And they're back

On August 20, 1827, Goochland Circuit Court met for the first time in the venerable courthouse still in use today. On August 20, 2019, Judge Timothy K. Sanner, in that same courtroom, agreed to issue an order recognizing a boundary line map mutually agreed to by Goochland and Louisa counties. The exact line between the two jurisdictions near Gum Spring may well have been in doubt for the life of the courthouse.

The wooden benches in the courtroom were filled with voters disenfranchised by the matter, elected officials, county staff, candidates for office, and other interested people. 

Goochland County Attorney Tara McGee, who presented the petition in court, credited the geographic information staffs for both counties with creation of a precise boundary reflecting where people pay taxes and receive local government services. The new line was drafted using GIS data—300 coordinates—parcel by parcel.

The legal work was handled by McGee’s staff, Assistant County Attorney Kalli Jackson, and paralegal Christina Neale. Angela Daniels, interim county attorney for Louisa County, worked with the Goochland team and attended the hearing.

The intrepid team that  fixed the boundary. LtR Kalli Jackson, Randy Buzzard, Tara McGee,Jon Worley. Matthias Smith*, John Budesky, Christian Godwin* and  Jeff Ferrell*. Not pictured Christina Neale and  Angela Daniels*. Asterisk denotes folks from Louisa County.

There are still ten parcels surrounded by the other county that need to be dealt with on an individual basis, McGee told Judge Sanner. Those cases will come before the court sometime in the future.

Sanner examined the taxing map and reviewed accompanying documents. He saw no reason not to issue the order as all requirements stated in the Code of Virginia had been met. The order will have an effective date of August 20, 2019.

The court order adopting this map provides a legal basis for electoral boards and general registrars of both counties to return misplaced voters to the precincts where they cast their ballots in previous years, in time for this year’s local elections.

This resolution of a tricky situation was the result of relentless citizen engagement and county government exploring every possible avenue to find a way to return disenfranchised voters to the county where they pay taxes and receive local government services. Kudos to all for not giving up.