<bt>Loudoun may be in the forefront of biotechnology but a portion of the county still has homes without public water and sewer lines.
Hazel Shockey said she has lived on a county farm since 1945. Her horse farm is located in the "transition zone," which runs west of the Washington Dulles International Airport. Her real estate taxes, like those of her neighbors, have risen 400 percent, she said, but they still must rely on well water and septic systems. "Today I ask you to do the right thing," she told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday night. "Say, 'Yes,' to sewer and water for the transition zone."
Jack Shockey, president of Citizens for Property Rights, presented the board with bright red, green and blue buckets. "As honorary citizens of the transition zone, you're going to need a bucket," he said. "We beg you to give us sewer and water."
Patric Copeland, president of the Preservation Society of Loudoun County, countered that extending public utilities would generate construction of another 60,000 homes. It also would move the suburbs further west, he said. The 60,000 figure triggered much debate among supervisors.
"HOW WILL the new members of the board keep taxes down as they promised, with expenses like this, if the area is approved for increased density?" Copeland asked.
Rose Ellen Ray supported the extension, saying the homes are not really in a transition area anyway. She provided data showing the area comprises nearly 7 percent of the county or 22,813 acres, and is not in the center of the county.
When the public finished making comments, the supervisors argued. Some accused their peers of not being honest about why they favored extending public utilities in the transition zone.
Chairman Scott York (I-Sterling) and Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) said backers of the utility extension were hiding behind the excuse, "It's good for the health, safety and welfare of residents," when they really wanted to use the extension to increase development in the transition area. They said they would apologize if the new board members ended up not calling for more development.
Stephen Snow (R-Dulles), who supported increasing density, led the fight for extending the public utilities, saying it was a health concern, particularly when Virginia has droughts. "It's heart wrenching," he said. "The elderly are not getting the water and proper sanitation."
Echoing a frequent complaint of new board members, Snow said he was "mad as hell" at the previous board for not providing public water and sewer.
The board voted to extend the utilities.
SUPERVISORS DECIDED to wait another year before naming a Community Action Agency for the county. The Good Shepherd Alliance wanted that designation, but the board, in a 5-4 vote, said it was too soon to decide. Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), however, spoke on behalf of the Alliance, saying it was an "insult" to make the poor wait another year for additional funds.
A Community Action Agency is a public/private partnership managed by a board of directors for the purpose of reducing poverty and increasing self-sufficiency among the poor.
The board heard testimony from people who expressed concern that the Good Shepherd Alliance represents only one faith, and that another agency, such as the Department of Social Services, might be better suited for the job.
John Brothers, the alliance's executive director, said Good Shepherd has helped countless impoverished people "regardless of faith." He said the non-profit was financially viable and met the criteria needed for the designation.
Wendi Muckler told the board that she was homeless until the Good Shepherd Alliance helped her find a job, a home and a stronger sense of "self." The question of her faith never surfaced, she said.
Bob Chirles, director of Social Services, said the 31 organizations now helping low income residents lack the money to meet the increasing needs associated with the county's growing population.
If the Good Shepherd Alliance were to become a Community Action Agency in Loudoun County this year, its funding would come from a portion of each of the Community Action Agencies throughout the state, he said. The Alliance might get as much as $125,000.
Chirles, who did not take a stand on the designation, said a new Community Action Agency would receive money and move it through the county's community organizations to help people in need.
York and Tulloch, who find themselves on opposite sides of most issues, agreed the board should wait until the state's next budget process to name a Community Action Agency.
"Your heart is in the right place, but I don't think you are ready for that designation," Tulloch told Brothers.
He pledged his support in helping the Good Shepherd Alliance to ready itself for the designation. But he said the new non-profit's board of directors should show why it is worthy. "You need to prove you are the one," he said. He said the Board of Supervisors has allocated $75,000 for the Alliance, which will receive it July 1.
SUPERVISORS HAD NO ANSWERS for brides-to-be who complained that they had reserved the Inn at Stringfellow Farm, only to learn the inn is lacking the proper permits. The board voted to turn the matter over to the Planning Commission for further review.
Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run) moved to have the Inn provide refunds to the couples requesting them within three days. The board agreed, but expressed concern over how to enforce it.
THE BOARD HEARD comments from opponents and proponents of the plan to build a hospital in Broadlands. It took no action on the testimony.
Loudoun Healthcare has proposed an amendment to the county's Comprehensive Plan, seeking to have three hospitals and five Community Health Care Centers in the county.
HCA, based in Nashville, received state permission to build a 164-bed hospital in Broadlands last month. HCA does not support Loudoun Healthcare's proposal and visa versa.