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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of N B. Goodwyn
Vol. XXVII No. 16
Supervisors lean against tax increase, decrease school total By Jodi Deal
April 16, 2014
County deeds War Memorial Building to community group By Jodi Deal Richmond Suburban News
Richmond Suburban News
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors has agreed to advertise a trimmed-down budget without a proposed increase in real estate tax for a rescheduled May 5 public hearing. Because their Wednesday, April 9, meeting was a workshop session, supervisors didn’t take an official vote on budget decisions, but had made their opinions known to chairman Carson Tucker, who represents District 5, before they arrived. The board’s proposed $45.6 million spending plan has a few changes from county administrator Pat Weiler’s original $45.7 proposed General Fund budget. Supervisors agreed — but not unanimously — to trim $180,908 from the local appropriation for schools, which Weiler had proposed be set at $21.09 million. That figure is equal to the price Dr. Eric Jones. Superintendent of Powhatan County Public Schools, had quoted for extending the contracts of school administrative staff by three weeks per year, to get their days of service and salaries more in line with other districts in the region. Jones told the supervisors that his
PHOTO BY JODI DEAL
Powhatan County Schools superintendent Eric Jones, center, appeared at a Board of Supervisors budget workshop on April 9 to answer questions on his budget proposal. Listening at the table are, clockwise from left, are county administrator Pat Weiler and supervisors Jason Moore, Barry Hodge and Billy Melton.
budget was drafted before the School director March Altman told the superviBoard had a clear picture of what county sors that schools are an important part revenues might be, and was based on of economic development. needs, not wants. see SUPERVISORS page 9A Weiler and community development
Supervisors drop Sunday hunting resolution By Jodi Deal Richmond Suburban News
W
hether the state has a law on the books allowing Sunday hunting, the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors has decided against weighing in on the matter. After months of comments by citizens on both sides of the issue, and, in the wake of Gov. Terry McAuliffe signing a hotly contested bill allowing Sunday hunting on private property into law last month, members of the Board of Supervisors on April 7 set aside a resolution stating their opposition to Sunday hunting. The board first considered the resolution in March, around the same time the bill was signed into law. The measure made it onto the supervisors’ agenda after several months of outcry by citizens concerned about the notion of hunting being allowed on Sundays.
PHOTO BY JODI DEAL
Randa Jackson, foreground, told members of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors that she was surprised to hear they were even considering a resolution opposing Sunday hunting at a meeting held on Monday, April 7. “I thought we were a Republican kind of county,” she said.
who support Sunday hunting and was opposed to Sunday hunting. He three who oppose it. also said he was only able to find two Citizens weigh in Robert Bishop said he had polled people who favored the notion among At their April 7 meeting, supervi- diners at a local McDonald’s and see HUNTING page 2A sors heard from more than 10 people found that every person he approached
After a year of deliberation, discussion and research, the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors agreed unanimously at an April 7 meeting to sell the county’s aging War Memorial Building to a volunteer group of citizens who hope to renovate the building to serve as a cultural arts and community center. The group, which calls itself War Memorial Cultural Arts and Community Center Inc., will buy the building for a ceremonial sum of $10. However, the building comes with strings attached. County administrator Pat Weiler explained that the sales agreement includes stipulations that require the group to carry out at least $150,000 in renovations and improvements to the building over the next five years, and provide annual reports on ongoing capital improvements, with receipts and accounting for all donations the group collects for its efforts. The group, which as incorporated with the State Corporation Commission but hasn’t obtained full 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service, is required to apply for and “diligently pursue” that status within 90 days, Weiler noted. The group also will be required to host at least 12 events in the facility per year, continue the county’s obligation under its 2009 deed for the property to continue providing a meeting space for Masonic Lodge No. 295 until at least July 1, 2020, when the previously set agreement expires. If those requirements aren’t met, if the organization ceases to exist or if the property is abandoned, it will revert back to county ownership, Weiler said. During a public hearing on the proposal to hand over the building, three community members spoke in favor of letting the group try to raise money to renovate the facility into a performance and arts space. According to staff reports given to the supervisors at meetings on the matter, the building has at least $150,000 in pressing renovation and repair needs, and costs the county $20,000 per year in operating costs to keep open to the public. The building’s assessed value is $416,900. “I think our community needs this cultural arts center,” Susan Nash, a cofounder of the Performing Arts Foundation of Powhatan, said. She urged supervisors to support the effort. “There is rarely a community that gets a cultural arts center without the support of its local government.” Joanne Fico, speaking on behalf of see MEMORIAL page 3A
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Sports
Index
B1 Powhatan High School senior David Prince is so much more than just a ballplayer.
Calendar Classified Crossword Horoscope
A11 B10 A11 A11
Obituaries Opinion Sports TV Listings
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