Comments on: The Dirty Deed http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/ An Open Citizen Forum Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:05:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Rick http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-112 Rick Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:02:45 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-112 Dan, it is interesting how one insult can nullify everything you say, or have said. If you really believe that land in the flood plain can be worth $60,000.00 an acre, it further demonstrates the value of your thoughts. I need say nothing more, your statements speak for themselves. Rick Dan, it is interesting how one insult can nullify everything you say, or have said. If you really believe that land in the flood plain can be worth $60,000.00 an acre, it further demonstrates the value of your thoughts. I need say nothing more, your statements speak for themselves.
Rick

]]> By: Alice Richmond http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-111 Alice Richmond Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:44:06 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-111 Don, I think more than a few of us do not believe that it has been determined that the tax assessment on that property was extremely low compared to market prices. I think quite a few of us think the market is no longer there, if it ever was, and the Board is getting taken for paying that price. Additionally, those of us who believe that is not a market price, may also concede that if it IS a market price, then let some commercial property buy it. Any land that valuable should be saved for commercial uses, not government uses. That land was sold only four years ago for $40,000 and assessed at $48,000 partly because of the difficulty of building on it in the flood plain. The piece Mark Belton wrote, called the "county line", which is like the "party line" is a propaganda piece, not an objective analysis. It can be found on the county website, which is at www.pagecounty.virginia.gov Look under Our Government and then find FAQs. Mark's a smart guy, but he's writing a corporate newsletter, not an objective investment analysis. Don, I think more than a few of us do not believe that it has been determined that the tax assessment on that property was extremely low compared to market prices. I think quite a few of us think the market is no longer there, if it ever was, and the Board is getting taken for paying that price.

Additionally, those of us who believe that is not a market price, may also concede that if it IS a market price, then let some commercial property buy it. Any land that valuable should be saved for commercial uses, not government uses.

That land was sold only four years ago for $40,000 and assessed at $48,000 partly because of the difficulty of building on it in the flood plain.

The piece Mark Belton wrote, called the “county line”, which is like the “party line” is a propaganda piece, not an objective analysis. It can be found on the county website, which is at http://www.pagecounty.virginia.gov

Look under Our Government and then find FAQs. Mark’s a smart guy, but he’s writing a corporate newsletter, not an objective investment analysis.

]]> By: Don Mattingly http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-110 Don Mattingly Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:40:37 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-110 <b>Rick</b> <strike>you sound like a prick</strike> I believe that it has been determined that the tax assessment on the property was extremely low compared with market prices. I certainly don't feel that the purchase was an inappropriate expenditure. I assure you that there were many solutions to replacing the buildings considered, I recommend you read a piece on Page County's website discussing the issue. Alice previously linked to it. I am reasonably comfortable with the BOS making decisions for myself and the other taxpayers. Rick you sound like a prick I believe that it has been determined that the tax assessment on the property was extremely low compared with market prices. I certainly don’t feel that the purchase was an inappropriate expenditure.

I assure you that there were many solutions to replacing the buildings considered, I recommend you read a piece on Page County’s website discussing the issue. Alice previously linked to it.

I am reasonably comfortable with the BOS making decisions for myself and the other taxpayers.

]]> By: Rick http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-109 Rick Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:50:03 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-109 Hi Dan. Your comments were helpful to me. I gather from your remarks, and Alice's, that the BOS is a well intentioned group that have honorable motives. Now I am interested in learning if you believe that their actions are fiscally responsible. Do you believe the purchase of the ten acres, in a flood plain, for ten times the value of the land, is an appropriated expenditure for the repair and replacement of deteriorating infrastructure? Do you believe that it is the only solution and no others should be considered? Are you comfortable with the BOS making the decission with no further input? Thanks again for taking the time to educate me. Rick Hi Dan. Your comments were helpful to me. I gather from your remarks, and Alice’s, that the BOS is a well intentioned group that have honorable motives. Now I am interested in learning if you believe that their actions are fiscally responsible. Do you believe the purchase of the ten acres, in a flood plain, for ten times the value of the land, is an appropriated expenditure for the repair and replacement of deteriorating infrastructure? Do you believe that it is the only solution and no others should be considered? Are you comfortable with the BOS making the decission with no further input? Thanks again for taking the time to educate me.
Rick

]]> By: Don Mattingly http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-108 Don Mattingly Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:48:09 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-108 Eveyone is entitled to an opinion. I believe the supervisors are making decesion that they feel are in the best interest of the county in the long run. They are spending money to replace existing crumbling buildings, (two county office buildings that are 100+ years old), one school board building with associated trailers (that were formerly a segregated high school, 50 + years old), while sharing some of the cost with the rescue squad to replace an overcrowded facility. They are doing this at a new location to provide current property for jail expansion and parking at the county courthouse. This is happening at the same time as school construction that has been talked about for at least 35 years. The citizens voted for 2 schools and not one consolodated high school. These new projects will help the county. I don't think that the current supervisiors are "protecting" us from development, they are replacing crumbling infrastructure. Eveyone is entitled to an opinion.

I believe the supervisors are making decesion that they feel are in the best interest of the county in the long run. They are spending money to replace existing crumbling buildings, (two county office buildings that are 100+ years old), one school board building with associated trailers (that were formerly a segregated high school, 50 + years old), while sharing some of the cost with the rescue squad to replace an overcrowded facility.

They are doing this at a new location to provide current property for jail expansion and parking at the county courthouse.

This is happening at the same time as school construction that has been talked about for at least 35 years. The citizens voted for 2 schools and not one consolodated high school.

These new projects will help the county.

I don’t think that the current supervisiors are “protecting” us from development, they are replacing crumbling infrastructure.

]]> By: Alice Richmond http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-107 Alice Richmond Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:48:00 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-107 Rick, I don't think it's personal financial gain. I looked into the finances and tried to figure out if the board members in any way were getting any "kickbacks" or being "on the take", and I didn't see any indications that was the case. I think they honestly believe they are doing a good thing, though their motives are paternalistic. They (rather, three of them: LaFrance, Rust, and Strickler) actually think this development is coming and they are "protecting" us from it. So the dilemma is, you're dealing with people who just have a different point of view. You can't fault people for being true to their own value system. All you can do is try to wake them up. Rick, I don’t think it’s personal financial gain. I looked into the finances and tried to figure out if the board members in any way were getting any “kickbacks” or being “on the take”, and I didn’t see any indications that was the case. I think they honestly believe they are doing a good thing, though their motives are paternalistic. They (rather, three of them: LaFrance, Rust, and Strickler) actually think this development is coming and they are “protecting” us from it. So the dilemma is, you’re dealing with people who just have a different point of view. You can’t fault people for being true to their own value system. All you can do is try to wake them up.

]]> By: Chris L. http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-106 Chris L. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:37:59 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-106 Maybe it's because they can and it's not their money! Maybe they asked Santa and he didn't think it was a good idea either. Maybe the county taxpayers in double secret closed session told them they can handle a 25 to 50% increase in their taxes. Maybe the less fiscally responsible board members are heading the way of the "Oh, no!" bird that flies in ever decreasing concentric circles until it flies up its own patootie. The last thing you hear just before impact is the resounding exclamation "Oh, no!" Maybe it’s because they can and it’s not their money! Maybe they asked Santa and he didn’t think it was a good idea either. Maybe the county taxpayers in double secret closed session told them they can handle a 25 to 50% increase in their taxes. Maybe the less fiscally responsible board members are heading the way of the “Oh, no!” bird that flies in ever decreasing concentric circles until it flies up its own patootie. The last thing you hear just before impact is the resounding exclamation “Oh, no!”

]]> By: Alice Richmond http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-104 Alice Richmond Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:21:49 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-104 I want to go on record as saying I have absolutely no idea why they act like this. From observation, it appears that they have a picture in their minds (or at least Tommy, John, and Carol Lee do) that there is a great pressure coming, that will cause enormous development, and they are "preparing" for it. They don't seem to be getting the staffwork that explains to them what the consequences are of doing this preparation if the development doesn't happen. I want to go on record as saying I have absolutely no idea why they act like this. From observation, it appears that they have a picture in their minds (or at least Tommy, John, and Carol Lee do) that there is a great pressure coming, that will cause enormous development, and they are “preparing” for it. They don’t seem to be getting the staffwork that explains to them what the consequences are of doing this preparation if the development doesn’t happen.

]]> By: Rick http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-103 Rick Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:08:27 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-103 Thank you Dr. Dick for the update and the presentation of the events. I would like to know the motive that drives some of the BOS members decisions. They are clearly not driven by fiscal reality. So what then could be their motive? Are some of the members just building monuments to themselves? Or is their financial gain involved. The first is sad, the second may be criminal. Why the push to buy this one piece of land at many times its value? What is the motive? I hate to say it but I may be able to see motives for controlling renting of cabins and flood plain restrictions, but I can't see a motive for purchasing land for the new building. Can anyone shed some light on this issue? Rick Thank you Dr. Dick for the update and the presentation of the events. I would like to know the motive that drives some of the BOS members decisions. They are clearly not driven by fiscal reality. So what then could be their motive? Are some of the members just building monuments to themselves? Or is their financial gain involved. The first is sad, the second may be criminal. Why the push to buy this one piece of land at many times its value? What is the motive? I hate to say it but I may be able to see motives for controlling renting of cabins and flood plain restrictions, but I can’t see a motive for purchasing land for the new building. Can anyone shed some light on this issue?
Rick

]]> By: Alice Richmond http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-102 Alice Richmond Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:31:47 +0000 http://pagecountywatch.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/23/#comment-102 Sorry, Tommy, but I don't buy the explanation that the school board would fight you for the building they gave away in 1935. That 15 acres in Stanley deserved more than a smirk, when you consider that you were paying more than 10 times a professional appraisers view of market value for that land. Sorry, Tommy, but I don’t buy the explanation that the school board would fight you for the building they gave away in 1935. That 15 acres in Stanley deserved more than a smirk, when you consider that you were paying more than 10 times a professional appraisers view of market value for that land.

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