By Joe Ronan
The topic that will most influence the financial future of Fluvanna County has been discussed and evaluated by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. It is the subject of a public hearing before the Planning Commission that will be discussed, analyzed and considered by the BOS in coming meetings. The topic is the “Proposed Financial Sustainability Chapter for the Comprehensive Plan.”
Planning Director Darren Coffey and his staff have been working on the content of the proposal for several months and have completed a draft document that is available on the Fluvanna County website by clicking on “Planning Commission agenda for November 16.”
This draft has been in the works since the Comprehensive Plan was adopted on March 18. A memo on the subject outlines the history and timeline of the draft plan. At the March 18 BOS meeting, the Planning Commission was asked to review the proposed “Fiscal Framework” and report its findings and analysis to the BOS for a possible amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.
A draft of the plan was reviewed at a Planning Commission work session on September 9. The work session resulted in recommendations for sections of the draft to be rewritten in accordance with their recommendations. A new draft was completed on October 8 and distributed to the Planning Commission at their October 14 work session. The Planning Commission decided to schedule a public hearing on the amendment on November 16th. Notice of this hearing was published in the November 5- 11 issue of the Fluvanna Review.
One of the aims of the amendment being considered is to provide insight and transparency to the budget process and for residents to “receive information in time to evaluate it and to influence decision-making.”
Steve Scott, chairman of the Fluvanna County Economic Development Commission, provided the board with a wide ranging presentation on the Strategic Plan update. The presentation outlined the focus of the commission and the information it intended to provide to Fluvanna county citizens at various meetings throughout the county. The slide presentation provided a visual aid to demonstrate “why we need a comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.” The presentation was a visual of the dynamic that exists among economic development & growth, education, safety & security along with the connection with infrastructure and zoning.
In the “Course of Action” segment the plan considers the goals of protecting rural areas through economic development, diversifying and strengthening the county tax base and to developing a stronger regional presence.
The presentations of this update will include an agenda as follows:
Part I
About Economic Development in Fluvanna
The Vision
The Fluvanna Economic Development Framework- the strategic vision
Part II
A Walkthrough of the Goals and Strategies
Q&A
The current schedule for these “Road Show” events includes Lake Monticello Owners Association-November 18, Rotary-December 2, Fork Union Village Project- December 3, Fluvanna Leadership Development program-January 11, League of Women Voters- February 8, Fluvanna Taxpayers Association-TBA and Farm Bureau-TBA. Events have previously been held at the Chamber of Commerce, Ruritans and the Planning Commission.
Other News
The board unanimously approved advertisement for a Request for Proposal for planning and design services for guiding county staff on issues relating to utility needs as the county experiences growth in the future. The services will be provided on an “as needed” basis. The RFP is designed to allow for selection of the best possible technical advice.
A Public hearing has been scheduled relating to granting Central Virginia Electric an easement to accommodate relocating power lines to support the new high school construction project.
A proposal to authorize additional funding for the James River Water Authority was approved by a 5 to 1 vote. Supervisor Donald Weaver, Cunningham District, cast the nay vote. The funds that were approved for transfer were included in the most recent budget passed by the BOS. Louisa County had already approved their contribution. The money is to pay expenses of the authority pending the receipt of funds anticipated from borrowing. Part of the need for these funds is to pay ongoing legal fees.