WARM SPRINGS – Over $1.3 million in requests are included in this year’s Bath County Capital Improvement Plan.
A public hearing on the fiscal year 2011-16 plan was held Monday night before the Bath County Planning Commission, giving department heads the opportunity to state their case before these requests are forwarded to the Bath County Board of Supervisors.
In previous years, supervisors have requested approximately $1 million in capital improvement projects. To meet this mark in 2011-12, $377,614 would need to be trimmed from requests totaling $1,377,614.
Requests for 2012-13 also exceed $1 million. Next year’s requests total $1,309,580.
Included in the fiscal year 2011-12 requests are $162,500 for county operations.
This includes $30,000 for a courthouse accounts computer system, $55,000 for a building code official and emergency services coordinator vehicle, $50,000 for a Millboro flood study, $20,000 for tipping floor repairs at the transfer station and $7,500 for retaining wall repairs at the transfer station.
Under fire and rescue, the Millboro Area Rescue Squad is seeking $58,000 toward the purchase of a new ambulance, while the Bolar Volunteer Fire Department is asking for $75,000 to replace an old fire engine.
“I can run antique plates on all of my engines,” said Bolar Fire Chief Jeb Thomas.
The Bath County Sheriff’s Office is seeking $35,000 for heating and cooling upgrades along with funds to repair a bathroom at the sheriff’s office.
“Thank you for your consideration,” Capt. Rick Armstrong of the sheriff’s office told members of the planning commission.
Bath County emergency services is seeking $45,000 for narrowbanding, while $40,000 is requested for planning and engineering costs associated with replacing the Bath County animal shelter.
This request is followed by a $440,000 request in 2012-13 for construction of a new animal shelter.
Parks and recreation is requesting $45,000 for replacement of a truck, while $90,000 is needed for building and grounds – $40,000 for exterior painting at the courthouse and $50,000 for courthouse column repairs.
Bath County Public Schools is requesting $827,114 in fiscal year 2011-12. Their requests include $80,205 to replace a 65-passenger bus and $96,164 to replace an activity bus.
The school board is also requesting $548,400 for locker room repairs at Bath County High School and $102,345 for installation of security cameras and entrance access systems at its three schools.
The school board approved its capital improvement re-quests at a Jan. 4 meeting.
“The board is strong in their belief that these are needs for Bath County schools,” Superintendent Sue Hirsh said. “They all deal with safety. They deal with the security in our buildings and a healthy environment for our students. This wasn’t something considered lightly.”
The Bath County Planning Commission will now send these requests, along with their comments on the requests, to the board of supervisors for its consideration, as the capital improvement plan becomes a part of the budget planning process for fiscal year 2011-12.
Planning commission members said they understood the needs but recognized fiscal constraints facing supervisors.
“The amount of money starts to become staggering, real quick,” said Bath County Planning Commission Chairman Mike Grist.
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