanked the attendees for their appearance at the meeting.

“I appreciate the crowd coming out and would like to see it again,” he said.

Following closed session, the board unanimously passed a motion to authorize the administration to set up a non-profit to look at renovation of Carver-Price Auditorium.

The next scheduled meeting for the board of supervisors is July 19 at 6:30 p.m.

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