Photo by Sam McIntosh.
Designs of a new proposed communications building were discussed at the Washington County E911 Services and Communications Board joint meeting.
The commission also discussed the board of supervisors’ recent approval of a resolution for general obligation bonds which total $3.5 million through a rural urban renewal area plan for the project, instead of holding a public vote. Through this measure a reverse referendum petition would need 1,109 county resident signatures. Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr. said that this project serves a critical need for the county, and after discussions with community groups they haven’t heard significant push back. Seward says some people have expressed that because the project would require tax dollars there should be a vote, “People elect us to make decisions for them and there’s no bigger decision we can make than on public safety. And so if we, board of supervisors, plus everybody that represents all the cities, everybody that represents all the fire departments, the EMS, say it’s the right thing to do we should probably do it in the best and most efficient way we can do it.”
The commission discussed other groups they could talk to to gauge their opinion on the project, such as local churches. The E911 Services and Emergency Management Commission also discussed a memorandum of understanding with the YMCA of Washington County to designate county Y branches as emergency shelters, and a grant application to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation.
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