2020 Vision

The notion of a census is on our minds this time of year—the trip to Bethlehem was to participate in one—it’s not too soon to consider the next United States decennial census coming up in 2020.

At its January 3, 2019 meeting, the Goochland County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on moving the boundary line between the Shallow Well and Centerville voting precincts. Both of these polling places are in District 4 in eastern Goochland, which has seen a significant increase in new homes in the past few years.  More are being built.

According to the county press release, the Centerville precinct, located at St. Matthew’s Church has 2,843 voters, while the Shallow Well precinct, located at the Grace Chinese Baptist Church on Broad Street Road, has only 1,682 voters.

The proposed change will move the boundary between the two precincts east from Three Chopt to Manakin Road and relocate 843 voters from the Centerville to the Shallow Well precinct. Given the new residential construction in the works east of Manakin Road, the number of voters in the Centerville precinct will increase as new homes are occupied. The supervisors could vote against the realignment, but that seems unlikely. GOMM predicts that few, if any, citizens will comment during the public hearing.

According to state law, the boundary amendment must be approved before February 1, 2019 and may not be further adjusted until redistricting following the results of the 2020 census, estimated at May 21, 2021, when new boundaries based on the 2020 census, could be adopted.

In the meantime, the relocated voters will be represented by the same supervisor, school board member, and General Assembly Delegate who currently represent District 4.

Each time a residential rezoning case works its way through “the process” opponents cite its negative impacts including traffic, overwhelming schools, fire-rescue, and law enforcement to support their position.

A more subtle, but important, impact of drastic population increase in one part of the county is its effect on the composition of the governing board. In 2011 following the 2010 census, only a few census tracts moved from one district to another. In the first decade of the 21^st century, Goochland County grew uniformly. That will not be the case in 2020.

Goochland is currently divided into five districts, each of which has approximately the same number of people in the summer of 2011. As population increases, those districts will look very different in 2021. The geographic size of eastern districts will shrink as their population rises, those to the west will be larger with fewer people. District 3, in the middle, is having a growth spurt of its own. Previously zoned subdivisions are under construction and high-density rezoning applications for more houses in Courthouse Village are in the works.

Tension between the more rural western part of Goochland and the exurban—sorry, there’s nothing “rural” about living on a fraction of an acre with public utilities— east could get worse. The current strategy to keep 85 percent of the county “rural” until at least 2035, could be discarded with a new board that has a different view of the value of residential development.

This precinct boundary amendment is a “housekeeping” measure for local government. Let’s hope it’s the first of many proactive steps to prevent the county from being swamped by sudden growth.

What ever happened to the sensible slogan Goochland Growing Gracefully?

Happy New Year!

A land of contrast

Goochland is a land of contrast

Every so often, someone drags out Goochland’s per capita income, $82,326, and asks why such a “rich” county does not have things like universal broadband. That figure is computed by dividing the incomes of all residents by the number of people that live here. When you only have about 23,000 people and a relative handful of those are CEOs, professional athletes; doctors, lawyers, and common and garden rich folk, the result does not reflect reality.

Where you live in Goochland makes a difference in your economic condition, according to statistics presented by Sally Graham, Executive Director of Goochland Cares. The average income for zipcode 23103 is $104k annually; for 20363 $68k; and 23038 $28k. One current supervisor noted that when first campaigning for office, he found that some of his constituents had dirt floors and others marble.

County government revenue is primarily derived from real estate and personal property taxes, whose rates are the same for every resident of Goochland. The current Supervisors, who adopt the annual budget and sets the tax rates, are mindful of the tax burden on each payer. While the real estate tax of 53 cents per $100 of valuation might be chump change for the affluent, some Goochlanders struggle to meet their local tax obligations.

Spending priorities for county government, as also determined by the supervisors, are schools, public safety, and health and human services. The latter encompasses the Department of Social Services; the Office of Children’s Services; Goochland Powhatan Community Services; the Goochland Health Department; Pamunkey Regional Library; and Goochland Cares. The budget for FY2019, which began on July 1, allocated $5,687,908 for this function.

At its December 4 meeting, the Board heard presentations from these agencies. The county  partners with other local non-profit groups to leverage resources to provide a wide range of support for those with social and economic challenges. The focus of many of the program is improving the lot of children.

Kimberley Jefferson, Director of the Department  of Social Services, reported that her department works closely with other agencies to deliver benefits to those eligible and help them find ways to have successful lives. State and federal programs administered by the DSS are governed by a complex array of rules and regulations. Just one of these, annual confirmation of Medicaid eligibility was so difficult a few years back that the county was “gigged” on its annual audit for failure to meet deadlines. Since then, Jefferson and her staff have worked hard to remedy the issue.

 The big unknown for her department is Medicaid expansion. So far, said Jefferson, her office has not received the onslaught of new applications it was expecting. She speculated that this is because the state was trying to help people enroll by mail. Jefferson cautioned that some people may not have followed through on the state enrollment and will seek to enroll locally in coming weeks.

Programs administered by DSS include TANF (temporary assistance for needy families) which helps needy family achieve self-sufficiency; SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program); and Community Action Programs, in additional to Medicaid.

Future challenges to DSS include looming staff retirements—navigating the myriad of state and federal assistance programs is complicated and takes years to learn—and a shrinking pool of qualified candidates;  dealing with Medicaid expansion and possible work requirements; fallout from the opioid epidemic; and implementation of the Families First Prevention Act next October.

The Goochland Powhatan Community Action Agency provides services to people with mental health, substance abuse, and developmental challenges. This year, it sponsored three classes on the use of Naloxone for overdoses; two classes for mental health first aid, and five classes for youth mental health first aid.

Mental health issues are at the root of many problems, but this agency does something to mitigate them and connect people with needed help.

The Goochland Health Department provides clinical services; protects environmental health (restaurant inspections and issues well and septic system permits); and has special programs including emergency preparedness and vital statistics. Visit http://goochlandva.us/355/Health-Department for complete information.

For some reason, the Pamunkey Regional Library is included in this category. It provides traditional library services including circulation of reading and other materials in hard copy or electronically;  enrichment programs; story times; a community meeting space; and promoting lifelong literacy. As a sign of the times, the Goochland Branch Library also has a supply of free drug disposal kits, which destroy opioids with the addition of water.

Library cards are free and provide access to a wide range of materials

Recently, 3D printing was added to its services. For a nominal fee, a patron can submit software for printing, which occurs in Mechanicsville and the finished product will be delivered to the Goochland Branch Library in a few days. PRL Director Tom Shepley explained that this is an easy way to replace a missing board game piece using open source software.

If you do not have a library card—they are free to all Goochland residents—visit the library or www.pamunkeylibrary.org/ for more information.

GoochlandCares, whose mission is to provide heath care and basic human services to Goochland residents in need. Those served last year had incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, $24,600 for a family of four. Nine percent of Goochland children live in poverty.

Graham reported that the new facility, which opened earlier this year, and placed all of its services under a single accessible roof, makes it easier for clients to use services. A medical visit, she said, could also include a trip to the food pantry and clothes closet. “We have more visibility, more clients, more volunteers, and more success stories,” Graham said.

GooclandCares will work to ensure that Medicaid recipients, and the under-insured continue to have a medical home.

An overview  can be found in the county needs assessment report at: http://goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/3966/Community-Needs-Assessment-Report

Goochlanders are generous all year long. Merry Christmas!

Supervisors wrap up 2018

Goochland supervisors held their last meeting for 2018 on December 4. Board Chair Ken Peterson, District 5 thanked staff for its hard work on a number of complicated projects during the past year. A new chair will be elected at the first meeting of 2019, January 2.

Peterson reported that he recently traveled to the nation’s capital, at his own expense, to share Goochland’s version of best practices in local government, especially the importance of fiscal responsibility.

Three Goochland Fire-Rescue providers recently received the Bronze award of valor from the Richmond Retail Merchants Association for rescuing two people trapped in a car overcome by rapidly rising water around 3 a.m. on May 18, during  record rainfall. Captain Dean Dunn and Firefighter/EMS providers  Chris Ferguson and Kevin Hatcher used their water rescue training to save the occupants of a car on Riddles Bridge Road, who were in danger of being swept away by swift currents of a flooded creek. One of the vehicle occupants, said Deputy Chief EMS D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr., had mobility issues and was unable to exit the car without assistance.

The honorees used their training, courage, and ingenuity to think outside the box and quickly craft a strategy to rescue the trapped motorists. The situation was dire, explained Ferguson, and the threat to life and safety for all involved, real. This is the first time that Goochland Fire-Rescue providers have received this special honor. The  supervisors recognized the men for their valor and thanked them for their service to the community.

Goochland Fire-Rescue has a  long proud history of saving lives and protecting property in our county. Many heroic deeds of its members have gone unsung, so this is an especially gratifying award. As County Administrator John Budesky said “We go to sleep, you go to work.” Thanks to each and every fire-rescue provider and law enforcement officer who often go in harm’s way to keep us safe.

Susan Bergquist, Executive Director of Goochland-Powhatan Community Services, the agency that provides services for mental health, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders to the citizens of Goochland and Powhatan Counties is retiring at the end of December. The Board approved a resolution of recognition for her 33 years of service.

Kelly Parrish, county director of human resources, announced that Goochland has completed all requirements  to be part of the Virginia Values Veterans program. The county is now formally committed to recruiting, hiring, and retraining veterans as well as members of the Virginia National Guard and Reserves. Our veterans are a valuable, and all too often, untapped resource in the labor pool.

Budesky commended the Bulldog football team for its undefeated season and wished them well in the state championship game for their division in Salem on Saturday. Win or lose, aid Budesky, making it to the final is a great honor.

Robin Lind, secretary of the Goochland Electoral Board, introduced Ryan Mulligan, the county’s new director of elections, who joined the county on October 22, following the sudden, and unexplained, vacancy in that position. Lind thanked former Director of Elections Frances C. Ragland, who returned to the office for three weeks to assist in the November elections. Goochland, said Lind, is fortunate to have people like Ragland who generously share their expertise.

Once again, Goochland was among the high voter turnout jurisdictions in the Commonwealth with an overall number of 75.3 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. In some precincts, said Lind, the turnout exceeded 80 percent. He commended voters who patiently waited in line for more than 20 minutes. Looking toward upcoming elections, including state and local in 2019 and a presidential election in 2020, Lind said that some precinct boundaries need to be adjusted to accommodate local population growth.

The supervisors set a public hearing on proposed adjustments to District 4 precinct boundaries at their January 2 meeting. Public hearings were also scheduled on that date for an easement abandonment and new encumbrance on county property located at 1998 Sandy Hook Road; and amendments to county code sections dealing with sewer use. (For details, see the December 4 board packet at http://goochlandcountyva.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx under past meetings)

A new calendar year means that the fiscal year is half over and the budget process for FY2020 will go into full swing. Budesky will present his recommended budget to the supervisors on Tuesday, February 19 at 3 p.m. Between then and April 16, when the supervisors adopt the budget, the capital improvement plan, and set the tax rates for calendar 2019, additional presentations—including that of the proposed school budget on March 5—will be held providing ample opportunity for county agencies and citizens to comment on the budget. Please pay attention to this, they’re spending your tax dollars. Do not be shy about expressing your opinion to the proposed budget to your supervisor or other county officials. Constructive criticism is a healthy part of this process.

Budesky presented the county’s annual report. This collection of factoids and statistics provides and overview of the accomplishments during the year. From new businesses, including Tractor Supply, which recently opened on Ashland Road and Audi of Richmond—designated to receive “test” cars—to the rehabilitation hospital and DriveShack under construction east of Rt. 288, things are humming in the designated economic growth area.

Sadly areas lacking broadband access are quieter. Budesky said that the county is scrutinizing options for broadband expansion. He said there is some “movement” on this and proposals could come before the supervisors in the new year. Let’s hope so. Go to http://goochlandva.us/921/Annual-Reports-Presentatons-County-Data for details.

Road work

Goochland supervisors addressed a number of transportation—read road—issues at their November 7 meeting.

In the afternoon, they wrestled with solutions to a conundrum for roads in the Bridgewater subdivision near Oilville. Begun just before the collapse of the real estate market, Bridgewater was never built out. A bond with Essex Bank to complete road construction was allowed to lapse by the county.

Fast forward to 2018. Several homes have been built and occupied, but the Bridgewater roads were never brought up to VDOT standards so they could be turned over for state maintenance. Homeowners, who had no idea that the roads were not complete, recently learned that they were “on the hook” for the cost of completion.

Needless to say, Bridgewater folks were not happy about the situation. While it is easy to say “let the buyer beware,” that they should have asked more questions before buying their homes, does it really occur to people to ask if the roads, which seem to be paved, are paid for? The real  question is, who pays to fix it?

The recent road improvements to Rt. 250 west of Oilville Road, which were a migraine to many, had beneficial unintended consequences for Bridgewater. Among the incomplete road improvements were turn lanes at both entrances. The county, which , according the County Administrator John Budesky, had no idea that the roadwork was planned before it started, was able to work with VDOT to complete the turn lanes for $50,000. This amount, contended Budesky, is far less than the estimated $200,000 cost as a stand-alone project.

District 3 Supervisor John Lumpkins said that he attended two three hour meetings with Bridgewater residents where the county’s longstanding policy of not building subdivision roads was upheld. He said that the situation is terrible for the citizens, but the rest of the county’s citizens have no obligation to pay for those roads.

Essex Bank  holds land at the back of the subdivision and has indicated a willingness to split the proceeds of its sale with the county. Putting these funds, the “county portion “estimated at $164,000 toward the total paving costs and creation of a service district, funded by homeowners, established to cover the balance seems to be the preferred solution. Lumpkins wanted to make it clear to Bridgewater homeowners that they are expected to cover the difference between funds obtained from the sale of the land and find cost of completing the roadwork.

Part of the problem is that the exact, or even a reasonable estimate of the cost of completing the project is unknown. Budesky said that some preliminary cost estimates varied so widely as to make them unreliable. Until “the bidding community” believes that there is a committed finding mechanism for this project, it is unlikely that a contractor will invest the time and money to craft a sound bid. Until reliable cost projections to complete the project are available, the county cannot tell homeowners what the difference between the money available and the final cost, which Lumpkins contends is the responsibility of the Bridgewater homeowners. Homeowners are understandably reluctant to agree to a service district without knowing the ultimate cost.

Lumpkins supports the county’s position of not building subdivision roads and using the proceeds from the Essex sale for road improvements. Budesky said that until a firm cost for the work is established it is impossible to determine if establishing a service district is cost effective. If the cost above and beyond the proceeds from the property sale is relatively small—no amount was mentioned—it would cost more to  “mail out the envelopes” for a service district than just pay the difference, Budesky contended.

Manuel Alvarez Jr., District 2, observed that over the past seven years, this board has spent county funds to correct situations caused by the failures of their predecessors.

The supervisors voted to appropriate up to $50,000 to pay for the entrance turn lanes and get more accurate estimates to complete the work; to assign up to $164,200 from the land sale proceeds contingent on the county entering a settlement option with Essex Bank;  and a service district or other funding source being available to complete the necessary work. Budesky was also authorized to obtain a bid to complete the subdivision road improvements.

The supervisors authorized Budesky to spend $42,000 for preliminary engineering design work on rerouting Ashland Road to connect with Hockett Road south of Rt. 250. Although this was considered a few years ago, complete with come funding and the blessing of the regional transportation groups, it was back burnered when businesses on the north end of Hockett Road objected. At completion, this connector is expected to take some of the pressure off of northeast bound Hockett Road traffic. Will this pave, so to speak, the way for further residential rezonings in the Hockett Road corridor? Stay tuned.

Completed roads in the Parkside Village subdivision were turned over to VDOT for maintenance. This action is unrelated to the rezoning of land and rerouting of interior roads in Parkside Village that was approved earlier this year.

The grand finale was the approval of the county’s 2040 Major Thoroughfare Plan, which has been in the works for most of the year. As approved, the MTP includes widening to four lanes Fairground Road between Rts. 522 and 250 and Oilville Road from Interstate 64 to Rt. 250, which will not be widened between the two intersections.

Doug Adams, who lives near the Fairground Road/Rt. 250 intersection and is often serenaded by the sirens of emergency vehicles responding to wrecks there, asked how will funneling four lanes of traffic into two work. The traffic engineer from KimleyHorn, consultants retained by the county to craft the MTP, explained that the extra lanes on both Fairground and Oilville Roads will act as turn lanes with only one lane turning onto Rt. 250. This is where you scratch your head and say “okay?”

The supervisors also declined to  identify roads in the Southern Prime Economic Development (SPEDA) area, which is between West Creek and Hockett Road a bit south of Tuckahoe Creek Parkway.  However the supervisors also indicated that when SPEDA landowners have concrete development plans for their property, the matter could be revisited.

So when are we going to have flying cars?

No news is good news rinse repeat

Goochland County supervisors held a special called meeting on Monday, November 27 to approve the certified annual financial report (CAFR) for fiscal 2018, which ended on June 30. For the second consecutive year, Goochland’s finances were pronounced sound as external auditor PBMares reported no material findings, a clean audit.

A recent state requirement that CAFRs be approved before the end of November precipitated the meeting. Mike Garber, PBMares partner who oversees the Goochland audit, said that many jurisdictions in the Commonwealth fail to meet this deadline.

The clean FY 2018 audit is especially important because it removes Goochland from the high risk category, where it landed as a result of  total disregard for sound accounting practices that resulted in a 2010 CAFR with 40 material misstatements. In 2011, the county treasurer was convicted of embezzling public finds and served time prison.

Earning a clean audit requires strict adherence to internal controls and scrupulous attention to proper handling of all financial transactions by every member of county and school staff and all Constitutional officers. Even for a small and relatively uncomplicated jurisdiction like Goochland, this requires much effort by many people every day.

Goochland County Administrator John Budesky commended Director of Financial Services Barbara Horlacher and everyone who made the clean CAFR possible for their hard work.

Garber congratulated all of Goochland’s management team on its recently earned AAA Moody’s bond rating. “You had your hands full a few years ago and really turned things around,” he said.

(Goochland County, which once had a bond rating worse than that of Detroit, now holds one higher than New York’s Westchester County, alleged to be the wealthiest county in the nation. It’s not how much money you have, it’s how it is managed that is important.)

Last year, the supervisors decided to extend the contract of PBMares, which had audited county books for several years. Sound accounting practices dictate that the audit team that prepares the CAFR change periodically. Lat year, the county  explored retraining another firm, but renewed its contract with PBMares, which is large enough to provide “fresh eyes” on the county books. This year’s new to Goochland audit team was headed by Kennon Johnson. Garber acted as “the face of the firm”  presenting the 2018 CAFR.

As in past years, the 2018 CAFR has been posted in its entirety on the county website http://goochlandva.us/ under the financial services tab. Aside from the facts and figures, there is much interesting information about the county and it is well worth perusing. Information about unfunded pension liabilities and other post- employment benefits (OPEB) is included for an accurate picture of county finances.

Horlacher also presented FY 18 year end results. Fund balance as of June 30, 2018 was $36,237,328. Of that, $1,890,095 is unspendable; $22,520 is restricted; $1,815,700 is assigned; and $14,083,500 is unassigned.

First quarter FY2019 projections are projected to exceed operating revenues by approximately $3.3 million. Ratios of debt service to general fund expenditures and other policies are well below policy thresholds established  to ensure fiscal stability.

Turn back funds (money budgeted but not used) of $97,157 from FY 18 were appropriated for the FY 19 school budget for a variety of purposes.

The supervisors also amended the FY 19 budget by appropriating an additional $10,000 to the Clerk of the Court budget for training and other educational costs. The money will come from the Clerk’s nonreverting local fund comprised of land recordation fees.

Please take a look at the CAFR. It’s your tax money and you should know how it is spent.

The more things change

November 19, marked the tenth anniversary of Goochland on my mind. Thank you,  faithful followers for continuing to visit and read posts.

On November 13, for the second time, the first was in 2015, the Goochland School Board generously nominated GOMM to the Virginia School Board media honor roll. This undeserved recognition is humbling. It is an honor to share even a morsel of the good news coming out of our school system.

Surprisingly, there have been relatively few comments in response to posts. Any comment that is civil, polite, and pertains to the subject matter at hand, will be shared. 

The comments were interesting. In the beginning,  people submitted ad hominem attacks on public officials rather than take issue with specific viewpoint. Quite a few have been submitted in foreign languages,  including the Cyrillic and Arabic alphabets. One took the form of an eight digit number. Some seemed to have been random words selected from an English dictionary.

Feel free to chime in, you can do so anonymously.

The first post dealt with the announcement that Hospital Corporation of America would build a “hospital” in West Creek. The hospital turned out to be a free- standing emergency room with vague promises of more to come. Nevertheless it was a good first step.

Lots of things have followed, most since 2012. Today, steel girders reach toward the sky as the Sheltering Arms rehabilitation hospital takes shape on West Creek’s north shore. We have apartments, an Audi dealer, many purveyors of potent potables, and other kinds of economic development unthought of a decade ago.

Goochland Schools are top notch. Our real estate tax rate has stayed 53 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, no small feat during the drastic economic downturn.

In 2009, when the economy was still in freefall and county finances tight,  a helicopter was hired to dry off the GHS football field after heavy rains. The tab allegedly paid by a booster group—that was before the school division learned how to spell the word transparency. This year, games were moved to drier field during playoffs. Go Bulldogs!

The first six months or so of GOMM chronicled the melt down of county administration following the discovery of uncashed checks in the utility office. Looking back, it is hard to believe that  Goochland government was ever that  bizarre, but it was.

Along the way, there were  sighting reports of the Devil Monkey, Goochland’s own cryptozoological phenomenon. Those who claimed to have seen it were firm in their contention that it exists, others scoffed. It did spawn the short lived Devil Monkey ice cream shop in Courthouse Village.

In a November 8, 2010 post, GOMM presciently observed that Eric Cantor, then U. S. Congressman for the 7^th District, who won reelection by a hefty margin on his way to becoming House Majority Leader, could find himself in the loser column if he failed to deliver on campaign promises. Cantor was defeated in a 2014 primary by Dave Brat, who was himself defeated this year. Term limits are unnecessary if citizens vote.

Land use was and is a regular GOMM topic. In 2010, a B3 zoning district was created to attract hotels to interstate interchanges. Our first hotel, opposite the Wawa on Broad Street Road, seems to have finally broken ground, or as the result of the recent rains, mud. It is not zoned B3.

There have been a few high profile controversies. The relocation of Benedictine Preparatory School from the museum district of Richmond to the Abbey on River Road, just east of Rt. 288 caused a stir both among neighbors of the east end property and alumni of the school. The issue generated  several lengthy standing room only public hearings and a few trips to circuit court. The move was made and the sun still rises in the east.

A former treasurer served prison time for embezzling from county coffers.

In 2011, the earth moved in August and the electorate moved in November to replace the entire school board and four of the five supervisors. Things changed radically.

Another high profile case was an application filed by the Orapax Hunting Preserve for a sporting clays shooting range. This too generated disagreement; the public hearing before the supervisors ended well after 1 a.m. The Board approved a conditional use permit that pleased neither side, but ended the contention over the matter that had festered for years.

The new board got to work after taking office in 2012. Its most pressing task was to deal with the Tuckahoe Creek Service District debt, which threated to swamp the county’s economy. Thanks to a great deal of effort, as much of the outstanding obligation as possible was refinanced. New construction in the TCSD, which generates connection fees and new ad valorem taxes to service the huge debt, has drastically lessened the threat. The county went from having a bond rating lower than that of Detroit, to earning highest bond ratings from both Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s, among the smallest population counties to do so. Excellence in fiscal responsibility is the new normal.

Goochland is a land of contrast populated by wonderful people. There have been  many changes in the past decade and more are waiting in the wings! While GOMM concentrates on county government, it opines on other topics from time to time. There are many stories left to tell.  Stay tuned.

Election Day is November 5 2019

Goochland’s  venerable courthouse green was filled on the morning of Saturday, November17 with friends and supporters of native son Steven Creasey, 43, as he announced his candidacy for Goochland Sheriff in next year’s election. Four members of the Board of Supervisors, the county treasurer, and Clerk of the Court joined present and former county deputies for the occasion,

Creasey, who has been employed by the sheriff’s office since 1995, spoke of his love for the county and devotion to serve its citizens.

 

Supporters sign up for Creasey for Sheriff campaign

Following an invocation by Deacon Joseph Johnson III of Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church, Ben Slone, a member of the Goochland Economic Development Authority and longtime friend of Creasey, reminded the assembly what makes Goochland special. “It is the greatest county in the Commonwealth, perhaps the entire nation.”

James L. Agnew, who has served as county sheriff since 1992 at the age of 38, announced his intention to retire at the end of the current term, explained what the Sheriff’s Office does.

It is not, said Agnew, about riding around and writing tickets; making arrests; excitement; or the donut shop. It is about long and tiring shifts, missing the holidays and family gatherings that we cherish; it is often dangerous and is, above all, about a commitment to Goochland and serving all of its citizens.

More importantly, said Agnew, he job requires the ability to apply the law in a fair and equal manner to all; service above self; training, education and positive interaction with the community. The Sheriff must possess strong character, impeccable integrity; devotion to duty;  willingness to sacrifice; management skills; and “doing the right thing.”

Steven Creasey with wife Grace and daughter following announcement.

Agnew said that he believes that Steven Creasey is the best person to take the reins of the Sheriff’s Office because he possesses the honesty, character, and integrity that form the essential foundation of an exceptional law enforcement agency.

Steven Creasey’s commitment to Goochland includes 26 years of volunteer service with Goochland fire-rescue, including several years as a member of its Board of Directors. He started his law enforcement career as a dispatcher and rose through the ranks to patrol sergeant, his rank for the past ten years. As patrol sergeant, Creasey supervises deputies that keep watch 24/7 as they make the rounds of all parts of the county. He also supervises communications, which includes dispatch, perhaps the most crucial component of an effective law enforcement organization.

Creasey, contended Agnew, has a calling to serve his community.  The Sheriff, a Constitutional officer, has enormous responsibility. The office is charged with the careful management and efficient use of tax dollars; upholding the constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth; embracing advances in technology; and displaying bravery and calm in the face of chaos. That is made possible by training and education.

In addition to raising a family, volunteering, and working often grueling twelve hour shifts, Creasey earned associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice, proving he has the drive and initiative necessary to lead the department.

In his years of service in the Sheriff’s Office, said Agnew, no one has ever questioned Creasey’s integrity or honor. “He has proven himself over and over again to be dependable, reliable, capable and honest.”.

Creasey, in a soft-spoken yet firm tone of voice explained that he is running for Sheriff to serve and protect all citizens of our county. Goochland is a special place, he said. Time on patrol has given him knowledge of all of the county’s 284 square miles, its differing topography, and varied people.

He pledged to serve “our county” and build on the legacy that has made the Goochland Sheriff’s Office one of the most respected Sheriff’s Office in the Commonwealth. Visit /www.creaseyforsheriff.com for more information.

November Board highlights

Our supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution declaring Goochland a Purple Heart County at their November 7 meeting. Goochland joins approximately 1,500 other localities nationwide in this designation to recognize the sacrifice made by those in uniform in defense of our freedoms. 

Two  signs reserving parking for Purple Heart recipients were presented to the county, with an offer of more if needed. Visit /www.purpleheart.org to learn how this, the oldest American award for meritorious service, was established and how its recipients continue to serve our nation.

County Administrator John Budesky reported that the fall town hall meeting series was successful.  The Fall Festival, which was attended by more than 3,500 people on its rain date, was well  received. The county Christmas tree lighting will be held on Friday, December 7, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the field near the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads. All are welcome.

Budesky also thanked Vernon Fleming for his service as  an interim appointment on the school board and welcomed Karen Horn, who was elected to the District 3 school board seat at the November 6 election.

The consent agenda included authorization for Budesky to execute a contract for engineering work on sanitary sewer lines for Hickory Haven and Samary Forest. Appropriations for construction funds will be addressed at a later date. After paying Tuckahoe Creek Service District ad valorem taxes since 2002, this area will finally have access to sewer lines, thanks in part to the construction of the Reader’s Branch subdivision.

Goochland 2018 Christmas Mother Kavis Winston  said that she and her elves are working hard to make the holidays merrier for those less fortunate. Visit /goochlandchristmasmother.org to learn how you can help.

 

2018 Christmas Mother Kavis Winston

VDOT representative Marshall Winn reported that the traffic signal at West Creek Parkway and Rt. 6 is operational. Improvements to the Rt. 288/Broad Street Road interchange are on track for advertisement in early 2020, but could be accelerated.

In response to concerns about repeated over wash near a creek on Riddles Bridge Road, Winn said that the pipe is in good condition, but was overwhelmed by recent heavy rain. Should the pipe need replacement, a larger diameter could be considered, but he does not anticipate that any time soon.

Winn said that there have been road issues all over the state due to heavy rains and Goochland fared better than some other places.

 Monthly Board meetings often include department reports. In November, Fire-Rescue and Animal Protection presented theirs.

         Bill MacKay, who has been Chief of Fire-Rescue for eight and one half years, reported once again that calls for service are increasing, about 500 calls year over year. He cautioned that when the new homes that have been approved are built an occupied, “call volume will explode.” Staffing, MacKay said, is always an issue. Even though the number of paid responders has increased each year, vacancies remain. Of 70 employment applications recently received by the department, one third did not meet the basic requirements.

         MacKay said that four of the county’s six fire-rescue stations are regularly staffed. Response times are challenged because ambulances often respond into areas out of their “first due” assigned territory.  The number of times that the county is under the no units available (NUA)—when there are no county fire-rescue resources available to respond to a 911 call—are decreasing. Volunteer participation continues to decline; 70 percent of fire-rescue volunteers in the east end of  Goochland do not live in the county. Three funded positions remain vacant. MacKay said that he is very grateful for their service. However, this decreases  the “coming out of the woodwork” response that used to occur during large incident when volunteers, not on duty, would show up at fires or make up rescue crews to help out when resources were stressed.

           Saving lives and protecting property is an expensive and dangerous business. Due to the nature of building materials cancer has become a risk for firefighters in addition to the other perils of the job. Physicals are now a required  for all fire-rescue members. Personal protective equipment costs  approximately $2,000 per set. Ambulances  cost about $270,000 and ladder trucks in the neighborhood of $1 million.  Equipment maintenance runs about $100 per hour and had increased about ten percent over 2017 as the fleet ages.

         Goochland Fire-Rescue continues its proud heritage of excellence. Deputy Chief EMS D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. and paramedic Valetta Daniels were recently named to the governor’s EMS advisory board. Goochland is the smallest jurisdiction to have two representatives on this board. Captain Earl Taylor completed the Virginia Fire Chief’s Academy. Three members completed the Virginia Fire Officer’s Academy. Three members were recently certified as paramedics. Captain Dunn and fire-rescue providers Ferguson and Hatcher were awarded the bronze medal of valor by the Richmond Retail Merchants Association for actions during a flooding event earlier this year.

      A memorandum of understanding between the county and the Fire-Rescue Association was recently completed.

         Although it is not quite budget season yet, the supervisors need to start thinking about how to pay for the burgeoning demand for fire-rescue and law enforcement as the population grows. The can cannot be kicked down the road much longer without affecting the health, safety, and welfare of citizens. Peterson asked that MacKay make systems needs known during budget season.

          Tim Clough(pronounced Cluff) Director of Animal Protection explained that his department is charged with enforcing all county and state animal protection ordinances and preventing the spread of rabies. It also operates the county animal shelter. He expects the new facility to be open and operational in early 2019.

        Calls for service are increasing, as are “notices” to comply, which allow those in violation of animal protection ordinances to correct their violations. Dog adoptions are down slightly form last year while cat adoptions rose. Clough expects those number to increase with the advent of the new facility.

           Clough said that, over the past year, there has been an increase in wildlife calls. Animal protection will assist with injured wildlife and attempt to trap and move these animals to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Goochland animal protection DOES NOT trap or capture nuisance wildlife, but will evaluate the situation and offer suggestions for mitigating these issues. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries regulations do not allow county animal protection officers to relocate and release wildlife. Animal protection officers do respond to any animal, wild or domestic, exhibiting signs of active rabies.

Sunshine and roses

Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

Since taking office in 2012 the current Goochland County Board of Supervisors has prided itself on operating in a transparent manner. Closed sessions, rare as the proverbial hen’s teeth, have been used to discuss sensitive economic development issues.

Sometimes, though, closed sessions are used to deal with embarrassing situations away from public scrutiny. On Wednesday, November 8, the supervisors cancelled the closed session on their published agenda and went “warts and all” to address a complaint about remarks District 2 Supervisor Manuel Alvarez, Jr. made on social media last month.

During citizen comment period support for Alvarez was voiced. Goochland Sheriff James L. Agnew said that Alvarez is one of the most engaged elected officials he has ever worked with and believes Alvarez is a wonderful representative of Goochland County. “He is an example of the American success story,” said Agnew. “Born in Cuba, he escaped the Castro Communist Dictatorship  and came here to pull himself up by his bootstraps to get educated and now serves the county.”

District 2 Supervisor Manuel Alvarez, Jr.

Goochland Treasurer Pamela Johnson, who is making steady progress in her recovery from a fall earlier this year, thanked the entire board for its hard work in making Goochland a great county. She recognized Alvarez for supporting her and his dedication to serving the citizens of Goochland.

Anne Mehfoud Rockecharlie said that, as her father was a supervisor in Hanover County, she is all too familiar with the scrutiny placed on people in public office, even before the advent of social media. Alvarez, she said, is highly thought of for his attention to citizens and response to their concerns. “Let’s give this guy a pass. He misspoke,” Rockecharlie said, thanking Alvarez for his service, on behalf of herself and close friend Ann James.

The Board took up the matter in accordance with procedures outlined in its code of ethics, go here http://goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/4279/Code-of-Ethics_2018_Adopted?bidId= for details.

Board Chair Ken Peterson said that the board’s task was not to decide if Alvarez is a good person, but to determine if he violated the policy. Apparently some complaints were sent to the county, “form” letters mostly from addresses in California, objecting to a comment Alvarez made on social media. Alvarez did not identify himself as an elected official, or imply in any way that he was speaking on behalf of the county or board of supervisors.

County Attorney Tara McGee said that she had reviewed the complaint against all provisions of the standards of conduct policy and found that it is not supported. Peterson directed County Administrator John Budesky to draft a response to Alvarez stating that no violation of the ethics policy was found.

Peterson said that the process was uncomfortable, but best handled in open session to be accountable to the highest standards. This matter could have been handled in closed session and swept under the rug as in days of yore.

Budesky shared “roses” in an announcement that Goochland County has earned the Aaa rating, the highest awarded by Moody’s Investors Service. Currently, no jurisdiction with a population less than 75,000 has secured this rating.  Goochland, population approximately 23,000, is the smallest jurisdiction ever to be so honored. Our county is now the smallest county in the entire United States to hold highest bond ratings from two different rating organizations.

Excellent bond ratings do not happen by accident. Budesky said that this is the result of a great deal of hard work by many people and especially thanked Barbara Horlacher, Director of Financial Services for her efforts.

Good bond ratings will enable the county to secure the best rates when it borrows money to build new infrastructure, including a courthouse and elementary school. The ratings also reflect good management of local expenditures and a sound financial position that signals it is a good place to do business.

See http://goochlandva.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=261 for the text of a press release from Goochland County.

Other roses strewn were the delivery of a check for $225,000 from Pet Lovers for the new animal shelter, and that the county’s department of Parks and Recreation received an award for the best new bricks and mortar renovation or addition for the rebirth of Central High School from the Virginia Recreation and Park Society in the population 25,000 and under division. This is the latest in a long string of awards for the department, which has been recognized for parks and other recreational facilities. Visit http://goochlandva.us/236/Parks-Recreation to learn more about recreational opportunities in the county.

Citizen Engagement

Citizen engagement

If the October 29 District 2 and 3 Town Hall meeting at Central High School is any indication, Goochlanders are getting tired of these sessions. There were almost as many county employees and officials present as citizens.

Perhaps the low turnout was due to competition with Monday Night  Football and Halloween activities. Maybe some folks attended one of the other meetings, which presented similar information, earlier in the month.

Nevertheless, it was a good faith effort to provide an update on county and school business and listen to citizen concerns. Visuals of information presented at the  meetings may be viewed at : http://goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/4932/Goochland-County---Town-Hall-October-2018---Districts-2-and-3

District 2 Supervisor Manuel Alvarez, Jr. began the meeting by presenting a Goochland Challenge Coin to community volunteer V. Knight Bowles. A county native, Bowles returned home to “retire” and spends his time and considerable energy improving the lives of others with home repair and Habitat for Humanity. Bowles is currently working on his 23^rd Habitat home in Goochland.

Sally Graham, Executive Director of Goochland Cares, our local non-profit that lives its name every day, thanked everyone for their support. Graham said that the new building on River Road West in Courthouse Village now has all programs, including medical and dental clinics, the food pantry, and Clothes Closet under one easily accessible roof and is appreciated by its clients. Visit http://www.goochlandcares.org/ for details about this gracious benevolent organization.

Graham echoed appreciation for Knight Bowles, who has worked with Goochland Cares and its predecessor organizations to make badly needed home repairs happen. Bowles delights in slashing red tape to get things done to help people.

As Medicaid expansion nears, Graham said that Goochland Cares is helping people determine if they will be eligible, sign up online, and navigate the regulatory maze of the healthcare system.

County Administrator John Budesky began his remarks with a screening of the recently  completed exquisite marketing video presents Goochland to the world. Go to (https://vimeo.com/goochland) to view it.

According to Administrative Services manager Paul Drumwright, who oversaw production of the video, $6,500 was spent to produce the video and another $4,100 to gather additional footage that will be used to craft future videos with a more specific focus.  Funds came out of the Economic Development Authority budget for marketing and promotions.

          Budesky discussed many topics including broadband expansion; fire-rescue and law enforcement coverage; and  growth. The county, he said, is reviewing two proposals to expand broadband to underserved areas and investigating other opportunities. The supervisors could act on these in coming months.

          Central High School will soon be home to the Goochland Agricultural Center, a 6,800 square foot home for the Virginia Cooperative Extension and Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District. Administrative, programing, training, conferencing and lab space will be used by both organizations to better serve their customers. The center is expected to be operation by December 2018.

          Budesky discussed projects underway in Goochland, most in the east end designated growth area. Approved residential communities, most of which will be age-restricted with no impact on schools will nevertheless add a few thousand residents to the county in the next few years. The county’s current population is approximately 22,000.

          Budget priorities continue to be education, public safety and social services, said Budesky. Citizens asked about the ability of fire-rescue and the Sheriff’s Office, already contending with increasing demand for service and difficulty filling vacancies, to respond when they dial 911. Goochland, said Budesky, benefited for years from a top notch volunteer fire-rescue organization, which can no longer meet demand for service.

           Budesky presented an ambitious plan to build several additional county fire-rescue stations, staffed mostly with paid personnel. Among the planned stations are a relocation of Crozier Company 2 and a station in District 2, which includes Sandy Hook. Although funds to acquire land for these facilities appear as a “placeholder” in the county capital improvement plan, no site for either has, contrary to the rumor mill, been identified.

         He tap danced around a question about hiring additional deputies to deal with a burgeoning population. Last year, the county budget funded three new dispatchers  but no additional deputies. Budesky hinted that the Sheriff has vacant funded positions.

          District 5 Supervisor Ken Peterson, current board chair, said that about half of the county budget funds schools. As most of the new homes will increase property values, and tax revenues, while adding no students, it will be a positive for the county.  He did not address the service burden that more  people will add to law enforcement and fire-rescue.

          Kevin Hazzard and Vern Fleming, School Board Members for Districts 2 and 3 respectively, spoke briefly. Hazzard  acknowledged the accomplishment of the school division under the leadership of Superintendent Jeremy Raley. “We hired well,” Hazzard said.

          Fleming said that is an honor to serve one of the best school divisions in the state and nation. Good schools equip our children for success so they support themselves, and come back to be good citizens and serve Goochland. “This does not happen by accident,” he said.

          Raley delivered an update on schools. He reported that the public safety course that explored law enforcement and fire-rescue was discontinued due to lack of interest. He said that the topic may be reinvented in the future.

          Sekou Shabaka of the Goochland NAACP said that although Goochland is considered to be rich county, there are people here who still have outdoor plumbing. The county, he said, has a responsibility to address issues like affordable housing, possible lead contamination of water and great diversity on county staff.

         Budesky said that the county’s first priority is to hire well-quailed individuals and tries to recruit from the broadest possible pool of applicants. An internship program is also addressing the issue. Affordable housing is a difficult issue, Budesky agreed and said that  “more needs to be done.”

          Wendy Hobbs said that listening sessions are planned with the county health department to identify needs that are not being met.

           In response to an inquiry, Debbie Byrd, Assistant Director of community Development, said that timbering is regulated by the Virginia Department of Forestry. Trees left at the edges of timbered property are probably in either power company or VDOT rights of way, which is why they are left to fall across roads.

Kiwi case goes to Feds

On Monday, October 29, Troy George Skinner, the New Zealand man who was wounded while breaking into a Goochland home in June, appeared before Goochland General District Court Chief the Hon. Judge Claiborne H. Stokes, Jr. 

State felony charges filed in Goochland, were Nolle Prosequi—essentailly dropped—to be replaced by federal charges relating to his actions in Goochland on June 22. He will be processed out at the Henrico Jail at which time the FBI will take him into custody.

Troy Skinner, head down, is escorted to transport pending his turnover to FBI custody

Goochland Sheriff James L. Agnew said that he contacted the FBI the day after the incident and they responded immediately. Given the complexity of prosecuting a criminal case with possible international implications, the FBI has the necessary resources to handle the case.

Skinner, who was hospitalized after arrest for the gunshot wound to the neck he sustained during the incident, has been held in the Henrico Jail West—Goochland does not have its own jail—for several months.

Heavily manacled at the hands and feet, Skinner kept his head down as he was escorted to a van by Goochland law enforcement officers.

He was arrested after a Goochland woman called 911 to report she shot a man who broke into her home. The subsequent investigation found that Skinner made the acquaintance of a daughter of the homeowner during online gaming sessions. The daughter tried to sever the gaming connection, but Skinner persisted, according to information distributed by Agnew in late June.

Skinner traveled to the United States from New Zealand via Australia arriving on the west coast, then making his way east by bus. He then somehow made his way from Short Pump, where he purchased a knife and duct tape, to Goochland without having a vehicle.

This is a cautionary tale for parents to make sure they know who their children interact with online. There are real people behind those anonymous identities who may not be harmless.

(Media coverage of the court appearance was interesting. Only WTVR Chanel 6 sent a reporter and camera man. The reporter from the Richmond paper missed Skinner’s perp walk from the courthouse to his jail transport. )

That time of year

Here in Virginia we have elections every year. Soon the annoying robo-calls and commercials will stop—until next year. For those who may have been on the far side of the moon, here are a few comments about the upcoming elections in Goochland.

Winston Forrest, who was appointed by the Goochland Electoral Board to succeed longtime Director of Elections Frances C. Ragland, recently left the employ of the county for reasons that will probably never be publicly disclosed. The Electoral Board, comprised of two democrats and one republican, appointed Ryan Mulligan as General Registrar. Fortunately, Ragland has returned to act as  a Special Senior Assistant Registrar to assist in the transition and ensure that Goochland’s elections are conducted in the exemplary fashion that citizens expect. We owe Ragland a great debt of gratitude for her continued willingness to pitch in and decades of dedication to serving the voters of our county.

This year in Goochland we vote for United States Senator; 7^th District representative to the United States House of Representatives; and two state constitutional amendments regarding local taxation of property.

Voters in District 3 will also have a supervisor election—John Lumpkins, Jr., who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to succeed the late Ned Creasey until the election is running unopposed. His seat on the school board, to which Vernon Fleming was appointed until the election, is also on the ballot. Fleming and Karen Horn are vying for the 3^rd District school board seat.

Next year, the entire Board of Supervisors and School Board will be up for election.

The amendments (https://www.elections.virginia.gov/election-law/proposed-constitutional-amendment-2018/index.html) deal with somewhat narrow provisions of property tax laws. It would seem that the amendment addressing flood prone land pertains more to Tidewater.

Tax relief for the surviving spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran is addressed in the second proposed amendment.

Please take a few minutes before you go to the polls to familiarize yourself with these ballot proposals, and decide how you will vote.  Do not wait until you are in the voting to read and decide about these issues. Be considerate of others’ time when you go to the polls and be ready to cast your vote to keep lines moving.

Goochland consistently has high voter turnout. Visit http://goochlandva.us/359/Voter-Registration-Elections for complete more information.

Please note: GOMM will not publish comments relating to specific candidates. There are plenty of other forums for that.

Do you want to know a secret

Do you want to know a secret?

Goochland County’s school division’s relentless pursuit of excellence continues.  So many good things are happening, that it’s hard to keep track of them. By now, everyone in the county should have received Explorations in Learning in the mail.

This was in your mailbox, read it

According to Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jeremy Raley, GCPS “spent a total of $6,600.58 for the printing and shipping of this report.  Printing cost $4,322.30, mailing $2,268.28, and shipping of copies to our central office $10.00.  The content was populated by our administrative team and Dr. John Hendron did the layout and graphics.”

The high quality of  Explorations illustrates the talented people who work each day to help every student in county schools reach their potential. Raley explained that the report was sent to each mailbox in Goochland to ensure that everyone, especially those who do not electronically access local information, knows what is happening in our schools. As local education consumes a significant portion of county tax dollars, citizens should be aware of how their money is spent.

Please take  a few minutes to find out what our schools are doing to help our kids obtain the tools they will need to grab their part of the American dream. Pay particular attention to “The profile of a Goochland Graduate” on page 10. Life skills, in addition to scholastic achievement, are important attributes for material success and personal satisfaction.

It is clear that our school division understands that students have differing gifts, each of which has value in our complex society.

Word has been getting out, around the region and nation, about the good work our schools are doing. On Monday, October 15 GCPS  hosted 39 representatives of eight school divisions from Ohio to Louisiana. The day’s program included a glimpse of many  aspects of education Goochland style. According to Raley, everyone was at their best and our visitors were impressed by the overall commitment to excellence and talented people who take pride in their work and make it all possible.

On Tuesday, October 16, the Goochland Education Foundation, hosted a friend raising event. It was held at the exquisite new Richmond Audi dealership, whose owner Larry Page, is a longtime county resident and generous supporter of the community.

Dr. Megan Healy, Chief Workforce Development Advisor in Governor Northam’s administration, spoke briefly to the gathering. Fixing the mismatch between skill sets and job openings is a serious challenge for the Commonwealth, she contended. Figuring out how to ensure that students have skills to hold jobs that do not yet exist is one of the most pressing challenges facing educators. Healy collaborates with educators at all levels and business leaders to find solutions for current problems and craft strategies for the future.

 

Dr. Meghan Healy

Equipping our children with technical and “soft” skills, not just the ability to collect data, but to make that information useful and collaborate with a wide range of individuals to reach shared goals is also vital, she said.

Healy explained that Raley is part of her taskforce and that Goochland is already doing things that other school divisions are just talking about.

The GEF is a local non-profit that provides resources to enrich education outside of the school budget For more information about GEF, visit its website, Gooclandedu.org. If you have an extra bean or two that you would like to plant locally and watch grow, GEF is a 501 (c) (3) organization. In addition to scholarships, GEF awards strategic innovation grants to allow teachers to explore concepts outside the curriculum.

The excellence of Goochland schools is too well kept a secret, tell all of your friends how great they are! (Visit http://goochlandschools.org/ to learn more.)