[00:00:02]
GOOD EVENING, FOLKS.[Call to Order]
WE WILL CALL THE OCTOBER 26TH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TO ORDER.PEOPLE COMING TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
I SAY YOU CAN'T DO IT IN RICHMOND, YOU CAN'T DO IT IN WASHINGTON, BUT YOU CAN DO IT HERE BUT THAT SAID WE'LL ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION? YES, SIR.
[INAUDIBLE] WE THANK HIM FOR THE SOURCE MOTHER EARTH, WHICH PROVIDES THE SUSTAINMENT TO THE WORLD.
[INAUDIBLE] BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE THINK THESE ARE THE TRUE CREATOR OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS A TRUE [INAUDIBLE] WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THE LEADERSHIP ON THE HILL IN WASHINGTON DC AND ALSO THE LEADERSHIP ON THE HILL IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, AND ESPECIALLY THE LEADERSHIP ABOUT LOCAL ELECTIONS.
GIVE THEM COURAGE, GIVE THEM STRENGTH, GIVE THEM AN OPEN MIND AND OPEN HEART THAT IT MIGHT BE ABOUT THE BETTERMENT OF THE PEOPLE.
THESE THINGS, WE ASK IN THE NAME [INAUDIBLE] JESUS CHRIST [INAUDIBLE] AMEN.
[1. Citizens Comment Period]
NEXT THING ON THE DOCKET IS THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.THIS WAS STARTED BY THE BOARD IN, I BELIEVE, NOVEMBER 25TH, 2013, AND THAT GIVES ANYBODY HERE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ISSUES INVOLVING THE COUNTY TO COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND GO AHEAD AND SPEAK YOUR PIECE.
SO WE'LL OPEN THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.
[INAUDIBLE] FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO DO [INAUDIBLE] HE WOULD INTERVENE AND STOP THIS.
[INAUDIBLE] I KNOW IT'S HARD TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID YET, BUT.
MORE CONFIDENT [INAUDIBLE] BUT TO OPERATE THIS COUNTY, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED DISCUSSING [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE TO HAVE TAXES.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IF THERE IS A MOVE TO ADJUST TO [INAUDIBLE] THAT THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEARING SUCH AS [INAUDIBLE] BUDGET ISSUE AND A TAX [INAUDIBLE].
SO BUT LIKE I SAID, I DON'T LIKE PAYING TAXES, BUT EVERYBODY SHOULD PAY, NOT EVERYBODY PAYS EQUALLY, BUT EVERYBODY SHOULD.
[INAUDIBLE] THANKS TO MIKE JOHNSON.
FOR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.
NOW, I KNOW YOU ALL LOOKING TO FIND A REPLACEMENT.
AND I SPOKE TO THEM [INAUDIBLE] WE DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO LOOK [INAUDIBLE] WOULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR THIS COUNTY.
AND WHAT IMPRESSED ME ABOUT HER IS SHE LOOKS OUT FOR HER CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES, AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HIRE SOMEBODY AWAY FROM ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY.
THERE'S NOTHING UNETHICAL AND CERTAINLY WE DON'T KNOW FRANKLY ANYTHING BECAUSE THE WAY THEY'VE TREATED US IN THE PAST NEGOTIATIONS OVER THIS [INAUDIBLE].
[00:05:02]
BUT I THINK AMANDA.SMART LADY [INAUDIBLE] WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR THIS COUNTY.
AND IT'D SAVE A LOT OF MONEY GOING OUT, LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT SHE IS, WHAT SHE CAN DO FOR [INAUDIBLE] WALT WALT BROWN AND HIS TRIBE ARE GOING TO DO MORE FOR THIS COUNTY AS FAR AS TOURISM GOES THAN ANYTHING HE'S DONE SO FAR.
IT'LL BE A GOOD IT'S A GOOD FIT WITH WITH THE AG MUSEUM AND THE REST OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING FOR TOURISM.
AND I THINK A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BIT THIS WILL COST IT WAS WELL WORTH A GOOD FAITH THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THIS TRIBE, THAT WE'RE WITH THEM IN THEIR ENDEAVOR TO EXPAND THEIR HERITAGE.
AND ONE MORE THING I'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT THE CIGARETTE TAX.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS LOOKED INTO IT, HAS LOOKING INTO IT.
THAT MY WIFE SMOKES AND UNFORTUNATELY, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE TAX, WHICH IS FINE.
BUT THIS IS MONEY ON THE TABLE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
WHO'S NEXT? [INAUDIBLE] MY NAME IS ERNEST CLOYD, I'M FROM CAPE VIRGINIA.
18312 SOUTH HAMPTON [INAUDIBLE].
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING BECAUSE JUST I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT IN THIS COUNTY.
FROM TIME TO TIME, I SEE IN THE PAPER AND HEAR SOME THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME AND OTHER PEOPLE.
I'VE JUST HEARD RECENT [INAUDIBLE] SEEN FROM OUR ARTICLES IN THE PAPER, THAT SUGGESTS THAT.
THIS BOARD AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT TOTALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BOYS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO AGREE, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO AGREE.
AS A PRODUCT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ASK THAT EVERY EFFORT WE MADE.
T O SUPPORT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN, THE COUNTY.
AND EVERYBODY THAT IS INVOLVED.
WE KNOW THE LAST CLOSE TO TWO YEARS NOW, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND.
ALL THINGS WERE NOT THE WAY WE WOULD HAVE HOPED.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S STILL SOME GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
AND I COME TO ASK YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP THEM MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
WE HAD A GRANDDAUGHTER THAT GRADUATED IN 2020.
AFTER INTERNET YEAR WITH THE PANDEMIC.
AND YET SHE WAS ABOUT 17 OR 18 IN THE CLASS.
THAT IN ITSELF SUGGESTS THAT SOME GOOD THINGS ARE GOING ON.
IF A PERSON WITH A 3.8 THAT IS 17 OR 18, IT MUST BE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
GOOD FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES AND MANY OF YOU.
SEVERAL OF YOU SITTING UP THERE PRODUCTS OF THIS [INAUDIBLE], JUST SO I JUST APPEAR TO ASK YOUR SUPPORT AND THE PUBLIC SUPPORT BUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC
[00:10:04]
SCHOOLS, IN ORDER THAT WE MAY HELP THEM MAKE THIS SYSTEM BETTER THAN IT IS AND LEAVE A GREAT FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN.OK, WHO'S NEXT? MY NAME IS COLLEEN [INAUDIBLE], AND I LIVE ON 11185 WHITEHEAD ROAD IN BRAZZAVILLE, VIRGINIA.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
MY BOTH OF MY KIDS ATTEND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH.
YOU CAN TAKE YOUR MASK OFF IF YOU WANT TO.
MY SON, WHO ATTENDS SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, WAS PUT IN A CAR UNKNOWINGLY FOR HIS RIDE HOME.
I WAS NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND MY SON WAS NEVER TOLD WHO HE WAS WITH OR WHY.
THE TEXT MESSAGES I RECEIVED FROM MY SON IN THAT CAR RIDE WOULD MAKE ANYONE SICK TO THEIR STOMACH.
I WAS IN TOTAL AND COMPLETE FEAR FOR MY SON'S LIFE.
WHEN YOUR CHILD TEXTS YOU TO TELL YOU HE'S IN THE CAR ALONE AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO HE'S WITH OR WHY THAT WOULD MAKE ANY PARENT'S HEART SINK.
WE AS PARENTS TEACH OUR CHILDREN NOT TO RIDE WITH STRANGERS.
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PUT HIM IN THAT POSITION AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
I CONTACTED THE SCHOOL TO BE PUT ON HOLD FOR THREE MINUTES TO WHICH I HUNG BACK, HUNG UP, CALLED BACK TO TELL THEM THAT THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY AND MY SON WAS IN A CAR WITH SOMEONE HE DID NOT KNOW NOR THE REASON WHY AND I WAS NOT INFORMED.
TO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IN MY EYES, MY SON WAS KIDNAPED.
THANKFULLY, MY SON GOT HOME SAFELY.
I WAS TOLD THE PERSON WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT ME, GOT COVID AND FORGOT TO CALL.
HOW IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? FORGETTING TO COMMUNICATE TO A PARENT IN THIS SITUATION IS NOT OK.
SUPPOSE THE DRIVER GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
I'VE SENT SEVERAL EMAILS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, PRINCIPAL AND ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
FOR WEEKS, I HEARD NOTHING BUT SILENCE.
I HAD CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD BY A DEPUTY THAT HE WAS GOING TO SPEAK WITH HIS MAJOR AND GET BACK WITH ME.
IT WASN'T UNTIL I MADE A PUBLIC SOCIAL MEDIA POST THAT DR.
SHANNON DECIDED TO CONTACT ME BACK THROUGH EMAIL AFTER ALMOST FOUR WEEKS.
LAST WEEK, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE HEARD SOMETHING FROM THEM TO SET UP A MEETING, AND THERE'S STILL NO APPOINTMENT TO THIS DAY.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY PREVENTED IF THE DRIVER TURNED AROUND AND [INAUDIBLE] AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO MY SON AND ASKED FOR MY PHONE NUMBER TO CALL AND EXPLAIN THE SITUATION THAT WAS OCCURRING.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSTANT CONTACT PAGE, BUT THEY POSTED DISPLAYS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DIVISION REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES.
OPEN COMMUNICATION IS THE CORNERSTONE FOR AN EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A SCHOOL DIVISION AND FAMILIES.
HOW CAN THAT BE TRUE WHEN THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION? HOW ABOUT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING? NO CHILD SHOULD EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FEAR, ANXIETY OR WORRY WE EXPERIENCED THAT DAY IN THE DAYS THEREAFTER.
THE TRAUMA SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PUT US THROUGH IS DETRIMENTAL TO OUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
NOW, I FEEL MY SON IS BEING PUNISHED FOR THEIR WRONGDOING.
DAYS AFTER MY PUBLIC POST, MY SON DROPPED A PAPER ON THE BUS AND WENT TO PICK IT UP, AND FOR THAT HE WAS SENT TO THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, GIVEN A WARNING.
HE TOLD ME ALL THE OTHER KIDS ON THE BUS MOVE AROUND ALL THE TIME, THEY GET UP SWITCH SEATS.
SO MY CHILD IS THE ONLY ONE TO RECEIVE A WARNING.
A CHILD WHO'S BEEN ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S LIST MORE THAN ONCE, A CHILD WHO MANY TEACHERS HAVE SPOKEN SO HIGHLY OF AND WISH THEY HAD A CLASSROOM FULL OF HIM.
HOW IS THIS RIGHT? A POLICY NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THIS SITUATION NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN TO ANOTHER CHILD.
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEEDS TO REEVALUATE THEIR COMMUNICATION AND ACTUALLY HAVE OPEN AND HONEST TWO WAY COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS.
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
THIS GOES ALONG WITH THIS IS A SENSITIVE SUBJECT IN THIS COUNTRY REGARDING SCHOOLS.
NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTY, BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IT AFFECTS MY WIFE AND MY CHILD.
I HAVE A CHILD WHO ATTENDS THE COUNTY SCHOOL AND A SPOUSE WHO TEACHES AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT CONCERNS THAT I HAVE REGARDING THE CURRENT OPERATIONS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I'LL START WITH OUR APPOINTED SCHOOL BOARD.
IT SEEMS AS SOME GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER SUGGESTIONS OR POLICIES OUR SUPERINTENDENT
[00:15:01]
OR BOARD CHAIR MAKES WITHOUT MUCH THOUGHT INVESTIGATION OR REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THEIR DECISION MAKING.I SPOKE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD IN FEBRUARY AND MY WIFE DID IN JUNE.
I ASKED SOME QUESTIONS, LEFT MY EMAIL AND EXPECTED SOME SORT OF COMMUNICATION.
PRESENTATIONS ARE MADE AT EACH BOARD MEETING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE, AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW ACCURATE THEY ARE.
MY WIFE REPORTS THAT HER ROOM IS ALWAYS COLD AND HERE LATELY, THE THERMOSTAT IN HER ROOM READS 59 DEGREES ON COOL MORNINGS.
THE ROOM MAY HEAT UP TO 64 TO 65 DEGREES DURING THE DAY WITH A PORTABLE SPACE HEATER.
THE WALL CLOSEST TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING ARE BUBBLING AND CRUMBLING, EVEN AT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF IT.
THREE OUT OF THE FIRST SIX WINDOWS DON'T OPEN.
SOME ARE CRACKED AND HAVE BEEN CRACKED FOR YEARS.
AND YES, REPORTS ARE MADE AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR MAINTENANCE REQUESTS.
AND SHE LETS HER ADMIN KNOW ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE AND HAS FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
SHE HAS REQUESTED AN AIR PURIFIER FOR HER ROOM THREE TIMES IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR AT A ZOOM MEETING PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND ONE AND ON ONE OF THOSE INFAMOUS GOOGLE DOCS SURVEYS AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE LOVES TO SEND OUT.
SHE REALIZES THE BUILDING LEVEL ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED AND CAN DO SO MUCH.
IN TERMS OF THE PANDEMIC AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE POLICIES ARE MADE AND SOMETIMES AND INCONSISTENT, INCONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED THROUGH ON.
CLASSES ARE CROWDED, SCHOOLS ARE SHORT TEACHERS SUBSTITUTES ARE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN BUILDINGS MAY OR MAY NOT BE CLEANED AND DISINFECTED AS PROMISED.
I KNOW THAT MY WIFE TELLS ME SHE DISINFECTS HER ROOM DAILY AND HER STUDENTS CLEAN THEIR WORKSTATIONS AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE CLEANING SUPPLIES I PURCHASED FOR HER.
MY DAUGHTER REPORTS THAT SHE IS SOMETIMES TOLD TO WIPE AND CLEAN HER DESK.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE AND EMAIL WITH PERSONNEL AT CENTRAL OFFICE VOICING MY CONCERNS, AND SOME OF YOU WERE A PART OF THOSE EMAIL CHAINS.
I RECEIVED ANSWERS THAT ARE REALLY AREN'T REALLY ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS I ASKED.
SHE IS THANKFUL FOR HER STUDENTS, THE SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILIES AND HER COWORKERS.
THIS IS THE DISTRICT THAT GAVE MY WIFE HER START IN 2002 AND THE DISTRICT WE CAME BACK IN 2016 WHEN I WAS STATIONED BACK IN VIRGINIA.
AND IT ALSO HELPED A YOUNG FAMILY BUILD STABILITY.
COWORKERS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE AND CIRCLED AROUND IN COMFORT WITH FAMILY ILLNESSES AND DEATHS.
AND THERE WERE SOME OF THOSE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHEN IT CAME TO THOSE FAMILIES AND DEATHS, AND I WON'T GO WITH IT HERE, BUT THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT KNOW ABOUT THAT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CURRENT WORKING AND OPERATING STANDARDS HAVE CREATED A LOT OF STRESS AND ANXIETY WITHIN OUR HOUSEHOLD AS PARENTS, AS EMPLOYEES AND AS STUDENTS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
IF THE SCHOOLS ARE SHORT SO MANY TEACHERS AND AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, IT'S AROUND FOUR OR FIVE.
ARE THEY ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENTS? WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE MONEY THAT WOULD BE EARMARKED FOR THEIR SALARIES? IS THERE A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR BREAKDOWN OF MONEY SPENT BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ON PANDEMIC RELATED PURCHASES? HOW CAN WE HOLD OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE? HOW DO WE MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD? HOW CAN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELP THAT SITUATION? I CAN MAKE ONLY I CAN ONLY MAKE SO MANY PHONE CALLS AND WRITE SO MANY EMAILS.
[INAUDIBLE] I RESIDE AT 33334 SANDY RIDGE ROAD [INAUDIBLE] VIRGINIA [INAUDIBLE] ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND FIGURE BACK IN YOU NEED A HARD DRIVING MINDSETS ON TOURISM FOR THIS COUNTY.
THIS COUNTY HAS A GREAT ETHNO HISTORY WHEREIN [INAUDIBLE] TRAILS YOU GOT, YOU GOT THE DIFFERENT TRIBES IN THE COUNTY, ET CETERA.
BUT WE NEED TO PUSH THAT A LITTLE MORE.
AS FAR AS THE ETHNO HISTORY OF THE COUNTY IS CONCERNED.
AS YOU ARE AWARE TOURISTS, THEY COME HERE.
[00:20:01]
THEY DON'T THEY DON'T NEGATE OUT OR DESTROY THE FARMLAND OR ANYTHING.THEY THEY GET HOTEL ROOMS WITH THE MOM AND POP SHOP TO BUY TICKETS.
THEY GO TO THE RESTAURANTS AND EAT, OK.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, OK? IN 2022, THE CHAIRMAN [INAUDIBLE] THE INDIAN TRIBE HAD IT'S FIRST POWWOW [INAUDIBLE].
EVER SINCE 2002 UP UNTIL THE CURRENT TIME THIS YEAR, WE DO HAVE A TWENTY EIGHT POWWOW SCHOOL DAY, NOVEMBER, THE 5TH, 6TH AND 7TH.
NOT ONLY DO WE BRING IN TOURISTS FROM THE EAST COAST AND WEST COAST, BUT WE BRING IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS.
WE'RE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THIS COUNTY THAT BRINGS IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS.
WE'VE HAD SEVEN PEOPLE TO COME IN FROM LONDON, ENGLAND, TO GIVE US A PLAQUE FROM THE MAYOR OF LONDON.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM AUSTRALIA, FROM KOREA, FROM GERMANY, FROM AUSTRALIA, FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND IN 201 WE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM VIETNAM.
THIS IS INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS, WHICH BRINGS GREAT MONEY TO THE COUNTY.
OK, SO I WANT TO BASICALLY JUST EXTEND THE INVITATION TO THE BOARD I KNOW SOME OF YOU ON THE BOARD HAS NEVER BEEN TO ONE OF OUR AMERICAN INDIAN POWWOWS ON THE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE ACRES OF LAND THAT WE HAVE IN SOUTH HAMPTON COUNTY.
SO 15 MILES OF WALKING TRAILS, OK, THREE BEAUTIFUL FISH PONDS OF WHICH WE DON'T OWE ANYBODY ANY MONEY.
THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THE TRIBE AND THANKS TO THE EFFORTS AND THE DONATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS THAT COME HERE TO OUR POWWOWS AND ENJOY THE NATIVE HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 788.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, OK.
MATTER OF FACT, THE HAND SITE THAT WAS DUG UP IN 1965, 66 AND 69 ABOUT 132 SKELETAL REMAINS OF OUR ANCESTORS WERE DUG UP.
15 YEARS LATER, WE ARE GETTING THOSE ANCESTORS BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO BE INTERRED THEM ON OUR TRIBAL LAND HERE IN COURTLAND.
THAT SITE DATES BACK TO 788, BASED UPON ARCHEOLOGICAL DIGS BASED UPON DNA AND ARTIFACTS THAT WERE FOUND.
SO THE HISTORY IN THE COUNTY IS RICH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT AWARE OF IT LOCALLY.
OK, BUT PEOPLE COMING FROM INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE COMING TO THIS COUNTY, THEY ARE BECOMING AWARE OF IT.
OUR KIDS ARE BECOMING AWARE OF IT BECAUSE THEY DO AT SCHOOL DAY.
EVERY FIRST FRIDAY OF NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT THERE.
RELAX, GET SOME BACON TACO FRIED BREAD, FUNNEL CAKE, BUFFALO CHILI, BUFFALO BURGERS, FISH AND CHIPS, ET CETERA.
ENJOY THE NATIVE DRUMMING, THE NATIVE DANCING AND ALL KINDS OF ARTS AND CRAFT VENDORS.
WE GOT PEOPLE SELLING TURQUOISE JEWELRY OUT THERE THAT YOU PAY THREE AND FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR AT THE STORE.
YOU CAN GET IT OUT THERE FOR LESS THAN SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS.
OKAY, WHO'S NEXT? [INAUDIBLE] I LIVE AT 29218 HUNTSVILLE DR.
AND THERE'S A PIECE OF LAND BESIDE MY PIPES.
IT COMES LIKE, I GUESS, AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT MY NAME [INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S REALLY ALL I GOT TO SAY.
WHO OWNS THE LAND? THE COUNTY YEAH IT USED TO BE MY DRIVEWAY.
BUT A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME SAY IT WAS LIKE A RIGHT OF WAY DRIVEWAY.
THAT HOUSE IS GONE AND I HAD PURCHASED LAND, SO I'D HAVE A WELL BACK THERE.
AND WHY WE DIDN'T GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE THAT, I DO NOT KNOW ITS BEEN SO LONG AGO.
BUT THAT WAS MY DRIVEWAY, MY RIGHT OF WAY DRIVEWAY, DRIVEWAY.
I HAD TO PUT ANOTHER DRIVEWAY IN BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS AVAILABLE LIKE THIS UNTIL [INAUDIBLE] WHATEVER IT WAS.
I MEAN, I WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW GO AHEAD, GOT IT SO I COULD USE.
WHERE EXACTLY IS IT LOCATED? WHERE EXACTLY IS IT LOCATED? [INAUDIBLE] YES, SIR.
I'M NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH IT.
AND THAT'S OWNED BY THE COUNTY.
[00:25:03]
YEAH, THAT'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THE COUNTY ACQUIRED AFTER HURRICANE FLOYD IN 1999.THROUGH THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT.
AND AS I WAS USING THAT AS MY DRIVEWAY RIGHT.
I DID THAT AND THEN NOW ALL OF THAT THAT WENT ON.
SOMEHOW [INAUDIBLE] FOR ME TO GET IT OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW.
[INAUDIBLE] YEAH, YEAH, THE CURRENT LEASE EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE TRYING TO RENEW IT, OR I WOULD IMAGINE THE CURRENT LESSEE WILL HAVE INTEREST, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH HIM.
I GUESS WE'VE GOT TO LOOK INTO IT WITH MIKE.
ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT? I'M [INAUDIBLE] SIMMONS I LIVE ON SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY AND TOOK MY MASK OFF UP HERE.
YOU'RE OKAY, BUT MY HEART IS RACING.
I DO HAVE A DOCTOR'S EXEMPTION NOT TO WEAR IT.
BUT THIS YOUNG LADY HAS GOT MY HEART BEATING OUT OF MY CHEST.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL WERE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF WHAT SHE AND HER FAMILY EXPERIENCED.
GOD HELP HER THAT SHE GOT THROUGH IT, BECAUSE HAD THAT BEEN MY CHILD I PROBABLY WOULD BE PRESSING FOR A FULL BLOWN INVESTIGATION WITH LORD KNOWS WHO BY NOW, REGARDLESS OF HOW IT PLAYED OUT.
WHETHER THAT CHILD SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR OR NOT, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING SOMEWHERE.
BUT THE IDEA THAT MY CHILD WAS IN THERE, UNBEKNOWNST TO WHO HE WAS RIDING WITH AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE NOT HAD NOT BEEN APPROVED TO BE IN THAT CAR AND PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH THE PARENT, THERE WOULD BE A FULL BLOWN INVESTIGATION.
I DON'T KNOW AND I WOULD BE IF YOU ALL ARE NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE.
YOU NEED TO GET KNOWLEDGEABLE OF EVERY SINGLE DETAIL.
THAT INCIDENT SHOULD NEVER, EVER HAPPEN AGAIN IN THIS COUNTY OR ANYWHERE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY THIS STATE THIS COUNTY, EVERYWHERE, AND SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW ARE FULL BLOWN DYNAMITE, WAITING TO EXPLODE ON MANY ISSUES.
EVERY ONE OF YOU, AS PARENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIVID.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
WE ALL HAVE HEARD THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS HEARD IT.
IT SHOULD NEVER, EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND I [INAUDIBLE] YOU TO INVESTIGATE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.
AND IF SHE NEEDS HELP, SHE NEEDS TO SHE NEEDS TO GET IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED, BUT WHOEVER'S IN AUTHORITY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN NEEDS TO BE I WON'T SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE, BUT I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE AS CALM AS SHE HAD BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.
I MEAN BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN [INAUDIBLE] JUST TALKED ABOUT TOURISM, IF ARE CHILDREN, ARE BASICALLY KIDNAPED OR ABUSED.
[INAUDIBLE] LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR KIDS.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY [INAUDIBLE] HERE.
WE SHOULD NEVER LET OUR CHILDREN BE TREATED THAT WAY.
WELL, LET ME JUST SAY ONE THING.
IT'S BEEN A HOT TOPIC TONIGHT.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE IS GOING TO DROP IT.
BECAUSE I I COULD NOT I EVEN WHEN DID YOU SAY SEPTEMBER 27TH, YES, I COULD NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT.
I MEAN, MY GRANDCHILDREN [INAUDIBLE] AND THEY HAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND THINGS IF THAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY GRANDCHILDREN.
I PROBABLY WOULD BE AT WRIGHT FUNERAL HOME OR IN THE CEMETERY BY NOW.
AND WE JUST CAN'T TOLERATE THAT SHOULD THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN TOLERATED.
AND AND SHE WAS VERY SUBTLE AND VERY PROFESSIONAL, AND I AM VERY PASSIONATE THAT THAT SHOULD NEVER, EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND WHOEVER ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT, WHETHER IT WAS A MISTAKE AN OVERSIGHT.
YOU CAN'T LET SOMEBODY'S CHILD GET IN THE CAR AND GO OFF LIKE THAT, EVEN IF IT'S APPROPRIATELY DONE.
[00:30:01]
NOBODY KNEW.IT'S A MAJOR MESS UP, THANK YOU.
I'LL SAY THE SAME THING 10 TIMES, THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
I JUST SAT THERE TILL I CAN'T.
I WILL WORRY ABOUT IT WITH YOU, I PROMISE YOU.
[INAUDIBLE] I JUST WANT TO [INAUDIBLE] THAT I KNOW SCHOOL BOARD IS NOT IN THE TOPIC TONIGHT, NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TALKED ABOUT SO MUCH.
BUT FOR HER TALKING ABOUT HER CHILD AND NOT BEING SCHOOL AND NOT CONTACTING HER BACK, THAT'S NOT A NEW THING.
THAT'S THE OLD STAFF THAT HAVE REMAINED AT THE SCHOOL OVER A DECADE.
I PULLED MY SON OUT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOLS IN TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN FOR THE SAME REASON HE WAS STRUGGLING WITH ONE OF HIS CLASSES TEACHER SENT A LETTER HOME.
I WENT TO SEE THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR SAW THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WALKING DOWN THE HALL WHEN I WALKED IN.
THREE DAYS LATER, I STILL HADN'T HEARD FROM HIM, SO I CALLED THE SCHOOL BACK.
SHE SAID SHE WOULD GET HIM TO CALL ME AGAIN.
ANOTHER WEEK WENT BY, STILL HADN'T HEARD FROM WENT OUT TO A SOFTBALL GAME.
THE [INAUDIBLE] TO WATCH MY NIECE PLAY SOFTBALL AND JUST SO HAPPENED THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS DAUGHTER WAS COMPETING AGAINST HER.
SO I APPROACHED HIM BEFORE THE GAME STARTED AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO HIM OR SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIM BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY I COULD CONTACT HIM.
I'VE BEEN TRYING FOR TWO WEEKS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM.
HE TOLD ME HE LEFT OUT OF MY SCHOOL, SO I TURNED AND WALK AWAY AND I ENROLLED MY CHILD IN THE SOUTHAMPTON ACADEMY THE NEXT NEXT WEEK.
OKAY, SO IT'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM.
SHANNON SOME OF THE OLD PEOPLE WHO HAVE REMAINED AND I WON'T MENTION NAMES, BUT YOU ALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES AND THEY THINK THAT IF I JUST IGNORE IT, IT'LL GO AWAY.
AND BASICALLY, THAT'S WHAT I DID.
SHE SHE HAD NO REASON TO GO AWAY.
I WOULD NOT GO AWAY IF I WAS HER.
IT IS UP TO YOU GUYS TO REIGN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SCHOOL BOARD SUPERINTENDENT WANTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE OF YOU ON THE SIDE, AND HE'S DONE EVERYTHING HE CAN LEGALLY TO GET HER TO COMMUNICATE AT SCHOOL.
I DON'T KNOW WHO SHE'S SUPPOSED TO ANSWER TO, BUT IT AIN'T NOBODY HIGHER IN THE COUNTY THAN YOU GUYS RIGHT HERE.
AND Y'ALL NEED TO REIGN HER IN AND MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN FOR HER SAKE.
WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] I LIVE AT 5490 [INAUDIBLE] I'VE LISTENED TO THE LAST.
FEW COMMENTS AND I CAN EMPATHIZE.
BUT I THINK THAT [INAUDIBLE] I'M GETTING WE NEED TO GET UP AND STAND.
AND TO SIT HERE AND TO HEAR ALL OF THIS COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IT'S ALMOST JUST A MOOT POINT BECAUSE WHAT OUR PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IS THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOESN'T RULE OVER THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THE SCHOOL BOARD IS A AUTONOMOUS.
BUT MANY YEARS OF EDUCATION PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHO HAS WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHO CAN DO WHAT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE PRESIDENT CAN'T TELL CONGRESS WHICH LAWS TO PASS.
HE CAN SIGN OFF ON THEM, BUT HE DOESN'T CONSIDER THE [INAUDIBLE].
WE NEED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.
YES, I CAN EMPATHIZE WITH A CHILD BEING MISPLACED, BUT TRY BEING IN MY PLACE A CHILD WHO GOT HIT BY A SCHOOL BUS.
SO, HEY, I DIDN'T RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD, I MEAN, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BUT THIS IS THEIR RIGHT.
DON'T SIT HERE AND PERPETUATE A PROBLEM ABOUT NOT FEELING PEOPLE IN ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE WAY THAT IT NEEDS TO GO, YOU KNOW, THEIR ISSUES CAN BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED.
AND AS OUR PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES, I FIND IT JUST INEXCUSABLE THAT PEOPLE WHO GO ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AS A BOARD MEMBER AND PUT OUT STUFF THAT WOULD INCITE THE COMMUNITY AND INVITE PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THAT WILL JUST CAUSE MORE DIVISION INSTEAD OF SOME UNITY.
WE NEED TO REAL OUTPOURING OF LESS DISCIPLINE TO REALLY STOP THIS MESS OR PUT PUBLIC THREATS OUT THERE ON OUR FACEBOOK.
THAT'S HUMILIATING US, NOT JUST HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BECAUSE IT GOES ALL OVER THE
[00:35:01]
COUNTY, THE CITY AND THE STATE.YOU KNOW WHAT? IT STARTS FROM HERE TO GO DOWN, START AT THE HEAD AND LET IT RUN ON DOWN.
104 PARKS PLACE, FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA.
THERE ARE FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IN MY TIME, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE LONG, I KNOW YOU HEAR PREACHERS SAY THAT A LOT.
SOMETIMES WE ADHERE TO IT AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T.
I PROMISE TONIGHT I WILL ADHERE TO IT.
I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT ANY OF US ARE AWARE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I MEAN, WE'RE FACING SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN.
AND THE EXPECTANCY ON LEADERSHIP IS TO CROSS EVERY I AND DOT EVERY T.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE IN TIMES THAT WE CURRENTLY LIVE IN TO DOT EVERY I AND CROSS EVERY T.
IT IS EASY THOUGH TO POINT FINGERS.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT WHAT UNITY LOOKS LIKE, WHAT UNITY LOOKS LIKE.
WE HEAR THIS BOARD BASHING THIS BOARD, THAT BOARD BASHING THIS BOARD.
AND HERE THE CITIZENS ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND HERE THE CHILDREN ARE [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A GOOD, LONG, HARD LOOK WITHIN OURSELVES.
INSTEAD OF EMBOLDENING EACH OTHER, LASHING OUT AT EACH OTHER AND ULTIMATELY GETTING INTO A COMFORT ZONE OF WHATEVER THAT COMFORT IS, WHERE WE USE AS AN ARGUING POINT.
I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
DO THEY MAKE MISTAKES? ABSOLUTELY.
DOES THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, MAKE MISTAKES? ABSOLUTELY.
DOES THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKE MISTAKES? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT I ONLY KNOW OF ONE PERSON THAT'S EVER BEEN PERFECT THAT TRAVEL THIS WAY.
AND THE BITTERNESS THAT I SEE COMING FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WHERE I'VE SEND NOW, SIX KIDS AND GRADUATED FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY MYSELF.
I SAT UNDER THREE SUPERINTENDENTS, MAYBE FOUR.
WAINWRIGHT CONDUCTED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEN WE WENT TO THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENTS, AND NONE OF THEM HAD WHAT'S BEFORE THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT LEADERSHIP IS UNVEILED IN DARKNESS.
WE NEED DIGRESS FROM TRYING TO MAKE ONE ANOTHER LOOK BACK.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A TOUGH CONVERSATION.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR OUR CHILDREN? I MEAN, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS PORTION OF THAT, THEY WERE IN VIRTUAL LEARNING.
HOW DID THAT LOOK? SO THEN ALL OF US JUMPED UP AND DOWN TO GET EVERYBODY BACK IN SCHOOL AND SO NOW EVERYBODY'S BACK IN SCHOOL AND HERE WE ARE STILL JUMPING UP AND DOWN BECAUSE NOBODY HAS ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT EVERYBODY CAN POINT FINGERS.
AT SOME POINT, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START WORKING TOGETHER AT SOME POINT WHEN ARE WE GOING TO LOOK BEYOND WHETHER IT'S A HE OR HIM, WHETHER IT'S A BLACK OR WHITE? AND LET'S SIT DOWN AND HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN THE WAY BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING GROUND GLOBALLY.
THIS NEXT GENERATION CANNOT BE LOST AS A RESULT OF US COMING TO BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETINGS, BASHING EACH OTHER AND TALKING ABOUT THIS AND TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE EMPATHIZE WITH THE MISTAKES THAT ARE MADE, BUT WE GOTTA MAKE IT RIGHT AND WE DON'T MAKE IT RIGHT BY EMBOLDENING PEOPLE AND MAKING PEOPLE FEEL BAD, THAT THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S GOING TO WORK.
WE NEED TO SIT DOWN, HAVE SOME CURT, FRANK DISCUSSION AND BE LEADERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT LEADERS DO.
LEADERS SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND REASON.
WE PUT ALL OUR MOTIVES ASIDE, WE GET RID OF THE MANIPULATION AND WE SIT IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER AND SAY, HERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? NOT COME TO BLOWS.
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH? MUHAMMAD ALI PERHAPS WAS THE GREATEST FIGHTER TO EVER LIVED, BUT UNTIL HE DIED, THAT FIGHT THAT THRILLER IN MANILLA, I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.
HE SUFFERED FROM THAT THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
IS THAT WHAT WE WANT FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IS THAT WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR GOVERNMENT? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY DESERT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION DESERT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FOOD DESERT.
LET'S GET ALL THESE THINGS ON THE TABLE AS WELL, BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN LIVE
[00:40:02]
THERE.LET'S TALK ABOUT BOLSTERING OUR ECONOMY SO THAT WE CAN OFFER JOBS AND WE GOT THESE LABOR SHORTAGES EVERYWHERE.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK? I MEAN, WE CAN'T PARTNER WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND JUST HANG OUT STIMULUS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK THAT'S BEEN PROVEN.
BUT WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO DEVELOP A LABOR FORCE.
A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND.
I DON'T CARE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR IT IS.
A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND.
SO HERE'S MY PLEA, AND I'M DONE, MY PLEA IS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER.
EVEN IF WE HAVE TO HAVE A MODERATOR TO HELP US WORK TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE CAN'T KEEP BASHING PEOPLE, PUBLICLY BASHING PEOPLE AND ALL THESE, NO WHAT IS THAT GOING TO GET US WHAT WE GOT TONIGHT? WE HEARING EVERYBODY HAVE HAVE GRIEVANCE, BUT HOW WE HOW WE HANDLE THESE GRIEVANCES.
HOW CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER UNLESS THEY AGREE WE'VE GOT TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH AN OPEN MIND.
AND WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER WE'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE EVERYTHING.
BUT ISN'T THAT WAY, WE'VE ALWAYS EXISTED? HAVEN'T WE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY AND WE MADE IT THROUGH IT, SO WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS CURRENT CHALLENGE TO PUSH US INTO A SPACE THAT WILL GET US OUT OF CHARACTER.
THAT IS NOT WHO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS.
PROUD GRADUATE, CLASS OF NINETEEN NINETY THREE, PROUD GRADUATE.
WHAT I'M CURRENTLY WITNESSING.
CAN YOU STAY THERE FOR A SECOND? SURE.
I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND HAVE THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ACCUSED OF BASHING.
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WE HAVE TRIED TO GET TALKS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE'VE BEEN TURNED DOWN AT EVERY TIME.
WE HAVE EXTENDED THE OLIVE BRANCH EVERY TIME.
WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM.
THEY ARE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH US OR ANYBODY ELSE.
SO I'D SAY TO YOU, IF YOU HAVE A WAY TO GET THEM TO START COMMUNICATING WITH US, WE'LL BE FINE.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND LET THIS BOARD BE ACCUSED OF BASHING.
WE HAVE EXTENDED THE OLIVE BRANCH.
WE HAD A MEETING WITH THEM, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
IN JULY, WE HAD A VERY CORDIAL MEETING AND WE DECIDED TO MEET EVERY THREE MONTHS.
WE CONTACTED THEM ON SEPTEMBER THE 28TH GAVE THEM DATES TO MEET AGAIN.
MR. JOHNSON CONTACTED THEM AGAIN ON OCTOBER THE 19TH.
NOW, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO HELP THEM IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WILLING? SO IF YOU WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE HAVING AN INFLUENCE, YOU GO TO THEM AND GET THEM TO COOPERATE AND WE'LL COME TO THE TABLE AND WE'LL TALK.
AND WE'RE NOT BASHING ANYBODY.
WE HAVE EXTENDED THE OLIVE BRANCH WE HAVE BENT OVER BACKWARDS.
I DIDN'T WANT TO CUT ACROSS YOU, YOU'RE DONE.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T WANT.. I'M NOT GOING TO BE...ARE YOU DONE? I MEAN, I'M NOT.
I'LL RESPOND, ONCE YOU HAVE FINISHED.
I'M JUST LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT THIS BOARD TO BE ACCUSED OF BASHING ANYBODY.
WE, WE HAVE BEEN WE HAVE BEEN THE OPPOSITE.
WE HAVE ASKED FOR INFORMATION.
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE RULES LEAKING THERE.
THIS GENTLEMAN HERE ASKED IF HE COULD GO, LOOK AT THE RULES.
THEY SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T COME IN THE BUILDING.
SO MY ADVICE TO YOU, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE COMING FROM IS TO TURN AROUND AND GO TO THESE PEOPLE AND TELL THEM, LOOK, YOU'VE GOT TO START COMMUNICATING.
BUT I AM NOT SAYING THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED THIS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS FROM THE SAME PEOPLE WHO TRY TO USE, AFTER ALL, WE'RE STILL THERE TODAY.
[INAUDIBLE] IS LEADING THE SHOW FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
I WOULD INVITE ANYBODY ELSE TO THE BOARD, THAT WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING.
WELL, I CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH, AND I RECOGNIZE ANY SITUATION HAS TWO SIDES.
I HEAR WHAT DR. EDWARDS HAS SAID AND I HEAR WHAT PASTOR ROLLINS HAS SAID, OKAY.
[00:45:04]
AND I THINK BOTH OF THEM HAVE VALID POINTS.WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER, BUT WE DO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
WE'RE DEALING WITH A SCHOOL BOARD THAT IS NOT UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
WE KNOW THAT FACT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T WORK TOGETHER.
WE DO NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND BE RESPECTFUL TO EACH OTHER.
EDWARDS, I'M SURE, IS RIGHT ABOUT REACHING OUT THE HAND TO THEM, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE REACHED OUT, A HAND IS NOT PERCEIVED TO BE THE HAND THAT WE WANT TO SHAKE.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT OURSELVES, EXAMINE OURSELVES, EXAMINE AND THEY NEED THAT, EXAMINE THEMSELVES.
AND WE HAVE A GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ALL OF MY KIDS WENT THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I'M PROUD THAT THEY ARE DOING WELL NOW.
AND ALL AND MANY PEOPLE, I LOOK AROUND IN HEAR THE SAME THING, WE HAVE HAD A GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I CONTEND THAT WE STILL HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM, SCHOOL SYSTEM PROBLEMS LIKE WE SAID.
I GO BACK HOME THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS THERE.
AND I LOVE THAT HOME, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OUR COUNTY.
WE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE WHERE WE ARE.
A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO NEED TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER.
AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES.
I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR ANYBODY ANYWHERE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS, REALISTICALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE.
USE SOME SELF-EXAMINATION ON EVERYBODY'S PART TO UNDERSTAND OUR LIMITATIONS.
AND ONE LIMITATION THE BOARD HAS IS THAT WE DON'T TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.
THEY ARE TOLD WHAT TO DO BY THE STATE SCHOOL, SCHOOL OR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE LOOK, WE SEE.
WE MIGHT NOT SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE.
IT'S NOT GOING THE WAY WE THINK IT OUGHT TO GO.
MAYBE IT'S NOT REALLY THE WAY WE THINK IT OUGHT TO GO.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY'RE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEMS. IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND SOLVE THEM AND LOOK AT OURSELVES AS WELL AS ITS OTHER.
AND I WANT TO CLOSE WITH IT IF I MAY.
I DO HOPE THAT MOST OF A LOT OF YOU SITTING THERE KNOW ME AND KNOW THAT THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS GET UP AND BACS ANYBODY.
THAT'S THAT'S NOT THE GOAL, DR.
THE GOAL IS WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THESE TWO BODIES TO WORK TOGETHER WITHIN THE MEANS THAT ARE AFFORDED? THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
MY PASSION COMES FROM US UNIFYING.
THAT'S WHERE MY PASSION COMES FROM.
YOUR SON THREW ME ENOUGH FOOTBALL TO ME TO EARN ALL DISTRICT HONORS IN NINETEEN NINETY THREE.
I LOVE THAT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING TONIGHT IS THAT NOW IF THERE ARE SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP MARRY THIS SO THAT WE DON'T GO THROUGH A SLOPPY, UGLY DIVORCE.
BUT HOW DO WE GET TO THAT PLACE SO THAT WE CAN MEND WHAT'S BEEN BROKEN? THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
AND WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, FOR ME, THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE THE END PRODUCT.
AND WE'VE GOT TO HELP THEM BE ABLE TO COMPETE IN A GLOBAL MARKET.
BUT THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING.
MARK BOYETT 31446 ROBERTS DRIVE, EXCUSE ME, WHAT WAS THAT NAME? MARK BOYETT.
I LEARNED SOMETHING TONIGHT FROM THIS LADY HERE.
WE'LL BE TAKING OUR GRIEVANCE TO STATE.
WE DIDN'T COME HERE TO BASH THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD.
WE CAME HERE TONIGHT TO TELL A STORY.
THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO OUR STORY.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WOULD LISTEN TO HER PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK.
SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT FACEBOOK AND PUTTING THINGS ON FACEBOOK, YOU'D BETTER PAY ATTENTION.
BUT WE WILL TAKE OUR STORY TO THE STATE IF THAT'S WHERE WE GOT TO GO.
SINCE THE SCHOOL BOARD SEEMS TO BE RUN BY STATE, SO THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT YOU, BUT WE MAYBE WE WENT TO THE WRONG PLACE.
ALL I'M SAYING, BUT WE CAME HERE FOR THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE NO ONE WAS LISTENING.
MY NAME'S IS [INAUDIBLE] I LIVE IN SALEM, VIRGINIA.
[00:50:01]
MOST OF US UNDERSTAND THAT SCHOOL BOARD IS NOT RUN BY THE SUPERVISORS.WE NEED TO KNOW AS PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, BROTHERS, SISTERS, HOW DO WE GET AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD THAT HAS TO ANSWER TO SOMEONE BESIDES THEMSELVES? PRIME EXAMPLE, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD JUST HIRED A WOMAN TO COME TO WORK AT THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SHE'S NOW THE PRINCIPLE OF SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S BEEN LET GO FROM THREE POSITIONS IN THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WHY DID WE HIRE HER? THIS MAKES NO SENSE.
YOU TALK ABOUT COMING TOGETHER.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME TOGETHER UNTIL THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS TO ANSWER TO THE PARENTS AND WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
WE HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
YOU CALL THEM, YOU'RE LUCKY IF SOMEBODY PICKS UP THE DAMN PHONE.
BUT UNTIL WE CAN GET AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE ARE THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.
WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? THERE'S TWO OF US.
THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING IN THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE PRACTICALLY DINOSAURS.
AND UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD THAT ANSWERS TO THE PARENTS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY UNITY.
ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT? YOUR TIME'S UP.
I THINK TONIGHT YOU HEARD WHAT EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH FOR THE PASS YEAR AND A HALF.
I DON'T THINK I CAN ADD ANY MORE THAN TWO, WHAT THE PEOPLE ALREADY SAID.
SO I PLAN ON TONIGHT IS ASKING Y'ALL QUESTIONS AND YOU ALREADY ANSWERED IT.
THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT PARTICIPATE.
WILL NOT ANSWER IN A DECENT AMOUNT OF TIME.
THEY IGNORED YOU AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE.
ALL RIGHT I WILL STOP AT THAT, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY Y'ALL ARE REPEATING THE THINGS HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.
THEY, THE OTHER THING THAT'S ALL ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST LIKE TO REMIND YOU ALL THESE LIGHTS.
REMEMBER? YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS AGO, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED NOT TO INCLUDE ANY MORE LIGHTS ON THE COUNTY PAYROLL.
WE WERE NOT GOING TO PUT UP EXTRA LIGHTS.
IT COST BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10 DOLLARS PER POLE PER MONTH.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON, I'D HEAR IT WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD.
IT WAS AT LEAST 15 TO 20 PEOPLE IN MY SURROUNDING AREA, WANTED A LIGHT AND THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR IT.
IT WAS UNANIMOUS VOTE THAT WE WILL NOT, I REPEAT WILL NOT ADD ANY MORE LIGHTS IN THE COUNTY ON THE COUNTY PAYROLL.
WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD CONSTANT BARRAGE OF LIGHTS AND THE COUNTY TAXPAYERS PAYING THE BILL.
THESE LIGHTS OUT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY IS PUT UP BY INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESS, THEY DON'T RELY ON THE COUNTY COULD DO THEIR WORK .
[00:55:01]
BEFORE YOU CAN CHANGE THAT RULE.YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHANGE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ON IT.
Y'ALL, AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ARE OBLIGATED TO FULFILL THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION ON STREET LIGHTS.
SO I'LL JUST REMIND YOU, YOU CANNOT IN MY OPINION.
VOTE HAVE ANOTHER SINGLE LIGHT IN THE COUNTY ALREADY APPEALING THE ALREADY RULES THE LAWS OF THE COUNTY.
GOOD EVENING [INAUDIBLE], OFFICIALS, EVERYONE.
38465 [INAUDIBLE] BOULEVARD, {INAUDIBLE] VIRGINIA.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT I FULLY WELL, SOME PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTOOD THE EMOTION THAT'S IN THE ROOM TONIGHT, ON THAT MATTER.
I'M STILL KIND OF CONFUSED ON THE CLARITY OF THE SUBSTANTIATED FACTS IN PLAY, BECAUSE THE NARRATIVE HAS BEEN JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE IS AN NARRATIVE OF SOME DISPARITIES AT THE SCHOOL BOARD, THEN DISPARITIES AT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS STAFFING, AND I'M STILL UNCLEAR AS TO WHY THE CHILD WAS IN THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BECAUSE THAT WASN'T FULLY EXPOUNDED ON.
I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONS BEHIND.
BUT THE SUBSTANTIATED FACT WOULD BE WHY THAT WAS THERE, SO THEN THE GRIEVANCE CAN BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED AND IN THE PROPER PLACE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT THERE IS ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE BY INDIVIDUALS AS TO WHERE THEIR GRIEVANCES SHOULD BE HANDLED.
TALK TO THE DIFFERENT TAB BOYS, WHATEVER LIKE THAT.
BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE STATE THAT THIS GRIEVANCE WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE PLACE OF ORIGINATION THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS.
PRETTY MUCH THAT'S BACK CHANNEL CONVERSATION.
STILL NOT OFFICIALLY PROPERLY GRIEVANCE RECEIVED.
SO MY THING THAT I WOULD OFFER HERE TONIGHT IS, AS I WAS SAYING, WE NEED CLARITY OF DIRECTION AND EDUCATION AS FAR AS HOW TO GET TO EQUITABLE AGREEMENT ON SITUATIONS TO COME TO PROPER SOLUTIONS.
BECAUSE JUST LIKE IN MY JOB THAT I UP AS A GRIEVANCE PERSON.
WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND START WRITING A WHOLE BUNCH OF DOCUMENTS OR WHATEVER.
BASICALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THAT IS DOCUMENTED IS THAT UNREASONABLE PEOPLE MET AND DOCUMENTED THAT THEY COULD NOT COME TO AGREEMENT.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE? RIGHT HERE, JUST GOING TO GIVE A QUICK SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
HE WAS THE ONLY CHILD PUT OFF THE SIDE.
OF ALL THE OTHER KIDS THAT RODE WITH HIM DURING THE DAY, EIGHT KIDS, EIGHT ALL FIT ON THE SAME BUS.
HE WAS THE ONLY ONE PUT OFF TO THE SIDE.
NO ONE WILL TELL US WHY HE WAS PUT OFF TO THE SIDE AND EVERYBODY ELSE WENT ON THE BUS.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THEY SAID WAS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT THEY NEEDED TO GET BACK TO TAKE THE LITTLE KIDS HOME THEY NEEDED, THEY NEEDED.
THE BUS WAS NOT FULL, BUT THEY NEEDED TO COME BACK QUICKER TO TAKE THE LITTLE KIDS HOME.
BUT THERE WAS NO WHY, BUT THERE WAS NO WHY.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT GOING UP TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO.
THE DAY THAT THIS HAPPEN, I CAN GIVE YOU ALL THE DETAILS, EVERY DETAIL THAT
[01:00:06]
YOU WANT TO HEAR, THE DATE OF THIS HAPPENED.MY SON TEXTED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE WAS IN A CAR ON THE WAY HOME.
I TEXTED HIM BACK AND SAID, WHOSE CAR? WHAT ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU GOING TO CAR? THEY PUT ME IN THE CAR.
WHY DID THEY PUT YOU IN THE CAR? I DON'T KNOW.
THE PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] PUT ME IN THE CAR.
I HAVE THE TEXT MESSAGES EVERYTHING.
SO HE FINALLY GOT HOME TO SKIP A LITTLE BIT OF THE DETAILS THERE.
THE TEXT MESSAGES, ONCE HE GOT HOME, THE DRIVER PULLED UP IN A PRIVATE VEHICLE.
THERE WAS NO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD STICKER ON THE VEHICLE.
I TOLD HIM WHAT THEY DID WAS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
NOBODY TOLD MY SON WHO HE WAS IN THE CAR WITH WHY HE WAS IN THE CAR.
THE DRIVER COULD HAVE TURNED AROUND AND SAID, HEY, MY NAME IS SO-AND-SO.
CAN I GET YOUR MOM'S PHONE NUMBER SO I CAN CONTACT HER SO THAT I CAN GET PERMISSION BEFORE I LEAVE SCHOOL GROUNDS? NOTHING.
THE GUY THAT CONTACTED ME WAS I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NAMES CONTACTED ME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID [INAUDIBLE] ON THE PHONE AND SAID THAT HE HAD COVID AND HE FORGOT TO CONTACT ME.
AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND HE SAID, HE SAID I WAS CALLING TO INFORM YOU THAT THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY NEEDS TO HAPPEN AGAIN TODAY.
AND I SAID, WHAT SITUATION WAS THAT THE ONE THAT YOU DID NOT INFORM ME ABOUT, BECAUSE I HEARD NOTHING.
AND HE SAID, OH YEAH, THE ONE THAT I HAVE TO PUT HIM IN A CAR FOR THE CAR PARK, I SAID, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY SENT A NOTE IN TO PICK HIM UP FROM SCHOOL.
SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.
AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE FORGOT BECAUSE HE HAD COVID.
IF YOU WERE FEELING BAD, SIR, I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE FEELING BAD.
YOU COULD HAVE CONTACTED SOMEBODY ELSE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME, BUT YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.
THE WAY YOU GUYS WENT ABOUT IT WAS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
I HAD NO CLUE WHO MY KID WAS IN THE CAR AND HE WAS A SUPERVISOR.
NOT JUST SO WATCHING MY SON'S GBS GO DOWN A DEAD END ROAD, MY STOMACH DROPS BECAUSE ALL I'M THINKING WHO IS HE WITH WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN TO MY SON.
THEY PUT ME ON HOLD FOR THREE MINUTES, TO WHICH I HUNG UP, CALLED BACK AND SAID, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY TO ME.
HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO HE'S WITH.
NOBODY TOLD HIM ANYTHING RIGHT? AND SHE PUT ME ON HOLD.
THEN SHE SAID THAT THE PRINCIPAL WAS NOT THERE THAT DAY.
THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WAS OUT HELPING WITH THE BUS.
HE WAS GOING TO GIVE ME A CALL BACK, SO HE DID.
AND HE SAID, YEAH, THE PERSON THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL YOU GOT COVID AND HE FORGOT TO CALL YOU.
I SAID, WELL, THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, GIVE ME A CALL BACK.
NOBODY TOLD ME, WHY NOTHING? MEANTIME, I'M STILL TEXTING MY SON, WAITING FOR HIS ARRIVAL.
I CONTACTED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE THAT NIGHT BECAUSE THIS SITUATION HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHO I'M SUPPOSED TO CALL WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE STUDENT HANDBOOK TO GO OVER ANY KIND OF PROTOCOL ON WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND I CONTACTED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE BECAUSE I'VE PREVIOUSLY EMAILED HER ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE AND THEY COULDN'T SPEAK WITH ME TONIGHT THAT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAD A MEETING.
SO I SAID, OK, SHE CAN GIVE ME A CALL TOMORROW.
NOTHING, WHICH IS WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND LAUGHED.
HE LAUGHED ON THE PHONE ABOUT IT, AND I'VE SINCE SENT SEVERAL EMAILS.
I'VE SENT EMAILS SEPARATELY TO THE PRINCIPAL.
I'VE SENT EMAILS TO ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE PRINCIPAL TOGETHER.
I HAVE ALL THE DATES OF ALL, EVERY EMAIL I'VE SENT, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD A SINGLE CONTACT BACK UNTIL AFTER I'VE MADE A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GO ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION COMPLETELY PROFESSIONAL, NOT THROWING NAMES OUT THERE OR ANYTHING TRYING TO BE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT IT AND LETTING THEM GET BACK TO ME BECAUSE TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE BALL WAS IN THEIR COURT.
THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SITUATION.
UNTIL I PUT THAT POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH I DID NOT WANT TO DO, I STILL KEPT EVERYBODY'S NAME PRIVATE.
THAT'S WHEN FINALLY THE SUPERINTENDENT EMAILED ME LATER ON THAT EVENING.
WITHIN TWO HOURS, I COMPLETELY IGNORED HER FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND WITHIN TWO HOURS TO PUT SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
SOME ACTION STARTED TO HAPPEN.
I MEAN, THIS IS A SITUATION OF KIDNAPING.
IT'S JUST PEOPLE IGNORING PEOPLE.
I THINK THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO GO AWAY IF YOU JUST IGNORE IT.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THAT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CHILD'S SAFETY.
AND IT'S NOT THAT IT WASN'T TAKEN CARE OF THE IGNORING OF PEOPLE.
THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
[01:05:01]
DON'T IGNORE.IF YOU COULD PUT IF YOU COULD JUST PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES THAT DAY WITH YOUR CHILD TEXTING YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN A PRIVATE CAR WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING WAS GOING ON AND HIM NOT KNOWING AND YOUR STOMACH IS A FIT BECAUSE ALL YOU THINK ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO CHILDREN NOWADAYS WHEN THEY GET TAKEN.
I WAS IN A DEEP PANIC THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY CHILD.
AND THE FACT THAT NOBODY GOT BACK WITH ME AT ALL UNTIL FOUR WEEKS LATER JUST SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE.
THEY DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED.
THEY'RE HOPING I'M GOING TO FORGET ABOUT IT AND MOVE ON.
AND I'M NOT BECAUSE MY CHILD WAS TRAUMATIZED.
HE WAS IN TEARS AFTER HE GOT DROPPED OFF.
HE DID NOT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL IN FEAR THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
SO FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, I PICKED HIM UP FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I CAN'T TELL HIM IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
THE WHOLE SITUATION HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT THEM.
SOMEBODY FINALLY CONTACTED ME LAST WEEK TO SET UP A MEETING, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE SO WE COULD DO MONDAY, TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK, THIS WEEK OR FRIDAY.
SHE SAID, WELL, IT WON'T BE FRIDAY BECAUSE SHE HAS ANOTHER MEETING, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
I SAID, WHEN WILL I HEAR FROM SOMEBODY ABOUT WHEN THIS MEETING COULD OCCUR? HE SAID HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, I'VE HEARD NOTHING.
AND I DIDN'T GET A CONTACT UNTIL TODAY SAYING, COULD YOU POSSIBLY MEET WITH DR.
THIS IS THE BUSIEST TIME FOR HIM AT WORK.
I HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTICE SO THAT WE CAN GET THERE TO SET UP A MEETING.
AND I EMAILED BACK AND I TRIED TO CALL BACK, WHICH THE PHONE WAS BUSY SEVERAL TIMES.
BUT I EMAILED BECAUSE SHE DID EMAIL AND I STILL HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING BACK THIS EVENING.
THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, I'VE GOT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION.
EVERY TIME I'VE SENT SOMETHING, I HAVE EVERYTHING WRITTEN DOWN BECAUSE I WAS PREPARED TO GO TO A LAWYER FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
AND THE ONLY THING SHE'S REQUESTING, AND THIS MAY BE THE WRONG PLACE TO DO IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE.
BUT THE WHOLE THING SHE'S REQUESTING IS THAT THEY PUT IT IN THEIR HANDBOOK WHAT THE PROTOCOL IS FOR PUTTING THE CHILD ON THE BUS OR IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM SENDING HOME OR ARE THEY GOING TO CALL A PARENT? THAT'S ALL SHE'S ASKING FOR THEM TO DO IS TO PUT SOMETHING IN THEIR HANDBOOK STATING THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO ANOTHER CHILD.
COULD YOU GIVE ME YOUR NAME AGAIN? COLLEEN, IT'S COLLEEN KIRSTE WITH A K, K-U-R.
THEY JUST DID IT THE WRONG WAY.
AND SO LIKE WE SAID, WE APOLOGIZE.
WE MIGHT BE IN THE WRONG SPOT BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANY ACTION FROM THEM, SO WE FIGURED WE'D TRY SOMETHING.
ANYBODY ELSE? THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NEED YOU TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM, SIR.
WE'VE HEARD ALL KINDS OF STORIES, INCLUDING STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, RUNNING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND LEAVE THEIR LOCAL PARENTS AND LEADERSHIP OUT OF [INAUDIBLE] SO I'LL JUST REMIND YOU THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
CAN NOT WILL NOT DO THE PROPER THING WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING OUR SCHOOLS.ANYBODY ELSE? LET'S CALL.
WE'LL CLOSE THE COMMENT PERIOD.
OKAY, MOVING ON TO NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL MINUTES, WE HAVE FOUR SETS OF MINUTES.
[2. Approval of Minutes]
THE FIRST ONE IS CONTINUED SESSION SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2021.ANYBODY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT? AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
[01:10:04]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.WE HAVE ANOTHER CONTINUED SESSION, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2021.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS WITH THAT? THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES.
A REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2021.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS, AMENDMENTS? ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT? I MOVE THEY BE ACCEPTED AS RECORDED.
AND OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
THE LAST ONE IS THE CONTINUED SESSION OCTOBER 7TH, 2021.
[3. Highway Matters]
HIGHWAY MATTERS.FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITIZEN'S TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT TRUCK TRAFFIC ALONG BUCKHORN QUARTER ROAD.
THE CTAC MET AND VOTED TO RECOMMEND AGAINST PROHIBITION OF THREE TRUCKS ON THAT ROAD BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT ROAD WAS THE BEST ROUTE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR? YEAH, WE JUST WE LOOKED AT IT AND TRIED TO HASH IT OUT AND SEE WHAT WOULD ALL IF IT WOULD IMPROVE ANYTHING, AND WE FELT LIKE IT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE.
SO WE DECIDED TO KEEP EVERYTHING LIKE IT IS AND NOT PUT ANY KIND OF NO THROUGH TRUCK IN THERE, OKAY.
YOU'RE OUR EXPERT TRUCKER, SO.
UH, WE RUN ALONG A MONTHLY CONCERNS, ANYBODY HAVING CONCERNS IN THEIR DISTRICT CONCERNING THE ROADS OR DITCHES OR ANYTHING? I DON'T ONE ABOUT THAT.
I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE ROUTE NUMBER.
THE HOMEOWNERS ARE HAVING A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH LARGE TRUCKS COMING INTO THAT TUNNEL AND SEEING THAT THEY CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.
SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS BACKING UP AND THEY ACTUALLY COME IN ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY OF THE HOMEOWNER AND RIDING OUT THE YARD AND WHATEVER.
AND ALSO, WHEN YOU TURN OFF [INAUDIBLE] COMING TO WAKEFIELD, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE BIG TRUCKS OR EQUIPMENT IS STEADILY COMING ACROSS THE FRONT YARD.
SO WE MAY NEED TO GET BEAT UP OR SOMEBODY TO PUT SOME SIGNAGE UP THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT GOOD.
OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT.
WE'LL GO TO THE NUMBER FOUR OF THE MONTHLY REPORTS AND ANYBODY ELSE HAD ANYTHING WITH THE ROADS BEFORE WE MOVE.
I TURNED MY KNEE ON ALREADY, ONLINE, EMAIL.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE MONTHLY REPORTS.
[4. Monthly Reports]
FIRST ONE IS A FINANCIAL REPORT.I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH THESE TO STOP MAKING HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
ANIMAL CONTROL? TREASURER'S OFFICE? I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE COLLECTION PERCENTAGES.
REAL ESTATE LAST MONTH WAS AT 99.80 PERCENT, CURRENTLY AT 99.82 PERCENT.
THE PERSONAL PROPERTY LAST MONTH WAS 97.90 PERCENT, CURRENTLY AT 97.96 PERCENT, AND THE SOLID WASTE FEE LAST MONTH WAS AT 83.88 PERCENT.
IT'S CURRENTLY AT 84.14 PERCENT.
[01:15:01]
THANKS VERY MUCH.OKAY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT? SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES? PERSONNEL, MR. JOHNSON? JUST ONE ITEM TO REPORT, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAD ONE NEW HIRE DURING THE MONTH EFFECTIVE OCTOBER, THE FIRST IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
HUNTER SHERMAN ANNUAL SALARY THIRTY ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED THIRTY NINE DOLLARS.
WELL, NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS A FINANCIAL BILL, FINANCIAL AND THE BILLS.
[5. Financial Matters- Bill List]
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS? I MOVE WE PAY THE BILLS.ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX.
[6. Appointments]
WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS.FIRST ONE IS PAUL DE CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD.
WE HAVE A VACANCY AND WE NEED A MOTION TO COME UP WITH SOMEBODY TO FILL THAT VACANCY ON THE BOARD.
I HAD ONE CONTACT THIS WEEK, ALSO THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE, TIM DRAKE.
TIMMY DRAKE LIVES ON POPE STATION ROAD.
AND ANYBODY ELSE? MR. FAISON HAD DR.
SHE WOULD BE KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY IF SHE'S APPOINTED.
OK, BOARD, DON'T EVERYBODY SPEAK AT ONCE? ALL RIGHT, I MOVE THAT THE DR.
OH, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THEM, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WEIGH IN ON IT.
IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH HER AND YOU KNOW HER, I'LL ADD A SECOND.
OKAY, DR. GOODWIN IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HERE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR CLARITY SAKE, CARL HAS A NAME AND HE HAS A NAME, IS THAT RIGHT? I APOLOGIZE.
WE'VE ONLY GOT ROOM FOR ONE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU HAVE YOUR APPLICANT IS MR. DOUGLAS? LET'S TAKE THEM IN ORDER.
ALL RIGHT, DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON SUPERVISOR FAISON'S MOTION? YEAH, I SECONDED IT.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
YEAH, LET'S DO A SHOW OF HANDS THIS TIME AROUND.
I HAVE TO VOTE NO ONLY AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE I'D LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO MR. FAISON ABOUT THE CANDIDATE A LITTLE BIT, I TRUST HIS JUDGMENT.
[01:20:03]
CERTAINLY, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT I'M VOTING ON PERSONALLY, SO I WOULD HAVE TO SAY NO.WELL, I WOULD SUPPORT THE I VOTE NO.
MR. DRAKE, NOMINATE WE HAVE A SECOND [INAUDIBLE] IS THAT CORRECT? YES, TIM DRAKE.
LIVES ON POPE STATION ROAD, HE'S BEEN IN THE COUNTY ALL HIS LIFE WORKED DRAKE TOWER AND THEN OTHER HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
OH, COMPANIES, HE CURRENTLY WORKS AT, [INAUDIBLE] HAS A STRONG BACKGROUND IN TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE.
OF WHICH I THINK WOULD SUPPORT AND LEND.
AN ADVANTAGE TO THE BOARD AT [INAUDIBLE] FROM THE TECHNICAL SIDE, CTE, IF YOU WILL.
I TALKED TO HIM TODAY, HE WOULD ACCEPT IF NOMINATED, HE SAID HE WOULD ACCEPT IT AND SO I WOULD SUBMIT HIS NAME.
IS THERE A SECOND TO HIS NOMINATION? I'LL SECOND IT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST ADD ON THE HEELS OF WHAT I JUST SHARED WITH MR. FAISON, THAT I'VE KNOWN MR. DRAKE MY ENTIRE LIFE AND WOULD FEEL CONFIDENT IN VOTING FAVORABLY FOR HIS PARTICIPATION ON THIS BOARD.
YOU GOT TO NOTIFY HIM AND TALK WITH HIM.
THE NEXT ONE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED THE SPSA.
WE HAVE A RESIGNATION FROM THAT, AND EVIDENTLY MR. HODGE IS INELIGIBLE FOR FURTHER REAPPOINTMENT, SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH THREE NAMES.
AND I GUESS THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN THEY MAKE A MOTION TO GO AHEAD AND COME UP WITH THOSE NAMES AND MOTIONS TO THAT EFFECT.
AND WE'LL NEED TO HAVE THOSE BY NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.
EVERY6BODY UNDERSTAND THAT? OKAY.
WE'LL LOOK AT THAT AND TAKE CARE OF THAT NEXT MONTH.
[7. Citizen Request to Address the Board]
NUMBER SEVEN CITIZENS REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.MR. ROSE? MR. DAVIS ROSE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.
24116 INDIAN TOWN ROAD, VIRGINIA.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT MY WHOLE LIFE.
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS.
THIRD TIME SOMEBODY FROM THE LOGGING COMMUNITY IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT HB 1021, WHICH EXEMPTS MODERN EQUIPMENT FROM PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.
SO AT NO POINT HAVE I COME IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS AND ASKED TO BE EXEMPT.
I KNOW ASKING THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TO EXEMPT.
LOGGING IS A [INAUDIBLE] I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, BUT I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
SHOW ME THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH A BUSINESS INSIDE AN ECONOMY AND TRY TO KEEP ME HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO MOVE MY BUSINESS TO ANOTHER COUNTY THAT IS REQUIRING LOGGING TO PAY ZERO PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.
A LOT OF MY COMPETITION IS FROM BRUNSWICK COUNTY THAT HAS ADOPTED 1021.
THAT PUTS ME AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE IN MY LINE OF WORK.
IT LOWERS THEIR LOGGING COSTS.
MY LOGGING COSTS ARE GOING TO STAY THE SAME.
SO IT'S GOING TO ENABLE ME TO COMPETE IF I WOULD OWN THE STUMP TO KEEP MY OPERATIONS GOING.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
MIGHT SAY I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ZERO.
I COULD BE UP HERE ASKING YOU GUYS TO PUSH FOR ZERO, BUT I'M NOT ASKING THAT.
SAY SEVERAL COUNTIES HAVE ADOPTED THIS.
[01:25:03]
I THINK IT'S 12 IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.SEVERAL HAVE LOWERED THEIR RATES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO DO, LOWER MY RATE AND TRY TO HELP ME OUT.
WELL, LIKE I SAY, BRUNSWICK AND SURREY ARE THE CLOSEST TO YOU.
SO, AT THIS POINT BEING IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS THREE TIMES, I'VE HAD NO FEEDBACK FROM ANYBODY.
I HEARD SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR CONVERSATION.
LET'S TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT IT AND NOBODY'S COME BACK AND SAID ANYTHING TO US ABOUT IT AT ALL.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND.
ARE WE WORKING ON IT? IS IT AT ZERO? IS IT A NO? ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO COME TO A HAPPY MEDIUM? THAT'S ALL.
I WANT TO KNOW SO I CAN MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION, WHAT I HAVE TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
SO AT THIS TIME, I MEAN, I'VE ORDERED A BRAND NEW [INAUDIBLE] CHIPPER, WHICH IS OUR BREAD AND BUTTER, AND I IN MY LINE OF WORK.
WE'RE KIND OF SPECIALIZED IN THE CHIPPING BUSINESS.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO TAKE DELIVERY ON THIS MACHINE, HOPEFULLY SOMETIME IN DECEMBER.
BUT IT COMES ALONG WITH A 1.77 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTED IN MY COMPANY.
I'M REPLACING THE OLD UNITS WITH A NEW UNIT.
IT'S NOT MAKING ME ANY BIGGER AND BETTER.
IT'S JUST KEEPING MY OPERATION GOING.
I HAVE THAT FIGURE I JUST GAVE YOU.
I PAID A ONE NINE DOLLAR, NINETY FIVE CENT FOR ONE HUNDRED.
YOU WANT ME TO PAY YOU $22,951.50 THE FIRST YEAR I OWNED THAT MACHINE.
AND I MEAN, I'M JUST I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP ME WITH THAT.
WHAT AM I GOING TO GET IN RETURN FOR THAT? ROUGHLY 23 THOUSAND DOLLARS? WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU FOR TONIGHT IS I'VE BEEN LOOKING THROUGH IT, CITING COUNTY CODE STATES, MACHINERY USED FOR PLANNING, PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING A SINGLE COMMODITY PAYS A DOLLAR AND TWENTY FIVE CENTS PER [INAUDIBLE].
HOW COME NONE OF MY EQUIPMENT QUALIFIES FOR THAT? THAT BE A HAPPY MEDIUM TO ME.
BUT THAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY IF WE WOULD CONSIDER THAT.
IF YOU ALL WILL COME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.
LET'S TRY TO COME TO AGREEMENT.
DAVID, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? WHAT WAS THAT NUMBER AGAIN ON THE NEW EQUIPMENT.
NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS $1,177,000.
THAT'S SAME PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOUR YEARS AGO PROBABLY SOLD FOR ABOUT 875 THOUSAND.
THE PRICES ON EVERYTHING WE TOUCH ARE GOING UP.
ROBIN WHITE CAN TELL YOU HOW I TOOK DELIVERY OF A ROAD TRUCK FIVE WEEKS AGO.
I ORDERED ANOTHER ONE TODAY TO TRY TO KEEP MY FLEET GOING.
THE PRICE HAD GONE UP FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FIVE WEEKS.
AND NOW YOU WERE COMPARING THAT TO SOME EQUIPMENT IN YOUR ANALYSIS, WERE YOU NOT? I WAS COMPARING.
BUT I THOUGHT YOU BROUGHT UP SOME OTHER EQUIPMENT.
WHAT EQUIPMENT WAS THAT? AS HE'S ASKING IT? THAT'S THE FARM RATE.
YOUR CODE SAYS A PIECE OF MACHINERY FOR PLANNING, PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING A SINGLE COMMODITY.
THAT'S WHAT THAT MACHINE DOES.
IT PRODUCES THE SAME COMMODITY.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT MACHINE IS GOOD FOR.
WHAT'S UP, GUYS, I'M NOT UP HERE ASKING FOR ZERO.
I KNOW THAT'S I KNOW THAT'S NOT REASONABLE.
AND I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR THAT FOR SO LONG.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR SOME HELP.
UH, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES HAVE YOU ALL GOT NOW, DAVIS? 41.
I FEEL LIKE I'M ONE OF THE BIGGER EMPLOYERS IN TOWN.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GET ANY BUSINESS OR WHATEVER, BUT WHAT KIND OF PAYROLL IS THAT A WEEK? I MEAN, IT'S AS CLOSE TO 100 GRAND A WEEK, ISN'T IT? SOMEWHERE SO.
SO I GUARANTEE YOU'RE HE'S INJECTING $100000 A WEEK INTO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S ECONOMY.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, I MEAN, EVERYTHING.
NOBODY WALKS IN OUR DOOR AND ASK FOR A DONATION, AND I SAY NO.
NEVER ONE TIME HAS SOMEONE WALKED INTO THE HOUSE [INAUDIBLE].
I GIVE TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT HELP HERE.
IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I WOULD, MY OFFICE DOOR IS OPEN.
[01:30:01]
I'D LOVE TO TALK TO ANY OF YOU ALL, AS A WHOLE OR PRIVATELY.I WOULD REALLY NEED TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN WE'RE SAYING THAT IT WAS A HUGE BUSINESS DECISION FOR MY THREE COMPANIES TO MAKE.
HOW ABOUT SITTING DOWN WITH OUR FINANCIAL COMMITTEE? UM, THESE TWO GENTLEMEN RIGHT HERE.
AND YOU FOLKS DISCUSS IT, AND THEY CAN GET BACK WITH US TO RECOMMENDATION.
ALL RIGHT, MIKE, YOU TAKE CARE OF ARRANGING THAT, PLEASE.
UH, WE HAVE A CAPITAL FUNDING REQUEST NUMBER EIGHT.
[8. Capital Funding Request]
THAT'S FROM OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.SUPERVISOR CORNWELL, THAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT.
YES, SIR, I SPOKE WITH CHIEF OF THE [INAUDIBLE] VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, CARL GARNER, WHO'S ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION HERE IN THE COUNTY, AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THIS NEED AS MUCH OF THIS STUFF AS IS OUTDATED AND NON-COMPLIANT FOR USE AT THIS POINT, AND IT ALSO MIRRORS WHAT TREND THE COUNTY IS PURSUING AS FAR AS A CONSOLIDATED, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS PROGRAM.
THESE UNITS THAT THEY'RE BUYING WILL BE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, SO THERE'LL BE SOME INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS WITH THE PURCHASE OF THESE.
SO I MOVE, WE ACCEPT OR APPROVE THE CAPITAL FUNDING REQUESTS.
OKAY, WE'LL PASS THAT ON TO HIM.
ALL RIGHT, NUMBER NINE, RECONSIDERATION OF STREETLIGHT INSTALLATION.
[9. Reconsideration of Streetlight Installation]
I BELIEVE CHIEF BROWN HAS BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES, AND I WELCOME HIM TO THE PODIUM THERE .BEFORE I PRESENT MY CASE, I WANT TO OFFER MY PERSONAL KUDOS AND ACCOLADES A LOT OF COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN REFERENCE TO STREET LIGHTS IN THIS COUNTY.
I WANT YOU TO NAME ONE STREETLIGHT THAT BRINGS A TOURIST DOLLAR INTO THIS COUNTY.
I CAN NAME ONE OTHER PLACE, EXCEPT THAT THE COUNTY AGRICULTURE MUSEUM.
BACK ON HOUSE STREETLAMPS LEADER, NO OTHER LIGHT IN THIS COUNTY BRINGS IN ONE TOURIST DOLLAR.
MY LEARNED COLLEAGUE CAME FORWARD AND SAY IT WAS A BILL THAT WAS PASSED.
NO MORE STREET LIGHTS IN THE COUNTY, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU FOR HISTORIC [INAUDIBLE], YOU WON'T SEE HUMAN WASTE IN THE STREET.
YOU WON'T SEE DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.
THE ONLY WASTE YOU MIGHT SEE IN CASE OF A COW OR SHEEP GETS OUT AND THEY CRAP IN THE ROAD.
WHEN YOU GO DOWN TO THE CULTURE SITE WHERE KENNESAW DRIVE AND KENNESAW LAKE TRAIL MEET, WHICH IS THE STATE MAINTAINED ROAD.
YOU WOULD FIND HUMAN WASTE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CUL-DE-SAC.
WE HAVE TOURISTS THAT COME IN EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
OK? AND THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.
AND WE ARE BRINGING IN TOURIST DOLLARS TO THE COUNTY, AND I MENTIONED THAT EARLIER ABOUT TOURIST DOLLARS IN THIS COUNTY.
BUT AGAIN, THEY NEED ONE STREETLIGHT BESIDE THE SOUTH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM AND REBECCA BONNET HOUSE THAT BRINGS IN A TOURIST DOLLAR.
THIS IS A HIGH TOURIST AREA WHERE THIS CUL-DE-SAC IS, WHERE INTERSECTS WITH KENNESAW LAKE TRAIL THAT GOES INTO THE TRIBAL LAND.
WE HAD A PERSON THAT CAME IN FROM OKLAHOMA AND SAW THE SIGN AND CALLED ME ON THE PHONE, SAID CHIEF BROWN.
THIS IS ON A SATURDAY EVENING.
DO YOU MIND IF YOU COME OUT, COME OUT AND SHOW US THE LAND OF YES, I'LL BE TO GIVE ME 20 MINUTES, I'LL BE THERE WAITING FOR ME.
WHEN I GOT THERE WAS CRAP EVERYWHERE.
MR. GILLETTE, YOU WENT OUT THERE, YOU'VE SEEN THE LAYOUT, OK, SO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, OK, THAT STATE MAINTAINED ROAD.
BUT WE BRING IN TOURISTS TO THIS COUNTY, THERE'S AN EXCEPTION THAT NEEDS TO BE
[01:35:04]
MADE FOR THAT.WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT UP A CAMERA SO WE CAN CATCH SOME OF THOSE YAHOOS THAT COME OUT THERE AND DO THAT.
I'VE TALKED TO THE SHERIFF BEFORE THEY COME OUT.
THEY HAVEN'T CAUGHT ANYBODY YET.
YOU COME OUT THERE AND YOU SEE SKID MARKS EVERYWHERE.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HER EVENTUALLY OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WATCH LIGHT, NOT A SECURITY LANE, BUT A WATCH LIGHT, NOT A STREETLIGHT, BUT A WATCH LIGHT .
A LIGHT THAT CAN LIGHT THE AREA AND THE GATE OUT, ALL OF THE CRAP THAT GOES ON BACK THERE.
AGAIN, HUMAN FECES, URINE, TOILET PAPER, TRASH.
I HAVE CAUGHT THIS MAN DOWN THERE TWICE.
IT IS A GREEN AND WHITE OLD VAN THAT SAYS MEDICAL TRANSPORT.
THE LAST TIME THEY CUT GRASS FOR THE FIRST 3.6 ACRES THAT HE PULLED UP, AND I PUT MY MOWER IN HIGH GEAR AND WENT OVER THERE.
I WAS RED FACED WHEN I GOT THERE, TOO.
HE HAD TRASH HE WAS GOING TO DUMP.
AND I TOLD HIM A LIE, GOD FORGIVE ME.
I SAID, WE GOT A SECURITY CAMERA, THEY SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
HE LEFT LIKE A BAT OUT OF HADES.
OK? SO I AM ASKING THE BOARD, BUT YOU NEED TO TAKE A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.
WELL, THIS IS A HIGH TRAFFIC TOURIST AREA, OK? AND WE ARE ASKING THE FORWARD WITH SUPPORT, A WATCH LIGHT IN THAT AREA, WE WOULD GET THE CAMERAS AND PUT IT UP.
AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD, OK, THE INTERNAL CUL-DE-SAC THAT COMES INTO KENNESAW LAKE TRAIL, WHICH LEADS TO THE TRACK.
GRANTED, WE HAVE PROPERTY ON BOTH SIDES OF KENNESAW LAKE DRIVE, BUT IT'S STILL A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP THIS IS THAT WE GOT TO CATCH SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND CHARGE THEM UP FINE.
I WOULD IMAGINE IF I HAD TO STEAL $500 IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FOR LITTERING, AT LEAST WHEN I WAS ON A LITTER PATROL COMMITTEE ON THE EIGHT YEARS I WAS ON THE BOARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S INCREASED OR NOT.
SO IF YOU CATCH SOMEBODY, YOU CAN MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF IT AND THEY'LL STOP DOING THIS.
SO I'M JUST RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER THIS.
SO YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT EIGHTEEN DOLLARS AND.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE BRING IN FOR TOURISTS NEGATES THE COST YOU'RE GOING TO PAY.
WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MONEY IN THIS COUNTY.
INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS, PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE WATER.
PEOPLE FROM THE EAST COAST AND WEST COAST.
ONE OTHER AREA IN THIS COUNTY IS REINING IN TOURISTS, AND IT'S LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.
IT'S THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND MUSEUM AND REBECCA BOND, AND WE PAY OUR OWN LIGHT BILL.
YEAH, I GUESS YOU CAN BE THREE HUNDRED FIFTY FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY TO THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S PUSHED TO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
WE DON'T GET NOTHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY, WE CAN PAY THE BILL, TOO.
WHEN I WAS ON THIS BOARD, IT WAS TWO HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PUSHED EVERY YEAR.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.
LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR, WE LOST MORE THAN 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TOURIST MONEY.
THAT WE PAY OUR BILLS AND STUFF.
WE CAN ONLY DO PRESENTATIONS TO EVERY MILITARY INSTALLATION IN HAMPTON ROADS.
THE LAST TIME IN TWENTY NINETEEN, WE GET TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS NOT COUNTING THE SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THAT THEY GO TO A DIFFERENT STATE.
THAT'S WHEN YOU BRING UP THE MONEY IN AND INVITING PEOPLE TO COME AND TWO OF THE LIONS TO SEE HOW A VILLAGE OF WHICH SOME GUY WHO WENT OUT THERE WOULD BE FIRST BOUGHT THE OTHER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE ACRES WENT OUT AND DESTROYED THE COTTON BIG AND VILLAGE.
AND WE HAVE TO COME HERE AND FIGHT, I SAY FIGHT TO REQUEST A WATCH LINE SO WE CAN CUT DOWN SOME OF THIS ILLEGAL TRAFFIC.
I'M SEEING DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OUT THERE.
ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT'S GOING, IT'S ON LOIS LANE, TOO.
WE CAN'T PUT UP A SECURITY CAMERA BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE LIFTED.
THE AREA NEEDS TO BE ILLUMINATED.
IT IS WORTH IT TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE ARE BRINGING IN TOURIST MONEY.
I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT, OK? AND I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT CONSIDERED IT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE BRING IN.
AND WE DON'T COME AND ASK THE COUNTY FOR NO HARD CORE THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR DONATIONS A YEAR.
AND WE ARE A MAJOR, I SAY, MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
[01:40:01]
INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS.EVER SINCE 2003, WHEN IT ENTERED THE FIRST COUPLES TO COME IN FROM KOREA AND JAPAN EVER SINCE THEN.
SO I'M TIRED OF GOING THERE AND SEEING ALL THIS CRAP IN THAT CUL-DE-SAC.
YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THERE WITH MY COTTON PICKING SHOVEL OUT OF MY TRUNK AND SCOOP UP HUMAN FECES.
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
SO THOSE ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT BRING IN TOURIST DOLLARS IN THIS COUNTY.
YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT THAT, TO MAKE SURE WHEN PEOPLE COME IN THIS COUNTY, THEY DON'T LEAVE WITH A BAD TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH AND SAY, THAT'S ONE DIRTY COUNTY.
I'M GOING DOWN A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD TO GO TO THE [INAUDIBLE] AND NOT IN AND TRAVEL TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA [INAUDIBLE].
I MEAN, A VILLAGE IS A PILE OF HUMAN FECES AND TOILET PAPER MILL WAY,[INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S WHAT WAS THERE WHEN I MET THIS COUPLE FROM OKLAHOMA.
WHEN I GOT THERE, I WAS EMBARRASSED.
NOT JUST GOING DOWN THERE THE WEEK BEFORE THEY PICKED ALL THIS PAPER AND ALL THIS TRASH UP.
SO HERE WHAT I HOPE YOU HEAR ME.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND, AND I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TOURISTS COME TO THIS COUNTY TO COME BACK AGAIN AND SPEND THEIR MONEY OK AND NOT GIVE THE COUNTY A BAD NAME IS BERTIE COUNTY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING SO PASSIONATE, OK, BUT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT TOURISM IN THIS COUNTY.
I WAS ON A TOURIST COMMITTEE WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD WITH, OK.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
ANYWAY, I PUT IT BACK IN YOUR CALL.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY IS GENERATED BY THE INDIAN TRIBE? IN TOURISM DOLLARS? BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY BY CONSUMERS SPENDING MONEY IN THE COUNTY OR CONTRIBUTING TO THE COUNTY? EVERY EVENT WE HAD, [INAUDIBLE]OK.
WE'LL BE DOING THREE MAJOR EVENTS A YEAR, NOT NOT COUNTING THE FRIDAY, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS WHEN PEOPLE COME IN AND DO TOURS.
OKAY? I MEAN, PEOPLE COME FROM NEW YORK AND PLACES LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DRIVE BACK.
THEY WANT TO FIND A PLACE TO EAT AND A PLACE TO GO TO SLEEP.
THEY WERE PITCHING IN THE PALM TREE HERE.
I MEAN, I KEPT THAT PLACE JUST ABOUT FULL EVERY BED THAT WE HAD.
BUT NOW I'M WORKING WITH THE SUPER EIGHT, BUT THERE'S NO HOTEL ANYMORE IN SOUTH COUNTY.
WE GOT THIS EVENT NOVEMBER, THE 5TH, 6TH AND THE 7TH [INAUDIBLE].
BUT WHAT DOES NOT MEET OUR STANDARDS? SO THAT DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARDS OF TOURISTS COMING HERE.
I MEAN, I THIS I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
I SIGNED UP TO THE SUPER 8, QUALITY INN AND YOU GOT ANOTHER HOTEL THERE AND FRANKLY, BEHIND MCDONALD'S.
THAT'S ALL I CAN DO, EXCEPT TWIST MY HEAD ON THAT.
AND LET ME HAD THE NATIVE AMERICAN REVIVAL, WE HAD PEOPLE COME IN FROM ISRAEL, THE BETHANIE IN THE SOUTH DANCES WITH THE SHOFAR BLOWERS.
AND THEN ON SEPTEMBER THE 18TH.
BUT ANYWAY, SO AND WHEN TOURISTS COME.
THEY SAY EATING OUT AT RESTAURANTS.
WELL, IT'S DAIRY QUEEN, WHICH IS IN THE COUNTY.
THEY LOOK FOR THE MOM AND POP SHOPS LIKE IN BOYKINS AND [INAUDIBLE].
THEY DRIVE ALL THE WAY OUT THERE.
THEY ASK ME, YOU KNOW, I SAY, GO UP HERE AND HIT 35 AND TAKE A LEFT THAT'LL TAKE YOU TO BOYKINS.
SO IN REFERENCE TO A HARD COURT, DOLLARS.
SEVENTY DOLLARS, A HOTEL ROOM, THREE NIGHTS FOR TOURISTS.
I MEAN, FOR PEOPLE THAT WE BRING IN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY.
PER YEAR, AT LEAST 75K TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THEY SPENT IN THIS COUNTY, BUT TOURISTS THAT WE BRING.
SO I'M JUST ASKING THE COUNTY, AND THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT EARLIER WHEN I CAME UP IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO SUPPORT TOURISM.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS COUNTY.
THAT'S THREE DOLLARS FOR THIS COUNTY.
IT'S TAX REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY.
[01:45:02]
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ON THIS PROGRAM.DO YOU ALL HAVE EMPLOYEES WITH THE YOU EMPLOY ANYBODY, BUT NO ONE? IT'S ALL VOLUNTEER? OK, GOT YOU.
VOLUNTEER FAMILY MEMBERS VOLUNTEERS, IT'S HOW WE PAY FOR THE LAND.
YOU KNOW, WE SET UP POWWOWS AND SOME VOLUNTEER.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU.
YES, PEOPLE DO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT AND BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT OUR COUNTY IS REMEMBERED FOR THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION THAT WAS HERE LONG BEFORE SOUTHAMPTON WAS ANNEXED FROM ISLE OF WIGHT IN 1749.
AND WE'VE BEEN HERE LONG BEFORE THAT.
EVEN EVEN THE CACTUS HILL EXCAVATION GIG OF WHICH I'M A LIFE MEMBER, THE OF VIRGINIA.
WE DUG UP A CLOVIS POINT THAT DATES BACK EIGHTEEN THOUSAND YEARS, BUT SUSSEX COUNTY IN SOUTHAMPTON JOINED THE GREENFIELD.
SHOWS YOU HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN HERE.
EVEN THE HANDSHAKE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT WAS IN [INAUDIBLE] MR. ROWLEY REMEMBERS THAT.
HAD THE BONES OF THAT OLD SCHOOLHOUSE DOWN THERE, 1965-1969.
OK, THAT SITE DATES BACK TO 700 A.D.
SHOWS YOU HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN AROUND.
OK, SO ANYWAY, PLEASE SUPPORT TOURISM.
OK? LET'S HELP KEEP THE COUNTY CLEAN.
THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE BAD NAME AND THE TRIBE IS GETTING A BAD NAME AND PEOPLE COME OUT AND SEE THAT KIND OF CRAP IN THAT CUL-DE-SAC WHEN YOU GO INTO THE LAND.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ARE.
DON'T CALL ME THAT GOD IS AFTER.
UM, BEING CONTACTED TO LOOK INTO THE CALLS BACK THEN, WE HAD SEVERAL A FEW CALLS BACK THERE, BUT NOT THAT MANY.
I WOULD SAY THAT MAYBE THEY DIDN'T PULL THEM OUT.
I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU THE CULTURE, I GOT VERY LITTLE.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE MEANT.
WELL, I CERTAINLY THINK TOURISM IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY WANTS AND I COULD BE CORRECTED, BUT WE'VE HAD CITIZENS COME IN HERE OVER THE YEARS AND OPEN UP THINGS THAT CREATE TOURISM, AND THEY PROVIDE THEIR OWN SECURITY, THEY PROVIDE THEIR OWN LIGHTING, THEIR OWN POLICING OF PROPERTY AND THAT SORT OF THING, WHEN FUNCTIONS ARE GOING ON AND IN BETWEEN, THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PROPERTY.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF NON-PROFITS, A LOT OF CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THE SAME THING ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
AND MONEY IS SPENT AND TURNED OVER, AND I CAN I CAN APPRECIATE THE TOURISM.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OUR STREETLIGHT SITUATION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THAT'S PRIMARY, AS I SEE IT, FOR RESIDENCES IN THE COUNTY AND IT'S BEEN CURTAILED BACK I THINK IT WAS 2012.
IN 2012, IT WAS CURTAILED AND BUT THE PRIMARY REASON FOR STREETLIGHTS WAS FOR THE RESIDENTS.
ALL STREETS AND I THINK EACH BOARD MEMBER UP THERE, MAYBE SPEAKING OUT OF TURN FOR SOME OF THEM, BUT I KNOW I HAVE BEEN APPROACHED.
BY A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE STREETLIGHTS THAT DON'T HAVE THEM AND CAN'T GET THEM AND.
IN THIS SITUATION, I CAN APPRECIATE THE TOURISM, BUT NOBODY LIVES THERE.
[01:50:02]
AND IF IT IS AN ATTRACTION, I THINK WE WOULD BE DEVIATING FROM A PROCEDURE THAT'S ALREADY SET IN PLACE FOR ATTRACTIONS WHERE THE LIGHTING AND THE SECURITY HAS TAKEN CARE OF.SO I DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION WHETHER THEY GENERATE REVENUE, WHEN THEY HAVE THESE THINGS, CHARGE ADMISSION THAT SORT OF THING TO GENERATE REVENUE TO DO THAT.
BUT IN THIS SITUATION, I REALLY DON'T SEE THE REQUEST WARRANTS.
SINCE THERE ARE NO RESIDENCES THERE.
I DON'T SEE THAT IT WARRANTS THE STREETLIGHT AND SO THEREFORE, I'M JUST NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AT THIS TIME, I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
THEY'VE GOT, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME, A SELF-GENERATING STREAM OF REVENUE ON THE PROPERTY.
IT'S A RENEWABLE AND COULD PROVIDE SOME REVENUE FOR SITE IMPROVEMENT IF THAT'S NEEDED AND.
I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL ATTRACTIONS THAT PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN, SO UH.
[INAUDIBLE], YOU WANT TO COME BACK UP THERE? THANK YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY TO PUT ON THE PILE UP? ANY IDEA? IT'S NOT UP.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IT COST TO PUT UP, HOW WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN TOURISTS TO THIS COUNTY? OH, I CAN MAKE A THANK YOU.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT BETWEEN 12 AND FOURTEEN THOUSAND AN EVENT ON.
WELL, IT'S NOT A MATTER TO YOU.
YOU'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COUNTY.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF THE COUNTY.
PLEASE LET ME FINISH MY STATEMENT.
MAY I FINISH MY STATEMENT? OK, FINISH YOUR STATEMENT.
WHEN YOU CAME OUT THERE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT TWELVE TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PUT AN EVENT ON.
YOU MULTIPLY THREE TIMES FIFTEEN THOUSAND.
WE ASK FOR A DONATION TO OUR FOUNDATION, [INAUDIBLE].
FOUR DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU'RE OVER SIXTY FIVE, ARE YOU'RE NOT ? VERY WELL.
FOUR DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
AND WE DO SIX DOLLARS FOR OTHERS.
THIS IS TO HELP INCUR THE EXPENSE, NOT TO MAKE MONEY.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE MONEY IS THE PRESENTATIONS THAT I DO THAT PERSONALLY GO OUT AND DO IT, WHICH I DO NOT ACCEPT THE PENNY FOR THOSE.
ALL THAT COMES IN TO THE FOUNDATION.
WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENT COLOR HERE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE STATUTE, WHICH USED TO BE IF YOU HAD FOUR HOUSES IN THE AREA, THEN YOU CAN REQUEST A STREETLIGHT AND IT WOULD BE PUT UP.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS STATUE WAS STILL RELEVANT OR NOT.
OK, BUT THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL STATUE.
FOUR TO SIX HOUSES IN THE AREA, YOU COME ACROSS THE STREET LIGHT.
OK, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
HOW MANY HOUSES ARE OUT THERE? HOW MANY HOUSES ARE OUT THERE? LET ME FINISH, PLEASE.
GRANTED, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE LIVING OUT THERE, BUT WE ARE OUT THERE.
FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE OUT THERE EVERY DAY.
OKAY? I AM OUT THERE PERSONALLY EVERY DAY FOR AT LEAST TWO OR THREE HOURS.
WORKING OKAY, KEEPING THE LAND RIGHT, CUTTING GRASS.
WE GO OUT THERE AND CUT OK WITH MY PERSONAL ZERO DEGREE TURN 60 INCH HUSQVARNA LAWN MOWER BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THOSE LIME WAS AT EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED.
I COULDN'T AFFORD IT, SO I BOUGHT ONE.
OK, SO IT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, SIR, IS THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS NOW AND THE OTHER TOURIST ENTITIES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[01:55:01]
THEY DON'T BRING UP THAT KIND OF THOSE INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE FROM OVERSEAS INTO THIS COUNTY.THEY DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM NEW YORK AND OKLAHOMA AND STOP AND CALL YOU, SAY, ONE OR TWO OF THE LAND AND THEN GO TO THEM IN A HOTEL AND GO TO A RESTAURANT AND EAT [INAUDIBLE] YOUR PLACE.
THAT'S HOW WE GO TO BOYKIN AND GO TO [INAUDIBLE].
OK, WELL, YOUR DISTRICT IS OK, SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, AND THAT'S A MINDSET ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A STREET LIFE, IT'S NOT JUST A LOT OF STREET, MR. GILLETTE.
UH, I'LL CERTAINLY LISTEN TO CHIEF BROWN, AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HE'S MADE AN ADEQUATE REQUEST AND ONE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD HONOR.
AND IT DOES BRING TOURISTS INTO THE COUNTY.
I'M AWARE OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING OVER THERE.
I HAVEN'T VISITED AS MUCH AS I SHOULD HAVE, PROBABLY, BUT I KNOW WHAT THEY DO FOR THE COUNTY.
IT'S A REAL ASSET TO THE COUNTY AND I THINK AS A SUPERVISOR.
I THINK I WOULD CERTAINLY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT $3579.95 IS ASKING A WHOLE LOT FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO THE COUNTY.
THE POWWOWS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY DO MEAN A LOT TO THE COUNTY.
AND I THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD EXPRESS SOME TYPE OF APPRECIATION, AND I THINK THIS WILL BE A WAY OF DOING IT.
I DON'T THINK THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY EITHER, BUT I'VE ALREADY HAD TWO REQUESTS AND PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE].
SUPERVISOR FAISON? WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN HERE? OKAY.
WHAT WE DO IS EVALUATE EACH ONE ON ITS OWN MERIT.
AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, CHIEF BROWN HAS EXPRESSED THE MERIT FOR HIS REQUEST.
OTHER PERSONS COME IN AND EXPRESS THE MERIT FOR THEIR REQUEST.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE SETTING A PRECEDENT HERE BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
OK, IF I'M IN ORDER, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE OF THIS FOR, APPROVE THE LIGHT.
WAS THERE A SECOND? CHIEF BROWN, I WILL SAY THIS, I UNDERSTAND YOUR PLIGHT COMPLETELY, AND IT IS DEPLORABLE THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE THINGS YOU'RE DEALING WITH THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED IN THIS BOARD ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE TONIGHT ON A ROUTINE BASIS.
AND I FEEL FOR YOU IN THAT REGARD.
I GUESS MY BIG HANG UP IS I FAIL TO SEE THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PROBLEMS YOU'RE HAVING OUT THERE AND THE LIGHT BEING A FEASIBLE SOLUTION TO MITIGATE THOSE.
CAMERAS, WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE.
BUT THAT LIGHT IS NOT GOING TO CATCH ANYBODY AND I JUST ORDERED JUST ORDERED FIVE OF THEM AT WORK INFRARED CAMERAS WITH WI-FI CAPABILITY.
THEY SENT PICTURES TO MY CELL PHONE, 24-7 OF ANY TYPE OF MOVEMENT THAT'S TAKING PLACE BOTH NIGHT AND DAY.
THIS SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT MAY BE A MORE SUITABLE MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT YOU PRESENTED, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT IT'S DARK, THAT PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND TRIPPING, FALLING DOWN.
AND THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE SQUATTING ON THE PROPERTY AND LEAVING A BIG MESS AND MAKING THE CONDITIONS DEPLORABLE WHEN YOU HAVE GUESTS COME.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE THERE'S POSSIBLY OTHER SUITABLE OR MORE SUITABLE RESOLUTIONS.
OKAY, BRIAN'S PROBLEM, THEN THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
NOW, IS THERE A SECOND? MR. CHAIRMAN, I REALLY HAVE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
MAY I RESPOND TO WHAT'S GOING ON? COMMENT IN REFERENCE TO THE LIGHT IS WHAT ILLUMINATES THE AREA SO YOU CAN TAKE THE PICTURE SO WE CAN TURN IT OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SO THEY CAN LOCK THOSE YAHOOS UP.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE, OK? ONCE YOU MAKE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT A STOP THIS WILL, I THINK IT WILL OK.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY WE CAN CATCH THEM.
IS IT LIKE THAT AREA IS NOT ILLUMINATED SO YOU CAN TAKE ALL THE PICTURES YOU WANT AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE NOTHING? OK, SO WE GOT THIS EYE CATCHING THESE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN BE LOCKED UP SO THEY CAN BE FINE, WHICH IS MONEY FOR THE COUNTY, OK?
[02:00:01]
SO THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT, THEY GUARANTEE HAS TO BE ILLUMINATED ALL THE WAY.NOW WE'RE DO YOU KEEP THE AREA CLEAN AND PEOPLE COME IN HERE AND HAVE A BAD NAME ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON AND GOING AWAY AND SAY SOUTHAMPTON IS A DIRTY AREA.
I HOPE I ANSWERED THAT CONCERN.
WE HAVE A MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND ? IF NOT, THEN THE MOTION DIES.
YOU DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING.
AND THE ONLY COMMENT I MAKE WAS MY GAME CAMERAS DON'T HAVE LIGHTS ON THEM, EITHER.
WELL, NUMBER 11 CONSIDERATION OF REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION FOR
[10. Consideration of a Reimbursement Resolution- HVAC Equipment Replacement- Walter Cecil Rawls Library]
WALTER CECIL RAWLS LIBRARY FOR SOME BADLY NEEDED EQUIPMENT.MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THAT? YES, SIR.
SO AS YOU ALL MAY RECALL, WHEN YOU ADOPTED YOUR FISCAL YEAR 2022 ANNUAL BUDGET, WE INCLUDED UP TO FIFTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FINANCE THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HVAC EQUIPMENT FOR THE WALTER CECIL RAWLS LIBRARY.
WE'VE ENGAGED, PACED, COLLABORATIVE, A GROUP OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS THAT ARE CHESAPEAKE IN 2019 TO ASSESS THE CONDITION OF THE EQUIPMENT AT THE LIBRARY AND OFFER US WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGES A COPY OF THAT 2019 REPORT.
THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST FOR THE PROJECT IS375-425 THOUSAND.
WHEN WE DEVELOP THAT BUDGET ESTIMATE.
BACK LAST SPRING, OUR FINANCING PLAN WAS BASED ON A 10 YEAR TERM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE ADEQUATE.
WE'RE PLANNING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE DESIGN ENGINEERING.
I HAVE ENGAGED BASED COLLABORATIVE FOR THAT WORK AND THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AND THE SYSTEM COMMISSIONING ALL OF THAT AT A COST OF SLIGHTLY LESS THAN $50000.
ONCE WE'VE UPDATED AND FINALIZED THE COST ESTIMATE FOR CONSTRUCTION, WE'LL BE ASKING THE VIRGINIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND CORPORATION TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ON OUR BEHALF FOR FINANCING THE PROJECT.
SO NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN EXCEPTION FOR PRELIMINARY EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH ENGINEERING IN THE IRS CODE TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, I AM REQUESTING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKAGE RELATED TO THE THE PROJECT.
A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION ENABLES THE COUNTY TO REIMBURSE ITSELF FOR PROJECT RELATED EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF THE DEBT.
THE RESOLUTION DOESN'T OBLIGATE THE COUNTY TO REIMBURSE ITSELF, BUT THE COUNTY MAY NOT REIMBURSE ITSELF FROM DEBT PROCEEDS UNLESS YOU HAVE ADOPTED THIS REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION.
SO THE RESOLUTION COVERS THE EXPENSES OF DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMISSIONING THE NEW HVAC EQUIPMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS? TO ME, THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO GO.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY IDEAS? QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLING FOR A MOTION.
TO ADOPT THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION AND I SO MOVE.
ALL RIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVE THEM PROPERLY SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NUMBER 11 CONSIDERATION OF MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH GREENVILLE COUNTY.
[11. Consideration of a Mutual Aid Agreement with Greensville County]
EVIDENTLY, THIS IS THE SHARE EQUIPMENT DURING EMERGENCIES, ET CETERA SHORTAGES, ET CETERA .AND I TAKE IT THAT IT'S GONE TO THE FARM RESCUE ASSOCIATION SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS.
WHEN YOU SAID NO CONCERNS, YOU MEAN THEY IN FAVOR OR? DIDN'T REALLY RESPOND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
[02:05:01]
I DID SPEAK WITH CARL AGAIN REGARDING THIS MATTER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION, BECAUSE I HAD SOME CONCERNS UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, HOW THESE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS WORK.AND I'M GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE COUNTY WITH CITIZENS CONCERNED REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF TIME OUR MEDIC UNITS, IN PARTICULAR FIRE AND RESCUE UNITS, BUT PRIMARILY OUR MEDIC UNITS ARE SPENDING OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY.
OUR [INAUDIBLE] MEDIC IS IN WAKEFIELD AND WAVERLY A LOT AND OUR AND MEDICS ARE IN GREENVILLE A LOT, AS IT'S REPORTED TO ME.
POTENTIAL MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH GREENSVILLE.
AND CARL DID A GOOD JOB EXPLAIN IT TO ME, THIS IS REALLY JUST A TECHNICALITY IS THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS WITH OUR SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS IN ORDER TO FUNCTION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LARGE SCALE INCIDENT.
THEY COME TO US, THEY HAVE A LARGE SCALE INCIDENT, WE GO TO THEM.
THAT'S HOW THESE THINGS ARE DESIGNED TO FUNCTION, NOT AS A REPLACEMENT FOR COVERAGE.
AND AT ANY TIME, CARL DID SHARE WITH ME THAT WE ARE BEING ABUSED BY ANY OF OUR SURROUNDING LOCALITIES THAT WE THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO NOT SEND RESOURCES TO THOSE LOCALITIES TO ASSIST IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SEND.
IF YOU ALL ARE FOLLOWING ME AT ALL WITH THAT.
SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF COMPLETELY SUPPORTING.
THIS PROCESS IS ALREADY IN PLACE ANYWAY.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST MAKING IT OFFICIAL.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEBODY NEEDS SOMETHING HERE, THEY'VE GOT TO RESPOND TO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO RESPOND ANYWAY.
RIGHT? DID WE HAVE A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH GREENSVILLE PREVIOUSLY? WE DID NOT HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL AGREEMENT WITH GREENSVILLE, BUT WE PARTICIPATE IN THE STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT, WHICH MEANS WE CAN WORK WITH ANY LOCALITY IN THE STATE IF IF WE HAVE A NEED AND THEY HAVE TO RESORT.
OKAY, ANYBODY FOR THE DISCUSSION.
ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I MOVE WE APPROVE IT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
UH, FIRST THING IS THE COURTHOUSE RENOVATION.
[12. Project Updates]
DO YOU HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU THERE? ANY QUESTIONS LOOK LIKE WE'RE MOVING AHEAD? THINGS ARE MOVING QUICKLY.MR. JOHNSON, ANY COMMENTS? THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT, THE CONTRACTOR IS MOBILIZED AND BEGUN THE ALTERATION WORK AT HUNTER DALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
EXPECT TO HAVE THAT READY BY THANKSGIVING AND THE GAME PLAN IS TO MOVE THE CONTENTS AND OCCUPANTS OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE BEGINNING DECEMBER THE 2ND AND HOPEFULLY CONDUCT THE FIRST TRIAL IN THE HUNTER DALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA ON DECEMBER THE 13TH.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, OUR BROCHURE WAS READ, EXCEPT FOR THE MAP, THE REBECCA VAUGHN HOUSE IS READY, EXCEPT FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] WOOD, EXCUSE ME, AND THE FLOORS.
THE PEDESTALS FOR THE WALKING TO READY TO SHIP.
AND THE INTERACTIVE MAP AND SMARTPHONE APP ARE CLOSE TO COMPLETE.
AND I WANT TO CLEAR UP SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NEVER ASKED THE COUNTY FOR $315,000 OR ANYTHING IN THAT VICINITY.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. UPDIKE? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO SEE NEWSOME'S HOUSING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PHASE ONE.
AND BEGAN WITH THAT, ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT SUBJECT, I THINK YOUR DISTRICT? THE COMMITTEE IS MEETING EVERY MONTH AND THE CONTRACTS ARE CLOSE TO BEING SIGNED.
HAVE THEY BEEN SIGNED? NOT YET.
SO WE'RE CLOSE TO GETTING ON WITH THAT.
MOVING ON TO MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE.
[13. Miscellaneous]
NOTICES? I SEE THOSE TWO NOTICES, THERE.MOUNTAIN OF PAPER WITH EACH ONE OF THEM.
NO QUESTIONS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO LATE ARRIVING MATTERS.
WE DO HAVE ONE THING, I THINK YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
[14. Late Arriving Matters]
IT'S A PRIME I NOTICED ON MONDAY IN THE VIRGINIA PILOT THERE WAS YOU PROBABLY GOT THE HEADLINES THERE.UM, YOUR COUNTY MAY DENY SCHOOL FINANCING.
[02:10:03]
SO IT WAS ALSO IN THE DAILY PRESS.YEAH, EVIDENTLY, IT'S IN THREE OR FOUR PAPERS.
I GOT IN TOUCH WITH MR. GREEN, WHO'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE YORK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
HE'S VERY CORDIAL, VERY NICE AND SENT THIS INFORMATION.
THEY'RE EVIDENTLY GOING TO TWEAK THIS AND VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAD IN FRONT OF YOU.
HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE FELT ALAWITE WAS CLOSE TO DOING THE SAME THING.
AND ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FUND ANYTHING THAT THEY FEEL DIVERSIVE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO I'LL LEAVE THAT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DIGEST AND READ ALL THIS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH TO GIVE US TIME TO DIGEST IT.
WE'LL BRING THAT NEXT MONTH AND YOU ALL BE PREPARED TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND GO OVER THIS AND WE'LL GET THIS MOVE.
I FEEL THAT CONTRARY MAYBE TO WHAT WE HEARD TONIGHT, THE BOARD DOES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH EDUCATION AND OBLIGATED TO BE STEWARDS OF THE MONEY WE STARTED WITH FOR EDUCATION.
WE DO REALIZE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DOES TAKE THEIR ORDERS FROM RICHMOND, BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE STEWARDS OF THE COUNTY'S TAX MONEY THAT AMOUNTS TO ABOUT ALMOST 60 PERCENT OF OUR MONEY EVERY YEAR.
SO, OKAY, WE'LL DISCUSS THAT AND NEXT MEETING, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
IT'S NECESSARY THAT WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION.
CHAIRMAN, I'VE GOT ONE OTHER LATE ARRIVAL.
I JUST WANTED TO RUN BY THE BOARD.
HEARTLAND CONSTRUCTION HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER ALLOWING THEM TO USE SOME OF THE PROPERTY ON THIS SITE AS A LAY DOWN AREA FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WHILE THE COURTHOUSE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THERE IS A LOT OF STRUCTURAL STEEL THAT WILL BE GOING INTO THAT PROJECT THAT'S BIG PIECES OF MATERIAL THAT THEY JUST DO NOT REALLY HAVE ADEQUATE ROOM ON THE COURTHOUSE SITE TO STAGE THAT.
DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY OBJECTION AND THE THREE SITES THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT ARE SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO THE COURTHOUSE.
OF COURSE, THE FRONT LAWN HERE.
BUT THAT'S RIGHT ON MAIN STREET, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE UGLY, BUT IT WON'T BE PRETTY.
IT'LL BE CLOSED IN WITH FENCING.
THEY'LL HAVE TO LOCK IT AND SECURE IT IN THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
THE OTHER OPTION IS THE UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY WE HAVE RIGHT BACK HERE BESIDE THE COOLING TOWER ON THIS BUILDING.
IT'S NOT AS LARGE AS THE FRONT LAWN, BUT THERE IS PROBABLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN ACRE OR SO BACK HERE.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE PARKING LOT AREA BEHIND THE OLD REGISTRAR'S OFFICE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE CONSIDERED.
I JUST WANT TO RUN IT BY YOU ALL.
I'M MEETING WITH THEM FRIDAY, BUT I WANTED TO FIND OUT IF YOU ALL HAD ANY OBJECTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
I WAS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF MAIN STREET, BUT AS FAR AS INGRESS AND EGRESS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT WOULD BE THE BEST SITE.
OH THAT'S THEIR PREFERRED SITE, NO QUESTION.
I THINK, I DON'T LIVE IN CORTLAND, BUT THE PREFERRED SITE WOULD COME AT A PREMIUM, THOUGH.
WELL, WE'VE COME THIS FAR AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, LET'S SEE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE LIKE.
I THINK WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND STILL TAKE THIS AND AND GO ALONG WITH THEM, WHATEVER THEY NEED TO PROGRESS AND MOVE ON.
SO THE SOONER WE DO THAT, THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE FINISHED.
I THINK WE SHOULD ACCOMMODATE THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
IT'S NOT A PERMANENT SITUATION.
SO THE SITUATION WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHILE THIS IS GOING ON.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE A BIG CONSTRUCTION SITE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, SO IT'S NOT REALLY HARD TO USE THIS ONE.
IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT CAN GET BETTER.
IS IT NECESSARY WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION?
[15. Closed Session - in accordance with §2.2-3711 (A) (5) and (8), Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended]
YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE'VE GOT THREE ITEMS IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE BOARD TO NOW CONDUCT A CLOSED SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS SET OUT IN THE[02:15:02]
CODE OF VIRGINIA 1950 AS AMENDED FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.NUMBER ONE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711A5.
DISCUSSION WITH STAFF FROM FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC.
CONCERNING PROSPECTIVE BUSINESSES OR INDUSTRIES, OR THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING BUSINESSES OR INDUSTRIES WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF THE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY'S INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER TWO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711A3, DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF CONTINUATION OF A REAL ESTATE PURCHASE OPTION FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY PAUL AND PATRICIA M ILTEAR ON ROSE VALLEY ROAD, KNOWN AS THE BEALE PROPERTY, WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR THE NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY AND NUMBER THREE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711A7 CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL RELATED TO BLACKWATER SOLAR LLC VS.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, A SUIT FILED ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2021, WHICH CHALLENGES THE LEGALITY OF A MORATORIUM ENACTED BY THE BOARD ON SEPTEMBER THE 10TH, 2021.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION? SO MOVED.
WE'RE NOW GOING BACK IN CLOSED SESSION.
[16. Adoption of Certification Resolution for Closed Session]
OKAY, WHERE'S THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENED A CLOSE MEETING ON THIS DATE PURSUANT TO AN AFFIRMATIVE RECORDED VOTE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.AND WHEREAS SECTION 2.2-3712D OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES A CERTIFICATION BY THE BOARD, THAT SUCH CLOSED MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN CONFORMITY WITH VIRGINIA LAW.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THIS CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES, AND ONLY PUBLIC MATTERS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED MEETING WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED BY SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT? SO MOVED AND SECOND? SECOND.
WELL, WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS.
ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY WANTS TO JUMP IN? WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.