LOCAL NEWS — The Metro Council will meet tonight (Monday, July 19) in regular session at the Lynchburg Legion Building located off Highway 129 in Lynchburg. There will be two public hearings prior to the 6:30 p.m. meeting. At 6:20 p.m., the Council will hear public comments for and against the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration Plan for Moore County. At 6:25 p.m., the Council will hear public comments for and against the rezoning of half an acres located at 423 Majors Boulevard from commercial to residential.

In new business, the Council will once again address the tax levy for the fiscal year that began on July 1. The deadline to approve the 2021-22 Metro Budget passed on June 30.

The Metro Budget passed a single reading on June 14 at he rate of $2.40 but it requires three separate readings for final approval. Metro Moore will continue to operate under the current tax rate of $2.38 until a new rate passes three separate readings or September 1, whichever comes first.

Tonight the Metro Budget Committee will present a new rate for fiscal year 2021-22 and ask for a first reading approval. The new rate is $2.295 with a breakdown as follows: .86 General Fund, .08 Solid Waste, 1.01 Metro Schools, .015 Highway Fund, .31 Debt Services, and .02 Capital Projects.

That’s a .105 reduction over the previous proposed rate of $2.40.

The Council will also consider granting permission for several events to occur in Lynchburg including Moore County Volunteer Fire Department 20 Anniversary 5K on September 11, the Jack Daniel’s Barbecue and Halloween in the Hollow in October, and the Oak Barrel Half Marathon next April. All four events require some road closings in and around the historic Lynchburg Square.

The Metro Council will also be asked to issue a letter of support for a 12 mile bicycle route through Moore County that would come into the county from the southeast on Mansford Road in Franklin County then onto Chestnut Ridge Road, then Pleasant Hill, and Cobb Hollow roads before hitting Highway 55. The router would then continue onto Finney and County Line roads in Moore County before heading into Bedford County on Ward Hollow Road.

All Metro Council meetings are open to the general public. Questions? Contact your district’s Metro Council member. A full list of contact information can be found at the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) website for Moore County. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}