Shannon Kelly, Altavista Journal
The Sheriff’s office requested permission from the Campbell County Board of Supervisors to advertise for a public hearing regarding the idea for adding a $5 tax on electronic summons. Mixed feelings arose as this idea was introduced. The Sheriff’s office writes summons for traffic or criminal cases on a regular basis. To stream-line this process and keep up with modern technology, the Sheriff’s office wishes to obtain proper, updated equipment for issuing electronic citations, but requires more funding to afford it. This extra tax would provide the revenue needed to fund this update. This could be done by either only taxing offenders, or taxing all Campbell County residents extra, the Sheriff explained. It was decided that a public hearing will be held at a later date to give county residents a say. “I would like to see us catch up technology-wise,” the Sheriff said, mentioning that surrounding counties like Bedford and the city of Lynchburg have had this technology for at least 15 years. “We’re doing things the way we did when I started.” This public hearing date has yet to be announced.
Mike Davidson, director of economic development, appeared before the Campbell County Board of Supervisors on behalf of Banker Steel requesting them to approve the renewal of a non-binding Moral Obligation “with Bank of the James to support the IDA (Industrial Development Authority) in their efforts to assist an existing Campbell County manufacturer.” At Banker Steel’s request, the Campbell County IDA financed the construction of a building originally with First National Bank. The project was later refinanced with Bank of the James. “That financial restructuring assumed that within 4 years the property would be sold” to Banker Steel. However, in light of recent business opportunities, Banker Steel would prefer to postpone the purchase instead of making it this year and requested a 4 year lease extension with the IDA. This requires the loan to once again be refinanced. Twice in the past, the Board of Supervisors approved entering non-binding Moral Obligations with Banker Steel, first in 2013 when Banker Steel’s loan for the construction of a building was financed by First National Bank, and again in August of 2014 when the loan was refinanced with Bank of the James. Bank of the James is willing to refinance the loan, but under the condition that “the Board of Supervisors provide a non-binding Moral Obligation for 20% of the outstanding balance of the loan.” A non-binding Moral Obligation means that though the County is under no legal obligation to continue paying 20% if something goes wrong, it is under moral obligation. The Board approved Banker Steel’s request.
Clifton Tweedy informed the Board that rumble strips installed along route 501 were implemented to help reduce accidents, reflecting on a number of head-on collisions that have occurred on that route.
Michael Hudson, executive director of Avoca Museum in Altavista, gave an address on the “state of Avoca,” citing statistics and highlights from the year 2017 and explaining how Avoca contributes to the local economy.
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