Board of Supervisors Initiatives

The Board of Supervisors establishes priorities and initiatives for Hanover County's government for each fiscal year. These initiatives cover the period July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011.

Following is a status report of the Board of Supervisors' FY11 Initiatives through July 13, 2011:

• Complete the redistricting process, including the revision of district boundaries and any associated changes to precinct boundaries and polling place locations:  The Board of Supervisors adopted the 2011 Redistricting Plan on May 11, 2011. The U.S. Department of Justice has sent preliminary approval and the Registrar’s office is logging the new district, precinct and polling place data into the State Board of Elections system.
  
• Continue the fiscal reality assessment to determine long range impacts of the recession and key service level goals:  County staff and elected financial officers (Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue) continue to meet monthly to review all financial trends.
  
• Update the subdivision ordinance:  This update will seek to ensure that the subdivision ordinance conforms to all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements, such as state secondary street standards and stormwater management regulations. The Planning Commission plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed changes in July and the Board could act in September.
  
• Develop strategies that more effectively serve at-risk children served through the Comprehensive Services Act in the community:  A major part of this initiative is the creation of the new Kids’ Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (KITT), a collaborative effort between the departments of Social Services, Community Resources and Community Services. KITT provides intensive community-based treatment for troubled adolescents and reduces the use of expensive and ineffective group homes or hospitals.  It is intended to help keep families together and help keep children at home and in their communities.  Fifteen children have been served so far. 
  
• Explore with the Historic Courthouse Area Committee and the Historical Society the possibility of enhanced uses of the 'old stone jail' for historic tourism:  The Old Stone Jail is located at Hanover Courthouse (just south of the historic Courthouse) and dates back to about 1840.  It has not been used for its original purpose since about 1960 and is currently used by the Hanover Historical Society as a place where old artifacts are stored, with limited public access.  The Board asked the Historical Society and the Historic Courthouse Area Committee to consider improvements to stabilize the structure and whether it could be made more accessible as a historic tourism feature.  The groups have recommended short-term improvements over the next 5 years and longer-term improvements.  The Board accepted recommendations for short-term improvements and a plan for historic tourism access to the jail in December.
  
• Coordinate a long-range water study plan with the Town of Ashland:  The State Water Control Board asked all localities to develop local or regional water plans to be reviewed and permitted by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The Board and Ashland Town Council will hold public hearings in July and the adopted plan will be submitted to the DEQ afterwards.
  
• Establish an Urban Development Area that will meet State-mandated higher-density requirements:  The General Assembly this year mandated localities to analyze local growth patterns and have a plan to designate at least one Urban Development Area (UDA) on the County’s Comprehensive Plan.  In Hanover’s case, the General Assembly wants its UDA to be able to accommodate a density of at least 12 units per acre.  The UDA(s) must be able to accommodate projected County growth for at least 10 years and up to 20 years. The Board decided in March that the Comprehensive Plan meets the State’s objectives.
  
• Promote a "Buy Local Hanover" campaign to encourage County residents to shop at Hanover County stores, restaurants, and other businesses:  The County will join local merchants in developing and distributing printed and web-based materials to encourage Hanoverians to spend their money with County businesses by emphasizing the financial benefits.  This echoes initiatives that have been undertaken by the Town of Ashland and the Retail Merchants Association. Economic Development partnered with Schools in a “Live Here Shop Here” receipt collection program in the spring that was very successful.
  
• Continue to implement energy management strategies and encourage employee participation in environmental best practices:  Hanover County has undertaken a number of steps to conserve energy and protect the environment and these efforts continue.  In January 2011 the County received its second consecutive “Go Green” Award, given by the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League to localities that implement specific environmental policies and practical actions that reduce carbon emissions.
  
• Continue Bond Referendum project construction, including the implementation of the new communications system, construction of parks projects, and further development of the Black Creek Fire Station:  The new communications center and system became operational in the fall of 2010.  The new Black Creek Fire Station was dedicated in June.  All construction has been completed at Pole Green Park, including a new concession/restroom facility and new athletic field lighting. Construction of a picnic shelter and new multi-purpose fields at Poor Farm Park is expected to be completed this fall.  New multi-purpose fields and a picnic shelter will also be constructed at Taylor Park and the parking lot expanded.  
  

To read the Board's FY10 Initiatives, click here: