Goochland County’s Board of Supervisors met as scheduled on
May 5 electronically. Unlike marathon sessions held last year, this one lasted
a bit over ninety minutes. The supervisors went into closed session to discuss
recruitment for a new county administrator. (The recording of the meeting can
be viewed at: https://www.goochlandva.us/943/Video-of-Past-BOS-Meetings)
Board Chair Susan Lascolette, District 1 reported that the
Covid 19 infection rate for Goochland County is three tenths of one percent,
including offenders who tested positive at the Virginia Correctional Center for
Women (VCCW).
As part of their plan to find a new county administrator the
supervisors have retained executive search firm Baker Tilley, said Lascolette. An
online survey to gather feedback from staff, constitutional officers, and
citizens about desired qualities in a new county administrator is in the works.
Stay tuned and please participate.
County Administrator John Budesky urged those that have not
done so to complete their census form. Goochland currently has 63.3 percent
response rate, a bit ahead of the state. Census takers will “come a knockin” if you do not respond soon, Budesky
cautioned. Demographic data gleaned from the census—details about individuals will
not be released for 72 years— is used to make decisions for the next decade.
The Republican senatorial primary Has been moved to June 23.
The Board of elections and registrar are working hard to make elections as safe
as possible. Contact General Registrar Ryan Mulligan at 556-5803 with any
questions or visit https://www.goochlandva.us/359/Elections-and-Voter-Registration
for more information.
On Covid 19 response, Budesky said “I have been proud to be part
of a team with Sheriff Creasy, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Raley, Fire-Rescue
Chief Ferguson, and other community leaders dealing with this emergency.” The situation has been trying for citizens and
businesses alike. Before Covid 19, Goochland had three people on unemployment,
now there are more than 600.
“We are sensitive to those who are challenged during these difficult
times by not turning off utilities and supporting our small business community.”
Participation by Ferguson and Deputy Fire-Rescue Chief Mike Watkins on regional
incident management and related teams has resulted in adequate supplies of PPE for
public safety and other Goochland County departments.
Budesky said that the county is looking ahead to determine next
steps. Staff has closely followed Governor Northam’s press conferences to get
direction for a phased reopening, which is dependent on somewhat vague metrics
determined at state level. Internally, said Budesky, staff is crafting a phased
reopening plan to meet Goochland specific needs. He was optimistic that guidance
to phase opportunities for additional engagement with our residents will be
available by the end of the week. (How tired are we of the term phased?)
 |
| Sheriff Steven Creasey and Chief Eddie Ferguson, Jr. |
Sheriff Steven Creasey thanked the supervisors, Budesky, and
Director of Finance Barbara Horlacher for their hard work on the budget and
making many difficult decisions.
Creasey reported that his office has made procedural changes
in response to the Covid 19 emergency. Daily roll calls are now done in the
field via Zoom and conference calls. As court schedules are still in flux, the
Sheriff’s Office trying to gauge what will happen when the judicial system
reopens.
During normal times, said Creasey, deputies serve court
papers at VCCW almost daily. When the facility became a Covid 19 hotspot, legal
service was reduced to once every two weeks, except for time sensitive matters,
with deputies wearing full PPE. The prison cooperated by moving its guard shack
closer to Rt. 6 to further reduce deputies’ exposure to the contagion.
Interactions with the public have also changed. Whenever
possible, deputies request citizens to leave homes for open air interactions to
enable social distancing. Buildings at the Sheriff’s Office, except for the
magistrate’s office, are closed to the public, but personnel will come outside
to assist citizens as needed.
Creasey said he frequently communicates with other agencies
in the region, state, and nation to share information. Dr. Frank of the
Chickahominy Health District has been especially helpful. “He is outstanding to
work with providing advice about dealing with a deputy’s possible exposure to
the virus.”
The emergency has created an environment ripe for “crimes of
opportunity and crimes of desperation,” said the sheriff. Patrols are paying
extra attention to construction sites and other places that could attract
criminal activity.
So far, Creasey said, there has been no noticeable increase
in domestic-related incidents, “but that will change if we don’t open up soon.”
As people leave their homes to drive
around, more traffic accidents occur. There has been a slight increase in
mental health related incidents, but, so far, no spike in substance abuse
incidents.
The Sheriff’s Office serves as well as protects the citizens
of the county. As of Tuesday, deputies delivered 122 prescriptions to Goochland’s
most vulnerable citizens so they did not have to leave their homes. Creasey thanked
the community for generously showing its support for the GCSO with food and PPE.
“That’s truly why I love Goochland,” he said.
The Sheriff introduced Arla Newton, the county’s new crime
analyst. Newton joined the GCSO on March 26. She brings a background in
intelligence gathering during her military service and experience as both a
police and community service officer in Charlottesville to serve our community.
Welcome to Goochland analyst Newton!
Ferguson, called to the scene of a fire, was unable to
attend the meeting. In his stead, Budesky reminded citizens to take extra care as
they spend more time at home and not start fires. By participating in regional Covid 19 teams Ferguson
and Watkins, said Budesky, have learned about grant opportunities. Goochland
has received about $95,000 from Fund RVA, for feeding programs for children.
They are also closely tracking expenditures related to Covid 19 response to
ensure that Goochland will have documentation ready should federal funds become
available for reimbursement.
Budesky said that medical transport from the VCCW will be handled
by a third party, not Goochland EMS to prevent spread of contagion from the
prison.
Goochland, said Budesky, is one of a few jurisdictions able
to maintain full operations at convenience centers. This was accomplished by
reassigning staff from parks and rec. He thanked residents for their patience
on weekends when lines can get long.
The DMV Select office in Goochland continues to serve
citizens by appointment with the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office. DMV Select representatives serve people in the
parking lot, one of the few DMVs still open. This has resulted in an uptick in
“business”. As the word gets out, people
from other counties are coming here. The situation is being closely monitored,
said Budesky. Goochland DMV Select could be overwhelmed if other offices of
that agency are not opened soon.
VDOT
Marshall Winn Administrator of the Ashland Residency reported
that routine work continues. (See May 5 board packet on county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ page 72.) Many calls for service were addressed as well
as clearing trees downed by storms and high winds. He also said that work on
the intersection of Rt. 288 and Broad Street Road has begun. A study to
determine the best location for a crosswalk on River Road West in Courthouse
Village has been postponed until things are reopened. The planned turn lane
from River Road to Rt. 6 is expected to be completed this summer.
Neil Spoonhower, District 2 said that recent paving done on
Whitehall Road toward the Hadensville-Fife Road end is uneven and asked Winn to
investigate.
Emergency measures
Following an electronic public hearing, the supervisors readopted
the continuity of government ordinance first adopted on March 26, 2020. This
includes conducting governmental meetings electronically; authorizing the
director of emergency management—currently Budesky—to alter or restrict county
buildings and facilities as needed to protect the health of public employees; and
to provide deadline flexibility to deal with changed circumstances. In essence
this allows the director of emergency management flexibility to respond to events
without receiving prior authorization from the supervisors as long as those
actions are reported to and approved by the supervisor after the fact. This action
expires six months from May 5 unless cancelled by the supervisors at an earlier
date. (See board packet beginning on page 91 for details.)
The supervisors also approved deferral of the due date for
payment of real estate and personal property tax, interest, and penalties to
July 5. Because July 5 is a Sunday, this effectively makes the due date, before
penalties and interest kick in, July 6.
Financial report
As promised, Horlacher presented an updated report on year
end projections for FY 2020, which ends on June 30. As data about real estate,
personal property, and sales tax collections is not yet available, those
projections remain unchanged from last month.
However, on a positive note, Horlacher reported that fees
from building permits, delinquent taxes and other fees, which were forecast to
be flat, increased by about $300k. Expenditures are coming in $1.2 million
under budget resulting in approximately $500k more than anticipated last month.
She said that many departments are operating under budget, which she attributed
to no travel, and may be able to run back more than five percent.
She suggested revisiting the 2021 budget in August when actual
receipt of taxes is clearer, to perhaps reinstate some items removed from the approved
2021 budget to deal with the expected shortfall.
The county has received approximately $23k from the CARES
act for Medicaid claims. Horlacher asked that the money be applied to the
fire-rescue budget for Covid related overtime expense and a decline in cost
recovery revenues, which are not reimbursable by FEMA.
She asked that $14k of funds generated for courthouse maintenance
be appropriated for installation ballistic glass in court facilities. Rental fees
received exceed expectations by approximately $25k. Horlacher asked that this money
be appropriated to cover unexpected Covid 19 costs incurred by general services.
A transfer of $50K was also appropriated from reserve for
contingency fund to the 911 technology fund for a one-time long distance “true
up” charge and unbudgeted maintenance contract for the 911 system.
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