June stuff

 

June is dairy month.

The Goochland Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the small area plan for Courthouse Village at a special meeting on June 12. The only change to the draft plan was removing the “road diet” recommendation for a portion of River Road West as the top priority and replacing it with more inclusive language about improvement of streetscapes and walkability there. Staff justification for the road diet was to better compete for funding. As Goochland will have new representation in the General Assembly next year, it might be a good time for the county to encourage VDOT reform at the state level.

The only “new” main road in the plan was the connection of Fairground Road to Rt. 6 near the high school. Following a public hearing at its June 6 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to amend the FY2023 budget and appropriate $1,483,148 in the Capital Improvement Fund to build the road. Completion is not expected before 2025.

June is Virginia Dairy Month. Go to https://articles.vafb.com/news-and-features/categories/virginia-dairy-farmers-launch-new-website-during-national-dairy-month to learn more about where milk comes from.

Upcoming events

County offices will be closed on Monday June 19^th in observance of Juneteenth.

Fireworks will be held on Tuesday, July 4 behind the sports complex in Courthouse Village beginning at 9 p.m. Rain date July 5. Arrive early and pack your patience, the show it worth it!

The supervisors will meet on July 3.

Consent Agenda

The following items were unanimously approved:

·       A public hearing was set for July 3 to consider an ordinance to relocate voting precinct 301 from the Goochland Animal Shelter to the Sports Complex. County Administrator Vic Carpenter reported that last November’s election showed that the parking lot and interior areas at the

·       Animal Shelter did not provide enough capacity for efficient voting there. The Sports Complex, which has served as a polling place in the past, works well for this use. Although the Goochland Sports Complex is not within Precinct 301 (Beaverdam), it is located within one mile of the precinct boundary, which complies with the state law requirements in Virginia Code § 24.2-310. County offices will be closed on Election Day, to minimize parking issues at the complex.

 

 

·       To increase the salary for the next Board of Supervisors, to take effect on January 1, 2024, as follows: chairman from $19,000 to $21,000; Vice Chair from $17,000 to $19,000 and members from $15,000 to $17,000. State law requires that a vote to increase supervisor compensation be taken and recorded prior to July 1 of the year before it takes effect. Our supervisors work hard on the behalf of citizens, especially those like Board Chair Neil Spoonhower and John Lumpkins, Jr. who represent the county on regional transportation boards to ensure that Goochland has a seat at the table and gets a piece of the funding pie.

 

·       Granting of a non-interest loan of $1,500,000 to the Goochland Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association., Inc, for renovations at Courthouse Company 5. The duration of the loan, which will pay for only a portion of renovations to the station, is 20 years. The first payment of $75k is due by July 1, 2024.

 

·       A resolution to amend the FY23 (which ends June 30) Goochland County budget and appropriate $517,555 to the FY2023 Goochland County Public Schools (GCPS) operating and cafeteria fund budgets and authorize fund transfers exceeding $10,000. The money will be used for welding equipment, landscaping needs, vehicle repairs, and inflation costs. This request requires no additional local transfer.

 

Communications strategic plan

Jessica Kronberg, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Engagement presented a draft communications strategic plan. To peruse the entire 93-page document, go to https://www.goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/9624/Communications-Plan-Draft?bidId=

The plan is the result of the community engagement survey conducted in past months. Most of the respondents indicated that they want to receive information about the county via email.

Thanks to all who named GOMM as their trusted source for county information. Survey responses are fascinating and show a wide range of interests and concerns among Goochlanders.

Getting complete information out to people promptly is important. The county has several ways for residents to get notification about things like festivals, community meetings, land use change applications and so forth. Social media seems to be the fastest way to get the word out about roads closed by wrecks, etc.

Many people access the county website but said that some things were difficult to find or had outdated or incomplete information. Let’s add a “dump” is open/closed icon on the homepage.

Respondents want more complete information about Broadband expansion, those without are understandably frustrated with the long wait for connection.

Kronberg stated four goals of the plan: optimize useability of the county website; increase awareness of county projects and actions; make sure county staff is engaged and well informed; and stay informed of communication trends and build relationships with area media.

Each of these goals has several worthwhile objectives and targets. The Communications plan and the tourism strategic plan will work in concert to increase awareness of Goochland among residents and the region. Informed and engaged citizens are vital to the success of government.

To get the Goochland app Go to:

 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.goochlandva.cpmobile

Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goochland-county/id1670702106