The October 7 meeting of the Goochland County Board
of Supervisors was as normal as things can be during the time of Covid. Held in
person with social distancing of seating for the public, the meeting’s agenda included
an update on county finances.
Board Chair Susan Lascolette, District 1, announced
fall town hall meetings. The first, for districts 2 and 3 was held on October 8
at the Central High School Educational and Cultural Center. The District 1
meeting will take place tonight, October 8, at Byrd Elementary School on
Hadensville-Fife Road. The District 4 and 5 meeting will be held on October 22
at Salem Baptist Church on Broad Street Road west of Centerville. All meetings begin
at 7 p.m. Locations were chosen because they have large spaces able to accommodate
social distancing. Face coverings are required. For those unable or uncomfortable
attending in person, the meetings will be livestreamed on the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/926/Live-Stream
or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GoochlandCountyVA/.
Please try to attend or watch one of these sessions.
County Administrator Kenneth Young announced that,
due to Covid, the county’s fall festival and Goochland Day will be replaced with
a drive through fall festival on Friday, October 30 from 3-6 p.m. at Tucker
Park. Participants will enter and exit through the overflow parking loop off of
Rt. 522 (Maidens Road). A goodie bag will be provided for all children under
the age of 12. Online costume and apple pie contests will be also be held. Visit
the parks and creation page at https://www.goochlandva.us/236/Parks-Recreation
for complete information.
County offices will be closed on Tuesday, November
3 for election day. The November supervisors’ meeting will be held on
Wednesday, November 4.
The Board unanimously approved a resolution recognizing
October as domestic violence awareness month. A representative from Goochland
Cares, which offers sexual and domestic violence help to all victims even if
they are not clients of Goochland Cares. To learn more about this visit http://www.goochlandcares.org/get-help/domestic-sexual-violence-services/.
Domestic violence destroys the fabric of family and community and must be
eradicated.
VDOT
Improvements to the Rt. 288/Broad Street Road interchange
are complete, well before the estimated date. Gone are the opportunities to “play
chicken” with oncoming traffic in the area. Good riddance!
Work continues on northbound turn lane from River
Road to Rt. 6. According the Marshall Winn, Administrator for the Ashland VDOT
Residency, completion is expected by the end of October.
The roundabout at Rts. 522 and 250 is on track for June
2021 advertisement. Although this project is in Louisa County, because so many
Goochland residents use these roads, the board requested periodic updates.
Fire-Rescue
Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson,
Jr. said that the theme of this year’s fire prevention week, October 4-10
(traditionally during the week including the anniversary of the “great Chicago
Fire, October 10, 1871) is “Serve up fire safety in the kitchen.” Courthouse Company
5 shared this information on its Facebook page.
Three new firefighters, hired in August, completed orientation
and are on duty as of October 1.
Repair of dry hydrants—used to draw water from ponds,
lakes, and streams for fire suppression—is underway. The work is being done by
outside vendors and with grants from the Virginia Department of Forestry. As many
of these water sources are on private property, Ferguson thanked land owners
for providing access for dry hydrants.
New apparatus—a ladder truck, tanker, and ambulance—are
on order. Delivery is expected in coming months.
The Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency
Services continues to respond to the Covid crisis coordinating with county agencies
and outside groups like Goochland Cares for the welfare of all residents.
Roads
In past years, the board was required to hold a public
hearing for its secondary six-year road plan. This year, the supervisors
approved this plan—which prioritizes allocation of money provided by VDOT for
road improvements in Goochland—as part of its consent agenda. (See board packet
pages 53-62 for details.)
The board voted to set a public hearing for November
4 to donate approximately two acres of county-owned land to VDOT for right-of-way
for the roundabout planned at the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook
Roads in Courthouse Village.
Economic development
The board authorized the county administrator to
execute an amendment to the governor’s agriculture and forestry industry industries
development fund (AFID) performance agreement between Hardywood Park Craft
Brewery, LLC., the Goochland Economic Development Authority, and Goochland County
to extend the performance date by 15 months. This is another
consequence of the Covid lockdown.
Reynolds Community College
Dr. Paula Pando, president of Reynolds Community
College, updated the supervisors on what the college has been up to. (See the
October 7 recording for details.)
County finances
Director of Finance Barbara Horlacher presented
unaudited final results for FY2020, which ended on June 30. Final numbers
indicate that the county took in about $5 million more than it spent. The board
approved changes in the assigned uses of the general fund; budget amendments to
appropriate CARES Act funds and available FY 2020 fund balance to the FY 2021
budget. It also approved additional allocations from the county’s corona virus
relief funds to help schools offset extraordinary expenses related to pandemic
response. It also restored CIP funds to the schools for projects including cyclical
replacements, roof repairs, and purchase of a school bus. (See Oct. 7 board
packet pages 82 through 89 for details.)
Closed session
The supervisors met in closed session to discuss
the performance and duties of the county attorney.
Public hearings
The board took the following actions following
public hearings:
·
Approved a rezoning application to
create one additional lot 8.441 acres in size on Broad Street Road approximately
.75 southwest of DuVal Road.
·
Approved renewal of a conditional use
permit for an automobile graveyard at 4060 Shannon Hill Road. Conditions included
reducing the number of vehicles on the property by five per year.
·
Approved renewal of a CUP for Robin and
Sylvester Bryce to operate a professional office at 2744 Hadensville-Fife Road.
·
Approved a conditional use permit filed
by Joseph Liesfeld, Jr. for a place of public assembly; unhosted short term
rental; campground; retail use; private airstrip; and commercial recreation on
approximately 1,025 acres on River Road West and Old Columbia Road. This
expands the uses for the area generally known as Rassawek hosts a spring jubilee,
has a winery, and serves as an event venue for weddings, private gatherings,
and wreath workshops. The CUP, said representatives of Rassawek, will enable
expansion of its operations. The airstrip was relocated toward the interior of
the property after neighbors objected to its proximity to their property during
the public hearing before the planning commission. At the supervisors’ public
hearing, neighboring land owners contended that the expanded uses would bring
noise, traffic, and higher property taxes. Supporters contended that it showcases
the best of Goochland and preserves the rural character of the county.
·
Approved an ordinance amendment dealing
with the service district established to pay for roads in the Bridgewater subdivision.
The amendment establishes each parcel’s share of the tax liability of bringing roads
in the neighborhood to state standards and allows property owners to prepay
their share with no penalty. It also clarifies wording of the existing ordinance.
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