York Notebook: Supes OK Mini Golf, Queens Lake Sewer Plan; Tree Recycling Starts Jan. 2

By Sam Thrift Monday, December 26, 2011

The Board of Supervisors approved two resolutions last week and were sworn in to serve another four-year term, and York County has set up a collection process for discarded Christmas trees. Find out more by reading below.

Board of Supervisors
The York County Board of Supervisors had a productive week, holding a regular meeting and being sworn in to serve another four-year term by Clerk of the Circuit Court Lynn Mendibur.

The re-elected board - Walter Zaremba, Sheila Noll, Don Wiggins, George Hrichak and Tom Sheppard representing districts one through five, respectively - begins their new term Jan. 1.

During their Dec. 20 meeting the board unanimously approved two resolutions.

The first was a request for a Special Use Permit to authorize a Ripley’s Believe It or Not's miniature golf course at 1799 Richmond Road. The Board of Supervisors approved the group’s request to build a miniature golf course next to its museum on Richmond Road.

The course will be behind the Bank of America’s rear parking lot, along the railroad tracks. According to proposal, the attraction will have 18 holes, a ticket booth, a water wheel structure, two waterfalls and a water tower.

The second item approved was a resolution to obtain easements for Phase 2 of the Queens Lake Sewer project, a $21 million endeavor. According to the memorandum, the county cannot immediately acquire the land to continue the project, but state law permits the board to enter upon and take the easements needed prior to formal condemnation proceedings being initiated. This would happen after a public hearing, an adoption of an ordinance, and the supervisors approving certificate binds that set the least amount the County has to pay the owners.

County Attorney James Barnett said out of the 24 properties involved, only four have yet to say yes to the county taking the easement. Two properties intend to agree to the county's terms, one property owner has yet to be located and the last is still under negotiation.

Board members showed concern for the single property owner who is unhappy with the arrangement, but decided it was important to keep the expensive project moving.

To watch the meeting, click here.

CNU student elected
York Poquoson Democrats elected a 21 year-old Christopher Newport University student as their leader at the organizational caucus on Dec. 5.  

Jake Evans, a Tabb High School alumnus, is one of the youngest Democratic committee chairs ever elected in Virginia, according to a press release announcing his election.

“Jake brings a new energy and sense of idealism to the role of chair,” committee member Chris Mayer said. “His comfort with online communication and social media will help our committee reignite York and Poquoson voters especially when we want to get out every vote we can to help re-elect President Obama and elect Tim Kaine to the Senate.”

The young Democrat is excited to begin working in his new position, taking over the gavel at the group's next meeting Jan. 9.

“I’m honored to have the responsibility to chair the committee in such an important election year,” said Evans. “By focusing on community outreach both in person and online, we hope to raise the profile of the Democrats throughout York County and Poquoson.”

Learn more about the group by visiting their website.

Tree Recycling
The only thing worse than breaking out the holiday decorations is having to tear them down once Christmas is over. York County is making this process a bit easier with Christmas tree recycling taking place from Jan. 2 through Jan. 13.

York County residents should have their trees at the curb where their trash is normally picked up by 7 a.m. on Jan. 2. According to a press release, the tree pick-up date won’t necessarily coincide with residents’ usual trash pick-up dates. Trucks will fan out throughout the county picking up trees, so there is no guarantee which day they will visit certain neighborhoods.

After this two-week period, trees will only be collected if citizens call in a bulk item pickup. As an alternative, residents may also bring Christmas trees to the county’s Compost Facility at 145 Goodwin Neck Road, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Saturday.

Call the York County Waste Management Division at 757-890-3780 for more information.