The Wise County Board of Supervisors met in a Workshop meeting on Thursday, May 3, 2001, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room located in the Wise County courthouse.  The following were present:

Honorable Douglas Stallard - Chairman

Honorable Betty Cornett - Vice-Chair

Honorable Douglas Mullins

Honorable Edgar Mullins

Honorable Virginia Meador

Honorable Robert Adkins

Honorable Jeffrey Salyers

Honorable Donnie Dowell - Members of said Board and

Edward L. Sealover - County Administrator

Shannon C. Scott-Assistant County Administrator

Karen Mullins - County Attorney

Annette Underwood - Executive Secretary

PRAYER

Rev. Ben Murphy, Pastor, First Church of God, Wise, VA led the Board in prayer.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING/ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

A public hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' input regarding a proposed amendment to Section 5-2.4 Permitted Signs in B-2, M-1 and M-2 Districts of the Wise County's Zoning Ordinance.

There being no one to speak for or against this proposed amendment, the public hearing was closed.

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING/SPECIAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT/GREG NORRIS

A public hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' comments regarding a proposed amendment to the Special Use Permit given to Greg Norris for his business located on the Norton-Coeburn Road in the Tacoma section of Wise County.  This amendment would allow Mr. Norris to store bulk ferrous scrap on his present site.

Attorney Bill Bradshaw advised the Board that he represents Norris Investments, Inc. that currently holds a Special Use permit in the area that is zoned M-2 for heavy industrial use that is located at 9709 Norton-Coeburn Road (formerly known as the old Smith's Transfer Site) in the Tacoma section of Wise County.  In l998, the Board of Supervisors approved a request for a Special Use Permit for Mr. Norris to locate his business in Tacoma with the stipulation that there would be no bulk ferrous scrap handling at the site nor such scrap be stored on the ground at that site.  After several unsuccessful attempts to locate an area to house these ferrous materials, and since Mr. Norris's business is being closed in the Town of Coeburn, he is requesting an amendment to his Special Use Permit that would allow him to store the ferrous scrap at the Tacoma site.

Attorney Bradshaw addressed the concerns of the public that were voiced at the public hearing held by the Planning Commission.  Those concerns were addressed as follows:  increase in traffic, dirt being brought onto the highway by tractor-trailers, noise of the additional operations, fencing not covering all sides of the scrap materials from public view, the firing of firearms on the property, non-maintenance of the landscaping, concern over oil contaminating the ground and water.

Mr. Bradshaw asked the Board to look favorably upon this proposed amendment with all the concerns of the public being addressed.

Charlie McConnell, representing the Wise County Redevelopment & Housing Authority and on behalf of the Town of Coeburn, stated that the Town of Coeburn is involved in a major redevelopment/revitalization effort in downtown Coeburn.  A vital part of this revitalization is to clear the blithe out of the downtown area of which the Norris Industries is part of that blithe.  The key part of funding for this program is to rid the town of the Norris Industries.  The Town of Coeburn, realizing the importance of keeping every business possible, supports the move of the Norris Industries to the location at the Tacoma site.  Mr. McConnell noted too, that many people are given the opportunity to increase their income by recycling cans, etc. with Norris Industries.  He stated that there are funding sources available to help reduce some of the blithe from this business therefore, keeping a well organized business for Mr. Norris to support himself and others that can benefit from his services.  On behalf of the Town of Coeburn, the Wise County Housing Authority, and the Department of Housing and Community Development, Mr. McConnell asked the Board to consider approving this request as presented by Mr. Bradshaw.

There being no further comments, the public hearing was closed.

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING/PROPOSED REDISTRICTING ORDINANCE

A public hearing has been duly advertised for this date to receive citizens input on the proposed redistricting ordinance for Wise County.

Chairman Stallard stated that the public hearing was advertised to keep the redistricting as is, but there may also be several scenarios on minor changes also presented for consideration as follows:  Wise-Norton area, Exeter area, and Appalachia 1-A & 1-B. 

Sam Church, representing the Appalachia Town Council, stated that the Town Council of Appalachia approved a resolution requesting the Board to reconsider the redistricting system and draw districts that include not only Appalachia as a town, but the neighboring communities, specifically Appalachia, and the Dorchester Precinct be drawn into one common district; district (1)(A) and have a supervisor elected from that district.  This would include Exeter in the Town of Appalachia.   As the redistricting now stands, the citizens of  the Appalachia area are outnumbered and do not have a chance for representation on the Board of Supervisors nor the School Board. A map was presented with the proposed changes

Jack Kibler, supporting Mr. Church's recommendation, stated that the citizens in the Appalachia area need representation, as do other districts.  He asked that the proposal submitted by Mr. Church be considered for approval.

There was a show of approximately 40 hands in support of Mr. Church's proposal.

Marlene Bush, a resident of the Exeter area, asked that the Exeter area be placed back with Appalachia and not Big Stone Gap.  She voiced her support to Mr. Church's proposal.

Hugh Kiser, a resident of the Wise/Norton area, voiced his opposition on the redistricting proposal that would remove him from District I and place him in District II.  However, he supported the scenario whereby Exeter would be placed back in with Appalachia if that is the citizens wishes.  The residents of Wise/Norton Road should be given the same consideration in deciding which district they want to vote in.  Mr. Kiser voiced his reasons for wanting to remain in District I and asked that the Board consider his request. 

There being no further comments nor anyone to speak in opposition to any of the proposals that were presented, the public hearing was closed.

BREAK

The Board took a brief recess at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 7:15 p.m.

IN RE:  PUBLIC EXPRESSION

Charity Page, a resident of the Banner section of Coeburn, asked the Board for a possible secondary road leading from her home to the 4-lane.  She asked for a 20' R-O-W on the access road leading to a bridge that would provide access to the 4-lane highway which in turn would keep her from having to cross the railroad tracks that, at the present time, is the only access from her home. Ms. Page stated that she and her children are the fourth victims to be hit by the train while crossing the railroad track.  The railroad company has been approached several times to install an arm at the crossing but has refused to do so.

She asked for any assistance the Board can provide.

Chairman Stallard informed Ms. Page that the County does not own any roads but gravel is placed on those roads that qualify within the adopted formula.  However, he will have the County Administrator get with the VDOT engineer and request a letter stating any safety factors that may be applied in this area to make the crossing more safe or any options that may be available in finding a solution to her problem.

Attorney Mullins advised the Board that the gentleman asking to speak during the public hearing was Joe Mullins but he had to leave because he was not feeling well.  He wanted to ask the Board for a possible utility easement through its property on which the Dorchester Community Center is located.  Ms. Mullins said she has the maps in her office and she will review them and report back to the Board at the next meeting. Two other property owners in that area have already given Mr. Mullins an easement across their property.  If the Board chooses to consider that request it will require a public hearing.

Chairman Stallard advised that he will have the County Administrator review this request with the County Attorney and bring a report back to the Board.

IN RE:  MOSQUITOES/ HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT

Brad Stallard, Environmental Health Specialist with the Wise County/City of Norton Health Department, spoke regarding mosquito born diseases.  He discussed the health department's surveillance and prevention efforts within the County for these diseases.

IN RE:  REZONING/GUY CANTRELL

Chairman Stallard asked that the rezoning request from Guy Cantrell be removed from the agenda and sent back to the Planning Commission for further action since there are problems with getting an entrance to his property from VDOT.

IN RE:  FISCAL STATUS REPORT THROUGH  MARCH

County Administrator Edward Sealover gave a fiscal status report through March 2001 commenting briefly on revenues and expenditures with proposed changes for the upcoming budget.

IN RE:  COMPACTOR TRAILER PURCHASE

Chairman Stallard asked that the purchase of the compactor trailer be removed from the agenda since that is being considered in the proposed budget.

IN RE:  STEPHEN'S COMMUNITY CENTER/POLLING PLACE BUILDING

Chairman Stallard stated that he, Edgar Mullins, and Don Mullins with the Vocational Tech School, had visited the mobile polling unit in Dickenson County upon the recommendation of the County Registrar Tommy Chester.  The Wise Skill Center is proposing to construct such a unit on a temporary foundation that can be hauled to the site and used as a community center and/or a polling place for that district. It has been estimated that this unit could be construction for approximately $25 to $30,000.  This would also give the students enrolled in the carpentry class at the Tech School an opportunity to learn a trade and increase their skills.  Even though this is a budgeted item it is necessary that the Board take action for possible adoption of the proposal to allow the Wise Skill Center time to prepare for the project.

IN RE:  OTHER ITEMS DISCUSSED

1. Coal & Gas Road Payments
2. Children At Play Signs (Dry Fork Area)
3. VDOT Remarks (No representative from VDOT was present for the meeting)
4. Proposed Transient Occupancy Tax Ord. (Set Public Hearing)
5. Proposed Cellular Phone Tax (Set Public Hearing)
6.  Health Department Parking Lot Repairs
7. Proposed Ord./Partial Yr. Assessment (Set Public Hearing)
8. Proposed Ord. Abating Levies on Bldgs Razed or Destroyed (Set P.H.)
9. Landfill Use Fee Refunds
10. Resolution/Multi-jurisdictional Community Criminal Justice Bd
11. Resolution Adding New Administrator to List of Signatories
12. Appointments
13. Appropriations/Jail Phone Commission
14. Resolution/Moral Obligation/Bean Gap Water Project
15. E-911 Payments
16. Blackwood Landfill Enterprise Payments
17. Enterprise Fund Payments
18. County Administrator's Report
19. County Attorney's Report
20. Board Comments
21. Announcements
22. Recess Meeting

ADJOURN

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

ATTEST:               WISE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

____________________     _______________________  

Clerk                                Chairman

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