Graham Moomaw

2 weeks ago | richmonder.org | Graham Moomaw

Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities has hired a former state and federal water official as a new deputy director to work out of the city’s beleaguered water treatment plant and help oversee its operations, according to the city. Doug Towne, who was serving as the water plant’s superintendent when January’s water crisis struck, has been put on paid administrative leave, officials said.

2 weeks ago | richmonder.org | Graham Moomaw

Richmond Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg will resign from her role at City Hall next month, bringing an end to her tenure serving under new Mayor Danny Avula. Joy-Hogg’s departure from the top administrative role at City Hall will be effective June 6. Avula has not yet hired a chief administrative officer of his own after almost five months in the job. However, the mayor has said he expects an announcement shortly.

2 weeks ago | richmonder.org | Graham Moomaw

As confused Richmond residents received real estate tax bills last week that the city usually sends to mortgage lenders who handle the payments, Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg initially told the City Council it was a deliberate move to promote transparency. “Finance has provided real estate tax bills to all residents, which adds transparency to taxes being paid,” Joy-Hogg told the council in a text message Friday night.

2 weeks ago | richmonder.org | Graham Moomaw

The system that adds fluoride to Richmond’s drinking water is fully functional again for the first time since the water plant failed in January, officials announced Monday. The flooding that occurred at the facility on Jan. 6 knocked the fluoridation process offline, a side effect of the water crisis that wasn’t fully clear until last month when the city had to explain why it had accidentally added excess fluoride to the water as it attempted repairs.

3 weeks ago | richmonder.org | Graham Moomaw

3 min A plan to turn Richmond’s Mayo Island into a mostly natural park is still on schedule to be completed by the fall of 2026. “We are on track to meet that goal,” Lisa Richardson, deputy director for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department, told Richmond’s Urban Design Committee Thursday morning. The design committee voted Thursday to unanimously approve a conceptual design for the park.