Stegmaier cites county bond rating among top priorities
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER
In his first public address outlining the goals for his administration, County Administrator Jay Stegmaier listed his top priorities as protecting the county's AAA bond rating, managing growth, improving transportation and increasing economic development. The newly appointed chief executive spoke during Midlothian Supervisor Don Sowder's community meeting at Midlothian Middle School last week.

Stegmaier

Stegmaier acknowledged the county has not set aside enough funds for health care benefits for retired county and school employees. Last month, the Chesterfield Observer reported that $600 million will be needed over the next 30 years as more baby boomers reach retirement age. Stegmaier said providing health benefits for retirees ages 60-65, who are not yet eligible for the federal Medicare program, is particularly expensive, costing about $10,000 each annually as compared to $2,000 for employees in their 20s.

"Our AAA bond rating is in jeopardy if we don't do anything," he said.

To solve the budgeting issue, Stegmaier said the county is "looking hard at benefits." The county has cut benefits before.

On the growth issue, he attributed much of Chesterfield's higher growth rate to the county's high quality of life. Chesterfield's population is growing at about 2.5 percent per year.

"A drawback of having a good product is you sell a lot of it faster," Stegmaier said.

He endorsed New Urbanism development, which encourages people to work, live and play in the same community, pointing to Roseland, a proposed 5,100-home community with office and retail at the intersection of Route 288 and Woolridge as an example. "New Urbanism attracts young professionals and empty-nesters," he added. Roseland is scheduled to be reviewed by the planning commission on Sept. 18.

While the county hopes for the state to resume its traditional role of funding and building roads, the new county administrator predicted, "We'll have to solve that problem mostly ourselves."

Last November at the county's Transportation Summit, the county proposed coming up with $300-$500 million using nine possible solutions, but only $27 million for improvements on Woolridge and Otterdale roads has been earmarked so far. Chesterfield is also trying to encourage private road building companies to extend the Powhite Parkway nine miles as a toll road.

According to Stegmaier, 30 percent of Chesterfield's workforce leaves the county daily to work elsewhere. He wants "a job for every worker here."

Regarding the county's investment in the redevelopment of Cloverleaf Mall, he called it "a tough project with hurdles to overcome… [but] with real potential." The landowner of the property underneath the mall recently sued the county over the formula that determines the price Chesterfield will have to pay for that land. The county has built incentives into Chippenham Place, the mixed-use project that will replace Cloverleaf Mall, to encourage more retail and office development and less residential.

"We already have the most open government in central Virginia, and with new technology we will be even more so," promised Stegmaier. Chesterfield is considering streaming live board and planning commission meetings online. Meetings may also be archived for later viewing.