Citizens speak

by Susan Gibbs Record Reporter
Published: September 18, 2008

Roughly three years ago, local resident Andrea Wilkinson decided to start a group aimed at preserving a particular quality of life in Ruckersville.
The group, dubbed the Ruckersville Citizens Council (RCC), took on such grassroots projects as beautifying streetscapes and putting up signs. It also began to hold monthly meetings in the form of roundtable discussions.
Today, the Ruckersville Citizen Council has become one of the most visible and vocal citizens’ groups in the County, commanding the attention of many of Greene’s top decision makers.  Simply put, RCC has evolved into a group actively involved with just about every commercial development that comes before the County government for consideration.
Take plans for Gateway Center—the site of the County’s coming Wal-Mart and Lowe’s - as an example.
“The group provided thoughts and comments, including requests regarding traffic lanes, shielded lighting, landscaping, storm water retention, architectural standards, inter-parcel access, and a drive-up pharmacy window,“ says Wilkinson.
“Many (though not all) of these items were then proffered by the developer,“ she adds.
Few leaders - from political figures to developers - have turned down an invitation to meet with Wilkinson’s band of citizens.
“All of our Board of Supervisors members and most of our Planning Commission have been guest speakers at one or more meetings,“ says Wilkinson. 
Others who have spoken at RCC meetings are the County’s assessor and its chief engineer, a representative of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, Delegate Rob Bell and Senator Emmett Hanger.
Most recently, on September 2 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Steve Catalano attended RCC’s meeting at Ruckersville’s fire house. Wilkinson says he was there to ask the group to write a letter about funding issues to be presented to Bell and Hanger at the Board of Supervisors’ regularly scheduled meeting September 23.
RCC apparently has come a long way since its inception.
Despite its title, the group is not officially a council, which, by one definition, is described as a body of persons specially designated or selected to act in an advisory, administrative, or legislative capacity.
It is not a government agency of any kind.
Nor is it a registered nonprofit.
“Since we do not do fundraisers or have any cash or accounts, we are not eligible to be a 501(C)3, Wilkinson explains. “We do not accept contributions, so we cannot be a 501 (C )3.“
In early 2006, the group “organized funding”, as Wilkinson puts it, for beautification projects - landscaping at the intersection of Routes 29 and 33, and the installation of “Welcome to Ruckersville” signs at two locations.
It remains unclear as to what label to place on the influential group, but—for sure—it provides a forum that any County resident can attend, with the topics of discussions being “those that affect the Ruckersville area.“
It has grown from a gathering of a handful of people to more than 50 citizens representing 18 residential areas and 14 organizations, led by several officers, says Membership Coordinator Nicole Strickland, who moved to Greene from New Jersey four years ago.
Strickland says she became a charter member of Wilkinson’s group because she saw the “opportunity to steer … change in a direction that benefits citizens.“
And few could argue against the Wilkinson’s group has shown an ability to effectively lobby for its cause.
As early as 2006, Wilkinson’s group was meeting with developers, though, according to County officials, no developer is ever obligated to meet with citizens regarding projects.
Last year, the developer of Deerfield Village - a planned unit development to be located on Route 29 in Ruckersville - extended Greene’s citizens that courtesy. His representatives spent about a year holding receptions and public meetings for and with the RCC, homeowners’ associations and others before the County gave the project its nod last May.
More recently, KG Associates representative Michael Barnes attended an RCC meeting, and met with individual concerned citizens at this office in Charlottesville. Wilkinson’s group spoke against approving the request. She asked the Board to defer making its decision so the developer would have more time to work with the residents. “(KG Associates is) not going anywhere. There’s still time to negotiate,“ she remarked.
Wilkinson, who at various times has referred to herself as RCC’s chairperson, editor, and secretary, remains its figurehead.
Strickland says she admires Wilkinson’s efforts:
“The work that she does, both upfront in booking speakers and creating agendas, as well as post-meeting investigating follow-up and issuing very detailed minutes, is extraordinary and such a benefit to all of us.”