Supervisors Approve New Softball Field For Bath County HS

Warm Springs, VA – Bath County High School is getting a new softball field. At Tuesday night’s Bath Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved the High School Athletic Boosters proposal to relocate the softball field near the turn at the south end of the school. As part of the project a drainage pipe will be installed to help water runoff from the high school retention pond that is damaging Faith Covenant Family Church property next door.

The pipe will be installed out of the pond at the school, where it will run through the new field and down to a drainage area along Route 220. The board approved $50,000 for the project subsequent to approval of the plans by state erosion and sediment control inspectors. The project was approved by the School Board in June, but some members expressed concern about liability involved in changing the drainage.

Plans for the project were drawn up by the engineering firm Mattern and Craig. An engineer from the firm was at Tuesday’s meeting and said the plan re-routes drainage and will put water in the same ditch, just further upstream. He said it should have no adverse effect downstream and that rip rap will be used to slow the water’s velocity. He says their design is based on a 25 year storm. Buggs Phillips, representing the Athletic Booster Club said the club plans to exceed what the engineering firm has recommended on the rip rap to enhance its affects.

Also on Tuesday night, the board discussed the interview committee’s recommendation for the new county tourism director. The interview committee reviewed 66 applicants. Supervisor Jon Trees made a motion to accept the interview committee’s recommendation and to authorize County Administrator Bonnie Johnson to begin negotiations.

Supervisor Stuart Hall then made a substitute motion to appoint former county administrator Claire Collins to the position. That motion failed, with Supervisor Hall voting in favor and Supervisors Richard Byrd, Percy Nowlin and Jon Trees voting no. Supervisor Carol Hardbarger was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

The board voted to accept the interview committee’s recommendation. That vote was 3 to 1, with Supervisor Hall voting no.

Bath County Sheriff Larry Norfleet came before the board Tuesday night with a request to purchase a new 4 wheel drive vehicle for the Sheriff’s Department. The cost of a new vehicle is more than $26,000. Sheriff Norfleet explained that he wants to replace a 2003 jeep that he feels is unsafe. It has extensive rust underneath and a bad transmission.

Sheriff Norfleet said the department’s spare 4 wheel drive vehicle needs repair also, which will cost about $1,800. After discussion, the board asked Sheriff Norfleet to take the Jeep off the road and to share vehicles until the spare one can be repaired. The board also asked that Sheriff Norfleet get quotes on obtaining a new vehicle through a rental purchase program.