Don't plan to peddle your NASCAR gear on Hanover County roadways when the racers return in the spring.
The Hanover Board of Supervisors, on a 4-3 vote yesterday, adopted a measure banning anyone from distributing materials, soliciting contributions or selling anything along any road in the county.
The same measure was introduced in August and considered at a public hearing in October. It was deferred by a 4-3 vote until November to create a permit process and then rewritten again to apply only to Meadowbridge Road, which leads to the Richmond Raceway Complex.
John E. Gordon Jr., G. Ed Via III, Aubrey M. Stanley and Elton J. Wade Sr. voted to revert to the original proposal.
Gordon had voted for deferral in October after hearing comments at the public hearing.
"I was the one interested in a permitting process," he said. "One was brought to us and was more difficult to implement and enforce than I anticipated."
After several months to consider other options and the problem of distracted drivers, Gordon said he had decided that "it comes back to a public-safety issue. Roads are designed for autos, not for folks standing in the median. There are a number of distractions that currently exist. For the safety of folks in the median and for the safety of drivers, I believe that the original ordinance is the one that is warranted,"
The measure goes into effect immediately. Henrico County adopted a similar solicitation ordinance in 2008.
In other action, supervisors chose Via for a one-year term as chairman and Mechanicsville Supervisor Deborah B. Coats as vice chairman.
In an update on energy-saving initiatives, Facilities Director David Butler said electricity usage so far in fiscal 2010 was 12 percent lower than the corresponding period in fiscal 2009, when expenses totaled $2.3 million. Among the changes are replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs, can and bottle recycling, and forced-air hand-drying machines in some high-traffic restrooms.
A citizen survey in 2009 found county residents rating the county higher than all national benchmarks, said Marilyn Blake, assistant county administrator. Ninety-six percent said Hanover was an excellent or good place to live, and 95 percent said the overall quality of life is excellent or good.
Contact Katherine Calos at (804) 649-6433 or kcalos@timesdispatch.com.
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