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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of name of Alan Stokes
Vol. XXVIII No. 10
March 11, 2015
$54.4 million budget presented to BOS By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors got its first look at the county’s fiscal year 2016 budget during its meeting on Monday, March 2. County administrator Pat Weiler presented highlights from the proposed $54.4 million budget, which will be explored in more detail in budget workshops in the coming months. During her presentation, Weiler emphasized that the budget was strongly influenced by the Vision 2030 plan created by the board in 2014. PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND The ones she specifically adCounty administrator Pat Weiler presented a dressed were performance-based 2016 budget proposal of $54.4 million last week budgeting, restructuring the fire to the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors. and rescue department, addressing
the needs of the population to “age opted a vision in July and we have healthfully,” promoting workforce tied the budget to your priorities,” she said. The overall county budget of $54,388,140 represents an almost “The budget priorities $2.5 million, or 5 percent, increase from fiscal year 2015, Weiler said. come directly from your Included in the budget is a provision. You adopted a posed transfer to Powhatan County vision in July and we Public Schools of $21,749,902. have tied the budget to This represents an $839,340 increase over fiscal year 2015. She your priorities.” pointed out the school system had not submitted a budget to her at Pat Weiler that time. County administrator Also included in the $21.7 million is a transfer of $260,000 to the school’s Supplemental Retirement Program, Weiler said. This is exdevelopment and making capital pected to be the last payment the county has to put in the fund. improvements. “The budget priorities come directly from your vision. You adsee BUDGET page 3A
Economic development process for future starts By Laura McFarland
The extensive process will involve interviews with community leaders, business owners and resiPOWHATAN – In dents as well as other Powhatan County’s bid forms of gathering data to to look to the future, it get a complete picture of first plans to evaluate the county as it is now what it has and what diand what its capabilities rection its residents want are, he said. “The economic development plan helps us de~ IF YOU GO ~ termine what niches we could fill in the market Real estate/developers: and then what we can 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. March 12 physically support. It proHuguenot Public Safety Building vides us a path to move forward with recruitment Agribusiness: and retention of those 7 p.m. March 12 businesses,” Altman said. Village Building Spectrum signed a Open community meeting: contract with the county 7 p.m. March 19 on Feb. 19 for $45,000 to pay for a team of people Powhatan High School to work on the project, 7 p.m. March 24 which will take several Village Building months. Dominion Power has awarded Powhatan a grant for $25,000 to be to go in with an upcom- man, deputy county used for the economic deing economic develop- administrator, said. see FUTURE page 2A News Editor
ment plan. The county has hired Spectrum Growth Solutions to complete an economic development plan in the coming months to help guide Powhatan toward the future its residents want, March Alt-
News Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan resident Carl R. Loser recently announced that he will seek election to the 10th Senate District, which encompasses all of Powhatan County and parts of Chesterfield County and the City of Richmond. According to Loser, he was nominated by the Libertarian Party to campaign for the seat to help create new economic opportunity for all. He said he plans to eliminate laws that are unnecessary, immoral or unjust as well as any laws
that stunt the growth of Virginia’s economy. “I am running to set an example for all Virginians. It is time for government transparency, responsibility and accountability,” Loser said. “Hold me accountable as I plan to hold my future colleagues accountable. Lastly, I will limit government for the exchange of liberty for all Virginians. I want to earn your vote.” Loser said he is working to bring communities together by putting politics aside, getting his hands dirty and doing what is best for the community. He said his poli-
Chamber honors Cox with excellence award By Laura McFarland News Editor
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Carl Loser announces bid for 10th District seat By Laura McFarland
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
As the winner of the Powhatan Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Kathy Budner Award of Excellence, India Cox could donate $1,000 to the charity or nonprofit of her choice. She chose the War Memorial Cultural Arts and Community Center. On hand for the check presentation were Budner, left, Bill Kornegay, Cox, Susan Ash, Karen Ylimaki, Jim Midkiff and Jimmy Willis.
CARL LOSER
cies will provide more power for individuals to control their actions. Loser said only the individual knows what is best for oneself. He said he admires Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.’s opinion that “the right to swing
OWHATAN – When India Cox first realized she was being named the recipient of the Powhatan Chamber of Commerce’s Kathy Budner Award of Excellence, she said she was in shock. During the chamber’s January social, she said she didn’t at first understand that she was the recipient of the annual award being talked about in a speech read by Susan Ash, a member of the committee that chose her. When the shock began to wear off, Cox, of Powhatan, said she was simultaneously overwhelmed, humbled and honored to be
picked for an award named in recognition of the chamber’s first executive director. “I think Kathy is one of the most amazing people in the county and to be associated with her is an honor,” Cox said. For her part, Budner said she was just as pleased to have Cox receive the honor. Cox was the sixth recipient Budner has watched receive the award named in her honor, and it is still a source of both embarrassment for the recognition and feeling honored for the same reason. The award was created after Budner retired as the executive director in 2008. She had served in the post since 1992, when she
started running it out of her home for several years while it grew. “It meant so much to me because the chamber meant so much to me for so long. It was my whole life for 16 years,” she said. Previous award recipients were Larry Lyons, 2010; Dan Jones, 2011; Ruth Boatwright, 2012; Kathy Grasty, 2013, and Susan Ash, 2014. They were included in the committee that selected this year’s winner, Ash said. The names of several owners or employees of chamber members were submitted and debated based on their work ethic, community service, overall ability to take responsibility see COX page 2A
see LOSER page 3A
Inside
Sports
A4 Comcast closing local office.
B1 Powhatan winter sports wraps up another successful season.
Index
Calendar A2 Classified B6-7 Crime Report A2 Letters A6 Obituaries A7 Opinion A6 TV Listings B4-5