York Notebook: Get Involved with Planning, Youth Commission and More

By Sam Thrift Monday, January 23, 2012

The three localities are asking for help in creating their collaborative comprehensive plans and the Board of Supervisors discussed the school board budget, along with voting on two proposals. Also, read on for details on how students can apply for the Youth Commission and residents can apply for the sheriff’s office citizen academy.

Input needed for Triangle comprehensive plan collaboration
James City and York counties, along with the City of Williamsburg are jointly reviewing their comprehensive plans and are asking for community input.

The localities will host four community forums to give residents an opportunity to share their vision for the Historic Triangle and areas where locality boundaries meet. Maps of the focus areas and more information are available on www.htplanning.org.

The meeting for:
The Riverside, Busch and Marquis area is Feb. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Magruder Elementary School cafeteria.

The Lightfoot and Pottery area is Feb. 23 from  7 to 9 p.m. at the Warhill High School auditorium.

The Northeast Triangle and surrounding area is Feb. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Williamsburg Community Building.

Yorktown and Lower York County is March 15 from 7 to 8:45 p.m. in the Tabb Library meeting room.

The comprehensive plan is the long-range plan for the locality’s physical development and is used to evaluate development proposals and guide local decisions. Read more about the joint effort by clicking here.

Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisor spent the majority of their Jan. 17 meeting listening to parents and residents concerned about the York County school system budget, but they also voted on two proposals.  

The supervisors approved a resolution to express their understanding with all parties involved in the restructuring of bond payments for the Marquis, a development $38 million in debt. Todd Interests, a Texas real estate investment firm who purchased the Marquis in March, is working with the county to pay back the Marquis Community Development Authority. The final bond repayment plan will be presented to the board Feb. 21.

Without much discussion, the board voted against a no wake zone on Cabin Creek, an area with 16 waterfront properties off York Point Road, after the proposal was tabled in September. District 3 Supervisor Donald Wiggins spoke with residents of Cabin Creek before recommending the board vote against the proposal. Read more about the issue by clicking here.

Watch the meetng by clicking here.

Citizen Academy
Applications for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office’s Citizen Academy are being accepted for the three-month program that begins in March.

The Sheriff’s Citizen Academy is a 43-hour block of instruction designed to give the citizens of York County a working knowledge of the Sheriff’s Office and the criminal justice system. Twelve comprehensive three-hour classes covering various areas of the Sheriff’s Office and specific law enforcement topics will be held once a week.

The curriculum covers diverse topics such as 911 communications, hiring, training, policies and procedures, criminal investigations, criminal law, DUI investigations, family violence, narcotics enforcement, tactical operations, hostage negotiations, jail operations and firearms use. Emphasis will be placed on the patrol section due to its highly visible contact with the community.

Weekly academy sessions will meet mainly on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on March 19 to June 11. There is no charge for the Academy, but there is a commitment for participants to attend 10 of the 12 scheduled sessions to receive a Certificate of Graduation.

Applications are processed on a first come, first serve basis. Additionally, each student must ride with a deputy for a minimum of four hours.

The Academy is open to all citizens who reside or work in York County or the City of Poquoson. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and successfully pass a background investigation.

The Crime Prevention Unit can be reached at (757) 890-3639 to answer questions concerning the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy. Applications can be downloaded at www.yorkcounty.gov/sheriff.

Youth Commission Application details
The Board of Supervisors is seeking students who are interested in representing youth interests and concerns by serving on the York County Youth Commission for the 2012-2013 school year.

Applicants must be York County residents who are currently enrolled in grades 8 through 11.

The Youth Commission’s primary purpose is to serve as a link between the Board of Supervisors and the county’s youth by representing youth-related needs and issues. In addition, Commission members typically participate in rewarding community service projects, learn about county government, sponsor countywide high school social events, and build leadership skills through projects and various team-building activities.

A completed application form and a letter of recommendation must be received at the York County Parks and Recreation office by 5 p.m. on March 7. After reviewing the applications, the Board of Supervisors will appoint up to three teens from each of the county's five voting districts. The new commission will be formally introduced at a Board of Supervisors meeting in June 2012.

Application forms and complete program details are available by downloading from the York County Youth Commission’s website at www.ycyc.info. Interested teens and their parents are invited to attend the Feb. 6 Youth Commission meeting to be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at York Hall’s East Meeting Room.

For more information about the Youth Commission call the Parks and Recreation office at 890-3500.

Outstanding Youth Award Scholarship nominations
York County students have the opportunity to receive one of the county’s four $500 Outstanding Youth Award Scholarships sponsored each year by the Board of Supervisors and the Youth Commission if nominated by next month.

Nominations in the categories of Compassion, Courage, Community Service and Overall Achievement are due at the Parks and Recreation Office by 5 p.m. on Feb. 15.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors, coaches, club sponsors, neighbors, employers and friends can nominate a deserving high school student for one of these awards. Nominees must be residents of York County and currently enrolled in grades 9 through 12.

A selection committee will review the nominations and choose an award recipient for each category.

Nomination forms are available for downloading on the York County Youth Commission’s website at www.ycyc.info.