Sheriff Duff updates Highland Supervisors

Monterey, Va. – Highland County Sheriff Tim Duff continued his practice of making a monthly report to the Board of Supervisors, at their meeting last week.

“The Mountain Mama (Road Bike Challenge, August 4) went exceedingly well,” said Sheriff Duff. “The planning by the Rec(reation) Commission was impeccable. We had no issues whatsoever. We had one bike break down and that was it. So for Kenny (Hiner, Recreation Commission Director) and all the guys and gals there, we really, really thank them. We did increase our patrols during the event and that was noted during the meal. The bikers came up and thanked us for constantly being seen by them, so a little bit of fuel spent and a whole lot of good will gained. I personally hand-delivered a grant request to VCJS in Richmond Thursday or Friday of last week. They were rather impressed that anyone would hand deliver, from this far away, a grant request for, as they put it just a new vehicle.’ They now know how important a new vehicle is to Highland County.”

Sheriff Duff also serves on the Board of Directors for the Highland Senior Center.

“It is confirmed, we now know they are shutting down what we know as the Highland Senior Center,” said Sheriff Duff. “They are they being VPAS (Valley Program for Aging Services), trying this new concept of a Senior Center without walls, whereby the seniors will be traveling throughout the county to engage in various activities. On paper it sounds like a great idea. We are going to make it work, because there is no money and we will make it work. I do want to thank the Board for the tentative offer of using this room possibly a couple days each week as a new center. We’ve got a lot of ideas. We met again today for about three hours with Paul Levine, the CEO. There will be some changes. There’s going to be some bumps in the road, but it is going to work. We’ve got too many seniors here that need to get out of their homes, that need to do things.”

In other business, Roberta Lambert, read a report from the Virginia Department of Transportation Lexington Office.

“The McDowell bridge replacement is moving forward and is ahead of the completion schedule of October, 2012,” said Ms. Lambert. “Bridge work will be done on Rt. 654, the Doe Hill Road in McDowell near the intersection of Rt. 617 Seldom Seen Road. Traffic will be controlled with flaggers during work hours and during non-work hours with “Stop” and “Proceed” signs. Work begins on August 20th and should be completed on September 12th. ”

Finally, the Supervisors approved the reappointment of Sarah Harman to the Highland County Economic Development Authority for a four year term, and also approved the appointment of Aaron King to the Highland County Recreation Commission to fill an unexpired term ending December 31, 2012.

The Highland County Board of Supervisors will hold a work session on Wednesday, August 15, at 7:30 pm in the Modular Conference Center and has their next regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 4.