[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6060274,"mediaKeyId","3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90","parentId",3292645,"title","Board orders removal of neglected courthouse memorial garden, approves naming of Lomesse Park playground for Jimmy and Irene Fields","audioSeconds",292,"startMs",10466000,"endMs",10758000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90&start=10466&end=10758","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90/thumbnail_10466000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6060274/Caroline-County/Virginia/Board-orders-removal-of-neglected-courthouse-memorial-garden-approves-naming-of-Lomesse-Park-playground-for-Jimmy-and-Irene-Fields","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060274-5fb14724d5db81d747b0739c5223a4c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104740&Signature=aJKaTeHzxCYVC8wkv5c5WmZZln-QLhwaHS2SYZPZ7vfFsv5FOxMclu8Hr8FiTtJBHaqxzhigMYEj6FtPJS~K5N~NRHY0USzb-j5iFXbARI1APVjwjSQPvlVpbvlSX47gpvNlLLG0tJkMouGmmrslExAj9J5OjeRmG3rTfRAsATvSWdc3b9Jo0hfuVR5zoSapZ-Fb4bWVEVBpElxUCPNgDo1xSlYTmgIFOIdqNSvNR9cEvJCQJEr6x~b47u24ifJCYjBwKPRU7Jlqrv338yYvfKS6laWZ-g97gmhISfxJu5EOwpW-LH-7K1MmSUUW~Xh-V6qi51ECiDTkiCfW8mTpKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caroline County, VA","date","2025-05-14T03:06:11Z","article","Caroline County supervisors voted May 13 to remove a deteriorated memorial garden at the main recreation park and to name the playground at Lomesse Park in honor of local community members Jimmy and Irene Fields.

Staff presented photographs showing overgrown landscaping and unused memorial bricks from a Boy Scout-era project; the board concluded the memorial areas were not being maintained and authorized staff to remove the memorial bricks, flagpole and benches as needed, preserve existing trees, and restore the area to grass. Supervisors said they wanted to retain shade seating if benches were still usable or could be refurbished.

Separately, the board unanimously approved a proposal to name the Lomesse Park playground the “Jimmy and Irene Fields Community Playground” to honor the couple’s long-term local service. Supervisors noted Mr. Fields’s and Mrs. Fields’s decades of community involvement in the Reedy Church/Dawn area and described the naming as recognition of local civic leadership.

Next steps

Parks staff will remove the memorial fixtures, restore the area to turf, and evaluate whether existing benches can be refurbished and kept under the trees. The naming of the playground will be recorded in county records and staff will work with the Fields family on signage and a dedication plan.

Why this matters

The memorial garden had not been adopted for maintenance as originally intended; the board’s actions free staff to focus park maintenance on high-use areas while preserving trees and creating a shaded seating area for park users.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caroline County Board of Supervisors 05/13/25","oneSentenceSummary","Supervisors voted to remove an under-maintained memorial garden at the courthouse and to name the Lomesse Park playground after local community leaders Jimmy and Irene Fields.","taxTitle","Caroline County, Virginia","taxId",30582,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6060279,"County denies Bowling Green request to dispose town septage at county facility",111,10328000,10439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90&start=10328&end=10439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90/thumbnail_10328000.jpg","/articles/6060279/Caroline-County/Virginia/County-denies-Bowling-Green-request-to-dispose-town-septage-at-county-facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060279-3f65e1008e1dc75de794a4e31cd061e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104740&Signature=dFMYxFXeCjc3sOv1uBnL9br8XDuuLj8CEZHXBIwQ4VhfeWm69wMYJTPqwAC9qjKcp4jsCNzBXgFs9E0gASgqY0OgFxlbrfhidhrS14D~C9s7kCDybyC01c122V1c-3OqP9GjvkIzgfwCPxiNSOcgdrK6XgdCo7e45IDhz96T9sh2PAaVxD-Xzsoa5fapi1htd-7MdxwJFfqzyR~UVmxAq7iFkuwIM5zyDaLBllXcPWTRvRcssVT61Hve83vS2cfzOsaA2sgjaqzJovHRb80tYtQWUU~maErMwM~~AOFvAV87sh5rKf~RtN42O15L3wX~~1T3YjHNY76-MEqsefNApA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County supervisors voted May 13 to deny a request from the town of Bowling Green to accept biosolids (septage/sludge) from the town’s wastewater treatment plant at the county septage facility.

County staff told supervisors the county facility is operating near capacity and that neighboring localities have limited or closed acceptance of external septage; staff said Spotsylvania, King George and Stafford have restricted intake and the county’s septage facility primarily serves county residents. Given those constraints and the ongoing demand at the county plant, staff recommended denying the town’s request.

Supervisor Jeff Black moved to deny the request; the board approved the denial during the meeting.

Why this matters

Accepting outside septage can create operational and permit-related obligations for a receiving facility. Staff said the county’s capacity and current regional acceptance policies make accommodating Bowling Green’s sludge infeasible at this time. Town and county officials will need to pursue other disposal options or interjurisdictional agreements if Bowling Green requires an off-site solution for its sludge stream.

Next steps

Staff will inform the town of Bowling Green of the board’s decision and offer to work with town staff to identify alternative disposal or treatment options consistent with regional capacity and permitting constraints.","Caroline County supervisors voted to deny a town request to accept biosolids/septage from the town of Bowling Green at the county’s septage facility, citing limited capacity and existing regional acceptance constraints.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6060283,"Board approves special exceptions for countertop fabrication and minor auto repair at Ladysmith industrial park",2916,7156000,10072000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90&start=7156&end=10072","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90/thumbnail_7156000.jpg","/articles/6060283/Caroline-County/Virginia/Board-approves-special-exceptions-for-countertop-fabrication-and-minor-auto-repair-at-Ladysmith-industrial-park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060283-556d6c745d0d277dc32fa2bbb0265521/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104740&Signature=JCH~XMXJEIYC7a3-c8ToO5sutm4eks9kLCJzVEHkS0aQvjH91VYjL~eguKYy6zbeOMjOZajtyNcCOokjbUESaObrwYBrs5VUMpbvdARaKMWppNeX0~FbXOI25lFZ7TVVEifgzAEnU62BHbaeippjqnPTwjVRmirtPohqSTdqOYmHglX94ATNfcXtQPk2b4MQceZe2a3oq2b1UctmsHRFD9Y5Fn5o-S6mvmGYcXAIO4XK~qmjfKYpPTGmIK3BwghQbRm2CnZHYowUTb3sg9f3dqCbDyg9XDcjdfiUh63kOr09aj6KokK9scE-dkEVs78~nc6yrlGQr708oIi8MjuM9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County supervisors voted May 13 to approve two special exceptions that clear the way for a specialty stone countertop manufacturer and a minor auto-repair operation to occupy tenant spaces in a new building in Ladysmith Industrial Park.

The county’s planning staff told the board the site already has an approved shell/tenant site plan and that the special-exception applications apply to interior tenant uses in two rear-access bays of the proposed building. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions and the planning commission had forwarded both applications to the board with a positive recommendation.

Conditions and controls

Planning staff and the planning commission recommended a set of conditions intended to limit nuisance risks and ensure fire safety. The conditions adopted by the board include:

- All manufacturing processes must occur wholly inside a fully enclosed building or structure.
- No debris or surplus material from manufacturing may be stored outside; any outdoor storage must be screened with opaque fencing.
- Shipping containers may not be used as accessory storage structures.
- Fire rescue required a fire hydrant at the Center Drive entrance; the condition requires installation prior to operation.
- All necessary building plans and permits must be approved before operations begin.

What applicants said

An owner representative attended the meeting and described the plan as a multi-tenant speculative building. Board members and staff explained that interior build-outs will be reviewed as part of the building-permit process; the zoning action authorizes the listed uses at the site, and the county building official will review code and interior-safety requirements (for example, larger commercial vehicle service would trigger additional building-code requirements).

Why the conditions matter

Staff emphasized the environmental and nuisance protections embedded in the conditions: the stone operation will run a closed-loop water system for cutting and will recycle water through filtration, and dust from cutting will be collected and removed rather than left outdoors. The outdoor-storage and shipping-container prohibition are intended to prevent long-term yard storage that could affect neighbors and the industrial-park character.

Board action

The board approved SPEX012025 (stone/manufacturing) and SPEX022025 (minor auto repair) with the conditions recommended by staff and the planning commission. The approvals allow the specific uses at the location but do not substitute for building-permit review, which will determine interior fire-separation, ventilation and other code-driven requirements for each tenant’s operations.

Planning references

Staff cited Article 10, Section 3.8 of the county zoning ordinance (manufacturing and related uses) in the staff report; the planning commission held hearings and recommended approval before forwarding to the board.

Next steps

Applicants must obtain building permits, complete required fire-safety work including the hydrant installation, and comply with the conditions recorded with the special-exception approvals before commencing operations.","Supervisors approved two special exceptions to allow a stone countertop manufacturer and a minor auto-repair tenant in a new multi-tenant building in the Ladysmith Industrial Park, with conditions limiting outdoor storage and requiring fire access improvements.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6060287,"Caroline County administrator introduces fiscal 2026 budget, proposes 2¢ real estate tax increase and higher school transfer",1630,4060000,5690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90&start=4060&end=5690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90/thumbnail_4060000.jpg","/articles/6060287/Caroline-County/Virginia/Caroline-County-administrator-introduces-fiscal-2026-budget-proposes-2-real-estate-tax-increase-and-higher-school-transfer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060287-d16788cef11c92d152f1b7a7b832b551/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104740&Signature=Pa5gGawbL0pgAtTmhWQ8EkQ6VdBuESqmkdK3dOBa6oqzQR7f8zXmOmR5Tyljk1rwuWsrNsSLiIaGcWSyF3wXLYOL8xvQd3wrF-HR4bqABB7YN7fG18SVETntZlNaTbi5579~tRj6KFgzRymy6VwzeQ4YzCP5wn46qd1DJUx7aMhdV0lxdnk5i~F1ed-y5YU5smNO0ZHSm1ejHeu7YRfnQ6MMNBn7No4zYFU0Euu3eOQYlf6TlPVeRq98CMJVHqAR6vbGBxtTU6j929riTqrxF070E8-thARY8z5N8cUNVQEsp6XA82VyMBfOD4j8LkFdpII45Pxdn5JM2lRhn67bdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County’s proposed fiscal 2026 general fund budget, introduced May 13, includes a 2¢ increase to the real estate tax rate and a higher local transfer for the school division, county officials said.

County staff described the introduced general fund budget as approximately $75.9 million and said the proposed real estate rate would move from the equalized rate of $0.50 to $0.52 per $100 of assessed value. The proposed tax-rate action was advertised earlier and the county’s budget schedule includes a public hearing May 27 and final adoption at the June 10 meeting after the required seven-day waiting period.

Nut graf: Why it matters

The budget proposal funds operating needs, school transfers and several new positions while limiting one-time draws on the county’s unrestricted fund balance. County officials said increases in employee benefits, retirement and health insurance are central drivers of the spending plan. The proposed real estate rate change is expected to generate roughly $1.1 million in additional annual revenue (staff estimate) and the administrator also proposed an increase in local school operating support to about $18.0 million — roughly $1.27 million more than FY25.

Key elements of the proposed FY26 plan

- Real estate tax: proposed increase of 2¢ (from 50¢ to 52¢ per $100 assessed value). County staff estimated roughly $1.1 million in additional revenue from the change plus new construction assessed value.
- General fund introduced budget: $75,879,421 (advertised).
- School operating transfer: proposed $18,000,936 in local funds (about $1.27 million increase over FY25 contribution); total school-related transfers and debt service approach $24.9 million in combined county support.
- New personnel requests: county administrator proposed several additions, including one full-time sheriff’s sergeant (court deputy converted from part time), one full-time building inspector, one full-time HR generalist (moving from part time), and four full-time utility positions to support the growth in utility customers (those are budgeted in the utility fund, not the general fund).
- Compensation: the proposed package includes a mix of cost-of-living/scale adjustments and step increases: a 3% increase for constitutional officers and social services, 4% for employees not on the county pay plan, and a proposed 2% scale adjustment plus step increases for employees on the county plans subject to satisfactory performance.
- Fund balance and transfers: staff proposed $1,464,702 in one-time transfers from the unrestricted general fund balance for capital purchases while keeping ongoing transfers limited (staff emphasized avoiding general-fund transfers to utilities where possible to protect the county’s bond profile).

School funding and state dollars

The administrator said the proposed local transfer is about $151,491 above the state-required local-effort calculation, and it was presented to allow capacity for about 35 additional students above the state-planned ADM. The introduced county budget reduces the school board’s original request by approximately $1.7 million; school officials will adjust their internal category allocations once the board has appropriated local funds.

What the board did

The board received the budget presentation, set the advertised public hearing for May 27 and noted that legal requirements prevent adoption at the same meeting; final adoption was set for the board’s June 10 meeting. Supervisors asked staff to continue providing analysis and to meet with school staff during the budget-review process.

What officials said

County Administrator (presenting) said the proposed budget accounts for rising VRS (retirement) and health insurance costs and attempts to limit recurring transfers from fund balance while maintaining capital needs and school support.

Next steps

The county will hold the advertised public hearing on May 27 and may schedule follow-up work sessions before the June 10 adoption vote. Residents were directed to the county budget documents for line-item detail and to the June adoption schedule.","County administrator presented the FY26 proposed general fund budget, including a 2¢ increase to the real estate tax rate, higher local school funding and new positions. The board scheduled public hearings and set a July timeline for adoption.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6060293,"Caroline County to seek public comment on proposed 5% water and sewer rate increases and Dawn system fee change",2181,1151000,3332000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90&start=1151&end=3332","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292645-bfe8747402b0ba8eae9043972dee8d90/thumbnail_1151000.jpg","/articles/6060293/Caroline-County/Virginia/Caroline-County-to-seek-public-comment-on-proposed-5-water-and-sewer-rate-increases-and-Dawn-system-fee-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060293-6e343b95dcba0c9bdedb94c32bc21ab7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104740&Signature=ZlgqoGjr7rlYtpiVAsx~DUWJpyudbOkrr8SfO0frsalXac8EaTaAaP73ovYhLNJLPhMeRp5utu~bFsjYUzxwlaa1lX4e1PreJyOrU670qYV7bPD46AA46fJNEl4ZkbF0450uP9Z~TrFRWpSD5Eha-Y3RK8vAUyvtEoI8L~t2t8ZG0k2hae-Mz~bNlwkd8vi1x0rvdw6SGkXdB0CX3eHdFgMAgyweqQMKz2e2MuHwP~EvFzWcpqZlQIxX7CKTiU7eMyd6XfbtVsMhB3HdEo9K9sQb5Fc4Yaul6DIwsRhac4KFm77RrCmEc9M~82tGqnfWmWOY0lUNw8Br829wjwUINQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County supervisors voted May 13 to send an updated water and sewer rate proposal to public hearing that would raise customer rates and availability fees while removing a general fund transfer to the utility fund.

The county-contracted consultant from Davenport Company recommended continuing 5% annual user-rate increases for 2026–2029 and increasing residential availability fees so each new connection would pay $14,000 for water and sewer combined. The consultant said those changes, paired with the county’s projection of 225 new customers per year, would allow the utility to cover recurring costs and fund about $1.3 million a year in cash-funded capital without drawing on the general fund.

The board’s decision matters because county staff told supervisors the projection is sensitive to new-connection volumes: if new connections fall well below 225 per year the system could need larger rate increases or debt financing to complete planned capital projects. The consultant identified two large capital projects — a Rappahannock River water treatment facility and the Polecat Creek interceptor — that could require about $9 million in borrowing if the new-connection revenue does not materialize.

Key details from the presentation

- Recommended recurring user-rate increases: 5% per year (proposal covers 2026–2029 for formal action).
- Proposed residential availability fee: water + sewer = $14,000 per new connection (water +$1,026; sewer +$1,500 in the proposal).
- New-connections assumption: 225 per year (county staff said year-to-date connections were about 212).
- Cash-funded recurring capital: roughly $1,300,000 per year under the 225-connections assumption; lower connections would push the county toward debt financing.
- Potential debt: $9 million identified for two major projects (Rappahannock River project in 2026 and Polecat Creek interceptor in 2027) in the consultant’s case that assumes borrowing for those projects.

Dawn (small rural) sewer system

The presentation also separated the Dawn decentralized system from the county’s larger utility fund. Davenport outlined four cases for Dawn: (1) a modest $1/month increase per customer (roughly a 3% increase), (2) an intermediate case, (3) a roughly $4–$5/month case, and (4) a higher-impact case that would be about $10/month and would fully eliminate the current general-fund transfer while funding depreciation. Staff noted Dawn historically has required a modest annual general-fund transfer (driven largely by debt service) and that the system will roll off most debt service in 2027. Dawn customers pay an availability fee (about $3,200) and the actual on-site connection charge is billed at cost (staff said typical total connection costs can run roughly $15,000–$18,000 when road bores are required).

What the board decided

The board authorized staff to take the consultant’s recommended “case 1” option to public hearing: 5% annual increases for the county water and sewer system and the smaller $1/month increase case for the Dawn system. Supervisors then clarified they wanted to advertise a 5% increase “across the board” for public hearing. The county will hold the required public hearings before any rates take effect.

What officials and staff said

A Davenport Company representative said, “we’re gonna recommend to continue moving forward with the 5% user rate increases,” and cautioned that the plan depends on new connections coming online.

County utilities staff explained technical and operational items: the Dawn system uses concrete tanks and individual pumps at houses; the county has replaced many small pumps with higher-capacity pumps over recent years and now plans to treat pump replacements as a recurring maintenance cost rather than an emergency repair cycle. Utilities director Chris Schiebel described water-quality mitigation on the county system: “We’ve installed green sand filters at all of our well sites, that have iron and manganese issues,” and added that hardness in groundwater remains an outstanding issue without a centralized water treatment plant.

Why this matters

If the projected new connections and availability-fee revenue arrive, the county could avoid a general-fund transfer to utilities while funding modest recurring capital by cash. If those connections fall short, residents could face higher annual rate increases or the county could incur debt to fund planned projects. The proposed availability-fee increase shifts more one-time costs toward new development rather than existing customers, but availability fees are “one‑time” revenue and can’t substitute for recurring operating revenue.

Next steps

Staff will advertise the proposed rates and take the options to public hearing. Supervisors said they expect to revisit the plan annually and adjust if connection volumes or capital needs change.","County staff presented an updated water and sewer rate plan that proposes 5% annual user-rate increases, higher availability fees and a small monthly increase for the Dawn sewer system. The board voted to send the recommended option to public hearing and to advertise a 5% across-the-board increase for consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board orders removal of neglected courthouse memorial garden, approves naming of Lomesse Park playground for Jimmy and Irene Fields

County denies Bowling Green request to dispose town septage at county facility

Board approves special exceptions for countertop fabrication and minor auto repair at Ladysmith industrial park

Caroline County administrator introduces fiscal 2026 budget, proposes 2¢ real estate tax increase and higher school transfer

Caroline County to seek public comment on proposed 5% water and sewer rate increases and Dawn system fee change