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Bedford City budget approved

Bedford City officials approved a budget for FY 2011 that keeps real estate taxes at current levels. However, homeowners can expect to pay more because property assessments have risen about 4.5% over last year.

Read more in The Lynchburg News & Advance....

Posted on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 - 1:40pm

Bedford City property values rising

Assessed property values in the city of Bedford are increasing by about 4.75% over 2006 values, according to Wingate Appraisal Services. Reassessed land values, which become effective July 1, were mailed to city property owners in late April.

The new property values would inject more tax revenue into the city’s proposed 2010-11 budget if current tax rates stay the same. The current real estate tax rate is 86 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 12:51pm

Lynchburg-area officials seek citizen support for water cleanup

MapTech Inc., Virginia’s Region 2000, the City of Lynchburg, and Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality are working on a plan to clean up local waterways, and they are looking for photo by Team Travellerhelp from everyday citizens.

The plan will be based on a December 2007 assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency that spelled out the volume of bacteria the James River and six of its tributaries could contain and still be safe for recreation, known as the Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL. Studies have shown that the James, as well as Ivy Creek, Fishing Creek, Blackwater Creek, Tomahawk Creek, Burton Creek and Judith Creek contain bacteria levels higher that the TMDL.

Organizers are forming working groups comprised of citizens and officials. The groups will study particular problems in depth, and propose solutions. 

Homeowners -- and their property values -- benefit from clean waterways. Not only is clean drinking water a necessity, but sparkling waterways are a great recreational resource that draws prospective buyers.

Read more in The Lynchburg News & Advance....

Posted on Friday, May 7, 2010 - 12:29am

Verizon seeking lower property assessments

verizonVerizon is challenging the assessed value of its property in Virginia. If the move is successful, the telecommunications giant would pay about $500,000 less in taxes in the Lynchburg region.

If its property assessments are lowered, the company will ask for refunds on its 2009 property taxes. A public hearing on the matter will be held in March 2011.

Losing such a significant source of tax revenue would force localities to make up the difference by cutting services or raising money in other areas. Homeowners could see higher taxes and fees as a result.

Read more in the Lynchburgh News & Advance....

Posted on Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 10:32am

Public Meeting Set for Altavista Historic District

According to the Altavista Journal, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources will hold a public information hearing Tuesday, Feb. 16, at town hall at 6 p.m. The community is invited to hear the presentations, ask questions and offer input. Comments from the February meeting will be presented to two Virginia Department of Historic Resources boards on March 18. The proposed district takes in about 50 buildings in the heart of downtown, including commercial properties, government and churches, but no single-family residences.  Buildings have to be 50 years old and retain some historical character. A major benefit of the designations would be that contributing properties in the district would be eligible for historic rehabilitation tax credits from the state and federal governments. The designations would not impose restrictions on property owners.

 

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Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 12:16pm

Bedford Seeks Lower Speed Limits on Secondary Roads

Bedford County officials want to have the speed limits on secondary roads lowered from 55 mpg to 45, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Homeowners should be aware of these potential changes.

"Bedford County officials plan to ask state legislators to lower speed limits on all secondary roads in the state from 55 mph to 45 unless otherwise posted.

After some debate last week, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-2 to include the request in the county's upcoming list of legislative priorities for the state to consider in its next General Assembly session.

Supervisor Annie Pollard, who pushed for the measure, described the roads in her rural district as curvy, full of potholes and prone to wrecks.

'To me, there's no secondary road in Bedford County that speed limits should be 55 miles per hour on,' Pollard said.

Chairman John Sharp, who voted against pursuing the reduction, said he was more concerned with driver inattention, particularly sending text messages while driving.

The board sought opinions from several law-enforcement officers Thursday on whether the reduction would prove effective, which several supervisors questioned.

'A few bad apples, no matter what our posted [speed] limit is, are going to speed,' Sharp said.

'You can't legislate against people's habits and people's actions,' Supervisor Chuck Neudorfer said. 'We can set any rule we want, and no one is going to pay attention to it except a careful driver.'

The board will consider the priorities list in its entirety next month."

Read the original story.

Posted on Monday, November 16, 2009 - 9:40pm

Leesville Lake, An Undiscovered Gem

Leesville business owners are hopeful about the area's economic development, according to GoDanRiver.com.

Those who love Leesville Lake, think that others will, too. A quieter lake than its neighbor, Smith Mountain Lake, there are many available homes and lots at more affordable prices.

Many in the area hope to see some commercial development at Leesville in the future, which might make the lake more well-known.

"Though a bad economy has stalled development at quiet Leesville Lake, commercial growth is inevitable for the Dan River Region’s well-kept secret.

'The economy … has slowed it down, but it’s coming,' said Fred Tannehill, owner of Tri-County Marina at the lake and vice president of the Leesville Lake Association’s board of directors.

County officials and Tannehill say 17-mile-long Leesville Lake — which is connected to Smith Mountain Lake — has great economic potential.

'Right now, Leesville is pretty much an undiscovered lake,' said Tannehill, who has lived at the lake and owned Tri-County Marina since 1976. Most of its 100-plus-mile shoreline is natural, with about a third of it developed, Tannehill said. Leesville Lake covers 3,270 acres, with water levels fluctuating between 600 and 613 feet above sea level."

Read the full story.

Posted on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 6:46pm

Chesapeake Bay Reports Call For More Livestock, Runoff Regulations

Last week federal officials released parts of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, according to NewsDay.com.

The report focuses on expanding regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff. Although details of the expanded regulations have not been decided, the report did mention that federal leadership and "muscle" would be used when necessary to enforce the new regulations.

This report, along with others wll be used to develop a bay restoration strategy scheduled for release on Novemeber 9th.

Because many of the Virginia localities in the Chesapeake Watershed are heavily farmed areas, many Virginia property owners could be affected. Property owners will need to ensure that their rights are protected in the process of restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

"Federal officials on Thursday began revealing the building blocks of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, using federal leadership to encourage states to cut pollution and federal muscle, when necessary, to ensure it happens.

Among recommendations in draft reports from federal agencies: expanded regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff, and requirements that increases in pollution be offset by reductions from other sources.

The details, such as how many more animal feeding operations would be regulated, have not been decided, but 'the message here is that there will be, there is a commitment at EPA to increased enforcement and increased oversight of state programs,' EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said Thursday.

The reports will be used to develop a bay restoration strategy, scheduled for release Nov. 9, that was mandated by an executive order issued earlier this year by President Obama.

The EPA said it was working with Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia to establish limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments. States would have to develop detailed plans on how to reduce levels of those pollutants from sources such as farms, highways and lawns. The EPA said it would step in if states don't take sufficient action.

While large operations such as industrial chicken farms would be regulated, the EPA said it would also expand regulation of municipal stormwater programs to include high-growth areas.

Jackson said the goal was to use federal leadership, and 'federal muscle when necessary.'

Agriculture is responsible for about half the pollution entering the bay, but Jackson noted there is more turf grass in the bay watershed than corn acreage and the region is much different from when bay restoration efforts began decades ago."

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Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 10:50am

Roanoke Valley Home Sales Increase

The Roanoke Times published some great news for area homeowners today. The local real estate market is showing signs of recovery with an increase in the number of housing contracts that closed in July 2009 versus July 2008.

Although you already own a home in the area, statistics like these are great indicators for prediciting how the value of your home may change in the future. These are the kinds of numbers homeowners like to see, because home values will start to stabilize and rise and the real estate market recovers.

"In a refreshing sign for the local real estate market, home sales in the Roanoke Valley in July climbed above year-ago totals for the first time in more than 18 months.

The number of housing contracts that closed in July increased 18 percent, to 435 from 368 in July 2008, according to data reported by the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors.

The association tracks sales activity in Roanoke and Salem and in Roanoke, Botetourt and Craig counties and portions of Bedford and Franklin counties.

The volume of homes sold during the month also rose 10 percent from 2008.

Still, the average price of a Roanoke Valley home was $198,930 last month, down from $212,197 in 2008.

In Virginia, home sales for the second quarter, as of June 30, dropped 4.4 percent from last year, according to the Virginia Association of Realtors.

Several factors are spurring a Roanoke Valley residential sales bump, including an $8,000 tax credit that the federal government is offering to first-time homebuyers or people who have not owned a home for at least three years. In order to receive the credit, buyers must close on a home by Dec. 1."

Read full story.

Posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 - 5:03pm

Lace Up Your Running Shoes, a New Marathon is Coming to the Roanoke Area

The Roanoke Times reports that Roanoke economic development officials, runners and business professionals are planning a marathon that they hope will draw people from across the country, boost tourism dollars and stand out as one of the toughest marathon courses around.

The 26.2-mile course will start at the Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke, wind up Mill Mountain and onto the parkway. Runners will climb to the top of Roanoke Mountain, cut back down to the Mill Mountain Star and go through parts of downtown Roanoke. The finish line will be in front of the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

Other marathons in the Commonwealth have been growing, despite the struggling economy, and are great for pumping tourism dollars into communities. Roanoke homeowners can view this as a great way to show-off the beauty of their town to visitors, enjoy an added annual event, and experience a boost in their local economy.

"The last time marathoners flocked to the Roanoke Valley for a 26.2-mile race was in 1983. But marathons and the festivities associated with them have been growing throughout the country in cities large and small, pumping significant tourism dollars into some communities.

The Roanoke Valley is banking on this success as it markets the outdoors to a population of runners whose sport is named the No. 1 outdoor recreation activity in the country by the Outdoor Industry Association.

Organizers, along with U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, announced Wednesday the coming of a new marathon, coined the Blue Ridge Marathon on the Parkway.

Set for April 24, 2010, its route will cover a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway and sections of Roanoke, with approximately 16 miles of mountain climbing and 10 miles of city roadways."

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Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 12:58pm