Published: September 01, 2009 09:55 pm      

Familiar territory in Tazewell: Board back to wind, air

TAZEWELL, Va. — Two familiar topics — wind turbines and classrooms without air-conditioning — are still creating controversy in Tazewell County.

Members of the Citizens for Environmental Independence urged the county Board of Supervisors to approve a large-scale wind turbine project for East River Mountain, and School Superintendent Dr. Brenda Lawson asked the board Tuesday for permission to use $1.4 million in remaining “soft cost funds” for meeting the remaining financial obligations for heating and air upgrades at five elementary schools. Lawson also provided preliminary cost estimates for providing air-conditioning to Graham Intermediate School.

The supervisors delayed action Tuesday on a proposed ordinance that would assess a $3 fee for courthouse security in certain criminal and civil actions. The board also is seeking to reallocate a $4 fee on civil cases from the existing law library fund to a new courthouse maintenance fund to help with energy costs at the Tazewell County Courthouse.

The supervisors also accepted an agreement Tuesday by the town of Richlands that would provide a school resource officer at Richlands High School, and gave final approval to a boundary adjustment plan between the county and the town that would bring Richlands High School and the Gateway Shopping Center into the municipal limits of Richlands. The board also referred a request for the creation of a new Cedar Bluff Fire and EMS Department to the county’s EMS committee for approval.

Betty Slade, of Bluefield, Va., urged the supervisors to approve Dominion and BP’s proposed wind turbine project.

“We cannot afford to let a wind farm pass us by,” Slade said. “When I set on my back porch, I realize what a great natural resource we have when I look at the American flag blowing (in the wind).”

However, another resident of Bluefield, Va., warned the wind turbine project could impact tourism and economic development in Tazewell County. The man said he supported wind power, but warned that “a large chunk of East River Mountain” would have to be removed for the wind turbines, which he said could hurt tourism and economic development efforts in the county.

The supervisors agreed to let the county’s School Board use the remaining $1,428,387 in soft funds toward the final payment on the five elementary schools that are being renovated. Northwestern District board member Seth White asked Lawson for a status report on the project. Lawson said the school renovations are about 97 percent complete. She predicted the school system would receive about $1.6 million in stabilization funds. Lawson said the school board is hoping to extend air-conditioning to Graham Intermediate with the federal stabilization funds — and possibly Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary and Raven Elementary.

Southern District Supervisor Mike Hymes questioned why stimulus funding wasn’t being used first to complete the project, and to continue school renovations at other facilities.

“I read the newspaper too — and you’ve got folks complaining about no air conditioning in other schools, and it is hot,” Hymes said.

Lawson said the school board must wait first to see how significant of a hit public education will take in the second round of budget cuts ordered by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

“Certainly Mr. Hymes, we are going to have to wait and see what the governor is going to do,” Lawson said.

Dr. Tom Brewster, the board’s Northern District member, also warned that public education could take a hit in the second round of state budget cuts. Brewster introduced a motion allowing the school board to use the remaining $1.4 million in soft funds to meet the final financial obligations to the school renovation project. The motion was approved 4-0 with vice chairman Bill Wimmer absent.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com