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Gateway
troops win
approval
By Mary Beth Martin
Rappahannock Nevtfs Staff Writer
A crowd packed in the courthouse celebrated their victory Monday night when the Board of Supervisors gave their approval for the Sperryville Gateway Proposal.
“This is the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen in this room in favor of a project,” John McCarthy, county administrator, said. “We’re use to crowds this large being against something not for something. It takes much more energy to be for anything.”
Most of the smiling faces could be recognized from the monthly committee meetings, and 17 stood to speak praising .the project, which aimed at improving pedestrian traffic and the main road in the village of Sperryville. Only three county residents expressed their reservations about applying for the grant, and none of them were from Sperryville.
Bayard Catron, committee member, made a compelling presentation to the board. Later, supervisor Mike Massie, complimented Catron for coming back after the December meeting and answering the hard questions that were put to him.
“This is a gateway village to the county...and could be called the Rappahannock Gateway Committee,” Barney O’Meara said pointing out that what is good for Sperryville will benefit the entire county.
Martin Woodard, co-owner of Faith Mountain, admitted out that his business would benefit from the project, but more importantly, he said, improving pedestrian transportation would help the business community and increase sales taxes. “It will help keep a lid on tax increases,” he added. Catron said later that the Woodards offered $2,000 toward the project.
Woodard also read a letter from Cliff Miller, owner of the property where the proposed footbridge would be located, stating he would also donate $2,000, as well as an easement for the bridge.
“We do not want to see major changes in the village-indeed, we would like to see Sperryville in the year 2000 and beyond look even more like Sperryville of the year 1900, when it was a thriving town,” Jim Gannon said. “Modem Sperryville has some problems
See BOARD, Page 2
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