Highlights of last Board meeting of 2021

 

The last meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors for 2021 took place on December 7. This was the last meeting with John Lumpkins, Jr., District 3 as board chair. It is the custom of the supervisors to rotate the chair among its members. A new chair will be elected at the January 4, 2022, meeting.

The afternoon session followed the annual employee recognition luncheon honoring those with five years benchmark service anniversaries.

The Rev. John Maher of St. Francis Episcopal Church on Hockett Road offered a moving invocation on the 80^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He asked the Lord to give wisdom to those who govern our county.

Interim County Administrator, The Hon. Manuel Alvarez, Jr., reported that the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, henceforth to be known as "Goochland's Grand Illumination", on December 3, was a great success. Attendance was estimated at about 1,200, far higher than previous years. "Someone told me it was like being in a Hallmark Christmas movie," he said.

County staff donated a record $3,111 to this year's Christmas Mother Ann Casey. "No taxpayer dollars were involved," quipped Alvarez. Collaborating to make the occasion memorable were the Parks and Recreation staff, Goochland Fire-Rescue, Jan Kenny from the Goochland YMCA, the Pamunkey Regional Library, the folks from General Services who put the tree up, and the amazing Goochland High School Dance troupe. He thanked all who generously donated food to Goochland Cares.

Goochland is blessed with a corps of dedicated and intrepid employees who found creative ways to keep local government running amid pandemic restrictions. The 33 people recognized for their service represent over 300 years of combined service to the county. Among the honorees, is 20-year veteran, County Executive Assistant and Deputy Clerk Lisa Beczkiewicz who keeps everyone else on track. (Go to page 7 of the December 7 board packet, available on the county website goochlandva.us, for the complete list.)

l to r Paul Drumwright, marking 15 years of service; Manuel Alvarez, Jr.,  Lisa Beczkiewicz, Board Chair John Lumpkins, Jr. The other employees honored for service anniversaries went back to work after lunch. The Board meeting is work for Lisa and Paul.

Putting its money where its mouth is, the Board adopted a resolution amending the FY22 budget by budgeting and appropriating $1.2 million in the County General Fund and School operating fund for one-time employee bonuses for county and school staff. This breaks down to $550,000 for permanent full and part-time county employees in good standing who were employed as of September 27, 2021, and did not receive a bonus in November 2021. The remaining $700 k is for school employee bonuses.

During citizen comment Jonathan Lyle, a director of  the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District, reported on the recent Virginia Farm Bureau  state conference.

"Solar collection facilities do not farm anything," he said. "They are industrial in nature. In some places, they qualify for land use taxation. The VFB's position is that they should not qualify for that." Lyle contended that claiming solar collection facilities are "farms" and therefore qualify for land use taxation is disingenuous at best.

            (Property must be actively engaged in agricultural or timber—trees are a crop—use to qualify to be taxed at a per acre rate set by the state. Land use taxation is justified because cows do not send their children to school, and do not call 911. Lower tax bills help small farmers stay in business, so they are not tempted to sell their land to developers.)

A proposed calendar for the FY 2023, budget process was approved.  The county administrator's recommended budget will be presented to the supervisors on February 22, 2022. Following discussion, town hall presentations to citizens, and public hearings, approval of the FY 23 budget and setting of tax rates for calendar year 2023 is anticipated on April 19.

The supervisors unanimously voted to adopt a conflict-of-interest policy for appointees to various boards and commissions. This requires financial disclosure from individuals appointed. (See page 61 in the board packet for details.)

A public hearing was set for January 4 to amend the county ordinance dealing with on site alternate septic systems; conventional on-site sewage systems, including pump out requirements; and related issues. (Go to page 64 in the board packet for details.)

The interim county administrator, the Honorable Manuel Alvarez, Jr., was authorized to execute the following agreements:

·        With Timmons Group, Inc. for professional engineering services to design the water and sewer systems for the Huguenot Hills neighborhood at a cost not to exceed $381,900. This property is part of the Tuckahoe Creek Service District. The cost of the project is included in the county utilities' master plan.

·         Second amendments to the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund, Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, and Local Incentives Performance Agreements between Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, LLC, Goochland County Economic Development Authority, and the County. Covid lockdowns prevented Hardywood from reaching the goals established in the original agreements. (See page 97 of the board packet for details.)

·        A third amendment to existing wastewater agreement with the Department of Corrections to increase the amount of wastewater treatment capacity in Courthouse Village from 136,000 gallons to day, to 180,000 to accommodate growth. The County will pay $1,939,110 to the DOC to construct Phase 1 of these upgrades. Funds for this project have been budgeted in the utility capital improvement project fund.

Marshal Winn, Ashland Residency Administrator for VDOT reported that the roundabout planned for the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads is ahead of schedule with advertisement expected in January 2022, which would start construction by early summer. No word on where the county Christmas tree will be located next year.

Ken Peterson, District 5, asked if work is complete for the odd turn lane configuration at the intersection of Rt. 6 and Pagebrooke Drive near Rt. 288. Winn said that coordinating contractors to properly stripe the lanes had been a problem. He also said that work at the location was just finished, and he expected the intersection to operate as planned. At this time, no traffic signal is planned there.

There was also discussion about access to Rt. 6 from the newly opened Tuckahoe Pines retirement facility near the Henrico County line. As approved, no eastbound (left) turns were permitted. Vehicles wishing to go east were to make a right (west) turn onto Rt. 6 and go to the signalized intersection at Hope Church to make a U turn. Apparently, this is not happening, and cars are "wiggling" through the median to make left turns, increasing the potential for wrecks. Winn said he would see if there are ways to discourage left turns.

Neil Spoonhower, District 2, who serves on the Central Virginia Transportation Authority reported 50 percent of a local tax on gas and groceries, which was levied a few years ago, has resulted in about $2.4 million coming back to Goochland for engineering to improve Interstate 64 interchanged at Ashland and Oilville Roads. Some of the money generated—Goochland is a "donor" member because we contribute more than we get back—also goes to Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC). There is currently no bus service to Goochland. However, a survey is being conducted to gauge interest in micro transit—vehicles transporting small groups of people, perhaps for medical appointments—in Goochland. Go to https://grtc.metroquest.com/ to take the survey.