Sources: County Prepping Sweetheart Deal for Body Camp Elementary Buyer
Preferred buyer has political ties to Supervisors, property currently assessed for over $1Million
In October 2021, Bedford County issued a call for proposals to transform Body Camp Elementary.
The school was once the heartbeat of the rural, mostly African American community just south of the Town of Bedford.
“We’re talking about properties and facilities that have been in the communities for 70 to 100 years and have been institutions in the community,” County Administrator Robert Hiss told local news outlets at the time.
But in the months since, it appears a preferred buyer for Body Camp Elementary has emerged: Zitel, an internet provider in the County with close political ties to Supervisor Bob Davis.
Alternative proposals for the site include creating a community center similar to the Sedalia Center for the Arts, which also occupies a former African American school in the County.
Zitel’s owner, Brandon Camden, donated $3,000 to a PAC managed by Davis’ consultant - “Virginia Families PAC” - a group that has historically placed itself in the midst of highly controversial issues, angering other sitting Supervisors, County staff, and community members.
Its owner, Isaiah Knight, also owns an LLC listed in the PAC’s expenditures, “The Yummy Potato LLC.” Almost all of the PAC’s expenditures have gone to “The Yummy Potato LLC.”
Click here to see Bob Davis’ campaign spending to “The Yummy Potato LLC.”
Political dark money data from VPAP.org shows Camden as one of the PAC’s largest contributors:
County officials say they are conducting a due diligence period until April 22nd and, if Supervisors decide to move forward with Zitel, there will be an opportunity for public comment.
The property is currently assessed for over $1Million, down quickly from a $3Million valuation in 2011. It will certainly be interesting to see what price the County seeks from Zitel, and if Supervisors with political ties to the company recuse themselves, lie about their connections, or do the right thing - preserve this important community asset for the people who elected them.
