Welcome to Martinsville Field Notes, where you can find quick updates on what’s happening in Martinsville and Henry County every Friday. In this week’s column, you’ll hear about data centers, exams and trash, but I promise it’s more exciting than it sounds! Don’t forget to check out the last edition if you missed it.
If there’s something you’d like to see in next week’s column, you can reach me at julianna@cardinalnews.org. There’s always something happening in Martinsville and Henry County, and I’d love to hear from you!
Henry County data center changes ready for second take on Tuesday
The board of supervisors will consider new amendments Tuesday to Henry County’s zoning ordinance regarding data centers after going “back to the drawing board” at last month’s meeting when residents expressed their concerns.
The proposed new ordinance puts stricter limitations on a data center company’s ability to enter the county, including the creation of a data center district. The creation of a district would require property to be rezoned before an applicant could apply for a special use permit, said Brandon Martin, the county’s public information officer.
Between the rezoning and special use permit processes, there would be several public hearings before a data center would be allowed into Henry County. No property will be up for consideration Tuesday, Martin said.
The proposed amendments that were not passed last month only required a data center to be on industrially zoned property. It also required a potential company to provide a water impact study, conduct noise testing and meet equipment requirements.
The county added more specific and restrictive regulations in the new proposed ordinance. Some changes from last month’s proposal include:
- Additional noise requirements and annual noise testing.
- More specific water-use and water-impact study requirements.
- Restrictions on cooling technology.
- Additional requirements related to emergency power and generator testing.
- Enhanced emergency response planning.
- More specific decommissioning and financial assurance requirements.
The revisions were made based on concerns raised during public input sessions, Martin said.
More than 100 residents packed the public hearing last month, citing concerns including water, noise, health and animal habitats. Some residents asked for a moratorium on data centers, but that is not in the proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance that the board will consider on Tuesday.
There will not be a public hearing regarding data centers on Tuesday, only a potential vote by the supervisors. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Henry County Administration Building.
West Piedmont center gets testing certification
West Piedmont Higher Education Center, formerly New College Institute, will be the fourth in Virginia to have a testing center certified by the National College Testing Association (NCTA).
The certification is part of a multi-phase plan for the testing center, which has already been offering exams for certifications ranging from pest control to real estate to teaching, said Joe Sumner, the center’s director.
The new certification allows the testing center to offer in-person, supervised exams for online or hybrid classes that require it. The other three NCTA-certified centers in Virginia are located in Roanoke, Richmond and Norfolk.
“You have to work with these testing providers to ensure there is a true need, that it’s not too dense of an offering due to the population and the careers that are available,” Sumner said. “So we know that the need exists.”
Being NCTA-certified is a “small revenue generating opportunity,” Sumner said, but he does not have an estimate for how much money it will bring in.
The testing center first offered tests through the vendor Pearson, and then began offering the PRAXIS exam. Both will still be offered at the testing center, which is on Main Street next to the Heritage Museum.
The higher education center began offering Praxis after realizing the need through its partnership with Longwood University and Patrick & Henry Community College. The partnership allows students to receive their bachelor’s degree in elementary education without leaving Martinsville, Sumner said.
The first two years of the program are at P&H, and the last two are at the higher education center. After earning their bachelor’s degree, students have to pass the PRAXIS exam to earn their certification. The nearest center to take the exam was over an hour away, Sumner said.
“It was simply creating a hurdle for non-traditional students that were adult students primarily taking classes in the evenings, already with daytime jobs,” Sumner said.
The next step for the testing center is to connect with colleges that have online programs requiring in-person, proctored exams.
Over 1,000 pounds of litter removed during Smith River cleanup
About 40 volunteers came together on Saturday for the Smith River Cleanup and removed 1,650 pounds of litter from the river and land surrounding it.
The annual cleanup is a partnership between Henry County and the Dan River Basin Association. Now completing its 17th year, volunteers have removed a total of more than 35,000 pounds of trash. Volunteers removed litter over seven miles this year.
The cleanup is always scheduled the week before Smith River Fest, which is on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will have outdoor activities, live music, a food court and beer garden. Some activities include:
- Mud Run 5K
- Kids Mini Fun Run
- Boat Race
- Yoga by the river
- River tubing
- Kids cycle station
- Kids zone
- Fly tying demos
- Mobile bike barn
- Paddling demo pool
- Casting pool
Admission and parking are free at the festival, but some of the activities are not included.
