Appomattox County supervisors voted to hold off filling the county’s Economic Development Director position, but will move forward with a grant application for the U.S. 460 water line project.
At a board meeting Tuesday night, supervisors debated the tough question of whether to move forward with efforts to stimulate the economy when the county’s budget faces significant cuts on the state level.
In a 4-1 vote, supervisors voted against hiring a new director but said they would revisit the possibility when the county received its budget.
Supervisor Tom Conrad said that he was wary about filling a position when layoffs on the county level were still uncertain.
Supervisor Sam Carter disagreed, saying that the hiring of an economic development director was imperative in ensuring future growth.
“(The position) is the only person who can bring commerce to the locality to enhance the tax base from which we can grow upon.”
Amherst County also opted to leave their county’s economic development director position unfilled because of potential budget cuts. County Administrator Lee Lintecum agreed to take on the role in the interim.
Appomattox County supervisors also voted unanimously to reapply for federal stimulus fund money through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program for the U.S. 460 water line project. County Planner Johnnie Roark estimated the cost for reapplication to be about $5,000.
“Every one of us is supporting the water line,” Conrad said, adding that all the county’s expenditures should be carefully deliberated while the budget remains unknown.
In other business:
No one spoke at a planning commission public hearing regarding the commission’s plans to amend the zoning code to allow for commercial shooting ranges.
The board approved the commission’s request to add commercial shooting ranges as a conditional use in the zoning.
No official applications for ranges have yet to be received, Roark said, but citizens have made inquiries.
The board also moved to instruct County Attorney John Overstreet to look into redrafting the county’s noise ordinance.
Overstreet said that the current ordinance was vague and could not be properly enforced. He said he would look at other noise ordinances adopted by nearby counties for ideas the board could consider.
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