Fort Lee expansion to impact Chesterfield
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Ramsey

New civilian and military personnel headed to Fort Lee due to its expansion may be more likely to make Chesterfield County their home than any other locality.

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors heard last week that 26.5 percent of the military and civilian personnel assigned to the army base in Petersburg currently reside in the county. The new population growth is expected to follow the trend of where base personnel now reside.

Prince George County has the second largest share with 15.2 percent of Fort Lee military and civilian employees.

The base currently employs about 3,900 military and civilian workers. That number is expected to grow to 10,200 with the expansion over the next few years. Exactly how many will live in Chesterfield is unknown, but new military personnel will begin arriving in 2009.

The expansion is also expected to create thousands of off-base jobs. The Crater Regional Planning District is currently working to develop a more definitive estimate, said Executive Director Denny Morris.

Fort Lee Deputy Commander Esther Lee told the board a committee is investigating specific impacts with the "key issues being housing, schools and childcare." Affordable housing for military personnel  headed her list of concerns.

"[Fort Lee's expansion ] will have a significant impact on Chesterfield's residential growth," commented County Administrator Lane Ramsey.

County school bond issues were approved by the voters prior to the decision by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's (BRAC) report a year ago to expand Fort Lee's role. Next April, construction for new buildings on the base will begin and total $1.4 billion by 2016. Fort Lee will experience the second largest expansion of any Army base in the United States as a result of the BRAC decision.

More mental health funding

The Chesterfield board approved $333,484 in additional revenue for the Chesterfield Community Services Board with $291,684 coming from the state and $41,800 in Medicaid fee revenue. It will create nine more fulltime positions and allow the hiring of two new mental health case managers, who are currently carrying the highest caseloads in the state.

Beirne's term expires

Terri Beirne's interim position as Midlothian supervisor has ended after just over three months. She was appointed by the board to replace Ed Barber after he resigned following a plea agreement to two sexual abuse misdemeanors involving his 16-year-old stepdaughter. Republican Don Sowder was elected last week and will serve through 2007.

The supervisors praised Beirne and thanked her for helping restore dignity to the board. "Thank you for this wonderful opportunity," Beirne replied.