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Update on marina slated
Monday, June 25, 2012
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
The Henry County Board of Supervisors will hear an update on a marina at Philpott Lake and consider an additional appropriation to further the project.
Supervisors will consider the matter at their 3 p.m. meeting Tuesday in the Henry County Administration Building.
Roger Adams, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, and Tim Pace, the county’s engineer, will provide the update, according to board documents.
The board also will vote on a request to approve an appropriation to build a 40-slip marina and nearby campsite at Philpott Lake.
Funding for the appropriation will come from several sources, including $400,000 from the county; $250,000 from The Harvest Foundation; and a total of $150,000 from the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. The county previously spent about $500,000 to run a sewer line to the site.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake, will provide the site for the marina and campsite.
Pending final approval from the Corps of Engineers, construction could begin early next year.
The marina will have 40 slips that can be rented on an annual basis through Adams’ department. The marina also will sell food, bait and fuel.
The supervisors approved the project in January.
Also at Tuesday’s afternoon meeting, the board will:
• Hear an update on activities at the New College Institute from William C. Wampler Jr., executive director.
• Consider a request from Henry County Electoral Board to move the Dyers Store voting precinct from the Dyers Store Ruritan Building to the Dyers Store Fire Department; the Ridgeway No. 1 precinct from the Ridgeway Ruritan Building to the Ridgeway Library; and the Mountain View precinct from the former VFW Building to Woodland Heights Free Will Baptist Church.
All three moves are being requested to better accommodate voters.
A public hearing is required before the moves can be made.
• Consider new requirements of the Virginia Retirement System for the Henry County Schools.
The supervisors approved a similar resolution last month and elected to pay a certified contribution rate into the VRS over the alternative rate that is lower but would require catch-up payments later.
Now, the supervisors are being asked to sign off on the school board’s decision to also go with the certified rate of 11.34 percent. That is the employer’s share of the payroll that goes to the state pension fund.
County staff recommend approval of the school’s resolution.
Henry County Administrator Benny Summerlin said this issue is unrelated to the increased contribution (and pay increase to offset the cost) employees must pay beginning July 1.
• Hear a report on delinquent tax collection efforts from County Treasurer Scott Grindstaff.
• Hear a monthly update from Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.
• Consider an appropriation to hire a summer intern in the Parks and Recreation Department, as requested by Adams.
The Parks and Recreation Department is participating in the summer intern program through the New College Institute, which works with The Harvest Foundation, to provide each participating agency $3,000 for a first-year intern. That will cover about 75 percent of the salary, and the parks and recreation budget will cover the rest.
Adams also asked the supervisors to authorize the carryover of any funds to fiscal 2013 that were not spent in fiscal 2012.
• Consider a request from the Horsepasture Volunteer Fire Department to buy a “Quick Attack Pumper” with funds from the Fire Equipment Capital Improvements Program that was established by the supervisors in fiscal 1990 to help volunteer fire departments buy pumpers.
The Henry County Firefighters Association recommended Horsepasture be the recipient in fiscal 2013, but the request does not comply with the program guidelines, which specify capital funds are to be used to buy a Class A pumper.
County staff is recommending that in the future, specific requests for funding should be considered as part of the Fire Department Capital Improvement Plan request during the budget process and not as an exception to the guidelines after the budget is approved.
• Consider awarding a contract to GCA Staffing of Roanoke, which since 2009 has provided temporary employment services to several county departments, mainly the Parks and Recreation Department.
The contract is up for renewal, and four companies responded to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Purchasing Department. A committee of county employees recommended the county stay with GCA Staffing and also recommended a one-year contract with an option for up to four one-year renewals.
The amount of the contract is based on a percentage of GCA’s expenses in providing temporary workers and varies based on use. The new percentage rate is 26 percent, which is less than the current contract rate of 28 percent.
The county spent $89,137.93 last year on temporary employment services.
• Consider items of consent that include confirming the minutes of the May 22 meetings and approving accounts payable.
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