Move aimed at closing $700,000 budget gap, reactions mixed
By Dan McDermott and Roger Bianchini
Warren County Report
FRONT ROYAL, VA, April 1, 2010 – In what opponents are calling a “desperate move to generate enthusiasm for an unnecessary tax hike,” the Front Royal Town Council voted 3-2 Monday (with one abstention) to sell the Shenandoah River for $2.4 million dollars to Frederick County, VA, which has long coveted the once-pristine waterway to feed it’s desire for more development.
Informed his abstention didn’t block the move, supported by Councilmen Sayre, Holloway and Vice Mayor Hrbek, because it did not require a “super majority” fourth vote, Shae Parker said, “Are you sure? – It is sort of like a tax increase. I mean it replaces tax revenue, doesn’t that count?”
Eighteenth District State Delegate Clifford L. “Clay” Athey said that Parker probably should not have even considered voting as an appointed member of council. “The people didn’t elect him, he’s not a Republican – why are we even talking about him?” Athey, who introduced legislation this year negating the impact of appointed municipal body officials, wondered.
In a hastily called press conference, Town Manager J. Michael Graham said the decision, while unexpected, was a smart move. “Look, the river used to be a major way to move products from New Market to Harpers Ferry. But since I-81 came along, it has clearly become a burden to maintain. It has outlived its usefulness. And frankly speaking, it’s worth a nice chunk of change, transgender fish and all!” he said.
The final negotiated price for the historic and majestic river would close the town’s budget deficit for two years.
Frederick County officials say they plan to drain the river over a 16-year period provided that federal officials agree. A public hearing involving the EPA, the Virginia Water Control Board and Department of Game & Inland Fisheries is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 29, 2011.
One member of the Frederick County delegation in attendance who wished not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on behalf of the board of supervisors said it was a win-win. “Look, tourists come to Front Royal to the ‘Canoe Capital’ and all that but it doesn’t say ‘River Capital’ so technically speaking there is no liability issue. And a lot of people will still swing by restaurants and gas stations as they look for the river and opt for the Skyline Drive. Plus, of course, we’ll get a [boat]load of water,” he said.
In an exclusive interview, Vice Mayor Bret Hrbek, who was a strong proponent of the idea, said it was a matter of “wading through a river of financial problems.”
“This wasn’t my first choice as you know. But there comes a time when you have to man-up and make the tough calls. Ronald Reagan would have sold it decades ago,” he said as he looked misty-eyed at a portrait of ‘the Gipper’ hanging on his office wall.
Front Royal Mayor and former town public works director Eugene Tewalt said with the decision to tear down the Riverton Dam, his decision to support the move was an easy one. “I thought the river was still good for something, or could be with a little tweaking. But once we saw the numbers on that – $500k to a million to fix to no apparent end, versus nothing, or virtually nothing, to get rid of the dam holding the river back – what the heck?! I mean the state guys told us Frederick County and Winchester are using up most of the river’s water before it gets to us anyway. If it doesn’t serve a purpose and they essentially control it already, what’s the point?”
Asked about the possible loss of recreational uses, including the canoeing that has given Front Royal the title “Canoe Capital of Virginia”, Tewalt was philosophical. “Well you know that was nice of then Vice President Gore to do that, but we didn’t even have a canoe launch point until we spent all that money fixing up the Luray Avenue boat landing last year. And one launch point – canoe capital? I think that whole nature’s calling tourist industry is more of a county thing, than of much direct value to the town.”
“What the *u@k!?!” River activist and longtime river businessman Trace Noel said. “Unfortunately, I guess we all live upstream from these guys. They just continue to astound me on an almost daily basis. I mean what are they thinking? They are going to sell a 2-billion-year-old historic river featured in movies, poems and songs for centuries so they don’t have to add $20 or so per year to real estate taxes?”
Local Tea Party activist leader Tim Ratigan was angered by the news, if from a different angle. “I don’t want the tax increases – I’m all for any alternative to that. But where are we supposed to dump our tea if push comes to shove next time around?”
Former county supervisor and county Republican Committee Chairman Matt Tederick fumed at the news. “Why didn’t they go to Fairfax or Falls Church? They just had that water authority sale decision that has nothing to do with our fund balance situation – but they surely have deeper pockets than Winchester. This is a classic example of these incumbent politicians taking a good idea and turning it to [mud].”
Questioned about the move, Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman Archie Fox said, “They did what? I don’t remember that coming up at liaison meetings. Can they do that on their own? Aren’t they still part of Warren County? I’m not sure this is legal.”
It did not appear to ease Fox’s mind that the state and feds apparently had the last call on whether the sale would be consummated.
County Administrator Doug Stanley also seemed taken aback at the news. “Was this Graham’s idea?” he asked. He was told it appeared to be a split council initiative. “Typical,” Stanley replied.
South River Supervisor Linda Glavis asked if the move would cost the county anything. Told the county appeared to be on the outside looking in, with no financial obligation or benefit, Glavis said, “Well, I guess that’s okay.”
North River Supervisor Glenn White seemed relieved at the news. “Maybe we can get some additional funding for the air show now. It’s going to be bigger and better than ever this year, you know. The river had its day but it is old news – it is over. But the airport and air travel and commerce transported on the wing, that is our future.”
It would seem the Front Royal Town Council, at least a portion of it, agree, at least in part, with that notion.
One is now left to wonder if a brewing annexation move by the town will shift its focus from the county’s northside commercial corridor to its southwestern corridor where that airport and adjacent land for a potential commercial and industrial complex lie.
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Dan McDermott: editor@warrencountyreport.com
Roger Bianchini: rogerb@warrencountyreport.com
[Note, this story has been updated.]
This is totally unbelievable!! Or perhaps it is given the control of the the Town Council by right-wing businessmen whose view of Front Royal and Warren County appears to be one of numerous box stores that profit themselves or their clients while stripping the natural attractions and rural character that made the area a draw for tourists. And for the mayor to so cavalierly dismiss the major recreation draw of canoeing is amazing! And the extremist wingnuts who seem to infest our area are only concerned about not getting enough money for the sale! No wonder Front Royal government is the laughing stock of the region and the state! Who needs the Shenandoah River – lets drain it all, pave over the Blue Ridge and just build more strip malls.
I have to assume the date of this article (April 1st) is an indication of the seriousness of this proposal…right?
re: date, clue…….apparently not to some (many-some)
Mr. Bianchini, let me tell you about my very bad day. My grandmother was buried today at 3:00pm. You may wonder what this has to do with an article about the sale of Warren County’s portion of the Shenandoah River for a paltry $2.4 million, but suffice to say that I am sentimental about our river, not least of all because the haunting strains of the classic folk song of the same name was my grandmother’s favorite. Imagine my dismay this evening when, after one of the most stressful days of my life, I finally relaxed to spend a few minutes reading the WCR and learned that our town council had cavalierly decided that the river was more upkeep than it was worth. I was astonished to read that the Shenandoah failed to pull its weight fiscally or industrially, and would be sold — for development! (Worse yet, did I understand correctly that it would be *drained* over a 16-year period!? Insanity! Was it even *possible* to drain a river? Well, I guess if we put a man on the moon, engineers can drain a river… ) I just could not believe my eyes. The irrational, short-sighted, impractical lunacy! As I read, my dismay turned to outrage and my outrage to fury at the flippant remarks by council members.
I snatched up the paper and stormed across the street to the Visitor’s Center to demand an explanation from them of the town’s hare-brained fundraising scheme. They told me that they were as amazed by the headline as I was, but hadn’t had time to read the article yet. Because of the date, we studied the piece for something that would definitively signal a prank. We scanned the paper version and the web site for some solid indication of trickery. Everyone agreed on two things: 1) although outrageous, it was not outside the realm of possibility that our squabbling, cash-strapped council actually could be contemplating such a deal, and 2) if it was an April Fool’s joke, it really crossed a journalistic line of poor taste. A joke is one thing, but an alarmist article during a period of political volatility and economic and environmental crisis (complete with quotes implying the complicity of the town council) is something different, and a compromise of the WCR’s journalistic integrity (a term I use loosely). I told the FRVC staff that either way, someone needed an ass-kicking over this. If it was a joke, that someone was you, Mr. Bianchini. And if it wasn’t a joke, then it was clearly the town council. With the mood I was in, after the day I had had, I felt ready to lawyer up and administer it.
Since no one at the FRVC was certain about the article, I set out to find a town council member. I took the paper to Town Hall and encountered a receptionist whose face fell as she saw what I had in my hand. I imagine I looked wild-eyed and dangerous by that point, and she quickly assured me that it was indeed a joke and that the town council knew “absolutely nothing about it.” But a few seconds later, in her haste to reassure me, she added “they hoped people would react this way” — alluding, I assume, to the now vastly preferable alternative of closing our budgetary shortfall with a tax hike of a whopping $20.00 per year. Was that the plan, then? To stir up such outrage that citizens would be *grateful* to have their taxes raised? Well if so, here’s something you (and the council) might find surprising. Although I’m a county resident, I would have gladly agreed to a special assessment (or to having my taxes raised ) to close the budgetary shortfall to keep the town of Front Royal on solid footing — *before* that irresponsible article nearly gave me a seizure. I guess because of the racket the Tea Party makes, there is a mistaken impression among elected officials that the average citizen is indulging anarchist, tax-free fantasies (until the snow comes, of course, when we will want our streets cleared). Wrong. There was no need to stoop to such a nasty trick. All the council had to do was ask.
Mr. Bianchini, there is a difference between reporting that a wind-up toy is the next big thing in green energy, and pushing hot-button issues by telling us that our town council has decided to resolve our budgetary shortfall by sacrificing a historic natural resource to development. I’m sure I’m not the only person who will be alarmed and amazed by your very un-funny April Fools joke. Consider your ass officially kicked.
thank you, I needed that.
PS it wasn’t a wind-up toy, it was a perpetual motion toy propelled by water to the bird’s beak in some mysterious, physics thing that still eludes me….at any rate thank you for being such a long-time reader as to remember the last 4-1 WCR headline
PPS sorry to hear about your grandmother, I’ve always loved that song too.
Yes, sorry about that rant. Bad day. Joke did not seem funny. Much funnier several days later.
And one more thing now that I’ve got that out of my system — I’m sure when I’m feeling better tomorrow, it will seem funnier.
did it?
Yes, I can actually laugh at it now, since I’m reasonably well assured that nobody plans to drain it. 😉
I stand by my comment! Al though I don’t really remember commenting on it. Oh well.
things always get a little hazy on April 1, Tim.
Wise leader of the party it’s not Al though it’s although ~ one word!!!
I thought the article was great! I believed it at first but then got to the draining part and realized it was an April Fools. Good one, I saw the humor. Jonathan Swift would be proud.
In all my years, & that’s a lot, I’ve never seen so many people fooled by a pratical joke, April fools or other, and my hats off to WCR for that accomplish-ment. I don’t think that success will have much impact on their professional reputation ~ good or bad. Maybe on they’re hat size but not their journalism ability.
I hope & believe that those who were fooled & angered, will get over it and, with a little time, be able to look back & laugh at themselves. Laughter is the best medicine & to laugh @ yourself a good indicator of judgement.
just two questions!! whose idea was it? Did the reporter know in advance it was an april 1st joke?
who is the fool here.?? my wife totally belived it given all the foolish things the council has done the last few years……could not stopwith only one question
I’m of the opinion it was the WCR alone. Their the only ones wise enough. They pulled the wool over everyone else’s eyes.
I’m appalled that anyone was fooled.
I’m appalled that anyone could believe in draining a river that size. Oh well????
Oh, I was totally fooled! Granted, I was having a very bad day and not exactly thinking straight, but I figured, “Hell, if they can put a man on the moon, they can drain a (shallow) river!” But I confess did wonder what on earth the downstream counties would have to say about it.
I have up to now been a loyal member of the Friends of Shenandoah River State Park. This is so discouraging. Now we’ll have to move to Frederick County.
[…] So this year I had the brilliant idea to write a story that the town of Front Royal was selling the Shenandoah River to Frederick County which would drain it ov…. […]
I am really surprised that so many people got so upset over this….not the selling of the river which would obviously upset everyone…but the article itself. Kudos on an awesome story…I too read in horror but once I put the date together with the whole draining of the river thing, wasn’t it quite obvious that it was a joke??? Seriously- it is very funny…kind of like the guy who was floating around the room in Dan McDermotts follow up story. I love a good joke…the report outdid itself with this one!!
If I didn’t know better I would think this was an April 1st joke piece. WOW.