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Federal Stimulus Money to Assist Peninsula Families Struggling to Avoid Homelessness

Some localities in the Peninsula received federal stimulus money to help prevent homelessness for some area residents who are struggling, according to the Daily Press.

The funds will be used for rental assistance, utility and security deposit payments and credit repair.

This is good news for all residents in these areas because preventing homelessness is cheaper than correcting it. Also, preventing homelessness can protect property values.

"As part of the federal stimulus package, nearly $1.4 million has come to the Peninsula to help stem the tide of growing homelessness associated with the lingering economic recession.

Government and nonprofit agencies in Hampton, Newport News, York, Poquoson, James City County and Williamsburg recently began disbursing funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program.

The six localities evenly split about $727,000. A secondary pot of money totaling more than $659,000 was allotted specifically for Newport News, said Joy Cipriano, director of property and resource development for the Hampton/Newport News Community Services Board, the agency administering the grant funds.

The money is specifically earmarked for such things as rental assistance, utility and security deposit payments, and credit repair. It is not targeted for the chronically homeless, Cipriano said.

'The money is for helping people that were otherwise stable and making it. But, due to loss of a job or reduction of income, can't meet rent payments,' Cipriano said. 'It's cheaper to prevent homelessness than correct it once it happens.'

Cipriano said the federal government has instituted strict guidelines about how the money can be used and is requiring stringent reporting to make sure the funds are spent appropriately."

Read the full story.

Posted on Monday, January 4, 2010 - 1:49pm

Lynchburg City Council Budget Talks Starting Early This Year

Lynchburg City Council will do something new this year. They will start budget talks much earlier than normal and before the city manager makes his recommendations, according to the Lynchburg News & Advance.

The Council members will give input to the city manager on which various topics that will help him make informed decisions about the city's tight budget.

Hopefully this new approach will benefit Lynchburg homeowners.

"In a highly unusual move, Lynchburg City Council will engage in preliminary budget talks next month before any recommendations are made by the city manager.

Traditionally, such deliberations are held in the spring and start only after City Manager Kimball Payne unveils his budget proposal in early March. Council then responds to and revises that plan over the course of several weeks.

This year’s accelerated deliberation schedule was adopted after Payne approached officials in December seeking early guidance on topics ranging from spending cuts to tax hikes.

Council doesn’t typically play such a direct role in shaping the city manager’s budget recommendations. In explaining his request, Payne referenced the austere revenue climate, which he has described as the most challenging of his career.

'We’ve never faced anything like this before,' he said in an interview. 'We thought last year was different, but it’s only getting tougher.

'This is going to be a unique and different year. I think doing things in a unique and different way will inform the process and give me a little better sense of Council’s interests as I put the proposal together.'

Council has scheduled a special all-day budget retreat for Feb. 6.

Payne has asked members at that time to consider six specific questions:
• What are your priorities regarding services provided to citizens?
• As cuts are considered, is there anything that is untouchable?
• Which services, programs or activities could be stopped?
• Are there any new initiatives you would like to consider?
• What are your thoughts on actions to increase revenues (via taxes, fees or policy changes)?
• What are your capital improvement priorities?

This is the latest in a series of unprecedented steps taken by the city manager to gather advice as he ponders a slew of unappetizing budget choices."

Read the full story.

Posted on Monday, January 4, 2010 - 1:18pm

D.C., Va. Seeking Federal Aid for Snowstorm

The historic snow tha blanketed Virginia, DC and Maryland in December costs more than $41 million in snow removal, according to the Washington Examiner. Federal assistance will be needed to help pay off some of the costs that exceeded budgets.

"The District and Virginia plan to seek federal assistance to pay off some of their costs from the record December snowstorm that dumped up to two feet around the region, officials said."

FEMA could provide some assistance that will help, but more will still be needed, according to VDOT field services manager Perry Cogburn.

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency funds could make a dent in the costs but will not solve the problem for the cash-strapped governments.

FEMA pays for 75 percent of expenses for 48 hours of historic storms, VDOT field services manager Perry Cogburn said. But the storm hit some parts of the region worse than others, and the preparations and cleanup lasted in some places for well over five days. Snow totals also need to be close to or above record levels so the damage of past storms is also relevant. Some counties could be eligible for federal money, while others won't receive a cent."

Read the full story.

Posted on Monday, January 4, 2010 - 1:04pm

Gov. Kaine Thinks Snow Removal was Mediocre

Governor Kaine recently gave his review of snow removel efforts after last month's historic snowstorm. Kaine wasn't thrilled about the process, and thinks that more could have been done to clean up neighbor streets, according to InsideNoVA.com.

One of the few ways to increase the budget for snow removal and other public services is to increase taxes. Tax increases are something that most homeowners dread, but having safe streets to drive on after a great snowfall like this one is something most homeowners would appreciate.

"Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was not completely satisfied with the way Virginia's transportation agency handled snow removal efforts after last month's historic snowstorm.

At issue was some of the work that the Virginia Department of Transportation outsources to private contractors, he told Charlottesville TV station WVIR.

He described the overall snow removal job done by VDOT as 'an OK job.'

'We were not completely satisfied with the work that was being done by the private contractor. Without going into it too much, on Saturday [during the snowstorm] basically I asked VDOT to take over a good bit of that work and when that happened things started to go a lot better,' the governor told WVIR.

Kaine said he wasn't happy with the lack of preparation for the storm or with the lack of urgency plow crews had when it came to clearing the snow from neighborhood streets."

Read the full story.

Posted on Monday, January 4, 2010 - 12:25pm

Danville Approves Animal Chaining Ordinance

According to GoDanRiver.com, Danville City Council approve an ordinance that will limit the amount of time a pet can be chained outside, which pets can not be chained oustide, and the proper collars, halters or harnesess required.

The ordinance will go into effect on July 1, 2010.

"Danville City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that will strictly limit the amount of time a pet can be chained outside, effective July 1, 2010.

Chaining will be banned altogether for sick or injured animals, animals under four months of age or when the outside temperature reaches — or falls below — freezing.

When chained outside, animals must have proper collars, halters or harnesses, and it cannot be tethered to a fixed point — the animal will have to be chained to a runner or swivel that will allow it greater movement.

Animals can also be kept in dog lots, or kennels."

Read the full story.

Posted on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - 3:42pm

Citing Cost, Virginia Ends Aerial Speed Patrols

Due to budget cuts, Virginia State Police will no longer be patrolling the skies looking for dangerous drivers, according to The Virginian-Pilot. The hope is that the program may be re-instated when the state has more money to fund the program.

"The Cessna spent 4-1/2 hours in the air Dec. 6, manned by Virginia State Police and winging over Interstate 64 in Chesapeake on a hunt for dangerous drivers.

They issued 14 tickets that Saturday, and it turned out those would be the last. Troopers haven't taken to the sky to enforce the rules of the road since. Those 14 tickets came at a cost of roughly $90 an hour.

Nine years after Virginia changed its law to allow State Police to catch speeders from the air, the program is effectively over.

State Police blame millions of dollars in budget cuts, which have also forced the closure of its Manassas airport and the sale of one of its planes, spokeswoman Deborah Cox said.

The program might be re-instated when times are better. But the lawmaker who sponsored the bill that made aerial patrols possible doesn't expect that to happen until 2011 or later."

Read the full story.

Posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 11:42am

Greenville Residents Will See New Fire Station

Greenville will be home to a new fire and rescue station, according to The News Leader.

The facility will be staffed by volunteer firefighters and rescuers.

News like this is good for homeowners in Greenville, because enhances to public safety services like this will help protect property values.

"Augusta County will build a fire and rescue station near Greenville, an area supervisors said is under served by emergency responders.

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 Wednesday night.

Volunteer firefighters and rescuers from the Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad will staff the building, which will be near Riverheads High School.

There were some concerns that allowing SARS to move into the region could ruffle feathers of other rescue agencies, which are uneasy about yet-to-be-determined boundary lines.

'I have no illusions that we're going to make everyone happy,' said Middle River Supervisor Gerald Garber. But public safety, Garber stressed, was his No. 1 concern."

Read the full story.

Posted on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 10:58pm

James CIty County Supervisors to meet Tuesday

One key element to creating communities with stable property values is public safety. That's why it is good news for all homeowners in James City County that at Tuesday night's meeting officials will accept more than $74,000 in grand funding for the police department. According to the Daily Press the grant funding will be used to buy computer equipment and protective equipment for officers.

"The James City County Board of Supervisors is set to accept more than $74,000 in grant funding for its police department when it meets tonight.

Included on the meeting's consent agenda — items typically viewed as noncontroversial — are several grant awards.

The county's police department has been awarded a $13,446 Justice Assistance Grant, police Chief Emmett Harmon wrote in a memo to the board. The funds, which require no local match, will be used to buy computer equipment for the department's Community Services Unit.

The police department has also landed a $61,300 Port Security Grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the federal stimulus package. The funds, which also require no local match, will be used to buy protective equipment for officers that use inflatable boats to patrol the county's waterways, Harmon wrote. The funding will allow the department to continue expanding its marine patrol and special weapons and tactics units, he said."

Read the full story.

Posted on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 10:57pm

Roanoke Area Residents Experience an Increase in Lawn Equipment Thefts

Today the Roanoke Times published a story about the increase in lawn equipment thefts this summer. Area officals are encouraging homeowners to go to greater lengths to protect their lawn equipment, including:

- Lock lawn equipment in a shed

- Permanently and uniquely mark equipment (engraving is a great idea)

- Record model and serial numbers of all lawn equipment

"One morning last month about 10:30, Charlie Hartman pulled up to his house just in time to see two strangers driving away with his flatbed trailer hitched to their truck. Parked on the trailer was his $4,000 Cub Cadet riding mower. Hartman, 56, a Vinton contract landscaper, had just stopped at home on his way to a doctor's appointment. Suddenly he found himself in a car chase down East Virginia Avenue, up South Pollard Street and past the police station.

'If I'd been two minutes earlier, I'd have been right on top of them hooking it up,' he said.

Two days after that, Hartman said, he was at a Roanoke used car dealership when the same truck rolled onto the lot with his trailer. The driver, he thinks, was looking to sell it.

'When I went to question him, he took off real fast,' said Hartman, who later found the trailer, minus the mower, abandoned a few blocks away. He has identified a suspect from police mug shots, but hasn't gotten his Cub Cadet back. 'I've been here 17 years and not even had as much as a toothpick taken from my yard. I keep everything now locked up like Fort Knox,' he said.

He's not alone. Although Vinton police and the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office said they haven't noticed a significant rise in thefts of lawn equipment, many other areas are citing a sharp increase. Roanoke did not submit information. Salem police Lt. Mike Green said that since mid-May, there have been about a dozen reported thefts of lawn equipment in the city, including trailers, riding mowers, pressure washers and leaf blowers."

Read full story.

Posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 10:14am

Work to Make Dam in Franklin County Safer is Going Ahead

The Roanoke Times reported today that work on the Blackwater River dam is scheduled to start on Monday. Area residents are anxiously awaiting the completion of this project because of recent injuries and deaths at the dam.

"Work is moving forward on a low-head dam on the Blackwater River where two people have died in the past two months.

Rocky Mount and Franklin County officials have hired Shively Construction to add rocks to the front of the dam to break the hydraulic cycle that can drown people who get caught up in it, said Scott Martin, director of commerce and leisure services for the county. The company will also cut a new portage, spots above and below the dam where people can safely exit and re-enter the river to avoid the dam. Signs are already present around the dam, warning people to exit the river.

Work will begin Monday and should take a week or two to complete, depending on water levels, Martin said."

Read full story.

Posted on Friday, August 7, 2009 - 2:41pm