The Shadow
WARM SPRINGS — The Bath County Board of Supervisors has scaled back plans for the proposed visitors center in Mitchelltown — for now.
Tuesday night, supervisors voted to spend approximately $850,000 on the project with funds generated by the county’s lodging tax.
Supervisors directed County Administrator Ashton Harrison to work with architects from Glave &?Holmes to design a visitors center with a goal of having a bid-ready plan by the end of the current fiscal year.
The total cost of the project will not exceed Fund 16 reserves and Fund 16 revenue for the remainder of the calendar year.
Two percent of Bath County’s lodging tax is divided between Fund 15 and Fund 16 in the budget. Fund 15 revenues are used for marketing and special events, while Fund 16 monies are earmarked for regional marketing, capital and operations.
As of Jan. 31, Fund 16 contained approximately $690,000.
Supervisors also authorized Harrison to enter into an agreement with Glave &?Holmes for these design services if the contract can be negotiated with current budgeted funds in Fund 16.
Harrison said he had been in touch with officials from Glave &?Holmes Tuesday.
“They feel confident that they can design something nice for us,”? Harrison said.
Glave &?Holmes, a Richmond architectural firm, held three meetings and gathered input from the public in 2017 before unveiling plans for the visitors center and grounds.
Estimates on the project ranged from $8.1 million to $9.1 million, as architects proposed an 8,080-square foot facility that included a lobby and gift shop, exhibit space, theatre and other features. They proposed a four-season destination on the eight acres of property in Mitchelltown.
In introducing his motion Tuesday night, Supervisor Stuart Hall said he envisioned a smaller building that would initially include a small meeting room, office space for the tourism director and the chamber of commerce plus a pavilion for the farmers market.
Other amenities could be added in future phases, as additional monies become available.
“I?think we can do that for less than $690,000,”?Hall said.
Chairman Richard Byrd said the county has been seeking a permanent location for the farmers market for about 25 years.
“I?disagree with doing nothing,”?Byrd said. “I?think this is the start we need to take. Something needs to be done.”
Before considering Hall’s motion, Supervisor Eddy Hicklin introduced a substitute to simply cancel a Wednesday work session that had been scheduled to discuss the project.
“This is the first time I’ve seen this motion,”?Hicklin said. “This would be like a snap decision for us.”
Supervisor Bart Perdue and Hicklin shared concerns that drainage and grading on the site could consume much of money earmarked for actual construction of the visitors center.
“I?would like to know what exactly we’re going to get and what it’s going to do for us,”?Perdue said.
Hicklin’s substitute motion was defeated by a 2-3 vote with Hall, Byrd and Ron Shifflett dissenting.
Hall’s original motion was then approved by a 3-2 vote with Hicklin and Perdue casting dissenting votes. Hall’s motion also included cancellation of Wednesday’s work session.
“Glave &?Holmes is a first-class act,”?Harrison said. “For that amount, they think they can build a small gem. This gives us a good start.”
In another tourism-related matter, supervisors awarded a tourism management contract to Mikula Harris. The Vinton firm has past experience in working with Bath County.
Also Tuesday night, supervisors authorized Harrison to execute a recycling agreement with Recycle Disposal Systems and amend its agreement with Republic Services.
The agreement with Recycle Disposal Systems will allow single stream recycling along with transporting recyclables from the transfer station to its facility in Roanoke. The amendment to an existing agreement with Republic Services changes how recyclables are collected.
“Both of those parties are ready to go,”?Harrison said.
Recycling containers will be placed at Valley Super-market, in West Warm Springs, Millboro Springs and at the transfer station. A?recycling container in Williamsville will be re-moved from service. Re-cyclable items include paper, cardboard, types I and II plastics, aluminum and tin.
“At this time, the market still has not recovered in glass,”?Harrison said. “Glass is still an issue.”
Harrison added that the county will realize savings on recycling costs with this new agreement.
“That is good news,”?he said.
Supervisors also authorized Harrison to file an application with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to close its transfer station permit.
“We haven’t had the need for a transfer station permit since 2015 when we switched over to the new system,”?explained Harrison.
The building will now be used as a part of the county’s single stream recycling process.
Also Tuesday night, supervisors introduced new animal shelter manager Sharrie Woodzell.
Woodzell succeeds Robbie Chestnut, who recently tendered his resignation as animal shelter/control manager after 23 years. She celebrated her 17th year with animal control on Monday.
Harrison said the animal control portion of Woodzell’s duties will now be overseen by the Bath County Sheriff’s Office.
Supervisors thanked Chestnut for his service and congratulated Woodzell on her promotion.
“I greatly, greatly appreciate it,”?she said.
In other business Tuesday night, supervisors:
— following a public hearing, approved a request by Holmes C. McLaughlin to rezone 2.66 acres of land in the Valley Springs Magisterial District from R-5 (Planned Unit Development)?to A-2 (Agriculture General)?with proffered conditions that will allow him to house one horse and a rabbit pen;
— renewed a fireworks permit for The Omni Home-stead Resort;
— approved the transfer of a 2010 Ford Explorer to the Bath County Airport Authority and a 2005 Ford F250 to Bath County Public Schools.
— approved the reappointment of Bart Ailstock as the Cedar Creek District representative on the Bath County Service Authority;
— approved the appointment of Laura Shaver to the Valley Springs seat on the Bath County Economic Development Authority.
Supervisors held a Wednesday budget work session with the Bath County School Board. They also have a Tuesday, Feb. 26, budget work session scheduled for 6 p.m. in Room 115 at the Bath County Court-house.
