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Record of Proceedings

Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Meeting - January 28, 2026

Board of Supervisors — Wednesday, January 28, 2026
BodyChesterfield County, Virginia
SessionBoard of Supervisors
DateWednesday, January 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:08:36

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

2:42

Good afternoon and welcome to the afternoon session of the January twenty-eighth Board of Supervisors meeting.

2:48

Madam Clerk.

Speaker 2

2:49

Mr.

2:49

Chair, the first item on the agenda is approval of minutes for the December 17th and January 7th Board of Supervisors meetings.

Speaker 1

3:05

So second.

3:06

All in favor?

Speaker 2

3:09

Item two, request to postpone agenda items and additions, deletions, or changes in the order of presentation.

3:15

Staff has several requests.

3:48

That is all we have.

4:05

Yes, sir.

Speaker 3

4:05

Thank

Unassigned speaker

4:06

you.

Speaker 2

4:07

Item three, everyday excellence, Dr.

4:10

Casey.

Speaker 4

4:11

Good evening, members of the board and the public that is here and hopefully watching.

4:22

Many are seen, but many are unseen.

4:24

Uh today, uh, if Mr.

4:25

Harris could uh could come on up.

4:28

But I like to uh recognize our workday project team.

4:31

This is an example of a frontline group that is not necessarily seen.

4:35

These are the people behind all of our HR and accounting functions.

Unassigned speaker

4:48

Uh they are not easy, but in order to stay current with technologies and really the abilities for employees to be empowered over their own transactions more so in a paperless environment.

Speaker 4

5:03

So the vendor workday was carefully selected.

5:06

The project team were all in place as part of that process.

5:10

And I just want to commend them.

5:12

There are always learning curves to go through that.

5:14

Most of the learning curves are with old school uh employees, not not the school necessarily old school county administrators, I should say.

5:22

But uh Mr.

5:23

Harris, please.

Speaker 5

5:32

It was in the email coordinator.

5:34

Come on.

Speaker 6

5:36

Nice.

Speaker 5

5:40

Make sure Christie's in the front.

5:42

We can see all

Unassigned speaker

5:43

right.

Speaker 5

5:45

Thank you, Dr.

5:46

Casey.

5:47

So this is just a uh small sampling of the overall group that's been working on this.

5:53

Um we had some some more that wanted to be here, but uh weather got them, but uh just wanted to have them come before, like Dr.

6:02

Casey said, uh this is this system is beyond comprehensive.

6:06

It touches every single thing.

6:08

Uh that we do every single department in the county.

6:11

And uh you'll notice up here we do have some some school friends as well.

6:15

This has been a collaborative effort.

6:17

Uh I want to thank Bob and uh his team for all their patience and uh and hard work on this.

6:23

And and certainly there's there's more to be done.

6:26

Um we do have all of our uh components of the system up and running.

6:31

And so we ran our second county payroll uh underwork day uh last week, and uh our first one was almost 99% accurate, so we are making great progress.

6:42

But there's more to

Unassigned speaker

6:43

do.

Speaker 5

6:43

Um certainly don't want to give that impression, so we appreciate the patience of the entire organization, all county and schools, uh recognizing that uh you know we can gotta refine it a little bit and you know we continue to work on it every single day.

6:56

But I can't uh understate the effort and uh incredible contributions of this group and all of their colleagues and weren't able to be here today.

7:06

Um this thousands and thousands of hours over multiple years, and there's nobody up here uh behind me or anybody else in the teams that doesn't have a full-time job.

7:17

So uh they they did this in addition to every single thing else that they were doing.

7:22

Uh and it's just there aren't words that can accurately capture uh how much they've put into this.

7:29

So uh just a massive lift, and I'm extremely proud of every single one of them and just wanted to have them in front of you for a few minutes to uh to recognize

Unassigned speaker

7:37

that

Speaker 1

7:40

board members.

Speaker 7

7:43

Uh again, I just want to thank you for all the hard work on this.

7:47

Um I've actually logged into work day more than I think I ever did into the last system.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fiscal Sustainability███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Economic Development███████████11%
Zoning And Land Use███████████11%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Community Engagement████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Pending Litigation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Meeting - January 28, 2026

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors met on January 28, 2026 for the afternoon Work Session and the evening Regular Session. The afternoon session featured recognition of the Workday project team, a State Legislative Update, a presentation on regional partnerships, updates from PlanRVA and the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA), a financial update including the annual reassessment results and budget outlook, and consent agenda highlights. The evening session addressed the deferred purchase of 1101 Otterdale Road, authorized advertisement of the tax rate, approved zoning cases, and authorized eminent domain for the Duval Road reconstruction project.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved resolutions recognizing the retirements of firefighters Christopher T. Taylor, Thomas D. McLean, Ryland T. Allen, and Jeffrey L. Grieco (Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department), and Lorraine Kosobucki (Accounting Department).
  • Confirmed the declaration of a local emergency resulting from a snow and ice storm (Winter Storm Fern).
  • Accepted parcels of land adjacent to Watkins Centre Parkway and South Providence Road.
  • Conveyed drainage, trail, underground, and temporary construction easements for various projects (Courthouse Road Trail, Enon Church Road, Tomahawk Creek Middle School, New Chesterfield Animal Shelter).
  • Granted requests to quitclaim various easements and requests for permission for private water service.
  • Set a public hearing for February 25, 2026, to consider eminent domain for the Walton Park Waterline Improvements Project.
  • Approved acceptance of state roads, a contract award for legal services for delinquent tax collection, and the purchase and donation of parcels of land at North Woolridge Road (Midlothian Mines Park).
  • Authorized the transfer of funds and authorization to proceed with the Genito Road/Woolridge Road Intersection Improvement Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Lisa Thompson (Citizen): Expressed concern that the proliferation of data centers in Virginia is driving the need for the proposed Dominion gas plant. While she appreciated Dominion's transparency, she criticized data center companies for using shell companies and non-disclosure agreements to avoid community engagement. She advocated for direct community negotiations before such projects advance.
  • Landon Edwards (Chesterfield Citizens for Responsible Government - CCRG): Announced the formal launch of the CCRG website (CCRG-VA.org), a civic project created by over 200 Chesterfield residents. The group's mission is to increase transparency, fiscal discipline, and public engagement in county decision-making, which they believe has been eroding. He stated the site serves as a repository of source documents and analysis, and called for more robust community input prior to major decisions.
  • Chris Mulligan (Property Owner): Opposed the exercise of eminent domain for the Duval Road Reconstruction Project. He argued the road is not being reconstructed but relocated entirely onto his property, that the taking is for a future speculative four-lane corridor rather than the immediate two-lane need, and that the county's $185,000 offer was far below his estimate of $1 million. He noted the county made no meaningful effort to value the loss of functionality to his property.

Discussion Items

  • Everyday Excellence - Workday Project Team: Dr. Casey and Matt Harris recognized the project team for implementing the new HR and accounting system. The team logged thousands of hours over multiple years. The second county payroll under Workday ran with nearly 99% accuracy. Board members thanked the team for their hard work navigating a difficult transition.
  • State Legislative Update (Natalie Spillman): Ms. Spillman provided a comprehensive update on the 2026 General Assembly session. The county is strongly opposing SB 228 (waiving sovereign immunity, projecting $43 million in recurring costs) and HB 1314 (qualified immunity). The estimated cost of collective bargaining is $200 million for Chesterfield, equating to approximately 40 cents on the tax rate. She noted the speed camera repeal bill (SB 297) unexpectedly passed Senate Transportation; board members pointed out speed cameras are effective and contracts with vendors must be carefully reviewed. The housing targets bill (7.5% increase over 5 years) was deemed problematic with no enforcement. Tax restructuring, school funding mandates, and cannabis market bills are being closely tracked.
  • Regional Partnerships Website (Matt Harris / Brielle LaCroix): Ms. LaCroix presented a new website cataloging Chesterfield's 170 regional partnerships. The definition of regionalism was refined through surveys of 24 departments. Board members praised the resource, with Mr. Carroll emphasizing that regional cooperation creates the environment that attracts residents and businesses, and Dr. Hylton stressing the need to measure the impact on citizens.
  • PlanRVA and CVTA Update (Martha Schickle / Chet Parsons):
    • PlanRVA: Ms. Schickle reported the adoption of the regional strategic vision in June and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in November. A housing market value study will be released February 10. Regional symposium planned for March 13.
    • CVTA: Mr. Parsons reported $230 million in FY25 tax revenues staying in the region, with Chesterfield receiving $144.5 million since inception. Smart Scale Round 6 resulted in $510 million for the Richmond district, outperforming every other district fivefold, largely attributed to the CVTA's leveraging mechanism. Board members praised the CVTA for uniting the region and delivering projects like the Fall Line Trail, I-64 widening, and major local intersections.
  • Financial Update (Matt Harris, Mel Bloomfield, Shane Hill):
    • Reassessment: Total land book value is $69.5 billion. The median residential increase was 4.65%, pulling back toward the long-run average. Commercial contributed 28% of the total increase, reflecting major projects like the Lego facility ($210 million partial valuation) and Carissa data center ($40.1 million). An internal audit found 92% compliance with IAAO standards, exceeding the peer average of 79%.
    • Budget Outlook: Staff presented cautionary economic indicators (labor force contraction, rising unemployment claims, overvalued equity markets). The recommended approach is a conservative FY27 budget. The school division proposed a 5% teacher pay raise, balanced with the county's $15 million appropriation. General fund priorities remain education, workforce, infrastructure, and financial stewardship.
  • Consent Agenda Highlights (Jesse Smith, Clay Bowles, Kim Connelly):
    • Winter Storm Fern: Over 230 staff members logged over 2,900 man-hours. Hard-packed snow and ice remain a challenge at school sites and residential roads.
    • Eminent Domain: A settlement was reached with one property owner (Sinclairs) for the Duval Road project. The rezoning for Brown Trucking Company was withdrawn by the applicant.
    • Black History Month: Ms. Connelly announced the 2026 theme, "A Century of Black History Commemorations," with 30 programs planned for February.

Key Outcomes

  • 1101 Otterdale Road (Deferred Item): The board reached a consensus not to act on the proposed purchase of the 99-acre parcel for a school and police precinct. Staff was directed to evaluate all options, including further negotiation, using existing county-owned property, or selling county land to offset costs.
  • Tax Rate Advertisement: The board authorized staff to advertise the 2026 calendar year tax rate at the current rate structure. (The board retains the authority to adopt a lower rate later).
  • Appointments: Three appointments to the Airport Advisory Board were approved.
  • Zoning Requests:
    • 25SN1019 (Brown Trucking Company, Dale): Withdrawn by applicant.
    • 24SN1108 (Hull Street Road at Fox Club Parkway, Matoaca): Approved. Rezoning from A to C-2 for a commercial/retail project. Includes an exemption to allow on-premises alcohol sales within 500 feet of a school.
    • 24SN1162 (Baldwin Creek, Matoaca): Approved. Rezoning from A to R-12 for 70 single-family detached units.
    • 25SN1167 (Summit Ridge Solar Farm, Matoaca): Approved. Conditional use permit for a 3-megawatt solar facility on 35 acres. A decommissioning bond is required.
    • 25SN1265 (Caddle Two Family Dwelling, Bermuda): Approved. Conditional use to permit a two-family dwelling.
  • Eminent Domain (Duval Road Reconstruction Project): Authorized. The board voted to authorize the exercise of eminent domain for the Mulligan properties. A settlement was reached with the Sinclairs earlier in the day. The board expressed a strong desire to continue negotiating with the Mulligans to avoid court and directed staff to keep the board apprised of all negotiations.
  • Polling Place Relocations: Approved. Southside Precinct (213) moved to Meadowdale Library, LaPrade Precinct (405) moved back to LaPrade Library, and Wagstaff Precinct (410) moved to Providence Elementary School to address accessibility and logistical challenges.
  • Subdivision Ordinance Amendment: Approved. Amended Chapter 17.1 to clarify the rules for plat reviews submitted under the old ordinance versions.
  • Notices: The next regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for February 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon and welcome to the afternoon session of the January twenty-eighth Board of Supervisors meeting. Madam Clerk. Mr. Chair, the first item on the agenda is approval of minutes for the December 17th and January 7th Board of Supervisors meetings. So second. All in favor? Item two, request to postpone agenda items and additions, deletions, or changes in the order of presentation. Staff has several requests. That is all we have. Yes, sir. Thank you. Item three, everyday excellence, Dr. Casey. Good evening, members of the board and the public that is here and hopefully watching. Many are seen, but many are unseen. Uh today, uh, if Mr. Harris could uh could come on up. But I like to uh recognize our workday project team. This is an example of a frontline group that is not necessarily seen. These are the people behind all of our HR and accounting functions. Uh they are not easy, but in order to stay current with technologies and really the abilities for employees to be empowered over their own transactions more so in a paperless environment. So the vendor workday was carefully selected. The project team were all in place as part of that process. And I just want to commend them. There are always learning curves to go through that. Most of the learning curves are with old school uh employees, not not the school necessarily old school county administrators, I should say. But uh Mr. Harris, please. It was in the email coordinator. Come on. Nice. Make sure Christie's in the front. We can see all right. Thank you, Dr. Casey. So this is just a uh small sampling of the overall group that's been working on this. Um we had some some more that wanted to be here, but uh weather got them, but uh just wanted to have them come before, like Dr. Casey said, uh this is this system is beyond comprehensive. It touches every single thing. Uh that we do every single department in the county. And uh you'll notice up here we do have some some school friends as well. This has been a collaborative effort. Uh I want to thank Bob and uh his team for all their patience and uh and hard work on this. And and certainly there's there's more to be done. Um we do have all of our uh components of the system up and running. And so we ran our second county payroll uh underwork day uh last week, and uh our first one was almost 99% accurate, so we are making great progress. But there's more to do.

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