Chesterfield County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Chesterfield County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
HR 1 Medicaid work requirements and eligibility reviews
Starting next July, federal HR 1 changes mean Medicaid expansion recipients face eligibility reviews twice a year instead of once, and roughly 11,000 of the 80,000 people served are projected to be at risk under new work requirements. Social Services is ramping up outreach, employment services, and partnerships to keep people covered.
FOIA compliance and county-owned phones
A 30-year resident asked the county to issue county-owned phones to all employees and require public business on them, arguing personal phones create a FOIA blind spot and that records may be illegally leaving county possession when board members leave office.
Police Shooting
Chesterfield County police held a press conference to brief the public on a recent officer-involved shooting. These incidents always raise serious questions about local safety and police accountability.
Firefighter Work Schedule and Staffing Pressures
Hampton Roads departments are racing to a 42-hour week, and a mandatory bill may come in 2027. Chief Senter estimates Chesterfield would need 180 new positions at $25.4 million and 3-5 years — and says service improvements can't be sacrificed to fund it.
Public Safety Technology
Chesterfield is launching a new drone program to give police and fire crews a quicker look at emergency scenes. These high-tech flyers will help first responders assess situations and plan their response before even arriving on the scene.
Old Gun Road Telecommunications Tower Upgrade
Verizon Wireless is replacing a smaller cell tower on Old Gun Road with a taller 199-foot monopole to fix dropped calls and poor reception in nearby neighborhoods and schools.