by Neil Richard
The Board of Supervisors held their third work session to discuss the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Based on their last two meetings where the Supervisors had asked for more information, they were able to better pin down their priorities and funding levels. However, nothing is set in stone just yet.
Jim Lynch spoke briefly during Public Comment to let the Board know he was there as a representative of the Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) and that he had submitted comments to Dr. Young earlier in the day about the upcoming Trailways Study discussion. Lynch also offered to answer any questions the Board may have. [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Treasurer of the Friends of DRHT.]
With a little shuffling, the Board first heard from Nick Minor, the County's new Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Minor gave the Board a quick rundown of the often mentioned gas line fund. The fund was originally created to pay for the expansion of a gas line from Spotsylvania or Stafford into the Industrial Park in King George. Located near the landfill and Birchwood Power Facility, the general idea is the gas line would be an additional utility that would attract more manufacturing and industrial development in the area. Minor said the "name of the game is business ready sites."
One of the main hurdles behind the project, aside from the ever growing cost, is that Stafford could benefit from the gas line without paying for it. Ruby Brabo said that Stafford has twice before refused to participate in a partnership with King George but, with new members on both Boards, may have changed their minds. Minor's recommendation at the end of his presentation was to look at paying for the potential project with grant funds and to partner with Stafford in a Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA). Minor was also hesitant to remove all of the money from the gas line project fund as it would mean less money for any improvement in the industrial park.
In the end, the Supervisors voted to reduce the existing fund of about $2.6 million down to $1 million and to use the amount withdrawn for other capital projects. Although the Supervisors don't always agree on everything, they generally vote unanimously for or against things like this. This was a rare occasion where there was opposition to the plan with Richard Granger and Cathy Binder voting against the idea because they were in favor of leaving more money, $1.5 million, in the gas line fund. Despite the opposition, there was no apparent heartburn over the end result.
Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, once again reviewed the rough math behind how the CIP would be funded before moving on to the Trailways Feasibility Study discussion. The Study, created by the Berkley Group in 2018, encompasses the idea of providing multi-modal transportation, namely bike and pedestrian, throughout the County. Although the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) is mentioned several times in the study, it was not the only bike and pedestrian path planned. The estimated cost for Phase I is $36 million and Phase II is $88 million. The large price tag is part of the reason behind the Supervisors push to break it down into smaller, bite-sized, and more affordable projects.
With this idea in mind, John Jenkins said he wanted to advocate for improved safety in Dahlgren around Owens Drive. He said many people walk or ride bikes around Walmart, Sheetz, and Monmouth Woods Apartments. Jenkins said he did some rough math and thought that Project #75 in the Study was a great place to start. He felt that a bike and pedestrian path on just one side of the road for only a short distance was much easier to stomach financially. He also said that funding a project like that sooner would help in the next round of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Smart Scale applications.
After some discussion about how to reduce the cost of the project, like using gravel or stone dust instead of paving it, the Supervisors had their second vote that ended with Granger and Binder disagreeing with the majority. Jeff Bueche, Jenkins, and Brabo voted to add $150,000 per year to the CIP, beginning with this year, to fund the project. Granger and Binder wanted to wait a year before funding the project.
With that, the Board adjourned until October 3rd, when they planned to discuss the options available for a solution to the Courthouse situation.
The Board of Supervisors held their third work session to discuss the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Based on their last two meetings where the Supervisors had asked for more information, they were able to better pin down their priorities and funding levels. However, nothing is set in stone just yet.
Jim Lynch spoke briefly during Public Comment to let the Board know he was there as a representative of the Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) and that he had submitted comments to Dr. Young earlier in the day about the upcoming Trailways Study discussion. Lynch also offered to answer any questions the Board may have. [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Treasurer of the Friends of DRHT.]
With a little shuffling, the Board first heard from Nick Minor, the County's new Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Minor gave the Board a quick rundown of the often mentioned gas line fund. The fund was originally created to pay for the expansion of a gas line from Spotsylvania or Stafford into the Industrial Park in King George. Located near the landfill and Birchwood Power Facility, the general idea is the gas line would be an additional utility that would attract more manufacturing and industrial development in the area. Minor said the "name of the game is business ready sites."
One of the main hurdles behind the project, aside from the ever growing cost, is that Stafford could benefit from the gas line without paying for it. Ruby Brabo said that Stafford has twice before refused to participate in a partnership with King George but, with new members on both Boards, may have changed their minds. Minor's recommendation at the end of his presentation was to look at paying for the potential project with grant funds and to partner with Stafford in a Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA). Minor was also hesitant to remove all of the money from the gas line project fund as it would mean less money for any improvement in the industrial park.
In the end, the Supervisors voted to reduce the existing fund of about $2.6 million down to $1 million and to use the amount withdrawn for other capital projects. Although the Supervisors don't always agree on everything, they generally vote unanimously for or against things like this. This was a rare occasion where there was opposition to the plan with Richard Granger and Cathy Binder voting against the idea because they were in favor of leaving more money, $1.5 million, in the gas line fund. Despite the opposition, there was no apparent heartburn over the end result.
Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, once again reviewed the rough math behind how the CIP would be funded before moving on to the Trailways Feasibility Study discussion. The Study, created by the Berkley Group in 2018, encompasses the idea of providing multi-modal transportation, namely bike and pedestrian, throughout the County. Although the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) is mentioned several times in the study, it was not the only bike and pedestrian path planned. The estimated cost for Phase I is $36 million and Phase II is $88 million. The large price tag is part of the reason behind the Supervisors push to break it down into smaller, bite-sized, and more affordable projects.
With this idea in mind, John Jenkins said he wanted to advocate for improved safety in Dahlgren around Owens Drive. He said many people walk or ride bikes around Walmart, Sheetz, and Monmouth Woods Apartments. Jenkins said he did some rough math and thought that Project #75 in the Study was a great place to start. He felt that a bike and pedestrian path on just one side of the road for only a short distance was much easier to stomach financially. He also said that funding a project like that sooner would help in the next round of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Smart Scale applications.
 |
| Trailways Feasibility Study, Phase I for the Dahlgren area. |
After some discussion about how to reduce the cost of the project, like using gravel or stone dust instead of paving it, the Supervisors had their second vote that ended with Granger and Binder disagreeing with the majority. Jeff Bueche, Jenkins, and Brabo voted to add $150,000 per year to the CIP, beginning with this year, to fund the project. Granger and Binder wanted to wait a year before funding the project.
With that, the Board adjourned until October 3rd, when they planned to discuss the options available for a solution to the Courthouse situation.
SUBSCRIBE OR DONATE
You can subscribe via email here. You can make a charitable donation here.
No comments:
Post a Comment