Inside A5 State Parks Youth Conservation Corps is recruiting
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 Fitzsimmons now a leader on the wrestling mat
Vol. XXXIV No. o. 31
February 3, 2021
Supervisors start looking at 10-year CIP draft By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week took its first steps into a planning process that will help guide how the county government intends to expand and improve its resources for the next decade. During the board’s meeting on Monday, Jan. 25, county administrator Ned Smither began to deliver on one of the key reasons he was hired by showing the board members the first draft of a possible 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The 10-year plan will be designed to give a more realistic outlook of the county’s capital project spending plans for the next decade, including identifying how
the county intends to pay for various projects, which year they might occur, and how they impact the county’s debt capacity. This process is a contrast from the usual five-year CIP process of recent years, which often put the focus on the immediate upcoming years and categorized projects that are on the horizon but not a high priority under the catchall of “future years.” The first draft that Smither presented on Jan. 25 listed 58 projects that, when added together, would cost $69.1 million over the next 10 years. Some projects are specific to a certain fiscal year (FY), while others are spread out over multiple or even all 10 years. Smither stressed that this was the first presentation of projects identified by staff as priorities for the next 10 years, but it
will likely go through many changes in the coming months as they hear from the public and as the board evaluates the value of the different projects, how they will serve the county and its citizens, and their fiscal impact. The presentation also did not delve into specifics about the revenues needed to fund the projects, which will come in a future meeting. Smither took comments from the supervisors throughout the presentation to gauge how they feel about the different projects. In some cases, there was already pushback from the supervisors over the need or demand for certain projects or questioning the cost. Bill Cox, who represents District 4, pointed out that although $69.1 million is a huge number for the next 10 years, taking a hard look at the county’s needs and doing long-term planning on how to meet
Bernie gets his way as PCPS classes canceled for snow day
those needs is an effort to be conservative about spending in the long run. “I am anxious about the size of the numbers but really excited about the process because I think it gives us a better idea of how to properly plan for the county and really, quite frankly, to get much more involvement from the citizens, should they desire,” Cox said, adding the information is to invite citizen comment, not exclude it. David Williams, District 1, who has been a huge proponent of the 10-year CIP, praised the initial draft and staff’s work on it. He agreed $69.1 million is a huge figure, but pointed out that previous CIPs were just as large if you included the nebulous future years projects. “I am very comfortable with what we are doing tonight. I am excited about it.
Board discusses filling vacant District 2 seat By Laura McFarland Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF POCAHONTAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Amy Tucker, instructional assistant, brought some levity to the students and staff at Pocahontas Elementary School last week. She created a bulletin board in the gym after hours to give everyone a laugh. Taking an opportunity to ride the wave of Bernie Sanders and his oversized mittens, Tucker was hopeful the kids wouldn’t have another snow drought this winter. They got their wish when snow on Sunday led PCPS to cancel classes Monday. See snow photos page 3A.
Capital Small Business Development Center relaunches to fill a void By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – The Capital Region Small Business Development Center was recently formed to fill a void left vacant in the last few years and give area Ryann Lofchie Leah Fremouw businesses, including those in Powhatan County, a place to turn to for advice and resources. Launched on Nov. 30, 2020, the new small business development center (SBDC) is aimed at acting as an asset available to entrepreneurs, startups, and established small businesses. The main goal of the SBDC moving forward will be to act as somewhere small businesses can turn to for resources, whether it be guidance with marketing and financing, employee issues, or business planning, said Ryann Lofchie, director of the new orgasee BUSINESS, pg. 8
see CIP, pg. 4
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors is seeking District 2 residents who would be interested in applying to fill the supervisor seat left vacant by the resignation of Larry Nordvig effective Jan. 31. The remaining four board members discussed their steps forward at their meeting on Monday, Jan. 25 and made a few decisions surrounding the filling of his seat. Nordvig did not attend the meeting. The board voted unanimously to file a petition with the circuit court to hold a special election to fill the District 2 seat on Nov. 2 during the General Election. They did this instead of trying to hold a separate special election earlier in the year. The winning candidate will serve the remainder of Nordvig’s four-year term. The board arrived at this decision after director of elections Karen Alexander explained their options. Since the special election could not be combined with a primary election in June, they could have a special election as early as April 13. But the supervisors agreed that does not give interested candidates much time to get their paperwork together and gather their signatures since they would have to qualify by Feb. 12. After the primary, the
board could ask for a special election for any time, but Alexander said the next logical date would be the General Election and the board agreed. For that election, candidates need to qualify by Aug. 13, Alexander said. In the meantime, the supervisors decided to appoint an interim board member from District 2 who can fill the seat until the special election is held. Per state code, the board has until March 17 (45 days after Nordvig’s effective resignation date) to appoint an interim. If the supervisors cannot decide on an interim supervisor within that 45-day period, a Powhatan County Circuit Court judge has the right to appoint one. Because of the tight window in which to make a decision, the board decided that any interested applicants wanting to be considered for the appointment should submit the requested information to the board of supervisors in a written response by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12. The board is requesting some or all of the following information: name and address (applicant must live in District 2); qualifications to be considered for appointment (resume, cover letter, etc.); civic involvement, and indication of their preference to serve on an interim basis only until special election or their interest in see VACANT, pg. 5
Sandra Kemp writes book celebrating local black history By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Sandra Rose Morris Kemp’s first book, “The Journey for Justice,” is at once an incredibly personal story and one of wider cultural significance. In her nonfiction book, the Powhatan native expands on the knowledge of African American history, especially
Powhatan history, while also delving into the story of her own family members. The book is a labor of love for Kemp, 74, who said she started collecting information about 50 years ago on African Americans in and from Powhatan County. “I wanted to share that. I didn’t want to just have this research and have it in my little see KEMP, pg. 8
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Powhatan native Sandra Rose Morris Kemp released ‘The Journey for Justice’ in 2020. The book highlights her family history against the backdrop of the wider African-American experience in Powhatan County and in the United States.