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Volume 58, Number 2 • January 12, 2012
Creasey and Peterson to lead 2012 Goochland Board of Supervisors Salary increase rolled back By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
Goochland’s Board of Supervisors elected District 3 Republican Ned S. Creasey to be its chairman at last week’s organizational meeting. Creasey was the only one of four incumbents running for reelection to retain his seat. Ken Peterson, who defeated Planning Commissioner Courtney Hyers for the Republican nomination in District 5 and then ran unopposed, was selected to be vicechairman. Also during its organizational meeting, in keeping with campaign promises by several candidates, the new board rolled back salary increases for itself passed by last year’s board. Supervisors will continue to earn $12,000 and the chairman $15,000. District 1 Supervisor Susan F. Lascolette introduced the motion for the salary adjustment. The decision to keep salaries at their current levels was unanimous.
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Photo by Ken Odor
District 3 Supervisor Ned S. Creasey, right, was elected chairman of the Goochland Board of Supervisors last week. Ken Peterson of District 5 will serve as vice-chairman.
Creasey, chairing the board for the first time, said later in the week he was still learning the ropes. He said he would be open to the desires of the other supervisors in regard to setting meeting agendas. “If supervisors request it, I’ll put it on the agenda,” he said. Creasey said his top priorities are to provide for public safety, education and to streamline local government and make it more efficient and less intrusive.
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The new chairman acknowledged the board faces another difficult budget year, after hearing Assessor Glenn Branham’s report, which noted a 4 percent decline compared to 2011 assessments. Creasey, in keeping with his priorities, said many aging Sheriff’s Office vehicles, some of which have been driven more than 100,000 miles, need replacing. That could mean belt tightening elsewhere.
“Possibly some good programs might need to be cut,” he admitted. An increase in real estate taxes to raise more money is not likely in the current environment, according to Creasey. “No, I think we all of us campaigned on no property tax increases,” he said when questioned on that possibility. The new chairman said he hoped a way could be found to slow the increase in ad valorem taxes in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District. “It’s got to be dealt with,” said Creasey. On a more optimistic note, Creasey said he looked forward to a better working relationship with the new Goochland School Board, where five new members replaced last year’s board. “There will definitely be a better relationship,” predicted Creasey, adding that some of the new supervisors had campaigned together with the school board members in their districts. Other challenges facing the county are filling key positions in county administration, said see Supervisors > page 5
Photo by Ken Odor
New School Board Chair Beth Hardy addresses the board and visitors at the first School Board meeting of the year.
New School Board hears budget preview By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
“We seek to restore credibility and trust in your School Board,” said Beth Hardy, District 4, last Wednesday night, shortly after being elected chair at the organizational meeting, along with District 5 member John D. Wright as vice-chair. All members of the board this year are new, with three incumbents who ran for re-election in November having been defeated. In other organizational business, District 2 mem-
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Benedictine runs past Amelia Academy
Goochlanders file suit against BOS
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ber W. Kevin Hazzard was selected as the board’s representative to the Maggie Walker Governor’s School Board and John Lumpkins Jr. was named representative to the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School Board. One matter of particular interest to those who regularly attend board meetings was a unanimous vote to change starting times for all regular and workshop meetings to 7 p.m., with regular meetings scheduled for the second Tuesday of the see School Board > page 4