At the Jan. 26 Board of Supervisors meeting, Thomas Kleine, attorney for Blackwood Development Co. asked for the Walmart public hearings to be deferred to the Feb. 16 meeting in order to finalize a few remaining issues with the Planning Commission. In the meantime, Chairman Sili and a few other board members plan to meet with Blackwood. (See related story, page 5.)
New business began with a bid for the timbering of a portion of the Poorhouse Tract behind Caroline Middle School and the county park. The Supervisors approved a bid of $54, 968 from Richardson Logging out of Fredericksburg.
A forest management company had suggested that all of the pines be removed, as well as some of the other species, to fend off infestation and create a healthier stand from what is left. Richardson will perform selected clearing on 50 of the 156 acres. If their work is satisfactory, they will clear the next scheduled area of the tract sometime later this year.
There was talk of the school system hoping to create a cross-country track on the site. The BOS will request an estimate from the School Board detailing the cost. Richardson agreed to be mindful of that, and possibly cut some trails during the clearing.
The Board moved to continue forward on the construction of an Emergency Services Access to the backside of the Lake Land’Or Subdivision on Durrette Road. Chief Jason Loftus of Fire and Rescue said this would lead to a reduced response time of 1:36 minutes. The Lake Land’Or Property Owners Association supports the effort, as does a property owner on the rear portion of Durette Road, Ladysmith Pitts LLC. The means of access will be a 300-foot-long and 12-foot-wide gravel path with simple gates at either end. The cost will be $40,000 excluding surveying and environmental assessment.
The Board approved the purchase of a replacement for ambulance number 11, as the department has spent over $19,000 on the current 2007 ambulance during the last three years.
“It’s not meeting our needs today and that cost is driving us to a replacement,” said Chief Loftus.
The purchase of Opticom GPS Traffic Signal Emergency Pre-Emption Equipment for eight out of the 10 intersections in the county was approved, at a cost of $20,000. The other two intersections (Tidewater Trail at A.P. Hill Boulevard and Jeff Davis Highway at Rogers Clark Boulevard) are being upgraded by VDOT. This equipment detects emergency vehicles and fire trucks by GPS from the traffic signal before they arrive at the light, giving them clear access.
There was a discussion on potential broadband expansion, as Caroline is an underserved Internet county. Many people in rural areas, and even schools, cannot receive Internet. Three possibilities were presented: All Points Broadband, CBA Link, and Wide Open Networks could expand Internet service to businesses, schools and hard-to-reach areas.
Wade Murray, technical advisor to the School Superintendent, suggested looking at the school’s 15-mile network loop from Bowling Green to Ladysmith. An option would be for the county to buy it from the schools.
Much research remains before the Supervisors are ready to commit to a decision.
CP Reporter – Bridget Douglas
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