The Stormwater Management Act, as provided in the Code of Virginia § 62.1-44.15:27, provides for the Establishment of a Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP), stating “any locality that operates a regulated Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System (MS4) or that notifies the Department of its decision to participate in the establishment of a VSMP shall be required to adopt a VSMP for land-disturbing activities consistent with the provisions of this article…”

Prince George County does not operate an MS4, nor did the County voluntarily participate in the establishment of a local VSMP authority. Therefore, DEQ administers the County’s Stormwater Management Program. In 2014, the County established a Stormwater Utility Fee to defray the costs of local stormwater management activities. These activities primarily consists of stormwater projects to alleviate erosion and/or flooding issues.

Staff will provide a presentation to review the Code of Virginia and state regulations that pertain to the establishment of a local VSMP authority and the adoption of a Stormwater Utility Fee.  Staff will also provide a recommendation to establish criteria for future projects funded by the Stormwater Utility Fee and criteria for fee exemptions and credits.

The presentation will include recommended ordinance amendments to impose a new rate structure based on impervious area and establishes criteria for fee exemptions and adjustments. A draft copy of the amendments are attached.

Staff requests consensus from the Board to establish the recommended criteria for selection of projects funded by the stormwater fee.

Staff further requests the Board provide feedback on the recommended ordinance amendments to determine the impacts to the development of the FY 2025 budget. 

The annual Stormwater Utility Fee is used to offset costs for drainage repair and improvement projects. The fee has not increased since adopted in 2014. The expected revenues from the stormwater utility fee for FY 2024 is $490,000.

The amount of funding to be provided for Southside Programs for Adult Continuing Education (SPACE) for each fiscal year is determined following the beginning of each fiscal year.  The Board of Supervisors adopts the budget annually, with the understanding that once state and federal revenues are known, revisions will be submitted.  The County has received notice through SPACE that final awards and reallocations result in a net decrease of $33,249.48 from amounts currently reflected in Munis / Adopted amounts. 

Full details of the revenue and expenditure changes and Communications from the State are provided on Attachment 1.

Action Requested:  Approve requested revisions to revenues and expenditures for FY2024 for SPACE (net reduction of $33,249.48).  A draft resolution of changes is provided for consideration and approval.

The County participated in Opioid abatement settlement activity with other Virginia localities, and is receiving direct settlement payments from manufacturers and providers.

Staff requests appropriation of funds received on a quarterly basis (if any).  Quarterly receipts for the quarter 10/1/2023 – 12/31/2023 totaled $9,321.81, and the appropriation must be approved by the Board of Supervisors.  The funds are deposited into a separate Special Revenue Fund (Opioid Abatement Fund 0235), and any use will be approved by the Board of Supervisors in a separate action request.

Action Requested:  Approve the appropriation of Opioid Abatement Settlement payments totaling $9,321.81 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 totaling $9,321.81 to FY2024.

The applicant has requested a special exception to allow a “Commercial child care center”, pursuant to Section 90-393(28) in order to open a child care center in an existing building.

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on December 13, 2023 and recommended Approval, subject to recommended conditions contained in the draft ordinance.

Staff has attached a draft ordinance for the Board’s use if it wishes to approve the request.

Contents:  1. Draft Ordinance     2. BOS Staff Report    3. Application and attachments  

County ordinance 82-541 allows for one leak adjustment per year: “When a water leak occurs that was not due to the acts or negligence of the customer and the customer can prove action was taken to repair the leak within five days of when the leak was discovered or should have been discovered, the director shall reduce any charges to the average of the total charges for the three previous bills. Adjustment for a water leak will not be allowed again during the next 12-month period.”

Prince George County Schools' (PGCS) Middle Road Elementary School has a private lift station that pumps into the County's public force main. The private lift station failed to operate correctly on 2 occasions. Each event required the school to hire a contractor to have the wastewater pumped and hauled off site. Since the wastewater was pumped out of the lift station it had no impact on the county's sewer system. Therefore, the PGCS has requested an adjustment to the wastewater charges to account for the volume of wastewater that was removed from the lift station.

These events occurred over 3 different billing cycles. The first event occurred April 18 to May 15. The second event occurred July 26 to September 27. 

The attached spreadsheet demonstrates the amount of waste water removed from the lift station and the credit for each billing period for a total credit of $1,219.76.