Operation Drumbeat

Augusta County takes control of Yancey VFD...

2012-03-04T08:19:00.007-05:00

The NewsLeader has coverage of the County taking over control of the Yancey Volunteer Fire Department... Several people have observed how this district of the county has gotten the extra attention of the BOS since the Wayne district citizens rallied after their insurance rates increased due to a poor rating for the Yancey FD. Many observed how the folks over in Wayne were able and willing to petition and pressure the BOS for a paid staff at Yancey but not to volunteer or help out at the same FD they were complaining about. Some from this district even made it a campaign issue this past fall. Numerous other districts in Augusta have volunteer staffs that carry most of the weight and respond to the call of their neighbors. These same volunteers, besides carrying the weight of their locales, are now paying the taxes and salaries of the majority paid staff over at Yancey...

VERONA — The end of a more than three-decade-old tradition of an independent volunteer fire department in Fishersville won't change who responds or how they respond, Augusta County and Preston L. Yancey Volunteer Fire Department officials promise.

The Yancey company's decision to turn itself over to the county mostly means the county will assume the administrative headaches of running a fire company along with its equipment and station, which will remain in place, said Tracy Pyles, chairman of the board of supervisors.

"It doesn't matter whether it is a career patch or a volunteer patch on a firefighter's shoulder," he added.

Augusta County already stations 12 paid firefighters at Yancey, for round-the-clock staffing by four county employees.

The county will not need to station more paid firefighters at Yancey and the takeover should not affect the budget, Pyles said.

"It's like squeezing the balloon," he said. Any additional expense the county incurs taking over the administrative and business functions of the company will be offset by a lower payment to the volunteers who will continue to respond to calls, he said.

The county has stepped up support for Yancey over the past year and a half after an insurance rating agency gave the company a failing grade. In addition to assigning more paid firefighters to the Fishersville station, the county decided to automatically dispatch Company 10 and Waynesboro Fire Department to calls in Fishersville alongside the volunteer department.

But Yancey has seen a decline in the time people can commit to volunteering, even as it served one of the county's fastest-growing areas. It has recently averaged one volunteer firefighter responding per call, and had averaged three in 2010. The insurance rating body that gave the company a failing grade says a minimum of four firefighters are needed on a call.

But where will they work?....

2012-02-23T20:19:00.002-05:00

The NewsLeader has coverage of the Augusta BOS approving by way of a split vote, the plans for a 775 unit housing development in the county at a time when there are efforts to find millions of dollars to fill the shortfall in education funds. This development, which is more than the 692 in the comprehensive plan, will only produce "dozens of jobs" and put further strain on the county budget if additional jobs are not brought to the area...

VERONA — Members of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors decided on a split vote Wednesday to grant a rezoning request for a 755-unit housing development planned off Barterbrook Road just outside Staunton's city limits.

One of the largest planned housing construction projects in recent times divided the board membership with a 4-3 vote. Opposing the plan were Chairman Tracy Pyles, who represents the Pastures District, North River Supervisor Marshall Pattie and Riverheads Supervisor Michael Shull.

Beverley Manor District Supervisor David Karaffa, who represents the area, supported the project, which he said would bring a $110 million investment to the county while creating dozens of jobs.

The area has been designated for growth in the county's comprehensive land use plan, but supervisors who voted in opposition noted that the number of residences to be included exceeds the 692 the comprehensive plan recommends for the area.

Some residents nearby voiced concerns during a public hearing for the rezoning request about traffic safety with the new cars the homes and apartments would bring and about construction noise and pollution to nearby Christians Creek.
One neighbor owner told supervisors Wednesday that she feared the apartment complex could lower property values.

Dubbed in planning records as "The Villages of Vista Ridge," the development plan calls for Boyd Homes to build as many as 400 apartments, 270 townhomes and duplexes and at least 85 homes. The community would be built in phases over 10 years, and the developer plans to make improvements to Barterbrook Road to deal with the added traffic.

We could come up with our own numbers !...

2012-02-22T07:43:00.007-05:00

The NewsLeader has an interesting story on the efforts of the BOS regarding the possibility of going back and reassessing the reassessments that became such a campaign issue for several of the now Supervisors...

The Augusta County government has sent out a formal request to companies to assess home values in a way that could provide some tax relief fast to citizens and possibly more financial help from the state to pay for public school costs.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Tracy Pyles of the Pastures District, along with newcomers David Karaffa of Beverley Manor and North River's Marshall Pattie, made Augusta's much-reviled 2009 assessment a central campaign theme for November elections. That reassessment raised property values and pushed homeowners' taxes higher during the worst of the recession.

However, Karaffa served on a board committee that explored Augusta's options on completing a reassessment soon, and they reported that the county's huge and diverse geography made an assessment study within a year nearly impossible.

With no chance at getting new taxable values within a year, Pyles said Tuesday he'd prefer setting up an in-house assessment department. Augusta could learn how Rockingham County is able to do it at the same price Augusta pays for the Commissioner of the Revenue's office, Pyles said.

If the desired immediate reassessment is so daunting that the county may not get any bids or responses from established professional services, what makes the BOS think they can do the same job "in-house" and better?

2012-02-09T09:30:00.003-05:00

Bob Stuart over at the NewsVirginian has coverage of last nights BOS meeting and the topic of possible cuts to the funding of the Shenandoah Governors School...

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors were confronted Wednesday night with a strong lobby from supporters of the Augusta County Schools, worried about potential budget cuts, including the possible elimination of the Shenandoah Valley Governor's School.
.

Supervisors cautioned the speakers and audience to be patient. They said it was early in the 2012-13 budget process, and asked the audience to contact state legislators and asked for help with the budget needs. A $3.4 million gap in the Augusta County schools 2012-13 budget includes potential cuts in Governor's School funding that could eliminate the program in specialized math, science, technology and arts and humanities instruction. The Governor's School is in Tier 3 of the potential cuts in next year's budget by the school district.
.

The budget problems are complicated, Pyles said. He said the county has lost enrollment in
recent years, and said the state has decided to ask localities to pay increased Virginia Retirement System rates in next year's budget.
.
Pyles said he and other supervisors will meet with the area's legislative delegation today
and ask for help with the increased VRS rates. "If you want to do something, tell the delegates they need to represent you,'' Pyles said to the audience. He said the county does not want to lose the Governor's School and does not want other programs eliminated.

Interesting how it is the Governor's school to be highlighted so early in the process....

Economic development...

2012-02-02T10:23:00.006-05:00

Bob Stuart over at the NewsVirginian has coverage of the meeting between the Augusta BOS and economic development officials from Waynesboro and Staunton...

"Elected and economic development officials from the localities came together Wednesday at The Club At Ironwood to discuss how area job creation benefits all three jurisdictions. They also heard strategies from a state economic development leader on how to maximize the cooperation and leverage the region’s assets."
.
"When Augusta County Board of Supervisors Chairman Tracy Pyles and new supervisors Marshall Pattie and David Karaffa ran in last fall’s county elections, they spoke of the need for regional economic development efforts and for pooling of resources."
.
Pyles said the regional efforts are “all about having a vision and people getting along,” and he spoke of creating jobs for “our folks in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County.”

.
"Lehmkuhler showed numerous industrial sites in the Old Dominion that have been developed
as a joint project of a county and city. He said that when a major company comes calling, it’s looking for a site and infrastructure that is already developed as well as location. The incentive package also likely would include donated land, he said."
.
"A Toyota plant that Augusta County fell out of contention for six years ago eventually went to Mississippi, where three localities gambled by purchasing $30 million in bonds. While the plant was put on hold when the recession hit, it’s now open and expects to eventually employ 2,000 people."
.
"Pyles said Augusta was unprepared for Toyota. Obstacles included difficult negotiations with a major landowner in the northern part of the county and resistance from residents who did not like the idea of the footprint of a large auto manufacturer."
.
"For future economic development, Pyles said the county needs to have the pieces in place.
That development that could impact the region might not be a Toyota-sized operation, he said, but perhaps a 500-employee plant on 500 acres."
.

Do we want this BOS controlling the Re-assessment process?....

2012-01-26T09:46:00.004-05:00

It now looks like the new BOS wants to take control of the reassessment process and wants to take over the whole process and make it "in-house" and use county staff to do some of it...

Do we really want this done in-house and by a staff that is directly influenced by the BOS?...

Will it be that much easier for members of the BOS to manipulate the numbers that they do not like or agree with?...

Unlike before, what happens if you go to challenge the assessment of your property and you are then sitting across from the table of the person appointed by and influenced by the BOS?...

The Newsvirginian has some coverage of the first meeting bring this up last night....

"The supervisors' reassessment committee will confer with Rockingham County government on how its in-house assessment program has worked. At the same time, the board directed Finance Director Jennifer Whetzel to draft a request for proposals from vendors about performing a contracted reassessment."

"Wayne District Supervisor Jeff Moore said voters he talked to last fall were unhappy with the 2009 reassessment. He supports the idea of an in-house assessment, and believes the county would receive a more accurate measurement of residential property values."

"Middle River Supervisor Larry Wills said the in-house annual costs of $550,000 and the climate of the current economic situation would not allow him to support adding staff to the county payroll. He said he could not support an in-house reassessment when it could be done more cheaply by a contractor."

South River Supervisor David Beyeler said using in-house asessors will cost the county taxpayers twice the amount of a contracted reassessment.

"There is no free ride in this,'' Beyeler said. He estimated that the cost to taxpayers in-house would be one additional cent on the tax rate.

"Board of Supervisors Chairman Tracy Pyles said he thinks an in-house assessment would provide more long-term quality to the county, and he also said if the work was done in-house, some staff from the county's commissioner of the revenue office would likely be shifted to work on an in-house team."

Do we still need a park? This one?...

2012-01-24T09:40:00.004-05:00

The NewsVirginian reported on the BOS plans to vote on the need for a park in Verona and if this site will be a good spot...

The potential site is located off Interstate 81 in Verona. A portion of the
land was conveyed in the 1980s to Augusta County after a new sewer treatment
plant was built, and the old Verona Sewer Treatment Plant was abandoned. The
rest of the land came in a conveyance in 1995 from the Chesapeake Western
Railway.

The project gained momentum in December 2006 when infrastructure funding and
matching grants of nearly $500,000 were lined up from supervisors pending the
securing of a right of way from American Safety Razor.

The preliminary plan for phase one of the park includes passive recreation
such as for picnics, a walking trail and practice for youth and adult sports
teams. Lighting was not recommended for phase one.

Karaffa said his concerns about the location include the fact that the site
once included a wastewater treatment plant, that a portion of it is located in a
flood plain and the potential cost to develop a park. He also said there are
registered sex offenders living close to the park.

Ironic.... Is it not?.....

2012-01-19T11:50:00.003-05:00

The NewsLeader out of Staunton had a article about the bill introduced by Delegate Landes regarding the identification of a candidates party on the election ballots....

Return the Tax-payers money?.....

2012-01-15T11:47:00.000-05:00

Ed Long over at Conservative Virginian has some interesting observations regarding the selection of the new Augusta County BOS Chairman and his views. Ed also has some observations of the first meeting chaired by Pyles and maintains a informative website over at: Conservative Virginian...

Tracy Pyles was elected Chair and Jeff Moore elected Vice Chair by the Augusta County BOS. I think the hope is that Tracy will be less difficult. One can only hope he will also listen better. But I am not certain this will be so because he immediately launched into an acceptance
speech that sounded like Tracy Pyles.

He said he was entirely opposed to – and he seemed ticked off with – Ben Cline’s statement that any State $ surplus represented over taxation and should be returned to the taxpayers.

To me Tracy spoke like the Democrat he is. To me it is clear he believes Government owns the money. He does not believe any surplus should be returned to the taxpayer, the very ones from whom that money was taken. He wants any surplus given to him so he can spend it. (Do you recall the statement made by then-congressman Tom Perriello: “If you don’t tie our hands, we will keep stealing.” )

Tracy presented two props – homemade, over-sized checks on poster board. One represented on the order of $306,000 which Tracy said represented 7 sheriff deputies and the other on the order of $333,000 representing 10 firemen. These two values were dollar amounts Augusta County owed and sent to the State Government. (I wonder if Augusta County had not had to send the money to the State would it have been spent on these 17 individuals. Would it instead have been spent on a social program or some project of which Tracy felt Pastures District was in
need?)

Finally,
Tracy said for 2012 number of Augusta County school children receiving free lunches would be ~ 3036. This is up from ~ 2426 in 2008. I called the Augusta County School Administration the next day and learned that the number of school children in the Augusta School System for K through 12 is about 10,300 for 2012. This means 30 percent of all school children are from families so poor they are being provided free lunches. That does not seem believable. [In 2010 14.3 % of the U. S. population was below poverty level, 24 % of the population was younger than 18 and 13 % over 64, click HERE. For Virginia the values were 10.6, 23.2, and 12,2 %, click HERE. For Augusta County, the values were 9.3, 21.4, and 16.1 %, click HERE. Yet 30 % of the school children in Augusta County receive free lunches because they are either considered to be under poverty or on some form of welfare.] When I was a school child in Virginia I took one or more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with me for lunch – every day. I grew up fairly healthy and believe me when I tell you my family was dirt poor.

History of the Chairman......

2012-01-07T10:41:00.006-05:00

Supervisor Tracy Pyles has become the Chairman of the Augusta County BOS by way of a unanimous vote from the other members and now has his chance of "running things" and proving if he is really interested in working with the other members....

Fortunately it appears the NewsLeader is still aware of Pyles actions in the past to distract and derail the BOS with his antics and is still keeping an eye on the chairman...

.
"In recent terms, he became known for a series of 6 to 1 votes and temper tantrums, even to the point of walking off the dais when he couldn't get his way."

"Can we have Balloon rides"!...

2011-12-01T10:44:00.001-05:00

The NewsLeader had a article describing the meetings that the county is having for the newly elected Supervisors to get them up to speed before they take their seats at the Augusta County Board of Supervisors table next month...

Most of it sounds like usual SOP issues and important stuff like when you can and cannot talk County business with other Supervisors, where their mailboxes will be in the county building, etc...

Then again their is always the real important issues like:

"Karaffa asked about the possibilities and the space available for the ceremonies between the Augusta County Circuit Court Building and the Government Center."

.
"I've got 22 family members in Augusta County, and everyone wants to know when this is going to happen," Karaffa said. He'll be the first of the 22 to hold elected office."

Fortunately the writer ended with the answer to the most important question of the day:

"Business cards are in the works".....

"Fireworks" or Explosion?....

2011-11-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

Was hoping to complete this site some more before rolling it out but it seems the antics at the Augusta County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings continue even after the recent election...

"One of the more hotly contested matters Tuesday was over the allocation of funds from the Beverley Manor Infrastructure Account and Riverheads Infrastructure Account to the Riverheads Fire Department’s volunteer agency for an attack truck — $69,000 from Beverley Manor and $2,000 from Riverheads."
.

"Pastures District Supervisor Tracy Pyles and North River District Supervisor Larry Howdyshell both vehemently opposed the funding. Pyles called it “outrageous” and said that it is not right to dump money at the last moment, referring to how five of the seven supervisors are lame ducks and will be leaving their posts at the end of the year."

I find it interesting that Supervisor Pyles "Vehemently" opposed the providing of a volunteer Fire Department with a needed piece of equipment to service county Citizens. I do not recall him "vehemently" opposing the County supplementing the Yancey Fire Department over in Fishersville with a now paid staff that comes with a hefty payroll. The downgrading of the Yancey Fire Department resulted in higher insurance rates for the area residents and became a political issue and tool used by a BOS candidate favored by Supervisor Pyles and part of the now famous "Gang of Four" slate of BOS candidates...

The county, all 7 districts, responded by providing the paid staff to the Yancey Fire Department to restore the higher rating and improve the service to the Wayne district and surrounding districts. Supervisors Pyles is now upset and feels that the present BOS should not "Dump money at the last moment" before the new "Pyles Slate" of BOS-elects are sworn in at the beginning of next term...

It's obvious that it is a good thing that Supervisor Pyle's did not get the full "Pyles-Slate" that he had hoped for...