Bath Supervisors hear about neglected flower beds

Hot Springs, Va. – The flower beds in downtown Hot Springs need attention. At Tuesday night’s Bath Board of Supervisors meeting, two people spoke during public comment asking the Board who is responsible for maintaining the flower beds. Speakers said the beds were overgrown and have not been cared for.

Supervisor Claire Collins agreed that the beds are in bad shape, calling them atrocious. She said VDOT is supposed to maintain them, but it does not have the funds to do it. Supervisor Collins said she has authorization from VDOT to use volunteers to clean up the flower beds and she is planning to work on them herself and get the volunteer project going. She added that the Board can review the situation and decide what to do about the flower beds in the future. With Board authorization, they could be removed. There has been concern in the past that the flower beds take away too many parking spots along the street.

During public comment, a speaker asked for the Board’s help in finding funding to save the old Union Hurst school. Supervisor Claire Collins said the school is one of the Rosenwald African American schools and could be on the national historic register. The building is currently on the county’s nuisance list of dilapidated buildings. Supervisor Collins agreed that it is important to assist the volunteers who are trying to save the old school.

Also on Tuesday night, the Board reappointed Scott Miller of the Williamsville District to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Hugh “Ronnie” Dunnagan of the Valley Springs District was reappointed to the Planning Commission and Supervisor Claire Collins was reappointed to the Shenandoah Valley Partnership.

Bath County Sheriff Robert Plecker introduced the three new officers who are currently in training in his department: James Rexrode, Michael Colaw and Thomas McRoberts.

The Board has a Strategic Visioning Retreat scheduled for Friday June 29 at 4 o’clock at Fort Lewis Lodge. And the Board set a public hearing for its August 14th meeting on a proposed small wind energy ordinance.