The Henrico County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting Tuesday, May 27. An agenda and complete video of the meeting are available on the board’s webpage.
National Homeownership Month: Board of Supervisors Chair and Fairfield District Supervisor Roscoe D. Cooper III presented a proclamation to recognize June as National Homeownership Month. The month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the benefits of homeownership and encourage opportunities to improve homeownership.
Cooper reaffirmed Henrico’s commitment to reducing barriers to homeownership through affordable housing programs such as the Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program, the Employee Home Purchase Program and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Program.
PAL Officer of the Year: County Manager John A. Vithoulkas recognized Henrico Police Officer Adam Marzullo, who was recently awarded the local Police Athletic League (PAL) Officer of the Year Award as well as the National PAL Officer of the Year Award. Marzullo has been a Henrico police officer for more than 10 years and currently serves as a PAL Officer in the Community Policing Unit.
Mental Health & Developmental Services programs: Vithoulkas congratulated Mental Health & Developmental Services (MHDS) Executive Director Laura Totty and her team on the Prevention Services Unit for being recognized by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services. The state agency recognized the unit for delivering comprehensive environmental prevention strategies that exceed minimum expectations and for maintaining innovative public awareness campaigns.
Additionally, the MHDS Mental Vocational Services Team received an “exemplary fidelity” rating, the highest possible rating, for its Individual Placement and Support employment services. The review team from DBHDS and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) praised the program’s leadership and staff for their highly coordinated, person-centered services and strong relationships with clients and employers. According to DARS, MHDS is the first Individual Placement and Support provider in Virginia to achieve this rating at a baseline review.
Jewish American Heritage Month: Vithoulkas closed his comments recognizing May as National Jewish American Heritage Month. The month provides an opportunity to recognize the many contributions Jewish Americans have made to communities.
“Here in Henrico County, we are grateful for Jewish residents, leaders, organizations and families who help strengthen and enrich our community each day,” Vithoulkas said. “Their contributions continue to help make Henrico a welcoming and vibrant place for all.”
Girl Scouts create bike safety video
At its work session, the Board received a pre-screening of a Girl Scout Silver Award submission. Girl Scouts Cadettes can earn a Silver Award by teaming up to help solve an issue impacting their community. Four middle school students from Girl Scouts Troop 5740 chose bike safety, following a fatal accident involving a fellow student last August.
Anna Thomas, Julianna Gasper, Alice Artis and Kenley Weir, of Tuckahoe and Quioccasin middle schools, collaborated with the Department of Communications to create a myth-busting video about the importance of wearing a helmet. While employees helped with equipment and editing, the girls developed the concept, wrote the script and acted in the video.
Their video is available on Henrico’s YouTube page. Their project also includes a helmet drive to ensure local youth have access to the protective gear.
Board adopts recodification of county ordinances
The Board adopted a recodification of the County Code. The code is updated periodically to resolve inconsistencies, modernize language, remove redundancies and conform to changes in state and federal laws. The code was previously recodified in 1980, 1995 and 2010.
Updates include references to government entities that have been renamed, an expansion of the definition of “park,” and an allowance of newer technologies for signatures.
The recodification does not include changes to zoning or subdivision ordinances.
Conservation easement gifted to nonprofit for land preservation
The Board approved a resolution to establish a conservation easement on a portion of the future New Market Park and gift it to the nonprofit Broad Water Innovations. This easement will protect key features of the future park as well as support the protection of wetlands and streams.
Performance agreement addendum approved for technology firm
The Board approved a resolution to execute an addendum to the Commonwealth’s Development Opportunity Fund Performance agreement between the county, the Henrico Economic Development Authority (EDA), the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority (VEDP) and ASGN Inc.
Under the addendum, VEDP will pay a $356,000 grant from the fund to the county, which will then be appropriated to the EDA for payment to ASGN, along with local matching funds of $400,000. This grant recognizes the company’s capital investment and new jobs created in the county.
ASGN, a provider of information technology services, is headquartered in the Three Chopt District. It is one of six Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in the county.
Bond proceeds allocated to the construction of airport facilities
The Board approved a resolution to allocate $1.2 million in revenue bond proceeds to construct airport facilities at 5455 Fox Road. The property is owned by the Capital Region Airport Commission and leased to AFCO Cargo RIC LLC.
Allocation of bond proceeds does not create any debt or financial obligation for the county.
Amendments requested to FY 2025-2026 budget
The Board introduced a resolution to amend the annual fiscal plan for 2025-26. The proposed amendment totals $55.6 million, about $38 million for operations and $17.4 for capital improvements.
The operations portion includes $11 million for public safety overtime, $8.6 million for Henrico County Public Schools, $5 million for payment of hotel and motel taxes to the Great Richmond Convention Center Authority and $7.4 million for the Children’s Services Act Program.
The capital improvements portion includes the replacement of a fire engine and the addition of $15 million in federal Safe Streets and Road for All grant funding.
A public hearing is scheduled for June 9. Information about the Henrico County budget and budget amendments is available online.
Ordinance introduced to increase fees for household refuse disposal areas
The Board introduced an ordinance that would set new disposal fees for Henrico’s public use areas. The proposed fees would be:
- Household waste and up to four tires would increase to $5, up from $3
- Up to two additional tires would increase to $5 per tire, up from $1
- Household appliances containing chlorofluorocarbon or hydrochlorofluorocarbon would increase to $20, up from $15
Access to household recycling and yard waste disposal in public use areas would remain free for county residents.
Public Works authorized to participate in SMART SCALE funding
The Board approved a resolution that allows Public Works to submit a letter of intent to participate in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) SMART SCALE Program. This program allocates funds for transportation projects, such as highway improvements, transit and rail capacity expansion, bicycle and pedestrian improvements and transportation demand management.
Public Works has identified 21 potential projects:
- Brook Road Improvements – Azalea Avenue to Brook Run Shopping Center
- Bryan Park Interchange Improvements
- I-295 and Woodman Road Improvements
- I-64 and Gaskins Road Interchange Improvements
- I-64 and West Broad Street Interchange Improvements
- I-95 and Parham Road Interchange Improvements
- Nine Mile Road Improvements – Gordons Lane to Dabbs House Road
- Parham Road Pedestrian Improvements – Holly Hill Road to Three Chopt Road
- Patterson Avenue Pedestrian Improvements – Pump Road to Maybeury Drive
- GRTC Pulse Extension West – West Broad Street to East Parham Road
- Route 5 and Doran Road Roundabout
- Route 5, Midview Road and Herman Street Roundabout
- Route 5 and Osborne Turnpike/Lovely Lane Roundabout
- Route 288 Northbound Aux Lane
- Springfield Road Improvements
- Staples Mill Road Sidewalks – Hungary Spring Road to Sharps Way
- Chamberlayne Road Improvements Phase 1 – Azalea Avenue to Brook Hill Circle
- Mechanicsville Turnpike Roundabouts and Streetscape
- West Broad Street and Parham Road Improvements
- Williamsburg Road Improvements – Randall Avenue to Charles City Road
- Willow Lawn Transfer Station and Park & Ride