Wythe County leaders eye savings plan

Fees, resolutions and the possibility of saving 3 million bucks kept the Wythe County Board of Supervisors busy during its Tuesday morning meeting.

Rural Retreat Loan Reduction?

County Administrator Cellell Dalton discussed with the governing body the possibility of chopping $3 million off the interest rate payments for the Rural Retreat High School construction project by taking advantage of a 0 percent interest rate stimulus loan.

Dalton said he received word Monday regarding the possibility of obtaining an interest-free loan for school construction projects.

“This is stimulus money that came to the state that is the governor’s discretion on how to spend it,” he said.

If the county is able to transfer its approximately 4 percent interest rate loan for the project to the stimulus loan, Dalton said the savings would total in the millions of dollars.

The only potential stumbling block Dalton saw on the application was that the contractor for the project must pay Davis-Bacon level wages in order for the county to qualify for the federal loan. The Davis-Bacon requirement mandates minimum hourly payments for workers on federal construction projects.

Dalton said county staff would check with the contractor to see if the requirement is already being met and, if not, potentially offer to pay the difference so the county could take advantage of the 0 percent interest opportunity.

“This is your one chance to get 0 percent financing,” Dalton told the supervisors. “We’ll do whatever we can on this end to make it happen.”

The county administrator said he’d report back to the board in August regarding the result of the county’s effort to secure the new loan.

Rehab Resolution Passed

Stacey O’Quinn, representing the Mountain States Health Alliance, spoke to the governing body during citizen’s time to ask for its support for the construction of an in-patient rehab facility at Smyth County Community Hospital.

O’Quinn said the hospital is planning an 18-bed center that would serve the District III region, which she said is currently lacking a similar facility.

“This would hopefully keep your citizens closer to home,” she said, adding that the planned center had already received support from the governing bodies in Bland, Smyth and Washington counties as well as from Wythe County Community Hospital.

The supervisors unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the facility.

Transportation District Hearing Set

The supervisors set a public hearing for its night meeting on Aug. 11 to consider special tax rates for citizens set to benefit from improvements on Vineland and Whetstone drives in Barren Springs.

Under the proposal agreed to Tuesday, the public can weigh in on a plan that would have residents living directly on the upgraded portions of the roads paying a tax rate of 0.63 per $100, while five property owners in a district just north of the roads would pay a 0.32 per $100 rate.

The planned rates for residents are substantially lower than originally proposed due in part to a $24,000 contribution pledged toward the project by the owner of Rider Scrap Iron & Metals.

Retiree Honored

Board of Supervisors Chairman Bucky Sharitz presented Charlie McDaniel, a Wythe County building inspector, with a plaque in honor of his forthcoming retirement.

McDaniel has worked for the county for 30 years.

Fairview Ag District Fee Set

The supervisors settled on a $50 fee for residents to participate in the Fairview Agricultural and Forestal District.

The fee renews membership for 10 years.

The governing body also declined to waive the fee for district members who have conservation easements.

“When you look at 10 years, that’s not much,” Sharitz said in support of the across-the-board $50 fee.

Sheriff’s Report
Sheriff Doug King announced that his department got word Monday that it has once again received first place in the state in the Virginia Law Enforcement Challenge, a traffic safety program competition.
Last year, the local department won numerous accolades in the annual contest.

“It’s tough to repeat from one year to the next,” King said.

King also reported that an abandoned residence previously used by drug-dealing squatters on East Lee Highway in the Graham’s Forge area of Wythe County has seen significant improvements. 

The county had been preparing to condemn the building last year before a buyer stepped up and said he wanted to renovate the structure.

King said a new roof and porch have been put up in recent months and that, at least on the outside, the building appears to be in much better shape.

“They appear to be doing a good job,” he said.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Sam Crockett reported a record collections total of $17.24 million.

He said, though, that “doom and gloom” could be on the horizon as he expects that layoffs and the overall economic slump could make it difficult for many people to pay their 2009 taxes.

The treasurer also reported that he’s begun to see significant drop-offs in categories such as the meals tax, which indicates the county is still working its way through the tough economic times.

Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .