Loudoun County Board of Supervisors

PUBLIC TO GET EARLY CRACK AT BUDGET

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will hold two public input sessions in December on what’s expected to be another woeful county budget next year.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors decided Nov. 17 to launch next year a six month pilot program, where zoning inspectors working on Saturdays will pro-actively investigate areas in eastern Loudoun known for high numbers of complaints of unkempt properties and overcrowded homes.

According to county documents, the program will run between Jan. 1, 2010, and June 30, 2010, and will focus on areas in Sterling that do not have a homeowners association.

At their Nov. 4 meeting in Leesburg, supervisors unanimously agreed to ask state lawmakers for permission to combine duplicated tasks like land acquisition and capital construction, matters that have divided supervisors and school board members of late. Virginia’s General Assembly next meets starting in January.

Supervisors stressed the measure is not an attempt to take power away from the school board, but a change that would cut spending.

On Nov. 4, the board shot down a proposal that would have sought state permission for the county to stop advertising in newspapers, and rely instead on the Web and television to communicate with residents.

For years, Virginia law has required that localities advertise government events, like public hearings, in newspapers. But in early 2009, two bills were introduced in Virginia’s General Assembly that would have removed this requirement. Facing stiff opposition from the newspaper industry and from advocates of open government, both failed.

A majority of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors decided Nov. 4 to give a portion of the county’s $3 million Housing Trust Fund to Loudoun Habitat for Humanity so the nonprofit can build homes for the needy in western Loudoun and purchase a half-dozen bank-owned homes in Sterling to be fixed up and sold to low- and moderate-income families.

Car Stickers Due this Month

The deadline to display 2010 Loudoun County vehicle decals is Nov. 16

If you have not purchased a decal, you an do so at the following locations Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by going online or calling:

Treasurer's Office Locations:

In an 8-1 vote Tuesday night, Oct. 27 the Loudoun County School Board approved multiple contracts totaling $10.15 million for 101 acres of land on the western edge of Stone Ridge between Braddock Road and south of Route 50 for construction of a new high school (HS-7) scheduled to open in 2012 and a future elementary school. Loudoun County voters approved $82.2 million in school bonds for HS-7 on Nov. 4, 2008.

“You’re talking about eliminating senior centers. You’re talking about eliminating ambulance service at certain fire and rescue stations," said Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge), chairman of the Board of Supervisors’ Finance, Government Services and Operations Committee. "… We’re facing a serious situation.”

Board Honors Fallen Soldier

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Oct. 20 unanimously adopted a resolution honoring fallen Purcellville solider Army Spec. Stephan Mace, who was killed in action this month.

Mace and seven of his comrades died on Oct. 3, when Taliban forces attacked their outpost in the Kamdesh section of Afghanistan. Mace was a member of the 4th Infantry Division based out of Fort Carson, Colo.

Leading the change against Mindy Williams representing Loudoun’s Chamber of Commerce on the Loudoun Health Council was Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles), who is challenging Del. Tom Rust for the 86th District seat in the House of Delegates.

In commercials and at candidate forums, Miller has repeatedly attacked Rust for not doing more to save autism coverage legislation that failed in the General Assembly session this year.