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Residents urge board to act after repeated neighborhood shootings; Lake Louise owners report drainage and dam erosion
Summary
Multiple residents urged the board to address recurrent reckless shooting in residential areas—reporting bullets, property damage and children afraid to play—and a Lake Louise neighborhood reported a recent drainage and dam erosion that residents say may lead to flooding and civil litigation.
Several Powhatan County residents used the April 27 public comment period to press the board on local safety and property concerns.
Robert Bishop reported ongoing recreational shooting across Trenholm Road from his 30-acre family property that occurs at all hours and has distressed his elderly wife and pets. Katie Toney said repeated reckless shooting in the Glen Brook neighborhood has made her 10-year-old daughter and her friends afraid to play outdoors and played a video showing the children hurrying past the home where shooting occurs. Mike Dawson said officers told him it was a matter of "when, not if" someone would be injured; he reported the sheriff's office recovered a 9 mm bullet from a tree on his property and said three homes sit within about 100 yards of the shooting area.
Speakers urged the board to consider an ordinance restricting or regulating shooting in residential areas while acknowledging support for responsible gun ownership. The board did not take immediate action in the meeting but received the comments.
Janet Newton reported a separate ongoing issue at Lake Louise: she said the lake was purchased at auction, a buyer cut a pipe and drained the lake, and the dam is eroding; she warned washout could cause flooding and said affected residents are being sought for a civil lawsuit. Newton also reminded property owners of an assessor deadline at the end of May to pursue reduced assessed value if applicable.
The board acknowledged the comments; staff and delegates were referenced as engaged (Mr. Powers thanked Delegate Lee Ware for contacting DEQ, DCR and VDOT on the Lake Louise matter). The public-comment items were recorded for staff follow up rather than immediate board action.
