The Warren County Commission said a variance will be needed for a future resurfacing project on Royal Drive. Commissioners spent last Thursday visiting the county road which is located about three miles south of Warrenton off Quarry Road. The county will need to grant itself a variance since a cul-de-sac on the road can only be built about 60 feet wide, or with a 30-foot radius. County policy requires cul-de-sacs to be 84 feet wide, or have a 42-foot radius, and be built at the end of a road. Commissioners had initially planned to build the cul-de-sac at the end of Royal Drive but proposed changing the location due to the topography. The cul-de-sac needs to be built about a couple hundred feet from the end of the road and will have little impact on adjacent properties, commissioners said. The county commission plans on meeting soon with the five property owners who would be affected by the cul-de-sac's new location to gather input on the proposal. "With the topography, it was restricting us," Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said. "We think a smaller cul-de-sac will work there." The county commission plans on proceeding with resurfacing several county roads this year, projects that will be funded by a half-cent capital improvement sales tax. Along with Royal Drive, the commission remains committed to paving Pendleton Cut-Off, Shepherd, Shetland, and North and South Rock Church Road. Commissioners said the county could begin accepting bids for the resurfacing projects later this month or in early September. They hope work can begin in late September once bids are awarded. Easements have been received for all but South Rock Church Road and North Rock Church Road. In the case of North Rock Church Road, commissioners said the resurfacing project will stop at the intersection with South Rock Church Road since one property owner is unwilling to give the county the needed easement. The county is seeking an additional 10 feet of easement on each side of the road to provide room for utilities in the case of future development. Most of the county roads have 40-foot easements, while county policy requires 60 feet. This is the first full year the county is receiving funds from the continuation of a half-cent capital improvements sales tax. County voters in February 2008 approved 70 percent of the sales tax revenue being allocated for road maintenance with the remaining 30 percent going for other capital improvements. The continuation of the sales tax went into effect July 1, 2010. Since then, approximately $745,000 has been generated and $437,000 spent, according to commissioners. The county used the funds collected last year to pave Schreckengast, Town Branch and Bluff roads. Commission to Bid Out HVAC Control System The commission will be soliciting bids for an HVAC control system in an effort to regulate the temperature more efficiently in the courthouse. On Friday, commissioners met with representatives from Johnson Controls and Schraer Heating and Cooling to determine what improvements need to be made to the system. Different areas of the courthouse are much cooler or hotter than others. A new control system is expected to cost more than $50,000. Once it's installed, commissioners said the county could see its heating and cooling bills reduced by 15 to 35 percent annually.