Government

    Next Tuesday, Feb. 24, Bedford area residents will be able to tell town council what they feel about a proposed 4 percent increase to their electric rates, set to take effect March 1.
    A public hearing on the proposed increase will be held during the council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the Municipal Building.

    Bedford County’s supervisors got some good news, with caveats, Monday evening at a budget work session.
    County Administrator Mark Reeter told the supervisors projected revenue for the county is $91.25 million and budget requests come in at $91.2 million. This leaves the budget $50,000 in the black.
    Now, for the caveats.

    The courthouse roof leaks and Sheldon Cash, director of public works, came before the supervisors with the result of the latest rebid to fix the problem.

    Cash said there are major leaks around the bell tower, which has had little done to it since the courthouse was built in the 1930s. The lowest responsible bid to correct the problem came in from Jamerson-Lewis Construction, of Lynchburg, at $637,000. Cash said $10,000 extra would be needed to replace the cupola in copper, as it now is.

    Three candidates for this fall’s board of supervisors elections, Andy Dooley (District 6), Kevin Willis (District 7)  and John Messier (District 5) have said they are seeking the Republican nomination.
     Two of those seats, District 5 and District 7 are held by incumbents who are Republicans. District 5 Supervisor Steve Arrington and District 7 Supervisor Tammy Parker have not yet announced whether they will seek reelection.
    How will the local Republican Party unit make its nominations?