Supervisors took home a 13-page draft budget proposal featuring four real-estate tax hike options following their Monday night session.
Bedtime reading for county officials includes the originally proposed 10-cent real estate tax hike, an 8-cent proposal, a 6-cent option and the finance committee's latest real estate revenue option, a 3-cent increase.-
The finance committee is expected to meet several times before settling on its recommendation to meet a projected $4 million deficit in the $68,278,492 county budget.
If supervisors adopt a lower real estate tax rate, they must dip deeper into the county's unappropriated funds.
In addition to real estate tax hikes, supervisors are considering the following: a machinery tool tax hike, $1.26; a utility tax increase, from an earlier proposed $2 to $3; building permit fee increases, a proposed 20 percent increase; and a planning fee increase, consideration of a $1,000 figure for land-use applications, which includes rezoning; an E-911 surcharge increase, from 40 cents to a proposed $1.00; a tax increase for public service companies; and consideration of an animal license fee increase, from $3 to $5.
Continuing Education
Following a public hearing Monday night, supervisors adopted a resolution to seek a $649,130 Community Development Block Grant for the Halifax County Continuing Education Center's expansion project.
CDBG funds would be used for four classrooms, two computer labs and a literacy program office that will be used for workforce training, the nursing assistant program and literacy program.
Halifax Educational Foundation Chairman Chris Lumsden told supervisors that preliminary plans call for construction to begin at the new CEC site in South Boston late June or early July, with occupancy in 2001.
HEA's efforts to privately raise $1.75 million for the project have hit the 97 percent mark, according to Lumsden. However, he said HEA "wants to raise $2 million," rather than its original $l.75 million, for the project.
The $1.75 million in privately raised funds will match the $l.75 million bond referendum previously approved by county residents.
The total cost of the CEC project is estimated at $4,149,130.
Lumsden told supervisors that the CEC's records reflect 6,200 course enrollments during a three-semester period.
Public Hearings Scheduled
Supervisors authorized the following public hearings for their May session:
· A public hearing on the Halifax County Planning Commission's recommendation of subdivision ordinance amendments. Halifax County Assistant Administrator Jerry Lovelace described the proposed amendments as "fairly extensive." New roads in subdivision and the definition of a subdivision itself are among proposed changes.
·A public hearing on a rezoning application by Dunn & Sons Funeral Services, based in Washington, D.C., to rezone 1.2 acres from A-1, agricultural, to B-2, general business, for the purpose of establishing a funeral services operation. The site is the northwest corner of the intersection of Route 832 and Route 676, the site of the former White Oak Service Station.
·A rezoning application from Gerald and Frances King to rezone one acre from A-1, agricultural, to B-2, general business, for an automobile body shop. The site is located on the east side of Route 501 approximately 1,000 feet south of the intersection of Route 40 and Route 632. This is south of Four Forks, and the parcel is located on the south side of Rosewood Flowers.
·A public hearing addressing J.M. Huber Corporation's application seeking a modification of the conditional use permit. Huber wants to construct a 38,050 square-foot addition for relocation of the welding/fabrication area, and for the addition of an oriented strand board overlay production line at the Route 626 plant.
·A public hearing to address the proposed code amendment regarding muzzleloading rifles. The new amendment would permit muzzleloaders the first 15 days of the state's regular hunting season for deer, provided such muzzleloader use is from a stand elevated a minimum of 10 feet above ground level. Those hunting with a muzzleloader are currently permitted two weeks prior to the regular hunting season.
Approved Permits
Supervisors approved two requests for outdoor amusement permits, one for the Thank God for Kids Foundation and one for the Southfax Sertoma Club.
The Thank God for Kids Foundation will hold a two-day circus May 23-24 at the Halifax County Fairgrounds.
The Southfax Sertoma Club has scheduled a circus for Wednesday, April 19, at the Halifax County Fairgrounds.
Following their regular session, supervisors went into closed session Monday night to discuss applications for the county administrator's job. No action was taken.
Former Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper left the post here on March 1 to assume his duties as administrator in Pittsylvania County.
Roads
Supervisors approved the abandonment of a portion of Route 610. This portion has been replaced with a new intersection to Route 501.
During the meeting, it was decided an updated cost estimate for a new structure at the Clarkton Bridge site would be prepared. Research on the policies concerning discontinuances and abandonments that could be used at this location are also underway. Also, VDOT is checking to see how long it can allow the existing bridge to remain closed without the county and the department taking action to repair, replace, remove, discontinue or abandon the current bridge.
Highway Resident Engineer Joe Barkley II will advise supervisors of the results of the research regarding Clarkton Bridge once it is completed.
A traffic signal evaluation study is being conducted for the intersection of Route 58 and Route 931.
Supervisors approved installation of guardrails at the Banister River Bridge and the Gibson Creek Bridge on Route 716 at the Monday night session. A bridge on Route 667 also qualified for guardrail installation.
The resident engineer projected completion of the Route 360/Terry's Bridge project within the next week.
The partial abandonment of Route 812 will be addressed at a later meeting.
Supervisors also approved a letter to be sent to Gov. James Gilmore in support of the E-911 bill that passed the General Assembly calling for a cap of $3.

An increase in county residents' E-911 surcharge on their phone bill of $2.10 per month is being recommended by the sheriff as a way to fund a proposed $750,000 high-band EMS communications system.
The present surcharge is 40 cents.
Sheriff D.J. Oakes, in a letter to the Board of Supervisors, calls the budget estimate "conservative" but the need for county-wide emergency services communication coverage is vital to bringing the county's local fire departments and rescue squads out of the "dark ages of congested, low-band communications."
Included in the estimate is a new system for the sheriff's office at an estimated cost of $133,000.
This is presently funded in part in the 1999-2000 budget and Oakes said he would attempt to transfer leftover salary funds from the State Compensation Board to supplement the balance of the new equipment.
Essential to providing county-wide coverage, Oakes said, is a communications tower in the northern part of the county, either in Volens or Nathalie.
An AT&T tower in Cody is presently empty, but may prove cost prohibitive or geographically incompatible for the county's needs, he said.
Another consideration, Oakes said, is differing needs of the individual departments and the ability to remain compatible with neighboring EMS systems.
All neighboring localities, Oakes said, have already made the switch to high-band frequencies making mutual aid operations difficult because of an inability to link low-band to high-band frequencies.
The proposal, he continued, is supported by all the county volunteer fire departments, rescue squad and the forestry department.
Oakes said the project could be funded through a municipal lease-purchase plan over a five-year period.
This would reduce the annual expenditure to about $200,000 a year.
The 911 surcharge of $2.50 would generate $360,000 annually and could fund the project and provide cost of living raises for county 911 dispatchers, sign replacement and maintenance and a small contingency for future upgrades and equipment purchases.
Oakes has requested a spot on the supervisors' agenda during the May meeting

The South Boston Town Council considered the first draft of the 2000-2001 budget at a work session on Monday night.
The recommended budget for 2001-2001 is approximately $6.7 million, an increase of three per cent over last year.

"The proposed budget contains no surprises," said Ted Daniel, town manager.
"There are no increases in water and sewer fees, real estate taxes, property taxes, or increases in fees for building or zoning permits," Daniel added.
The biggest change in funding reflects an increase in the landfill closure fund on Hamilton Street.
The fund will increase from $152,000 in the last budget, to $357,000 in the current recommended plan.
According to the town manager's office, the increase is for landfill- closure site preparation.
Council will hold up to three more work sessions prior to a public hearing for the budget in its May meeting.

Two matters brought before the work session will be addressed at the council's next meeting on April 10.
The proposed Community Development Block Grant application for the Tobacco Warehouse District Revitalization Project is scheduled for a public hearing at that time.
Discussion of the resolution authorizing the preparation and filing of the application is also scheduled.
A proposed amendment to the town code with regard to carrying a concealed weapon will also be presented.
The purpose of the amendment would be to bring the town code in compliance with Virginia state statutes.
Town Manager Ted Daniel also announced during the work session that a "VDOT Safety Grant" has been approved for a traffic signal at the south entrance to Halifax Square Shopping Center on Route 501.
According to Daniel, the town would like to install the signal as early as possible.

The Town of South Boston has been awarded a $5.5 million tax-exempt loan to finance improvements to its water and wastewater systems.
The loan was provided by the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA), which has been providing infrastructure financing to Virginia's localities for over 12 years.
By borrowing through VRA's bond program, borrowers receive the benefits of VRA's AA credit rating which translates into lower interest rates and savings over the life of the loan.
"The pooled loan program suits the needs of South Boston perfectly," said Ted Daniel, town manager.
"We get the cost savings benefit from a larger bond issue, but we only borrow exactly what we need."
The loan to the town was made available from the proceeds of Virginia Resources Authority's $36.5 million Infrastructure Revenue Bonds (Pooled Loan Bond Program), Series 2000.
Under the pooled loan program, VRA issues one large series of bonds and then lends money to each locality according to its needs.

Two weeks to the day, or more accurately, the nighttime, thieves struck Elliott's Auto Sales on Monday and stole four more riding mowers. On March 20, two new John Deere riding mowers were stolen.
Using the same procedure, thieves cut a steel cable which secured the mowers , loaded the mowers, sand drove away. The dealership is located on U.S. 58 east of South Boston.
Late yesterday afternoon, authorities issued a bulletin describing the suspected getaway vehicle as being a U-Haul truck. No other information was provided.

A South Boston man was arrested by sheriff's deputies Monday on a charge of making threats to bomb or damage a building.
Kenneth Rex Puryear, 43, of Philpott Road, was charged with making a threat to bomb the residence belonging to Anthony Melton.
The alleged offense occurred on April 2.
In other police reports:
A 39-year-old Halifax man was charged with driving under the influence Friday afternoon after the vehicle he was driving slammed into a parked car.
Trooper G.M. Gilliam charged Dwayne Edward Collie, who was driving a 1993 Plymouth van on Liberty Road (Route 642) that struck a parked vehicle, two-tenths of a mile east of Chatham Road (Route 832).
The trooper said Collie's vehicle ran off the right side of Liberty Road and struck a 1984 Honda owned by Betty Muse Jordon of Frederick, Md.
The 5:10 p.m. incident caused an estimated $3,500 in damages to each vehicle, according to Gilliam.
· Two youths received minor injuries after a single-car crash Saturday evening.
Trooper Gilliam charged a 16-year-old South Boston youth with reckless driving after a 1997 Dodge, driven by the youth, ran off of the right side of Route 58, three-tenths of a mile west of Sandy Beach Road (Route 703), slid around, went into the median and struck an embankment, injuring the driver and a young passenger.
The trooper estimated $5,500 in damages in the 8:10 p.m. crash.
· John Eric Doyle, 22, of Lynchburg was charged with reckless driving Saturday morning after a mailbox and highway sign were struck by his vehicle.
Trooper S.M. Krantz said the accident occurred at the intersection of Route 501 and Acorn Road, (Route 645) when a 1993 Ford, driven by Doyle, ran off of the left shoulder of Route 501, struck a mailbox, came back on the highway and ran off of the left side of the road again, striking a sign.
The 10:50 a.m. incident caused an estimated $1,000 in damages to the vehicle, $165 in estimated damage to the highway sign and $50 in estimated damage to the mailbox, according to Krantz.
· Two vehicles were damaged by a collision with a deer Sunday morning on State Route 360.
Trooper M.S. Roark Jr. said a 1994 Mercury, driven by Howard Jerome Coleman, 31, of South Boston, struck the deer on Route 360, 400 feet east of Union Church Road (Route 681), knocking the deer into the path of a 1995 Chevrolet pickup driven by Garland Briggs Newton Jr. of Halifax, killing the deer.
The 8:15 a.m. incident caused $4,500 in estimated damages to the Newton vehicle and $500 in estimated damages to the Coleman vehicle.
No charges were filed.

South Boston Police issued a warning yesterday to residents in the vicinity of Third Street where a cat, confirmed as having rabies, is known to have bitten two persons. One of those bitten was the pet's owner who told authorities that the three-year old cat had never been vaccinated.
The cat, described as white and grey, was caught and destroyed by Animal Control Warden Terry Farris. State health officials reported yesterday afternoon that the animal had tested positive for rabies.
Police Chief Jim Hall said that a report was filed late Monday afternoon by the first victim who was bitten on the leg and ankle. Sometime later the same day, the pet's owner notified authorities that she had been bitten on the arm and leg.
Both victims must now begin treatments.
Police want to know if anyone else may have been bitten or own pets which may been attacked by the same animal.
All pet owners are encouraged to have their animals vaccinated.

Youth sports and Hugh Moore.
When you speak of one you speak of the other.
Moore, one of the organizers of South Boston's Dixie Youth Baseball and youth basketball programs, is one of three individuals to be inducted into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame this weekend.
Bowling ace Barbara Talbott and baseball star Stanley Davis will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday night at this year's Induction Banquet which will be held at 6:30 p.m. at C.H. Friend Elementary School.
The Hall of Fame Induction Banquet is open to the general public and tickets are still available.
Tickets are priced at $15 each and may be obtained at Allen's Drug, Halifax Pharmacy, Electric Service Company, Gravitt & Gravitt P.C., and the Gazette Virginian.
In addition, tickets may be obtained from Addison Marable, Carlyle Wimbish and members of the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors.
South Boston native Boxley Llewellyn, who is employed by the IBM Corporation, will be the guest speaker for the event.
Moore, who was born in the Ellis Creek community and has been a South Boston resident for 59 years, has been a key figure in South Boston's youth sports programs for a number of years.
And, not only has he served South Boston's programs on a local level, he carried his involvement to the national level.
Moore was one of the individuals involved in establishing the Dixie Youth Baseball program in South Boston.
He was involved in South Boston's youth baseball program in 1955 when it was under the Little League Baseball umbrella.
And, he was one of the key figures involved in getting South Boston's baseball program affiliated with Dixie Youth Baseball in 1956.
Moore served as president of the South Boston Dixie Youth Baseball League for 37 years.
In addition, he served as a National Director for Dixie Youth Baseball for 46 years, a national statistician for Dixie Youth Baseball for 46 years, and served a 10 year stint as Dixie Youth Baseball's Deputy Commissioner.
Moore was also actively involved in the publication of Dixie Youth Baseball newsletters and magazines for numerous years.
In an interview conducted just prior to his retirement from his post as Sports Editor and Managing Editor of the Gazette Virginian, Moore was asked why he continued his involvement in Dixie Youth Baseball for so many years.
His reply was a simple one, "baseball and kids. I really liked baseball and I like the way the kids liked it (Dixie Youth Baseball) once we got started in it."
While Moore was probably most noted for his involvement in Dixie Youth Baseball, he was also an instrumental figure in South Boston's youth basketball program.
Moore and former Gazette Virginian sports editor Addison Marable were the key figures in organizing South Boston's youth basketball league program.
As a coach, Moore served in the South Boston midget league for 40 years and his team, the Hawks, won 16 league titles under his tenure.
In addition, Moore was involved in South Boston's Midget Football League program for a brief period, serving as league president for three years.
Moore's devotion to and interest in the community's young people extends beyond the playing fields and basketball courts.
He has served as Youth Sunday School teacher and Youth Sunday School director at First Baptist Church in South Boston where he is an active member.
The Southfax Sertoma Club honored Moore for his many years of service to the community's youth by presenting him the prestigious Service To Mankind Award.
Along with that, the district Sertoma clubs honored Moore by presenting him the district's Service To Mankind Award as well.
Moore is also a big figure in the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame.
He was a member of the organizing committee that created the Sports Hall of Fame, served on the Hall of Fame's first Board of Directors and held the president's post for 12 years.
Moore, a graduate of C.H. Friend High School, played baseball as a high school student.
He attended the College of William & Mary and graduated in 1951. While in college, Moore ran track and served as manager of the varsity football and basketball teams.
Along with his many endeavors in community sports activities, Moore is also recognized as a noted journalist.
Moore covered sports, South Boston Town Council and other beats for local newspapers during his 45 year career as a newspaper writer.
He won almost two dozen Virginia Press Association writing awards and won the Marshall Johnson Award for outstanding high school sports writing in Virginia, an award presented by the Virginia High School League.
While in college, Moore served as sports editor, then editor-in-chief of the Flat Hat, the student newspaper of the College of William & Mary.
The Flat Hat won first place in the state among college newspapers the year that Moore served as the paper's editor.
With the induction of Moore, Talbott and Davis this weekend, the roll of inductees expands to 40.

Patricia Oxford West, age 57, of Lenoir, N.C., died April 2, 2000, at her home.
Mrs. West was born November 22, 1942, in Caldwell County, N.C. to Sylvia Cannon Oxford and Wade H. Oxford. She was a member of High Peak Baptist Church in Drexel, N.C.
Survivors include her mother of Hudson, N.C.; three sons, Andy Hall of Hudson, Tony West and Dale West, both of Drexel; two brothers, Michael W. Oxford of Hudson and Allen Oxford of South Boston; one sister, Brenda Triplett of Hudson; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father and one granddaughter, Shea Hall.

Funeral services for Mrs. West were held April 4 at 11 a.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel in Lenoir, with the Rev. Nicky Waters officiating. Burial was in Poovey's Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.

Donald Parker Seckman Jr., age 65, of Brookneal, died April 2, 2000, at his home.
Mr. Seckman was born in Charlotte County on November 16, 1934, the son of Donald Parker Seckman Sr. and Beulah Mae Johnson Seckman and was married to Clara Jane Fannon Seckman. He was a member of Brookneal Baptist Church, a former member of the Brookneal Volunteer Fire Department, a Marine Corp Veteran and a retired employee of Babcock-Wilcox-NNFD.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Seckman is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Melinda Gail and Rondall Powers of Brookneal, Donna and Danny Sizemore of Virgilina and Sara and James Holt Jr. of Rustburg; four grandchildren, Joshua Garrett, Shavonne Garrett, Samantha Holt and Jamie Holt; four step-grandchildren, Rondall Powers, Nathan Powers, Jason Sizemore and Brandy Sizemore; one step-great-grandchild, Jamie Sizemore; one brother, Michael Seckman of Forest; three sisters, Serena Green of Brookneal, Connell Hicks of Evington and Laura Mae Mason of Upperville.
A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, April 5 in Wickliffe Cemetery by the Rev. Charles Ward. Military Rites by the Lynchburg American Legion.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Brookneal Volunteer Fire Department or Brookneal Rescue Squad.

Edna Jennings Hall, age 80 of 100 Edmondson Avenue, South Boston, died April 2, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Hall was born in Lunenburg County on April 17 1919, the daughter of John Jennings and Melinda Wilkins Jennings Washington and was married to Garfield Hall. She was a member of Memorial Baptist Church and the owner of Edna Hall Beauty Shop.
Survivors include three daughters, Bettie H. Faulkner and Miriam H. Carrington, both of South Boston and Rachel H. Paniel of Alexandria; two sons, Elder Edwin G. Hall of South Boston and David C. Hall of Virginia Beach; 19 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; and one great great granddaughter.
Funeral services for Mrs. Hall will be held April 6 at 11 a.m. at Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Terry officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.

George Thomas 'Peter' Carrington, age 55, of Salisbury, N.C., formerly of Halifax County, died in Salisbury recently.
Mr. Carrington was born in Halifax County on May 18, 1944, the son of George Carrington and Pauline Tuck Carrington and was married to Florence Polk Carrington.
Survivors include his wife; four sisters, Odell Carrington, Louella Yancey and Carolyn Barnett, all of Alton and Paula Burrell of Temple Hills, Md.; one brother, Harold R. Carrington of Alton; and his mother- and father-in-law, Virgil Polk and Robert Polk of Salisbury.

Funeral services for Mr. Carrington will be held April 7 at 2 p.m. at White Rock AME Zion Church of Salisbury.