June 19, 2006

The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date for a joint meeting with the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and the Blacksburg Town Council at 7:00 p.m. at Blacksburg Middle School.

School Board Members Present

Penny J. Franklin, Chair B. Wendell Jones

Jamie M. Bond Susan K. Morikawa

David G. Dunkenberger, II

School Administrative Staff Members Present

Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent

Daniel A. Berenato Lisa R. McAlexander

Harvey C. Goodwin Jeanette Warwick

Board of Supervisors Members Present

Steve Spradlin, Chair John Muffo

Mary Biggs Annette Perkins

Gary Creed Jim Politis

Doug Marrs

County Administrative Staff Members Present

Clay Goodman, County Administrator

Carol Edmonds Bobby Parker

Marty McMahon Vicky Swinney

Blacksburg Town Council Members Present

Roger Hedgepeth, Mayor

Susan Anderson (Council Elect) Al Leighton

Paul Lancaster Ron Rordam

Don Langrehr Tom Sherman

Town of Blacksburg Staff Members Present

Marc Verniel, Blacksburg Town Manager

Donna Boone-Caldwell Larry Spencer

Ms. Franklin called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.

On motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, the Board voted unanimously to enter into work session at 7:08 p.m.

Clay Goodman, Montgomery County Administrator, and Trevor Kimzey from Anderson and Associates gave a presentation on the Blacksburg High School stadium project. Following is an overview of the presentation:

· Need for stadium improvements

· Analysis of the old Blacksburg Middle School site

· Finding a suitable site

· Subject property and concept site plan

· Addressing special use permit requirements

After reviewing several sites including the old Blacksburg Middle School site and sharing criteria used to evaluate these sites, Mr. Kemsey concluded that the Hethwood site is the best possible site for the new stadium. Below are a few of the special use permit considerations mentioned:

· Stadium lights shall not be used after 11 p.m.

· PA system shall be used only between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. and would only be used for school activities (reducing use by 40%)

· Buffer yard at Stroubles Mill would be 2.5 times the current requirement

· The stadium would not be used on Sundays except on a Saturday rain-out

In response to a question by a member of the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Kemsey said he would check to see where the PA system being proposed is actually in use in a stadium and would report back. After being asked what would happen if the boards were to reject all of the sites being considered, Mr. Goodman responded that he and his staff would have to start all over. He pointed out that it was very difficult from the beginning to find sites that met all of the criteria. Mr. Goodman did add that there was one additional site that he had considered toward the end and said he approached the landowner this week about this site as well. However, he stressed again that the best option even considering this new site is the Hethwood site. It was noted that the Blacksburg Town Council must act on the special use permit by the first week in September 2006.

Even after the presentation, some town council members voiced support for continuing to consider the option of using the old Blacksburg Middle School facility for the stadium facility. Council members were reminded that the old Blacksburg Middle School building would still have to be torn down for the stadium project to come to fruition. Some council members were willing to consider less seats (currently the project calls for 3,000) if this would help make the project more viable for this site.

The public bodies could not come to agreement on this issue.

Return to Regular Session

Mrs. Morikawa moved, seconded by Mr. Dunkenberger, and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 9:10 p.m.

On motion by Mr. Dunkenberger, seconded by Mrs. Morikawa, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:11 p.m.

School Board Chair Deputy Clerk of the School Board