Is the Louisa/Fluvanna James RIver Pipeline Back?

By. Bryan Rothamel

LOUISA — The James River water pipeline is getting a second look.

The Louisa Board of Supervisors has sent notice, calling a special meeting to be held in Fluvanna with the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors. The Louisa notice states the two boards will meet to ‘discuss the James River Water Project.’

The notice says at 6 p.m. on March 6 in Palmyra. The Fluvanna supervisors have a normally scheduled meeting that day and do not require additional notice beyond the routine meeting notice.

The James River Water Authority, while still a legal entity, has not be active for years. Both counties paid money for the JRWA to defend it legally but it has not been seriously discussed since the summer of 2010 when the two parties split from discussing a water project.

The endeavor was officially canceled, but not disbanded, by Louisa on Aug. 17, 2010 when then Louisa supervisors felt Fluvanna stop acting in good faith towards making a financial decision. Fluvanna’s then leadership allowed a Aug. 16, 2010 Virginia Resource Authority application deadline for financing pass without an application.

There was a Memorandum of Understanding about a possible James River water pipeline  and until that August 2010 deadline, Louisa supervisors were willing to pay for up to half the water pipeline had it met “reasonable standards for costs and water age.” Louisa’s only public concern was to get water from the James River, across Fluvanna and to the Zion Crossroad planning area.

At the time, discussions in Fluvanna raised questions about extending the debt load of the county when the high school debt payments had not fully started. Some residents also voiced concerns about paying half the costs of a water line that would send water directly to where, Fluvanna residents felt, Louisa competed with Fluvanna the most, the Zion Crossroad economic development.

Louisa leaders countered in the Aug. 17, 2010 press release and follow up interviews with Louisa’s availability for future growth was much more limited than Fluvanna’s possible future growth because of Green Springs Historical District. The historical district is federally protected from development. Fluvanna has no such limitations.

Louisa leaders also said Fluvanna could strategically place the pipeline to hit major economic areas inside Fluvanna before even getting to Zion Crossroad. The proposed route was over 22 miles, winding through Pleasant Grove, near Lake Monticello and down Route 250.

The biggest issue about take water from the James River for either county is neither county owns the withdrawal permit. The JRWA owns the permit to take any water from the river. Neither county can get that permit without the authority relinquishing control. The JRWA board has three Fluvanna members and three Louisa members.

Reportedly, the JRWA has not met beyond keeping up with regulated bylaws. The Louisa County’s website last has minutes for the JRWA board dating January 2010. Fluvanna’s last published minutes are February 2010.

The joint Louisa-Fluvanna meeting will happen on March 6 although discussions with Fluvanna sources say the Fluvanna supervisors will have additional agenda items to accomplish before meeting with Louisa.

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The Free Enterprise Forum’s coverage of Fluvanna County is provided by a grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® and by the support of readers like you.

Bryan Rothamel covers Fluvanna County for the Free Enterprise Forum.  He is the founder of the Fluco Blog.  Additional writings can be found at www.Flucoblog.com

Saying “No” to the MPO

FORUM WATCH EDITORIAL

By. Neil Williamson, President

When is a regional organization not regional enough?

In the coming days, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) [and the Greene County Board of Supervisors] will be discussing a potential expansion to include Albemarle County’s Crozet, Fluvanna County’s Lake Monticello as well as the Twin Lakes and Ruckersville “urban clusters” of Greene County.

By means of background, the 2010 Census identified these areas currently outside the MPO Boundary area as attaining urban cluster population numbers. 

The MPO Policy Board and the respective localities must discuss if there is interest on both parties to move forward with the expansion of the MPO Area.

The MPO is a federally mandated and federally funded organization designed to facilitate regional cooperation on transportation issues of regional importance in communities of over 50,000 residents.

According to the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) website [TJPDC serves as staff for the MPO]:

The Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the forum for cooperative transportation decision-making among Charlottesville, Albemarle, state and federal officials.

The MPO considers long-range regional projects and combines public input, technical data, and agency collaboration to develop forward-thinking solutions. Organized for the City of Charlottesville and the urbanized area of Albemarle County immediately surrounding the City, it is responsible for carrying out continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning and programming process*.

The MPO coordinates the transportation planning activities of the various transportation-related agencies that have both a direct and indirect impact on the Long Range Plan and Transportation Improvement Program.

The MPO is led by TJPDC Executive Director Stephen Williams who reports to a Policy Board including five voting members, two Charlottesville City Councilors, two Albemarle County Supervisors and one representative from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).  If the MPO was to expand the construct of the voting members of the Policy Board must change to include the new localities as well. 

The Free Enterprise Forum has documented how the current construct proved critically important during the recent approval of the US29 Western Bypass (What the MPO could learn from Kenny Rogers).   Expanding the voting members significantly changes the voting pool and diminishes the import of the VDOT representative. 

In addition, the geographic unity of the MPO footprint would be lost.  While we recognize the entire transportation network is interlinked, it is difficult to draw a direct impact of Hillsdale Drive Extended to Lake Monticello. 

Currently, if Federal funds are available for a project in an area outside the MPO, VDOT works directly with the locality to secure those funds.  If the area is within an MPO footprint there must be additional consent from the MPO .  This results in a loss of autonomy by the locality.

Finally, such an expansion would require the outlying counties to increase staffing.  The Policy Board currently meets only every other month as does the technical committee but each of these public meetings requires staff (and elected) to review and understand the matters coming before the MPO. 

The Free Enterprise Forum has attended well over a hundred hours of MPO meetings.  As a seasoned observer, we believe the potential loss of locality autonomy, the increase in staff time on issues not germane to the locality, as well as the lack of geographic unity are reason enough for Greene and Fluvanna to say “No to the MPO”.

Respectfully Submitted,

Neil Williamson, President

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Neil Williamson is the President of The Free Enterprise Forum, a privately funded public policy organization covering the City of Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and  Nelson County.  For more information visit the website www.freeenterpriseforum.org

Photo Credits: Greene County Record, Charlottesville Tomorrow

Fluvanna Planners Consider Buffers

By William J. Des Rochers – Fluvanna Field Officer

Fluvanna County Planning Commissioners declined to make major changes to a draft Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) that aroused concerns from developers. The planners met in a work session on July 11^th to consider proposed changes that would have modified required landscape and stream buffers. Previously, the Board of Supervisors had returned the proposed amendment to the Planning Commission to consider changes in light of business concerns.

The most contentious of the issues – the requirement to place 75-foot buffers on either side of perennial streams and 50-foot buffers along intermittent streams – was not changed. Commissioners were amenable to allow for remediation plans to be submitted if developers sought waivers to the requirement. The authority to grant waivers would reside with the planning director.

The planning staff showed an aerial photograph of part of the Zion Crossroads development area that highlighted the impact upon a portion of the county’s designated growth area — however, the area shown already was largely developed. Staff did not present any information regarding the rest of the development area, nor did it show any intermittent streams that further would impact developable lots.

Thus, the commissioners were left with wanting to support the intent of the riparian buffers, but without any understanding of the economic development implications that would result from the introduction of riparian buffers.

Commissioners also expressed a desire to reduce the time for holding a landscape bond from three years to one.

Commissioners also agreed that if a developer were to incorporate “high quality landscaping and/or architectural features” into a subdivision, then the “subdivision agent” could approve a modified landscape proposal. Just what constitutes “high quality” was not further defined.

The Planning Commission’s next public meeting is scheduled for July 25^th at 7:00 pm at the County Courthouse.

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William Des Rochers is the Fluvanna County Field Officer for the Free Enterprise Forum a privately funded public policy organization.

The Free Enterprise Forum Field Officer program is funded by a generous grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) and by readers like you.  To support this important work please donate online at www.freeenterpriseforum.org

Fluvanna to Reexamine Amendment’s Impact on Economic Development

By William J. Des Rochers, Fluvanna Field Officer

Despite coming late to the game, developer Charlie Armstrong and the Free Enterprise Forum persuaded Fluvanna’s Board of Supervisors to reexamine the implications of a proposed zoning text amendment for economic development.

At its June 20^th meeting, supervisors agreed to defer consideration of the amendment until August after Mr. Armstrong pointed out potential flaws n the ordinance that could derail potential development in the Zion Crossroads area of the county. Specifically Armstrong pointed to draft setback requirements for riparian buffers, landscape requirements, and three-year bonding for landscaping.

Earlier in an editorial comment, the Free Enterprise Forum urged a ninety-day deferral so that staff could examine the economic development implications of the proposed zoning changes. While Supervisors unanimously agreed to send the draft back to the planning staff.

The Board however did not accede to the School Board’s request to reinstate nearly $540,000 to the school budget to supplement employee health benefit costs. School officials presented data that suggested that some lower level employees would actually have to pay to work since their month health insurance premiums would exceed their net income.

The Board also unanimously rejected sending a proposed four percent meals tax to a public referendum this November. Supervisors believed that the $300,000 annual projected income was not worth it. Fluvanna does not attract many out of county diners, and is not major restaurant magnet.

Supervisors did adopt a proposal to give county (non-school) employees a five percent pay raise to offset the new five percent employee contribution to the Virginia retirement system. The decision will cost the county an additional $79,000, money that county administrator Steven Nichols said would have to be found from existing budget lines.

Supervisors also received the sobering new that there is just $8.1 million in the county’s undesignated fund balance, or “savings account”. The required minimum balance, based upon county revenues and expenditures, is approximately $7.1 million, leaving county officials with just $1 million in liquid savings. Supervisor Don Weaver (Cunningham) noted that just a few years ago the balance exceeded $16 million.

In other matters, the supervisors:

· Approved incorporating the county’s new vision statement into the Comprehensive Plan; and,

· Endorsed the School Board’s decision to request a Commonwealth efficiency study of the school division’s operations and expenditures.

Supervisors will next meet on July 3^rd, at 2:00 pm, rather than on Wednesday, July 4^th.

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William Des Rochers is the Fluvanna County Field Officer for the Free Enterprise Forum a privately funded public policy organization.

The Free Enterprise Forum Field Officer program is funded by a generous grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) and by readers like you.  To support this important work please donate online at www.freeenterpriseforum.org

Budget Woes Arrive in Fluvanna; Ullenbruch’s Support Erodes

By William J. Des Rochers, Fluvanna Field Officer

Well that did not take long. Just a week after Fluvanna County’s draft budget was announced, the fractures in the Budget Committee presentation appeared, with one committee member – new supervisor Bob Ullenbruch (Palmyra) backpedalling from his support for spending cuts and a large tax increase.

During the February 15^th Board of Supervisors meeting, at which there was a paucity of substantive action, some budgetary outlines did emerge. Subsequent conversations showed even more fissures.

Both supervisors Don Weaver (Cunningham) and Ullenbruch opposed establishing a capital reserve fund that would allow for planned replacement and repair of county facilities and equipment. This was one of the more novel additions to the Capital Improvement Plan by the Budget Committee and is designed to institute a more professional approach to county management.

Mr. Weaver introduced a number of other budget cut proposals to the Board that would drastically reduce the need for major tax increase, but the supervisors took no action on his proposal. Mr. Ullenbruch sought to introduce into this budget operational funding necessary to support future capital improvement projects beyond FY 2013. Chairman Shaun Kenney politely informed him that such expenditures would be irrelevant until such time as the projects are undertaken.

Subsequent conversations with government officials revealed heightened frustration with the turn of events. Instead of working from an endorsed budget committee proposal to the supervisors, the backtracking began almost immediately. For example, small cuts to constitutional officers — less than $100,000 — now may be restored if one supervisor gets his way, according to one source.

Moreover there is a strong element of mistrust creeping into the whole process. One supervisor has accused the staff of duplicity, saying he “was duped”, according to a senior official. Moreover, Mr. Ullenbruch has publically informed his colleagues that he “probably knows more about the budget than anyone at this table”. Frequently he also has publically informed the staff that they are wrong on particular points.

Frustration also was evident when Ullenbruch could not get one colleague to support his “government reform committee” proposal. It went beyond the Board of Supervisors’ governing authority and his colleagues returned it to him for further work.

The supervisors will meet with the Fluvanna School Board on February 22^nd for an initial budget discussion.

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William Des Rochers is the Fluvanna County Field Officer for the Free Enterprise Forum a privately funded public policy organization.

The Free Enterprise Forum Field Officer program is funded by a generous grant from the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) and by readers like you.  To support this important work please donate online at www.freeenterpriseforum.org

2011 Forum Watch Top Ten

FORUM WATCH EDITORIAL

By Neil Williamson, President

‘Tis the season for Top Ten lists.  The Free Enterprise Forum reviewed all the issues we have followed and built our list based on the importance of the story and its future potential impact on the region.

Honorable mentions included:

• Charlottesville Planning Commission drafting a new critical slopes ordinance that was rejected by City Council to be reworked and return to council in 2012.
• Charlottesville regains first place in the Biennial Free Enterprise Forum Local Government Spending Index (LGSI)
• Did Albemarle County Bypassing their own  Architectural Review Board  for their new Red Light Cameras?
• The TJPDC Executive Director Stephen Williams calling local politicians “space aliens” and describing the community as “100 warring tribes” then pushing against his Board (and failing) to gain “leverage” with VDOT.

Without question our favorite 2011 comment came from “Emory” regarding the first TJPDC story above:

“In what way are the local politicians like space aliens?

I’ve never met a space alien, jealous of Mr. Williams in that regard.”

Without further ado here are our top 10 stories from 2011.

10.  Fluvanna County Administrator Jay Scudder resigns suddenly. Fluvanna has been through two administrators in as many years.

Field Officer William Des Rochers reports: “According to multiple sources, Scudder alienated the staff almost from the outset of his tenure and never managed to gain their confidence. Supervisors became aware of the problem and also had their own difficulties with the administrator. Some believed as administrator, he was developing his own agenda and was not as supportive of the Board’s policies as he might have been.”  Click here for more

9.  Greene County Funds Schools Projects.  After over several years of discussion and public hearings Greene County approves infrastructure improvements at their schools complex (4-2). Athletic facilities and performing arts center to receive significant facelift.

Field Officer Pauline Hovey reports: “For the nearly 11 years this reporter has lived in Greene County and attended public hearings, this marks the first time 100 percent of public comments favored a proposal. No public hesitancy or negative comments were expressed at the hearing held at the Raymond C. Dingledine III Performing Arts Center at William Monroe High School. From business leaders to coaches, from parents to seniors with no children in the school system, every one of the 25 individuals who addressed the board fully supported the project, many of them expressing concern about the safety and condition of existing facilities”.(January)  Click here for more

8.  Louisa County gets the worst of the August 23rd earthquake and countless significant aftershocks.  After delays, FEMA grants emergency aid.

Field Officer John Haksch reports: On November 4^th Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced that President Obama, supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has reversed their previous decision to disqualify Louisa residents and businesses from receiving federal aid following the earthquake that rocked the county on August 23^rd. The official request by the governor for assistance was made on September 20^th, following thorough, weeks-long investigation by FEMA and both professional volunteers and county staff. Click here for more

7.  Albemarle County Places 29 Master Plan approved.  The Free Enterprise Forum registered its opposition to the plan but it fell on deaf ears

“It is important to note that while we have been an active participant in the Places29 planning process, the Free Enterprise Forum has been a vocal critic of Places29 for many years.

While some of the concerns we highlighted have been removed, like the Supertax, others remain.  Click here to read more

6. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) proposed “devolution” moving the responsibility secondary roads to localities.

From VDOT: Virginia is one of only a few states where state government has maintenance, operational, and construction responsibilities for local roads.

In most states, the state transportation agency assumes these responsibilities for interstate and primary routes while local governments assume them for local roads.

Except in Arlington and Henrico counties, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) assumes all maintenance, operational, and construction responsibilities on the secondary roads in the commonwealth’s counties.

In 2001, the General Assembly enacted what is commonly known as the “Devolution Statute.” The statute provides that boards of supervisors in any county that wishes to assume responsibility for any portion of the state secondary system of highways within that county’s boundaries may request the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner enter into and implement an agreement to do so. This is known as “devolution.”

VDOT Devolution is a huge issue as we move into the 2012 General Assembly.

5. 1-Community Launch.  The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission starts its nearly $1 million dollar, three year 1-Community Comprehensive planning project AKA 36 month Planner Employment Plan.

The Free Enterprise Forum blog has raised may concerns with this project:

“On the surface such a planning exercise seems benign, perhaps even appropriate but it’s much more than a simple planning exercise.  This may be the first step in changing the priorities in each localities comprehensive plan.

Without being overly dramatic, the Free Enterprise Forum is concerned the “Many Plans, One Community” has predetermined the result of their three year process as if they were programming the destination on their GPS.” To read more click here

4.  Cville Human Rights Commission Proposed City of Charlottesville opens up consideration of new bureaucracy with significant investigative and enforcement powers under the banner of “Human Rights”

The Free Enterprise Forum weighed in early with significant concerns with the legally duplicative  proposal:

“After reviewing all of the material  readily available on this issue, the Free Enterprise Forum fears that moving forward with the politically appointed Human Rights Commission, based on its current construct and goals, will do more harm than good for City economic opportunities across all demographic cohorts.

While we remain very concerned with human rights, we are equally concerned that unnecessary red tape will push more businesses out of not only Charlottesville but the entire region.

If the region loses economic opportunities  for the fear of over regulation, the region, and the residents of the region, lose.” to read more click here

3.  Meadowcreek Parkway (Albemarle Project) Opens. Albemarle pushes VDOT (and Charlottesville) to open their completed Meadowcreek Parkway Project.  While this will technically occur in 2012, it is a 2011 story.

The Free Enterprise Forum called out this issue in early summer under the headline “High Stakes Poker”

“Perhaps the longest poker game on record (43 years), Charlottesville raised the ante by demanding a grade separated interchange be fully funded prior to any of the three independent projects moving forward (the largest in a litany of many conditions).  Despite the interchange funding secured through a Senator John Warner federal earmark,  City Council currently retains a narrow 3-2 split in favor of construction of the City project (McIntire Extended).  There has also been a federal lawsuit filed by a number of city residents.

When the three independent projects will open is still unclear.  At this point, Albemarle County seems to have an upper hand with a full constructed, albeit closed, road.  The lawsuit is a wild card that may or may not trump Albemarle”

In December Albemarle County requested VDOT open the road.  Charlottesville, in an act of true chutzpah placed a number of conditions for the opening of a road that starts in Albemarle County runs through Albemarle County and currently terminates in Albemarle County.  VDOT plans to address the conditions Charlottesville set forth and plans to open the Albemarle County project on January 6th click here for more

2.  Community Water Supply Plan Moves Slowly Forward.  Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) plan to move forward with 30’ height earthen dam is approved by DEQ.  The RWSA is positioned to award the dam bid as early as this Wednesday December 28th.  Back in March, the Free Enterprise Forum, who is a long time supporter of the Community Water Supply plan wrote:

“One of the more contentious, and expensive, poker games in recent memory.  This game required each side to fund preliminary engineering on two very different proposals for expansion of the Ragged Mountain Reservoir.  At the time, the Free Enterprise Forum opined regardless of who won someone was wasting money because their plan would not be used.  In the end, the jointly run Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority selected the County favored plan of an earthen dam but at a lower height than the county wanted.

Recognizing that the lower height was the only way the project would move forward at all, Albemarle agreed to Charlottesville’s demands.  In March 2009, Mayor Dave Norris famously said, “We hold all the cards” because the City holds title to the reservoir.”

When one considers the infrastructure Rivanna is planning to replace dates back to 1908 (and South Fork Rivanna Reservoir was built in 1966), one can recognize this issue may have has the greatest generational impact.

Charlottesville Tomorrow has a well written summary of the most recent DEQ action.  Click here to read more

1. Western Bypass US 29 Bypass revived, approved and goes out to bid.   Albemarle Board of Supervisors, Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approve funding of the Western US 29 Bypass.  Nine vendors qualify to bid on the project.

No story got more readership this year than our work on the US29 Bypass.  Starting with a small mention in an April 2011  VDOT Freight Report ending with a 3-2 vote on the MPO and a 12-1 vote on the CTB.

The Free Enterprise Forum has been a vocal advocate for the Bypass.  In a widely read editorial in the Daily Progress we opined the Western Bypass may reduce traffic to the levels that would allow the vision of Places 29 to become a reality:

Our stretch of US29 is the most dangerous portion of the entire US29 Corridor. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has reported that 49% of all motor vehicle accidents – 41% of all personal injury accidents – within the Commonwealth of Virginia along US 29 occur in Charlottesville or Albemarle.  The current roadway is increasingly unsafe and the US29 Western Bypass will increase safety on our main street dramatically.

Current VDOT data estimates that an average of 57,000 motor vehicles cross US29 at Hydraulic Road every day. VDOT has further estimated between 10%-20% of those vehicles are “thru-traffic” with no intention of stopping in our community. Using the median range (15%) means that more than 8,000 vehicles, many heavy trucks, would be removed. In addition each day as many as 10,000 or more vehicles within our region would bypass ‘Business 29’….

Each year the Federal Government and Virginia collect more than $40 million in motor vehicle taxes in Charlottesville and Albemarle.  The last major public road project completed locally is the widening of US29 (mid 1990s).  It has been estimated that as a community we have paid $600 million in motor vehicle taxes in the sixteen years since VDOT constructed any new road project here. It’s time our community got some of its infrastructure investment back.

Twenty years from now, citizens will look back on this discussion and not talk about the meritorious Western Bypass but instead wonder, as with the Route 250 Bypass, “How would our community survive without the vitality of ‘Business 29’?”

All of these issues and the local elections, 2011 is headed to the history books but I know I have learned a great deal.

Thank you for reading the blog.  The field officers and I work hard to provide you with informed commentary on local issues that impact you.

In 2012, The Free Enterprise Forum is moving into our eighth year.  As for most enterprises, 2011 has been a challenge. If you find our work helpful, please consider financially supporting the Free Enterprise Forum.  Please click here for our secure server donation page!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.  May you and your families have a Happy 2012.

Respectfully Submitted,

Neil Williamson

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Neil Williamson is the President of The Free Enterprise Forum, a privately funded public policy organization covering the City of Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and  Nelson County.  For more information visit the website www.freeenterpriseforum.org

Photo Credits: Pixar, Albemarle County, Fluvanna County, Office of Governor,  VDOT

Get’cha Head in the Game and VOTE

By. Neil Williamson, President

The 2006 Disney Movie High School Musical featured a mind numbing song called Get’cha Head in the Game.  Despite the inane catchiness of the song, it has a solid message for our local 2011 elections.

In our Apathy Increases Voter Value post, The Free Enterprise Forum has already written about the importance of your vote in next Tuesday’s  November 8th election.

While 77% of the registered voters are projected to NOT cast ballots this “off-off” year election, how many of the balance will cast knowledgeable votes?

Do you know who you are voting for?

Do you know what issues the candidates agree on?

or where they differ from each other?

If not, why not?

Regular readers know the Free Enterprise Forum is appreciative of all who put themselves up for election.  It is a very time consuming and ego challenging thing to do.  Elections are about ideas, the candidates have, for the most part, put their ideas out for the voters to see.  Have you looked?

The work of an election does not fall completely on the candidates.  Do you know where you vote?  many polling places have changed due to the census data.  Take two minutes right now today and confirm your polling place with the Virginia Board of Elections by clicking here  I’ll wait.

OK, now that you know where you are going to vote, the question of who you plan to vote for is of equal importance.  In addition to the candidates’ web sites, Facebook pages and advertising there are other sources of information:

• In Charlottesville and Albemarle, you can learn about the candidates through Charlottesville Tomorrow’s 2011 Election Center
• The Greene County Record has candidate biographies in this week’s paper
• The Fluvanna Review asked all the Fluvanna Candidate’s five questions about the future of the County.
• The transcript for the Louisa County Candidate Forum can be found on our blog
• The Nelson County Times has a good overview of the Nelson races.

As a reader of this blog, you already know more about the issues facing local government than the average citizen.  You owe it to yourself and your community to continue your education, learn about the candidates AND VOTE.

To paraphrase the late Sy Syms – “An educated Voter is our best citizen”.

Respectfully Submitted,

Neil Williamson, President

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Neil Williamson is the President of The Free Enterprise Forum, a privately funded public policy organization covering the City of Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and  Nelson County.  For more information visit the website www.freeenterpriseforum.org

Photo Credits: Disney, New York Daily News

Apathy Increases Voter Value

FORUM WATCH EDITORIAL

By Neil Williamson, President

Yes, Virginia this is an election year.

Poor Virginia – Every year somebody is running for something and this year, if historical trends hold true – your vote is even more important. 

While the balance of the country (except New Jersey) is looking toward November 2012 for their next election, Virginians must vote on their local representation in the General Assembly, many of their constitutional officers (Commonwealth Attorney, Commissioner of the Revenue, etc.) as well as those who represent them in the County building or City Hall.

2011 is what is known as an “Off-Off” year election.  There are no federal races on the ballot and there is no Gubernatorial race either.  Such elections regularly see low voter turnout.

According to Bill McClintock of GOP Wins [as quoted in Campaigns and Elections Magazine]:

the high point for voter participation is the presidential election cycle, which sees about 73 percent of the state’s voters turn out. Next is the gubernatorial election, when about 49 percent turn out. After that comes the non-presidential federal election (Senate or Congressional seat), which sees about 45% turnout. Finally, there’s a year like 2011 when the state legislature tops the ticket and the turnout plummets to a meager 33 percent. Generalizing across states—or even within states—is difficult because individual factors will obviously impact turnout. But it’s clear that turnout falls dramatically in these years. Emphasis added – nw

From the left leaning leaning My Fire Dog Lake blog discussing the 2009 election “Off” Year election (with a gubernatorial race) turnout:

Political writer Paul Loeb summarizes the voter turnout as follows: “In exit polls, Virginia voters under 30 dropped from 21% of the 2008 electorate to 10% this year, and from 17% to 9% in New Jersey. Minority voting saw a similar decline. In both states, over half the Obama voters of a year ago simply stayed home, more than a million people in both Virginia and New Jersey. With this collapse of the Democratic base, even relatively modest Republican turnout could carry the day, and did.” Emphasis added – nw

But what does that mean for the local races that are on the ballot?

In Fluvanna County, the 2007 Palmyra District Board of Supervisors race was won by John Gooch with 364 votes just 18 vote less than his opponent Minor Eager. In fact, before counting the absentee ballots Gooch led Eager by merely 10 votes.

Albemarle County 2007 Rivanna District’s Board of Supervisor’s election, 4,667 votes were cast and Incumbent Ken Boyd beat challenger Marcia Joseph by 149 votes.

The Free Enterprise Forum anticipates higher than average turnout in Greene County and Louisa County.  Both have contested races for retiring Constitutional Officers (Sheriff in Greene and Treasurer in Louisa).  The last time there was an open Sheriff’s race in Greene (2003) there were 5 candidates and voter turnout was over 47%. 

In addition Greene County has adjusted their Board of Supervisors to four magisterial districts and one at large member (formerly 2).  The new “Ruckersville” District features a four way race.  The last multiple candidate race for a Greene Board of Supervisor the decision was made by less than 100 votes.

Yes Virginia, there is an election in 2011.

This election will select those who serve the government closest to you, your local government.  The candidates who are successful in this campaign will be the ones to determine the vision for the locality as well as the ordinances; they will develop the budgets and set the tax rate.

Yes Virginia will hold an election on November 8th; the question is will you be a part of it? 

Respectfully Submitted,

Neil Williamson

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Neil Williamson is the President of The Free Enterprise Forum, a privately funded public policy organization covering the City of Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and  Nelson County.  For more information visit the website www.freeenterpriseforum.org

 

Making Products or Making Beds

FORUM WATCH EDITORIAL

By. Neil Williamson, President

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce recently released its 2011 jobs report. The report, a virtual gold mine of data, covered from 2000-2010 and included job category growth and decline.  The numbers showed that regionally jobs in manufacturing dropped over 45% and information dropped over 24% while leisure and hospitality jobs increased over 26%.

The report goes further to indicate that in 2000 Leisure & Hospitality made up 13.7% of the region’s private sector jobs (9,986).  In 2010, that number had grown to 12,632 jobs (16.3%).

Sometime ago, local businessman Gary Henry raised a concern regarding the area’s increased reliance on tourism and retirees.  As Charlottesville Tomorrow reported in their 2008 article:

Henry, a Board member of the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council, is continuing his efforts to call attention to a fork in the road that he sees approaching for the area’s future; one branch leading to an economically and culturally diverse city with a healthy middle class (Austin), the other leading to a ritzy retirement and tourism community where only the wealthy can afford to live (Aspen).

According to Henry, if the region’s planners do not take action, greater Charlottesville will slowly drift towards the Aspen model, attracting more and more wealthy retirees until those providing services in Charlottesville will not be able to afford to live there. He advocates the pursuit of the Austin model, and his suggested method is the creation of a strong technology presence that would attract young, middle class workers to counterbalance the area’s aging population.

Here we are three years later faced with empirical data that confirms Henry’s prediction of “slowly drifting toward the Aspen model”.  If the current drifting pattern holds, by 2020 one in five jobs in the region could be associated with the leisure and hospitality sector.

But are we “drifting” or does our local government funding impact this direction?

The Free Enterprise Forum asks the question how should the money (and time) we spend attracting tourists to visit the region with Albemarle/Charlottesville Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) compare to the money we spend to attract and retain high quality businesses through the Economic Development offices and the  Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development (TJPED)?  How does such funding compare to other localities?

Earlier this month, Greene County Field Officer Pauline Hovey wrote about the Occupancy Tax and how this new tourism tax  is being spent in Greene County.

The Occupancy Tax in Charlottesville and Albemarle helps provides a steady, consistent stream of funding to the CVB.  It also ties the CVB to their own results, if they are successful in bringing visitors to hotels, their budget increases.  There is no clear funding mechanism for economic development funding.

In the short term, it is clear tourists who come spend their money and then leave have an immediate impact without the cost of children to educate and significant infrastructure demands but does it improve the fabric of the community?

While I appreciate Mr. Henry’s choice between Austin and Aspen, I believe Santa Barbara, California is also a fair comparison to Charlottesville.  My father once famously said, “It’s a town for newlyweds and nearly deads”.

The Los Angeles Times reported in 2003:

The situation is demonstrated in a myriad of ways; Half of the city’s teachers, firemen and police forced to commute long distances.  An ever aging population.  Businesses leaving and potential arrivals looking elsewhere.  An uncertain future for minorities and the poor.

About 30,000 workers now commute to the city of 92,000, some from the north county cities of Santa Maria and Lompoc, others from such Ventura County cities as Ventura and Oxnard, where housing prices are lower.

30,000 workers (many in the Leisure & Hospitality sector) commute over an hour each way to get to work in a town of 92,000.  Businesses fleeing.

Is this where we are headed?  Is this where we want to go?

Based on the success of the Transient tax model, should local governments look at a dedicated stream of funding for economic development activities that is driven by commercial tax revenue?

Are there missing infrastructure elements that are keeping certain industries out of our region?  Is it the role of government to provide these elements?  Should we accept the “drifting” as market forces at work or implement strategies to change direction?

In 2040, will the average worker in Charlottesville be writing computer code or writing up a lunch order?

Will we be making stuff or making beds?

Respectfully submitted,

Neil Williamson

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Neil Williamson is the President of The Free Enterprise Forum, a privately funded public policy organization covering the City of Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and  Nelson County.  For more information visit the website www.freeenterpriseforum.org

Photo Credit: Charlottesville Tomorrow, Santa Maria Times, Hilton Garden Inn

Fluvanna Opts for Five Supervisors

By William J. Des Rochers, Fluvanna Field Officer

 

Fluvanna’s supervisors approved a five member redistricting plan at their July 6^th meeting. Despite substantial and vocal citizen opposition, the Board voted four to two to reduce its size by one. Supervisors Don Weaver (Cunningham) and Chris Fairchild (Rivanna) voted against the plan. Mr. Fairchild’s seat will be eliminated.

Citizen opposition was strong. Three quarters of the fifteen speakers spoke against the proposed five member Board; most of them advocated increasing the representation to seven. There were two basic arguments: more representatives bring representation closer to the people, and the five seat Board was a politically motivated decision.

In its current alignment, the reduction to five certainly will make the Board more liberal. Fairchild is the second most conservative member of the Board and, assuming both supervisors John Gooch (Palmyra) and Mozelle Booker (Fork Union) win their reelections bids, they will offset conservative supervisors Weaver and Shawn Kenney (Columbia), giving the moderate Joe Chesser (Rivanna) the swing vote.

The supervisors also voted to provide each full-time county employee a $500 bonus. Employee salaries have been frozen for three years and the funds will come from the yet to be determined FY 2011 budget surplus.

After the meeting, the Board reconvened for a work session regarding their goals for the county. A majority of the Board listed economic development as the most important priority for the county. But the informal discussion quickly turned to the anticipated budget shortfalls over the coming years.

Supervisors rejected a proposal to create a blue ribbon commission to examine the issue and provide recommendations. Instead, they opted for a “supervisors and friends” concept wherein each supervisor would select a person to assist in the deliberations and provide guidance to the particular supervisor.

The seven hour session provided at least two clear signals: the future five member Board will address economic development issues and have to aggressively address upcoming budget deficits.

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William Des Rochers serves as Free Enterprise Forum’s Fluvanna County Field Officer.  The Free Enterprise Forum is a privately funded public policy organization covering Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and Nelson county as well as the City of Charlottesville.  If you find this update helpful, please consider financially supporting these efforts.