Author: lcdcAdmin

Sam Rasoul for Lieutenant Governor

As a delegate in the General Assembly, Sam Rasoul consistently amplifies the voices of working Virginians. In a political universe dominated by big-spending corporations and well-heeled lobbyists, Sam declines their donations and focuses on doing the work people in southwest Virginia elected him to do.

In Richmond, Sam fights to expand access to quality, affordable health care with a patient-focused approach.  He works to strengthen public education, passing legislation to help ensure our children develop a strong emotional foundation and consistently supporting increased funding for our schools.  He champions keeping our families safe, passing into law a bipartisan bill that finally limits cancer-causing contaminants in our drinking water.

These issues impact all Virginians and cut across partisan lines. Sam understands that the world isn’t divided into left vs. right or red vs. blue.  People want representatives in Richmond that fight for us, that deliver on kitchen table issues, and that we can trust.

For too many of us trust in government is floundering.  We feel like our voices don’t matter, that our voices are drowned out by political insiders, be they billionaire corporate executives or party bosses.

Sam works every day to build trust and engage ordinary Virginians in our government.  Through his “You write the bill” workshops, Sam trains constituents in drafting legislation then carries their concerns to Richmond.  In 2020, he passed into law a constituent-driven bill to protect victims of domestic violence by improving fair housing laws.

Sam believes in a bottom-up approach to politics. He understands that power is derived from the people—all of us—and that our community is stronger when everyone has a say.  That’s why I’m supporting Sam Rasoul for Lieutenant Governor.  I hope you will join me in voting for Sam in the Democratic primary on June 8.  Early and absentee voting begin April 23.

Tammy Purcell
Louisa
Administrator’s Note: The policy of the Louisa County Democratic Committee is to support all primary candidates equally. If you are a primary candidate or are supporting one, please contact the committee to arrange an opportunity to meet and speak with Louisa Democrats.

 

County needs to slow down on business park 

I see in last week’s Central Virginian that Louisa County Economic Development Director Andy Wade is once again proposing that we spend $2.5 million to plan and buy easements for bringing utilities to the proposed Shannon Hill Business Park. He’s not only asking to put his request in the budget, he’s also asking to fast-forward the process so that the money would be available immediately rather than after July 1.

He is asking to spend this money for a project that has been dogged with problems. Parts of the due diligence report, on which further site study must be based and costs calculated, are not completed. We know this site has rugged terrain which will be a problem. These problems have not been solved and we have no information as to the cost.

Is this another government project where the taxpayers are seen as a bottomless pit whose money can be used so carelessly, without knowing the cost and feasibility of the project?

Just recently we saw what happened by pushing ahead with a plan in which we did not have all our ducks lined up. We put money into a pumping station on the James River at a location that was known to be the historic capital of the Monacans. We were warned that this would be a problem, but on the advice of our subcontractor, Timmons Group, we ignored that and plowed ahead until we were brought to heel by the Department of Historic Resources and the threat of overwhelming lawsuits. We lost the money we had put into the location.

 Timmons, the contractor who advised them to ignore the claims of the Monacans and hired unqualified people to try to get around laws regarding artifacts on historic sites, is the same contractor doing the engineering on this project. This should raise some eyebrows.

 We need to slow down. We do not know whether this park will be built. In every public hearing, the room has been filled with Louisa citizens saying, “We don’t want this kind of development in Louisa.” It’ It’s way too soon to commit more money to this project.

Mary Kranz
Louisa

This letter was previously printed in The Central Virginian newspaper and is reprinted here with the author’s permission.

No due diligence for business park

Louisa County government has been promoting the Shannon Hill business park entirely on the basis of its proximity to Interstate 64. That is a valid point. That might be a good place for such an investment if there is a good site and if good infrastructure is conveniently and economically available for the property that was purchased.

About the same time that the board of supervisors finally, and possibly illegally, approved the millions of dollars spent to purchase the business park property, they entered into a contract with Timmons Engineering for what was called a due diligence study. Basically it was to advise the county on how to develop the land they had purchased, after the same company had advised them to buy it.

There are lots of different things to evaluate in such a study. Costs and best method of developing the property; earthmoving; paving; utilities, environmental, cultural, and historical considerations; transportation access, etc.

Those were listed as the contract’s objectives.

That contract came into effect almost two years ago. Timmons made a presentation to the board in 2020, apparently accepted without comment, laying out what they called their “final plan” for the property’s development. It was basically an elaboration of previous material from our county planning department showing how one could arrange a number of large buildings on a flattened map of the project. No cost estimates have been provided, as far as I know, for grading and basically resurfacing around 600 acres of one of the more challenging sites in the vicinity.

As per previous publicity, no serious study has been made addressing how the site connects by the existing transportation corridor with most of the county and points north. They have published some existing traffic counts along route 605 and their subcontractor’s report on archeological and historical concerns. The “final plan” presented to the board did not clearly address these issues.

The due diligence study contract has not yet been completed, to the best of my knowledge. Some of the promised preliminary engineering reports are not yet available. Those are what the “final plan” is supposed to be based on. That is only common sense and actually is what their contract stipulates.

County Economic Development Director Andy Wade is now asking, in a public hearing scheduled for March 1, to give Timmons Engineering $2.5 million more just to study how best to spend an additional minimum $20-plus million (their figure) to build a pipeline for water and sewage from Ferncliff with an unestablished source, plus sewage pipe and pumping to take everything all the way back to Zion Crossroads to be treated and put into the South Anna back another 14 miles downstream. They have reported concerns about the possibility of unknown costs and risks in having to tunnel under the interstate and the Colonial Gas pipeline.

And they want this contract expedited. Seems a little greedy, in the least. Are we going to learn from the ancient wisdom stories about throwing good money after bad? In the meantime, what about using that beautiful forest property for citizens’ nature and recreation pursuits? Surely we can do better.

William Hale
Louisa

This letter was previously printed in The Central Virginian newspaper and is reprinted here with the author’s permission.

Keep up push for broadband

To the editor:

Like over half the households in Louisa County, mine is served by Rappahannock Electrical Cooperative (REC). I’m concerned about REC’s commitment to helping citizens get access to affordable high-speed internet.

On Jan. 14 The Central Virginian included an article about a suit filed by a Culpeper landowner to stop REC from using existing easements for the purpose of expanding broadband access. Then, on Feb. 4, the CV reported that REC had shelved plans for broadband access using easements because of the suit.

When I looked at the Virginia law passed in 2020 to allow utilities to use easements for broadband (HB 831), here’s what I found: The measure provides that any utility may use an easement without such utility paying additional compensation to the owner or occupant, provided that no additional utility poles are installed. There is no mention of additional poles related to the Culpeper landowner who brought suit against REC.

I question why Rappahannock shelved their efforts when the law so clearly states they were in the right? REC announced on Feb. 5 the appointment of Mark Ponton to the new position of director of broadband and fiber Services. I hope they are truly serious about tackling this problem for rural households.

Juanita Jo Matkins
Yanceyville

Keep up push for broadband

FY 2022 Budget Request for Outside Agencies

The Louisa budget for July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 is being planned right now, in the winter and spring of 2021. Please look over this chart showing the fiscal year 2021 request, the FY 2022 request and the change. I’m sorry, you’ll have to rotate it.

You’ll find a much more complete document at FY 2022 Outside Agencies Requests. It would be fantastic of every one of us would look this over and share your thoughts about it. I will be sharing mine in blog posts soon. We have time to influence these numbers!

Louisa Budget Request FY2022 – Outside Agencies

Jim

 

Annette Hyde Asks Freitas to Condemn Terrorism

The presentation and counting of the presidential electoral votes before a joint session of Congress is one of the most sacred rituals of our democracy.

On Wednesday, an armed and seditious mob—encouraged by the president—stormed our nation’s Capitol and made a ham-fisted attempt at a coup.

Instead of a peaceful, democratic transfer of power, we have seen five deaths, stabbings, a deadly shooting, vandalism, and elected representatives cowering in gas masks. This must end NOW.

I know all of you will join me in demanding an immediate end to all violence, and in demanding that all political leaders join in fiercely condemning this terrorism and insisting on the full and swift arrest and prosecution of domestic terrorists.

This is not a political matter in the usual sense. This is not partisan. All patriotic Americans must resist this attack on our democracy.

Democrats, Republicans and members of all political groups must join together to oppose domestic terrorism.

I am asking my opponent, Del. Nick Freitas, to join me and issue a joint statement:

1. We oppose all domestic terrorism and all attempts to violently subvert our democratic process.

2. We condemn any and all political leaders who are inciting such attempts.

3. We urge Congress to immediately impeach, remove and bar from holding future office Donald J. Trump, for his failure to defend the U.S. Constitution and his attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power.

Our policy differences have no bearing on our devotion to the Constitution. I know that Del. Freitas honorably served in our military. He swore an oath to defend and uphold our Constitution. I believe he is a patriot and that he will stand with us and the Constitution.

Annette Hyde

Madison

Hyde is a Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 30th House District.

Ed note: Nick Freitas, has been quoted characterizing the people who attacked the capitol building as having justified grievances