2020-03-03 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

The Board of Supervisors began their meeting at 6:30pm.

There was an amendment to the Agenda to add a Closed Session.

Mike Maldonado was the only speaker during Public Comment. He wanted to tell the Board about two things. First, he attended the Father and Daughter Princess Ball with his daughter. He said the dance, hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, was fantastic. Second, his daughter attends Potomac Elementary School and she asked him who the Mayor of King George was. He thought this meeting was the perfect place to ask.

In breaking from the usual process of being a one-way comment period, Cathy Binder addressed Maldonado's daughter who was in the audience. Binder said there were five people up here and four represent a specific voting district and one represents the whole County. She added that there's no one person that's the head but that every year they elect a Chairperson. Binder said she would love to come to Potomac and talk to the kids there and asked the young Maxie Maldonado what grade she was in. The young lady said "my grade is Kindergarten" and her teacher was Mrs. Brinkman. Binder said her daughter goes to Potomac too but she had Mrs. Shaw for Kindergarten.

Q&A With Nick Minor

by Neil Richard

I had the chance to sit down with Nick Minor to ask him a few questions related to economic development and tourism. What I expected to be a brief interview turned into a 90 minute discussion! Here are the questions I had along with some from your neighbors.

Question: What is your role within the County government?
Answer: I'm the Director of Economic Development and Tourism. I promote the County in the best possible way I know how and involve the appropriate stakeholders like the Board of Supervisors, Economic Development Authority, etc. I plan and direct the County so it's prepared for future growth but also for potential setbacks in the economy. King George is heavily dependent on the government with the base in Dahlgren so a hit to them will be hard on all of us. If we can diversify the County so it's a mix of residential, retail, industry and more. Also a mix between government and non-government.

OPINION - Urgent Care Project Dies On Operating Table

by Neil Richard

The King George County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission met on October 8, 2019 for what would be one of the most painful meetings I've attended over the past two years of following local government. Many would find it painful to sit through a five hour meeting and earn nothing but time away from your family. I don't have a brain tumor but I do enjoy going to these meetings because I get to learn about what's happening where I live and I get to meet new people and hear their story. I found this particular meeting painful because the joy was quickly sucked out on so many levels. In the spirit of being honest, I'll risk burning a few bridges to bring you what I felt about the meeting in as objective a manner as possible.

When my day began, my wife asked me when I was leaving for the meeting. I knew it would be busy night but thought that getting there an hour early was a little too crazy. Turns out, getting there an hour early was perfect. The doors were closed and nobody was allowed in until until 6:30pm. At least until Supervisor Jeff Bueche walked past and told everyone to come in regardless of what we were told previously. The extra ten minutes didn't make a huge difference but it ensured first choice of seats.