“Now that we know there’s a problem I really think we’re looking for trouble if we don’t do something about it,” Haislip told the Board.
Animal control officer Paul Sheridan told supervisors that the track team frequently runs through Pleasant Grove, and because most students run at different speeds, they are “dissipated” rather than in a pack. Those students are running into large breed dogs such as German Shepherds and Dobermans that are off-leash, he said. Though the owners are out there with their dogs, he explained, they can’t control what happens when their dogs run up to people or other dogs.
Director of Parks and Recreation Jason Smith reminded supervisors that the track team hosts meets once or twice a year at Pleasant Grove, so people from other counties are also at risk.
Currently the county’s policy states that dogs must remain on a leash in “high volume areas,” terminology which Smith said was confusing. He suggested an updated policy that would require dogs to remain on a leash at all times while in county parks, except in designated off-leash areas and at prescribed times.
For example, the county could choose to declare certain days of the week “dog-friendly days.” Visitors to the county’s parks would know that they may encounter unleashed dogs on those days.
The county will likely start off with a policy, meaning that violators will be ejected from the park or else be prosecuted for trespassing. Adding a fine would require a criminal ordinance – a possible second step.
Supervisors also heard Finance Director Eric Dahl’s financial report for fiscal year 2014 (FY14). Of the county’s $65.2 million in expenditures in FY14, school spending accounted for 53 percent, county spending totaled 38 percent, capital improvements plan (CIP) spending accounted for 6 percent, and other spending totaled 3 percent.
Four percent of the county’s $65.2 million in FY14 revenue came from federal sources, 39 percent came from the state, 52 percent came from the locality, and other sources accounted for 5 percent. Of the $34 million received from local sources, 53 percent came from real property tax, 13 percent came from personal property tax, 14 percent came from other local sources, 12 percent came from public utility funds, and 8 percent came from the fund balance.
After four years of plateauing during the recession, Fluvanna’s sales tax receipts have steadily increased since FY11, totaling about $1.4 million in FY14.
The county received about $1.6 million more in revenue than it expected and underspent its budget by about $1.1 million, so the excess of revenue over expenditures was just under $3 million, Dahl said. Of that total $2.75 million went to CIP projects, so a remainder of $150,000 went into the general fund balance, bringing it to $21.8 million. Most of that money is earmarked in some way. About $2.1 million of unallocated monies remained in the general fund at the end of FY14.
Fluvanna’s total debt at the end of FY14 was $96.1 million.
In other matters:
• I&J Home Builders and Shimp Engineering requested an indefinite deferral of the public hearing for their request to rezone 30.47 acres on Rt. 618 near Lake Monticello from A-1 (agricultural) to R-3 (residential). Citing unforeseen issues that need additional time to be resolved, Shimp explained to supervisors in a letter that neither his firm nor I&J wishes to win an approval of their rezoning request only to turn around and ask for an amendment, and so would rather “iron out” certain issues first. Supervisors granted the deferral.
• County Administrator Steve Nichols reported that the reduction in state funding to Fluvanna for FY15 is going to total $59,514. Of that total $38,000 was going to be pulled by the state from the CSA (services to troubled youth) budget. The Board decided to take the entire total from CSA given its multi-million dollar budget.
• Supervisor Bob Ullenbruch delivered the unwelcome news that due to state law Fluvanna will need to contribute $710,000 more to the jail board next year to fund the county’s portion of the 200 new cells, and requisite 40 new employees, at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange County. The following year will require another $300,000 above the additional $710,000, he said.
