FESTIVALS
UNTOLD STORIES: ‘Growing up in Ashland/ Hanover Black and White Experiences’
Tomato Festival recruiting vendors
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Vol. 1 No. 34| Richmond Suburban News | February 24, 2016
Budget proposal reflects recovery Council approves strategic plan parks and libraries, back on the menu By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local HANOVER – The Hanover County Board of Supervisors got its first peek at the proposed 2017 budget last Wednesday. Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr., county administrator, presented a $427.7 million plan that includes funding for additional public safety positions, including five sheriff ’s office employees and an equal number of Fire/EMS positions. The additional full-time Fire/EMS positions allow the county to provide additional staffing at Black Creek and Rockville, stations experiencing staffing shortages due to a lack of volunteers. Harris’ budget also includes a 2% raise
Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
County administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. presented his proposed 2017 budget and five-year financial plan at last week’s meeting.
for county employees and provides $41.5 million over the next five years to meet the long-term capital needs for Hanover County Public Schools. “We’re glad to be able to fund a 2% raise. We wish our state partners had participated at the school level by making that a priority. The governor’s budget does not include any money for pay raises for education so the full 2% has fallen to the county — all local funds.” Harris also presented a five-year General Fund Financial Plan, an outlook that does not project tax increases to Hanover County citizens. Addressing the level real estate tax for see BUDGET pg. 2
Bill seeks memorial license plate for fallen runner By Meredith Rigsby News Editor RICHMOND — In a 99-0 vote, the Virginia House of Delegates passed HB 1312, sponsored by Del. Christopher K. Peace (R-Hanover), which seeks to create a special license plate in honor of a late Hanover County resident and mother of three who was struck and killed by a drunken driver while running along U.S. 54 in January 2014. Meg Menzies, wife of Ashland Police Department Sgt. Scott Menzies, was an avid member of the Richmond Roadrunners Club. Following the tragedy, county residents and members of the running community banded together and created “Meg’s Miles,”
a memorial run and social media effort aimed at raising awareness of drunk driving.
Submitted photo
This is a rendition of the proposed license plate to honor Meg Menzies.
The bill now moves to the Senate for a vote. However, according to state law, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
can only begin manufacturing and making available a new license plate if it receives General Assembly approval and if 450 plates are pre-sold. At this point, “the numbers are very close” but more people still need to purchase the special license plate in order for the plan to move forward, Ryan Hudson, organizer of the initiative, said. If the bill is ultimately approved and the plates made, the DMV provides a profit sharing program that eventually will allow the proceeds from the sale of the plates to go toward a charity that will offer a scholarship in Menzies’ honor to students at Atlee and Hanover high schools, Hudson said. “Meg was really known all over in the see LICENSE, pg. 3
By Meredith Rigsby News Editor
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SHLAND — Ashland Town Council unanimously approved adoption of the town’s strategic plan during the regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The strategic plan, presented by Dallin Kimble, clerk of council, “expresses the community’s vision and the values, goals and objectives that are desirable for the community and town staff to strive toward.” Town staff has been working on developing the strategic plan since 2014, KIMBLE when an independent firm conducted a community survey from a randomly chosen representative sample of more than 300 residents. Since the survey was conducted, council members and town staff have facilitated a strategic planning retreat, have presented a draft of the strategic plan’s core statements during a public work session, have updated the plan’s core statements, and have presented a final draft of the strategic plan to town council for public review. The strategic plan narrows down a vision for the town, focus areas, objectives, initiatives, key indicators, the town’s mission and values. The strategic plan’s vision statement, says “Ashland is a beautiful, historical and diverse community uniquely known as the Center of the Universe. Exceptional people and organizations gravitate to Ashland for our great neighborhoods, the thriving economy that meet their needs, excellent community amenities, and vibrant cultural activities.” Focus areas include a strong and diverse economy; community and neighborhood livability; a safe community; a responsive and responsible government and cultural vitality. Guiding values set out by the strategic plan include sustainability, community, integrity, equity and excellence. “We look forward to working with you guys (town counsee COUNCIL, pg. 2