Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Supes Pass Amended Budget
Lowers RE Increase To Two Cents; Board Names Lovelace Acting County Administrator Effective July 1

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors passed an amended budget during its meeting Monday night, one that lowered the proposed real estate increase from four cents to two, and tabled a measure that would allow biennial property reassessment.

Supervisors were voting on a their $27.1 million budget that included a four-cent real estate tax increase per assessed $100 and a 24-cent personal property tax hike.

The amended general fund in the budget totals $26,723,623.

But prior to the vote, Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan moved that the Board accept a budget that lowered the real estate increase to two cents per assessed $100.

The increases mean a real estate tax rate of 37-cents per assessed $100 (after the rate was lowered due to reassessment) and a personal property tax rate of $2 per $100, up from the current $1.76 rate, according to County Administrator Joe Morgan.

Following reassessment, the current real estate tax rate is 35 cents per assessed $100, down from 42 cents per assessed $100 prior to reassessment.

Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman said earlier that the proposed real estate increase was designed to fund school improvements.

"The four-cent (real estate tax) increase is specifically designed to raise $1 million for Phase II capital improvements for the schools," he said earlier.
Bowman pointed out that for every cent increase in real estate taxes, the county receives $277,000.

The four-cent increase would have netted the county around $1.1 million, according to Bowman. Around $1 million of that had been designated for school improvements.

The reduced increase will mean a reduction in capital funding for the schools in the amount of $524,691, according to County Administrator Joe Morgan.
In seconding Vaughan's motion, Supervisor James Edmunds said it was time the county invested in education.

"The real estate increase is an investment in education," he said. "The bottom line is either we do something to our school system or we don't do it.

"The county wants to get a plan for the future. We pay people to help give us that plan.

"We want a plan but we don't do anything about it," Edmunds added. "I think it's fiscally irresponsible for us to not know what's coming down the pike."

Edmunds, a large county landowner, said the four-cent rate would cost him but it was an investment in the future he was willing to make.

"I pay more taxes than anyone on this Board," he said. "But I want my children to have a decent education.

"I second the motion," Edmunds added.

During a brief public hearing on the proposed tax increases, L.T. Ferguson said the timing wasn't right for increased taxes.

"It's time we give the widows living on a fixed come, neighbors, friends, families who have lost their jobs some consideration," he said. "There's a lot in this budget that we don't need.

Leroy Childress echoed Ferguson's sentiment, citing several line items he questioned.

"I have concerns," he said. "Not only are these increases unnecessary, if you can justify them to me and the people of the county, then maybe we'd be on your side when you're talking about raising taxes.

"But with back-door decision-making, we can't afford to justify tax increases," Childress added.

Finance Committee Chair Doug Bowman said Childress was quoting requests that had come into the county from various departments, not proposed expenditures under consideration.

"If you looked at next year's proposed (funding), you'd see much lower percentages that what you quoted," he said.

The amended budget, adopted on a 6-2 vote with Supervisors R.E. "Dickie" Abbott and Tom West opposing, also cuts a line item that would have funded $10,000 for maintenance of the Halifax County War Memorial.

Biennial Reassessment

With a 7-1 vote, supervisors voted to table until August a measure that would have paved the way for a biennial property reassessment.

Bowman said reassessing property every two years would mean new income for the county.

"The more frequent reassessment has a positive impact on the revenue stream regardless of the budget," he said in making a motion to adopt the measure effective January 1, 2006.

The motion was seconded by Edmunds.

But Vaughan said supervisors didn't have enough information to adopt the measure.

"We don't have enough data and information to make a qualified decision tonight," he said. "I'd like more time for us to talk about it."

Seconded by Supervisor Lottie Nunn, Vaughan's motion originally tabled the issue until September, but was amended to August.

"Any time you lose on the process will make it difficult to get it done in time (for the 2006 roll-out)," Morgan cautioned.

During an earlier presentation on the issue, Financial Consultant John Anzivino said a reassessment every two years, while it could affect the county's composite index for state school funding, would net the county between $150 - $200,000.

"A change in the reassessment cycle will have no impact on the composite index until 2011 due to South Boston reverting to a town," he said. "It could possibly affect the composite index (in 2011)."

Anzivino said that real estate values are one of the most heavily-weighed items considered by the state when considering education funding.

But much of that difference could be made up in the property value of the Clover Power Plant, according to the financial consultant.

"In Halifax County, 34 cents of every real estate dollar is paid for by utility companies," he said. "The (six-year) reassessment cycle the county went through resulted in a net loss to the county of around $330,000."

The cost of setting up a county reassessment office would be between $135 - $150,000, according to Anzivino. "That's assuming the software is in place, space is available and the county is ready to move in that direction."

"Overall, in looking at what the impacts would be to the county, it appears that the impact could occur that could affect school funding," he said. "On the one hand you'd be gaining revenue from the power plants, but it could be taken away from educational funding.

"But when you add in the costs of additional staff, it appears the county could come out with a net of between $150 - $200,000," he said.

Vaughan's motion to table the issue until August passed 7- 1 with Abbott opposing.

Other Business

Following a closed meeting the Board voted, on a motion by Edmunds and with a second by Supervisor Lottie Nunn, to request that Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace serve as the interim county administrator effective July 1.

Lovelace will be compensated at his current rate with an additional $1,200 per month.

The move will allow Morgan to focus on the completion of his pending responsibilities and the transfer of duties to other staff.

Morgan has five days left on his contract that will be distributed through August.

Following the closed meeting, Vaughan and Bowman were appointed to a task force to review the formation of the Economic Development Authority.

Morgan reported on the formation of the Southside Regional Public Service Authority.

He said the engineering cost assessment had been presented to the county's accountants for review and confirmation.

Morgan said an engineering study to initiate the permitting of a regional landfill site in Mecklenburg County was underway.

The site is 600 acres located on Butcher's Creek near Boydton.

"It stands the best chance to be a site for the regional authority," Morgan said.

The cost of the study is estimated to be up to $219,564, of which 45 percent will be paid by Halifax County.

The county administrator said the authority is anticipating the State Corporation Commission to issue a charter recognizing the authority following Charlotte County's vote on the matter.

"It's a good step," he said. "The local governments are coming together and the work is proceeding to get (the authority) in place by December, 2007."

Lovelace reported to the board on an offer by the Virginia Department of Transportation to hold off on the removal of Clarkton Bridge until Friday to allow Halifax and Charlotte counties time to raise $1.5 million for needed repairs.

The impact of meeting the offer is currently being reviewed by advocates of preserving the bridge.

5-2 Split Vote Kills Land Use Proposal
Public Hearing Draws 15 Speakers, Majority Farmers Supporting The Measure

On a 5-2 vote, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors rejected proposed land use taxation Monday night.

During a public hearing on the issue nine people, mostly farmers, spoke in favor of the measure, while five people spoke out against the issue.

In explaining the issue prior to the public hearing, County Administrator Joe Morgan told the Board that the enabling legislation was passed by the General Assembly in 1971 and was designed to encourage the maintenance of the rural character of counties.

"The purpose is to encourage preservation, conserve natural resources, preserve scenic natural beauty and open spaces, promote proper land use planning and orderly development and promote a balanced economy and alleviate pressures that force the conversion of real estate to more intensive uses," he said.

Morgan noted that there are currently 67 counties in the state that support land use taxation.

He added that according to the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the effective impact of the measure would be around one cent of the current real estate value.

Morgan said that farmers were being taxed more on their land than residential homeowners.

"In Halifax before reassessment, a $300,000 farm paid around $1,026 in taxes, while a ($300,000) house went down from $342 to $336," he said.

"(Taxes on) farmland is going up and (taxes on) residential property are going down," Morgan said.

Following last year's reassessment, Morgan told the Board that the county saw an overall increase of 19 percent, with agricultural property seeing around a 30 percent increase.

In speaking in favor of the move, Martha Moore, the director of governmental relations for the VFBF, told the board that it costs the county less in services to have farmland than other land uses.

"When you look at the cost of services that open space and farmland brings compared with the revenues it brings in , you can see that for every $1 in revenue, that land requires only 25 cents in services," she said.

Conversely, developed residential land requires around $1.25 in services for every dollar.

"We believe land use brings a sense of equity to the system and encourages the preservation of farmland," Moore said.

Eugene Moorefield questioned the proposal, suggesting that some landowners on the Board would benefit from the measure.

"I don't understand all of it and the implication of it, but it seems to me that the county will eventually take control of the farms," he said. "We need the county to grow. Some of you on the Board control large acres of land and you want to pass this."

The president of the Halifax County Farm Bureau, Tom Burton, told the Board that the 2,300 members of the Bureau had passed a resolution supporting the measure.

"I think that most of the farming in this county dates to colonial days and is one of the interests in the county that hasn't been recognized," he said. "The farmers deserve breaks as much as industry deserves them. This will keep them on the farm and help make it profitable for them."

Burton suggested that without help in the form of land use, young people wouldn't be able to farm.

"Young farmers can't farm full time and make ends meet," he said. "This land use taxation would help maintain our farming practices.

"This is simply one perk that could be given to one of the largest industries in Halifax County," he said. "We're just asking for a fair shake."

In speaking against the measure, the Rev. Roger Ford said he felt the measure wasn't fair to the county's homeowners.

"Who is supposed to pay the money that's lost if we do this?" he asked.

"Someone has to take up the slack and I feel that the people who can afford it the least will have to take it.

"The person who farms the land receives the benefits of the county," Ford added. "They receive services like anyone else and I think it's unfair to those of us who don't own land."

County businessman Rick Harrell said the measure would help maintain the rural character of the county without any undue burden on the taxpayers.

"I agree with Mr. Burton and I agree with Mr. Ford that we need to look out for the people who are poor," he said. "But the reason (I'm for it) is it benefits the people Mr. Ford was talking about.

"What kind of county do we want?," Harrell asked. "Without (land use taxation), we'll have a county full of trailer parks. If we break up the county, look out for your taxes everywhere.

"It's fair not to charge (farmers) because it's not costing us," he added. "It will cost us very little and do the farmers good.

"Let's move forward and save the farmland and work together to give them a break as small as it is," Harrell said.

Laura Crowe told the Board that while she understood taxes had to be increased, she felt the increases should be fair and across the board.

"If you're going to do for one, you need to do for all," she said.

Virgilina resident Leroy Childress told the Board that this isn't the time for the county to be considering any tax deferral programs.

"It appears that the farmers are asking for a free ride for a short period of time at the same time the county is losing revenue," he said. "If you help them, what about the people who don't work? Are you going to help them?

"If you're not, this isn't going to work," Childress added. "I don't think that it's right for us to have to pick up their taxes."

County farmer J.T. Davis told the board that the vote could be a "defining moment" for the future of agriculture.

"It boils down to one word - fairness," he said. "We just want to be taxed on what the land is used for.

"Tonight will be a defining moment on where the county is going," Davis added. "We should be protecting our heritage. All that we ask for is fairness."
Following a motion to adopt the measure by Supervisor Tom West, Supervisor James Edmunds, a large county landowner, said that he would be abstaining from the vote. But Edmunds made an emotional plea for the Board to adopt the measure.

"I will abstain," he said. "I hope that my farming friends will forgive me for doing so. I'm strongly for this, but I don't want a perceived legacy that I've tried to help myself in any way.

"I think that if there were another industry asking for this little help we would do what we could to help them.

"This is a tax savings for this area," he added. "It won't come right now, it will come in the future.

"I think that if we're forward-thinking, you'll pass this," Edmunds said.

Supervisor Bryant Claiborne said that although he is a life-long resident of the county and supports agriculture, he feels that now isn't the time to defer taxes for farmers.

"Where I agree with the comments that have been made, the timing isn't there," he said. "I sympathize with the farmers to a certain extent, but the timing is just not there for it.

"Right now, I'm in opposition to it," Claiborne said.

Finance Committee Chair Doug Bowman said he feels the measure represents good public policy.

"I think the timing is right and the posture that's been suggested here is a very small component of what's allowed to be done to reward what's still an extremely important economic sector of the community," he said. "I second the motion."

Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan said the General Assembly passed the measure in order to combat rapid increases in property value, large growth and rapid population increases.

"The ordinance we have tonight is very general and doesn't cover all the criteria that needs to be covered," he said. "If we're going to proceed down the road, these problems need to be addressed."

With a roll call vote, the motion failed with West and Bowman voting for the measure, and Supervisors R.E. "Dickie" Abbott, William Fitzgerald, Claiborne, Vaughan and Lottie Nunn opposing.

South Boston Town Council Adopts Budget
Abernathy Leads Final Council Meeting

South Boston Council unanimously adopted its $12,889,054 budget Monday evening.

The budget carries a 19-cent per assessed $100 real estate tax rate, a $1.42 per assessed $100 personal property rate, and a 31- cents per assessed $100 machinery and tools rate.

Councilmen, with Councilman Tom Raab absent, also unanimously approved the participation in a LEOS retirement plan for firefighters and law enforcement personnel.

South Boston officials also approved a waiver of $4,500 the YMCA owed the town in exchange for three years of aquatic safety instruction. Council also approved a resolution officially dedicating a portion of Route 501 in honor of the local D-Day Veterans.

A public hearing on an amendment to town code prohibiting off-premises or billboard signs in all districts drew no public comment.

Calling the amendment "a housekeeping item," Councilman Eric Roberts entered a motion for approval, which Council unanimously passed.

In other business, town officials deferred action on appointments to the Industrial Development Authority until a later session. Doug Bowman and Ronnie Crabtree are currently serving. Bowman previously declined reappointment but Crabtree had indicated he was willing and eligible for reappointment to the four-year term. The current terms expire today.

Following Council's action Monday night, the Finance Committee received an update on Economic Development Council issues from representative Kenneth Cassada.

Cassada reviewed several issues, noting the EDC's support of the airport and its work with the Airport Commission. "Aviation is an important part of developing the area," he emphasized.

Cassada also reviewed the impact of a new feeder calf program in the county, discussed rural and quality of life issues, community visioning and land use tax issues.

Councilman Roberts challenged Cassada on his support of land use taxation, a stand Cassada said EDC supported. Roberts also challenged the proposed biennial reassessment in the county, describing biennial reassessment as "a cash management" tool.

Supervisors defeated the land use tax proposal during their Monday night session and also deferred action on the biennial reassessment until their August meeting.

In other action, the Current Issues Committee confirmed July 9-10 as South Boston Council's retreat dates.

The committee also reviewed new Code of Virginia enabling legislation relating to reimbursement of certain traffic incident expenses incurred in responding to DUI and other traffic incidents, including reckless driving, driving without a license or a suspended or revoked license, and improperly leaving the scene of an accident.

Any locality may provide by ordinance that a person convicted of violating those provisions shall be liable in a separate civil action for reasonable expenses incurred by the locality or by any volunteer rescue squad or both, when providing an appropriate emergency response to any accident or incident related to such violation, according to code.

Personal liability under the section for reasonable expenses of an appropriate emergency response cannot exceed $1,000 in the aggregate for a particular accident or incident in the locality.

In determining the reasonable expenses, a locality may bill a flat fee of $250 or a minute-by-minute accounting of the actual costs incurred.

The issue is expected to be placed on the July 12 Council agenda for formal action.

Tom Stutts, representing the South Boston/Halifax County Museum, sought funding from councilmen for a permanent Halifax County exhibit at the museum.

Stutts sought $25,000 from South Boston Council to help fund the exhibit, noting the gift could be made over a period of three years.

Full funding will come from a combination of public, private and corporate sources, according to Stutts.

The exhibit is planned in three phases with the first to be completed February 2005, the second in February of 2006, and completion in 2007.

The request is to be returned to the Finance Committee with funding to be explored through the contingency fund.

Medley Named To ECAC All-Star Team
LU Baseball Standout Brian Medley Has Received Yet Another Honor By Being Named To The ECAC Division II Baseball All-Star Team

Special To The Gazette-Virginian

The honors keep on coming for Longwood University baseball standout Brian Medley.

Medley, a Halifax resident, recently signed a non-drafted free agent contract with the San Diego Padres and has reported to the Peoria Padres of the Arizona Rookie League.

Now, Medley has been named to the 2004 ECAC Division II Baseball All-Star Team.

The rightfielder completed a phenomenal senior campaign this spring with a .515 batting average, including 16 home runs, 71 RBI, and a .903 slugging percentage.

Medley finished the season as the national Division II batting leader with his .515 average, and was fifth nationally in both RBI and slugging percentage, while ranking 10th in Division II home runs.

He was signed to his non-drafted free agent contract by San Diego scout Josh Boyd following a private workout at Longwood University’s Lancer Stadium on June18.

He reported to Arizona on June 20 along with other signed draft picks and non-drafted free agents signed by the Padres.

Medley has played in three games for Peoria, batting .167 (1-6) with one run scored and a walk, including a base hit in his first professional at-bat, later scoring the game’s winning run.

Unfortunately, he is currently out of the lineup with a wrist injury.

Medley led Longwood to a 31-16 record this season with his .515 average (85-165) that ranked third-best all-time, including a team-best 16 home runs (second all-time), 16 doubles, and a team-best 71 RBI (second all-time), along with 17-19 on steal attempts and 64 runs scored.

His 85 hits are a new school record as well, and he also ranked nationally in runs (11th) and doubles (79th).

In addition, Medley became the all-time hits (254) leader at Longwood and moved into several other career hitting categories.

He ranks first in runs (187) and total bases (425), second in games (174), tied for second in home runs (39) and RBI (168), third in at-bats (629) and slugging percentage (.676), fourth in batting average (.404), as well as sixth in doubles (46).

Medley is the son of James and Diane Medley of Halifax and is a graduate of Halifax County High School.

Obituaries

Susie Ville Jeffress

Susie Ville Jeffress, 70, of Red Oak died June 26 at her home.

Mrs. Jeffress was born in Charlotte County on February 8, 1934, the daughter of the late Doc and Susie Burney Mosley, and was married to the late Charlie Jeffress Sr. She was a member of Salem Baptist Church in Red Oak.

Survivors include three children, Ralph Jeffress and his wife, Brenda, of Md., Charlie Jeffress Jr. of Red Oak and Charlotte Roberts of Halifax; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one sister, Emily Brooks of Washington, D.C. She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Onnie Mosley.

Funeral services for Mrs. Jeffress will be held at 2 p.m. today, June 30, at Salem Baptist Church with the Rev. Harry L. Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Eleanor Rickmon

Eleanor Rickmon, 75, of Fort Collins, died June 15 at her home.

Mrs. Rickmon was born June 18, 1928, in Scottsburg, the daughter of Ernest and Mertie Wilmouth, and was married to Charles Baker Rickmon. She worked for the state of Maryland supervising the Hearing and Vision Program.
Mrs. Rickmon is survived by two daughters, Delores Gilkey of Baton Rouge, La. and Brenda Nepereny of Fort Collins; six grandchildren, Amie, Carie, Malissa, Michael, Laura and Steven; and two sisters, Edith Crenshaw and husband, Hunter, of Silver Spring, Md. and Shirley Snead of South Boston.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; one sister, Virginia; and two brothers, Henry and Ernest.

Funeral services for Mrs. Rickmon was held June 19 at Reager Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial was in Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Md.

James Marvin Roberts

James Marvin Roberts, 66, of 2055 Philpott Road, South Boston, died June 27 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mr. Roberts was born in Halifax County on January 1, 1938, the son of the late James Milton and Bessie Vaughan Roberts. He was a member of Second Baptist Church in South Boston, and was retired from J.P. Stevens.

Survivors include two sons, Ricky Marvin Roberts of Richmond and Dwight Dean Roberts of South Boston; two daughters, Mitzi R. Hubble of Mechanicsville and Wendy R. Yancey of Danville; two sisters, Marie R. Martin of Charlotte Court House and Frances R. Overbee of Richmond; and nine grandchildren. Mr. Roberts was also preceded in death by one grandchild.

Funeral services will be held today, June 30, at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jim Smith assisted by the Rev. Walter Yancey conducting the service.

Esther Long Solomon

Esther Long Solomon, 87, of Lawrenceville, died June 27 in Ruxton Health Care in Boydton.

Mrs. Solomon was born October 1, 1916, in Boydton the daughter of the late Edgar Marshall Long and Bessie Walker Long, and was married to Joseph Hurley Solomon who preceded her in death. She was a member of First Cross Roads Baptist Church of Halifax County.

Graveside services will be held today, June 30 at 11 a.m. at First Cross Roads Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Dan Ward officiating. The family will receive friends after the service.

Survivors of Mrs. Solomon include one sister, Mattie Sue Brooks of Boydton; one brother, Edward G. Long Sr. of Lawrenceville; two nephews and five nieces.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Cross Roads Baptist Church, 1122 Melon Road, South Boston, 24592.

Brenda Sue Stovall Walton

Brenda Sue Stovall Walton, 49, of 1000 East Bishop Drive, South Boston, died June 27 at her home.

Ms. Walton was born in Halifax County on May 31, 1955, the daughter of the late Willie Lee Stovall and Arlene Johnson Stovall. She was a member of Mayo Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Angela Stovall of South Boston; two sons, Joel Crutchfield of Martinsville and Kelly Crutchfield of Halifax; three sisters, Diana Boxley of South Boston, Peggy Merritte of Halifax and Windy Stovall of Virgilina; one brother, Giles Stovall of South Boston; six grandchildren; her maternal grandmother, Mary Johnson of Virgilina; a devoted sister-in-law, Madeline Yancey. Ms. Walton was also preceded in death by one brother, Willie T. Stovall; and one sister, Wanda R. Stovall.

Funeral services will be held today, June 30 at 1 p.m. at Mayo Grove Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of Angela Stovall, 605, Gravitt Street, South Boston.