The Nelson County Service Authority will be conducting Smoke Testing of the sanitary sewer system in the upcoming weeks. This testing will begin on June 10, 2013 and continue through July 5, 2013, starting at the intersection of Main Street and Route 29 (George’s Supermarket) and continuing on Route 29 South approximately 1 mile (Vito’s). This study will involve the opening and entering of manholes in the streets and public utility easements. An important task of the testing will be to locate breaks and defects in the sewer system. The smoke will also reveal sources of where storm and other surface water enter the sewer system.

A special non-toxic smoke will be used in these tests. The smoke is manufactured for this purpose, leaves no residuals or stains, and has no effect on plant or animal life. The smoke has a distinctive, but not unpleasant, odor. Visibility and odor last only a few minutes, where there is adequate ventilation.
Because the plumbing appliances in your house or building are connected to the sanitary sewer system, some smoke may enter your home or place of business if the:

▪ Vents connected to your building’s sewer pipes are inadequate, defective, or improperly installed.
▪ Traps under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains are dry, defective, improperly installed, or missing.
▪ Pipes, connections and seals of the wastewater drain system in and under your buildings are damaged, defective, have plugs missing, or are improperly installed.

All residents are advised that if traces of this smoke or its odor enter your house or building, it is an indication that gases and odors from the sewer also may enter. These can be both unpleasant and dangerous, as well as a health risk to the occupants. Should smoke enter your home or business, you should contact our office immediately. A technician will be able to help and check with you as to where the smoke has entered your building. Location, identification, and correction of the source of smoke that enters your building is urgently advised. Your cooperation will be appreciated.

Should you have any questions on this matter, please contact me at (434) 263-5341.

Sincerely,
George T. Miller, Jr.
Executive Director

Zoning Policy Statement Approval June10-2013
Request Form Zoning Inspection Enforcement

As detailed in the Policy Statement, a Request Form for Zoning Inspections must be filled out and submitted prior to County staff taking any code enforcement action(s). Please note that, in accordance with Virginia Code § 2.2-3705.3, the identity of the person submitting this required form will remain anonymous and confidential, and no information about the identity of the requesting citizen shall be distributed.

Please contact the Department of Planning & Zoning at (434)-263-7090 with any questions or comments regarding this new Departmental procedure for formally notifying the County about perceived violations of the Zoning Ordinance.

“The Resilience Awards really highlight those small businesses that are uplifting local communities. A strong, resilient business is an integral part of a community as well as our functioning society,” said Dean Krehmeyer, executive director of the Institute for Business in Society (IBiS), the competition sponsor.

The 2012 Resilience Award winners hailed from the communities of Cheriton, Harrisonburg, Norfolk, Prince George County and Sedley, Virginia. These businesses survived fires, big-box competition and the lingering effects of the recession. They bridged cultural divides, supported local charities and brought hope to places where industries have disappeared. Above all, they demonstrated resilience and positively contributed to their communities.

“The Resilience Awards recognize small businesses that do things the right way. These companies foster innovation, strengthen communities and create jobs,” said Darden Professor Greg Fairchild, a nationally-known expert on entrepreneurship. “Over the past few years I’ve been amazed at the dedication and perseverance that these business owners demonstrate.”

Fairchild and other faculty study years of data from businesses entering the competition to determine what makes a business resilient. The data informs research that identifies strategies and lessons that can apply to other enterprises, regardless of industry or location.

Through ongoing media coverage, opportunities to engage key business and government leaders and enrollment in a week-long course at Darden’s highly rated Executive Education program, five Resilience Award winners each year receive the recognition and resources to help their company and community continue to grow and succeed.

One of last year’s winners, Katrina Didot, the owner of A Bowl of Good Café, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, completed her courses in March and said about her experience, “Being in the Executive Education Program at Darden gave me exposure to and taught me more about income statements, cash flow statements and balance sheets in a way that greatly deepened my understanding. I now feel much more confident interacting with our financial manager and am more keenly aware of what is happening with our numbers at any given time.” The mission-driven, Harrisonburg-based restaurant responds to the community’s needs by providing healthy, locally sourced food.

How to Apply
Cities in Virginia that qualify include: Bedford, Bristol, Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Covington, Danville, Emporia, Falls Church, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Galax, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Hopewell, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Martinsville, Newport News, Norfolk, Norton, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Radford, Richmond, Roanoke, Staunton, Suffolk, Waynesboro, Williamsburg and Winchester.

Counties in Virginia that qualify include: Accomack, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Bland, Brunswick, Buchanan, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, King and Queen, Highland, Lancaster, Lee, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince George, Pulaski, Richmond, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Southampton, Smyth, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise and Wythe.

To determine if your area qualifies by ZIP code, please contact Nancy Price at PriceN@darden.virginia.edu or +1-434-989-3562.

The deadline to apply or recommend a business for the 2013 application is 31 July. Semi-finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges in August. Finalists will be named in September and invited to attend the award ceremony on 15 October at the Darden School of Business, where the winners will be announced. The Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards are presented in conjunction with Virginia Business magazine.

For questions or information, contact communication@darden.virginia.edu or a member of the Communication team.

About the Darden School of Business
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business is one of the world’s leading business schools, offering MBA, Ph.D. and Executive Education programs. The unique Darden experience combines the case study method, the highest-ranked faculty whose research advances global managerial practice and business education, and a tight-knit learning environment to develop responsible and complete leaders who are ready to make an impact.

About the Darden Institute for Business in Society (IBiS)

The Darden Institute for Business in Society (IBiS) aims to be a leading global catalyst and convener of thought, information and action at the interface of business and society, and to promote the development of leaders to positively impact society through their roles in business.

Sign up for Virtual Tourist and enter to win a trip to Fiji. Contest Details

Sealed Bids in duplicate on the referenced project will be received in the office of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors 84 Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 336, Lovingston, VA 22949 until 2:00 PM, local prevailing time, Wednesday June 26, 2013 and then publicly opened thereafter.

Bids may be withdrawn in accordance with the Code of Virginia §2.2-4330(a) Procedure (1). The Nelson County Board of Supervisors reserves the right to reject any and all bids in whole or in part, waive any and all informalities, and disregard all nonconforming or conditional bids or counterproposals.

The project generally includes: The interior renovation of 1,786 square feet of the Jefferson Building adjacent to the new Nelson County Courthouse complex to be used as office space. This includes the installation of metal framing and sheetrock, the finishing of one bathroom, the refurbishing of existing marble flooring, the installation of new carpet tiles, the placement of new electrical and data outlets, door and hardware installation, and interior painting. Additional work includes the replacement of all metal window jambs, windows and window sills and the conversion of one existing doorway to a window including the removal of an adjacent porch and stairs. The project will require coordination of the following with existing vendors: sprinkler system & fire alarm, security, HVAC, and plumbing. Contact information will be provided for each of these vendors with the project specifications. Some lighting, electrical, door & hardware, and plumbing fixtures have been purchased by the County and are being stored for the successful contractor’s use.

On May 30, 2013 and thereafter, bidding documents may be examined at the following locations: the office of the Nelson County Administrator 84 Courthouse Square, Lovingston, VA 22949 and the Building Inspections Office, 80 Front Street, Lovingston VA, 22949.

Bidding documents may be obtained May 30, 2013 from the Nelson County Administrator’s Office and may be picked up, received by mail or freight, or emailed electronically upon request. To request bid documents, call (434) 263-7000 or email: dbowling@nelsoncounty.org, cmcgarry@nelsoncounty.org, and scarter@nelsoncounty.org.

A mandatory Pre-bid Conference will be held at on Monday June 17, 2013 at 10 am, in Room 420, the Board of Supervisors Room of the Courthouse in Lovingston, VA 22949 and a walk through of The Jefferson Building may follow. Bids received from Contractors who did not attend the pre-bid conference will be returned unopened.

Bids shall be accompanied by a certified check, cash or an acceptable bid bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the base bid for all bids over $100,000.

Bidders must be licensed contractors in the Commonwealth of Virginia in accordance with Title 54.1, Chapter 11 of the Code of Virginia as amended; and meet requirements of Title 2.2, Chapter 43, Paragraph 2.2-4311, Employment Discrimination Prohibitions, Paragraph 2.2-4312, Drug Free Workplace, and 2.2-4311.1 Compliance with State and Local Immigration Laws.
The contract will be awarded on a lump sum base bid to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The Nelson County Board of Supervisors reserves the right to award the contract in whole or in part. Nelson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Questions shall be referred in writing to Paul Truslow or David Thompson, P.O. Box 558, Lovingston, VA 22949 Phone: (434) 263-7080, Fax: (434) 263-7086;  Email: ptruslow@nelsoncounty.org and dthompson@nelsoncounty.org

IFB#2013-NCJB Jefferson Building Renovations
List of Drawings
Full Set oI FB#2013-NCJB Drawings Reduced Size

This summer there are summer reading programs for kids, teens, and adults at the Nelson Memorial Library.

KIDS

The theme for the children’s program is DIG INTO READING! Kids can participate in the summer reading program and earn prizes for reading or being read to. The list of programs is on the webpage: www.jmrl.org/kids

• Storytimes for preschool children
• Programs for school age children
• Family Programs with professional performers

TEENS

The theme for the teen program is BENEATH THE SURFACE. Ages 11-18 can win great prizes as they read and be entered into weekly drawings for more prizes. Some of the programs are:

• Book, movie, and anime discussion groups
• Craft programs to put your creativity to good use
• Check out the Teen webpage and see what JMRL has got planned for the summer: www.jmrl.org/teens

ADULTS

Even adults can participate in summer reading programs. The adult summer reading programs this summer include special weekly prize drawings, contests, displays and programs especially for adults. Remember, you can open a book and open the world. Webpage for adult programs: www.jmrl.org/adults

Whatever your age, there is something exciting for you at the Nelson Memorial Library.

Nelson County will accept bids until 2 p.m., on May 16, 2013 for surplus items as listed below:

’95 Crown Victoria
’04 Dodge Intrepid
’96 Jeep
Truck Bed Cap, 8’ long
’68 Ford 3400 Tractor with Bush-hog (motor knocking)
(12) 6×10 Kennel Panels
30’ Aluminum Flag Pole
Heil Split AC System, approx. 6 years old
Honda 13 HP Pressure Washer, No Wand, (pump damaged)
(4) Whiskey Barrels
(2) Oak Desks
(6) Brand New Window Shades
(6) Theater-type Folding Chairs
(3) HP Ink Jet 4500 Printers
(1) HP 6310 All-in-One Ink Jet Printer
(2) Lexmark 2400 Dot Matrix Printers
(1) IBM PPS 2380 Dot Matrix Printer
(1) Lexmark 2380 Plus Dot Matrix Printer
(1) Master Type 3 AEG Olympia Typewriter

Nelson County reserves the right to refuse any or all bids.

For more information on the above items and a complete listing, contact Debbie Bowling, County Administrator’s Office at 434-263-7000.

Route 151 Corridor Study

Nelson County

Public Information Meeting 

Thursday, May 16, 2013, 6-8 p.m. 

Rockfish River Elementary School

200 Chapel Hollow Road, Afton, VA 22920

VDOT’s current study of the Route 151 Corridor has identified operational and safety deficiencies on the 14-mile corridor from US Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) to Route 664 (Beech Grove Road). These deficiencies include observations at the 15 key intersections identified at a meeting with the Nelson County Board of Supervisors. Potential improvements have been identified to address these operational and safety deficiencies based on the analysis, field reviews, input from Nelson County officials and comments received at the first public information meeting.

As a part of the study, VDOT is seeking the public’s input on the potential recommendations to ensure that no solution has been overlooked. Following this public information meeting, VDOT will prepare draft findings which will be presented to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors to ensure their agreement. Once the draft findings have been adopted, VDOT will finalize the study.

Stop by between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to view displays and learn about the project. VDOT staff will be available to answer your questions.

Review project details at www.virginiadot.org, at the meeting, or during business hours at VDOT’s Lynchburg District Office at 4219 Campbell Avenue in Lynchburg. Please call ahead at 434-947-6559 or 434-947-6599 to ensure appropriate personnel are available to answer questions.

Give your written comments at the meeting, or mail them by May 28, 2013 to the project manager, Mr. Rick Youngblood, Virginia Department of Transportation, 4219 Campbell Avenue, Lynchburg, 24501. You may also email lynchburginfo@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference “Route 151 Corridor Study” in the subject line.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the VDOT manager at the above phone number.

NELSON COUNTY, VA – Voters in the Shipman Precinct that have been affected by changes due to the relocation of their polling place to the Carriage House at Oak Ridge, 2383 Oak Ridge Road, Arrington, VA22922 will soon receive new voter information cards. The Nelson County General Registrar’s Office will begin sending cards to affected voters this week. All voters in the Shipman Precinct needing cards should receive them by the middle of next week.

If a voter receives a new voter information card then the voter should destroy his or her old card. This new voter information card will replace the voter’s prior card. If people have questions about the new voter information card they may contact the Nelson County Registrar’s office at 434-263-4068 or visit the website. Voters may also contact the Virginia State Board of Elections at 804-864-8901 or go online at www.sbe.virginia.gov.

First Service Provider on Board

The Nelson County Broadband Authority is pleased to announce that the first network service provider is now on board! Contact Blue Ridge Internetworks, Charlottesville VA for Details at (434) 817-0707 or visit http://www.briworks.com

Pending Contracts with Service Providers

Contract negotiations with the following service provider are nearly complete; Stewart Computer Services (SCS), Arrington VA, (434) 263- 6363 http://www.stewartcomputerservices.com

Broadband Infrastructure Project FAQs

For answers to frequently asked questions about the Nelson County Broadband Infrastructure project, please visit http://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov, email dbowling@nelsoncounty.org, call or come by the County Administrator’s office at (434) 263-7000 or 84 Courthouse Square, Lovingston for your copy of the FAQ’s. Detailed information about the federal NTIA grant that funded this project is available to the public at http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/grantees/NelsonCounty.

Frequently Asked Questions Broadband Project

For more information please contact the General Registrar at 434-263-4068

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget for the 2013/2014 fiscal year in the Boardroom located on the fourth floor within the County Courthouse in Lovingston on Thursday, May 23, 2013, to begin at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible, pursuant to Section 15.2-2506 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended.   Any questions about the proposed budget may be directed to dmccann@nelsoncounty.org

Proposed FY14 Budget

Budget Information
FY13 All Funds
FY12 All Funds

Additionally, County financial statements sometimes referred to as audit reports for Fiscal Year 2010 and Fiscal Year 2011 may be seen on the Finance Department page.

The Fiscal Year 2012 audit report will be available soon.

Question or comment about the budget ? Send an email.

Pursuant to Decrees entered in the Circuit Court of Nelson County, Virginia, the undersigned J.Thompson Shrader, Special Commissioner of said Court, will offer for sale pursuant to Section 58.1-3965 et seq. of the Code of Virginia, at public auction in the Nelson County Circuit Court Courtroom of the Courthouse of Nelson County, 84 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Lovingston, Virginia, 22949, on:

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013
10:00 a.m.
the following described properties located in Nelson County for payment of delinquent real estate taxes:

PARCEL 1: Tax Map Number 81-A-35: Located in the Lovingston Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia containing 50 acres, 21 poles, more or less; last owner of record Robert Cox. Actual location and acreage may vary from tax map and Court records.
Assessment: $150,000.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000116

PARCEL 2: Tax Map Number 86-A-67: Located in the Lovingston Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia containing twenty-six (26)acres, more or less; last owner of record Flem Irving.
Assessment: $130,000.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000144

PARCEL 3: Tax Map Number 86-A-79: Located in the Lovingston Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia containing 23.7 acres, more or less, located near Arrington, Virginia; last owner of record Garrett Wells.
Assessment: $81,000.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000126

PARCEL 4: Tax Map Number 19-A-16: Located in the Rockfish Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia, described as containing ten (10) acres, more or less, adjoining the land of George Washington National Forest; last owner of record Lena Grant. Actual acreage may be less than ten (10) acres.
Assessment: $80,000.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL11000315

PARCEL 5: Tax Map Number 76-14-38: Located in Nelson County, Virginia, described as Lot 38 Walkers Mountain Subdivision; last owner of record Pacific West Group.
Assessment: $74,600.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000118

PARCEL 6: Tax Map Number 77-A-176: Located near Arrington, Virginia containing twelve (12) acres, more or less, last owner of record Drew Smith.
Assessment: $48,000.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000135

PARCEL 7: Tax Map Number 69-A-11C: Located in the Lovingston Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia containing 3.79 acres, more or less, located near Shipman, east of State Route 639; last owner of record William W. Hawley.
Assessment: $27,900.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000134

PARCEL 8: Tax Map Number 85-A-2: Located in the Lovingston Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia containing eleven (11)acres, more or less, located near Tye River; last owner of record Sam Diggs.
Assessment: $27,500.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000141

PARCEL 9: Tax Map Number 77-A-90: Located in the Lovingston Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia containing one (1) acre, more or less, located near Arrington Depot; last owner of record Edd Mickens (a/k/a Edmun Mickens).
Assessment: $20,000.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000136

PARCEL 10: Tax Map Number 3-A-53A: Located in the Rockfish Magisterial District of Nelson County, Virginia containing 0.35 of an acre, more or less, designated as Lot B and situated on State Route 773; last owner of record AD HOC Associates, LLC.
Assessment: $15,000.00
Circuit Court File No.: CL12000056

PLACE OF SALE: Nelson County Circuit Court Courtroom, Courthouse of Nelson County, 84 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Lovingston, Virginia, 22949.

TERMS OF SALE: Parcels to be sold are identified above by name(s) of last owner(s) of record, Nelson County Tax Map Number, Circuit Court File Number, and a brief description.

These proceedings are for the sale of real property for payment of delinquent taxes under the provisions of Section 58.1-3965, et seq. of the Code of Virginia and are judicial sales under Court Order.

Properties are offered for sale AS-IS, WHERE-IS, IF-IS, with all faults, and with no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, of any kind, in particular with respect to zoning, physical condition, topography, soil type percolation or content, availability of public utilities or availability of potable water. The Special Commissioner does not warrant the location, condition or suitability of the property for any particular purpose. The Special Commissioner makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the descriptions of the parcels listed above, information being only from land records. All information provided is not guaranteed for either its completeness or accuracy.

The real estate shall be sold in gross and not by the acre. The conveyance will be subject to possible rights of parties in possession.

Title research and opinions concerning any subject property are at the option and expense of the purchaser and cannot be provided by the Special Commissioner. Purchaser shall also be responsible for title insurance, survey or any other costs of purchase and transfer. The risk of loss from fire, casualty, or otherwise, and all liabilities of ownership of the property pass to Purchaser upon the conclusion of the sale.

Announcements made the day of sale take precedence over any prior written or verbal terms of sale.

Special Commissioner reserves the right to withdraw from the sale any property listed and reserves the right to reject any bid declaring “No Sale” after the last bid received on each parcel.

A bidder’s deposit of ten percent (10%) of the purchase price, in cash or certified funds made payable to “J. Thompson Shrader, Special Commissioner”, is required as to each parcel, and the balance of the purchase price due within thirty (30) days of approval of sale by the Nelson County Circuit Court. The sale of each parcel is subject to the approval and confirmation of the Nelson County Circuit Court.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN SETTLING THIS TRANSACTION.

For court-approved sales, the properties will be conveyed by Special Commissioner’s Deed with Special Warranty of Title, subject to subdivision restrictions, utility easements, current taxes and zoning ordinances. All recording costs, including grantor’s tax, will be at the expense of the purchaser.

The owner of any property listed above may redeem it at any time before the date of the sale by paying all accumulated taxes, with penalties and interest, the attorney’s fees and costs thereon, including the cost of publication hereunder.

Redemption of a property by a non-owner does NOT convey title to the property to the Redeemer, nor does such redemption alter the status of title to the subject property. Redemption merely prevents the sale of a property.

__________________________________________

J. THOMPSON SHRADER, Special Commissioner

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
J. Thompson Shrader, Esquire
SHRADER LAW OFFICE
330 S. Main Street
Post Office Box 428
Amherst, Virginia 24521
(434) 946-5161 | (434) 946-0107 fax
VSB# 21570

I, Judy S. Smythers, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Nelson County, Virginia, certify that the Decrees of Sale in the above-referenced civil actions direct that all payments by purchasers be made to the credit of J. Thompson Shrader, Special Commissioner, and that, pursuant to Section 8.01-99 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, bond is required and has been posted by the Special Commissioner of Sale.
___________________________________

Judy S. Smythers, Clerk
Nelson County Circuit Court

http://www.nelsoncountygis.org

For more information, contact Susan Rorrer at 434-263-7120

THE BIG READ* is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture. JMRL has received a grant from the NEA to provide a BIG READ throughout central Virginia during March 2013.

The Library’s goal is to encourage all residents of Central Virginia to read and discuss The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan during this time. There will be many programs discussing the book, Chinese culture, and the immigrant experience.

Check the catalog for Library books and other books by the author. There are also library books about the author and the database literati will have more information about Amy Tan.

Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club is itself a joyful study in luck. An intricately patterned novel whose author thought she was writing a short-story collection, it is also a mother-daughter saga by a writer whose own mother wanted her to be anything but a writer.

Published in 1989 by an unknown first-time writer, The Joy Luck Club became a reviewers’ darling and then an international best seller. The novel tells the story of new waves of immigrants who are changing and enriching America.

March 25: Nelson Memorial Library book group will have an informal discussion of The Joy Luck Club. – 12:00 pm

The final tower in the county’s broadband project got the green light last week after unanimous approval by the county’s planning commission and board of supervisors.
A special meeting was held last Thursday for the supervisors so the tower could be put in place as soon as possible.
The 114-foot class III communications tower will be located at 961 Tanyard Road in Roseland. The property is owned by the county and is also the site of the now abandoned Massies Mill school-turned-recreation center, as well as a collection site.
About 420 addresses fall in its service area, said Tim Padalino, a planner with the Nelson County Planning and Zoning office.
“It’s a very useful site in that perspective,” he said.
The site proposal comes after the county spent months trying to find a location that can serve a large portion of residents and connect with other towers in the network. The biggest challenge is the topography in the Massies Mill area.
Due to location, the county asked the commission not to require the tower be screened. The commission declined, saying something else might move into the abandoned building.
“We recycle these old buildings all of the time,” said Linda Russell, the Central District commissioner. “There should be a landscape plan, but we don’t need to approve it.”
The landscape plan will be approved administratively by the planning and zoning office.
Landscaping would only be required on one side of the tower. The whole property is enclosed by woods. Supervisors suggested the landscaping doesn’t have to be done immediately and can be taken care of later when a use is determined for the old school.
The tower will be 110 feet tall with a lightning rod. It will have a microwave dish at the top. The commission only approved the microwave dish on top and said another application would be needed for other features, like antennas.
The commission and supervisors also approved an exception for the tower so it could be located in the view hed of a scenic byway.
The tower’s application had approval from all of the necessary agencies, except for the Department of Historical Records, which had not responded as of last week’s meeting. The county did not expect there to be a problem and the county’s historical society has voluntarily submitted a letter saying it endorses the tower.
Supervisors also decided to ask the Virginia Department of Transportation to use money allocated to the county for secondary road projects to be used on improving Tanyard Road and expanding the access road.
“It’s a high traffic secondary road and we’re the reason for the traffic,” said Tommy Harvey, the board’s chair.
The commission also asked the county to paint the towers because they were very shiny and distracting.
The painting was mentioned but not discussed at the supervisors’ meeting and no vote was taken.

Nelson County To Become An American Fibertown

Nelson County, Virginia, December 5, 2012: Nelson County is days from full deployment of a 30 mile fiber optic network and has chosen Blue Ridge InternetWorks (BRI) to manage the new network. This means high-speed, fiber-optic Internet is headed to Nelson County.

The Nelson County broadband project constructed a fiber optic middle mile network designed to provide a state of the art high-speed fiber optic backbone extending generally through the center of Nelson County from north to south, providing the ‘highway’ for private providers to enhance and expand broadband internet services in the county. Generally speaking the network runs from Afton through Greenfield and Lovingston ending in Colleen.

Blue Ridge InternetWorks will also be a private internet service provider using the network to deliver high-speed Internet services to customers within the County.

“Our goal is to bring affordable first class internet services to Nelson County. We are thrilled to have Blue Ridge on the Nelson County team. They are already working to design service offerings and packages to bring our local businesses and residents up to higher Internet speed,” says Thomas Bruguiere, Broadband Authority Chairman.

“This is a middle mile network,” says Baylor Fooks, founder of Blue Ridge InternetWorks. “This means we cannot promise super high speed Internet to everyone in Nelson County. What it does mean is that we are assessing need and will likely be provisioning the areas with the deepest concentration first.”

Kick off for high speed Internet in Nelson begins in 2013. The County maintains a very unique topography so BRI will be analyzing the network on a case-by-case basis. Fortunately this involves citizen and business feedback and input.

“Honestly this begins with consumers telling us what they need,” says Jeff Cornejo, of Blue Ridge InternetWorks. “We really want to know who to serve first. To that we’d like consumers to go to our website or call us to register their interest. It’s the absolute key to getting high speed Internet coverage in your boardroom or living room in 2013.”

If you live or work in Nelson County tell us where you need high speed Internet by visiting http://www.briworks.com/access/broadband-in-nelson or call 434-951-7999 to give us your information.

————————————————————————————————

Nelson County Broadband Authority
http://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/government/board-of-supervisors/broadband-project
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors serves as the Broadband Authority which oversees the network. The project was funded by Federal ARRA funding, Commonwealth of Virginia block grants and local government funding. Additional information is available on the NTIA Broadband USA project site.

Blue Ridge InternetWorks
http://www.briworks.com
Blue Ridge InternetWork’s headquarters and data center are located in Charlottesville, VA. Founded in 2000, BRI offers hosting, IT services and high-speed Internet access. BRI has a staff of 25 employees. This team plans, designs, implements and maintains high-speed data networks for more than 1500 customers.

LYNCHBURG – The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to activate a new type of traffic signal with a flashing yellow arrow that will be used for the first time in VDOT’s ten-county Lynchburg District. The signal will be installed on Route 29 in the Lovingston area of Nelson County prior to December 24, 2012.

The new signal will display four arrows to regulate traffic flow: a red arrow to tell drivers to stop; a steady yellow arrow to communicate that the light is changing; a flashing yellow arrow which means drivers may turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic; and a green arrow to show that the diver has the right of way to make a left turn.

Various studies have “concluded that the flashing yellow arrow was safer and more effective than the simple circular green light and other signal configurations at conveying to drivers that they need to yield before turning left.” The North Carolina and Oregon Departments of Transportation recently completed studies showing a 37 and 68 percent reduction, respectively, in left-turning crashes after a flashing yellow arrow was installed.

Engineers across the country have recently begun installing flashing yellow signals with nearly half of all states now having at least one. Among those installed in Virginia is the signal on Route 60 in James City County.

View a video of these flashing yellow arrow signals in use

Wireless Solution RFP

Nelson County, Virginia (The County) is seeking qualified companies to submit proposals to provide a wireless tower solution for the Nelson County Broadband Network.  The Nelson County Broadband Network is an Open Access, Middle Mile network that will integrate a fiber optic and wireless backhaul outside plant and communication towers to provide wholesale high bandwidth connectivity to participating Service Providers’ commercial and residential end-users throughout Nelson County.  This Request for Proposal (RFP) is for the wireless tower solution for the Nelson County Broadband Network project.