Private water sources like wells and springs are unregulated in Virginia, but Chesterfield County is offering homeowners an affordable opportunity to find out what’s in their water. Chesterfield’s Cooperative Extension Office is offering confidential water testing and education through the Virginia Household Water Quality Program. Water sample kits are available to residents of Chesterfield and surrounding counties at a cost of $60 per kit. Samples are collected by homeowners and analyzed for 14 parameters including bacteria, metals, nitrate and hardness. Testing results are kept strictly confidential and are reported only to the homeowner. Recommendations for water system care and maintenance…
Browsing: Chesterfield Government
Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation recently used a $30,000 grant to purchase a mobile playground unit. The unit was delivered Aug. 5 and was used the next day during National Night Out at Bensley Park. The play space grant was provided by the National Recreation and Park Association and The Walt Disney Co. This investment supports NRPA’s and Disney’s combined goal of providing one million kids and families with greater access to play. Agencies with the most innovative and impactful project ideas were chosen to receive grants to build their projects. “We are very excited to receive this funding,” Chesterfield…
The Chesterfield Health District is investigating an increase in the number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease. Since May 1, there have been 11 confirmed cases among older adults and persons with medical conditions. Legionella bacteria has been found at the U.S. Defense Supply Center, Falling Creek Middle School, Reynolds Metal Co., Johnston-Willis Hospital, Ice Zone and two schools in the Midlothian area, Midlothian Middle and Greenfield Elementary, according to the Chesterfield County Department of Health. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella bacteria, which naturally occurs in lakes and streams. Legionella can become a health…
It looks as if a Candlewood Suites hotel is coming to eastern Chesterfield County. A site plan for a 90-room, five-story hotel was approved by the county Planning Department on April 25. The plan calls for a 54,545-square-foot building at 572 E. Hundred Road, next to a Wawa convenience store and near a Hyatt Place hotel and Jalapenos, Chen’s and Taco Bell restaurants, west of Interstate 295. The owner of the 5.1-acre property – 572 Hospitality LLC of Glen Allen – plans 90 parking spaces and 1,024 feet of sidewalk. Shailen Patel is the contact person for the company. Another…
Last week, the Virginia Association of Counties named Chesterfield County the recipient of two 2019 Achievement Awards, including the program’s highest recognition, the “Best Achievement Award.” The county leads the VACo all-time achievement list with 32 awards, earning at least one award since the program’s inception. The VACo Achievement Awards highlight innovative programs focused on addressing high-priority issues that challenge counties today. This year, the county received two awards, including the overall Best Achievement Award, recognizing the Police Experience Program and the county’s Detention Review Team. These awards come on the heels of Chesterfield receiving the Best Large County Achievement…
A conditional use permit request for a group care home will go to the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors later this month after the Planning Commission recommended denial on July 16. Teshauna Moore Tornes applied for the conditional use permit on Nov. 5, 2018. She subsequently revised it three times, according to the Planning Department staff report. Even with the revisions, the group home – which would serve four girls ages 13 to 18 – faced stiff opposition from neighbors and a homeowners association. Although the Planning Department recommended approval with several conditions, eight people spoke during public comment against…
Leonard Sheriff’s deputy Chris Allen is pictured with Amor, the department’s explosive detection dog. Amor has been working at Chesterfield County courts and the jail since December. He alerts on more than 20 odors. (Caleb M. Soptelean photo) Although he says the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office is known for its Heroin Addiction Recovery Program, Sheriff Karl Leonard said the office can’t be defined by it. He mentioned several programs that benefit the inmate population, including some he’s implemented since being appointed sheriff in February 2014. The jail has work training programs – including forklift operation and food service – and…
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a truck restriction for Woods Edge Road last week. Residents of the area requested the restriction in conjunction with a zoning case filed by Carvana for 184 acres on the northwest side of the road where the Tempe, Ariz.-firm wants to build a car inspection site. (The Planning Commission deadlocked 2-2 on the case July 16 because commissioner Peppy Jones was absent.) County transportation director Jesse Smith said the county requested the same truck restriction previously, which was turned down by the Virginia Department of Transportation in 2015. Last week, Smith said…
By a vote of 3-2 with Steve Elswick and James Holland dissenting, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors approved a new sign ordinance on July 24. The vote was the culmination of a nearly three-year process, according to supervisor Chris Winslow. Twenty-four people spoke during public comment before the vote, and several complained about a lack of public input. However, supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle said that the Planning Commission held 12 meetings about the sign ordinance and noted that they were advertised and available to watch via live stream. The revised sign ordinance keeps the number of billboards at 81 but…
A new office for Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation staff is in the works. On July 16, the county Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for a conditional use permit to convert the old Beulah Elementary School at 4216 Beulah Road into government offices. County parks official Stuart Connock said the department is excited to have the opportunity to reuse the school, which became vacant when a new Beulah Elementary opened at 5441 Beulah Road last fall. Connock said the county plans to convert part of the old school into offices for 35 Parks and Rec employees and increase the available…