Despite petition and protest, James City supervisors press ahead with center
Good morning! James City County supervisors voted 4-1 to begin site work on the new county government center. House of delegates forum is tonight. Curbside recycling resumes in James City County.
More than a dozen people, including the former CEO of Smithfield Foods, turned out Tuesday night to ask James City County supervisors to postpone further work on the proposed county office complex until after the November elections. But the supervisors voted 4-1 to award a $16.5 million contract to begin site work at the location.
Stonehouse supervisor Barbara Null voted against the move, saying she had not heard from a single constituent who was in favor of the $190 million center, plus a library annex.
The crux of protests from more than a dozen residents who spoke was that they had just learned about the center, and some of them charged the county with keeping it a secret. The opponents said they had more than 900 signatures on a petition opposing the center.
Assistant County Administrator Brad Rinehimer told the supervisors the center has been discussed at 25 different public meetings in the past four years, has been mentioned in 38 different news reports, and was in a flyer that went out with 70,000 tax bills in 2024.
Chairman Jim Icenhour and Vice Chair John J. McGlennon said most of the constituents they spoke with did not object to the county center.
“Nothing about this was done in the shadows,” said Berkeley District member Ruth Larson. She said there was no reason to wait until an election because new supervisors can always decide to change course.
“From everybody I’ve talked to, nobody” is in favor of the complex, Null said. She said voter apathy was responsible for the last-minute surge in opposition.
“They don’t read the newspaper. They don’t watch the news. And they come out of the woodwork to us at the last minute., which is really disconcerting” she said.
Among the speakers who said they had just recently found out about the project was Larry Pope, the 70-year-old retired CEO of Smithfield Foods.
“Waiting is certainly something you ought to seriously consider,” he said. “We’re moving to a digital environment where people don’t come into facilities anymore.”
During her comments, Null again discussed waiting to make a decision. She said she wanted to make a motion but was told by Chair Jim Icenhour she would have to wait until the other supervisors had commented.
When they finished, Powhatan Representative Michael J. Hipple quickly made a motion to approve the government center. Null objected, reminding her colleagues she had said she wanted to make a motion first, but she was turned down.
She was the only supervisor to vote against the site work.
House of delegates forum is tonight
Don’t miss tonight’s Williamsburg Watch/WHRO forum with candidates for the two House of Delegates seats representing the Historic Triangle. It’s a sellout in the theater, but you can watch online or try to see if a seat becomes available.
Incumbent Republican Del. Amanda Batten and her challenger for the 71st district, Democrat Jessica Anderson, have confirmed their appearances as has Independent Valerie D. Beverley, candidate for the 69th district seat.
The forum takes place at the downtown Williamsburg Regional Library on Scotland Street from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Audience members will be able to submit questions in writing.
The event will be livestreamed at WHRO’s website at this link.
Curbside recycling returns to James City
Curbisde recycling began again in James City County this week.
County Administrator Scott Stevens said the county signed an emergency 90-day contract with the current vendor, TFC, to continue serving James City County until the county decides on a permanent vendor by January.
The Virginia Peninsula Public Service Authority abruptly cancelled its contract with TFC at the end of last month, giving consumers only a week’s notice before pulling the plug.
Stevens apologized to county residents for the inconvenience.
$330 million bond for Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg’s Economic Development Authority is issuing $330 million in bonds for Colonial Williamsburg to use for its new arrivals center and other work.
The city is not guaranteeing the bonds, which are federally taxable but tax exempt. The bonds will be priced next week and will be sold starting Nov. 1.
The EDA approved the bonds at its September meeting. The money will repay a $22 million note issued by the EDA for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 2013 as well as other outstanding debts used by the foundation for earlier projects.
CW will use the rest of the money to build additional parking, enhance its leased commercial spaces, and restore historic buildings and gardens, according to EDA.
Fun & Games
Yorktown Victory Celebration. Oct. 18 & Oct. 19. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. American Revolutionary Museum Yorktown. Free to residents of James City County, Williamsburg and York County.
Friends & Family Fall Festival. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Freedom Park, Williamsburg. Free.
Yorktown Day. Oct. 19. 9a.m – 5 p.m. Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown. Free.
Passings
Geraine Ann Stocker (Povic), 81, Oct. 4.
Dr. Robert Arthur Vaul, Jr., 71, Oct. 5.
Colonel (Retired) Robert Arthur Mangum, 90, Oct. 7.
Robert “Bobby” Shirley, Oct. 9.
Beth Bell Bogusky, 69, Oct. 5.
Why does James City County need to control recycling? Residents deal direct with trash pick up companies. There was an opportunity for us to do that with TFC.
Good luck with the forum tonight.