Road bond gets approval

STAFFORD — County supervisors worked Tuesday to allow county residents to decide if they want to borrow money to pay for road improvements.

Though board members seem to be in agreement in the county's need of tranportation improvements, they are not quite so close in just how fund it.
Cord Sterling, R - Hartwood, referenced several sources of revenue in which the transportation bond could be paid. Sterling said that a gas tax, a newly passed business tax, and recordation taxes were all options to pay for the measure.

"We have a revenue stream now," said Sterling.

Sterling said bond money would be used to accelerate $150 million of work on those roads. "We can change the infrastructure of these roads...when was the last time the infrastructure...was improved?" asked Sterling.

Joe Brito, I-Hartwood, and Bob Woodson, D-Griffis-Widewater, expressed qualms about using monies from the Business or Professional Licensing tax, or
BPOL, expressing a desire to "revisit" the Board's decision to use all revenues collected from the tax for transportation.

Sterling stressed the need to let the votes decide.

"We're asking the voters, what's your priority? You've asked for these projects...do you want to get them done?"
The board voted to send the issue to referendum by a vote of 4-3, Paul Milde, R - Aquia, George Schwartz, D - Falmouth, and Woodson were the dissenting votes.

The Board also voted 5-2 to postpone the Parks and Recreation bond a year as it was felt that cost numbers were not consistent and more time was needed to finalize details. Scwhartz and Milde cast the dissenting votes.

Reduction of the county's urban service area, the geographical area the county is required to provide basic utility services to, was a much discussed topic.
Many on hand felt that reducing the size of the district would severely reduce the potential area in the county new businesses could build, ultimately becoming a detriment to growth in the county.

Proponents insisted that business growth would not be slowed and that it would only decreased the rate of residential growth. Proponents also said the reduction would also protect environmental resources.

Opponents argue that residential growth will not be stopped. They said even if the county does not provide basic services, such as sewage, projects already approved for development would proceed with septic tanks.

Paul Milde, R - Aquia, said the question concerning growth in Widewater was not if it would take place, but how it would take place?

"What kind of development do you want?" asked Milde.

The subject of legality of such move was discussed, citing the existence of plans already on the board where such infrastructure has already been promised. Clark Leming, a local lawyer representing developers, cited 11 cases that could possibly end up in lawsuits against the county.

Dr. Stephen S. Fuller of George Mason University offered an economic overview of the impact of reducing the area would be.

Following his four-minute presentation, Sterling asked that Fuller might be questioned, considering his credentials and that a precedent for such action was existent. He stated that Fuller had the closest thing to an economic analysis on the matter. Scwartz would not allow such action.

A decision on the issue was deferred. The board will take up the issue at a Sept. 9 work session.

In other actions by the Board, Mark Dudenhefer, R - Garrisonville, had asked to postpone an appropriation for a Civil War historic site project on county landfill property, stating "it's been there for 140 years, it can wait another few."

Harry Crisp, D- Ferry Farm, however, felt that such sites were important and should hold a high priority.

Crisp, who had earlier alluded to discovery of the Ferry Farm site, felt that such sites were part of the "Stafford heritage," and really should be made accessible" to those who come here. The supervisor said he would like to see them preserved for "future generations" that they might better understand the "impact" that the Civil War had. Crisp also spoke of the upcoming Civil War sesquicentennial, indicating that such sites could be valuable for tourism.

Milde moved that the item be postponed indefinitely and that it be revisited within 60 days. His motion carried by a 6-1 vote, Dudenhefer dissenting.