Proposed changes to the county’s tax billing process came under fire Tuesday evening by Madison County residents who questioned the benefits of switching to semi-annual tax collection as well as other proposed revisions.

During a time when landing a loan seems close to impossible, Madison County has secured a $5 million line of credit toward its courthouse renovation project. Officials recently approved a resolution to go forward with borrowing the money through a commercial paper loan program offered by the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League finance program.

Since mid-summer, Madison County’s main gun supplier – MWP Supply Inc. – has seen its gun and ammunition sales jump by 70 percent, store representatives reported last week. “We sort of suspected it would happen because obviously [President-Elect Barack] Obama is sort of anti-gun,” said Charlotte Hoffman, president of Madison County-based home-building outfitter MWP Supply Inc.

More than turkeys are getting stuffed this time of year. Many Madison County mailboxes are chock-full of multiple tax bill envelopes. Despite local officials’ plans to send out real estate and personal property tax bills together in one envelope – this didn’t happen. Unfortunately, a company hired to send out the bills mistakenly sent out each bill within a separate envelope, according to Treasurer Stephanie Murray. (Tax payments are due by the close of business Friday, Dec. 5.)

The recent economic downturn is forcing officials to rethink their future school building improvement plans. Since the school system first started looking at possible building renovation and construction possibilities, the economy has taken a turn for the worst.

One local official is tired of the county covering for state budget shortfalls.Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine recently cut a previously promised two percent salary increase for county employees whose salaries are partly paid for by the state.

Madison County officials are still fine-tuning proposed new rules regarding cell phone towers. The new policy aims to improve wireless communication in the county while protecting its “natural beauty,” according to drafts of the possible wireless communications ordinance.

Would you like to see bike lanes in Madison County? Or more carpooling opportunities to improve your daily commute? Officials are reaching out to area residents to find out how they feel their travel within the county and the surrounding area could be improved.

Election officials are warning local residents to keep T-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons and other campaign materials touting candidates away from the polls Nov. 4. Although the state law banning campaign materials within 40 feet of a polling place on Election Day has been on the books for years, state board of elections officials recently spelled out exactly what they mean by “campaign materials.”

In coming years, Madison County’s middle school may call Hoover Ridge home. Madison County Public Schools officials are working to develop a timeline for future school construction and renovation projects – including building a new middle school.

Officials may dip into the county’s “rainy day” fund to cover cuts in state money. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine released a laundry list of items this month to be cut from the state’s current budget. Items on the chopping block include a previously promised two percent salary increase for county employees whose salaries are partly paid for by the state. Madison County’s current budget includes the previously expected Dec. 1 salary increases for these employees, which covers some positions in the offices of the sheriff, treasurer, social services, commissioner of revenue and others, according to officials.

As I squeezed through a gate and toward the vines at DuCard Vineyards, Owner Scott Elliff turned to me and asked, “Have you ever been to a vineyard?”
I responded quickly.

Expansive views of sprawling farms, forests and mountains are the local resources most valued by many Madison County residents, according to a local group. The “Friends of the Hughes” organization aims to educate landowners about how they can protect these valued resources, according to one of the group’s organizers, Etlan resident Susan Cable.