Welcome to the Gainesville District

In my first campaign for Supervisor in 2003, I pledged to hold quarterly town hall meetings to help me serve you better. I like to compare these to the early town hall meetings in New England, forums where citizens can receive information, ask questions and give their opinions. Town hall meetings are held in different locations in the Gainesville District and cover various topics such as transportation, land use, property code issues, budget, emerging state issues, etc. The primary focus of these meetings is to provide timely and relevant information for residents as well as provide a forum for residents to voice opinions.

I would invite everyone to attend my next town hall meeting whose time, location and topic will be advertised on this website, in my newsletter, and a reminder will be send to my email distribution list. If you don’t receive the newsletter and would like to be added to the distribution list, please email Kulrich@pwcgov.org and put the word “Subscribe” in the subject line.

Below is a recap of my last town hall meeting:

25th Gainesville District Town Hall Meeting Recap
Supervisor Stirrup’s 25th Gainesville District Town Hall Meeting was held December 2, 2009 at Battlefield High School. The meeting opened with Supervisor Stirrup presenting commendation plaques to Alex Huppert, the 2009 Gainesville Hero of the Year, and to Marian Hamamo for her volunteer service in the preparation of Silver Lake Park’s grand opening.

Next, in preparation for the ribbon cutting of Route 15 on December 8th, Supervisor Stirrup reviewed the benefits of the public-private transportation act following the voters’ approval in 2002 and 2006 of bonds for the widening of Route 15 to a four-lane divided road with a median, the realignment of Route 234 and Waterfall Road to create one intersection with Route 15, extending Heathcote Boulevard from its intersection with Route 15 east to its existing intersection with Old Carolina Road, and the widening of Old Carolina Road.

He also gave an update on the widening of I-66 to eight lanes between the Route 234 Bypass and Route 29 at Gainesville which will be complete in 2010. Also, early in 2010 residents will see significant work being done with the I66/Route 29 intersection. Up until now property acquisition and utility relocation have been taking place, preparing for Route 29 to be widened to six lanes with an overpass over the railroad tracks, and Linton Hall and Gallerher Roads as ramps over the railroad tracks and Route 29.This will take four years to complete. For updates during the construction, visit www.GainesvilleImprovements.org or call Amir Salahshoor at 703-383-2185.

The three main speakers in attendance represent portions of the Gainesville District: Delegate Bob Marshall represents nine precincts and Delegate Jackson Miller represents three precincts. Marissa Pugmire was in attendance, representing Lt. Governor Bill Bolling.

Delegate Marshall opened his remarks by saying that he has the largest district by population, of any in Virginia. He reviewed the legislation that he plans to introduce in the General Assembly session, which begins January 13, 2010. His House Bill 12 would allow accident and sickness insurance coverage to children under the age of 27; House Bill 34 requires health insurers to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism; H.B 11 requires that another physician, not a physician “advisor”, review a decision, that a health service is not medically necessary. If a neurologist makes the request for treatment, a neurologist must review it. H.B.15 provides that no person who is accused or convicted of terrorism shall be held in custody in any state or local correction facility; and House Bill 10 is a Constitutional amendment which protects an individual’s right to decline participation in a health care system or plan and prohibits the adoption of any law that imposes a penalty, tax or fine upon an individual who declines to enter into a contract for health care coverage or to participate in a health care system or plan.

Delegate Jackson Miller said that the big issue for this General Assembly is the budget. The General Assembly will vote severe cuts to government agencies, which will include funding to localities, education and public safety. Stimulus money delayed the inevitable. Sales receipts and income revenue are just not there. However, Prince William County will be in better shape than most jurisdictions, because of better management. Delegate Jackson said that we should be proud of our Board of County Supervisors, which has no appetite for tax increases, which just exacerbate problems.

The remainder of the meeting was a healthy discussion originating from citizens’ questions to their elected representatives.