Highland School Superintendent Seeks Financial Assistance From Board Of Supervisors

Monterey, VA – School Superintendent Percy Nowlin came to the Highland County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday evening with two requests. The first is for appropriation of funds for work done during the past school year to improve the insulation in the school building and to address some other matters.

“This was for replacement of ceiling tiles, ceiling grids, insulation and also renovation of a special education bathroom for handicapped kids” says Nowlin.

Mr. Nowlin goes on to elaborate on his efforts to save on energy costs at the school.

“One of my major goals over the last two years is to try to save as much money as we can to put on energy conservation” says Nowlin. “I think this will save the schools operating money on the long haul.”

Nowlin also says that he will probably be back in the future to request funds for other needed improvements. Nowlin’s second request is for funds to replace an activity van. He says the van, purchased second hand, has been in service for about 15 years and is worn out. The cost to replace the van would be around $35,000.

Next to speak to the Supervisors was Carolyn Pohowsky, Director of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce. Pohowsky was there on behalf of Civil War Battlefield Incorporated to ask for financial assistance for repair of the five Civil War Battlefield signs in the county. The request was for $500.00.

In other business, the Board adopted a resolution in honor of McDowell resident Donovan Hower for his years of community service to the county. The resolution notes that the Supervisors desire to record their heavy sense of loss at the death of their colleague and friend.

Bids for purchase of the county’s 1995 Ford F350 truck were opened. The high bid of $7,001 from Mark Campbell and Jake Starwood was accepted.

No bids were received for the repair work on the courthouse, so County Administrator Roberta Lambert asked permission to re-advertise for bids and to add additional work to the original request.

The Board approved a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission for August 26, on 2 requests for conditional use permits for firearm sales from county residences.

The Board tabled action on the McDowell Water System Cross Connection Control Program and asked the county administrator to schedule a meeting with Department of Game and Inland Fisheries administrators to discuss recreational uses of the Bullpasture Gorge. The Board also requested that a meeting be set to discuss the sidewalk project. The Virginia Department of Transportation has given the county until October to secure the needed right of ways so that the sidewalk project can proceed.

This fall, the county will be sending out a request for proposals to do the 2011 real estate reassessment. The Board approved a motion that the county administrator proceed with developing that request.

The Ralston family, administrators of the McDowell water system, asked the county administrator to announce that they will be flushing the water system next week. Notice will be made in the newspaper and on the radio station.

The next meeting of the Highland County Board of Supervisors will be Tuesday, September 7 at 7:30 PM in the Modular Conference Center in Monterey.