For many years the "profits" earned from rents paid for space in the Town-owned and operated "Health Center Building" have ostensibly been distributed by Town Council to a variety of Middleburg charities and other non profits. The town's volunteer "Health Center Advisory Board" recommends which organizations should be funded in a report to Council each year.

At this month's Town Council meeting Council Member Cathy Jo Shea noted that, at times, indeed in roughly half the years in which "profits" have been distributed, the town has donated funds to charities in the name of the Health Center Fund that exceed the "profits" earned that year from Health Center rents.

Shea suggested that in the future Council make clear from precisely which sources those "excess" donations are paid: 1) as is currently the practice, paying them from the Health Center's standing operating fund, thereby decreasing it each year the practice is continued; 2) from "profits only," meaning that in years in which expenses are high and rents are low, donations may suffer proportionally, or 3) from the Town's taxpayer funded "General Fund."

No Farm Animals in Town Limits?

In 2008 Middleburg changed its Town Code to allow Loudoun County's Animal Control Department to handle animal control within Town limits.

According to report by Town Clerk Rhonda North, that system has worked well, though issues do arise from time to time with regard to the keeping of chickens.

Currently the only sections of the Town Code applicable to crowing roosters and cackling hens are the provisions of Middleburg's noise ordinance.

Issues related to the other ends of the chickens are covered by health codes. Dogs and "other animals" are covered in separate sections of the code.

A recent flurry of complaints about farm fowl prompted Vice Mayor Darlene Kirk to suggest that perhaps the time had come to ban all farm animals from the Town.

After lengthy discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of raising chickens and rabbits and pet pigs and other animals within Town Limits, Council Member Trowbridge Littleton suggested that the discussion be tabled until complaints arise that simply can't be handled on a one-by-one basis, using the tools currently at Council's disposal.

Water Water

Terry Inboden, of Inboden Environmental Services, the town's subcontracted water and sewer system management team drew applause when he reported, in essence, that all was . . . well . . . well.

According to Inboden, at long last, the town's much-troubled well #4 is up and running, our two water towers were successfully drained and cleaned without interruption to the town's water supply, the water treatment facility is functioning well within parameters, and the wastewater treatment facility is "operating great."