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The Prince William Parks and Recreation department has announced its plan to reopen fitness centers in phases, starting with phase one on Aug. 1.
The Chinn and Sharron Baucom Dale City Aquatic/Fitness Centers will reopen to members on Aug.1, according to Seth Hendler-Voss, director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
The original plan for re-opening to members was on August 24, but Parks and Recreation moved it up because summer camp attendance has been down, according to Hendler-Voss.
Parks and Recreation will open both facilities in phases:
- Phase 1: Self-directed fitness areas only starting August 1.
- Phase 2: Lap swimming
- Phase 3: Group fitness classes
- Phase 4: General pool use
The start dates for phases two, three, and four have yet to be announced because it depends on filling staff vacancies/instructor availability, completing in-service training, and the coronavirus case trend.
Members will be able to register online for 90-minute time slots, and Parks and Recreation will limit facility capacity to conform with the VA Forward Blueprint Guidelines. Non-member drop-in use will not be permitted at this juncture.
“About 90% of our members maintained their memberships, but we froze their bank drafts and extended their membership period,” said Hendler-Voss.
Facilities will close in the middle of the day for deep cleaning.
Everyone entering will have their temperature taken and be verbally screened similar to what facilities are currently doing for summer campers. Masks will be required when not exercising, according to Hendler-Voss.
Parks and Recreation has announced that it is planning to utilize lifeguards who are already certified, whereas outdoor pools would have required a massive, close contact training effort to certify new guards.
The department is currently developing fall program options for these centers as well as other sites that are responsive to the changing needs of the community, according to Hendler-Voss.
Parks and Recreation is engaging various stakeholders in this process and will be sharing these options with the County Executive in the near future.
It’s going to cost truck drivers more to get towed in Stafford County.
The Board of Supervisors increased the fees towing companies that are allowed to charge when the hook up a medium-sized or large size truck.
Tow truck drivers will now charge more if they pick up and pull trucks the size of ambulances and small delivery trucks, as well as larger trucks, live garbage haulers, and plows.
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A Stafford County fire engine struck a passenger van in the Falmouth area, the county's fire chief tells us:
On Saturday morning, July 25, Rescue 1, stationed in Falmouth, was involved in a traffic crash with a passenger van while responding to an emergency call on Interstate 95. There are no injuries to the personnel responding in Rescue 1 nor the individuals in the passenger van.
The collision occurred at the intersection of Butler Road (Route 17) and Cambridge Street (Route 1). Rescue entered the intersection through the opposing lanes of travel due to traffic, and turned right to head northbound on Route 1. All emergency lights, sirens and warning devices were activated at the time.
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How much of a say should Prince William County residents have when it comes to who leads individual departments inside the county government?
Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega convinced her fellow leaders to direct County Executive Christopher Martino to create a survey to be sent to county residents asking them what qualities they want in the county’s next planning director.
Over the past eight years, the county government has been embroiled in a debate over what to do with the Rural Crescent, a tract of land between Quantico Marine Corps Base and Manassas National Battlefield that his been preserved for farming, and for single-family homes built on 10 acres of land.
The county’s former planning director Rebecca Horner was promoted to a deputy county executive in January. The promotion comes to the heels of years of recent work on Horner’s part to device multiple small-area development plans that will be used to guide future development across the county.
A year ago, she drew the ire of both those who want to preserve the Rural Crescent, and of those who want to sell their land to developers, cash out, and move away.
Though they were ultimately supportive of Vega’s desire to send the survey, many questioned the need to open up a process that, usually, is conducted internally by the county executive.
“The reason we hire a county executive is that he hires a team of people he likes and can work with,” said Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Ann Wheeler.
It’s also difficult to place restrictions on online surveys, ensuring that only county residents complete the survey, and ensuring that one person doesn’t complete the survey multiple times, added Wheeler.
Others like Supervisors Jeanine Lawson and Peter Candland agreed, saying the Board of County Supervisors shouldn’t get into the habit of sending surveys to the public when every director position becomes vacant. The planning director is different, they argued, since this particular department chair regularly interacts with residents at community workshops and public hearings.
“I believe the whole purpose of this, Mr. Martino, is to assist you,” said Vega. “We have to remember that, ultimately, the planning director works for the taxpayer.”
Martino told the board that he plans to hire a new planning director by October and that polling residents for their opinions on the new hire would not delay the hiring process.
“We’ll just make it happen,” said Martino.
The survey for the county’s new planning director comes as the county is already asking or public feedback for its new police chief. On July 1, Chief Barry Barnard retired after 44 years of service to the county. He’s been replaced by Acting Chief Lt. Col. Jarad Phelps, who has applied to fill the role in a permanent capacity.
Tucked Away Brewing Company will host Severing All Ties, a benefit to support Mental Health America (MHA), a charity organization based in Virginia.
The event will feature a live heavy metal concert at the Manassas brewery -- the first of its kind since the city and state located down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event will be held inside the brewery, and the promoters, Metal Teresa Productions, is requiring all who attend to wear masks. Metal Teresa is also ensuring adherence to the pandemic orders by providing hand sanitizer and assuring that there is enough room in the venue to keep up with social distancing demands.
