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Halifax County will soon be the owner of the Halifax County
Fairgrounds. That was the decision made by members of the governing
body on Monday night, following a closed session.
The Board on a 7-1 vote with ED#1 Supervisor R. E. "Dickie" Abbott
opposing the purchase of three separate parcels of land, voted to
buy
first the 201.68 acres of land from the Halifax County Fair
Association
for the sum of $450,000. Secondly, Supervisors voted to purchase
another 119.75 acres from Jenny O. Wilkins and the Edward B. Wilkins
Trust for $2,550,000, The third tract approved for purchase was the
21.3138 acres owned by Barnes Manufacturing Company of Kenbridge for
the price of $525,000.
All three properties are located off Plywood Trail, adjacent to the
former Georgia-Pacific facility. According to County Administrator
Bryan Foster, the county is looking at the land for future economic
development.
However, in response to many questions asked about the status of the
Halifax County Fair, Mrs. Wilkins said yesterday that the fair will
definitely continue through this fall (of 2007). "I have a contract
which was executed last fall to have the fair in the fall of 2007,
and
I told the Board of Supervisors about that when we negotiated the
deal.
As for what we'll do in coming years, I simply don't know yet," Mrs.
Wilkins said.
Also following the closed session, Board members voted unanimously
to
give County Administrator Bryan Foster a three percent salary
increase
effective May 1.
Earlier in their meeting Supervisors named fellow member ED#4 Doug
Bowman to be their representative on the seven member Public Service
Authority which will oversee the joint water and sewer operations
for
the towns of South Boston and Halifax and the urban area around the
towns. South Boston will name three members to the Authority and
Halifax will chose two members. The seventh member will be selected
by
the six members representing the three local governments.
The meeting opened with three public hearings, of which two gained
approval on Monday night. Supervisors accepted the recommendation of
County Planners to approve a conditional use permit for Jamie Ray
Barksdale in ED#3 which will allow him to operate an auto repair
service on State Route 360 near its intersection with Swain Road.
The
permit has 12 conditions attached which limit the hours of operation
from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday with no hours of
operation on Sunday and which also call for all local, state and
federal regulations to be followed.
The Board also unanimously approved a conditional use permit for BHK
which will allow for the on-site retail sale of laminated flooring
at
the company's plant on Route 58 West in ED#6.
But it was the second public hearing which drew the most comment.
That
was a request for a rezoning for Tony M. Powell to change a five
acre
tract from A-1 agricultural to B-2, general business in ED#2.
Powell's
request also included a conditional use permit application which
would
allow him to operate a recycling center on the property, located on
Allen Trail in the Dryburg community. Powell presented the Board
with a
resolution of support for the center signed by 182 residents, he
said.
After hearing several speakers, both pro and con, and while
acknowledging the need for recycling throughout the entire county,
Supervisors decided to delay making a decision on Powell's request
until they have more time to consider the concerns of those opposed.
Tony Powell told Board members that the land on which he wants to
develop the center belongs to his father, Ernest Powell and is
surrounded on all sides by woods. Powell currently operates a
recycling
center in Riverdale, but has found his lot to be too small there. He
told the Board that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
has
looked at his operation and found him to be in compliance with their
regulations. Furthermore, he feels that he is performing a needed
service in recycling junk cars and scrap metal from all around the
County.
Several employees also spoke favorably of the operation, saying that
it
is a tough job, but one that employs decent, hard working people.
Others like Ida Terry supported the concept but thought the site was
not the best location, especially since the roadway leading to it is
narrow and winding. One couple, Bryant Scott and his wife, said
their
land is only a half mile away and they worry about hazardous waste
leaking from some of the junk vehicles into the groundwater.
Furthermore, they worry about the clientele. "What kind of people
are
doing business here? Do they sell scrap metal to get drug money?"
they
asked.
Another resident, Calvin Carden, who said his mother lived nearby,
feared that the center would decrease the value of neighboring land.
Shelanda Brittany, whose land adjoins that of Powell, said her
family
was "all for it," while Mildred Carr who lives across the street
opposes it.
ED#2 Supervisor Tom West in whose district the land lies, said he
understands the concerns of all who spoke and recommended that the
Board delay action until more study could be given to the proposal.
The
Board is expected to take action on the matter during their June 4
regular monthly meeting.
During the public comment period at the end of the meeting, one
local
resident, Rev. Roger Ford objected to the Scotts' remarks about the
type of people that might come to the recycling center. "Why is it
every time a black person asks for something, it comes out about
drug
dealers. We need to bring people together, and it happens too often
that we have such negative comments. I just don't appreciate that
kind
of talk."
In other business, ED#1 Supervisor Dickie Abbott reappointed Joan
Hines
to serve on the Library Board and Mark Thackston was named to
another
term on the Community College Advisory Board. William Fitzgerald and
Sylvia Carey were also named to new terms on the Social Services
Board.
The Board also approved a resolution asking that the Virginia
Employment Commission retain the local VEC office in South Boston.