The Piedmont Environmental Council has found an innovative way to connect the milk produced at Remington’s Cool Lawn Farm, Fauquier County’s largest dairy farm, with two food pantries in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties.
Marco Sanchez
Week Ahead for May 4, 2020 (Alb/Cville/Greene)
Even though the quarantine continues, local government is continuing to come back to life with actual meetings where matters are discussed and votes are taken. On April 22, the General Assembly ratified a budget amendment Governor Northam suggested that opened up meetings to more than just emergency business. That’s why we are beginning to see more appointed bodies meeting electronically, beginning this week with the first meeting of the Albemarle Planning Commission in nearly two months.
Week Ahead for April 27, 2020 (Alb/Cville/Greene)
The end of the month is in sight! This week is quieter than we can expect in the near future, as more appointed bodies are expected to begin operating online over the month of May. Virginia localities are still easing forward with governance in a virtual age, and we have a watchful eye to make sure you know what is happening.
Week Ahead for April 20, 2020 (Alb/Cville/Greene)
The new normal is one where more and more business is being conducted online and that includes local meetings. Last week, the elected bodies in Albemarle and Greene held public hearings and took comments virtually. While we would prefer these meetings to be held in person, there is no end in sight yet for the social distancing restrictions that are helping to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Week Ahead for April 13, 2020 (Alb/Cville/Greene)
We are now a month into the state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While much is still uncertain, we do know that local governments across Virginia are beginning to test the waters in terms of what business can be conducted via electronic public hearings.
Week Ahead for March 30, 2020 (Alb/Cville/Greene)
We are in the third week of the COVID-19 response waiting for more information and staying at home as much as we can. I want to update you on what’s happening in local government this week. Many localities are beginning to adjust. I hope you and your family are safe. I want to hear from you. Please tell me what’s going on in your area. Please reach out.
Week Ahead for March 23, 2020 (Alb/Cville/Greene)
Hello everyone. I hope you are doing well and are prepared for a long period of time when things are different. Most if not all government meetings have been canceled for the time being, though the Greene County Board of Supervisors meeting is still scheduled for tonight. And while Albemarle and Charlottesville do not have any scheduled meetings this week, I’m told that the Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau did meet today via conference call…
PEC and COVID-19
Like all of you, we are monitoring the rapidly evolving COVID-19 response and guidance at the local, state and federal level. I am sure it is impacting your daily lives and future plans. As well, it is impacting PEC operations and our upcoming events.
Crossover Update
Wednesday marked the halfway point of Virginia’s 2020 General Assembly Session, a date known as ‘crossover.’ The House and Senate have each finished voting on the bills their members put forward, and now move on to consider legislation passed by the other body. While much legislating is left to be done, this is always a good time to provide an update about where various pieces of legislation stand.
Local Land Conservation Surpasses 12,000 acres in 2019
In 2019, private landowners, working together with land trusts and public agencies, protected 12,475 acres of land in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties. The 2019 conservation easements bring the total protected land in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s (PEC) nine-county region to 421,415 acres, accounting now for nearly 20 percent of the entire land area in the nine counties.