http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/should-prince-william-board-have-discretionary-funds/2011/12/20/gIQAVb0YCP_blog.html

Jackman hit all the highlights and also stated that Prince William County is the only jurisdiction in the area to allow supervisors such unfettered use of taxpayer money.  Residents have been grousing and grumbling about this practice for years. However, that grousing and grumbling became a primal scream when folks discovered that Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington wanted to ‘give’  his wife’s favorite charity, Rainbow Therapeutic Riding, $100,000 in discretionary funds.

Oddly enough, this item appeared on the agenda, with no fanfare of course, right before the Thanksgiving holiday.  How convenient.  Perhaps he thought no one would be looking.  To his dismay, lots of “William Watchers” were watching.  This blog posted the account late Thanksgiving night.  Our better side said not to do this story on Thanksgiving Day.   After that, the blogosphere lit up  Northern Virginia lights.  That is a huge amount of money, going to a charity that only has 60 or so recipients.  Rainbow Riding is not in his district and it already gets $33,000 from the general fund.

Now citizens are clamoring for the use of discretionary funds to come to a screeching halt. The Committee of 100 will examine the practice at its February meeting.   The use absolutely should be discontinued.  Now is the time to take a closer look at how other jurisdictions handle money left over from general office expenses.  There is simply too much discrepancy in business as usual in Prince William County.

Corey may wish it would go away, but this time I think the residents will have the final say.  Stay tuned.  Elena will be doing a follow up.

PS Corey….remember those invitations to the October 16, 2007  Citizens’ Time?  What fund did those come out of?  Could it have been your ….discretionary funds? [best Church Lady voice]

Understandably, print newspapers are struggling  and often face the wrath of their readers.  How many times does a story evoke the “I am going to cancel my subscription” because of this or that story or editorial?   Even though most of a newspaper’s day to day funding comes from advertising, it does no good to advertise if there are no readers.

Many friends have suggested that we do some cash compensation here through advertising.  To date, I have resisted.  I am not rolling in dough but so far, I have been able to pay my electric bill and my go- daddy accounts.  We owe no allegiance to any advertiser.  We are our own operation. 

We don’t have to worry about our readership.  While everyone  in the blogosphere loves having good numbers, if we don’t have great numbers, that’s ok also.  Several people have left this blog  because they don’t like our rules.   We try to be fair to everyone, despite how it seems.   We can easily have someone tell us they aren’t going to read our blog any more.  What’s the worst that can happen?  What do we tell them?  Not let the keyboard hit them in the ass on the way out?  [Thanks to Elena for that one.]

Hopefully, everyone will stay and we can work together with our differences and our similarities. Very few people have been asked to leave.  Most of those who have left have self deported and are welcome back at any time. 

I think it is our job to be a watch dog for the county, with the help of our contributors.  We don’t claim to hit it all.We aren’t a publication.  Sometimes our silence is what should speak volumes.  Many of you all noticed it during the last election cycle.  Other times we will be vocal.  This is one of those times. From now on, when  a supervisor donates money from his or her discretionary fund, we want to hear the following:  “ I plan to donate x amount of money to Y organization on behalf of the Prince William County taxpayers.” 

 Wally Covington, please withdraw your request to give Rainbow Riding Center $100,000 of taxpayer money. It just the right thing to do at this point.

It has come to our attention that Supervisor Wally Covington, Brentsville District Supervisor, intends to give away $100,000 from his discretionary magisterial funds to the non-profit organization Rainbow Riding.   This resolution is to be voted on at the BOCS meeting on Tuesday, November 29.

Rainbow Riding is a worthwhile organization that provides therapy riding for children with physical and mental disabilities. People are often hesitant to say what they are thinking when questioning process.  Especially when children are involved as beneficiaries.  However, we cannot ignore irregularities when those irregularies  involve public money.

Allow us to be crystal clear:  This is not an issue regarding the credibility of Rainbow Riding or the services that they provide to a very specific population.  Instead, this is an issue about how county funds are spent and the degree of transparency involved in the determination of who will receive these funds.

During the past year, this blog has posted several articles regarding the permitting process or lack thereof for a huge riding arena constructed for the Rainbow Riding facility.  It became clear to citizens that Rainbow Riding was exempt from the regular processes that other residents are required to follow.  For example, the county informed us that this huge building, equipped with seats and bleachers, and bathroom facilities, was classified as a “barn.”  In the Rural Crescent, barns are not required to go through the permitting process.  Then, as now, we dispute the idea that a huge complex riding arena the size of this structure is a barn.  A riding arena is not a barn and a barn is not a riding arena.

From the very beginnings of negotiations with Toll Brothers, somehow Rainbow Riding became an integral part of that process.  How did a small 501C (3) organization become entrenched in negotiations regarding county land use?  The 45 acres that Rainbow Riding sits on is public that excludes the public at large.

Fast forward to the present.   Paying only a pittance for the public land this organization occupies; now the taxpayers will be required to put $100,000 more into a private organization.

Does anyone else find it troublesome that Supervisor Covington’s immediate family members are in leadership roles at Rainbow Riding?  Is there a fair process for the allocation of county funds to non-profits?  Or better yet, is there even a process?  How can citizens  be  assured that favoritism does not come in to play when taxpayer funds are being distributed to various organizations?   Should being an elected official entitle one to take care of family and friends’ favorite charities and organizations?  At what point do we question whether this isn’t nepotism?

 Note:  this article was originally published 11/24/11 in the evening. Thanksgiving night.   I moved it up several days as I felt it was an important story to have out there.  We do that with stories we want to keep active. 

 The time stamps stay behind the scenes and can be used for documentation should the need ever arise. 

Turning off onto the area where Silver Lake is, you immediately get into rough road territory.  Ok, its a lake.  Nearly all the property going down to the lake is posted–both sides of the road.  If I am a county resident, and I am on county property, why can’t I be there?  Something is being built on the left, between the riding arena and Antioch Road.  What is back in there?  Why can no one tell me?  The area is blocked off and there has been heavy equipment back there a year.  What is being hidden back there?  Again, posted signs.

Onward to Rainbow riding.  They had an open door on the left hand side that looked mighty inviting to vandals.  Again, posted signs so I didn’t dare get out and poke around.  More county property I cannot go on.  The huge field across the gravel road  that had been graded and is now grassed over is also posted. 

The road to Silver lake needs to have the pot holes filled or patches of the road need to be regraded.  Some of them are deep enough to break an axle.  This is an ongoing problem back there.   Fix the road. 

Turning in to the first picnic area is just sad.  There is just the most wonderful view of the new middle school.  Gag!  How can the highlight of a lake area, reserved for passive recreation, be a middle school?  Middle schools are not passive recreation. There needs to be a barrier between that lake and the school.  I don’t care what is placed there as long as something is.  What moron came up with a plan to put a middle school right on top of a lake designed for passive recreation, or any lake at all for that matter?  Who will do bush patrol to keep the kids from sneaking off to the lake?  What person wants to fish while a bunch of kids are around.  The school is probably 100 yards tops from the road.  A barrier wall needs to be put up and a row of fast-growing trees needs to be planted to preserve the integrity of the lake.  The fumes from the buses will probably kill the trees, especially the locusts back in there.

Erect a barrier.  Plant a tree fence.

Driving along past the school side, one can look a few feet in the woods and see discarded picnic tables trashing the area.  They appear to be the old tables from Silver Lake but who knows.  The park visitors have moved the existing tables around so that many are very close to the waters edge and nearly all are inaccessible to the handicapped.  What limited handicapped parking there is goes no where except up an earth berm.  Most handicapped people cannot get to the tables or the beach.

Make Silver Lake handicapped accessible.

And now for the main event.  Put some bear cans in the park.    There is a need for  cans in the upper area before circling around Silver Lake and there is a need for  cans down on the beach and over by the fishing lagoon.  There needs to be a can near the bath house and from what Censored says, there should be to be containers  in the bathrooms.  I expect there also needs to be toilet paper. 

It is human nature to litter when there aren’t adequate trash recepticles.  Let’s avoid human nature. 

Provide adequate trash containers, ones that wild animals cannot get in to.

Supervisors, you insisted on taking this park over and you are not being good stewards.  Bull Run Conservancy offered to take it over, keep it maintained, and allow full access to the public.  but ohhhhh no.  You just had to take it.  Well take care of it.  You are neglecting the park.  It will become an eye sore.  In fact, it already has all the signs.  How long will it take to become plain old undesirable? 

There was an abandoned car back there also.  A ranger was taking down all the vitals there.  Nice car but it didn’t belong abandoned back there. 

Treat Silver Lake like it is something to be proud of.  Get it cleaned up and TAKE DOWN THAT SIGN KISSING TOLL BROTHERS’ ASS.  I don’t need to see that sign when I drive back there.  Put it out front of the school, don’t put it back where all the people who might like to pretend to enjoy nature back there have to look at it. Enough is enough. 

Clean up the picnic tables out of the woods and get rid of that Ass-Kissing sign that blemishes the lake area.

The biggest sin of all was taking 3 years to decide to keep the property, insisting on keeping it and then cheaping on it.  If you aren’t going to take care of it and at least put in trash cans and keep the road in drivable repair, give it to Bull Run Conservancy, if they will even have it now, so that people who care about the environment will have some control over what happens. 

Supervisors, vote no to giving  away $100,000 of our money to a private organization.  We don’t have it to give.  If there is a penny extra, do the right thing with what is left of Silver Lake, before you all completely destroy it.  I put recommendations in red.  These aren’t novel ideas. 

Allow me to interject some facts here.  There IS a “cluster ordinance” in the comprehensive plan for allowing clustering of homes on large tracts of land.  I will put a copy of the ordinance  up on the rural crescent website and link to it so people can become better informed.   I am hopeful that maybe even Corey and Peter Candland will visit the link in order to educate themselves on the current cluster ordinance.

Lo and behold, Peter Candland is already finding ways to do Corey’s bidding!   I don’t think that Peter has a full understanding of land use or else he would understand why Corey’s proposal is bunk.

“That, I believe, succeeds at nothing,” Stewart said. “I think that we need to look at better ways of preserving very large areas of rural ground as well as promoting more commercial office space and high-end retail. We have to take the emotion out of this debate and give it a cold, hard, objective look.”

Stewart said his argument is that having a hodgepodge of 10-acre lots doesn’t make sense. Better, he said, to have a development on 100 acres, where 30 acres are developed and the other 70 are open space, he said. Stewart said that such a policy would take a long time to develop, and the board would do so “in conjunction with the community.”

Candland said he rejects the commonly used term “slow growth,” saying “managed growth” more adequately describes his philosophy to encourage growth along with adequate infrastructure. But he largely agrees with Stewart’s philosophy of bringing the county more high-end retail and office space, he said, adding that improving the county’s quality of life will drive economic growth.

“Plain and simple,” Candland said, “we need to bring business to Prince William County.”

The level of ignorance astounds me.    I wonder if Corey and Peter are aware that there is plenty of undeveloped land in the “Development Area” that has YET to be rezoned for its allowed long range use.  There is not a lack of opportunity for high end retail and commercial (anyone heard of Innnovation?) in Prince William County.  There is a lack of those high end retailers and Corporations CHOOSING to do business here. 

Busting open the Rural Crescent will only have one sure fire result, higher taxes for everyone.  Gotta love those conservative values.

I wonder if Michael Neibauer from the Washington Business Journal will have a follow up article to citizens of Prince William County affirming his pre and post prediction on Canlands election being the “game change” for development in the western end.

Not that there’s some massive push to build new homes in Prince William County, especially the western end. But when a proposal does come along — and it will — Candland’s victory may give the developer a narrow opening.

Stewart said that developers were pleased with the direction the board has taken as a whole in easing permit restrictions, building roads and other key infrastructure and keeping taxes low.

He said that he has never taken donations from developers while they have a project pending before the board.

I’ll bet “developers are pleased with the direction of the board!”  Does Avendale ring any bells?!

Tell me, please, why do people spin the truth when the facts can so clearly create obvious contradictions.  From today’s Inside Nova:

On Oct. 7, Bruni Peters of Fairfax-based RK Realty contributed $10,000 to Stewart – just 11 days before Stewart and the rest of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved a comprehensive land use amendment and a re-zoning of one of Bruni’s future mixed-use properties.

At issue is the Hunter at Haymarket development. Thanks to the board’s vote, a six-acre portion of a 44-acre parcel of land off U.S. 15 was approved for office space. The board also approved a higher density residential zoning for nearly 10 of 15 acres that were originally designated semi-rural residential.

Before the vote, Weir asked those board members who had received contributions from RK Realty, Peters or the EV Hunter Trust to recuse themselves from the vote and the rest to vote no. Stewart, Brentsville Supervisor W.S. “Wally” Covington, Gainesville Supervisor John T. Stirrup, Coles Supervisor Martin E. Nohe and Neabsco Supervisor John D. Jenkins received $32,000 in political contributions in the last nine months from those entities, including $20,500 for Stewart alone.

Let me add, back in 2007 Corey’s owns words AGAINST his opponent Sharon Pandak, and I quote……….

“I am pleased to see that my opponent in this years election has changed her mind about pledging to protect the Rural Crescent. YOur supporters should be reminded that my opponent refused to sign the rural protection pledge a mere eleven months ago during the last years special election. By contrast, I have always stood as an uncompromised champion of protecting the Rural Areas of our county against development encroachments. Since my opponent was the developers candidate in last years special election, and is quietly so again this year, there are some who might view her decision to sign the pledge this year as politicl posturing intended to confuse the voters.”

I can recall, vividly, the sign, nay, the BILLBOARD, that I erected on my property for Corey.  It read something like “Vote Corey Stewart//The Smart Growth Candidate”.  Myself, along with many others, feel betrayed by Corey’s lack of commitment to “champion” smart growth along with the preservation of the Rural Crescent. 

During the public hearing, Stewart didn’t address the accusations but said the Class A office space is sorely needed in Prince William County. Covington said the proximity of a cement plant near the development didn’t bother him and said with the construction of a nearby hospital, more office space would be needed.

When reached via telephone Tuesday, Stewart said if this would’ve been controversial at all, he would have asked RK Realty to postpone the donation or he would’ve asked to delay the vote. But he said he saw no reason not to, especially in light of how soon voters will hit the polls.

“Everybody on the board agrees we need more office space,” Stewart said.

Really? We need more office space? Either I am living in an alternate reality, or the numerous “office space for lease” real estate signs EVERYWHERE , indicate we have untold amounts of unrented office space. You see, along with the “much needed” office space (what a joke), the property in Haymarket was also rezoned from semi rural residential to high density housing. What do you think is going to sell? I am willing to go out on a limb and predict the housing with sell like hotcakes.

I don’t know how Corey can look at himself in the mirror. I wonder if it is worth it in the end? To sell the well being of your county down the river in hopes of attaining your political aspirations.

Oy Vay, this IS a bad day for Corey but a good one for citizens.  The Washington Post also did an aricle on the questionable campaign contributions.  Here is my favorite paragraph:

Bob Weir, who sits on Haymarket’s Town Council, had asked that supervisors who had accepted donations from developers recuse themselves from voting. Weir said the town is opposed to the project because, among other things, it would add more than 4,000 vehicle trips to area roads and places an option for an eight-story hotel where the rest of the buildings in the surrounding area have lower height restrictions.

Members of the county’s planning commission opposed the project for similar reasons.

“On this one, and on all of them it would appear,” Weir said, asked if he thought campaign contributions had played a role in the board’s approval of the project. “This isn’t an isolated incident. What’s the purpose of having bodies vet these things if you’re not going to … abide by their recommendations, if the issues that are brought up are just brushed aside?”

But Stewart said that the project was not controversial, noting that it passed unanimously and without debate among supervisors. Stewart said that he did not speak with Peters about the proposed development before the vote and that the donation did not affect his vote or the county’s decision.

“I was concerned about the timing,” Stewart said of the donation. “[But] it was a non-controversial office development the board passed unanimously. Any controversy, I would have delayed the vote until later or I would have asked RK Realty to not donate but … they’re building office space, which is exactly what the county needs and exactly what the voters want.”

Stewart said that the town of Haymarket wanted the project to be within the town’s borders so that it could add the development to its tax base. Weir said that had nothing to do with the town’s position.

So on one hand he admits that the Town of Haymarket had clear issues AND expressed them to the Board but says there was “no controversy”?  What does Corey believe controversy entails ?  Does there have to be a huge protest in order to know that you may be doing something unethical?

When Republicans who attended the debate last night agree that Peter Candland presents as an empty suit, you know you are in trouble.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening, for me, was when the two candidates were discussing bringing new jobs to Prince William County. The broader question became–why AREN’T businesses relocating here?

Peter Candland, talked about how he has the business savvy to bring new economic investment to the County. He touted  his experience serving on a corporate relocation task force, but then failed to  verbalize  why he was unable  to bring these business to Prince William County.  Candland freely admitted  that “quality of life” issues are what will bring high-end retail and corporate investment, but  he lost traction informing his listeners how to upgrade the quality of life issues.  He lacked specifics and upbraided his opponent over stimulus money but failed to reveal how he would finance these issue that both candidates feel are important. 

Ann Wheeler was confident and articulate in her answers during the debate.  Wheeler has a moderate and realistic grasp of the needs of Prince William County. She understands that PWC must invest in those quality of life resources like  schools, libraries,  parks and recreation, walkable communities, superior fire, rescue and police services  and decent roads.  These are the issues that attract quality economic investment. 

While both candidates addressed county concerns directed at the Gainesville District, Ann Wheeler clearly demonstrated substance over ideological talking points.  She backed up her remarks with specific examples whereas Candland spoke in sweeping generalities.  She simply appeared to have her thumb directly on the pulse of the community.

I don’t know why Peter Candland did not show, but certainly, given his past record of being absent from the budget committee, his “no show” only reinforces the concerns that citizens have expressed regarding his dedication to the residents of Gainesville.

I see paper signs for Peter Candland, but where, where, is the actual person running and why has he missed such an important opportunity to meet his constituents?

Press Release from Ann Wheeler’s Campaign

Peter Candland Fails to Show Up For Haymarket Forum

Voters left questioning why candidate, Peter Candland, did not show up
HAYMARKET, October 20. Peter Candland did not show up for Haymarketʼs candidate
forum last night. Citizens concerned about local issues showed up to ask questions of
the candidates running to represent them weʼre not able to ask candidate Peter
Candland where he stood on local issues. Many were disappointed by him failing to
show up for the forum.

Haymarketʼs Mayor, Pamela Stutz, hosted the event to give town residents an
opportunity to meet and listen to the candidates for office in the area. Residents asked
questions about traffic, new developments, and school funding. Discussion also focused
on ways the Board of County Supervisors could work with the town of Haymarket to
incorporate the townʼs strategic plan for growth with the countyʼs pace of development.
In an election where Peter Candlandʼs attendance record has been a big issue, many
questioned why he chose not to show up for this event. Peter Candland has a record of
missing two-thirds of Supervisor Stirrupʼs Gainesville District Budget
Committee Meetings of which he was a member .The other candidate for the
Gainesville District seat, Ann Wheeler, said:

“I was sorry to see that my opponent, Peter Candland, did not show up for
the Haymarketʼs town forum last night. Town forums are a great way for
voters to meet and ask questions of elected officials and candidates
running for office. I welcomed the opportunity to meet with citizens of
Haymarket and enjoyed answering their questions about traffic,
development, and school funding. I truly believe it is a disservice to voters
and the community to not show up for forums such as these.”

Ann Wheeler is currently running for the Gainesville District seat which is to be decided
in the November 8th election. She and her husband, John, live in Haymarket with their
two daughters. Ann has been on the Prince William County’s Board of Social Services
for six years and currently serves as its Chairman. She also serves on the Northern
Virginia Electric Cooperative Board. You can learn more about Ann and her campaign
at www.wheelerforsupervisor.com.

The chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors said he had the biggest campaign fundraiser of his political career last week, hosting business executives from across the region at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) is running for reelection against Democratic challenger Babur Lateef, a local physician, and independent John S. Gray, an accountant. Stewart said his campaign pulled in about $234,000 last Wednesday night, giving him about $300,000 to spend heading into the Nov. 8 election. The business executives attending the dinner included some of Prince William County’s and the region’s largest real estate developers, he said.

With news like this, we have to start sniffing.  Who is getting fleeced and who is securing their position to rape, pillage and plunder the undeveloped  land in Prince William County?

Corey Stewart and Tom Gordy both have signs on Ben Lomond Park property.  Corey knows this is not kosher.  He knows this is against county ordinance.  He should be setting a better example for newcomer Tom Gordy. 

Quick Corey, make that phone call and have someone go pull those bad boys. 

(Notice the Don’s John at the top of the hill.  Is that the welcoming office of Westgate?   Some one needs to take that thing down!)

Thanks to Lafayette for the pictures and the heads up.

[Lafayette has just reported that all the signs are now off Ben Lomond Park property and the Don's John has been moved back to the wooded area.  Thanks for your efforts, Lafayette.]