Making Goochland a better place

 

Comments about the April 3, 2024, graduation of the 25^th class of Goochland Leadership Enterprise (GLE)held at the Industrial Tap House in Centerville.

GLE 25th class (GLE photo)

 

Thirty years ago, the Goochland Board of supervisors created a Commission on the Future comprised of a group of citizens charged with looking at where Goochland was and where it needed to go.

Its final report issued August 1, 1995, included this vision statement:  In the year 2010, Goochland County is a community of which all its citizens can be justifiably proud. We have a cooperative alliance of public citizens and elected officials whose implementation of a plan for orderly growth has preserved the rural character of the county while maintaining the fiscal integrity of its government. We have a superior school system, kept pace with the growing demands of public safety and provided all citizens with the opportunity for compassionate care and leisure time activities such that Goochland County is an enviable place for its citizens to live, work, and enjoy life.

Those words apply to Goochland today, but 14 years ago, not so much.

Members of the Commission recognized the need for fully participating citizen government. “Good and effective leadership is not limited to those in positions of authority, nor is it limited to any one race, culture, or economic strata. There are individuals throughout Goochland with leadership potential.

“In order to reap the benefits of the varied backgrounds of the citizens of Goochland, the county should introduce a leadership development program to do the following.

·        Identify potential leaders.

·        Help to cultivate leadership skills.

·        Encourage potential leaders to take a more active role in the county.

·        Educate participants about the opportunities and problems in Goochland.

·        Bring current and potential leaders in contact to encourage discussion and debate.

·        Develop a spirit of cooperation to benefit the county as a whole.”

Chuck White, Rick Cagan, Mary-Ellen Kendall, and Sallie Mae Pleasants, of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, put those words into action and established GLE.  White was the Director for the first few years. He was succeeded by Ken Holt, and then George Gill who preceded current director Pete Williams.

The first class formed in the fall of 1996, meeting on Thursday nights. We also met on several Saturdays to conduct team building and other collaborative exercises. We may have done Myers Briggs tests. The class included—as it has ever since—newcomers and lifelong Goochlanders from all parts of the county. We got to know people we might never have otherwise met and learn about the whole county, not just the parts in our “flight paths”.

Since then, GLE graduates have served in most elected and appointed government roles, volunteered in a host of ways, and include several Christmas Mothers. County employees completed GLE giving them a better understanding of the people they serve. One blogs about the county.

According to an article in the late, lamented Goochland Courier about the 10^th graduating GLE class, more than 200 people had completed the class. The 15 classes since then have enriched our community and will continue to do so.

George Gill, second GLE director, who now lives in Kentucky, said "I believe that GLE was the right program at the right time and made a huge difference to Goochland by providing a mechanism for people to learn about the county and how to get involved, especially with volunteer opportunities.”

Knight Bowles was born and raised in Goochland and returned to the county after he retiring as a Captain in the United States Navy. He was a member of the first class and offered reflections on the program as the keynote speaker at the graduation.

Bowles urged the graduates to stay engaged with the county. He cited his service, in the early part of the century, on the Goochland Board of Equalization, which deals with property valuation disputes. At that time, assessments were performed every four years by an outside contract awarded to the lowest bidder, with predictable results. After the disastrous 2004 assessments, Bowles advocated for the county to hire its own assessor and update values on an annual basis. He considered that a success.

One of his greatest frustrations is that solutions to the high cost of home ownership in Goochland which continues to price most county employees, who work for the Sheriff, Fire-rescue, schools, and local government out of the housing market remain elusive.  

Bowles is a tireless volunteer for Goochland Habitat for Humanity (https://www.goochlandhabitat.com/), and other programs that provide home repairs for low-income residents.

Ben Slone, also a member of the first class, who currently serves as Chair of the Goochland Economic Development Authority, said that GLE provided a wealth of information about Goochland, a variety of ways to engage with the community, and the opportunity to get to know fellow Goochlanders that you might not otherwise encounter.

The next GLE class starts in the fall.

 

New voting precinct proposed for Goochland District 4

 Contact:

Jessica Kronberg

Chief of Marketing and Communications

Phone: (804) 556-5856

Cell: (804) 314-5014

Email: jkronberg@goochlandva.us

 

 

Goochland County Opens Proposed Voting Precinct 403 for Public Comment

 

Goochland, VA – Election District 4, located in the northeastern area of the county, has experienced residential growth since the county adopted its new election district map after the decennial redistricting.  Precinct 402 (Centerville) now has over 4,000 registered voters. In order to decrease wait time and provide better service to voters, the General Registrar and the Electoral Board have asked the Board of Supervisors to create a new election precinct, identified as Precinct 403 (West Creek).

 

Proposed Precinct 403 is proposed to encompass the area of the county east of I-288 generally between Broad Street Road and West Creek Parkway. The new precinct would include residents of the Avery Point Senior Living, 2000 West Creek, and the Retreat at West Creek communities.

 

As proposed, Precinct 403 would have approximately 1,269 registered voters and would reduce the number of registered voters in Precinct 402 to about 2,756.

 

The polling place for proposed Precinct 403 would be within the Avery Point Senior Living community, located at 1000 Avery Point Way which is off Wilkes Ridge Parkway (State Route 1034).

 

On April 2, 2024, the Board of Supervisors scheduled a public hearing to be held at its June meeting in order for residents to provide input on the proposed Precinct 403. The public hearing is scheduled for June 4, 2024, starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors meeting room, Room 250 in the County Administration Building at 1800 Sandy Hook Road. Should the Board of Supervisors approve the proposed Precinct 403 on June 4, it will not become effective for at least 30 days.

 

Note: A primary election has been scheduled for June 18, 2024, which would be before Precinct 403 has become effective. All registered voters in Precinct 402 (Centerville) who participate in a June 18 primary will do so at the current polling place, St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, located at 1706 St. Matthew’s Lane (State Route 708).

 

In the interest of transparency, and in compliance with the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the County is providing residents with the opportunity to comment on the creation of the proposed Precinct 403 for a period of at least 30 days. Name and address are required for comments to be considered. Names and comments, but not addresses, will be posted online. Comments can be provided as follows:

 

Online:                 www.goochlandva.us/precinct403

 

Email:                    precinct403@goochlandva.us

 

Mail:                      Precinct 403

P.O. Box 10

Goochland, VA 23035

 

Fax:                        804-556-4369

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Goochland County Attorney’s Office at 804-556-5877.

 

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Budget for FY 25 approved tax rates set

 

At an April 16 meeting, the Goochland County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the budget for FY25, which begins on July 1 and set tax rates and utility fees for calendar year 2024. The final budget, which was tweaked a bit since the public hearing on April 2, remains at a total of $134,056,574. Tax rates are unchanged from last year: real estate 53 cents per $100 of valuation that has been in place since at least 2007; the ad valorem tax for property in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District 32 cents; and personal property tax at $2.99 per $100. Water and sewer rates for those served by public utilities will increase by three percent. Animal shelter adoption fees will increase to $90 for dogs and $75 for cats regardless of gender. These all take effect on July 1, 2024.

Since County Administrator Vic Carpenter presented his proposed budget in February, there has been a great deal of discussion, including citizen input about spending tax dollars. Inflation has reared its ugly head as schools, the Sheriff, fire-rescue, and county departments highlighted the need to increase salary scale to attract and retain the best employees for Goochland. Schools asked for an additional $1.4 million to bring their salary scale to the regional median.

The fact is that Goochland cannot keep pace with its deep pocketed neighbors. Among other losses, Matt Longshore, who served as director of public utilities, left to take a similar job with Hanover County. We wish Matt all the best in his new position and thank him for his service here.

Everyone involved in the budget process, supervisors, schools, department heads, constitutional officers worked long hours with “sharpened pencils” to fund as many necessities as possible—defining these was a difficult task—using available funds.

Jonathan Lyle, District 5, finishing his first budget as a supervisor, thanked his fellow board members for their exchange of ideas, opinions, and perspectives. He also thanked Carpenter, Director of Finance Carla Cave, department heads and Constitutional Officers for being generous with their time and exhibiting good humor in response to his questions. Lyle also thanked school board members, School Superintendent Dr. Cromartie, and School Director of Finance Debbie White for being active participants in the budget dialog.

He also thanked citizens for weighing in on the matter, having received 43 communications from them in the previous three weeks.

The FY25 budget, said Lyle Is not perfect, no budget ever is. He went on to list what he considered positives. The budget is balanced requiring no borrowing except that approved by voted in the 2021 referendum. It focuses on people because an organization is only as good as those who make it work.

“This budget has looked at staffing needs for a county that is growing, and compensation needed to attract and retain productive team members. Even with the focus on people, the reality is that Goochland is not the leader in employee pay scales or staffing levels. The result is that people who are part of the Goochland team are here for more than a paycheck. They are investing in our county through time and energy as well as compensation. Even so, we’re going to lose team members.”

Lyle compared Goochland to a “mid-major” college basketball team where talent develops and blossoms, then moves to a higher level. While in Goochland, he contended, they give full effort.

The budget, he said, focuses on needs. Not every initial budget request was granted. Priorities addressed by the budget are public safety and education, which is reflected by the addition of deputies, dispatchers, and fire-rescue personnel.

Lyle commended Board Chair Charlie Vaughters, District 4, for initiating discussions on adding more deputies. He cited changes in policing protocols implemented in neighboring jurisdictions that could have a negative impact on Goochland. Being proactive to anticipate issues is prudent, contended Lyle. He said that discussions on this topic were dynamic and unexpected with a positive result.

Lyle said that school funding in Goochland is at a historic high and that concerns about competition voiced by the school board and administration are “being actively worked on.” He expressed cautious optimism that those conversations will have a positive outcome.

He noted that while the tax rate remains unchanged at 53 cents, it does represent a tax increase due to the increase in assessed valuations.

A tax rate cut—each penny of tax represents about $860,000—would require less funding for county services. Lyle said that some calls he received asked for a rate cut without reducing service levels, a task complicated by inflation.

Lyle expressed concern that the budget does not reflect significant growth in the county’s business tax base. He advocated for robust efforts to grow that tax base, especially by developing West Creek.

“West Creek is a business park, with no rezoning needed. It has water and sewer, four lane roads, and sits astride Rt. 288. It is a diamond in the rough. I hope we will cut and polish it this year. A billion dollars invested in West Creek could contribute millions of dollars to the county tax base with no demand on schools and minimal impact on county services.”

Neil Spoonhower, District 2 said that this was his fifth budget—two were prepared in 2020 to deal with the pandemic emergency—and that his experience taught him the lesson that “nothing we do is permanent. We will continue to meet needs as they present themselves. We do the best modeling we can and look to see where the greatest needs are.”

Spoonhower said he had just learned that the number of building permits issued by the county has decreased significantly. “We’ve heard from our citizens loud and clear that continuing to grow at this pace is not smart. This board made a commitment (at its January workshop) to be intentional and thoughtful about everything we do. I’m proud of the fact that when our (in 2020) new sheriff presented a five-year plan for deputies and dispatchers, we’ve met that plan. The community has said time and time again that public safety and education are its biggest concerns, and this budget reflects that. We do more with less and I want to thank every person who makes that possible.”

Vaughters agreed with all comments and expressed appreciation for working with his supervisors to a good outcome. “With sagging eyes and a wife who is ticked at me, means we’ve done the budget the right way. We can never make everyone happy.” He thanked his fellow supervisors, school and county staff for the unbelievable number of hours dedicated to crafting the budget. He expressed gratitude for and pride in all the people working for Goochland.

(Thanks to supervisor spouses for their sacrifice of family time and patience in support of good local government.)

Public hearings

The public hearing on a rezoning application filed by Sidney & Sidney was deferred to June 4.

Two parcels were added to the Tuckahoe Creek Service District.

Conditional use permits for electronic message boards at Randolph and Byrd Elementary Schools were approved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A toolbox for land use engagement

 

The metaphorical toolbox that can help guide land use decisions

Most people in Goochland give little thought to land use until they see a bulldozer on the lot next door, by which time it is too late.

During and after the Centerville small area plan study/debacle, a group of engaged citizens worked very hard to submit constructive comments about the plan and were pretty much ignored. The group also studied, in depth, the zoning process used by Goochland County, how it works, and how it could be improved.

In December, Linda Moore, who was instrumental in reducing the number of homes and final configuration of the Tuckahoe Bridge subdivision on Manakin Road and the approved version of Manakin Towne in the Centreville Village, created the Community Planning Committee last December. The goal of the CPC is to educate citizens about the county’s zoning process and encourage local government to provide citizens with complete and detailed information about proposed land use changes to enable them to make constructive comments well in advance of public hearings.

At a citizen-to-citizen workshop held at Goochland Baptist Church on April 8, members of the CPC explained the zoning process, discussed the importance of citizen engagement, and urged those present to participate. The workshop was titled “an educational opportunity to improve and protect the quality of our life by working together to choose how and where we grow as a community.”

The meeting was well attended. Supervisors Tom Winfree, District 3; Charlie Vaughters, District 4; Jonathan Lyle, District 5; and District 5 planning commissioner Dwain Cosby joined residents concerned about growth to listen to the presentations.

Tools in the land use planning “toolbox” include the county’s comprehensive land use plan; zoning ordinances and articles; financial impacts of growth; and preservation of rural and natural areas.

Rob Williamson discussed the county comprehensive land use plan https://www.goochlandva.us/250/2035-Comprehensive-Plan, which is used to guide land use decisions. Its goals are to create high quality commercial, industrial, and employment hubs; vibrant villages that reflect the character of each community; high quality residential development compatible with adjacent land uses; preservation of natural, historic, and cultural resources; and manage viable agricultural and forestry resources that are important components of the local economy.

According to the American Planning Association http://www.planning.org/ a comp plan is not a “feel good” document. It features strategies for specific land use issues including detailed action agendas designed to implement the plan in a sequential and predictable manner. The comp plan, said Williamson, is a legally defensible policy document.

Zoning ordinances protect the rights of property owners while safeguarding the general welfare of the community. Their purpose is to locate land uses where they are most appropriate. The county has a goal of keeping 85 percent “rural” with the remainder, somewhat vaguely defined, developed. “That doesn’t mean the 15 percent is a dumping ground for development.” Every property owner, said Wiliamson, has the right to ask for a zoning change and an increase in development density. They do not have the right to get what they ask for. He pointed out that the assessed valuation of land increases when permitted density rises.

The land use change process often is for a conditional use permit, needed for uses not allowed “by right” in a particular zoning district requires several steps, as does rezoning. The first is a community meeting, which must be held before a formal application can be filed with the county. This meeting is run by the applicant to present the proposed project to neighboring property owners and the community. Sometimes these meetings are heavily attended, sometimes few people show up. The first inkling that something is up a piece of property is the yellow zoning sign https://www.goochlandva.us/833/Zoning-Signs Adjacent property owners are notified of the community meeting by mail. Others may learn about it by word of mouth. It is important to pay attention.

If you see this sign, pay attention

The land use change application, which should include a detailed traffic impact study, is filed after the community meeting, and reviewed by the planning staff, which prepares a summary. The next step is a public hearing before the planning commission, which makes recommendations about the application to the supervisors who have the final say after another public hearing.

Williamson said that every rezoning impacts residents in all parts of the county and urged citizens to pay attention and get involved by going to community meetings, public hearings, and networking with neighbors to ensure that they are aware of the proposed action.

Larry Barker, a volunteer EMS provider, and life member of Centerville Company 3 discussed the substantial increase in calls for service in the east end of the county in the recent past. The arrival of Sheltering Arms Hospital, Avery Point, a continuing care senior community in the Notch, Mosaic in West Creek, and other 55+ communities has increased the number of older residents more likely to need EMS. Ballooning call volumes in the county’s east end puts pressure on the system county wide. For instance, if EMS crews at Centerville and Manakin are out on calls, units from other stations, which could be as far away as Fife and Hadensville will respond. This reduces the resources available to respond to calls in the rest of Goochland.

Barker said that that, in addition to EMS calls, fire-rescue companies respond to traffic accidents, which sometimes require lengthy and complicated emergency responses, especially those on I64, and structure fires, all of which require a lot of people.

Fire-Rescue Chief D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. explained that Goochland is a combination department where volunteers work side by side with paid personnel. They all receive the same level of training. Volunteers, explained Ferguson, save the county a huge amount of money by giving freely of their time and talents to save lives and protect property in Goochland.

The Chief said that Goochland Fire-Rescue needs more volunteers (go to https://goochlandfire-rescue.org/ to learn how you can help). Currently, most volunteers in the east end of Goochland live outside the county but come here to work duty shifts, for which the county is grateful.

Paul Costello, a Centerville resident who has been engaged in local land use issues since at least 2007, contended that implementation of place making strategies are vital to good land use and the result of input from a collective voice.

He reiterated that the comp plan is a legally significant document that was built around a village concept to concentrate growth in specific areas. “In 1980, Short Pump as we know it did not exist. West Creek did not become the next Innsbrook. Now the goal is to avoid disruptive land use.”

The portion of eastern Goochland designated for potential growth is approximately 21 thousand acres. We still do not know how much of that is not usable due to wetlands and other impediments. The county recently began the “southern infrastructure study” (SIS) to not only determine how much of that land is developable but provide data for various development scenarios. Costello said he hopes this methodology will become standard practice when analyzing the impact of any future land use changes.

He addressed the workload of the community development staff, which is often presented with ill-conceived and incomplete project inquiries that never move forward but waste time. The planning staff does not have the authority to reject applications that are incomplete or fail to comply with land use guidelines.

Community meetings, said Costello, are arranged by the applicant who sets the agenda, presents a proposed project in the best light possible downplaying its impact on neighboring property. The applicant may also work behind the scenes to “leverage whatever political capital they may have to influence the Board of Supervisors.”

Staff, said Costello, may be caught in the middle and endure political pressure to expedite applications with incomplete information.

Goochland has had four county administrators in the last five years, and significant community development staff turnover, which limits historical knowledge transfer and impedes the citizen input process.

“Our new supervisors and planning commissioners are making a good effort to open lines of communication between staff and citizens,” said Costello.

Costello said that citizens need access to complete information about land use changes before they reach the planning commission to provide constructive input. Too often, changes are submitted at the last minute, providing no time for citizens, planning commissioners or supervisors to adequately analyze them.

Citizens must be vigilant, contended Costello. The county GIS page provides a wealth of information, including permits filed on each parcel.

Residents of the Sycamore Creek subdivision described how they opposed a CUP application filed by Capitol Broad LLC to transform a private home into an event venue using tents and porta potties to host outdoor gatherings. Only the Sycamore Creek homeowner whose property adjoined the subject parcel and had a clear view of the yard in question was notified about the community meeting. The planning commission recommended approval of the application despite objections by the neighbors, concerned about noise, traffic, trash, and party goers trespassing, with supervisors. Then Board Chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, visited the site. The supervisors voted the CUP down at their March 7, 2023, meeting. (A recording is archived on the county website, goochlandva.us at the “watch county meetings tab”)

The key to constructive participation in land use matters is citizen engagement beginning in early stages of a proposed change, as well as more general land use matters such as updates to the comp plan and major thoroughfare plan. Concerns must be specific and clearly articulated to planning commissioners and supervisors well before the public hearing phase. Citizens must remain engaged and informed about zoning and other land use matters.

On Thursday, April 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m. the planning commission will hold a public hearing for a proposed amendment to the county zoning ordinance section concerning floor area ratios.

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Mark your calendars

April 26^th- Clerk of Goochland Court Amanda Adams will present an estate planning seminar in room 250 of the county administration building, 1800 Sandy Hook Road beginning at 3 p.m. For more information email to circuitcourt@goochlandva.us.

April 27^th-The 8^th annual spring market, a collaboration between the Ladies Axillary of American Legion Post 215 and River Road Cottage & Market will be held at Post 215, 3386 River Road West, a bit beyond the high school from 9 to 2. More than 30 local vendors and artisans will participate. There will be food available for purchase from the Legion and hot funnel cakes. There will also be door prizes and raffles.

April 27^th-Spring Garden fest from the Goochland Powhatan Master Gardeners Association will be held at Reynolds Community College-Goochland Campus from 8-3. Classes fill up fast. The last day to register is April 17^th. Go here for details

Wednesday, May 1-Kates Day at the Virginia Correctional Centre for Women. Go to https://theelizabethkatesfoundation.org/ for details.

 May 17 and 18 Goochland Day go to goochlandday.org for details.

April Board highlights

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors was held on April 2. Neil Spoonhower, District 2, was absent. During the brief afternoon session, the supervisors approved proclamations recognizing April as Hunger Awareness Month and April 21-27 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Please contribute local food drives this month as you are able, to help those in our community struggling with hunger issues.

County Administrator Vic Carpenter announced that plans for the West Creek fire-rescue station 7 on the east side of Hockett Road just north of Tuckahoe Creek Parkway have been put on hold. Carpenter said that the county selected a design team for the facility, but decided to make sure that the county is making the right decisions. “We want to go ahead and put a pause on the process while we reevaluate to see if we’re in the right location or need to look somewhere else. Station 7 will be built. It may be built on the current location, but we want to make sure that in doing so that we’ve determined our needs have changed over these last several years, that the station is built in the right place to meet those needs.” The pause, reiterated Carpenter “just means that we’re making the right decisions for that facility.”

Drastic increases in EMS call volume generated by Avery Point and the Sheltering Arms rehabilitation hospital are believed to be a consideration in this decision. The influx of older residents to the county—Mosaic and Avery Point, both 55+ communities are not yet built out—are expected to continue to increase in EMS call volume going forward.

During citizen comment Karen Horn commended the convenience center staff for its friendly, and helpful attitude.

Keith Burgess of the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District reported that Matt Dabney is in the process of being nominated to fill the at large director position. Erin Small, Goochland Extension Agent, has been serving as an associate director for MSWCD since last fall.  A position for an agricultural technician to focus on administrative and technical support to help local farmers implement best practices on their land and educate the public about protecting the environment is being advertised. Go to https://www.monacanswcd.org/

The district, said Burgess, is working on its strategic plan and recently conducted a residential septic workshop for homeowners.

Monacan Conservation District has cost-share funds available for the remainder of the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year that ends on June 30th.  The district was allocated $1.9 million in cost-share funding July 1st, 2023, and currently the district is on track to implement more than $1 million in programs. With more than $800,000 in funding still available producers are encouraged to contact the Monacan District to explore Best Management Practices (BMP) available.  The Monacan office can be reached at 804-556-4936 or online at monacanswcd.org.

Burgess said that an update on the conservation easements currently in place and administered by Goochland County is needed.  As a co-holder of these easements, the county has a responsibility to ensure the easements are being followed, and that only permitted activities are taking place on the preserved properties.

As yet, reported Burgess, MSWCD has received no interest in youth summer camps or scholarships. Search the MSWCD Facebook page for details.

Board Chair Charlie Vaughters, District 4, said that the supervisors are working hard to finalize the county budget for FY25, which begins July 1.

The bi-monthly fire-rescue report and monthly broadband update are included in the packet. D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, JR. Chief of the Department of Fire-Rescue and emergency management reported that his department has a new website goochlandfire-rescue.org that has a wealth of useful information, including the fire-rescue master plan. The annual testing and preventive maintenance for dry hydrants— “straws” into ponds and streams that provide water for fire suppression in areas not served by public water—is underway.

Dry hydrant.

As Goochland is crossed by many gas pipelines a pipeline emergency preparedness workshop sponsored by Kinder Morgan Pipeline was conducted on March 4.

Goochland fire-rescue needs volunteers and is accepting applications. Visit the website to see how you can get involved.

The broadband report included the following information: Firefly Fiber Broadband has about 300 contractors in the field supporting the overall regional RISE project including 20 aerial construction teams and 25 underground construction teams.  They are building up to 35 miles of fiber construction and service extensions per week across the overall regional project area.  In addition, the pace of final connections has increased to over 200 per week. Important Project Notes: Construction will be complete on all Firefly Fiber Broadband RISE Project areas by August 2025, service will be available by no later than 2025. It’s important that citizens in the project areas register for service at https://register.fireflyva.com/. Firefly Fiber Broadband and their partners will be sending out communications throughout the project, citizens can find the latest information for Goochland projects at https://www.fireflyva.com/partners-goochland/.

The FY24 budget was amended to budget and appropriate $192,873 in the School Operating Fund and $31,674 in the School Cafeteria Fund, which required no additional county funding. These amounts included $192,873 to the School Operating fund for division-wide technology equipment and a secondary mental health counselor. • $31,674 to the School Cafeteria fund for cafeteria equipment. 

Jennie Wood was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Economic Development Authority for a term running from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2028.

A no interest 20-year non-interest-bearing loan for $700,000 to the Goochland Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, Inc. for renovations to Courthouse Company 5 was approved. The station upgrades will accommodate 24/7 career fire-rescue providers with bunk space and better bathrooms. The improved station will serve the county for 25 years.

The supervisors set a public hearing for June 4 to consider creation of a new voting precinct for District 4 at Avery Point. Residents are encouraged to comment about this change before June 4.

A public hearing was set for May 7 about a request to add a parcel located in the original footprint to the Tuckahoe Creek Service District. If approved, the parcel will be required to pay an additional 20 percent connection fee and the ad valorem tax.

The supervisors went into closed session to discuss the performance of the county administrator and county attorney.

Public hearings were held on proposed tax rates, which remain unchanged from last year. Because revenue generated by higher real estate assessment increased over last year by 4.9 percent, retention of the 53 cents per $100 of valuation represents an increase of two cents per hundred.

A public hearing on the proposed $133,648,936 budget was held. Two citizens spoke in support of necessary funding for schools, fire-rescue, and the sheriff’s office.

No one spoke during the public hearing on proposed residential public utility rates that will increase by three percent. The 32 cents per $100 of assessed valuation levied on property in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District to service the debt incurred to install its infrastructure, will remain unchanged.

There is still time to weigh in on the budget. Contact your supervisor will concerns and comments. The supervisors will meet on Tuesday, April 16 to approve a budget for FY25, and tax rates and fees for calendar year 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out to pasture

 

The venerable circuit court of Goochland County was filled with horse lovers on April 3,4, and 5 for the bench trial of Byrd Rareshide of Columbia on 13 separate Class 1 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. The Hon. Timothy K. Sanner, Chief Judge of the 16th Circuit, found Rareshide, who pleaded not guilty on all counts, guilty on charges for horses Patrick, Ruby, Opal, Loki, and Terra. Sentencing will be on May 24.

Goochland is horse country. By some accounts, there are more horses than children here. Equine facilities are central to our rural character.

Rareshide was represented by prominent Richmond defense attorney Craig Cooley.

In early 2023, the horse community was stunned by seemingly skeletal images posted on social media of well-loved animals past their prime entrusted to Rareshide’s retirement facility. Within a few days, many, if not all, of those horses were removed from Rareshide’s 100-acre farm in Columbia and transported to equine rehab facilities to begin “refeeding” regimens to reverse the effects of alleged starvation.

These refeeding protocols introduce nutrition slowly to avoid causing colic, which can be deadly.

Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney John Lumpkins guided eleven witnesses through almost two days of testimony. These included horse owners and veterinarians who had treated horses at Rareshide’s farm.

Owners testified that the horses entrusted to Rareshide’s care were like family members who had given them years of joy. In their prime they were all equine athletes, show horses, hunter jumpers and a polo pony. Like their human counterparts, horses reach a point where age and injuries take their toll and they can no longer compete, but, with proper care, can enjoy a quiet retirement. Owners sent their horses—several live out of state, traveling from places like Massachusetts and Kansas to testify—to Rareshide whose website promised “. three large pastures to accommodate the dynamics of the individual horses. Byrd puts hands on each horse three (or more) times each day.”

The testimony explained that horses put out to pasture need a period of adjustment, typically a year, to thrive while living outdoors, deriving nourishment from grazing on grass, with shelter provided by three sided “run in” barns. During their working life, horses tend to be kept in barns when not working and provided with adequate food.

The defense argued that when horses kept outside lose weight in winter and regain it in spring when grass begins to grow it is “mother nature’s way”.  The Goochland Animal Protection officer that visited Rareshide’s farm in response to a call concerned about the condition of horses there said they look like “horses coming out of winter” in early February 2023, a least a month before grass typically breaks dormancy.

Concern about the condition of the animals led GAP to contact the state veterinarian, which must be consulted to seize animals. This happened over a weekend. However, by Monday, owners began to remove their horses, so the matter was not pursued by animal protection.

Cooley contended that the horses in Rareshide’s care were never without food or water.

The testimony included an explanation of horse metabolism. Eating hay plays a vital role in keeping a horse warm as well as providing nutrition, sort of stoking its internal furnace. Lack of hay impeded this process so horses cannot keep themselves warm.

Veterinarian Dr. Katherine Burke Johnson, owner of Veterinary Rehabilitation Services of Virginia in Gordonsville, a “step down unit” for animal care, took in seven horses from Rareshide’s farm in early February 2023. She said that all horses were extremely thin, and testified that when horses are hungry, they eat things like wood and sand.

Johnson explained that body condition scoring (BCS) is a method of estimating the amount of fat on a horse’s body on a scale of 1 to 9.  It is used to estimate a horse’s nutritional status.

Johnson testified that of the horses that came to her clinic, Opal, with a BCS of 1 was the weakest. She was depressed, not reactive to her surroundings, stood with her head down, had no normal gut motility, was dehydrated, had no appetite, had nothing in her system to move through. She responded well to the refeeding protocols and was a BCS 3 on the day she left. She had grown a heavy coat, but when it was shed Opal had no hair underneath.

Another horse, Patrick, arrived with a BCS of 2, and was also dull, depressed, not interested in eating. He gained 80 pounds in 14 days but had developed a permanent heart murmur.

Cooley contended that the horses were old with bad teeth and unable to eat properly. Johnson said that if detention was the problem, the horses would not have been able to respond to the refeeding as well and fast as they did.

Veterinarian Blythe Jones of the Keswick Equine Clinic testified that she visited Rareshide’s farm to check on Loki, whose face was reported swollen by Rareshide. Loki, said Jones, was so thin that his face looked swollen by comparison. She categorized the horse as emaciated, that he was weak and his vital signs “quite concerning”. Loki’s BCS was 1.5. His skin was “draped over his bones” with no muscle. Jones said it seemed like Loki was using all of his energy to stay alive and was not sure he would have survived much longer if he remained at Rareshide’s farm.

Jones said she told Rareshide she was concerned that Loki’s internal organs were in too poor a condition for him to live. Rareshide told Jones that she could handle Loki if it was just a feeding problem.

Jones testified that she took blood and fecal samples to check for parasites. Loki was so weak that he did not need to be sedated when she examined his teeth, which had no sharp points to prevent eating. She found dirt packed in his mouth, which she said was evidence of lack of food but no evidence of hay whatsoever.

The pastures at Rareshide’s farm were in poor condition, Jones testified, contending that Rareshide did not “throw hay” to the horses unless there was snow on the ground.

Cooley contended that Loki had not spent a full year outside and was still in the transition process.

Annie Spencer, owner of Ruby, who had been at areshide’s farm since 2019, traveled to Goochland from Massachusetts to testify.

“Ruby was my baby for her entire life. I wanted to make sure she had a comfortable retirement. She gave me so much I wanted to give her everything.” Rareshide’s Virginia farm, where winters were milder than those in New England, seemed like a good retirement option, said Spencer. She said, in response to a question from Cooley, that Ruby’s weight had waxed and waned with the seasons. Spencer visited Ruby in 2019 and was satisfied with conditions at that time.

Spencer and other horse owners testified that they had regular communications about their animals with Rareshide, including photos usually via text.

Over the years, Spencer received periodic updates about Ruby mostly via text. When Rareshide recommended medical or other care, Spencer agreed and paid the invoices at once with no question. On February 8, 2023, Spencer received a call “out of the blue” from the Keswick Equine Clinic about concerns for horses at Rareshide’s farm.

About this time Spencer was notified that Rareshide changed veterinary practices to Woodside Equine. While she thought the switch was odd, it raised no alarm bells. Then Spencer was told that Ruby might have colic, which can be fatal for horses. Spencer, pregnant at the time, was unable to travel, but worked with another horse owner to have Ruby transported to Johnson’s rehab facility, where she recovered.

Debbie Calvin, who traveled to court from Overland Park, Kansas said she had no reason not to trust the judgement of Rareshide, who had an excellent and long-standing reputation among the horse community. Then Calvin saw social media posts about horses at Rareshide’s farm. When she zoomed in on a cell phone photo of her horse sent by Rareshide, the horse seemed to be skin and bones. “What the hell have you done to my horse?” Calvin asked Rareshide, who replied that the horse was fine but had just lost some weight.

When vet Dr. McDaniel saw the horse, she was pronounced “in rough shape” Calvin told the vet to get her horse off of Rareshide’s farm as soon as possible, that cost was not an object, “if she lives through the night.” Calvin immediately flew to Virginia and said that the horse looked worse in person. “She was skin and bones, could not eat or swallow.” Following appropriate treatment, the horse has recovered, is doing well and is lucky to be alive, Calvin said.

Grace Maxwell of Henrico became involved after seeing the photos of the horses on social media and offered her horse trailer to help move the horses. On February 9, she picked up Ruby and Finch from Rareshide’s farm. “Ruby was very underweight and in worse condition.” Maxwell was concerned that Ruby would not be able to remain upright for the trip from Columbia to Johnson’s facility in Gordonsville. “I wanted to make sure that Ruby didn’t die there.”

Reams of texts between owners and Rareshide about the condition of the horses and photos were entered into evidence. Both the Commonwealth and Cooley questioned whether some of the photos had been manipulated. A photo of Ruby, for instance, wearing a blanket to allegedly disguise her thinness was explained as needed for cold weather by Cooley.

The prosecution rested on Thursday afternoon.

Defense witnesses said that Rareshide was an experienced horse person dedicated to helping horses however she could. Her hay and feed suppliers testified that she bought a lot of feed and hay. In fact, the hay supplier said he thought Rareshide bought more hay than she needed for 10 horses. He was unaware that she was caring for 25 horses. He said there was plenty of hay and feed in the barn where Rareshide’s horses were kept. Other horses in the barn were also well cared for.

Evidence as presented that Rareshide drill seeded her pastures in September 2022.

One witness testified that the winer cycle of thinness is beneficial to pasture horses because when the grass comes in they “blow up” and gain weight, which can result in dangerous strain on their feet. The witness contended that healthy horses should show some ribs and that lower BCS are better than higher. When older horses are overweight, she said, it puts more strain on arthritic joints and could lead to excessive sugar in a horse’s diet causing other problems.

Rareshide took the stand on Friday afternoon. Her demeanor was confident, relaxed, and gossipy as she talked about each of the horses in question, their personality quirks, and herd dynamics, and specific needs. She also explained, in great detail, how she deployed hay in the pastures by dispersing “flakes” around the field to keep the horses moving. She contended that each horse got 4 to 5 flakes of hay up to four times per day.

Rareshide said that if pasture boarded horses do not hold weight in winter, she supplemented their diet with grain. When horses come from the barn, she said, their first winter in pasture is the hardest because they are not used to the elements and lose muscle mass because they are no longer working. She said that it is hard to keep weight on older horses.

Cooley said these horses are “an ornament not to be ridden.”

Nine-quart grain buckets and a muzzle used to restrict the amount of grass a fat horse can eat were presented to the court. Rareshide said she used the buckets for feeding alfalfa pellets, grain and other nutritional supplements to the horses, following daily individual schedules.

Rareshide said that Christmas 2022 was “really cold, the temperature was five degrees.” She made sure “everyone” had hay and observed that once you start (feeding hay) the horses won’t let you stop. She testified that she fed 55–60-pound bales of alfalfa hay daily.

Lumpkins’ cross examination focused on the non-profit foundation Rareshide established in 2022. She said it was to offer a way to fund veterinary and other care for which owners were unable to budget. The foundation was deemed inactive for failure to pay fees. Lumpkins pointed out that several of the owners testified that they considered “money no object” for their retired horses.

Cooley contended that Rareshide’s “natural” approach to pasture horses was sound and attributed weight loss to natural decline even though expert testimony by veterinarians said the horses were emaciated and skin and bones. He contended that the horses, many in dire condition, removed from Rareshide’s farm in early February of 2023, would have gained weight “on the cusp of spring,” which was still a month in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The future is now

 

SIS area. 

On Tuesday, March 27 a community meeting was held at Hope Church on Rt. 6 to kick off the southern infrastructure study (SIS) for the area formerly known as SPEDA (southern prime economic development area), which is part of 21,000 acres considered the county’s designated growth area. The study focuses on approximately 3,300 acres, or11 percent, of the designated growth area, defined roughly as east of Hockett Road, south of Tuckahoe Creek Parkway.  The study area is less than two percent of the county’s total land area.

Consultants from Timmons Group, retained by the county to complete the SIS, meet weekly with a technical committee comprised of  county staff; monthly meetings with a steering committee comprised of two supervisors, two planning commissioners, the county administrator and county staff to talk about how the project is going and discuss next steps. Landowners and other stakeholders are also a vital part of the process and take part in these discussions.

When the last update to the county’s comprehensive land use plan (https://www.goochlandva.us/250/2035-Comprehensive-Plan) and major thoroughfare plan could not reach consensus about development of the subject parcels, it was decided that the area would be looked at in detail sometime in the future, which seems to be now.

Principal Planner Tom Coleman said that much of the area was broadly designated “prime economic development” with no specific uses defined.

(A word about economic development. Currently, about 80 percent of county revenue comes from real estate taxes with the remainder from commercial. The goal is to increase the commercial revenue to at least 30 percent, reducing the tax burden on landowners to 70 percent. This means that the county must prioritize mechanisms to attract new business to Goochland and expand those already here. Encouraging appropriate economic development in the designated growth area will generate tax revenue to fund county services and keep the rest of the county rural. “Appropriate” means different things to different people, as does the term rural.)

Lessons learned from the small area plan initiatives—the plan for Courthouse Village was adopted—included failure to address impacts of land use changes, especially high density residential, on schools, fire-rescue, utilities (water and sewer), and roads.

A “heat map” showing crash prone areas including Rt. 6 and River Road, West Creek Parkway, and Hockett Road and declining or failing levels of service, which need mitigation to support development, is part of the study. Distances to fire-rescue stations in road miles will be addressed.

Current zoning in the study area includes a little bit of everything, including a conservation easement, which prevents development in perpetuity.

The SIS is a study, not a plan, to “provide a detailed empirical data driven foundation to guide the Board of Supervisors and county staff when considering future land use and infrastructure decisions.” Baseline data about current conditions will be part of that foundation.

A word cloud exercise gathered input via a phone app from those in attendance. Among the responses was robust support for developers to pay for improvements associated with their projects. To see the results, go to the county website goochlandva.us, click on watch county meetings and then on community meeting.

Steve Schmidt a consultant with Timmons Group, which was retained by the county to conduct the study, said that the scope does not include greenways, trails, energy—electric and gas—or telecommunications, the last two are not county-controlled infrastructure. The goal is not to support, change, or reject the comp plan, but rather provide data about the infrastructure needs for different growth scenarios. For instance, residential growth in the area would require more services, schools, and fire-rescue while commercial growth could need more water, sewer, and road capacity. Access to public water for fire suppression, which is not currently available in parts of the SIS, is vital for economic development.

The study will also evaluate how much of the land is developable given wetlands, creeks, and other impediments. It will not change the current zoning or suggest that a particular use be placed in a specific location.

Developers tend to downplay the impact of proposed projects on county infrastructure like schools and roads with vague details to support their contentions. The deliverable of the study should be “if then” scenarios, as “if you build xx homes here, the impact on schools, roads, fire-rescue, and utilities will be xx, and these specific measures are needed to ensure that new development does not overwhelm the county’s ability to provide core services. Or, if you build xx square feet of office space, then roads will need upgrades to support traffic generated by workers, and so forth.

Having access to detailed current data should lead to good land use decisions and avoid unintended consequences. The study will also look at different opportunities and challenges. An objective database to provide clear cost-benefit analysis of various build out scenarios will be a valuable decision-making tool to avoid unintended consequences.

Input from the March 26 meeting will be used to craft draft results and analysis, which will be shared in a future community meeting. Feedback from that meeting will be incorporated into a final report, which will be presented to the board of supervisors. Completion is expected in the summer of 2024.

Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/1280/Southeastern-Infrastructure-Study-SIS and https://www.goochlandva.us/1312/SIS-Existing-Conditions-Maps for maps used in the study.