Goochland’s newly elected supervisors got a look at the county they will be working for last Thursday.

In a tour suggested by District 3 Supervisor Ned Creasey, they visited a number of county government sites, including convenience centers, the Sheriff’s Office, three park sites, Animal Control, the Fire Training Center and more.

“I went to Ms. Dickson to set up the tour,” said Creasey. “I thought the new board needed to see where the tax dollars were going.”

One place tax dollars are not currently going is to arm Sheriff’s deputies, said Maj. Don Bewkes, who showed the supervisors an impressive display of high-quality H&K weaponry and other equipment funded by drug forfeiture money. Even the deputies sidearms were paid for in this manner, said Bewkes.

But Creasey, contacted Friday, noting the obvious, said that funds from such forfeitures can’t be counted on as a reliable source of money for law enforcement equipment.

“My impression is that our public safety officials are professional, well trained, and are doing a great job but are being asked to do a lot given the resources at their disposal,” said incoming District 5 Supervisor Ken Peterson, who also praised the work of Parks and Recreation employees and those who work at the convenience centers.

District 3 Supervisor-elect Manuel Alvarez said he was concerned about the condition of the Old Middle School building.

“I think it will take a lot of work and some positive thinking to come up with the right uses for the building and to get it into inhabitable condition.  That said, it is a great space that should not be wasted.  I hope to work with the board, county employees and citizens to come up with some workable uses that will benefit the county and protect the building’s historical value,” said Alvarez.

He also noted the potential for recreation and athletic opportunities at the new Tucker and Leakes Mill park sites.

Bob Minnick, incoming District 4 Supervisor, said several Fire/EMS sites in the western portion of the county need attention.

“Several stations are marginal at best,” said Minnick. “Chief MacKay and Sheriff Agnew and their staffs have done a great job of planning for the future in an environment of constrained resources and now we need to do our part.”

Susan Lascolette, Supervisor-elect from District 1, said “limited funding has been stretched to achieve maximum benefits.” She said the board would work with providers of core services such as public safety and education to provide the best outcomes.

Creasey said the supervisors-elect had earlier visited the pump stations on Route 6 and Route 250 and will be visiting county schools in the near future.

The new Board of Supervisors was scheduled to meet Tuesday evening, Jan.3 for its organizational meeting.

Photo by Ken Odor
District 3 Supervisor Ned Creasey, right, who suggested the county tour, is greeted by Maj. Don Bewkes at the Sheriff’s Office last Thursday.