Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Bluemont Citizens Association
Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Bluemont Citizens Association Meeting Minutes December 7, 2022
E.E. Lake Store – Second Floor
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In Attendance: (13) Peter Weeks, John Constant, Dave Ewald, John & Laura Sullivan, Tom & Marilyn Rust, Gail Kelly, Bill Bogard, Judy Anderson, Lauren Stevens, Mary Marks, Lisa Seeberger
Meeting called to order: 7:08 PM, Peter Weeks – presiding
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President’s Remarks:
Thank you for coming out to our last meeting of 2022! We will have elections for open BCA positions at our next meeting in January 2023 and tonight we will be putting forth some nominations.
Treasurer’s Report:
We have about $5K less in our bank account than we did a month ago – mostly due to general operating expenses/regular monthly payments. Checks were written for various fair expenses, such as postage for t-shirts purchased after the fair and printing fees. We are still trying to determine if we need to cover the cost of radios that were loaned to the Boy Scouts and disappeared after the fair. Otherwise, the only fair item still open is sales tax. There will be a full fair rundown next month with the 2022 financial recap. Additional funds this month will go to Neighbors Helping Neighbors for local families in need. Our investment account went up about $500, so we are almost where we were at the start of the year. There is one scholarship award for $750 that has still not been dispersed.
Standing Committees:
• Bluemont Heritage
The fall issue of the Bluemont Bugle will be out soon with information on Heritage membership/donations. Tom Rust shared how the family farm is sadly disappearing in Loudoun and across America. The Southeastern Holstein News is a trade magazine for farmers that has been in circulation since 1972 (it took the place of another publication before that). The magazine is shutting down and Tom brought the last issue to share. The whole system of family farming is no longer driving the dairy industry. What is driving the industry now is corporate farms with thousands of cows.
Community Organizations/Events:
• Loudoun Historic Village Alliance
It appears as if the Philomont firehouse is a done deal. The $24 million massive firehouse is slated to be built on the horse show grounds in the village. There is one final effort tomorrow to try and stop this from happening – a community meeting is being held at Franklin Park with proposed plans to renovate and expand the current firehouse, sparing the horse show grounds. Chief Johnson will be in attendance.
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The question was raised as to whether there is something we can do as a community for Sonny and Betty Colbert for Christmas. So far, we have purchased gifts for two families in Bluemont, three from Banneker Elementary, two from Round Hill Elementary and one from Clarke. The total paid out is $2.1K, including $800 in Giant Food gift cards. A request came in for a bicycle and a Bluemont family stepped up to fill the need. They purchased a bike for $200 from Plum Grove Cyclery in Leesburg. The cyclery provided a helmet and no sales tax on the purchase. This is a great example of neighbors helping neighbors in our community.
• Community Center/Parks & Recs
Parks & Recs – The BCC is participating in the annual Christmas Toys for Tots campaign.
Old Business:
- Traffic Calming – Peter is waiting for an engineer to call and set up a meeting to finalize the location and appearance of the speed table. The area being considered is between Epling Landscaping and the post office. Peter is also recommending a speed table near the church and Montessori school. Clayton Hall Rd. will receive three traffic strips warning drivers to slow as they enter the village.
New Business:
- BCA January Elections – Peter Weeks would like to continue as president and put forth a nomination of Lisa Seeberger as vice president. John Constant has agreed to fill the trustee position left open by Henry Plaster’s passing. Dave Ewald will remain as treasurer. The secretary position is open for nominations/volunteers.
- Arbor Day Committee – The committee is working on two projects for next year. One is the exterior beautification of the Lake Store. We have received permission from the county to plant two dogwoods behind and adjacent to the building. The other project is (with landowners’ permission) planting trees along Snickersville Tnpk. through the village. The trees are being paid for by an anonymous donor and Epling has been asked to plant three sugar maples in the field by the post office. Marilyn Rust would like it noted that she objects to adding the trees.
The question was posed at to whether Bluemont Vineyard would be supporting the BCA via lighting of the vines this year. They typically chose three organizations… John Sullivan and Peter Weeks will inquire as to what organizations have been chosen.
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Adjournment: 8:06 PM – Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 04, 2023 @ 7:00 PM
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Notes by: Lisa Seeberger
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