The first four days of early voting statistics for 2024 in Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg show varying trends compared to the 2020 figures.

So far this year, Stafford County reported the highest number of early ballots cast among the listed jurisdictions, with 4,682 votes, showing a significant increase from 2,779 in 2020.

Manassas saw a decrease in early voting numbers, with 2,652 ballots cast in 2024 compared to 3,051 in 2020. Prince William County also experienced a notable drop, with 1,022 early votes in 2024, down from 3,096 in the previous election cycle.

In Fredericksburg and Manassas Park, where no early voting data is available from 2020, 688 and 966 ballots were cast in 2024, so far.

Prince William County Voter Registrar Eric Olsen shared his expectations for the turnout on the first day of early voting, Friday, September 202, 2024, emphasizing the expanded capacity at the polling location. “I would say at least 1,000, probably as many as a couple thousand [voters today],” Olsen said. “We’ve expanded our capacity inside, so we have more check-in stations. We can get through a couple thousand people today if we need to.” Ultimately, when polls closed at 4:30, a little over 1200 voters cast their ballots in Prince William County.

While Olsen noted the potential for a solid early turnout, he said early voting activity often happens closer to Election Day. “We saw 80% of our voting happen in the last three weeks [of early voting in previous years],” he explained. “We contracted the early voting period [in the first few weeks], but expanded the number of locations, weekends, and extended hours during the last three weeks because that’s when people most commonly vote.”

Olsen encouraged residents to use official sources of information to plan their voting, stating, “Go to pwcvotes.org to get all the hours, locations, and dates. You can apply for a mail ballot online if you’d rather not wait in line.” As of the opening hours on the first day, Olsen estimated that about 30 to 40 voters had already lined up. “So far this morning, maybe a 10 or 15-minute wait at the start, which isn’t too bad.”

Prince William County Supervisor for the Coles District Yesli Vega, made a point to be at the polls today because “Voting is the most important thing we can do as citizens. I encourage every eligible voter to get out and vote as early as they can.” Vega was the only County elected official observed at the poll site although Chair Deshundra Jefferson did put out a social media post inviting citizens to vote.

First-Day Voter Experiences

Susan Dunn, a voter from Bristow, was among those who cast her vote early. She said the process was smooth, but practical considerations influenced her decision to vote early. “Once you vote, they take you off the [mail] register. So all those mailers you get will save [campaigns] money, and that way they can focus on other people,” Dunn explained.

When asked about concerns over voter fraud, Dunn acknowledged the lingering doubt some voters feel. “I always wonder whether my vote counts after the last election fiasco, but I’ll do what I have to do to get it in,” she said. “I would hate to hear my voice if I got there to vote and they said, ‘Sorry, our records show you voted already,’ that would not be the end of it.”

For those still considering when to vote, Dunn encouraged early participation. “I’d suggest they come out early, get their vote in, make it count. Do it sooner rather than later,” she said.

Manassas Candidates Share Their Views

As early voting got underway, several local candidates also shared their perspectives on the key issues facing voters in the region. Tom Osina, a Manassas City Council candidate running for re-election, highlighted the economic growth efforts in the city. “For us, it’s things like we brought commercial air service, we have done several land purchases that are going to bring continued prosperity here,” Osina said. He pointed to projects such as the redevelopment of the Mathis Avenue Shopping Center and the construction of new facilities like the Marstellar community center and a new firehouse. “The vision for the future is not only continuing that work here, but actually trying to now use those pieces as catalysts to do better services for the public.”

Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, also running for re-election, stressed the importance of voter participation. “It is so important to exercise that right, no matter what,” Davis-Younger said. “I often say it doesn’t matter [your] party because we all want what’s best for this country and locally here, so just exercise the right because it is your voice.”

On the issues facing Manassas City, Davis-Younger identified the city’s rapid development as a central concern. “The growth, how we’re handling the growth of the city, making sure that the infrastructure is here and that we’re able to handle the new developments that we’re doing,” she said, adding that maintaining coordination between the City Council and the School Board is essential to the city’s progress.

Lynn Forkell Green, another candidate for Manassas City Council, expressed concerns over education, infrastructure, and public safety. “Our infrastructure needs to be addressed in a proactive nature,” Green said. “We have a lot of growth happening right now. We have data centers that have already been approved and we’re going to need to really assess our needs, our grid capacity, and what we’re going to have to do so that we’re not being reactive down the road.” Green also called for reforms in the city’s schools, criticizing their current performance and pushing for new leadership on the school board. “No matter how much money we’re throwing at the schools, they’re just not performing. We have to address that.”

On public safety, Green noted a rise in crime, pointing to recent incidents in the city. “We need to do a lot of evaluation,” she said, suggesting that more police officers may be necessary. “I think the answer is probably yes.”

Voting Logistics and Information

Prince William County

Residents can vote at 9250 Lee Ave, Suite 1, Manassas. Voting hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Weekend voting will begin on October 13.

Manassas

Early voting occurs at 9025 Center Street, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office will be closed on Monday, October 14, in observance of Columbus Day.

Additional in-person early voting dates have been scheduled for Sunday, October 13, from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, October 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, November 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – the final day for early in-person voting.

Stafford County

Early voting will occur at the Registrar’s Office at 124 Old Potomac Church Road, Suite 205, Stafford. Voters are reminded that early voting is not being held at the Government Center this year. The early voting period runs until Friday, November 1, with hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday voting will also be available on October 26 and November 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voters should note the office will be closed on October 14, and November 2 is the county’s final day for early voting.

Fredericksburg

Residents can vote early at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 601 Caroline Street, Suite 500. Early voting starts on Friday, September 20, with regular hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Extended hours will be available on Thursday, October 24, and Wednesday, October 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday voting is available on October 26 and November 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Manassas Park

Residents can vote early in person through Saturday, November 2, 2024. To cast their absentee ballot, voters can visit the General Registrar’s office at City Hall. No prior application is needed to vote absentee in person.

City Hall will be open for early voting Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition, drop boxes will be available for voters to submit their mailed absentee ballots, including on Election Day, November 5, 2024.

City Hall will offer two Saturday voting days for those who prefer to vote on weekends. The first will be on October 26, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a final Saturday voting opportunity on November 2, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This will be the last chance to vote early in person before Election Day.

Residents can apply for absentee voting through the Virginia Department of Elections at vote.elections.virginia.gov/voterinformation.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 

Historic Manassas Inc. announced three new members of its Board of Directors in a press release Tuesday.

The nonprofit, created in 1986 to combat the historic district’s decline, will add three women — Maria Elena Guzman, Nikki Merkle and Pechta Sok — to its Board in the hopes of contributing to HMI’s mission.

“We are so pleased to welcome Maria, Nikki and Pechta to HMI’s Board of Directors,” Mark Olsen, board president of HMI, said. “Their expertise and passion for the community will be a tremendous asset to HMI and the Main Street program for Historic Manassas.”

Here’s some more information about each new board member:

Maria Elena Guzman

A native of Lima, Peru, Maria is an entrepreneur dedicated to promoting Latin American culture in the United States. She is the founder of LAREXPO, an organization supporting Latino entrepreneurs and artisans in the Washington, Maryland, and Virginia area. Maria’s work with LAREXPO has earned her recognition from the United States Senate for promoting Latin artisan crafts. She also founded the Latin American Cultural Circle and Milena Guro Designs, a company that highlights the beauty of Peruvian craftsmanship. Her extensive background in business, marketing and community development will be a valuable asset to HMI’s efforts.

Nikki Merkle

With more than 12 years of experience in the banking industry, Nikki currently serves as the Branch Manager at United Bank’s Prince William office. She is deeply involved in community service, having worked with the Manassas Park Education Foundation, Round Elementary and the House of Mercy. Nikki is passionate about serving her community and is eager to bring her expertise and dedication to her new role on HMI’s Board.

Pechta Sok

Pechta has called Manassas home for 14 years and has witnessed the city’s vibrant growth and culture firsthand. With leadership roles at National Geographic, Social Impact and Amnesty International, she brings extensive experience in grassroots activism, outreach, and intercultural engagement. Pechta is excited to give back to the city that has been an integral part of her personal and professional life. She looks forward to contributing her skills to HMI’s work in preserving the unique character of Historic Manassas.

Congratulations to the new board members!

Early voting is open in Virginia! Starting on Sept. 20, Virginians can begin voting in the Nov. 5 general election and local election. Potomac Local News is dedicated to informing the community about candidates vying for one of three open seats on the Manassas City Council and the mayor’s seat.

To help voters make an informed decision, we are continuing a new feature series, “One-Question Manassas City Council Candidate Survey.” This series will run throughout the campaign season, offering insights into each candidate’s stand on key issues affecting our city. Our sixth one, which ran on Sept. 9, focused on parking.

The candidates are given 10 days to respond to a Google Form, and their answers will be compiled into a single post on PotomacLocalNews.com. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

Today’s topic: Power outages and the electrical grid.

The candidates were asked: How do you plan to address the ongoing power outages in Manassas, and what measures would you support to improve the city’s electrical grid reliability??

Mayoral candidates

Xiao-Yin “Tang” Byrom (R)

Sporadic power outages, which peaked last summer,

have highlighted the consequences of leaving critical utility positions unfilled. The mayor and City Council members seeking reelection owe it to residents — particularly the elderly, at-risk, and vulnerable populations — to address outages swiftly. We have to be able to attract top talent to the city and keep them here.

Interim City Manager Doug Keen played a pivotal role in bringing Steve Burke back as assistant city manager of operations, responsible for electric service. After meeting with Steve personally, I’m confident we have the right leadership in place to minimize further disruptions. The next Council and mayor will need to ensure Burke remains with the city and has the resources his department needs to provide residents with a stable and reliable power supply.

As the city grows, new demands on the grid will continue to increase. My focus will be squarely on hiring and retaining exceptional staff like Steve Burke, who can anticipate future needs and offer effective solutions.

Michelle Davis Younger (D-Incumbent)

NO RESPONSE

Davis-Younger is seeking a second term as mayor, after being elected in 2020. She owns and operates a Human Resources Consulting firm located in Historic Downtown Manassas called The1ForHR, LLC, which focuses on career coaching and resume writing.

City Council candidates

Lynn Forkell Greene (R)

It’s clear that the recent historic outages underscored the

need for robust leadership and effective succession planning within our utility leadership team. Additionally, our city lacked the necessary information to swiftly address the challenges posed by aging substations.

As your next Manassas City Councilor, I will prioritize modernizing our electrical grid with a responsible and proactive approach. This involves investing in new equipment, enhancing power lines, and continuing to integrate smart technology for improved monitoring. Starting this process now is essential to effectively manage our financial commitments and prevent future issues, particularly with the anticipated demand from the four approved data centers.

So, how will we achieve this?

First, we must conduct a thorough infrastructure assessment to ensure transparency and effective planning. By evaluating our current capabilities, including the condition of our substations and other critical equipment, we can make informed decisions that benefit our community and prepare us for the increased demands on our grid.

Community engagement is vital to our success. I envision open communication and collaboration that reaches every household, allowing our taxpayers to see the benefits of these developments without sacrificing our quality of life. Together, we can tackle the challenges that come with this growth.

We also need to strengthen our emergency response plans, ensuring clear communication during outages and reliable backup power for critical facilities. Sharing these plans with every household is key to fostering preparedness in our community.

I will work closely with city staff to create a comprehensive revenue plan from the data centers, aligning it with our infrastructure forecast. This will ensure our community is well-equipped to handle increased demands while maximizing the benefits of new developments.

By coming together, we can enhance the reliability of our electrical grid and improve the quality of life for all residents in Manassas. Let’s be proactive, stay informed, and take action for a brighter, more dependable future! Together, we can prosper.

Lynn Forkell Greene is seeking to regain a seat on City Council, where she served for 14 months, from fall 2021 to December 2022. Forkell Green served the remainder of Davis-Younger’s term, a seat vacated when Davis-Younger was elected mayor.

She is an administrative director for a nonprofit. Forkell Greene and her husband share four adult children and three grandchildren. Before announcing her reelection bid, Forkell Green was a freelance reporter covering city issues for Potomac Local News.

Ashley Hutson (D)

The City of Manassas offers excellent utility service.

Electrical outages are rare, not ongoing.

In 2023 there were several outages, some due to forces of nature outside of our control, such as extremely hot temperatures and squirrels chewing through power lines. Some neighborhoods experienced more outages than others, such as Battery Heights. At the time of their outages, there was electrical equipment that was due for replacement. Like all electronics, technology gets out-dated and worn out.

When the sub-station that serves Battery Heights was having issues, the city acted swiftly to bring in another sub-station to revive power while thorough inspections and upgrades were completed. The city purchased the additional sub-station so there is backup power, ensuring reliable electricity to its residents and businesses now and into the future.

One of the ways the city is working to enhance the appearance of our neighborhoods is by putting utility lines underground. Burying existing lines, while costly and often complicated, will reduce or eliminate accidental outages like cars hitting power poles and wear-and-tear from weather. I support the city’s efforts to put power lines underground wherever possible.

Hutson is seeking her first term on City Council. She is the director of Member Engagement of the Heavy Construction Contractors Association in Manassas. Hutson has served on the Manassas Board of Building Code Appeals, Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board and Community Advisory Committee. She graduated from Osbourn Park High School and Christopher Newport University.

Stephen Kent (R)

NO RESPONSE

Kent is seeking his first term on City Council. He is an author and public relations professional. He and his wife, Melony “Mel” Kent, share a child. Mel Kent ran for the city school board in 2022.

Tom Osina (D-Incumbent)

The premise of this question is false.

There have been NO ongoing or lengthy power outages in Manassas. In fact, when almost 100-degree weather arrived on June 22nd and then stayed, there were no electricity outages for Manassas residents.

Now, in summer of 2023, there were several outages which were extensive in the time it took to find the problem and repair it. But city government took immediate action such as filling a few key electric department positions by increasing the salary because they did not have many applicants.

Last year, the Battery Heights substation experienced a number of outages so the city brought in and later purchased a backup substation. This allowed electric power to be reliably restored while a thorough analysis of the old substation was conducted, parts replaced and additional squirrel guards, owl decoys and lightning shields added.

With the hiring of a new Electric Utilities Director, a revamped inspection program has been put in place to check electric lines and substations. This has led to an uneventful summer and city residents and businesses continue to receive dependable electric power.

Osina is seeking his second term on City Council. He and his husband have lived in the Georgetown South community for more than 20 years. He is the father of two grown children.

Robyn Williams (R)

Manassas has long provided reliable power to its

residents and businesses, but over the past year, a series of power outages exposed the vulnerabilities of the city’s aging power station and substations, which now require replacement. In response, I would begin by conducting an infrastructure audit and demand assessment. Engaging stakeholders — including utility companies, public works, transportation and emergency services — would help us fully understand the impact of prolonged outages. Additionally, I would involve the community to gauge how these outages have affected residents and businesses.

Although immediate repairs and upgrades have been made to stabilize substations and implement backup systems, it’s clear that we must now prioritize a comprehensive upgrade plan. This plan would focus on modernizing the infrastructure, investing in energy storage solutions, and exploring microgrids for critical areas such as hospitals and emergency services.

As demand for power continues to rise, it will be essential to diversify the city’s electric grid by investing in renewable energy sources and collaborating with state initiatives. A public awareness and education campaign would also play a key role in this effort.

By combining these short-term fixes with long-term investments in infrastructure modernization, renewable energy and effective demand management, we can ensure a more resilient and reliable power grid for the future.

Williams is seeking her first term on City Council. She has served two terms on the Manassas City School Board. Williams holds a bachelor’s of science in economics from George Mason University. She found her background in finance and economics valuable on the MCPS School Board, in addition to her more than 10 years as a broker/owner of Redstone Realty, specializing in residential real estate.

Williams’ public service in Manassas began with the Beautification Committee, where she served as a member and eventually chairperson. She also volunteered as a teacher assistant at Haydon Elementary for several years and taught modules in schools through the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation Department.

Mark Wolfe (D-Incumbent)

The premise of this question is incorrect. Manassas has

not and does not have “ongoing power outages.” To say so is a slander on the men and women from the City of Manassas who work very hard (and at some risk) to ensure that our electric system delivers to all of us.

Before the incident last summer, Manassas enjoyed world-class reliability from its electric grid, typically 99.99% service. Last summer an unforeseen event happened with TWO lightning strikes on the Battery Heights substation. Sometimes, bad things do happen. This had the effect of reducing the capacity of our electrical system at the same time we experienced peak summer demand. That stressed the system and led to outages. I experienced those outages at my home and businesses. All of Council and staff understand how this impacted residents and businesses.

Since then, the City has repaired the Battery Heights substation and our electrical system has returned to its typical world-class reliability. Through August this year, our reliability is at 99.9961%. Unfortunately, the occasional squirrel finds its way into a transformer or someone crashes a car into a power pole. Otherwise, we would be at 100% reliability. A testament to the hard work of the City of Manassas staff.

Wolfe is seeking a fourth term on City Council. He has lived in the City of Manassas since 1990. Wolfe has executive leadership experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors and is currently the chief operating officer of MovieComm. Amy, his wife of 36 years, is the artistic director and CEO of Manassas Ballet Theatre. They have two children, both of whom graduated from Osbourn High School.

Stay tuned as we continue this series with topics such as power outages, parking issues, city management and staff retention, budget and taxes, public school performance, and data centers. We aim to provide a comprehensive look at each candidate’s platform, ensuring voters have all the information they need to make a thoughtful decision.

We hope this series will engage the community and foster a more informed electorate. Check back for new insights and updates from your Manassas City Council candidates. Early voting started  Sept. 20, and Election Day is Nov. 5.

Be sure to subscribe to our FREE news email. Each week, we will pose a single question to all candidates running for the Manassas City Council.

 

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Potomac Local News continues our mission to bring you the most critical information about the candidates running to lead our city. Our latest exclusive interview features Ashley Hutson, a first-time candidate for the Manassas City Council.

In this conversation, we ask the questions that matter most to Manassas residents, and Ashley doesn’t hold back.

• How will she address rising taxes in Manassas?
• What’s her plan for affordable housing at the Manassas Shopping Center?
• Does she support the city’s expanding data centers, and what are her thoughts on environmental impacts?
• What qualities is she looking for in the next city manager?
• How does she feel about the state of the city’s schools and their latest performance metrics?

Early voting has begun, and this is one more way Potomac Local News is working to keep you informed. Tune in to
hear the full interview and get answers to these pressing questions as we continue to bring you exclusive interviews with those who want to shape the future of Manassas.

In her first interview with Potomac Local News since being elected four years ago, Mayor Michelle Davis Younger (D) shared her vision and priorities for her November 2024 re-election campaign.

Davis Younger emphasized the importance of voter participation, urging residents to exercise their right to vote. “It’s so important to get out and vote,” she stated. “No matter what, we all want what’s best for our community.” Davis Younger is vying for a second term as mayor and is challenged by longtime city businesswoman  Xiao-Yin “Tang” Byrom (R).

Declining schools 

The mayor addressed ongoing concerns regarding Manassas City schools and acknowledged their performance. In a report released last month by the Virginia Department of Education, the average pass rates for city schools have declined in history, math, and reading, improved in science, and stayed the same in writing.

The most significant decrease was in history, from 62% in the 2022-2023 school year to 58% in 2023-24. That should be a concern for every leader,” she said, pointing to efforts to provide additional funding, including $1.5 million for teacher pay to attract and retain quality educators. Davis Younger highlighted the need for support for students learning English as a second language and stressed collaboration between the city council and the school board.

“We have been putting money aside… so that we can build a school every 10 years,” she noted, clarifying the city’s approach to funding education.

In almost every subject, the city schools lag more than 20% behind state averages. While the city school board manages the school division, Incumbent Democrats Mark Wolfe, Tom Osina, and newcomer Ashley Hutson, all running for city council on the Democratic slate with Davis Younger, told Potomac Local News they would not be open to discussing school improvement benchmarks when the city council decides on how much funding it will provide the school system during Spring 2025 budget deliberations.

“Spending more money is not necessarily a guarantee of improved performance. Less funding will almost guarantee less performance. What’s going to happen if less funding is the people who make a difference? Your high-quality teachers are going to bail, and it becomes a race for the exits,” Wolfe told Potomac Local News.

Economic development, data centers, rising tax bills 

Regarding downtown development, Davis Younger is credited with brokering the nearly $6 million deal for the city to purchase and demolish the Old Towne Inn, a 1960s-era motel in the heart of downtown. She expressed optimism about a potential new hotel on the city’s vacant footprint, stating, “We had community meetings, and that’s what the community said they want.”

The hotel property is one of several that the city has bought and sold under Davis-Younger, including the Manassas Shopping Center, which the city aims to sell to its preferred buyer for use as a mixed-use development with affordable housing, and the Marsteller Middle School property on Sudley Road, which will be used to build a new fire station and convert the old school into a community center.

Discussing Manassas’s growth, the mayor acknowledged the addition of data centers, of which the city has four so far. “We’ve been very thoughtful about where we place them,” she remarked, emphasizing that the developments would bring economic benefits and jobs, which are crucial for the city’s growth.

The mayor explained that the city’s approach to handling these new funds would depend on various factors, including the timeline for when all the data centers are fully operational. “It’ll happen, but it’s several years from now when they’re all in place,” she noted.

Over her four years as Mayor, both residential and non-residential properties have faced rising tax assessments, resulting in larger tax bills for homeowners and businesses alike. The average residential bill increased by $878 between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, while the average commercial bill grew by $2,393 during the same period.

Mayor Davis-Younger acknowledged the significant financial impact data center projects could have, potentially generating millions in annual revenue for the city. However, she was cautious in discussing any direct plans for tax cuts.

“I didn’t say that,” Davis-Younger emphasized when asked if she planned to reduce taxes. “I’m just saying when those revenues come in, those are things that we have to look at.”

The server farms are located on or being built on Godwin and Dean drives and at the city’s regional airport. The number of server farms in the 10-square-mile city pales compared to the number of data centers in neighboring Prince William County, which has seen a proliferation of server farms over the past 10 years and will soon have more than anywhere else in the world.

The mayor pointed out that while data centers often face criticism for their limited job creation, they offer substantial economic benefits, including revenue generation for the city. “These developments can bring in three to $6 million annually,” she explained, indicating that such income could eventually contribute to potential tax adjustments or other community improvements.

Davis Younger emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth with community needs. “We know the concerns of people with noise and different things like that,” she stated, noting that the city is committed to addressing these issues as development progresses.

Vacancies

Under Davis Younger, several city department leaders have left the city, including longtime City Manager Patrick Pate, who served for an unprecedented decade. Mayor Davis Younger acknowledged that high turnover can challenge effective governance and service delivery. “It’s a concern for us, as continuity in staffing is vital for maintaining quality services,” she stated.

She explained that the city has focused on retention strategies to improve employee stability. These include competitive compensation packages, professional development opportunities, and fostering a positive work environment. “We want to ensure our staff feels valued and invested in, which ultimately benefits our community,” said Davis Younger.

Police Chief Douglass Keen has served as interim city manager for a year and told Potomac Local he wants to return to his role as police chief as soon as the council hires a permanent city manager. “I will be honest in my opinion, in retrospect, we probably dragged the process out a little bit more than we should have just because of where the calendar was and different things. However, as we went through the process, we had 50 or 60 people apply. So we had a large pool. But we didn’t find a good fit…” said Wolfe.

Keen has recently been charged with reclaiming the city’s popular First Friday events for families. In text messages, Keen said underage drinking and alcohol violations had plagued the monthly event. Meanwhile, the city council has discussed potential changes in managing the event.

Davis Younger has received criticism for putting her political party above streetlight issues and shunning others who posted support for her political appointments on Facebook. She has become a fixture at the White House locally and took credit for luring the then-Biden-Harris campaign to the Hylton Performing Arts Center in January 2024 for the duo’s campaign kickoff.

Davis Younger is an entrepreneur who owns a human resources consulting firm, The1FORHR, LLC.

Concerns over underage drinking and people bringing outside alcohol into the First Friday event in Manassas have prompted city officials to reconsider how the popular downtown gathering is managed. Interim City Manager Doug Keen and Police Capt. Tara Petty exchanged text messages on September 6, 2024, discussing growing issues with public safety and communication during the event.

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Happy Friday, Manassas!

Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Sept. 23 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.

Sign up for our FREE news email and never hesitate to email me at [email protected] with comments, questions and/or news tips.

Important links

• Meeting agenda
• Meeting agenda packet
• Where to watch

Key agenda items

Appropriating $2.7 million from the airport fund for designing a runway/taxi bridge replacement

Manassas City Council will be making a decision on appropriating $2.7 million from the airport fund balance to design a runway and taxi bridge replacement.

In the staff report given to Council, it’s stated the original runway and taxi bridges were built in 1983 and are nearing the end of the life expectancy of structures of that same kind, which is around 55 years. Structural engineers said these bridges have 10 to 15 years left, but it may be less due to the level of flooding that has occurred and impacted the structures over the years.

The staff report suggested a total redesign of the structures that are expected to last 75 years. The new structures won’t be able to carry more weight, but the report did state that “aircraft anticipated for commercial service in the future may have a [maximum gross take-off weight] between 142,000 lbs. and 181,000 lbs.” Currently, the bridges can only support 113,700 pounds.

To be clear: these funds are only going to the design of the project. More funds are expected to be drawn from in order to build the new structures. As of June 30, 2023 — as the report states — the current fund balance is $14,97 million.

Issuance and sale of $85 million in general obligation bonds 

The city is expected to authorize the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds (GOs) — a type of municipal bond issued by state or local governments to raise funds for public projects — totaling $85 million. These types of bonds are backed by the government’s ability to tax its residents.

In the resolution, it is stated these bonds will finance the costs of capital improvement projects in Manassas.

“… Including (but not limited to) the acquisition, construction, extension, replacement, renovation and equipping of public school, public safety, parks, culture & recreation, transportation, utility and general governmental improvements,” the resolution states.

The bonds, once approved, will be sold to investors, then the city will receive the funds, which can be up to $85 million from bond purchasers. In exchange, the city is obligated to repay the bondholders the principal amount plus the interest — which the resolution states can not exceed 5.5% — that accrues over time. The city will be able to pay back these bonds with taxes.

The resolution also states the city’s bonds may mature or be subject to mandatory sinking fund redemption, or a way for the city to pay the debt over time. This mechanism is often used to allow for the issuer of the bond (the City of Manassas) to repay its debt instead of facing one large payment at the end of the bond term, which is Dec. 31, 2047.

Fees for EV charging stations

City Council is expected to approve the proposed fees for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the city. In a presentation at the last meeting on Sept. 9, Steve Burke, the director of public works, proposed a $2 per hour fee for users and a $2.50 idling fee.

Check out the full story from Wednesday.

Residents in several Manassas neighborhoods are raising concerns over the increasing presence of wild animals and unsafe conditions caused by neglected properties with overgrown yards. At a recent Town Hall meeting, citizens voiced frustration over the lack of enforcement regarding property maintenance, which they say has led to several health and safety risks.

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