Trails, community center, software on Scott supervisors' plate

GATE CITY — A trail closure, property disposition and new software for the Commissioner of Revenue's office were among Wednesday's items on the Scott County Board of Supervisors' agenda.Public comment brought two more issues to the board's plate. Cancer situation County resident Gary Baker, whose niece Rachel Winstron died Monday after fighting liver cancer while a patient at St. Jude Children's Hospital, asked the supervisors to write a letter to Erica Schwartz, the new director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to get more help with the ongoing study of child cancer incidents in Scott County.The Virginia Department of Health released results of a cancer cluster study for the county in 2026, followed by an update including cases for 2024 in June. Both studies found no evidence of a case cluster. VDH officials have said they are planning for a second study update in 2027 as updated official case date for 2025 becomes available.More than 20 cases have been documented by the state's cancer registry and by local advocates in the past two years.The board agreed to send a letter to Schwartz. Budget questions Weber City Fire Chief Bruce Cross later said his department will be hosting a benefit Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. The Hooptie Kings Cruise-In — at the department's building and event center, 1680 U.S. Route 23 — will celebrate 10-year-old Andryk Williams' ongoing recovery from treatment for Ewing's sarcoma.Williams is one of the 20-plus children reported as having some form of cancer. Saturday's event will feature food, music, drinks and inflatables.County resident Danny Kestner complained about five items:- the county's tax real estate tax hike - continued funding of the golf course at the county recreation park instead of closing it- Tennessee students enrolled in county schools- the county Economic Development Authority and an apparent lack of development activity at the authority's Riverside property in Weber City- Allowing the county's litter control and animal control officers to take their county-issued trucks home. County Administrator Josh Wilson later said the golf course cannot be sold under conditions attached when the county obtained the land.While the course brought in approximately $150,000 in revenue against $329,000 in budgeted operation and maintenance costs, Wilson said the county also provides a range of services — including recreation and solid waste — to the public at costs below actual budgeted operations.Assistant County Administrator Bill Dingus said allowing the animal control and litter control officers allows faster response by both officers when responding to calls after regular hours. Since both officers have some law enforcement roles, he added, they would have to be in official vehicles while uniformed for liability reasons.Wilson said the EDA's role often involves long-term recruitment, negotiation and development by business prospects.The Riverside site is already subject to a development agreement between the EDA and developer Solinity for housing, daycare facilities and some retail. Trail Wilson told the supervisors that the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority — Spearhead Trails — board of directors had voted to close its only trail with a Scott County footprint.The Thunderstruck foot and horse trail crossed from Wise County into a small stretch in Scott County, Wilson said, and had seen "zero" use in recent months. Spearhead officials are asking any interested Scott County property owners if they would allow an ATV trail segment or parking for ATV users with trailers for multiple vehicles.The supervisors agreed to table a related Spearhead request for a $5,000 contribution to the authority's 2026-27 operations. Thomas Village property The supervisors voted 7-0 to appraise the Thomas Village Community Center property in Duffield before considering a purchase request by Journey Church International.The center has been leased and operated by Three Bells United Methodist Church up to the time of Journey's purchase offer — $50,000 — but Three Bells has yielded its right of first refusal to take over the site.Wilson said selling the property could help the county avoid future costs of needed maintenance and repair to the site. District 1 Supervisor Darrel Jeter asked if it would be better to appraise the site's value before agreeing to its sale.The board also agreed, 7-0, to appraise the value of the former county extension office in the Daniel Boone community. Software Commissioner of Revenue Tammy Tiller asked the supervisors to consider funding purchase of a deed recording software package from company Just Appraised.Tiller said the software would allow deeds recorded by the Circuit Court Clerk's office to be scanned and sent to the commissioner's office. The software would extract information from the scan, including plot and map numbers and acreage calculation, but would flag any questionable data for final approval.Tiller said the software would ease the recording task for her staff, since hiring and training staff for that task is difficult.Jeter questioned whether the software is needed, adding that only one other Virginia locality uses it.The supervisors tabled the purchase to a later date.