DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 31, No. 50 | Richmond Suburban News | April 15, 2015
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
ELECTION 2015
Davis: service is issue-driven Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com In his re-election message, Sean Davis focused on the people he represents and the commitment he has to Hanover. Davis stated, “The past three years have been filled with addressing important issues on behalf of the people of Hanover. There has been a need to exercise leadership — to make tough calls during tough times.” He said he is proud of many accomplishments but among the top are: “renewing our commitment to public safety, focusing on educational needs by increasing local funding to schools, and DAVIS advancing pro-business initiatives.” When asked about public safety, Davis stated, “You simply can’t compare Hanover to any other locality. The safety we feel and see DAVIS, pg. 4
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Fire-EMS, education top concerns in budget hearing By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local HANOVER — As the Hanover County Board of Supervisors prepares to consider the proposed 2016 budget for approval later this month, members heard comments from the public at last Wednesday’s regular meeting. Although most of the speakers applauded county leaders for providing 2 percent increases for employees, some took to the podi-
Phillip Hutchinson, district chief of the Ashland Vo l u n t e e r Fire Company, said the additional eight positions HUTCHINSON outlined in this year’s proposal are needed and appreciated, but fall short of the
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Hanover Fire-EMS Chief Jethro Piland was supported by members of his department as they attended the budget public hearing last week.
um to outline what they consider to be unmet needs contained in the proposal.
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asking for your support for Chief Piland’s request for 12 positions,” Hutchinson said. The eight proposed new positions are targeted to meet staffing needs at Companies 1 and 3. “The additional four positions are needed to fill the demands of the citizens as our call volumes continue to grow,” Hutchinson said. The four additional positions would be utilized in adding another ambulance transport unit to the Ashland area. The chief requested 12 additional positions in his 2016 budget proposal, but the board included eight in its projected expenditures for 2016. “The 12-person request is, in reality, still not enough to get our system to the minimum required staffing levels as recommended nationally by the Fire Service,” Hutchinson told board members. “In our business, seconds and minutes do matter and they do save
Meredith Rigsby has joined the staff of Richmond Suburban News as news editor of The Mechanicsville Local and The King William Local. The Fredericksburg native has made the Richmond area her home for about eight years. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications.
see BUDGET, pg. 23
see RIGSBY, pg. 15
MEREDITH RIGSBY
Rigsby named news editor of Local papers Staff Report news@mechlocal.com
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