Random thoughts on the year sliding into history

 

Happy New Year

2022 started on a balmy Saturday. Two days later, a horrific ice storm crippled Central Virginia as toppled trees closed roads and felled power lines, leaving many shivering in the dark. Clean up lasted for months.

Community meetings helped finalize local electoral redistricting with data from the 2020 federal census. Aside from the entire county moving into the 5^th US Congressional District, these changes had little impact on the November elections. Next year’s local elections will be a different story as some incumbent elected officials found themselves in new districts.

Small area plan studies for both Centerville and Courthouse Village kicked off with community meetings in March. The purpose of this initiative is to update the county’s comprehensive land use plan to reflect and plan for growth in the major villages. Subsequent updates and proposed changes left citizens scratching their heads over vague and generic proposals. Final versions of these plans are expected to be the subject of public hearings before both the planning commission and board of supervisors who will vote on them to amend the comp plan in the spring of 2023. The supervisors and planning commission will hold a workshop on the proposed small area plans on January 11 at 1 p.m. in the county administration building.

Rising real estate assessments and explosive increases in vehicle values left the county flush with cash for the FY2023 budget cycle. Among other things, the money was used for raises and salary scale adjustments to attract and keep the best people to serve our citizens. Many residents were not happy with their personal property tax bills, hopefully falling used car prices will make this less of an issue in 2023.

The black swan of inflation cast its shadow over plans to build a new Goochland Elementary School. Following a successful bond issuance in February, final bids for the new GES came in much higher than expected. The school division requested more funds from the county so it could sign a contract and start the construction process. The supervisors will hold a public hearing on this funding request at their January 3 meeting. Public hearings begin at 6 p.m.

Thanks to intrepid volunteers, Goochland Day returned in May with a parade and lots of activities. Even on a cold, rainy day the turnout was robust. Goochland Day 2023 will be held on Saturday May 20. Go to https://www.goochlandday.com/ for complete information.

Other intrepid volunteers carried on with the Goochland Community Theatre. Go to https://gvatheatre.org/ for more information. Auditions for its next production are scheduled for January 6 and 7.

A tornado swept through Courthouse Village in June destroying iconic trees and changing the landscape. Once again, our fire-rescue folk and deputies worked tirelessly to deal with the crisis.

Vic Carpenter became county administrator on June 20 taking over from former District 2 Supervisor Manny Alvarez who did a great job keeping the county on track while serving as interim county administrator.

Fireworks lit the sky over Courthouse Village on July Fourth. The Sheriff’s Office outdid itself with traffic control.

In August, the Sheriff’s Office brought the community together for National Night Out on the Courthouse Green. People gathered for food, music, demonstrations, and the general fellowship that was sorely missed during the privations of the pandemic.

Goochland Schools started a normal academic year for the first time in far too long. Students have a lot of catching up to do after covid disruptions, but our teachers and staff were ready for the challenge.

The supervisors approved applications for Project Rocky, a midstream ecommerce distribution facility, on Ashland Road in August. This represents a massive investment in Goochland that will bring a second bridge over Interstate 64 to ease traffic congestion there. Without Project Rocky, it is doubtful that a second bridge would ever be built. Supervisors are working with state and regional transportation entities to secure funding for this project.

District 4 Supervisor Don Sharpe passed away in September leaving a void in county leadership. His tenure on the Board of Supervisors was the last episode in his long history of dedicated community service.

October saw the revival of the Fire-Rescue Show that gave citizens a glimpse into the skills and equipment that our first responders use every day. We are blessed to have these fine folks looking out for us. Volunteers are still needed. Call 1-804-556-5304 for information.

Krystal Onaitis joined the Goochland team as Deputy County Administrator. The county’s fall festival was well attended. A water main break near Rt. 288 put a boil water alert on the east end of the county for several days.

Slowly but surely, broadband coverage is expanding in western Goochland. Firefly Fiber Broadband and the RISE project are working hard to connect people, some more quickly than others. Go to fireflyva.com for more information.

The county launched a community engagement survey to find out how residents want to get information about the county. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCEngagement22 to make your voice heard.

The supervisors appointed Charlie Vaughters District 4 Supervisor on November 1 to fill the remainder of Don Sharpe’s term, which expires December 31, 2023.

Goochlanders flocked to new polling places in their usual high numbers for the November 8 election, a 66 percent turnout rate.

Goochland’s own Hallmark Moment Christmas Tree lighting on December 3 was a big success.

Work continues the roundabout at the intersection of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads in Courthouse Village. Completion is expected in the second half of 2023.

Though not a record, Christmas day was frigid with temperatures moderating toward the end of the year.

Construction finally began on the long-awaited Chick-fil-A on the north side of Broad Street Road next to the Audi store. While this may be attitudinally in “Short Pump” Goochland gets the revenue. The trade off for the peace and privacy of “country living” is a hike to amenities in places with lots of customers. There are more people, and potential customers, in the 9.1 square miles considered Short Pump than in all of Goochland’s 290 square miles. The county does not “put” any business anywhere.

May your 2023 be filled with good health, love, and laughter. Happy New Year!