The Tappahannock Town Council has expressed support for increasing utility rates over a three-year period, but desires further information before approving the hikes. The Councilors discussed the rate hike proposals during an April 18 special meeting. Earlier this month, Town Manager Eric Pollitt told the Council that the increases were necessary to make the town’s Water and Sewer Fund self-sustaining.... READ MORE >
The Essex County Board of Supervisors is considering for adoption an advertised budget of $57.98 million (General Fund $27.3 million and $30.62 million in Other Funds) for fiscal year 2025 that holds the line on the county’s real estate/mobile home tax rate of 73 cents. A public hearing concerning the proposed spending plan on April 16 drew one speaker. Lisa... READ MORE >
Proposed fiscal year 2025 funding for two, local nonprofit organizations was part of the Tappahannock Town Council’s discussions during special April 18 meeting. One of the organizations discussed was the DAW Theatre Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to guiding the construction, revitalization, development of programming and launch of a renewed theater operation at the historic DAW Theatre in Tappahannock.... READ MORE >
Track and field competition returned to Essex High School last week as the Trojans and Runnin’ Ladies of Troy hosted a five-team meet at the school’s renovated outdoor athletics facility. The track and field component of the revamped complex features an 8-lane, 400-meter, all-weather track, runways for the long jump and triple jump, a semicircular runway for the high jump,... READ MORE >
Essex bounced back from a an extra inning loss to Lancaster by blanking Northampton 10-0 in a non-district baseball game contested on April 19 in Tappahannock. The result improved the Trojans’ overall record to 6-6. Southpaw Hunter Byrd recorded the win on the mound in the 4 1/2 inning encounter. He struck out six and walked none, while allowing four... READ MORE >
Last week’s Essex County Board of Supervisors work session concluded with multiple contentious moments regarding a letter drafted by Board Chairman Rob Akers concerning the county’s budget process, finances, capital plans, and future needs. Akers sent the draft to his fellow supervisors as well as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Harry Thomas III for review. Thomas subsequently disseminated the document to... READ MORE >
Historic Downtown Tappahannock (formerly Tappahannock Main Street) is under the leadership of a new executive director. Roburt Kickler recently assumed the role from Beth Sharpe who departed for a position with Fitzgerald Enterprises. While he grew up just outside of Richmond, Kickler has been familiar with Tappahannock since the 1970s when his uncle, Jimmy, was employed by the Essex County... READ MORE >
At last week’s Essex County Board of Supervisors meeting, Central District Supervisor John Magruder read into the record a letter from a citizen who has been issued a “stay off” notice by the county’s superintendent of schools. Hazel W. Hickman did not attend the April 9 session after being served the notice the previous day. The order requires Hickman to... READ MORE >
The Essex County Board of Supervisors last week voted to table a decision regarding new wetlands zoning and coastal primary sand dune zoning ordinances. Last month, the supervisors voted to repeal the existing ordinances with the intention of considering adoption of new documents at the April 9 business meeting. During the March session, Board Chairman Rob Akers (Greater Tappahannock District)... READ MORE >
The Tappahannock Town Council is considering hiking utility rates in order for the town’s water and sewer operation to become more self-sufficient. Town Manager Eric Pollitt presented his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 to Council at its April 8 meeting. “The lack of self-sustainability in the water-sewer fund is a long-term challenge,” Pollitt told the councilors during his power... READ MORE >
