|
|
|
| Fri, Jul. 30 - - Mobile - RSS | ALERTS | | |
| YOUR TOWN: Caroline | Culpeper | King George | Fredericksburg | Orange | Spotsylvania | Stafford | Westmoreland | |
|
|
SPCA is charged issue at meeting
Stafford puts SPCA application on September agendaDate published: 8/19/2009 BY JONAS BEALS Raised voices and a suggestion of trading influence for campaign funds highlighted last night's Stafford Board of Supervisors meeting. Many residents assumed that the meeting would feature a public hearing on the Conditional Use Permit for a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That public hearing never made the agenda, but supervisors voted 4-3 to add it to the agenda for their Sept. 15 meeting.
Supervisors Harry Crisp, George Schwartz and Bob Woodson voted against the motion after a heated discussion.
The three dissenting supervisors made it clear that they wanted to withdraw the board's support for the CUP--a measure that would have forced property owner Bill Hoyt to begin the application process again.
When Hoyt originally applied for a CUP, the board unanimously agreed to act as the applicant on his behalf. The move indicated general support from the board and saved Hoyt approximately $10,000 in fees. Since that time, the project has become a lightning rod, inspiring a multitude of letters and e-mails to board members from either side of the issue. At last night's meeting, Schwartz admitted that his initial vote to support the CUP was a judgment error. He read a statement that questioned the process and made a motion to withdraw the board's support of the CUP.
"Mr. Hoyt has done nothing for eight months but lobby, intimidate and send insulting e-mails," Schwartz said. "He has done nothing substantive to forward the interest of the SPCA." "This has been a very sloppy endeavor on the part of Mr. Hoyt and Mr. Milde," he added. Supervisor Paul Milde, who has been a staunch supporter of the SPCA location, accused Schwartz of stalling.
"We need to send this to public hearing once and for all," he said.
Prior to the vote, Woodson questioned Milde's motivation. He said that before the CUP came before the board last October, "Mr. Hoyt made a large campaign contribution to Mr. Milde's campaign."
Hoyt has been a regular supporter of Milde's political career. Milde resented the accusation of "pay for play" and denied that the $500 donation had any bearing on his support for the facility.
Supervisor Cord Sterling proposed a substitute motion to approve the public hearing, but in a nod to Schwartz, included the creation of a committee to research improvements to the county's animal control facility.
"He [Hoyt] has sent some bad e-mails," Sterling said. "I thought they were foolish, but we need to have a public hearing with all the facts."
Supporters see a need for such a facility in Stafford, while opponents feel it should be located in an industrially zoned area rather than an agriculturally zoned lot adjacent to residences.
Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Right on the head Rella
(posted by
Dirtnap300
, Aug. 19, 2009 5:42 pm)
I have known Bill Hoyt for years and he can be quite caustic at times... well most of the time... the best thing he could do was start the inititative, get some local support for the project and then shut the h3ll up!!! he is stepping all over his d1ck again.. which is typical... too bad casuse we really need a SPCA but with a sponsor like Hoyt, its going to be an uphill battle no matter where it is..
Mr Hoyt is his own worst enemy
(posted by
rellascout
, Aug. 19, 2009 3:47 pm)
He is a self absorbed egotistical man who is allowing his negative personal traits to hurt the cause of the SPCA in Stafford. It is not a surprise that 3 board members pulled their support for the SPCA after he called the "Stafford County Board of Stupidvisors" in a recent rant. Beals if you are gong to report on this story you need to do some real journalism and stop righting fluff pieces. Your bias is showing. If you are going to reference the emails then you should post a copy of it.
Stafford SPCA needed
(posted by
SPCAsupporter
, Aug. 19, 2009 1:07 pm)
I appreciate Mr. Hoyt's time, money, land, expertise and efforts in getting Stafford an SPCA. The neighbors with their unsubstantiated complaints should stop whining. I would be happy to have an SPCA built in my backyard, as many people would. The SPCA will help Stafford Animal Control. The County needs the dog park. I personally will be happy to volunteer once the CUP is approved. Please stop "playing politics".
I don't get it, smushy
(posted by
dicerotops
, Aug. 19, 2009 10:50 am)
I didn't know about a deputy stealing drugs from the evidence room, but it sounds like you're upset with Mr. Hoyt for trying to expose that criminal conduct. So, why are you complaining? A citizen was trying to help clean up the county, and you're upset? And now, this same citizen is trying to offer a beneficial service to this county, and you're upset? It sounds like we should be thanking Mr. Hoyt rather than trying to hound him out of the county.
I hate politicians just like the next guy, but...
(posted by
fugoff
, Aug. 19, 2009 10:07 am)
Paul Milde has done tons of good for Stafford County. I don't live in Milde's district, but when I look out my back door everyday, across the Potomac Creek, I see beautiful Crow's Nest. Thank you Milde! If he doesn't get re-elected, atleast WE have something to thank him for everyday! Politicians can't make everyone happy, everything they do isn't perfect, they represent YOU, so SPEAK UP!
|
 |
||
|
||
