Why should you give a damn about the regional Jail vote on 09-22-09?
Sept. 18, 2009 — Part 3 in a series -
To: The real government of Shenandoah County = its citizens
7Bends is whispering…we’re saying it out loud…we’re shouting it from the mountaintops… A vote that affects you more than you may know will be taken on your behalf next Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, paradoxically the first day of Fall.
Here’s the Regional Jail situation in a nutshell (minus all of the drama and deflection):
We can pay our own way in enlarging our jail space in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and keep our local rights. Or, we can “go for the (State) money” and give away our local rights.
On this new-media platform… 7Bends is focused on how things affect the people of the Valley, on the healing and miracles that are happening everyday to us, and the people around us. We’re multi-partisan, not bi-partisan, and certainly do not conform to or represent any special interest group, or established power structure, whether commercial, political, or religious. We are light shiners.
I do not believe that the most pertinent facts have been brought to light on the Regional Jail, and I have expressed that to three members of the Board, including David Ferguson (over an hour on the phone this past Wednesday), as well as with Sheriff Tim Carter when we met this past Thursday. I have asked for a Public Hearing on this issue alone. Unless stopped, a vote will occur Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009 directly following a required public comment time.
Given the sequence of events they’ve decided to follow: Can the Supervisors honestly say that they will have enough time to really consider, and reflect on what they hear from citizens the night of Sept. 22nd, and if they so desire, incorporate those public comments into how they decide to vote that night ?
To the best of our ability, up until the now-scheduled vote next Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 7 p.m. in Woodstock, I will do my best to lay down in chunks what I have uncovered about the Regional Jail.
Seven people – who represent you, and your kids, and family – will vote on that day. Beginning tomorrow, I will also share information that people have begun to send me – at susan@7bends.com. Our policy on this issue (and otherwise) is to publish citizen comments and print information received – verbatim, changing nothing. We will not censor, except in the case of name calling or slander. We support and stand behind the 1st Amendment right in the U.S. Bill of Rights to freedom of the press.
Real Coverage
Follow along on the Regional Jail issue here on 7Bends.com. Tell everyone you know. Email them with a link, leave a comment at the bottom of this article, go to the 7Bends Fan Club on FaceBook. Do your homework. Print up flyers. Decide your stance. And, insist on being heard.
(Note: I have asked repeatedly for an answer on when the “drop dead” date is to vote on the issue, and whether the voting can be postponed from this coming Tuesday, 09/22/09)… until after a Public Meeting can be held. They are not answering…The only answer that has been given to me is that the people have had their chance to come and complain to Board members for two years. Why have our representatives abdicated their responsibility to seek out our opinions collectively?)
The traditional press has been remiss on focusing on the issue directly, and rather has focused on supposed infighting between Sheriff Tim Carter (who is against the Regional Jail) and the Board members (led by David Ferguson), who up until just this week, appeared to be set on voting for the Regional Jail, without holding a Public meeting.
Focus on the issue, not the deflection
It’s been reported that Dennis Morris is also now against the Regional Jail. Why has he changed his mind? He’s the Chairman of the Committee that is responsible for the jail issues. (Falling for the rationale …Oh, he’s changing his vote just because he’s up for re-election.. is unfair, and a cop-out.
I have spoken with Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Carter at length – each of them an hour or more – one-on-one…and I tell you…they are focused on getting all of the information out – not on fueling any feud.
So, who’s advantage is it to deflect people from what’s really happening to their rights…and instead feed that “gather round, there’s a fight” mentality?
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Here’s an Overall Summary of the issue:
Fact: Low-security extra inmates are overcrowding the Shenandoah County Jail. We need expansion space.
Questions:
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Should we keep local control, and renovate an existing County-owned facility as a short to mid-term solution?
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Or, should we relinquish control of the fate of all arrested in Shenandoah County, sign a commitment to that effect, and take the money the State of Virginia is leveraging us with toward constructing and running the new long-term Regional Jail (which will be in Warren County, and will house people arrested in Shenandoah, Warren and Rappahanock Counties)?
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You can also read about some of background of the issue by referencing the initial two articles I wrote here on 7Bends.com. http://7bends.com/category/community/shenandoah-valley-news/regional-jail-shenandoah-valley-news-community/
When: Currently, the vote is scheduled to follow the normal Open Item public comment period – at Board of Supervisors meeting – on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
(Note: The County has never in the two years that this issue has been looked at called a Citizen Informational or Input Meeting. Why?)
Where: Shenandoah County Government Center, 600 N. Main Street (Route 11 – Old Valley Pike) in Woodstock, VA (County seat of Shenandoah County)
What: Shenandoah County Board of Supervisor members will vote on whether to commit us to sending anyone arrested in Shenandoah County from here on – to a out-of-the-county facility where we have only 3 of 9 votes.
Before we dig deeper, allow me to give you some contact information you may need.
For any action you decide to take, here is a link to the page with all of the contact names and information for each of the people (your Board representatives) who will seal, render, and bind a decision on your behalf next Tuesday.
Hold your representative accountable, and hold yourself accountable to make the time – as needed – to get out of your “daily grind,” to offer your energy in guiding your future.
Members of the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors:
- Chair of the BoS (Leader) – David Ferguson – representing best interests of citizens of Edinburg area
- Steven Baker – representing best interests of the citizens of Mount Jackson area
- Dick Neese – representing best interests of citizens of New Market area (also currently listed as the Shenandoah County representative to Regional Jail Committee on the BoS web site.)
- Sharon Baroncelli – representing best interests of the citizens of Woodstock area
- Dennis Morris – representing best interests of the citizens of Toms Brook area (also is the Committee Chair for Public Safety and Code Enforcement Committee, under which the Regional Jail issue falls)
- Dr. Conrad Helsley – representing best interests of the citizens of Strasburg area
Vince Poling, the County Administrator and Sheriff Tim Carter are also key players. So too, is Moseley Architects and William Hefty, the lobbyist representing the state of Virginia – who assists Virginia counties through the Regional Jail process.
In addition, ask your other elected officials – and candidates – if they support the Regional Jail – why or why not?
Call to action - taking it from here
On September 22, 2009, the seven-member Board of Supervisors of Shenandoah County (BoS), Virginia, led by Chair David Ferguson, are scheduled to each cast a ballot on your behalf. Do you know what they are signing you up for?
The meeting will be at Government Center in Woodstock, VA (at the north end of town) – and will begin at 7 p.m. Plan to attend and speak your mind, if you care.
I’ll be adding more facts here over the next few days. Alert all of your friends to follow along. We have a new feature on the site that will read each story to you – so if you’re blind (in any respect), or if your eyesight is poor, you can listen up that way.
Do your own research, too. And bring it to the September 22 meeting. Let’s bring the truth to light together.
Once again, the question is: Should Shenandoah County, each and every citizen, relinquish our right to the fate of anyone arrested here in our County – to a state-mandated regional Jail Commission entity (of which Shenandoah County will have 3 of 9 votes)? As citizens, you are the judge of the inherent goodness of this vote, unless you abdicate this responsibility and right. Be sure your voice is heard. That is what we are encouraging.
