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County attorney:
THRILLING WIN School board saves thousands on copier service
FARMERS’ MARKET
Stafford has no legal authority to remove Confederate flag
TRACY BELL
T
tbell@insidenova.com
BY TRACY BELL
you have,” he told the public before the disruptions, noting that he can relate to empers flared Tuesday at a what people are saying. Schumate said he served in Vietnam in Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting when a combat zone and thinks that it is greatly the board’s county attorney disrespectful to burn the American flag. shared his advice on a contro- He compared it to how many people feel when they see the Confederate flag being versial Confederate flag issue. The Confederate flag discussed flies 80 flown; however, the amendment that “our feet above the tree line off Interstate 95 forefathers created” is there. Schumate said that he attended the Virnear Falmouth, on private property, and its flagpole is leased to the Virginia Flag- ginia Military Institute, which is steeped in Confederate history. gers organzation. “My heritage is deeply steeped in all of In recent weeks, local residents have asked the board to have the flag removed this, but it has not persuaded me from or lowered, or to enact a county stance in what I believe the Constitution requires the form of website postings or highway me to do and say when I advise this billboards stating that the flag is not af- board,” he said. He said that the permit requirements filiated with the county and that Stafford issued for the flag in question are all in welcomes everyone. County attorney Charles Schumate proper order. ets prime display as doesn’t crowds browse shop the stand operated C&T Produce the North Then hebyaddressed the atheight of the normally address and issues publicly, s year the total number of vendors has increased to around 30 at the same location, the parkinstead advises the board in closed ses- flag, based on suggestions that a zoning al Pavilion on the Stafford Hospital campus. The market is open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. require the height of the sions. This time, Schumate provided the ordinance could ALEKS DOLZENKO | INSIDENOVA public an explanation of his legal advice flag to be lowered. That’s possible for future flagpoles, he to the board. The advice is the same as when the issue arose in 2014, he said, ex- said, but this flagpole would be grandfathered in and allowed to remain. plaining that the law is clear. “It may be very disrespectful to some The county has no legal authority to require removing the flag, he said, be- people, and I respect that,” he said. “It cause it is on private property. Also, the may be something hard to understand. property owner is protected by the 1st …” He noted that it would be a differAmendment of the U.S. Constitution, ent story if the flag flew on government which guards free speech. andVirginia com- Deof approval. The grant works as aone 50 internal property.investigations Additionally, the During Schumate’s explanation, plaints is significant, ” Decatur said. percent match with local his funding partment of Transportation has no power person in the crowd challenged with a nty Sheriff ’s from the county.from The the costaudience. to Staf- “Body-worn to remove it,cameras he said. are a psychoquestioned, shouting d for a U.S. to misbehavior ford is $400,000 a year for five years. logical If thedeterrent board attempted to haveon the flag Board Chairman Paul Milde, R-Aquia, ustice grant sides itofwould the lens. The benefits Stafford Da- both removed, expose the county to asked her to leave.County MomentsSheriff later, anoth100 of its vid Decatur told InsideNoVa that exceed the drawbacks associated er person yelled “Coward!” as Schumate litigation from the property owner and body cam- implementing a body-camera pro- with the cost and time to manage the Virginia Flaggers, he said. provided his advice. program.and ” previously, a group of logram is aacknowledged vast undertaking. Schumate that The the goal issue theRecently ding of the the technology in thetodeof is thenot program toprevalent achieve aacross high calUsing residents urged the board consider of hate isolated;isit’s uties in the field operations division level of transparency with the com- partment’s that the flag represents hate and racism, the country, he said. division to Thmunity theinmost immediprotecting rights which allow has nofor place the county. e board while wrestled with thisthe matter in would andSchumate expansivesaid: contact withbethe citizens deputies alike, he ateBut “It may popular 2014ofand again and recently, but Schumate applied for served, [to remove the flag]Debut said said. his office did not wrestle with it, be- community ord County said. “…The benefit of having video would be outside the cause “We clearly understand what the catur CAMERA ATTORNEY PAGE 13 St af ford of the C ounty for prosecution, training, framework ve its stamp law.” law isfootage in this case. ” PAGE 13 Schumate also refer“I understand the strong feelings that
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he Stafford County School Board agreed Tuesday to a $588,000 fouryear contract with Ricoh USA of Chicago for copier services beginning in fiscal 2017. The initial proposed contract was for $650,000. A competing Xerox representative attended four school board meetings this spring urging the board to consider using Xerox, which produced the lowest bid. Stafford County Public Schools used Ricoh for the past 10 years and has used Xerox in the past. School board members did not choose Xerox, but thanked its representative for saving the schools $250,000 over four years based on its lower bid and for providing information that helped the board save money. S cho ol b o ard memb ers and Superintendent Bruce Benson expressed disappointment in the way the school system handled the matter, but said it would cause them to look more closely at future business dealings. “I think we could’ve been clearer in our communication with our vendors,” said Benson. In April, the board deferred a decision on which copier company to use and decided to further review its options. There were five bidding companies involved. There, school board member Patricia Healy, SCHOOL Mitchell Shinskie (88) and Liam Kauthen (5) celebrate after Colonial Forge beat Hylton 37-34 PAGE 13 R-Rock Hill, challenged in overtime Sept. 15. For details of the game, turn to page 12
tbell@insidenova.com
T
ord seeks funding 100 body cameras
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