June 1998

DATE: June 15, 1998

CONTACT: Tim Foster, Traffic Engineer

PHONE: 501-4397

The Department of Public Works advises motorists that on Saturday, July 4, beginning at 2 p.m., an Independence Day celebration at the Innsbrook office complex will alter traffic patterns.

Henrico police will assist with traffic control on public roads and intersections before and after the event. At the completion of the fireworks display, police will detour traffic in and around the Innsbrook area. The modified traffic patterns include partial closings of Cox Road, Sadler Road, and Innslake Drive. Officers will also direct traffic along the affected portion of West Broad Street.

Public Works advises motorists who are not attending the event to avoid the area.

DATE: June 9, 1998

CONTACT: Charles Curry, Henrico County Agent

PHONE: 501-5160

Provost and Senior Vice President of Virginia Tech Peggy Meszaros will meet with Henrico County's Extension Office staff at Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hilliard Road, on Friday, June 12, at 9:30 a.m., as part of her state-wide tour of Virginia's Cooperative Extension offices.

Extension Director C. Clark Jones said Meszaros' visit is a way to strengthen the links between Virginia Tech and the local communities. "Extension is a unique educational partnership," he said. "Local governments, along with state and federal governments, help fund the programs . . . focused on the needs of people in that city or county. The ties to Virginia Tech and Virginia State give us the research-based information that can be used to solve and to prevent problems," he said.

District Director Betty Parker added that the purpose of Meszaros' meeting with Henrico is "to showcase the quality and diversity of Extension educational programs in the Northeast district . . . and to provide local funding partners an opportunity to interact with Extension administrators" and to see local programs.

Henrico Extension staff will make two presentations to Meszaros: The Diversity of Urban Issues in Family and Consumer Sciences, and Water Quality Issues in Planning District 15.

Meszaros hopes to have visited six extension districts and most of its 107 local offices by August.

DATE: June 8, 1998

CONTACT: Barry Lawrence, Assistant to the County Manager for Board Affairs

PHONE: 501-4318

The Virginia Municipal League (VML) has appointed 12 Henrico County officials to serve on the association's policy committees.

Henrico Board of Supervisors Chairman and Three Chopt District Supervisor David A. Kaechele, along with Deputy County Manager Leon T. Johnson, will serve on the Finance Committee; Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman and Tuckahoe District Supervisor Patricia S. O'Bannon, along with Deputy County Manager Robert K. Pinkerton, will serve on the Environmental Quality Committee; Brookland District Supervisor Richard W. Glover and Deputy County Manager Harvey L. Hinson will serve on the General Laws Committee; Varina District Supervisor James B. Donati, Jr. and Director of Public Works Robert C. Thompson, will serve on the Transportation Committee; Fairfield District Supervisor Frank J. Thornton and Deputy County Manager George T. Drumwright, Jr. will serve on the Human Development and Education Committee; and County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E., and Chief of Police Col. Henry W. Stanley will serve on the Public Safety Committee.

Policy committee members are nominated by their localities and serve for one year. Serving on the VML policy committees is a way in which local government officials contribute to the development of the league's policy positions. The purpose of the policy committees is to develop the league's position on various issues concerning their respective jurisdictions. These decided positions become the preliminary league policy statement. The policy statement is debated, amended and adopted by the full league membership at the business session held during the VML Annual Conference in October.

The policy committees also recommend issues to the VML Legislative Committee for incorporation into the league legislative program. The preliminary legislative program, like the policy statement, is adopted by the full league membership at the annual conference.

The legislative program and policy statement guide league officers, members and staff in their work with the general assembly, state agencies and the federal government.

DATE: June 4, 1998

CONTACT: Bev Donati

PHONE: 795-7822

Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati will discuss the new "no car tax" plan at his next town meeting on Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m., at the Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road.

Henrico's Finance Director Forrest Matthews will assist Donati in explaining the governor's car tax elimination, and how it will affect Henrico residents.

"This is an issue that everyone is excited and curious about," Donati said. "People have questions about how it works, when it will become effective, and what it means to them in terms of saving money. We will answer those questions at this meeting," he said.

Donati's town meetings are open to the public.