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.