is anybody there

 

Last night, October 26, the fall town hall meeting for Goochland districts 4 and 5 was held at the Residence Inn on Broad Street Road. The county and schools shared a lot of good information in an ongoing effort to keep citizens informed about what’s happening here.

The meeting was broadcast via Zoom! with opportunities for those watching online to ask questions in real time. Districts 4 and 5 are home to approximately 10,000 people (2/5 of Goochland’s 25,000 or so residents.) Though better attended than other district meetings, fewer than 100 residents seemed to have paid any attention.

Why? Is it because few people were aware of the meeting?  Was it the time, which could have been dinner/bedtime in some households? Or do most Goochlanders have little interest in local government until they object to something?

To better inform citizens of what’s going on, the county has launched a community engagement survey to find out how you want to receive information. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCEngagement22 to sound off.

On the upside, the lack of participation could mean that most residents are satisfied with local government and believe they have better things to do with their time.

This may not be the best forum to ask why so few Goochlanders pay attention to local government. If you follow GOMM, you have some interest in county government.

Currently, Goochland is working with consultants to craft small area plans for the Courthouse and Centerville Villages (https://www.goochlandva.us/1201/Goochland-County-Village-Plans-2022). The result is expected to become part of the Comp Plan to deal with growth pressures.

The Town Hall meeting shared a great deal of interesting and useful information. District 5 Supervisor Ken Peterson began the meeting by paying tribute to District 4 Supervisor Don Sharpe who passed away on September 17. Sharpe, said Peterson, was a dedicated public servant, trusted colleague, and true friend.

The supervisors are in the process of selecting and appointing a successor to Sharpe, who will serve until a duly elected candidate from District 4 is certified following the November 2023 election. Under state law the appointment must be made by November 1, or the court will make an appointment to fill the vacancy.

Qualified District 4 voters were invited to apply for the position, with a deadline of October 24. The Board is currently interviewing applicants.

Peterson then welcomed Vic Carpenter, who began work as county administrator on June 20, and Krystal Onaitis, Deputy County Administrator, who came on board on October 17.

Goochland Sheriff Steven N. Creasey began his remarks by explaining that the “furry” aspect of Goochland Deputies is an early start to the annual “No shave November” that raises money for local charities, This year’s recipient is the Matthew Smiles Foundation https://matthew-smiles.org/ that supports mental health for young people.  It was created as a legacy to the memory of a local boy who took his own life.

Creasey listed many services and programs his office provides, including vacation watch, Citizens Academy, and a smart phone app that sends out emergency notifications, including road closures due to accidents. Go to https://www.goochlandsheriff.com/ for complete information.

Next year, two Citizens’’ Academies will be offered, one in the evening and a daytime version. Due to the success of the car show sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office last month, another is planned.

Carpenter said that the county has received a grant to provide resource officers at each of the county’s five schools. “Our kids will be safe,” he declared. He commended count public safety, Fire-Rescue and emergency Service and Animal Protection.

“We had an ice storm, tornados, water main breaks, and a rabid raccoon and our citizens were well served,” said Carpenter. He recognized 911 dispatchers as first responders who not only make sure appropriate resources get to where they’re needed quickly but are also trained in emergency medical dispatch to provide life saving phone instructions while help is on the way.

The Goochland Fire-Rescue Show held behind the high school on October 7 drew more than 800 people who got a glimpse of the skill of our first responders.

Although fire-rescue call volume had increased, response times went in the other direction.

The periodic review from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) was recently conducted. Ratings given to a locality by this organization impact rates for homeowners’ insurance. Carpenter was optimistic that county ISO ratings will improve.

The October 7 water main break near the intersection of West Creek Parkway and Rt. 288 that resulted in a more than two-day boil water notice comes under the heading of “stuff happens”, said Carpenter. Department of Public Works technicians located the break within 30 minutes of the first report of low water pressure and had restored water to all customers by 5 p.m. The break as repaired by midnight. The boil water notice was required by health protocols.

Matt Longshore Director of Public Utilities said that the county’s SCADA system, which monitors pressure in utility lines, quickly pinpointed the location of the break, enabling crew to begin repairs.

Carpenter listed projects underway including upgraded lighting for the athletic field behind the administration building, which will be dark sky compliant and eliminate shadows on the playing field. An upgrade to the skate park, near the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads is, thanks to a public private partnership, is in the process of Phase I improvements.

Work on the roundabout in the same area is also underway. Carpenter said that no closure of Sandy Hook Road is expected, though Fairground may be closed for 30 days. Construction is expected to be finished in October of 2023.

Project Rocky, the estimate $500 million investment in an ecommerce facility on Ashland Road continues to generate controversy. Residents of Parkside Village, in the northeast corner of the county, reiterated opposition to this project claiming that the county process was not transparent because the name of the end user was not divulged. They contend that, due to increased traffic on Ashland Road generated by the project, they will not receive prompt emergency response from fire-rescue and the sheriff’s office.

 

The Ashland Road I64 interchange is already “failing” said Carpenter. Without Project Rocky, it was unlikely that funding to improve those roads would be forthcoming. A second bridge will be built over the interstate to enable a four lane diverging diamond traffic pattern. This improvement, supported by the governor and secretaries of transportation and commerce, may not be completed for a few years after Project Rocky is finished.

Peterson touted the county’s strong financial position. Goochland us the smallest jurisdiction population wise to have earned three AAA bond ratings.

Residents in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District, who pay an extra 32 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to service the massive debt that was incurred 20 years ago to build water and sewer infrastructure in parts of the east end, were not impressed. Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/Faq.aspx?TID=41,  to learn more. Some TCSD homeowners contend that the debt service should be spread among all county taxpayers.

Peterson and Carpenter encouraged everyone to stay engaged with local government and watch meetings online, or, even better, attend in person, to find out what’s going on. Many seats in the board room are too often empty. Local government is made better by active citizen participation.

Goochland Superintendent of School, Jeremy Raley Ed.D. gave a brief update on education. He reported that, after the high weird of the pandemic, county schools are back in the business of teaching kids in person every day. “We serve every child who walks through our doors,” said Raley. Our schools got the year off to a strong start.

Raley reported that for the fifth consecutive year, the Goochland County school district, with just under 2,600 students, was named first in the region by Niche.com. All five county schools are accredited and named Apple Distinguished Schools, an honor shared with only 700 schools worldwide; a nationally recognized Special Olympics Unified Campion School; a 97 percent graduation rate; and recognized for excellence in budgeting by the Government Finance Officers Association. Go to https://www.goochlandschools.org/page/fast-facts for the list. It’s impressive.

Goochland High School’s Career and Technical Education program is the only one in the state able to provide students with work ready skills that enable them to go straight into the workforce.

Plans for the new Goochland Elementary School are kicking into high gear. Last year, county voters overwhelmingly approved a bond referendum to replace the obsolete school in Courthouse Village.

An innovative school design was approved last year and was tweaked after the inflation gremlins appeared. Bids are expected in the next few weeks. Go to https://www.goochlandschools.org/page/new-ges-construction-project for details.

This is not your grandmother’s elementary school. As education evolves, so do schools. Children no longer sit in straight rows passively listening to lessons. Teaching now is creative and interactive.  “If we want our students to do the work of the future, we need to prepare them with the tools of the future,” Raley said.

Lots of good things are happening in Goochland as it negotiates the unknowns of the future. Please pay attention and encourage your neighbors to tune in also!

 

 

 

 

Krystal Onaitis Named Deputy County Administrator for Goochland County

  

Goochland, VA – Goochland County is excited to announce Krystal M. Onaitis has been selected to serve as the new Deputy County Administrator.

Onaitis, a Henrico native, comes to Goochland with just over a decade of local government experience, at the executive level. She has earned both her Bachelor’s in Political Science and Master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.  Most recently she served as City Manager for Covington, Virginia. In this position she oversaw all day-to-day operations, inclusive of public safety and utilities. She also led regional economic and community development efforts for the Alleghany Highlands during her tenure as City Manager, focusing on historic revitalization, site development and critical infrastructure.   Prior to Covington, Onaitis worked for the City of Richmond, serving in the Mayor’s Office as an advisor, in the Department of Public Works specializing in performance management and strategic planning, ultimately working for the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Operations leading various city-wide projects and programs.

 

In her role as Deputy County Administrator, Ms. Onaitis will provide guidance and support regarding operations and ongoing initiatives in Community Development, which includes planning, permitting, transportation and utilities for the County. She will also manage county-wide special projects, in addition to providing operational support to the County Administrator.

 

On joining Goochland, Onaitis said “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Goochland as Deputy County Administrator. I recognize that Goochland is a beautiful changing community, that at the same time is working to preserve its rural values. Those values do not have to be at odds with one another, it’s all about having a thoughtful approach to harness potential. I look forward to working with the community here and becoming part of it.”

 

Onaitis officially began her service to the citizens of Goochland County on October 17^th, 2022.

A little help from friends

 

Goochland County is a land of contrasts. As one former supervisor discovered when campaigning for office, some of his constituents had dirt floors, other marble.

The runaway inflation that plagues us all, hits some Goochlanders harder. For decades, two local non-profits have worked to lend a hand to those struggling to get by.

GoochlandCares is celebrating 70 years of giving hope and assistance to those who, for reasons beyond their control, need help. GoochlandCares provides basic human services and health care to people who may not qualify for other assistance programs.

Goochlandcares headquarters at 2999 River Road West in Goochland Courthouse Village, provides “one stop shopping” for all of its services. These a food pantry that serves more than 235 families, medical and dental care, clothing, transportation services, emergency housing, mental health support, critical home repair, sexual and domestic violence recovery assistance, and GED/ESL education.

Goochlanders give generously of their time, talent, and treasure to make GoochlandCares possible. Unlike governmental assistance programs, private GoochlandCares has the flexibility to help people get the services they need to get back on their feet. Many former clients now volunteer to help others.

Thanks to the ingenuity of the intrepid staff and volunteers of GoochlandCares, it did not miss a beat providing services during the pandemic. The clinic used telemedicine, set up testing and vaccination clinics, and contactless pick up from the food pantry and clothes closet.

Go to https://goochlandcares.org/ to learn more about this fine organization. If you need help, or are looking for a satisfying volunteer opportunity, please contact them.

The Goochland Christmas Mother Association https://goochlandchristmasmother.org/  provides resources to enable qualified Goochland residents to purchase food, clothing, toys, and other essential items during the holiday season. Families with children, those over age 60, and those with a documented disability, who pass a means test are eligible. In 2020, 253 families had a happier holiday seasons thanks to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and community support.

If you have a bean or two to spare, please consider making a donation to these fine organization to help your neighbors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sound off

 

Following recent contentious rezoning hearings, the Goochland Board of Supervisors asked citizens who took the time to express their views in a public forum, and did so in a civil and constructive manner, to remain engaged with local government. The supervisors are not clairvoyant, they need citizen input to make good decisions.

To that end, Goochland County began an initiative to increase community engagement with local government. Please complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCEngagement22.

Questions on the survey ask how respondents get their information about things like upcoming zoning actions; decisions by the Board of Supervisors; road work projects that impact travel patterns; and community events. It also asks how citizens prefer to interact with the county and receive information.

An engaged citizenry is a vital component of good government. Too often, people scream “no one told me” about issues that have been dealt with in a transparent manner. A recent example is the redistricting following the 2020 Federal Census. The county held many meetings about the proposed changes and put a tab dedicated to changes on its website.  Yet, when some residents were notified, well after lengthy opportunities for citizen comment and input had expired, they contended that the changes were made in secret.

Getting the word out in Goochland is hard. Too often, rumors containing a grain of truth are spread via social media. Those who support, or oppose, these matters, often without bothering to ascertain what is really going on, make wild allegations that others pass along.

While social media plays an important role in local communications, it should be a starting point for information gathering.

The county website www.goochlandva.us/ and that of our school division, goochlandschools.org, provide a great insight into both bodies. They also have contact information for county and school officials.

Some recent land use decisions, including those for “Project Rocky” on Ashland Road, and expansion of Reader’s Branch in the Hockett Road corridor, raised howls of protest from citizens. The recent “boil water” notice for users of public water in the east end also caused some heartburn.

On Wednesday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. the county’s fall town hall meeting for Districts 4 and 5 will be held at the Residence Inn, roughly opposite Wawa on Broad Street Road. This will provide an opportunity for citizens to raise concerns about past and future rezoning applications, road projects, how the “boil water” issue was handled, and anything else on your mind with elected and appointed officials. County staff will also be there. If you live in District 4 or 5, the east end of Goochland, please attend and make your voice heard. The meeting will also be available on Zoom. Go to the county website and click on October 26 on the calendar for log on details. To submit questions or comments for the town hall, go to townhall@goochlandva.us.

Stay informed and make your voice heard.

 

 

 

Goochland community engagement survey

 

We Want to Hear from You! Goochland Launches a Community Engagement Survey

We want to hear from you! Goochland County has launched a community engagement survey to gather feedback from area citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders.

We want to know what you want to hear about, and how you prefer to receive that information from the County.

Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey to provide your feedback. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCEngagement22

Fewer homes on River Road

 

New fields coming to Benedictine campus 

Land use applications that come before the Goochland Board of Supervisors seem like inside baseball, unless they’re near your property.

The River Road corridor has seen a good bit of residential growth in the past decades. Many of its residents contend that there are enough homes along this stretch of scenic byway.

At its October 4 meeting, the supervisors addressed applications for rezoning land on the south side of River Road adjoining the Benedictine Schools of Richmond campus, just east of Rt. 288 and conditional use permit to build athletic facilities on the site.  County land records indicate that the school paid JSC Development, Inc. $3,463,300 for approximately 15 acres on January 6, 2022. The subject parcel is part of Pembroke Farms, a gated residential enclave.

The land, which formerly encompassed nine lots in Pembroke Farms, was rezoned from R-1 to A-2. When Benedictine, and recently St. Gertrude’s School, moved to River Road, the schools continued to use athletic fields on the northside of Richmond.  The trek to these facilities, appropriately 23 miles from the Goochland campus, is time consuming and adds to afternoon traffic on River Road.

The new facility will include walking trails, soccer and softball fields, tennis courts, and additional parking, all of which will be accessed internally from the Benedictine property with no new “curb cuts” from River Road, and available for use by Pembroke Farms residents.

An existing home on the property will be used as a guest house by the school.

Curiously, the fiscal impact of the rezoning was vague. Before it was sold, the parcel comprised nine lots in Pembroke Farms. County land records value these lots in the $300k range. The rezoning also voids cash proffers associated with some of the residential lots.

A relatively simple calculation could determine a ballpark the value for the eliminated lots as well as the cash proffers that would have been generated had the lots not been rezoned. As Benedictine seems to be a religious school, it is probably exempt from local property taxes. Again, calculating the loss of tax revenue from the nine lots based on their most recent county assessment would give the supervisors concrete data on which to base their decision. Nine fewer residential lots, which would typically generate at least 90 vehicle trips per day, may well be a beneficial trade-off in the area. If students can walk to the athletic fields from the school, there will be less afternoon traffic on River Road.

Buffering, screening the fields from River Road, was a concern. As the subject parcel is higher than the road surface, and existing trees will not be disturbed to build the fields, the issue seemed moot.

During the public hearing, a resident of James River Estates asked the board to stop “athletic field creep”. He said that the proposal will raise the number of school related athletic facilities within one mile of his home to 42. While students on the Benedictine campus can walk to its fields, busses from Collegiate and St. Catherine’s are a regular feature of River Road traffic. He contended that, although when granted its original conditional use permit about 10 years ago, Benedictine said its students would go only west on River Road, now they travel east, adding more traffic to the road. He also said public address systems on existing fields are clearly audible at his home. Benedictine said they are putting in new systems that will face west to reduce this noise.

Pembroke Farms residents support the land use change according to Stephan Cometas, whose home is the closest to the subject parcels.

Illuminating the proposed tennis courts, which will be available for use by Pembroke Farms residents, was a point of contention among the supervisors. Lighting of fields is prohibited on the Benedictine campus, and nearby facilities owned by Collegiate and St. Catherine’s schools.

Susan Lascolette, District 1 contended that allowing these tennis courts to be lit is inconsistent with county policy about athletic fields in the River Road corridor. Others pointed out that only dark sky lighting provisions apply to tennis courts on private homes and country clubs. As the tennis courts are at the south end of the subject property, it is unlikely their lights would be visible from River Road. The court lights, will conform to the dark sky policy and be turned off no later than 10 p.m.

The board voted 3-1, with Lascolette in dissent, to approve the application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine on my shoulders

Solar collection facility

 

Solar energy is being touted as a clean, renewable, and unlimited source of electric power. Deploy solar collectors and voila, electricity from the sun without any fallout from nasty fossil fuels.

It’s not that simple.

At its October 4 meeting, the Goochland Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from Ray Cash, Assistant Director of Community Development, concerning solar collection facilities and batteries used to store that energy. Cash proposed ordinance amendments, which were referred to the planning commission for recommendations. (See October 4 board packet available on the county website goochlandva.us, beginning on page 84 for details.)

 

The Virginia Clean Energy Plan (VCEP), said Cash, mandates that localities provide “by right” solar collection uses, on homes, or for specific on-site purposes. This could include power to operate a well pump to provide clean water for livestock on a farm.

(By right means that a use is allowed without additional permitting.)

A zoning ordinance could allow “by right” solar collection facilities as a surplus for certain farm uses and provide revenue streams for farms in addition to agricultural uses.

These initiatives, said Cash, are driven by the “ambitious” goal of Virginia reaching zero emission power production by 2040 and is spurring an influx of interest in locating solar collection facilities in Goochland.

The VCEP includes energy storage to enable the grid to provide adequate power during times of low sunlight and other disruptions to renewable power generation.

Localities, said Cash, can establish reasonable criteria for these facilities including where they are sited to protect the county’s natural resources and viewshed. Restrictions include limiting noise, mandating setbacks and buffers. Requirements for decommissioning to protect the environment are also permitted.

County ordinances currently address “solar farms” a misnomer, because they do not grow the sun or panels out of the ground.

Solar panels used for onsite consumption, like those on a home, would require changing current ordinance definitions.

The proposed solar energy and storage facility ordinance, said Cash, recommends siting them in areas zoned A-1 and designated as rural enhancement to avoid conflict with economic development. These would be located no closer than two miles apart to avoid massive installations.

The proposed ordinance allows these facilities on contiguous sites between 300 and 1,000 acres. Cash said that options “vary wildly” as to the size of the facility and amount of power generated. The proposed policy would also require site evaluation and allow no more than 20 percent of prime farmland to be used for solar generation.

Goochland, said Cash, requires setbacks of 150 feet from a parcel boundary; 100 feet from roads, and an additional 100 feet from wetlands, streams, and other environmentally sensitive areas. This requirement is more intense than the row of evergreens required by other jurisdictions. A wildlife habitat friendly design requirement could include plants for pollinators and panel clustering to allow wildlife to move through the site.

Localities that allowed deployment of solar panels on large clear cut parcels experienced erosion and runoff issues. As solar panels are non- permeable, their impact on land, if not done with care, could be similar to paving the site.

Construction and decommissioning of these facilities are an important part of regulations. Solar collection is a new industry. Panels have not reached the end of their usable life, so discussion of their removal and disposal of their components are somewhat theoretical. The proposed ordinance requires that facilities no longer in use must have all equipment removed and the soil restored to the condition it was in before the facility was built. Storage and disposal of these panels is an emerging technology.

A suety must be provided to cover the cost of decommissioning. It must be updated every three years to ensure that there are sufficient funds to pay for the clean of the sites after they cease to function.

Energy storage facilities, essentially great big batteries, the size of a shipping container that absorb collected energy and funnel it into the power grid. These, said Cash, would require conditional use permits and tend to be sited near the collection equipment.

Cash said that the interest in placing solar collection facilities in Goochland is high, mostly from entities outside the county.

Some citizens oppose solar collection facilities outright, others enthusiastically embrace them. It’s the Board’s job to craft an ordinance that establishes middle ground, protecting the environment and interests of the citizens.

Farmers could install solar collection facilities on a portion of their land creating a revenue stream to supplement income from agricultural activities, which could allow them to stay on their land rather than sell it to developers.

An amendment to the county’s comprehensive land use plan could limit total solar collection use in Goochland to a percentage of the county’s land area.

Solar power is not all sunshine and lollipops.

D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. Goochland’s Chief of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services said that while it takes a lot of water to extinguish a fire at a storage battery facility, it is dangerous to mix electricity and water. Components of the batteries, when exposed to water, could create a hazardous materials, and potentially contaminate ground water.

Ferguson said that fires in electric vehicles caused when they get wet illustrate the issue. Roof-mounted solar panels connected to a home’s power system could also pose a hazard to firefighters if the power cannot be completely disconnected from their storage battery.

In a typical structure fire, the electric company is notified to turn off the power “at the pole” so firefighters can “put the wet stuff on the red stuff” without fear of being electrocuted. County first responders, said Ferguson, are being trained to safely handle fires involving solar power equipment.

No doubt the planning commission will have substantive input on the proposed amendments. This could be on its November 3 agenda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water main break

 

According to Goochland County administrator Vic Carpenter, the cause of the water main break in the vicinity of West Creek Parkway and Rt. 288  on the morning of Thursday, October 6 is unknown.

The Utilities Department is working to figure out what happened, and if possible, take steps to reduce recurrences.

Residents connected to public water lines were notified of the break via social media, the county website goochlandva.us, and the Code Red alert system. Go to https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/1380BACA5A57 to sign up for these emergency bulletins.

Work began on the break about an hour after it occurred, said Carpenter. Repairs were completed in about eight hours, restoring water service to all east end public utility users.

Carpenter said that public health protocols require issuance of a “boil water” notice when water pressure drops below a certain threshold, as it did on October 6, and remain in place until lab results indicate that water is safe for consumption. This occurred at about 6 p.m. on Saturday October 8.

The cost to fix the breach has not yet been determined.

 

 

October board highlights

 

Filling the board vacancy

At its October meeting, the Goochland Board of Supervisors elected District 3 Supervisor John Lumpkins, Jr. as its vice chair.

The supervisors are seeking applications from qualified voters in District 4 as defined after redistricting to be considered for an interim appointment to fill the remainder of the term of the late Hon. Don Sharpe. Go to the county website goochlandva.us and click on the tab about the appointment and a link to the application form.

Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Monday, October 17. The supervisors will consider the applications in closed session on October 18 and are expected to announce the appointment at their November 1 meeting.

Town Hall Meetings

Fall town hall meetings have been scheduled. District 1 will be on Thursday, October 13 at Byrd Elementary School, 2704 Hadensville-Fife Road. Districts 2 and 3 on Monday, October 17 at the County Administration Building, 1800 Sandy Hook Road, Room 250. Districts 4 and 5 will be held on Wednesday, October 26 at the Residence Inn at the Notch 1800 Wilkes Ridge Parkway. This is on the south side of Borad Street Road roughly opposite the Wawa. All meetings begin at 6:30 and will be available via Zoom. See the public notice on the county website to access the Zoom link.

These sessions provide an update of county operations and opportunity to discuss issues of district importance with elected officials and staff. Please try to attend in person or virtually to be informed about local government.

 

Autumn Celebrations

County Administrator Vic Carpenter announced that the county’s Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, October 29 from noon to 5 p.m. at the sports complex. There will be family fun including a costume contest; live music; vendors; and more!

Trick or treat at the county administration building from 3:30 to 4:30 on Monday, October 31. Wear a costume to safely trick or treat door to door among county offices.

New employees

Human Resources Director Shaletha Dyson announced that 15 people joined Goochland County in September. She thanked all departments involved for their efforts to bring that number of new employees on board. Although new hires are introduced at board meetings, they are often working and unable to attend. Dyson displayed a photo of each newcomer while giving a brief bio. This is a great way to put names to faces. Kudos to Dyson for adding great folks to the county team.

 

Fire-rescue

D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. Chief of Goochland Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services presented his report. See board packet for details.

The Chief said that in 2022, Fire-Prevention Week is October 9 to 15. This always incudes the start of the great Chicago Fire of 1871 that is believed to have begun on October 8 causing widespread destruction.

The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week is “fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.” Ferguson said that today’s homes burn faster and hotter than ever before and the smoke is very toxic. You’ve got three or four minutes to get out of a burning building safely. All homes should have working smoke alarms near every bedroom. If you do not have these, contact fire-rescue at 1-804-556-5304. Fire-rescue will install them free of charge.

The 2022 Fire-Rescue Show will be this Saturday, October 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the parking lot behind the high school. There will be demonstrations, food trucks, and fire works! Come meet the fine men and women who save lives and protect property 24/7 in Goochland County. This is a family friendly event. Admission is free.

 

Goochland Louisa border

The supervisors set a public hearing for their November 1 meeting to consider approval of a boundary line between the two counties.

Referrals to planning commission

A proposed amendment to county zoning ordinances to allow by right or conditional use permits for limited meat processing facilities in A-2 and M-2 zoning districts, and related additions and amendments concerning parking, use standards, and loading requirements was referred to the planning commission for recommendations.

Zoning ordinance amendments to address the location and regulation of solar collection facilities and industrial energy storage facilities in A-1, A-2, M-1 and M-2 zoning districts were referred to the planning commission for recommendations.

Consent agenda

The county administrator was authorized to execute a new10 year  service agreement with Central Virginia Waste Management for solid waste transporting and disposal services. See page 40 of the October 4 board packet available on the county website goochlandva.us for details. The agreement includes the possibility of Goochland establishing an eastern transfer station during the contract.

A resolution requesting VDOT accept the roads in Leakes Mill Park into the Secondary System of State Highways for maintenance was approved.

Budget amendments

The supervisors approved the following amendments to the FY 23 budget, which began on July 1. These amendments are essentially housekeeping measures that do not increase the budget:

·        Appropriation of $119,827 in the Department of Public Utilities Capital Improvements project fund and authorized the County Administrator to execute the fourth amendment of the agreement with the Department of Corrections, whose facilities are the source of public water and sewer services in Courthouse Village.

·        Amendment to transfer $214,100 within the General Fund for various department budget needs

·        Amendment of the FY23 budget by budgeting and appropriating $100,000 in the cafeteria fund.

 

 

 

 

 

In memorian

 

Goochland supervisors began their October 4 meeting by paying tribute to District 4 Supervisor Hon. Don Sharpe, who passed away suddenly last month. A simple spray of white flowers marked his empty chair and the void in county leadership.

First elected to the board in 2019, Sharpe was chosen board vice chair by his fellow supervisors in January 2022. Sharpe was active in a wide range of community organizations, including the Recreation Advisory Commission, Leadership Enterprise Board, Friends of Goochland Parks, and Goochland Rotary. He also served as an officer of elections, working polling places.

While on the Board, Sharpe participated in continuity of government operations during the pandemic, purchase of land for a District 2 fire-rescue station, and broadband expansion initiatives. He represented Goochland on the Capital Region Workforce Project and as a Plan RVA Commissioner.

The Hon. Don Sharpe

Board chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, said that he was blessed to have a public platform to express the emptiness represented by Sharpe’s absence. “Until you hold a position like this, it’s real easy to put your heart and soul into this, Don did just that.”  Even as he battled his final illness, he was concerned about fulfilling his commitment to the community, said Spoonhower, who thanked Sharpe’s family for sharing him the county.

Susan Lascolette, District 1 observed that, the supervisors work together to represent the entire county to look out for the best interests of everyone. Sharpe was willing to talk to anyone and work to broker mutually acceptable solutions. “My heart goes out to his wife Carolyn and his family. We really are going to miss him.”

John Lumpkins, District 3 echoed previous sentiments. “Don was part of the team. This community is well represented as different as we are, we have to pinch ourselves at how well we respect one another. He didn’t mail it in. His big concern was that he needed to be there and do things. His passing was sad and stunning and heartbreaking. He served the county and this group very well. We will miss him dearly.”

Ken Peterson, District 5 said that the community has lost a true leader, the board a valued colleague, and personally, a dear friend. “I am grateful that our paths had the opportunity to cross. I will have the cherished memories of working with Supervisor Sharpe.”

Spoonhower said “we are left with a new reality, but we must soldier on and conduct the business of the community. Don would want it that way. He loved talking with people and would want everyone to attend the upcoming town hall meetings.”

Other expressions of sadness at Sharpe’s passing and gratitude for his community service were expressed by presenters during the meeting.

A memorial service will be held for Sharpe at 2 p.m. on October 15 at Ragland Memorial Church. The service will be live streamed on the church’s YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person. Go to http://www.raglandbaptist.org/ and scroll down to YouTube.