Get Connected!

June 2008 -
This message is the sixth 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, June 17 and Tuesday, June 24 at 6 p.m. at the Community Services Center.

Board Chairman Floyd Thomas and Supervisor Wayne Acors will lead a delegation to Tampa, FL June 2-5 to compete in the All-America City Award program. Caroline County has been nominated as a result of its Comprehensive Plan for the Ladysmith area.

Members of the Board of Supervisors will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Ladysmith Paint and Maintenance Facility of the VSE Corporation at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 4.

Madison District Supervisor Acors will hold a community meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at the Lake Caroline Lodge. All residents of Lake Caroline are encouraged to attend.

The Business Roundtable will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19 in the Boxley Room of the Community Services Center.

A new Vision, Mission and Core Values Statement for the County will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its June 17 meeting. This a recommendation from an employee committee made up of various County agencies and departments.

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 June:

• The Parks and Recreation Department will be accepting registration for youth football and other classes. Contact the office at (804) 633-7277 for information on all offerings.



• Sub-area plans to be included in the update of the Comprehensive Plan have been approved by the Board of Supervisors. A consulting firm has been hired to assist with the drafting and final compilation of the Comprehensive Plan update.



• 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 its June 17 meeting.



• 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 spring. 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.



• State Fair officials have offered property at Meadow Farm for the relocation of County Extension services from its current site at the Community Services Center. County staff is working with all parties to coordinate the project. Officials representing the Extension office will be present at the June 17 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 Board of Supervisors has approved the expansion of the wastewater plant at Polecat Creek to a maximum of 1.5 million gallons per day. Arcadis is expected to complete the design this summer and construction bids will be let by next fall.



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



• Groundbreaking for a new county park in Ladysmith was held October 6 and construction is expected to begin later this spring.



• The Board of Supervisors approved a five percent increase on customers using the County utility system at its May 20 worksession. The Board also approved a $1,000 increase on water and wastewater availability fees at its May 27 meeting. County staff is preparing 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 Board of Supervisors approved at its November 27 meeting the application of a TEA 21 grant to construct a pedestrian and biking trail around Caroline County Park. The trail would tie in with future improvements that are anticipated when an architect’s recommendation is made in 2008.



• The design of a new Public Works Shop will be presented to the Board of Supervisors at its June 17 meeting.



• 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.



• The Board of Supervisors at its June 17 meeting will resume discussions regarding the adoption of an ordinance on a new Fire Code.



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



• Site work 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 County Park.



• 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.



• The Board of Supervisors is considering establishing a Farmer’s Market at the site of the Cannery located along Route 301 south.



• Arby’s has a site plan under review to build a restaurant along Route 207 beside the Visitor’s Center.



• Sheriff Tony Lippa has requested permission to use the old Ladysmith Library as a substation and vacate the current location at the former Carlson’s Restaurant. The Board of Supervisors will further discuss the request at its June 17 meeting.



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



• The Board of Supervisors will resume its discussions on the adoption of a State Fire Prevention Code at its June 17 meeting.



• The Board of Supevisors will resume discussions on a new rental policy for County parks at its June 24 meeting.



• The Board of Supervisors will have under consideration at its June 17 meeting a resolution requesting the Commonwealth Transportation Board to name two bridges in Caroline County after fallen state troopers.