CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Although it was a “no” on the ability to live stream this week’s meeting, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors was in a “yes” mood on agenda action items including Albemarle’s share of regional jail renovation funding and pay raises for both the Board of Supervisors and various county commissions, including the Planning Commission. Supervisors also passed the acquisition of two land parcels along Dominion Drive for a Commonwealth Drive/Dominion Drive Sidewalk Improvements Project.

“My personal opinion having visited within the last year and toured, I’m very appreciative of the effort made to improve the facilities and the capability to get good services to the people who are incarcerated there,” White Hall Supervisor Ann Mallek told WINA’s Morning News about passage of the jail renovation financing.

Albemarle County at 44.1% has the largest contributed share, which will be in the neighborhood of $32-million in debt service. Charlottesville will take on 39.54% calculating to about $28.7-million, and Nelson County will provide 16.32% or about $11.9-million. The board heard a similar presentation City Council heard last Monday night before passing their share of the agreement. Click here for details on the city meeting.

“I’m very appreciative also on the element they chose to focus on, because all the elements they wanted to fix are important, but to focus on the most essential element: to stay within budget,” Mallek said.

As City Council did Monday, Supervisors heard a presentation from ACRJ Superintendent Martin Kumar to bring the lowest bid earlier the month from English Contruction from $53-million to $49-million by paring down some project elements. Nelson County is the last to consider their share and their next meeting is scheduled for July 8. There is no agenda available for that meeting yet.

Supervisors also Wednesday passed 3% pay raises for the Board of Supervisors, which Mallek said is aligned with the county employee raise percentage. The agenda items said supervisors since 1988 have ” consistently increased members’ salaries by an amount equal to the average salary increase provided to employees of the County”. The measure increases the salary for each supervisor beginning July 1 to $20,805 from the current $20,805. The board chair gets an extra stipend of $1891, increased from $1836.

The board also approved annual salary increases for planning commissioners from $7685 t0 $7916, and to increase the compensation of members of the Architectural Review Board, the Board of
Zoning Appeals, the Building Code Board of Appeals, the Board of Equalization, and the Fire Prevention Code Board of Appeals for each regular or special meeting attended from $85 to $88. These are the same 3% increase according to the agenda item, and “it was the expressed desire of the BOS to increase pay in this same manner in subsequent years”. The plan is to “recruit and retain engaged public servants who provide quality government services to advance our mission”.

Supervisors also agreed to a resolution acquire portions of 2118 and 2121 Dominion Drive by eminent domain for potential condemnation of property for construction of the Commonwealth Drive/Dominion Drive Sidewalk Improvements Project. According to the agenda item, “the County has successfully acquired or reached agreements on almost all rights-of-way needed for the project. However, extended negotiations with the owner of the subject parcels have reached an impasse. A formal impasse letter (Attachment B) was sent to the owner of the two subject parcels on March 12, 2025. This public hearing is to consider a proposed resolution, as specified by Virginia Code § 15.2-1903(B) and § 15.2-1905(C), authorizing this proposed use of eminent domain. This resolution cannot be adopted until the Board has held a public hearing. Negotiations can continue throughout the condemnation process. Without this authorization, the project would likely be delayed and incur additional costs.”

The county offered just under a combined $9000 for the property portions, but the compensation reverts down to just under $3700 when condemnation proceedings commence. A letter to the landowner in March stated, “Please understand that pursuing condemnation is not intended to prohibit any further negotiations. If at any time you feel that there are mutually acceptable resolutions, then please let us know now so that we can pursue a settlement.”

Click here for the entire Wednesday meeting agenda.