Big Sandy Office Has Until June to Relocate; Resolution Is Passed

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
        Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District was given until June 1 to move its offices from the former D.A. Justus Elementary School property.
       The action was taken last Thursday during a continued meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors and followed a lengthy closed-door session during which the Big Sandy issue was identified as a topic for discussion.
        When board members emerged from behind closed doors, it was to agree to the resolution which nullified all attempts by the former board of supervisors to convey or agree to convey the property to Big Sandy.
        It gives Big Sandy until June 1 to remove its offices and other property from the D.A. Justus site and further agrees to pay Big Sandy up to $10,000 in relocation costs upon proper documentation of the agency’s costs. The offer is made provided the soil and water conservation district complies with the request to move by the June 1 deadline, the resolution notes.
        In the event the agency ignores the June deadline and legal action is filed by Big Sandy or the current board regarding the property, then the reimbursement offered will not be made and the resolution notes, the county will seek its costs and legal fees "for enforcing its property rights."
       The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Knox Supervisor Pat Justus with a second by North Grundy Supervisor Carroll Branham. The vote was unanimous among board members present. Garden Supervisor Buddy Fuller and Prater Supervisor Eddie Lindsay, who had been present earlier in the day for the meeting were not present at the time the vote was taken on the Big Sandy issue.
       The resolution details the history of the property, noting that in January 2002, the board of supervisors then agreed to hold a public hearing to convey a portion of the former D.A. Justus school property to the conservation district office. The public hearing was postponed to March and the board then voted to convey the property to Big Sandy subject to approval by the county attorney. However, prior to a deed being executed by the chairman of the former board, the Hurley flood occurred and destroyed the D.A. Justus school. After that happened, the former board, by resolution in July 2002 rescinded its March 2002 resolution and adopted a new resolution containing material changes as they related to the transfer.

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ASL, SwVCC Building Planned

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
        Plans to construct a higher education center building in Grundy were unveiled last Thursday during a continued meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
        A resolution asking the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority to seek funding of $1.278 million from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to complete construction of the building was approved during the meeting.
        Appalachian School of Law President Lu Ellsworth told board members that the new building was a collaborative venture between ASL and Southwest Virginia Community College.
        Ellsworth noted that for the past four years, Dr. Charles King, president of Southwest Virginia Community College, had been working through the SwVCC Education Foundation, the board of supervisors and the town of Grundy to come up with a new location for the SwVCC campus downtown. At the same time, Ellsworth said, the law school has been in need of additional space for a variety of reasons, including the hosting of potential post graduate programs.
        He said recently King had been able to raise funds totaling some $4.75 million for the purpose of constructing a center in Grundy.
         The total cost of the new building is expected to top $6 million.
         Through an agreement between SwVCC and ASL, Ellsworth said the law school has agreed to permit the SwVCC Foundation to construct its center on the ASL campus property, allowing for some shared uses of the planned new facility.
         The motion to approve the resolution asking the IDA to seek the funds from CEDA was made by Garden Supervisor Buddy Fuller and was seconded by Rocklick Supervisor David Ratliff. The vote was unanimous.
         South Grundy Supervisor Roger Rife was supportive of the project, adding, "I think it would be great if we can complete this project."

No Action on Hiring of Asst. County Attorney

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
        After more than an hour behind closed doors during a continued meeting Monday night, members of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors still didn’t announce any decision regarding a new hire to fill the assistant county attorney’s post.
         The primary purpose of Monday’s meeting had been to make that decision. No details regarding the topic were released Monday.
       Board members also discussion a proposed contract, which was not identified as to its substance and personnel in the litter control office.
          No action was taken on either of those issues.
         The only action that was taken at Monday’s meeting was for the board to accept the donation of a doublewide trailer to the Buchanan County Head Start program and to agree to hire Frank Keen to move it to the Harman area at a cost of $2,500; and the approval of T&M Hardware/Garage Inc. as a vendor for the county.
          The doublewide accepted was donated to the county by Southwest Virginia Professional Insurance at Vansant.