Lawsuit filed to stop JCC office center work

Rendering of proposed government center

A group of James City County taxpayers sued to stop work on the county’s proposed government center until a voter referendum is held.

Attorney Christopher M. Woodfin, representing the six plaintiffs, said he filed a motion for an emergency injunction against work on the center with the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court Wednesday.

“We have asked for an injunction against any further activity relating to the building until they put the bond to a referendum, which is required by the state code,” Woodfin said.

The attorney added some drama to the board of supervisors’ meeting Wednesday afternoon, sending a process server to show up at the start of the meeting to serve notices with the five supervisors and County Administrator Scott Stevens.

Woodfin then signed up to speak during the public comment period, when he announced to the room that he had filed the injunction request. His announcement was met with applause from some members of the audience.

“They had not had time to open and read (the lawsuit notices) so they may not have known,” Woodfin said.

Stevens and the five members of the board of supervisors are defendants in the suit in their official capacity, not personally, Woodfin said.

County Attorney Adam Kinsman had no comment on the suit.

The injunction came on the same day the county scheduled a small groundbreaking ceremony for the $190 million government center on Longhill Road.

Woodfin said the motion asks for an emergency injunction until an actual hearing can be heard on the case.