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.