Inside B2 Powhatan wins four conference wrestling titles
Powhatan, Virginia
B6 Solar energy farm gets go ahead from board
Vol. XXIX No. 6
February 10, 2016
Board passes resolution over objections By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – Despite continued resistance by Powhatan County’s constitutional officers, the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors decided in a split vote last week to adopt a resolution that extends the county’s personnel system to the officers’ employees but only if they sign memorandums of understanding agreeing to certain terms. All five of the county’s five constitutional officers told the supervisors in meetings held on Jan. 4 and 20 that they opposed signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and felt the issue had been dragged out and had become negative and divisive. At both of those meetings, the constitutional officers asked the supervisors to vote against the resolution calling for the MOUs, and two of them even said outright that no matter what the board decided they would not sign. But in the end, the board voted 4-1 in favor of adopting the resolution during its meeting on Monday, Feb. 1. David Williams, who represents District 1, was the only nay vote. Before the vote was taken, all five of them gave
their reasons for why they would support or vote against the resolution. Larry Nordvig, who represents District 2, spoke in great detail about his reasons for supporting the reso-
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Richard Cox, left, Powhatan County commonwealth’s attorney, and Teresa Hash Dobbins, clerk of the circuit court, both expressed disappointment in the board of supervisors for passing a resolution regarding agreements they would need to sign.
lution and the intentions of the board, and the three others who voted aye echoed many of his arguments. “This agreement is meant to guarantee the rights and benefits of constitutional officer employees in writing so as to eliminate any misunderstandings and to maximize administrative efficiency, fiscal stewardship and service to our citizens,” he said. “It is an effort to help this county to run better. That’s all. It is not meant to be used as a bargaining chip, to control their offices or subvert powers given you by the constitution.” The constitutional officers did not repeat their opposition to the resolution in the first public comment period, but three of them stayed to the end of the more than five-hour meeting to express disappointment in the board’s action. Richard Cox, commonwealth’s attorney, said he would have to think about whether he intends to sign an MOU or not. He said he was disappointed in the board’s action and that he needs time to think about signing because he “quite frankly did not anticipate this outcome.” “My position has not changed. I stand my ground in that I do not feel it is a necessary document in orsee BOARD page 2A
D R E S S E S B R I N G S M I L E S F RO M FA R AWAY By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – The little African girls stared at the dresses in wonder, not quite understanding what was happening. With most of them only owning two practical outfits – one to wear and one to wash – seeing a stack of brightly colored and decorated pillowcase dresses brought by the two visiting American ladies was not in their normal sphere of understanding, said Jeanette Brannan of Powhatan. Hearing they not only were receiving new clothes but had the right to choose which one they wanted was even more of a shock, she said. “Some of the little girls didn’t understand because they are not used to being given dresses. They didn’t even know how to put it on. So we had to show them how to put it on and how to tie the bows on the shoul-
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see DRESSES page 6A
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Little girls in Tanzania hold up pillowcase dresses made by women at Powhatan United Methodist Church.
New development approved for east Powhatan By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors opened the door for a new development in eastern Powhatan County that will create a new retail space, 22 single-family “golf villa” units and 200 apartments. During its meeting on Monday, Feb. 1, the board voted unanimously to conditionally rezone about 50 acres of land near the intersection of Route 711 and Winterfield Road from Commercial and ResidentialUtility to Village Center Planned Development District. The applicant, Riverton Associates, plans to create a mixed-use development near the eastern county line that consists of see APPROVED page 9A
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF RIVERTON ASSOCIATES
Above are plans for a mixed-use development with residential and commercial spaces included.
Planning commissioners sworn in for 2016 term The Powhatan County Planning Commission members are sworn in for their 2016 term, which runs from Feb. 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2020, by Circuit Court Judge Paul W. Cella on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Taking the oath were Owen Walker, from left, who represents District 2 and has served on the board since 1983; David Van Gelder, District 5, served since 2012; Jennifer Giovannitti, District 3, first term; Karin Carmack, District 1, served since 2007, and Bill Cox, District 4, served since 2012. PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND