Highland Supervisors Approve Regional Water Supply Plan

Monterey, Va – The Highland County Board of Supervisors considered adoption of the Upper James River Basin Water Supply Plan at its meeting last week. The plan was developed by representatives of counties and localities in the Upper James River watershed including Highland County. County Administrator Roberta Lambert explains the process.

“At your October meeting you discussed from Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission for adoption of the Upper James River Basin Water Supply Plan and also for the drought management ordinance,” says Lambert. “You held your public hearing on October the 18th .”

County Attorney Melissa Dowd offers her recommendation.

“The point of this is to try to figure out who’s got excess capacity where,” says Dowd, “in the event of drought in a public water supply. It is mandated that you participate in a plan; you guys voted to join together and do this on a regional basis. I don’t find anything in here that overrides your authority to make decisions regarding drought determinations or to pass emergency ordinances.”

“My recommendation is that you pass the resolution that they have provided here that states that you’ve held the public hearing and that you adopt this plan.”

The Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the water supply plan and the drought ordinance. Fines for violation of the county drought ordinance were set at a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $250. Next the Board considered nomination of a Planning Commission member for the position vacated by Jim Cobb after his resignation. Supervisor Rexrode makes a nomination.

“I’d like to go ahead and nominate Petey White for that appointment and I think he’d be an excellent member to the planning commission,” says Rexrode.

The Supervisors approved the appointment of Petey White to the Planning Commission.

In other business, the Highland Public Schools requested an amendment to their budget and appropriation of pass through funds from a grant from the Department of Education in the amount of $7,251 for replacement of a steam table in the school cafeteria. After approving that request, the Supervisors agreed to a meeting with the School Board on Wednesday, November 9, at 7:30 PM at the Modular Conference Center to discuss this year’s capital improvement projects and other aspects of the school budget.

The Supervisors approved a resolution to send a letter to Congressman Bob Goodlatte supporting the continued operation of the Doe Hill and Headwaters Post Offices.

The next regular meeting of the Highland County Board of Supervisors will be Tuesday, December 6 at 7:30 PM in the Modular Conference Center in Monterey.