Fast tracking electronic signs?

For those who have been following the ongoing furor in Chesterfield County over the last two years involving electronic message signs, be prepared. The Goochland Board of Supervisors is planning to light up your life. Electronic changing message signs may be coming to a neighborhood near you very soon, in colors of amber or various shades of red or white.

In May, the BOS requested that the Planning Commission create an ordinance which would permit electronic message signs in Goochland in B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1, M-2, P-O-P, as well as for churches in A1 and A2 in agricultural zoning districts, even along rural roads and in the village overlay district. These signs remain lighted day and night, changing messages regularly. Some such signs are designed with a brightness level to be read from a distance of 500 yards if set to the maximum level. A subcommittee was formed by the Planning Commission to study the matter with regard to A1 and A2 districts with the final vote set for August.

It seems like the idea has taken off like a rocket and is on the fast track for final approval by our supervisors this summer.

Perhaps Goochland could look to Chesterfield and benefit from their experience. Newspaper archives describe Chesterfield’s struggle to satisfy sign companies, business and residential interest as an ongoing saga. Maybe somebody on the Board of Supervisors could call over to Chesterfield and ask how electronic messaging signs are working for them.

Maybe even Goochland’s former interim County Administrator, Layne Ramsey, a Chesterfield resident, could weigh in on the idea.

It is possible that the sign companies have the most to gain here.

Public reaction when the first signs light up and begin messaging along rural roads in Goochland is publicity our county does not need. It is discouraging that our leaders would even consider, much less propose such an ill conceived idea.

Patricia N. Hendy
Manakin-Sabot

Evaluating data

I found this issue of The Gazette very interesting from the perspective of the use of data and how well that data informs the reader.

In the piece by Ken Odor, “Goochland lures high- earners,” there are clear distinctions made between average and median incomes and clear, valid,  statistical distinctions made in helping the reader interpret the data so as to inform them as to what these numbers reflect.

When one compares the use of data in this article with the use of data in the letter by Mr. McDermott on the school superintendent’s salary, I am struck by several things.

One, it is great to include data for ‘like sized counties,’ at least as one comparator, but as a tax payer I want to know what measures are available to take that data and really inform the tax payers.

Standard of learning scores (SOL) are one measure of how effective the tax payers’ money is being spent, but what percentage of students graduate, what percentage go on to college?

These measures, coupled with the data Mr. McDermott calculates, would help us all in really getting to the question of the value of our tax dollars.

In the absence of transforming the data as to be really informative, his arguments are intriguing but truly lack an objective basis to judge the value of his concerns.

Richard Carchman 
Columbia

Maintaining our resources

Three cheers to R.J. Jones in his letter supporting Fire Camp and schools! 

What is indeed wrong with the county and our leaders?  What does Goochland value besides cutting taxes?  How does Goochland show how we value the people who live here?

When my family first moved to Goochland in 1992, my wife and I had heard horror stories about Goochland Public Schools, but we were pleased to find an excellent elementary school in Randolph Elementary. 

We had heard how well teachers were trained in Goochland, only to be hired away by higher salaries to neighboring counties because the salaries were so low.  Yet the quality of the teachers seemed high. 

We were pleased to find an elementary Gifted Center in Goochland to help meet the special educational needs of the brightest kids.  We learned that without support, even the best and brightest become bored and could even drop out of school.

We were shocked to find out that the Board of Supervisors, on a 3-2 vote, did not support basically a correction in the funding of the schools, public safety, the library, and even the recycling center.  We had already had a reduction in our real estate tax assessment, and now a simple adjustment of four cents to the rate would restore funding to a maintenance level.

To R.J. and the rest of the students of Goochland, I apologize for not making my voice heard on the day of the Supervisors’ vote. 

But to all my fellow citizens, it is not too late!  It only takes one vote to change the course for progress in Goochland.  I am sure Ned Creasey, Rudy Butler, and James Eads, fine fellows all, just need a little encouragement to change their votes.  Just one of them is all we need!

So send your letters in, or call them on the phone, or send them an email, and let your voices be heard.  Come to the next Board of Supervisor’s meeting and tell them how you feel.

It doesn’t have to be doom and gloom in Goochland.  You can make a difference. 

Support Creasey, Butler and Eads in changing their votes in support of our county.

Let your voices be heard!

Ron Reynolds
Maidens

Representation in the schools?

Last week’s Goochland County School Board’s Workshop meeting, unlike the previous month’s “heated” session, was as cool as an iceberg.  The meeting moved fairly briskly, with little substantial board comment or discussion.  All motions received the customary unanimous votes.

In a previous letter I mentioned noticing an interesting item on last week’s agenda, “Information will be presented regarding School Board meeting facilities.”  It was indeed interesting. 

Responding to public outcry regarding inaudible sound and lack of readable visual presentations, and keeping with their current transparency initiatives, our Board of Supervisors wrote our school board offering them use of other county facilities, containing improved ample seating, as well as overhead projectors and screens.  This is a “no brainer,” I thought to myself, even our School Board Einsteins can figure this out. 

How wrong I was!  After more discussion and debate than accompanied their momentous budget vote last month, it was decided to table, unanimously of course, this issue for further study. 

Our county administration has consistently offered our school system means of fiscal sobriety - shared auditors, health benefits, grounds maintenance and now meeting facilities. 

Underwood and the school board have resisted, in varying degrees, all of these consolidation efforts, which save taxpayers money.  I see a continued consistent pattern of unbridled arrogance.

Going back to the earlier mentioned iceberg cooling the room, after the meeting, I noticed the proverbial 80 percent hidden from (public) view. 

Reviewing the online annotated agenda I noticed a newly posted “Download Additional Handout” hyperlink that was not online earlier, or in the meeting’s “Public Agenda” hardcopy available for public review at the meeting. 

This “addition” contained the reassignments of Dianna Gordon from Principal of Goochland Elementary to Randolph and Stacey Austin, from Principal of Randolph to Goochland.  The board had this information and voted on it, yet the public had no idea of this until after fact, and only if one were astute enough to notice this “internet sleight of hand.”  I cannot find to whom to attribute this applicable quote, “secrets grow in the dark and die in the light of exposure.”

As we approach the fourth of July, celebrating our great nation’s independence from the British tyrants, of that time, we need look no further than our Goochland County School’s Administration Building containing King Underwood’s throne amidst the “facts be submitted to a candid world.”  

Patriot Patrick Henry, in responding to “taxation without representation” cried, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”  As a taxpayer, I expect and demand representation from all of our elected officials, in this case, our school board! 

Have they studied history, do they not remember what happened to the British rulers who refused to listen 234 years ago?

Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address stated, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”  As a proud patriotic American, truer words have never been spoken.

Respectfully Submitted,

Michael M. McDermott
Maidens