Issue 145

Friday, December 16, 2022

Prince William County

Dear Neighbors,

As in past years, The Wheeler Report issue following our last Board of County Supervisors meeting closes out the year. As you'll see below, the Board meeting on Tuesday, December 13, was very productive. So much so, all the articles in the County News section below has been devoted to several of its significant agenda items.

Once we have said our goodbyes to 2022, you can expect to see The Wheeler Report back in your inbox the first week of January 2023. Until then, I wish you all a safe and joyous holiday season with friends and family. It is truly my honor to represent the residents of Prince William County and I believe that together we can make 2023 a wonderful year.

In Service,

Chair Ann Wheeler

Wednesday, December 14, Chair Wheeler participated in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) 2022 Annual Meeting where area elected officials are joined by business and nonprofit leaders to reflect upon and celebrate the region's shared priorities and accomplishments in 2022. As Corporate Vice President, Chair Wheeler opened the event, welcoming attendees and commended regional leaders for finding new ways to strengthen existing partnerships and grow more unified in planning priorities.

The intersection is located at Battlefield High School. Over the last few years it has been the site of multiple pedestrian accidents, most recently on November 22. Sadly, several of these accidents have resulted in fatalities.

During the discussion, Acting County Executive Elijah Johnson shared that as part of the upcoming FY2024 budget process, County staff is looking at all County pay scales, including Fire and Rescue. This will be part of the proposed FY2024 budget presented to the Board on February 21, 2023.

How Will Funding be Addressed in the FY2024 Budget?

The adopted FY2023-2027 Five-Year Plan does not include increases to employee pay scales. Therefore, the full-year cost of the minimum pay increase will need to be included in the proposed FY2024 budget.

The adopted FY2023-2027 Five-Year Plan and FY2023 Budget do not include a hiring bonus plan. County staff recommended, in light of existing labor market issues, maintaining the hiring bonus through FY2024. Therefore, the full year cost will need to be included in the proposed FY2024 budget.

During the Tuesday, December 13, Public Hearing, the BOCS adopted the December 2022 drafts of the five chapters of Pathway to 2040: Comprehensive Plan Update (issue 144). The previous Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 2008 and 2010. The process of updating it began in 2016. During that time, PWC Planning Office staff and its independent consultants have conducted extensive research.

The update process has also included soliciting community feedback, hosting informational sessions, and holding public meetings. This work and the opportunities for community involvement in updating the Comprehensive Plan has been shared in The Wheeler Report since issue 49 on January 22, 2021.

Tuesday, December 20, 11:00 am to 11:45 am, come out for a celebratory “reveal” of the new UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center marquis. You'll be able to grab a cup of hot chocolate to keep you warm and hear local leaders, including Chair Wheeler, reflect on what it has meant to become part of UVA Health over the past year. First 100 attendees will receive a free gift!

July 1, 2021, UVA Health became the full owner of Novant Health UVA Health System, a Northern Virginia regional health system previously owned by the two institutions through a joint operating company. You can learn more about this in the County News section of issue 73 and this video.

Saturday, December 31, the PWC Dale City, Dumfries, Independent Hill, Lake Ridge, and Nokesville Public Library branches will be closed.

The PWC Landfill and Balls Ford Road Compost Facility:

• Will be open 6:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 24.
• Does not operate on Sundays, therefore, it will be closed on Sunday, December 25, and Sunday, January 1.

• As a part of the yard waste collection program, place it by trash and recycling collectors during the first two full weeks of January.
• Bring it to the PWC Landfill or Balls Ford Road Compost Facility.
• Drop it off at the Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative in Gainesville in the parking lot area designated by orange safety cones from Monday, December 26 to Monday, January 9.

PWC encourages residents to closely inspect freshly cut Christmas trees for signs of spotted lanternfly (County News section in issue 138).

While holiday light strings help make the season special, they don't last forever. When disposing old lights, PWC Solid Waste Management Disposal Guide recommends:

• Bringing them to the County Landfill or Ball Ford Road Compost facilities.
• Not putting them in your curbside recycling bin or recycling trailers.

Additional Options Include:

• Through Tuesday, January 31 bring them to MOM's Organic Market in Woodbridge to be recycled into roofing, car batteries, flatware, jewelry, and more.
• Ship them to HolidayLEDs a receive a coupon good for purchases from its online store.

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Patrick O'Leary served from 1966-1972 in the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations at various bases in the U.S. and overseas. In 1972, Patrick and his wife, Jane O’Leary, decided to make PWC home and raise their three children, Patrick C. O’Leary, Kathleen Hitchcock, and Michael O’Leary here. Upon graduating from Georgetown University Law School in 1975 he began his 47-year law career, specializing in international trade, customs, regulatory practice, business, and corporate law.

From September 1994 to April 2022, Mr. O’Leary served as the Occoquan Magisterial District representative to the PWC Industrial Development Authority (IDA). During that time, he held the office of Vice Chairman for many years and served as Chairman from November 2017 to April 2022. The IDA s one facet of a multi-pronged approach to PWC economic development and works its partners, the PWC Department of Economic Development. Its primary activity is to issue tax-exempt revenue bonds, as well as serve as a conduit for investments made in our community by the BOCS in the form of incentive grants. The goal of these services is to attract new business to PWC and to help existing businesses expand.