With a B

 

Lilly facility coming to West Creek (Eli Lilly image)

Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle Sears, and Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura welcomed the Eli Lilly company to the Commonwealth, and more importantly, to Goochland at an event held at Main Street Station in Richmond on September 16.

Those who worked to bring Lilly to Goochland

Goochland was well represented at the event by State Senator Luther Cifers, Delegates Tom Garrett and David Owen; Supervisors Jonathan Christy, Neil Spoonhower, Tom Winfree, Charlie Vaughters and Jonathan Lyle; County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley, Deputy County Administrators Josh Gillespie and Sara Worley, Deputy Director of Economic Development Chance Robinson; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Andy Armstrong; EDA members Ben Slone, Ken Collier, Jennie Slade, D. B. Smit, Lisa Dearden, and Carol Taylor executive director of the Goochland Chamber of Commerce.

 After a brief video about how Lilly brings life-changing medicines to those who need them, Lilly CEO David A. Ricks announced that the company will invest $ 5 billion—yes with a B—in Goochland to build a more than 200k square foot advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. In addition to creating an estimated 650 highly skilled jobs including engineers, scientists, operations personnel, and lab technicians to operate the facility, it will generate 1,800 construction jobs. He anticipated that most of those jobs would be filled by Virginians. This is part of a $50 billion capital expenditure expansion that will include three other facilities around the country.

Lilly, Ricks explained, is an American company founded 149 years ago guided by a simple principle “investing in American innovation, communities, and workers, making America healthier.”

Virginia and Goochland were selected in a highly competitive process that included more than 400 sites in 46 states across the country. Criteria that won Lilly over included workforce potential in the Richmond region, local incentives, zoning, and access to utilities and transportation, said Ricks. Virginia also has talent in place to operate and build the site in what he hopes will be record time, and a partnership-oriented attitude that moves projects into production also got high marks.

Goochland’s application, said Ricks, was one of the strongest on paper. Two factors set Goochland apart: the speed to build and develop the site, which he said was beyond shovel ready and even has parking lots, which lets us get a running start. The patient needs the medicine; we don’t have time to waste. Second, the people, all the necessary partners, were involved from the start with a team approach that was committed to our success.

The site selected in West Creek is currently owned by Markel Properties LLC and used as a soccer facility. The 227-acre parcel is assessed by Goochland County at $23, 967,700 and has not yet changed hands. It is roughly opposite Hardywood Creek Brewery in an area set aside for industrial and business use for at least 35 years.

This Lilly facility, the first of several new sites planned for the United States, will make cancer, autoimmune, and other advanced therapies. It will be the company’s first dedicated, fully integrated active pharmaceutical ingredients (API)and drug product plant for its emerging biconjugate platform and multiclonal antibody portfolio. At over 200k square feet, it will be the largest facility of its kind in the world.

“We united science and manufacturing to speed medicine to patients,” Ricks said. The facility will make some of the most complex therapies known in medicine and advanced technology to ensure precision in every step, medicine at the cutting edge of science.

The company is committed to its 2030 climate goals of having carbon neutral operation powered by 100 percent renewal energy, zero waste to landfills, and reduction of all other emission types.

Lily is also committed to partner with local education systems and workforce programs to create pathways into advanced manufacturing careers with high paying life-changing jobs. Every dollar that Lilly invests in a community generates up to four dollars of local economic activity.

Ricks thanked all who made the investment possible, and the warm Virginia welcome.

“Lilly defines the standards for building new advanced manufacturing in our country that scale innovation and create an export economy. The company is committed to making life saving therapies in America. By expanding our domestic capacity, we're building a secure, resilient supply chain that delivers for patients today and supports the breakthrough medicines of tomorrow.”

Ricks said that it could take five years to build the facility, including regulatory approval, but he hopes it will be done sooner. Site work and permitting in the next few weeks.

Youngkin said the plant location was one of the premier shovel ready sites in Virginia. He thanked Goochland for its investment in the process. The Governor said that the Virginia talent accelerator, run by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, for the third consecutive year, has been recognized for having the most customized workforce development program in America.

“We look forward to work with Lilly to build that workforce. Virginia went to work a long time ago partnering with our community colleges to build programs offering advanced manufacturing credentials.” He also pointed out that Virginia Commonwealth University’s programs in biomedical engineering, and related subjects created a life science ecosystem that puts our state ahead of those around us in having a highly qualified “talent pipeline” ready to staff the new facility. The Governor contended that this created a sustainable environment that must be maintained to “keep Virginia soaring”.

Ricks said that Lilly employees often come from other jobs and that his company uses a “grow from within” approach. Companies, said Ricks, vote with their feet. He recommends Virginia highly for anyone looking for advanced manufacturing sites.

Goochland supervisors worked closely with the EDA and economic development department, including trips to Lilly’s headquarters in Indianapolis to close the deal. Funds appropriated by the Board to allow the EDA to promote what became the Lilly site got a fast return on investment.

The announcement is good news for Goochland, and the result of the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to diversifying the tax base to fund needed infrastructure and lighten the tax burden on property owners. The Lilly facility is in the right place at the right time. Kudos to all involved.

 

 

 

 

Never forget

 

Speakers lined up to read names

The bright blue sky over Goochland Fire-Rescue Courthouse Company 5 on September 12 was eerily reminiscent of the perfect Tuesday morning 24 years ago when skyscrapers in New York, the Pentagon in Virginia, and the unknown target of Flight 93, were attacked.

Retired Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief, Bill MacKay, who was a first responder at the Pentagon on 911 and began his fire service career as a volunteer on Long Island, created the tradition in Goochland. The fire service community is universal, when one member perishes, all mourn.

The event began with remarks by Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. "Eddie" Ferguson, Jr., followed by presentation of the colors by the Goochland High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC, prayers. and the Pledge, Then names of the 343 Fire Department of New York (FDNY) members who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty were read by representatives of Fire-Recue, the Goochland Sheriff’s Office, and staff members from the county, school, and constitutional offices.

Casualties came from all FDNY ranks, including Deputy Commissioner Michael Feehan, who at 71, was the oldest FDNY death. He held every rank during his career. Department chaplain, Father Mychal Judge the first FDNY 911 certified fatality, died giving last rites to victims.

FDNY dead were resolute public servants as well as parents, children, and siblings, whose passing left perpetual voids in their families.  Remains of some who died on 911 have never been found. Since that horrific day, others have died due to service-related illness contracted during the cleanup in the aftermath of the attacks.

Goochland’s current Fire-Rescue recruits, many born after 2001, attended the ceremony.  They watched as a 911 wreath inscribed “never forget” was placed by members of Goochland American Legion Post 215 at the memorial for Michael “Tink” Sims, the was the only Goochland Fire-Rescue volunteer to die in the line of service. His brother brought Tink’s toddler namesake to the ceremony.

Fire-rescue recruits watch wreath placement

Reminder of the service of Michael "Tink" Sims

Tolling of the bell, a fire service tradition to mark the  "end of watch" for a fallen fire fighter and dispatch tones were sounded.

Tolling of the bell.

The event was a solemn reminder that law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS providers never know what dangers await them, even in Goochland, during their next shift. Yet they answer every call, running toward danger so the rest of us can get on with our lives. We must never forget the sacrifices of 911 and honor the fallen with respect and gratitude for those who protect and serve today and in the future.

 

 

Addressing concerns

 

Once again, a handful of self-important newcomers who live in the sterile perfection of manicured regulated high-density enclaves for the affluent, the anthesis of rural character, displayed their arrogance and ignorance at a September 8 community meeting to discuss proposals to create a technology overlay district (TOD) and tech zone (TZ).  (Watch the meeting at https://goochlandva.new.swagit.com/videos/354699)

For two hours County Administrator Jeremy Raley, Ed. D. and Deputy County Administrator Sara Worley outlined details of the proposals and fielded questions. They addressed legitimate concerns about noise, building heights, and setbacks—proposed distance from residential areas. They also tried to dispel misinformation that has risen to bizarre proportions.

Raley explained that the TOD/TZ is in an area identified decades ago for economic development. This aligns with the county’s long-standing goal to encourage commercial and industrial growth in 15 percent of Goochland, the eastern part, to keep the remaining 85 percent rural. Many kinds of technology businesses, including advanced manufacturing like the LEGO plant in Chesterfield, are mentioned in the proposals, but opponents seem convinced that every square inch of the TOD/TZ will be covered with data centers.

Photos of balloon tests near both Readers Branch and Mosaic performed on September 3 were shared. These tests provide a visual of proposed heights, up to 120 feet, at different setbacks from property lines. Worley explained that the county retained an engineering company to perform the tests using a bright orange balloon suspended 50 feet below a drone to illustrate exact heights and setbacks around the communities.

An orange balloon suspended 50 feet below a drone was used to

 give residents of Readers Branch and Mosaic an idea of what would be visible over the tree line at different heights and distances from property boundaries. Raley, in orange vest, chats with citizen.

Worley said that the balloon was visible in only a few parts of Mosaic. Residents pushed back contending that the test should be done after leaves fall.

Many of the uses in the TOD/TZ are already permitted by right in M-1 zoning and West Creek, with fewer restrictions on height, buffering, setback, and none for noise, which will remain unchanged, said Worley. Incentives in the TOD/TZ come with greater controls. M-1 zoning will not change. The county hopes the TOD/TZ will attract high revenue for profit businesses to bolster the tax base while adding greater protection for adjacent homes than exists under current M-1 zoning.

Landowners inside the proposed boundaries of the TOD/TZ who wish to opt out must file with the county by October 10. A form to do so is available on the county website.

Richmond television stations showed up to record remarks from citizens who apparently failed to perform much due diligence before buying their high six figure homes. One woman allegedly remarked that she was told that the land south of Readers Branch was zoned M-1 but didn’t know what that meant. A simple internet search would have revealed that data centers; manufacture of small parts like semiconductors; places of public assembly for fewer than 1,500 people; drive through restaurants; and energy storage facilities are by right uses in M-1. (Go to https://library.municode.com/va/goochland_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH15ZO_ART18INLIDIM- for the complete list.)

The whole concept of by right zoning, allowing specific uses in zoning districts without public input, was condemned by many attendees who declared that the county should not approve anything without citizen input. Current policy mandates that all land use actions require the applicant to hold at least one community meeting to explain the proposal to nearby landowners before it proceeds to the planning commission. All too often, these meetings are at best sparsely attended by neighbors.

Raley said that by right uses, which shorten approval time, help the county be more competitive in attracting business.  Therefore, it is important to include stringent parameters at the front end.

Goochland, detractors said, should follow the lead of Henrico and Loudon counties, with enormous business and industrial tax revenue streams, who are dialing back by right zoning policies. Those jurisdictions, who probably have run out of developable land, may be doing this to virtue signal.

Goochland, on the other hand, derives very little tax revenue, 18.65 percent, from business. The county would like to increase that percentage to 30.  We need the money to fund core services. High end homes in Eastern Goochland are marketed as being close to Short Pump, whose residents take their sales tax dollars to Henrico to fund its government. Do newcomers patronize fine local businesses, like JJ's Seafood Market on Hockett Road?

Meeting attendees, while whining about the ad valorem tax on one hand asked to have their taxes raised on the other to cancel the TOD/TZ. They also wanted the county to put commercial development in the western part of the county where there is more land. Guess they missed the part about developing the eastern end to keep the rest of Goochland rural. They also do not realize that, while they can afford higher taxes, many people in the rest of the county are struggling to pay taxes.

The county does not “put” anything other than public buildings, like schools, fire-rescue stations and a courthouse, anywhere. Its job is to create an environment that is attractive to private investment, which generates tax revenue to fund government.

Raley spent more than an hour responding to comments submitted by attendees. Many of these advocated for more stringent noise standards and a decibel range from 50 to 55 rather than the proposed 60 to 65. Raley acknowledged the concern and said that noise mitigation strategies, including specification of enhanced sound baffling on noisy equipment are being explored. He also said that specific and robust enforcement mechanisms for violation of sound limits will apply.

Perhaps the most emotional topic related to the TOD/TZ proposal is by right permission for small modular nuclear reactors (SMR).  Despite repeated declarations by Raley that there are no pending proposals for data centers or SMRs, some residents of Readers Branch believe that data centers and a nuclear reactor will appear behind their homes in the next few months. SMRs are in the conceptual stage. It could be a decade or longer before economically feasible SMRs are available. A map included in the latest version of the TOD/TZ proposal https://www.goochlandva.us/1408/Technology-Overlay-District-Technology-Z indicates that all utility generating energy stations, SMS  and gas peaking plants will be in an area north of I64 and 1500 feet east of the Henrico County line, more than a mile from the northern most part of Readers Branch.

Raley pointed out that SMRs would be highly regulated by federal and state agencies during every step of the permitting and operational stages. At that time, if any materialize, safety protocols would be established to protect citizens and the environment. This did not seem to satisfy people who were worried about radioactive plumes and food contamination. They want SMRs banned.

Energy supply for the TOD/TZ is between the utility and the property owner, said Raley, the county does not get involved. He hopes to have a representative from Dominion at the Planning Commission hearing on September 18 to speak to provide additional information.

Concerns about pollutants from diesel generators were raised. Raley said that alternatives to diesel generators, including those that use natural gas, are being explored.

Once again Raley explained that the county currently gets five million gallons of water per day in the TCSD from an agreement with Henrico and uses about half of that. Up to 25 million gpd is available should Goochland need it. The TOD/TZ will have no impact on local wells. He also said that the January disruptions to the water system caused by dysfunction in Richmond “are behind us”.

One person asked why the county just doesn’t build more homes and forget business. Raley explained that residential growth increases traffic, the need for schools and other services, whose cost outstrips gains in residential tax revenues. More houses bring more people which means less rural.

Raley urged everyone to visit the TOD/TZ tab on the county website. All comments via the web page or email are welcome and will be included in the public record. The planning commission will hold a public hearing on the TOD/TZ on September 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Goochland High School auditorium. There will be a District 5 town hall meeting at Hope Church on September 22 at 6 p.m. to discuss matters of interest to the east end in addition to the TOD/TZ.

Please take time to read the entries at https://www.goochlandva.us/1408/Technology-Overlay-District-Technology-Z and share your thoughts.

The TOD/TZ will bring much needed commercial tax revenue to Goochland. The proposal will undoubtedly be tweaked between now and final approval. The county is bending over backwards to be transparent and address legitimate concerns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where the money goes

 

On September 4, the Goochland Board of Supervisors held a three-hour work session to discuss capital items—defined as costing more than $50k with a useful life greater than five years—and prioritizing and identifying possible funding mechanisms. The CIP is a tool to identify big ticket items and craft finance strategies to pay for them.

There are a lot of moving parts to Goochland government. Efficient use of tax dollars to cover all needed expenses, long and short term, is a complicated process. This work session provides a look at the process. To view the entire session, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zowo3w_jIDc

This was the first time that all board members gathered for meaningful discussions about the county’s infrastructure needs and financial position, as opposed to nibbling around the edges during “two by two” meetings with county staff. The ‘kicking tires’ session explored what the county needs and how to pay for it.

County Administrator Jeremy Raley, Ed.D., who has been tirelessly delving into all facets of local government since starting work about nine weeks ago, outlined potential capital investments, and the status of projects “in the works”. The discussion created a mechanism to help the board make thoughtful, deliberate decisions for the benefit of all residents.

The discussion revealed contrasting yet valid views among board members about capital projects. Indeed, Raley may need to don a striped shirt and use a whistle to find consensus.

Charlie Vaughters, District 4, said, that for far too long, Goochland has deferred routine maintenance, or kicked the can down the road on infrastructure. While applauding the fiscal restraint that funded many projects with a “pay as you go” policy using annual surpluses, he contended that Goochland should have best in class facilities to attract and retain exceptional employees that set us apart from our neighbors. Vaughters reflected on the vital component that human capital, people, plays in the success of county government. Factoring the cost of additional staff for new facilities, like fire-rescue stations, should be part of the capital calculation, not just lumped into the annual budget for the first year of operation hoping there is enough money to fund all the positions needed.

Director of Finance Carla Cave reported that Goochland is currently in a strong cash position with about $65 million of fund balance as of June 30, the end of the fiscal year, and above all debt policy thresholds and targets. However, a long laundry list of needed projects could vaporize that in a heartbeat. (Go to the finance tab on the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ to view the adopted budget for FY26, which began on July 1.)

Among the topics discussed was the end of the ad valorem tax levied on all property in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District. Some TCSD property owners have paid this tax since 2002 with little hope of being connected. (Full disclosure, GOMM world headquarters moved into the TCSD a few years ago and pays the tax.)

Cave said, based on current projections, the ad valorem tax will be paid off in 2030, well ahead of the previous 2042 date, but it could happen sooner if county revenues have a dramatic increase. Cave observed that everyone wants to get rid of the tax, whose sole purpose is to service debt incurred by Goochland County to build the basic infrastructure of the TCSD. Created in 2002 to provide water and sewer to the designated growth area in the east end, the TCSD was intended for industrial and commercial, not residential, use.

A portion of the annual general fund revenue goes to the TCSD debt as revenue sharing. This is in the TCSD ordinance and has been about $4 million in recent years. Ending the tax would put more money in taxpayers’ pockets and add the $4 million to county coffers, to be used as the supervisors see fit.

Neil Spoonhower, District 2 contended that funds generated, for example, by the Amazon project on Ashland Road should be directed to pay off the TCSD debt. Raley said that could be accomplished by a board action.

Vaughters observed that TCSD debt could be eliminated sooner by using the county’s “triple triple” AAA bond rating to issue general obligation bond debt to pay off the TCSD bonds, which, he contended would provide an equitable solution for every district to support the potential of enhanced revenue generating power of the TOD for the next 25 to 50 years.

Jonathan Lyle, District 5 said that he likes the fact that Goochland is a county rather than districts. While he too would like to see the end of the TCSD bonds, he does not want to do it at the expense of core services public safety, education, and transportation. He said he would rather see fire-rescue stations built than debt retired. He also pointed out that the assumptions used to justify borrowing for the TCSD in the first place were “somewhat ebullient” and never came to pass. He urged caution about issuing new debt to pay off old debt.

Jonathan Christy, District 1, said that while the math of paying off the TCSD debt as soon as possible makes sense, he asked if the county would also pay to dig wells for those not on public utilities and contended that spreading the TCSD debt to the entire county is insulting to those not in the district. He prefers to pay off the debt with revenues generated by the proposed technology overlay district (TOD) and other new investments in the district. The notion of spreading TCSD debt has been floated before and promptly torpedoed. (Fun fact, none of the supervisors live in areas served by public utilities.)

When created, the TCSD was seen as a moat to contain industrial and commercial development within its boundaries to generate tax revenue and keep the rest of the county rural. Once the bonds are paid off, there might be nothing to prevent high density development, which requires public utilities, from oozing into “rural preservation” areas. This unintended consequence could result in more development, which will increase the demand for public safety, education, and transportation and further degrade the rural character. Perhaps the county could restrict new utility users in the east end to commercial and industrial uses. This should be investigated.

Spoonhower said that fiscal strategies should include any incentives being considered to attract economic development to put the county on a forward-looking trajectory.

The security annex under construction in 2019, replaced the tent used for court security screening

to defer the need for a new courthouse.

A new courthouse to replace the one that has been in continuous use for almost two centuries has been on the list of badly needed infrastructure for years. A line item of $27.8 million is on the FY27 CIP.

Goochland Sheriff Steven Creasey said that, having toured several new courthouses, $27 million is way too low and estimated that $40 million is more realistic. Commonwealth’s Attorney John Lumpkins agreed that the $27 million will not meet needs of the new courthouse, depending on population growth projections for the next few generations. He also contended that an attractive and functional courthouse should enhance the village.

Raley said the scope of the courthouse is to serve the judicial system for the next 40 years or more and that the supervisors will need to roll their sleeves up to find a funding solution for the new courthouse.

Vaughters concurred with Lumpkins that, given the location of the courthouse, it should be designed to put the best foot forward for Courthouse Village. He said that the 200-year-old courthouse should be honored by the new courthouse, which comes with a price.

Raley expects more clarity on the cost and design of the courthouse by November. A good example of deferred maintenance is the annex added to the courthouse in 2019 to replace a tent that had been used to provide screening for court security to defer building the new courthouse.

The West Creek Fire-Rescue station 7, whose funding was allegedly also part of the 2021 referendum, was “paused” for a couple of years. When construction of the roundabout at the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads in Courthouse Village caused fire-rescue to deploy an ambulance on land purchased on Whitehall Road for station 8, resources from station 7 were diverted there. Now, station 8 is in the design phase. Station 7, to be located on the site selected in 2019 will move forward. When it will be built and how it will be funded are still to be determined.

The more than $11 million estimated current price tag for station 8 was questioned by Spoonhower who felt blindsided by the increase from the $8 million number that had been used.

Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. explained that the cost estimate, about $520 per square foot, is typical for the region. The stations are designed in accordance with the 2035 comprehensive land use plan. He said that neighboring jurisdictions are finding that capital bids coming in higher than anticipated.

Ferguson explained that the fire service is changing. Stations are staffed 24/7. The pandemic mandated that sleeping quarters change from dormitory to individual bunkrooms, which increases square footage and cost. He said that the new stations are being built to last for 75 years, not unlike the four existing stations owned by the volunteers, most of which were built in the 1960s. Station 8 is expected to go out to bid later this year. Both Raley and Ferguson were hopeful that the final cost will be closer to the $8 million figure.

Spoonhower and Lyle contended that the fire-rescue stations should be built with the money earmarked for them, Vaughters said failure to build best in class for the next 75 years is penny wise and pound foolish

While it would seem sensible to use, as far as possible, the same set of plans for stations 7 and 8 and perhaps hope for cost savings in a  “two fer” Raley explained that state procurement regulations mandate that each project be considered separately to encourage competition. Ferguson said that research done on design of station 8 would apply to station 7, but there are substantial differences in building mechanics.

Vaughters mentioned the long lead times for equipment like the replacement for the chiller at the “new” high school, which opened more than 20 years ago, and fire-rescue apparatus. He said when items are identified in the CIP, they should be ordered immediately.

A myriad of items including software updates, HVAC replacement for county buildings, equipment for parks and rec, and convenience centers are also in the CIP budget.

Later in the session, School Superintendent Andrew Armstrong, Ph.D. shared identified needs of the division.

Armstrong said that our school division is the tangible return on the investment of every citizen for facilities that are safe, comfortable, inviting, and efficient. The school division’s capital needs are aligned with the county.

Projects like the new chiller, a vital component of the HVAC at the high school are big ticket, long term, and a bit boring, but vital.

Priority projects under discussion include a motor control system for the chiller, replacing boilers, and weapons detections equipment. Armstrong said that Goochland is following Louisa’s deployment of the detectors.

Armstrong mentioned the advantages of using artificial turf rather than grass that could lead to cost savings on routine maintenance by eliminating seeding, mowing, and irrigation, and make fields usable for more than one sport.

An addition to high school to expand the county’s excellent career and technical program, estimated at about $18 million in the bond referendum, will cost far more than that. The good news is that given the proposed location adjoining the high school, site work will be minimal. This facility will accommodate a wide range of CTE programs, including flexibility to add programs that equip our kids to work in emerging industries coming to Goochland.

Spoonhower wants Goochland CTE to be the beacon for the region.

Armstrong said that he does not want any Goochland student to walk across the graduation stage on Saturday night and not know what they are going to do on Monday morning. Whether they go to the workforce with a high demand credential, college, or the miliary they must have a path. “Kids have to read they have to have arithmetical literacy to achieve that,” said Armstrong.

 Other capital needs of the school division are expanding the middle school band room and an auxiliary gym.

Armstrong said that Goochland is the exception rather than the rule of lacking school weapons detection systems. Current equipment detects guns and knives and is portable for use at graduation and football games, for instance. They require additional staff. A $500k initial investment is required.

The Sheriff, said Armstrong, has been alongside the school division in the investigation and eventual deployment of weapons detectors.

In the next five years, routine equipment and roof replacement, maintenance, and renovations for Byrd and Randolph will be in the CIP. Some of these items are so old that replacement parts are no longer available.

 

 

 

 

Lace up your running shoes

 

Attention runners and ambitious walkers. Registration is now open for the second annual Run to Revolution 5k to be held on Saturday, October 4 at Elk Hill in western Goochland.

The historic  Elk Hill property (https://goochlandhistory.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/thomas-jeffersons-elk-hill/  is now home to a facility that helps troubled youth get their lives back on track (https://www.elkhill.org/).  

Run to Revolution is sponsored by the Goochland 250 Commission, which was created by the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to commemorate the founding of our great nation and remind Americans how our country came to be.

Next July 4, we will celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Although the document was the result of collaboration of several people, Thomas Jefferson, who Goochlanders tend to consider a local boy because he spent part of his childhood at Tuckahoe Plantation in the east end, is credited with its authorship.

Go to https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Goochland/RuntotheRevolution for sign up information or to donate to fund other activities of the Goochland 250 Commission.

Signed months after the “shot heard ‘round the world” was fired in Massachusetts, the Declaration was an early event in the long and bitter struggle for independence that ended with the 1783 Treaty of Paris. In the interim, many signers of the Declaration lost everything to secure liberty for the 13 colonies.

 

 

Stewardship

 

Goochland County finances have come a long way since the dark pre-2012 days when the county struggled to cover the cost of providing core services with declining tax revenues caused by the negative impact on real estate valuations by the Great Recession.

On August 5, the county’s budget and audit committee made up of three supervisors, Chair Tom Winfree, District 3; Vice Chair Jonathan Christy, District 1; Charlie Vaughters, District 4; County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley; and Director of Financial Services Carla Cave, met. (Go to the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ click on the watch county meetings tab and select BoS Audit and Finance Committee August 5 for details.)

ACFR

First on the agenda was the kick off for the Annual Certified Financial Report (ACFR) with comments by Andrea Nichols of the Harrisonburg office of PBMares (https://www.pbmares.com/) the outside auditing firm retained by Goochland County to prepare the ACFR. She is the senior audit manager, the point person from PBMAres, working with partners Mike Garber and Betsy Hendrick, who focuses on the school part of the audit.  The ACFR must be approved locally for transmission to the Virginia Auditor of Public Account by December 15 of each year. Nichols expects that the Goochland ACFR will be finished on time so that can be accepted by the supervisors at their December meeting.

PBMares has been the county auditor through several contract cycles and has established a strong working relationship with all county departments, said Nichols. She explained that PBMares rotates those involved to ensure that a “fresh set of eyes” are used to perform Goochland audits each year.

Nichols said that her role is to oversee day-to-day logistics, coordinate with all departments, and handle the flow of information through the auditing process, to communicate clearly with those charged with governance, and ensure effective two-way communication.

The ACFR process includes reviews of internal controls, compliance with federal grants, and performs risk assessments to ensure that fiscal policies and procedures are appropriate and in compliance to mitigate risk. Standards used to assess that financial statements are not fraudulently misstated are also applied. (To review details of ACFRs for past years, https://www.goochlandva.us/Archive.aspx?AMID=43)

In the next few weeks, the audit team will be onsite in Goochland as work on the ACFR kicks into high gear. Goochland has earned high marks for financial reporting and operations for the past several years thanks to the hard work and attention to detail by all employees of the county and school division throughout the year. Kudos to all involved for being good stewards of public funds.

Fiscal ’25 fourth quarter projections

Cave presented preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter of the county’s 2025 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. As the county works under a 45-day accrual period, Cave explained, the numbers aren’t final.

Preliminary figures indicate that projected revenues will exceed those budgeted by approximately $4.8 million, much of which is due to a spike in fees generated by the Amazon facility under construction on Ashland Road. Departments are turning back budgeted but unspent funds, most of which Cave attributed to vacancies and $1.5 million not spent on the new GES returned by the schools. This translates into about $7.6 million put back into fund balance at the end of the year.

That’s the operating side. A notice at the bottom of Cave’s report  states that “The supervisors have indicated an interest in assigned these funds to future CIP (capital improvement plan) projects such as fire-rescue station 7, renovation of the old Goochland elementary school, hiring of a second deputy county administrator (Sara Worley was recently appointed to this post), future economic development incentives, or a possible additional contribution to Schools for unfunded  priorities. These assignments will be determined by the Board in October 2025.”

A CIP work session will take place on Thursday, September 4 at noon. This was postponed from an earlier date to include the new county administrator. Goochland’s capital—high dollar, long life items that cannot be funded in a single budget cycle—needs are at least $100 million. These include a new courthouse, (Goochland’'s will mark its bicentennial next year), school improvements, public safety equipment, routine maintenance to existing buildings, and other important items.

Financial Management Policies

The “Revolution” board of supervisors elected in 2011 took office in 2012 and immediately rolled up its sleeves to get the county’s fiscal house in order. Thirteen years later, the result of these Herculean efforts to wrest Goochland from the brink of bankruptcy, is a county with three AAA bond ratings, making Goochland the smallest jurisdiction in the country to accomplish this feat.

Among the measures put in place to get a handle on county finances were creation of financial management policies in 2013, which have been amended several times to ensure Goochland’s fiscal stability. These took a very conservative approach and included a revenue stabilization fund—essentially a rainy-day fund—to ease the county over fiscal bumps in the road caused by economic conditions beyond its control and enable the county to continue to provide core services.

This philosophy served the county well as it climbed out of revenue declines caused by the Great Recession and uncertainties during the early days of the Covid pandemic.

Current supervisors have discussed if perhaps the ratio of debt relative to the assessed value of real estate not to exceed 2.5 percent as expressed in existing policy, is too conservative. Debt payments, exclusive of that for the Tuckahoe Creek Service District Bonds, have a target of 10 percent of general fund expenditures and a ceiling of 12 percent to accommodate temporary overlap of debt service payments.

Last December, the audit committee met with the county’s financial advisor to discuss reducing or eliminating the policy of keeping an amount equal to 55 percent of unassigned fund balance on hand for emergencies. After discussion, a decision on the topic was postponed allowing more time to investigate the implications of the change.

If there was a March meeting of the audit committee, a recording and minutes of it do not seem to be on the county website. At the May meeting, there was mention of approval of reducing the required percentage of unassigned fund balance on hand from 55 to what seems to be 20 percent of the coming year’s General fund budget and the non-local portion of the school operating budget.

The quandary is between ensuring adequate reserves as a cushion for county operations and perhaps sitting on money that could be better used to fund capital projects.

Supervisor Jonathan Lyle, District 5, presented simplified financial language for the policies, whose current terminology, he contended, was written for and by lawyers and accountants. Lyle’s revisions, which include footers on each page with illustrative calculations of the policies using real county numbers for the most recent five years, were approved. However, the updated version has not yet been posted on the county website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sky is not falling

 

The county logo, industry and agriculture

In the month or so since Goochland County proposed changes to county code and its comprehensive land use plan to help attract high revenue tech companies to the designated growth area, mostly the West Creek business park that hugs the border with Henrico from Rt. 6 to Broad Street Road, a firestorm has erupted.  Residents of Readers Branch, a relatively new subdivision on Hockett Road, for instance, seemed to believe that a data center was on the verge being built in West Creek south of their neighborhood. There is no truth to this rumor.

(Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/1408/Technology-Overlay-District-Technology-Z for details.)

Goochland County needs significant commercial revenue to bolster its tax base, which largely dependent on real estate taxes. The goal is to achieve a 70/30 split between residential and commercial taxes. Currently, the ratio is closer to 80/20 and slipping backwards. People complain bitterly when their tax bills go up due to rising assessments but want no commercial investment. The money must come from somewhere to pay the bills.

The internet—whose existence and ubiquity drive the need for data centers—is awash with horror stories of places overrun with enormous data centers built a stone’s throw from existing neighborhoods replete with ugly photos of anonymous buildings marching over the landscape.

Data centers have been a by-right—essentially prezoned—use in West Creek for several years. Without changes to existing regulations, a data center 80 feet high could be built, if equipped with a fire suppression system, 500 feet from land zoned for residential use. A football field is 360 feet long.

Adding a technology overlay district (TOD) and technology zone (TD) allows the county to offer incentives to attract desperately needed commercial investment in the county and strengthen existing zoning regulation for setbacks, landscape buffers, and design standards to ensure greater compatibility with nearby homes.

Provisions of the proposals, including by right building heights up to 120 feet, depth of setbacks from adjacent residential properties, lack of clear mechanisms for enforcement or consequences of violation of noise regulations, and no public input or supervisor oversight for placement of large buildings, raised red flags for citizens.

The county held a community meeting on July 7 (See GOMM “In search of a bigger worm”) to present the TOD and TZ. Although the boardroom was filled for that meeting, many complained that it was poorly advertised.

On Monday August 4, County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley, Ed.D.; Assistant Director of Community Development Ray Cash; and Director of Economic Development Sara Worley met with some residents of Readers Branch, Mosaic, and the Citizens Planning Committee to discuss the initiative.

Raley began the meeting by announcing that the TOD/TD amendments, originally scheduled for review at the Planning Commission’s August 21 meeting, would be postponed to the September 18 meeting to allow more time to gather citizen input and perhaps modify the TOD/TZ.

He also said that a second community meeting on the topic will be held in the next few weeks. Notice of this session will be mailed, advertised on social media, the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/  and distributed through other mechanisms to get the word out. The community meeting will also be livestreamed and archived on the county website for those unable to attend in person. This was done in response to sentiments that the proposals were being “rushed” into approval without adequate time for citizen input and thorough investigation of the long-term impact of unintended consequences. This postponement will allow the county to dispel misinformation and address legitimate concerns about the TOD/TZ.

Continuing and extending by right approval for uses, including data centers and bio tech manufacturing, which are new to the county, were high on the list of objections. Mandating approval by elected officials to ensure that these uses are properly sited to protect residential enclaves and scaled appropriate to the area was high on the list of requested changes to the proposals.

Allowing by right, rather than requiring conditional use permits for heights up to 120 feet was also a major concern for its impact on the viewshed. Insight into the rationale that included this in the TOD/TZ is needed to help citizens understand the proposals.

Noise, as currently drafted, the TOD/TZ set 65 decibels as the maximum permitted sound level. There are no details as to how, when, and by whom sound levels would be measured and violations enforced with meaningful consequences in addition to more stringent controls on backup generator testing noise.

During citizen comment at the start of the evening session of the August 5 board meeting, many residents, mostly from Readers Branch, made their feelings known and the TOD/TZ. Some of their comments were on point, others unfounded at best.

First of all, West Creek is not a nature preserve, or a mixed-use residential enclave. It was created in the 1980s to be the economic engine to generate business tax revenue Goochland and allow the rest of the county to remain rural. A Motorola chip plant was planned for West Creek Parkway, near the current Striker Soccer facility. Only parking lots were built before the chip operations moved offshore. The site is being marketed. The building on West Creek Parkway that housed the Federal Reserve, which did not pay real estate tax, has been vacant for some time and is currently for sale.

The notion that industrial uses in West Creek, most of which is zoned M-1 and has been for decades, should not be allowed is wrong. If the other requirements for data centers, like water and power are in reasonable proximity, the east side of Rt. 288 would seem to be an ideal place to put them. Traffic noise is about 70 decibels, higher than permitted by the TOD/TZ.

We do not know how many sites in the proposed TOD/TZ could support a data center. Aside from the need for water—the Tuckahoe Creek Service District has a 25 MILLION gallons per day allocation and uses about 5 million gpd—and power, which could be supplied by Dominion or turbines tapping into existing natural gas lines, seismic challenges from blasting at rock quarries to the north and south limit suitable locations. More clarity about this is needed.

Bio tech research and development and advanced manufacturing using 3D printing techniques are also by right uses.

Remarks made by some new residents suggest they performed little due diligence on the area before moving here. They naively believe that, despite the Hockett Road corridor and West Creek being the county’s designated growth area, they moved to a rural area and are surprised and outraged to learn that there will be robust commercial development nearby.

Kudos to the county for allowing more time to gather and evaluate meaningful feedback on the TOD/TZ proposals and dispel the bizarre rumors floating around.