SSentinel.com Serving Middlesex County and adjacent areas of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck since 1896 Vol. 119, No. 3 Urbanna, Virginia 23175 • April 18, 2013 Two Sections • 75¢ Public hearing on budget is tonight county employees starting January 1, Two-cent which means the raise starts after the year is half over. This means it will be tax increase a 1% raise for the FY14 budget and 2% thereafter. County school employees will proposed receive a 2% raise, which will be par- tially funded by the state. The Gov- by Larry Chowning ernor has called for a 2% raise for teachers and other contract school The Middlesex County Board of personnel. The state will pay based on Supervisors will hold a public hearing each county’s composite index (CI). on a proposed $19,770,137 county and Unfortunately, Middlesex has a high school budget for 2013-14 (FY14) on CI of .7431, which means the county Thursday, April 18, at 7 p.m. in the spends about 75 cents of every dollar historic courthouse in Saluda. spent on local education. The proposed budget calls for a The proposed $13,746,550 school 2-cent real estate tax increase that budget calls for a $205,086 (1.51%) could generate about $425,000 in increase over the current FY13 new revenues for the county. The budget. Over $100,000 of the increase proposed rate is 48 cents per $100 of involves capital improvements to value. make the three county school build- County administrator Matt Walker ings safer. recommended the increase to cover The total county-wide budget anticipated costs related, in part, refl ects a $659,744 (3%) increase. to state mandates that will require Some of the increase comes from the county to take over authority of higher debt service due to the Syd storm-water management issues. Pre- Thrift Athletic Complex ($118,778 viously, this was the responsibility of increase), increased cost of emer- the state. gency services ($44,463 increase) and Also, the new funds would gen- school capital improvements ($70,000 erate additional revenues to cover increase). capital improvements and to offset The main increase, however, is 3% delinquent real estate taxes that have more in local funds ($211,917) for resulted in a $400,000 “temporary” the Middlesex County Public School funding shortfall. System. Welcome to Deltaville At the board’s April 4 meeting, Federal funding to the schools is board chairman Carlton Revere $141,409 less, while state funding The Deltaville Community Association (DCA) recently erected a new sign at the entrance of the com- reminded supervisors the tax shortfall increased slightly. munity. Above, from left, John Koedel, DCA treasurer; Kris Scherrer, corresponding secretary; Carolyn involve funds the county will eventu- Real estate property taxes are Norton Schmalenberger, DCA president; Edward Harrow Sr., founder of the Middle Peninsula Insur- ally get from taxpayers. “I know the expected to produce $10,383,000, ance & Financial Services Agency and on whose land the sign is located; Gene Ruark, DCA member; treasurer is working hard to collect which is the main means of revenue and Edward Harrow Jr., president of Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Title Company. The sign was the taxes, and some of these funds for the county. designed and built by “highly-gifted artisan” Wes Summerfi eld, said Schmalenberger, and the brick will be collected,” he said. Personal property taxes are expected work was done and donated by Keith Ruse of Deltaville Boat Yard. The budget calls for a 2% raise for to raise $3,055,535. (Photo by Larry Chowning) Real Estate Records Runner vows to return Type of Activity 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Totals Single-Family to the Boston Marathon 121 89 Dwellings 111 130 128 61 40 48 31 30 789 by Tom Chillemi Manufactured “If the bombs had Homes 30 35 28 33 26 13 17 17 12 12 220 The tragedy at Monday’s Boston Marathon reverberated to Middlesex gone off an hour Multi-Family County. earlier, it would have Dwellings 8 43 4 7 18 0 8 12 0 0 100 Jamie Somerville of Deltaville ran in Monday’s 26.2-mile race. Although been a whole different Subdivision he couldn’t shake a cold virus, he still Lots Approved 46 86 143 128 147 382 90 36 18 5 1081 competed. By mile 8, he knew he was ball game. I think a lot not going to run a sub 3-hour time. It was a struggle just to fi nish with a of people experienced Middlesex County ten-year total of new dwellings and lots: 2190 time of 3 hours, 38 minutes. that feeling.” Steve Dunkel of Deltaville had Source: Middlesex County Planning Department accompanied Somerville to the Boston —Steve Dunkel, Deltaville Marathon as a spectator. Somerville was so disappointed after the race that he picked up his pointed, they left for the hotel immedi- warm-up clothes and he and Dunkel ately. If he had been feeling better, they New home construction immediately headed for their hotel probably would have gone to the race about four blocks away. tent to celebrate, Dunkel said. The tent After Somerville got cleaned up, was across the street from where the they returned to the lobby, where bomb went off. “It would have been a continues downward spiral people were glued to TVs watching different afternoon for us,” he added. news coverage of the explosions that Confused people in the streets, frus- by Tom Chillemi Crittenden Road in Deltaville. built—an average of 104 per year. killed 3 and injured more than 100 trated by the lack of cell phone usage, In the more than 4 years since the In the 4 years since the economic people. searched for each other. The construction of new houses subdivisions were approved, no con- recession began in 2008, just 149 “I couldn’t wrap my mind around Somerville and Dunkel caught a remains stagnant in Middlesex County. struction has occurred on any of these houses have been built—an average of it,” said Somerville. shuttle and went to the airport. While In 2012, construction was started on 289 lots. 37 per year. Text messages started coming in they waited, the TV reported that just 30 single-family dwellings—the Also in 2008, 40 lots were approved In 2012, new manufactured homes from Middlesex friends and family Logan Airport was shut down, which fewest in at least 12 years—and one for Fairfi eld Trace near Piankatank sited in Middlesex remained at 12, the members but neither Somerville or was false, said Somerville. less than in 2011 when 31 houses were River Golf Club in Hartfi eld. Only one same number as 2011. Dunkel could reply. Cell phone service Both men were able to call family built. house has been built and construction Johnny Fleet, a Middlesex business- had been disconnected by offi cials to and friends while at the airport. There are plenty of building lots was started on another one in 2012. man, said that among factors contrib- prevent other bombs from being deto- On Tuesday, Jamie’s wife Annie said available. In 2008, Middlesex County The 10-year average for new dwell- uting to the decline of construction nated by cell phones. she had talked to her husband about 3 approved 95 lots (with 123 dwellings) ings in Middlesex is about 79 per year. is the devaluation of existing homes Runners unable to fi nish the race p.m., before the explosions. About 30 for Phase I of Rosegill, just south The 12-year average, going back to due to the recession, and the increas- were crying and freezing because they minutes later she got a text message of Urbanna; 88 lots at Water View 2001, is 82 houses a year. ing price of building materials. These couldn’t get their warm-up clothes about the explosions. “I fi gured he Landing; 85 lots for “Stonebrook at These fi gures pale in comparison to factors mean a buyer can purchase an from the fi nish line area. They were was okay, but there is that element of the Courthouse” in Saluda; and 21 the heyday of construction between existing home cheaper than a new one frustrated trying to contact loved ones. not knowing for sure,” she said. lots were approved for Glennfi eld on 2001 and 2008 when 838 houses were can be built. “It was surreal,” said Somerville. “I Co-workers consoled Annie, a could see the fear in their eyes.” teacher at St. Clare Walker Middle Finally, 45 minutes later Somerville School. got on Facebook, and sent an across- Jamie said that more than a million the-board message that he was “OK.” people attended the event, and even Urbanna ABC Store closes temporarily What if? though most were not near the explo- Dunkel had been standing 100 yards sions, “your mind goes to the worst The Virginia Department of Alco- replaced. during regular hours: 6619 Main from the fi nish line for several hours, place.” holic Beverage Control (ABC) store It will reopen Monday, April 22, at Street, Gloucester; 10972 Buckley waiting for Somerville, who fi nished Dunkel said his initial reaction was at 231 Virginia Street in Urbanna will 10 a.m. Hall Town Center, Mathews; and about 30 minutes before the bombs “we’re okay, let’s get out of here.” be closed Wednesday through Satur- For customer convenience, the fol- 16273 General Puller Highway, Riv- went off. day, April 17-20, so the fl oor can be lowing ABC locations will be open erside Mall North, Deltaville.