#NNK meetings, policy news (February 12, 2018)

Lancaster County

  • The Lancaster County Wetlands Board meets Thursday, February 15 at 9:30 am at the Lancaster County Administration Building (8311 Mary Ball Rd, Lancaster, in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room). There are five items on the agenda.
  • The Lancaster County School Board meets Tuesday, February 13 for a regular meeting. Agenda items include a closed session about the acquisition of property, public comments, reports, review of the financials, second reading of the Capital Improvement Plan, and a closed session on personnel and student matters.
  • The Town of Kilmarnock's Monday, February 12 Planning Commission meeting has been cancelled.
  • The Kilmarnock Town Council meets Monday, February 26 at 7:00 pm.
  • Check out the Kilmarnock schedule of February town meetings (PDF).
  • The Kilmarnock Town Hall will be closed Monday, February 19 in observance of President's Day.
  • VDOT HOT SPOTS IN THE FREDERICKSBURG DISTRICT, Feb. 11, 2018 – Feb. 17, 2018 (PDF):
    Route 3 (Main Street) at Claybrook Avenue
    (Update) Monday – Friday, 7 p.m. – 5 a.m. Expect alternating, single lane closures on Route 3 (Main Street) from Claybrook Avenue to Brent Street for roadway improvements. Expect brief, overnight delays.

    Route 200 (Irvington Road)
    (New) Monday – Friday, 7 p.m. – 5 a.m. Expect alternating, single lane closures on Route 200 (Irvington Road) northbound and southbound from Second Avenue to Main Street, Black Stump Road to White Pine Drive, and near School Street for roadway improvements. Expect brief, overnight delays.
  • VDOT launches surveys needed for new bridge (Rappahannock Record)
  • White Stone invests proposed tourism project (Rappahannock Record)

Northumberland County

  • The Northumberland County Wetlands Board will meet Tuesday, February 13 at 7:00 pm in the Board of Supervisors Room of the Old
    Courthouse in Heathsville. The board will consider five applications. More information is in the February 13 meeting notice (PDF).
  • The Northumberland County School Board continues their work on the FY 2019 budget:
    • Monday, February 12 public hearing on the budget
    • Tuesday, February 13 work session on the budget
    • Budget input survey
  • The Northumberland County School Board has reported on their budget work to date (PDF).
  • The Northumberland County School Board seeks input on the SY 2018-2019 calendar. The deadline is March 5.

Richmond County

  • From the Richmond County County Cooperative Extension:
    The 4-H program of Richmond County Cooperative Extension is partnering with Richmond County Middle School to offer a financial literacy program called Reality Store to 7th grade students. The Reality Store is a simulation event that requires help from the community. Community volunteers are needed to person the stations that represent life’s daily expenses. No experience necessary, all training will be provided just before the event begins. We would need your help on March 29 from 8:30-11:00 am.
    Interested? Call (804) 333-3420.
  • The Town of Warsaw town office will be closed Wednesday, February 14 for renovations. However, staff will be available to take phone calls and "all bills may be paid online or at the drop box at the door. If you have allergies to paint or flooring products, please do not enter the premises." (Facebook)
  • Hannah Overton Tiffany is the newest member of the Warsaw Planning Commission. (Facebook)
  • Greg Baker reflects on his time as Chief (Northern Neck News)
  • The Richmond County Public Library's Library Board of Trustees meets Tuesday, February 13 from 4:00-5:00 pm at the library (Rappahannock Community College, 52 Campus Dr, Warsaw). The meeting is open to the public.
  • VDOT HOT SPOTS IN THE FREDERICKSBURG DISTRICT, Feb. 11, 2018 – Feb. 17, 2018 (PDF):
    Route 3 at Route 608 (Farnham Creek Road)
    (Update) Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Route 3 will be reduced to a single lane just west of the intersection with Route 608 (Farnham Creek Road) for an emergency pipe rehabilitation project over Laton's Swamp. One-way, alternating traffic will be directed through the work zone. Crews will be installing signs and mobilizing in the work zone. Expect brief delays. Project completion is May 29, 2018.

    Route 3 Business in Warsaw
    (Update) Monday-Friday, 7 p.m. – 5 a.m. Expect alternating, single lane closures on Route 3 in Warsaw for roadway improvements. Expect brief, overnight delays.
  • Environmental update to Fones Cliffs (Northern Neck News)
  • Fire Department raises concerns over height change in Warsaw (Northern Neck News)

Westmoreland County

  • If you missed the Colonial Beach Town Council's February 10 work session, here's the agenda and packet (PDF).
  • The Colonial Beach School Board's next meeting takes place Wednesday, February 14 at 5:30 pm at the Town Center.
  • The Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors meets Monday, February 12 at 6:00 pm at the George D. English, Sr. Memorial Building in Montross. Read the agenda (PDF).
  • The Westmoreland County Planning Commission work session will be held Monday, February 26 at 3:00 pm at the George D. English, Sr. Memorial Building in Montross.
  • The Westmoreland Democratic Committee will meet Saturday, February 17 from 10:00 am – Noon at the Blake T. Newton Memorial Branch Library in Hague. Attend to learn more about the committee and their role in the upcoming election.

Cross-county



  • The Northern Neck Audubon Society's Monday, February 12 bird walk has been cancelled.
  • The Northern Neck Soil & Water Conservation District board meets Wednesday, February 14 at 12:30 pm, Richmond County Public Meeting Room, 101 Court Circle, Warsaw. The public is invited; RSVPs are due by February 13. Meeting materials: February 14 Board Meeting Notice and Agenda, DRAFT Minutes from the January 2018 Board Meeting.
  • President Signs Virginia Tribes Recognition Bill Authored by Wittman into Law (Rep. Rob Wittman)
  • Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Services has published their 2017 board meeting minutes on their website.
  • The Northern Neck Audubon Society Monday, March 5 meeting takes place from 3:15-5:00 pm at the Lancaster Community Library.
  • Friends of the Rappahannock's Wildlife Festival takes place Saturday, March 17, 10:00 am - Noon. The event is free but registration is required.
  • The Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society will meet Thursday, February 15 at Noon at the Wicomico Parish Church (191 Jessie Ball Dupont Memorial Hwy, in the Parish Hall). Wildlife biologist Lauren Cruz
    "will address Building Habitat at the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge," said NNNPS president, Kevin Howe. "One of four refuges in the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex, its four units protect 8700 acres of land along the Rappahannock between King George County and the Laurel Grove Unit near Farnham.”

    Bring a brown bag lunch; light refreshments may be served. More info.
  • RCC EMS program achieves National Accreditation and 100% pass rates on the National Paramedic Exam:
    The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program at Rappahannock Community College (RCC) reached several milestones this year. The college's Paramedic program has been recognized with national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) following recommendation by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAMPS).

    In an interview with Ellen Vest, the EMS Program Head, we learn what this means to the faculty, college, and students.

    "The accreditation reflects a national standard of excellence," says Vest. "We had stiff criteria that had to be met, and accreditation site visitors reviewed the previous two years of paramedic students while evaluating the program." While the program's EMT, Advanced EMT and Intermediate levels were originally accredited by the Virginia office of EMS, the program is now accredited at a national level.

    Another accomplishment the program boasts of this year is their 100% pass rate of students for the National Registry Paramedic Exam over the last year.

    According to Dr. Charles Smith, Dean of Health Sciences at RCC, this achievement is testament to the careful and expert instruction by faculty, clear adherence to the accrediting guidelines, as well as outstanding knowledge and skills demonstrated by the graduates.

    Vest, the EMS instructional staff and the RCC administrative team are proud of the students and believe that this success reflects upon their shared vision for excellence in EMS education. "Our program provides everything that a student needs to be successful. Critical thinking is a part of the education, beginning with our entry-level EMT classes," says Vest.

    "Our EMS graduates at all levels of service provision provide critical skills for the citizens of our service area," says Smith.

    Vest further states that the need for EMS providers continues to grow and RCC is responding to that challenge. Any prospective student or community member is welcome to come and visit to see what we offer.
  • VMRC Extends Oyster Season – Further Discussion Underway Today (middlenecknews.com)
  • The Potomac River Fisheries Commission's Blue Crab Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00 pm at the PRFC Building (222 Taylor St, Colonial Beach, in the John T. Parran Hearing Room). The meeting is open and the public is invited and encouraged to attend. For more information, call (804) 224-7148.
  • Governor Northam Announces $440,000 in USDA Specialty Crop Block Grants Available for Virginia Agricultural Interests