News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | November 1, 2026
Local News
Opponents voice Liberty Landing concerns to New Kent Planning Commission; commercial phase doubled to 200,000 square feet
Before developers had a chance to present revisions to their controversial Liberty Landing residential/commercial project, opponents were lining up Monday night to voice concerns before New Kent’s Planning Commission. But at least one commission member is urging county residents to evaluate all potential aspects before taking sides. Virginia Beach-based Boyd Homes (Bridgewater Crossing Inc.) is seeking to rezone a section of a 113-acre site on the south side of Route 60 near Bottoms Bridge to pave the way for multi-family apartments and townhouses. The remaining land would retain its current zoning for commercial/business use. Opponents took advantage of the commission…
Read Full Story
CC schools budget pegged at $10.4 million as parents sound off on supervisor’s comments
Admittedly sitting at a stalemate due to local funding, Charles City superintendent of schools Janet Crawley announced a proposed $10,427,378 budget for the 2014-15 school year. Numbers were revealed during the school board’s Feb. 11 budget work session. The balanced budget is based on former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s figures and schools’ projected average daily membership (ADM) of 679 students. Among monetary changes affecting the $10.4 million figure include an increase in Virginia Retirement System (VRS) of $103,718, a decrease in state projected revenue ($245,803), and a reduction in federal funds as grants have either been eliminated or expired ($483,302). The…
Read Full Story
Recommended Capital Improvement Plan for New Kent totals almost $17 million
Capital improvement projects to the tune of almost $17 million are being recommended for inclusion in New Kent County’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year. County administrator Rodney Hathaway unveiled his CIP recommendations totaling $16,979,034 for fiscal 2014-15 (FY15) before the county’s Planning Commission Monday night. “That’s a huge number, but less than one-fourth would be funded by [county money],” he told commission members. New Kent, he said, has $7 million in cash on hand that is set aside for capital improvement work. Of that, he is proposing to utilize just under $3.5 million during the next fiscal year….
Read Full Story
Charles City files civil lawsuit against Waste Management
Charles City County filed a civil lawsuit against Waste Management of Virginia last Oct. 31, claiming a breach of contract. County attorney Randolph Boyd filed the suit on behalf of the county. Among claims listed in court files include payments to the county for trash delivered to the landfill. Claimed statements indicate Waste Management is supposed to pay a “host fee” of $440 per ton for the first 1,200 tons, with an increase to $550 per ton afterwards. Host fees in 2011 garnered more than $2.7 million in revenue for the county. But since then, the intake of refuse has…
Read Full Story
Budget of $28.7 million for New Kent schools proposed
New Kent School Board proposed a $28,701,589 budget for the 2014-15 school year. School board members convened Tuesday night for a work session to view superintendent of schools Dr. Rick Richardson’s proposed numbers. Using the governor’s figures, Richardson’s budget is based on an average daily membership (ADM) of 2,910 students for the school system. Of the $28.7 million, $26,618,815 will be accounted for school operations. Richardson’s numbers are based on the local government providing flat funding ($12,534,595) and state funding of $13,117,200. The $13.1 million figure from the state is an increase of $458,549 from the FY 2013-14 school budget….
Read Full Story
Charles City schools asked to return $436,000 to county
Before Charles City’s school board could address issues regarding the 2014-15 school budget, they ran into a request that has put this year’s budget in major flux. Superintendent of schools Dr. Janet Crawley announced at the Feb. 11 work session that county supervisors have requested that schools return $436,732 in this year’s budget. And school board members weren’t happy, to say the least. Already this year, schools have lost $22,416 as matching funds for a school resource officer (later allocated to Charles City Sheriff’s Office) and $86,150 in capital improvement funds. School officials originally were going to ask for return…
Read Full Story
NK schools decline option to outsource buses after study
At the request from New Kent’s Board of Supervisors, New Kent schools conducted a feasibility study on the possibility of outsourcing schools’ transportation department. And after a 15-minute presentation and a question and answer period that yielded more questions, school board members did not hesitate taking action. School board members voted 4-0 to reject outsourcing transportation during Tuesday night’s work session. District 5 representative Gail Hardinge was not in attedance. A presentation from Jason Moyer, a representative of Student Transportation of America, on outsourcing yielded two possibilities for the schools. The first consisted of a full-service package, where the current…
Read Full Story
Juvenile in McDonald’s armed robbery found competent to stand trial
A Henrico County juvenile has been found competent to stand trial in relation to an armed robbery at the Bottoms Bridge McDonald’s. Robert James Priester, 16, of the 2200 block of Kingsbrook Drive, will have a bench trial (heard by the judge) on March 10. Priester is charged with three counts of armed robbery and one count of using a firearm to commit a robbery. A mental evaluation prepared by Dr. Elizabeth Wheeler for Chesterfield Circuit Court indicated the defendant understood the proceedings of the trial and has the capability of testifying if necessary. Defense attorney Michael Henkle asked for…
Read Full Story
New Kent supervisors accept Historic School PPEA bid
New Kent supervisors unanimously approved acceptance of an unsolicited PPEA proposal from Marengo Management for the second phase of the Historic School project during last night’s (Feb. 19) special public hearing. County attorney Michele Gowdy recapped the second phase of the plan, consisting of replacing the east wall, renovating the kitchen, and the demolition and creation of complete plans to submit to the Department of Education for approval. Last December, supervisors sent out the PPEA for bid. After 45 days, no other competitive bids were received. Without any new proposals, supervisors took the next steps in the process, holding a…
Read Full Story
Briefly… for Feb. 20-Mar. 5, 2014
Dogwood Classic theme announced Colonial Downs has announced the theme for the second Dogwood Classic as “Casino Royale,” based off of an affinity for James Bond and casino type activities. Colonial Downs officials are encouraging attendees to embrace the theme when planning Dogwood Classic tailgate décor, food and beverage offerings, and attire worn by both male and female partygoers. “Casino Royale” was the name of author Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel in 1953. The original TV adaptation of the novel occurred in 1954, and the original Casino Royale spy movie came out in 1967 starring David Niven and a…
Read Full Story
