Published: January 07, 2009 08:46 pm      

Anderson steps up as chairman of Tazewell Board of Supervisors

TAZEWELL, Va. — The search for a new member of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors is underway.

Bill Rasnick, the long-time board chairman, has resigned. Rasnick represented the Northern District. David Anderson, the Eastern District board member, has been appointed as the new chairman. Bill Wimmer, who represents the Western District, will continue to serve as vice chairman.

The changes were announced Tuesday during a lengthy board meeting that focused largely on windmills and a disputed boundary adjustment between the towns of Richlands and Cedar Bluff. Both towns are seeking to bring Richlands High School and Richlands Middle School into their municipal limits. Motions to approve both boundary adjustments died for a lack of a second.

The supervisors have 45 days from the effective date of Rasnick’s resignation to come up with a replacement board member, which would then be submitted to Circuit Court Judge Teresa Chafin for approval. Whoever is appointed to the vacancy would have to run again for the Northern District seat in November.

Southern District board member Mike Hymes said he spoke with Rasnick Tuesday, and that Rasnick had expressed his love and support for Tazewell County, and the Northern District. Hymes said Rasnick has enjoyed his years of service, and wants to thank the county administration, the citizens of Tazewell County and his fellow board members.

“He is sad he has to leave,” Hymes said. “He wants to thank all of the residents of the Northern District who re-elected him.”

Anderson, who gave thanks to God, said he believes all board members should be given an opportunity to serve as chairman.

“We are all equal, and I firmly believe it (the chairmanship of the board) should be rotated,” Anderson said.

On the windmill proposal for East River Mountain, Assistant County Administrator Patricia Green clarified Tuesday the location of the joint public hearing with the county’s planning commission scheduled for Feb. 3. Green said the meeting will begin on Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the county administration offices in Tazewell. Green said the meeting would then be recessed and relocated to Tazewell Middle School at a time yet to be decided to accommodate the public hearing on the windmill issue.

Assistant County Administrator Patricia Green clarified Tuesday the location of a

On the boundary adjustment issue between Richlands and Cedar Bluff, the board requested for both towns to file petitions with the Circuit Court to annex the territory in question so that the judicial system can resolve the issues between the towns.

“We can sit here and hash this out,” Anderson said. “But I would love to see the town of Richlands and the town of Cedar Bluff be able to sit down. It’s up to the towns to work together and make these decisions. We’ve been put in an awkward situation. We don’t want to make anyone from Richlands and Cedar Bluff angry.”

Northwestern District board member Seth White, whose motion to approve the Richlands boundary adjustment died for a lack of a second, said the Board of Supervisors were elected to make such decisions. White said the boundary adjustment issue would ultimately come back to the supervisors — even if they delay a decision now.

Wimmer, whose motion to approve the Cedar Bluff boundary adjustment died for a lack of a second, said the town of Cedar Bluff deserves a chance to grow. Wimmer said it was up to the supervisors to allow the town of Cedar Bluff to grow.

Both towns are seeking to bring Richlands High School and Richlands Middle School into their municipal limits.

The town of Cedar Bluff is seeking a 214 acre boundary adjustment that includes residential and commercial structures, including Richlands High School, Richlands Middle School and the Gateway Shopping Center.

A similar boundary adjustment proposed by the town of Richlands seeks to acquire 49 acres of land, including Richlands High School, Richlands Middle School as well as the Gateway Shopping Center.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com