The Courier-Record

AROUND TOWN


 

 

As this edition is being inserted and labelled Tuesday night (May 23rd), the Nottoway Board of Supervisors was schedued to hold a 6:00 p.m. Continued Closed Session from last Thursday night for Consultation with Legal Counsel and Personnel/Administration. Things aren’t pretty behind the scenes at the courthouse. And that was before Saturday’s tragic death of former Building Inspector Dean Lewis, who was planning litigation against the County. Our prayers for Dean’s family and for everyone involved in County government today. Supervisors moved their Continued Meeting to the Emergency Operations Center — that storm bunker is probably a wise choice.

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Meanwhile, things are cooking at Town Hall, where Council the same night (Tuesday) wasscheduledtoholda7p.m. Continued Meeting to review a proposed budget and to — you guessed it — discuss Personnel, believed to involve a recent encounter at Town Hall involving the Town Manager.

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You want an example of optimism? The Board of Supervisors in its proposed budget plans to spend $50,000 for Legal Services. In this fiscal year alone with another month remaining, the Board already has spent more than $230,000. Supervisors budgeting $50,000 for Legal Expenses is like my house budgeting $50 for women’s shoes.

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My vertigo has gotten so bad, I’ve had to leave in the middle of some local government meetings.

However, when I leave, the strange auras stop. It could be all the spinning by local politicians.

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Danny Sheffield, who now lives on Rt. 46, is very observant. I wholeheartedly share his observations in last week’s Forum about the Rt. 46 bridge being closed. Unless there is active enforcement, you’re going to see more big trucks roll down 46 and use Jonesboro Road and Cedar Creek Road to reach their destinations. If you drive those roads, do so slowly and be prepared to lurch into the ditch.

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Someone please show me state law prohibiting authorities from releasing the age, sex, and grade level of students who commit various crimes — from bringing guns to school to making false threats about blowing up schools. The Virginia Dept of Education and Virginia School Boards Association don’t run our counties. We the people do, and we have a right to know — especially parents with children in schools. “Is that kid coming back to school and, if so, when?” It’s a reasonable question that deserves an answer. What are the punishments for those recent threats?

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Bid opening for the County’s planned new animal shelter is this Thursday, May 25th, at 2:00 p.m. Due to inflation, paramedics might want be on standby, and it’s BYODT (Bring Your Own Dog Treats). What’s the big rush? We’ve been talking about a new shelter only since Dec. 2018.

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Nottoway County’s proposed budget includes new night vision goggles for the Sheriff ’s Office. Board of Supervisors meetings have been running so late, they should include an extra set for Supervisors and County staff. Maybe break them in during closed sessions. Would add an extra sense of secrecy and intrigue to those closed door talks. And make the attorneys wear them when they’re calculating billable hours. In Nottoway, those hours should be renamed “spillable.” The County is spewing legal fees like oil from a busted drilling rig.

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Fun Fact: There are seven Teslas registered in Nottoway County as of this week, according to the Commissioner of Revenue’s office.

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