Photo by Ken Odor
Gary DuVal, who worked for Richmond for 29 years, says of his new job as Goochland’s County Engineer, “We need to establish trust with the citizens so they feel they can call us.”

0 Comments Email Article Tweet This Share

“I learn something new everyday,” said new County Engineer Gary A. DuVal in an interview in his office last week. “It’s been a good time for me.”

On the job just two months, Duval came on board after a tumultuous period in Goochland County, which saw the firing last year of his predecessor Doug Harvey by former County Administrator Greg Wolfrey.

Wolfrey then resigned early under pressure.

Problems began to surface when almost $200,000 in undeposited checks was found in a safe in the county engineer’s office last year.

Goochland Common-wealth’s Attorney Claiborne Stokes, reporting in August on the results of a forensic audit of the utilities department ordered by the board of supervisors, attributed the department’s problems to bad management. No criminal activity was found.

Now DuVal, whose department was placed under the supervision of Director of Community Development Don Charles following the firing of Harvey, is gradually repairing the image of the department.

DuVal said he would continue reporting to Charles at least until December 1.

“Gary is everything we hoped he would be,” said Charles. “At some point in the future it is anticipated that utilities will be as it was before – a free-standing department.”

Asked if his job duties were different from his predecessor’s, DuVal responded that he had never seen Harvey’s job description.

“But I don’t see that as a problem,” he said.

DuVal worked for the city of Richmond in public utilities and public works for 29 years, including serving as Deputy Director of Public Works in Richmond from 2005 to 2008.
He retired in 2008.

Now he’s working closely with Charles and Dickson to sort things out in Goochland’s Public Utility Department.

DuVal praised the team effort and called Dickson “strong, fair and passionate about doing a good job.”

DuVal said he is gradually establishing new policies for the department, such as one that governs the use of portable meters rented by those who draw water from hydrants for business use.

This policy stemmed from the discovery of an individual who was drawing water without paying. The department set up an account for the business and rented the owner a portable meter.

Throughout the interview DuVal stressed that the department exists to serve the public.

“We’re here at utilities for the safety of the public,” he said.

With three different types of meters, compared to one standard type in Richmond, DuVal said his department is working on establishing procedures for reading meters. Some are automatic and can be read on a laptop computer just by driving by them. Others require visual reading.

DuVal said a considerable amount of digging around was done just to find some meters.

“We have them all in the system now,” he said.

Under DuVal a change in commercial wastewater billing, removing a discount intended only for residential customers, is proposed for next March.

“We found commercial customers were getting the same rate,” said DuVal, whereas the discount for residential was based on the assumption that some of the water coming in to residences was used for irrigation in the summer months and did not end up in the wastewater system.

DuVal is also involved in handling the ongoing complaints about water quality in Kinloch. At an October 15 meeting with residents he said he understood their concerns.

“We need to establish trust with the citizens so they feel they can call us,” he said, adding that he will go back to meet with Kinloch residents to address odor and taste problems.

As far as problems in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District are concerned, DuVal said he is familiar with them.  While he was working for Richmond,  DuVal worked on West Creek when Motorola was slated to build there.

“The challenge is to better TCSD water and wastewater service,” he said. “Communication is the key.”

DuVal said he favored expanding TCSD and bringing new customers into the district.

Despite the steep learning curve, DuVal said he is happy on the new job.

“It’s a challenge, but I really enjoy what I do.”

There are no comments for this entry