Bath Board of Supervisors considers Cedar Creek water line extension

The Bath Board of Supervisors has set a public hearing for October to amend the county budget. At Tuesday night’s meeting the board discussed a couple of items that would require the amendment. One is the consideration of funding for a water line extension for Cedar Creek, at a cost of about $680,000.  Supervisor Claire Collins said this water line extension is phase two of a project that has been on the books for a long time. She said a prior board appropriated funding for it, but the money was eventually put back into the general fund because easements weren’t signed at the time. She said all easement agreements are now signed and the project is ready to move ahead. Supervisor Collins said she made a mistake by not bringing this project up earlier. She said she assumed it was going to be brought to the board in the capital improvement plan, but it wasn’t. Supervisor Cliff Gilchrest said he hoped the board would also have a cost estimate on the high school parking lot improvements done in time to consider that amount in the budget amendment too. Board Chair Bruce McWilliams suggested holding the public hearing in October, because he said he needs more time to review information.  McWilliams said he was concerned that the board has done a 180 degree turn on the budget in less than two months from the plans the board originally made in a work session. He asked the board if it was jumping the gun and said he’s concerned about taking more than $600,000 out of a one year cycle. Supervisor Gilchrest said he is supportive of amending the budget, but can also see the concern that, after passing the budget only two months ago, they might amend it by that amount.

The board heard a request from Bolar Fire Department Chief Matt Ratcliff for funding for a building addition to house a truck that was given to the department. The Bolar department is located in Highland County, but also serves the northern part of Bath.   Board members encouraged Ratcliff to submit a capital improvement request for next year’s budget and to keep in contact regarding the Bath County Fire and Rescue Association’s consideration of including neighboring departments. And the board said it’s had good collaboration with Highland County and with discussion between the two counties they may get the funding provided.

Also on Tuesday night, the board approved letting the school board select the firm to do the preliminary engineering report on improvements to the high school parking lot. And a request for proposal will be issued to find an engineering firm to provide options for repair for the transfer station building and the retaining wall there.

And the board appointed Jeff Ford to the Bath County Airport Authority. And the following were appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee: Selena Lacks, Craig Phillips, Shannan Waldeck, Matt Fussell and Kristopher Phillips. The committee still has a vacancy for one at large representative and a Williamsville District representative.