The Louisa County Board of Supervisors has demonstrated its inability to pursue the stated core value of stewardship in a number of ways. I expect it will continue on the path of spoiling and destroying the county’s resources to chase down the mythical beast called economic development. It’s likely that the quality for thinking ahead has never been a strong requirement to serve on the board. Otherwise, we would’ve had results better than we’ve seen.
Before going too far, let me clarify that the county’s resources include not only natural resources, but also tax dollars and the citizens that pay them. The supervisors have seen fit to lay waste to these categories. And, I’ll apologize if I missed some details along the way, but in general, Louisa County citizens have to pay closer attention to, and prioritize, those resources that are especially significant. In my opinion, that would be water.
Right now, it’s being squandered in the name of a promised economic
development that may likely not happen. At least not without placing
an excessive burden on the citizens. It wasn’t that long ago that the supervisors claimed to have hearings about the level of groundwater relative to Spring Creek.
Dr. Nick Evans, a recognized expert in hydrogeology, presented an understandable analytical explanation of the potential risks to the groundwater in the county. The supervisors obviously ignored that report – easy enough to to if it hadn’t been read – in favor of a more familiar “disunderstanding” offered by Pam Baughman, Louisa County Water Authority general manager. Despite her lack of technical expertise, the supervisors allowed her to make the defense for development anyway.
On May 20 of this year, The Central Virginian posted a warning on its Facebook page to run both the cold and hot water, until it was clear. There were no other details I could find about this incident but it should be counted as one indicator, among many, that the stewardship by the supervisors, foresight in particular, won’t be counted as a feature of a functioning board.
We have droughts and oppressive heat in other parts of the country. Around the world, actually. Somehow, the supervisors must’ve deliberated and voted that Louisa County is an exclusion zone from the perils of the rest of the world. That’s not only negligence, but arrogance as well.
The Nestle Company diverted water from the local citizens’ water supply in Michigan to operate its water bottling plant. The concern was focused on environmental impact of the water withdrawals and the impact of privatizing water resources.
The Bechtel Company devised a scheme where the citizens of Bolivia had to pay for rainwater they collected for personal use. This was in 2006. Fortunately, the citizens fought Bechtel and won.
The Timmons Group has been successful in influencing the supervisors to push forward projects that aren’t always in the best interest of Louisa County citizens. I keep waiting to see how long the supervisors persist in abusing the public before there’s an appropriate backlash.
Joe Mikolajczak
Gordonsville
This letter was previously published in the July 8, 2021 edition of the Central Virginian newspaper and is reprinted here with the author’s permission.
Month: July 2021
Bad Votes on Education Bills
Education is something Virginians really care about. Virginia Commonwealth University took a poll recently and found that 70 percent of Virginians think Virginia schools need more funding.
Louisa’s delegate in Richmond, however, consistently votes against issues the Virginia Education Association calls “crucial education bills.” In 2021, John McGuire voted against five of the six such bills in the House. Accordingly, the VEA gives our delegate a 17 percent score in supporting education.
The six bills included the following:
House Bill 1736 – School Nurse bill, McGuire voted against.
House Bill 1904 – Cultural Competency, McGuire voted against.
House Bill 2027 – Growth Assessment, McGuire voted for.
House Bill 2176 – Abusive Work Environment, McGuire voted against.
House Bill 2305 – Governor’s Schools, McGuire voted against.
House Bill 1257 – Standards of Quality, McGuire voted against.
On education, John McGuire earned a failing grade.
Jim Wolf
Louisa
This letter was previously published in the July 8, 2021 edition of the Central Virginian newspaper and is reprinted here with the author’s permission.