The Shadow
WARM SPRINGS – The Bath County Board of Supervisors has directed a committee to study aspects of two fire and security alarm ordinances.
Supervisors took comments on a new regulation regarding fire and security alarms during their meeting Tuesday night, but they have also learned that a similar ordinance was passed in March 1997 and never put on the books.
“They are very similar, but there are a few differences in the way they are administered,” Bath County Administrator Bonnie Johnson said Wednesday morning. “We’re going to take both of them under consideration.”
A fire and security alarm ordinance was passed by supervisors on March 11, 1997, Johnson said, but that ordinance was never codified or put in the code books.
There are over 200 burglary and fire alarms in Bath County. They are connected with the 911 Center so that public safety or public emergency assistance may be dispatched when needed.
Supervisors also held a public hearing on the proposed county food and beverage tax Tuesday night, continuing that hearing until the March 9 meeting to give the public another opportunity to offer its input on the proposal.
Following a third public hearing Tuesday, supervisors adopted items associated with the application process of a Bath County-Total Action Against Poverty and Community Development Block Grant project. Supervisors also plan to hold another public hearing on this project that entails improvements in the Thomastown and Pinehurst Heights areas.
In other business Tuesday night, the Bath County Board of Supervisors:
-approved a letter of support to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a proposed hydroelectric project at Gathright Dam;
– ratified Jon Trees as the Virginia Association of Counties legislative liaison for Bath County;
– approved a complete settlement of $1,640 to the Hise family that was created due to an error in the amount requested at the January board of supervisors meeting;
– appointed Carol Hardbarger to the TAP board of directors;
– appointed Janet Shaffier to the Bath County Industrial Development Authority;
– appointed Jay Trinca to the Rockbridge Regional Library board of trustees;
– appointed Hugh Dunnagan to the Bath County Planning Commission;
– appointed David Lindsay to the Bath County Service Authority;
– discussed preliminary information from the state regarding possible budget cuts in fiscal year 2010-11.
The board continued the meeting until Monday when it will hold a joint budget session with the school board.
Supervisors will also hold a budget work session on Tuesday, Feb. 23, while board members will meet with agencies and departments on March 3 and March 4.
