Orange County Insight May 2021

Orange County Insight May 2021

VIBRANT ECONOMY l EFFECTIVE REFLECTIVE GOVERNMENT l SUSTAINABLE LAND USE

INSIGHT

GWAP Mixed Use Proposal Page 3

Summer Fun Page 11 OC Tourism In - Depth Page 5

MAY 2021

Ted Talk

Eating Frogs

It has been attributed to Mark Twain that he once said, “ Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day. ” While there is no documentation that he ever said this, it certainly sounds like the kind of folksy logic and practical advice that he was famous for giving. Point being, if you have a difficult task ahead, don ’ t delay, or “ do the worst things first ” and you ’ ll feel better about everything else. It has been a year since I accepted the position as Orange County Administrator. Assuming a new organizational leadership role is always a challenge, but layer in the many limitations imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic, and I had my work cut out. Was this past year my version of “ eating a live frog? ” While I really didn ’ t have any choice in the matter, pandemic operations certainly weren ’ t optimal, and I am looking forward to working on other challenges with the Board, community and staff as we move ahead together.

I ’ m pleased to report that last week we had our first “ in person ” Senior Leadership Team meeting in over a year. Soon I will begin inviting employees to “ Breakfast with the Administrator ” on a monthly basis, and we will share with you what we have been doing to respond to what we learned in last fall ’ s employee survey. We won ’ t serve live frogs.

-- Ted Voorhees, Orange County Administrator

P.S. Look closely in this issue for the opportunity to win a $20 gas card.

Photo credit: Orange County Tourism - Seigen Forest Trail

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Page | May, 2021

Important Upcoming Changes to Payroll Processing

Courtesy of the Finance Department

The County will be shifting to a 24 - pay deduction cycle for employee benefits from the current 26 - pay deduction cycle. This change pertains to benefits

only. Employees will continue to receive a paycheck every other Friday. Months with three paydays will no longer have deductions withheld from the third paycheck of the month. This change will align the County with the “ industry norm ” on how deductions are processed. Most employers only take deductions from the first two payrolls of each month to match the provider invoices. By deducting from all 26 payrolls, an administrative burden is placed on staff to manually reconcile each employee every payroll.

What does this mean for you?

If your current benefits have an employee deduction totaling $3,000 a year, you currently pay $3,000 / 26 = $115.38 a paycheck for these benefits. With this change, you will pay $3,000 / 24 = $125.00 a paycheck for 24 pays and receive 2 pays a year without any deductions taken from them in months that have three payrolls instead of two. The next month with three payrolls is October 2021. For the pay on October 29, you will not see a deduction for your employee benefits.

When does this begin?

These changes will happen in stages. Beginning July 9, 2021, VRS Retirement (including Hybrid voluntary contributions) and Deferred compensation plan contributions, will convert to the 24 - pay deduction cycle. On October 1, 2021, Medical, Dental, Vision, Optional Life, Voluntary Insurances, legal services, HSA, and FSA contributions will all covert. Items not impacted by this change that will remain on a 26 - pay deduction cycle include Federal and state withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes, garnishments, child support orders, tax liens, and imputed group life.

Page 2 | May 2021

Wilderness Crossing: First Planned Development – Mixed Use Proposed in Germanna - Wilderness Area Plan

By: Stephanie Straub, Assistant to the County Administrator and Public Information Officer

In March of 2021, the Planning & Development Services Department received an application for a 2,600 acre mixed use project called Wilderness Crossing in the Locust Grove area. The development concept consists of over 5,000 single and multi - family dwelling units, a commercial town center with ample retail space, assisted living accommodations, potential parks, industrial and commercial areas, and new roadways. “ This project follows the overall development framework in the adopted Germanna - Wilderness Area Plan (GWAP) for the designated growth area for Orange County. This is the first application filed for Planned Development – Mixed Use in the Germanna - Wilderness area, ” stated Josh Gillespie, AICP, Director of Planning and Development Services. Since the application was submitted, Planning and Development Services staff reviewed the application and initiated the Application Review Committee (ARC) process as outlined in the GWAP. The ARC process results in comments and suggestions from a variety of community service providers including: Planning and Development Services staff, Orange County Public Schools, the Sheriff ’ s Office, Rapidan Service Authority, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District, Orange County Fire & EMS, Board of Supervisors members (Crozier and Frame), and members of the Planning Commission (Yancey and Hutchison).

Page 3 | May, 2021

Town Center Concept

“ This project has a thirty year plus horizon for development and covering everything from plan review, building permits, building inspections, school construction, parks and recreation resources, and extensive transportation components. Our entire department is ready to work on this groundbreaking endeavor in Orange County, ” said Gillespie. The initial ARC review should be completed by mid - May 2021. After the initial review, feedback will be presented to the applicant to begin discussions regarding potential proffers, revisions, concerns, etc. Following the ARC technical review process, the community will have a chance to voice opinions regarding the project. After the community engagement process, staff prepares a report, and the case is presented for public hearings and consideration by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The Planning and Development Services Department launched a new Case Status Page to help keep the public promptly informed of applications. The page is accessible on the Orange County website here: http://orangecountyva.gov/901/Pending - Zoning - Cases. *Zoning Case Status Process

Additional information regarding the Planning and Development Services Department and open cases may be found at http://orangecountyva.gov/784/Planning - Services or by calling (540) 672 - 4574.

For more information on the Germanna Area Wilderness Plan, please visit: http://www.orangecountyva.gov/703/Germanna - Wilderness - Area - Plan - GWAP

For information on the developer and Wilderness Crossing, visit: www.wildernesscrossingva.com.

Page 4 | May 2021

Wilderness Crossing Master Plan Concept

Departments In - Depth:

This month, OC Insight takes an in - depth look at Orange County Tourism through an interview with Lori Landes - Carter, Orange County Tourism Manager.

OC Insight: What is the Orange County Tourism Department, and when did it begin?

Lori: The Orange County Tourism department functions as the destination marketing organization for Orange County, promoting Orange County as a leading travel destination in Central Virginia. Twenty - six years ago, in 1994, Orange County added a part - time tourism director. Today we have two staff members. I am the Tourism Manager, and Susan Turner is the Economic Development & Tourism Assistant. Our office is located at 109 West Main Street, in the Historic Clerk ’ s Office.

OC Insight: What are the goals of the Tourism Department?

Lori: Through collaboration and enhanced messaging, Orange County Tourism Department ‘ s goals are to promote a sought - after quality of life for residents and a memorable destination for visitors. Building partnerships with tourism industry businesses and organizations is crucial to the success of the department and our destination. Successful collaborations with businesses and community organizations consistently result in increased visitor spending and contribute to the economic health of Orange County. Orange County Tourism also manages a state - certified Visitor ’ s Center, fully supported by volunteer staff, located in the historic Train Depot in Downtown Orange (pictured above). The Visitor Center welcomes visitors to the County, promotes businesses and attractions, and provides community - related information to residents.

OC Insight: How do you promote Orange County and encourage visitors?

Lori: The Department promotes Orange County as a visitor destination in a variety of ways, including print, digital & television advertising; social media - creating content for YouTube, Facebook & Instagram; our website (www.visitorangecounty.com) covering events, business, and attraction listings, suggested itineraries/blogs, visitor services, and links to regional partners; print publications (Visitor Guide, Attraction Map, Tracks Through Time - OCVA Train history, All Four Years Civil War Driving Tour, and the Downtown Orange Commercial District Walking Tour) distributed at visitor centers, businesses, special events and to visitors; and public relations – working with local, regional and national media to promote OCVA as a premier destination in central Virginia including arrangements for media, images, video and fact - checking. The main markets we currently focus on are the Richmond, VA, Washington, DC/Northern VA, Norfolk, VA, Raleigh, NC, triangle, and Baltimore, MD areas.

Page 5 | May, 2021

: Orange County Tourism

Photo credit this page from upper left, clockwise: Liberty Mills, Barboursville, Montpelier, Chateau MerrillAnne, Montpelier Steeplechase Foundation

OCI Insight: What are some of the leading trade organizations in which you participate?

Lori: We participate in VADMO - Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, MATPRA - Mid Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance, Civil War Trails, and Virginia Tourism Corporation.

OCI Insight : How does tourism affect the local economy?

Lori: The Orange County tourism industry is a vital component of economic growth and job creation which are achieved through tourism visitation and spending. The National Travel Association reports to Virginia Tourism Corporation each year including all localities in the state. Our last >Page i Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33

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