Augusta Citizens Against Unfair Assessments ... latest updates

1) Time to turn in assessment petitions
Petitions should be returned this week with a March 9 deadline. There are three ways to return them:

-- Mail to Francis Chester (address on petition).
-- Drop off at Francis Chester's law office (address on petition)
-- Let us know you need petitions picked up by responding to this email.

2) Libraries agree to display meeting notice
(From www.swacgirl.blogspot.com)
In February, when the tax battle began in Augusta County, a petition asking supervisors to roll back real estate assessments to 2005 values was placed in the Churchville Public Library. It was later removed, reportedly at the request of a county official.

The libraries said they had a policy that no "political" petitions could be displayed. This, Mr. Chester argued, was not a political petition but rather a petition of the people about an issue of interest to the community. The Staunton News Leader agreed.

In a victory for Mr. Chester, the libraries have agreed to allow a notice to be posted with information about the upcoming March 11 Board of Supervisors meeting:

3) March 11, 2009 - Board of Supervisors Meeting
The petitions that are being circulated around Augusta County will be turned into the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday March 11, 2009, at 7 pm at the Government Center in Verona. Please plan to attend. This will also be the opportunity for those who want to address the Board.

4) Parking
A large crowd is expected March 11. It would help if parking closest to the door could be left for our elderly residents and the handicapped.

5) Seating
You may want to arrive early on March 11 for good seating.

6) Petitions available
Petitions are still available asking the Board of Supervisors to roll back real estate assessments to 2004 levels:

-- Online: Here is the location of the online petition.
-- Hard copy: Contact us if you want an emailed petition.

Hard copy locations throughout community include:

Tractor Supply (Staunton)
Zelma's (Staunton)
Jiffy Mart on Grubert Ave (Staunton)
Memorial Baptist Church (Staunton)
Obaugh Pontiac-Buick-GMC (Staunton)
Eavers Tire (Fishersville)
7-11 Store (Fishersville - Rt. 250 at Woodrow Wilson Rehab)
Obaugh Chevrolet-Buick (Waynesboro)
Bookkeeping Management (Waynesboro)
Ace Gift Store - Acedemy of CE, Inc (Waynesboro)
Mark Martin's Auto World (Rt. 250 west of Waynesboro)
Pets 'n Pals (Waynesboro)
Middlebrook General Store (Middlebrook)
Jake's Convenience Store (Rt. 250 west of Staunton)
Riverside Grocery (Churchville)
T-Bone Tooter (Churchville)
Eavers Tire (Stuarts Draft)
Eavers Amaco (Stuarts Draft)
Greenville Trading Post (Greenville)
Joe's Barber Shop (Greenville)
BB&T (Greenville)
Chancellor Stone (Vesuvius)
Gertie's Store (Vesuvius)
Midway Machine & Parts (Steeles Tavern)
Augusta Co-Op (Fairfield)
Junction (Buffalo Gap)
Deerfield Convenience Store (Deerfield)
West Augusta Convenience Store (W. Augusta)
New Hope Grocery (Rt. 608 & 621 in New Hope)

7) Board of Supervisors Contact Information
Supervisors may be reached for comments about real estate assessments:
- Augusta Government Center Phone: (540) 245-5600
- County Assessor's Office: (540) 245-5628
- Commissioner of the Revenue: (540) 245-5640

- Jeremy Shifflett, Beverley Manor: 540.294.2289
- Gerald Garber, Middle River: 540. 234-8388
- Larry Howdyshell, North River: 540. 350-2591
- Tracy Pyles, Pastures: 540. 337-7010
- Nancy Sorrells, Riverheads: 540. 377-6390
- David Beyeler, South River: 540. 943-3202
- Wendell Coleman, Wayne: 540. 430-1350

8) Feb. 3 meeting update
The townhall meeting held on Tuesday night, February 3, was a huge success with 600 residents attending to learn from Supervisor Tracy Pyles and Churchville attorney Francis Chester how to make their voices heard at the Government Center.

9) Thank you, Augusta County!
One person wrote on Facebook that Augusta County residents were "packed like sardines" in the meeting Tuesday night and added, "But they were 600 of the nicest people I've ever met." We heard not one grumble or complaint as we scrambled to accommodate the large crowd. Thank you for your patience and understanding. And thank you for your kind words of encouragement.

Together, Augusta ... we can make a difference!