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VIBRANT ECONOMY l EFFECTIVE REFLECTIVE GOVERNMENT l SUSTAINABLE LAND USE
INSIGHT
Board of Supervisors Assume New Roles Page 2 Public Safety Building Opens Pages 3 - 4
Spirit Week Photos Pages 9 - 10
JANUARY 2022
Team Orange,
Following a brief but festive ribbon cutting, the Board of Supervisors held its first meeting at the new boardroom in the Orange County Public Safety Building on December 21st. The room was designed to serve as a modern flexible space to conduct business and to thoughtfully accommodate the public. Large monitors allow the audience to follow the agenda and view exhibits. Before the Board was able to hold its second meeting in the space, the design flexibility was put to good use as the Orange County Emergency Operations Center was opened to manage the impact of Winter Storm Frida. It was quickly converted to a multi - station workspace with the large monitors logged in to track power outages and connect with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management ’ s Web EOC application to send and receive requests for assistance. The thoughtful planning and flexibility designed into this facility were clearly demonstrated. As we move ahead in 2022, let ’ s be mindful of how creatively planning our spaces and systems, and our ability to be flexible, can pay real dividends in helping us be a more resilient and capable organization. When the Board did hold its second meeting on January 11th, thanks and appreciation was shared for all the efforts to respond to Winter Storm Frida. I want to make sure that you know your efforts are recognized. Many instances of going “ above and beyond ” were recounted. As this edition of OC Insight goes to press, we are “ going live ” with the new public safety radio system and relocating the Emergency Communications Center into the building as well. These things are taking place to support the employees who take care of our citizens every day. I am excited about these enhancements to our capabilities, and I am proud of the accomplishments of Team Orange.
- Ted Voorhees, Orange County Administrator
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Page | January, 2022
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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Held for New Public Safety Building
By Jayson Woods, Communications Specialist, Communications Department
As four o ’ clock struck on December 21, 2021, the doors of the new Orange County Public Safety Building opened. While some were still arriving and walking up from the parking lot to witness the ribbon cutting, the majority were trickling from the inside out, having already gathered and sought refuge from the cold in the new facility ’ s spacious rotunda. It was a fitting beginning for a space designed to be a beacon of security for the community, as a gathering place for many of Orange County ’ s diverse Public Safety services and the new home for Board of Supervisors ’ meetings.
With the crowd of citizens, officials, staff, and press assembled at the entryway, the ceremony began with words from Chairman Jim Crozier, District Four Supervisor. Mr. Crozier recognized the considerable efforts required to bring this project to completion, noting particularly the individual efforts of recently retired Assistant County Administrator Kurt Hildebrand. He also solemnly recognized that it was regrettable that former Supervisors S. Teel Goodwin, who sadly passed away at the end of last year, was not able to see the Public Safety Building project come to fruition. Sheriff Mark Amos followed Mr. Crozier, remarking positively about the steady improvement of resources available to the Sheriff ’ s Office he has witnessed over his long career, with the new building as the most recent and dramatic example. Following Sheriff Amos, Orange County Administrator, Theodore Voorhees, mentioned that the completion of this project is illustrative of the Board ’ s commitment to action when it comes to improving Orange County for its citizens.
Following remarks, preparations were made for the actual ribbon cutting. District One Supervisor Mark Johnson and Mr. Voorhees stretched the orange ribbon, with Mr. Crozier wielding the ceremonial scissors while Mr. James White (District Two Supervisor), Mr. Lee Frame (District Five Supervisor), Mr. Keith Marshall (District Three Supervisor), Mr. Hildebrand, and representatives from architecture firm, Wiley|Wilson, looked on. Following a brief pause to allow photographers to capture the moment, the crisp snip of the scissors opened the Public Safety Building and closed the ceremony. Refreshments followed inside as the facility once again gathered the onlookers and officially assumed its role.
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Full - time Opportunities
Part - time Opportunities
Child Care Operations Manager Communications Officer Wellness Program Manager
Animal Caretaker Child Care Lead Teacher – LES Child Care Lead Teacher - LGPS Child Care Teacher – LES Child Care Teacher Assistant – LES Child Care Teacher Assistant – LGPS Senior Library Aide
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Cheer Abounds During Holiday Spirit Week
By Michelle Williams, Deputy Clerk/ Senior Administrative Assistant
The Orange County Administration Office headed up the annual Holiday Spirit Week once again to drive camaraderie and cheerfulness throughout the organization for the 2021 holiday season. Beginning on Monday, December 13 th , employees were encouraged to don Holiday Hats, Tinsel Toes (socks or footwear), Winter Wonderland (blue, white, and silver), Baby, It ’ s Cold Outside (holiday sweater), and Flannel Shirts. Fun and excitement was evident in the photos that were submitted by staff! The annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest was a success this year with 13 entries. Some departments joined forces, and some were in competition with each other! Awards were given to the Office on Youth and Parks and Recreation Departments for Most Likes on Facebook and Microsoft Teams; Custodians Cindy Hawkins and Sarah Blackwell at the Public Safety Building for Most Festive; and Robin Coppa at the Main Library for Most Creative .
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Orange County Announces New Communications Specialist
Orange County is pleased to announce that the new role of Communications Specialist will be filled by current staff member Jayson Woods. Jayson Woods joined Orange County in November 2011, as part - time Tourism Services Coordinator. Since then, he has served in a variety of capacities, primarily in the Parks & Recreation Department. Most recently, he has held the position of Parks & Recreation Programs & Facilities Supervisor. Mr. Woods received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of William & Mary in 2011 and completed the Virginia Recreation and Park Society Leadership Training Institute in 2021.
During his tenure with Orange County, Mr. Woods is proud to have been involved with many projects over the last decade, including the renovation of Barboursville Community Park ’ s playground, the creation of the Orange County Disc Golf Course, instructing Parks & Recreation ’ s Introduction to Archery programs, and more. His roles have previously focused on event and program development. A key component of this function is promotion, communication, and outreach, for which the Department has received numerous industry awards, and he is excited to adapt these skills to the broader scope of County - wide functions. “ Orange County is pleased Mr. Woods has joined our Communications team. His experience and passion for serving Orange County will only enhance our mission to provide our citizens, businesses, and community partners with information about our programs and services, ” noted Stephanie Straub, Assistant County Administrator for Operations.
For more information, contact Jayson Woods at jwoods@orangecountyva.gov.
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Departments in Depth: Virginia Cooperative Extension, Orange Unit
By Ellen Coyne, Communications Department Intern
As 2022 rolls in, the Orange County unit of the Virginia Cooperative Extension is hard at work to improve the lives of residents of Orange County. Virginia Tech and Virginia State University created the Virginia Cooperative Extension to offer educational outreach programs across the Commonwealth. Kaci Daniel, Extension Agent for 4 - H Youth Development and Unit Coordinator for Orange, described how her office has evolved to serve the citizens of Orange better. “ Orange is unfortunately high in rates of adult diabetes, so Clare Lillard, as an Extension Agent of Family & Consumer Sciences, leads the Diabetes Prevention Program and Balanced Living with Diabetes unit. ” Daniels also stated that the unit receives many requests from new landowners interested in becoming farmers or growing their food on a small scale. The Orange Extension unit also has established a life skills educational program to be held this coming summer for teens to learn about meal prep, tire changing, and money management. There are many other programs available to teens living in Orange. Along with the unit ’ s 4 - H program, there are camps, school enrichment, and short - term special interest programs. Daniel noted that many of the programs couldn ’ t be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers to assist with events like the county fair, summer camp, therapeutic riding camp, public speaking, leadership development, and subject matter delivery. Daniel and her team, including Lillard; Courtney Wesner, Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources; Kelly Carr, 4 - H Educator; and Emily Welch, Program Support Staff, are currently working on starting the new year with many events for the community. “ Our 4 - H clubs meet year - round, and teen applications for 4 - H camp counselors are being accepted through January 10, 2022. Also, area youth are welcome to attend the Healthy Living Summit in Front Royal January 28 - 30, 2022, put on by the state 4 - H office and state teens. ”
Residents of Orange are well served by the educational programs of the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
For more information on the work that the Orange unit of the Virginia Cooperative Extension is doing, visit them, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the Sedwick Building, located at 146 N. Madison Road, Orange. Residents can also check out their website, www.ocva4h.org, or call them at (540) 672 - 1361.
Clare Lillard
Courtney Wesner
Emily Welch
Kaci Daniel
Kelly Carr
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Courtesy of Virginia Tech Extension, Orange Unit
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Parks & Recreation Completes Disc Golf Tee Pad Project
By Jayson Woods, Communications Specialist, Communications Department
Reputation is earned, not granted. With that in mind, the Orange County Parks & Recreation Department is extremely proud of the way participants speak about our disc golf course. Even with nearby courses recognized for their difficulty and technical challenge, the care and attention our course receives sets it apart and makes it a destination for both residents and visitors. Along with weekly maintenance, the Department also works to make regular improvements to the course to make it even better. Since its launch, a lingering goal has remained in the back of the minds of staff: to install permanent tee pads at each of the course ’ s eighteen (18) holes. This improvement would drastically increase playability, especially during periods of consistent rain. It would also eliminate our habit of rotating tee box locations to find solid ground and allow grass regrowth. We began in the spring with the installation of four (4) pads with the help of the Central Virginia Regional Jail Workforce. With the holiday season approaching at the end of last year, staff finally had the opportunity to focus their efforts and finish the project. The concept is decidedly straightforward. Build a box, fill it with some form of substrate, and cover it with artificial turf. However, staff wanted to make sure that the quality of the tee pads was in keeping with the course ’ s excellent reputation. That being the case, each frame was built to exceed industry specifications. It was then meticulously placed in its location after thoughtful removal of only necessary sections of grass. Once placed, each box required careful adjustment to achieve a predominantly level throwing surface that maintained the play of the hole and still allowed for proper drainage. This “ leveling ” was one of the most painstaking components of the whole operation. The next step was made much easier courtesy of local supporters. The Town of Orange provided three (3) dump truck loads ’ worth of millings to utilize as substrate. This material is ideal because it is workable with hand tools yet compacts to a surface with the proper firmness. Furthermore, course sponsor, Piedmont Power, loaned us the use of a skid steer to save us hours of backbreaking work loading, moving, and dumping the substrate. With millings in the box, it was back to shovels and rakes to sort out larger chunks and form a neat crown (raised center). Once that took shape, staff used a motorized compactor, worked in a pattern on the surface, to fully seat any loose rocks and create a smooth topping on which to lay the turf. The turf was stretched over the entire box, then screwed to the outside. To maintain consistent pressure against the turf, additional thin boards were screwed around the entire perimeter of the main tee pad frame. Once dirt and sod are put back in place around the box, we considered that tee pad complete and moved on to the next one! Staff became very proficient at the task, and even finished four tee pads in one day without sacrificing quality. Orange County Parks & Recreation hopes that this improvement will help further the mission of the course itself, to provide a high quality and free recreational opportunity to our citizens and visitors. If you haven ’ t tried the course, you should really check it out. It ’ s located at 14111 Litchfield Drive, Orange, inside the Lee Industrial Park. Call the Department at (540) 672 - 5435 for information about loaner discs, so you can give it a shot without even spending a penny on equipment!
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January is the deadliest month for carbon monoxide poisoning
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning depend on the level of carbon monoxide and duration of
exposure. Mild symptoms sometimes are mistaken for flu.
Low to moderate CO poisoning results in:
High - level CO poisoning results in:
Headache
•
Mental confusion
•
Fatigue
•
Vomiting
•
Shortness of breath
•
Loss of muscular coordination
•
Nausea
•
Loss of consciousness
•
Dizziness
•
Death
•
If you think you are experiencing any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, go outside and get fresh air immediately. Call 911 from outside. You could lose consciousness and die if you stay in the home.
The CDC offers these carbon monoxide safety tips:
• Have your furnace, water heater, and any other gas or coal - burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year. • Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors. • Have your chimney checked and cleaned every year, and make sure your fireplace damper is open before lighting a fire and well after the fire is extinguished. • Never use a gas oven for heating your home. • Never use a generator inside your home, basement, garage, or less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent; fatal levels of carbon monoxide can be produced in just minutes, even if doors and windows are open. • Never run a car in a garage that is attached to a house, even with the garage door open.
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Orange County Public Schools Calendar 2021 - 2022
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TAX INFORMATION
2021 PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND SECOND HALF REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE NOW DELINQUENT
2021 Personal Property Taxes and second half Real Estate Taxes were due on December 6, 2021. A 10% Penalty has been assessed to any unpaid tax. Interest will accrue monthly on any unpaid balance. Any tax bill that is not paid by Monday, January 31, 2022, will be assessed a $25.00 administrative collection fee. All unpaid Personal Property taxes will be submitted to the state to withhold any state refund that may be available.
Original billing statements were mailed and amounts due are available here. If you have any changes that need to be made to your tax bill, have an address change, or assessment/billing concerns, please call the Commissioner of the Revenue ’ s Office at (540) 672 - 4441. Payment questions should be directed to the Treasurer ’ s Office at (540) 672 - 2656.
The Orange County Treasurer ’ s Office accepts payments through the following methods: · Via drop box, located at 112. W. Main Street, Orange · Online: Payment Options page on the Orange County website · By mail to the Orange County Treasurer, P.O. Box 469, Orange, VA 22960
DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAXES Real estate parcels that are more than two (2) years delinquent are assigned to Taxing Authority Consulting Services, P.C. for collections and processing for the tax sale of property. Any collection administrative or legal costs incurred to collect the taxes owed will be charged to the taxpayer.
REMINDERS Short - Term Rental (Transient Occupancy Tax) Fourth quarter filings are due by Monday, January 31, 2022. More information can be found here: http://www.orangecountyva.gov/408/ Transient - Occupancy - Tax - Short - Term - Renta.
For more information, visit www.orangecountyva.gov/396/Treasurer or Treasurer, at (540) 672 - 2656 or dherndon@orangecountyva.gov.
contact Dawn Herndon,
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Citizens Ask...
By Michelle Williams
Q: Why does the name of the former owner appear on my tax bill? A: The Code of Virginia requires all real estate assessments be assessed in the name of the owner as of January 1st each tax year. When property is sold during the year the mailing address is changed to be sent in care of the new owner. The new owners name will appear on the top line of the bill as of January 1st the following year.
Q: I would like to subdivide my land. What is the process? A: It is strongly recommended to contact the Department of Planning & Development Services before embarking on the subdivision process. There are several "moving pieces," so to speak, conditions, and situations which may impact the ability to subdivide or the process itself. Planning & Development Services is the best source of this information and can be reached at (540) 672 - 4347. Further information regarding this FAQ can be found here.
Amanda Amos
Contract & Procurement Specialist Hire Date: December 2011
Get to know Orange County staff... The Personnel File:
Amanda Amos joined Orange County as an Accounts Payable Technician in December 2011. She served in this position for 7 years before moving on to the role of Contract & Procurement Specialist. During this time, she received a Virginia Contracting Associate (VCA) certification and decided to further her education receiving a Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO ) certification. The VCO certification is the highest certification in the Commonwealth for procurement professionals. This makes her the first Orange County employee with these certifications. Ms. Amos is a resident of Orange County and enjoys spending time with her loved ones and spoiling her dogs.
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Orange County Communications Department 112 W. Main Street P.O. Box 111 Orange, VA 22960
POSTAL CUSTOMER
MEET BREWSTER Brewster is a fantastic senior dog (about ten years old) who loves to hang out and EAT! He will be happiest in an active home. Brewster came to us as a thin and dirty stray with serious neck wounds that required emergency care. He is a resilient senior who has taken all the bad things life has thrown at him, shaken them off, and still has the most fun - loving personality. Brewster will need a proper introduction to other dogs. He has been overly interested in cats. We do not know how he would behave with children, but a home with only older children would be best, given his size. Brewster is neutered, microchipped, current on all vaccines, heartworm tested, and has been started on monthly preventatives. If interested, please visit the County website and fill out the preadoption application and email to the Director at Gjenkins@orangecountyva.gov.
Visit us on Facebook See Adoptable Pets Here (540) 672 - 1124 Directions: 11362 Porter Road Orange VA 22960
Page 27 | January, 2022 Share your home with a friend from The Orange County Animal Shelter
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