City ordinance under attack

The city of Charles Town Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on July 26. The purpose of the meeting is to consider a draft zoning ordinance. The new ordinance includes a provision against “Collectible vehicles” prohibiting their parking in residential districts where they can be seen from any street or alley. A collectible vehicle is defined as operable, but not used primarily for transportation (includes antiques).

The legality of this ordinance, first enacted in November 2003 has been challenged in District Court. Last May, 2009 the court issued a stay of all proceedings to permit time for the City to properly re-enact the ordinance. Citizens are encouraged to come out and voice your concerns over the proposed ordinance for Charles Town. The meeting will be held on July 26, starting at 7 p.m. and will run to 8 p.m.You may view the draft ordinance by visiting the Charles Town Web site the address is www.charlestownwv.us or contacting Katty at Community Development Office (304) 725-2311 ext 244.
For more information on the ordinance or on how to help call Mike Witteried at (304) 725-7675 or email him at michaelwitteried@frintiernet.net

Tuesday with Morrie at the Full Circle in Shepherdstown

Be our guest at FCTC as we are joined by Morrie's son, Robbie Schwartz, and his brother, David Schwartz,
for an after-show discussion on Sunday, July 18, 2010!
Tickets are still available for Sunday's show, which begins at 2:30 p.m.
Purchase online at www.fullcircletheaterco.org or reserve your seats and pay at the door by calling 304-268-7798.
Make your reservations soon....opening night is already sold out !

Full Circle Theater Company is pleased to present "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom based on the book by Mitch Albom. "Tuesdays with Morrie" is the autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie's appearance on a television news program and learns that Morrie is battling Lou Gehrig's Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple one time visit turns into weekly visits and a last class in the meaning of life.
Show dates and times: July 16,17, 18, 23,24,and 25. Friday and Saturday at 8 Pm; Sunday at 2:30. Special performance to benefit Hospice of the Eastern Panhandle on Thursday,

Ed Dunleavy Platform

As I stated in the release announcing my intention to seek signatures on petitions that would place my name on the ballot for the County Commission, I intend to state my platform by identifying the problems and/or opportunities that exist for Jefferson County and my suggested solutions. First and foremost is the need for Professional Financial Management.

Problem 1: The County Commission, after the fiscal year ends, consistently discovers that the County has significant surplus funds.

Solution: A professional approach to budgeting and financial reporting. Each County department should be required to submit a budget sub-divided on a monthly basis and be required to report monthly results compared with the budget and the prior year's results. This information should be made public each month.

Result: No financial surprise at year-end and more efficient funding of County operations which will alleviate the apprehension that most County employees and taxpayers face at budget time.

Problem 2: The County Commission frequently claims to have strict budgetary constraints with only a small reserve fund. In the last five years, on an operating basis, Jefferson County has produced more than $17 million in surpluses. However by including capital spending in the operating results, the County's real financial results are hidden and taxpayers are misled. This is not done in private industry. The County's finances must be transparent. Currently they are not. This seems to be the consequence of having a County Commission with no experience of operating and managing a real business.

Solution: All long-term major capital spending projects should be financed by raising capital through the issuance of tax exempt bonds, not from operating funds. If capital spending projects are financed through operating results a certain segment of taxpayers are penalized while others get a "free ride". For instance, if the county intends to build something (anything) for $10 million dollars and uses funds that have been saved from operations during the preceding 5 years, how does the taxpayer who leaves the county in year 4 benefit? Importantly, in year 7 a taxpayer enters the County and benefits from the "something" but contributed nothing to its building. That is why most governments use long term tax exempt bonds to finance major capital projects.

Result: Importantly, the County's cost of capital spending projects is lowered by using tax exempt bonds, resulting in the need for less tax revenue and the public has a clear understanding of County's finances.

For more information please visit my website at:

www.Dunleavy4CC.com

County Notices

The County Commission of Jefferson County has scheduled two public hearings on amendments to the Jefferson County Subdivision & Land Development Regulations.

There are dozens of changes, throughout the 217-page document. Copies can be found at the Planning office located at 116 East Washington Street in Charles Town, in any County library, the County Courthouse and on the County’s website at
http://www.jeffersoncountywv.org/government/departments/planning-and-zoning/documents.html.

The first hearing will be held August 4, 2010 at Blue Ridge Elementary School, 29 Keyes Ferry Road, Charles Town. There will be a brief presentation from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM and then public comment will be taken from 7:30 PM until 9:30 PM.

The second hearing will be held August 9, 2010 in the meeting room of the Charles Town Library, 200 East Washington Street, side entrance. There will be a brief presentation from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM and then public comment will be taken from 7:30 PM until 9:30 PM.

Oral and written comments may be presented at the hearing, or by email:
mailto:info@JeffersonCountyWV.org

If you have any questions, please call the Department of Planning office at (304) 728-3228.

By Order of the County Commission of Jefferson County
Lyn Widmyer, President

Coming Events

Third Thursdays in Charles Town

Join our downtown restaurants and shops for a variety of fun filled activities!
And, don't forget to mark Third Thursdays on your calendar for future events - Aug. 19, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21.
And, while you have the calendar handy, don't forget that the CT-Ranson First Friday summer concert series continues Friday, August 6th, featuring Groove Merchants and September 3rd with Cazhmiere. Showtime is 7pm and both bands will perform in downtown Charles Town. Rain location is the Ranson Civic Center.
One more thing! The second annual car show will be held on Saturday, Sept. 4 in downtown Charles Town. This event is sure to be even bigger and better than last year.


Baseball Boosters Alumni Baseball Game

The Jefferson High School Baseball Boosters are hosting their fourth annual Alumni baseball game on Saturday, August 14th, 4 pm at Sager Field. All Alumni Cougar Baseball players and their families are invited to participate and to bring a potluck dish to share afterwards . Contact Kathe Witt at 728-7554 or by email at kthwitt4@aol.com to register players names asap so we can obtain a head-count. Raindate Sunday, August 15th, 4 pm. Cost to players is $5; additional donations accepted.