Upper Swift Creek Plan to get more study
Supervisors approve a 60-day extension
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors last week gave the planning commission until the board's August meeting to review the Upper Swift Creek Plan. The commission had asked for another 60 days to complete the land use plan, which will determine future development in much of the Swift Creek Reservoir area including portions of Hull Street Road.

The board and commission have been sparring publicly about who is to blame for the four years the commission has been studying the plan. Some commission members say the incomplete water quality data should have been better managed by the county administration. The data calculates and predicts the amount of phosphorous in the Swift Creek Reservoir.

"The commission has drug their feet…but we owe the citizens 60 more days," said Midlothian Supervisor Don Sowder.

"Four years is too long to consider this matter," agreed Matoaca Supervisor Renny Humphrey.

Bermuda Supervisor Dickie King saw "politics at play" while Dale Supervisor Kelly Miller suggested the commission might need more than 60 days. The plan could move to the board for action without the water quality data being completed and be modified later, according to Water Quality Analyst Scott Flanigan.

At the board meeting, County Administrator Lane Ramsey took issue with news reports in the Chesterfield Observer that reported a transportation district for the plan area included the possibility of higher property taxes. Ramsey said a number of citizens had contacted the county and supervisors to complain about a possible tax increase. "I want to assure citizens that the board would not implement…higher taxes for transportation or phosphorous cleanup," he said.

"The possibility of a transportation district that would raise the property tax rate was not part of the plan," said Planning Director Kirk Turner. "It was a supplement and served as background material."

"I thought the supporting document was part of the plan," said Brandermill President Ryland Reamy after the board meeting. "I pulled it down from the county Web site and wasn't informed it wasn't part of the plan."

New police chief

The board expected to announce its replacement for retiring Police Chief Carl Baker last week, but delayed its decision until the June 27 meeting. The board needs to vote on the committee's recommendation. Baker's retirement is effective on Aug. 1, but he will use accumulated vacation time during July.

"We haven't finished our work," explained Miller. "We need to take as long as we need to take."

Asked if the selection committee has narrowed its candidates down to two applicants, Miller smiled and said, "I can't tell you that."

Last month, the selection committee announced it would only look internally for Baker's replacement, saying the county already had highly qualified candidates. The applicants are Lt. Col. Andy Scruggs, Lt. Col. Thierry Dupuis, Maj. Warner Williams, Capt. Karl Leonard and Capt. Dan Kelly. The selection committee includes Miller, Ramsey, Commonwealth Attorney Billy Davenport, retired Deputy Chief Jim Bourque and former Chesterfield Superintendent Bill Cannaday.