March board highlights

 

D. E. "Eddie" Ferguson, Jr, 2025 Virginia Fire Chief of the year 

Monthly Goochland Supervisors’ meeting agendas include a mix of recognitions, information, and routine business.

The March 3 meeting began with an eloquent invocation given by Rev. Adlai Allen of Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church. He mentioned the Board’s diversity of opinions and perspectives and asked the Lord to help them appreciate the richness that each member brings to the board and bind them together with cords of respect to recognize that their differences can be a source of strength rather than division.

Board Chair Jonathan Christy, District 1 asked for a moment of silence and personal prayers for our troops in harm’s way.

County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley recognized Angelia Miller who was recently named young professional of the year by the Goochland Chamber of Commerce. Miller, Assistant Director of Recreation, has worked to expand special events and strengthen relationships with community organizations.

Raley also commended D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. Chief of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services, who was recently named Virginia Chief Officer of the Year 2025 at the 2025 Fire Service Awards Ceremony in Virginia Beach. Ferguson began his fire service career as a volunteer at Centerville Company 3 when he was sixteen. He was a career fire-medic in Chesterfield County for 17 years before being hired as Goochland Deputy Chief-EMS in 2004 and named Chief of the Department in 2019. Ferguson continues to serve, on his own time, as a flight medic for Virginia State Police MedFlight.

The award was created in 2002 to honor a chief office who exemplifies exceptional leadership, integrity, innovation, and commitment to both their department and the broader Virginia Fire Service.

Among new employees welcomed to Team Goochland was Denise Sandlin, our new Director of Financial Services, who brings a wealth of experience in governmental finance at the state and local level to the position. Raley thanked Dave Wilson, who served as interim director for keeping the budget process on track.

Carol Taylor, executive director of the Goochland Chamber of Commerce, gave a preview of Goochland Day 2026, on May 16. The Chamber has assumed oversight of the iconic local festival from the group of intrepid citizens who began its rebirth just before Covid.

Goochland Day 2026 will not have a specific theme but rather will be a celebration of the entire county.

In addition to the parade, this year’s festival will feature “zones” for different age groups from littles to seniors. Only Goochland-made potent potables will be offered at the wine and beer zone to highlight local businesses. The festival, which follows the parade, will be entirely on one side of Sandy Hook Road.

Taylor said that high school students were polled to find out what they wanted on Goochland Day, which resulted in demonstrations and a clinic at the skateboard park.

The event is so big, said Taylor, that it cannot be micromanaged, which resulted in creation of a 12-member committee representing the county, fire-rescue, the Sheriff’s Office, churches, and civic organizations to collaborate on the celebration. Go to https://goochlandday.com/ for details and don’t forget to mark your calendars for this slice of hometown celebration. The parade is not to be missed.

VDOT

Phillip Frazer P.E., Administrator of the VDOT Ashland Residency, gave a brief overview of the VDOT resurfacing program in Goochland. Go to the county website, click on watch county meetings, select BoS for March 3. His comments begin at about the 34-minute mark to watch his excellent insights about road maintenance, including pothole repair.

Consent agenda

Among the items approved in the consent agenda was a reaffirmation of the December 3,2019 resolution approved by the Board of Supervisors supporting the Second Amendment to the United States’ Constitution. See page 142 of the March 3 board packet for details.

Authorization to advertise proposed local tax rates for calendar year 2026 was approved. These rates, with the exception of that for data center personal property, which was increased from .40 to $3 per $100 of assessed valuation, are the same as last year. Rates will be adopted in April and will not be higher than advertised.

Approval of an amendment to the FY26 Sheriff’s Office budget to budget and appropriate $350k for grant revenue to be received as reimbursement of expenses for updates and upgrades of the county 911 emergency call center.

Approval of resolutions requesting acceptance of several new subdivision roads in into the state system for maintenance.

School budget

Superintendent of Goochland Schools Dr. Andrew Armstrong presented the school budget for FY2027 as approved by the school board. Local transfer to schools is a significant part of the county budget. Armstrong made a strong case for each proposed expenditure, especially salary increases to keep Goochland competitive with our deep pocketed neighbors in recruitment and retention of the best teachers. The supervisors and school board will hold a joint workshop on March 17 on the FY budget. Money will be tight for FY27, stay tuned to see what makes the funding cut.