Garrey Curry 101
Speaking to Rapp at Home, the county administrator talked about his role, issues
Garrey Curry, Rappahannock County administrator since January 2018, spoke recently to Rapp at Home via Zoom about his role in county government and issues of importance to the community.
A civil engineer by education, Curry came here from Gloucester County, which has about ve times the population of Rappahannock. There, he served as deputy county administrator, assistant county administrator, and director of public works.
ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
Curry said the role of county administrator is determined by the Code of Virginia. The elected board of supervisors is not able to provide hands-on oversight of all the county projects, so the BOS appoints an administrator to handle day-to-day activities. The administrator must be a jack-of-all-trades who blends management with active participation in projects. And also ensure that all components are working together, that policy decisions are being applied, and that proper priorities are being established.
REFUSE AND RECYCLING
Curry addressed an issue important to all Rappahannock residents — refuse and recycling. He reported that Page County Refuse has taken over from the previous vendor. Rappahannock’s two sites — Amissville and Flatwood — will soon be tted with trash compactors.
Processing recyclables presents a special problem, he said, outlining the several changes that have been initiated by Page County. Separate bins will be available for glass, plastic, paper, aluminum, and steel/tin cans. Within
a month, new containers will be on site clearly marked for each recyclable. Plastics 1 through 7 will be recycled, with the exception of black plastics, which contaminate other plastics because of the coloring.
It is preferable for someone not to recycle at all than to put items in the wrong containers, said Curry. Once the containers are in place, an education campaign will be launched to inform residents of the new procedures. Mr. Curry anticipates that the “Free Shed” will probably be reopened during Phase 3 of Virginia’s COVID-19 reopening plan.
COUNTY BUILDINGS
In response to a question about the county administrator’s o ce being relocated back to Washington, perhaps in the former administrator’s building on Gay Street, Curry indicated that he agreed that ideally the o ce would be housed within the town. However, he said, the small building at the end of Courthouse Row was impractical for that use. A review of all county-owned buildings is underway, and the possibility of using the former o ce for public bathrooms is being explored.
INTERNET AND CELL ACCESS
Curry said there is no easy solution to providing internet and cell reception. However, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative has expressed an interest in using federal grants to expand broadband access, and the county is hopeful that the REC connection can provide a long-term solution.
In addition, Verizon and T-Mobile will be using the existing cell towers, which should enlarge internet access.
Regarding telephone landlines, he said the old copper lines are now aging and susceptible to failure, but Verizon and CenturyLink are required to maintain them. Customers who experience trouble should contact their phone company. If the issue is not resolved, customers can call Curry’s of
ce directly.