Cleanliness & Godliness Neighbors 'Spat' on Aquaculture Enterprise
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Circulation 13,000 Free May 22, 2015 Cleanliness & Godliness Francine Payton of Horntown (at right) thanked God Wednes- day that she is “instilled with the need to keep my area clean.” And the Accomack Board of Supervisors thanked her with a resolution for that effort, which has included picking up hun- dreds of bags of trash along nearby roads with her two grand- daughters, Zariea and Jazmyne Payton. “This woman has just taken on the town,” said Barbara Mason of Agape Christian Children’s Community Center. “She wants her town to be the best it can be. She wants it to be clean.” Jenny O’Neill, former head of Waste Watchers, also praised Payton. “She’s a special person,” O’Neill said. “She leads by example. She never asks anyone to do anything she isn’t willing to do.” Said Supervisor Grayson Chesser as he presented Payton with a plaque. “I can’t even begin to name all the things she has done for her commu- nity.” If he could give his fellow supervisors anything, “it would be a clone of Francine,” he said. Photo by Linda Cicoira Neighbors ‘Spat’ on Aquaculture Enterprise Proposed to Board By Linda Cicoira to meet with them and meet a compromise. We are Harborton resident Susan Mastyl also opposes The food of pearls is stirring a controversy in Pun- very willing to compromise. They have held several the lease. While a supporter of aquaculture, she said, goteague Creek. meetings, to which we were not invited, attempting “We still need to make sure anything we do is done in A proposed oyster farm came under fire at an Ac- to stir up controversy (and) interrupting church.” the right way … to safeguard environment.” comack Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday The elder Mears said the plantings would be at Mastyl said boaters could hit the cages in the shal- night when one supervisor and some Harborton resi- least 100 feet from all waterfront property and the low water and capsize. dents spoke against a request from a Belle Haven oysters would be at the water’s bottom and would Denise Lawless of the area said a wider section father and son to plant oysters on seven acres near not interfere with local boat activity. He said the of the creek should be used for the farm. “There’s Horse Hole Creek adjacent to Harborton Harbor. “no swimming” conditions and rocky riprap area are enough room for all.” The application was made to the Virginia Marine more dangerous than his proposal. Hart urged his colleagues to oppose the lease. Resources Commission, which grants leases. Super- He listed local agencies that “want us to grow oys- “This is the only deep-water harbor Accomack County visor Donald Hart wanted the Accomack board to ters. Nothing is better” to clean “the bay and its trib- owns,” he said. “The boundary is right up to the water send a message to the VMRC opposing the business. utaries,” he said. “Please do not protest our lease.” mark. There is a lot of recreation that goes on around But the other supervisors wouldn’t do it. But other residents said the oysters would be here. This is where the boats load and unload. Barges Daniel Mears, a senior at James Madison Uni- within 10 feet of a public boat ramp and harbor. for Tangier, VDOT. … It’s like a park. These citizens versity, said he planned to return to the Shore af- “What this lease does is take out a large amount have a very dire concern. Just the narrowness of that ter graduation “to start a small business and raise of water presently used by boaters adjacent to the area concerns me greatly,” Hart continued. “We need a family. We have tried to meet with the protesters landing,” complained George Budd, who lives in the to go on record saying we have problems with this.” on several occasions. They meet in private,” he said. village. It “directly abuts the landing and takes out “I just feel like I don’t know enough about this,” “Please don’t protest my application.” a large swab of water. The landing was constructed said Supervisor Laura Belle Gordy. “I want a chance His father, Jeff Mears, said he checked into the with significant public funding.” They “can’t infringe to go see it. I support aquaculture. This young man is venture before taking “the time and expense of ap- on property rights,” Budd stated. “Oyster cages can- trying to get started. I don’t want to be against some- plying. … We took their concerns seriously. I offered not be submerged over aquatic vegetation.” (Continued on Page 13) 2 • EastErn shorE Post • May 22, 2015 Library Replacement/Renovation Considered by Supervisors Once Again By Linda Cicoira ditions, including buying three parcels be considered with this,” Supervisor recommendations to the Planning Com- The discussion started Wednesday around the structure. They planned to Laura Belle Gordy said. “We can al- mission. The study was made to pro- with Accomack supervisors nixing a raise $1 million for the endeavor. ways go to the schools” and conduct a mote public safety and economic vital- plan to renovate the Eastern Shore The meeting room was designed in meeting. ity and notes potential aircraft accident Public Library and create a much- the plan to accommodate about 125 peo- “We had a referendum that turned zones, aircraft noise zones, rocket range needed meeting place for themselves ple instead of the 50 who filled the cham- down spending $3.5 million” for the li- hazard areas, EMI and radar interfer- within the facility. ber during Wednesday’s session, leaving brary “and you make this a second prior- ence and coastal resiliency. But after more conversation, the a dozen or more standing in the hall. ity?” Supervisor Wanda Thornton asked The committee recommends that talk turned into an auction-style bid- Supervisor Robert Crockett said he the committee charged with prioritizing the county establish an Accomack- ding and eventually the group prom- could not justify to his constituents the county’s needs. (The top priority was Wallops Working Group (AWWG); in- ised to throw $2 million at whatever spending $750,000 for the supervisors’ an addition to the Health Department.) clude information in the Comprehen- the library board of directors decides to chamber. The size of the space would “I think this could be cut down in size. sive Plan; pursue grants and/or sup- do to improve the library, whether it be be 2,770 square feet compared to the We’re not supposed to be building every- plemental funding for implementation; building a new structure or revamping current chamber, which is 630 square one’s ideal. The Eastern Shore Room? identify county strategies to address the existing place in Accomac. feet. The plan included an attached How often is that used?” she asked. “Our incompatibilities within the Wallops The directors left the session holding room for closed sessions and a separate people are so crowded upstairs they are aircraft clear zone; establish a review and shaking their heads since the plan entrance and bathrooms. It also could stacking things all over the place.” process for requests relating to devel- they had hoped was going to pass in- be used by the library for meetings and “If you look down this list for … Cap- opment of wind turbines, cell towers, cluded the county borrowing about $5 other activities. ital Improvement Projects (CIP), the and radio frequency emitters or struc- million toward the renovations and ad- “I don’t think the board should even committee was able to solve health de- tures; get NASA/Navy to notify Ac- partment, library, commonwealth’s at- comack and the AWWG of offshore en- torney, school board and public works ergy development to identify potential Zeb B. Barfield, Inc. (needs) and still have money left over,” interference; establish a rocket hazard @ The Zeb B. Barfield, Inc. Auction Facility said Supervisor Ron Wolff, a commit- notification area; establish a WFF Air- 12100 Mears Station Rd., Hallwood tee member. “This is the task that the craft Operations Overlay District and board gave us, if this is not acceptable, amend the county ordinances for com- Annual Spring Classic maybe the chairman needs to appoint patible land use in several zones and Sportsman’s Auction a new committee.” affected areas; adopt measures for full Thursday May 28 Preview 3-7 PM Voting to give the library the $2 mil- real-estate disclosure with respect to Friday May 29 @ 5:25 PM lion were Chairwoman Reneta Major, properties located in aircraft accident Saturday May 30 @ 10:10 Supervisors Grayson Chesser, Donald potential and noise zones; pursue Vir- 1,000+ Decoys, Firearms, Oyster Tins, Artwork including a Darling Oil- Hart, Jack Gray, Crockett and Wolff. ginia legislation to amend required On-Canvas Hunting Scene, Whiskey Still, Duck Trap, & Grass Sneak Boat Supervisors Gordy, Thornton and Kay disclosures to include military aircraft Go to www.zebauctions.com to preview the inventory for each day Lewis were opposed. operations on non-military airfields; The library money and another ap- provide information regarding incen- DECOY AUCTION-ONLINE ONLY proximately $4.4 million that was tives for retrofits to windows on ex- Wednesday June 3, Ending @ 9:00 PM unanimously approved would be bor- isting buildings within the range haz- 65 Lots By: DeGavre, Joiner, Mitchell, NC, Upper Bay rowed without a tax increase, the of- ard area; encourage the application of Bid now, through Ending Time @ Proxibid.com All lots will be ficials said. noise lessening measures; and develop available for your preview and inspection @ our May 28-30 Event.