A Year In Rockbridge County Government By R. Hunt Riegel   When asked to speak about the things we've done I tried to think of ways to make it fun. These next few minutes, then I hope Will please you well and not make me a dope. It won't take long, I promise most sincere So sit back, rest and lend a patient ear. To each main area we'll give some focus And hope you won't think this just hocus-pokus. Water The bay, a long neglected water treasure, Polluted by long years of random pleasure, Now calls on all far-off localities To purify waste water, if you please. The water's pressure's still a strong concern And all involved to options now do turn A water loop and tank on Brushy Hill May please the most, but leave a hefty bill. Economic Development At Natural Bridge the high school closed its doors As did the gym with its composite floors. And now we watch with wond'ring eyes and pride As neighbors come together side by side. The gym and center now opens its doors And games are played again upon its floors. The high school houses yet another space For incubating new business apace. The high school boasts a kitchen, desks and more And even day care has a spot in store To bring in businesses we all can cheer And raise the chances jobs will settle here. It's critical to focus even so On businesses already on the go. Support for growth of local enterprise Is not just good: it's very, very wise. Good agriculture is our life's desire Say farmers and the hands they seek to hire More local food is in our future plans As local produce markets do expand. Jail The jail is crowding and the push is hard To double it into the 'joining yard We wonder if a future jail expansion Will leave us with a penal code McMansion. Of late we got the devastating news The juvey home was facing closure blues The program was the best one in the state Bean counters sealed its most ungraceful fate. As we go forward betting that the jail Will need some extra beds, we shouldn't fail To pay good heed to locate cheaper ways To house and safely supervise our strays. Broadband Big business isn't looking at our heights But smaller outfits looming in our sights Are asking if they can communicate From distant Rockbridge hills without a wait. It's fiber optics we now seek to place Throughout the county: we are in a race To write the grants and make friends true and steady Proposing broadband now: it's shovel-ready. Waste Our landfill closing draws too near to hide The trash and eyesores we so long deride The county casts about to seek a hero Resolving now to bring our waste to zero. In time we hope to have a new routine For better managing the waste we've seen Instead of filling holes atop the bluff We seek to use and re-use all our stuff. But what of all the methane flying away From deep inside our landfill every day? To capture and to flare we hope to start With power made electric as a part. Joint services To get things done in complete harmony The cities and the county must agree On fire and rescue calls they take each day As well as finding ways the bills to pay. A long term pact is what we all must seek, Including what's to happen with Moores Creek. The best approach, for which I strongly vote, Is REGIONAL, I beg you all to note. Revenue A reassessment's in the cards this year; It's one we hope won't rate our homes too dear. Our aim again is holding to the line That keeps our tax in check, so it won't climb. Some commonwealth deciders, being daft, Are passing on to local boards the shaft Our representatives don't have to guess: Without the funds, our mandates should be less. So now we open yet another year What lies ahead we hope to praise, not fear. I call on all who love this county well To form relations we can better sell.

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