Come to the Courthouse Green

Come meet K0 deputy Liberty at NNO

Next Tuesday, August 2, the Goochland Sheriff’s Office will hold National Night Out on the Goochland Courthouse green, 2938 River Road West in the heart of Courthouse Village. NNO is an annual community building campaign that promotes law enforcement community partnerships and camaraderie among Goochlanders. This free family event that will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

National Night Out is an opportunity for people to mect  those who protect and serve us 24/7. In Goochland, other community organizations participate as well. Goochland American Legion Post 215 will cook and serve burgers and hot dogs. There will be a K9 demonstrations, door prizes, free raffles, live music by the Mike Melvin & Eric Tusing Duo and much more.

Come out to greet old friends and make new ones.  Bring anyone who might be considering a career in law enforcement. Goochland Deputies are respected and appreciated.

For more information contact Deputy Robbins at krobbins@goochlandva.us or 1-804-556-5349.

Playing telephone

 

            Do kids still play telephone? You know, the game where participants sit in a circle and a message is whispered ear to ear. By the time the last person says the message out loud, it is, at best, a garbled version of the original thought.

            Information being passed around about “Project Rocky” (PR) the proposed mid-mile E-commerce facility on Ashland Road is a lot like playing telephone.

Residents of Parkside Village, at the northeast corner of the county, vigorously oppose the project contending, among other things, that tractor trailers traveling to the proposed facility will use their subdivision roads to avoid the Pouncey Tract/Ashland Road intersection. It seems very unlikely that trucks moving cargo between Tidewater ports and Ashland Road, approximately one-half mile north of the interstate, would have any reason to be on Pouncey Tract Road, or Ashland Road north of the facility. Given high fuel prices, the shortest route is preferable.

Ashland Road  industrial corridor

A  rumor, based on an old article about a distribution facility in another state, contends that hundreds of little gray trucks will be adding to traffic every day. The application specifically says that cargo delivered by tractor trailers will be sorted, repacked, and shipped out to another place for delivery by the little trucks before dawn.

Curiously, when a rezoning application for M-2 industrial general, the same as PR, for property that abuts Parkside Village was before the supervisors last August, Parkside Village folk had little reaction. That parcel too, could include a distribution center by right, which means that all the landowner needs to do is secure a building permit. They also did not weigh in on a conditional use permit application to increase hours for an asphalt plant closer to their homes than PR.

The specter of traffic on Ashland Road slowing EMS response times to Parkside Village, a 55+ community, overnight was included in opposition comments. Goochland Fire-Rescue is in talks to amend its mutual aid policy with Hanover County for Station 9 in Rockville. Double right and left turn lanes at the PR entrance could make it easier for emergency vehicles to get through, especially in the overnight hours.

There will be more traffic on Ashland Road. Most is projected to be between I64 and PR. County officials are talking with VDOT about the possibility of adding a second I64 bridge to Ashland Road. This would be a wonderful opportunity for the Goochland General Assembly delegation, who, regardless of redistricting, still represent the areas that elected them in 2021, to make the case that this is a good economic development project for the state and secure funding for the second bridge.

Thousands of people who currently work in Goochland are inbound commuters. The PR workers could patronize local businesses while in the county. It’s hard to see how PR would have a negative impact on them.

The tractor trailers will make deliveries and pick ups between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. They will not clog I64 ramps during rush hours. Sound walls are proposed for the truck areas to mitigate noise. Goochland dark sky lighting regulations will address light pollution concerns.

To our friends in Hanover who contend that PR is greed on the part of Goochland County and will interfere with their daily commute, did you protest the economic development in your county in the I95 corridor that enriched the Hanover County coffers? Those projects had an impact on your fellow Hanoverians who live nearby. One commenter pointed out that if PR was built across the county line, Goochlanders would still have the traffic and none of the economic benefits that PR will bring to the county.

To those who screamed about high tax bills this year, PR will pay its fair share. When added to the Tuckahoe Creek Service District, PR is estimated to lop two years off the debt schedule for every year of operation, making the dreaded ad valorem tax disappear sooner.

It would be nice if PR adopted the Greenswell Growers’ model of collaboration with Goochland Schools to help students gain real world skills in robotics.

Ashland Road, especially between I64 and the Hanover line—the Pouncey Tract intersection is in Hanover— has been designated as an industrial corridor for decades. It is unrealistic to expect that land here will remain in residential or agricultural use. All too often, Goochlanders claim that they understand growth is coming, but when a proposal is made, they oppose it. When asked what they would prefer, the answer is “I don’t know, but not that.”

This is the appropriate place for PR, which is good for Goochland. Figure out the road issues and get on with it.

 

 

 

 

 

           

The riddle of Centerville

 

The “midway” meeting in the Centerville small area plan study, postponed from June during to a Covid infection, was held on July 14 a t Grace Chinese Baptist Church.  

Earlier this year, the county retained Hill Studio (https://www.hillstudio.com/) of Roanoke to take a fresh look at land use in both Courthouse and Centerville Villages. These areas are designated growth  concentration areas in the 2035 County Comprehensive Land Use Plan  (https://www.goochlandva.us/250/2035-Comprehensive-Plan).

Initial meetings were held in March, at which time Hill Studio gave a brief overview of the nine-month process and gathered feedback. Additional discussions were conducted with focus groups comprised of stakeholders in both villages and interested citizens.

Over the years several “Centerville Plans” have been crafted, touted, and left to gather dust.

The July 14 meeting drew a good crowd considering it was held in high summer. Attendees included land owners, developers, the usual suspects, and some new faces. Overheard comments suggest that newcomers did not understand that the presentation was conceptual to spark discussion.

For the record, all land in the Centerville Village is privately owned and will be developed by its owners in what they believe is its highest and best when they see fit.  Land use changes are typically a struggle to fit the square peg of a developer’s proposal into the round hole of the comp plan.

The Centerville Village is huge. David Hill, principal of Hill Studios, overlaid an outline of it on a map of the City of Richmond. The study concentrated on the core between Ashland and Manakin Roads, on both sides of Broad Street Road.  Hill suggested that property owned by the county on the southeastern border be added to the village for public use like a park or school.

Centerville superimposed on Richmond 

Land in Centerville is expensive, due to its location and availability of public utilities that add 32 cents per $100 of valuation ad valorem tax to the base real estate tax. Hill observed that the Centreville core is about the same size as the Powhatan Village and suggested similar building types could work in Centerville.

Broken line indicates Village core

However, a detached single-family cottage in Scottville, a 55+ community there, was valued at approximately $326K. Comparable housing in Reader’s Branch has valuations about twice that. Therefore, accessible housing—costing no more than 30 percent of income—is not likely to be built in Centerville.

East of Rt. 288, Centerville is attitudinally Short Pump.  Yes, Chick Fil A is still coming near the Audi dealership.

Hill said that the Centerville name is rooted in history, even though many people refer to the area as Manakin because the village core has a Manakin-Sabot zip code. Some parts of the village have Richmond addresses, some a Rockville zip code. A member of the consultant team suggested that signage emphasizing the Centerville identity could change this. Adopting a slogan like “Centerville Village, a breath of fresh air” could capitalize on the transition from Short Pump to a slower pace. Sings, banners, logos and other branding mechanisms were shown. (A Google search for Centerville, VA returns information about Centreville in NOVA).

 

The July 14 presentation included a wealth of demographic information, including that the county population grew by more than 13.9 percent since the 2010 federal census. The 2022 population is pegged around 25,000, which is still not a lot of people for a land mass slightly larger than that of Henrico, whose population is north of 300K.  The population of the Centerville Village is approximately 2,047, which includes new homes in Reader’s Branch. Short Pump’s 2020 population was 27,385.

Results from a survey conducted earlier in the year indicate that respondents would like to see medical care, salons and personal care, dry cleaners, a gym, banks, and conference facilities in Centerville. Public uses they want there include gathering spaces for farmers markets, plazas; hiking, biking and equestrian trails; live music; ball fields and sports programming; public art, and educational experiences.

Top rated aspects of the built village are electricity infrastructure, quality of residential development and public water and sewer infrastructure. Best rated economic aspects were quality of businesses and services; dining/shopping options; and attractiveness to visitors. (Yes. That’s what it said, go to the presentation video and see for yourself.)

This all sounds great, but there are trade offs for public spaces. If a developer is required to include a certain amount of open space in a project, higher density is needed to make it economically feasible. If the numbers don’t work, a project will not happen.

The presentation reported that approximately 192,350 people live within a15 minute drive time from Centerville, mostly to the east. The trick, of course, is how to get these potential customers to travel west when there is so much commercial development just over the Henrico line.

Hill suggested using the Tuckahoe Creek flood plain that travels northwest passive recreational as a greenway to connect parts of the village for biking and hiking. He also contended that more landscaping on the 250 setbacks would enhance the village feel for through traffic.  Parallel streets would handle local traffic with access parking for businesses that front on 250.

This is the latest iteration of a street grid that has been proposed before, but never seems to come to fruition. New construction would be two or three stories with office and commercial uses on the ground floor and residential above. The sketches are attractive, but given the glut of nice, new, but empty storefronts and offices a few miles east, what would compel entrepreneurs to invest money in Centerville?

The discussion of branding recommended “gateways” within the village. Welcoming visitors with signage could make people aware that they are in Centerville, not Manakin. “Centerville a breath of fresh air” was floated as a slogan to differentiate Centerville from Short Pump. Centerville has an identity problem this could help.

Interactive feedback where attendees voted by Smartphone to indicate which of several suggestions they prefer for development and what they would like to see added to Centerville generally returned a preference for rural, and resistance to economic development.

Presented with images of dense development in the core, respondents favored small, local business, not commercial, whatever that means. Desired services and businesses included medical office and pharmacy; banks (there are already three there); boutiques; coffee shop; bookstores; salons and personal care; night life and live music. While these sound charming, will any generate enough revenue to pay rent on new construction or generate a profitable customer base? Existing businesses there struggle to stay afloat in older quarters with lower rents.

GOMM attended the July 14 meeting, has watched its video twice, reviewed the slides several times, and is unable to distill the event for readers.

Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/8871/Goochland-Centerville-Village-Plan-Midway-Slides?bidId= to view the “slides” from the presentation and draw your own conclusions.

Centerville has enormous potential for development, but how and when remain a mystery. The trick is to encourage appropriate growth (good luck codifying that into zoning ordinances) in Centerville without punishing the landowners and businesses there who have paid taxes and otherwise supported the county for many years.

Many of the newcomers who live in the village or on its fringes flee east to shop and live their lives. Will these people use the recreational areas and public spaces, or complain about noise and traffic?

The consultants are expected to make final recommendations in the fall, which could be incorporated into the comp plan.

 

 

 

Centerville Small area plan meeting

 The Goochland community is invited to attend a rescheduled Centerville Village Plan Community Meeting on July 14th at 7 p.m. to provide input and feedback on the Centerville Village Plan.  The meeting will take place at Grace Chinese Baptist Church, located at 850 Broad Street Road, Manakin Sabot, VA 23103. 

This meeting will include a short presentation of the initial draft concept of the plan. Interactive polling will also be conducted during the meeting. Attendees are asked to bring a smart phone or tablet to participate.  Following the presentation, attendees can visit topic-tables to share comments and pose questions related to the plan.

For those unable to attend in-person, the meeting can be streamed via zoom by using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84022369819?pwd=UIPTcKhpGLum3TwKIhCeZad_bZUJMy.1. 

Meeting ID: 840 2236 9819

Passcode: 066068

One tap mobile

+19292056099,,84022369819#,,,,*066068# US (New York)

+13017158592,,84022369819#,,,,*066068# US (Washington DC)

Zoom participants are encouraged to have two devices, one for streaming and the other to participate in the interactive poll. 

For more information visit www.goochlandva.us/VillagePlans2022. For questions or comments on the Centerville Village, contact centervilleplan22@goochlandva.us or call 804-556-5840.

Additional Info...

Hail and farewell

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors on July 6 was short and sweet. It was postponed allowing for a fireworks rain date, guaranteeing perfect weather on the Fourth! More than 5,500 people are believed to have attended the superb pyrotechnic display. Kudos to everyone involved in the spectacular show. Sheriff Steven N. Creasey and our wonderful deputies are to be especially commended for excellently choreographing traffic after the event. Thanks to everyone who worked on the holiday.

Once again, Goochland County recognized the Hon. Manuel Alvarez, Jr. who came out of retirement to serve as interim county administrator for the past 10 months. He was honored with a lengthy board resolution outlining his many contributions to the county. Alvarez served as District 2 supervisor for eight years. Since last August, Alvarez worked on a successful bond referendum; securing the county’s third AAA bond rating; the electoral redistricting committee; and collaborated with staff to craft the FY23 county budget.

In ten short months, Alvarez made some key hires including directors of finance; human resources; and animal control. He also worked on true broadband expansion and executed the purchase agreement for the site of a future fire-rescue station in District 2.

Creasey also presented Alvarez with a plaque in appreciation for his support of local law enforcement.

Goochland is blessed to have citizens like Alvarez. He came to our country as a teenager from Cuba and has become an embodiment of the American spirit. Retiring after a successful career with Phillip Morris, now Altria, Alvarez took his commitment to the county seriously, making his supervisor duties a full-time job. This contributed to the transition of Goochland County government from an embarrassment to an exemplar. His management skills, coupled with his enthusiasm and optimism, improved morale among county staff. Words from the Board resolution: “He led with positivity, grace, and humor and provided confidence to staff and the community that Goochland was continuing to move in a positive direction” says it all.

Alvarez said that the opportunity to serve as interim county administrator was a godsend because he got to see county operations from the employees’ side. “It was most rewarding,” he said thanking everyone in the room, especially staff, for their support. “It was a pleasure to work with these folks and for our county. I understand totally why they come out here. This is a great place to live.” Alvarez came here 54 years ago, after never thinking that he would wind up in America. Goochland was also an unknown until he came here and now it’s his home. 

The meeting was also the first for new county administrator Vic Carpenter who was lured away from a similar job in Kershaw County, South Carolina “I wasn’t looking for a job, but Goochland came looking for me,” Carpenter said at a welcome reception before the meeting.

Goochland County Administrator Vic Carpenter

He said he is grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to serve the citizens of Goochland. Carpenter thanked the supervisors for allowing him to succeed Alvarez. “He has done such a good job of preparing the way for me and making this a seamless transition, that this is like a dream,” said Carpenter.

Board Chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, also commended all who made the fireworks possible, then turned to a more sensitive topic. He refenced a public complaint made against him earlier this year by Wendy Hobbs and Sekou Shabaka about the way he engaged with Hobbs following a town meeting.

Spoonhower, Alvarez, and District 3 Supervisor John Lumpkins, Jr. met with Hobbs and Shabaka to share perspectives and listen to each other. He said those meetings are a true testament to what can happen when people come together.

The Board approved a resolution recognizing July as Parks and Recreation Month and applauding the great work done by the county’s parks and rec department. Director Jessica Kronberg said that her department provided services for more than 4,500 registrants and park visits nearly half a million visits in fiscal year 2022.

(ltr) Carl Lacy, Angela Miller, Jessica Kronberg, Neil Spoonhower

Kronberg thanked the Board for its support and said that even more programs are in the works to help Goochlanders stay active. She commended Karl Lacey and the grounds crew for quickly clearing the tornado wreckage from Tucker Park so people could resume using it.

VDOT

The VDOT representative reported that construction on the roundabout at the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads is expected to begin on July 25.

Tourism

Presentation of the county’s tourism strategic plan was deferred to the Board’s September 4 meeting.

Grants

The supervisors adopted a resolution accepting a grant from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs in the amount of $480,000 and appropriating the funds to construction of a new training structure at the Henley Fire-Rescue Training Center on Old Courthouse Road. The cost of a new “burn prop” structure is $833,450 with an additional $400k for site improvements. Grant money will be added to $623K set aside in the FY22 and ’23 capital improvement budget and $130,450 in previously collected fire cash proffers. They also authorized the county administrator to execute any related documents.

Training is the key to safe and effective response to fires. The existing “burn building” was taken out of service for live fire training a few years ago, greatly limiting local training opportunities for our firefighters.

A resolution accepting a $30k tourism grant part of the $50 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allotted to the Commonwealth of Virginia was approved. The funds are specifically for tourism marketing to spur economic activity and travel throughout Virginia.

These funds were allocated based on the relative share of total state tax revenue attributable to tourism in 2019. The $30k is Goochland’s share.

Smart Scale Applications

Last month the board was asked to whittle its wish list for VDOT Smart Scale funding applications. These are the highest priority transportation projects in the county. Those selected are reconnecting Three Chopt Road under Rt. 288 north of Rt.250; improvements to the I-64 Oilville Road interchange with a roundabout; Hockett Road realignment with Ashland Road; and improvement to the 250/288 interchange.

Curiously, even though the “diverging diamond” on the I-64 Ashland Road interchange was on the list at last month’s transportation meeting for gap funding to cover costs above the $17 million considered full funding for the project, it did not make the “Final four.”

 

Public hearings

·        Approved the emergency ordinance passed in May delaying the penalty levied on real estate and personal property tax payments to August 1.

·        Approved an ordinance adding a $5 fee to costs assessed on convictions in criminal and traffic cases in the county’s General District and Circuit Courts. The additional revenue will fund the purchase and use of an electronic summons system by local law enforcement.

·        Approved an application for a conditional use permit to add a detached accessory family housing unit at 650 Meadow Ridge Lane.

·        Approved a CUP for Alsop Properties, LLC to operate a school at 1037 Broad Street Road in the Oilville Village. This is what used to be known at Plum Tree Corner at the intersection of Shallow Well and Broad Street Roads.

·        Approved a rezoning application for 15 acres on Hermitage Road, approximately ¼ mile north of its intersection with Manakin Road from A-2 to R-1 for a seven-lot subdivision. The applicant, Spruce Homes, indicated this will be an upscale residential enclave with gracious homes with a $1 million starting price point.

To view the video of this meeting, go to the county website goochlandva.us and click on the transparency tab.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smile

 

Coming to Ashland Road?

            At its July 7 meeting, the Goochland Planning Commission recommended approval of an application to rezone approximately 105 acres on the west side of Ashland Road, north of Interstate 64, from A-2 agricultural, to M-2 industrial general by a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Matt Brewer District 2 and Tom Rockecharlie District 5 were in dissent. A companion application for a conditional use permit to allow a structure of up to 120 feet in height, was unanimously recommended for approval.

            Dubbed “Project Rocky,” the land use change applications were filed under the cryptic name of PDC TN/FL LPIV, LLC. Andy Condlin, the attorney speaking on behalf of the project, said that the LLC is a subsidiary of the Pannatoni Development Corporation, which is an industrial construction firm.

            Condlin said that buildings would occupy 60 of the 105-acre site. He said a great deal of attention has been spent on landscaping and buffering to minimize the visual impact of the facility. Project Rocky is a midstream e commerce facility. Products arrive at the site for sorting and repackaging, then transported to last mile warehouses to be transferred to smaller customer delivery trucks. He explained that the cryptic end user would have control over employees. The facility will operate 24/7. A similar warehouse is being built near Richmond Raceway. The ability to control truck delivery times—expected to be between 8 p.m.  and 4 a.m.— will minimize impact of traffic.

            The property under consideration is in an area designated “flexible” by the county comprehensive land use plan.  Ashland Road north of I64 has been an industrial corridor for some time. It is home to three rock quarries, an asphalt plant, a variety of industrial users, and the 623 Landfill, which accepts construction and other non-hazardous waste. Construction of the facility will relocate the entrance to the Luck Stone Quarry on the east side of Ashland Road to align with the sole access point to the Project Rocky site and signalizing that intersection.

            Project Rocky, whose end user has not been publicly identified, will consist of a 650,000 square foot building up to 120 feet—not counting an additional perhaps six-foot roof parapet—55 loading docks; parking slots for 414 tractor trailers, and 1,720 employee parking spaces. The structure will be highly roboticized so that most employees will work on the lower level of the structure. Most traffic generated by the project would be between the site and I64, approximately ½ mile to the south.

            Deputy County Administrator for Community Development Jo Ann Hunter said, in response to questions about fighting fires in the building, which will be higher than the 100-foot reach of the county’s ladder trucks, that blazes would be considered a high-rise fire. Condlin said that innovative fire suppression systems will be installed during construction and that the applicant is already working closely with county fire-rescue officials during design and construction. He reiterated at the upper levels will be occupied by robots.

            As the function of the Planning Commission is to review petitions for land use changes and make recommendations as to the appropriateness of the intended use, the July 7 meeting glossed over the economic impact of the proposed facility. Monetary investment in the county and the Tuckahoe Creek Service District (TCSD) were mentioned in passing.

            According to information available on the county website, the project represents an investment in Goochland of more than $500 million. The land in question is not currently in the TCSD but has applied for admission. It is projected to add approximately 1,000 jobs to the county’s employment base. There was no mention of any incentives offered by Goochland to the applicant.

            This application represents a significant investment in the county, which would increase the commercial tax base, relieving some of the burden from residential property owners. It could also speed retirement of the TCSD debt.

What’s not to love? A pterodactyl-sized fly in the otherwise attractive ointment is traffic. Ashland Road, especially between Broad Street Road and its intersection with Pouncey Tract Road, which is in Hanover County, is already congested with dump trucks, tractor trailers, and general traffic.

            Hunter presented the application and said that she travels through the area daily. If completed as proposed, the diverging diamond on the existing two-lane bridge would keep the congestion at its current dreadful level, with the addition of Project Rocky traffic.

The county, said Hunter, is meeting with VDOT on Monday, July 11 for discussions on the project. Adding a second bridge and two travel lanes to the I64/Ashland Road interchange with a diverging diamond would raise the level of service, currently rated D, to a B.  Hunter said that the $17 million cost of the two-lane diverging diamond on the existing bridge is fully funded. The cost of the second bridge was estimated at $28 million. When asked about the possibility of getting a second bridge over I64, Hunter said that sometimes “you have to have it bad before you can get better.” The LOS (level of service, VDOTese for congestion. A is best.) at the I64 interchange is currently “failing” at morning and afternoon peak traffic hours.

            The traffic study is still undergoing VDOT review, said Hunter. No reasons for presenting the applications before the transportation aspects had been fully reviewed was given. 

       Residents of Parkside Village, a 55 plus community near the intersection of Ashland and Pouncey Tract Roads, filled the board room and strenuously objected to the proposal.

They contended that the additional traffic would exacerbate already serious congestion at the intersection of Ashland and Pouncy Tract Roads, which is in Hanover County.  The project would worsen the use of Parkside Village streets as a “cut through” to avoid the congested intersection. They expressed serious concerns about the ability of Goochland EMS from Centerville to respond to calls in Parkside Village in a timely manner, which is already a concern. One gentleman, who recovered from a serious medical condition, told the commissioners that if Project Rocky is approved, he will try to have medical emergencies only between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m..

Parkside Village residents were skeptical of the applicant’s contention that no employees would travel north of the site, contending that those who could afford to work for the wages offered at Project Rocky, could not afford to live nearby.  One speaker mentioned that peak traffic back-up on the I64 exit ramps will get worse with the addition of Project Rocky.

            Final approval is up to the Board of Supervisors, which is expected to hold its public hearing on Project Rocky at its August 2 meeting.

           

Keeping it rural

Fencing around this pond prevents at Brookview Farm keeps the cows out of  the water.

 If you want rural, you need farms, which need healthy soil, best management practices, and clean water to thrive. The Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD) supports local agriculture by providing a myriad of educational services and facilitating access to government grant money for those engaged in agriculture.

          Want to get involved? The MSWCD is seeking applicants to fill an appointed director vacancy, created when the incumbent, Richard Ayers, declined to seek reappointment. This is an unpaid position.

          According to Jonathan Lyle, one of Goochland’s elected MSWCD directors and board chair, Ayers has served for approximately 14 years and “the district is better for his service and efforts.”

 The organization’s mission “is to provide technical assistance, education and leadership to improve natural resource conservation in Powhatan and Goochland counties.”

The MSWCD is self-governed by a six-member board of directors—two elected from each of Goochland and Powhatan counties, one appointed, and the local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent. It is a subdivision of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Funding is provided by DCR, Goochland and Powhatan counties. Services provided by the MSWCD are available to all. Open Board meetings are held every third Monday at its office in the Central High School Educational and Cultural Center on Dogtown Road in Sandy Hook.

 MSWCD administers a grant program that helps local farmers fence their livestock out of streams to prevent water contamination. In addition to the fencing, the grants fund alternate water sources for livestock. The Virginia General Assembly increased the amount of money for this program in the current state budget.

Other programs include pasture management; conservation; erosion and drainage issues; and agricultural land use options.

The minimum duties of an MSWCD director, whose term of office is four years, are: attend monthly District meetings; participate on District committees and in work groups; represent the citizens of the district counties on conservation issues; work with a multitude of agencies; approach resolution of problems through teamwork; adhere to state law and policies of the Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Board; establish and implement District policies and procedures; and foster positive relationships with local, state and federal officials; and practice conservation ethics.

Desired qualifications for director are: knowledge of agriculture, rural land use issues and associated conservation practices; knowledge of urban development issues and associated conservation needs; understanding of local, state and national legislative processes; working knowledge of parliamentary procedures; willingness to listen, learn and work with others;  willingness to cultivate and recruit potential Directors and Associate Directors; experience with personnel management; experience with budgeting, fiscal management and organization operations; technical background in environmental sciences, agriculture or engineering a plus.

The estimated time commitment for a MSWCD directors is approximately 12 hours per month including meeting attendance and preparation.

          Go to https://www.monacanswcd.org/ for more information about the organization. Call the office at 804-556-4936 to obtain an application or contact Lyle at monacanconservation@earthlink.com.

 

 

 

Mark your calendar

 

Mark your calendar

A list of upcoming events in Goochland:

Happy Birthday America

July 4—Fireworks will be shot off between the Goochland High and Elementary Schools and can be seen at a variety of places throughout the Courthouse Village. Spectators are encouraged to park at County Administration complex, the Fairground property, Goochland Elementary School, and the Goochland Middle/High School complex back parking lot (please note the front parking lot is closed due to construction).  Parking opens at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. 

No Alcohol Allowed! Consumption of alcohol will not be tolerated in public or on county property.

Please be prepared for extensive traffic delays before and after the event.  Local road closures will be enacted based on traffic conditions and event parking capacity.  Please check and follow Goochland County Parks & Recreation’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/GoochlandParksandRec/ for up to the minute parking and weather announcements. Rain date for the event is July 5th. 

For more information, please contact Goochland County Parks & Recreation at (804) 556-5854.

July 6—Goochland Board of Supervisors holds its regular monthly meeting at 2 and 6 p.m. in the board room of the administration building at 1800 Sandy Hook Road in Courthouse Village. Note this is a change from the usual first Tuesday to provide for a rain date for fireworks. Live stream is available on the county website Goochlandva.us

July 7—Goochland Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. in the board room of the administration building. Livestream of the meeting available on the county website.

July 10—organizational meeting for the Goochland Community Theater at the Central High School Cultural and Educational Center 2748 Dogtown Road, Goochland, VA 23063 from 2 to 4 p.m.

A message from Jennifer, whose vision created the GCT. This intrepid band of volunteers got off to a good start in 2019, before being sidelined by Covid. If you have any interest in supporting this wonderful community organization, please try to attend:

“Everyone that wants to be involved is encouraged to attend. You may not want to be a Board member or director, you may have other talents and want to help. All are invited.

We have the season of shows planned and are about to announce them. This includes everyone from children and up!!

Yes, this is all volunteer and runs on donations. If you want to Direct a show you can! If you just want to add ideas...you can!

Talents can include Acting, Directing, Taking Notes, Stage Managing, Lighting, Sound, backstage help, secretary, president, vice president, grant writer, fund raising, concessions, ticket booth, costumes, make up, and others not listed. Feel free to email me at jennifer@gvatheatre.org or text to 804-382-5532.”

 

July 14—midway meeting for the Centerville Village small area plan at Grace Chinese Baptist Church, 850 Broad Street Road, Manakin Sabot at 7 p.m.   Rescheduled from June, the meeting will include a short presentation of an initial draft of the plan or Centerville’s future. Interactive polling will take place.  Bring a smart phone to participate.

 

Provide input for the future of the Centerville Village

The meeting will be streamed on Zoom for those unable to attend in person. Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=858 for detailed instructions on remote participation.

Share your views about growth in Centerville at this meeting to have meaningful input into land use decisions.