The previous article about the Sliding Scale Zoning Study Committee created by Shenandoah County left some details out, and there are some misconceptions about the Committee. [I’ll refer to this group as the ‘Committee’, since ‘SSZSC’ is less clear, and sure can’t be pronounced!]

It’s very understandable that some people don’t understand this Committee.

Almost every other County committee, commission, or working group advocates or promotes something. Based on past experience, the committee would meet a number of times, then make a pitch to the Board of Supervisors to enact Sliding Scale in the zoning ordinance. That’s not going to happen this time.
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The Board of Supervisors has approved creating a Sliding Scale Study Committee. The Shenandoah County Farm Bureau presented the concept of Sliding Scale Zoning (SSZ) to the Board earlier this year, and is covered in an earlier article.

On a personal level, I try to research –and share the results— of all significant ordinances or decisions the Board makes. Unfortunately there’s limited time and resources to study everything as completely as possible.

This new Committee marks the first time the effects of a major land-use decision has been publicly and impartially researched for its effects before coming to the Board. All the Supervisors should be congratulated on supporting this method.
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There seems to be some confusion about taxes, revenue, and housing. Recently, a supporter of a rezoning request argued that the proposed new houses would be a tax benefit to Shenandoah County. Oh how mistaken they were!

It’s been shown over and over again, residential land use consistently costs county governments more than the homes provide in taxes. Residences are a net negative. Balanced budgets are reached with this shortfall being supplemented by taxes from business, industry, open land, and farmland.

There’s a belief that since real estate pays taxes, and house lots pay higher tax, residences are good for government revenue. Far from it; residences demand more than they provide.
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“If you like being dependant on foreign oil, you’re gonna love being dependent on foreign food.”

— Margaret Ann Smith, Lexington farmer, to the House Agriculture Committee; quoting Georgia farmer Ben Boyd.

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VLCV ) released their annual glorification of the Democratic Party oops! … I mean, their annual Scorecard on the General Assembly. In a repeat of last year, Jim over at Bacon’s Rebellion writes about it as if it’s news. It’s not.

Just like last year, the VLCV ranks Democrat legislators as good to great; Republicans are –at best— OK or worse. Somehow it doesn’t square with VLCV’s enthusiasm for this year’s General Assembly actions. You know, the Republican dominated General Assembly.

Broad issues like conservation just don’t shake out to be all-Democrat or all-Republican; environmental good doesn’t conveniently fall into Left or Right. Members from both parties have done too much good, and both sides have done their share of damage too. By ranking only a single Republican in the top (and no Democrats at the bottom) VLCV reveals their own agenda as shills.

Monday, the Committee on Agriculture for the US House of Representatives –chaired by our own Congressman Bob Goodlatte— had a field hearing (press release) in Staunton. The purpose was to hear Shenandoah Valley and Virginia farmers’ opinions of the current Farm Bill, and get suggestions for the future.

Local area residents testifying were Emma Randel of Shenandoah Vineyards; Phil Glaize of Glaize Apples; turkey grower Sonny Meyerhoeffer with the new Poultry Growers Coop; and Dan King, Rockingham poultry and cattle farmer. Prepared opening remarks are posted here in PDFs. The complete transcripts will be posted (here) in a few weeks.

The Committee hearing was in two parts, I only attended the first part.

One good moment of the hearing came from Margaret Ann Smith, a Rockbridge County farmer. A graduate from U of K, she had described having to drive 3 hours for tractor parts when she lived in Kansas. Congressman Jerry Moran (of Kansas) asked her why –if she’d lived in Kansas— she moved to Virginia.
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This is largely a fluff post, but it’s preparation for some serious and very relevant articles. My family and I experienced how a rural area many times the size of the Shenandoah Valley pursues economic development –primarily tourism— and copes with horrendous exploitation of their natural resources by a distant urban center.

Shenandoah County traditionally uses July as a ‘vacation’ month for the Supervisors with no meetings scheduled but this year is an exception with several work-sessions. Even so, the family managed a getaway.

This family’s visit to June Lake in California was a great break; enjoyable, but also an eye opener. It was spectacular scenery, interesting history, fun for kids, and an illustration on rural counties losing to big-city greed. And yes, stuff out west is big — vast distances, towering mountains, and enormous trees.

The scenery was breathtaking –literally. Virginia’s highest peak is barely over a mile high, and most of the mountains overlooking the Shenandoah Valley are under 5000 feet. The community of June Lake (population 600) sits at about 7000 feet looking up at peaks 10,000 feet and higher!

Maybe it’s being rural —the density is less than 5 people per square mile— but people in the Eastern Sierras appear friendly and commonsense folks. (more…)

Conicville Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) is hosting their annual carnival. The first weekend and parade were last weekend, and Friday - Saturday (July 21-22) are the last two days.

For over forty years CVFD has shown its dedication in bringing the best-trained and most advanced fire protection service to a 55 square mile call area centered on the community of Conicville.

CVFD has recently taken the steps to (additionally) become a fully qualified rescue squad; a move that will reduce ambulance response times to this area’s calls by 10-15 minutes.

Conicville volunteers have already taken and passed needed emergency medical training; they are waiting just for their new vehicle, which should arrive before years end. Members also voted –given the Department’s history—to keep the original Conicville Volunteer Fire Department name.

CVFD is an all-volunteer department (no County paid supplemental personnel) that responds promptly and reliably. They have 75 members with 35 firefighters, maintain modern equipment, and are expanding their service to the community. Shenandoah County is blessed with people and organizations like this.

Support them. Come on down to the carnival. Meet old friends, eat good food, and enjoy yourself while supporting these fine men and women who’ve volunteered to protect us.

Trivia for Shenandoah County ‘outsiders’ :
There’s no ’s’ in the name as spelled, but the hamlet is named for the Conic family; so it’s pronounced Kon-iks-vil. Like Smithville might be locally pronounced Smithsville because the Smiths live there, Conicville is pronounced with the possessive ’s’.

This is the opposite of a silent consonant, like found in the word island. Hebrew has invisible vowels, perhaps Conicville is an example of an invisible consonant —it’s never written but always spoken.

No sooner back from vacation (more on that later) that County work started again. It’s heartening that we in the Shenandoah Valley and County are blessed with leaders that are principled, decent, and capable people like Congressman Bob Goodlatte. Monday he hosted a lunch in Shenandoah County to update us and take questions on federal issues.

Congressman Goodlatte’s two lead-in subjects were the big ones facing the current Congress; a national energy policy and immigration.

ENERGY
Goodlatte supported the 2005 Energy Policy Act, expanding oil refinery capabilities, cleaner exploration on federal land, and widening the range of energy sources. One of those new sources is the 25 X ’25 Resolution —25% of America’s energy coming from farms, ranches, and forests by the year 2025— an aggressive goal.

Bob made it clear that he’ll take a national view on the 25 X ’25 while protecting Virginia farmers. The catch (there’s always a catch) is to make sure that feed prices in the Valley aren’t driven sky-high by increased ethanol demand for mid-West corn and other grains. Goodlatte’s helped fund a research center at Virginia Tech to turn agricultural wastes into energy, and said he’d like to see the term ‘farm waste’ disappear.

IMMIGRATION
No amnesty; period. Secure the borders better. Enforce the laws. Pass a workable ag-worker program, one that requires workers to return home. Did I mention “no amnesty”?

NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
This was a comment I’d made, but then I added, “I’ve don’t know where the idea came from, because no one supports it.”

After making it very, very clear he opposed the NAIS, Goodlatte said, “I’ll tell you exactly where it came from….” and described empire-building inside the enormous USDA bureaucracy. I seem to recall a phrase like ‘deep in the bowels’ being used.

As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Goodlatte’s strong opposition to this is very encouraging. Bob said he could support a large animal identification system that was entirely voluntary, but that small animals (poultry for example) and pets were “out of the question”.

Goodlatte’s also supported a provision (passed the House) to deny funding any further work on NAIS until the USDA submits “a complete and detailed plan, including but not limited to proposed legislative changes, cost estimates and means of program evaluation.” The provision also requires publication in the Federal Register with requests for comments.

As proposed, NAIS will end small —under $250,000 per year— farming; most of Shenandoah County’s farms. Call Senator Allen and Senator Warner to let them know you want the Senate to support this provision and cut the funds. And let Congressman Goodlatte know you appreciate his position.