A Polo No-No?
In a county that spends millions on its safety, the transfer of slightly more than $36,000 of Loudoun’s Tourism Opportunity Funds to offset public safety costs for May’s America's Cup of Polo event, shouldn’t have caused much stir. But, sparks flew when Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) pulled the item from the consent agenda and said he refused to support the use of taxpayers’ money for polo.
"This is a rich group of people who have the wherewithal to pay for their activities," he said. "This adult play did not benefit children except perhaps to see them play."
Chairman Scott K. York (I-At large) said Delgaudio was "inaccurate," reminding the Sterling supervisor that the money came from the transient tax, not from residents’ pockets.
"The taxpayers of Sterling District did not pay for this event one iota unless they stayed in a hotel," he said. "There is not a penny from the Sterling member's taxpayers or any other district that is paying for fire and rescue [for this event]."
The remaining supervisors jumped on Delgaudio’s comments, saying the event benefited the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the many children who are diagnosed with life-threatening cancers.
"I am biting my tongue and I can taste the blood in my mouth," Supervisor Bruce E. Tulloch (R-Potomac) said. "It did benefit children. I will tell you that when I sat in that room and I watched the survivors who came forward and said thank you, it let me know that Loudoun County did the right thing."
Summer Safety Reminders
While the threat of getting stuck with a $3,000 speeding ticket might be enough to slow down many county residents, supervisors gave another reason for drivers to let up on the gas pedal.
"Summer is here and the very thing we have all been fighting for has our children out there playing in these communities," Tulloch said. "As adults we all have to govern ourselves. It’s not painful until you actually hit something or someone."
Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run) also cautioned drivers to be aware of the four-way stops that are still in use at many major intersections throughout the county.
"The penalty for not putting up these lights in the timely fashion has created safety issues at many of these intersections," she said. "The near misses that I hear about every week are a real safety problem."
Waters said some residents are even taking matters into their own hands, placing their own orange cones and traffic signs to encourage drivers to slow down while in neighborhoods.
And it’s not just intersections that have supervisors concerned. Supervisor Jim Clem (R-Leesburg) said he wanted fire and rescue personnel to explain the proper way to use crosswalks.
"When a car is already approaching a crosswalk and [pedestrians] come breaking out of the intersection, it is a very risky situation," he said. "I think people are misunderstanding how crosswalks are really used."
Attempt at Reconsideration
Chairman Scott K. York (I-At large) tried to overturn the board’s June 19 vote to approve the Dulles Landing application by making a motion for reconsideration. While his motion ultimately failed, the vote emphasized the board’s split on planning for the Route 50 corridor.
"We cannot continue to not look at this as part of a picture or puzzle where you have theses piece, that brings together a total package," Supervisor Stephen Snow (R-Dulles) said. "You can’t have the whole thing if you have a gap."
Detractors from the Route 50 retail application, however, said there were some outstanding issues with the application. Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run) said she was appalled at how the county staff was treated during the original vote.
"There was some criticism that was given to staff members that was also inappropriate," she said. "Staff does an excellent job on these applications, highlighting the issues. It is their job to present to us. It is up to us to say whether it is good or bad."
Some supervisors were hesitant to reconsider the land-use application because of the threat of a lawsuit. The board is still in court over the last time it reconsidered a previously approved application, the Townes at Avonlea, and denied the application.
Some supervisors even accused York of second guessing any land-use decisions made in his absence. Both York and Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) were absent for the June 19 vote.
"If you can’t be here, let the rest of us get something done, but you can’t come in here and say we’re too slow or too fast," Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) said. "Let us get what work we have done, oh great and powerful chairman."
— Erika Jacobson