From the Halls of Montezuma to the halls of Goochland High!

Goochland Bulldogs need to come to the aid of our Marine Junior ROTC Bulldogs.

Since its inception a few years ago, the Marine Junior ROTC (MJROTC) program at Goochland High School has been a rousing success. The program met and exceeded establishment requirements in its first year, quite a feat for a small high school.       

Established in 2014 under the National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC)authority, it was understood that if the Goochland program met certain criteria, it would become a fully-funded JROTC program. Goochland met, and exceeded those benchmarks, which included maintaining an enrollment of more than ten percent of the student body. To date, participation in our program has ranged between 12 and 14 percent.

Lessons learned in this program, in addition to the military stuff, like leadership, teamwork, personal responsibility, and discipline, prepare the cadets to succeed in military service, and will stand them in good stead wherever life’s journey takes them. Leading by example, Goochland MCJROTC cadets have changed the attitude of the entire student body.

In its short existence, the Goochland MCJROTC program, and its ripple effect on the entire student body,  has earned a reputation for excellence among military recruiters who actively pursue not only cadets, and other students.

Goochland MCJROTC color guard in action.

Goochland county enthusiastically supported the program, investing $750,000 in a building and fully funding salaries for its faculty. American Legion Post 215 was instrumental in securing the program for GHS.

In November, 2017, Lt. Col. Kevin Williams and Staff Sergeant Daniel Strong, leader of the MCJROTC,  received notice that the Marine Corps funding for the NDCC has ceased. This loss of funding—the cost of travel, training, equipment, and supplies—will cause an approximately $45,000  shortfall for the Goochland MCJROTC.

Our MJROTC program not only prepares students for military service—qualified volunteers are becoming harder to find—but teaches them leadership, personal responsibility, discipline, and teamwork. These skills will stand them in good stead no matter where life’s journey takes them.

Many MCJROTC cadets are encouraged by instructors to pursue higher education. They also help highly qualified candidates seek scholarships. Since its inception,  95 percent of MCJROTC cadets indicated their intent to continue their education, securing $162,000 in scholarship funds, and 84 academic awards.

In the short time that the Goochland MJROTC has been in existence, it has provided valuable assistance to community organizations, including the Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services, and Goochland Christmas Mother. Its color guard proudly presents the Stars and Stripes, demonstrating  proper respect for our flag.

The rigor of the program is demonstrated by the accolades won by our cadets in various ROTC competitions, especially being recognized as outstanding on its first Marine Corps inspection.

We need to let those who represent us in Washington about the high quality of this program, its importance to the community. To continue financial support that the MCJROTC has gotten from the Marine Corps, our representatives in Washington must take action on our behalf.

There are two ways to do this. The best choice is to change the status of the Goochland program to that of a fully sanctioned junior ROTC program. There are two slots nationwide for this. If that cannot be done, lawmakers need to change the law to restore federal funding under the NDCC model.

Show your support for Goochland’s Marine Corps Bulldogs by contacting Senators Warner and Kaine and Congressman Brat to encourage restoration of full funding for the Goochland High School Marine Corps Cadet program.

Senator Tim Kaine
919 East Main Street, Suite 970
Richmond, VA 23219
804-771-2221
https://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact

Senator Mark Warner
919 East Main Street, Suite 630
Richmond, VA 23219
804-775-2314
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactPage

Congressman Dave Brat
4201 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 110
Glen Allen, VA 23060
804-747-4073
https://brat.house.gov/contact/

Additional information regarding the Goochland High School Marine Cadet Corps program can be found here: https://docs.google.com/a/glnd.k12.va.us/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=Z2xuZC5rMTIudmEudXN8c2ItYWdlbmRhc3xneDo0YjhiNTYyNWUwYzIyMTky

The devil is in the details

During the public hearing section of  their first meeting of 2018, Goochland County’s supervisors deferred a decision on yet another residential rezoning application—for Swann’s Inn—until March. By then the supervisors expect to adopt a development impact model to help  gauge the true cost of new homes.

They did approve rezoning of  4.45 acres adjacent to Rt. 288 and an accompanying conditional use permit for a  building height of 80 or so feet, both to move the Sheltering Arms rehabilitation hospital in West Creek, roughly opposite the Wawa, to move forward.

The long meeting finished with adoption of the 25 year capital improvement plan (CIP), which was crafted as part of the capital impact model.

Since its creation decades ago, West Creek, a 3,500 acre enclave on Goochland’s eastern border, was touted as an economic engine whose revenues would fund local government and preserve “rural character” everywhere else.

Even after creation of the Tuckahoe Creek Service District, which brought water and sewer to much of West Creek and bisection by state route 288, West Creek still resembles a nature preserve  more than an economic engine.

Things have picked up there in recent years with new projects including medical office building, the hospital, apartments, and, of all things, the magnificent new campus of the Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Though not the corporate headquarters originally envisioned for West Creek, these bring jobs, increase property values, which in turn boost real estate taxes, and add users to the TCSD.

As western Henrico runs out of raw land, the push for development is sloshing into Goochland. Mixed-use zoning was recently approved for the old Oak Hill property on Route 6.

Rezoning applications for two residential communities in the Hockett Road corridor, one in West Creek, the other at the edge of the Centerville Village, to bring more than 800 homes, caused the supervisors to tap the development brakes. Before increasing by ten percent  the number of  homes in the county, the supervisors want to better understand how this dramatic increase in population will affect the cost of delivering government services.

The planning commission recommended approval of an expanded capital facilities plan at its January 4 meeting. This will replace chapter 6 in the 2035  Comprehensive Land Use Plan. It is also a component of the capital impact model. (See the packet for the January 4 planning commission meeting for details.)

This deep dive into county infrastructure was a prudent move by the supervisors.

The results dispelled some conventional wisdom. For instance, the notion that the county would build a new elementary school somewhere in the eastern end of the county, may not come to pass. The school board recommends, going forward 25 years, that the county stick with three elementary schools with larger capacities. A new Randolph will be built at some point. The site has not been determined and it could pretty much stay where it is.

Another assumption, that the next new county built fire-rescue station be located in West Creek, may also be flawed. There is no fire-rescue station in District 2, which is also experiencing a residential growth spurt. This increases homeowner’s insurance premiums and potential for  loss of life and property.

Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief Bill MacKay, during a December 11 workshop on the 25 year CIP,  said that Manakin Company 1 and Centerville Company 3 could provide fire-rescue coverage to the east end if they were adequately staffed. He also pointed out that it can take up to 25 minutes for fire apparatus to reach remote parts of District 2 from exisiting stations.

Funding assumptions in the 25 year CIP  are based on retention of the 53 cent per hundred dollars of assessed valuation tax rate. This rate has been in place for at least a decade. Some residents argue that the tax rate should rise, others believe the rate is too high.

Economic development has picked up in the past few years. However, thanks to the TCSD debt, the county must attract a lot of new business every year to stay even. Although real estate tax revenues grow each year due to new construction and appreciation, it remains to be seen if proposed residential enclaves can pay for themselves.

The supervisors will need to decide, no matter what, which capital projects—and the list is long—take precedence. They may also need  “to have a conversation with the community” about floating a bond issue, and incur additional debt, to fund these items sooner rather than later.

In 2014, the supervisors adopted a four year strategic plan (see goochlandva.us under supervisor’s tab),  which includes a goal of “balanced development that contributes to the welfare of the community and preserves its rural character.”

Finding the sweet spot between development pressures in the east and the welfare of the entire county is a delicate task. Growth is like fire—controlled it provides heat and energy, unchecked, it devours everything in its path. 

The next few months will be interesting indeed.

The start of 2018

Goochland’s supervisors rang in 2018 with punch and cake before their January 3 meeting to celebrate being named the most tax friendly county in the nation for 2017 by the American City County Exchange.  The award, totally unsolicited, according to Supervisor Ken Peterson, District 5, recognizes Goochland for… “outstanding performance on spending, taxes, and transparency”.

Goochland has yet another award for excellence in governing .

“Goochland County is  a national leader in taxpayer friendly policies,” said Jon Russell, National Director of ACCE and a Culpeper Town Councilman in an ACCE press release. “Other counties need to look at their model of governance and replicate their success.” Visit http://www.acce.us for more information about this organization.

Electing  board leadership for calendar year 2018 was the first item on the Board’s afternoon agenda. Peterson was elected chair and Manuel Alvarez, Jr., District 2, vice chair. Outgoing chair Ned Creasey, District 3, thanked fellow board members for their support and county staff for its dedication to serving the citizens while implementing board policies. It is board policy to rotate leadership each year.

Ken Peterson, District 5, (l) will be 2018 Board Chair; Manuel Alvarez, Jr., District 2, Vice Chair.

Peterson thanked Creasey for being the catalyst of the good things that have happened in Goochland since he was first elected in 2007.  He commended Creasey on completing a second term as board chair and for setting high standards for those in local government.

 “Ned is a plain spoken man of few words who has served in the uniform of his country; as a police officer; and as a long time Goochland Fire-Rescue volunteer. He has been a great friend and mentor to all of us,” said Peterson.

Following elections, the supervisors adopted their code of ethics and operating procedures. (These are available on the county website http://goochlandva.us/) Adopting a code of ethics that lists, in detail, expected behavior of elected officials to earn  public trust in performance of their duties sets a clear standard for moral behavior. It was first adopted on March 1, 2001.

County Administrator John Budesky said that the county budget season is in full swing. He thanked everyone who worked hard  last year to compile the 25 year capital improvement plan that identifies priorities going forward. Between now and adoption of the county budget for fiscal year 2019 in April, there will be ample opportunity for citizens to weigh in on county finances with several public hearings and a spring round of town hall meetings. Citizen feedback on money matters, said Budesky, is extremely important. In addition to public forums, county administration and the supervisors may be contacted by phone or electronic means.

The afternoon session addressed a number of items in an expeditious manner.

A  resolution denying a damage claim on the recommendation of the county attorney was unanimously adopted.

Perhaps the most interesting item on the agenda was an unsolicited proposal by a private company to expand broadband in Goochland.

Since taking office in 2012 this board, especially Alvarez, has sought ways to expand high speed internet access. Western Goochland and areas throughout the county have no access to broadband and, in some places, difficulty obtaining adequate cell phone signals. The supervisors do not believe the county should be in the internet business.  They prefer to create an environment attractive to private sector providers more able to react quickly to technological advances than a governmentally regulated utility.    

The proposal, submitted by SCS Broadband Acelanet,LLC, is for a public-private partnership to provide high-speed internet in the county. The supervisors authorized staff to review the proposal and report back to them.

Budesky said that he is pleased about this development, but cautioned that it has not yet been fully vetted to ensure that it is in the best interest of the citizens.  “This is just the beginning,” said Budesky. “We’re not prepared to talk details at this point. We need to make sure that they (SCA Broadband) can deliver before we get locked into anything.”

The evaluation will take about 90 days; the supervisors will be kept abreast of the process. “This proposal was a long time coming and we want to make sure it is done right,” said Budesky. “As this was not the result of a request for proposals, it is now a public document open to some level of negotiation.” The county, said Budesky wants to remain as transparent as possible so that the citizens are clear on what is being considered. He also hoped that the SCS Broadband overture will attract competitors. Goochland does not have a non-compete arrangement with Comcast or Verizon.

In response to a query from Peterson, Budesky confirmed that the supervisors authorized only an evaluation of the proposal by staff. No commitment, monetary or otherwise, was made.

Peterson reiterated that this proposal is just the beginning. NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, and this could turn out not to be the answer to bring broadband to underserved parts of the county. Stay tuned, this is an encouraging development, but it is very early days.

Administrative Services Manager Paul Drumwright presented an update on the county’s 2018 Legislative Agenda—the document that communicates Goochland’s position on proposed legislation before the General Assembly and “wish list” of new laws to benefit the county. The list of proposed laws for 2018, so far, is relatively light. Drumwright attributed this to the November defeat of  many incumbents. Indeed, this year it seems likely that little will be accomplished at the General Assembly as both parties battle for control, rather than serve the citizens who elected them.

Only a few of the county’s priority requests have been addressed in pending legislation. These include: a change on composition of the economic development authority; determination of public facility capacity; expansion of broadband through the Virginia Telecommunications initiative; and elimination of the requirement for schools to open after Labor Day. Additional bills are expected to be filed in the near future.

The General Assembly convenes on January 10. Goochland’s representation in the GA consists of Delegates Lee Ware, 65^th District; newly elected John McGuire, 56^th District, and Senator Mark Peake, 22^nd District.