The Upside—Scoring a Few For the Taxpayer

Early in his tenure, Sili was able to leverage some positive accomplishments for the county and its citizens both in transportation and in the area of retaining existing business. In 2009, a road improvement plan was approved and subsequently near completion which eliminated the turn lane into a major anchor business in the Carmel Church Growth Area. The business in question, Petro provided significant tax revenue and employment to the county. An excellent community and corporate citizen, Petro partnered with the county in the late 1980s, to apply and win a grant which jump started the original Utility system, enabling growth to occur in Caroline County.

In spite of Petro’s owners request to redesign the plan to include access to the business, the Caroline Board of Supervisors in a 4-1 vote (with Sili voting no)approved the original plan, actually eliminating the turn lane. Working with VDOT, Former Lt Governor Bill Bolling and Senator Ryan McDougle, Sili within a few months of the project’s competition was able to offer an alternative turn lane for “Cars Only” and was able to get Board consensus and a resolution of approval. The lane was added and has provided much needed access to the Travel Plaza, which includes a Wendy’s Franchise. Petro has since been sold to Flying J, but the turn lane is still a valuable commodity to reach the business at the Carmel Church intersection.

Marketing Business In Caroline-Patriot Farms Signage

In 2011, high winds from several storms damaged the Patriot Farms Travel Plaza billboard on Rt 207, signage vital to attracting customers to do business at Caroline’s Interchange. The contractor hired to repair the sign removed most of the damaged materials and applied to Caroline County for a “new construction” sign permit. According to state regulation, billboards which are removed cannot be replaced. However the old billboard while needing extensive repair was not entirely gone. Jeff applied to VDOT for permission to rebuild the sign and this was eventually granted. He also got special permission to have the sign lighted so that it could more readily be seen at night. The sign was competed in 2012, proving that working together accomplishes significant goals.

Marketing Business In Caroline-Patriot Farms Signage

In 2011, high winds from several storms damaged the Patriot Farms Travel Plaza billboard on Rt 207, signage vital to attracting customers to do business at Caroline’s Interchange. The contractor hired to repair the sign removed most of the damaged materials and applied to Caroline County for a “new construction” sign permit. According to state regulation, billboards which are removed cannot be replaced. However the old billboard while needing extensive repair was not entirely gone. Jeff applied to VDOT for permission to rebuild the sign and this was eventually granted. He also got special permission to have the sign lighted so that it could more readily be seen at night. The sign was competed in 2012, proving that working together accomplishes significant goals.

McKesson

McKesson distributes pharmaceuticals and health care products to independent retail, national retail accounts and institutional accounts.

During the construction process for a brand new Fortune 500 company business called McKesson, Sili learned a state “right of way” permit for a water line had been essentially ignored by VDOT for five months. Sili contacted Martin Kent, Chief of Staff for Governor Bob McDonnell who put him in touch with Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade. When that office weighed in with the VDOT office in Fredericksburg, the permit was issued in five days and a fifty million dollar, 340,000 square foot project that created 150 jobs moved forward.