Highland BOS Talks Roads and Budget

Monterey, VA – Two public hearings and a visit from the president of Blue Ridge Community College were the highlights of Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Highland Board of Supervisors. The meeting started with a report from Virginia Department of Transportation acting residency administrator Jeremy Mason.

“We’re starting to do some patching [and] getting ready for the mowing season that’s approaching fast,” said Mason. “Thankfully, we’re not pushing snow any more.”

“We’ve worked on a lot of potholes,” Mason continued. “We’ve still got a few out there that have come back. We’ll try to keep a close eye on those.

Following his monthly report, the board held a public hearing on the Secondary Road Construction Program and Budget for the coming year.

The only comment during the public hearing phase was from Gerald Wagner who lives on Route 641, Ruckman Lane, north of Hightown. He requested that a VDOT representative look at that road sometime soon to see if it can be improved and made safer.

The board voted to approve the six year plan.

In other business, the supervisors approved a proposed county budget of about $6.9 million and scheduled the public hearing on the budget for April 20 at 7:30 p.m. Following this public hearing, the meeting to adopt the county budget will be held April 27 at 7:30 p.m. The real estate tax rate will stay the same at 40 cents per 100 dollars appraised value and the personal property tax rate will also stay the same next year at $1.50 per 100 dollars of value.

During the open public comment period Mr. Lee Blagg from Doe Hill commended the board for not raising county taxes this year, but went on to say that even the current tax rates are hurting farmers.

“It’s costing the average farmer, today, somewhere between $20 and $50 a day in county taxes,” said Blagg. “It cost us and we’re a very medium sized operation–$33 a day. Now lay that on the table every day, and I guarantee you, a windmill project will be the last thing on your mind.”

The supervisors then went into closed session to discuss legal and contract issues.

Stay tuned later this week for part 2 of this story on the supervisors meeting.

The next regular meeting of the highland board of supervisors will be Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Monterey.