June 2012

Fo asked the representatives several questions regard-ing transportation issues.

One issue presented was a request from a resident to Continued page 5

On May 8, 2012, the Wythe County Board of Supervisors held its bimonthly meeting in the Boardroom of the Wythe County Admin-istration building.

At the meeting, the Board passed a motion asking the Virginia De-partment of Transporta-tion to conduct a speed study and approved the issuing of a bond.

The Board heard from residents and VDOT rep-

resentatives regarding the proposed six-year road improvement plan. In addition to accepting the plan, Board members

Board requests speed study

County enters into emergency interconnect agreement with the Town of Rural Retreat On May 22, 2012, the Wythe County Board of Supervisors held its bi-monthly meeting in the Wythe County Administra-tion Building Boardroom.

At the meeting, the Board approved an emergency

water interconnect agree-ment, moved to send letters to VDOT regarding road maintenance, agreed to as-sist in identifying individu-als for an indoor plumbing assistance program, and approved hiring of engineer-

ing firm for preliminary reports for water and sewer improvements in southeast-ern Wythe County .

The Board entered into an Emergency Water Intercon-nect Agreement with the Continued page 6

Wythe County Board of Supervisors

JUNE 2012

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7

Wythe the News

Inside this issue:

New measure in stopping illegal dumping

2

CART requesting volunteers to aid animals in emergen-cies

2

2012 Kids Fishing Derby 3

Official voting information 3

Virginia Dare 2012 Trip 4

APCO to upgrade Wythe County system

4

Disc Golf course now open! 5

June Public Meetings 7

I-77/I-81 Overlap approved 7

Public Hearing—Clean Air

Ordinance Amendment 6

Cont: emergency intercon-

nect 6

Cont.: speed study 5

Wythe-Grayson Regional Library’s Summer Pro-grams

8

Upcoming Events & Classes 8

During the May 22, 2012 meeting of the Wythe County Board

of Supervisors, Board members took a tour of the new Wythe

County office building currently under construction.

Page 2 WYTHE THE NEWS

and animal-agricultural re-sources that are available for planning, prevention, protec-tion, mobilization, response, and recovery related to emer-gency incidents within their community.

Wythe County CART is

made up of community resi-

dents including an emergency

manager, local veterinarian,

Wytheville Community Col-

lege representative, and oth-

ers.

In emergency situations, there are members of the family who are often not planned for. They are our furry, four-legged (and sometimes two-legged) family members, our pets.

What many residents do not know is the behind the scenes preparation in place to take care of our often overlooked family members in an emer-gency

A Community Animal Re-sponse Team (CART) pro-gram is a network of animal

Currently, Wythe County

CART is looking to expand

its membership to include

concerned residents of the

County who are able and

willing to help in emergency

situations. These individuals

would aid in the planning

and execution of emergency

operations.

For more information about

joining the Wythe County

CART please email rbeam-

[email protected]

CART requesting volunteers to aid animals in emergencies

Illegal dumpsites can lead to a number of health and safety con-cerns. In addition, the sites foster a negative image in a community.

These sites can contain broken glass, exposed metal, hazardous wastes and other dangerous ma-terials, which can hurt adults and children work-ing and playing near ille-gally dumped debris. Citizens can take an ac-tive role in stopping ille-gal dumping by:

- Always disposing of litter and trash properly. Teach children to respect the environment and their neighborhood by

In an effort to reduce illegal dumping in Wythe County, the Sheriff’s Of-fice will be placing sur-veillance cameras at many illegal dumpsites throughout the County.

Sheriff Doug King hopes the cameras will help eliminate illegal dump-ing.

Funding for the cameras was acquired through funding from the United States Forest Service in the amount $2,500.

The U.S. Forest Service suggested the cameras be used to monitor the ille-gal dumps in forested areas.

disposing of trash proper-ly. - Do not transport unse-cured debris in the back of a vehicle. Use a tarp or other cover. - Organize volunteer cleanups of roadways and illegal dumpsites—studies show people are less like-ly to litter in clean areas. - Write or call your coun-

ty elected officials, Coun-

ty Administration, or the

Wythe County Sheriff’s

Office to advise them of

illegal dump locations in

the community.

New measures in stopping illegal dumping

Ty (or Junior as he was

know to the Wythe Coun-

ty Dog Shelter staff) is the

newest members of the

King family. He was

adopted from the shelter

on April 14, 2012. To

find your new family

member, contact the

Wythe County Dog Shel-

ter at (276) 228-6003 or

animalcon-

[email protected]

Wythe County’s Marga-ret C. Ager Recreation Park will be receiving new scoreboards thanks to Gatorade. The compa-ny is donating $8,600 to the Wythe County Parks and Recreation Depart-ment for the construc-tion of the two new scoreboards.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7 Page 3

Wythe County’s first disc golf course

is now open to the public for play! See

images from the grand opening on

page 5

2012 Kids Fishing Derby

On May 19, 2012, children from across the County came to Rural Retreat lake to participate in the 2012 Kids Fishing Derby.

Republican Party Primary Election- June 12, 2012.

Polls open at 6:00 A.M. and close at 7:00 P.M.

Deadline to register or change address to be eligible to vote in the Primary Election is

May 21, 2012 at 4:30 P.M.

Deadline to accept an absen-tee ballot application by mail is June 5, 2012

Deadline to vote absentee ballot in person is June 9, 2012.

The registrar's office will be open on Saturday, June 9, 2012, from 9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M.

A reminder, the law requires that you show ID at the Polls.

Write-ins are not an option in

Primary Elections. 

Official voting information

Page 4 WYTHE THE NEWS

power line that ties to-gether the existing elec-tric substations, address-es the voltage problem and helps ensure reliable service to customers.

The company has identi-fied preliminary study segments for review. The public provided com-ments on the prelimi-nary study segments and suggest alternative rout-ing options at the com-pany’s website and at a public workshop on Thursday, May 24, at Fort Chiswell High School. The comment period continues through July 14.

The new facilities will be constructed using a com-bination of lattice and single pole structures that range between 100 and 125 feet in height,

APCO to update Wythe County system

The Virginia Dare is a

19th Century replica

side wheeler that is 63’

long, 20’ wide and

26.6’ tall. The Virginia

Dare was built in the

spring of 1989. The

trip will consist of a

chartered bus to

Smith Mountain Lake,

lunch and narrated

tour on the Virginia

Dare while enjoying

the peaceful scenery of

Smith Mountain Lake

The trip will take

place on June 9, 2012

Cost: $65 per person

Call 223-6022 for

more info.

(The following is a press release from Appalachian Power Company)

Appalachian Power has announced a $100 mil-lion upgrade in the elec-tric infrastructure that serves the Wythe County area.

The company is in the initial study phase of the project which involves construction of approxi-mately 15 miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line be-tween and upgrades to its Wythe, Progress Park and Jacksons Ferry sub-stations. Appalachian is seeking public input into the sitting process before pursuing approval to construct the new line.

Local 138-kV electric substations in the area connect distribution cus-tomers to the transmis-sion system. PJM, the independent regional transmission planning organization, has deter-mined that without an upgrade to the 138 kV system the area could experience voltage prob-lems by 2015.

The addition of a new

and the line will be built on a 100-foot wide right of way.

Appalachian will file an application with the Vir-ginia State Corporation Commission this Fall seeking approval to con-struct the new facilities. The project is planned to be in service by 2015.

Customers can find more information about the Wythe Area Im-provements project, in-cluding maps and photos of similar facilities to those proposed, or pro-vide comments on the project at www.AppalachianPower.com/WytheAreaImprove-ments.

Virginia Dare

2012 Trip

See the page 7 for all of the Wythe

County Public meetings in the month of June

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7 Page 5

The Rural Retreat Lake and Campground Disc Golf Course is officially open for visitors to enjoy. The Wythe County Parks and Recrea-tion Department held the course’s grand opening on June 1, 2012.

Disc golf is one of the fastest growing recreation sports in the country. The sport takes the childhood game of “Frisbee” and places it on a course focused on accuracy.

The course begins near the entrance of the park. It then curves its way through trees and up hills to give players the ultimate obstacle experi-ence.

The course is aimed to at-tract players of all skill levels and ages.

Present at the grand opening were the course’s sponsors, without whom the course may never have been built.

“The new addition to Rural Retreat Lake and Campground, the 9-Hole Disc Golf, would not have been possible without the sponsorships from our nine businesses and individuals,” said Gary Cody, Wythe County Parks and Recrea-tion Director. “We appreci-ate the donations to make the disc golf course come to life.”

Each sponsor has its logo displayed at a specific hole. Sponsors for the course in-clude:

Hole # 1 – Wytheville Rota-ry Club

Hole #2 – Blue Ridge Chiro-practor

Hole #3 – BB&T

Hole #4 – Wythe Co. Com-munity Hospital

Hole #5 – Dr. Jerry Lowry and Family

Hole #6 – Rural Retreat Electric and Pumping

Hole #7 – Wythe Eye Associ-ates

Hole #8 - Wythe Physicians for Women, Dr. Elizabeth Fox

Hole # 9 - United Country – Anders Realty & Auction

The public can view the lay-out of the course by visiting the Wythe County website at www.wytheco.org. The de-partment is also holding an Introduction to Disc Golf Class on June 14 at 6 p.m.

For more information on the disc golf course or the introductory class being of-fered, contact Cody at (276) 223-6065

Disc Golf

Wythe County’s first disc golf course is now open to the

public for play! En-joy all nine holes

this summer at Ru-ral Retreat Lake and Campground

Cont: speed study

lower the speed limit of an area of Route 52 be-tween Fort Chiswell and exit 81. The resident and Board members were con-cerned about the drivers traveling too quickly when other vehicles are slowing to turn.

Because of these con-cerns, the Board passed a

motion requesting VDOT conduct a speed study of the area to look at the risks associated with the current speed.

The representatives in-formed the Board that the concerns would be looked into.

The Board approved the issuance of a bond from

the Virginia Resource Authority in the amount of $1,369,871.

The bond will be used to address sewer issues expe-rienced by many residents in the Exit 86 area of Wythe County.

The bond has a 0% inter-est rate and will be issued for a span of 20 years.

Check out page 8 for Wythe Coun-

ty’s library and recreation summer

programs

Page 6 WYTHE THE NEWS

al funds to be used for sec-ondary road maintenance issues in Wythe County.

The Board approved send-ing both letters.

The Board agreed to assist in identifying individuals for the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Pro-ject.

This project aims to provide indoor plumbing and water to those in need.

The Board requests you please notify its members or the Wythe County Water Department if you know of individuals that are in need of assistance to obtain in-door plumbing.

In addition to these items, the Board approved a con-

tract with Peed & Bortz for preliminary engineer-ing report for water service for the Castleton Road/Barren Springs/Patterson area of Wythe County.

The company will also prepare a preliminary engi-neering report for sewer service for the Poplar Camp area.

Since this area is already served by public water, the county hopes adding sew-er service in the area will promote economic growth in this portion of Wythe County.

A sewer system could at-tract industry, hotels, res-taurants, and more along this busy Interstate 77 interchange.

Cont: emergency interconnect

On May 30, 2012, Wythe County Parks and Recreation Department participated in a health fair at Klockner in Rural Retreat. The department offered employees recreation alternatives to be more fit and healthy.

In compliance with the Code

of Virginia and amendments

thereto, the Wythe County

Board of Supervisors will

conduct a public hearing to

consider Amendment No. 1

to Ordinance 1992-3 entitled,

“Clean Air Ordinance of

Wythe County, Virginia.”

The Board of Supervisors will

hear comments from citizens

concerning the proposed

amendment.

The public hearing will be

held on Tuesday, June 12,

2012 at 7:05 p.m. in the

Board Room of the Wythe

County Office Building, 340

South Sixth Street, Wythe-

ville, Virginia.

A copy of proposed amend-

ment is on file for the public

review in the County Admin-

istrator’s Office located at

340 South Sixth Street,

Wytheville, Virginia.

BY ORDER OF THE

WYTHE COUNTY BOARD

OF SUPERVISORS

R. CELLELL DALTON,

COUNTY ADMINISTRA-

TOR  

Town of Rural Retreat.

This agreement provides the framework for the town and county to obtain water from each other in an emergency situation.

This provides both entities a redundant water supply should an incident occur limiting their water supply capability.

Joe Hale, Fort Chiswell Dis-trict Supervisor, requested the Board send two letters to VDOT. The first would request VDOT to stripe Peppers Ferry Road from the new bridge over the rail-road to the Pulaski County line.

The second letter would request unused snow remov-

Public Hearing—Clean

Air Ordinance

Amendment

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

6/4 - Planning Commission will meet in the Board room of the County Ad-ministration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville at 7 p.m.

6/5 - Building and Ground Committee will meet in the conference of the County Administration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville at 8 a.m.

6/5—Wythe County Board of Supervi-sors will hold a public hearing regard-ing the 2013 Budget & 2012 Tax Levy. The meeting will be held at the County Administration Building at 7 p.m.

6/7 - Economic Development Commit-tee will meet in the conference of the County Administration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville at 8 a.m.

6/12- Wythe County Board of Supervi-sors will hold its bi-monthly meeting at 7 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville.

6/13- Tourism Committee will meet in the Board room of the County Ad-ministration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville at 1 p.m.

6/19- Water Committee will meet in the conference room of the County Administration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville at 9:30 a.m.

6/21 - Budget Committee will meet in the conference room of the County Administration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville at 8 a.m.

6/25- Recreation Commission will meet in the Board room of the County Administration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville at 7 p.m.

6/29- Wythe County Board of Su-pervisors will hold its bi-monthly meeting at 9 a.m. in the County Ad-ministration Building, 340 S 6th Street, Wytheville.

Page 7

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

27 28 29 30 31 1 2

3 4 Planning Commission

5 Building & Grounds

BOS Public Hearing

6 7 Economic Development

8 9

10 11 12 Board of Supervisor

13 Tourism Committee

14 15 16

17 18 19 Water Committee

20 21 Budget Committee

22 23

24 25 Recreation 26 27 28 29 Board of 30

June 2012 Public Meetings

I-77/I-81 overlap approved

(The following is a press release from the Virginia Department of Transportation)

BRISTOL—The Common-wealth Transportation Board (CTB) recently select-ed the location for the I-77/I-81 overlap in Wythe County choosing Candidate Build Alternative B, which adds one travel lane in each direction at the current location of the overlap.

“The board took a signifi-cant action to improve mo-bility in a heavily congested region by approving a loca-tion for the I-77/I-81 Over-lap in Wythe County,” said VDOT Bristol District Ad-ministrator Michael Russell,

P.E.

“This area is not only an important transportation link for Virginia but to North Carolina and West Virginia as well.” VDOT presented three alternatives during a public hearing in September 2011; Candidate Build A, separa-tion of the two interstates; Candidate Build B, the addition of one travel lane in each direction and a no-build option. The next steps in the pro-cess are to revise the envi-ronmental assessment based on the board’s decision and public comment received

during the September 2011 public hearing, then re-quest a final decision on the environmental assess-ment from the Federal Highway Administration. The cost estimate for Can-didate Build Alternative B is $457 million and in-cludes preliminary engi-neering, right of way and construction.

Currently, funding has not been identified for these phases.

Link to study web-site: http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/bristol/i-77-81_overlap.asp.

Communi

Sign up to receive this monthly newsletter via email by send-ing a message to [email protected].

The current edition can also be found online at the County Facebook page, www.facebook.com/wythecounty and on www.wytheco.org

340 S 6th St Wytheville, VA 24382 Phone: (276) 223-6020 Fax: (276) 223-6030

E-mail: [email protected] www.wytheco.org www.facebook.com/wythecounty

The HUB of southwest VA

Wythe County Board of Supervisors

Tuesday, June 12

T-shirt Screen Printing at Ru-

ral Retreat Public Library,

10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, June 13

T-shirt Screen Printing &

Movie at Wythe County Pub-

lic Library, 10:30 a.m.

Bring a plain, light-colored t-

shirt and screen print our

Summer Reading Program

logo!

Wednesday, June 20

Teddy Bear Fun Day at Chau-

tauqua

Elizabeth Brown Memorial Basic Dog Obedience Does your dog need to learn the basic com-mands to be a safe and well mannered pet?

THIS is the class for YOU & your DOG !!! For dogs 9 weeks & up & all their human fami-ly.

Instructor: Kristin Forbes

Wednesdays, Starting June 20th at Ager Park 6-7pm each day for 7 weeks FEE: $75/per dog

Call 223-6022 to regis-ter Maximum in class: 8 dogs.

Deadline: June 15

Sponsored by Wythe County Parks and Recre-ation

Introduction to Disc Golf Learn how to play disc golf on the new Disc Golf Course at Rural Retreat Lake and Campground Fee: $10 and includes a

Wythe Grayson Regional Library’s

June Programs Park, Main Stage, 10:30 a.m.

Bring your teddy bear or fa-

vorite stuffed animal!

Tuesday, June 26

Governor’s School play at

Wythe County Public Li-

brary, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 27

Action Animals at Wythe

County Public Library, 10:30

a.m.

Thursday, June 28

Creating Picture Books at

Rural Retreat Public Library,

10:30 a.m.

Upcoming Classes & Events

Disc June 14, 6 p.m. Call 223-6022 to sign up!

Deadline to register: June 12.

Presented by Wythe Coun-ty Parks and Recreation.