Inside
Powhatan, Virginia
A8 Company 4 training focuses on patient rescue B1 Boys soccer team remains undefeated
Vol. XXXV No.. 42
April 20, 2022
Board officially extends tax deadline to June 15 By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors has officially extended the deadline for the first half of the calendar year 2022 taxes until June 15. The decision, which the board had discussed before but needed to solidify in a formal resolution, passed 3-2 in favor during a board workshop held April 11. Chair Mike Byerly, who represents District 3; Steve McClung, District 2, and Karin Carmack, District 5, voted in favor of extending the deadline. David Williams, District 1, and Bill Cox, District 4, voted against. The discussion that preceded the split vote initially was focused less on the extension and more on the reason the board had previously decided it was necessary. When a miscalculation by county staff of what should be the fiscal year (FY) 2023 equalized real estate tax rate was recently brought to light, the board recognized that a formal public hearing would be necessary. That public hearing has been set for the board’s
May 2 meeting. The change came when it was brought to the county’s attention by the Virginia Department of Taxation that the county’s equalized tax rate is lower than the 79-cent rate the county had been projecting and McClung, Byerly and Carmack had been supporting. At 79 cents, the board would be holding to a plan stated in 2021 to keep a stable tax rate instead of fluctuating each year. However, because of a 10.4% increase in the county’s total assessed value of real property, the equalized tax rate– the tax rate that would levy the same amount of real estate as last tax year when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate – is actually 75 cents. That means a 79-cent rate, if adopted, would actually represent a 4-cent tax increase. As soon as the topic was raised in the April 11 workshop, Cox went on the offensive, calling the staff’s miscalculation “a major screw up” in terms of meeting its duty to calculate the tax rate and bringing up a complaint he has had for several weeks that the budget
timeline is too compressed. Cox also took issue with the way the county had advertised the public hearing, in particular saying wording that lists the proposed tax rate at 79 cents had not officially been voted on by the board. County administrator Ned Smither said the county’s language in the advertisement, which will run in three issues of the Powhatan Today before the May 2 public hearing, was taken “straight out of state code.” County attorney Tom Lacheney agreed with the reasoning for the language. Smither also argued it shows transparency by saying that rate would be a tax increase. Williams said the deadline ahead is really tight, especially given new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software the treasurer’s office is using that has not been operating as effectively and as on schedule as the county wanted. Williams argued the budget process should begin earlier. see EXTEND, pg. 6
Woodel competes at national level By Laura McFarland Brady Woodel brazes copper pipes while competing in the 2022 National Craft Championships.
Managing Editor
IMAGES COURTESY OF POWHATAN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A new interactive county webpage highlights 20 historical sites in Powhatan. The page can be accessed by the QR code below.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS
said he definitely felt like he was in shock after he heard his name, and walking up on the stage in front of a room full of craftsmen from across the country to accept his medal felt like it went by so fast. “I was so excited to be
able to take that back home and show and tell the story about my time there competing. I was just astounded by being able to come home with that and just hearing my name,” he said, a little awe still in his voice as he recalled the experience.
“It was almost like my heart skipped a beat when they said my name on that stage in front of all of those people and I was able to step forward and be given my medal. It is something I will never forget – that feeling I see WOODEL, pg. 5
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – When Powhatan native Brady Woodel heard his name called as a silver medal winner in the 2022 National Craft Championships, the moments that followed are still a bit of a blur. The 22-year-old placed second in the HVAC category of the 33rd annual competition, which was held in San Antonio, Texas, this year. The competition, which is sponsored by the Associated Builders and Contractors, showcases the skills and expertise of more than 175 of the nation’s top-performing craft professionals from different fields. For Woodel, who is a third-year apprentice, he
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Class of 2035
REGISTRATION
PHOTO COURTESY OF POWHATAN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Reagan McIntosh and her dad, Marshall, join the Kindergarten Round Up at Flat Rock Elementary School. See more photos Page 6A.
New website focuses on local historic places By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Economic Development Department is continuing its efforts to make the county an attractive place for tourists to visit with a new online story map focused on the county’s historical sites. The story map, called “Twenty Historic Sites in Powhatan, Virginia,” features an interactive map with information about 20 locations residents and visitors alike can visit to learn more about Powhatan, said Roxanne Salerno, economic development manager. The site, located at https://bit. ly/20HistoricSitesinPowhatanVA went live last week. The new story map is the latest in a series of inhouse efforts by Salerno and economic development assistant Carla Neidigh to create online avenues to explore Powhatan’s tourism possibilities. “My goal for this was to attract regional visitors to Powhatan, to see the historic sites but at the same time they could connect to our local businesses and create revenue with a minimum impact to residents,” Neidigh said. The new story map was inspired by an existing paper three-hour drive tourism map the county has been using for years, Neidigh said. Showcasing the route in a digital format not only allows people to see HISTORIC, pg. 3
4th
Sat. April 23rd 4pm-10pm Rain or Shine Free Admission For Kids 12 & Under a la carte Available To Purchase Bring lawn chairs
Tickets can be purchased at Powhatan Moose Family Center, New Horizon Bank, and Barham Seafood No coolers allowed