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Music and motorcycles rev up Tazewell
Tazewell Va. – Whether it was music, motorcycles or near perfect weather, Tazewell was jam packed with people June 5-6.
The Route 16 Music Festival kicked off June 5 with music at the Wayfarer and Back of the Dragon. The Back of the Dragon also had motorcycle stunt shows.
There were vendors and food trucks on the street between the two locations and on the lot at Back of the Dragon. A motorcycle parade from Tazewell High School to the Back of the Dragon opened the day’s events June 6.
Twealth County Stunt show provided plenty of burnouts and tricks to entertain the crowds. Bikers would come in for entertainment and food before hitting the road for another ride around the area.
This was the first year for the event organized by the Back of the Dragon and the Wayfarer. The Back of the Dragon Center has offered similar events in the past while the Wayfarer will soon celebrate its first anniversary in Tazewell.
Area motorcycle dealers and other businesses had booths or provided items for door prizes. The Tazewell County Chamber of Commerce was on hand both days offering information about the area and future events.
While the entertainment ended June 6, the event officially closed June 7 when riders gathered at the Back of the Dragon Center for a Blessing of the Bikes.
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Richlands' Bradley Fuller catches the ball at third base for an out against Lebanon.
Richlands' Bradley Fuller catches the ball at third base for an out against Lebanon.
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Baptist Valley convenience area to be relocated
After months of negotiations the Baptist Valley Convenience area will soon be relocated.
The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors met in closed session June 2 to discuss property acquisition for the Dumpsters. While the board took no action on acquiring property they did approve up to $8,000 to temporarily relocate them to the Fairgrounds. Earlier in the meeting they had approved $7,000 for stone for gravel for the access road and a Dumpster pad.
County Administrator Eric Young said he anticipated a new permanent location to be obtained in a month or two. The county has rented part of the former site of S&K Welding in Baptist Valley for several years to house the convenience area.
In other action the board:
*Approved a request from the library to use $5,000 from their current budget for restroom work in the Richlands branch.
*Ratified a poll to authorize a grant application for Amonate Always community center renovation.
*Held a public hearing and voted to approve a quit claim deed and dispose of property in Burke’s Garden.
*Donated the SATIRA trailer to Cumberland Mountain Community Services.
*Approved bringing Millstone Hollow Road into VDOT’s secondary system.
*Approved the Wireless Service Authority grant for internet access to Tannersville and the Cove.
*Approved the disbursement of United Way relief funds to victims of Hurricane Helene.
*Approved payment of $11,962 in overtime pay for four people who worked snow and ice removal and storm preparation.
*Heard from County Engineer Ken Dunford about the permitting process for the work at the Cedar Bluff Transfer Station.
*Passed a resolution of support for VDOT’s SmartScale application for a project on 460 near Crab Orchard.
*Received a report on the request to VDOT for tractor signs on several roads.
*Approved $5,000 from northern district capital improvement funds to the town of Pocahontas to be used for mowing the historic cemetery.
*Appointed Lucy D’Amato to the Tourism Development Committee.
*Approved a $4,000 donation split between the western and northwestern district funds to the Richlands High School wrestling room project.
*Approved $1,000 from the northern district funds to the town of Pocahontas to assist with fireworks show July 4.
*Recessed until June 16 at 4 p.m. for a budget workshop.
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County sets budget workshop for June 16
While no citizens spoke at the public hearing on the county Budget June 2, County Administrator Eric Young presented an overview.
He outlined key purchases including leasing 14 new vehicles for the sheriff’s office at a cost of $563,000. The vehicles will be leased and sold back to Enterprise once the lease expires. Young said these vehicles and a similar purchase next year should get the sheriff’s office up to date.
Finishing the new cell at the landfill will cost $1,545,000 and new bathrooms are coming to al three county high schools with a $1.2 million price tag. The new county fire station will cost $1,020,000 and salary for the part time firefighters will be $569,000.
A new phone system is budgeted at $80,000 and covering the two percent pay increase for employees not funded by the state will take $88,269. Young said the cost to provide health insurance for county employees and their families was set to increase 17 percent ($561,000) if they stayed with the $250 plan.
“We reduced the Board’s contribution to the $250 deductible plan to minimize budget impact. Employees can avoid the premium increase by choosing the $500 deductible plan or can pay a higher premium to keep the $250 deductible plan. This avoided most of the increase for the County,’ he said.
The administrator said the hike in minimum wage will also affect the budget. “This Budget also includes a $1/hour increase in pay for County Administration Personnel. In recent years, the State has moved to increase pay for sheriff’s deputies, DSS personnel, court clerks, the Registrar, and school teachers at a pace ahead of inflation. At the same time, the State has increased minimum wage significantly. So, the Board decided to adjust the pay scale for administration employees to avoid minimum wage positions paying more than supervisory positions and to alleviate wage compression between pay tiers. The total cost is $122,720.’
The county’s share of the school budget will increase by $2.4 million. Young said the county’s major expense categories, education, law enforcement, regional jail, fire and ems and the landfill combined to increase the projected budget by $1,795,459 over the present budget. Revenue is projected to increase by $1,114,027.
He concluded the presentation by saying: themost critical financial issues for the County are (1) containing the costs of operating the landfill and (2) meeting the State’s expectations regarding school funding.
The board will convene June 16 at 4 p.m. for a budget workshop prior to the June 25 meeting to approve the budget.
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