Tonight the Surry County Commissioners will meet for a final budget work session, and a county official says the White Sulphur Springs project is not included on the meeting agenda.

Last week the board voted 3 to 2 against approving incentives for White Sulphur Springs, a proposed housing development northeast of Mount Airy. The commissioners did talk that night about having some dialogue with the owners of While Sulphur Springs and readdressing the topic at the board’s meeting tonight.

But yesterday, Board Chairman Paul Johnson said, “The White Sulphur Springs project will not be on the agenda.”

Johnson commented that incentives for the project were voted down, so the project will not be included on any upcoming agendas as long as he is the one setting the agendas.

“But I can’t stop others from bringing it up,” he noted.

The board chairman said if the commissioners have time tonight, they might discuss creating a county policy about water and sewer or development work that is not business or industry related.

The incentive agreement for White Sulphur Springs that was voted down called for the county to spend up to $375,000 on construction of water and sewer lines at the property of the project. Commissioners Craig Hunter and Jimmy Miller voted in favor of the agreement, and commissioners Jim Harrell, Bill Hamlin, and Paul Johnson voted against it.

The city of Mount Airy had already approved incentives for the project, but after the county decided not to, the city commissioners terminated an older agreement with White Sulphur Springs and voiced that the project is now off the table. Commissioner Todd Harris was quoted in a story as saying that he considered the matter “done.”

Johnson pointed out that the purpose of tonight’s meeting is to focus on the budget. He said the commissioners will be looking over all of the department information they have been given so far and will be discussing it.

“We’re really fine tuning it,” said Johnson.

County Manager Dennis Thompson will present his recommended budget to the board in June.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.