Cville Tomorrow News

Save taxpayer money, build a taller dam

1/31/11 * Daily Progress Editorial [full story]

“Every bit of additional information that we receive is just reinforcing that we have made the right decision for this.”

Exactly.

Albemarle County Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd was referring to updated engineering information on constructing a new, higher dam for Ragged Mountain Reservoir, rather than incrementally raising the height of the existing 100-year-old dam as some have proposed.

Top Albemarle official predicts level spending, tax rates

01/29/11 * The Daily Progress [full story]

Having taken over as Albemarle County’s executive this year, Tom Foley is faced with the challenge of leading the county out of an economic downturn the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades.

Police staffing levels are below the county’s goal of 1.5 per 1,000 residents, there’s little money in sight to fund the county’s long-term infrastructure needs and some school leaders fear too much of a dip in education spending could keep the county from its aim to have a world-class school system.

Group seeks state funds to keep trains running

01/27/10 * The Daily Progress [full story]

RICHMOND — Virginia may need to put up millions of dollars to keep some of its Amtrak passenger trains running in 2013, and rail advocates are trying to generate support now to make sure the funds are available.

Gov. Bob McDonnell’s transportation proposal in the General Assembly would set up a rail operating and capital fund for intercity passenger rail service, but the governor isn’t proposing that any money be put into the fund this year.

Labeling law leaves sour taste in cidermakers' mouths

01/26/10 * The Daily Progress [full story]

RICHMOND — The sweetness of Virginia apples is pushing hard cider into wine categories — a distinction apple growers don’t want.

The Virginia Senate on Wednesday approved legislation that, pending approval in the House, would redefine how producers of hard cider market their product.

JPA bridge replacement contract awarded

01/25/11 * The Daily Progress [full story]

The R.R. Dawson Bridge Co. has been hired to replace the Jefferson Park Avenue bridge in Charlottesville.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board announced Tuesday that the Kentucky-based firm was given the job after submitting a construction bid of $5.8 million, the lowest of 11 project bids.

PVCC to provide intel courses

01/25/11 * The Daily Progress [full story]

A partnership between Piedmont Virginia Community College and an Ohio-based nonprofit will train Central Virginians for careers in the region’s expanding defense intelligence industry, including helping residents to obtain coveted security clearances.

The Advanced Technical Intelligence Center for Human Capital Development, also known as ATIC, has agreed to help PVCC by providing an established curriculum. ATIC was founded by a federal grant in 2006 for the specific purpose of training new intelligence analysts.

Goodbye, dredging? Brown, Huja, Szakos opt for mega-dam

01/27/10 * The Hook [full story]

In September, Charlottesville City Council took a stand in favor of dredging to create more local water supply. But on Tuesday, January 18, the same day that one Albemarle Supervisor alleged that dredging might unleash potentially damaging fumes, City Council took a vote that appears to give Albemarle County and the Nature Conservancy what they want: a mega-reservoir to focus the local water supply in a massive lake that would hug Interstate 64.

Talking about the sacrifices made by previous generations, City Councilor Satyendra Huja— long the issue’s acknowledged swing vote— gave an impassioned speech in favor of building a large dam in the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. A moment later, fellow Councilor David Brown made a motion favoring the construction of a 30-foot increase in the height of the existing dam, a project that might require clearing 160 acres of mature forest. Councilor Kristen Szakos followed suit with a thumbs-up of her own.

 

Free at last? Govt-owned bank wins control of Landmark hotel

01/27/2011 * The Hook [full story]

Three years after ground was broken and two years after lawsuits began flying, the towering skeleton of the planned Landmark hotel crept one inch closer to completion Wednesday, January 19, when a Georgia judge ruled against Halsey Minor on all counts in litigation between him and his lender.

“It was game, set, and match in favor of the bank,” says Connor Crook, attorney for another party in the morass, a company controlled by Lee Danielson, developer of the 101-room luxury lodging. “All claims are now resolved between those parties, pending any appeal.”

 

Water update: Ragged Mountain Dam compromise?

1/25/2011 * C-Ville Weekly [full story]

In less than 48 hours, the waterlogged debate between Charlottesville and Albemarle County officials over the Lower Ragged Mountain Dam became measurably different for every person involved.

Last Tuesday, Schnabel Engineering, the firm behind the county-favored 42' earthen dam proposal, lowered construction cost estimates to between $15.9 million and $19.5 million—an average reduction of approximately $5.8 million. Hours later, three city councilors—David Brown, Satyendra Huja and Kristin Szakos—voted to amend an ordinance passed in September to phase construction of Ragged Mountain Dam. The amendment raises the first phase of a Ragged Mountain Dam to 30' from 13' an increase approved by Council four months ago.

Both City Council and the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $143 million water supply plan in 2006. That plan included a pipeline linking the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir and the Ragged Mountain Reservoir, expanded water treatment plant capacities, and a new 45' dam at Ragged Mountain. However, the plan has been on hold while City Council considered instead dredging the reservoir and renovating the existing Ragged Mountain Dam, an essential component of the water plan.

Businesses back county's 'doable' plan for U.S. 29

1/24/2011 * Daily Progress [full story]

Area business leaders are backing Albemarle County officials’ decision to focus on accomplishing the most high-priority, realistic projects within the county’s master plan for U.S. 29 north of Charlottesville.

Members of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce have sent the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors a letter offering support for the board’s “more realistic focused plan” to “do the doable.”

Supervisors plan to have the county revisit Places29, the language of which is still being worked out, five years after master plan is approved.