Capital Improvement Plan for FY2015-16 in Charles City nears $2.5 million

A first draft of Charles City County’s FY2015-16 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) has come in with a price tag just under $2.5 million.

County administrator Zach Trogdon and county finance director Michelle Johnson announced a figure of $2,468,000 at the board’s March 4 quarterly work session. A formal presentation of the proposed CIP will take place at the board’s regular monthly meeting on March 24.

Among top projects in next year’s plan is replacement of the Mt. Zion well. The well has suffered deficiencies over past years and was the subject of a corrective action plan with the Virginia Department of Health.

County schools are proposed to receive $696,376 from the plan. According to Trogdon, those funds will be designated to assist in HVAC repairs and replacing two school buses. Schools had requested $1.1 million in CIP funds during a January meeting.

While the document is still undergoing tweaks, District 2 supervisor Bill Coada expressed elation over the proposed plan.

“It’s the first time since I’ve been on this board that we have had a plan in place,” Coada said. “This is something this county desperately needed to get a sense of direction.”

Johnson added that the process of developing the CIP focused on the county’s needs.

“We wanted to do something that was realistic and not pie in the sky,” said the county finance director. “We wanted to present a document and tweak it as necessary to the board’s desire.”

The proposed CIP also opened up a possibility for the next decade. With the county courthouse expected to be paid in full by FY2020-21, the possibility of construction of a county library returned.

“The county would be acquiring new debt,” added Trogdon. “But it would also be the first major borrow [of funds] in years.”

County supervisors are expected to hear a formal presentation, as well as the recommended FY2015-16 budget, at their regular monthly meeting.