Goochland Board of Supervisors’ Chair Jonathan Christy,
District 1 began a new tradition at the Board’s April 7 meeting by adding a
moment of silence for our troops in harm’s way after the Pledge of Allegiance.
He announced that representatives from Goochland attended a
meeting held in Louisa County f localities impacted by the proposed Valley Link
electric transmission line. Christy characterized the meeting, where
discussions about how best to oppose the project resulted in a willingness to
cooperate regionally and pursue potentially viable options, as “a pretty
productive meeting”.
Later in the meeting, the supervisors unanimously endorsed a
resolution formally opposing the proposed Valley Link project, which has no
benefit to Goochland County.
The April 14 board 6 p.m. meeting agenda includes an item appropriating
$250,000 “for advocacy efforts against the Valley Link transmission line
project.”
Proclamations to recognize April as Hunger Awareness Month
and Child Abuse Prevention Month were unanimously approved. A proclamation recognizing
April 19-26, 2026, as Crime Victims’ Right Week was also unanimously approved.
Community food drives to support the Goochland Cares food
pantry will be held this month. Please contribute as you are able.
During afternoon citizen comment period, several residents
spoke in opposition to the Valley Link project and urged the county to oppose
it.
Board Vice Chair Neil Spoonhower, District 2, thanked
everyone who made the groundbreaking for Fire-Rescue Station 8, which occurred earlier
in the day, possible. “It has been the honor of my life to do this. I doubt I
will never do anything as impactful as this,” he said of the station, whose need
was identified more than 60 years ago.
County Administrator Dr. Jeremey Raley continued his practice
of highlighting the accomplishments of various staff members and departments.
He congratulated Director of Public Utilities, Elizabeth McDonald for being
recognized as one of 250 nationwide “public service champions” by the Local 250
gov and National Academy of Public Administration. Since coming to Goochland
staff last fall, McDonald has updated the
utility master plan, which was presented to the supervisors on April 7, and worked
with fire-rescue to ensure that all county fire hydrants are in working order.
Raley presented McDonald and D. E. “Eddie” Ferguson, Jr,
Chief of Fire-Rescue & Emergency Services who was named Virginia Fire Chief
of the year for 2025, with Goochland Challenge Coins “to acknowledge employees
who gained recognition on the state and national stage.”
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Cayla Walker, unit coordinator and 4-H youth development https://goochland.ext.vt.edu/ gave a thumbnail update on activities.
She reported that in 2025, 2,500 Goochlanders were reached through extension, “a
best kept secret.”
Our extension office collaborates with those in neighboring counties
on programs including agriculture and natural resources; 4-H and youth
development; and community visibility and Goochland Leadership Enterprise.
The Goochland-Powhatan Master Gardner program is also under
its umbrella. (Go to https://www.gpmga.org/2026-spring-garden-fest
for more information about the April 25, 2026 spring garden fest.)
Goochland Education Foundation
Executive Director of the Goochland Education Foundation (https://goochlandedu.org/) Cyndy Brown gave
the supervisors an update on the EdVentures after school enrichment program, for
which the supervisors provided $300k last year. The all-inclusive $98/week fee includes
academic support, enrichment activities, and snacks.
Available at all three elementary schools, EdVentures opetes
from school dismissal until 6 pm during the school year. Brown reported that
EdVentures, which is an academic enrichment, not a childcare, program, has a
structured, playful curriculum that the kids really enjoy.
In its first year, EdVentures had a consistent enrollment of
55, including some subsidized. There are extra funds for students whose families
do not qualify for the subsidy but cannot quite afford the $98 per week. “We
will never turn a child away because they cannot afford it,” Brown said.
She explained that “the strong threads we weave through the curriculum
are literacy and math.” Students in the program demonstrated improvement in their
grades and better attitudes about coming to school.
Enrollment for the next school year has begun with many EdVenture
participants planning to return.
Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District
Keith Burgess, District Manager of the Monacan Soil and Water
Conservation District (http://www.monacanswcd.org/) explained that
his organization was created in 1970 to protect food and fiber production in
both Goochland and Powhatan Counties through efforts to educate and help
farmers implement best practices improve water and soil quality.
The MSWCD, whose board has collectively more than a century
of local farming experience, administers a state cost share program to help livestock
producers fence their animals out of streams and install alternate water sources.
They work alongside the extension office with a demonstration vegetable garden
outside the office at the Central High School Educational andCulteruao Center
on Dogtown Road. MSCWD is also involved with the well water testing program.
Educating our kids about the importance of soil and water conservation
is also a function of MSWCD. “If we can get the message to them early, they understand
the importance of preserving those resources. Once it’s destroyed, we won’t
remake it in our lifetimes. It takes hundreds of years to build n inch of soil,”
Burgess said.
VDOT
Phillip Frazier, Resident Engineer of the Ashland Residency reported
that bid advertisement for the badly needed roundabout on the Oilville
westbound I64 exit ramp has been pushed back to June due to drainage design issues.
Consent Agenda
The board voted to amend the FY 26 budget by appropriating
up to $110k to the utilities department for an upgrade to the Courthouse Village
water tank to improve water quality.
The FY 26 budget was amended to transfer and appropriate up
to $150k in the Sheriff’s budget due to an unexpected increase in the use of adult
jail space.
An amendment to the FY26 school budget in the amount of $53,659
for grant funds.
Authorization for the county administration to sign a
memorandum of understanding with the Goochland Chamber Community Foundation for
Goochland Day to be held on May 16.
Station 7
The supervisors authorized Raley to execute a contract with
HBA Architecture & Interior Design for architecture and engineering services
for West Creek Station 7 to transfer and appropriate $816,901.70 from the future
capital projects assigned fund to the capital improvement fund to pay the
contract. The board also declared the county’s official intent to reimburse the
county for these, and associated qualifying expenditures, from the proceeds of
future bonds.
The meeting can be viewed at the “watch county meetings” tab
at https://www.goochlandva.us/.
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