DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 36, No. 10 | Richmond Suburban News | July 29, 2020
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
County supervisors react to removal of school names County attorney: BOS doesn’t have authority to have names overturned By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
H
ANOVER— A recent Hanover County School Board decision changing the names of Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School drew comments from a large contingent of citizens and several supervisors at last week’s meeting. The decision and subsequent removal
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
of placards and signs containing the names two days after the action by school officials was described as insensitive by one board member. County attorney Dennis Walter clarified questions regarding school board deciPETERSON sions. “The Constitution of Virginia and State Code provide that decisions regarding the supervision and operation of schools — which includes the names of individual schools — are made by the school board,” Walter said. “The board of supervisors does not have the authority or ability to overturn the decision by the school board on school names.”
During a public comment period, many speakers went further. Marsha Boyce Rider referenced a 2018 survey conducted by school officials that revealed an overwhelming majority of those who responded favored keeping the names. “The survey indicated by a 76 percent margin that the public was in favor of keeping the names the same,” she said. “Why wasn’t the community asked for their input like they were in 2018?” she asked. She contended that the newest school board members, Sterling Daniel and Kelly Evko, were pressured to vote for the changes by superintendent Michael Gill and the NAACP. “Why would Sterling Daniel, the newest school board member, be allowed to lead the charge on such an important issue over see SUPERVISORS TO, pg. 3
Opposition voices prevalent at DEQ hearing By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local HANOVER — More than 40 speakers urged the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to deny the issuance of a Wetlands permit for a 217-acre site that recently was approved for a Wegmans’ Distribution Center. The Hanover County Board of Supervisors approved the project in May, but the project still requires a DEQ permit to proceed. Jaime Robb, permit manager for DEQ’s Piedmont Division, said the agency rarely denies applications although some require adjustments dur-
ing the process. “They rarely are denied,” she said in an answer to a question at the Monday, July 20, public hearing. DEQ scheduled the public hearing after receiving an avalanche of inquiries from concerned citizens who have questioned the process surrounding the application. Many contend the actual wetlands acreage is much larger that Wegmans contends. But, company officials said they relied on the expertise of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a process also endorsed by Robb. see DEQ, pg. 4
Creighton Road roundabout progresses By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
Melody Kinser /The Local
Flagmen were directing traffic as vehicles make their way through the new roundabout.
MECHANICSVILLE – The Creighton Road/Cold Harbor Road roundabout (Routes 615 and 156, respectively) is operating with the assistance of flagmen through the new singlelane project. On Thursday, crews were watching as vehicles were alternating turns in the new addition. Construction costs are $3,859,998, and the contractor is J.L. Kent & Sons Inc. The engineer
is the Timmons Group. A combination of state and federal funds financed the project. What had been a signal intersection has been eliminated with the roundabout. Work got underway in September 2019, and was originally scheduled for completion in May. W.R. Hardman III, PE, is the project manager, wrhardman@hanovercounty.gov. For more information, contact the Hanover County Department of Public Works at 7516 County Complex Rd. in Hanover.