SUPERVISOR ROARK SAYS MORE DETAILS ARE NEEDED
The Town of Blackstone has made Nottoway County a $651,000 cash offer for approximately 72 acres of land near Blackstone Army Airfield to develop an aviation industrial park to serve the growing drone industry.
But Town Manager Philip Vannoorbeeck didn’t receive the warmest of welcomes last Thursday night from some members of the Board of Supervisors.
“I like doing business on the up-and-up,” declared Supervisor John Roark. “And I don’t like being given this information right before an offer is made.”
Vannoorbeeck told Supervisors that the County-owned land has been advertised on Loopnet for six months with no offers. “We want to move forward because it’s been sitting there for 30 years-plus, and the County hasn’t done a stinking thing with it.”
Vannoorbeeck was referring to the 1995 federal decision that closed Pickett. The National Guard took command in 1997, and the federal government gave Nottoway County about 3,000 acres for development.
“But you got a new Board here, and it’s a new time, baby,” declared Supervisor Bo Toth. “We’re ready to roll.”
“We’re bringing you a new, valid, legitimate offer,” replied Vannoorbeeck, who said the estimated $9,000-per-acre price is based on open land recently sold by Toth along Nottoway Avenue in Blackstone.
“You (County) get all the tax revenue. It’s not inside the Town,” Vannoorbeeck said of the site. “You won’t lose a dime, and you’re not getting anything off of it.”
Toth at one point during Vannorbeeck’s presentation suggested discussing the matter “back there” in executive session.
“No, I like talking about it out here,” said Vannoobeeck.
Vannoorbeeck was called to the podium by Chairman Bill Collins, who said he was invited earlier this year to tour Textron, a drone-maker currently at the airport. Collins said he “had no idea how extensive the operation is. Those drones that are being used overseas are being made here in Nottoway.”
Vannoorbeeck said defense contractors “don’t do a lot of advertising.”
Collins said Vannoorbeeck asked him how the County could help with creating an Aviation Industrial Park, and County Planner Gregg Zody drew-up a sample ordinance that was shared with Crewe Town Manager Phil Miskovic.
Toth said Blackstone “likes to do wonderful things and y’all have done some wonderful things…what about a joint ture with the County” so the County “can get some revenue.”
Collins and Vannoorbeeck said that while the County and Town can receive Tobacco Commission money, only the Town would be eligible for state Dept. of Aviation funds because Blackstone has joint use of the Blackstone Army Airfield.
Vannoorbeeck said he believes expansion of drone opportunities at the airport “presents the biggest economic development since FASTC…We believe this is the next FASTC in our area…We think it has as much or more potential.”
The airport currently is home of the nation’s first licensed vertiport, and Collins revealed, “There already have been inquiries from pharmaceutical companies about using that vertiport.”
Vannoorbeeck a company called “Beta” is interested in setting up infrastructure on the east coast for electronic delivery electric transportation. He noted that there’s already an airplane charger at the airport.
Additionally, said Vannoorbeeck, Virginia Tech has selected Blackstone Army Airfield as the eastern terminus of its unmanned vehicle development plan.
Supervisor Roark said there’s also been talk of the County giving up the Officers Club at Pickett which Roark said would push more events to the renovated Harris Memorial Armory in Blackstone. “What about the rest of the towns in Nottoway County? There’s two more towns we seem to keep forgetting about.”
Vannoorbeeck said the Town provided documents to the County two months ago.
Collins said there have been two closed session discussions about the possibilities as well as one open session discussion.
Roark said he wasn’t invited to the meeting at Textron. “Was anybody else?”
“I didn’t know there was a meeting,” agreed Toth.
“There we go,” replied Roark.
Supervisor Daphne Norton told Roark, “We can’t keep going backwards…we have failing infrastructure out there and all the buildings and the Officers Club are falling apart and goin’ to Hell. They need money that we don’t have to fix them.”
However, Supervisor Norton added, “My concern is what we are doing for the Town of Crewe? How does that affect the Crewe Airport?”
Collins said Aviation zoning has been discussed with Crewe but Crewe’s airport is surrounded by private landowners which could make expansion difficult.
Supervisor Roark asked how much revenue the proposed venture could bring to Nottoway. Mrs. Norton noted that the County hasn’t raised its Machinery & Tools tax rate “in a long time.”
Roark also asked “when the rest of the Board was gonna be told about these meetings?”
A June 16th email from Roark to Collins and obtained by the Courier-Record stated, “Why does this seem like a done deal and have the other 2 towns been given the same opportunity as Blackstone? I’m currently not in favor of this, especially given the fact that a Town Council member is looking to benefit off this. Too much behind closed door discussions without the full board being involved. Clearly appears like some good ole boy (expletive) to me.”
Collins told Roark last Thursday that he was invited to Textron as the County’s District Five rep — because the airfield is located in District Five.
Vannoorbeeck could sense a County stalemate and potential upper end/lower end battle. “If you guys just want to do your thing, there’s no sense in the Town getting beat-up over this. We ain’t askin’ a favor, we ain’t askin’ y’all to give it to us. We’re just makin’ an offer. If you don’t want to consider an offer, just let it grow tumbleweeds out there like it’s been.”
Toth asked about terms of the proposed deal.
Vannoorbeeck replied, “We don’t need nothin’, brother. We certainly don’t need THIS” — apparently referring to the debate — “and that’s why we’re making you an offer…I’ll let you chew on it.”
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