The Board of Supervisors presented its 2013 legislative agenda to county representatives on Tuesday, and the Board decided to sell a piece of county property to a neighboring subdivision for development. Also, a free round of curbside leaf collection starts this week and James City County Police Department offers a firearm safety class. Read on for details.
Supervisors Present Legislative Agenda
While reviewing its legislative agenda Tuesday, James City County’s Board of Supervisors asked its General Assembly representatives to put forward a bill to create guidance on what is acceptable to the Virginia State Corporation Commission when looking at cases.
Sen. Tommy Norment and Del. Brenda Pogge, along with representatives for Sen. John Miller and Del. Mike Watson, met with the Board during its Tuesday work session to hear the county’s 2013 state legislative agenda.
The county’s request stems from Dominion Virginia Power’s proposal to put in a new 500kV transmittal line to meet area power needs. Two locations were proposed for the new site of the line with Dominion’s first choice being a line over the James River from Surry Switching Station to southern James City County. The county, the College of William and Mary and Preservation Virginia, along with many local residents, oppose the plan for a line across the river as they argue it will affect tourism and mar the view in a historic location. Read a previous article on the proposal here and read a story on local opposition here.
Norment said he would recuse himself from any discussion relating to the issue as his law firm represents one of the involved parties; Pogge said she would not be interested in carrying the bill because each situation the SCC faces will be different and the changes may have unintended results. She also said that creating this additional requirement would pass on the cost to all Dominion customers to protect a viewshed for a few people.
The rest of the county’s legislative agenda includes support for:
- An increase in funding for the Virginia Tourism Corporation to promote tourism statewide and particularly in the Historic Triangle.
- Addressing transportation as a statewide issue rather than a regional or local issue and requests further state investment for all transportation modes in the Commonwealth. James City County opposes any legislation that would transfer the costs of maintaining or constructing roads from the state to the counties.
- Equal taxing on hotel rooms booked through Virginia businesses and internet sales companies regardless of reduced or discounted rates.
- Enhanced train service on the Peninsula and to Richmond to connect urban centers and provide alternate transportation for tourism.
- The General Assembly to adequately fund the Medicaid waiver program to reduce the waiting list of people currently eligible for service and to provide service and funding for children with serious emotional disorders and the mentally ill.
- Maintaining state funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment in jails and juvenile detention facilities.
- Equal taxing between cities and counties.
- Restoring funding cuts made to pre-K, K-12 and higher education institutions, including the College of William & Mary.
- Maintaining funding to public libraries so that the State and localities maintain their shares.
- Ending “local aid to the Commonwealth.”
- Opposing unfunded mandates and reducing existing mandates.
- Providing state funding for the land acquisition program.
- Supporting the legislative programs of the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Coalition of High Growth Communities.
For more details, read the full legislative agenda here.
Supervisors Sell Wellington Land
The board decided Tuesday to sell county-owned land to a developer so it could become part of a nearby neighborhood.
James City County staff said there was no proposed use for the land located adjacent to the Windsor Ridge neighborhood, and suggested this would be a way for the county to sell it and help a neighborhood grow. The Board agreed to start rezoning the property that will be developed as part of Windsor Ridge, a subdivision that will fall under the Wellington Homeowners Association. Staff can review the development plans to make sure it happens on amicable terms with other nearby neighborhoods.
Supervisor Jim Kennedy opposed the decision for a few reasons including his concern about the current overcrowding in Stonehouse district schools and that adding more housing will add to the overcrowding. Mirror Lakes, an adjacent neighborhood, doesn’t have a homeowners association to dispute Wellington over distribution or use of the land, he said.
The Board voted 4-1 to sell the land. Read the full agenda here.
Curbside Leaf Collection Starts This Week
James City County is providing one free round of curbside leaf collection. The leaves must be in clear bags no larger than 40 gallons and must be on the curb by 8 a.m. on the first day of collection in each district. Larger items such as brush and tree limbs will not be accepted. Each street will only be collected one time.
Dates for collection are determined by voting districts.
Voting District and Collection Dates
- North Powhatan/Stonehouse Dec. 3-5
- South Powhatan/Jamestown Dec. 5-12
- Berkeley/Roberts Dec. 12-19
Information on districts can be found on the county website or by calling General Services at 757-259-4080.
Police Offer Firearm Safety Class
The James City County Police Department is offering a free firearm safety class for adults on Dec. 11 from 7-9 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Center at 4600 Opportunity Way. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. Call MPO McDowell at 757-603-6026 to register.
The class will cover basic safety, handling and storage but will not include hands-on training. Personal firearms should be left at home.
Grant funding provided by the National Rifle Association Foundation and Project ChildSafe was used to purchase class materials and gunlocks. Free gunlocks are available at the class or by calling Sergeant Steve Humphries at 757-603-6022.
