Dear Editor,
When it comes to public safety, common sense should always prevail — but too often with the federal government, that is not the case.
As part of our emergency services radio redesign, Craig County needed an easement from the U.S. Forestry Service to construct a new radio tower at the top of Hall Road. This tower is absolutely critical to improving communications in an area plagued with dead zones. It will literally save lives by ensuring first responders can reach one another during emergencies. The Virginia State Police also rely on this system, and it is essential for rescues of lost hikers and other operations in the national forest.
At first, our request was denied. We were told an appeal would take years and likely be denied again, primarily for environmental reasons. What made it even more frustrating was that we were proposing to build the tower just a few hundred yards from an existing road and adjacent to an existing tower — both of which the Forestry Service initially denied even existed.
While we were grateful for federal and state funding to build out our new communications system, we were at a standstill. No better sites exist for this project. That is when Congressman Morgan Griffith stepped in. He agreed to meet with us, tour the site alongside myself, Woody Lipps, Darryl Humphreys, Mudcat Saunders, Jim Cady, and others to see firsthand how unreasonable the denial was.
Thanks to his support and willingness to take up our cause, I am proud to announce that we now have the easement needed to move forward with construction of this life-saving tower.
Craig County is fortunate to have a Congressman like Morgan Griffith for Congress — someone willing to get his boots dirty, cut through the red tape, and advocate for our community in Washington… where common sense is too often in short supply.
Sincerely,
-C. Jordan Labiosa
Craig City District
Craig County Board of Supervisors
