Thursday, May 20, 2004 • Kilmarnock, Virginia • Eighty-seventh Year • Number 32 • Three Sections • 50¢ Opposition knocks the wind out of turbine permit request by Reid Pierce Armstrong Each proposed wind turbine would be con- next one?” asked Connie Ruble, who does HEATHSVILLE—A pro posal to install a sidered on a case-by-case basis, the board not live in the neighborhood but was con- wind turbine at 375 Logan Lodge Road hit a agreed, noting the generators might be better cerned about the implications of the board’s headwind of oppostion from dozens of resi- suited to large parcels of land than to crowded decision. dents in the Bluff Point area last Thursday. neighborhoods. “I imagine it will be about as tall as the The Northumberland board of supervisors Pullman was the fi rst resi dent in the county Kilmarnock wa ter tower,” Ruble said. eventually de nied Wes Pullman’s request to to request a wind turbine. “It’s like having a couple of fl ag poles 104 erect a 104-foot-tall tower and turbine. Despite the efforts of wind turbine rep- feet high,” neighbor Jones Felvey added. Citing aesthetics, noise pol lution, prop- resentative Jim Madden to increase aware- District 4 supervisor Pamela Russell moved erty values, a nearby landing strip, migra- ness about the alternative energy source, to deny the re quest based on the objections. tory birds and proximity to other houses, fear and confusion reigned at the public The board approved her mo tion by a 5-0 the neighbors made their case against the hearing. vote. modern windmill. “Why does this tower need to be put up?” In other land use matters, the board Used to generate electricity, wind turbines asked Dr. Wy att Beazley, a neighbor on approved a special exceptions permit for the are a source of renewable energy. Northum- Bluff Point Road, who has a windmill. “If Northumberland Woman’s Club to establish berland, described as one of the windiest approved, one person will benefi t. Many will a clubhouse in Lottsburg. places in eastern Virginia, decided in March be adversely affected.” The board also approved a new bed and af ter six months of public debate to allow “If you approve this one, are you going to breakfast for an existing dwelling at 74 wind turbines. okay the next one and the next one and the Glebe Point Lane. Irvington studies sewer, drainage, le gal matters and offi ce improvements by Robb Hoff asphalt, he said. IRVINGTON—A central ized However, concerns were raised water and sewer service initia- about removal of the tree. tive for the towns of Irv ington “I really think you’re going to and White Stone and the Tides have some reaction,” said town Inn and Rappahan nock West- attorney Matson C. Terry II. minster-Canterbury is progress- Council authorized Fitz patrick ing towards an en gineering study to seek VDOT input on allowing to determine the scope and cost the tree to re main. of the pro ject. Other action Town administrator Jack Fitz- By a 5-0 vote, council unan- patrick told the Irvington council imously approved spending up to last week that four engineering $2,500 for new computer equip- fi rms have been interviewed for ment for the town offi ce and up the project feasibility study. to $2,000 in labor to paint the A committee representing the exterior of the town offi ce. Windmills four entities involved will vote Rhonda Kerr, Anne Carpen ter soon to select a fi rm to undertake and council members Garry generate the study, said Fitz patrick. The Luckham and Kathleen Pollard study could re quire four to six were appointed to a committee to whirlwind months to complete, he added. address interior improvements at Tavern Road drainage the offi ce. of activity Fitzpatrick also reported on the Council also authorized Fitz- Last week was a week for progress of a joint project with patrick to contact the county windmills locally. On Tues- the Virginia Department of Trans- regarding Irvington road signs day, Ken O’Brock of O’Brock portation to improve drainage on posted within the county’s juris- Windmills in North Benton, Tavern Road near the Chesapeake diction. Pollard expressed inter- Ohio, (top) re placed an Just Gardens blooms Bank en trance. est in the town constructing its eight-foot 1932 Aermo tor Irises were in full bloom along with roses and primroses “The upshot of it is that be fore own sign posts rather than using wind mill atop a 47-foot at Blanchette and Jim Joneses’ garden at French Landing. a successful job can be done the metal ones specifi ed by the tower at the Enon Hall prop- The Just Gardens tour just missed an array of colors at the on Tavern Road, the en trance to county. erty of Bill and Gay Chap- home, where some 420 azaleas were in full bloom two the bank has to be upgraded to Legal matters man on An tipoison Creek. On weeks ago. The Just Gardens tour, which included four a commercial en trance,” Fitzpat- Fitzpatrick updated council on Wednesday, O’Brock (left) houses in the Millenbeck and Ottoman area and two in rick said. the status of a ditch drainage in stalled a 40-foot 1920s Irvington, was held last Friday and Saturday to benefi t The Transportation offi cials have lawsuit fi led last year against wind mill tower restored and Haven Shelter. More photos appear on page A14. (Photo recommended that a cedar tree in the town by Irv ington resident as sembled by Alan Merkel on by Lisa Hinton Valdrighi) the vicinity be taken down so the Audrey Low ery. Indian Creek. O’Brock had roots would not interfere with the (continued on page A14) some help from Rick’s Tree Service owner, Rick Senter, who dan gled from a crane and held the tail to keep Household wealth affects public projects the windmill from spin ning as O’Brock tight ened the by Reid Pierce Armstrong entire region, in cluding the blade connec tions. Also on HEATHSVILLE—Northum- Middle Peninsula, ineligible for Wednes day, O’Brock berland’s pockets have grown Data shows growth in 2003 the Rural Devel opment grants. installed an eight-foot wind- too deep for U.S. Department of The same phenomenon is mill atop an existing tower at Agriculture Ru ral Development by Reid Pierce Armstrong taking place elsewhere in Vir- the Henry’s Creek property of ginia as people relocate from loans and grants. Regional economic indica tors point to growth in Northum- Dr. Wyatt Beazley (bottom). The same source of funding urban areas to rural re gions with berland County. waterfront property and moun- that recently built sewer sys tems The Northern Neck Plan ning District Commission quar- in Fleeton and Callao will not be tain vistas, shifting the median terly newsletter reports the county’s percentage of in crease income level higher. Assistance available to Indian Creek Estates, in taxable sales was the largest in the Northern Neck during a development of hundreds of that was once spread to rural 2003. localities across the entire state houses near Kilmarnock sorely in While Northumberland has the lowest overall taxable sales need of a sewer system. is now being directed almost in the region, $53 mil lion last year compared to Lancaster’s entirely to the state’s south- The county’s application was $122 million, Northumberland saw an 11 percent increase denied last month be cause its western counties, one of the from 2002. only re gions where the median median household income has Supervisor Joseph Self guessed that the unexpected risen to $38,100, the highest in household income is still be low increase came from construc tion material sales. At least three $30,000. the Northern Neck. retail stores in Northum berland County sell construc tion- Northumberland has long related materials. By a unanimous 5-0 vote, depended on USDA grants and New housing permit fi gures support Self’s theory. Northumberland supervisors last loans to fund infrastructure and With almost 230 building permits issued, Northumber land week adopted a resolution urging utility programs, among other had 150 percent more new homes built last year than any a change in the rules. It will be things. Without funding assis- other county on the Northern Neck. Of those, only 20 were sent to Sen. George Allen, Sen. tance from the Rural manufactured homes. Lancaster County, with 144, had the John Warner and Rep. Jo Ann De velopment program, county second greatest num ber of permits issued. Davis. of fi cials say these infrastructure The resolution states, “the improvements would have been median income level for impossible. $33,400. $33,200, and Richmond County, de termining eligibility for fund- Rural Development aid is Westmoreland County, with a at $33,000, still meet the guide- ing does not produce an accu rate granted to counties based on the median household income of lines. representation of income in rural median household income, which $35,700, also does not qualify All four Northern Neck coun- areas since it does not take into cannot exceed the non-metro- for Rural Development assis- ties may soon exceed the state’s account earned in come, citizens politan area median in come of tance while Lancaster County, at non-metro income, making the (continued on page A14) Lancaster supervisors resume budget process by Robb Hoff than the sheriff’s offi ce, which could have. employees and a $300-per-month LANCASTER—Following the will receive a 4.8 per cent boost “If he (sheriff) had more depu- county contribution toward health approval of a $12.9-million from the state.