Danville Council to review $741K in ARPA funding for "Real Time Crime Center"; Water/sewer fees changes subject of public hearing in Pittsylvania; Lake Anna Resort rezoning before Louisa BOS
Another look at what's happening at meetings of local governments in and around the Fifth District
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Local governments are closed to commemorate the life and legacy of a man assassinated in April 1968 who inspired so many to work for the betterment of this country.
I had wanted to compile a list of events across the District, but I didn’t to finish that work in time. But, Black Virginia News did and I encourage you to take a look.
Now, on with summaries of three upcoming meetings and a bullet explaining I am not aware if a fourth one is happening or not.
Danville City Council to appropriate money for Real Time Crime Center, consider expansion of rental inspection districts
The nine-member Danville City Council will meet Tuesday, January 17 in City Council Chambers at 7 p.m. They’ll hear a proclamation for National Mentoring Month that will be presented to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Danville Area. There will also be a presentation from Danville Police Department and Danville Youth and Gang Prevention. (meeting page)
There are several items under new business. The first is a request for the city to vacate 0.03 acres of an alleyway on Newton Street.
“All applicable city departments have reviewed the request and no concerns were indicated,” reads the staff report.
Next is a request from Fab’s Family Medical Transport to get a 60-day permit to operate an ambulance. This has already been through the Council’s Ambulance Committee. They propose charging $300.89 for Advanced Life Support (ALS) and $250.84 for Basic Life Support (BLS), and $8.10 per mile.
The applicant does not intend to respond to the 911 system. Staff recommended the permit.
“The lack of transportation was one of the top issues that our local hospital faces each day,” reads the evaluation of the permit. “Over the past few months this has caused the hospital to go on diversion several times.”
After that, Council will adopt a resolution for a “Comprehensive Agreement to Complete Design Services for Renovations and Additions to George W. Washington High School.” This project is funded by the additional sales taxes approved by voters in the 2021 referendum.
The Council will next consider an appropriation of $741,024 from the Department of Criminal Justice Service’s American Rescue Plan Act Law Enforcement Technology Grant program for three projects.
Part of this would used be to create a Real Time Crime Center as a back-up to the city’s main dispatch center.
“This grant opportunity will allow us to stand up these resources and quickly begin leveraging them in improving our response to crime,” reads the staff report. “Additionally, the two full-service CAD stations will serve as a back-up to our current Emergency Communications Center, which does not have this redundancy within our jurisdiction.”
That would be at a cost of $434,890. The second part would be to acquire forensic technology called Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) at a cost of $170,246.
“IBIS solutions provide timely actionable intelligence for the investigation of firearm-related crimes, which has contributed to the arrest of thousands of criminals,” the staff report continues. “IBIS uses specialized 3D microscopy to capture the unique markings left by firearms on fired bullets and cartridge casings.”
The third part would cost $150,000 for an artificial intelligence program called the Fusus Real Time Crime Center to “enable smaller teams of law enforcement personnel to cover more ground.”
Finally on the Council’s regular agenda is an appropriation of a $14,536 grant for litter control.
In the work session immediately after the regular meeting, Council will discuss a proposal to expand the number of “rental inspection districts” from three to five.
“These districts were created due to the majority of the properties within their boundaries being rental dwellings, and the number of maintenance code complaints the City had received,” reads the staff report.
Louisa Supervisors to take up Lake Anna Resort project
The seven-member Louisa County Board of Supervisors will meet at 5 p.m. and immediately go into closed session as is their custom. They reconvene at 6 p.m. in open session. (agenda packet)
There are three items under new business.
The first is the purchase of 2.58 acres of land from Lake Anna Environmental Services for $90,000 related to a wastewater treatment plant.
The second is the Virginia Department of Transportation’s purchase of property from Louisa County on Zachary Taylor Highway for $65,000. The land will be used for a permanent drainage easement for a stormwater management facility for the roundabout proposed for Wares Crossroads.
The third is an approval and reinstatement of a memorandum of understanding between Louisa County and LA Resort LLC related to the above purchase of the wastewater treatment plant.
There are two public hearings. The first is a resolution to alter the precinct boundaries related to the recent boundary line adjustment with Goochland County.
The second is to approve a rezoning application for Lake Anna Resort for 15.277 acres from Commercial (C-2) to Planned Unit Development (PUD). The applicant is also seeking a conditional use permit for a maximum height of 80 feet.
On October 13, 2022, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning but did not support the additional height. (read the story)
Supervisors had been scheduled to hear the application on December 5, 2022 but the matter was deferred.
Health Department seeks Pittsylvania Supervisors’ permission to keep $95K in funds to invest for future
The seven-member Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors will begin their day January 18 with a work session at 4 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room in Chatham at 39 Bank Street. (work session agenda)
Earlier this month, the Supervisors unanimously elected Darrell Dalton of the Callands-Gretna District as chair. From the minutes we learn that this was seen as a chance to reset the board after an acrimonious 2022.
However, the vote to elect Timothy Dudley of the Staunton River District as vice chair was not unanimous. Vic Ingram of the Tunstall District voted no as he had nominated Tim Chesher of the Dan River District.
Supervisors begin their work session with a work session with a presentation on the Virginia Department of Health’s request to retain $95,376 in budget funds.
“If approved we plan to use the funding to install a generator at the Chatham Health Department (approximately $40k), purchase a large pharmacy grade refrigerator (approximately $20k) and use any remaining balances for vaccines for the community,” reads an email from Tina Hansen at VDH.
“Our director would like to prepare for the influx of people into the area because of the casino that is coming,” Hansen continued.
Then there will be updates on the county’s broadband efforts from RiverStreet Networks, a discussion of temporary residential occupancy of campers, a discussion of diversions at the EMS Hospital, and a discussion of Zito Media Internet. There were no advance materials for those discussions.
The work session will end with a closed session in which the search for a new county administrator will take place, an economic development project will be discussed, and there will be an update on acquisition of land for the jail.
The Supervisors’ Business Meeting begins at 7 p.m. There will be a general presentation from Supervisors as well as a presentation from the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
There are two land use rezonings and the accompanying public hearings.
Mount Zion Baptist Church seeks a rezoning from R-1 to A-1. This would allow for a cemetery to be built. (page 81)
JDA Associates seeks a rezoning from A-1 to R-1 for a 3.4 acre property in the Chatham / Blairs District. This would allow for the parcel to be consolidated with three adjacent parcels.
There will also be a public hearing for changes to the water and sewer rates.
In other meetings:
Campbell County Supervisors usually meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month. There’s not currently a meeting listed for January 17, but that could be because they met last week to discuss financing for renovations at Brookville High School.