Bath Supervisors Want Wind Ordinance Input From County Residents

Warm Springs, VA – Bath County is considering a small wind energy ordinance and input is needed from county residents. At Tuesday night’s Bath Board of Supervisors meeting the board discussed the proposed ordinance and decided that it couldn’t make a decision on it yet.

The Planning Commission sent the ordinance to the Board in October and the Board tabled action on it then for further consideration. On Tuesday night Supervisor Jon Trees said there’s a lot of what if’s in the ordinance and suggested scheduling a work session to review it more. It was reported that the planning commission held two public hearings on the small wind energy ordinance and both were poorly attended. A joint work session with the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission has been set for 7pm on Monday January 24 at the courthouse to review the ordinance. The public is encouraged to attend to provide input.

The board approved Sheriff Larry Norfleet’s request to sell two Sheriff’s Department vehicles that have been removed from service. Both have mechanical deficiencies. One is a 2002 Jeep Liberty and the other is a 2002 Ford Crown Victoria. The county will advertise for sealed bids.

Also on Tuesday night the board approved job descriptions for Emergency Services Coordinator, Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator and Hazmat Coordinator. These job descriptions needed to be created so the individuals filling those positions would be covered by workman’s compensation in their emergency services work. Andy Seabolt is currently the Emergency Services Coordinator and Mark Nelson is the Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator. Tuesday night the board appointed Andy Seabolt as the county’s Hazmat Coordinator.

And the board approved transfers and appropriations into school revenue accounts so that Bath Schools employees can receive bonuses. The money for bonuses is coming from the Education Jobs Fund legislation and it’s available for use only for salaries or bonuses. The Board of Supervisors voted on November 30 to appropriate the money.

Supervisor Stuart Hall was not at the November 30th meeting and on Tuesday night he said this is the wrong time to spend money. He said the board should control spending until things pick up and hold this money until the proper time. He agreed that everyone deserves a raise, but said this is not the proper time for it.