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‘Hidden Curves’ author talks about her book
Walking the dog is more than child’s play
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Forge girls on verge of setting record VOL. 28 | NUM. 52
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MARCH 10, 2017 | NORTHERN VIRGINIA MEDIA SERVICES
Stafford tax rate may remain flat, budget to increase
MEMORIAL
TRACY BELL
tbell@insidenova.com
ounty Administrator Tom Foley presented a proposed fiscal 2018 budget to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The proposed $286 million figure represents a $10.7 million hike from this year’s budget, with proposed unaltered tax rates. Foley’s proposed budget allocated just over 50 percent to the schools and a 2 percent raise for county and school employees. Foleys’ budget would also include the addition of new positions including two deputies, a communications employee and an information technology security administrator. Reducing staff turnover is also an important component going forward, Foley told the board of supervisors. The board will further discuss the budget April 18. Also at the meeting, the board of supervisors agreed to a zoning reclassification that allows 86 townhouses at Quantico Village. The board voted 4-3 on the matter, with Supervisors Paul Milde, R-Aquia; Laura Sellers, R-Garrisonville; and Gary Snellings, R-Hartwood, casting the dissenting votes. The townhouses will be located on 12.58 acres on the south side of Telegraph Road, 1,200 feet east of U.S. 1. One person spoke at a public hearing on the issue, asking the board to deny the proposed application. Supervisor Jack Cavalier, R-GriffisWidwater, said that other than the speaker, he has heard no public opposition to the project. Sellers however, said she could not support the plan. TAX “I don’t think it’s a good PAGE 13 location. I’d like to see a
Retired Marine Corps Gen. Ron Christmas welcomes a crowd to the Stafford County Armed Services Memorial groundbreaking ceremony at the Government Center grounds on March 4. FOR MORE, PLEASE SEE PAGE 8. ALEKS DOLZENKO | INSIDENOVA
Prince William to send letter to Dominion asking for delay in Possum Point cap in place ALEX KOMA
akoma@insidenova.com
T
he Prince William Board of County Supervisors is pressing state regulators to delay their approval of a permit that would clear the way for Dominion Virginia Power to permanently bury more than 4 million tons of coal ash near its Possum Point power station in Dumfries, but there’s no telling just how much influence they might be able to exert on the process. The utility giant has attracted widespread criticism from people living near the plant and environmentalists alike with its plan to consolidate the ash — a waste material generated when the plant once burned coal — from five ponds filled with water into one drained of any liquid. The company maintains that those ponds have never contaminated
any of the surrounding area’s groundwater. However, conservationists point to a wide array of evidence suggesting that heavy metals from the ash are popping up in water around the property and flowing into the nearby Quantico Creek. Nevertheless, the company very nearly has the permit it needs from Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality to move ahead with those closure plans, known as a “cap in place” process, with the public comment period on the matter set to close March 10. That’s why county supervisors convened a work session at the board’s March 7 meeting to question Dominion and DEQ officials on the issue, and several lawmakers sent a clear message to the state regulators: Take more time to study alternatives. “The old American saying goes, ‘Where does an 800-pound gorilla get
to sit? Wherever it wants,’” said Supervisor Frank Principi, D-Woodbridge. “And Dominion right now is being an 800-pound gorilla sitting on cap in place...Dominion has not provided enough information to the community on alternatives.” Principi has been pressing the company to study other options to close the pond, such as removing the ash from the area or even recycling it, for months now. But with lawmakers removing a provision from a bill backed by State Sen. Scott Surovell, D-36th District, that would have directed DEQ to compel a full alternatives analysis before letting any company close a coal ash pond, Dominion is under no obligation to do so before qualifying for POSSUM the solid waste permit it PAGE 13 needs.
STAFFORD COUNTY SUN
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