Message from the County Administrator

August, 2008

This message is the eights in 2008 to better update our citizens and visitors to the website. The information serves as a status report for ongoing projects, and also serves as a preview to different happenings that are in the planning stages.

The Board of Supervisors will hold its regular meetings this month on Tuesday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 26 at 6 p.m. at the Community Services Center. A worksession will precede the August 12 meeting at 4:30 p.m. to discuss expansion of the wastewater treatment facility.

Port Royal District Supervisor Bobby Popowicz will hold three constituent meetings this month: August 11 at Rehoboth Methodist Church; August 13 at Upper Caroline Volunteer Fire Department; and August 28 at Port Royal Volunteer Fire Department. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office will celebrate its 5th National Night Out from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 5 at Caroline County Park. The public is invited to attend and learn more about law enforcement activities in their communities. A similar event will be held in Ladysmith Village by the Property Owner's Association for the residents of that subdivision.

The Caroline County Business Roundtable will hold its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 19 in the Boxley Room of the Community Services Center.

Representatives from Comcast Cable will be in attendance at the August 26 meeting of the Board of Supervisors to discuss future plans in its Caroline service area.

Caroline County government will celebrate "Bring Your Child to Work Day" on Friday, August 29. Employees are encouraged to bring their child to work and have them observe the day-to-day operations.

All county residents are encouraged to register for the Caroline Alert System. The system will notify residents of emergencies and other government news through their cell phones and desktop computers. This is a free service offered by the Board of Supervisors. Click on www.CarolineAlert.com to register.

Here is a capsule glance of other activities that will be happening in County government during the month of August.

The Parks and Recreation Department will be accepting registration for youth football, soccer and various programs and classes this month. Contact the office at (804) 633-7277 for information on all offerings.
A new sub-area plan has been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the Guinea area. Port Royal Supervisor Bobby Popowicz will be appointing members to the sub-area planning committee. In addition, a consulting firm has been hired to assist with the drafting and final compilation of the Comprehensive Plan update.

The Board of Supervisors has directed staff to provide additional information regarding expanding the Resource Overlay District to the Sparta area. This would create an average lot size of 25 acres for future development.

Property acquisition will continue this month for the expansion of the Ladysmith Convenience Site.

Ms Alyson's Daycare opened its second facility on December 31 in the Ladysmith Business Park. A third location is also planned for the property next to Roma's in Bowling Green.

Construction of the new Visitor's Center along Route 207 is nearing completion. The developer of Belmont contributed $1.1 million to help construct the facility, with the remainder of the funds coming from TEA 21 appropriations.
County staff and consultants continue to work on a proposal that will allow the County to withdraw water from the Rappahannock River in the future. The Department of Environmental Quality must grant its approval before water can be withdrawn.

County staff and consultants are also exploring the feasibility of negotiating with the City of Richmond and Hanover County for the purchase of bulk water.

Construction is continuing on the first two buildings for Ladysmith Commons, a commercial and office development located along Route 1 north.

Virginia Dominion Power has received permitting approval from state and federal regulatory authorities to expand its operation in Cedon later this year. Further expansion is now being proposed by the utility company.

County Staff continues to work with representatives of the Sparta Fire Department to determine cost and location for a new fire station. The Board of Supervisors will receive an update at the August 26 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

Moseley Architects is drafting the final design of the floor plan for renovation of the Union Bankshares building. The preliminary floor plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors at its February 12 meeting.

VDOT officials have unveiled that advertising for installation of turn lanes into Lake Land 'Or will take place later this summer. The project will be funded in part by Revenue Sharing dollars generated by developer proffers and matched by State funds.

A committee appointed by Reedy District Supervisor Maxie Rozell has been meeting to plan the construction of a new branch library in Dawn. The facility will be part of the Caroline Library system. A staff update will be given at the August 26 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

State Fair officials, in accordance with their rezoning application, have proffered property for a Boat Landing. County staff is working with State Fair officials and the Department of Conservation and Recreation to begin design of the project.

The Dawn Wastewater Project is nearing completion of its first phase, with almost 200 homes to be served.

The Public Works Department is coordinating the Assign-a-Highway Litter Program with cooperation from court services.

The Board of Supervisors will continue discussion on First Reading at its August 12 meeting an ordinance that will allow contractors and developers to prepay availability fees in advance of future increases.

Central Virginia Community Health Center (CVCHC) has expressed an interest in Caroline County to locate one of its centers, and a grant application was submitted to locate the facility in Bowling Green.

The Technology Roundtable held its first meeting February 14 and covered a number of issues related to service delivery and broadband capabilities. BOS Vice Chairman Jeff Sili heads up the panel that is expected to meet regularly.

The Utility Department will continue this month to oversee the drilling of nine new wells to increase potential for new water quantity in the County.

The Board of Supervisors approved at its January 22 meeting the hiring of Springstead and Associates to assist with the search for a new Finance Director. Also this month searches will continue in the hiring of a new Utilities Director.

Design of a new Victory Park located between the two courthouses is being finalized.

Site work has begun on the construction of Golden Oaks Self Storage, located along Route 1 north of Ladysmith.

Construction is underway on the construction of Iverson's Restaurant in Ladysmith, located along Route 639 east of Ladysmith.

A public hearing scheduled for May 27 meeting of the Board of Supervisors regarding a rezoning by Quarrels to locate a convenience store at the corner of Route 1 and 639 in Ladysmith was deferred for sixth months at the request of the applicant.

Consultants continue to analyze data review for recommendations for future upgrades of the County Park, as well as improvements to the playground area at the old Ladysmith Elementary School.

The Board of Supervisors has agreed to receive a large donation of books and periodicals from local historian Herb Collins. The collection will be on display in the County Library space currently occupied by the Caroline Historic Society. The Historic Society will move to a new space in the future when County office space becomes available.

Arby’s had its site plan recently approved to build a restaurant along Route 207 beside the Visitor’s Center.

The Board of Supervisors at its June 17 meeting approved a request from Sheriff Tony Lippa to use the old Ladysmith Library as a satellite office and vacate the current location at the former Carlson’s Restaurant. The move should occur around September 1.

The Board of Supervisors approved at its June 17 meeting the creation of an exploratory committee for the purposes of establishing a historic museum in Caroline County.

A public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 12 as part of the Board of Supervisors meeting to receive comments on a rezoning request by Frank and Linda Sealy for the establishment of Belmont North II subdivision – 526 homes with proffers.

The Board of Supervisors will continue its discussion of adopting the Statewide Fire Code at its August 26 meeting.

The Board of Supervisors will continue discussion at its August 12 meeting regarding a proposal to create a Historic Resources Advisory Board.

Public hearings to vacate plans regarding subdivision ordinance requirements on Locust Grove Road will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 12 as part of the Board of Supervisors meeting.

The Board of Supervisors will continue discussion at its August 12 meeting on the Six Month Goals that were presented at the July 8 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

The Board of Supervisors will have under consideration at its August 12 meeting on First Reading a proposed ordinance concerning the use of golf carts on highways and streets.

The Board of Supervisors will have under consideration at its August 12 meeting a proposal to create a building policy related to maximum pricing and pre-qualification.

The Board of Supervisors will have under consideration at its August 26 meeting a proposed ordinance related to excessive noise.