Tuesday 22222

 

On the palindromic Tuesday of 2/22/22, the Goochland Board of Supervisors met to hear the proposed budget for FY 2023, which begins on July 1, presented by Interim County Administrator the Hon. Manuel Alvarez, Jr. The budget process, he explained, starts in earnest around October, but evolves throughout the year. Alvarez commended all who participated in the process, including county departments, Constitutional Officers, and other agencies, for their hard work and collaboration on the budget.

Wise and prudent use of tax dollars is the most important duty of the board of supervisors. Balancing agency funding requests with available money is always a delicate task.

The proposed budget is based on the current real estate tax rate, 53 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. This will generate 11.1 percent more revenue than last year due to higher-than-expected property assessments and new construction. Real estate tax revenue, the primary income source for the county, is forecast to increase by just over $8 million from FY 22. The ad valorem tax rate levied on property in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District will remain at 32 cents per $100 of valuation.

The proposed budget includes a decrease of ten cents to $3.85 per $100 of assessed valuation for personal property tax, again due to an unprecedented rise in used car values. An increase in real estate tax relief for "certain elderly and disabled persons" from $900 to $1,000 was also factored in budget calculations.

Because the increase in revenue exceeds one percent from the previous year, state law requires the county to notify citizens that the 53-cent rate represents a 10.4 percent tax increase. The "roll back" rate, which would generate the same amount of revenue as last year, is 48 cents.

Land use taxation for property in agricultural use amounts to $713 million. If you want rural you need agriculture. Our farmers need all the help they can get to stay in business. As Monacan Soil and Water District Director Jonathan Lyle often quips in defense of land use taxation "cows don't go to school or dial 911".  Property owners must certify that their land is eligible for this. Land use per acre tax rates are set by the state.

According to the notice of proposed real property tax increase: "Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the general fund budget of the County of Goochland will exceed last year's by 13.2 percent and the total budget of the county will be 12.5 percent less than last year's budget, primarily due to the decrease in the Capital Improvement Plan."

The decrease in the capital improvement plan is the result of issuance of $50 million of general obligation bonds earlier this year.

The annual budget document contains a wealth of interesting information about Goochland County above and beyond numbers, with many illustrative charts and graphs. Please, especially if you are new to the county, take some time to peruse the proposed budget. (Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2009to view the document) For the past few years, our budget are so well done that they have been recognized for excellence by the Government Finance Officers Association.

The supervisors set a public hearing on the FY23 budget for April 5, 2022, at 6 p.m. to be followed by adoption of the budget on April 19 at 2 p.m.

Adhering to the board's commitment to fund core services of law enforcement, fire-rescue, and education, the budget includes robust increases for those functions.

Goochland prides itself on adhering to conservative fiscal policies. Alvarez said that last year, the county expected growth in the four percent range, in line with previous years. That number will be used looking forward to FY 24 because, he contended, current increases are unsustainable.

The county budget presented in February 2020 was based on normal growth but was slashed before adoption in anticipation of the unknown impact of Covid lockdowns. As county finances proved not to be as bad as feared, the budget was tweaked. Thanks to careful fiscal management, Goochland did not lay anyone off during the pandemic. A three percent merit increase for county employees was used in the proposed budget but could change before final adoption as the county is engaged in a compensation benchmark study so that Goochland can attract and retain high quality employees.

Schools will receive an additional $1 million, which represents a four percent increase. Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Raley will present the school budget to the supervisors on March 1 at 2 p.m.

Debt service will increase by 40.06 percent over last year to $5,318,697. This is well within the county policy that holds debt service to no more than 12 percent of general fund expenditures. The proposed amount is less than eight percent.

Included in the proposed budget are:  14 full time public safety positions, this includes law enforcement and fire-rescue; three part-time public safety positions; two full time public utilities positions; and four full time non-public safety positions.

Departments and agencies make presentations to the board during budget season to explain what they do and justify their funding requests. Public safety—the Sheriff's Office, Fire-Rescue, and Animal Protection—were up first on the 22^nd.

These may be viewed by going to the county website, https://www.goochlandva.us/  and clicking on the archived tab of "watch county meetings" for the February 22 session. Each provides detailed insights into the different facets of public safety operations.

 

Goochland Sheriff Steven Creasey outlined the myriad of tasks his agency performs, including prisoner transport, 911 dispatch, service of legal papers, court security, and general law enforcement, all manpower intensive. Covid—at one point 15 employees were out with the virus—became an "all hands-on deck" situation. Creasey and Chief Deputy Major Mike East, who both began their law enforcement careers as 911 dispatchers, contemplated "dusting off their headsets" to ensure that dispatch remained in operation.

Creasey's personnel requests, all of which are in the proposed budget, include six full time deputy positions, one full time dispatcher for the E911 center, one part time deputy and one part-time administrative assistant.  He also requested vehicle replacements.

To cover all of Goochland's 281.42 square miles, 33.4 miles from the Henrico line at River Road to Shannon Hill, there is currently a mandatory minimum of four deputies assigned to patrol 24/7. Creasey has implemented a long-range staffing plan to add deputy positions for each of the next five years eventually increasing the mandatory minimum to seven, which could translate to 10 on duty deputies, depending on training vacations, and sick leave.

Creasey said that a pressing challenge for staffing is mental health related incidents. When these calls involve either emergency custody, or temporary detention orders, at least one deputy must remain with the person in question until a bed in an appropriate facility can be secured. Sometimes, said Creasey, these incidents can extend for several days pulling deputies off the road. He said that General Assembly needs to address the issue.

Training is a vital for a high-quality law enforcement agency. "We train because our citizens expect and deserve the best," said Creasey.

Corporal Liberty and Deputy Kendall Dolan

He gave a brief overview of the many programs the GCSO uses to engage the community. "We do these to bring people together so the first interaction they have with us is a positive one," said Creasey. Among upcoming programs is a teen driving course using golf carts and "intoxication goggles" to illustrate the danger of impaired and risky driving in a safe, controlled environment.

Saving the best for last, the Sheriff introduced Corporal Liberty, who is still in the training academy with her handler Deputy Kendall Dolan. Liberty is a bloodhound who will find missing people be they impaired folks who may have wandered away, or bad guys.

Ken Peterson District 5 commended the Sheriff for his efforts to turn the "we, they" point of view into "us".

 

Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. "Eddie" Ferguson, Jr. echoed many of the concerns expressed by the Sheriff. Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services is also a manpower intensive function. Unlike law enforcement, fire-rescue, tasked with saving lives and protecting property, has significant capital costs for stations, equipment, and apparatus.

Keeping pace with county growth and increased calls for service, especially during Covid and the devastating January storm, has been a challenge. The proposed budget includes five new full-time fire/EMS positions as well as a full-time fire marshal.

When the West Creek Fire-Rescue station opens in a few years, 21 new career providers will be needed in addition to equipment including engines and ambulances, all big ticket items. A second ladder truck to replace Ladder 5, which has served the county well for almost 30 years, is included in this year's capital improvement plan. Ferguson said delivery time for new fire apparatus is about two years.

The Chief said that the available pool of pretrained fire-rescue recruits has dwindled, making it necessary for Goochland to hire willing people of good moral and ethical values and train them.  A recruiting initiative is under way to attract volunteer providers to supplement the career personnel.

Animal Protection Director Job Greene explained that his department has two sections, field service, and the animal shelter. As with every other agency, calls for service have increased over the past year and will, said Green, continue to do so as the county grows.

The shelter has been able to place a bit north of 95 percent of the animals that come through its doors. While the vast majority are dogs and cats, the shelter has found new homes for a snake and a lizard. Animals transferred out are typically those with diseases like leukemia.

A corps of outstanding volunteers makes the work of the shelter possible, said Green. "By the middle of February, our volunteers had logged more than 390 hours for the month." He credited the partnership with Goochland Pet Lovers, which provides spay/neuter clinics, and medications, for keeping operating costs down.

Animal protection has five full time officers, who enforce all state and county animal welfare laws and provide for the safety and welfare of residents as it pertains to the control of domestic animals.

Green's budget request included a shelter coordinator attendant position to do administrative tasks as well as administering medications. Site work for a two-stall corral at the shelter was also requested. The Deep Run Hunt Club donated some finds for this, which were used to bring power and water to the site. The shelter has had a Holstein bull, miniature horse, and regular horse. It currently has a Billy goat.

Looking forward Greene hopes to partner with additional civic and business groups. A rescue dog Olympics is schedules for May 21 at Lickinghole Brewery.

The budget adopted in April may be adjusted after the supervisors have reviewed agency presentations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yin v. Yang

 

Yin v. Yang

Goochlanders are pulled between wanting to preserve the county's rural character—whatever that is—and craving amenities close to home. A recent example was the vigorous opposition to a rezoning application for a Dollar General Store in Georges Tavern. The supervisors cited unresolved traffic safety concerns as they denied the application.

The land use strategy that Goochland has used for about 40 years, the "Village Concept" aims to concentrate residential growth and commercial activity in areas designated as villages in the county's comprehensive land use plan. (Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/250/2035-Comprehensive-Plan to view the entire document.)

Courthouse Village, and Centerville, both served by public water and sewer, which supports high density development, are designated growth areas.

Residential rezoning applications, especially those for high density in the villages, are usually opposed by citizens. When asked what they would prefer instead of the proposal under discussion, the response is often "I don't know, but not that," which provides developers and county planners no useful information.

Over the years, several plans for both Centerville and Courthouse Village have been crafted as dissertations by graduate students. These presented thoughtful approaches to build out but were filed away. The county needs clear and practical development blueprints for both villages that are used.

To that end, Goochland retained the firm of Hill Studio (https://www.hillstudio.com) of Roanoke to create small area plans for both villages.

Two community kickoff meetings were held last week, one for Courthouse Village on February 16, a second for Centerville on February 17. They included a lot of high level "planner speak" while offering much thought provoking information.

At these meetings, David Hill, president of Hill Studio, said that Arnett Muldrow (http://arnettmuldrow.com/) of Greenville, South Carolina is a partner on the project. He explained that their task is to create "small area plans" for each village.  The team will start from scratch using the current village boundaries—lines on a map—that could change as a result of the project.

The team started with a "deep dive" into the economy of the county. This included the median income and growth rate, both exaggerated by the county's small population, and asked attendees what they want to see in each village, what they don't want, and how they want the place to look. Hill asked for guidance on density and branding for each place—how it is portrayed to the rest of the world.

Maps showing different aspects of each village, including aerial views, topography, roads, subdivisions, and boundaries as shown in the Comp Plan, were displayed on easels for close inspection. Attendees seemed surprised at the size of the villages. There was an assumption that Courthouse Village was River Road West between the women's farm and the administration building and in Centerville along Broad Street Road between Ashland and Manakin Roads.

The final plans will include recommendations for branding, colors, slogans, signage, and placement of specific land uses and densities.

"We want to know what you want," Hill told both groups. In March and April, a community- wide survey will be posted online. Hill urged anyone, regardless of where they live, with an interest in Goochland to complete the survey. A midway meeting will take place in May, and a final session in August. These will incorporate changes based on input from previous meetings and seek feedback on the updates. Adoption of final plans, after public hearings before both the planning commission and supervisors, is expected in November 2022.

Snapshots of each village include market-based master plans to encourage economically viable development strategies.

While Goochland is small and rural it's growing fast. The team presented an economic overview including a study to identify retail and commercial opportunities, housing type, density, and perhaps price point, will be part of the final document.

Elements of a village, said Hill, include noticeable boundaries, intentional public spaces—like our Courthouse green—neighborhoods. The key, said Hill, is that nodes are carefully planned. Night life in public spaces, is an attribute of a good village. Paths, including roads, can enhance or degrade a village. Hill asked for community input as to what kind of paths, and roads, should be in Courthouse Village.

The villages, said Hill, could include different districts. For instance, Courthouse Village might be comprised of a district around the Courthouse, and another including the administration building, and the area around Courthouse Commons shopping center.

The comp plan designates Courthouse Village a community hub. It has many attributes of a traditional village such as government buildings, schools, businesses, churches, the library, and YMCA. Curiously, there was no mention of the 94-acre campus of Reynolds Community College, a superb, but under-used facility.

Courthouse Village (2035 Comprehensive Plan)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Centerville's session drew a standing room only crowd adamantly opposed to Centerville becoming an extension of Short Pump. This village may well have too many disparate parts to be considered a single entity.

Centerville (2035 Comp Plan)

It also has an identity crisis. In addition to the existence of Centreville in northern Virginia, Centerville has several zip codes, but none of its own. Because the businesses on Broad Street Road have Manakin Sabot zip codes, many people refer to that area as Manakin. The water tower "Welcomes" you to Centerville, but few people pay attention. Property east of Ashland Road has a Richmond zip code, that to the north has a Rockville zip code, but it's all in Goochland.

Justification for the current boundaries of the Centerville Village have been lost in the mists of time. As drawn, this village consists of several disparate areas. The northern edge of West Creek where the hospital, hotel, and apartments are located has a very different feel from other parts of the village, like the parcels of raw land, some of which are used for agricultural purposes and taxed at land use rates, along Broad Street Road in the village "core" between Ashland and Manakin Roads.

The presentations will be posted on the county website goochlandva.us under Village Plans 2022 under the community development tab. Submit comments about Courthouse Village to courthouseplan22@goochlandva.us for Centerville to centervilleplan22@goochlandva.us. Your input on this initiative is key to its success. It will be very interesting to see how this unfolds.

 

 

 

Burn ban has begun

 Virginia Department of Forestry - 4:00 P.M. Burning Law in Effect Through April 30^th

 

Goochland, VA – The Virginia Department of Forestry 4 p.m. Burn Law is in effect from February 15th through April 30th.

 

The 4:00 PM Burning Law specifies:

 

• No burning until AFTER 4:00 p.m. February 15 through April 30 of each year, if the fire is in or within 300 feet of woodland, brushland or field containing dry grass or other flammable material.
• Fire shall not be left unattended if within 150 feet of woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass.
• No new fires set, no fuel added, or fire rekindled after midnight.
• Law applies to campfires, warming fires, brush piles, leaves, household trash, stumps, fields of broom straw and brush or anything capable of spreading fire.
• The law provides for a penalty of up to $500, plus payment of court costs and fire suppression costs if the fire escapes.

 

For questions or more information about the 4:00 p.m. Burning Law contact the local Virginia Department of Forestry office at 540.967.3702 or Goochland County Fire-Rescue at 804.556.5304.

 

Citizens are reminded and strongly encouraged to consult the open burning regulations for Goochland County, available at https://www.goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/349/Goochland-County-Burning-Regulations, before conducting any open burning year-round.  Prior to all open burning, the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office must be notified at (804) 556-5349 with the location and times of the burning.

A summary of the open burning regulations is available on Goochland County Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services webpage at http://www.goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/349/Goochland-County-Burning-Regulations.  If you have any questions regarding open burning, please contact the Goochland County Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services Office of the Fire Marshal at (804) 556-5365.

 

For additional information on the 4:00 p.m. Burning Law please visit the Virginia Department of Forestry’s website at https://dof.virginia.gov/wildland-prescribed-fire/fire-laws/4-pm-burning-law/.

 

February 1 public hearings

Land use changes come right behind sound fiscal management in the importance of the duties of the Board of Supervisors. The board holds public hearings on land use changes before voting on them. Finding balance between the property rights of landowners and the public good is a tricky, and often contentious task. The planning commission, a five-member advisory body appointed by the supervisors, holds its own public hearings before voting on whether or not to recommend approval of an application for a change.

At its February 1 meeting, the supervisors dealt with the following cases:

An application for a place of public assembly on 4.083 acres at 2000 Valentine Road on Tax Map No. 47-1-0-45-0 was deferred at the applicant's request until March 1.

River City Funding, LLC received unanimous board approval for its conditional use permit (CUP) application for a detached accessory family housing unit on 1.35 acres on Lee Road in Crozier.

The applicant explained that he was an investor renovating the derelict property on for sale. The accessory building will be marketed as an "in law" suite to be occupied only by family members. This unit, a small building behind the main house, cannot be rented separately or used as a short-term rental. The county must be notified in writing of any change in ownership. Board Vice Chair Don Sharpe said that the applicant has done an outstanding job cleaning up an eyesore.

A decision on an application to rezone 22.82 acres at 3036 Davis Mill Road from A-1 to RR (residential rural) to create a four-lot subdivision was deferred until March 1.

Director of Community Development Jamie Sherry said that, as proposed, division of the parcel was problematic due to access to the proposed lots. The application included an access easement on land owned by a third party. The proposed division of the larger parcel does not meet regulations for a flag lot. Sherry and several board members raised concerns maintenance issues could become problematic. Sherry said she suggested alternate rear lot access solutions to the applicant who was "not open to any changes". The applicants, Danny and Madison Queensberry, were not present at the hearing. Sherry will inform the Queensberrys of concerns expressed about their application. The vote was 4-1 with Board Chair Neil Spoonhower in dissent. Had the board voted down the application, it could not be resubmitted for a year.

A vote on an application by Markel-Eagle to rezone 72.988 acres from Agricultural, Limited (A-2) and Residential Planned Unit Development (RPUD) to RPUD and Agricultural, Limited (A-2), with proffered conditions, at the southern terminus of Whippoorwill Road was deferred until March 15. This was done to allow the applicant to hold meaningful meetings with those affected by the changes.

The A-2 portion of the subject parcel is undevelopable wetland. Construction traffic will go through Reader's Branch to the west and Hockett Road. The application proposes to build 122 units, 32 of which would be attached townhomes. The design includes a stub road to the south, which could be developed for industrial uses as it is part of West Creek. The parcels under consideration are inside the Centerville Village. Though not part of this application, the supervisors made reference to an expected rezoning application for 56 acres roughly to the northeast of the Markel-Eagle parcels that would include B-1, business, uses.

There was a good bit of discussion about "Road A" a theoretical north-south connector road in the county's long term transportation plan. Road A could offer alternate access to the subject parcel. However, it does not exist and may never be built, so traffic will wind through existing streets.

Comments made by Whippoorwill Road residents indicated that, due to weather and other constraints, they had been unable to have productive discussions with Markel-Eagle about details of the rezoning application. Several residents indicated that they had little idea what impact the project would have on their property. The atmosphere of Whippoorwill Road, a half mile dead end street, will be changed dramatically by the development. One gentleman said he and his neighbors do not want Whippoorwill Road to become "the shortcut to Short Pump".

Sharpe said that during the deferral period there has to be a "good faith effort on both sides" with everyone concerned talking to each other. Another public hearing will be held on March 15 before a vote is taken.

An application made by Rhetson Companies, Inc. to rezone 3.51 acres on the north side of River Road West, approximately 300 feet from its intersection with Hadensville-Fife Road in Georges Tavern was not approved by the supervisors. The zoning change would have resulted in the construction of a Dollar General Store on the south portion of the parcel.

Many area residents spoke against the application. They contended that a "big box" national retailer would hurt the small, local businesses nearby, which sell the same items offered by Dollar General.

The applicant contended that the store would bring a badly needed amenity to Georges Tavern and hinted that it might sell fresh produce and meat, not available in what they labeled as a "food desert". One resident said that technically, a rural food desert is ten or more miles form a grocery store, Georges Tavern is nine miles from one in Courthouse Village. He said there are numerous country stores that offer food closer than ten miles to Georges Tavern.

Many did not want that kind of business in their community. A petition against the proposal signed by more than 40 area residents was presented to the board.

County Attorney Tara McGee cautioned the board that land use decisions are made on the appropriateness of proposed use, not the virtues of a particular business. The Virginia Supreme Court, she said, ruled years ago that it is "not in the purview of the local zoning authority to try to protect a local business through a zoning case."

The applicant had secured a waiver from VDOT for the location of its proposed single access to River Road West, which would also provide an entrance for the parcel to it east. Requests to lower the speed limit from 55mph, however, were denied by VDOT. District 1 Supervisor Susan Lascolette said that Georges Tavern is the only rural crossroads or village in the county whose speed limit is not 35 or 45 mph. She reiterated that VDOT refused to consider lowering the speed limit there.

In the end, traffic safety concerns caused the board to reject the application. Many nearby residents cited the traffic hazards as the speed limit on River Road West in front of the subject parcel is 55 mph. It is also opposite the intersection with Cartersville Road.

Before moving to deny approval of the application, Lascolette said that because of staff and community safety concerns about safe access, given the rate of speed tat vehicle travel in the area, the proximity of the dogleg Cartersville Road intersection, and multiple other accesses in the area, the appropriate infrastructure is not in place for commercial development to occur safely.

Sewage systems

The last public hearing was about removing provisions relating to septic systems from the Goochland County Code, because they are handled, and enforced by health department regulations. The action was approved unanimously.

 

To listen to any or all of the February 1 public hearings go to the county website goochlandva.us, click on watch county meetings, select BoS meetings and February 1.

 

 

Citizen engagement

 

Supervisors Peterson (l) Sharpe (r) and GLE chair Pete Williams (2nd from l) welcome students to the culinary arts center. 

Good government does not happen in a vacuum. It takes the commitment of honorable elected officials kept in check by citizen attention to their actions. Too often, people ignore local government, which has more impact on daily life than state or federal, to their peril.

In an effort to increase interest in all facets of the county, Goochland Leadership Enterprise (GLE) was founded in 1996 as a way for residents to learn about Goochland government and interact with elected and appointed officials. Over the years, GLE graduates have served the community in ways ranging from supervisor to Christmas Mother. GLE class members have enriched themselves and bettered the community with their service.

Comprised of fourteen sessions from September to March, GLE participants "take a look under the hood" and learn what makes Goochland work. Topics covered include education, the county budget, law enforcement, fire-rescue, courts, and non-profit organizations. The classes also travel to Richmond to meet with the Goochland delegation to the Virginia General Assembly.

A subtle, but perhaps more important benefit of GLE is the opportunity to interact with residents from every part of Goochland and all walks of life to appreciate Goochland as a whole.

On February 1, the current GLE class, under the direction of Pete Williams, had the opportunity to meet with their supervisors while enjoying a delicious dinner prepared and served by the culinary arts section of Goochland High School's Career and Technical Education department. Chef David Booth explained that the students involved in the evening's meal volunteered their time and talents for the event. Following dinner, the class attended the evening part of the monthly supervisors' meeting.

GLE participants chat with supervisors over dinner

Go to https://goochland.ext.vt.edu/ for more information about GLE. Visit them on Facebook under Goochland Leadership Enterprise. The next class starts in September.

 

Before the ground hog

 

The February 1 meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors returned to normal after the monster snowstorm disrupted the January meeting schedule.

Bonds

District 5 Supervisor Ken Peterson announced at the start of the meeting that Goochland made history having had a successful initial foray into the bond market earlier in the day.

The county issued $50 million of bonds without assistance from any state agency or cash collateral. Eleven firms submitted 31 bids in a competitive auction process, resulting in a blended interest rate of 2.8 percent. Peterson credited the county's earning three AAA bond rating for the successful financial process. "Goochland is the smallest county in the nation to have this kind of credit rating," he said. "This is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people."

Board Chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2 observed that the 98 percent of citizens who pay their taxes on time also contributed to the success of the bond auction. Proceeds from the bonds, whose issuance was overwhelmingly approved by county voters last November, will fund a new Goochland Elementary School and West Creek Fire Station.

Black History Month

A presentation about the Buffalo Soldiers will be made at the Central High School Educational and Cultural Center Eagle theater (2748 Dogtown Road, Goochland 23063) on Saturday, February 5 beginning at 11 a.m. Trooper George Grady will use his extensive knowledge on the topic to explain the role of the Buffalo Soldiers—former slaves, freemen, and Civil War Soldiers—in American History.  Braise and Smoke will be on site selling its superb food.

County administrator search

Goochland has retained Gallagher Executive Search and Leadership Advisors to help recruit a new county administrator. The Supervisors met in closed session on Monday, January 31, to discuss the matter.  Enquiries or referrals about the position should be directed to Brandon Ferguson
Gallagher Executive Search and Leadership Advisors
Email: Brandon_Ferguson@ajg.com
Mobile: (636) 233-7765

VDOT

Clean up from the storm in early January continues. The firm contracted by VDOT to remove downed trees and other storm debris from roadsides "withdrew from the process" and efforts are being made to find a replacement.

Several supervisors raised concerns that cutting fallen trees at the very edge of the pavement creates a hazard and asked that the procedure be changed to cut trees a foot or so back from the roadway. VDOT explained that the "cut and dash" crews' focus is to get roads open for plows and emergency vehicles and work fast. Salt piles and brine tanks are being replenished as winter does not seem to be over.

Fire-Rescue

D. E. "Eddie" Ferguson, Jr., Chief of Goochland Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services made his report, which can be viewed in its entirety in the February 1 board packet on the county website goochlandva.us.

The Chief shared winter safety reminders. The recent spate of frigid weather caused ponds to freeze over. It is very rare for pond ice in our area to be strong enough to support the weight of walking on it. Ferguson cautioned everyone to "keep an eye out" to ensure that children and pets do not venture onto the ice. He cited a recent incident near Hermitage Country Club where a dog had fallen through ice into a pond. The dog was safely rescued by citizens in boats, but the incident had the potential to morph into a dangerous situation.

As people are burning wood in fireplaces, Ferguson suggested that chimneys be kept clean. He also urged extreme caution when disposing of ashes, which can remain capable of combustion for days after removal from fireplaces. They should be placed in metal containers far from combustible material, including high grass, and thoroughly drenched with water.

Assessments

Assistant County Assessor Christi Hess presented the 2022 valuations. They are based on market value as of January 1 and were mailed out to each property owner on January 15.  Appeals must be filed by February 15.

 So far, said Hess, 35 appeals have been filed. Call 804-556-5853 for questions about your assessment. In 2021, a total of 105 appeals were filed, but, said Hess, it's early in the process. She expects more appeals to be filed because some areas, experienced "huge" increases, including an average of 15 percent in eastern Goochland; for some River Road neighborhoods it was 22 percent.

The total taxable value, not including new construction or land use, rose 11.1 percent from 2021. The translates to a countywide total of $6.95 billion taxable value, including $146 million, or 2.4 percent, new construction. Of that, 89 percent is residential, and 11 percent is commercial. The taxable value of the Tuckahoe Creek Service District is $1.72 billion. The deferred amount attributable to land use is $713 million. Land use taxation is available for property actively engaged in agricultural, forestal, or horticultural use. It is computed using a per acre amount determined by the State Land Evaluation Advisory Council (SLEAC) at Virginia Tech. (Go to https://aaec.vt.edu/extension/use-value/about/sleac.htm for more information.)

Second quarter financial update

Mary Anna Twisdale, Director of Financial Services, presented the results of the second quarter of FY22, which ended on December 31.  So far, revenues are ahead of projections and expenses are below, to the tune of about $1.3 million. However, Twisdale cautioned, Goochland County is not exempt from inflation. She said that the 11 percent increase in valuation, upon which revenues for calendar year 2022 are based, is higher than the 10 percent expected in December. (The county's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Tax rates, which are used to compute tax bills for June and December, are for the calendar year.) Go to page 90 in the February 1 board packet for details.)

Goochland and the Virginia General Assembly

Community Affairs Manager Paul Drumwright updated the board on legislation of interest to Goochland County. The current session of the Virginia General Assembly is dealing with 2,430 bills, 1,362 in the House of Delegates, 774 in the Senate. This year's in person session convened on January 12. Crossover is on February 15 and adjournment March 12. A reconvened session will open on April 27.

Goochland had five priority requests this year: prohibit marijuana retail stores without approval by local referendum; prohibit marijuana cultivation facilities from selling directly to customers; give localities the authority to prohibit or regulate use of binary explosive kits containing an oxidizer and a fuel source; reimbursement for the compensation and expense of the electoral board; and request for a study of compensation board funding for Constitutional Officers.

Drumwright said that marijuana issues are getting a lot of attention. No bills were filed about binary explosives. Reimbursement for the electoral board requires budget amendments. No legislation was submitted for a study of constitutional officer funding.

A bill filed by 65^th District Del. Lee Ware, who represents western Goochland, to provide an agricultural sale and use tax exemption for structural construction materials for a commercial greenhouse structure died in subcommittee. This was filed on behalf of Greenswell Growers, which operates a hydroponic farm in eastern Goochland and is being taxed as though it is a commercial greenhouse.

Drumwright mentioned other legislation under consideration that could be of interest to Goochland, including a bill to give localities the authority to require new residential and commercial developers to install broadband.

Legisltation requiring approval via local referendum to increase real estate tax rates, having been deemed unworkable, are being rewritten.

Go to page 91 in the board packet for the complete report.