Hearing set for SPCA

STAFFORD — Tuesday afternoon county supervisors voted 4-3 to move forward with a public hearing for the proposed Stafford SPCA Conditional Use Permit.

That decision brought an onslaught of comments from citizens opposing the project during the public comment portion of the evening meeting. Many of the residents said they were not against the idea of an SPCA, but that they are against the location.

The topic was not expected to be heard until the conclusion of the first part of the meeting — close to evening time — but Falmouth Supervisor and Board Chair George Schwartz moved the item up on the agenda.

After a statement in support of the project by Aquia District Supervisor Paul Milde in whose district the facility would reside, Schwartz put an alternate prepared written motion on the table.

Schwartz motioned that the county remove itself as the applicant on the project and instead forge forward to upgrade and improve the county animal shelter.

“The time has come for immediate action…” said Schwartz, noting that the focus must be to determine the best location for such a facility and bring it to fruition as soon as possible.

His motion was met with disapproval by Rockhill District Supervisor Cord Sterling who took a stand that, “We owe the citizens a public hearing.”

During the meeting, accusations of trading “favors” for contributions were also flying.

Ultimately, a motion was made that no candidate shall take an official action for a campaign contribution. The motion passed.

But Milde, who said he is the biggest contributor to his campaign, said: “This should be about the SPCA but you decided to put this silly thing forward,” he told Schwartz, noting it to be a stalling attempt.

Sterling also questioned a decision that would support having the county waive $10 thousand for an application fee for the proposed SPCA vice encumbering the taxpayers with up to a $10 million cost for constructing a new county shelter.

He indicated that having the taxpayers, vice a charity, shoulder the cost of caring for unwanted animals was “not fiscally responsible.”

Milde stated that there is a major difference in the type of care animals receive in a county shelter and an SPCA. Additionally, the SPCA would be a no-kill shelter, while the county shelter is not.

The meeting was, at many times, a heated debate.

Ultimately, the board voted to hold the public hearing on the CUP for the proposed SPCA at the Sept. 15 meeting.

Griffis Widewater Supervisor Bob Woodson and George Washington Supervisor Harry Crisp joined in voting against the hearing.

During public comment time, Hoyt addressed the board at the evening meeting saying, “I’m here to thank the supervisors for giving the SPCA a public hearing.”

Then he played a voice mail message left on his cell phone earlier in the month by Director of the Department of Planning and Zoning Jeff Harvey informing him that the hearing would not take place on Aug. 18.

“The chairman is the only one that seemed to not understand that the meeting was on the Aug. 18 agenda,” said Hoyt.

Stafford SPCA Marketing/PR Director Drue Brownback said, “It is absolutely ridiculous that personal attacks are being made against people and against the board of supervisors.”

She invited everyone to come visit the proposed Stafford SPCA to get a first hand look at the site.

Marty van Duyne is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun.