Manassas - Page 39 of 59 - Potomac Local News

Preview: Jan. 27 Manassas City Council Meeting

Published January 24, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated January 25, 2025 at 11:16AM

Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Jan. 27 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St. The Department of Economic Development, led by Director Patrick Small, will present its fiscal year 2024 report to City Council.

Fiscal year 2024 — from July 2023 to July 2024 — showed an increase in industrial and retail vacancies in the last two quarters of the fiscal year. However, office space vacancies increased slightly over the fiscal year to just over 3.5%.

The city generated $12.9 million in sales taxes and $6.25 million in meal taxes, both increases from fiscal year 2023, the department’s presentation states. The department estimates nearly 340,000 people visited Manassas in fiscal year 2024, generating $60.5 million in spending in the city.

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Kristen Senechal Named New CEO, President of NOVEC

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 22, 2025 at 10:40PM

Kristen Senechal. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]

“After an eight-month national search, the Board selected [Senechal] because of her extensive knowledge and more than 15 years of experience in the electric utility industry,” Board Chairman Wade House said. “The Board also is impressed with her leadership style of prioritizing people first.”

Senechal is the executive vice president of transmission and chief operating officer at Lower Colorado River Authority (LRCA) in Austin, Texas. She joined LRCA in 2017 following nine years at CenterPoint Energy in Houston.

Manassas Winter Market – January 25, 2025

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 22, 2025 at 4:11PM

Join the fun at the Manassas Winter Market on Saturday, January 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Prince William Street Commuter Lot in Historic Downtown Manassas. Shop for baked goods, fresh produce, warm beverages, and other seasonal delights while supporting local vendors. The market runs every Saturday through March 22, making it the perfect spot to stock up your pantry and enjoy cozy winter vibes.

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NOVEC Lineworkers Help Restore Power in Rural Virginia After Snow

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 22, 2025 at 9:00AM

From left to right: NOVEC’s Jake Till, Caleb Barton, Ben Williams, Hunter Partlowe, Connor Jost and Jeremy Jenkins helped lineworkers at Southside Electric Cooperative restore electricity for residents. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]

NOVEC sent its crew of six men, pictured above, on Jan. 7 to work for three days with SEC, which serves more than 59,000 people. The recent winter storm, according to a NOVEC press release, left 28,000 in the area without power.

“It was good to know we were helping people,” Jake Till, one of NOVEC’s lineworkers, said. “It’s a small, close-knit community. The lineworkers at Southside appreciated our support.”

Manassas City Unanimously Approves Towing Fee Increase

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 21, 2025 at 10:54AM | Updated January 25, 2025 at 11:20AM

[Jonathan Reynaga via Pexels]

At the Jan. 13 meeting, the Manassas City Council unanimously voted to increase the city’s towing fees.

The “light duty” basic police accident tow and clean up — which includes the towing and removal of a car involved in a crash and cleaning the crash site of minor debris — fee would increase from $290 to $375. The non-accident fee — requiring a vehicle to be towed not in the case of an accident — would increase from $210 to $250.

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Manassas school system greenlights alternative education pilot program

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 20, 2025 at 9:00PM

Manassas Public Schools HQ at 8700 Centreville Road.

Insidenova – “The Manassas City School Board is requesting the appropriation of state funds for a pilot alternative education program.

The board discussed the possibility of such a program in December. Manassas City Public Schools currently has an agreement with Prince William County Public Schools to use its program at Independence Nontraditional School.

79% of Manassas Residents Think it’s a Good Place to Live, Survey Finds

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 20, 2025 at 9:00AM

One area of the city indicated they think Manassas is an excellent place to live (dark blue), while the rest said it was overall a good place to live (light blue). [Courtesy of the City of Manassas]

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Manassas Voter Turnout Dips in 2024, Early Voting Gains Popularity

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 18, 2025 at 1:37PM | Updated January 19, 2025 at 2:15PM

On Monday, January 13, 2025, the Manassas City Council received the Electoral Board’s annual report, presented by Pamela Kincheloe, who is secretary of the city’s electoral board. The report highlighted voter participation trends, the logistics of the 2024 election, and the city’s electoral outcomes. The 2024 voter turnout was 65.46%, down from 72.6% in 2020 and 66.7% in 2016. Early voting continued to grow, accounting for 44.73% of total votes, surpassing in-person voting on Election Day (43.22%), while mail-in voting made up 12.05%. Sunday voting also saw an increase, with 131 voters participating compared to previous years. Turnout by precinct ranged from 61% at Dean Elementary to 73.71% at Rand Elementary. Same-day registration presented logistical challenges, particularly at Weems Elementary, where wait times were extended due to high demand and the additional burden of curbside voting. Same-day voter registration, which began in Virginia with the 2022 General Election, allows individuals to register and vote provisionally after the traditional registration deadline.

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Manassas City Council Approves $3.1 Million Purchase of Downtown Property

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 18, 2025 at 11:39AM | Updated January 19, 2025 at 2:14PM

Manassas City Hall

The Manassas City Council voted unanimously on Monday, January 13, 2024, to purchase a 1.56-acre property in Downtown Manassas from the Manassas Ice and Fuel Company (MIFCO). The $3.1 million acquisition is part of the city’s ongoing strategy to control downtown development and foster community-focused growth.

The newly purchased property, which includes multiple parcels on Center Street, is zoned for industrial use (I-2), allowing developments up to 75 feet in height. City officials highlighted the importance of acquiring the land to guide its future use and prevent projects that may not align with the downtown’s character.

“This purchase ensures that we, as a city, can decide what happens on this key piece of land,” said Vice Mayor Wolfe. “Without this step, the property could have been developed by-right into something like a storage facility or data center, which may not align with our downtown vision.”

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Tracy Hammond, Manassas Teacher, Named Local Teacher of the Year

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 16, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated January 17, 2025 at 1:33PM

From left to right: Eric Brent, Ed.D., MCPS Culturally Responsive and Equitable Practices Lead; Craig Gfeller, Deputy Superintendent; Kevin Newman, Ed.D., Superintendent; Tracy Hammond, Special Education Teacher at Haydon Elementary School; Laura Goldzung, Principal at Haydon Elementary School; and Natalie Short, Assistant Principal at Haydon Elementary School.

Correction: An earlier version of this article did not include Laura Goldzung’s educational distinction, an Ed.D. We have updated the article and photo caption to reflect her degree.

Tracy Hammond, a special education teacher in Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS), was recently given the Mary V. Bicouvaris Teacher of the Year award from the district.