
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995                   TAG: 9501240003
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                 LENGTH: Short

CRAIG COUNTY PLANS CAMP MITCHELL TRANSFER

Craig County cannot make any changes in the ownership or operation of Camp Mitchell without a public hearing by the Board of Supervisors and, in some cases, approval of a county Circuit Court judge, according to a legal opinion.

County Attorney James E. Cornwell said state law requires the public hearing and court approval before the sale or lease of county-owned land.

Camp Mitchell, a meeting and recreation spot outside New Castle, has been leased to the Craig Wildlife Association.

Several months ago the supervisors notified the wildlife association that they planned to transfer ownership of the property to the county's new Industrial Development Authority. The authority was to determine whether the 10-acre property was being put to its best use.

Members of the wildlife association protested the decision, and the supervisors delayed action and asked Cornwell for an opinion.

In researching the question, Cornwell also found that the lease with the wildlife association for operation of the property may not be valid.

Cornwell said in his opinion to the supervisors that Circuit Court approval is required for the Board of Supervisors to lease county-owned property to another agency. He said that he could not find any record that the lease agreement ever was submitted to the circuit judge.

by CNB