Back to work

The day after the election, Wednesday, November 6, Goochland’s board of supervisors resumed conducting the people’s business. Newly elected supervisors, Neil Spoonhower, District 2 and Don Sharpe, District 4 attended. Following are some highlights of the meeting. The board packet, which contains details, is available on the county website http://www.goochlandva.us/

Elections

Ryan Mulligan, Goochland’s Director of Elections and General Registrar, presented preliminary results of the November 5 election. (Vote counts were certified by the county electoral board, comprised of two democrats and one republican, later in the week.) Mulligan reported that with a voter turnout percentage “a bit north of 56 percent” Goochland should be in its accustomed position to lead the state in that metric. He said that the 2019 turnout was high for an off-year election.

This year was the first and only year that some Goochlanders voted in the District 17 state senate race. This was due to the Goochland/Louisa county boundary issue, which was mostly resolved earlier in the year.  Electoral Board Secretary Robin Lind said, this will go away by the next state senate election in 2023 after the boundary line is resolved during redistricting following next year’s federal census.

Treasurer Pamela Duncan received the most votes cast in Goochland at 9,411. Lind thanked Mulligan and the approximately 80 officers of election who rose very early on election day to get to the polls by 5 a.m. to be ready to open at 6. They put in a very long day to ensure well-run elections county-wide. The voting, said Lind, was steady at most precincts.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Manuel Alvarez, Jr., District 2 observed that there was never a “lull in the action all day” at the Sandy Hook precinct and commended all who worked hard to conduct a good election. “Thanks to all who voted. The candidates put up good, clean battles. We have great leaders for the next four years.”

During evening citizen comment, Wendy Hobbs, unsuccessful candidate for District 2 supervisor and a class act, congratulated the winners of Tuesday’s elections. “I’m not going anywhere,” said Hobbs, who vowed to continue to advocate for broadband access for everyone in Goochland; housing opportunities for the people who work and serve here; and fiscal responsibility.  She said that the citizens still have high expectations of their elected officials. “I’m proud to have been in the race, and I’m proud of what we accomplished in the race,” said Hobbs. “Working together, we can do a lot to move Goochland forward.”

Alvarez thanked all who participated in the latest round of town hall meetings—80 total since the current board took office in 2012—especially staff and representatives from VDOT, who put in long days to be available for citizen engagement.

He recognized the efforts of Jonathan Lyle, reelected as Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District Director, for encouraging residents to participate in a water testing program.  There were 92 tests, said Alvarez, of those 56 percent of the wells has coliform bacteria contamination.  He urged everyone to get their well water tested to make sure they are not affected by bacteria or other contaminants that could have an adverse effect on health.

County Administrator John Budesky welcomed newly elected officials. “I’m glad my role is non-political. Our staff is here to help you succeed.”

Budesky said that the county’s fall festival and the Riverfest sponsored by the Friends of Goochland Parks at Tucker Park on recent Saturdays, were successful and have the potential to become marquee events for Goochland.

The annual Christmas Tree lighting will occur on December 6 beginning at 6:30 p.m. This too is an annual life savour for Goochland. It is family friendly with an appearance by a certain jolly elf in a red suit and lots of community fellowship.

Budesky said that internal meetings for the FY 2021 county budget begins on November 7. Before it is approved, there will be many opportunities for citizen input. On December 3, the county will announce its agricultural support initiatives at Central High School.

VDOT

The big news from VDOT was that Maidens Road between Fairground Road at Route 6 has reopened after extensive bridge repairs.

Consent Agenda

Among the items on the monthly consent agenda was authorization for the county administrator to approve a change order up to $105,000 and the appropriation of additional funds to complete a project to bring the roads in the Bridgewater subdivision, north of Rt. 250 west of Fairground Road, up to state standards so they can be turned over to VDOT for maintenance. This should be the final step in a long process to remedy consequences of the 2011 lapse of a road bond that occurred after the developer of the subdivision went bankrupt following the economic downturn. After much discussion with Bridgewater property owners, the county established a service district to levy an additional tax of 28 cents per $100 of valuation until the cost of road work is reached. The county also negotiated with Essex bank, holder of the lapsed road bond, to recover part of the proceeds from sale of undeveloped parcels in Bridgewater.

Policies and procedures to ensure this never happens again have been put in place.

The supervisors adopted the 2020 legislative agenda for communication to our delegation in the Virginia General Assembly.

Christmas Mother

At the evening session, Robin Hillman, 2019 Goochland Christmas Mother, cautioned that there are only 48 days until Christmas.  “Many people dread this time of year because they worry how to provide for their loves ones,” Hillman said.

She explained that the Goochland Christmas Mother program makes the season merry for economically disadvantaged children, the disabled, and seniors over the age of 60.  Last year, the Christmas Mother program helped 233 families and a total of 642 people after raising $68,139 to support the project.  This year’s goal is $70 thousands.

Hillman said that adopting a family can be a wonderful rewarding experience and a good way to teach children about the true spirit of giving. There are many ways to participate in this program. Visit the website at https://www.goochlandchristmasmother.org/ for complete information.

Public hearings

The supervisors unanimously approved a lease agreement with the Goochland Chamber of Commerce for space in the building opposite the Courthouse, which has housed the library and some county offices. County economic development staff will also relocate there to create a business center with shared meeting space, administrative space, and storage. Renovations to the building will be completed before the move is made.

Chamber Executive Director Bonnie Creasy said that the arrangement will help the business community by placing economic development and chamber resources in the same place.

The supervisors unanimously approved a lease agreement with the Goochland Historical Society for the building located next to the south entrance to the courthouse complex. The Society plans to move its headquarters to the site and act as a visitor/welcome center for the county. The Society will pay rent of $500 per month. The county will pay for necessary renovations to the building, including handicapped access.

The zoning ordinance rewrite, an enormous undertaking, was accomplished mostly in house, saving the county close to $500,000. Director of Community Development Jo Ann Hunter spearheaded the project working closely with Leigh Dunn, County Attorney Tara McGee, Todd Kilduff, Christina Neale, Debbie Byrd, Tom Coleman, David Lloyd, Gary Fisher, the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Design Review Committee.  Following discussion, especially about the sign provisions, and a public hearing, the supervisors voted unanimously to approve the new ordinance, which will be effective January 1, 2020. (Many of the approximately 30 meetings and workshops held on this subject are available in the past recorded meetings on the county website. The new ordinance is also there.)

An ordinance to amend regulations dealing with chokepoints in residential subdivisions was approved. This includes a grandfather provision for projects approved before July 3, 2018 if developed generally in compliance with the original approved conceptual plan.