For those keeping track this special meeting of your Vance County Commissioners was called specifically for two purposes. At the October 3, 2011, regularly scheduled meeting the Chairman called for this special meeting to (1) hold public hearing on voter redistricting and (2) repeal the original County Zoning ordinance. Besides the original intent of the meeting the Chairman added some interesting new agenda items.
“Hold joint public hearing with the Board of Education a 6pm to receive citizen input on the proposed new district boundaries for the County Commissioners districts and the Board of Education Districts.”
The seating for this meeting was interesting. Members of the school board were scattered among the Commissioners in a sort or who pals with whom seating arrangement. There was no formal introduction of the individual members of the Board of Education. One of the Commissioners did ask if the chairperson of School Board planned to attend. The answer was a collective don’t know. I did speak with Ms. Ellis after the Commissioners closed the meeting to the public. Ms. Ellis thought the meeting began at 6:30 and not at the published 6:00 pm start time.
Chairman Wright opened the public hearing and asked Mr. Jonathan Care, the County Attorney, to explain the purpose of the redistricting. Following Mr. Care’s summary Chairman Wright opened the floor for public comments. After about thirty seconds of total silence due to the absence of any public comments, Chairman Wright asked the Board members and School Board members if they had comments. Commissioner Garrison praised Mr. Care’s work on the redistricting. Then Chairman Wright added that he was happy with his unchanged district. Not another commissioner or school board member spoke. Chairman Wright announced the public hearing on redistricting was closed. Mr. Care said there was no further action required tonight. The joint public hearing on new district boundaries was concluded the School Board members and their supporters all exited the meeting leaving by my count seven people in the audience.
“Hold public hearing at 6:15 to gain citizen input on repealing Vance county Ordinance #9 entitled Zoning Ordinance 1977; Ordinance #11 entitled Swimming Pools; Ordinance #37 entitled Junkyard; and Ordinance #38 entitled Outdoor Shooting Range.”
Chairman Wright opened the meeting to public comment on repealing the original zoning ordinance and the other ordinances. County Manager Jerry Asycue explained that the original ordinance (enacted in June 1977), and other ordinances had to be formally repealed before the new ordinance could become law of the county. Chairman Wright opened the floor for public comment. After about thirty seconds of total silence Chairman Wright closed the floor thus ending any further obstacles to enacting the new county zoning ordinance. The Commissioners votes 6 to 1 to repeal the original ordinance and the other ordinances.
A question to all those who favored zoning because it will bring businesses to the county or protect your property please explain to the those opposed why 35 years of zoning failed to bring business to the county or to protect your property?
Brownfield Grant
Jordan McMillen, Planning and Development Department, requested the Commissioners give Mid-Atlantic Associates Inc., a contract to assess the county for potential Brownfield grant money. Mr. McMillen’s presentation was grossly short on facts and figures and long on hype. What is a Brownfield Grant you ask? Your answer is at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ . Mr. McMillen was uncharacteristically ill-prepared to address or answer the detailed questions asked by the five active commissioners. Only Commission Hester was ready to approve Mr. McMillen’s request, without having facts, figures and details asked by the other five active commissioners. (I wonder if he operates his private business the same way.) Commissioner Brummitt tossed Mr. McMillen a life line, asking if a decision was needed tonight. Mr. McMillen said it was not and Commissioner Brummitt requested and the other’s agreed to table this topic until the November regular meeting. Hopefully, Mr. McMillen will have time to make a proper presentation that should include the details and facts, which Mr. McMillen has demonstrated in the past he is capable of presenting. For those not on the board we can examine Brownfield grants and ponder why one commissioner appeared so anxious for approving Mr. McMillen’s request.
Economic Development Grant Matters
Commissioners approved requesting this grant money for Community Development block Grants going to build the Sempirus facility.
Closed Session – Property Matter
Before the closed session could start the Commissioners’ needed to concluded the open session part of the meeting which is the next step. Seems the Chairman either did not craft the agenda sequentially correct or the last item was added after his agenda was crafted.
Other items as needed
Mr. Care explained that the according to the State Department of Transportation the bridge near the county’s animal shelter is in need of replacement. To replace the bridge the DOT needs a temporary easement to re-route traffic. The Commissioner’s must approve the temporary easement and pay for the cost of temporary easement. I missed the cost of the temporary easement. The Commissioner’s approved the funding. This ended the public session of the special meeting called initially to hold two public hearings; the Chairman closed the meeting so the closed session on a property matter could be discussed.
Sounds like the normal Hunnerson unprepared virus has infected Mr. Care. Why should citizens comment on voting districts if the commissioners don’t care what they think about zoning? Commissioners probably don’t care what citizens care about anything else either. Hester is an idiot who probably owns property that qualifies for the Brownfield process. That is his modus operandi in the past. If not, the Watkins boys certainly own Brownfield properties unless they sold it to the Boyd brothers already. Remember the former location of Rose Oil on US 158. I suspect that enough fuel spilled there over the years to qualify.
The meeting would be laughable but for the fact this is standard operating procedure for the this mish mash of elected officials. Thankfully Mr. Brumitt steps ito slow these quick “okays” to a crawl.
Who knows what lurked in the closed meeting–stay tuned for the next chapter!