Management study is deferred for fine tuning
School site purchases for Cosby and Clover Hill replacement to be looked at carefully
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors last week deferred a $135,000 management study of county and school spending indefinitely, primarily to modify the scope of the study. It's not known when the county board will readdress the study.

Two citizen activists - Brenda Stewart and Ronald Hall - had complained about the cost of the study and that a review of just the past two years does not allow for an analysis of past school site purchases at allegedly "inflated prices." Stewart has questioned the amount of money spent on land for Cosby High School and the replacement for Clover Hill High School on Genito Road. Currently, the study includes school board contracting and procurement procedures but only for the past two years. The Cosby and Clover Hill land purchases occurred more than two years ago.

The board followed the recommendation of its Budget and Audit Committee represented by Supervisors Dan Gecker and Jim Holland to defer the study. They believe citizens are getting a good value for their tax dollars but have questions about some major expenditures. Data shows per capita spending by the county is less than comparable jurisdictions in the Richmond area and elsewhere in the state.

"Our study should be more targeted to specific expenditures," said Holland, who is a CPA. Asked if land purchases for earlier school sites would be included in the scope of the study, Holland replied, "Yes."

Last November, the county administration recommended a contract be let to TATC Consulting for an "independent evaluation of county management practices and procedures, contracting procedures and processes and to identify opportunities and make recommendations to make the county more efficient in spending taxpayers' money."

That decision was delayed after Stewart and Hall registered complaints, and the study was referred to the committee in January for review.

The school system and its board select school locations and determine purchase prices, and the County Attorney's Office assists in executing the transaction.

Primary voting

Chesterfield's Chairman of the Electoral Board Jack Clifford apologized for problems caused by heavy voter turnout during the recent presidential primary. Some precincts experienced long waits, causing some voters to leave the polls before voting. Around 300 voters were allowed to write their choices on plain paper, but the State Board of Elections disallowed those ballots. However, that wouldn't have affected the outcome of the primary.

"We screwed up and underestimated the turnout of Democratic voters," said Clifford in blunt language. "It won't happen again."

In the 2004 primary, 12,138 persons asked for a Democratic ballot. This time, there were 38,852 Democratic voters. 42,000 ballots were printed, but out of 63 precincts, nine precincts ran out.

"Some voters were disenfranchised," complained Holland. The Registrar's Office was "caught flatfooted" by "the Obama effect," he added.

Because of long lines at some precincts, Matoaca Supervisor Marleen Durfee questioned if the polls were understaffed. Clifford replied the large Democratic voter turnout just wasn't anticipated.

Clifford and Registrar Larry Haake do not answer to the county board, but they appeared voluntarily to answer questions. Though Clifford and Chesterfield's Registrar's Office do report to the State Board of Elections, communication between the two groups appeared to be lacking. "We were learning things through media reports," commented Clifford.

Human services

In preparation for next month's budget decision, Deputy County Administrator Becky Dickson briefed the board on her departments' role in providing county services. She oversees 1,529 full-time and part-time employees, including the Adult Drug Court, which has the second lowest recidivism rate in the state.

While the county population increased 13 percent between July 2002 and June 2007 and the General Fund budget has increased 36 percent, some of the services have grown much faster - particularly food stamp cases and Medicaid requests. Dickson's increased budget request totals $1.9 million, much of it mandated by state and federal requirements. More spending on senior services is expected as Chesterfield's senior population grows to 30 percent of all residents by 2025.

For FY09 (starting July 1), Dickson is requesting funding of $40,000 for a part-time senior program person and operating costs; $79,000 for a public health nurse; $74,200 for a social work supervisor; and $77,500 for an infant services speech therapist. All costs include salary and benefits.

Other actions

Key Construction was awarded a $695,000 contract to construct a new road and parking lot at the Clover Hill Athletic Complex. The firm was the low bidder in the project funded by the 2004 bond referendum.

The board approved the purchase of rightof way, easements and residue property totaling 1.4 acres to extend Brandermill Parkway across Old Hundred Road toward the new Clover Hill High School. The purchase from Countryside Christian Church cost $108,988. The intersection will become a second entrance/ exit from the new school that fronts on Genito Road. A traffic light may be installed on Old Hundred Road before the school opens in the fall of 2010.