Henrico supervisors approve $84.2 million budget amendment, land vacation and multiple contracts; condemnation withdrawn

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25 approved a substitute amendment to the county's FY24-25 annual fiscal plan that increases the budget by $84.2 million, removed a $333,360 federal grant for electric and hybrid vehicles that the county had not received, approved the vacation of a front building line for a Brookley Acres property, awarded several contracts and accepted the resignation of a Cultural Arts Center board member. A condemnation resolution for a Fall Line Trail easement was withdrawn after the matter settled.

The substitute budget amendment (agenda item 68-25) was introduced at an earlier meeting and presented at the Feb. 25 public hearing by Justin Crawford, who said the measure would increase the fiscal year 2025 budget by $84,200,000. Of that total, $75,000,000 would be appropriated for the Department of Public Works; about $66,400,000 of the larger package is funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation for capital projects, and $9,300,000 is a true-up of highway maintenance (gas tax) payments for public-works operating efforts including repaving and snow removal. Other highlights Crawford cited included $2,700,000 for storm-recovery efforts and eight additional positions for the Department of Social Services. The board accepted a substitute resolution that removed the $333,360 federal appropriation for electric and hybrid vehicles because the county had not received the Department of Energy grant.

The Brookley Acres ordinance (agenda item 69-25) vacated a 50-foot front building line at 10751 Brookley Road so a homeowner may build a detached garage that would otherwise encroach on the existing line. Real Property staff reported no departmental objections; a board member noted the county has previously invested to stabilize a nearby bank and cautioned the homeowner that added impervious surfaces could affect floodplain protections. The ordinance passed on a motion that carried.

The board voted to accept the resignation of Arbrar Azamuddin from the Cultural Arts Center at the Leah Allen Foundation Board of Directors (agenda item 67-25).

A condemnation item for a Fall Line Trail right-of-way easement (agenda item 70-25) was withdrawn after staff reported the matter had been settled between property owners and the county; no public comment or vote was required.

Contract awards approved by the board included: - An annual engineering services contract for the Henrico County water treatment facility to Whitman, Requardt and Associates (agenda item 73-25). The term is one year with county renewal options; staff said the firm has provided these services for some time. - A fixed-price contract of $372,400 to PRISM Contractors & Engineers Inc. to seal about 1,080 feet of 60-inch diameter corrugated metal pipe as part of the Greenford Drive stormwater CMP rehabilitation project in the Brooklyn District (agenda item 74-25).

Other board approvals included authorizing staff to conduct proceedings related to the renewal of the county's cable franchise agreement with Verizon Virginia Inc. (agenda item 72-25), authorizing donation of a surplus school bus to the Henrico Police Athletic League to support youth programs (agenda item 71-25), and signatory authority for an agreement with the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) for Fall Line Trail wayfinding (agenda item 75-25).

Most motions recorded during the meeting carried without recorded opposition. Several items were accompanied by brief staff overviews and, where required, public hearings with no speakers on the matters before the board. A separate public-comment portion of the meeting drew extensive testimony on climate action and sustainability (see separate article).

Votes at a glance (major items): - Resolution 68-25 substitute (FY24-25 budget amendments, substitute 68a-25): approved (motion by Miss Rountree, second by Mr. Nelson); board approved substitute and then approved the substitute resolution (unanimous). - Resolution 67-25 (accept resignation of Arbrar Azamuddin from Cultural Arts Center board): approved (motion by Mr. Cooper, second by Mr. Rogich; unanimous). - Ordinance 69-25 (vacation of 50-foot building line at 10751 Brookley Road): approved (motion by Mr. Cooper, seconded by Mr. Cooper/Co-sponsor listed; unanimous). - Agenda item 70-25 (resolution for condemnation; Fall Line Trail easement): withdrawn; no vote required. - Resolution 71-25 (donation of surplus school bus to Henrico Police Athletic League): approved (motion by Mr. Cooper, second by Mr. Nelson; unanimous). - Resolution 72-25 (authorize Verizon franchise renewal proceedings): approved (motion by Mr. Nelson, second by Miss Rountree; unanimous). - Resolution 73-25 (award of contract for water treatment engineering services to Whitman, Requardt and Associates): approved (motion by Mr. Cooper, second by Mr. Nelson; unanimous). - Resolution 74-25 (award of $372,400 contract to PRISM Contractors & Engineers Inc. for Greenford Drive stormwater CMP rehabilitation): approved (motion by Mr. Nelson, second by Miss Rountree; unanimous). - Resolution 75-25 (signatory authority for CVTA Fall Line Trail wayfinding agreement): approved (unanimous).

Board members did not record individual roll-call votes in the public portion of the minutes for many motions; where motions carried the clerk announced "aye" and the chair declared the motion carried.

The board moved on to additional general-agenda business after the votes listed above.