Shame on the Planning Commission

What a disappointing waste of time at last Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting.

The outcome of the evening was predetermined with the exception of Ms. Ishee and Ms. Smith, the only voices of reason. It appears that Mr. Light, Mr. Henry, Mr. Bird and Mr. Kohler are perfectly content with destroying this unique jewel known as Rappahannock County.

I wonder if they would vote the same way if these behemoths were in their viewshed, or if their family developed medical conditions related to the emitted radiation.

Hope McCleary, CWS’s specialist in dealing with “difficult counties,” seems to have a myopic vision of plundering as many counties in the

Commonwealth as she can and then slither back to some metropolitan area with the profits gained at our expense.

The overwhelming majority of the public comments at the hearings have been in opposition [to both the Scrabble and Woodville cell towers]. The Planning Commission gave lip service to our objections and some members’ impatience with the public comment process was palpable. They couldn’t wait to vote: YES. Fire and Rescue needs to be able to communicate during an emergency, but we were told that the Sperryville tower (still not in operation) would handle their needs. I was under the impression that we were joining with other counties to provide equipment that would solve this problem.

These proposed towers are in conflict with the stated purpose of our Comprehensive Plan. They are in conflict with established science re: the menace of radio waves and microwave emissions. With fiber optics on the horizon, WHY do we need them?

We can only hope and pray that the new Board of Supervisors, convening in January, have a collective spine and stand up to CWS and their minions.

Editor’s note: The writer is a resident of Rock Mills. The above headline was included with this commentary. The entire “new” Board of Supervisors referred to here, who will collectively assume their seats in January, were in attendance at last week’s meeting of the Planning Commission. They include incumbents Christine Smith, BOS representative to the Planning Commission, Ron Frazier, and Chris Parrish; and Supervisors-elect Debbie Donehey and Keir Whitson.