By Stefanie Jackson
Accomack Supervisor Reneta Major discussed the county’s latest accomplishments and upcoming projects at the Eggs & Issues breakfast and political forum recently.
Wallops Flight Facility will be home to the first U.S.-based launch pad for Rocket Lab, a private company. Rocket Lab will be the first tenant in the Wallops research park and will create 30 jobs, Major said.
Saw Mill Park, located in Accomac, the county seat, has been open since June and features a playground, walking trail, ball park, and a concession stand powered by solar energy to offset parks costs. The park also will be lighted soon, she added.
The Accomack County Airport, in Melfa, will be getting new runway lighting at a cost of $4 million, funded primarily by the Federal Aviation Administration, Major said.
Accomack Emergency Medical Services has expanded by adding paid EMS staff in Melfa, Saxis, and Greenbackville to decrease EMS response times in those areas. This was accomplished without raising property taxes, she said.
In cooperation with Accomack schools Superintendent Chris Holland, there will be emergency shelter available for pets in at least one of the six schools the county uses for emergency shelter, Major continued.
She commended Accomack County staff for getting a new access road to the Hillsborough community after the road was washed out by heavy rains in September.
Major encouraged all Accomack residents to visit the county website and register for CodeRed, a free emergency notification service.
(CodeRed registration information can be found by visiting www.co.accomack. va.us/ and hovering over the Departments tab, then clicking through the following links: Emergency Management – listed under Public Safety, Citizens & Visitors, and Emergency Notification by CodeRed.)
Major announced that Accomack will open a new, “tech savvy” emergency operations center in the spring, complete with shower facilities.
Accomack also is preparing to implement new e-permitting software on its website that will allow citizens to cut down on trips to the planning and zoning office, she said.
