×
×
homepage logo

Report from the Legislature

Battlefield’s battle ends in a draw

The Jefferson County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) ruled on Jan. 23 that a business located between the Cavaland subdivision and the Shepherdstown Battlefield could have a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to sell, manufacture and test firearms on its property. The vote was 2-1 (the BZA is a ...

Citizens win first round versus bottlers

On Dec. 16, a public hearing on the proposed Middleway bottling plant was postponed by court order. The hearing, which would have been held the following day (Dec. 17) by the Jefferson County Planning Commission, will now take place on Feb. 11. The delay had been sought by the Jefferson County ...

A water bottling plant in Middleway?

On Nov. 12, over a hundred people attended a public hearing regarding a proposal for a bottled water plant in Middleway. The plant would occupy the space of the old abandoned 3M plant. I believe that’s now a “brownfield” (a polluted area awaiting cleanup). Most of those in attendance ...

Comprehensive plan action delayed

On Oct. 21, the Jefferson County Commission at its regular meeting officially received the proposed new comprehensive plan submitted by the County Planning Commission. The next step in the process is a public hearing on the new plan, to be held in early December. Some time after that hearing, ...

Reject the comprehensive plan

The Jefferson County Planning Commission has proposed a new comprehensive plan for our county. It should be changed considerably or be rejected by the Jefferson County Commission. Of 55 counties in West Virginia, only five have countywide zoning (four others have partial zoning). Jefferson was ...

A victory for accountability

Recently the Charles Town Utility Board (CTUB) resoundingly rejected a bid by West Virginia American Water (WVAW) to take over the sewer system for Charles Town, Ranson and the surrounding unincorporated area. I think this is good news for the Eastern Panhandle. A couple of years ago, WVAW ...

A tax collected accidentally

Back in April, I went into my friendly neighborhood chain convenience store to buy two daily newspapers (Washington Post and Martinsburg Journal). I usually pay a six percent tax, but this time I was charged seven percent. Currently, the West Virginia state sales tax is six percent, and ...

Birdhill? Poor planning

The proposed Birdhill residential subdivision is, to me, a quintessential example of lousy planning. It is to be located at Kearneysville, fronting on West Virginia Route 480, and is to hold 720 housing units. Some are to be single family, others multifamily. Several weeks ago about 85 people ...

How long should the terms of county commissioners be?

Jefferson County now has a chance to elect a majority of its five-member county commission in November. That rarely happens, because county commissioners in West Virginia serve six-year terms, and the elections are “staggered.” Every two years some are elected, but fewer than a majority. ...

Not time to lock up the librarians

Of all the bills that didn’t pass, during the West Virginia Legislature’s recent Regular Session, the one whose defeat I applauded the most was the one I called the “lock up the librarians” bill. Many call it a “book-banning” bill. That’s technically a misnomer, as the bill ...