Regular Meeting – March 27, 2019
Regular Meeting, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, 7:00 p.m. Government Center, Verona, VA.
PRESENT: Gerald W. Garber, Chairman
Carolyn S. Bragg-Vice Chairman
G.L. “Butch” Wells
Michael L. Shull
Wendell L. Coleman
Marshall W. Pattie
Pam L. Carter
Timothy K. Fitzgerald, County Administrator
Jennifer M. Whetzel, Deputy County Administrator
John Wilkinson, Director of Community Development
Leslie Tate, Planner
James R. Benkahla, County Attorney
Angie Michael, Executive Assistant
VIRGINIA: At a regular meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors held on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., at the Government Center, Verona, Virginia, and in the 243rd year of the Commonwealth….
Chairman Garber welcomed the citizens present.
The following students from the Wilson Memorial High School led us with the Pledge of Allegiance:
Alexandria Rush is a senior and is planning to attend a 4-year university and hopes to study Cultural Anthropology. Hopes to attend George Mason University or Georgetown University.
Noah Hughes is a senior and plans to attend Virginia Wesleyan University next year to study business and minor in religious studies. He will also be a member of the golf team.
Wendell Coleman, Supervisor for the Wayne District, delivered the invocation.
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK RESOLUTION
Ms. Bragg presented the following resolution:
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
CAROL M. BRYDGE
UPON HER RETIREMENT AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE
WHEREAS, Carol M. Brydge began her career in the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office on January 1, 1989 as a Deputy Clerk; and WHEREAS, in February 1992 she was promoted to Chief Deputy Clerk and held this designation until appointment as Clerk effective January 1, 2015; and WHEREAS, by Special Election held in March 2015 Carol M. Brydge was duly elected to serve the remaining term of office ending December 31, 2015 as vacated by her predecessor; and WHEREAS, Carol M. Brydge won election as the Clerk of the Circuit Court in November 2015 general election for a new eight-year term of office beginning January 1, 2016; and WHEREAS, Carol M. Brydge became the 16th AND first female Clerk of the Circuit Court of Augusta County since being established in 1745; and WHEREAS, the office of the Clerk is responsible for over 800 duties set out in the Code of Virginia, including the maintenance and retention of land records, estate matters, court proceedings and historic records; and WHEREAS, Carol M. Brydge, as financial manager of the Court, is responsible for the proper collection and dissemination of all taxes, fees and court costs paid to the Court; and WHEREAS, since becoming Clerk, Carol M. Brydge has created a Clerk’s Office website, instituted an online court costs payment option for criminal defendants, began accepting civil e-filings and land record e-recordings, offered the public the use of credit cards for payment of Clerk’s Office fees, created a bookkeeping position and created an exclusive probate division in order to provide the public more efficient and timely access for Estate needs; and WHEREAS, due to the rich history of Augusta County seen in the 1000s of documents housed in the Augusta County Courthouse, continued the 25-year cycle of Library of Virginia grant applications to restore and preserve historic books, case papers, chancery records and loose papers. The total amount of Augusta County grants since inception of the program is $632,000; and WHEREAS, Carol M. Brydge is a member of the Virginia Court Clerks’ Association, having served on several committees, a member of the Augusta County Historical Society, former member of the Rotary Club of Staunton-Augusta County, and an active member focusing on drama ministries at Verona United Methodist Church; and WHEREAS, throughout her 30-year career as Deputy Clerk, Chief Deputy Clerk and Clerk, Carol has always kept service to the public as her foremost responsibility, treating each and every one with respect; WHEREAS, Carol’s priority in her line of duties as Clerk was to support, encourage and care for her staff.
Her relentless perseverance to increase staffing and salaries was her goal beginning on her first day of office; and WHEREAS, Carol has now decided to retire effective April 1, 2019.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Augusta County Board of Supervisors do hereby recognize and applaud the dedicated, knowledgeable and steadfast public service provided by Carol M.
Brydge during her 30 years of service in the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Ms. Carter, that the Board adopt the resolution.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie, and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
COLON CANCER AWARENESS PROCLAMATION
Carolyn Bragg presented the following proclamation:
PROCLAMATION
March Colon Cancer Awareness Month WHEREAS, the county of Augusta, Virginia celebrates month of March as Colon Cancer Awareness to bring greater awareness to colon cancer; and WHEREAS, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States; and WHEREAS, 1 in 20 people will develop colon cancer and every 10 minutes a life is lost to the disease; and WHEREAS, this year alone, 142,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer will be diagnosed in America and nearly 50,000 deaths are expected; and WHEREAS, a simple screening test is recommended to individuals over age 50 and those with a family history to help combat the disease; and WHEREAS, the County of Augusta, Virginia has joined with the Colon Cancer Alliance to increase screening and save lives in Augusta, Virginia and across the country; and WHEREAS, education and increased awareness can help inform the public of methods of prevention and the early detection of colon cancer; and WHEREAS, through recommended screenings, this cancer can be caught early when treatment is most effective; and WHEREAS, declaration of the Month of March as Colon Cancer Awareness Month will help bring greater awareness to the disease and the importance of being screened; and NOW THEREFORE, The Augusta County Supervisors, do hereby proclaim March 2019 as Colon Cancer Awareness Month in the county of Augusta, Virginia and encourage all individuals to work together to promote awareness and understanding of colon cancer and the need for screening to eradicate the disease.
Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board adopt the resolution.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie, and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
CHAPTER 21-37 ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
This being the day and time advertised to consider an amendment to Chapter 21.
Subdivision of Land. Article III Procedure for Approval of Major Subdivisions. Section 21- 37. Final approval and recordation of the final plat. The Planning Commission recommends approval.
Leslie Tate, Planner, stated the Augusta County Service Authority has amended their policy related to the requirement of reservation capacity fees in certain circumstances.
Contingent upon their decision, the section of the County’s ordinance that states subdivision agent of Augusta County can sign off on final plats once they have been notified by the Augusta County Service Authority that sewer connections are available and that capacity has been reserved. This is noting that by the change in policy, it will not need to be reserved in every case.
The Chairman declared the public hearing to be open.
There being no speakers, the Chairman declared the public hearing closed.
Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board accept the ordinance amendment as presented.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie, and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC — NONE
AMENDMENT TO THE AUGUSTA COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2014-2015
UPDATE PLANNING POLICY AREA/FUTURE LAND USE MAP- TABLED ON
The Board considered a request to amend the Augusta County Comprehensive Plan 2014-2015 update by adopting the Stuarts Draft Small Area Future Land Use Map. The proposed Stuarts Draft Small Area Future Land Use Map, in addition to multiple changes from one existing future land use designation to another, creates an additional future land use designation, Recreational Business, where business uses serving and/or compatible with outdoor recreation would be appropriate. The proposed Stuarts Draft Small Area Future Land Use Map amends the County’s Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map, specifically for the Stuarts Draft area.
Leslie Tate, Planner, reviewed the process that has been taken up to this point on the matter. The map recommended has been made available for public review. The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing in January. Staff recommended a change along Alta Drive to make it medium density designation. Since the public hearing, Staff has returned everything back to original state and fixed the inconsistency on Alta Drive.
Another change is the creation of a new future land use category of Recreational Business. Ms. Tate showed a map of the corrected issues. If these changes satisfy the concerns during the public hearing, it is recommended the Board adopt the new revised map.
Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board remove the item off the table.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie, and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board adopt the new revised map as presented.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie, and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
DOMINION ENERGY EASEMENT
The Board considered an easement for Natural Chimneys state service upgrade.
Timothy Fitzgerald, County Administrator, stated this is an easement request for Natural Chimney’s to upgrade the power supply to the new stage. Funding will come from the operations budget and Red Wing Roots will be paying for majority of the cost. It is requested that the Board authorize the County Administrator to sign the easement.
Dr. Pattie moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board authorize the County Administrator to sign the easement document.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie, and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
REFUND REQUEST
The Board considered the following refund requests from the Commissioner of the Revenue:
1. Alan S. Wilkerson in the amount of $4,820.48.
James Benkahla, County Attorney, stated that Mr. Wilkerson has been determined to have 100% service disability. This refund request is due to an overpayment of Real Estate taxes since April 2012. All documents have been reviewed.
Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board approve the refund request.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
2. Sonu, LLC t/a Holiday Inn Staunton in the amount of $5,114.20.
Mr. Benkahla stated that Holiday Inn paid on personal property taxes and the amount was also captured in real estate taxes so they were basically being taxes twice. All documents have been reviewed.
Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board approve the refund request.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
WAIVERS
The Board considered the following waiver request:
1. Connection to public sewer for Walter and Ingrid Moore.
John Wilkinson, Director of Community Development, showed a map of the area on the screen. This waiver is requested in order to create a new lot to build a dwelling for a family member located in the Urban Service Area. Dwellings in an Urban Service Area are required to connect to public water and sewer if available. The applicant will be connecting the waterline, but the sewer line will be a quarter of a mile in length and require installation of a residential pump station. The Augusta County Service Authority acknowledges this connection would be difficult to make and has no objection to the waiver request. The applicant has included a contractor’s estimate of $49,858.97. The applicant feels this amount is not economically feasible, therefore asking the Board for a waiver of this connection.
Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Dr. Pattie, that the Board approve the waiver request.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
2. Fire Flow for Middlebrook Volunteer Fire Department Mr. Wilkinson stated the fire department plans to construct a new two bay fire/rescue building with living quarters. The new building requires no less than 1,000 gallons per minute on site for a two hour duration. The Augusta County Service Authority shows the estimated flow to be only 250 gallons per minutes. The applicant is aware that there is not adequate fire flow available to serve this location, however, they have submitted a letter showing justifications for their waiver request.
Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Ms. Carter, that the Board approve the waiver request.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, Coleman, Pattie and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE BOARD
Mr. Wells attended the Company 10 awards banquet on Saturday and it was a success.
Mr. Shull attended the Raphine Fire Department hot dog/hamburger event.
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY STAFF
Timothy Fitzgerald, County Administrator discussed the following issues:
1. Jennifer Whetzel reviewed the remaining budget schedule. The ad will go in the paper in the next week or so. April 17th will be the Budget Public Hearing. Budget approval is planned for May 1, 2019.
2. There is an I-81 meeting in Salem with the Governor. Mr. Fitzgerald is available to attend if the Board feels it necessary.
3. Additional information has come in regarding Augusta Health and UVA. Mr. Fitzgerald has a meeting set up to speak with the CEO of UVA.
Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Mr. Coleman, to give Mr. Fitzgerald authority to meet with CEO of UVA and if there is a duplication of services determined then a letter will be written Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Wells, Shull, and Coleman Nays: Pattie and Carter Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to come before the Board, Ms. Bragg moved, seconded by Dr. Pattie, the Board adjourn subject to call of the Chairman.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Bragg, Shull, Wells, Coleman, Pattie and Carter Nays: None Motion carried.
Chairman County Administrator h:03-27min.19
