The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in favor of the county’s planned state park during the Board’s first meeting of 2008 Monday night.

The resolution referenced the community’s “overwhelming citizen support for the new state park,” as well as the potential tourism dollars the facility will draw.

“Powhatan is one of Virginia’s most rapidly growing localities,” it went on to say, “and there is urgency to reserve and preserve open-space while it still exists.”

The motion passed 4-0 with District 4 representative Scott Daniel abstaining.

Daniel did not vote, he said, because the fact that his family owns a camping facility in the county represents a conflict of interest.

The Powhatan park project is currently on track to receive $3 million toward Phase one of the project, which would include facilities for mixed daytime use.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation has officially named the park Powhatan State Park on the Historic James and the facility will include the E. Floyd Yates Conservation Area.

District 5 Supervisor Carson Tucker took a moment to point out that one of the main issues surrounding the building of the park, the hazardous intersection at Route 522 and Old River Trail, has not been forgotten.

“I want to reiterate that the folks on Old River Trail…that we are taking those concerns very seriously,” said Tucker.

The Board also voted unanimously to continue holding supervisors meetings on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m., with the noted exception of three months during the upcoming year.

The February meeting will be held on February 19, a Tuesday, while the October meeting will be held the third Monday of the month. The November meeting will be held the first Thursday of the month, Nov. 6.

During the public comment period, Abel Harris of the Powhatan County Fair Association addressed the Board concerning the organization’s request for funding to pay for a fence around the county fairground property located along Anderson Highway.

The Fair Association had requested the money from the board during a meeting in 2007, but a decision on the matter had been postponed pending further review.

“That $38,000 is desperately needed,” said Harris, adding that the group had “been over and over this with the former board.”

Harris then asked the Board, and specifically Supervisor Carson Tucker, to suspend protocol and approve the request on the spot.

With the public comment period still open, Powhatan resident Shirley Barham took the opportunity to ask that the Board not oblige Harris’ request.

“For at least five years we have been dealing with the money for the Fair Association,” said Barham. “We have a process. As far as changing the rules, it is just unbelievable to me that any organization can ask for this amount of money from people who are struggling, specifically the senior citizens of this county.

“I urge you, don’t break any rules tonight.”

Supervisor Charlie Green suggested placing the matter on the agenda for the next workshop, a suggestion that was met with agreements from the other Board members.

Walton closed the discussion by asking that the Fair Association members come to the Feb. 7 workshop prepared to argue their case.

“I would just ask that the Powhatan Fair Association be willing to roll their sleeves up and work very, very hard to earn the taxpayers’ money,” he concluded.