[nrv-hams] Montgomery County ordinance meetings

[Kay Craigie]

Two meetings having to do with the proposed Montgomery County amateur radio
tower ordinance will take place in the coming week. On Monday, September 9,
the Board of Supervisors will hear informal input and discussion on the
proposed ordinance. It is not a formal public hearing and no vote will be
taken. I have been permitted to make an informational presentation to the
board. The meeting is at 7:30 PM on the second floor of the county
government building at 755 Roanoke Street in Christiansburg. 

On Wednesday, September 11, the Planning Commission will hold its official
public hearing on the ordinance. Same time, same location. This is when the
commission will vote to recommend the ordinance to the supervisors. I am on
the agenda for that one, too.

It is a very good ordinance and reflects the provisions of the so-called
Virginia PRB-1 statute. There was a slip-up in the language having to do
with what colors a tower can be. Something was supposed to be added to the
original draft language, as an either-or, but instead it was put in place of
that original language. I have already pointed that out to the powers that
be and requested a fix. A member of the commission backed me up on that. The
ARRL's general counsel has reviewed the ordinance, and except for that one
thing about the coloring, he says it is very good and in fact could be a
model for other jurisdictions. He has put his opinion in writing to the head
of planning for the county.

If you want to attend either or both of these meetings, they're open to the
public.

73 - Kay N3KN