In September, the Northampton Board of Supervisors invited Bill Satterfield of the Delmarva Poultry Industry to give a presentation. At that time, Mr. Satterfield critiqued a study by the John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, part of the Department of Environmental Health Science. Below is a letter in response to Mr. Satterfield’s comments:
Archives for October 2015
CBES Candidate Forum: Time to Choose
On a cool night, with the ghouls and goblins poised to prowl on All Hallows Eve, citizens of Northampton instead filed into the auditorium at Northampton High School to listen and see firsthand, just what the candidates for this year’s election have to say. Milling about prior to the CBES candidate forum this Thursday night, was, as always, members of the County political spectrum. Members of the old guard, defenders of the land and water, and especially the Eastern Shore’s agricultural and rural heritage, were there, proper flannel and khakis, eager to find those favorable to AFDs and those, maybe not so much. The instantiated Left was there too, cloistered together in the front row, the standard-bearers of the not so New Radical Chic, which is the Northampton Democratic Dems (Committee). There would be no plenary sessions or caucus roundabouts, or enchanting wealth (not theirs) distribution schemes, which more than likely left them with some level of hemorrhoidal discomfort. The real hardcore, The True, was on hand to keep an eye on things that really matter – the proposed zoning, the schools, the dismantling of the Chesapeake Bay Act, and most importantly, the barbarians at the gate (intensive farming operations).
Has Cape Charles Reached the Tipping Point?
On my way to cover the Historic District Review Board meeting last month, Councilman Bannon, who was loading a cooler into his car, remarked, “You need to be careful about what you write. There is such a thing as Karma. I am Budhist, so I believe in Karma.”
“Yeah, I wonder what the ex-harbormaster thinks about Karma?” I responded. “You should probably worry about your own karma.”
Later, I began to think, “Here’s a person who was in favor of putting a prison out on seaside, who fought to take the school and basketball courts away from minority kids, giving it away to developers for $10. And he’s busting my chops about karma?”
Menhaden Pound Net Fishery Closed for Season
As of October 23, 2015, the commercial menhaden pound net fishery has been closed. According to the Virginia Marine Resource Commission, based on landing reports from mandatory harvest reporting and Virginia seafood buyers, it is projected that Virginia has caught 100% of the 3,753,222 pounds of the menhaden pound net quota.
This quota is established by VA code Chapter 4 VAC20-1270-10 et seq. “Pertaining to Atlantic Menhaden”. Oddly, this only pertains to the “non-purse seine menhaden bait sector gear quota”. While pound netters are being restricted, the Omega Protein purse seine fleet is still free to ravage the juvenile bunkers—while continuing to use spotter planes.
If you are a pound netter, after 6:00 P.M., EDST, October 23, 2015 it will be a violation to harvest or land more than 6,000 pounds of menhaden per day, for commercial purposes for the remainder of 2015.
Nunez wants Cape Charles Comments on Proposed Zoning
With the November 2nd public hearing on the comprehensive changes to the County zoning ordinance looming, Administrator Nunez has notified the Town of Cape Charles that the County would like to receive comments from the Town regarding the proposed changes. What role Assistant Town Manager Panek, who has worked the back rooms with Nunez in the past, will have in forming the Town’s comments is an open question. Below is the County’s letter to the Town:
USDA Loan Email Trail
USDA Loan Email Trail
From: DAVID BOYD [mailto:dboyd351@verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2015 11:12 AM
To: Ware, Kent – RD, Richmond, VA
Subject: Forgiveness of $600,000 grant to Northampton County
Mr. Ware,
Northampton County has a $600,000 grant which it will need to repay to the USDA unless we find a suitable project to use as matching funds towards that grant. Our county has had declining population for 80 years now and is financially strapped. We cannot afford to be repaying grant funds if the money can be put to good use. Unfortunately, our county administrator has been much less than helpful in advising our Board of Supervisors as to which projects would qualify as matching funds for the grant.
I am a private citizen who would like your advice on which projects might qualify for us to gain forgiveness of the grant obligation. I am copying my District’s Supervisor (Granville Hogg) and several other interested citizens in this correspondence, as they are also looking for a resolution to this issue that makes good use of our limited funds.
Specifically, the projects we would like to seek potential approval for are as follows:
1) Build an EMS station at the Drummond Property at an estimated cost of $600k.
2) Build a gymnasium and locker rooms, improve the current building, with longer term intent of a community pool at Indiantown Park. In stages this will cost $600k .
Granville Hogg has all the information you may desire on the details of these projects and should be your point of contact in fleshing out the proposal.
I am merely a concerned citizen and taxpayer in a cash strapped county who would like to see our limited funds put to the best use possible.
I am sure you share that concern and would like to see your grant money put to good use.
I appreciate your efforts to help us use this money wisely.
Thank you for your time.
Mr. Ware,
No one has gotten back to me about the grant yet. Perhaps it slipped through the cracks? Is there a specific person to whom I should address this inquiry?
Thanks in advance for your help.
From: DAVID BOYD <dboyd351@verizon.net>
To: “Foster, David – RD, Courtland, VA” <david.foster@va.usda.gov>
Cc: “Jordan, Peggy – RD, Courtland, VA” <Peggy.Jordan@va.usda.gov>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2015 7:12 PM
Subject: Re: Forgiveness of $600,000 grant to Northampton County
Mr. Foster,
Thanks for your e-mail. I was wondering if you’d mind discussing this with Granville Hogg, my Supervisor? Granville is a good friend who most definitely has Northampton County’s best interests at heart. Plus, he is on the Board of Supervisors, so he can present any projects, along with your endorsement, if you can grant such, to the Board of Supervisors for approval. I’d like to be kept in the loop, but it seems a direct conversation between Granville and yourself might be the most beneficial way to approach this dilemma.
Is that an avenue you are willing to pursue?
Thanks for your time,
David Boyd
Reply from USDA
From: “Foster, David – RD, Courtland, VA” <david.foster@va.usda.gov>
To: “dboyd351@verizon.net” <dboyd351@verizon.net>
Cc: “Jordan, Peggy – RD, Courtland, VA” <Peggy.Jordan@va.usda.gov>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2015 3:58 PM
Subject: FW: Forgiveness of $600,000 grant to Northampton County
Mr. Boyd:
Thank you for your correspondence and interest in your community.
Like you, it is our goal to work with Northampton County to find a suitable purpose for these funds to be used that will be of benefit to the community within a suitable timeframe. The Community Programs Specialist in our Courtland Office continues to work with the County Administrator to identify eligible projects for the funds. We too would like a timely resolution to this issue so that these tax payer funds could be used for the highest benefit of the citizens of Northampton County.
Please feel free to contact me directly if I can help in any way.
David J. Foster, Area Director
22329 Main Street
Southampton Office Building 2
Courtland, VA 23837-1026
From: “Jordan, Peggy – RD, Courtland, VA” <Peggy.Jordan@va.usda.gov>
To: DAVID BOYD <dboyd351@verizon.net>; “Foster, David – RD, Courtland, VA” <david.foster@va.usda.gov>
All:
Mr. Boyd is correct in stating the amount due to USDA is $599,734.80. As we discussed on Friday, all Community Facility grants require matching funds from the recipient. The match requirement is determined by information we obtain from the Census (Median Household Income and Population). For Northampton County, the match requirement is 65% of the project’s total cost. In order to fully utilize the outstanding grant of $599,734.80, the proposed project must reach a minimum cost of $1,713,528 and be for an eligible purpose. To be eligible, it must be an essential community facility that is a function provided by the County, is needed for orderly development of your community, does not include private, commercial or business undertakings, and is operated on a nonprofit basis. As indicated on Friday, parks and recreation projects are not considered essential by USDA.
Your group mentioned multiple needs within the County. I would encourage you to discuss those needs with the Board of Supervisors for concurrence and present Rural Development with a prioritized list for consideration.
Should the Board decide to pursue a project that would involve the purchase, renovation or construction of a building, the services of a licensed architect will be required. The architect would be required to prepare a Preliminary Architectural Report (PAR) in accordance with the attached guide. Once an acceptable PAR is provided, USDA would initiate the environmental review process.
Thank you for your time and efforts to resolve this issue in a manner that most benefits Northampton County.
Peggy A. Jordan | Area Specialist
Rural Development U.S. Department of Agriculture
From: DAVID BOYD [mailto:dboyd351@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 9:31 PM
To: Foster, David – RD, Courtland, VA; Jordan, Peggy – RD, Courtland, VA
Cc: Granville Hogg; Spencer Murray; Earthdesign
Subject: Resolution of USDA grant obligations
Dear Mr. Foster and Mrs. Jordan,
Thank you so much for offering to meet with us and discussing the USDA grant obligations of Northampton County.
We understand from you that of the total amount spent by Northampton County towards qualifying grant projects, 35% of the total would be applied towards resolving the USDA grant. Our sources here say the total obligation to be satisfied is $599,734.80. By my calculations, this would put the total spending by Northampton County at $1,713,528 to satisfy the grant obligation. ($1,713,528 x .35 = $599,734.80).
We would like to inquire if you are in concurrence these calculations, or if not, what you calculate the total requirement to be. Please show us how you perform the calculations to ensure we fully understand our obligations and how they are arrived at.
Finally, if we decided to just write USDA a check to absolve the county of it’s obligations, what would that figure be?
Thank you for your continued patience with our efforts,
David Boyd
From: “Jordan, Peggy – RD, Courtland, VA” <Peggy.Jordan@va.usda.gov>
To: Spencer <hsmconsulting@msn.com>
Cc: DAVID BOYD <dboyd351@verizon.net>; “Foster, David – RD, Courtland, VA” <david.foster@va.usda.gov>; Granville Hogg <ghogg@verizon.net>;
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 10:34 AM
Subject: RE: Resolution of USDA grant obligations
Hi Mr. Murray:
Your assumption of the payoff amount is correct. Just to clarify one point you made…we are willing to consider projects involving your schools. You may want to include those needs and a cost estimate on your list.
Peggy A. Jordan | Area Specialist
Rural Development
The Real Story behind the USDA Debt Resolution
During the CBES candidate forum at Northampton High School on Thursday, Board of Supervisors member Rick Hubbard mentioned that one of the successes of the current Board was its effort resolving the $600,000 USDA debt that the county incurred in building the Sustainable Technology Industrial Park in Cape Charles. Not to take away from the work done by BoS, or Administrator Nunez, the truth of the matter is that there was no single person who can take credit for this win. It was instead, a team effort, led first and foremost by boots on the ground citizen actions. If anyone can assume credit for at least getting the ball rolling towards a solution, it would be David Boyd of Cape Charles, who took the initiative which resulted in this debt not only getting settled, but also for bringing close to $600,000.00 in much needed new equipment to our schools and first responders.
Here’s the rest of the story.
Christmas in New York: The winter show at the Palace
Arts Enter School of Dance has begun rehearsals for this winter’s danceable drama, Christmas in New York. The original script is a combination of dance and stage, incorporating all the music, dance and sites that make up New York, New York. Amy Watkins choreography delights as always, taking the audience along from Grand Central Station, Central Park, Broadway and many other places in the City.
Dates and ShowTime’s are December 19th at 7:30, with a matinee at 1:00 on the 20th.
The Historic Palace Theater
Address: 305 Mason Ave, Cape Charles, VA 23310
Phone:(757) 331-2787
The Doctor Is In: Free lecture on targeted therapies in lung cancer
NASSAWADOX VA– For anyone looking to get a physician’s perspective on health topics, a series of free lectures by local Riverside doctors provides a great opportunity.
On November 18th, Dr. Laura Kerbin of the Riverside Shore Cancer Center will talk about targeted therapies in lung cancer at the Hampton Inn and Suites on Lankford Highway in Exmore, VA.
Attendees will enjoy a light breakfast beginning at 8:15 a.m. followed by a lecture at 8:30 a.m. Kerbin will provide an overview of targeted therapies, how they compare with standard chemotherapy, the advantages of the treatment and who might be a candidate for targeted therapy. For more information, call 414-8050.
Science and Philosophy Seminar :What’s all this Fuss about Trade Agreements?
Science and Philosophy Seminar of the Eastern Shore of Virginia has scheduled a seminar, “What’s all this Fuss about Trade Agreements?” The free 90-minute seminar will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov 6 in the Lecture Hall of the Eastern Shore Community College, 29300 Lankford Hwy, Melfa, VA 23410.
Jacqueline Coolidge will lead the seminar and discuss the controversial aspects of the new Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Coolidge is a former officer in the Foreign Investment Advice Service of the World Bank.
These seminars are occasionally rescheduled on short notice. Prospective attendees are urged to check the Seminar’s website (www.SciPhi.org) shortly before a scheduled date.
Science and Philosophy Seminar is an informally organized group that meets more or less regularly to explore and discuss a wide array of topics, ranging from philosophical speculation to scientific research. All Seminars are open to the public. Admission is free.
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