The Shadow
Dear Editor,
I saw on the Internet that the Bath County Board of Supervisors called a meeting on Tuesday, April 7, at Bath County High School.
Mr. Harrison, Bath County administrator, advised me that due to COVID-19, the meeting was moved to BCHS. I can agree with this reasoning.
However, why advertise this meeting when the public was not encouraged to attend. Because of social distancing, only 10 people can meet at any one time.
I am counting five supervisors, county administrator and county attorney and reporters from The Recorder, Virginian Review and WCHG — they make up 10 people. How is anyone else supposed to attend?
The supervisors are scheduled to meet again Tuesday at BCHS for their regular April meeting.
Mr. Harrison told me that it would be up to Sheriff Plecker to only allow 10 people into the meeting. How would this work since the quota of 10 has been reached by the governing board and their staff? Sheriff Plecker would have to be outside the room to know who is practicing social distancing while waiting in the halls to be heard.
I question how the sheriff would handle the process of directing people into the meeting. No mention was made as to how long the first 10 from the public would be allowed to remain in the meeting before the next 10 would be admitted.
Also, how is the sheriff going to social distance those who arrive and decide to wait their turn? Somebody is not thinking.
We are all facing the COVID-19 pandemic. What items are so important that our board cannot postpone them for 60 days?
Our county is in turmoil just as our country. Many of our taxpaying citizens have been laid off from The Homestead and are worrying about feeding and supporting their families.
The Homestead has felt the crunch, like 90 percent of our businesses. With this huge layoff, why should we be considering additional taxes??Businesses are reducing operating hours as well as employees.
I feel the $10 annual fee for all short-term rentals is discriminating. No other vocation is being included.
I am not advocating the $10 fee be charged to all businesses. Many are operating after hours to help supplement incomes.
I have regularly paid the county tax on my rentals and have not complained, but enough is enough!
The $10 fee will not break me and hopefully no other rental owners. What is bothersome is that this business has been singled out to register with the county annually. Are other businesses doing the same?
I have not been attending board meetings due to my health, but I have always read about the county’s transactions that occur each month.
It would seem the only business necessary at this time would be payment of bills or appointments to committee vacancies that should be carried out until this pandemic ends. This, too, shall pass!
Gentlemen, are you serving your local citizens? You are already proposing a tax hike.
A change in county government officials should be a board committed to saving their citizens’ tax dollars.
Can each of you honestly say you are committed to doing this? Now would be a good time to think.
Sincerely,
Jackie Plecker
Douthat State Park Road Millboro
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Dear Editor,
This is not a time for an increase in taxes for Bath County. I cannot believe that this is being brought up at a time when 700-plus Bath County citizens have been laid off.
People are worried and stressed about how they will take care of their families, and our board of supervisors cannot find ways to cut expenses, but schedule a meeting knowing that people cannot and will not be able to attend.
Shame! Shame!
Put your thinking caps on and look at the county budget, school budget and do the job you were elected to do.
Also, I cannot understand why the subject of hiring a tourism director keeps coming up. Bath County — with all the activities that The Omni Homestead has — is why the majority of people come to our county, and they do the advertising to bring them here.
The cost of a tourism director is unnecessary, so use the chamber of commerce who can really represent the local businesses.
Many citizens have approached me asking why Bath Community Hospital would open a walk-in clinic in Covington and not open a clinic in Hot Springs that would keep them from having to go to Covington. As you know, Bath County has many senior citizens who are unable to make the trip to Covington.
I realize that there is a clinic in the hospital, but it has limited days with only an hour to see patients.
The clinic in Millboro is a really great asset for the citizens on the other side of the mountain.
The Lettie Pate Fund that was left to take care of the citizens of Bath County should be used by the hospital to do more for the citizens, as it was intended.
Thank you,
Carl Chestnut
Hot Springs
