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Issue 152
Friday, February 17, 2023
Prince William County
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Dear Neighbors,
This week many elected officials and community members from the region came to together for a press event (see Chair's Calendar). It was a wonderful display of collaboration. Something I think of often in my role as County Chair.
Our County spans almost 350 square miles and is home to almost a half a million people. If you travel from the northwestern tip to the southeastern corner the topography will vary as greatly as the issues important to the people of that area.
My role as Chair is to consider all of them. I strive to create a collaborative environment where we can come together and consider the County as a whole. I truly believe collaboration is a key to ensuring the best for the residents of Prince William County.
In Service,
Chair Ann Wheeler
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Wednesday, February 15, Chair Wheeler joined federal, state, and local elected officials in Springfield at a press event to show strong community support and promote Virginia’s case as the best destination for the new FBI Headquarters. Joining the Chair were Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine, Governor Glenn Youngkin, Representative Gerry Connolly, Representative Don Beyer, Representative Abigail Spanberger, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair At-Large Phyllis J. Randall, and various community leaders. | |
Thursday, February 16, Chair Wheeler attended the PWC Black History Committee's celebration for Black History Month. Speakers at the event included members of the PWC Black History Committee, included Chairman Byron Jenkins (right in photo), County Executive Christopher Shorter, PWC Human Rights Commission Chair Curtis Porter, and PWC Poet Laureate Emerita Kim B. Miller. You can read more about the engaging celebration and the speakers moving stories here. | |
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Friday, February 17, Chair Wheeler attended the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce's Congressional Funding Award Event. The event celebrated the Chamber's initiatives and support it has received from Congressional funding, and also recognized the progress and impact it has made in the Northern Virginia community. Senator Tim Kaine (top left photo center) provided the keynote address. While there Chair Wheeler connected with Town of Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood (bottom right photo right) and Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce Chairman Sam Wiggins (bottom right photo center).
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Friday, February 17, Chair Wheeler provided remarks at the Town of Dumfries Extended Work Session - Council Planning Retreat. Other elected officials attending included Virginia General Assembly member Senator Jeremy McPike and Delegates Elizabeth Guzman, Candi King, and Luke Torian, as well as City of Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson. | | |
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Tuesday, February 28
2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Links to the agenda and to register to participate in Public Comment Time remotely will be shared in issue prior to the meeting.
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PWC has been awarded almost $1 million in the U.S. Department of Transportation's new competitive grant program, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), to improve roads and address traffic fatalities. The $992,000 received by the PWC Department of Transportation will be used to develop a comprehensive safety action plan. The application was submitted by PWC in coordination with the City of Manassas and the Towns of Occoquan, Haymarket, and Dumfries. It will build off previous successful planning and public engagement efforts, including key stakeholders like the County’s Racial and Social Justice and Sustainability Commissions, and create opportunities for meaningful community engagement to ensure policies and strategies improve safety equitably. | |
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More About the Grant Program
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the new SS4A discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years for regional, local, and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. In total, Virginia projects received over $7 million (pages 47-49) of the $800 million in this round of grant funding. Of those 18 projects funded, PWC was awarded the largest grant amount in the Commonwealth!
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Environmental Project Gets Underway | |
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What the Facility Will Do and its Benefits
Landfills generate landfill gas (LFG), which is comprised of 50% methane, a greenhouse gas that is a primary contributor to climate change. The OPAL Fuels' facility will capture, convert, and process 95% of the captured methane on-site, significantly reducing the need for combustion of LFG at the landfill and reducing, by well over 90%, the emissions of pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. The RNG is then transferred offsite for use as vehicle fuel or to power homes and businesses. At full output, the new facility will produce approximately 12.4 million gas gallon equivalents of RNG per year.
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Community Meetings on School Safety and Security | |
PWC School System is considering the addition of advanced security screening technology as early as the 2023-24 school year. Evolv Express® is a crowd screening system that keeps high volume entrances flowing as visitors walk through at a natural pace. It is being used in venues around the country, including public events, schools, hospitals, theme parks, stadiums, performing arts centers, houses of worship, and workplaces. Evolv Express is not a metal detector and instead uses artificial intelligence and sensor technology to instantly distinguish a phone or personal item from a potential weapon or component of a weapon. You can learn more and see Evolve Express in action in the video below. | |
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Upcoming Safety and Security Community Meetings
Attend one the meetings below to engage in the ongoing discussions about the school division's comprehensive approach to “deter, detect, and defend,” including the use of new preventative technology:
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PWC, along with seven other local jurisdictions, are joining the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to create a joint Regional Fair Housing Plan with strategies to expand access to safe and affordable housing. It's the first time in 25 years jurisdictions have united to create a plan. The 60-day public comment period is open through Friday, March 31. You can learn more, read the plan, and submit your feedback here. | |
Applications are Being Accepted | |
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Qualified Applicants
- Rising college seniors, graduating college seniors or enrolled as degree candidates in a graduate/professional school
- Enrolled in a Virginia college/university or a Virginia resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution
- Committed to excellence in academics
- Able to demonstrate leadership ability
- Involved in extracurricular activities
- Active in community service
Interviews will begin on Monday, March 13, and offers will be extended on Friday, April 14. The program runs from Thursday, June 1, through Friday, July 28.
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More About the REVIVE!
REVIVE! is the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education program. Since 2013, fatal drug overdose has been the leading method of unnatural death in Virginia, surpassing homicide, suicide, motor vehicles accidents, and undetermined deaths. Opioids have been the driving force behind the large increases in fatal overdoses since 2013. In 2019, there were 1,289 deaths from all-opioids which includes all versions of fentanyl, heroin, prescription opioids and illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids. Naloxone (branded name Narcan) is a prescription medicine that reverses opioid overdoses by temporarily blocking the effects of opioids and helps the person to breathe again.
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About the Position
The Associate Director is responsible for assisting in developing the strategic direction of community and local government relations and represents the University to the primary communities of Prince William County, City of Manassas, and City of Manassas Park. You can learn more about the job posting and find the application link is here. The deadline for initial consideration is March 14.
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Special Fill the Cruiser Event | |
Get Outside and Learn Something New | |
Lots of Fun Options for Kids | | |
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There is still time to register for PWC Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Spring Break Camps for the week of April 3. There are a variety of offerings that focus on different areas like archery, golf, Minecraft, animal, and gardening. Ages range from 5 to 17, depending on the class. You can also give your child a fun and exciting camp experience from the comfort and convenience of your own home with Camp in a Box kits. You can find the list of camps and register here. | |
People Making a Difference | |
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Tomaudrie Thomas
The CJS Deputy Director, Tomaudrie was awarded the Outstanding Service Award for VCCJA Leadership for her work on the VCCJA, where she has served over 15 years as secretary, treasurer, vice-president and now president-elect.
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More About Tomaudrie's Work
Tomaudrie spearheaded CJS’s Harm Reduction Community Collaborator Naloxone Program, which trains people on probation or pretrial supervision, and their families, how to use Naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse fatal opioid overdoses. She participates on the County's Strategic Planning Committee and is co-lead for the community’s Public Safety Assessment (PSA) Implementation Team. She also is assisting Virginia's PSA committee in the agency’s equity and inclusion work plan development and implementation. Thomas is also currently working with the VCCJA President to address secondary trauma for community corrections and pretrial staff.
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Christopher Mayers
A CJS Senior Probation-Pretrial Officer, Christopher was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for his work in enhancing the development of the Veterans’ Drug Treatment Docket program.
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More About Christopher's Work
Christopher adopted a screening process that accounts for equity in the Treatment docket program and developed a quick referral form. He and the docket team developed a marketing plan, created a new progress report, developed a new logo and brochures, and a docket workbook for the veterans. Christopher finalized the addition of a Veteran Mentor Coordinator along with three mentors and developed a system to track mentor volunteer hours. Seven veterans are currently in the program and two are awaiting legal decisions to participate. The program has adopted Moral Recognition Therapy as their Criminal Thinking group and he has taken the lead role in facilitating the weekly group sessions.
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Steven Austin
The CJS Director, Steven was awarded the Collaboration and Innovation Award for his work in leading local stakeholders to establish a Veterans Drug Treatment Docket and a Drug Treatment Court in PWC.
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More About Steven's Work
The Treatment Docket offers eligible veteran defendants with substance dependency or mental illness a criminal specialty docket with coordinated services to address their needs. Participants are assigned a veteran mentor who acts as a battle buddy to help them through the process. The Treatment Court is a supervised treatment program that diverts people from jail and places them in a supervised, intensive program that provides extensive therapeutic treatment. Steven supports professional development for CJS staff and created an environment where employees are empowered to participate in the development of agency practices and how processes are put into place.
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COVID-19
How to Get Vaccinated (including boosters):
How to get tested:
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PWC
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County Website and Career Opportunities
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Real Estate Assessment and Personal Property Tax information
- Personal Property Payment and Changes Online Portal
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Solid Waste, Disposal Guide, Yard Waste, and Recycling
- Residential Zoning: Decks, Sheds, Fences, Additions, Retaining Walls, and Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs
- Library Branch Locations and Hours
- Parks and Recreation Online Location and Information Mapper
- Current Road Projects
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Pet Adoption and Dog Licenses
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Ann B. Wheeler was elected Chair At-Large of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors during the 2019 General Election and assumed office on January 1, 2020. Prince William County is located 25 miles south of Washington, D.C., and is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s second-most populous county with approximately 482,000 residents. | | | | |
