Published: June 30, 2009 09:28 pm      

Tazewell board cuts budget by $1.1 million

TAZEWELL, Va. — The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors adopted a budget Tuesday that cuts spending by $1.1 million but keeps the tax rate at 58 cents.

Several supporters of a proposed large-scale wind turbine project for East River Mountain also spoke out Tuesday in support of the development, and Cedar Bluff Mayor John Smith accused the supervisors of “unethical” and possibly “illegal” action over a controversial boundary adjustment decision.

The new fiscal year budget slashes spending by $1.1 million without layoffs, and retains level funding for the county’s school system, according to Southern District board member Mike Hymes.

“Given the continued economic hard times, I see no reason to burden the taxpayers with a tax increase, and this budget should allow us to keep the tax rates the same,” Hymes said. “We have not increased the rates during my term, and I don’t plan to vote for an increase this year.”

Hymes said Tazewell County has the fifth lowest tax rate among neighboring Southwest Virginia counties.

Smith said he learned the supervisors approved a boundary adjustment plan submitted by the town of Richlands through a newspaper article. Smith said town officials in Cedar Bluff — who also were seeking to take in the Gateway Shopping Center and Richlands High School through a similar boundary adjustment plan — didn’t attend last month’s meeting because the annexation issue wasn’t on the board’s printed agenda.

“When I heard about the Gateway being given to Richlands, I went into shock,” Smith said. “I mourned. I am shocked the Board of Supervisors didn’t even bother to notify the town of Cedar Bluff about what was going on.”

Board chairman David Anderson asked County Attorney Eric Young if the supervisors did anything “illegal” by approving the Richlands boundary adjustment. Young said no, adding the annexation issue was on the board’s printed agenda as an executive session discussion item.

“Mayor — let’s not argue,” Anderson said. “I don’t want to argue with you. We gave the towns the opportunity to work it out.”

Northwestern District board member Seth White said the supervisors had several meetings over the issue with representatives of both Cedar Bluff and Richlands.

Several people wearing green badges in support of wind energy also addressed the board Tuesday.

Betty Slade of Bluefield, Va., said she was speaking for members of a new energy independence group. Slade said the group decided to unite behind the windmill project after reading several letters to the editor in the newspaper both in support of and against the East River Mountain wind turbine project.

“We believe wind energy is our best choice because it has no pollution or emissions,” Slade said. “It is a clean energy and wind is renewable. If you’ve ever been on East River Mountain, you know what I’m talking about.”

Alex Payne said the land owners on East River Mountain should be able to make the final decision about what happens on their property.

Joe Nicholson said he was concerned about the setbacks included in the proposed ridgeline protection ordinance being considered by the board.

“I think this project is too important for the county to make a default type of judgment here,” Nicholson said. “I think the project will be a magnet for other support type of industries.”

Dominion and BP Wind Energy North America Inc. have purchased 2,560 acres of land in Tazewell County for the windmill farm. The two companies are hoping to have the wind turbines operational on East River Mountain as early as 2012.

The board took no immediate action Tuesday on the proposed ridgeline protection ordinance. Anderson said a wind energy economic impact study requested by his fellow board members should be getting underway soon. Anderson is opposed to the study because it is being partially funded by Dominion and BP.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com