Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck at his town hall meeting.
It was 1987 when the first Mount Vernon Town Hall meeting was held to inform residents and the topics of traffic, congestion and population were the same, but the passion to improve the district has evolved.
On Saturday, Feb. 10 residents gathered in the auditorium at the Mount Vernon High School to hear about the progress and projects that are going on that impact the residents of the Mount Vernon District. It began with one of the MVHS alumni singing the National Anthem while the color guard and elected officials looked on.
As the colors were posted, Storck brought out a “Route One,” sign as an award to former school board member Karen Corbett Sanders who stepped down this year after many years on the board. Her position was filled by Mateo Dunne, the new Mount Vernon school board member who was also present at the meeting.
Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck at his town hall meeting.
Corbett was followed by U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) who noted it was his 25th Mount Vernon District Town Hall, and then Sen. Scott Surovell (D-34) who was in the middle of his first session as Virginia Senate Majority Leader down in Richmond. Somehow the discussion got around to the car tax that Virginia residents pay. This has been a topic of debate for years. “The car tax pays for $3,500 per student in our school system,” Surovell said.
Del. Paul Krizek (D-16) was on the stage as well. Krizek was followed by Dunne, who mentioned the apparent $250 million budget deficit this year. “I can’t support that,” Dunne said, and noted that he will look to spend more efficiently.
Helicopter Ride
Then came an entertaining video where Storck got behind the wheel on a simulated helicopter, flying over the Mount Vernon District, pointing out achievements, ongoing projects and key landmarks on the map. This included the new Lorton Police Station, the Workhouse Arts Center, Mason Neck, the Museum of the U.S. Army, and Fort Belvoir, which is “the largest employer in Fairfax County,” Storck said.
After the helicopter tour, Storck spoke about the Richmond Highway widening project and the Embark Richmond Highway redevelopment plan which features the bus rapid transit system called “The One.” It is scheduled to start rolling in 2031.
He also mentioned concerns that they are addressing like panhandling, the Brookside Motel eyesore, and trucks parking in various places that they aren’t supposed. “It’s a safety problem and looks ugly,” said Storck.
Fairfax County executive Bryan Hill shared the stage with Storck and the discussion veered towards funding again, but this time it was the funding formula. “The county gets far less than we send down to the state,” Storck said. This funding formula argument has been brought up at many county meetings through the past few years but it hasn’t changed.
For the last part of the town hall meeting, school representatives talked about various concerns including school attendance.
Storck wrapped it up with a look ahead.
“Join us for the ribbon cuttings and other events this year,” he said, “we are The One,” going back to the bus rapid transit that he’s been behind for years.