Kaine tours downtown Waynesboro

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine spent an hour Thursday in downtown Waynesboro, saying he came away from a tour of businesses and city projects more informed about the city.

"Some of the issues Waynesboro is wrestling with we did in Richmond,'' said Kaine, D-Richmond, referring to his days on the Richmond City Council and as mayor. He said Waynesboro is working on making the most of the South River much as Richmond has capitalized on the James River.

"And there is more activity on Main Street with shops and restaurants,'' he said, referring to Waynesboro's downtown now compared to his previous visits as governor. Virginia's new U.S. senator said "there is no substitute'' for seeing a locality. "I came and got the view,'' he said.

Waynesboro Deputy City Manager Jim Shaw said Kaine was briefed on city projects that received federal grant money. Those projects include the streestscape, the city's community development block grant and two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brownfields grants. The EPA grants will help the city study 17 downtown properties and determine their exposure to fuels or hazardous waste as well as the cost of cleanup.

Both Shaw and Waynesboro City Manager Mike Hamp said Kaine's visit was meaningful.

"We appreciate the personal presence,'' said Hamp, who added that Thursday's visit offered the city the chance to share their concerns in a face-to-face meeting.

Shaw said the senator was briefed on efforts to prevent future flooding of downtown businesses from the South River. The city is looking at potential floodproofing of city businesses and the possibility of small berms in the downtown to prevent flooding.

Kaine spent part of his time at the offices of the Center for Coldwaters Restoration, G&W Motorwerkes and other downtown businesses such as the South River Fly Shop.

The stop in Waynesboro came the day after the former governor visited Mary Baldwin College's Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership. Much of Kaine's focus since he was elected has centered on the defense industry and military readiness.

The new senator is a member of both the Senate Armed Services and Senate Foreign Relations committees.

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