OUR VIEW: Catching up with local government happenings

» Some random thoughts on the items making headlines in town and county politics.

-While we understand the need for commercial offerings on the town’s south end (across from hotel row), we also understand the concern of those who don’t want 180-plus new apartment units, as allowed by the commercial-3 rezoning recently recommended by the Planning Commission. The Town Council will have the final say about what gets built, and when it comes up for vote, we’d suggest a zoning that does not allow residential. 

- Speaking of too much housing on the market, now that the town has federal stimulus money to buy foreclosures nobody else wants, will we start seeing “For Sale: Town of Culpeper” signs in front yards? Maybe the town will run “handyman special” ads or pass out some shiny business cards with a government real estate agent’s pearly white teeth and poofy hair.

- Staying with the “I don’t have enough money to pay my bills” theme, the county has hired an outside agency to collect overdue taxes. Seems innocent enough, but an interesting side effect, as reported last month by The New York Times, is how such a move might actually exacerbate the foreclosure market. It seems these collection agencies are often more aggressive than localities, charging double-digit interest rates and thousands of dollars in service fees. Local governments might see a short-term infusion in cash, but it can come at a steep cost down the road.

- Finally, if former town planning director Chuck Stephenson is guilty of conflict-of-interest charges he faces in a state ethics investigation, it represents a real breach of the public trust.

We’ll know more after his hearing Sept. 15 in Richmond.