HISTORY
EDITORIAL
Tavern to host Tea to Celebrate Victory of Votes for Women
Be proud of your kids who were ready to go to next life chapter
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Vol. 5 No. 52 | Richmond Suburban News | September 2, 2020
Voter registrar clarifies absentee applications being distributed Staff Report news@mechlocal.com HANOVER – Hanover County’s Director of Elections/ General Registrar Teresa F. “Teri” Smithson is clarifying absentee applications being distributed by persons not affiliated with her office. In addressing Hanover County voters, she said, “You may have or will be getting an absentee SMITHSON application from both political parties as well as non-profits such as the
Council approves Stormwater Citizens sound off on school name changes Quality Fee ordinance fees Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com ASHLAND -- Stormwater quality is important for the health of Virginia’s streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. For many years, the state has required stormwater management to be implemented when constructing new commercial and large residential development projects. Stormwater management has not been required for residential construction projects that are not part of a larger development. However, with increasing density and increasing requirements to improve stormwater runoff, the Town of Ashland incorporated an ordinance change that will begin requiring stormwater management for all new construction that results in increased impervious area. As an alternative to implementing stormwater management devices or facilities, the builder or homeowner may pay a fee to the Town of Ashland. All fees collected by the town will help pay for larger stormwater management projects
see VOTING, pg. 7
New Atlee Library Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held Saturday morning at the new location of the Atlee Branch Library, which is part of the Pamunkey Regional Library. Grand Opening was at 9:30 a.m. followed by exploring the facility, taking a staff-guided tour, or enjoying digital storytimes. Gift bags for adults and teens and take-n-make kits for children were available while supplies lasted . The new Atlee Branch Library, designed by Quinn Evans and constructed by Loughridge Construction, is 20,000 square feet and offers everything the library had before, as well as additional study spaces, a digital media lab, large conference and meeting spaces, and creative gathering spaces. County officials joined in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
that will compensate for the new construction plus mitigate older developed areas that were built before stormwater management was a consideration. All subdivisions, even small subdivisions of five lots or less, have been required to construct stormwater management facilities and establish homeowners’ associations to maintain these facilities as long as they exist. This ordinance change provides developers of small subdivisions of 5 or less lots with the option to make a one-time payment to the Town instead of construct and maintain stormwater management facilities. At the Aug. 4 meeting, members of Ashland Town Council passed new two ordinances to support the town’s continuing efforts to improve stormwater quality. Effective Sept. 1, the town is requiring stormwater management facilities or stormwater fee payments for new construction on residential lots that are not part of a larger subdivision or plan of development, including see STORMWATER, pg. 2
By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local
HANOVER -- A number of citizens expressed their displeasure with a recent decision by the Hanover County School Board changing the names of two county schools named for Confederate leaders at last week’s regularly scheduled Hanover County Board of
Supervisors meeting. Last month, school board members voted to retire and change the names of Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School. A committee comprised of students, administrators, teachers, parents and at-large community members appointsee NAME, pg. 5
More CARES money on the way By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local HANOVER – The Hanover County Board of Supervisors approved a budget amendment last week that adds more than $9 million to the current budget for COVID-related expenses. The allotment is the second installment of funds provided
by the federal CARES Act to assist localities as they recover from financial impacts caused by the pandemic. “At the end of July, the Commonwealth’s Secretary of Finance notified the county that the state would be releasing the second round of federal Coronavirus relief funds,” see CARES, pg. 8
