At your library

 

PRL Trustees, Director Tom Shepley, right

The board of trustees of the Pamunkey Regional Library (PRL) met at the Goochland Branch on September 27. Thanks to an unfounded rumor about book banning posted on social media, the meeting room was filled with concerned citizens.

At the start of the meeting, Barbara Slone, one of Goochland’s PRL trustees, read the following statement:

It has come to the attention of several Board members that certain members of the public are concerned that this board is in the business of banning books. Not only is that false, but it has never been discussed as a part of official board business. The rumors circulating that this board has any intent to remove books from any Pamunkey Regional Library is completely untrue. Accusations of Hitler-like activities by this board have been overheard and are absurd and is a misguided attempt to rally forces to support an agenda of which the board has no participation whatsoever.

Comments made during “citizen time” indicated that those in attendance value PRL. Curiously, speakers on both sides of the “who decides which materials are appropriate and should be made accessible to children” issue seemed to agree that parents should have the final say in what their kids read.

A sampling of the remarks:

“No one shall interfere with my right to choose for my children, I know them better than you,” one person said. Another said that far left radicalism attempts to implement a woke agenda on children undermining parents’ rights.

Library professionals are best qualified to decide which materials are available at a library based on their training and sensitivity to prevailing community standards.

It is important for a library to maintain access to ideas with which you do not agree to educate and support freedom of thought.

Libraries must carefully evaluate materials and resist restricting the rights of others to access material for their own comfort.

Respect the rights of all parents as the final arbiter of what their children will read.

Public libraries in rural areas like Goochland are the only access for residents to books, the internet, and enrichment activities. Preserve unlimited access. If a book offends you, close it.

Some contended that sexually explicit materials should be “sequestered” from minors, especially very young children. This raises the question of who decides what is sexually explicit and the definition of a minor. Is a passage in the Diary of Ann Frank, which is not illustrated and would be read by “older” minors, the same as a brightly colored picture book filled with images of various combinations of body parts in the children’s section?

Go to the PRL website https://www.pamunkeylibrary.org/  and check on “new arrivals” to peruse the list of new materials.

The meeting agenda included updates on construction activities at some of PRL’s 10 branches. Possible withdrawal of King and Queen from PRL to establish its own library, and its impact on PRL was discussed.

Correction

The Board of Trustees voted to notify each board member that an ALA membership would be provided in their name. Prior to the vote, trustees were automatically enrolled in ALA membership without their knowledge or permission. Following the affirmative vote, each board member must be asked if they would like the ALA membership for themselves, paid for by PRL. It is not mandatory.

The trustees voted to continue the practice of providing each trustee with a membership in the American library Association (www.ala.org) rather than accessing the organization’s website to obtain information relevant to public libraries, rather than receiving it via magazine. There was no mention of cost, if any, of the individual memberships. PRL Director Tom Shepley said that the ALA is the oldest and largest professional association for libraries and does not have a counterpart.

Some trustees questioned positions of the ALA, while others contended that the ALA magazine includes a lot of useful information and that others should not be “scared away” by things they do not agree with.

Shepley said that a planned five percent merit increase for PRL employees and an anticipated eight percent increase in health insurance costs will have an impact on the FY25 budget.

PRL is a is a public library system consortium, comprised of King William, King and Queen, Goochland, and Hanover Counties. Hanover provides 70 percent of the PRL funding and handles its financial matters. Goochland has one branch in Courthouse Village. The Rockville library, also a PRL facility, in Hanover County, may be closer to residents of eastern Goochland. It is at the end of Rockville Road. If you take that route, notice that the road’s narrow, winding character makes it unsuitable for development without significant road improvements.

Library cards are free to all residents of Goochland and entitle cardholders to reciprocity with neighboring library systems. In addition to books, PRL provides ebooks, audio books, and other materials and services, including interlibrary loan, to its patrons. If you do not have one, get your Pamunkey Library card today!

 

 

 

And we're off

 

Early voting started on September 22. Maybe we do need more time for people to vote, but two weeks before election day should be sufficient.

Have you gotten the creepy letter from the shadowy group that wants you to scan a QR code and give them your email address so they can bombard you with slimy “information” about candidates? Whatever happened to “I’m X and I endorsed this message”?

It seems to have been written by newcomers contending that our supervisors are ethically challenged. Goochland has not had ethically challenged supervisors in 12 years. Right before that bunch was voted out of office, the county treasurer was incarcerated for embezzling public funds.

The 2010 certified annual financial statement found 40 material misstatements. One or two of those are serious, 40 is a dumpster fire on steroids. There was no one at that time on county staff qualified to “close the books” so the previous auditors did that and then, checked their own work, a no-no of the highest order. Internal financial controls back then were non-existent, making it easy for the sticky-fingered treasurer to send tax dollars to her mythical lover in Nigeria. No, I am not making this up.

It would be interesting to know how these shadow people define ethically challenged.

 A prominent Goochland Democrat recently used social media to post an image of a traffic summons issued to a Goochland republican candidate in Louisa, which included a social security number. That very private information is redacted when released to a citizen. The summons is public information, the SSN is not. Thanks to an eagle-eyed page administrator, the post was promptly removed, hopefully before it was discovered by an identity thief.

Exactly how that unredacted version got into the hands of a prominent Democrat for posting is the real question.  Does this mean that Goochland democrats have people in high places in other counties, and presumably here as well, scouring public documents and sharing private information? If so, be afraid, be very afraid.

It seems like people define ethically challenged as those who do not agree with them.  The “I’m right and you’re evil” mentality is being weaponized to silence opposition.

For the record:

Regardless of who is elected to the board of supervisors, the ad valorem tax on the Tuckahoe Creek Service District will not go away just yet; TCSD connection fees will not be waived; the county will not build a grocery store in western Goochland; and the roads will not improve over night.

Whatever happened to candidates proudly explaining their positions on issues of local importance to voters and making their case for election? Civil discussion of a wide range of issues has been replaced with mudslinging and dirty tricks designed to obscure and silence thoughtful and valid opposition to specific agendas.

Candidates must engage in person with their constituents. Voters, especially at the local level, are being treated like morons easily swayed to a particular viewpoint using buzzwords and hot button issues. Candidates need to stop the dirty tricks and listen to voters to learn what they think, not tell them how to think.

Whoever is elected to lead our county for the next four years must be able to work with others to build consensus on a wide range of issues facing the entire county, not just one district. There will be differing viewpoints, which is healthy and can lead to creative solutions to problems.

Please do your homework before heading to the polls. Your vote is a precious commodity. Make those who get it earn it.

 

 

 

 

Update on Centerville small area plan

From a press release distributed by Goochland County

 Centerville Small Area Plan Public Hearing Scheduled for Wednesday, October 4th

 

Goochland, VA – The Centerville Small Area Plan has been scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room (Room 250) of the Goochland County Administration Building located at 1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, VA 23063. 

 

This is a change in the anticipated process for consideration of the Small Area Plan.  On August 7, 2023, the Goochland County Board of Supervisors deferred consideration of the Plan, acknowledging that there were still many citizens who felt that they needed additional time and engagement in the small area plan process.  At that time, the Board directed staff to prepare a process for additional citizen input to be taken through the county website and it was announced that the Board would hold a work session on the Small Area Plan on October 24, 2023.

 

The period for additional citizen input closed on Friday, September 15.  The sheer volume of amendments proposed (225 forms submitted with 632 proposed amendments) and the overwhelmingly negative feedback represented by those amendments and comments has caused the county to change the previously identified process.

 

In response to that feedback, county staff has been directed to cancel the planned October 24 work session and schedule a public hearing on the proposed Centerville Small Area Plan at the earliest possible date, which is Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

 

Charlie Vaughters, Vice Chair of the Board and District 4 representative, where Centerville is located, said “It has become clear that my constituents do not want a Plan like this in place at this time.  This past month’s amendment and comment process after the Board of Supervisor’s deferral of the plan in August has brought to light numerous concerns from residents in District 4 and from across Goochland County.   Accordingly, eliminating the planned October work session and moving up the public hearing and vote on the Plan to as soon as possible will be responsive to the citizens’ concerns.”

 

County staff are thankful for the overall engagement from the Goochland community on the Centerville Small Area Plan process and the input shared, all of which will be preserved as staff moves on to focus on other identified Board and community priorities.

 

###

 

 

Paul E. Drumwright | Community Affairs Manager

Goochland County | Administrator's Office

P.O. Box 10

1800 Sandy Hook Road

Goochland, VA 23063

Office:  804-556-5833

Fax:  804-556-4617

pdrumwright@goochlandva.us

 

Goochland voting information

 In-Person Absentee Early Voting Begins in Goochland on September 22nd

 

Goochland, VA – Election Day may be two months away, however in-person absentee early voting begins in Goochland County on September 22 at the Voter Satellite Office in the Goochland Sports Complex.

 

In-person absentee voting will be open during business hours Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 4:30pm beginning on Friday, September 22 through Friday, November 3, as well as the following weekend days: Sunday, September 24 from 12pm until 4pm, Saturday, October 28 from 9am – 5pm, and Saturday, November 4 from 9am – 5pm.  There will be no in-person voting on October 9th.

 

Dedicated parking for in-person absentee early voting and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking for the Voter Satellite Office will be located in front of the Goochland Sports Complex.  Additional parking will be available behind the Office of the General Registrar.

 

Voting Absentee by Mail

Planning to vote absentee by mail?  Ballots for the November 7, 2023 November General Election will be available Friday, September 22, but you can request them right now!  The last day to request an Absentee Ballot to be sent to you is Friday, October 27.

 

Voters can apply for an Absentee Ballot online at https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation and www.goochlandva.us/vote.

 

Applications can be returned in person at the Office of the General Registrar located at 1876 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, VA 23063, by mail to the General Registrar at PO Box 1013, Goochland, VA 23063, by fax to 804-556-6323 or by email to vote@goochlandva.us. 

 

Returning Your Ballot

Your voted ballot can be returned by mail to PO Box 1013, Goochland, VA, 23063.

 

Ballots can also be returned during normal business hours to a drop off location at the Office of the General Registrar at 1876 Sandy Hook Rd, Goochland, VA 23063 or at the Voter Satellite Office at the Goochland County Sports Complex at 1800 Sandy Hook Rd, Goochland, VA 23063.

 

The Sports Complex drop off location will also be available on Sunday, September 24 from 12pm – 4pm, as well as Saturday October 28 and Saturday, November 4 from 9am - 5pm

 

Drop off locations will also be available at our polling places on Election Day. Please visit the General Registrar’s District Information page at https://www.goochlandva.us/562/District-Information for a list of those addresses.

 

Important Dates for the November 7, 2023 General Election

 

Absentee Voting begins: Friday, September 22, 2023

 

Open for Absentee Voting: Sunday, September 24, 2023 12pm - 4pm

 

Last day to register to vote or update voter registration: Monday, October 16, 2023

 

Last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed: Friday, October 27, 2023

 

Open for Absentee Voting: Saturday, October 28, 2023 9am - 5pm 

 

Last day to vote Absentee In-Person: Saturday, November 4, 2023 9am - 5pm

 

Election Day: Tuesday, November 7, 2023

 

Upcoming Election Information and Sample Ballot

Important Election Day and Sample Ballot information is available and can be found at https://www.goochlandva.us/848/Election-Information-and-Sample-Ballot.

For more information on voting in Goochland including early voting please visit www.goochlandva.us/vote.

 

It ain't broke

 

The much maligned, convoluted, and, sometimes bizarre, proposed Centerville small area plan is on life support, if not dead. It appears that the Goochland Board of Supervisors will soon in essence decide that the 2035 comp plan “ain’t broke and won’t fix it” leaving the existing plan unchanged.

District 4 Supervisor Charlie Vaughters released the following statement this morning:

Residents,  

As we have gone through the Centerville Village Plan process over the last several months, it has become clear to me as District 4 Supervisor that my constituents do not want a plan like this in place at this time. This past month’s amendment and comment process after the Board of Supervisor’s deferral of the plan in August has brought to light numerous concerns from residents in District 4 and from all across Goochland County. Listening to these concerns is my primary responsibility as a Goochland Supervisor. I want everyone to know that I will be a “NO” vote to the Centerville Village Plan when it again comes before the Board of Supervisors. Accordingly, eliminating the planned October work session and moving up the public hearing and vote on the Plan to as soon as possible will be responsive to the citizens’ concerns. 

In the coming days, I will be working with my fellow Supervisors and County staff to see if we can move the vote forward from the current plan of voting in December. This will allow our hard working and dedicated County staff to move attention away from the Centerville Village Plan and on to other important projects and responsibilities we have in serving our Goochland County residents. I think it is best for the plan to be voted down and go away. We will certainly take what we’ve learned from this process and put it to good use in future endeavors to support Goochland County.  

I want to thank all our residents who reached out to me, my fellow Supervisors, and County staff with comments and amendment requests over these last several months. I’ve read every comment that has been received and have taken them to heart in making this decision. I wasn’t a part of the Centerville Village Plan process until last November when I was appointed to the Board of Supervisors, and I have been working hard over the last year to understand everything the Plan entails. These citizen comments will be top of mind for me as I continue to serve District 4 and all our Goochland County residents, hopefully for years to come.  

Again, I want to let you all know that I will be a “NO” vote on the Centerville Village Plan when it comes to a vote. In the meantime, I will be working closely with my fellow Supervisors to make sure they hear my decision and the voices of our District 4 residents loud and clear.  

Thank you all for letting me serve you! 

God Bless, 

Charlie Vaughters 

Goochland County District 4 Supervisor 

 

State statute requires that each jurisdiction review—not amend—its comp plan every five years. Given the intense scrutiny of various iterations of proposed changes to the plan since early 2022, that threshold has been met and exceeded.

 

Since early 2022, Goochland County spent at least $300k on consultants to update and revise the plan. Lessons were learned by everyone who engaged in this excruciating discussion of land use and growth.

 

The county learned that requests for citizen input will generate a robust and detailed response. Proposing drastic changes to land use must be explained. Since the latest proposed plan was dropped on citizens in May, there has been no justification, or even explanation, for the inclusion of “lodging” all over the village among other things.

 

The core of citizen feedback from the start of the process was “do not Short Pump Centerville,” yet every iteration included elevations that echoed what is happening east of us.

 

Citizens learned that thoughtful and constructive criticism with specific suggestions for modification, gets traction. Many paid attention to local issues for the first time and hopefully, will remain engaged.

 

Going forward, the BANANA (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything) and the drawbridge folks (I’m here, don’t let anyone else in) need to understand that there will be new construction and economic development. This will not stop. Land owners and developers, who seem to have been salivating over the prospect of higher permitted density, need to work within the framework of the 2035 comp plan.

 

It also became clear that newcomers to the county do little research before buying homes and whine that “no one told them” about things like a quarry behind their neighborhood, the ad valorem tax, traffic, and so forth.

 

Citizens and staff have spent a great deal of time and energy on this initiative. It’s time to move on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make up your own mind

 Early voting starts on September 22. Go to here to learn how and where to vote in Goochland.

It’s that time of year when the candidates vie for your attention, often with sensational contentions. Please do not be swayed by the screaming and sound bites goading you to vote a certain way without doing your homework. Voting is a right that carries the responsibility to cast your ballot after carefully investigating the virtues of each candidate.

Virginia is a Dillion Rule state, which means that local governments, like Goochland’s board of supervisors, have only those powers ceded to them by the General Assembly.

Beware of single-issue candidates for state office who use astonishing amounts of campaign cash to convince you that the world as you know it will end unless they are elected to deal with one hot button issue.

The Virginia General Assembly is a bi-cameral legislature, comprised of a 40-member senate and 100-member house of delegates. In even years, the General Assembly meets for 60 days, in odd years 30 days. During those sessions, state legislators deal with thousands of proposed bills. That’s right, thousands!  Go  here  to inspect the list of bills proposed in 2023, which includes both house and senate versions of proposed laws. Because a bill must earn the blessing of both bodies, often with amendments, to become law, the number of introduced bills is whittled down by session end. Even so, it is a staggering amount of information for our elected representatives to wade through so the can make informed decisions. Lobbyists, who support or oppose specific issues, are only too happy to give the legislators thumbnail summaries and curry favor for their position.

Some bills are straightforward, like recognizing a person or organization for positive impact on the Commonwealth. Others, “defining noxious weeds”, literally get into the weeds of an issue considered great enough importance to a certain area to justify a law, but probably not sensational enough to warrant much attention from legislators.

Many proposed bills, however, deal with complicated issues that have implications for all Virginians. Throwing money at a problem is only part of the answer.

Response to mental health matters has a lot of moving parts. More inpatient beds are needed to supply immediate services for people in crisis to prevent danger to themselves or others. Mechanisms in place for delivery of those services are woefully inadequate. Currently, if a person is transported to healthcare facility in a mental health crisis, a law enforcement officer (LEO) must stay with that person until they are admitted to an inpatient facility. That can take a LEO “off the street” for days. This either reduces local law enforcement response capabilities or increases a law enforcement agency’s overtime budget, which is funded by tax dollars.

Then there are unfunded mandates. The General Assembly has power to require –mandate—local governments to implement policies that cost money without funding them. These could force a local government to forego replacing an ambulance or school bus to comply with the state mandate. Localities must have balanced—revenues must equal expenditures—budgets. Prudent local governments, like that in Goochland, understand that unexpected events, like the pandemic, can throw careful budget planning out the window. State legislators focused on single issues, care little for negative fiscal impact of their actions at the local level.

Sludge, aka biosolids, application to fields is another issue on which the Commonwealth flexed its muscles a few years ago. Biosolids, the end product of municipal wastewater treatment plants, are touted as an excellent soil amendment farmers can spread on their fields instead of more expensive fertilizer. Supporters contend that use of biosolids is safe and helps farmers be more profitable. Opponents contend that the substance poses health hazards and can foul groundwater. When a county banned application of biosolids, the General Assembly replaced a locality’s power to ban application of biosolids with the power to only regulate them.

Everyone complains about the roads. Goochland is dependent on VDOT, a state agency, for construction, maintenance, and competes with every other jurisdiction in the state for funding. Economic development is important to generate revenue to fund core services and keep real estate tax rates low. Goochland needs to partner with the state to attract new business. Support of our representatives in Richmond is vital for success in both of those areas.

Dillon rule limitations on local government underscore the importance of good working relationships between our General Assembly team—two delegates and one senator—to ensure that Goochland’s interests are both represented and protected in Richmond.

Each fall, Goochland County holds an informal meeting where elected officials, constitutional officers, and other stakeholders discuss opportunities and concerns about pending state legislation with our representatives in Richmond. This forges positive lines of communication to protect the county’s interests in real time when the General Assembly is in session.

Other matters of local importance, that one-issue candidates might ignore, include giving a county the power held by towns and cities to set speed limits in certain areas without wading through the convoluted VDOT process. There are no formal towns or cities in Goochland, just place names and zip codes, so we’re at the mercy of VDOT.

Voters, especially women, are cynically viewed as lazy and easily manipulated to vote a certain way when continually bombarded with slick commercials. These scream about sensational topics at the expense of mundane matters that affect our daily life. Please do your own research on candidates and decide who will pay attention to all proposed legislation, not just issues that attract media attention.

Don’t let a carefully crafted sound bite steal your vote. Do your own research before you decide who will govern best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting into the weeds

 

After careful stewardship of tax dollars, the most crucial task of our governing board is land use. Zoning laws give the supervisors the power to dictate what people can do with their land. This often puts rights of property owners at odds with the public good.

People want to tell others how they can use their land but want to do as they please with their own property. Ideally, an acceptable balance between the two can be found. Ideally is a rarity.

At their September 5 meeting, Goochland supervisors dealt with an assortment of zoning matters.

A rezoning case for a subdivision on Rockford Road was deferred to December.

An application for a conditional use permit for 8.05 acres, not in a subdivision, at 5425 River Road West in District 1 to allow construction of a detached accessory dwelling to house a family member was unanimously approved.

A second CUP application to permit an existing accessary structure—garage—on 3.16 acres at 2486 Log Cabin Road to be used as rental property for someone not related to the property owner was also unanimously approved. The garage, whose 800 square foot second floor was used as office space, would serve as a rental apartment with leases of at least one year. The owners stated that they need the revenue from the rental unit to supplement their retirement income so they can remain in their longtime home. Due to drain field limitations, occupancy of both the principal dwelling and rental unit cannot exceed six people.

Discussion on this case mentioned that zoning enforcement is complaint driven. Goochland has a lean community development staff unable to constantly monitor every property use and relies on citizens to bring suspected violations to its attention. Note: a property owner must obtain a conditional use permit for short-term rentals. This includes a community meeting to inform neighbors about the possible use and public hearings before both the planning commission and supervisors, who have the final say.

An application to rezone a 10-acre parcel at 1600 Beaverdam Road in the Deerfield subdivision, located in a rural enhancement area, from A-1 to R-1 to create an additional four-acre residential lot was unanimously denied by the supervisors.

Staff presentation explained that rezoning was needed to subdivide the lot because all subdivision “cuts” permitted in the master plan were taken when the subdivision was created decades ago. The reason stated on the rezoning application for creation of the second parcel was to create a home for family. Comments during the public hearing contended that the current owner has moved out of state.

Neighbors objected to the division of the roughly rectangular lot, which would have placed a home site behind an existing home on the parcel, which is currently for sale. They also raised concerns that approval of this rezoning would open the door for others to downsize their parcels and lead to a domino effect of smaller lots, changing the rural character of their community. They said that there are parts of Goochland appropriate for higher densities, Beaverdam Creek Road is not one of them.

While every land use case is considered unique under the law, John Lumpkins, District 3, pointed out that land use attorneys regularly reference situations like those they are presenting to justify their request. “If we approve this, it’s just going to chip away at rural living,” Lumpkins said.

Charlie Vaughters, District 4 said that this is an opportunity for the Board to hold up its commitment to put growth in areas designated for that and, on the flip side, to do its part to keep rural areas rural.

Ken Peterson, District 5 observed that the subject parcel is in a subdivision with a master plan giving people certain expectations when they bought property there. He too said that the board cannot both support putting all growth in a designated area and approving all rezonings that “come down the pike” elsewhere.

The supervisors approved a rezoning application 4-1 with Susan Lascolette, District 1 in dissent and a conditional use permit unanimously requested by Hermitage Country Club to expand its driving range by adding a portion of a lot at 3 Quail Run Drive in the Broad Run subdivision to the golf course property.

A recording of the September 5 meeting is available on the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ under the “watch county meetings” tab.

 

 

 

 

It's complicated

 

 

Transportation—in Goochland that means mostly roads—is a hot topic. It’s also a very complicated matter because our county is dependent on VDOT—the state agency whose motto is Oops!—to build, maintain, improve, and fund roads.

Thanks to the efforts of our supervisors, especially Board Chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, and John Lumpkins, District 3, who serve on regional transportation boards, Goochland has a voice in the allocation of scarce road dollars. Our county competes with other jurisdictions in Virginia for transportation funds and plays a convoluted game of “mother may I” to get anything done.

The matter is so complex, that until Austin Goyne joined the Department of Community Development staff to oversee and concentrate transportation related subjects, roads were handled in a somewhat piecemeal fashion related to specific projects.

On Tuesday, September 5, Goochland supervisors held a transportation workshop.

Representatives from VDOT made a presentation about “hard shoulder running lanes” on southbound Rt. 288 between West Creek Parkway and Rt. 711 in Powhatan to ease rush hour congestion on the James River Bridge. A similar project for northbound 288 between Rt. 711 and Rt. 6 was also mentioned. Similar lanes are in operation in Northern Virginia and Tidewater.

A community information meeting for this project will be held on Wednesday, September 13 at James River High School, 3700 James River Road, Midlothian, 23113 from 5-7 p.m. Public hearings on the project are expected to be held in late summer of 2024. If approvals and rights of way are secured, construction on the estimated $39.5 million project could begin in early spring of 2026.

Essentially, hard shoulder running lanes use existing shoulders as traffic lanes during high volume hours. The VDOT rep explained that the lanes on 288 are 39 feet wide, which can accommodate an extra lane. Electronic message signs will indicate when the extra lanes are open. Cameras and other technology will feed real time data to the VDOT traffic operations center in Chester, which will control use of the extra lanes. Based on feedback from stake holders including fire-rescue and state police, the extra lanes will not be open during heavy rain and other extreme weather events.

Go to the nine-minute mark of the meeting video on the county website goochlandva.us under “watch county meetings” to hear the full VDOT discussion.

Goyne said that the Courthouse Village roundabout is in the final punch list stage, including mitigating drainage issues for Taylor’s Service Station, cutting the grass, and discussions about what might be placed in its center.

The supervisors recently voted to fund the extension of Fairground Road beyond the roundabout to connect with Rt. 6. This will create access to county owned land for economic development. There will be a public hearing on that project on November 16 at 5:30 in the Board Room to discuss the design.  A completion date in 2028 is anticipated.

Improvements to the Ashland Road I64 interchange, including the second bridge and diverging diamond, is the county’s number one transportation priority, said Goyne. He outlined the phases of the project and said that it is getting “positive traction” moving forward. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin in April 2025.

Goyne then discussed the Hockett Road realignment.

Residents of Centerville and the Hockett Road corridor expressed alarm when initial diagrams of the project showed removal of the signal at Hockett and 250 eliminating through traffic and left turns there. Goyne said that the final design for this project will first undertake a full level of signal analysis to see if the data supports retention of the signal and share the results with citizens. “If the data does point to a potential removal, we’ll have additional conversations about how to leave it.” The public and the board, said Goyne, want the signalized intersection to remain. May 2028 is the expected start of construction.

While roads are the main transportation focus in Goochland, micro and mass transit is also on the radar screen. Goyne said that extending a bus line to the vicinity of the Sheltering Arms Hospital was in the GRTC priority plan for FY 23 and back again in FY24 but lacked funding. The hospital has offered to build a shelter to accommodate the bus line extension. Medical offices in the Notch are also supportive. Funding, which would be covered by GRTC, and the logistics of bus routes seem to be the main roadblocks.

Goyne said that there is a Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) grant opportunity to fund a Goochland centric transit study, that would look at county borders, our people, their needs and how best to address those needs. The results of such a study could indicate that a commuter route might be appropriate in some areas, or more demand-driven micro transit. Goyne alluded to Jaunt, which provides rural transit in the Charlottesville area and advertises its services as “flexible, affordable, comfortable & convenient”.

The DRPT study, said Goyne, could identify which of eight potential providers might be appropriate for Goochland.

As with most things in the county the transit needs of Goochland are very different in the east than the west. Goochland Cares, which provides rides to medical appointments for its clients, was mentioned as knowing a great deal about transportation needs in the county.

There could be many ways to expand transportation options in Goochland, but solid data is needed to identify and focus on how it could be best provided and the cost.

$$

Goyne discussed the bewildering array of road funding sources including the VDOT Smart Scale program where road projects compete against each other for money; revenue sharing; and state and federal grants, some of which require a local match.

The roundabout at the westbound Oilville/I64 interchange, said Goyne, seems favorably positioned to receive funding because it is on a federal highway and backs up significantly into travel lanes during afternoon rush. Going forward, the design of this roundabout will differ from that on Fairground Road because it will have a slip lane to enable northbound traffic to turn right without entering the roundabout.

Sidewalks in Courthouse Village from Goochland Cares to Reed Marsh, 2,500 linear feet, will be funded by a Transportation Alternatives (TAP) $1.3 million grant with an 80/20(local) match. Goyne said that VDOT supports letting the county manage the project, which should simplify its completion. Susan Lascolette, District 1, observed that is $520 per foot. Goyne explained that the cost includes rights of way, design, moving a power pole, and replacing a failing sidewalk in front of the church/bank that is for sale.

Fairground Road needs are being analyzed to see which will be the best fit for its intersection with Maidens Road, enhanced turn lanes, or a roundabout.

Long story short, identifying and prioritizing needed road improvements and aligning them with criteria of various funding sources is a convoluted task. There are no fast and simple answers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/11 memorial at Company 1 (Goochland County photo)

 

The world has turned twenty-two times since that perfect Tuesday morning when America was attacked and changed forever. Gone was the smugness that two mighty oceans protected us from our enemies.

That horrific day united Americans in mourning and resolve. Old Glory was everywhere a beloved and revered symbol of our nation. Now people whine that the stars and stripes are a symbol of hate and are fearfully “triggered” when they see it.

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) and first responders, who perished in unprecedented numbers, were honored for their sacrifice, and revered for their role in society after 9/11.

How things have changed. Today, America is divided. People use an “I’m right and you’re evil” attitude to reject any view that does not mirror their own. We scream at each other drowning out any appeal for civil discussion and a path to resolve differences.

Blind anger, an offshoot of Covid stoked fear, resulted in attacks on first responders as they sought to help. In what universe is it remotely reasonable to burn fire trucks and assault ambulances?

The recent tragic death of a young Virginia firefighter reminds us that there is no guarantee that those who serve and protect us will go home at the end of their shift.

Cries of “defund the police” put those who pin a target over their hearts before they go to work in the cross hairs of vile mobs. Woke prosecutors give criminals who attack LEOs a slap on the wrist yet seem to seek ways to punish them when they carry out their duties. Is it any wonder that fewer people consider careers in law enforcement?

People demand rights but ignore the responsibilities they carry.

As we remember the carnage and honor the sacrifices of 9/11 let us resolve to find our way back to the unity that followed that awful day.

There will be two 9/11 observances in Goochland tomorrow.

At 9:45 A.M.  a first responder community service will take place at Courthouse Fire-Rescue Company 5 located at 2710 Fairground Road. First responders and deputies will gather to read the names and toll a bell in honor of the members of the NYPD, NYFD, Port Authority Police, and New York City EMS providers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

At 7 P.M. the community will gather at Manakin Fire-Rescue Company 1 at 180 River Road West to honor those lost on 9/11. Company 1 is the site of Goochland’s 9/11 memorial built around steel from the 92^nd floor of the north tower. It has five benches to signify the attack on the Pentagon and a piece of stone inscribed with 93 to commemorate the valor of the passengers of Flight 93.

 

 

No rush to judgement

 At their Tuesday, September 5 meeting, Goochland supervisors thoughtfully revisited an ordinance deferred from August, which would require certain non-profit entities to file an application every three years to confirm tax exempt status on their real and personal property.

According to County Attorney Tara McGee, her office has been working with the offices of the county assessor and Commissioner of the Revenue and non-profit organizations, including churches, which would be affected by the proposed ordinance, for some time. McGee said that neighboring jurisdictions have had similar ordinances in place for years. She explained that while entities may be exempt from federal and state tax, they may not necessarily be exempt from local real estate and personal property taxation.

McGee compared the proposed process for tax exempt status authentication to that needed to qualify for land use taxation. She said that several churches in the county own vacant land, which, if not in use by the church, is taxable under the law.

She contended that staff is not trying to “snap up money from these vacant parcels” but rather collaborate with stakeholders to determine if they want to sell the land, find a way to keep it tax exempt, or make it subject to a reduced tax.

The goal of the ordinance is to shift the focus from who owns a property to how it is being used to subsidize things being used for the public good, but not for things that may not be.

Ken Peterson, District 5 said that if a church owns a dairy farm on one side of its property and an apartment building on the other side, currently all would be exempt from tax.

McGee said that the proposed ordinance would create a mechanism to protect and defend tax exempt status.

County Assessor Mary Ann Davis said that currently, if the owner of a vacant property is a tax-exempt entity, she treats that property as tax exempt. If the ordinance is adopted, she would investigate to see if those parcels could be developed or taxed. She contended that if the ordinance were to be enacted and a church inherits a piece of property it would not find itself with an unanticipated tax liability.

Vehicles must be titled in the name of the non-profit organization to get the tax exemption.

During the August public hearing a representative of a local church objected to the potential for the ordinance to allow government to use the power of the purse to interfere with the free exercise of religion.

McGee said that in response to concerns about religious organizations, a separate form was created for them to use that only requires publicly available information.

Complexity of the compliance form was also a point of contention as many non-profits rely on volunteers to fulfill their mission. The initial eight-page form was whittled down to two pages. The supervisors asked in August that a simple process to appeal denial of tax-exempt status be added.

Several speakers raised concerns about the new forms contending that, if the form is not part of the ordinance, it could be changed administratively with no oversight by elected officials.

The crux of the matter seems to be determining if revenue derived from rental of property owned by tax exempt entities is exempt from local real estate tax.

The Rev. Dr. Emanuel Harris, pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church in Manakin Sabot thanked McGee and other county officials for their responsiveness to the concerns of organizations potentially affected by the proposed ordinance. Coming out of Covid, Harris said, small rural churches are financed by members, many on fixed incomes who tithe, and struggle to keep their doors open with revenues from weddings and funerals. Sometimes people bequeath their homes to their church. While the church decides what use to make of that home, they could face a tax bill, and unanticipated financial burden.

Ben Slone of Maidens contended that constitutions of both the United States and Virginia are very clear about the separation of church and state. Therefore, churches should not be included among non-profits that the Code of Virginia allows to be regulated.

Oher speakers questioned the need for the ordinance contending that it would create more work for staff in pursuit of possible taxable income on property owned by not-for-profit organizations and place an undue regulatory burden on organizations that enrich our community.

McGee said that the county does not need to adopt an ordinance requiring confirmation of tax-exempt status. Staff, the Assessor, and Commissioner of the Revenue could simply have sent out a form to the 75 county non-profits but, in the spirit of transparency, went the ordinance route and did a great deal of outreach and many meetings, including a very productive one with Rev. Harris that clarified how churches raise funds to keep the lights on. Churches do not have to use their property every week for it to be exempt, she said. Sites for Easter Sunrise Services or cemetery expansion would qualify.

“Staff is very interested in helping our non-profits figure out what they can do to meet this standard,” said McGee.

Board Chair Neil Spoonhower District 2 said he initially thought the proposed ordinance was a simple thing, but on deeper inspection, realized the negative implications for churches.

“I saw the government attack churches. I saw ‘em keep liquor stores and bars open but shut down our churches.” Spoonhower said the board has to be very careful about placing onerous burdens on churches. He commended staff for the progress it has made collaborating with citizens but could not support an ordinance that did not include the form to document compliance.

Rather than vote to adopt the ordinance with a delayed effective date, the Board voted 4-1 with Spoonhower in dissent, to defer the matter until its March 2024 meeting. This will give staff time after the busy season for the Assessor and Commissioner of the Revenue to fine tune the proposed ordinance and hold further discussions with stakeholders.

Go to the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ and click on “watch county meetings” to hear the entire discussion.

 

 

Items of note

 

Happy Labor Day.

A few things on the calendar

·       Goochland Leadership Enterprise (GLE) will start its next session soon. If you are new to the county or a native, GLE will give you insight into how Goochland County works. You will also have an opportunity to get to know people from all parts of the county and all walks of life. Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/9864/GLE-Brochure-2023-2024-rev-23-06-23--v0?bidId= for details.

 

·       Well water testing for those of you who really live in the country and use a well as your primary water source, make sure it is free of contaminants. “The Goochland and Powhatan Extension offices will host a well water testing program opportunity in September in association with the Virginia Household Water Quality Program at Virginia Tech. The Virginia Household Water Quality Program aims to improve the water quality and health of Virginians with wells, springs and cisterns. They provide affordable water testing, help interpreting their water test results, and information about addressing problems.” Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1008 for details.

 

·       James River Clean Up The 24^th annual James River Clean up will be held from 9 to 12 on Saturday September 9 at Tucker Park at Maidens Landing off Rt. 522 in Courthouse Village. This is a regional event spanning more than 75 miles of the James River, which forms Goochland’s southern border. Volunteers.  To register go to https://www.cognitoforms.com/ChesterfieldCountyVA1/JamesRiverCleanupRegistrationForm

 

·       September 11 observances.  Every year on the anniversary of the 911 attacks in Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania, Goochland Fire-Rescue pauses to remember and honor the brave who died on that horrific day.  There will be two separate events:  9:45 A.M. Courthouse Company 5, 2710 Fairground Road, and 7 p.m. Manakin Company 1, 180 River Road West. These moving tributes ensure that the sacrifices of that day will not be forgotten and remind us that our public safety providers go in harm’s way to keep us safe.