Covid casualties

2020 will go down in history—even though we would rather forget it—as the year that the fabric of society frayed maybe never to be the same.

Athletic contests from the Olympics to high school football were cancelled or postponed. Rituals that bind us together in times of joy and sadness, funerals, weddings, graduations, and especially church services, were deemed too risky to hold. Quarantine and isolation proved deadly those in congregate living situations and dangerously difficult for people struggling with psychological and addiction issues.

Education was upended. Schools try valiantly to find ways to replace the daily personal interaction with teachers that sparks achievement in so many children with “virtual learning”. Indeed, those already challenged may have been hurt the most. Homeschoolers, though, never missed a beat.

Modest local festivals that build communities also fell victim to the virus. Field Day of the Past, the iconic celebration of our rural heritage, was forced to call off its finale. Perhaps Rassawek, at the upper end of the county far from development pressures, will fill this void in Goochland culture. The rebirth of the Goochland Day tradition, which was postponed from May, has been cancelled for October.  Its organizers are optimistic that it will be held, with a parade, in May 2021.

Halloween, falling on a Saturday with a full moon, a rare occurrence for trick or treaters, will be observed with drive-through events, or not at all.

Macy’s Thanksgiving parade will be “Television only” whatever that means. The iconic ball in Times Square will “drop” over deserted streets below.

Our world has become virtual. We meet, if at all, via screens, terrified that we might catch ’rona.

Does anyone know what will end the pandemic? Governor Northam claims he is following the data and the science. The data is vague at best. Daily numbers reported by the Virginia Department of Health allegedly represent statistics entered by 5 p.m. the previous day. How old the data may be is never mentioned, or questioned, by the media. Recently, a “backlog” in death data was acknowledged.  Does that mean someone noticed data that was never entered into the VDH database? On September 23, VDH reported 29 new deaths statewide with 36 of those attributed to “outbreaks” in congregate living populations and no explanation for the disparity.

Governor Northam condescendingly wagged his fingers during press conferences warning against “letting our guard down” against the virus, yet he and the first lady test positive. Wonder when those positives will be included in the VDH daily data dump.

Seemingly unable to count and report accurately—though never mentioning how timely the numbers are—the VDH still allegedly found the time and resources to send minors in Virginia postcards guiding them to websites providing explicit information about “the birds and bees”  to the horror of many parents.

The science is ever-changing. Will a vaccine enable people return to what passes for normal even if only a fraction of the population is inoculated? Have we become so paranoid that masks will be a permanent part of our wardrobes when venturing out of our homes? If so, will that reduce the severity and spread of seasonal flu? No one really knows, but opinions flow freely over the interwebs.

Looking back a year hence will we wonder why we went along with lock downs and cancellations, or be glad we did?

Will the businesses that struggled be able to recover? Will would be entrepreneurs shy away from risk- taking to the detriment of the economy?

No one wants to get sick or infect others. Has the entire pandemic narrative been a distraction for something else?

Or, will this all go away after the election? As the days grow shorter, the year gets stranger.

Comment from reader:

Great effort, although missing one essential ingredient. We, the people must not lose sight of what we had before the Pandemic and the attempt to dislodge the government of this great nation.  The overturn of our government is not going to disappear in a puff of medications, or the evaporation of Covid 19.  We must recover our determination to be a Republic, not a shallow socialist state.  Individuals matter, whether black, white or any other color.

  

It's our home

 

Goochland is a gorgeous place. It would be even more beautiful without trash on the side of the road. We have too many irresponsible slobs who toss the remains of a meal, contents of an ashtray, beverage containers, or other disgusting items from their vehicles as they drive.

Then there are those who load the back of their truck with garbage and head for one of the two county convenience centers. All too often, some of that trash winds up on the side of the road creating a nasty, toxic eyesore. Items flying out of a moving truck are a hazard to other motorists and cyclists.

To help reduce this source of roadside trash, Goochland County will distribute free cargo nets to secure loads of trash in truck beds at both convenience centers located at: 3455 Hadensville-Fife Road (western) and 1908 Hidden Rock Lane (central). Nets will be distributed this Saturday September 26, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until supplies are exhausted. Please cover your load.

We are blessed with many caring folks who regularly take to the roadside with garbage bags and rubber gloves to clean up the mess left by others. In a just world, litterers would be sentenced to perform this task in addition to a stiff fine.

The best way to keep our roadsides clean is not to litter in the first place. Do not toss anything out of your vehicle under any circumstances and teach your children that littering is not acceptable, ever, anywhere.

Goochland is our home, each of us needs to treat it that way and keep our county clean!

 

 

On a perfect Tuesday morning

On a perfect Tuesday morning nineteen years ago today people in New York and Northern Virginia died for the sin of going to work. Others, ordinary folks on a plane, whose names will be forever enshrined in sacred memory, fought hijackers to prevent a third strike perishing as they dove into a Pennsylvania field. Brave firefighters and law enforcement officers— lovingly referred to as LEOs—ran toward danger to save those trapped in the burning twin towers and the crumpled Pentagon giving their lives in performance of their duties. The world watched in stunned silence and grieved as one.
Rising above the smoke and carnage in Manhattan on that day, Lady Liberty’s torch seemed higher and brighter, a metaphorical middle finger to our enemies. America was united, the flag was respected and proudly displayed everywhere. LEOs, firefighters, and EMS providers were thanked and held in awe for the jobs they did before that fateful and have done since. Each year, solemn ceremonies mark the anniversary of that horrible day as fire-rescue folk and LEOs around the country honor the bravery and sacrifice of their fallen comrades.

Here we are nineteen years later. Things have changed. Our LEOs are vilified, fire-rescue responders attacked as they go about their lifesaving business. Our cities are burning, everyone is angry. Too many people are terrified of Covid, and the unity America experienced in 2001 is but a memory to some, forgotten by those bent on disruption.


Goochland, however, remembers. This morning at Company 5, a solemn ceremony marked the day our world changed and read aloud the names of those in public safety who perished on that day and have died since from disease contracted in the aftermath.

During the remembrance, Goochland Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief-EMS Mike Watkins spoke to the challenges of those in public safety:

“The men and women of today’s emergency services are confronted with a more dangerous work environment that ever before. We are forced to continuously change out strategies to accomplish our tasks. Our methods may change, but our goals remain the same as they were in the past to save lives and protect property, sometimes at a terrible cost. This is what we do, this is our chosen vocation, this is our calling, this is who we are.

Emergency services of today is ever changing but steeped in traditions more than 200 years old. One such tradition is the sound of the bell. In the past, our cities, towns, and villages had on street corners the familiar fire pull box. The box was connected to bells that would strike in a specific pattern for each box location. This was in the days prior to ...modern telecommunications. As firefighters began their tour of duty, it was the bells that signaled the beginning of that day’s shift. Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by the bells, which brought the brave souls to fight fires and place their lives in jeopardy for the good of their fellow citizens. And when the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bells that signaled to all the completion of that call.

When a firefighter died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice, it was the mournful toll of the bell that solemnly announced a comrade’s passing. We utilize these traditions as symbols, which reflect honor and respect on those who have given so much and who have served so well. To symbolize the devotion that these brave souls have for their duty, a special signal of five rings three times represents the end of our comrade’s duties and that they will be returning to quarters. And so, to those who have selflessly given their lives for the good of their fellow man, their tasks completed, their duties well done, to our comrades, their last alarm, they are going home.”

His words were followed by three sets of five tolls of the bell.

May the unity that followed that horrific day return and may God bless America.

September board highlights

Goochland Supervisors kicked off September with their monthly meeting on the first. After naming Kenneth Young as the next county administrator and getting him sworn in, they got down to routine business.

Interim County Administrator Derek Stamey invited everyone to attend one or both remembrances of 911 at Courthouse Company 5 Fire-Rescue Station on Fairground Road beginning at 9:45 a.m. or Manakin Company 1 Fire-Rescue Station on at 180 River Road, beginning at 7 p.m. Company 1 is home to the Goochland County 911 memorial, which includes pieces of steel from the Twin Towers. The ceremonies honor the sacrifice of the first responders who perished in the attack. Names of the members of FDNY, NYPD, Port Authority of NYNJ, and NYC-EMS, who made the ultimate sacrifice, are read and a bell is tolled in their honor.

Board Chair Susan Lascolette, District 1, said that the inaugural meeting of the community conversations work group to examine race relations in Goochland county is set for September 8. “We are very grateful to all who stepped up for this important project." May all involved listen with hearts and minds.

Town Hall meetings, whose spring round was cancelled by Covid, will resume in October. Districts 2 and 3 will meet on October 8 at the Central High School Educational and Cultural Center 2748 Dogtown Road; District 1, October 15 at Byrd Elementary School, 2704 Hadensville-Fife Road; and Districts 4 and 5 October 22 at Salem Baptist Church 465 Broad Street Road, Manakin-Sabot. All sessions begin at 7 p.m. Supervisors, school board members, and county staff will present updates and gather citizen feedback. Come out and meet our new County Administrator Kenneth Young.

September is traditionally the time that service awards for county employees are presented at the board meeting following a luncheon. Due to Covid, an alternative approach was taken, explained Stamey. He read the names, jobs, and length of service into the record. The awards represent 340 collective years of service, experience, time and talent devoted to the county. “You’d have to go back to 1630 to equal the number of years of service,” he said.

Those recognized for five-year service increments:

5 Years:
Amanda Adams Circuit Court
Kelsey Amos Sheriff’s Office
Gregory Atkinson General Services
Stanley Carrington Sheriff’s Office
Jeffery Compton Building Inspection
Shon Daniels Fire-Rescue
Emily Fisher Social Services
Janet Fontenot Treasurer’s Office
Harrison Hankins Sheriff’s Office
David Kolenich Fire-Rescue
Corey Marshall Parks & Recreation
Robert Mills Fire-Rescue
Michael Mills Fire-Rescue
Taylor Morris Public Utilities
Rory O’Shaughnessy Sheriff’s Office
Chan Rowland Fire-Rescue
Chad St. John Fire-Rescue
Eric Taliaferro Animal Protection
John Woodburn Community Development

10 Years:

Mason Kenney Convenience Center

15 Years:

Brenda Anthony General Services
Kevin Forman Sheriff’s Office
Christopher Jones Sheriff’s Office
Kendal Tanaka Social Services
Donna Vayo Social Services
Sara Worley Economic Development

25 Years:
Jennifer Brown Commissioner of Revenue
Sheriff Steven Creasey Sheriff’s Office
Raymond Henley Sheriff’s Office
Stephen Layton Sheriff’s Office

40 Years:
Beverly Long Social Services

Bev Long and flowers. Derek Stamey looks on


Stamey presented Bev Long with a bouquet of flowers from her staff. “She is a rock in that department and beacon of toughness and tenacity for the county,” said Stamey.

For the sixth consecutive year, the county was regognized for excellence in financial reporting, which is “a demonstration of the spirit of full disclosure,” said Stamey. He commended all involved especially Director of Finance Barbara Horlacher, who spearheaded the “heavy lift” of completing the county’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). These documents are available for review on the county website goochlandva.us. The CAFR for FY 2020, which ended on June 30, is underway and is expected to be presented for approval by the supervisors in late November.

Stamey thanked the board for the opportunity to serve as interim county administrator for the past sixty days. “Pandemic, hurricanes, daily operation of government, was a whirlwind but very gratifying. It was the most interesting time of my professional career that reinforced what a great supportive board we have; how engaged and how much our citizens care about our local government: and how tents a group of constitutional officers and staff who work together. We are a family. We are looking forward to welcoming you and your family (Kenneth Young) to sustain our upward trajectory of excellence.”

The consent agenda included:

Authorization for the interim county administrator to execute two performance agreements between Greenswell Growers, the Goochland Economic Development Authority, and Goochland County to provide economic incentives for locating a hydroponic growing facility here.

Refer an updated parks and recreation master plan to the Planning Commission.

Set a public hearing for October 6 to amend the county ordinance to clarify the definition of special events; add a spontaneous event exception; clarify compliance with other regulations; add more exceptions; clarify the permit review procedure; revise the noise standard; broaden eligible security agencies; remove fee waiver; and other changes. See the September 1 board packet, available on the county website goochlandva.us beginning on page 208.

Set a public hearing for October 6 to repeal the existing county ordinance on parades and replace it with one that complies with current legal standards. Full wording of the proposed new ordinance is in the September 1 board packet beginning on page 221.

Set a public hearing for October 6 to establish the proportionate share of the Bridgewater subdivision district tax liability, provide for repayment; fix each property’s taxable value for assessing the district tax; increasing the district tax rate from .28 to .33022; establishing a procedure for change to parcel boundaries; and clarifying the ordinance language. This refers to a service district established to recover the cost of brining roads in the subdivision up to state standards so they can be turned over to VDOT for maintenance.

Refer a zoning ordinance amendment addressing the timing of installation of street trees in new developments to the planning commission.

Authorize the interim county administrator to execute an agreement with Dominion Energy, Virginia for lighting at the Oilville park and ride.

Authorize the interim county administrator to execute an agreement with John K. George & Company to complete the Tucker Park connector. (See GOMM “Playing close to home” for details.)

Public hearings

• Approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for a detached accessory family housing unit at 5268 Three Chopt Road in District 1. John Lumpkins, District 3, recused himself from the deliberations and vote, due to a business association with the applicant.


• Approved a proffer amendment to reduce the road setback from 350 to 100 feet for property located at 4668 Newline Road in District 2.

• Approved an ordinance to establish a satellite voter office in the parks ad rec gym near the new registrar’s office to handle an expected increase in in-person absentee voting for the November 3 general election.

• Approved 4-1 an ordinance amendment to remove a parcel of land at 12902 Paula Lane from the Tuckahoe Creek Service District. The parcel was recently assessed at $181,000. Since 2018, reported Matt Longshore director of utilities, the TCSD value has increase by more than $700K. It is located east of Hockett Road south of Reader’s Branch. Penalties apply for a property to rejoin the district to prevent property owners from “playing the system.” Lumpkins voted against the measure with no explanation.

• Approved 5-0 an ordinance amendment to remove a parcel adjacent to 2028 Rockville Road, which is not in the TCSD. The land was split from land belonging to St. Matthew’s Church in 2017. The landowner wants to join the two parcels but cannot do so if a portion is included in the TCSD.

• Approved amendments to the FY 2021 budget of approximately $1.557 million to use CARES Act funding for Covid-related expenses. The funds must be spent by December 31. These include: $183K to schools, for technology from previous budgets; $792 K to schools for improved ventilation and an additional $200K for distance learning; $50K to fire-rescue for an update to the county’s emergency operations plan and $78 K to replace gaining portable ventilators, crucial to dealing with Covid cases; $7,500 to the sheriff’s department for Courts overtime; $120 K to replace “tough books” used by public safety; $200 K for computer aided dispatch software upgrade used by fire-rescue and deputies; $60K to create schools’ broadband redundancy to support distance learning; $50 K to improve hotspot around the county. (See the end of the board meeting video for September 1 for details.) Conversations to extend fiber along Cardwell Road from Rt. 6 to Randolph School is part of another discussion. Currently, RES is served only by Comcast.

At the end of the meeting, Ken Peterson, District 5 asked Goochland Sheriff Steven Creasey if the budget amendments presented adequately addressed Covid-related needs for his office. Creasey said that there is a need for Covid-related overtime funds for patrol. A traffic incident involving 9 Covid positive juveniles that took most of the day into the night racked up about $2,000 in overtime expense. Peterson asked that the board be kept apprised of unmet needs.

Goochland votes

On September 1, a ribbon was cut to officially open the new Goochland General Registrar’s office. Housed in the brick structure along Sandy Hook Road behind the administration building, the office is expected to serve the county’s electoral needs for the next 15 to 25 years.

New registrar's office.

Interim County Administrator Derek Stamey, who also serves as deputy county administrator for operations, which shepherded the project from concept to reality, spoke briefly before the ceremony.
“Goochland County typically has one of the highest voter turnouts regardless of the election,” Stamey said. “This shows the county’s support for the most basic right of citizens, the right to vote and engage our government. “The previous office was 628 square feet. This new structure meets all of the registrar’s needs and at 1750 square feet is about three times larger than the previous space. It meets needs for customer service; has adequate office space; secure storage for voting apparatus; and two multi-use conference rooms to serve citizens and train election officials. The renovation—the building previously housed the extension office—included lots of nuances to the design. All of doors are oversized and floors were reinforced.
Robin Lind, secretary of the Goochland Electoral Board, commended Stamey for ensuring that every part of the new registrar’s office was completed correctly.

Goochland General Registrar Ryan Mulligan cuts the ribbon.

The gracious new space is fully compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Double doors open into a customer service center. Its walls are decorated with an electoral map of Goochland County; several annual commendations from the Virginia Electoral Board Association for the county’s high percentage of voter turnout; and a commemoration of past Registrar and Director of Elections, Frances C. Ragland, who served county voters for more than three decades to ensure safe, fair, and honest elections.

Secure storage for voting machines.
Later in the afternoon, Lind, one of two democrats on the three-member electoral board—the majority on electoral boards in Virginia is held by the same party at the governor—presented an update on voting rules for the November 3 general election.

The new facility is fully ADA compliant.

He reported that 2,154 applications for absentee ballots,11 percent of active Goochland voters, had been received as of September 1. Lind believes that the county is on track to have at least 20 percent of voters request absentee ballots, which will begin on September 18. “This is a stunning change for voters across the Commonwealth.”

Robin Lind (l) and Ryan Mulligan confer.
Photo ID is no longer required but a personal ID must be presented to vote. Lind believes that most citizens will use their driver’s license, which can be scanned. No excuse is needed for absentee voting, which is now referred to by the Board of Elections as “vote by mail.” Polling places will be regulated on November 3 for social distancing and face covering will be required for entry. Voters unable or unwilling to wear a mask will be able call inside so an election official can bring a ballot so those citizens may vote curbside. “We will not discourage anyone from voting.”

The Blair Road precinct will be relocated to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on River Road. County Line precinct is expected to be moved to Hadensville Company 6 fire-rescue station on Rt. 250 in Hadensville. Lind said that all absentee ballot requests will include postage paid return envelopes, whose cost will be reimbursed by the board of elections.

To provide for the safety of voters and officers of election voters will be able to return absentee ballots to drop off locations, one at the registrar’s office, and potential locations at Byrd Elementary School; Goochland High School; and Randolph Elementary school beginning September 18. These will be secure locations under surveillance. There will also be a drop off box at each polling location to enable voters, concerned about Covid transmission, to deliver their ballots without interacting with people inside.

Mailed ballots postmarked on or before election day will be counted, said Lind. The final vote tally will take place on Friday, November 6 for this election only.
The last day to register to vote or update voter information is Tuesday, October 13. The last day to request a mailed absentee ballot is Friday, October 23. The last day to vote absentee in person is Saturday, October 31.

During their September 1 evening session, the supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance to establish a voter satellite office at the Parks & Recreation building at the County Complex, 1800 Sandy Hook Road, to be used for in-person absentee voting for the November 3, 2020 election.
As a member of a group formerly denied the right to vote, GOMM will proudly present a photo ID to establish eligibility to participate in the most sacred duty of American citizens and cast a ballot in person on November 3 while masked.

Kenneth A. Young named Goochland County Administrator

Kenneth A. "Kenny" Young is sworn in as Goochland County Administrator



Goochland supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Kenneth A. “Kenny” Young as county administrator at the start of their September 1 meeting. He succeeds John Budesky who left the county on June 30 to take the same position in Hanover County.

Board Chair, Susan Lascolette, District 1, said that the board retained the executive recruiting firm of Baker Tilley to assist in their search for a new administrator after Budesky tendered his resignation in March. More than 40 applicants nationwide expressed interest in the position. The selection process included personal and video interviews; resume evaluations; and responses to written questions. “Mr. Young distinguished himself throughout the process with his experience in a growing rural locality and his desire to serve.”

The Hon. Dale W. Agnew administered the oath of office to Young as his wife Cynthia and son Marcus looked on. Young said his daughter Keisha, a college freshman, was unable to attend in person but was probably watching the live stream of the event.

Young thanked the board, county staff, and community for a warm welcome.” I can’t be thankful enough about the opportunity presented to me. I’m anxious to get started. I’m excited about the next opportunity to begin. My family and I are anxious to become involved with this community on a daily basis,” he said.

Although Young will not officially take the reins of local government until September 14, he has already moved to a temporary residence in the county. He said that will give his family time to explore the variety of living options available in Goochland and find the one that best fits their needs.

Young has a wide range of management experience in local government starting as a budget and management intern with the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico while in graduate school. His most recent post was as assistant county administrator in Loudon County, one of the fastest growing counties in the country, with oversight of community and economic development; planning and zoning; and liaison to that county’s Virginia Cooperative Extension Office.

This experience equips Young to achieve Goochland’s goal to keep most the county rural while encouraging economic development in the east end. Loudon’s digital infrastructure made it a player in the technology economy while preserving the rural nature of its western reaches. A wise man opined that “Loudon is Goochland on steroids”.

Interim County Administrator Derek Stamey, who kept the county on course through the strange waters of Covid and a hurricane, welcomed Young to the Goochland family. He thanked the supervisors and commended outstanding county staff for their support during the past two months. “We do this lift together,” Stamey told Young. “We look forward to working with you to continue the upward trajectory of excellence in government and service to the citizens of Goochland.”

During more than 25 years in government and private sector management positions, Young became a credentialed manager of the International City/County Management Association. He is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute of the University of Oklahoma. Before serving in Loudon, he held progressively responsible local government positions in Maryland and Nevada. He was vice president government affairs with the Las Vegas, Nevada based consulting firm Strategic Solutions.

Young grew up in a military family in El Paso, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a Master of Public Administration degree from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and the National Forum of Black Public Administrators.

For decades, Goochland supervisors have hired county administrators from outside. Young will bring a fresh perspective to county operations.

A warm welcome to Kenneth Young and his family. May you come to know and love Goochland County as a very special place to live and work.