ISLE OF WIGHT
The Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to allocate $20,000 to the Blackwater Regional Library system to restore the Windsor branch to its operating hours as of two years ago at their monthly meeting, held Thursday evening. The funds will also be used to restore hours at the Smithfield and Carrollton libraries.
“It’s more than a library; they offer a lot of services other than just books,” said Supervisor Joel Acree of the Windsor District. “I understood [at the time the budget was cut] that this money was going to be going towards raises, not maintaining what we currently had. I am interested in opening the Windsor Library like it was.”
Additional business of the night included a public hearing on the request of Jean Barcroft to rezone two acres of the Moonlight Agricultural/Forestral District on the east side of Burwell’s Bay, located within the Carrsville Election District, to single family residential lots, which the Board voted unanimously to approve; and a hearing on whether to amend the zoning laws regarding adult entertainment businesses.
Currently, tattoo parlors in Isle of Wight County are deemed “adult entertainment” for zoning purposes, which prohibits their operation within one mile of any church, school or family-oriented community.
Several supervisors pointed out that this classification effectively prohibits their operation anywhere within the county, which is illegal. Following no citizen comments during the hearing, the Board voted unanimously to table the issue until their next regular meeting to allow for more research.
During Assistant County Administrator Don Robertson’s presentation of the legislative agenda for 2017, the Board discussed the lack of equity in taxing authority between the County and cities, stating that the County did not currently have the same authority to implement taxes on meals, transient occupancy or tobacco as cities and towns within the County.
The Board also discussed the need for greater Department of Environmental Quality regulations regarding groundwater, Air BnB regulations, and ways to pay for mandatory but non-state-funded acts such as the line of duty act and compensation for livestock killed by wild dogs.
The Board concluded with unanimous votes to enter into partnership with VDOT to gain the authority to remove illegal signs placed in right of way areas, and to draft a formal recognition of Union Bethel AME Church for their 150th anniversary.
The next Board meeting will be on Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m. There will also now be regular work meetings the first Thursday of each month, also at 6 p.m.