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?