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300 speak out about uranium mining in Pittsylvania County

Members of Virginia's Coal and Energy Commission heard from Pittsylvania County residents last night, who urged the commission to consider the full impact of of proposed uranium mining activity on the area.

Virginia Uranium's projections for the proposed mine and mill indicate it could employ up to 350 people, paying salaries and benefits of $23 million and producing $140 million in annual revenue.

Read more in The Richmond Times-Dispatch....

Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 8:25am

Residents' input sought on uranium study draft

The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Mining Subcommittee will meet at 6:00  Tuesday evening at Chatham High School. Residents are invited to comment on the draft of a socioeconomic study of uranium mining and milling. When complete, the study will examine the social, economic, and environmental impacts that uranium mining and milling would have on the community.

“Certainly all pertinent suggestions would be added to the revised draft of the scope that will be crafted after the public meeting,” said David A. Bovenizer, the spokesman for Uranium Mining Subcommittee Chairman.

Anyone who wants to comment can sign up about an hour before the meeting starts. They will be given three minutes to speak. 

Uranium mining and milling activity could have an impact on property values in Pittsylvania County, and that needs to be addressed in the study. Homeowners should speak out to protect their interests.

A draft of the study is available here. The site also has contact information for subcommittee members.

Read more in the Danville Register & Bee....

Posted on Friday, June 18, 2010 - 10:41am

Virginia unemployment rate lower than national average

The Virginia Employment Commission has released a report detailing employment statistics across the Commonwealth. Experts say that the job market has a direct impact on the housing market -- good jobs allow homeowners to pay the mortgage and stay in their homes. Poor job markets can lead to declining property values.

Virginia’s unemployment rate was 7.7% in February, lower than the national rate of 10.4%.

Read more in local news outlets....

Posted on Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 8:29am

Local governments in Virginia making tough decisions to balance budgets

photo by stuartpilbrowStatewide, counties and cities are pulling out all the stops to find the funds needed to keep their schools and government services up and running. Some are cutting jobs and salaries, many are cutting back on programs, and others are looking for extra money in unusual places.

Read more in the local news outlets below:

York School Board passes $115 million budget Monday night (Daily Press)

Beach weighs options to save ailing golf courses (The Virginian-Pilot)

Roanoke tries to cut $10 million from city budget (The Roanoke Times)

Clearbrook fire and rescue station would welcome $93,600 (The Roanoke Times)

Pittsylvania County Supervisors talk finances (The Danville Register & Bee)

Campbell Co. School Board approves budget with school closure, job cuts (Lynchburg News & Advance)

County, school leaders get down to numbers in Bedford (The Lynchburg News & Advance)

Overtime debated, fees considered by Augusta supervisors (The Waynesboro News Virginian)

Public hearing tomorrow on Goochland County budget issues (The Goochland Gazette)

County, schools get additional $1 million (Mechanicsville Local)

School board OKs budget with 12 staff cuts (Amherst New Era Progress)

Early retirements will aid Washington County school budget (Bristol Herald Courier)

County proposes position, capital project cuts (The Staunton News Leader)

Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - 1:16pm

School budgets continue to dominate local headlines

Danville Public Schools

School districts across Virginia are pressing officials for more money. Homeowners may feel torn between the need to keep taxes low in a tough economy and keeping the quality of local schools -- and their property values -- high. Read more from the local press....

York school board will ask county for more money (The Daily Press)

Schools chief not proposing to pay, middle school athletics (The Lynchburg News and Advance)

Augusta schools budget decision delayed (The Waynesboro News Virginian)

Council: It's too soon to tell if more funds possible for schools (Martinsville Bulletin)

Danville schools could lose 46 positions (The Danville Register and Bee)

Parents rally to save youth sports in Pittsylvania County (The Danville Register and Bee)

Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 12:53pm

Pittsylvania County property owners to pay lower real estate taxes

Pittsylvania County property owners will pay less in taxes for the 2010-11 fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to lower the rate from 56 cents per $100 of assessed value to 52 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The board is required to set a rate that generates no more than a 1% increase in real estate tax revenue from the year before. Virginia statute requires the board to decrease next year's rate because the county’s 2009 land valuation was higher than it was in 2005.

Read more in the Danville News...

Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 11:10am

Pittsylvania supervisors question high utility bills

According to the Danville Register and Bee, "The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors wants to know why county residents have seen their power bills from Danville Utilities reach astronomical levels.

The board unanimously voted during its regular meeting Monday night to send a letter to the Danville Utility Commission asking for an explanation as to why residents’ bi-monthly utilities expenses have in some cases more than doubled recently. Residents expressed dismay at higher-than-normal energy bills during the meeting at the General District Courtroom in Chatham.

Ringgold resident Scott Barker saw his bi-monthly bill from Danville Utilities nearly triple over a four month period recently. Barker said his bill went from $274 in September-October to $731 in November-December."


Read the full story...

Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - 12:24pm

Pittsylvania County to Gain More Internet Access

According to the Danville Register & Bee, Pittsylvania County and other areas in southside will receive two grants totaling $21 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce to expand broadband access in southside Virginia. A good portion of the funding will provide more fiber to connect 121 regular schools to an existing network. The Virginia Tobacco Commission also provided $4 million in matching funds, which will also bring approximately 75 jobs to the region.  Building additional infrastructure such as broadband helps to further educate the region's workforce and increases southside's competitiveness from an economic development perspective.  The expansion of broadband will also benefit homeowners with school-aged children given the primary focus of the initative is education-oriented.

 

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Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 9:58am

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

Pittsylvania Agricultural Landowners Face Proposed Tax Increase

According to the Danville Register & Bee, Pittsylvania County is in an uproar over a proposed 20-cent property tax increase on agricultural landowners.  Currenty the county participates in Virginia's land use program, which allows it to tax agricultural land at a lower rate to incentivize agricultural uses.  The Board of Supervisors is opposed to the Commission of Revenue's recommendation. The increase would affect nearly 1,500 landowners in the county.

 

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Posted on Sunday, January 24, 2010 - 11:47am