PE To Meet With Legislators, Discuss Issues
Published 11:57 am Tuesday, October 14, 2014
PRINCE EDWARD — There may not have been any earth-shattering results from annual meetings with state legislators in past years, but local officials always seem to have a receptive ear.
County officials have set a luncheon date with their two representatives to Virginia’s General Assembly for October 23 and, among the topics on the County’s radar this year:
Animal control.
Voting machines.
Appointments.
And Enterprise zones.
The list of priorities, developed by a board of supervisors’ legislative committee and approved by the full board, will be presented to legislators at a special luncheon at Hampden-Sydney College.
In addition to County officials, other invitees include representatives from the Town of Farmville, the County’s school board, Town of Pamplin, Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College and Centra Southside Community Hospital.
Though the event is hosted by the county, each is given an opportunity to present their own legislative issues of concern.
While some localities attend a legislative day when the General Assembly is in session, the County’s meeting offers an opportunity to present concerns in advance.
“…It’s good to have, you know, to stay in contact with one another,” County Board of Supervisors Chairman Howard Simpson told The Herald.
Prince Edward’s list of legislative concerns include urging the General Assembly to establish or require the establishment of model regulations for the construction, maintenance and operation of publicly-owned animal pounds; oppose any efforts by the General Assembly to eliminate the use of direct record electronically voting machines; urges the General Assembly to give the local governing bodies the authority to remove appointees from local authorities, boards or commissions, if they were appointed by that governing body; and oppose any legislation that would amend the state’s Enterprise zone program that would disenfranchise rural Virginia from being a competitive applicant for a state Enterprise zone (citing specifically that they oppose legislation that would base distress factors on the area of a proposed zone rather than an entire locality).
Legislators scheduled to appear at the luncheon include Delegate James Edmunds (R-60th) and State Senator Tom Garrett (R-22nd).