Article date: October 30, 2001

By Mary Jordan

For the second straight year, the redevelopment of Avtex has topped Warren County’s project requests for its capital improvement plan.

The Planning Commission reviewed project requests for the 2002-03 plan Monday night and rated them according to priority.

The plan, which is updated annually, helps the county determine its budget for the next five years, according to what is needed, said County Administrator Douglas Stanley.

Each request is rated on a scale of zero to three, according to public health and safety hazards, environmental quality, life expectancy of the project, availability of financing, economic development impact, population served and community need.

These criteria are then added up and given a total project rating. Stanley said the rating criteria helps officials judge each project fairly. Each individual department that requested a project be placed on the list provided its own priority rating, he said. The commission then rates those priorities, according to the county’s needs.

The Avtex project topped the list.

The redevelopment of Avtex, which is not slated to be completed until 2006, involves the demolition, rehabilitation, and foundation development of a 165- acre eco-industrial business park, a 240- acre conservancy park and a 31- acre soccer complex.

Ranking second were improvement to Warren County Public Schools boiler systems in Leslie Fox Keyser and Ressie Jeffries elementary schools.

Warren County Public Schools Supervisor of Maintenance Mike Riley said Monday that improvements to Warren County High School were not included in the school system’s capital improvements budget because too many improvements are needed.

" The whole school needs to be renovated and we’re going to approach that as a different project." Riley said.

Superintendent of Schools Pamela M. McInnis also attended the meeting.

The extension of Toray Drive ranked third on the list. This project , requested by the Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority, intends to connect the road to the end of Bering Drive.

The Skyline Soccer Complex and a new radio communications system for Warren County Fire and Rescue also were among the top priorities set forth by the Planning Commission.

The projects also all topped the 2001-02 priority list.

The commission will put together a plan and hold a public hearing in January. From there, it will be passed to the Warren County Board of Supervisors for another public hearing before approval, Stanley said.