Strong emotions were evident on both sides as about 300 showed up for last week’s public hearing on Benedictine’s Conditional Use Permit application.

The same arguments were restated for and against approval and when it was all over, three supervisors voted to grant the permit. Earlier in the day District 5 Supervisor Jim Eads argued once again that the vote should have been delayed until next year when four new supervisors will be sworn in but again he found no support.

What seemed to turn the tide Tuesday evening was the condition in the CUP that would require the school to not increase enrollment once water use reached 90 percent of the 10,000 gallons a day provided to the school.

No doubt there will be some inconvenience caused by changes in traffic near the school.

But if Benedictine follows the requirements set out by the CUP (which it must) the move to Goochland should be a net plus for the county.

Decades down the road folks will likely be talking about how proud they are to have graduated from that great Catholic School in Goochland County, Benedictine, just as others now praise the school for its program at its Richmond location.

No recount after all

Last week we praised Chief Judge John Berry for ordering a recount in the District 4 Supervisor’s election, being of the opinion that in a race so close (6 votes out of almost 1,700 cast) that it might be a good thing to make absolutely sure of the vote count.

It appears that won’t happen now, after the full three-judge panel met last Thursday and determined that a recount could not be conducted because the requirements of the law had not been met. Incumbent Rudy Butler had filed in time but not served notice on Bob Minnick as required. Minnick’s attorney Brad Marrs made essentially the same argument he had used a week earlier before Berry but this time he prevailed.

Most likely a recount would not have changed the outcome of the election but it would have been nice to have had one. Perhaps Virginia should consider an automatic recount law in sufficiently close elections.

Letters

We figured the numbers of letters would decline after the election. And they have.

A great change has taken place in the county and folks are likely just catching their breath and letting it all soak in.

But we trust readers will still want to let others know what’s on their minds.

After all, the names on the boards may have changed but the issues and problems are still there to be dealt with. Money will still be tight.

So please let us know your thoughts as we approach the New Year.