On Saturday August 22nd, Chair-At-Large Ann Wheeler hosted her first ‘Strategic Planning Community Conversation.’ According to the Facebook event the goal is for community to “help in selecting goals and priorities to guide the county’s vision for the future.” This was the first of two sessions, the second will also be held virtually on Thursday, August 27th at 6:30 pm.

Wheeler began by thanking everyone who joined in on the zoom call for participating. Noting that she was glad to hear “new voices around Prince William” because “that hasn’t always been the case.” Mentioning that she was “excited that we have so many people on this call.” Stating her “plan to be very quiet” and be “here to listen.” Intending for it to be a “high level discussion” that goes “into the weeds.”

County Staff-person Kaye Wallace and Wheeler’s Strategic Planning Committee Appointee Joyce Connery facilitated the conversation. Wheeler’s Chief-of-Staff Briana Sewell hosted it.

Five questions were covered over a call length of about an hour and half. Question one was “What do you like most about living in Prince William County? What are some of the County’s strengths?” Director of the Prince William County Soil and Water Conservation District, Tiziana Bottino spoke first saying she was “really thankful for our leadership. . .green spaces that we have, parks, playgrounds. . .libraries, [and] a wonderful School Board.” Other residents left comments in the chat referring to the quality of life which includes schools and housing, diversity in environment and people, location/proximity, and community safety.

About 15 minutes were spent discussing question one and many responses provided answers to both the first and second question. Moderator, Debbie Carter highlighted how “it is hard to say what you like without saying what you don’t like.”

Question two was “What do you like least about living in Prince William County? What are some of the County’s weaknesses?” County resident, Ronald Chalmers Hood III, requested that the county “fill out what we are doing on the two VRE routes before it becomes too late, before the highways become permanently jammed” as “95 is the most congested interstate in the United States, between Fredericksburg and Washington [D.C].” His comments were echoed in the chat section by others concerned about “traffic congestion” and “transportation.” Residents Jennifer Wall and Danny Funderburk commented on economic development and job growth. Whereas residents Chelsi Howard Conaway, W.H. Bill Washington, and Mary Loren added comments about affordable housing and homelessness.

The next question asked participants “If you were in charge, what would you change about PWC?” Thomas Starai, a county resident said he would “go to those underserved communities and put in more educational centers.” Gainesville resident, Tony Carpino, who moved to the area in 1974 and is a retired IBM engineer said “we need a balance” and that “the Eastern [part of the] County’s been developed” and “the Western end of the County [doesn’t] have the jobs.” Washington, who has been in the county since 1970, said he would “work with the state, NOVA [NVCC], UVA, Sentara, the three major entities here in Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, and I would bring a medical school to George Mason University to this campus here in Prince William County.”

Carter did “a little bit of lightening round” and asked for peoples “top three priorities” in the context of a “four to five year outlook.” Carter Wiley, a commercial broker provided one which was creating “opportunities in the county for new businesses.” Chalmers Hood said “clinics” “the railroad issue,” and “how we manage community police.”

The call included about 40 people who represented various age and racial demographics from the county. Facilitators moved through the questions at a roast pace while still providing adequate time for those who desired to add their input.