Heard it on the street? Saw a comment on social media? Need clarification on something you read in the paper?
Check it out on Isle of Wight County’s new Fact Checker
Check it out on Isle of Wight County’s new Fact Checker
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Post Date: Nov. 12, 2015
Rumor: The County can engage more citizens in the affairs of County Government by using technology to live stream the Board of Supervisors meetings.
True: Live streaming Board of Supervisors meetings on the County’s website does have the potential to engage more citizens. The County has been live streaming Board of Supervisors meetings since June 2011. Meeting videos are live streamed the night of the Board meetings and posted on the County’s website the following day. The County does not edit the meeting content. Meeting videos are indexed, archived and available online through the County website, (CLICK HERE) to go to BOS meetings feed on the County's website.
True: Live streaming Board of Supervisors meetings on the County’s website does have the potential to engage more citizens. The County has been live streaming Board of Supervisors meetings since June 2011. Meeting videos are live streamed the night of the Board meetings and posted on the County’s website the following day. The County does not edit the meeting content. Meeting videos are indexed, archived and available online through the County website, (CLICK HERE) to go to BOS meetings feed on the County's website.
Rumor: The County makes getting site plan and building permits difficult and is not business friendly.
False: The County has established a Central Permitting Office and implemented new procedures to improve customer service as well as streamline the site plan approval and permitting process. Customers can apply for permits or inspections at the Central Permitting Office or online at https://isleofwight.munisselfservice.com/citizens/default.aspx.
Pre-Application and land use meetings are held twice a month, as needed, to provide prospective developers and applicants with an opportunity to discuss potential projects and permitting requirements with community and economic development staff. The Virginia Association of Counties recognized the County with an Achievement Award for the Central Permitting Office and efforts to improve customer service.
State Award for New Central Permitting Process
The County recently received a Virginia Association of Counties Achievement Award for its Central Permitting office, a one-stop shop for customers seeking a variety of permits for residential and commercial projects. Ease of service access, electronic submission and notifications, and fast plan review turn-arounds have improved the customer permitting experience in the County. Community and Economic Development staff interactions with prospective developers and applicants in pre-application and land use meetings have helped to improve the County’s customer experience and relationship with the business community.
False: The County has established a Central Permitting Office and implemented new procedures to improve customer service as well as streamline the site plan approval and permitting process. Customers can apply for permits or inspections at the Central Permitting Office or online at https://isleofwight.munisselfservice.com/citizens/default.aspx.
Pre-Application and land use meetings are held twice a month, as needed, to provide prospective developers and applicants with an opportunity to discuss potential projects and permitting requirements with community and economic development staff. The Virginia Association of Counties recognized the County with an Achievement Award for the Central Permitting Office and efforts to improve customer service.
State Award for New Central Permitting Process
The County recently received a Virginia Association of Counties Achievement Award for its Central Permitting office, a one-stop shop for customers seeking a variety of permits for residential and commercial projects. Ease of service access, electronic submission and notifications, and fast plan review turn-arounds have improved the customer permitting experience in the County. Community and Economic Development staff interactions with prospective developers and applicants in pre-application and land use meetings have helped to improve the County’s customer experience and relationship with the business community.
Previous Fact Checkers Below:
Post Date: Oct 23, 2015, Emergency Issue Fact Checker
Unfortunately, some news media provide stories to the public that misstate facts and leave out important information. In an effort to provide complete and accurate information to our citizens in response to such articles, the following “fact checkers” are provided in response to newspaper articles this week. To view this Special Edition of IW Fact Checker click on the button below.
Unfortunately, some news media provide stories to the public that misstate facts and leave out important information. In an effort to provide complete and accurate information to our citizens in response to such articles, the following “fact checkers” are provided in response to newspaper articles this week. To view this Special Edition of IW Fact Checker click on the button below.
Post Date: Oct 9, 2015
RUMOR: The Nike Park Trail is a trail to nowhere.
FALSE: The Nike Park Trail is actually a trail to somewhere, and is planned as a community facility for use by local residents. It will provide a multi-use trail (walking/jogging/biking trail/skateboarding/wheelchair use) for non-motorized recreational and transportation purposes and connect two major recreational amenities, Nike Park and Windsor Castle Park. It is anticipated that the trail will be used primarily by local residents for recreation, fitness, and transportation. Tourists, and your friends and family that visit, will also like the trail as well.
FALSE: The Nike Park Trail is actually a trail to somewhere, and is planned as a community facility for use by local residents. It will provide a multi-use trail (walking/jogging/biking trail/skateboarding/wheelchair use) for non-motorized recreational and transportation purposes and connect two major recreational amenities, Nike Park and Windsor Castle Park. It is anticipated that the trail will be used primarily by local residents for recreation, fitness, and transportation. Tourists, and your friends and family that visit, will also like the trail as well.
RUMOR: The Nike Park Trail will be ripped out when Nike Park Road is widened.
FALSE: The County does not have any plans to rip out the trail in the future. The County’s Brewer’s Neck Corridor Study anticipates widening Nike Park Road in approximately 20 years. That widening design currently includes a multi-use trail down both sides of Nike Park Road in the future. The current trail will either be directly incorporated into this plan, or it will be at the end of its material lifespan and modified into the new trail design at that time.
FALSE: The County does not have any plans to rip out the trail in the future. The County’s Brewer’s Neck Corridor Study anticipates widening Nike Park Road in approximately 20 years. That widening design currently includes a multi-use trail down both sides of Nike Park Road in the future. The current trail will either be directly incorporated into this plan, or it will be at the end of its material lifespan and modified into the new trail design at that time.
RUMOR: The County based part of the Isle 2040 Plan on a hidden survey that reached only about 300 residents.
FALSE: A citizen satisfaction survey was conducted in August/September of 2014 to gauge citizen satisfaction with County services. The survey also included questions to assess the types of amenities that citizens desire in the County to include entertainment, shopping, recreational, and other amenities. The survey was created using Survey Monkey and advertised on the County’s website, PEG Channel, Facebook page, as well as in the Smithfield Times community calendar section; placed in County buildings and facilities including at Nike Park and Otelia Rainey, County libraries, the Visitor Center in Smithfield and also made available at Bradshaw’s Country Store in Carrsville. 312 surveys were submitted. The survey responses did not serve as the impetus for the Isle 2040 Plan; however, County staff did refer to the survey results, which conveyed a common theme of a need for greater entertainment, retail, and shopping amenities in the County, as part of the Isle 2040 presentations and discussion.
FALSE: A citizen satisfaction survey was conducted in August/September of 2014 to gauge citizen satisfaction with County services. The survey also included questions to assess the types of amenities that citizens desire in the County to include entertainment, shopping, recreational, and other amenities. The survey was created using Survey Monkey and advertised on the County’s website, PEG Channel, Facebook page, as well as in the Smithfield Times community calendar section; placed in County buildings and facilities including at Nike Park and Otelia Rainey, County libraries, the Visitor Center in Smithfield and also made available at Bradshaw’s Country Store in Carrsville. 312 surveys were submitted. The survey responses did not serve as the impetus for the Isle 2040 Plan; however, County staff did refer to the survey results, which conveyed a common theme of a need for greater entertainment, retail, and shopping amenities in the County, as part of the Isle 2040 presentations and discussion.
Post Date: Sept 24, 2015
RUMOR: The County’s median age is increasing and could have an impact on our future.
TRUE: The County has a median age of 44.2 years old compared to the State (37.5) and National (37.3) median ages. The County’s median age is also increasing faster than the State and National rate as shown in the table below.
TRUE: The County has a median age of 44.2 years old compared to the State (37.5) and National (37.3) median ages. The County’s median age is also increasing faster than the State and National rate as shown in the table below.
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So what does this mean? It means the County will need to find a way to attract and retain younger citizens to provide balance to its aging population base and plan for how it will serve the growing, older segment, of our population in the future. Otherwise there may be economic implications on local revenue as older populations tend to spend less money and many companies are interested in locating in places with young, skilled and vibrant workforces.
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RUMOR: The County is becoming too bureaucratic and big government.
FALSE: There are 250 full-time positions authorized in the County budget. This is equivalent to 6.9 employees per 1,000 citizens. In comparison, Southampton (7.3), James City (9.2), York (10.4), and Suffolk (12.2) have more full-time employees serving their respective localities.
FALSE: There are 250 full-time positions authorized in the County budget. This is equivalent to 6.9 employees per 1,000 citizens. In comparison, Southampton (7.3), James City (9.2), York (10.4), and Suffolk (12.2) have more full-time employees serving their respective localities.
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RUMOR: Isle of Wight County Schools are performing well.
TRUE: The school division was recently ranked 14th out of 131 school divisions in Virginia by SchoolDigger.Com. The school division also has consistently performed well on Standards of Learning (SOLs) tests surpassing the State average in every SOL content area for the 2014-2015 school year. The Schools’ on-time graduation rate of 93% also exceeds the State average (89%). |
RUMOR: Yellow Rock Lane was paved this summer.
TRUE: Paving was completed on Yellow Rock Lane in September 2015. In addition, the County completed paving on Poplar Drive, Country Way, Holly Point Way, and Twin Hill Lane in September 2015. These projects were completed under VDOT’s Locally Administered Projects (LAP) program, which gave the County the opportunity to manage them in-house and provide a 20% cost savings to County taxpayers over the bid estimates.
TRUE: Paving was completed on Yellow Rock Lane in September 2015. In addition, the County completed paving on Poplar Drive, Country Way, Holly Point Way, and Twin Hill Lane in September 2015. These projects were completed under VDOT’s Locally Administered Projects (LAP) program, which gave the County the opportunity to manage them in-house and provide a 20% cost savings to County taxpayers over the bid estimates.
Post Date: Sept 15, 2015
RUMOR: The Sheriff’s Office has overspent its budget.
FALSE: The Sheriff’s Office has not overspent its budget. Each County department/agency has a total budget allocation with various line items for spending categories such as equipment, supplies, uniforms, personnel, etc. These line items make up the overall departmental budget, but they are not separate budgets in and of themselves. It is not uncommon (but rather quite appropriate) for departments to transfer funds between line items as a means of addressing their needs throughout the year.
When one line item requires more funding than was allocated, it is balanced by reducing another line item such that the total departmental budget is not exceeded. This is an appropriate practice in budget management and does not equate to overspending one’s budget.
FALSE: The Sheriff’s Office has not overspent its budget. Each County department/agency has a total budget allocation with various line items for spending categories such as equipment, supplies, uniforms, personnel, etc. These line items make up the overall departmental budget, but they are not separate budgets in and of themselves. It is not uncommon (but rather quite appropriate) for departments to transfer funds between line items as a means of addressing their needs throughout the year.
When one line item requires more funding than was allocated, it is balanced by reducing another line item such that the total departmental budget is not exceeded. This is an appropriate practice in budget management and does not equate to overspending one’s budget.
Post Date: Sept 10, 2015
RUMOR: The County is trying to eliminate the volunteer fire and rescue agencies in order to go to a County operated, paid staff, Fire and EMS Department.
FALSE: The County has no intention to do so and has not discussed going to an all County operated fire and rescue system. The County values its critical volunteer support which saves the taxpayers significant funds annually. We work hard to support the service standards required with volunteers to the highest extent possible
FALSE: The County has no intention to do so and has not discussed going to an all County operated fire and rescue system. The County values its critical volunteer support which saves the taxpayers significant funds annually. We work hard to support the service standards required with volunteers to the highest extent possible
RUMOR: ISLE 2040 was voted down.
TRUE: This is correct and YOU SHOULD KNOW…..
The County continues to have a number of economic challenges that require solutions including:
New business and development inside the County has been stagnant while other communities around us announce new ones daily. Most localities rely on business “spin off” revenue such as meals tax, lodging tax, and sales tax to support government service needs. The County has very little as most goes to the Towns or Cities around us. A business that locates just outside the County’s boundaries adds to our residents buying in other communities helping to keep their taxes low and not ours. Business looks for population to support them. This means we need to focus our population to critical corridors to support new business and keep service areas focused. It also helps to preserve our agricultural lands that are greatly valued.
As folks leave the County for employment, goods, eateries, and entertainment not available at home, the County gets more traffic flow and road impacts. A majority of our County residents leave daily for employment and to buy goods or services.
Our lack of job options for our youth and limited housing stock adds to workforce concerns we encounter when trying to attract new industry. Trends show we are a rapidly aging community with a high concentration of the 55+ population. If we remain on this trajectory we will find ourselves with more fixed income households and less employed youth to help pay for services.
TRUE: This is correct and YOU SHOULD KNOW…..
The County continues to have a number of economic challenges that require solutions including:
- A costly water contract with quickly escalating tax impacts,
- Recurring budget deficits due to lost revenue and slow growth,
- Lack of economic development activity and adequate workforce, and
- Lack of retail and entertainment amenities inside the County.
- The County pays for a lot of treated water but has no good plan to grow its customer base to cover this significant investment. 18% of the County real estate tax goes to help cover water expenses today and this will increase significantly in the near future due to fixed contract increases adding pressure to the future tax burden.
New business and development inside the County has been stagnant while other communities around us announce new ones daily. Most localities rely on business “spin off” revenue such as meals tax, lodging tax, and sales tax to support government service needs. The County has very little as most goes to the Towns or Cities around us. A business that locates just outside the County’s boundaries adds to our residents buying in other communities helping to keep their taxes low and not ours. Business looks for population to support them. This means we need to focus our population to critical corridors to support new business and keep service areas focused. It also helps to preserve our agricultural lands that are greatly valued.
As folks leave the County for employment, goods, eateries, and entertainment not available at home, the County gets more traffic flow and road impacts. A majority of our County residents leave daily for employment and to buy goods or services.
Our lack of job options for our youth and limited housing stock adds to workforce concerns we encounter when trying to attract new industry. Trends show we are a rapidly aging community with a high concentration of the 55+ population. If we remain on this trajectory we will find ourselves with more fixed income households and less employed youth to help pay for services.
RUMOR: Sheriff Mark Marshall went before the Board of Supervisors at the August 27th Board meeting and begged the Board to give back much needed money so he could keep and retain his deputies given that the County Administrator had cut the funding to do so.
FALSE: This did not occur. The August 27th Board of Supervisors meeting included an agenda item to amend the County’s Compensation and Classification Plan for ALL County employees to ensure the salary ranges for ALL County positions are competitive with other localities. Sheriff Marshall was an advocate in support of this and spoke to request the Board’s approval on behalf of ALL employees.
The Sheriff’s Office budget has never been cut by the County Administrator. The County Administrator works well with the Sheriff and all service areas to recommend funding proposals to the Board for adoption each year. As an example, in adopting the budget, the total funding included in the County Administrator’s proposed budget and the Board of Supervisors adopted fiscal year 2015-2016 Sheriff’s Office budget was $3,936,208 which represents a 1% increase over the previous year.
FALSE: This did not occur. The August 27th Board of Supervisors meeting included an agenda item to amend the County’s Compensation and Classification Plan for ALL County employees to ensure the salary ranges for ALL County positions are competitive with other localities. Sheriff Marshall was an advocate in support of this and spoke to request the Board’s approval on behalf of ALL employees.
The Sheriff’s Office budget has never been cut by the County Administrator. The County Administrator works well with the Sheriff and all service areas to recommend funding proposals to the Board for adoption each year. As an example, in adopting the budget, the total funding included in the County Administrator’s proposed budget and the Board of Supervisors adopted fiscal year 2015-2016 Sheriff’s Office budget was $3,936,208 which represents a 1% increase over the previous year.
RUMOR: The County does not have a balanced budget.
TRUE: At the moment we still are not balanced, but well on our way! The deficit has been reduced by 82% as part of a 3 year plan developed to close the deficit. This plan was created and implemented in 2014/2015 and has reduced the deficit from $7.9M to $1.4M. The goal of the three year plan is to have a balanced budget by fiscal year 2016-2017 and the County anticipates that it will achieve this goal.
TRUE: At the moment we still are not balanced, but well on our way! The deficit has been reduced by 82% as part of a 3 year plan developed to close the deficit. This plan was created and implemented in 2014/2015 and has reduced the deficit from $7.9M to $1.4M. The goal of the three year plan is to have a balanced budget by fiscal year 2016-2017 and the County anticipates that it will achieve this goal.
RUMOR: The Board of Supervisors has pulled the carpet out from under the Volunteer Events Committee.
FALSE: The Events Committee, comprised of Board appointed volunteers, discussed and voted at its March 2015 meeting to recommend that the Committee be dissolved by the Board of Supervisors citing difficulty in recruiting members. At the request of the Events Committee, the Board of Supervisors dissolved the Events Committee in May 2015. The Department of Parks and Recreation was recommended by the Events Committee to assume the planning of annual events such as the Veterans Day Program and Holiday Wreath Hanging and offers interested volunteers opportunities to assist with these events.
FALSE: The Events Committee, comprised of Board appointed volunteers, discussed and voted at its March 2015 meeting to recommend that the Committee be dissolved by the Board of Supervisors citing difficulty in recruiting members. At the request of the Events Committee, the Board of Supervisors dissolved the Events Committee in May 2015. The Department of Parks and Recreation was recommended by the Events Committee to assume the planning of annual events such as the Veterans Day Program and Holiday Wreath Hanging and offers interested volunteers opportunities to assist with these events.
RUMOR: I know Tourism brings dollars to our community. Can you tell me some statistics?
TRUE: The Smithfield & Isle of Wight Visitor Center welcomed over 13,000 visitors in 2014 and over 40% were return visitors! At least ½ of those visitors came on the ferry from Williamsburg!...Smithfield and Isle of Wight is the #1 daytrip destination for visitors to Williamsburg! The Visitor Center hosted visitors from 49 states and the District of Columbia (no visitors from Wyoming). The Visitor Center hosted visitors from 27 countries and Puerto Rico. Canada, the UK and France were the top 3 home countries for foreign visitors with 69% of all foreign visitation coming from those 3 countries.
Throughout its season in 2014, the Smithfield Farmer’s Market (and the Vintage Market and Evening Market) hosted over 61,612 visitors in 2014 to the markets! A few more Tourism notes:
TRUE: The Smithfield & Isle of Wight Visitor Center welcomed over 13,000 visitors in 2014 and over 40% were return visitors! At least ½ of those visitors came on the ferry from Williamsburg!...Smithfield and Isle of Wight is the #1 daytrip destination for visitors to Williamsburg! The Visitor Center hosted visitors from 49 states and the District of Columbia (no visitors from Wyoming). The Visitor Center hosted visitors from 27 countries and Puerto Rico. Canada, the UK and France were the top 3 home countries for foreign visitors with 69% of all foreign visitation coming from those 3 countries.
Throughout its season in 2014, the Smithfield Farmer’s Market (and the Vintage Market and Evening Market) hosted over 61,612 visitors in 2014 to the markets! A few more Tourism notes:
- The Smithfield & Isle of Wight tourism Facebook Page boasts over 5200 LIKES! (current LIKES as of Sept 2015)
- The Smithfield & Isle of Wight Visitor Center is a certified VIRGINIA GREEN accredited Center.
- Smithfield & Isle of Wight is included in a Coastal Virginia Hospitality video that is shown in over 7,000 hotel rooms in Hampton Roads.
- The World’s Oldest Ham is at the Isle of Wight Museum. It celebrated its 113th birthday this past year!....and was featured on the BBC and in the Wall Street Journal
RUMOR: The County sent the Chief of Emergency Services to a training event to get certified as a fire marshal so that the County can begin requiring fire inspections of businesses at a cost of $50 per inspection.
BARELY TRUE: The Chief of Emergency Services did attend the State fire marshal academy to obtain a required certification to satisfy minimum requirements of “Designated Fire Official”. Chapter 7 of the County Code requires this which means that the Chief of Emergency Services is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. The County is not authorized by County Code to charge for this service and has no intention to do so.
BARELY TRUE: The Chief of Emergency Services did attend the State fire marshal academy to obtain a required certification to satisfy minimum requirements of “Designated Fire Official”. Chapter 7 of the County Code requires this which means that the Chief of Emergency Services is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. The County is not authorized by County Code to charge for this service and has no intention to do so.
RUMOR: Economic Development has done nothing.
FALSE: Staff pursues daily new opportunities which are typically private at the request of the prospective company. The Board has authorized significant funding and projects in support of economic development initiatives including:
FALSE: Staff pursues daily new opportunities which are typically private at the request of the prospective company. The Board has authorized significant funding and projects in support of economic development initiatives including:
- Water line to the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park (65% design completed)
- $300K to develop pad-ready sites at the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park
- Revamping of the Economic Development website
- Establishment of a workforce development task force