July board highlights

 

Gary, Darcy, and Oliver Kiesinger, guardians of  a witness tree that dates from 1776 with Robin Lind and Manny Alvarez (r)

Basking in the cool down—90 instead of triple digits—Goochland’s board of supervisors began its July 7 meeting with reflections about the late Susan Lascolette, who served as District 1 supervisors for 2012 to 2023.

County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley gave a wrap up on Goochland’s observances of the nation’s 250^th birthday. “Mother Nature was on our side as we waited and waited to shoot off the fireworks when it cooled off, to make it a very special day,” he said of the county’s exquisite pyrotechnic display. Raley recognized and thanked the Parks &Rec staff for its many hours of hard work setting up, painting the field, putting up banners, and the tear down. He commended the purchasing staff for its role in the special fireworks show and expressed profound gratitude to our public safety team, fire-rescue and the sheriff’s office for keeping people safe and handling traffic. “It was a testament to the excellence of Goochland County and how we all can come together and do something special.”

Some stats about the day. In the afternoon 120 people attended the Goochland 250 event at the sports complex gym, which included a reading of the Declaration of Independence. An estimated 6,546 people watched the fireworks in person. There were more than 22,000 combined views of the two fireworks’ livestream. More than 1,100 fireworks lit our night sky.

As is his custom, Raley recognized achievements of staff members including Scott Foster, Director of General Services who recently earned his Facility Management credential; Jon-Mikel Whalen and Ramzi Farhat for earning the certified zoning administrator credential; and Adam Barber. Raley said that these staff members have earned these credentials outside of normal working hours to further the county commitment to excellence.

The Goochland Day Foundation reported that feedback from vendors and participants was positive, indicating that the event was successful. Goochland Day cost about $40k and generated a profit of approximately $14k. That will enable the Goochland Day Foundation to fund scholarships and contribute to the Goochland Cares domestic violence response program. Most county departments participated in the success of the day, which was attended by 6,000 people. Parks & Rec and building inspection got special notice for their contributions.

Goochland Day 2027 will be on more level surfaces to deal with ADA issues, and the “old GES field”, which needs a new name, to increase enjoyment for all. It will be a lead up to the county’s 300^th anniversary and have a theme of “hometown heroes” to honor people, businesses, and entities who have made a positive impact on Goochland.

The Hon. Manuel Alvarez, chair of the Goochland 250 Commission echoes Raley’s thanks to Park& Rec, as well as Jessica Kronberg, Paul Drumwright, and Raley who read part of the Declaration. He also recognized donors including Short Pump Honda (it’s in Goochland!), PFG, Wegmans, and the Chamber of Commerce

Robin Lind, President of the Goochland Historical Society https://goochlandhistory.org/ reported on the results of the Witness Tree Challenge, started earlier in the year, to identify trees at least 250 years old. Tree nominations were evaluated by drilling a core into the center of the tree and counting rings, one for each year of growth. The “Thomas Knarr poplar” was determined to have started to grow in 1752. The “Boyle white oak” dated to 1740. The “Luke Knarr Oak” dates to 1677. The Kiesinger White oak started its life in 1776, the same year as our nation. This tree is epical, said Lind, because the family that owns this tree has loved it and created a montage of the tree in all seasons. Gary, Darcy, and Oliver Kiesinger, owners of the tree were presented with a certificate of recognition.

The supervisors approved a proclamation declaring July Parks and Recreation month. In addition to its support for special events, the department provides facilities and program to improve the health and well being of our citizens years round. In FY26, the department provided services for over 5,000 program registrants, and over 400,000 visitors. The parks & rec team under the leadership of Tom Cocke received well deserved recognition as county team of the quarter.

Rookie of the quarter was Marcello Forehand, who, on Tuesday, was assistant director of public utilities but has since been promoted to director of the department. Since joining the county in March, he has hit the ground running and pitched in to solve a tricky connection issue.

Barbra Ransome from Social Services was named employee of the quarter. Transportation Manager Patrick Longerbeam was named customer service leader of the quarter for, among other actions, his work with a local HOA to solve a traffic issue to make roads safer.

Fire-rescue battalion chief Brandon Proffitt was named leader of the quarter. Among his many accomplishments, Proffitt spearheaded installation of a new ‘burn building” at the Henley Fire-Rescue Training center.

Director of Strategic Communications Jessice Kronberg presented the newly implemented civic clerk system to provide greater access to county information including agendas. Lisa Beczkiewicz and Ashley Parker worked really hard behind the scenes collaborating with Kronberg, Dan Stowers and Treanor Oliver to bring this to fruition. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evY2miOCdVA for a short video showing how to use the new system.

The consent agenda included authorization to set public hearings for August 4. These include an ordinance amendment about livestock “running at large”, an ordinance amendment for sewer connections; various budget transfers and appropriations; endorsement of applications for VDOT Smart Scale funding; and land acquisition in Crozier for a replacement for the Company 2 fire-rescue station.

Public hearings

·         A conditional use application for a short-term rental at 443 Woods Acres Road in District 4 was approved

·         A real estate easement across the fire-rescue training center to provide road access to a land locked parcel was granted.

·         An amendment to the FY 27 budget to transfer and appropriate up to $2.7 million for architecture and engineering services and owner’s representative services for improvements to the high school middle school complex, including for career and technical education, declaring the county’s official intent to reimburse these expenditures from the proceeds of future bond issues was approved.

Closed session

The board met in closed session in the afternoon to discuss specific plans to protect public safety with legal counsel and law enforcement officials as permitted by Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(19), for the purpose of discussing specific plans to protect public safety by legal counsel and law enforcement officials

The board met in closed session in the evening in accordance with the provisions of Virginia Code §§ 2.2-3711(A)(7) and 2.2-3711(A)(1), for the purpose of discussing pending litigation, and the performance and duties of the County Administrator and County Attorney.

 

 

 

A Goochland Fourth

What July 4th is all about

Joint Sheriff's Office and Fire-Rescue honor guard

Kendall Hutchinson sang National Anthem

Taps played after volley by American Legion Post 215

 

Manny Alvarez (at podium) Master of Ceremonies

Hunter Wilson, Mike Wilson, Manny Alvarez, Robin Lind, Amanda Adams, Jeff Mabry, Rhonda Shannon, Bob Warwick some speakers

Blistering heat did not stop Goochland on July 4. Our celebration was wonderful, made possible by many people who worked long and hard on a holiday. Some random observations on the day.

Special gratitude, above and beyond that which they deserve every day, goes to our public safety team. Instead of marking our nation’s 250^th birthday with friends and family, our dispatchers; deputies; fire-rescue providers, both career and volunteer; and parks and rec staff worked tirelessly, many on just a few hours’ sleep, to make Goochland’s celebration our nation memorable.

The Goochland 250 Commission, lead by Manuel Alvarez, moved Independence on the Green, a celebration of the Declaration of Independence, to air-conditioned comfort in the sports complex gym with the extensive help of Parks & Rec. For Alvarez, who emigrated to our country as a teenager fleeingcommunist oppression in Cuba, the freedoms we enjoy as Americans are not an abstraction.

Thanks to the many intrepid citizens who braved the heat to attend.

A joint Sheriff’s Office Fire-Rescue honor guard presented the colors, resplendent in exquisite dress uniforms.

The Declaration of Independence, written by Goochland’s own Thomas Jefferson, was read in its entirety by members of the community: Dr. Jeremy Raley, Andrew Meiller, Ellie Creasey, and Rhonda Shannon. The deleted passage dealing with the selling of slaves, was read by Jeff Mabry, a descendant of a revolutionary war soldier. Ms. Shannon’s passionate delivery channeled the anger and frustration of the colonists with King George III.

Bob Warwick gave a simple inclusive invocation and benediction.

Reenactor Mike Wilson, in Revolutionary war uniform, spoke about Goochlanders who participated in the struggle for independence. Their names are listed in the latest issue of the Goochland County Historical Society Magazine.

Robin Lind, President of the Goochland Historical Society announced the winners of the Witness Tree Challenge, which identified three trees that have been growing in the county for at least 250 years and been witness to the history of our nation.

Clerk of the Court Amanda Adams assisted by Kendall Hutchinson, who also sang the National Anthem, read the names and rang a bell for each of the 13 original colonies at 2:50 p.m. as part of the National Bell Festival.

There was ice cream, introduced to America by Mr. Jefferson, for all at the conclusion of the program. Kudos to the GVA 250 Commission members for staging the program including many behind the scene contributions of James Richmond, Executive Director of the Goochland Historical Society.

The VA250 “America Made in Virginia” program in Williamsburg was livestreamed in the gym beginning at 8 p.m.

Saving the best for last, Goochland fireworks were shot off beginning at 9:15 p.m. The display was better than ever! Go to https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JcTny6Wdx/  to watch.

The superb cat herding skills of our amazing deputies deftly guided fireworks watchers on their way.

It was truly a day to savor and remember.

 

 

 

Celebrate America!

 

Please join the Goochland 250 Commission to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

Citizens will read the Declaration of Independence, results of the Witness Tree Challenge will be shared, Goochland Patriots who participated in the Revolution will be recognized, and a bell will be rung 13 times in concert with bells across the nation.

Due to the forecast of extreme heat, the program will be held inside the Sports Complex gym.

A leader passes

 

"Cutting the ribbon" on Station 6 
 in 2017

Our world became a little emptier on June 21 when the Honorable Susan Lascolette went home to her Lord.

Susan represented District 1 on the Goochland Board of Supervisors for 12 years. She was a member of the “revolution board” that metaphorically held hands and walked through fire to move the county from the brink of bankruptcy to being the smallest county in the country to earn three AAA bond ratings.

She understood that decisions should be made to benefit the entire county. Susan knew that holding elected office was not a popularity contest and that no matter how hard she worked, she could not make everyone happy. Susan was ever faithful to her conservative principles.

Getting the county’s fiscal house in order while preserving the rural nature of most of Goochland, especially her district, and providing excellent core services of law enforcement and fire-rescue were her priorities.

During her tenure as a supervisor, Susan served as board chair and vice chair reflecting the confidence others had in her leadership.

Her funeral service, held at Goochland High School on June 27, was well attended by friends, supporters, neighbors, many dignitaries including the entire board of supervisors, and District 10 State Senator Luther Cifers.

“Susan was one of the first people I talked to when considering a run for office. She freely gave me her time and wisdom, for which I am eternally grateful,” said Cifers.

Goochland Steven N. Creasey recalled sharing many conversations with Susan about how good decisions are made. “Whether we agreed or disagreed, I always walked away having learned something. Susan challenged people to think differently. She understood that public safety is the strong foundation of our community. She respected the work and sacrifices made by our deputies, dispatchers, and fire-rescue personnel and did not take them for granted. She never forgot that public service is, and should be, all about the people. Goochland County is a better place because of Susan’s leadership. Her legacy is not in decisions but leaders she mentored and countless lives she touched. Susan never stopped believing that tomorrow would be better if people were just willing to work together with respect and purpose.

Creasey thanked Susan for her support, which enabled the Sheriff’s Office to grow and better serve the community.

Sheriff Creasey presented a flag of his department that flew over the Courthouse to Susan’s family.

 Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. recalled Susan’s steadfast support of fire-rescue.

“She was a true leader in every respect on so many levels for so many people,” he said. When she was first elected to the Board of Supervisors, Susan toured all fire-rescue stations including what was then station 6, a small garage that had been repurposed and barely adequate. She joined Hadensville Company 6 fire-rescue auxiliary 2013 and became the driving force for building the first county-owned fire-rescue station, Hadensville Company 6, which opened in 2017, and became very protective of it.

The new Company 6 said Ferguson “changed the way that we serve the entire county. In the aftermath of the 2022 winter storm that paralyzed the region we received first priority to get National Guard resources deployed there to help clear the trees in Goochland and Louisa”.

Support under Susan’s watch enabled increasing fire-rescue career staff, improving volunteer incentives, upgrades of existing stations and the training center and new stations in Sandy Hook and West Creek.

“I recall how proud she was in 2019 when we were able to staff all six stations with two career providers 24/7, “said Ferguson. “Susan was a guiding star and champion of all things fire-rescue. We are the fire-rescue department, but the truth is that she rescued us so we can rescue others. Leaders are much like eagles, they don’t flock, you find them one at a time.”

Rest in peace Susan.

 

June board meeting highlights

 

Goochland Delegation to 2026 Special Olympics USA Games (Goochland County image)

At their June 2 meeting, Goochland supervisors approved a resolution honoring the Goochland Delegation to the 2026 Special Olympics USA games to be held in Minneapolis from June 20-26. (Go to https://2026specialolympicsusagames.org/about/about-2026-usa-games for details.)

The Goochland delegation to this event includes four athletes; four Goochland high school student partners; and two coaches.

The athletes, all GHS students, are Destiny Brent; Conner Emmert; Dymontrie Hopkins; and Owen Powers. Each will compete in several different events.

The student partners, Ailey Black, Sam Farkas, Ava Freeman, and Jack Stern serve as leaders, role models, and ambassadors of inclusion and teamwork.

Coaches Wes Farkas and Melissa Black use commitment, encouragement, and leadership to guide the athletes to excellence.

The supervisors also recognized the achievements of 11 young men for earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout through years of dedicated community service and adherence to the principles of scouting. They are Rafael Smith, August Kowalski, Samuel Farkas, Adam Seltzer, Luca Gardner, Kyhl Pace, Noah Wensel, Calvin Gibbons, Isaac Schelin, Aedan Curry, and Tucker Smithson.  

Board Chair Jonathan Christy, District 1 thanked everyone who attended meetings about the proposed Valley Link electric transmission line (https://www.goochlandva.us/1454/Valley-Link-Transmission-Project).  “You voice does matter,” he said and encouraged citizens to continue to provide feedback on the project and stay engaged.

County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley Ed.D. echoed Christy’s appreciation for citizen engagement in the Valley Link issue.

He also said that recently Community roundtables, conversations about topics of interest in Goochland, have been successful. “These truly are kitchen table conversations where we share ideas, thoughts, and perspectives.” The next roundtable will be on June 25. All are welcome to sign up, but attendance is limited. Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/1474/Community-Engagement-Initiatives for details.

Fourth of July

Goochland will be celebrating the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, written by son of Goochland Thomas Jefferson, on July 4th.

Independence on the Green will begin at 1 p.m. on the lawn of our venerable courthouse and include a reading of the Declaration, mention of some Goochlanders who fought in the Revolution, participation in the National Bell Festival by ringing the courthouse bell 13 times, one for each colony, at 2:50 p.m. eastern time. Bring a chair. In case of rain, this event will be held in the sports complex gym at 1800 Sandy Hook Road.

Fireworks will be shot off behind the sports complex in Courthouse Village beginning at 9:15 p.m. Come early to get a good parking spot. Rain date July 5.

Good work

Raley lauded the animal protection department for processing a record 94 adoptions in May, up from its previous record of 91. If you are looking for a furry friend, please visit https://www.goochlandva.us/299/Animal-Protection for more information.

Goochland is once again honoring our veterans—their service and sacrifice made the Fourth possible—by displaying banners on light posts lining River Road West in Courthouse Village. Raley commended Scott Foster, Wendy Grady, and the whole general services team for making this possible. The program, which began a few years ago with six banners, has blossomed to 136 this year.

Heart of Service awards recognize county employees who exemplify honor, empathy, accountability, transparency, and respect in their jobs. Those recognized were Fire-Rescue provider Will Shifflet; Larry Hicks, assistant director of general services who is retiring after 30 years with the county; Ashlea Koch, public utilities business manager. Honorees are nominated by their peers.

The following employees were welcomed to team Goochland.

Tommy Parmenter recently joined the building inspection team as a special projects plan reviewer. Among his many professional credentials, Parmenter holds the coveted master code professional certification, of which there are fewer than 1,000 worldwide.

Christy Gilliam is the county’s newest custodian.

Matt Parker was promoted to Assistant Director of Geneal Service and Elizabeth McDonald, to Deputy County Administrator for operations.

Dashboards

To enhance transparency Goochland has created dashboards “intended to serve as a centralized resource for residents seeking information about county data, performance measures, and operational trends.” They will be updated three times annually with potential for added data points. Values in the dashboards are accurate for the date range shown.  Go to https://goochlandva.us/1477/Dashboards  also accessible from the county website transparency tab. Fire-Rescue, social services, and Office of Children’s Services have their own dashboards.

Jessican Kronberg, Director of Strategic Communications, collaborated with county departments, especially Dan Stowers and Elliott Waugh of the Information Technology department and Tegan Ulis of the CSB, to translate a wide range of data into this digestible and accessible format.

Kronberg wants feedback about the dashboards to ensure that they have information that citizens want and are easy to use.

Consent agenda

The consent agenda is a list of housekeeping items that require supervisor approval. The following actions were takin on June 2.

·         Setting a public hearing for July 7 to consider aFY27 budget amendment that would transfer and appropriate up to $2.7 million for architecture and engineering services for the high and middle school campus addition for the career and technical education center and declare the county’s official intent to reimburse itself for these expenditures from the proceeds of future bond issues.

·         Setting a public hearing for the disposition of real property to grant an access easement across the fire-rescue training center.

·         Approving a resolution to adopt the VDOT secondary six-year plan priorities from 2027-2032

·         Authorize the county administrator to execute a contract with McDouough Bolyard and Peck for county courthouse owner representation. This includes an amendment to the county FY26 budget transferring and appropriating $799,952 from the future capital projects assigned fund to the capital improvement fund to pay for these services and declaring the county’s official intent to reimburse itself from future bond proceeds. (The contact is included in the June 2 board packet.)

·         A resolution amending the FY 26 budget by accepting and appropriating funds from state funding and sales tax revenue; school improvement grant; and a categorial transfer of $55k from transportation to maintenance facilities in the school operations fund. This does not include any additional local funding.

 

Public hearings

The board approved a conditional use permit for a detached accessory family housing unit at 1884 Broad Street Road.

Donation of land and related easements to VDOT for the right-of-way extension of Fairground Road to Rt6. And authorization for the county administrator to execute deeds of this donation was also approved.

 

 

 

Take a deep breath

 

Goochland announced last week that a pre application has been filed for Tuckahoe Technology Park, a multi building data center campus on 871.89 acres between Hockett Road, West Creek, and Rt. 288. The land in question, referred to as TOD West, not part of West Creek, consists of 13 separate parcels whose owners include Forth Estate, LLC., Stern Arenstein Properties, Inc., Tuckahoe Group LLC., and Dr. Sheppard, LLC. These entities have owned the land for decades if not generations.

Owners of TOD west have had a contentious relationship with the various—there have been at least three—owners of West Creek since its creation almost 40 years ago about access to internal roads in the business park. The latest skirmish occurred about a year ago when the county granted Mosaic permission to add three lots near the intersection of Mosaic Creek Boulevard and Broad Branch Road preventing access to West Creek roads from the landlocked parcels.

The county has created a website specifically for the project at https://www.goochlandva.us/1480/Tuckahoe-Technology-Park to help citizens understand the proposal. There are many details to unpack here. Please take the time to review each part of the application, especially the parts about water usage, which will come from the TCSD, not ground water.

TOD west was added to the TOD/TZ footprint in the late stages of last year’s debate on the topic. It adjoins Mosaic, the 55+ community in the West Creek business park. Unlike other parcels included in the TOD, zoned M-1, land in TOD west is zoned either A-2 or R-3, which under TOD rules requires obtaining a conditional use permit (CUP) to build a data center.

The CUP process, which is very similar to rezoning, mandates at least one public community meeting where the applicant explains the proposed project, answers questions, and obtains feedback, which ideally is used to improve the proposal. The application then goes to the planning commission for a public hearing and recommendation and to the board of supervisors for final determination.  This means that every facet of the application will have a thorough and public review. It is likely that the final version of the Tuckahoe Technology Park, if approved, will be different from that in the pre-app.

Since the TOD concept was announced last summer, virulent anti-data center rhetoric has flooded social media and other forums. The frenzied opposition is reminiscent of the fear mongering that had the world sheltering in place, wearing useless masks, and disinfecting everything during Covid. A lawsuit seeking to void the TOD is working its way through the courts.

Goochland seems to have its own chapter of the national anti-data center movement whose members spend every waking moment mining the internet—made possible by data centers—for the latest "study” documenting their harmful effects. They ignore anything that contradicts this narrative and use an “I’m right and you’re evil” mindset to shut down conversations vaguely resembling civil dialog on the topic.

Who benefits if America stops building data centers? Opponents answer in loud lockstep that the world will be a better place without them. Their comments are consistent and carefully curated to support the thesis that data centers destroy land, water, poison the air, ruin wildlife habitat, and cause all sorts of mayhem.

Data centers are an integral part of our daily lives enabling everything from sensitive financial transactions to cat videos, they’re not going away. Are foreign bad actors planting these seeds of negativity with a flood of “facts” to convince naive Americans to oppose data centers them so they can control our lives and corner the AI market to stifle innovation? Ceding data center construction to foreign powers puts our national security at risk.

Goochland needs more revenue to provide high quality government services without raising tax rates. Homes do not pay their way tax wise. We must be able to pay our deputies, fire-rescue providers and teachers well, so they are not tempted to go elsewhere for more money. Our county has enormous capital needs, including a new courthouse, schools, and parks that cannot be funded with fairy dust.

Anti data center conspiracy theorists ignore Goochland’s long-held land use strategy to confine economic development in the designated growth area, east of Hockett Road, and leave the rest of the county rural.

Their rumor mill now contends that because M-1 zoning allows data centers by right (the Tuckahoe Tech Park is zoned A-2 and R-3) every morsel of land zoned M-1 anywhere in the county will soon sprout a data center. The new county utility master plan, for instance, found that bringing public water to the Oilville I64 exit, which is ripe for economic development, was cost prohibitive. No water, no data center.

What else could be built on the heavily wooded almost 900 acres, which will be developed at some point. Maybe thousands of apartments or hundreds of houses, which would clear cut all the trees and displace wildlife. That many dwelling units would dramatically increase the need for capital projects like schools, fire-rescue, law enforcement, parks, roads, and public utilities without any way to pay for them except raising tax rates.  A solar collection facility, they’re not farms, would deforest the land and increase the temperature nearby. The Tech Park as proposed clears a relatively small part of the acreage, leaving the rest undisturbed.

Data centers are not potato chips. Perhaps Goochland can eat just one to nourish our bottom line.

 

 

 

Another new fire-rescue station

 

Station 7 floorplan

Station 7 exterior to be determined

Seventy-five years ago, a group of intrepid Goochlanders formed the first volunteer fire company in the east end of the county after a local church burned to the ground. Over the years, this fire company became the Goochland Volunteer Fire Association, Inc., later becoming the Goochland Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association when rescue squads were added in 1966, eventually expanding to six companies. These: Manakin, Crozier, Centerville, Fife, Courthouse, and Hadensville were built by volunteers with the financial support and physical help—residents often spent their free time helping the construction however they could—of the community. They knew that without these volunteers, stations, and equipment, no one would come to their aid in emergencies.

In 2017, Goochland dedicated Hadensville Fire-Rescue Company 6, the first county-owned fire-rescue station, to replace an aging and inadequate—its brush truck “lived” in its kitchen—station that saved lives and protected property for decades.

The second county owned fire-rescue station—the others are still owned by the Association—Sandy Hook Station 8, long needed, is rising from the ground.

Scott Foster, Goochland Director of General Services, gave the supervisors a brief progress report on Station 8 construction at their June 2 meeting. Following ceremonial groundbreaking on April, 7 dirt has been flying. Foster said that the expected substantial completion for Station 8 in May 2027 is on target.

He said that “a lot of thought went into making sure that this station will last for decades, is low maintenance, energy efficient, visually appealing, and match the community.”

The interior is all cinder block, and the exterior is brick and cement board, which is more durable than other types of siding. Floors will be polished concrete, again for ease of maintenance and durability. Station 8 will have three drive-through apparatus bays with horizontal folding doors, which, said Foster, are faster less prone to malfunction than overhead doors.

In response to a question from Jonathn Lyle, District 5, Foster said that two wells have been drilled on the Station 8 site, one will be “capped” for backup use as needed.

Charlie Vaughters, District 4 said that Station 8 benefits the entire county, not just District 2, by enhancing service to our citizens with better response time for emergencies in all parts of the county. (See GOMM Station 8 groundbreaking.)

Go to https://goochlandva.new.swagit.com/videos/389821 to watch Foster’s presentation.

In the past few months, the supervisors authorized approval of a contract with HBA Architecture & Interior Design (https://www.hbaonline.com/)  for architectural and engineering work on West Creek Station 7 to be built on the east side of Hockett Road north of its intersection with Tuckahoe Creek Parkway.

At their June 2 meeting, the supervisors discussed funding mechanisms for the estimated $13.2 million project (see GOMM Money Matters) whose completion could be as early as mid-2028.

On June 8, a community open house to gather feedback on design and appearance of Station 7 was held at Manakin Company 1. Supervisors Tom Winfree, District 3; Charlie Vaughters, District 4; Jonathan Lyle, District 5; Martin Dean Manakin Volunteer Fire Captain and District 5 Planning Commissioner attended.

County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley welcomed the group and said that the meeting was a part of an ongoing process and welcomed all public engagement. “This is an important community asset.” He said that when he first took office, he met with some residents of Kinloch Villas, located near the site, which was designated in 2019, and pledged that the county will be very good neighbors.

Goochland Chief of Fire-Rescue & Emergency Services, D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr., echoed Raley’s welcome. “It is fitting that we hold this meeting here, where it all started,” said Ferguson giving a brief recap of his department’s history.

Ferguson said that expansion of fire-rescue to meet the emerging demands of the county is important.  Growth of county population—nearly 30k— is only partly responsible for the increase in call volume. At least 6,000 people from outside Goochland work here daily. Fire-Rescue also responds to emergencies and wrecks on I64 and Rt. 288, whose number and complexity are increasing. The department has water rescue units that respond to emergencies on the county’s 40 or so miles of its James River frontage.

When West Creek business park was created in the late 1980’s, said Ferguson, it was understood that there would be a station in West Creek.

Ferguson thanked all involved in the design of the station that will serve the county well for decades. A great deal of the thought and analysis used to design Station 8 will be used on the Station 7, which will have a similar floor plan. Unlike Station 8, it will have space dedicated to the Sheriff’s Office where deputies can perform administrative functions without going to the Sheriff’s Office in Courthouse Village. THIS SPACE WILL NOT BE USED TO DETAIN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

Each of the county fire-rescue stations has its own character. Go to https://goochlandfire-rescue.org/ and click on stations to see.

Attendees were asked to indicate their preferences from displays of fire house elevations and building materials to help HBA design a unique exterior for Station 7 that harmonizes with its surroundings.

David Smith of HBA explained that the firehouse illustrations ranged from traditional to contemporary and included photos of existing buildings in the area.  “This is a process and your feedback will be used in the design phase,” he said. Sticky dots were used to indicate preferences for building forms and materials.

Construction of Station 7 is long overdue.