York County Supervisors worked through a number of proposals at a busy regular meeting Tuesday. To read about changes to the York County garbage and recycling pickup fees and schedule and the tabling of proposed changes to the concealed weapons ordinance, click here.
Supervisors Sign off on Land Purchase
The York County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to purchase four parcels of land in and around historic Yorktown at a total of $1,530,000. District 4 Commissioner George S. Hrichak was absent from the meeting.
Three of the properties are located on Main Street—100 and 101, which are currently occupied single-family homes, and 109, which is a vacant lot. The other property is at the corner of George Washington Memorial Highway (Route 17) and Alexander Hamilton Boulevard. The building on that property is currently vacant.
Supervisor Walter Zaremba referred to the purchases as a “strategic move,” citing the need the county will have in the future for additional land on which to build. Supervisors discussed the future need for additional courtroom space as well more office space and parking on the parcel at Route 17 and Alexander Hamilton Boulevard. The three Main Street parcels will be combined with adjacent parcels the county already owns to create a single 3.2-acre lot.
“There’s no way in the world we can turn this down,” said Supervisor Donald Wiggins.
Board OK’s Participation in Construction of Regional Animal Shelter
York County Supervisors adopted a proposal to contribute an estimated $240,000 and join with the cities of Newport News, Hampton and Poquoson in financing a new Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter. The facility is necessary since the Peninsula Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will no longer offer shelter services beginning in Fiscal Year 2014, which begins on July 1, 2013.
The SPCA has long provided what York County Fire and Life Safety Chief Stephen Kopczynski referred to as “a very good deal,” charging the county $65,000 per year to use their facility. County officials explored a number of options—including constructing a shelter for York County—but determined that joining forces with the other localities was the most cost-efficient approach, Kopczynski said.
The $240,000 figure accounts for both capital costs for the construction and the estimated operational cost, though Kopczynski noted the operational cost is only an estimate and could rise over time. The new agreement is a 40-year deal between the localities.
Audit of York County Finances Finds no Problems
An independent audit of York County finances resulted in no significant findings to report to Supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting. Krista Edoff, partner with Cherry, Bekaert, and Holland, LLP, said county officials are in full compliance with all laws and regulations and that the financial statements for the county were in order.
Zaremba asked if the report meant there had been no malfeasance or wrongdoing on the part of the people who handle money for the county.
“This report does not mean that,” Edoff said. “From a material perspective, we did not come across any errors or fraud. From what we can tell, management is doing an excellent job with financial transactions and reporting.”
Other Matters
-Supervisors voted 4-0 to fund the placement of utilities along George Washington Memorial Highway (Route 17) underground as a pay-as-you-go project instead of borrowing from the 10-year Capital Improvement Program. The Board voted in May 2011 to request that the Virginia Department of Transportation place all utilities underground that were to be re-located by the Route 17 Widening Project. Tuesday’s resolution authorizes the appropriation of $6.6 million in the County Capital Fund for the project. The estimated payment schedule breaks the payments up into blocks: $2.5 million in January 2013, $2.5 million in January 2014 and a final payment of $1.6 million by December 2014.
-The board passed 4-0 an ordinance that calls for people who wish to engage in door-to-door solicitation to apply for a permit to do so from the York County Sheriff’s Office. The permit costs $20 per year and can be renewed for an additional $5 per year. There are a number of exceptions to the ordinance, including, according to an Oct. 9 memo from McReynolds, “people who visit a home at the invitation of the owner or occupant, canvassing on behalf of political candidates or referenda, people attempting to collect a debt from a purchaser, or members of nonprofit religious, civic, charitable or educational organizations, or people 18 years of age or under who solicit for services to be performed by them in connection with the employer’s home including such activities as lawn mowing, leaf raking, and snow removal.”
-Supervisors voted 4-0 to pass a proposal calling for a special use permit for an auto repair garage at 1808 George Washington Memorial Highway (Route 17). According to the proposal, the permit was necessary so that any new tenants in the structure that exists on the property will be in compliance with county ordinances governing auto repair shops.
