#NNK meetings, policy news (April 23, 2018)

Lancaster County

  • There are several elections in Kilmarnock, White Stone, and Irvington May 1. See the list of candidates.
  • The Lancaster County Board of Supervisors is holding a regular meeting Thursday, April 26 at 7:00 pm at the Lancaster County Administration Building (8311 Mary Ball Rd, Lancaster, in the Board Meeting Room). The agenda includes public comments, a presentation by VDOT, public hearings on two zoning amendments, and regular work of the supes. The supervisors will also consider local options to address the opioid crisis.
  • Lancaster Community Library has announced their internet will be down Wednesday, April 25 from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm for an upgrade. This will "impact public computers, Wifi, and our ability to check books in and out--but should be brief."
  • The Town of Kilmarnock seeks quotes for the installation of an irrigation system at Town Centre Park (RFQ (PDF)). An irrigation plan (PDF) has been developed and irrigation sleeves were installed (diagram (PDF)) during the construction. The deadline for responses is May 2 at 5:00 pm.
  • The Town of Kilmarnock Planning Commission meets Monday, May 14 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall (1 N. Main St, Kilmarnock). Meetings are open to the public.
  • The Town of Kilmarnock Town Council meets Monday, May 21 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall (1 N. Main St, Kilmarnock). Meetings are open to the public.
  • Irvington residents interested in serving on the Town of Irvington Planning Commission should submit a letter to the council expressing interest. The deadline is Monday, May 7. Learn more (PDF).
  • The Town of Irvington's Planning Commission has cancelled its May meeting. (Deets (PDF)). Agenda items will be carried forward to the June 5 meeting at 6:30 pm at the Town Office ( 235 Steamboat Rd, Irvington).
  • Kilmarnock Town Council committee meetings (PDF) take place May 3 in the morning. The public is encouraged to attend.
  • Hot Spots in the Fredericksburg District (April 22-28, 2018) (PDF):
    Route 3 at Robert O. Norris Bridge
    (New) Tuesday
    , 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Expect brief traffic stops of 5 minutes or less on both bridge approaches. Crews will be positioning materials and equipment needed to install poles to support the future installation of 511Virginia traffic cameras at the Norris Bridge. Traffic cameras will be installed later in 2018. Virginia State Police will assist with traffic control. Work will begin at 9 a.m. in Middlesex, and will progress to the Lancaster side of the bridge.
  • Kilmarnock candidates respond to survey (Rappahannock Record)
  • Lancaster school budget supported at hearing (Rappahannock Record)
  • No wake zone on Carter Creek tabled by town (Rappahannock Record)
  • Following heated discussion, Irvington pulls plug on PUD; four planners resign (Rappahannock Record)


Northumberland County


Richmond County

  • The Richmond County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting is Tuesday, May 8 from 4:00-5:00 pm at the library (Rappahannock Community College, 52 Campus Dr, Warsaw).
  • CBF Statement On Fones Cliffs Developer Violations (rivercountrynews.com)
  • Hot Spots in the Fredericksburg District (April 22-28, 2018) (PDF):
    Route 3 at Route 608 (Farnham Creek Road)
    Monday˗˗ Friday
    , 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Temporary traffic signals have been activated in the work zone of an ongoing emergency pipe improvement project on Route 3 over Laton’s Swamp. Route 3 has been reduced to a single lane just west of the intersection with Route 608 (Farnham Creek Road). The temporary traffic signals control one-way, alternating traffic in the work zone until the project is complete. Project completion is May 29, 2018.

    Richmond County Surface Treatment
    (Update) Monday ˗˗ Friday
    , 7 a.m. ˗˗ 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate lane closures or alternating traffic with flagging operations on various, low-volume secondary routes throughout Richmond County including the following routes: 614, 618, 626, 642, 658, 660, 678 and 679 for surface treatment. Expect brief delays.


Westmoreland County

  • If you missed the Colonial Beach Town Council meeting April 18, here's the agenda.
  • Westmoreland County Electoral Board Meeting Reschedule Notice:
    Thursday, April 19, 2018
    NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Westmoreland County Electoral Board has rescheduled its May 3, 2018 meeting to 9 a.m. on April 30, 2018. Following the meeting, Logic and Accuracy testing of voting equipment for the June 12, 2018 dual primary election will begin at 11 a.m. The meeting and the L&A testing will be held at the Voter Registration Office located at 105 Court Square, Montross, Virginia. By order of the Westmoreland County Electoral Board Sharon Vassiliades, Secretary
  • Hot Spots in the Fredericksburg District (April 22-28, 2018) (PDF):
    Route 626/Herring Lane
    (New) Monday ˗˗ Friday
    , 7 a.m. ˗˗ 7 p.m. Expect alternating, one-way traffic on Route 626/Herring Lane near Route 1501/Glebe Harbor Drive and Route 1530/Royal Way for a paving operation. Expect brief delays near the work zone.

    Route 645/Zacata Road
    (New) Monday ˗˗ Friday
    , 7 a.m. ˗˗ 7 p.m. Expect alternating, one-way traffic on Route 645/Zacata Road near Route 3/Kings Highway and Route 709/Meadow Drive for a paving operation. Expect brief delays near the work zone.
  • The past, present, and future of Eleanor Park (Westmoreland News)

Cross-county

  • New federal budget does not contain funds to build oyster reefs in Maryland or Virginia (Bay Journal)
  • Rappahannock Community College on April 20 announced some good news:
    Rappahannock Community College Earns 2018-19 Military Friendly School Designation

    Rappahannock Community College announced today that it has earned the 2018-19 Military Friendly School Bronze designation. Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey.

    For the first time, student survey data was taken into consideration for the designation. More than 1,400 schools participated in the 2018-2019 survey with 941 earning the designation.

    "The Military Friendly bronze designation recognizes our institutional commitment to serve veterans and their families at the College," says David Keel, RCC's Dean of Student Development.

    "Specifically, bronze award winners have programs that scored within 40 percent of the 10th-ranked institution within a given category."

    Keel said that receiving the Military Friendly designation helps RCC let veterans and their families know that the College values having them as part of the college community. The annual application process also allows the staff to evaluate strengths in serving military families, and areas where RCC can improve services.

    "Because of our small size, our Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Coordinator, our counselors, and all our staff can personalize services to students," says Keel. "They can assist military students and their dependents step-by-step from applying to the college, selecting an academic plan of study, choosing classes each semester, and advising them through graduation.

    "We have also started an annual tradition of holding a lunch each year to celebrate the veterans and blue star families who are part of our campus community."

    RCC student Gerald Smith and Northumberland County native agrees with the designation that the College earned. As a member of the National Guard stationed in Pennsylvania and Army veteran of Afghanistan, Smith traveled all over the world in service to his country. When he returned, he decided to begin his college career with RCC and has been very happy with the results.

    "The people from the Veteran’s Administration worked with me, and so did the folks from RCC," says Smith. "They got me ready to do everything I needed to do and made sure everything was in place. It was a very smooth transition."

    Smith is currently studying Criminal Justice and plans to transfer to a four-year school in Richmond or Norfolk upon graduation. He’d like to work as a state trooper, in the FBI or another, related, law enforcement field.

    The same is true for Brad Hornsby. The West Point native returned from the Army and wanted to try something new. He looked to RCC for this new beginning and is happy he did.

    "RCC has been very friendly to me, and very open," says Hornsby. "Especially the Student Support Services — they are quite awesome. And really, everybody here has been very nice."

    Hornsby is currently working on a Health Science transfer degree and hopes to work in the field of forensics and ballistics after completing his college career.

    Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Victory Media with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution's survey scores with the assessment of the institution's ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

    About Military Friendly Schools
    The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria, and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all post-secondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

    About Rappahannock Community College
    Rappahannock Community College, established in 1971 serves Virginia's Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and surrounding areas. Named the "Best College to Work For" in 2015, 2016, and 2017, RCC is home to multiple associate degrees and certificate programs, as well as robust and varied workplace credential programs. Learn more at www.rappahannock.edu.