Supervisors move to obtain waste site

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors is one step closer to obtaining land needed for a staffed solid waste facility in the Faber and Schuyler areas.

Supervisors held a public hearing Jan. 22, at which two people spoke, regarding the proposed acquisition by condemnation of property owned by the Cove Valley Recreation Center on Virginia 670 in Faber.

Nelson County Administrator Steve Carter said the public hearing is a procedural step required by state code in the condemnation process.

The county offered in October to buy two to four acres for $12,000 per acre from the recreation center, which rejected the offer.

During the public hearing, Bo Delk, of Roseland, said he normally believed the process was one of the last things a governing body should have to do.

“It opens the county up to criticism,” Delk said. “If at all possible, try to find something else.”

Delk suggested the county offer more money for the property.

Gilbert Morterfield, of Cedar Creek Road, said he agreed with Delk and that condemnation of the property for county use could expose the county to lawsuits.

After the hearing, North District Supervisor Tommy Harvey said the county was still negotiating with the recreation center and that the public hearing was part of the required process for condemnation should the negotiations fail.

“This is a last resort,” Harvey said. “I will continue to work with them. I won’t give up.”

John Bradshaw, a trustee for the recreation center, said the group is correcting membership errors and planned to hold another meeting Jan. 27.

Central District Supervisor Connie Brennan said that the condemnation process was unfortunate and she hoped it didn’t have to be used.

“It’s a matter of fairness to others in the county that we get this (site) up and running,” Brennan said. “Because it’s expensive to have to take care of Ablemarle’s trash from the unmanned sites.”

Supervisors previously considered property along Bunny Hill Lane in Faber and on Va. 617 in Schuyler for potential trash sites.

The supervisors’ offer of $125,000 for 6.8 acres on Bunny Hill Lane in Faber was rejected and the Schuyler site consideration was put off after development cost estimates increased.

The site in the Faber and Schuyler area of the county would be the last staffed waste site to be built.