Caroline Crossroads

By Portsia Smith

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County Admin's October message

Sep. 29, 2009 3:15 pm

Contact Information:
Percy Ashcraft, County Administrator             pashcraft@co.caroline.va.us                    (804) 633-5380

This message is the 10th in 2009 to better update our citizens and visitors to the website. The information serves as a status report for ongoing projects, and also serves as a preview to different happenings that are in the planning stages.

County government offices will be closed Monday, October 12 in observance of the Columbus Day holiday. Offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 13.

The Board of Supervisors will hold its regular meetings this month on Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, October 27 at 6 p.m. at the Community Services Center.

Bowling Green Supervisor Jeff Sili will hold a community meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 15 at the Sparta Volunteer Fire Department.

Absentee voting is underway this month for the November 3 General Election. Contact the County Registrar at (804) 633-9083 for election information.

The 2010 Census Committee will hold its first meeting at 6:15 p.m. Monday, October 26 at the Community Services Center.

The State Fair will continue through Sunday, October 4 at Meadow Events Park. Tickets are available for weekdays and weekends. The Celtic Festival will also be held at the Meadow Events Park October 24-25. Go to www.statefair.com for more information.

Trick-or-Treat activities throughout Caroline County will be held during the hours of 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 31. The Caroline County Agricultural Fair Fall Fun Festival will be held from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 31 with a program that includes contests, hayrides and tail gate trick-or-treating at the new County Fairgrounds off Route 1.

The Bowling Green Harvest Festival will be held Saturday, October 17 and the Frog Level Festival will be held Saturday, October 31. Both festivals have drawn huge crowds over the years.

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 22 at the State Corporation Commission to review the current financial condition of the Ladysmith Water Company and other issues. Caroline County is currently providing water to Lake Caroline customers.

Public meetings will be on October 22 and October 29 at the Dawn Community Center to discuss with residents Phase II of the Dawn Wastewater Project. Two meetings will be held each day; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Residents interested in signing up for Phase II should contact the Caroline Department of Public Utilities at (804) 633-4386.

County staff will present at the October 13 meeting of the Board of Supervisors long-range goals that have been identified as a result of meetings with individual supervisors.

Caroline County will continue its effort this month to promote the All-America Cities Award that was captured in June. The next meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 7 in the County Administrator’s Conference Room. All-America City signs will be posted throughout the County this month at strategic locations

All county residents are encouraged to register for the Caroline Alert System. The system will notify residents of emergencies and other government news through their cell phones and desktop computers. This is a free service offered by the Board of Supervisors. Click on www.CarolineAlert.com to register.

Here is a capsule glance of other activities that will be happening in County government during the month of October:

• The Parks and Recreation Department will conclude soccer and youth football games this month and continue to accept applications for youth basketball. Contact the office at (804) 633-7277 for information on these programs and other offerings.



• The Board of Supervisors will continue this month to discuss the update to the County’s Comprehensive Plan.



• County staff and consultants continue to work on a proposal that will allow the County to withdraw water from the Rappahannock River in the future. The Department of Environmental Quality must grant its approval before water can be withdrawn. An update will be given by County staff at the October 13 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.



• The Utility Department will continue this month to oversee the drilling of new wells to increase potential for new water quantity in the County.



• The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 13 on changes to the Fire-EMS ordinance that specifically codify the job responsibilities of the Fire-EMS Chief.



• County staff will be meeting with the Emergency Services Commission this month to discuss the ESC charter and its possible conflict with the duties and responsibilities of the Fire-EMS Chief.



• The Board of Supervisors will have under consideration at its October 13 meeting an agreement with the Public School Division regarding the use of the old Ladysmith Elementary School.



• A request to rezone property by the Flippo family for the purpose of a residential subdivision along Route 207 next to Belmont has been delayed indefinitely at the request of the property owner.



• The Board of Supervisors has delayed action indefinitely at the request of the owner a proposal to locate a mulch plant (Norfleet) in Caroline County.



• A franchise agreement with Metrocast will be on First Reading for consideration by the Board of Supervisors at its October 27 meeting.



• County Staff will continue to work with regional officials to expand the use of the Lloyd Boxley Cannery located along Route 301 south. The County is accepting applications for three part-time positions. County staff will be pursuing estimates to repair the building’s foundation.



• Kathy Beck of FRED Regional Transit will discuss possible route adjustments at the October 13 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.



• The Board of Supervisors will have under consideration at its October 13 meeting approval of a contract recommending Blue Ridge Appraisal to oversee the Real Property Reassessment in 2010.



• The Board of Supervisors at its October 13 meeting will have under consideration amendments to the Service Agreement for Peumansend Creek Regional Jail.



• A 2010 Census Forum will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 1 at Walker-Grant Middle School in Fredericksburg. I will be making a presentation on behalf of the County.



• The Youth Task Force will hold its next meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, October 29 at the Community Services Center. The panel will continue its work on the goals and objectives defined in the recent survey completed by youth stakeholders.

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Portsia Smith covers Caroline County government and schools.

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This is a news blog providing extra information, links and documents for the Caroline County community. It serves as supplemental coverage for The Free Lance-Star newspaper. Comments are welcome!