The Henrico County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24. An agenda and complete video of the meeting are available at henrico.gov/supervisors/video-of-meetings/. Highlights included:
Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek earns accolades
The Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek recently was named the 2026 Project of the Year by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). The reservoir received the award in the category of environment projects of more than $75 million.
County Manager John A. Vithoulkas noted that the APWA award recognizes excellence in the management, administration and implementation of public works projects as well as the cooperation among the managing agency, architect, engineer and contractor. The county manager applauded the collaboration between Henrico’s departments of Public Utilities and Public Works on numerous county projects and cited the leadership of Bentley Chan and Terrell Hughes, directors of DPU and DPW, respectively.
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The 14.8 billion gallon reservoir, the largest owned by a municipality in Virginia, was filled in May after more than 10 years of construction. Located in Cumberland County, it is designed to help meet Henrico’s water needs for up to the next 50 years. As designed, the reservoir has returned about 900 million gallons of water to the James River since November to help alleviate drought conditions in the region.
Title-winning cross country and volleyball teams from Glen Allen saluted
Brookland District Supervisor Dan Schmitt led the Board’s recognition of the Glen Allen High School Jaguars’ girls cross country and boys volleyball teams, both of which won Virginia High School League Class 5 championships in November.
Making its 12th state championship appearance, the girls cross country squad captured its first title at Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg. Paced by All Region runners Emma Stein, Avery Carlson, Kate Pietruszkiewicz, Kelsey Boughton, Makenna Pardue and Katherine Arjona, the team outlasted runners-up Midlothian and Kellam.
The boys volleyball team completed a 26-1 season with a sweep of Granby in the title match at Virginia State University, claiming the third state championship for Jaguars’ boys volleyball. Regional Coach of the Year Kevin Hoy directed the winning campaign while leadership on the floor was provided by Regional Player of the Year Jacob Onusconich and standouts Hayden Guhse, Jack Batemen and DJ Johnson.
In addition to being the top Class 5 volleyball program in Virginia, the team finished the season ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.
Schmitt commended both teams for building positive relationships with other teams and for exhibiting superior sportsmanship throughout their successful seasons, noting that the “Brookland District and the entire Henrico community” are proud of their efforts.
Budget amendments approved
The Board approved a resolution to amend the budget for fiscal year 2025-26 by about $34.4 million, including about $25 million appropriated for capital projects. The bulk of those appropriations, about $19.6 million, are for Public Works projects funded through state and federal grants.
A list of the budget amendments is available from the Department of Finance.
Plan for federal housing funds amended
The Board approved an amended version of the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan and 2025-26 Annual Action Plan.
The document, which is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, describes county goals related to community development, safe and affordable housing, services to unhoused individuals and economic development. It details county plans to disburse about $3 million in funds from the federal agency to community organizations that provide services related to affordable housing, homelessness prevention and other community needs.
The plan is available from the Department of Community Revitalization.
Property exchange with Islamic Center to proceed
The Board approved a resolution that authorizes the exchange of 0.6 acres from a 13.5-acre parcel of county-owned property at 7200 Galaxie Road for about a half-acre of an adjacent property owned by the Islamic Center of Henrico.
The Islamic Center plans to use the property to create an exit onto Galaxie Road. The county will hold the exchanged property for future recreational use.
Work to extend Liesfeld Farm Drive to begin in April
The Board awarded a contract for about $8.68 million to J.R. Caskey Inc. to extend Liesfeld Farm Drive west of its intersection with North Gayton Road.
The project includes construction of about 1,300 feet of new road and a roundabout; improvements to the turn lane and signal at the Liesfeld Farm-North Gayton intersection; the addition of a shared-use path, sidewalk and accessible ramps on Liesfeld Farm; and installation of water main, storm sewer and stormwater management facilities.
Work is expected to begin in April and be completed in about 13 months.
Public Utilities project contract amended
The Board approved a $464,000 change order for a $1.5 million contract with Waco Inc. for improvements to a screw pump at the Strawberry Hill Pumping Station.
The additional charges stem from unforeseen conditions that require payment of tariffs on imported equipment as well as additional repairs to the concrete structure at the pumping station. The county awarded the initial contract in November 2024.
Contract awarded for water rehabilitation project in Varina
The Board awarded a $2.06 million contract to Central Site and Utilities Inc. to install water infrastructure in the Colonial Court area. The project will add water meters, service lines and 1,325 feet of water mains and also will abandon existing water mains in alleys.
Work is expected to begin in April and be completed in about a year.
Student Government Day participants attend work session
Three students who plan to participate in the county’s Student Government Day activities on March 4 attended the Board’s work session prior to the regular meeting.
Seniors Mchale Lancaster, Isha Singh and Simone Spasojevich, of Henrico, Deep Run and Godwin high schools, respectively, will shadow Board members and learn about general government operations during the annual event. A total of 65 students from Henrico County Public Schools are scheduled to participate in the 67th Student Government Day.
