Tracy Pyles Will Chair Augusta County Supervisors, Terry Kelley Vice Chair

Chairman Tracy Pyles (photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)

In tonight’s organizational meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, board veteran Tracy Pyles (I-Pastures) was elected chairman for 2017. Terry Kelley (R-Beverley Manor), in his first term on the board, was elected as vice chairman.

The Board of Supervisors are elected officials that represent the people of Augusta County.  They are the governing board that make the decisions that influences our local government and economy. Augusta County is divided into seven Districts.  The Supervisor elected is that District’s representative.  Supervisors are elected to staggered four year terms.

Meetings: The public is welcome to attend.

• Staff Briefing: The Augusta County Board of Supervisors meets on the Monday before the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:30 P.M. in the Board Room of the Augusta County Government Center.
• Board of Supervisors: The Board of Supervisors meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the Augusta County Government Center.

The board, in addition to Pyles and Kelley, is made up of Gerald Garber (R-Middle River), Marshall Pattie (I-North River), Mike Shull (R-Riverheads), Wendell Coleman (Wayne), and Carolyn Bragg (R-South River).

Karaffa: There’s more to the courthouse issue than many realize

By David Karaffa
Guest Post

[Editor’s Note: The ongoing Augusta County courthouse issue is once again in the news. The Staunton News Leader’s articles (see County approves courthouse referendum petition, Staunton responds to county courthouse decision, County approves courthouse referendum petition, and New courthouse would not serve the greater good) are helpful for background in the ongoing discussion as well as those from LynnRMitchell.com writers (see Augusta County Courthouse: ‘This is the song that doesn’t end‘ and Augusta County Courthouse moving forward, Staunton counters and The Augusta County Courthouse decision and Augusta County: Renovate courthouse in Staunton or build new one in county?) in this two-year-old issue.]

I have been reading the online News Leader and other news sources as the Augusta County Courthouse issue heats up again and I feel the need to tell the truth about the discussions that have been taking place for years between Staunton and Augusta County about it.

First, the News Leader is incredibly biased (if you didn’t know that already). When I was in my first or second year on the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, we opened a dialog with Staunton to discuss the overwhelming issues we were having with the courts. We also reminded the Staunton City Council of the many promises and deals that were made in good faith to keep the facilities up and running and in Staunton at a shared expense.

The Board of Supervisors, the courts, and the citizens of Augusta kept up their end of the deal for decades (yes — decades; you read that right), and the Staunton City Council never moved forward on their end of the deal. Shameful. Now, of course, over the decades many of the people on the council and board have moved on, but some are still there. So that is some deep background.

2016: The race is on!

By David Karaffa
Guest Post

Last week I found myself in a very interesting circumstance. My 20-year-old sister had five friends visiting our home here in Florida, kind of an impromptu spring break. All of them except one are voting for the first time in the presidential race. So, I put some questions out there and listened to the responses.

I read out all the names of who has declared for president, both Democrat and Republican, and here is how the small poll worked out: 4 votes for Donald Trump, 1 vote for Rand Paul, and 1 abstention. Here are some of their thoughts on what they are looking for in a president.

Larry Weeks to run for Wayne District supervisor

Larry Weeks (Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Augusta County resident Larry W. Weeks has announced he is running for supervisor in the Wayne District as an Independent candidate.

Weeks, who worked for 30 years at Dupont, lives on a 33-acre farm in the Hugh Cassell area where he raises Katahdin sheep. He has been in leadership on the Augusta County Farm Bureau Federation for five years serving on the board as president and treasurer. He also served five years as treasurer for Hugh Cassell’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).

David Karaffa steps down as Augusta County supervisor

David Karaffa (photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Beverley Manor District Supervisor David Karaffa submitted his resignation to Augusta County at Wednesday night’s meeting, citing relocation out of state with family due to family issues.

David, who was the youngest member of the board at 30 and was completing his first term with an eye to reelection in November, had been instrumental in bringing change to the board. That included staggered terms to bring the board in line with surrounding localities, funding fire and rescue, and working with fellow supervisors on the Courthouse issue.

Augusta County public hearing on budget, citizen comments

By Lynn R. Mitchell

At Wednesday’s Augusta County supervisors’ budget meeting local resident Bob Dickerman offered remarks to the Board. Supervisors held a public hearing for the proposed tax rate including: raising estate from $0.56 to $0.58 per $100, keeping personal property that consists of autos and motorcycles the same at $2.50. Personal property consisting of large trucks and trailers, and machinery and tools would increase from $1.90 to $2. Personal property made up of campers, boats, boat trailers, horse trailers, airplanes, and trailers would increase from $1.90 to $2.50.

Kurt Michael for Wayne District supervisor?

Dr. Kurt Michael and his family. Election Day 2011.

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The grape vine is working overtime these days with phone calls and inquiries from folks asking if Dr. Kurt Michael is running for Wayne District supervisor in Augusta County. He was approached weeks ago and asked to please run for the position that he had almost won four years ago.

In 2011, then-chairman of the Augusta County GOP Bill Shirley would not even talk with Kurt about seeking the Republican nomination and, as a result, he had to run as an Independent candidate. Never mind that he had been active in the Republican Party for over 20 years and had served as GOP chairman in Fairfax City while in his 20s, and as Augusta County chairman from 2002-08. Shirley recruited a candidate who had not been involved with the Republican Party before running for supervisor. Kurt lost on election day to voters who walked in and asked, “Who is the Republican candidate?” without knowing either one.

New bridge opens in Fishersville, named for Dennis Burnett

By Lynn R. Mitchell

There’s a new road in Fishersville that connects two main thoroughfares, and includes a bridge that is named for Dennis Burnett, the former economic development director for Augusta County who passed away last October (see Remembering Dennis Burnett 1964-2014) .

The dedication of the new road took place Friday morning, as described in a press release from the Augusta County Office of Economic Development:

Big changes coming to Augusta County

By Lynn R. Mitchell

There are some big changes coming to Augusta county in 2015.

County Manager Pat Coffield: retiring.

Middle River Supervisor Larry Wills: retiring.

Wayne District Supervisor Jeff Moore: retiring.

North River  Supervisor Marshall Pattie: running for state senate.

Augusta County public hearing for Atlantic Coast Pipeline

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Augusta County Government Center and Board of Supervisors will host a public hearing tonight for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline that begins in West Virginia and runs through Augusta County on its way to North Carolina.

Dominion Power has held many open houses addressing the concerns of residents who question or outright oppose a pipeline. It will be interesting tonight to see if any proponents are in the audience to join the organized anti-pipeline crowd.

The public hearing begins at 7:00 in Verona.

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7:00: Meeting is now underway. All supervisors are here as well as staff. Rules for speaking have been given to the full room including requesting respectful comments. A 15-minute break will be taken at 9:00.

More backyard chickens? Augusta County supervisors say ‘no’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Who knew backyard chickens would be such a controversial idea in rural Augusta County? I am not an expert on the policies nor have I read much on either side. However, for someone who is pretty plugged into the news, the chicken issue was under my radar until arriving at the supervisor meeting Wednesday night and seeing the partition open and extra seating set up for an overflow crowd.

Hmm.

Augusta County Board of Supervisors organizational meeting votes in new chair, vice chair

By Lynn R. Mitchell

First meeting of 2015 is the organizational meeting for Augusta County’s Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Mike Shull (Riverheads) was elected chairman and Supervisor David Karaffa (Beverley Manor) was elected vice chairman. Outgoing chairman Larry Wills (Middle River) was presented a gavel and thanked for chairing the board during 2014.

Congratulations to Supervisor Karaffa who is one of our contributors here at LynnRMitchell.com. He is the youngest supervisor on the board (31) and has been very effective in his district of the county as well as various boards.

Dog barking ordinance passed for Augusta County

By David Karaffa
Supervisor, Beverley Manor District, Augusta County

After much debate and delay, Augusta County now has a dog barking ordinance in place for residential neighborhoods. For many years I had received phone calls and complaints about neighbors who would leave their animals chained outside all night and allowing them to bark and howl for hours on end. Many folks spoke with the owners and tried to work this out themselves, and in some cases it worked. I have always encouraged this because it is the best way for disagreeing neighbors to work things out and keep the local government out of it. However, in other, more rare cases, the owners simply ignored the pleas of their neighbors and the barking of their animal. Therefore, after many years of requesting, the Board of Supervisors has put in place a tool for use by those folks who wish for some peace at night.

Special Issue: LynnRMitchell.com writers, guests discuss Atlantic Coast Pipeline

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Today at LynnRMitchell.com, we are looking at the Atlantic Coast Pipeline issue that has stirred opinions both for and against in Augusta County and elsewhere. Posts from guest writers and regular contributors include Augusta County supervisors, citizens, information from Dominion, and an editorial cartoon.

Here is the list of articles in today’s Special Pipeline Issue:

• Atlantic Coast Pipeline: Better ways to the same end by Supervisor Tracy Pyles
• Dominion, environmentalists, and pipeline hypocrisy by Joel Salatin
• Augusta County: Too valuable and vulnerable for this pipeline? by former Supervisor Nancy Sorrells
• Dominion’s Growth – What, Why, How, and Controlling Features by Calvin Lucy
• The Dominion Pipeline Maze by Kurt Michael
• Schedule for 2015 Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline open houses from Dominion
• Myths & facts about Atlantic Coast Pipeline from Dominion

Previous articles on the pipeline:

• Dominion Virginia Power pipeline in Augusta County by Supervisor David Karaffa
• Augusta County residents organize against pipeline by Supervisor David Karaffa
• What if Dominion Virginia Power ran high speed internet with Atlantic Coast Pipeline? by Lynn R. Mitchell
• Governors McAuliffe, Tomblin, McCrory provide bipartisan support for Atlantic Coast Pipeline by Lynn R. Mitchell
• Business community, public officials support Atlantic Coast Pipeline by Lynn R. Mitchell
• Augusta supervisors deliver resolution asking for more info, Dominion says 75% of landowners in pipeline path agree to surveying  by Lynn R. Mitchell

Cross-posted

Atlantic Coast Pipeline: Better ways to the same end

By Tracy Pyles
Supervisor, Pastures District, Augusta County
Guest Post

The “no-pipeline” slogan fits nicely on 2-inch buttons and yard signs but is an incomplete statement of attitude.  Most of us realize pipelines, whether 1, 2, or 3, will be approved to cross Virginia, destined for the Atlantic coast, in the next 5 years.  The challenge is to insure that these pipelines are smartly placed where they can serve their intended purposes while limiting their impact on the environment, the least risk to our people and force-take the least amount of private property.