In like a lion

March board meeting

The Goochland board of supervisors moved toward the county budget deadline at their March 2 meeting. They voted to advertise a proposed property tax rate of 57 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to give themselves some wiggle room, but made it very clear that may not be the adopted tax rate for 2010.

According to state law, the governing board may adopt a tax rate lower than advertised.

During a workshop, held before the meeting, supervisors heard presentations from some county departments outlining their achievements and budget streamlining strategies.

The Department of Community Development, according to its director Don Charles has been reorganized and will include the utilities department, oversight of the county’s two convenience centers and economic development.

Bob Hammond, who ahs been the county director of planning and zoning will retire.

Over the past year or so, said Charles, DCD devoted countless hours and resources sorting out the mess in the public utilities department to enable it to become a self- sustaining enterprise operation.

The DCD has also assumed responsibility for grounds maintenance, which will consolidate personnel and equipment and result in cost savings.

County engineer Gary Duval reported further on the DPU. He stated that Goochland may have the largest wastewater pumping station on the east coast, if not the entire country,to serve about 3,000 customers. The DPU is still searching for undocumented customers.

New meters to prevent water theft will be installed.

Sally Graham, executive director of the Goochland Free Clinic and family Services reported that her organization is busier than ever. GFFS works with county residents who cannot get aid from the Department of Social Services.
Possible approval of health care reform, said Graham, will have no impact on the population that needs the medical and dental services provided by GFFS

The workload of the Department of Animal Control is also rising as resources decline. According to animal control officer Tim Clough, the county has 21,441 human residents and more than 150,000 domestic animals.

Unfunded state mandated documentation increases the workload, said Clough.

Public comment before the afternoon session and evening sessions illustrated the wide disparity of citizen views about the county budget.

Carol Salmon of Maidens said that she is appalled at the arrogant attitude of the school board. She said that even though school enrollment has declined 12.5 percent the school board wants more money every year.

Salmon said that she does not want soccer fields or a recreation department. She does want a department of social services that can help local citizens remain in their homes instead of being forced into nursing homes.
Salmon said she wants full funding for the sheriff’s department and fire-rescue volunteers who show up when they are called and do an amazing, professional job.

Karen Myrick, also of Maidens, repeated her plea to increase the tax rate by at least five cents and perhaps more to ensure that Goochland retains the excellence it has achieved. She urged the board to look for greater economies in operation but, above all, to save teacher jobs.

Jo D. Hosken, a representative of the Goochland Education Parents Association (Goochlandparents.blogspot.com) was concerned that the supervisors vote to advertise the proposed school budget indicated the school budget has been accepted as presented.

Dickson explained that the school budget can be amended before the final budget is adopted by the supervisors. Dickson also stated that she expects to receive a revised proposed school budget in the next week or so, which should include adjustments resulting from the final state budget numbers.

Hosken said that if the board adopts the proposed budget as presented, it would be a death knell for the jobs of as many as 100 teachers.

Kevin Huff of western Goochland urged the board to retain the 53 cent rate because many people are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford any extra financial burdens.

Dickson stated that the specifics of the final budget have yet to be determined.

During the afternoon session, Dickson introduced John Wack at the county’s new deputy county administrator and finance director. He has been working as a consultant on the TCSD mess since November.

Herb Griffith announced the new officers of the Goochland electoral board. Following last November’s gubernatorial election that board now consists of two republicans, Griffith as chair, Melinda Sledd, vice chair and Robin Lind, the sole democrat as secretary. Shirley Christian, who was the other democrat, retired after many years of excellent public service.

Griffith told the board that the county’s voting equipment is in excellent condition and the fewest number of people will be used in the 2010 elections, which are expected to be light.

The 2011 election by contract will include state and local candidates and some constitutional amendments.

Goochland Sheriff James L. Agnew reported that his department functioned well in the recent snowfalls and observed that county citizens did their part by staying off the roads or driving more safely than in previous storms.

Agnew pointed out that law enforcement concerns in Goochland are no longer driven by local people and events. A few years ago, when local Muslims held a religious observation in Goochland that included ritual sacrifice of animals, his office was contacted by PETA representatives from Seattle and warned that an animal rights demonstration would take place.

Earlier this week, he was notified that a Kansas based hate group’s list of targets in the Richmond area included the Rudlin Torah Academy in eastern Goochland. Agnew dispatched two deputies to the site to protect the school. No incidents occurred.


Investigator Mike East, who works on computer crimes including identity theft, presented an overview of gang activity in Goochland, another facet of his crime fighting duties.

Currently, said East, local and national gangs, including the Crips, Bloods, Vatos Locas, Sureno 13 and Dogtown gang, have active members in the county. In 2008, there was a gang related drive by shooting in near Centerville. This resulted in arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators who are currently incarcerated.

A happy by product of land clearing near the high school for soccer fields was the elimination of a favorite meeting spot for gang members.

Gang members tend to be involved in sales of illegal drugs and guns. They recruit heavily and start to indoctrinate children at an early age. East showed a photo of local toddlers wearing gang colors. In recent years gangs have migrated to rural areas where it is easier to avoid detection as they continue their criminal activity.

Following a public hearing on a conditional use permit for the Grace Chinese Baptist Church of Richmond to build a church of about 11,900 square feet on an approximately 22 acre parcel of land on the north side of Broad Street Road just west of its intersection with Three Chopt Road (Rt. 612), the supervisors voted to approve the CUP. Conditions include construction of both left and right turn lanes before a certificate of occupancy is issued and replacement of any existing trees on the eastern boundary of the property disturbed during construction.

Supervisors stated that other churches that have been granted CUPs on Broad Street Road were required to build turn lanes as part of initial construction. Comment by church members during the public hearing seemed to indicate that they believed that their church was being singled out for the turn lane requirement.

The supervisors adjourned until March 15, when they will hold another budget workshop.

The proposed budget is available on the county website at www.co.goochland.va.us.