Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, February 5, 2025
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Bluemont Citizens Association
Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Bluemont Community Center
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In Attendance: Bill Bogard, John Constant, Dave Ewald, Holly Green, Melissa Hess, Michael Jackwood, Hillary Perkins,
Peter Weeks, Rachel Wetherill, Hailey Zurschmeide
Meeting called to order: Peter Weeks – presiding
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Treasurer’s Report:
- Hillary Perkins was introduced as the new BCA Treasurer. A big thank you to Dave Ewald for his
past service and for extending his service to help mentor Hillary, as she gets on board. - As of 31 January, the combined total of the Operating Account, Money Market Account and Fair
Account is $117,722.62. - A vote was taken to allocate funds to purchase a laptop for BCA to be used by the Treasurer and a second vote to preapprove funding for a sponsorship of the Shamrock Run (if sponsorships are available this year). Both passed unanimously.
Bluemont Fair 2025 News:
- A meeting will take place on February 12 to decide on a theme.
Loudoun Historic Village Alliance:
- Peter spoke at the public hearing before the Board of Supervisors this past week, lobbying the Board to pass the Comprehensive Plan Amendment regarding rural historic villages. Establishing Bluemont as a historic village will give Bluemont stronger representation and place at the table to have a voice in civic matters, such as proposed changes to our community.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors:
- An informal community of 4-5 women in our community is helping to provide the 81-year-old neighbor the support she needs. Expenses for this are coming out-of-pocket from the volunteers.
- A suggestion was made to get in touch with Kim, find out more about the dollar amount needed for support, and then go from there to see what can be done.
Snickersville Turnpike Association:
- The Association’s primary mission is to keep the esthetics of driving down Snickersville Turnpike.
- With talk of the new fire station to be built in Philomont, it has been brought to the Association’s attention the issue of the construction of a possible new cell phone tower that would allow an additional carrier to offer service and alleviate or lessen the dropping of cell phone calls.
- Current discussions include to put the new cell phone tower where the recycle bins are (between the Philomont store and Community Center) or place it on the new fire house compound, disguised or camouflaged in some way.
- How important is it to keep the look of Snickersville Turnpike? John flagged the issue for our attention and further discussion.
Bluemont Bugle Update:
- The next issue of the Bugle (due out in less than two weeks) will highlight volunteers, as well as the new BCA officers.
- It will also introduce a committee-based approach to organizing community events.
- The theme of volunteerism is a chance to broaden our volunteer base and provide opportunities for people in our community to get involved.
BCA Website:
- The BCA website is in the process of being updated.
- Melissa and Kat will work on this.
Update on Easement to have a foot path to get onto Snickersville Turnpike
- Peter reported a committee of 4-5 hikers walked a potential trail that would make it easier for hikers from Bears’ Den to come into the Bluemont Post Office and country store.
- It is not likely lots of people will want to use such a trail.
- We continue to look at obtaining an easement from Dominion Energy. We could possibly approach privately-owned areas; however, we are not at that stage.
New Business:
- John MacDonald, a local photographer and one of the first people on the scene of the TWA plane crash (and a former Washington Post employee), would like to do a retrospective of his photography.
- Should we consider inviting him to do a presentation for us or do something at the store or at a future event? To be discussed further.
Additional trees for Bluemont:
- Luke Edwards is aware of a program that has funding available for the purchase of trees.
- He will submit an invitation on our behalf.
- It is likely we will be able to get additional trees.
Next Meeting: • March 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. – Bluemont Community Center
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