Honorable Fred A. Luntsford, Chairman

Honorable Ronnie Shortt - Vice-Chairman

Honorable Steve Bates

Honorable Virginia Meador

Honorable John W. Peace II

Honorable Leland Branham

Honorable Robert Robbins - members of said Board and

Glen A. Skinner - County Administrator

Shannon C. Scott - Assistant County Administrator

Karen T. Mullins - County Attorney

Annette Underwood - Executive Secretary

ABSENT

Honorable Robert R. Adkins

PRAYER

T. G. Branson led the Board in prayer.

PLEDGE

All led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

IN RE:  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Chairman Luntsford read the following items to be deleted/added to the agenda:

Add to New Business:

A proposed ordinance exempting the Virginia's Heritage Music Trail; The Crooked Road from taxation (Set public hearing 6:00 p.m. December 1, 2005)

Delete from Consent Agenda: 

Budget Amendment #32: 
      Source of Revenue -
            ARC Asset Based Development Initiative Grant - $25,000.00
            Prior Years Fund Balance - $25,000.00
      Expenditures -
            Economic Development (8100)
            Grant Expenses (505810) - $25,000.00
            Professional Services - Other (503002) - $25,000.00

IN RE:  PRESENTATION - NAPOLEON HILL FOUNDATION

Don Green, Executive Director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation gave a brief overview of the Foundation's activities, goals and achievements.

Supervisor Shortt asked Mr. Green to meet with the County Administrator for possible ideas as to how the Board can assist with scholarships, etc.

IN RE:  PRESENTATION - MOUNTAIN EMPIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Terrance E. Suarez, President of MECC, gave the Board an update on the activities and events at the college.

IN RE:  PRESENTATION - AMERICAN VETERANS CHAPTER 56

Don King, member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 56, addressed the Board stating that the DAV Chapter 56 and the Ladies Auxiliary are in the process of installing a monument at the Wise Post Office in memory of all military personnel from the Town of Wise killed in action from World War I up to Vietnam and recent conflicts in the Middle East.  He asked the Board for $1,000.00 to assist in making this project a reality.

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING - SECONDARY ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN

A joint public hearing between the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Wise County Board of Supervisors was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' comments prior to the updating of the Secondary Roads Six-Year Improvement Plan.

Highway Resident Engineer T. G. Branson reviewed the proposed Six Year Plan noting that the first five (5) years are in place for funding, planning, design, and R-O-W activities.   After the public hearing the plan will be developed based on input from the Board and the citizens.  The Board has two options:  One is to leave the Plan as is because all the money would be allocated to projects on the present Plan or add a project to the Plan for planning purposes.

Mr. Branson said he has received some verbal input from individuals on Rt. 646 and also the Hurricane Road.  He asked for any input from Board members and/or citizens.

Supervisor Robbins asked that Rt. 646 be scheduled for resurfacing from the Town of Wise corporate limits to the top of the Coeburn Mountain, not necessarily in this Plan but sometime in the future.

Mr. Branson noted that this project has already been scheduled for resurfacing next year.

Supervisor Branham presented requests from his constituents regarding some spot improvements in the vicinity of the Apple House.

Walter Crouse voiced the need for bypasses on Rt. 58.  He voiced his opposition to the chosen route for the Coalfield Expressway route through the Pound area and expressed the need for a better road from Clintwood to Grundy.

Bill Adkins, a resident of the old Hurricane Road, asked that the Hurricane Road be widened and improvements made due to the rapid growth in that area.  Travel on the road has become congested and hazardous.

Supervisor Bates asked that this request from Mr. Adkins be added to the Plan.  Being a school bus driver in this area, Mr. Bates has encountered several hazardous incidents.

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

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING - E-911 ROAD NAMES

A public hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' input regarding the addition of seven (7) proposed E-911 road names.

R. L. Crawford thanked the Board for its E-911 road name change.

There being no further comments the public hearing was closed.

IN RE:  PUBLIC HEARING - CONDITIONAL ZONING - TOMMY BRIGHT

A public hearing was duly advertised for this date to receive citizens' comments regarding a request from Tommy Bright for Conditional Zoning on property located at 4101 Alleghany Road, Coeburn, VA from an A-RR district to a B-1 district for the purpose of placing storage units for rent.

There being no public comments regarding this request, the public hearing was closed.

IN RE:  PUBLIC EXPRESSION

Jack Kennedy briefed the Board on the wireless fidelity broadband Internet access and the important part it plays as an infrastructure feature for the modern knowledge-based work force which enable mobile laptop user applications in the spheres of industry, academia, and government.  He explained the benefits of making this technology investment for the County, which would allow the County to remain a competitive location for businesses, a world-class center for education, a high quality deliverer of public services, and its high school and liberal arts college students.

Mr. Kennedy asked the Board to adopt a resolution at its next meeting encouraging activities in development of a wireless fidelity infrastructure, a Wi-Fi Internet, and also direct the County Administrator to scan the environment, particularly the Virginia Department of Housing, for grants to develop the Wi-Fi infrastructure in conjunction with the Lonesome Pine Broadband company.  He further noted remarks by Northrop Grumman IT Vice-President for Business Development in that his firm's location decisions are driven, in part, by a youthful work force pool knowledgeable in the utilization of wireless Internet and other communication "gadgets".    

Walter Crouse thanked everyone for their participation in the recent appliance recycling roundup.   He asked that more people use recycling to save space in our landfill.

There being no further comments the public expression period was closed.

IN RE:  ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

Harmon Kilgore, representing VDOT during the absence of Highway Resident Engineer T. G. Branson, updated the Board on construction throughout the County.

Board members provided needs in their districts for VDOT review.

IN RE:  CONSENT AGENDA

The following items were reviewed on the consent agenda:

(1) Set public hearing 6:00 p.m. December 1 on six (6) proposed E-911 road name additions

(2) Budget Amendments

No. 31:  Source of Revenue - DMV Mini-grant - $1,300.00
               Expenditure - Sheriff - Law Enforcement (3102)
               Police Supplies (505409)- $1,300.00      

No. 32:  Source of Revenue - Prior Years Fund Balance - $10,841.60
               Expenditure -Emergency Services (3505)
               Other Operating Supplies (505413)$10,841.60 

IN RE:  OTHER ITEMS REVIEWED

(1) Resolution - Pine Mountain Trailhead and Parking Project

(2) Resolution - Removal of Prescription Benefit - Retirees Supplemental Ins. Plans

(3) Proposal for Re-mapping of Unnumbered A Zones in Powell Valley

(4) Authorize County Administrator to write letter to Governor requesting a declaration of drought for Wise County

(5) VACo's request for funds to sponsor 2007 NACo Conference

(6) Appointments - Supervisor Bates asked that another member be added to the Lonesome pine Youth Services Board per its By-laws.

(7) Proposed Ordinance Providing for the Implementation of the 2004-2005 Changes to the Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 Specific Relief (Set public hearing 6:00 p.m. December 1)

IN RE:  COUNTY ATTORNEY'S REPORT

Attorney Mullins reported that the Treasurer will be prepared to do a slide presentation at the next meeting on the PPTRA that will further explain the mechanics of the proposed ordinance.  If the ordinance is not adopted, there is a default method that the County will fall into, which is called the "reduced rate method".  The Board does not want to fall into this method.  At budget time, the Board will be asked to adopt a resolution setting the percentage once an amount has been allotted for Wise County.

IN RE:  COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

Administrator Skinner reported on: 
      The status of the Transfer Station / hauling of waste
      Bold Camp Water Project
      Safety feature between transfer station and animal shelter

BOARD COMMENTS

Supervisor Meador said the road sign for Williams Road has been torn down again and needs to be re-installed.

Supervisor Robbins asked that the road located at the end of May Avenue in Coeburn be given a name.

Supervisor Shortt asked that the County consider forming a partnership with the Napoleon Hill Foundation.  He asked that this item be placed on next month's agenda for discussion.

ADJOURN

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

ATTEST:                                 WISE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

_________________________        __________________________

Glen A. Skinner, Clerk                            Fred A. Luntsford, Chairman      

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