May board highlights

 

Renovations underway at Courthouse Company 5 

The agenda for the May 7 meeting of the Goochland supervisors was relatively light. Three of the five members were in attendance—Jonathan Christy, District 1 was absent for business reasons, and Board Chair Charlie Vaughters, District 4 was addressing health matters—but had the quorum necessary to conduct official business.

Board Vice Chair Tom Winfree, District 3 conducted the meeting without missing a beat. During chairman’s comments, Winfree congratulated the Goochland-Powhatan CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) (https://goochlandpowhatan.casa/)for graduating its latest class earlier in the day.

County Administrator Vic Carpenter said that there will be a public hearing on June 4 to establish a polling precinct in District 4 at Avery Point. Early voting for June primaries began on May 3 Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/359/Elections-and-Voter-Registration for details.

Goochland Day festivities will take place on May 17 and 18^th. Go to https://sites.google.com/goochlandday.org/gdf/home/ for details. County offices will be closed on Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. On June 1, there will be document shredding and hazardous waste disposal at the Fairground property at the corner of Fairground and Sandy Hook Roads in Courthouse Village from 9 to 1 for county residents.

An agenda item to consider an amendment to the county zoning ordinance dealing with road standards that had been scheduled for May was deferred to the July 2 meeting to ensure that all supervisors are able to participate in the discussion and decision.

The board approved proclamations recognizing May as Older Americans Month; Goochland County business appreciation month; and May 5 through 11 as Public Service Recognition week.

Miss Cherly Good, representing older Americans through the Capital Area Agency on Aging; Ben Slone EDA Chair, Sara Worley Economic Development Director, and Carol Taylor, executive director of the Goochland Chamber of Commerce; and Shelby Boardman and Ashley Hall from Goochland County Human Resources thanked the board for recognizing the talented and dedicated public service employees who use their amazing talents every day to deliver services to our citizens.

Goochland businesses play an important role in county finances, providing 18 percent of tax revenues. Slone hoped, going forward, that local companies will leverage evolving technology to increase business revenue while preserving Goochland’s rural way of life.

During the VDOT presentation, Neil Spoonhower, District 2 expressed frustration that VDOT mowing schedules are not better synchronized with citizen roadside trash collections to avoid refuse being left in high grass. The VDOT rep acknowledged that sometimes trash does get chopped up but that efforts are made to pick it up.

Spoonhower, who represents Goochland on the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA), reported that there is a “significant push” from larger jurisdictions to issue bonds to borrow money for road projects. He contended that Goochland supervisors must decide what their position is on that to prevent negative impacts the county’s excellent bond ratings.

Consent agenda

This is typically a collection of routine items that need board approval. Details of these items are believed to be discussed in depth during “two by two” sessions with supervisors and staff. Approvals were:

·         A request to VDOT to add roads in Kinloch, Section 10, and some roads in the Oak Hill corridor development in West Creek into the secondary system for state road maintenance.

·         Transportation priorities for the secondary six-year plan as follows: improvement of the roundabout at Sandy Hook and Fairground Roads; new road alignment of Hockett and Ashland Roads; interchange improvements on Oilville Road.

·         Authorization for the County Administrator to execute special project service agreements for front end load and roll off municipal solid waste collection and disposal services and agreement for scrap metal delivery, hauling, and recycling services.

Budget supplement for schools

Two amendments to supplement the FY2025 budget, which goes into effect July 1, to provide additional funds to the school division were discussed. As approved, the FY25 budget did not include sufficient funds to increase teacher salaries to make them more competitive, but efforts to bridge the gap continued. These amendments “repurpose” monies to fund teacher salary scale adjustments and authorize the county to pick up the tab for unbudgeted and unusual legal fees involving disputes between parents and the school division, and a new school bus, for a total of $674,472.

Jonathan Lyle, District 5, cautioned that Goochland will never be able to compete with deep pocketed neighbors on salaries. Lyle said that this adjustment is a “one off” and he will be looking carefully at recruitment and retention statistics going forward to see if the increased salary scale was justified.

Spoonhower, who also had meaningful conversations with constituents and school board members on the issue of teacher compensation, said “to this day, I don’t think there’s a problem.” He contended that he has seen no clear evidence of significant teacher attrition. “To me, this is a solution looking for a problem. I’m tired of giving up goodwill. We give it and it doesn’t come back. Hands keep coming back out and we can’t continue. I won’t do this next year.” Spoonhower contended that the matter has been gamesmanship. “You got what you wanted, but it doesn’t build a lot of goodwill with me.”

Fire-rescue

The board approved authorization for the county administrator to execute a memorandum of understanding between the county and the Goochland Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, Inc. to clearly define categories of funding and support in the delivery fire, EMS, and emergency management services to the community.

D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. Goochland Chief of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services explained that the Association owns five of the county’s six stations. The county, said Ferguson, has graciously loaned money to several of the companies for extensive renovations needed to accommodate career personnel, including those underway at Courthouse Company 5.  Historically, the county has provided in-kind and financial support to the Association. The MOU, which is updated at five-year intervals, defines which entity is responsible for which function. As the county now has career providers on duty at every station 24/7 these have changed.

The Association raises funds—about $500k annually—to support fire-rescue operations in the county and has “no less skin” in the game. It works closely with the county to deliver excellent service and keep tax rates low.

For details go to the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ and click on watch county meetings.