RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS Blue Ridge February2012 LeADeR & Loudoun Today Purcellville Plan: Build A Roundabout ... Then Destroy It – Plans Show Roundabout Will Be Built Then Razed And Replaced At a Later Date –
– By Valerie Joyner “The drawing clearly shows Yes, that's the plan for the Southern that the original roundabout Collector roundabout – build it, destroy it and then rebuild it at taxpayer expense has to be completely demol - Main Street ninety-four feet west of the original loca - ished, resized and moved in the tion. As seen in the Town of Purcell- final plan.” ville's drawing on this page, which will be given out at the mandatory Southern be completely demolished, resized and Collector Road (SCR) pre-bidders confer - moved in the final plan. The work also ence on February 7, 2012 at the Town extends across Main Street into the Hall, the original roundabout, which is Gateway Project with lane widening, roundabout to Replace currently being constructed by the devel - median demolition and reconstruction. Proffered roundabout oper of the Purcellville Gateway Project, So why is this happening? Perhaps is located below (east of ) the final some insight into the problem comes roundabout. The original roundabout will from a Virginia Department of be proffered (at no charge to the Town) Transportation (VDOT) email dated May while the second one will be built with 25, 2011. In the email a VDOT official taxpayer money. discusses the two roundabout situations Proffered roundabout Not only will the original roundabout with another VDOT official ... "The be demolished, but much of the concrete developer has a proffer to construct a sin - and asphalt road work being constructed gle lane roundabout at the existing inter - Route 287 will be modified and/or demolished. The section. The way the proffer is written it invitation for bid puts it mildly by saying must be construction and can not be "The project also includes the reconstruc - money paid to the Town." "... Issue The tion and widening of a roundabout at the Town believes that the developer is close intersection of east Main Street and to being ready to construct the one lane Berlin Turnpike. .." The drawing clearly roundabout at the existing intersection. shows that the original roundabout has to Continued on page 7 McDonnell Asks General Assembly to Keep . Uranium Mining Moratorium in Place Wild Loudoun – Issues Directive to State Agencies to Analyze Scientific – and Legal Issues and Report Back Prior to 2013 RICHMOND – Governor Bob particular site in the Commonwealth follows McDonnell is asking the General Assembly a thorough review by the McDonnell to take no action to permit uranium mining Administration of the recent National during its 2012 session, calling instead for Academy of Sciences report that looked the continuation of the state’s moratorium broadly at uranium mining in Virginia. The on uranium mining pending a comprehen - report noted, “At present, there are gaps in sive and on-site study of the issue to be legal and regulatory coverage for activities completed by a newly-created multi-agency involved in uranium mining, processing, state workgroup. The Governor’s directive reclamation and long-term stewardship. that the state work group look further into Some of these gaps have resulted from the the specific issues surrounding mining at a Continued on page 7 School Budget Cuts Subject of Public Hearing – Citizens Speak Out Against Closing Small Western Schools – Winter Weather Ways – Part 1 and Bus Driver Benefits Cuts The Loudoun County School Board room cuts that would, among other things, affect Winter Weather Ways will be presented in heavy coats for added warmth when they go was packed with Loudoun County Public part-time employees. Still others were con - two parts – Part 1 this month and Part Two outside. When the need for food grips them, School (LCPS) employees and residents who cerned about the possibility that budget cuts in March. Reprinted with permission of the they go to the grocer’s sto