Town meeting

I will be at the Moneta Library from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday November 13 for my quarterly town meeting.  The elections will be over so we can meet and talk about something else for a change.

    I have been advised that you should receive notice of your new real estate assessment in the mail sometime during the week of November 8.  The notice will include a list of the dates and times, over a two week period, when you can meet with an assessor if you have any questions about the assessment.  Remember, there will also be an Equalization Board established.  If you still have questions after meeting with the assessor you will have the opportunity to meet with this Board to discuss your assessment.
    We are nearing the time when we will see the draft of the revised Shoreline Management Plan from AEP.  In fact, it may be available before the 13th.  I encourage everyone along the lakes to take time to review this draft.  We will have 30 days to respond and request any modifications.  The Steering Committee is planning to meet once more to review the draft and we are looking for any comments and suggestions from the citizens that will be guided and regulated by this plan for the next five years.  Please use the Web site www.smpreview.com to stay abreast of the effort.  You may respond to a survey request or provide your comments using that site.
    I personally believe the County is maintaining a good financial health.  I hope I am not premature because we do not yet know what the state will budget for local services next year.  However, through careful administration of County expenses, we are managing in the current economy.  I’d like to recognize the County employees for their efforts and success in this regard.  Employees have not seen a pay increase in two years and because of unfilled vacancies they have been sharing duties to maintain services.  I am proud of the commitment and positive attitude of the County employees that is getting us through these difficult times.  It is the results of their effort that we can carefully start to fund some vital parts of the Capital Improvement Plan.  This plan has been only minimally funded for two years at some risk of not being able to respond to a major emergency.  Thankfully we are now able to reduce that risk.  I congratulate the County employees in helping us get to this point while maintaining County services.
    The Center for Advanced Engineering Research (CAER) facility is progressing nicely.  This is a project I see as the start of a new high-tech industry in Bedford County.  Once this facility is completed and we have a renewed confidence in the stability of our economy, I see this facility as a magnet for high-tech companies to locate in Bedford County.  I look forward to the County helping train and prepare a local workforce to be ready when this industry arrives.  I see this as a major transition in employment opportunity that will allow County citizens to remain in the County and seek well-paying jobs.  I am anxious to see this happen over the next five years.  I think the growth will be amazing.
    We can talk about these or any other topic of your choice so please stop by on the 13th.