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Residents urge swift action on early‑voting site, farmers market complaint and local services during public comment
Summary
Public commenters at the Spotsylvania Board meeting urged faster placement of a permanent early‑voting site, raised a discrimination claim by a longtime farmers market vendor, reported power and traffic safety concerns, and asked for broadband fixes and attention to jail medical care.
Several residents used the public presentation period at the Jan. 13 Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting to press for action on a range of community concerns.
Alan Labeouf, identified as chairman of the Spotsylvania County Election Board, told supervisors the Lee Hill building is no longer available for early voting and urged prompt completion of a new, permanent early‑voting location to avoid multiple moves during a year that could include up to four elections. "If it can be managed, I think the public would appreciate if we can move only one more time instead of more than one more time," Labeouf said, and he asked staff to expedite lease approval and related ordinance and public‑notice steps.
Christy Carter, a vendor at the Spotsylvania Farmers Market for about 11 years, said she received notice she would not be allowed to return in 2026 and alleged the market manager told her she "caused a hostile working environment" and blocked her from the market’s page. Carter said the decision appeared one‑person driven and raised concerns about fairness and potential discrimination; she asked the board to review how vendor removals are handled.
Other residents raised public‑safety and service issues: a pair of neighbors objected to placement of new "sharp curve" signs that they said would block sightlines on Robert E. Lee Drive; Dale Swanson described prolonged outages that left motorists stranded at a hazardous Route 3 intersection and questioned whether traffic control was provided when signals failed; and Kathy Smallwood requested county follow‑up on a broadband/Wi‑Fi gap affecting a cluster of 19 homes.
Will King, a resident of Stafford speaking about the Rappahannock Regional Jail, alleged an inmate (named in his comments) had been kept without seizure medication. King called for the county and justice partners to ensure incarcerated people receive necessary medical care; no immediate response was recorded in the meeting transcript.
Board members thanked speakers and noted follow‑up items: staff were asked to prioritize the early‑voting relocation details and to provide updates on broadband/grant status, and the board directed staff to accept written follow‑up from residents and schedule appropriate briefings.
What happens next: matters raised during public comment do not require board action without a motion; supervisors asked staff to report back on the early‑voting site, vendor removal procedures for the farmers market, broadband grant status and any operational concerns with jail medical provisioning.
