New Kent Board reorganizes for 2025; approves cybersecurity spending, road survey and hall-of-fame charter

The New Kent County Board of Supervisors elected Thomas Evelyn as chair for 2025 and Ron Steers as vice chair, approved several administrative appointments and a revised 2025 meeting schedule, and took final action on capital and program items at its Jan. 13 meeting.

The reorganization vote opened the meeting. The board elected Thomas Evelyn as chair for the 2025 calendar year; the roll call included multiple aye votes and one recorded abstention. Ron Steers was elected vice chair. Rodney A. Hathaway was reappointed clerk of the board and Wanda F. Watkins was reappointed deputy clerk. The board also adopted a revised 2025 meeting schedule that moved several work sessions and one regular meeting to alternative dates, after members discussed conflicts with other commitments.

Why it matters: officer elections set leadership for the year; schedule changes affect deadlines for public hearings and staff timelines. The board also advanced several operational items that will affect county IT resiliency, road improvements, volunteer recognition and bylaw language.

Among final actions, the board approved a purchase and budget transfers totaling $117,135 to acquire a new backup solution (Cohesity) for county IT systems. County staff said the new system is scalable and carries an expected ongoing operational cost that could reach about $40,000 per year at maximum usage; staff said ongoing costs are included in the next fiscal-year budget request.

The board authorized a work order and appropriated $62,840 from Central Virginia Transportation Authority funds to Bowman Consulting for surveying services needed to create a right of way for the private portion of Crumps/Crump’s Mill Road. County staff told the board the road is roughly a mile of gravel serving a little over 40 residents and that VDOT construction funds are available only for construction; all property owners must dedicate right-of-way before VDOT will accept the road into state maintenance. Staff also warned that relocating utilities (Cox, Verizon) may incur additional costs that are still being negotiated.

On bylaws, county legal and finance staff briefed the board on language changes proposed to the board’s bylaws, including replacing gendered terms and clarifying spending-transfer authority between personnel and operating lines within departments. The finance director said the change would reduce duplicative reporting required by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and streamline year-end exhibits while preserving appropriation authority at the board level. Because bylaws require 30 days’ notice, the board voted to amend the bylaws as presented and to take a final adoption vote at a future meeting at least 30 days after notice.

The board adopted Resolution R-02-25 to create a Seniors Volunteer Hall of Fame selection committee. The committee, as proposed, will include seven members (one per supervisorial district plus two at-large) and will set criteria for nominees; a proposal discussed at the meeting suggested a senior threshold of age 60.

In citizen comment, resident William Smith urged the board to consider reuse or redevelopment of McKinney Woods and to invest in lower-county infrastructure; county staff told Mr. Smith they will meet with PlanRVA on Wednesday to begin a master plan process for that property.

VDOT reported routine winter maintenance activity and local projects: 78 work orders completed for December, pothole and shoulder repairs, and ongoing work to place a temporary signal at the Route 249/33/64 interchange (operational Jan. 22, staff said). Work on the Route 60/155 span wire and related signal work was reported to begin the week of the meeting.

The meeting included a roll of appointments to boards and commissions, all approved by recorded vote, and appointments to emergency services roles. The board appointed Thomas Evelyn as director of emergency management pursuant to Virginia Code §44-146.19 and county code; Evelyn recorded an abstention on that motion. The board also appointed Chief Ricopette as coordinator of emergency management/services; that appointment was approved by unanimous recorded vote.

The board voted to go into closed session under Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(1) for discussion of the performance or discipline of a specific public officer and announced no additional public business was expected on reconvening.

Votes at a glance

- Election of Chair — Thomas Evelyn elected chair for 2025 (recorded roll call: multiple ayes, one recorded abstention). Outcome: approved.

- Election of Vice Chair — Ron Steers elected vice chair. Outcome: approved.

- Clerk/Deputy Clerk — Rodney A. Hathaway (Clerk) and Wanda F. Watkins (Deputy Clerk) elected to one-year terms. Outcome: approved (recorded ayes).

- 2025 Meeting Schedule — Adopted with specific work-session and meeting date changes (Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 26, May 6, Sept. 29). Outcome: approved (recorded ayes).

- Bylaws amendment (notice & adoption schedule) — Motion to amend bylaws as presented and take a recorded adoption vote at a future meeting at least 30 days after notice. Outcome: motion approved; final adoption to occur at a later meeting per bylaws.

- Consent agenda (includes supplemental appropriation: $250,000 sale of surplus property proposed toward fire apparatus replacement) — Approved. Outcome: approved (recorded ayes).

- Cybersecurity purchase (Cohesity) — Transfer of $34,000 from contingency and $83,135 from operating/capital lines for a total of $117,135 to purchase Cohesity backup solution. Outcome: approved (recorded ayes). Staff noted ongoing annual costs could be up to ~$40,000 depending on data used and that recurring costs are budgeted for next year.

- Seniors Volunteer Hall of Fame — Resolution R-02-25 adopted to establish a selection committee. Outcome: approved (recorded ayes).

- Crumps/Crump’s Mill Road surveying — Work authorization to Bowman Consulting and appropriation of $62,840 from Central Virginia Transportation Authority funds for survey to create right of way. Outcome: approved (recorded ayes). Staff reported ~40 residents on the road and that utility relocations could add costs (costs not specified).

- Appointments to boards and commissions — Multiple appointments and delegates approved by recorded votes (listed in meeting minutes). Outcome: approved.

- Director of Emergency Management — Thomas Evelyn appointed director of emergency management (Va. Code §44-146.19; County Code chapter 30). Roll call: Ms. Stewart Aye; Mr. Moyer Aye; Ms. Pearson Aye; Mr. Steers Aye; Mr. Evelyn Abstain. Outcome: approved.

- Coordinator of Emergency Management/Services — Chief Ricopette appointed as coordinator under the cited state and county codes. Outcome: approved (recorded ayes).

- Closed session — Board recessed into closed session under Va. Code §2.2-3711(A)(1) for discussion of the performance or discipline of a specific public officer. Outcome: approved to proceed into closed session.

What the board did not decide tonight

- Final adoption of the bylaws: the board set the process and scheduled the required 30-day notice; a recorded adoption vote will occur at a later meeting.

Meeting context and engagement

The meeting was the board’s annual reorganization session; a moderate number of agenda items generated brief staff presentations and limited discussion. Staff from finance, legal, public safety and VDOT provided clarifications on budget, reporting, emergency management roles and right-of-way requirements. Citizen comment was limited to a single speaker who requested county action on McKinney Woods.