Taking care of business

 

Cutting the ribbon at the Goochland Business Center. Sara Worley on the left, Casey Verberg second from right

Goochland is home to many commercial enterprises ranging in size from Capital One to small home-based operations. The county economic development team of Casey Verberg, who works to attract new enterprises to the county, and Sara Worley, charged with supporting existing businesses, have been busier than ever during the Covid disruption. Earlier this year, the Economic Development Department moved into the Goochland Business Center, sharing space with the Chamber of Commerce to provide “one stop shopping” for information on starting and growing business in the county.

If these women, who work with the County’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) have their way, current businesses will survive and thrive and attract newcomers to enhance the local economy, strengthen the tax base, and bring more jobs to Goochland. The goal is to have 30 percent of tax revenue generated by business the remainder from real estate tax.

At the December 9 EDA meeting, Verberg announced that Goochland was ranked 10^th nationally by the Economic Modeling Specialists International in the small county category for talent attraction. (https://www.economicmodeling.com/talent-attraction-scorecard-2020/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=102212400&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Y9r1I7JDpu6JODrWb2ax_KgkHF-9pYoYXpHwCCrpr2Al2bPdNu31P_3TVmi) The designation helps put Goochland “on the radar” of companies considering a move to Virginia.

Verberg is working with 13 active new business prospects. If all come to fruition, that could mean more that $600 million in new investment and more than three thousand new jobs for Goochland.

Worley said that she conducted business walks at some of the county’s industrial parks to connect with local companies. She learned that, of the 25 businesses she spoke with, most had not been negatively impacted by Covid. Those involved in construction, however, expressed concern about cancellation of public sector projects going forward.

Lack of signage for industrial parks, which is not allowed under current county zoning rules, was mentioned as a negative by several companies hoping to increase their visibility. Worley is investigating how neighboring counties handle this issue and perhaps pursue zoning amendments to permit signage.

Small businesses in Goochland were hammered by Covid. The county economic development department created a Back to Business program that distributed $150 thousand CARES Act funds to about 25 county businesses to help them recover some of the extraordinary expenses incurred to stay open during the pandemic. “Small” is defined as fewer than 99 employees.

Worley also worked with local businesses looking expand tourism opportunities and helped another, whose supply chain was disrupted by Covid, find a replacement vendor in central Virginia.

The Capital Region Small Business Development Center has officially, and virtually opened, said Worley. It will provide a wide range of services to help small businesses get started and operate successfully. These include business plan development; market research; financial management; strategic planning; and business management. Visit (https://capitalregionvasbdc.com/

Economic Development worked with the Goochland Chamber of Commerce, goochlandchamber.org, to help promote the shop local small business promotion.

Verberg and Worley are also keeping a close eye on Congress for additional Covid relief that could benefit Goochland.

Verberg and Worley are eager to work with new and existing companies in Goochland. Visit the economic development website at http://www.goochlandforbusiness.com/  for lots of good information about local enterprise or contact them at cverberg@goochlandva.us or sworley@goochlandva.us.

 

December board highlights

The Goochland Board of Supervisors held its last monthly meeting of 2020 on December 1.

Presiding over her final meeting as board chair, District 1 Supervisor Susan Lascolette summed up this very strange time.

“It’s been quite a year. On March 26, in response to Covid, we declared a state of emergency and passed a continuity of government resolution, which is still in effect. We survived and thrived. We found new ways of doing things to make sure that everyone gets the services they need. We approved cell towers and entered into a partnership with Central Virginia Electric Coop to expand broadband.”

The county submitted grant applications for a $12 million investment that could connect an additional 1,187 additional homes and businesses by 2023. The county, said Lascolette, did two budgets this year—before and after Covid—yet kept real estate and ad valorem tax rates level, lowered the personal property tax rate, and increased the allowance for elderly and disabled tax credit, and received a clean audit. This was made possible by everyone on staff paying attention to all the details. She thanked everyone for their hard work to keep Goochland going.

The supervisors will hold a public hearing at their January 5 meeting on an ordinance to permit paying bonuses to county and school employees.

Following the March resignation of John Budesky, the county launched a nationwide search for his successor. Kenneth A. “Kenny” Young was named county administrator and started work on September 14. The board, said Lascolette, appreciates the fine job that Derek Stamey did as interim county administrator during July and August. He dealt with hurricanes during a pandemic.

Lascolette said she could not be “more proud” of Goochland public safety.  Sheriff Steven Creasey, who took office on January 1, and Mike Watkins who became Deputy Fire-Rescue Chief-EMS to succeed Eddie Ferguson who now serves as Chief, have done an outstanding job of serving the citizens during the pandemic.

 She praised the school board, “wow!” and school division for its careful response to the unprecedented challenges posed by Covid.

Lascolette noted that throughout the lockdown the work of the County continued with ribbon cuttings; clean up days; and DMV Select carrying on through it all. She lamented cancellation of the Independence Day fireworks but lauded the success of the modified fall festival. Our general registrar and electoral board overcame many challenges to hold a successful election.

Looking forward to 2021, Lascolette said that redistricting, resulting from the 2020 census, will change local voting districts. Hopefully, there will be another trip to New York City for the county to secure a hat trick third triple A bond rating—a rare accomplishment for a county the size of Goochland—and a possible bond referendum in November to fund needed infrastructure. In closing, Lascolette thanked her fellow supervisors for the opportunity to serve as board chair. (To hear her remarks in their entirety, see the recording of the December 1 meeting at https://www.goochlandva.us/943/Video-of-Past-BOS-Meetings beginning at the 14:26 minute mark)

Due to Covid travel restrictions placed on state employees, no VDOT representative attended the meeting.

Fire-Rescue and emergency services

In addition to its ongoing response to the pandemic, Goochland Fire-Rescue dealt with major flooding in the county as the result of heavy rains around November 12. The 23-foot crest of the James River was the highest since 2003. Fire-Rescue, in its emergency management role, continues to partner with many agencies including the Goochland Sheriff’s Office, schools, the Chickahominy Health Department, and several social service organizations.

Goochland EMS providers, explained Ferguson, wear a high level of PPE including N95 respirators when interacting with patients. Transport of Covid patients to area hospitals requires extensive decontamination of equipment after each call, which increases both the length of the call and time that units are out of service for cleaning.

New emergency apparatus will join the Goochland fleet in coming months. A 2,500-gallon tanker will be assigned to Courthouse Company 5 in late December. A new ambulance will be delivered in March, and the long-awaited ladder truck, which will be housed at Manakin Company 1, to serve the east end is expected in May. A new boat for water rescue, also for Company 1 will arrive in summer.

Mike Harmon was appointed as the supervisors’ liaison to the Fire-Rescue Association Board of Directors.

 (To see the entire report, go to the December 1 board packet http://goochlandcountyva.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1280&Inline=True starting on page 63.

Health Department

Dr. Thomas Frank, Health Director of the Chickahominy Health District, which includes the Goochland County Health Department, presented his agency’s annual report to the supervisors. (it begins on the past recorded meeting about the 1:53 mark.) The CHD provides clinical services; environmental health inspections; and special programs.

Goochland ranked 10 out of 133 jurisdictions for its health outcomes, which includes longevity.

The opioid epidemic is ongoing and has not getting better, said Frank, but the focus this year was Covid response.

As of November 30, Goochland had 451 cases of Covid since March (the count on December 10 according to the Virginia Department of Health (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia/ is 497). It was the highest it’s ever been and continues to climb; the positivity percentage doubled in a week. He attributed the increase, in part, to Covid fatigue. Frank said that of the 451 on November 30, 11 cases were open, 433 closed. He did not define open or closed. There have been 7 deaths attributed to Covid in Goochland since March, the last was recorded on July 28. To date, since March, 37 Goochlanders have been hospitalized according to the VDH website.

“Cases” means confirmed and probable, explained Frank. Confirmed is a positive PCR test, probable is someone who has symptoms or is linked to a confirmed case. Frank contended that the PCR test is the “gold standard”. He admitted that the timing of the identification of a positive case can be hard to pinpoint and there may be “quite a bit of lag” in reporting. Frank said the most prevalent incubation period is between four to six or seven days. The best time to get tested is to wait four or more days after suspected exposure with no symptoms.

The CHD has conducted Covid testing and flu shot clinics in Goochland, the last on November 11. These are believed to be “dry runs” for distribution of Covid vaccines.

 

Thoughts on a December Day

This year seems like a dystopian novel, but it’s been all too real.

As we look forward to putting 2020 in the rearview mirror, the intrepid souls in our community who found ways to continue traditions, albeit modified for Covid, are to be thanked for their ingenuity and spirit.

The list includes:

The Christmas Mother program (https://www.goochlandchristmasmother.org/) whose dedicated volunteers “pivoted”—a new addition to our vocabulary—to find ways to help those economically challenged to have a Merry Christmas. This year’s Christmas Mother, Joy Kline and her elves will not let a pandemic halt the important work of this group.  Community building aspects of this program, shopping, wrapping, distributing, went away, but the spirit of giving shines brightly. It is never too late to donate to the Christmas Mother!

Joy Kline 2020 Goochland Christmas Mother

Goochland Parks and Rec, partnering with the YMCA, welcomed 800 cars for a drive through visit with Santa at Hidden Rock Park on December 4. More than 350 pounds of food and cash donations collected at this event were delivered to Goochland Cares. The virtual lighting of the county’s Christmas Tree at the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads followed later that evening.  The tree will remain lit until January 1. Our new County Administrator Kenneth “Kenny” Young flipped the switch after presenting a check to Kline for $2,045 raised by county staff for this worthwhile cause.

Parks and rec is not done with Christmas joy. “Santa calling” will give kids a chance to talk with the jolly elf on December 10.

Salem Baptist Church staged a reservation-only version of Bethlehem Walk. This annual event takes visitors to Bethlehem of long ago and reminds us of the meaning of the season.

Goochland High School’s Drama Department livestreamed its production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” last weekend. Combing technology and creativity to overcome the restrictions of social distancing provided a unique experience both for the student participants and audience. Kudos to all who found a way in these very strange times to follow the dictum “the show must go on!”.

Among Covid casualties was the last Field Day of the Past at the Ashland Road site. Its Christmas open house, a quiet respite from the clatter of a normal holiday season, was also cancelled. However, Santa and his reindeer fly over Ashland Road one more time.

May the lessons we learned from the high weird of 2020 serve us well in the coming year.

 

 

 

 

Jobs well done

 

At the start of the December 1 meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors, three people who are retiring at the end of 2020 were recognized for their service to the county.

Dr. Arthur C. “Ace” Ernst served as volunteer Operational Medical Director for Goochland Fire-Rescue from 2000 to 2020. During this time, Goochland’s emergency medical service transitioned from an all- volunteer agency through contractual support to today’s combination system of volunteers and career providers.

 

Dr. Arthur C. Ernst and OMD badge

Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. explained that rescue squads operate under the license of their operational medical director. Serving in that capacity for Goochland, Cumberland, and Ashcake Volunteer Rescue Squad Ernst, while an active emergency room physician, Ernst also acted as regional medical director for the Old Dominion Emergency Medical Services Alliance (ODEMSA). ODEMSA is one of 11 Regional Emergency Medical Alliances in Virginia, served by 25 hospitals and approximately 100 EMS agencies. (Visit https://odemsa.net/ for complete information.)

Ernst’s understanding of the challenges faced by rural EMS, said Ferguson, allowed Goochland’s basic emergency medical technicians, EMT-B, to employ aggressive lifesaving patient care protocols including Epi-pens; nebulizer breathing treatments; and Narcan administration when Advanced Life Support providers were not available. Ernst trusted our advance life support providers (ALS) with aggressive lifesaving protocols. His oversight of EMS operations in Goochland and attention to detail ensured that all providers received ample training to deliver patient care of such high quality that Goochland EMS has repeatedly been recognized for its excellence.

Working closely with the Goochland Sheriff’s Office and dispatch Ernst played a vital part in last year’s implementation of emergency medical dispatch training dispatchers to provide prearrival emergency care instructions to 911 callers. This began saving local lives as soon as it became operational.

Ernst has been a true champion of and cheer leader for EMS providers with his unwavering support, said Ferguson. Excellence in EMS delivery does not happen by accident. It is the product of careful oversight, planning, training, and dedication to community service made possible by people like Dr. Ernst.

At the end of his remarks Ferguson presented Ernst with something he had wanted for years, an official OMD badge. Ernst presented Ferguson with a toy ambulance. He thanked the community for welcoming him and giving him the opportunity to work with Goochland rescue squads.

 

Keeping Goochland rural does not happen by accident either. Support for our agricultural community is the prime task of the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District.

Pam Pleasants, who served as the office administrator for the MSWCD since 1989. Her duties included oversight of the Virginia Agriculture Cost Share Program which contracts with local farmers to transition annual cover crops to permanent vegetation and stream exclusion for cattle to improve the quality of water and soil in Goochland.

Board Chair Susan Lascolette and Pam Pleasants (r)

During Pleasants’ tenure, more than 61 miles of streambank have been fenced to keep cattle out and 334 acres of riparian (river bank) buffers have been created under her management of $2,366,335 of cost share funds.  Fifteen flawless external audits of the MSWCD finances were conducted on her watch. In 2019, she was recognized as the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Association’s Chaffin Employee of the Year Award at its annual conference. Serving with 30 elected district commissioners from both Goochland and Powhatan, Pleasants provided historic perspective to their deliberations.

 

Kelly Parrish, the county’s human resources director, who will retire at the end of the year was thanked for her service. County Administrator Kenneth A. Young announced that Jessica Rice will succeed Parrish.  Rice, who comes to Goochland from Fluvanna County, will start work on January 4, 2021.

County Administrator Kenneth Young, Susan Lascolette, Kelly Parrish.

 

 

Keeping the books in a time of plague

 

Where does the money go?

There’s been a lot going on this year. “Normal” is but a fond memory as we try to cope with changes to all facets of our lives caused by Covid.

On November 24, the Goochland Board of Supervisors received the certified annual financial report (CAFR) for fiscal year 2020, which ended on June 30. This document, available in its entirety at https://www.goochlandva.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1822 shows how the county, including the school division, dealt with the early onslaught of the pandemic.

In March, while the budget process for FY2021 was in full swing, the supervisors and school board recognized that the lockdowns could decrease expected revenues and amended the FY 2020 budget accordingly.

As the year wore on, the county’s fiscal outlook proved not to be as dire as predicted in the spring. Director of Finance Barbara Horlacher and Debbie White, her counterpart in the school division, went through their respective budgets line by line to identify non-essential items that could be cut to ensure that budgets would balance at the end of the fiscal year, as required by law, yet fund ongoing operations.

Monthly reviews during the ensuing months revealed that the revenue situation was not as bad as initially feared, allowing some of the cuts to be reversed. First half tax receipts came better than the four percent decline predicted in March.

County and school staff worked hard to continue to provide services in spite of budget cuts. Most county revenue is derived from real estate and personal property tax. The next payment is due on December 7—because the actual due date is December 5, a Saturday, the deadline is the following Monday.

Prepared by PBMares, the outside auditing firm retained by the county, the CAFR has a great deal of interesting information about Goochland, its history, current operations, and future capital spending plans.

The footnotes at the end provide a detailed explanation of revenues, their sources, and how they are used. They also provide information on pension liabilities and other post-employment benefits, including retiree health care plans and group insurance.

For the past several years, Goochland County, and our school division have been recognized for excellence in financial reporting by organizations of their peers. Riding herd on public money is an exacting task in normal times, and more complicated during the high weird of a pandemic.

Careful stewardship of public funds is the most important task of elected officials. They need to know that engaged citizens watch how their tax dollars are used. Pay attention.