In case you missed the Jan. 26 Board of Supervisors meeting, here is a brief recap of items from the board’s monthly work session and business meeting:
RAISE GRANT APPLICATIONS
The board authorized county staff to submit three transportation projects for federal RAISE grants and adopted resolutions of support for each of the projects.
The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program funds multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional transportation projects of significant local or regional impact. Applications are scored against several criteria: safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation.
The Chesterfield Department of Transportation (CDOT) intends to submit RAISE grant applications for the following projects: $10 million for Powhite Parkway Extended, Phase II; $16.4 million for Chippenham Parkway/Midlothian Turnpike interchange and multi-modal improvements; and $3.6 million for Hopkins Road (Beulah Road-Chippenham Parkway) interchange improvements and road diet.
The latter two requests would require a 20% local match. Applications are due by Feb. 28.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
Clay Bowles, deputy county administrator for community operations, and several others made presentations to the board during its afternoon work session regarding the different ways Chesterfield acts as a steward of the local environment. You can watch parts of the presentation by clicking on any of the three videos below.
EXCESS LODGING TAX COLLECTIONS
The board appropriated $650,000 in excess lodging tax revenue to fund improvements to River City Sportsplex, a 115-acre county-owned athletic facility.
By interlocal agreement, Chesterfield budgets the collection of an 8 percent transient lodging tax for all short-term rentals within the county to cover its annual share of obligated debt service for the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority (GRCCA). Lodging tax collections above the GRCCA budgeted amount are returned to the locality.
Chesterfield Parks and Recreation identified $650,000 in enhancements at River City Sportsplex that will directly improve visitor experience and satisfaction. The facility accounted for more than $21 million of the $34 million in sports tourism visitor spending generated in Chesterfield last year, and the planned improvements will continue to differentiate it as a destination of choice for national tournament organizers.
The funding will allow for the following enhancements:
* Improve both restrooms and plaza areas for visitor comfort and convenience
* Add public WiFi to the fields at the rear of the complex
* Replace the entrance sign along Genito Road with a higher resolution electronic display for better visibility
* Add wayfinding signage throughout the complex and parking lots
* Replace ball safety nets behind all goals
BUDGET UPDATE
Matt Harris, deputy county administrator for finance and administration, and Budget and Management Director Gerard Durkin briefed the board on several finance-related topics during its afternoon work session. Watch their presentation in its entirety below.
INDIAN SPRINGS ROAD EXTENSION AND DRAINAGE PROJECT
The board authorized Chesterfield’s director of procurement to award a $1.73 million construction contract to Shirley Contracting Company LLC, and appropriated and transferred $1.2 million from existing projects for the Indian Springs Road Extension and Drainage Project.
In September 2020, the board appropriated bond issuance proceeds for various projects, including the Indian Springs road improvements. In September 2021, it authorized staff to finalize the design and proceed with right-of-way acquisitions, utility relocations and advertisement for construction bids.
Five construction bids were received for the Indian Springs project. Shirley Contracting Company, LLC submitted the lowest bid. The contractor is scheduled to begin construction next month, with estimated completion in November.