Stalemate remains in school board move, truck stop CUP

New Kent’s Board of Supervisors’ June 26 work session yielded no movement on two issues expected to be voted on at its July regular meeting.

Relocation of the school board office and the proposed Wilco-Hess LLC truck stop in Talleysville remained at a stalemate during updates at the meeting.

Two members of the registrar’s office spoke to supervisors, citing legal issues about the possible relocation of the office. Supervisors elected to enter closed session towards the end of the meeting and returned with no decision. County administrator Rodney Hathaway told the board while the move is imminent (partially due to the $45,000 yearly rent at the school board’s current office), school officials prefer to move prior to the upcoming school year.

In Wilco-Hess LLC debate, Hathaway told supervisors that an additional condition has been agreed among the county and the group.

With concerns of increased traffic in the area if the conditional use permit (CUP) is granted, Wilco-Hess agreed to a $100,000 bond if a traffic light is warranted within the first four years of construction. The bond amount also pertains to a traffic study as well.

However, Hathaway said the company expressed dismay due to what they cite as pressure from a proposed safety plan.

“They are upset with the safety plan that’s required by the sheriff’s office,” said Hathaway. “I assured them that the plan is the same one that was issued to Pilot LLC in 2009.

“I assured Wilco-Hess that they will be treated equally as we did with Pilot,” concluded the county administrator.

Hathaway concluded by saying while talks with Wilco-Hess continue to be an open line of communication, other parties including Pilot and MHF Dining, have become stagnant. Hathaway expects those parties to be at the July 8 meeting where action may take place.