Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Montgomery County school district is asking supervisors for more funds to help finish renovations and construction at Christiansburg High School.
The school board has requested $5,095,650 of CHS Capital Bond Interest be used for additional needs.
During its meeting last week, Supervisor Todd King questioned why the governmental body was told last year the project had come in under budget.
“Why now,” he said, “are we getting a request for almost $5 million more?”
School district staff said some unforeseen things have come up during the construction.
The school system staff said the project is really not over budget; instead it came down to things happening during the project and is not limited to changeover items.
The project was listed at $95 million, and this appropriation will not pull from the county’s budget and will use interest monies from the bond package already associated with CHS project.
Despite the questions, supervisors moved ahead with the request and approved the appropriation.
In addition to CHS, the monies will also cover district server replacement ($265,000), playground replacements at Christiansburg Elementary School and Christiansburg Primary School ($78,650), Eastern Montgomery High School clinic renovation ($160,000), Montgomery Central renovation for alternative education classroom ($40,000), and final design work for Auburn Elementary School HVAC replacement ($52,000).
During a work session, supervisors heard from county planners on recent work on an updated comprehensive plan.
In Virginia, state code requires that all local governments develop and adopt a comprehensive plan. The code also requires that localities review this document every five years – a process that involves public hearings and formal adoption. That approved plan is a legislative to-do list that sets a vision for the next 20 years and establishes strategies to accomplish the community’s goals.
The plan should also include specific actions to implement the community’s vision. Those actions fall under four categories: land use regulations: local code sections that regulate land use and development (zoning and subdivision ordinances); capital investments: physical investments expressed in the capital improvements program (cip); programs: recurring efforts, funded on annual and bi-annual basis; and initiatives: one time efforts such as plans, studies or a cash infusion for specific cause.
County planner Justin Sanders said the report entitled as “Montgomery Matters” will serve as the county’s official Comprehensive Plan, setting local policies on various topics, presented in 11 core chapters.
The Montgomery Matters process spanned two years and involved numerous phases, including a robust community engagement effort.
This plan will guide the county’s efforts to update local ordinances, justifies county programs and initiatives, helps officials set budget priorities, and directs decisions on development applications.
According to this guidance, the plan should be: Community-driven with a robust and meaningful engagement process; concise and user-friendly, allowing decision makers to reference policy guidance easily; strategic with detailed steps and tactics on how to accomplish the county’s goals; consistent and holistic, integrating all relevant county documents and efforts; and focused on building long-lasting relationships with the community and its various stakeholders. Additionally, the plan should tell a compelling story examining where Montgomery has been, where it is today, and where the community wishes to go.
More information on the Montgomery Matters report will be available in the near future online for county residents to review.
In other matters, supervisors scheduled a public hearing to temporary change of A-3, E-3 and F-3 Precinct Polling Place from Squires Student Center to Johnston Student Center located on the Virginia Tech Campus. Squires is slated to undergo renovations and will not be available for a polling location.
Supervisors also appointed Stephanie Roberts and Don Karnes to the MC Recreation Commission.
Funds have also been approved for replacement of the courthouse roof in the amount of $790,000.
