NEWS FROM THE TOWN MANAGER…

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE TOWN MANAGER…

Dear Dumfries Citizens and Businesses:

As we begin a new year together, I would like to wish everyone good will and prosperity. I look forward to this next year and the inevitable changes it will bring. As always, I encourage each one of you to visit with me to discuss your ideas, hopes, and concerns for the Town. I look forward to our continued collaboration, and again…HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Kimberly Alexander

NEWS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

In Dumfries Only Rain Down the Drain!

DID YOU KNOW…polluted runoff is the number one cause of water pollution in Dumfries? That’s right, the very same rain that washes streets, yards, and parking lots clean is sending chemicals, germs, and trash down the drain and into the creek where our kids play and fish and animals live!

That’s the bad news. But here’s the good news. If we work together, we can clean it up! Let's work together to make sure that only rain runs down the stormdrain… because "down the drain" means "into the creek"!

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Making sure there is enough clean water is everybody’s responsibility! Here’s how you can do your part to keep local waterways clean and healthy for everyone:

  • Fertilize in Fall, if at all — applying too much fertilizer to the yard is a rookie mistake. Yard experts test their soil before fertilizing. And they fertilize in September or October, so the spring rains don’t wash their money and hard work down the drain and into the local creek.
  • Be the person your dog thinks you are. Dog waste is full of germs that breed in water and cause disease. So pick the stuff up and put it in the trash before the next rainstorm washes it down the drain and into the creek.
  • Recycle your used motor oil properly. Just a little bit of oil can pollute a lot of water. In fact, just two or three quarts can contaminate enough creek water to fill four or five Olympic swimming pool. That’s why you have to pay a big fine if you get caught dumping oil down a storm drain.

NEWS FROM THE DUMFRIES POLICE DEPARTMENT

Now that “Old Man Winter” has brought us our first major snow for this year’s winter season, the Dumfries Police Department would like to remind our citizens if you travel on the roadways this winter to please prepare yourself and your vehicle for any possible emergencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends the following for your winter travels:

Prepare your car:

  • Antifreeze levels - ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
  • Battery and ignition system - should be in top condition and battery terminals clean.
  • Brakes - check for wear and fluid levels.
  • Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes and repair if necessary.
  • Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly.
  • Lights and flashing hazard lights - check to ensure they are in working order.
  • Oil - check for level and weight. Heavier oil congeals more in low temperatures.
  • Install good winter tires - make sure tires have adequate tread.
  • Fuel - always maintain at least a half a tank of gas at all times.
  • Winter emergency kit - always keep an emergency kit available to you at all times.

Winter emergency kit:

  • A shovel
  • Windshield scraper
  • Flashlight
  • Battery powered radio
  • Extra batteries
  • Water and Snack Food
  • Matches
  • Extra hats, socks and mittens
  • First aid kit with pocket knife
  • Necessary medications
  • Blankets
  • Tow chain or rope
  • Road salt and sand
  • Booster cables
  • Emergency flares
  • Fluorescent distress flag

The Dumfries Police Department wishes everyone a safe winter season and if you are traveling on the highways this winter, please TAKE YOUR TIME!

Officer J. Chapman & Officer W. Humphries

LINKS TO NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Attention Business Owners
2010 BUSINESS LICENSE
APPLICATION RENEWALS

The 2010 Business License Application Renewals will be mailed in late December 2009 and are due by March 2, 2010. A late filing fee will be assessed if not received by the due date. For any questions or more information please contact Retta Ladd, Treasurer at (703) 221-3400 x110.

REBROADCAST OF COUNCIL MEETINGS

Council Meetings will be re-broadcast every weekday at 12:00 noon on Comcast Channel 3 and Verizon Channel 35.

CHARRETTE

The Town of Dumfries, Virginia hosted a community design charrette on September 13 through 15, 2007

Press Release (PDF 12k)
2007 Charrette (PDF 2.4mb)

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TOWN REAL ESTATE TAXES

The 2009 second half real estate tax bills will be mailed November 5, 2009. All bills are due on or before the close of business on December 5, 2009. Payments not received by the due date will be assessed a ten (10%) percent penalty. If you have a mortgage on your home, your mortgage company typically pays your real estate taxes and you will not receive a bill from the Town.

Payments can be mailed to the Town of Dumfries, P.O. Box 56, Dumfries, Virginia 22026, or for your convenience there is a drop box located next to the front door of Town Hall.

Another payment option is through Official Payments. To pay online visit www.officialpayments.com or to pay by phone call 1 800 2PAY-TAX. Use Jurisdiction Code 6234.

NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

Neighborhood Stabilization Program
If you are interested in buying a house in the Dumfries area, you may be eligible to apply for assistance with the Greater Prince William County Housing Consortium through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The purpose of the program is to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight and to sell the properties to eligible buyers.

Through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the Consortium is proposing to assist credit worthy residents with up to 50% of the total house loan down payment or 1.5% of the sale price. Secondly, the consortium can provide up to $25,000 to rehabilitate the previously foreclosed and bank owned house. The Town staff can provide applications to be submitted or you can call Karen DeVito at (703) 330-1541 for more information.

What is a Town Ordinance?
A law or rule made by an authority such as a city government. The Town would like to remind all residents that they must abide by the Town’s Ordinances. To view a complete listing of the Town’s Ordinances please visit our website at www.dumfriesvirginia.org click on the Town Services link.

As a Reminder...
Park your car on the driveway, NOT the grass! Remember to park your cars on designated parking spaces that are surfaced with a stable material. There are several reasons including: Section 70-13(f) of the Town Code requires surface treatment, including residentially zoned districts; There are underground utilities and infrastructure that could be harmed; Cars, boats and recreational vehicles that are parked for a long time near trees or on the grass could eventually kill the vegetation causing expensive removal or replacement; Cars and other motorized equipment may leak oils, fuels and other toxins resulting in ground water pollution, harm to the Chesapeake Bay and Quantico Creek; Excessive cars parked on grassy areas makes our Town look untidy.

Town Council recently adopted a Dog Waste disposal ordinance. This ordinance requires dog owners to remove their pet waste from property not under their control. The new ordinance states:

Section 10-32 Allowing animals to urinate or defecate.
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or willingly to allow any animal belonging to that person to urinate or defecate on any public property, or the property of another without the consent of the owner of the property, or his agent, provided that it shall not be unlawful to allow urination or defecation by such animal within the curb or gutter area of a public street or roadway, and provided further that defecation by an animal or public property shall not be unlawful if the owner of the animal removes the animal’s excrement immediately and disposes of it in a public trash receptacle or in a public sanitary sewer, or on the owner’s own property in a lawful manner. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a class 4 misdemeanor.

Have you ever stepped on dog waste or found a “surprise” left by a neighborhood Fido? Have you been guilty of ignoring your pets’ functions? These little gems create more than a simple annoyance to your neighbors. In fact they are a major cause of water bacterial pollution and disease. For example, in the Four Mile Run watershed in Northern Virginia, a dog population of 11,400 is estimated to contribute about 5,000 pounds of solid waste every day and has been identified as a major contributor of bacteria to the stream. Approximately 500 fecal coliform samples have been taken from Four Mile Run and its tributaries since 1990, and about 50% of these samples have been over Virginia water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria. (NVPDC, 1998). A single gram (an amount about the weight of a large paper clip) of dog feces contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, including E-coli). Dogs can also be significant hosts of both Giardia and Salmonella. According to a Chesapeake Bay survey, 44% of dog walkers who do not pick up indicated they would still refuse to pick up, even if confronted by complaints from neighbors, threatened with fines, or provided with more sanitary and convenient options for retrieving and disposing of dog waste. This if unattended goes into the water table, and into Quantico Creek, and into Potomac River and finally into the Chesapeake Bay. Not to mention in our local waters, plants, gardens and tracked into our homes from our yards. Dog waste, if left unattended, can contribute to the spread of disease of both animals and human. If you are a pet owner, be sure to pick up after your pet and dispose it in a proper container.

If your non-profit group is planning a fund raising event, don’t forget to obtain any needed Temporary Use permits!

In the upcoming months, many non-profits are planning to have a spring festival, markets and fairs. Don’t get caught off guard by having to apply for a Temporary Use Permit.

If your church, non-profit organization or other group is planning to have a one day event, you may need to apply for a Temporary Use Permit Application at Town Hall. Our Town hall staff will assist your planning to make sure that your activities are well laid out and provide a safe environment.

You will need to provide a sketch of the property showing traffic circulation, set up and activities. Also, be sure to provide a letter from the owner which lists their name, the dates of the event and that there will be access to a bathroom.

Be sure to call 703-221-3400 for a temporary use permit application. Don’t forget that all prepared foods must obtain a permit from the County Health Department as well. Be sure to call 703- 792-7326 for the Health Department.

Are you interested in applying to the Dumfries Towing Advisory Committee?

The Town Council has endorsed the establishment of a Towing Advisory Board consisting of equal representatives from the Town’s towing industry, staff and one member from the general public. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to advise the governing body with regard to the appropriate provisions of the towing ordinance and terms of a towing contract.

Section 46.2-1217 of the State Code lets local governments regulate certain towing activities such as, but not limited to:

  • Towing or storage of unattended, abandoned or immobile vehicles;
  • Delineation of service areas for towing;
  • Limitation of the number of persons engages in towing services, including service areas;
  • Contracting, and
  • Specify fees or charges.

Be sure to submit a letter of intent if you are interested in participating in this Advisory Board. Letters should be received at Town Hall no later than February 12, 2010 at 5:00 PM.

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2010 TOWN DECALS

Available March 1st!

If you are a resident of Dumfries, you are required to display a Town decal on your vehicle. The Town decals are valid from April 15, 2010 to April 15, 2011.

You may purchase the 2010 decals starting March 1, 2010 at the Dumfries Town Hall located at 17755 Main Street adjacent to the Dumfries Community & Cultural Arts Center. Town Hall is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 5:00pm.

Please bring your current vehicle registration showing your Dumfries address for all vehicles owned. The cost for each decal is $27.00. For your convenience, the Town Hall will offer extended hours during the weeks of April 1—April 15. During this time, the Town Hall will remain open for vehicle decal sales on Monday & Wednesday evenings until 7:30pm. We also offer our citizens the option of mailing in a copy of their vehicle registration along with a check for $27.00 and a decal will be mailed to your residence within the week. Residents can also avoid waiting in line by placing a copy of their vehicle registration information and $27.00 check in an envelope and placing it in the drop-box located next to the front door of Town Hall.

For more information, please contact the Treasurer’s Office at 703-221-3400, ext. 110 or 101.

FY10 BUDGET

TOWN ELECTION INFORMATION

Did you know???

The Town will hold Elections this year on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Mayor Fred Yohey, Vice-Mayor Clyde Washington, Councilman Cliff Brewer and Council Lady Sue Cornell’s terms all end on June 30, 2010. Dumfries Mayor and three Town Council members are elected to four-year terms on the first Tuesday in May. The other three Dumfries Town Council members are elected in the opposite even-numbered years (in leap years) on the first Tuesday in May.

Have you ever considered running for a seat on the Town Council???

Candidate Filing Information

Candidates for office must meet certain qualifications and are required to file specific documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot. These qualifications and requirements may vary slightly depending on whether the office sought is a local office, a general assembly seat, a statewide office, or a federal office.

Generally, all candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • A candidate must be qualified to vote for, and to hold, the office being sought.
  • A candidate must have been a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a least one year immediately preceding the election.

Candidate Information, Forms and Reports may also be obtained by contacting:

Virginia State Board of Elections
1100 Bank Street, 1st Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-864-8901
Toll-free in Virginia: 800-552-9745
Fax: 804-225-3706
www.sbe.virginia.gov

Prince William County residents needing forms and/or assistance may contact:

The Office of Voter Registration and Elections
9250 Lee Avenue, Suite 1
Manassas, VA 20110-5554
Phone: 703-792-6470
Fax: 703-792-6461
www.pwcgov.org

Foreclosure Prevention Resources

Home foreclosures are increasing in Dumfries and throughout Northern Virginia. A number of resources are available to provide guidance and counseling to residents of Dumfries who may be facing foreclosure or who are simply having trouble balancing their monthly expenses.

Trained counselors may be contacted at the Prince William County Cooperative Extension Personal Finance Program by calling 703-792-6287.

General information on steps to avoid foreclosure as well as details on the new FHASecure loan program can be found on the HUD web site at www.hud.gov/news/fhasecure.cfm. HUD’s web site includes a list of lenders, searchable by service area, which can process loans under the FHASecure loan program.

The Homeownership Preservation Foundation (www.995hope.org) is a national HUD-approved nonprofit housing counseling agency. The Foundation provides free telephone counseling through their HOPE Hotline at 888-955-HOPE. Visit the website for more guidance on contacting the HOPE Hotline.

Prince William County Voting Information

Prince William County Voting Information prepared by the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters has prepared this pamphlet to provide information about voting in Prince William County.

They Represent You 2009 (PDF 443k)

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES OPPORTUNITIES

We are actively seeking individuals that want to become an integral part of Dumfries future by serving as a member of the Planning Commission.

Created under 15.2-2210 of the State Code, the Planning Commission is tasked by the Town Council to direct the land planning decisions of the Town. By State Code, the Planning Commission is charged to prepare, periodically review and recommend changes to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the Town. The Planning Commission recommends rezoning and conditional use permit decisions to the Town Council.

Take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference and contribute toward your community. This is your chance to have a voice in what goes own in your Town.

If YOU want to make a difference and contribute toward your community it is very simple. You may submit a resume, or provide a letter of information about yourself to: Donna Johnson, Town Clerk, Town of Dumfries, P.O. Box 56, Dumfries, VA 22026 or you may drop off you information at Dumfries Town Hall located at 17755 Main Street, M-F, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

For more information contact the Town Clerk at (703) 221-3400 ext. 114. Your support and involvement in the Dumfries community is welcomed and appreciated.

Effort to Improve Constituent Services

Congressman Rob Wittman

In an effort to improve constituent services, congressional caseworkers will travel from Rep. Rob Wittman’s permanent district office in Tappahannock to outlying areas across the community to address constituent concerns.

A member of Wittman’s staff will travel monthly to meet with area constituents. A staff representative will meet the third Tuesday of each month with our residents from 10:00–11:30am in the Dumfries Community & Cultural Arts Center located at 17757 Main Street. The Town welcomes all area residents to participate in these monthly meetings.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

How would you like to help plan the future direction of your community?

The Town of Dumfries is seeking a resident who is interested in serving on the Planning Commission. The PC is designed and endowed with the responsibility to advise the local government in issues regarding land use planning and development with the purpose of promoting the general welfare, safety and health of the public. The Commission meets once a month. Some of our upcoming projects include updating the Comprehensive Plan and updating the Zoning Ordinance as well as application review.

All applicants will be reviewed and presented to Town Council for appointment. Interested applicants should submit a letter to the Town Clerk, Donna Johnson, stating their qualifications and reasons for requesting appointment.

This is a truly exciting time to plan the future of our Town!

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