Mar 22, 2022 Board of Supervisors

OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.

[Call to Order]

[00:00:02]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, CALL THE MEETING OF THE MARCH 22 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ORDER. WE DO HAVE A STRONG QUORUM TONIGHT, AND WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, IT'S NECESSARY THAT WE HAVE A CLOSED MEETING.

MR. JOHNSON, IT'S NECESSARY FOR THIS BOARD TO NOW CONDUCT A CLOSED MEETING IN ACCORDANCE

[CLOSED SESSION]

DISCUSSION WITH STAFF FROM FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.

CONCERNING CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROSPECTS, OR THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES.

WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF THE PROSPECTS OR BUSINESS'S INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

NUMBER TWO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-37.11, A1, DISCUSSION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF A PLANNING COMMISSION OR RELATED TO CHRONIC MEETING ABSENCES.

AND NUMBER THREE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711, A1, DISCUSSION OF A PERSONNEL MATTER REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT. WE NEED A MOTION TO GO TO A CLOSED SESSION.

SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION.

WE'LL MEET IN THE BACK. IT'S OKAY.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS BACK IN SESSION THIS MARCH 22ND, 2022.

SUPERVISOR GILLETTE. WHEREAS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENED A CLOSE

[2. Certification Resolution ]

SECTION 2.2 DESK 3712 DD 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 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM THE OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW OR DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THIS CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES, AND ONLY SUCH PUBLIC MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED MEETING WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED BY THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVED THIS RESOLUTION.

RESOLUTION? WE HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. SAY I.

ALL RIGHT, SO MOVE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

EVERYBODY STANDING. FACE THE FLAG.

OKAY. IN THE INVOCATION, DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE TO GIVE US A SHORT INVOCATION? GO AHEAD.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING.

HEY, WE PRAY TO GOD IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

BECOME THE FATHER.

GIVE THE THANKS AND PRAISES TO YOU.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND MERCY.

AND THAT WE ENTER WITH THE SPIRIT AND WE INVITE YOUR PRESENCE.

WE KNOW YOU EVERYWHERE, BUT YET STILL, WE INVITE YOU HERE.

WE PRAY FOR PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING.

PEACE IN THE WORLD.

PEACE AMONG MEN AND WOMEN EVERYWHERE.

AND NOW WE JUST ASK THAT THIS MEETING, WHATEVER WE DO, BUT WE'VE DONE PLEASING TO YOU JUST THE BOARD MEMBERS.

ON THE GIVE ACT COMPASSION THEY NEED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE THEY WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.

IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.

[3. Actions Arising From Closed Meeting ]

WE DID HAVE ONE WITH REGRETS AND RELUCTANCE.

WE DID ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF MR. KEITH HENNESSEY FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

HE REPRESENTS THE DREWYVILLE DISTRICT, AND I MIGHT ADD THAT HE'LL BE MISSED.

AND HE WAS A VERY ACTIVE, TERRIFIC MEMBER OF THE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

[00:05:11]

YEAH, WELL, WE MADE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.

YEAH, SO MOVED THE SECOND.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE NUMBER FOUR, THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

[4. Citizens Comment Period ]

AND WE SET ASIDE THIS TIME SO YOU COULD GET UP AND VOICE YOUR OPINION ON ANY ISSUES INVOLVING THE COUNTY.

I WOULD SAY IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND THERE ARE ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, THIS IS THE TIME TO GET UP AND SPEAK YOUR PIECE CONCERNING THOSE ISSUES.

SO WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND IF YOU WOULD JUST APPROACH THE PODIUM AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, THAT'S ALL WE NEED. SIR JOHN BURCHETT LIVE IN SEABROOK.

WILLIAM HART IS MY REPRESENTATIVE.

I KNOW YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN WE GOT A WHILE BACK, WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE RENAMING OF THE BLACKHEAD SIGNPOST ROAD.

AT THAT TIME, I CALLED.

I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL PROBABLY KNOW BILLY COLE.

WILLIAM COLE.

HE USED TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY.

HE OWNS A HOUSE UP ON 58.

HE WAS ON THE I'M NOT SURE THEY CALL IT A COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION OR WHAT THEY WERE TO TO NAME THE COUNTY ROAD FOR THE 911 EMERGENCY THING.

I CALLED HIM DURING THIS WHEN THIS THING FIRST CAME UP.

AND AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I TOLD HIM, BILL, THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THE NAME AND [INAUDIBLE] AND HE SAID, WELL, JOHN, WE WE ALL GOT TOGETHER.

WE HAD A MEETING AND WE WE TRIED TO NAME THE ROADS BY HISTORICAL MEANINGS.

AND THERE WERE BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE ON THE ON THE COMMITTEE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF EACH BECAUSE I LIVE.

I JUST KNOW BILLY WAS ON IT.

BUT THE REASON I'M SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW, I A COUPLE WEEKS AGO HAD TO GO [INAUDIBLE] TO MY TAX PREPARER, AND I DROVE DOWN SIGNPOST ROAD AND AND AS I TURNED, I SAW THIS BIG GRADE SIGN UP THERE.

DECLARING THAT ROAD BLACKHEAD SIGNPOSTS.

UH. I'M NOT TOO BRIGHT.

BUT I CAN'T FIND A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN A HISTORICAL MARKER AND ONE THAT WAS PUT UP FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES.

BACK WHEN THAT NAME, THAT ROAD WAS NAMED.

BUT I DO KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME.

I WAS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING A LOT OF MONEY FOR ADS AND THEN THEN TURN AROUND AND I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, BUT THAT'S FINE.

I DON'T CARE. I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RENAME OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IF IT OFFENDED SOMEBODY. BUT TO ME, IT JUST SHOWS HOW HOW STUPID OUR SOCIETY HAS GOTTEN.

WE TAKE ONE SIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT OFFENDS SOMEBODY PUT ANOTHER UP THAT EVEN IS MORE OFFENSIVE AS FAR AS DETAILING WHY IT WAS NAMED BLACKHEAD SIGNPOST.

OH. I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO ADDRESS THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS SEEN THE SIGN.

I'M SURE GLEN AND LINDA HAVE SINCE THEY GO THAT WAY TO GO HOME AND.

BUT ANYWAYS, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, MR. BURCHETT.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOT PLENTY OF TIME.

I'M WARREN SIMMONS 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY IN CORTLAND.

I'D LIKE TO AGAIN TONIGHT SAY SOMETHING ABOUT A LITTLE PROBLEM.

BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT SINCE LAST MEETING.

AND WHAT CAN WE DO? WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRASH, YOU'VE GOT TO NOTICE THAT THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THE DUMPSITES, THE MORE TRASH YOU SEE.

SO WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM, BOTH FROM INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS CARRYING THEIR TRASH TO THE DUMP SITE AND THEN TO KIND OF CARRYING IT AWAY FROM THE DUMP SITE TO THE TRANSFER SITE.

SO OFTENTIMES WE SEE BAGS OF TRASH AND IT'S THEY SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT.

AND IF IF SOMEBODY'S NAME IS IN IT, I BELIEVE IF THE SHERIFF WOULD CALL THEM UP AND JUST

[00:10:02]

WHEN I HAD ANY KIND OF TICKET OR FOUND ANYTHING CLOSE.

BUT SUNDAY NIGHT AT 6:41, I PASSED THE [INAUDIBLE] DUMP SITE AND THAT AND I WENT BY NOT ON PURPOSE, BUT I LOOKED ON PURPOSE BECAUSE I HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.

BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WERE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TRUCKS THERE EMPTYING, BUT ALL THE DUMPSTERS WERE RUNNING OVER.

IT'S ON THE FRONT SIDE.

IT'S ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK.

SO. EXCUSE ME.

AND AND STILL PEOPLE DUMPING AND I HAVE BEEN UP THERE LIKE THAT AND BROUGHT MY TRASH BACK, EVEN THOUGH THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME TO GO AHEAD AND PUT IT UP THERE.

AND SO WE NEED TO GIVE THOSE ATTENDANTS THE AUTHORITY TO CLOSE THAT DUMP SITE DOWN.

BECAUSE WHEN THOSE DUMPSTERS ROUND IT OVER AND THEY PULL THAT COVER OVER IT, THAT STUFF STILL FALLS OUT. ON THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD AND I'VE SEEN IT AND IT'S DESIGNED TO BE EVEN WITH THE TOP. SO WHEN IT'S OVERFULL AND THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT IS IF THEY YOU EMPOWER THEM TO CLOSE IT DOWN.

AND THEN YOU NEED, I THINK, ON THE GATE HERE.

AND IT TELLS YOU THAT SIEBEL WAS OPEN TO SAME TIME.

BUT IT NEEDS TO TELL YOU EVERY SLIGHTEST DOWN BECAUSE THE NEXT ISSUE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO THROW IT IN THE WOODS OR DOWN IN THE DITCH SOMEWHERE.

AND HAVE IT KNOWN THAT THESE ARE THOSE SITES THAT ARE OPEN TODAY AND.

THERE'S A FINE FOR LITTERING.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO WE SAY THAT YOU CAN ONLY FINE $50, BUT THE CITY OF SUFFOLK WHERE YOU GET OFF OF 460 TO GET ALL 58 TO COME WEST BACK TO SOUTHAMPTON ON THAT EXIT RAMP. THERE'S A SIGN RIGHT NOW.

DO NOT LITTER.

$500 FINE.

AND YOU SEE THAT? AND I THINKS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ASKED LAST MONTH TO TALK TO ABOUT MAINE, BUT MY WIFE AND I WENT DOWN SOUTH TO CROSS THE MISSISSIPPI AND ALL AND.

WE NOTICED THERE WASN'T MUCH TRASH DONE THAT WAY, BUT THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF SIGNS.

JUST LIKE ASH SAID, THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE.

30 DAYS IN JAIL.

AND I GUESS ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WATCHED ALL THOSE SOUTHERN SHERIFFS ON TV WHERE THEY PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR A WEEK FOR NOTHING AND BELIEVE IT SO.

BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE KIND OF TRASH WE HAVE.

SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP THE LOOT FROM LOSING THAT TRASH.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN IT CAN DO ITSELF IN CUTTING THOSE DUMP SITES OFF.

AND AND SO THOSE TRUCKS DON'T SPILL IT UP AND DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR. HATCH KUTCHEN GARDEN POINT ROAD.

REGARDING TRASH.

I'VE SEEN OUR LOCAL TRUCKS ON MONDAYS AND I'VE MENTIONED IT TO MR. JOHNSON FROM OBERY CHURCH ROAD TO TO HUNTER DALE IN FRONT OF MR. ROBERT WHITE'S DRIVEWAY AND OTHERS THAT THESE LITTLE PLASTIC BAGS YOU GET AT FOOD LINE, THEY BLOW OUT REAL EASILY.

AND A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS GOING TO VIRGINIA BEACH AND I SAW ONE OF THESE GARBAGE TRUCKS PASS ME. AND INSTEAD OF THE COVER COMING FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK, THE COVER WENT OVER SIDEWAYS. IT WAS A LONG ROD AND THE COVER WENT OVER SIDEWAYS.

AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP IF WE COULD JUST REDESIGN OUR COVERS FOR OUR DUMPSTERS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THEY'RE FULL TO OVERFLOWING.

BUT IF YOU CLOSE THE DUMP, PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT RIGHT AT THE GATE I'M AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THEIR BAGS OF TRASH RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE DUMP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. WELCOME.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING.

I'M IRVING LEE JONES AND I RESIDE.

YOU TAKE YOUR MASK OFF. THANK YOU.

AT 33306 JONES BRIDGE ROAD, FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA.

AND I TRUST EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU OUT TODAY ARE DOING GREAT.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT I DO NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH.

NUMBER ONE, THE TRASH IS GETTING RIDICULOUS ON MY ROAD, TOO, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THEY COME TO TO PUT THE GARBAGE IN AND IT HAPPENED TO BE ON THE DAY THAT IT'S CLOSED, SOMETIMES THEY'LL JUST SIT THE GARBAGE THERE AND THE WIND JUST BLOWS IT BACK IN MY YARD AND THAT MAKES FOR RODENTS AND ETC., ETC., TO COME TO MY PROPERTY.

[00:15:04]

AND I HAVE TALKED TO MY SUPERVISOR, MR. WHITE, AND HE HAS AIDED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PIPE THAT'S IN THAT WETLAND NEXT TO THE DUMPSTERS ADJACENT RIGHT TO MY PROPERTY THAT REALLY NEEDS SOME SERIOUS WORK.

NUMBER ONE, THE TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED ON THE ROAD.

AND NUMBER TWO, I HAD MY WATER TESTED AND THE SODIUM LEVEL NOW IS BEYOND WHAT IS MEDICALLY HEALTHY.

AND IT COULD BE RUNNING OFF FROM THE DUMPS WITH WHATEVER IS BEING PUT THERE IS COMING BACK WITH THE OVERFLOW OF WATER INTO THE PROPERTY.

AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO GET I NEED YOU GUYS TO SUPPORT ME WITH VDOT AND TRANSPORTATION SO THAT THEY CAN COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PART AND PUT A REAL NICE BIG PIPE UNDER THERE AND ALSO DIG IT OUT WITH THE FIVE FEET ON EACH SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SO THAT THAT ISSUE CAN, NUMBER ONE, BE ADDRESSED.

AND NUMBER TWO, WILL STOP THE FLOW OF THE WATER COMING BACK INTO MY PROPERTY.

AND THEN THIRD TO THAT, IT IS CAUSING A VERY BAD EROSION.

THE LAND IS JUST REALLY SEEPING BACK OFF.

AND I HAVE CONTACTED THEM MANY TIMES, MANY YEARS.

I HAVE WALKED WITH THEM AROUND THAT AREA AND NOTHING GETS DONE.

SO I WANTED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD TONIGHT AND ASK YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP ME SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I SAW MR. JOHNSON RIDING WHILE YOU WERE TALKING, SO I'M SURE IT'LL BE ADDRESSED.

MY NAME IS LINDA SIMMONS, AND I LIVE ON SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY.

AND I LISTEN TO WARREN AND ASH SPEAK ABOUT THE TRASH DILEMMA.

AND I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

EVERY SINGLE DAY WE GET ON ANY ROAD IN THIS COUNTY AND LOOK AT WHAT WE SEE, IT'S DEPLORABLE. I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO COME OF IT IS WHEN YOU, AS OUR LEADERSHIP, GET TOGETHER WITH WHOMEVER, A COMMITTEE, AN ACTION, AND COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN AND SOME STEPS TO MOVE FORWARD OFF OF TALKING ABOUT IT AND MAKE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES HAPPEN.

SO THERE'S SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS GARBAGE THAT WE SEE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GET BETTER.

IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE AS LONG AS WE TALK ABOUT IT IN THIS ROOM AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE HEARING IT, WE NEED TO OWN IT, TOO, AND MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT PUTS SOME MEASURES IN PLACE TO START MAKING CORRECTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.

AS LONG AS WE DON'T, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE PROBLEM.

IF WE DON'T ALLOW AND I HAVE HEARD STORIES THAT, WELL, JOSH CAN'T WRITE A TICKET OR DOESN'T WANT TO WRITE A TICKET, AND THIS IS NO NEGATIVITY TO JOSH BECAUSE HE'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB BECAUSE THE JUDGE WILL THROW IT OUT.

WELL, IF WE DO OUR JOB AND WE DON'T LET JOSH DOESN'T HAVE TO WRITE A TICKET.

IF JOSH DOESN'T WRITE A TICKET, JUDGE EASON DOESN'T HAVE OR JUDGE WHOEVER.

THAT'S THE NAME THAT CAME TO PLAY.

DOESN'T HAVE TO THROW IT OUT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AT EVERY SINGLE STEP, IT'S NOBODY'S PROBLEM.

IF WE HAVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AT EVERY SINGLE STEP, IT'S SOMEBODY'S PROBLEM AND WE CAN DETERMINE WHO OWNS THAT PROBLEM.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN, AND IF I CAN HELP YOU, I WILL BE GLAD TO DO IT BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

WARREN TALKED ABOUT GOING DOWN SOUTH.

WE WENT UP NORTH THIS WEEK AND LAST WEEK AND WE GOT TO A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA AND HE SAID, WHERE IS THE TRASH? IT LOOKED LIKE THE GOLF COURSE ON EVERY COUNTRY ROAD WE WENT DOWN.

SO THERE'S THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

AND I IMPLORE YOU, LET'S START FIGURING OUT A SOLUTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE.

GOOD EVENING.

EVELYN TURNER 151994 I'VE OF ROAD SALLY, VIRGINIA.

I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT TO YOU CONSIDERATION FOR EITHER PHASING OUT THE $200 FEE A YEAR FOR THE DUMP FEE BASED ON TWO PREMISES.

THE FIRST THAT WHEN YOU INITIALLY BROUGHT IT TO THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS TO BE FOR ONE YEAR

[00:20:08]

AND ON THE SECOND PREMISE IS THAT BECAUSE WE PAY PROPERTY TAX, THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

IN THAT PROPERTY TAX THAT WE PAY.

AND IF YOU CAN'T FIND A WAY TO PERHAPS PHASE IT OUT, THEN IF WE COULD SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A DECENT RECREATION CENTER, TENNIS COURTS OR BASKETBALL COURTS OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO HELP FAMILIES BECOME MORE COMMUNITY ORIENTED AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, GIVING FAMILIES SOME PLACE TO SOCIALIZE.

SO IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT WHICH I HAVE PRESENTED, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? I'M GLENN UPDIKE.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.

I'M GOING TO DEDUCE ALL THE DETAILS.

I WANT YOU ALL TO FEEL FAIRLY THAT.

FIRST OF ALL.

WHAT YOU GOT IN FRONT OF YOU.

THE SUGGESTED [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY.

JUST LOOK I BEG AND PLEAD WITH EVERYBODY I KNOW PLEASE LOOK AT THE SOLAR FARM THAT WE HAVE. YOU HAVE WELL, COMPLETELY MADE A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS WHAT TOOK PLACE. YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD AND YOU SWALLOWED IT LIKE A LIKE A BIRD EATING THE WORM. SOLAR FARMS IS A DEFICIT ON THE COUNTY.

AND TAKE IT FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL GIVE YOU ALL A COUPLE EXAMPLES.

THE TOTAL SOLAR FARMS WERE NOT HURT THEN THE COMMUNITIES AROUND WHICH THEY LIVE. AND THIS BETWEEN LAST FIVE YEARS THIS ONE FARMER NOT FARMER BUT A HOMEOWNER TRIED TO SELL HIS FARM.

I MEAN, HIS HOUSE.

THE ASSESSORS HAD IT ASSESSED AT $75000.

HE TRIED FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS TO SELL IT FOR $75,000.

BUT THIS IS WHAT THE ACCOUNTING ASSESSORS APPROVED.

BUT AFTER FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, HE GAVE UP.

HE REDUCED THE PRICE DOWN TO $50,000.

THAT IS A 30% LOSS TO THAT FAMILY, TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND I'M SURE AS I'M STANDING HERE THAT THE LAND AND FARMLAND OR THE LAND IN THAT AREA, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SAME REDUCTION AND DEPRECIATION OF THE PROPERTY.

THEY GOT. HOW MANY OF YOU ALL GO AHEAD AND RAISE YOUR HAND.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A SOLAR FARM, SOLAR PANELS WITHIN 500 FEET OF YOUR HOUSE.

GO AHEAD. HOW MANY OF YOU HOW MANY IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SOLAR SETTING RIGHT THERE WITHIN 500 FEET OF YOUR HOUSE? THIS SOLAR ORDINANCE, THE SOLAR ECONOMICS IS ROTTEN TO THE CORE.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THESE SOLAR FARMS GO OUT OF BUSINESS OR GO TO SOMETHING ELSE? WHAT IS THAT LAND WORTH?

[00:25:02]

YOU CAN'T PUT IT BACK IN AGRICULTURE.

BECAUSE OF WHATEVER BEEN DONE EVERYTHING FROM WATERS TO ROCKS TO EROSION.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO TO THE COUNTY BUDGET.

AND WE HAD THE AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THAT AREA.

WE ASSESSED THAT ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO $3000 AND THE COUNTY GET TAXES OFF OF IT.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU GO OUT OF BUSINESS? IT'S WORTH JUST WHAT WE SAY, WORTH MAYBE $500, MAYBE PUT A PINE TREE ON IT OR SOMETHING.

WHAT HAS THAT DONE TO YOUR COUNTY BUDGET.

IT HAD BUSTED IT. AND WHEN ADD MORE AND MORE SOLAR FARMS IN THE AREA.

YOU GOT TO JUST DOUBLE AND TRIPLE YOUR LOSS, FINANCIAL LOSS.

THERE'S NO IFS, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

SO I'M ASKING SOMEBODY OR THIS BOARD NEEDS TO REQUEST A COMPLETE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THIS OPERATION.

IT'S BEEN IN OPERATION FOR GOING OVER FIVE YEARS.

AND YOU PUT IN WHAT WHERE IS THE PLUSES.

FOR [INAUDIBLE] I MEAN, ELECTRICITY IS A CONCERN OUR RATES WENT UP.

YOU DIDN'T BRING IT DOWN.

WHERE DID THE ELECTRICITY GO? DIDN'T STAY HERE.

IT WENT TO NEW YORK AND WENT EVERYWHERE SYSTEM GHOST [INAUDIBLE].

AND THEN ONE MORE THING.

NOW THEY CAME UP WITH ANOTHER DICTATORSHIP THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PUT IN ANOTHER 1% OF OUR FARMLAND AVAILABLE FOR SOLAR PANELS.

YOU THINK GOING OUT AND PUT IT ON THAT SWAMP LAND THAT WE HAVE THAT'S UNDER TIMBER.

YOU'RE KIDDING. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THE VERY BEST AND MOST CONVENIENT LAND WE HAVE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE CAN'T TAX THEM BECAUSE THE STATE WON'T ALLOW YOU TO TAX 20%. 80% IS TAX EXEMPT.

SO I THINK YOU NEED TO DEMAND A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT ANALYSIS OF THE SOLAR PANEL WE HAVE BEFORE YOU GO AND PROVE ANYTHING ELSE.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THIS REDISTRICTING PLAN.

IS ONE I HATE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SOME ONLY A FEW.

ONLY A VERY FEW KIND OF HAVE.

THAT IS THE DELEGATE AT LARGE.

WE ARE REDUCED TO FIVE.

DISTRICTS AND WITHIN TWO AT LARGE.

ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS LOOK AT WHAT'S IT GOING TO DO TO OUR STRUCTURE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

NOW, I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE, BUT THIS GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE TOTAL STRUCTURE. LIKE MIKE.

MIKE DRAKE.

HE'S A CHAIRMAN.

NOW HE'S IN THE BOYKINS DISTRICT.

BECAUSE HE WASN'T IN NEWSOM DISTRICT.

NOW, ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED.

THE SUPERVISORS FROM THAT COUNTY WILL DICTATE WHO IS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SO, MICHAEL WILL BE OUT.

JUST ONE EXAMPLE I CAN GO THROUGH MUCH OF.

SO THIS PLAN IS COMPLETELY BAD PUT IT VERY SIMPLE. THIS'LL BE THE FIRST TIME IF THEY PUT IT INTO PLAY IT MY VOTE WOULD ONLY

[00:30:09]

BECAUSE WHEN YOU PUT IN TWO AT LARGE.

WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? THE MOST POPULAR RELATED THE DISTRICT'S WHO THEY WANT IS GOING TO BE IS TO THAT AREA.

SO. IT'S MANY, MANY, MANY DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE FOR THIS SO-CALLED REDISTRICTING.

IF THEY TO ME, TAKE TAKE IT POPULATION DIVIDED BY BY SEVEN AND LET IT GO.

INSTEAD OF ALL THIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A JUMBLED MESS FOR EVERY BOARD IN THE COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER ON IT.

ALL RIGHT. HERE'S ONE THING THAT CAME UP.

UH. I WORKED IN REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS AND I ALWAYS WILL RIBBON THE PEOPLE FROM FARMERS OF HOW GREAT SOUTHAMPTON IS.

WE SHOULD HAVE A SIGN SOUTHAMPTON SHARED ABUNDANCE.

NO I GOT A PHONE CALL A WEEK AGO.

AND HE SAID, LET ME REMIND YOU OF WHAT YOU SAID THAT SOUTHAMPTON SHARED IN ABUNDANCE. [INAUDIBLE] AND HE WAS REALLY AGITATED ABOUT IT.

SOUTHAMPTON HAD SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL HAD A [INAUDIBLE] WITH SIX FROM SIX DIFFERENT SCHOOLS TO HAVE I GUESS ROUND ROBIN BASEBALL.

THESE TEAMS COULDN'T GO INTO SCHOOLS FOR THE BATHROOMS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY WATER OR DIDN'T HAVE ANY DRINKS THERE TO FOR THIRST.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE PORTA POTTIES, YOU SAT IN THE LINE.

IT'S ABOUT A COUPLE OF HUNDRED FEET WAITING TO GET IN ON THE PORTA POTTIES.

WHAT KIND OF REPUTATION IS THAT PRESENTING TO THE COUNTY? THESE KIDS, PARENTS AND INDIVIDUALS IS GOING TO JUDGE THE COUNTY FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS OR MORE. THEIR EXPERIENCE.

THAT WE WOULD NOT GO IN IN THE SCHOOL TO USE THE BATHROOM.

OH. DO ANYTHING ELSE? IT WAS A CRYING SHAME AND A REALLY DARK MARK AGAINST THE COUNTY.

AND IT WAS JUST PLAIN OUT, I COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

I WAS EMBARRASSED.

I MEAN, COMPLETELY EMBARRASSED.

I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE EVERY DAY FOR ALL THE MISTAKES I MADE AND THAT JUST IRRITATED ME TO NO END.

I'LL STOP HERE AND ADD SOME MORE A LITTLE LATER.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE.

DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, MR. [INAUDIBLE]? ME.

YEAH. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANTED TO OH, OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? GOT PLENTY OF TIME.

LAST CALL.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC SESSION.

OKAY. YES.

THERE WAS ONE MORE HAND WENT UP.

YOU HAD ONE MORE? CAN I JUST MAKE MY COMMENT? CERTAINLY.

CERTAINLY. WE'LL OPEN IT BACK UP FOR YOU.

I'M HONORED THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE, SO I HESITATED TO SAY ANYTHING.

[00:35:02]

AND THERE ARE NO ADA [INAUDIBLE] RESTROOMS AT CAPRON.

AND I WAS FLOORED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GO BACK TO WORK SAFELY IF THERE'S NOT A RESTROOM IN THAT BUILDING, THAT'S NOT ADA.

AND SO I QUESTIONED THE SITUATION ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF THE UTILITIES IN THAT ROOM AND THE GRAB BARS, AND THERE ARE NONE.

THE SUBSTANDARD SEAT.

THERE'S NOT A GRAB BAR OF ANY KIND IN THERE.

AND THEN THEY INFORMED ME THAT 32 INDIVIDUALS, MALE AND FEMALE, ARE USING ONE RESTROOM.

AND SO I WAS RUNNING MY OWN PERSONAL ERRANDS AND I RECEIVED THIS PICTURE OF THE SIGN ON THE RESTROOM DOOR, MALE, FEMALE, AND THE FACILITIES.

AND THERE IS, ACCORDING TO THEIR MESSAGE, NOTHING FOR THE HANDICAPPED WHICH IS VULNERABLE, IF I'M CORRECT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TELL THAT TO.

SO I'VE SHARED THAT INFORMATION AS WELL WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH COMMUNICATION OTHERWISE AND THEY DON'T THEY CANNOT GO BACK TO WORK SAFELY UNTIL THAT'S UP, BECAUSE IF THAT PERSON WOULD FALL AND REINVENT THE INJURY, THEN THE SCHOOL, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS THE SCHOOL OR THE COUNTY OR SOMEONE WOULD BE LIABLE.

SO I'M PASSING IT ON JUST FYI.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY SECOND THOUGHTS LIKE TO COME UP? LAST CALL, THEN WE'LL CLOSE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD.

ALL RIGHT. WE MOVE ON TO NUMBER FIVE, APPROVAL THE MINUTES AND WE HAVE THREE MEETINGS.

[ 5. Approval of Minutes]

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES IN THE MINUTES? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. BEEN SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

ALL RIGHT, THOSE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

THE REGULAR SESSION, FEBRUARY 22.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES CHANGES? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

WELL THE LAST ONE IS THE WORK SESSION THAT WE HAD ON MARCH THE 3RD, 2022.

ANY CHANGES OR ALTERATIONS IN THOSE MINUTES? MOVE TO APPROVE.

OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE.

OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX.

[6. Highway Matters]

FIRST OF ALL, ANNOUNCEMENT ON GOVERNOR DARDEN ROAD.

THIS IS 646.

THERE'S ABOUT A 3/10TH OF A MILE SEGMENT.

THEY'RE GOING TO WIDEN THE SHOULDERS AND DO SOME GUARDRAILS.

IT'S BETWEEN JENKINS DRIVE AND WARD'S LANE.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE TWO OR THREE MONTHS AND THERE'LL BE SOME MILD INCONVENIENCE THERE. ONE LANE TRAFFIC THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC EXCEPT IN THE EARLY MORNING AND LATE EVENING ON THERE ANYWAY.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO MONTHLY CONCERNS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CONCERNS IN THEIR DISTRICT? I DO. YES, ON RIDLEY ROAD LAST MONTH AT THE INTERSECTION OF CYPRESS BRIDGE AND RIDLEY, THEY WORKED ON IT, BUT I THINK IT'S WASHED OUT.

AND ALSO ON RIDLEY ROAD, ON THE CURVE BETWEEN THE HUNT CLUB AND D PITTMAN'S HOUSE, A REAL SHARP CURB.

IT'S GOT THE SAME PROBLEM, A MUDHOLE.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? YES. IN THE TOWN OF [INAUDIBLE] MAIN STREET AND WHAT DEMON STREET OR DEMON AVENUE.

THAT RED BARN.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ROAD DETERIORATING THERE.

WHEN IT RAINS, WATER STANDING THERE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. AND THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE.

SEVERAL TIMES VDOT HAS COME OUT AND LOOKED AT THAT.

BUT STILL THE SAME PROBLEMS REMAIN.

ALSO AND I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU MIKE, ON MEHARRY ROAD.

THE BROKEN LINES THERE.

[00:40:02]

IT'S A SHORT DISTANCE FOR PASSING, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT SAFE.

AND I'D LIKE VDOT TO LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IF MAYBE THAT LINE SHOULD BE ADJUSTED.

OKAY. MR. CORNWELL. MR. CHAIRMAN, I WAS APPROACHED THIS PAST WEEK WITH A CONCERN.

UM, ALONG 460, GENERAL MAHONE BOULEVARD TO THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF TUCKER SWAMP ROAD, WHERE THEY JUST REDID THE OVERPASS OVER THE RAILROAD TRESTLE THERE.

THE CITIZEN CONCERN IS, IS THE DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT WERE POTENTIALLY CREATED AND OR GENERATED BY THAT PROJECT LOCATED TO THE REAR OF 37538 GENERAL MAHONE BOULEVARD.

AND I TOLD HER WE'D TAKE A LOOK AT.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL THEN MOVE ON TO THE NUMBER SEVEN WITH THIS MONTH'S REPORTS.

[7. Monthly Reports]

AND YOU WANT TO TALK ON ANYTHING WE BRING UP TO STOP ME AND JUMP UP.

FINANCIAL REPORT.

ANIMAL CONTROL.

TREASURER'S OFFICE.

WE CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL AN UPDATE ON THE COLLECTIONS IN FEBRUARY AS FOR AS REAL ESTATE, WE WERE AT 99.59% AND IN MARCH WE AT 99.65%.

PERSONAL PROPERTY IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD COLLECTED 95.71%.

IN MARCH WE'VE COLLECTED 96.27%.

AND AS FAR AS THE SOLID WASTE FEE, IN FEBRUARY WE COLLECTED 85.03% AND IN MARCH 85.24%.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES AND PERSONNEL.

MR. JOHNSON. JUST A HANDFUL OF PERSONNEL CHANGES TO REPORT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAD ONE EMPLOYEE HIRED EFFECTIVE MARCH THE FIRST IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. DEXTER SMITH ANNUAL SALARY $35,213.

THERE WERE FOUR POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED BY THE STATE COMPENSATION BOARD.

THE FIRST ONE IS RHIANNON GRIFFITH IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE EFFECTIVE MARCH, THE FIRST ANNUAL SALARY $33,536.

HARLEY BILL IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EFFECTIVE MARCH THE FIRST ANNUAL SALARY $44,973.

BENJAMIN MADISON IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EFFECTIVE MARCH THE FIRST ANNUAL SALARY $46,686.

AND KIMBERLY SMITH, EFFECTIVE MARCH THE FIRST IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, $43,662.

THERE WERE TWO RETIREMENTS DURING THE MONTH, ROBERT BUSHING IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, EFFECTIVE ON FEBRUARY THE 28TH.

AND THEN THERE'S A RETIREMENT UPCOMING IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON MARCH 31ST, ROSE EVANS . TWO SEPARATIONS DURING THE MONTH, BOTH IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

ASHLEY MURPHY EFFECTIVE MARCH THE 13TH, AND MONICA HARRIS HALL EFFECTIVE MARCH THE 30TH.

AND WE DO HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE ON ACTIVE MILITARY LEAVE, JOSHUA WALTERS, IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THANK YOU, SIR.

QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER EIGHT, FINANCIAL MATTERS.

[8. Financial Matters ]

ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, THEN WE NEED A MOTION TO PAY THE BILLS.

I MOVE WE PAY THE BILLS.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PAYING THE BILLS SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

NO, WE'LL PAY THE BILLS.

ALL RIGHT, WE MOVE ON TO NUMBER NINE.

[9. Appointments]

VERY RARELY, RARE TO HAVE THAT.

THEN WE'LL GO ON TO NUMBER TEN, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS PLAN OF FINANCE

[10. Capital Projects Plan of Finance Presentation]

AND LOOKS LIKE INFLATION HAS HIT US.

IT HAS, INDEED.

MR. CHAIR, WELCOME. THANK YOU, DR.

EDWARDS. I'VE GOT HARD COPIES AS WELL.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE UP ON THE ON THE SCREEN

[00:45:23]

HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF BEING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL IN THE PAST.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO TODAY IS TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE UPDATE ON WHERE WE STAND WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THESE NECESSARY CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND LET ME START ALSO BY SAYING THAT THANKS TO YOUR STAFF, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL TO ALLOWING US TO PUT ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.

SO, AGAIN, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEIR HELP AND ALL THE TIME AND PATIENCE THEY'VE SHOWN US. JUST A LITTLE BIT BACKGROUND FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE.

I THANK YOU. HERE IN THE BOARD HAVE SEEN ME MANY TIMES BEFORE.

WE HAVE SERVED AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE COUNTY PROBABLY FOR THE PAST 25 OR SO YEARS.

AND IN DOING THAT, OVER TIME, WE'VE WORKED WITH YOU AND PLANNED ON VARIOUS PROJECTS, NONE FEWER THAN THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT.

AND AS I SAID BEFORE, WE ARE INDEED SEEING INFLATION FOR THOSE BEHIND ME.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

THIS IS HAPPENING NOT ONLY HERE IN VIRGINIA, BUT NORTH CAROLINA.

EVERYWHERE THAT WE WORK.

IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO HAVE THE REQUIREMENT OF TAKING CARE OF YOUR PUBLIC RADIO SYSTEM, AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE OVERALL EQUATION.

LASTLY, IN LOOKING AT HOW TO BE MOST STRATEGIC WITH YOUR CAPITAL NEEDS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE ROLL INTO THIS UPCOMING FINANCING VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADES THAT ARE NECESSARY, AND YOU'LL SEE A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE IN A COUPLE OF MOMENTS.

SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS TONIGHT A PLAN OF FINANCE THAT HAS AS A CENTERPIECE, IF YOU WOULD, THAT COURTHOUSE PROJECT.

THE UPSHOT CAN BE SEEN ON THE VERY LAST BULLET.

AND THAT VERY LAST BULLET IS WHEN WE FACTOR IN ALL OF THE FINANCING THAT WE'VE DONE, ALL OF THE CASH FLOWS, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, CUTTING RIGHT TO THE CHASE IS BASICALLY WE NEED ABOUT 7.3 MILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR THE COUNTY.

THAT'S WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO OVER AND ABOVE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN BORROWED.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.

IN ADDITION, YOU MAY RECALL AS WELL, THE EMPLOYEES HAD THE RADIO SYSTEM ON THE HEELS OF THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT.

THAT NUMBER HAS MOVED AROUND SOMEWHAT.

BUT FOR THE MOMENT, WHILE WE'RE WAITING UNTIL OCTOBER TO ACTUALLY GET THE BID, [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT $4 MILLION.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND MOVING THAT, TO DO THAT NOW AND NOT WAIT UNTIL THE FALL IS BECAUSE INTEREST RATES ARE RISING.

THEY ROSE TODAY BASICALLY ABOUT 12 BASIS POINTS, WHICH IS A LITTLE OVER 1/10 OF 1% JUST IN ONE DAY ALONE.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS MEETING.

AND IN THEIR MEETINGS THAT WILL OCCUR BETWEEN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT RAISING INTEREST RATES, NOT ONLY ONE QUARTER OF A PERCENT, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT RAISING IT ABOUT FIVE OR SIX TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF WHAT COULD BE AS LITTLE AS A YEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT AGAIN, YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER AND WE THINK THE FASTER THAT WE CAN SECURE THE MONEY, THE BETTER OFF WE'RE GOING TO BE AND THE LESS IMPACT IT SHOULD HAVE ON THE OVERALL BUDGETS OF THE COUNTY.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.

THIS IS THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE HISTORICALLY DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO ROLL THAT INTO THIS FINANCING BECAUSE AGAIN, WE GET THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE, WE STILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINANCE IT FOR A SHORTER PERIOD THAN WE WOULD THE COURTHOUSE.

AND IN FACT, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT BASED ON THE AVERAGE LIVES OF THESE VARIOUS PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE BORROW THIS MONEY ROUGHLY $2.1 MILLION OVER TEN YEARS.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BEYOND ITS USEFUL LIFE.

WE'RE GOING TO TIE IT TO ITS USEFUL LIFE AS A SEPARATE PIECE OF THE OVERALL BORROWING.

SO I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO THE INTEREST RATES ARE RISING IF YOU GO BACK TO 2000.

YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT THE AVERAGE INTEREST RATE IN 2000 FOR HIGHLY RATED CREDITS, AND

[00:50:05]

TODAY THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER 2%.

ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU COULD SEE THAT IS GOING UP FROM BASICALLY THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STILL IN A VERY FAVORABLE INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT IS MOVING UPWARD.

SO WITH ALL OF THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, WE HAD SEVERAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AS IT TIED TO A PLAN OF FINANCE.

ONE, LET'S TRY TO GET THE LOW INTEREST RATES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

TWO, LET'S TRY TO SET SOMETHING UP IN TERMS OF REPAYMENT THAT'S AS AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR THE COUNTY'S UPCOMING BUDGETS.

AND I USE THE WORD BUDGETS BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING NOT JUST 23 FISCAL YEAR, BUT SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN A FEW MOMENTS.

AND IN ADDITION, WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID, IF NOT MINIMIZE, THE NEED TO RAISE TAXES TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THESE PROJECTS.

AND LASTLY, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE DON'T HURT THE COUNTY'S VERY STRONG CREDIT RATINGS. THEY ARE IN THE DOUBLE-A CATEGORY.

THAT'S ONE STEP BELOW TRIPLE-A, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING.

AND YOU ARE THERE IN THAT DOUBLE-A CATEGORY.

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE STAY WITHIN THAT RANGE.

SO WHAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATIONS? WELL, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE SEEN HERE.

NUMBER ONE IS THE COUNTY BUDGETS RIGHT NOW ROUGHLY $5.9 MILLION A YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES THOSE CAPITAL LEASES FOR EQUIPMENT, AND IT DROPS DOWN BY ABOUT $1,000,000 TOWARDS THE END OF THE DECADE. WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE WORK WITHIN THAT CASH FLOW AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. LAYERING IN THE NEW DEBT.

SECOND, BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS HAD STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGETS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO BUILD ON ITS RAINY DAY FUND, WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE USE ROUGHLY $1,000,000 OF THAT RAINY DAY FUND TO HELP SHAVE THE DEBT SERVICE THAT'S COMING ON AS A RESULT OF THESE PROJECTS.

THIRD, WE WILL RECOMMEND WE DO THIS ALL AT ONE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE SO THAT WE DON'T PAY THREE TIMES FOR WHAT WOULD BE THREE SEPARATE PROJECT FINANCINGS, BUT PAY ONCE.

FOURTH WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE VERY QUICKLY HERE IN THE SPRING SO THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN LOCK IN INTEREST RATES.

SOME MIGHT SAY, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT INTEREST RATES COULD GO DOWN? IT'S CERTAINLY COULD, BUT THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS MOVING IN.

THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION THE MARKETS ARE.

IF IT DOES GO DOWN AND WE BORROW, WE ALWAYS HAVE THAT ABILITY TO REFINANCE.

WE'LL SET THAT UP INTO THE FINANCING STRUCTURE.

THE LAST COUPLE OF POINTS ARE THIS.

WE WOULD RECOMMEND BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

I'LL JUST TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE ROUGHLY AROUND $14 MILLION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS IN ALL THAT WE DO WHAT'S CALLED A COMPETITIVE PUBLIC MARKET SALE.

WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE WITH YOU.

AND WHAT THAT SIMPLY MEANS IS THAT ON A GIVEN DAY, WE PUT YOUR BONDS OUT INTO THE MARKETPLACE, AND ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT'S A QUALIFIED INVESTOR CAN BID ON YOUR BONDS.

AND WHOEVER PROVIDES THE LOWEST INTEREST RATE, WHETHER IT'S A BANK OR A BROKERAGE OR AN INDEPENDENT BODY, CAN ULTIMATELY OWN YOUR BONDS.

AND WE'LL ENTER INTO FIXED RATE INTEREST RATES FOR THE VARIOUS PIECES.

AND SO WE ACT SOLELY AS YOUR ADVISOR, AND WE PUT THAT INTO THE MARKETPLACE SO WE'RE INDIFFERENT AS TO WHO ENDS UP WINNING THIS.

WE JUST CARE WHOEVER WINS IT IS THE LOWEST POTENTIAL INTEREST RATES FOR THE COUNTY.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME NUMBERS AND THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT YOU MADE FOR THOSE NUMBERS. AS I SAID EARLIER, COURTHOUSE OVERAGE, $7.3 MILLION.

RADIO SYSTEM ESTIMATE $4 MILLION.

VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT $2.1 MILLION.

THAT COMES OUT TO $13.4 MILLION.

WE HAVE ROUNDED UP TO $14 MILLION FOR COST OF ISSUANCE.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WHAT WE'VE TYPICALLY DONE WITH YOU IN THE PAST IS WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU AFTER THIS IS ALL DONE AND WE'LL SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENED.

WE HAVE ASSUMED WHEN I SHOW YOU THE NUMBERS IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES THAT WE NOT ONLY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT MARKET RATES, BUT WE'VE ADDED A HALF A PERCENT TO THE ENTIRE

[00:55:03]

SO ALREADY WE'RE CHIPPING INTO THAT ASSUMPTION THAT IT'S CURRENT MARKET PLUS 50.

IT CERTAINLY COULD BE GREATER THAN THAT, BUT HOPEFULLY WE BUILT THAT IN TO START WITH, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE.

SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT, WHAT THE STRUCTURE WOULD BE, THE INTEREST, THE PRINCIPAL, AND THEN ULTIMATELY ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, WHAT IS THE TOTAL INCREASED PAYMENTS PER YEAR FOR THIS PROJECT? AND SO YOU CAN SEE THERE IN 2023, IT WILL BE ROUGHLY $825,000.

AGAIN, THAT'S HIGHER THAN IF WE WENT TO THE MARKETPLACE TODAY.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO GO TO THE MARKET AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE SCHEDULE AND I'LL SHOW YOU LATER.

SO, AGAIN, WE WANTED TO BE CAREFUL.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE TOO OPTIMISTIC.

AND SO THOSE NUMBERS GROW TO AS HIGH AS A MILLION FOUR ALMOST A MILLION FOUR OUT AT THE END OF THE DECADE.

WE'VE TRIED TO STRUCTURE THIS WITHIN REASON SO THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE THE EXTRA CASH IMPACT ON YOUR CURRENT AND FUTURE BUDGETS, NOT CURRENT BUDGET, BUT NEXT TO SUBSEQUENT BUDGETS.

ALL RIGHT. SO GRAPHICALLY, I WANTED EVERYBODY TO SEE WHAT ALL THIS MEANT.

AND SO THE DARK GREEN IS YOUR EXISTING DEBT SERVICE.

I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT $5.9 MILLION.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE THE LIGHT GREEN IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ADD IN THE NEW MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT ROUGHLY $14 MILLION.

SO FOR EFFECTIVELY THE NEXT SIX OR SO YEARS, WE'RE GOING ABOVE THAT $5.9 MILLION.

AGAIN, THAT'S THE BUDGETED LEVEL THAT WE'VE BEEN AT.

SO THAT BEGS THE QUESTION, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR GOING ABOVE THAT? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN FUTURE BUDGETS? WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO? AND SO WE WANTED YOU TO SEE WHAT THAT TRANSLATES INTO.

SO ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, VERY FAR, IT SAYS GROSS ADDITIONAL REVENUES NEEDED.

AND WHAT THAT BASICALLY SHOWS IS THAT WE NEED, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE ROUGHLY ABOUT 550 TO $650000 FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS UNDER THIS PARTICULAR INTEREST RATE ASSUMPTION.

SO WHAT WE THEN PUT IN THE BOX AND I'VE DONE THIS FOR YOU IN THE PAST, IS WE'VE SAID IF WE JUST COMPARE IT TO THE COUNTY'S REAL ESTATE TAX RATE, I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT.

BUT IF WE LOOK AT THAT, IT'S BASICALLY SAYING THAT IF EACH PENNY BEFORE IT GETS REVALUED IN 2024 IS $165,000, YOU CAN SEE IT'S A FEW PENNIES IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY, THE EQUIVALENT OF A FEW PENNIES.

I SAID EARLIER, ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE IS TO USE $1,000,000 TO HELP SHAVE THAT. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS, NEITHER OF WHICH YOU NEED TO DECIDE TONIGHT.

BUT WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU TWO WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT TAKING CARE OF ALL THIS.

THE FIRST WAY THE FIRST OPTION IS IF THE BOARD WAS ABLE TO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT COBBLES TOGETHER THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO AND ONE HALF PENNIES.

AND THAT'S ABOUT $400,000 BECAUSE WE ARE USING THE MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE OVER THE NEXT FIVE OR SO YEARS INCREMENTALLY.

AND IF WE DID THAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF NEEDING ABOUT TWO AND ONE HALF PENNIES IN THE UPCOMING 23 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.

SO THAT'S ONE APPROACH.

A SECOND APPROACH IS DOING NOTHING IN 2023 USING A LARGER AMOUNT OF THAT $1 MILLION.

AND AS A RESULT, YOU'RE ABLE TO WAIT UNTIL 2024 WHEN THE REVALUATION WILL KICK IN.

AND ASSUMING THERE IS NO REVALUATION DIFFERENCE, JUST FOR THE MOMENT, PURPOSELY, YOU WOULD NEED THE EQUIVALENT IN 2024 OF 1.3 PENNIES OR A LITTLE OVER $200,000.

[01:00:03]

SO TWO FISCAL YEARS FROM NOW YOU WOULD THEN NEED THE ADDITIONAL TWO PENNIES.

I'M ROUNDING OFF HERE ABOUT TWO PENNIES IN 2025.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO SKIN THE CAT.

BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY IS THOSE ADDITIONAL NEEDS WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS. NOW, LET ME PUT ALL THIS IN PERSPECTIVE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU FOR A LOT OF YEARS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN THE RADIO, EVEN BEFORE THE RADIO AND THE COURTHOUSE NUMBERS WERE BETTER KNOWN.

WHEN WE FIRST INTRODUCED ALL OF THIS, WE SAID THAT AT BEST THE COUNTY WOULD NEED THE EQUIVALENT OF SEVEN PENNIES.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT BECAUSE OF INTEREST RATES AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THE PROJECT AND THE TIMING, YOU WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DO THAT FIRST AMOUNT OF BORROWING WE DID FOR THE COURTHOUSE WITHOUT ANY PENNIES.

SO WE REALLY GOT A WHOLE LOT OF BANG FOR OUR BUCK WHEN WE STARTED ALL OF THIS.

BY VIRTUE OF, AGAIN, THE RADIO SYSTEM, WE HAD ALWAYS SAID THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT THREE PENNIES.

SO THE GOOD NEWS, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING, IS THAT EVEN WITH THE OVERAGE, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL AND WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM BEING EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT A MILLION MORE THAN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT, WHICH WAS 3 MILLION AND PUTTING IN THE EQUIPMENT.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE EQUIVALENT IMPACT COULD BE CLOSER TO ALL IN ABOUT TWO AND ONE HALF TO THREE PENNIES.

SO AGAIN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS IS STILL A FAR BETTER RESULT THAN WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S STILL A RESULT THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL DOLLARS BY THE COUNTY.

SO JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS HERE.

WE JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF YOUR DEBT PORTFOLIO.

THIS BASICALLY SAYS HOW MUCH DEBT IS THERE WITH THE EXISTING AND THE ESTIMATED DEBTS, YOU'RE STILL IN A VERY SOLID POSITION.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS GRAPHIC SHOWS.

AND THEN THIS GRAPHIC SHOWS THAT BASICALLY, EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL DEBTS AT THE HIGH WATERMARK, WE'RE BASICALLY AT 10% OF OUR DEBT SERVICE TO EXPENDITURES.

THAT'S A SIMPLE WAY OF SAYING WHAT'S OUR CREDIT CARD LOOK LIKE? AND SO WE DON'T GO ABOVE $0.10 OF EVERY DOLLAR OF THE BUDGET FOR DEBT SERVICE WHEN WE FACTOR IN THE NEW ESTIMATED DEBT.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO GO PAST THAT FRANKLY, WE WANT TO BE ABOUT THERE.

THAT'S PLENTY. BUT THAT'S ALSO CONSIDERED A SOLID RESULT FOR A WELL RATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO I THINK THE TAKE AWAYS HERE IS THAT DEPENDING UPON HOW YOU LOOK AT THIS, WE'RE BASICALLY IN THE TWO AND ONE HALF TO THREE, FOUR AND A HALF PENNY IMPACT RANGE OVER WHAT COULD BE ONE YEAR, OVER THREE YEARS.

AS I SAID IN A MINUTE, A MINUTE AGO, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL PROJECTS, IT WAS SEVEN PENNIES ALONE FOR THE COURTHOUSE.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S A FRACTION OF THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WHILE WE BUILT IN A LITTLE BIT OF CUSHION.

I THINK THAT CUSHION COULD EASILY GO AWAY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND I CAN REMEMBER I DON'T WANT TO OVERLY SCARE US ALL, BUT IN 1987, ON APRIL 1ST, ALSO APRIL FOOLS DAY, FROM APRIL FOOL'S DAY OF 87 TILL JUNE 10TH OR 15, RATES WENT UP TWO AND ONE HALF PERCENT. IT WAS A REALLY TOUGH TIME.

AND FOR THOSE YOU MAY RECALL, THEN THAT FALL, THE STOCK MARKET CRASHED BACK IN 87.

IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING.

SO HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF WE DO, WE STILL NEED TO DO THESE THINGS.

WHAT WE MIGHT RECOMMEND IS A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE IN HOW WE ACTUALLY BORROW.

WE MIGHT RECOMMEND THAT AGAIN.

WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ALWAYS REFINANCE IF RATES COME DOWN DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN PUTTING INTO THE VARIOUS LOANS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH YOU ON FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, BECAUSE WE HAVE REFINANCED OVER THE YEARS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS APPROACH THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY.

[01:05:01]

WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, THE 22ND, REPRESENTING THIS PLAN.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR BLESSING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'D LIKE TO BE IN A MODE WHERE WE'RE TALKING TO THE RATING AGENCIES TO GET OUR RATINGS REAFFIRMED THE WEEK OF APRIL 18.

THAT MAY BE A LITTLE FAST, BUT WE'RE STILL HOPING TO DO THAT.

WE WOULD BE BACK OUT THE APRIL MEETING, WHICH IS ON THE 26TH, HAVING YOU APPROVE A PUBLIC HEARING, BECAUSE ANY TIME YOU DO DO MONEY, YOU NEED A PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE CAVEAT THAT BECAUSE IT GOES TO THE IDA, IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY REQUIRED.

SO IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE NECESSARY.

WE'LL LOOK TO BOND COUNSEL.

THEY MAY SAY WE MAY NOT NEED IT.

BUT AGAIN, WE JUST WANT FOLKS TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING NEW MONEY.

AND YOU MAY RECALL WE DO IT THROUGH THE IDA, WHICH ALSO NEEDS TO BE SCHEDULED BECAUSE IN VIRGINIA THAT IS THE STRUCTURE THAT THE COUNTIES BORROW THROUGH UNLESS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE STATE OR UNLESS IT'S A VOTER REFERENDUM.

AND THEN FINALLY, IF THAT SCHEDULE ROUGHLY HOLDS, WE SEE OURSELVES BEING ABLE TO BORROW HOPEFULLY EARLY MAY CLOSE THE END OF MAY.

I WOULD LIKE AT THE VERY LEAST TO HAVE US GET CLOSED A MONTH LATER, BY THE END OF JUNE.

SO WE WRAP IT UP IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.

SO THAT IS OUR THINKING [INAUDIBLE].

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS.

THE BOARD THAT'S A WHOLE LOT TO DIGEST, I REALIZE.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK IT'S BEEN A VERY THOROUGH LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.

AND ACTUALLY IT DOES LOOK BETTER THAN IT DID SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

WE WERE GOING FOR 7 CENTS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NO. COVERED EVERYTHING REAL GOOD.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T START THE COURTHOUSE THREE YEARS AGO.

WE WENT UP 6 OR 7% EVERY YEAR.

WE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY WE DON'T WANT TO DELAY ANYTHING NOW.

ALL RIGHT IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS THEN WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PLAN OF FINANCE AND AUTHORIZATION OF DAVENPORT TO PROCEED WITH PREPARATIONS FOR A COMPETITIVE PUBLIC MARKET SALE PRIOR TO THE END OF MAY.

JUST NOT ADD PRIOR TO THE END OF MAY.

JUST AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IF WE COULD JUST MAKE THAT A LITTLE MORE BROAD.

OK, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

ANYBODY HAVE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

OKAY. SECOND.

THERE'S A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

OPPOSED? NO.

UNANIMOUS WILL GO WITH THAT PLAN, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

NEXT THING IS A PUBLIC HEARING AFTER MR.

[11. Public Hearing - Advance Public Comment- FY 2023 Annual Budget]

I WILL BE DELIVERING TO YOU ALL THE INITIAL DRAFT BUDGET.

THEN WE HAVE SUBSEQUENT WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ON APRIL THE 13TH AND APRIL THE 20TH.

IN ADDITION, THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT AT BOTH OF THOSE WORKSHOPS.

SO CITIZENS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THOSE.

THEY BEGIN AT 6:30 P.M.

AND THEY ARE ALL HELD IN THIS ROOM ON APRIL THE 26TH, WHICH IS YOUR REGULAR MEETING ON THE FOURTH TUESDAY NEXT MONTH.

HOPEFULLY YOU ALL WILL FINALIZE YOUR DRAFT BUDGET TO BE READY TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE TIDEWATER NEWS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 4TH.

THE PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE CONDUCTED ON MONDAY, MAY THE 16TH, AND THEN THE BOARD WOULD

[01:10:04]

SO THAT'S THE PROCESS.

ALL RIGHT. SO AS YOU ALL KNOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR REVENUES IN YOUR BUDGET, THE LOCAL REVENUES COME FROM GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES.

SO I WANTED TO ZERO IN FIRST AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING HERE.

SO I KNOW THOSE FIGURES ARE LITTLE SMALL, BUT THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES BRING IN THE LION'S SHARE OF REVENUE.

IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 WE BUDGETED $12,739,760.

WE'VE HAD VERY MODEST GROWTH IN THAT REVENUE CATEGORY.

ASSUMING THE RATE STAYS EXACTLY WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW AT 89 CENT, THAT SAME RATE WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $115,460 MORE IN REVENUE, WHICH IS LESS THAN 1%.

IT ACTUALLY WORKS OUT TO 0.91%.

THE REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS IS EQUIPMENT THAT DEPRECIATES.

WE'RE ACTUALLY PROJECTING THAT TO GO DOWN BY ABOUT 7.22%.

AND THIS EQUIPMENT IS ASSESSED BY THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION.

SO THAT WOULD BE A NET REVENUE LOSS OF $154,509, PRETTY MUCH WIPING OUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAW IN GROWTH IN REAL ESTATE, PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, HOWEVER, ARE MUCH DIFFERENT AND IT'S JUST SIMPLY BEEN UNPRECEDENTED. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN TO VEHICLE PRICES, BOTH NEW AND USED AS A RESULT OF PANDEMIC SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, WHATEVER.

BUT MS. CARR HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT ASSESSED VALUES OF VEHICLES ARE JUST THROUGH THE ROOF. ON AVERAGE, VEHICLES ARE GOING UP ABOUT 30% AND SOME VEHICLES GOING UP BY AS MUCH AS 70 AND 80% IN VALUE.

SO WHAT I HAVE SUGGESTED HERE AND YOU SEE THAT HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, IS I THINK THIS BOARD REALLY NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT REDUCING ITS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE TO KEEP THOSE TAX BILLS FROM JUST GOING THROUGH THE ROOF ON DECEMBER THE 5TH.

SO WHAT I HAVE FACTORED IN HERE AT THIS POINT IS A REDUCTION IN THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FROM THE CURRENT RATE OF $5 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE DOWN TO $4.30.

SO EVEN WITH THAT REDUCTION IN THE RATE, YOU WOULD STILL SEE A NET GAIN IN REVENUE OF $233,610 OR 2.85%.

IF YOU DO NOT DIAL THAT RATE BACK, YOU'LL END UP SOMEWHERE AROUND 20% GROWTH IN REVENUE.

BUT THAT MEANS THE AVERAGE TAX BILL IS UP MORE THAN 20%.

MACHINERY AND TOOLS.

AGAIN, THIS IS A CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY THAT DEPRECIATES AS IT GETS OLDER.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NEW INVESTMENT MACHINERY AND TOOLS THIS YEAR.

SO OVERALL, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 4.71% LESS.

AND THAT TRANSLATES TO ABOUT $42,851 LESS COMING IN FOR MACHINERY THE MERCHANTS CAPITAL AND THE PENALTIES AND INTEREST.

YOU CAN SEE THERE VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN THOSE TWO.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, ONCE YOU FACTOR IN ALL THOSE CHANGES, THE NET IS $171,690, WHICH EQUATES TO 0.7% GROWTH IN GENERAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.

SO THE NEXT CATEGORY IS WHAT WE CLASSIFY AS OTHER LOCAL TAXES.

THIS INCLUDES SALES TAX, BUSINESS LICENSE, TAX, FRANCHISE TAXES, BANK STOCK, RECREATION, TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY.

I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY LINE THERE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BIG ONE IS THE LOCAL SALES TAX.

YOU CAN SEE WE EXPECT JUST A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN 5% GROWTH IN THAT CATEGORY, WHICH EQUATES TO IN ROUND NUMBERS OF ABOUT $60,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.

THE WHOLE CATEGORY, THE NET FOR OTHER LOCAL TAXES, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 6.23% GROWTH IN ROUND NUMBERS, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $126,000.

PERMITS, FEES AND LICENSES.

WE EXPECT TO SEE A DECLINE IN THESE BASED ON THE TRENDS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

IT'S NOT A BIG TICKET ITEM ANYWAY.

IT GENERATES LESS THAN $200,000 A YEAR.

[01:15:03]

FINES AND FORFEITURES, WHICH INCLUDES THE COURT FINES AND FEES, THE CITATIONS THAT ARE WRITTEN BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT GO TO THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE COURT HAS SECURITY FEES. ALL IN TOTALED, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 8.34% GROWTH IN THIS CATEGORY, SLIGHTLY LESS THAN $40,000 NET GROWTH.

NO CHANGE REALLY IN THE INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS THAT GENERATES ABOUT $12,000 A YEAR.

THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND THEY'RE REALLY TWO LINES HERE THAT I WILL POINT TO THAT ARE BRING IN THE MAJORITY OF REVENUE UNDER THIS CATEGORY.

ONE IS THE AMBULANCE FEES.

YOU MAY REMEMBER WE OUTSOURCED THE BILLING TO A THIRD PARTY COMPANY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THESE REVENUES HAVE GROWN BASED ON THEIR PERFORMANCE.

THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN COLLECTING THOSE REVENUES.

WE'RE EXPECTING ABOUT ALMOST 8% GROWTH IN AMBULANCE FEES COMING UP NEXT YEAR.

AND THEY BRING IN ABOUT $444,000 A YEAR IN REVENUE.

THE OTHER BIG ONE IS THE ONE THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT FREQUENTLY IS THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FEE. THAT FEE WE BUDGETED $1,030,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 BASED ON THE COLLECTION RATE THAT IS EDWARDS MENTIONED EARLIER TONIGHT.

WE'RE EXPECTING THAT TO BE ABOUT $1.2 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2023.

SO IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR YOUR BUDGET.

AND THE LAST REAL LOCAL CATEGORY IS THE MISCELLANEOUS ITEM.

THIS IS REVENUE THAT COMES FROM THE CITY OF FRANKLIN FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE COST FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS THAT WE SHARE.

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY SHERIFF.

THEY PAY IN ROUND NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN $275,000 A YEAR, BUT THEIR SHARE OF THE COST. THE OTHER BIG LINE THERE IS THE REVENUE THAT THEY SHARE WITH US FROM WHAT'S COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE GOLDEN MILE, THE WAL-MART ARMORY DRIVE SECTION IN FRANKLIN THAT GENERATES, IN ROUND NUMBERS, ABOUT $700,000 A YEAR.

SO OVERALL, VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN THAT CATEGORY, NET LESS THAN 0.25% AND A LITTLE BIT MORE IN $2,000. SO WHEN YOU PUT ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, THE COLUMN ON THE LEFT IS WHAT WAS BUDGETED IN FISCAL YEAR 22 AND THE WHITE TEXT.

THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT AND THE YELLOW TEXT IS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. YOU ADD ALL THOSE NUMBERS UP AND WE'RE EXPECTING IT TO GO FROM $35.66 MILLION TO $$$$$$$35.88 MILLION.

IN ROUND NUMBERS, 0.67% GROWTH.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. VERY THOROUGH.

VERY GOOD. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND I WOULD MENTION THAT WE HAVE TWO EXTRA MEETINGS SCHEDULED THIS YEAR TO GO OVER THE BUDGET AT WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS.

WITH THAT IN MIND, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MY NAME IS JOHN BIRCH, LIVED IN SEABROOK.

I COULD BEAT THIS DEAD HORSE AGAIN.

BUT UNTIL WE DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU'LL HEAR THIS FROM ME AS LONG AS I'M BREATHING.

THIS IN 2012.

THE BOARD WHICH.

ONE, TWO.

TWO OF YOU WERE ON THE BOARD THEN AND DALLAS, WHO IS NOT HERE.

AND I PRAY FOR HIS RECOVERY.

THE TRASH THING WHEN IT WAS IMPLEMENTED.

I WAS TOLD BY MY REPRESENTATIVE AT THAT TIME, AND IT WAS SAID AT THIS BOARD MEETING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY THING.

AND WHAT I'M ASKING NEED TO DO IS IS THE RIGHT THING.

THIS WAS A TAX THAT WAS MEANT TO TAX POOR PEOPLE.

I WAS TOLD THAT BY A PERSON.

I WON'T SAY WHO IT WAS.

BECAUSE THEY SAID, WELL, THE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING THEIR SHARE OF TAX.

NOW, THIS IS IS A TRAGEDY, IN MY OPINION.

NUMBER ONE, THE BOARD GAVE THE WORD AND TO ME, Y'ALL OBLIGATED TO LISTEN TO WHAT WHAT THEY

[01:20:09]

AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY PROBABLY WILL AGREE WITH MY ANSWER.

BUT THAT'S THAT'S ALL RIGHT TOO.

I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP AT LEAST TWO YEARS.

A CIGARETTE TAX.

EVERY MINUTE THAT WE DON'T IMPLEMENT A CIGARETTE TAX WE'RE LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE.

NOW I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH REVENUE IT WOULD GENERATE, BUT BASED ON FRANKLIN'S WHAT THEY GENERATE AND THEY'RE SMALL, THEY'RE ABOUT A THIRD THE SIZE OF US.

WE COULDN'T GET POSSIBLY AS MUCH OF A CENT'S WORTH OF REVENUE BASED ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. I'M JUST GUESSING.

BUT WHY ON EARTH DON'T WE DO SOMETHING? I MEAN, THIS MONEY OUT THERE AND I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, MY WIFE IS A SMOKER AND SHE WILL PAY THE EXTRA $0.30, $0.40 PACK, TRAGICALLY BUT SHE WILL.

THAT'S ONE SOURCE.

THE SECOND SOURCE, WHICH I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST.

I DON'T NEED THE DUMPS OPEN THREE DAYS A WEEK.

I SAY WE CLOSE THEM.

ONE OF THE THREE DAYS AND SAVE THE LABOR THAT WE HAVE TO PAY OUT FOR THE ATTENDANTS TO MANAGE THESE PLACES.

AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TRASH PROBLEM WE HAVE ON ROADS, BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THAT ARE GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.

AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME OTHER ACTION TO STOP THEM.

BUT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DUMPSITE IS OPEN AT LEAST ONE DAY A WEEKEND.

AND THEN THERE AND THERE WOULD BE A DUMP SITE OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

SO SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING THEY'VE GOT TO TAKE.

THEY CAN TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE OR JUST WAIT, PUT IT IN THE TRASH CAN AND TAKE IT WHEN WHEN THE SITE IS OPEN.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT COMMON SENSE, A REVENUE WHERE WE COULD DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT THAT.

NOW I WAS I DIDN'T KNOW THE INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY TAX WOULD COME UP.

BUT I'M ADVOCATING THAT WE DO NOT CHANGE TAX RATES.

THAT WE LET THAT TAX RATE STAY IN EFFECT AT $5.

AND WHEN A CAR AND I CALL COMMISSIONER REVENUE'S OFFICE IF I'M WRONG SOMEBODY CAN CORRECT ME. THE STATE PAYS 38% OF THE TAXES, OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY, OR A VEHICLES UP TO $20,000. SO IF, LIKE, MY WIFE'S CAR WAS WORTH THAT WAS WORTH $9,000 AND NOW IT'S WORTH 14. THE STATE WOULD PAY 38% OF THAT.

THAT'S NOT CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSIONER OFFICE TOLD.

THE STATE FROZE WHAT THEY PAY IN PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF MANY YEARS AGO.

SO AS THE VALUE OF VEHICLES INCREASES, THE PERCENTAGE THAT IT COVERS GOES DOWN.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT NUMBER GO DOWN EVERY YEAR.

RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S. THAT'S NOT WHAT.

I'M SORRY.

THAT'S. BUT YOU WON'T GET ANY MORE STATE REVENUE.

RIGHT. BUT THAT THAT'S.

I CAN AFFORD TO PAY IT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. BUT SOME PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THAT $200.

MORE THAN LIKE THE ONES THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A CAR ANYWAY.

ALL THE REST OF THEM ARE UP IN THE NINETIES.

LIKE BRIEFLY JUST ADDRESS TWO THINGS YOU BROUGHT UP SMOKING CIGARETTE TOBACCO TAX, VIRGINIA LAW. WE CANNOT.

THAT IS NOT AN OPTION.

WE CAN NOW.

OKAY, THAT'S NEW.

GETTING TO THE DUMP SITES, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE PUT THE ATTENDANTS IN AND LOCK THE THINGS UP, WE WERE HAULING 3 TO 4 TIMES THE TRASH THAT ISLE OF [INAUDIBLE] WAS HAULING WITH

[01:25:03]

WE HAVE SAVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY BY THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW.

MAYBE THE THINGS WE NEED TO FIX.

I'M JUST SAYING CLOSE THE SITE.

I ONLY HAVE IT OPEN TWO DAYS A WEEK INSTEAD OF THREE.

THAT WOULD BE ONE DAY.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY $11 DOLLARS.

WAS IT $9 OR $11 DOLLARS AN HOUR TO THE ATTENDANTS FOR 12.

WELL, MINIMUM WAGE WENT UP.

WHAT IS IT 11 DOLLARS? 15? IT'S 11 RIGHT NOW? NOW. WHAT WAS I SAYING? ANYWAY I'M NOT ADVOCATING.

I HAVE IN THE PAST I ADVOCATED I AM NOT ADVOCATING THAT WE GET TOTALLY GET RID OF THE ATTENDANTS, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I THINK.

I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING CLOSE AND ONLY HAVE IT OPEN TWO DAYS A WEEK.

AND IF SOMEBODY'S GOT TRASH, THEY HAVE GOT TO TAKE.

THEY CAN WAIT. THEY CAN GO TO ONE THAT'S OPEN.

AND LIKE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE OPEN EVERY ALL BUT WHAT, FOR TWO DAYS A WEEK? ONE DAY? ALL SITES OPEN THREE DAYS A WEEK.

NO I MEAN, THERE'S ONE OPEN SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTY ALL BUT MONDAYS, RIGHT? CORRECT. RIGHT. RIGHT. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IF YOU GOT TO TAKE IT, IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT SMELLS BAD AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DUMP, YOU CAN GO LIKE [INAUDIBLE] WHERE I WOULD GO IF THE CITY WAS CLOSED.

NOW THAT'S ENOUGH ON THAT.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS.

YOU GUYS.

AND MS. UPDIKE CAN DO THE RIGHT THING.

DO WHAT THE BOARD SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

STOP THAT TAX.

IT IS UNFAIR.

IT INAPPROPRIATELY, IT TAXES THE POOR.

OH. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ALL THE POOR PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE NOT A BUNCH OF NO GOOD BUMS. SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.

BUT ANYWAY, IT'S ENOUGH OF THAT.

WE'LL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE DAVENPORT PEOPLE.

THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

THEY HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP US WITHIN OUR BUDGET ALMOST.

BUT THE BAD THING ABOUT IT IS THEY SUCKED ALL THE WIND OUT.

THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO GET REVENUE EXCEPT TO RAISE TAXES.

THEY'VE FINAGLED. REFINANCED DONE.

THEY'RE AMAZING. NO.

BUT I WORRY ABOUT THE SCHOOLS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS, BECAUSE IF THE SCHOOLS ASK FOR ANY MORE MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARD PRESSED TO GET IT.

AND THAT BRINGS UP ANOTHER QUICK COMMENT ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, OUR STATE CONSTITUTION AND I'M NOT A SCHOLAR OF THE CONSTITUTION, ADVOCATES THE SEPARATION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR A REASON.

YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO WORRY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

EVERY PROJECT GO OVER IT.

BUT I'M NOT SAYING YOU DON'T DESERVE AN ANSWER WHEN YOU ASK FOR IT.

A REASONABLE, BUT WHAT I THINK IS THE SCHOOL BOARD'S ISSUE IS THEY THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO CROSS OVER INTO THEIR AREA.

AND I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER.

I MEAN, I THINK IF AS PRIVATE CITIZENS, YOU'RE CONCERNED, YOU TAKE THE SAME ROUTE I WOULD AND GO TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK.

YOU KNOW I'M HOPING FOR OUR CHILDREN'S SAKE THAT WE CAN SETTLE THIS, WHATEVER YOU CALL IT , DISAGREEMENT AND OVER NOTHING.

LIKE A ROOF LEAKING.

I MEAN, THAT'S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT'S THE SCHOOL BOARD'S.

YOU, I MEAN, IF I HAD.

I'VE GOT MY LAST GRANDDAUGHTER IS AT SOUTH HAMPTON.

ACTUALLY, SHE'S GONE TO THE [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL THIS YEAR, BUT.

OH, BUT I'M STILL CONCERNED FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BATHROOMS AND THIS OTHER STUFF HAS GOT TO BE SETTLED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND IN THE PAST, I HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO VOTING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND BUT I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.

I AM TOTALLY ON BOARD.

TONY CLARKE AND I HAD SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS OVER THAT ISSUE OVER THE YEARS.

[01:30:01]

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF, MR. CHAIRMAN. ASH KUTCHINS, GARDEN POINT ROAD.

AND DR. EDWARDS IS MY SUPERVISOR.

I WAS TRYING TO TAKE NOTES DURING THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE FINANCE, AND I WROTE DOWN EXISTING DEBT 5.9 MILLION AND I MIGHT HAVE MISWRITTEN IT.

DID HE SAY EXISTING DEBT SERVICE WAS 5.9 MILLION? THAT'S CORRECT. THE SERVICE NOT HOW MUCH MONEY PAYMENTS ANNUALLY? 5.9 MILLION.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WELL, NEXT QUESTION. SINCE HE MENTIONED VEHICLES.

A FEW YEARS AGO, TWO OR THREE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AGO, SEVERAL TIMES HERE AT MEETINGS, I HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT YOU HAD DONATED MONEY TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO BUY BUSSES AND THEY DIDN'T BUY BUSSES.

AND THEN WE STARTED WHERE THE SUPERVISOR BOUGHT THE BUSSES.

HAS THAT BEEN A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE NOW THAT WE PAY FOR THE BUSSES ARE WE BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE? THE FLEET IS MUCH MORE CURRENT THAN IT ONCE WAS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND A TRASH FEE.

THE PREVIOUS TREASURER, WHEN SHE WOULD COME UP HERE AND COMMENT ON THE PERCENTAGES OF TAXES COLLECTED.

I ASKED HER IF SHE COULD CONVERT IT TO DOLLARS.

AND SHE DID. AND WHEN SHE MADE HER REPORTS, SHE WOULD SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRASH FEE, 85.24%, WELL TO ME THAT MEANS 15% IS UNPAID.

AND SHE WOULD SAY HOW MANY DOLLARS WERE OUTSTANDING, NOT PAID FOR THE TRASH FEE AND THE PERSONAL PROPERTY. SO.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT OUR CURRENT TREASURER DO THE SAME THING AND NOT ONLY GIVE US PERCENTAGES BUT GIVE US DOLLARS.

THEN ONE OTHER COMMENT ABOUT MR. JOHNSON'S PRESENTATION.

ALL I SAW WAS REVENUE.

WAS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT EXPENSES IN THERE AND I MISSED IT? THAT'LL BE LATER. MY FINAL QUESTION IS THE 14 MILLION THAT RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND FOR THE THREE ITEMS, THE COURTHOUSE, THE RADIO, AND THE VEHICLES.

IS THAT GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET? YES. OK.

THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M COREY MCCRAY.

I'M THE PRESIDENT AT CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

I AM HERE TO REALLY EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOU ALL FULLY FUNDING EACH YEAR OUR REQUEST AT CAMP.

THOSE RESOURCES GO A LONG WAY.

I'M ALSO PROUD TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOLS, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST, THE SECOND HIGHEST, I'M SORRY, OF THE NINE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE SERVE, THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS AT CAMP.

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WILL BE 28 STUDENTS WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE, GETTING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, BUT ALSO GETTING A CREDENTIAL AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR STUDY CERTIFICATES FROM CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR RESOURCES CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE YEARS BASED ON OUR REQUEST.

YOU'RE GOING IT GOES A LONG WAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE EXPANSION OF SERVICES BASED ON THE WORKFORCE DEMANDS THAT EXIST. WE HAVE NOTICED THIS YEAR ALONE, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, ABOUT 140% INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE REALLY ATTEMPTING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE BUSINESS NEEDS IN THE AREA.

THESE FUNDS GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING WITH THAT.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO EXPAND AND ADDRESS INDUSTRIES SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION, ROBOTICS AND THE LIKE.

SO AGAIN, MY BRIEF COMMENTS IS REALLY WITH THE GOAL OF EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR YOUR FUNDING OF THE REQUESTED AMOUNT EACH YEAR AT CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THIS BOARD'S APPRECIATION.

YOU GUYS DO A TERRIFIC JOB.

THANK YOU. I HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU.

I AM VERY GLAD THAT YOU'RE IN THE COMMUNITY HERE.

YOU HAVE UPGRADED THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO PROGRESS AND KEEP

[01:35:04]

AND I MIGHT SAY MY SON IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE GETTING HIS ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. ALL RIGHT.

VERY NICE. WE'LL SEE YOU AT GRADUATION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? HI THERE.

I'M WHITT HARPER I'D FIRST LIKE TO SAY I EMPATHIZE WITH ALL OF Y'ALL HAVING TO DO THIS BUDGET. AND ALSO I HATE TO COME ASK FOR MORE MONEY, BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S A WORTHY CAUSE. I CURRENTLY VOLUNTEER FOR THE WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC AND ON BEHALF OF THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE PATIENTS THEY SERVE, THEY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR BUDGET REQUESTS THIS YEAR.

IN THE PAST, THE COUNTY HAS INVESTED IN THE CLINIC AND WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL YOUR FUNDING OF $25,000 FOR THE 2021 AND 2022 FISCAL YEAR WAS VITAL FOR OUR CONTINUED COST OF CARE AND GROWING COST OF CARE.

YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR 2022 2023 WOULD HELP US TO SERVE THE VERY HIGH RISK PATIENTS WHO FRANKLY NEED US TO HELP KEEP THEM OUT OF THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND WORK TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE NEEDS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

10% OF OUR PATIENTS ARE FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND IN 2021 WE SERVED 135 COUNTY RESIDENTS THROUGH 1,123 VISITS AND 65 DENTAL PATIENTS THROUGH 246 PATIENTS.

THAT'S A NEW THING THE CLINIC SAW FOR THIS PAST YEAR IS TO HAVE A DENTIST ON HAND.

AND THAT'S, AS YOU KNOW, IS IT INCREASES OR DEALS WITH THE HEALTH FOR A WHOLE PERSON TO GO AHEAD AND START THERE AS A GOOD SPOT.

SINCE OPENING OUR DOORS AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THE CLINIC HAS PROVIDED CARE TO MORE THAN 6,600 UNDUPLICATED PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TREATED OVER THROUGH OVER 190,000 MEDICAL, DENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND ELIGIBILITY VISITS AND PHARMACY CONSULTS.

THESE PATIENTS HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 285,000 FREE 30 DAY MEDICATIONS WITH A RETAIL VALUE OF OVER 53.5 MILLION.

WE HAVE SEEN A GROWING DEMAND IN OUR DENTAL AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. WE EXPECT THIS NEED TO INCREASE AND ARE WORKING TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY THROUGH EXPANDING OUR SERVICES. AS YOU KNOW, OUR PATIENTS ARE CRITICALLY ILL AND THE CLINIC ALLOWS THEM TO RECEIVE CONSISTENT CARE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO RECLAIM AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND LIVES. I WANT YOU TO BRIEFLY CONSIDER JUST ONE OF OUR PATIENTS IN THE PAST AND FOR ANONYMITY SAKE, WE'LL CALL HER DENISE.

DENISE WAS HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WHAT TO SPEND HER INCOME ON FOOD, RENT, ELECTRICITY OR HEALTH CARE TO MANAGE YOUR DIABETES.

UNFORTUNATELY, HER CHOICE WAS NOT HER HEALTH.

HER PREVIOUS PHYSICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE HER WITH THE INSULIN SHE NEEDED, AND SHE COULDN'T AFFORD IT HERSELF.

SHE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COMPLICATIONS FROM HER UNMANAGED DIABETES.

UPON HER DISCHARGE FROM [INAUDIBLE] A NURSE SCHEDULED HER A FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT WITH WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

SHE'S BEEN A PATIENT SINCE 2017 AND SAYS SHE WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY BECAUSE SHE GETS THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE AT THE CLINIC.

HER DIABETES HAS BEEN WELL MANAGED, AS HAVE HER OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT DEVELOPED FROM LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

CURRENTLY, SHE REQUIRES 14 DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS, WHICH ARE ALL SERVED FREE.

HOWEVER, DENISE DONATES WHEN SHE CAN FOR HER PRESCRIPTIONS.

DUE TO HER COMPLICATED MEDICAL HISTORY, DENISE HAS UTILIZED THE CLINIC'S MEDICAL, DENTAL AND PHARMACY SERVICES AND HAS ALSO BEEN REFERRED TO A SPECIALIST FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT.

SHE HAS ALSO BEEN REFERRED TO ONE OF OUR LOCAL OPHTHALMOLOGY PARTNERS, VIRGINIA EYE CONSULTANTS, DUE TO HER DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BLINDNESS IF LEFT UNTREATED. THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY ALLOWS US TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN FOR FOLKS LIKE DENISE.

WE SERVE 2,200 SQUARE MILES AND OUR SERVICE AREA HAS FRANKLY NEEDED TO INCREASE WITH THE PANDEMIC. WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER AN INCREASED FUNDING OF $43,900, WHICH WOULD COVER THE ANNUAL COST OF CARE FOR 30 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PATIENTS THROUGH ABOUT 275 VISITS.

OUR ANNUAL COST OF CARE PER PATIENT IS UP FROM 1,450 FROM ABOUT 1,200, WHICH WAS PRIOR TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE MISSION OF WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC AND SINCERELY INVITE EACH OF YOU IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT'S THERE, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

THEY'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A TOUR.

IT'S AMAZING TO SEE, PARTICULARLY ON A DAY WHEN FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY IN THERE USING IT.

IF YOU GO THERE DURING BUSINESS HOURS, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO SEE IT TO SEE ALL THEY CAN DO.

[01:40:04]

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS, GENTLEMEN? THANKS MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE SOLID WASTE FEE AGAIN.

IN 2012, ON MAY 23RD, YOU ALL SAID THAT WHEN THE TIPPING FEES WENT DOWN, THAT YOU WOULD GET RID OF THE FEE.

AND YOU ALSO SAID THAT AFTER ONE YEAR, THE FEE WOULD DISAPPEAR.

IN MY OFFICE, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING IN TO PAY THE $200 FEE.

MANY WITH THE QUESTION OF WHEN IS IT GOING AWAY? IT WAS PROMISED THAT IT WAS GOING AWAY AND IT IS NOT.

IF MONEY HADN'T BEEN TAKEN FOR SOME OTHER AREAS OF SERVICE OR MATERIAL OR WHATEVER IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM, THERE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN A NEED TO CHARGE A $200 SOLID WASTE FEE IN ORDER TO HAUL THE TRASH FROM THE DUMP SITE TO THE TRANSFER STATIONS.

AS YOU WELL KNOW YOUR HONESTY AND YOUR INTEGRITY IS BASED ON THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE $200 DOLLAR FEE.

BUT THE FACT IS, YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO AWAY WITH IT AFTER ONE YEAR.

IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE SAVINGS WHEN THE TIPPING FEE WENT DOWN WERE PUT IN THE RESERVE TO BUILD IT BACK UP, PER MIKE JOHNSON.

THERE ARE SEVERAL YEARS THERE WERE NO FUNDS PUT IN THE RESERVE FROM THE SAVINGS.

WHEN YOU PUT IT IN A GENERAL FUND, IF YOU'VE GOT TO SPEND IT TO PAY BILLS, IT'S NOT BEING PUT IN A RESERVE.

AGAIN. IT'S TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

IT'S TIME TO DO AWAY WITH THAT FEE.

AND YOU WERE PROPOSING TONIGHT TO DROP THE PERSONAL PROPERTY RATE TO $4.30.

KEEP IT AT WHERE IT'S AT.

DO AWAY WITH THE $200 DOLLAR FEE.

AGAIN, YOUR HONESTY, INTEGRITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE THIS COUNTY. AND I APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING DOING THE RIGHT THING AGAIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? PUT IT ON A TIME LIMIT A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I GOT TO WATCH MYSELF.

I HAD A KNOT UP ON ONE SIDE.

I DON'T WANT A KNOT ON THE OTHER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THE BIGGEST THING.

I THINK EVERYBODY AND NOBODY'S MENTIONED IT.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMY WE'RE LIVING IN.

THE ECONOMY WE ARE LOOKING AT.

AND YOU CAN PUT YOURSELF IN THESE SHOES AND MR. WHITE CAN VERIFY IT.

HOW MUCH INCREASE IN GAS IS COSTING HIS COMPANY? THAT IS, IT IS ESTIMATED.

AND I ALWAYS ESTIMATED A LOWER THAN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THAT IS IT'S GOING TO COST AN AVERAGE CITIZEN OVER $4,000 DOLLARS.

WHERE IS THAT $4,000 DOLLARS GOING TO COME FROM? YOU DON'T THINK THEY AT LEAST I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE IT $4,000 SITTING AROUND IN A KITTY READY TO BE SPENT.

YOU GOT TO CONSIDER THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY AND DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THEIR TAXES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, AS LOW AS POSSIBLE WITH A FLAT TAX.

AND NOT LET THE I MEAN, THE GUYS THAT CAN TALK YOU INTO

[01:45:02]

WHO'S [INAUDIBLE] ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT? THE GUY THAT'S GOING TO PAINT A [INAUDIBLE].

SO FOR GOODNESS SAKES, THE MINIMUM I WOULD LIKE TO SEE [INAUDIBLE] TO BE IDEAL TO REDUCE IT TO SOME ACROSS THE BOARD BUT MINIMUM OF A FLAT TAX.

WE CAN'T TAKE ON MORE NEW PROJECTS AND ADD ADDITIONAL MONIES TO EVERYBODY FOR EVERYBODY. AND SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PAY FOR IT.

AND [INAUDIBLE] REPORT THEIR PAYING PRETTY GOOD.

KEEP IT UP WITH THE TAXES THAT WERE CURRENT ASSESSED.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR WHEN THEY'RE LIVING EXPENSES IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST $4,000 MORE.

I KNOW I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND I KNOW WHEN I PULL UP TO A GAS STATION, ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, IT TAKES ABOUT $100 TO FILL UP A GAS TANK.

WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM? I NEEDED APPLYING FOR ANY KIND OF JOBS TO PAY ME SOMETHING TO HELP ME PAY THE BILLS.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS.

GOODNESS SAKES.

THE MINIMUM OR THE MAXIMUM, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, IS KEEP FLAT TAXES.

AND DO NOT INCREASE THE BURDEN ON THE POOR, UNDERPRIVILEGED PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY.

YOU CAN'T. WE CAN'T GET.

PUT THEM UNDER THE RUG IN ON TIMES LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT ANOTHER YEAR COMING.

SO LET THEM LIVE, PLEASE.

ANYBODY ELSE.

ALL RIGHT, LAST CALL.

IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THEN.

WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

THANK YOU FOR ALL FOR PARTICIPATING.

NUMBER 12 REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD FROM THE FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON FAIR ASSOCIATION.

[12. Request to Address the Board- Franklin-Southampton Fair Foundation]

BUT ANYWAY, GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

MY NAME IS LEANN WILLIAMS AND I RESIDE IN CORTLAND.

I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THE FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR BOARD. I HAVE SERVED 35 YEARS AS A FAIR BOARD MEMBER, AND I'M BLESSED THAT THE BOARD CONTINUES TO KEEP ME.

IN THE 35 YEARS, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A VERY GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO SUPPORT US.

AND WE'VE JUST COME TO REALIZE IT'S BEEN OVER TEN YEARS SINCE WE'VE REQUESTED ANYTHING DIFFERENT OR NEEDED ANYTHING, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW.

I GUESS IT CAME MORE TO LIGHT FOR ME, AT LEAST AS WE WENT TO A FAIR BOARD ASSOCIATION IN JANUARY. AND YOU TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OR DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND REALIZE JUST HOW MANY COUNTIES COUNTING OUR ADJACENT COUNTY THAT PAYS PAID MEMBERS PAY PEOPLE TO RUN THE FAIR, AND ACTUALLY THEY DO ALL THE FUNDING TO RUN THE FAIR.

SO ANYWAY, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST WE JUST NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

I BELIEVE IF I'M CORRECT, MIKE HAS GIVEN YOU ALL A LETTER.

IF YOU'LL JUST BEAR WITH ME, IF I CAN READ IT OUT LOUD TO YOU.

THE FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR WAS FOUNDED IN 1981, IS ASSOCIATION OF STOCKHOLDERS, WHOSE MISSION WAS TO ENHANCE ENGAGEMENT THE COUNTY'S YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH ITS GROWING FOUR H PROGRAM. FOR OVER FOUR DECADES, THE FAIRS CONTINUE THIS MISSION EVERY YEAR, GROWING IN SIZE AND OFFERING MORE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FRANKLIN IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

ALL THIS WORK IS DONE THROUGH A GROUP OF 30 VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE AS THE FAIR'S 100% VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO HANDLE THE ADMINISTRATOR, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATING FUNCTIONS, MANAGING THE GROUNDS AND OTHER EVENTS WHICH HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THE BOARD IS ASSISTED BY NEARLY 100 OTHER VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSIST WITH THE FAIR AND ANY NUMBER OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

[01:50:03]

ALL OF THESE EVENTS ARE STAFFED BY THE VOLUNTEERS MENTIONED ABOVE.

THE FAIRGROUNDS IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY AS A LOW COST OPTION FOR RENTAL FOR FAMILY REUNIONS, DOG SHOWS, WEDDINGS, DANCES, HORSE SHOWS AND OTHER FUNDRAISERS. OVER 16 ACRES OF PROPERTY IS MAINTAINED BY THE FAIR'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING TWO EXHIBITION BUILDINGS, A STATE OF THE ART MAIN STAGE, WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLIMENTED AS THE BEST STAGE ON THE EAST COAST BY MANY.

A LIVESTOCK BARN AND A LARGE PARKING AREA FOR AT LEAST A DECADE.

THE COUNTY FAIRS RECEIVED LEVEL FUNDING FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,275.

AND WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS.

HOWEVER, WITH THE INCREASED COST OF MATERIALS AND OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO OPERATE THE DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONS OF THE FAIR, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME THIS AMOUNT IS INCREASED.

BELOW, YOU'LL FIND OUR PROPOSAL FOR INCREASING SOUTHAMPTON'S COUNTY CONTRIBUTION TO THE FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR.

DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2021, THE TOTAL COST DROP RATE FAIRGROUNDS WAS $170,606.94 OUT OF THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION.

THE REMAINDER OF THESE FUNDS CAME FROM OBTAINING SPONSORSHIPS, HOSTING SEVERAL FUNDRAISERS, BUILDING GROUND RENTALS, AND THEN COME UP OF THE FAIR ITSELF.

THE COUNTY FAIR MAKES UP MAJORITY OF THEM COVER THE INCOME THAT COVERS THESE EXPENSES, HOWEVER, IS VERY STRICTLY CONTINGENT ON THE WEATHER DURING THE WEEK OF THE FAIR.

WHICH YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THAT HAPPENS OFTEN.

THE OPERATING EXPENSE REQUESTING $11,000 FOR THE COST OF UTILITIES AND INSURANCE.

FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS $10,000 SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS OF THE FACILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR WILL BE USED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL LIGHTING IN THE LARGE EXHIBITION BUILDING AND TO UPGRADE THE WI-FI THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF 3000, COSTS OF REPAIRS TO BUILDINGS AND GENERAL UPKEEP OF THE GROUNDS. AND THIS IS A TOTAL OF $24,000.

THE NEW FIGURE ONLY REPRESENTS 14% OF THE TOTAL COST TO OPERATE THE GROUNDS AND ALL THE EVENTS WHICH GENERATE AN UNKNOWN ECONOMIC IMPACT THROUGH TAXES AT HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THE FAIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS TO MAKE OUR FAIR ARGUABLY THE BEST IN THE REGION.

WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS WORK THROUGH AN ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? AND I JUST HAVE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M NOT SURE REALLY IF YOU GO TO THE FAIR, I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN, BUT I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU THESE FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE I END, AND I KNOW YOU'RE READY TO.

HOW MANY EVENTS ALLOW FIVE YEAR OLD'S TO BRING EVERY SINGLE THING THEY MADE OF VACATION SCHOOL, VACATION, BIBLE SCHOOL, AND THEY GET MONEY AND RIBBONS.

HOW MANY EVENTS IN OUR COUNTY GET TO SEE CHILDREN RAISE ANIMALS FOR MONTHS TO SHOW IN THE FAIR? THESE CHILDREN ARE CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVE MONEY TO HELP WITH COLLEGE EDUCATION.

HOW MANY EVENTS ALLOW LITTLE GIRLS AND YOUNG LADIES TO APPEAR ON A STAGE AND WEAR A CROWN AND EVERYONE GETS A TROPHY? HOW MANY EVENTS ALLOW ANYONE TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS ON A STAGE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE? HOW MANY EVENTS GIVE TOP QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT FOR $10 THAT WILL COST $100 IN THE CITY? HOW MANY EVENTS IN OUR COUNTY ALLOW OUR CITIZENS TO JUST VISIT FOR FOUR DAYS AND SEE FRIENDS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IN YEARS? HOW MANY EVENTS HAVE PEOPLE SCHEDULED THEIR VACATION AROUND THE STATES AND HOW MANY EVENTS ALLOW OUR FARMERS TO DISPLAY THEIR CROPS TO THE WHOLE COUNTY? I HOPE THIS SHOWS YOU JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR COUNTY.

THANK YOU. WELL, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON YOUR RENT.

I KNOW IT'S USED ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND AND IT IS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SO WHAT IS IS THERE GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN THE RENT? WELL, IT'S JUST LIKE INCREASING OUR BUDGET.

IT'S HARD TO DO THAT WHEN BECAUSE OF A LOT OF OUR EVENTS, THEY'RE FUNDRAISING FOR CANCER FOUNDATION OR THE SCHOOL OR AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S PRIVATE, IT'S NOT SO HARD FAMILY REUNIONS, BUT IT'S IT'S HARD TO RAISE THAT. AND WE HAVE RAISED IT SOMEWHAT, SOMEWHAT THIS YEAR.

BUT AGAIN, GENERALLY, WHAT WE MAKE IS THE ELECTRICITY IS THE ONES THAT DON'T CUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONERS. SO AS FAR AS A PROFIT OF WHAT WE MAKE ON THE RENTALS IS NOT THAT MUCH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? A LOT OF A LOT OF CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS USE IT [INAUDIBLE] USES IT AND WE KIND OF TRADE OUT,

[01:55:07]

SO I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

YOU DON'T. YOU DON'T THEY DON'T CHARGE EVERYBODY RENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF CIVIC ORIENTED.

VOTING USE IT FOR VOTING.

THE COUNTY USES FOR A LOT.

SO WE TRY AND YOU YOU OWN OUR LAND.

WE ONLY OWN OUR BUILDINGS.

SO IT'S WE'RE KEEPING YOUR PROPERTY VERY NICE LOOKING.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER 13 MEMORANDUM AGREEMENT WITH THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT

[13. Memorandum(s) of Agreement with the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC)]

MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUMMARIZE THAT? SURE. SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY TWO MEMORANDUMS OF AGREEMENT IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE.

THE FIRST RELATES TO THE REGIONAL GROUNDWATER MITIGATION PROGRAM.

SO THIS IS A RENEWAL.

WE ACTUALLY ENTERED INTO THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT IN AUGUST OF 1994, AND THIS AGREEMENT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RENEWED IN 2000, 2006, 2010 AND 2017.

THE 2017 AGREEMENT TECHNICALLY EXPIRED ON DECEMBER THE 31ST OF 2020, AND THIS RENEWED AGREEMENT WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND EXTEND THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST OF 2025.

SO WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS, IS THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION PROVIDES GROUNDWATER, HYDROLOGY AND COMPUTER MODELING EXPERTISE TO THE 15 PARTICIPATING OR 18 PARTICIPATING MEMBER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SO THE HAMPTON ROADS REGIONAL MITIGATION PROGRAM WOULD INCLUDE ANALYZES OF THE IMPACTS OF GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWALS AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.

SO FOR INSTANCE, IF A PROPERTY OWNER IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THOUGHT THAT THEIR WELL HAD BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY ONE OF THE PUBLIC WELLS THAT THE COUNTY PUT IN, THIS IS THE GROUP THAT WOULD ACTUALLY GO IN AND DO THE MODELING AND SIMULATION AND DETERMINE WHAT, IF ANY, IMPACTS THE COUNTY WILL HAD ON INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

AND THEN THERE IS ACTUALLY A MITIGATION PROGRAM THAT WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THIS GROUP HAS THE ABILITY TO DO GROUNDWATER STUDIES.

THEY WORK WITH THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND WITH LOCALITIES TO REFINE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GROUNDWATER REGULATORY PROGRAMS. THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE MISSION H2O'S GROUNDWATER SUBCOMMITTEE.

THEY TRACK TECHNICAL AND POLICY CHANGES IN DEQ'S APPLICATION OF THE REGIONAL GROUNDWATER MODEL AND THEIR EVALUATION OF PERMITS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SO THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH A SPECIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SHARE OF THAT COST, WHICH IS PART OF OUR ANNUAL APPROPRIATION TO THE PDC, IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN $2,400.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? MOTION TO.

WELL, WE HAVE WE HAVE TWO THINGS TO APPROVE HERE.

FIRST, THE MOTION REQUIRED AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF THE REGIONAL GROUNDWATER MITIGATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, MOA.

I SO MOVE.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE.

OPPOSED? NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.

THE SECOND ONE IS MOTION REQUIRED AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE ATTACH TO UNIVERSAL BROADBAND FOR SUFFOLK.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING, THOUGH.

SO SO THIS MOA IS A NEW MOA.

AS YOU ALL REMEMBER.

BACK IN DECEMBER, GOVERNOR NORTHAM ANNOUNCED THAT THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, WAS AWARDED A $21 MILLION VIRGINIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE, OR VTI GRANT TO BRING UNIVERSAL BROADBAND COVERAGE TO THE CITY OF SUFFOLK AND THE COUNTIES OF ISLE OF WIGHT AND SOUTHAMPTON.

SO THE GRANT IS NEEDED TO ASSIST CHARTER IN BUILDING A HIGH SPEED, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE FIBER INTERNET NETWORK TO AREAS OF WESTERN HAMPTON ROADS CURRENTLY WITHOUT SERVICE.

IN TOTAL, THERE WOULD BE 12,223 HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY ANCHORS THAT WOULD GAIN ACCESS TO THE BROADBAND.

SO THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION IS THE FISCAL AGENT AND THE GRANTEE TO ADMINISTER THAT BODY GRANT CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS.

[02:00:03]

AS YOU ALL MAY REMEMBER, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PLEDGED $1 MILLION OF ITS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS FROM 2021 TOWARDS THE PROJECT.

AND THIS MOA CONFIRMS THAT $1 MILLION COMMITMENT TO BUILD OUT OF THE NETWORK IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETE NO LATER THAN 2024.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE MONEY.

I MOVE WE GIVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT AUTHORITY.

SECOND. VERY GOOD.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

OKAY, THE MOTION IS PASSED.

NICE TO BE VOTING ON SOMETHING HERE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING ON TO NUMBER 14, CONSIDERATION OF A PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE

[14. Consideration of Procurement Agreement for Courthouse Furnishings and Fixtures]

MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RATHER SEE IT OUT THERE? YES, SIR. AS PART OF THE OVERALL COURTHOUSE PROJECT, THE PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION OF THE FIXTURES, THE FURNISHINGS AND THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE RENOVATED COURTHOUSE ARE NOT PART OF THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.

AND THIS COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT NEEDS TO BE MANAGED SEPARATELY.

FIXTURES, FURNISHINGS AND EQUIPMENT OR FFE FOR SHORT IS A VERY BROAD CATEGORY.

IT INCLUDES THINGS SUCH AS THE AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO EQUIP THE THREE COURT ROOMS. IT WILL INCLUDE THE COURTROOM FURNITURE.

IT WILL INCLUDE THE BUILDING SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING SYSTEMS. THE DURESS ALARMS, THE COURT REPORTING SYSTEMS, THE TELEPHONES, THE SHELVES, THE FILES AND STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR THE COURT RECORDS, APPLIANCES AS WELL AS OFFICE FURNITURE.

COORDINATION OF THE FFE IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING.

THERE ARE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT HAVE TO BE DEVELOPED AND SUBMITTED TO MANUFACTURERS AND VENDORS. THERE WILL BE SHOP DRAWINGS AND PRODUCT DATA AND SAMPLES TO REVIEW AND APPROVE. ORDERS WILL HAVE TO BE PLACED.

SCHEDULES FOR DELIVERY WILL HAVE TO BE MANAGED.

ARRANGEMENTS WILL NEED TO BE MADE FOR THE STORAGE OF THE MATERIALS THAT ARRIVE PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING RENOVATIONS.

ALL THE ITEMS WILL HAVE TO BE UNPACKAGED AND INSPECTED UPON DELIVERY.

AND THEN ONCE THE BUILDING RENOVATIONS ARE COMPLETED, INSTALLATION OF THE FFE AND THE RENOVATED BUILDING WILL NEED TO BE MANAGED.

AND ON THE BACK END OF THE PROJECT, THERE'S PRODUCT DATA, THERE'S WARRANTIES AND OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO BE ORGANIZED AND REGISTERED.

SIMPLY PUT, WE DO NOT HAVE THE STAFF EXPERTISE OR TIME TO MANAGE THESE TASKS.

SO I REQUESTED A PROPOSAL TO ASSIST FROM GLAVÉ HOLMES, WHICH IS YOUR ARCHITECTURAL FIRM.

THEY HAVE AN ARM OF THEIR COMPANY CALLED GLAVÉ AND HOLMES PROCUREMENT LLC.

YOU'VE GOT A COPY OF THEIR PROPOSAL IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGES.

THEY PROPOSE TO PERFORM ALL THE TASKS THAT I JUST DESCRIBED AND BE COMPENSATED AT THE RATE OF 20% OF THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF THE FFE THAT THEY PROCURE.

SO WITH THE TOTAL FFE BUDGET OF $1 MILLION, WHICH IS WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PROJECT BUDGET RIGHT NOW, THE CEILING FOR THE FFE PURCHASES WOULD BE LIMITED TO $833,333 AND THE LIMIT FOR THEIR PROCUREMENT FEE WOULD BE $166,667.

OH, VERY GOOD.

ANY QUESTIONS? GENTLEMEN, LADIES.

THIS IS IN THE PROJECT.

IT IS IN THE PROJECT BUDGET.

YES, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW.

I MOTION WE APPROVE IT.

SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION TO PROVE IT. SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE PROPOSAL.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

OPPOSED? NO. OKAY.

NEXT ONE.

NUMBER 15 IS A DRAFT AUDIENCE OF THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS.

[15. Draft Ordinance- Utility Scale Solar Project Regulations ]

WE STARTED ON THIS YEARS AND YEARS AGO, AND I'M SURE SHE MIGHT LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY

[02:05:01]

A LOT OF WORK.

WE COMMEND HER FOR THAT.

IT'S A 13 PAGE DOCUMENT AND I BEFORE WE GET INTO CRITIQUES ABOUT THIS, PLUS OR MINUS, I MIGHT SAY THAT IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCE CONCERNING THIS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU.

THANK YOU. THIS IS A VERY THOROUGH ORDINANCE.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS SPENT A LIFETIME, IT SEEMS ON THIS ORDINANCE.

BUT THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE THAT I'LL MAKE IT SHORT BECAUSE WE ALL WERE JUST OVERWHELMED WITH INFORMATION TONIGHT.

BUT THE MINIMUM PROJECT SIZE WOULD BE 20 MEGAWATTS RECOMMENDED AND THE MAXIMUM 100 MEGAWATTS AND THE MINIMUM BEING 20.

SO THAT THERE ARE SCATTERED SMALL ONES ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHICH PEOPLE SEE AS THEY DRIVE THROUGH NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

IT KEEPS THE PROJECTS.

IT RECOMMENDS THE PROJECTS BE FIVE MILES APART FROM EACH OTHER, AT LEAST FROM THEIR OUTER BOUNDARIES AND A MILE FROM INCORPORATED TOWNS AND CITIES.

THE SUBSTATIONS AND ALL THE OTHER EQUIPMENT BESIDES THE PANELS THEMSELVES HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 250 FEET, SOME OF THEM 500 FEET FROM HOMES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, SCENIC STATE, SCENIC RIVERS. THERE'S NEW REQUIREMENT FOR LANDSCAPE PLANS, WHICH ISN'T IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLANS.

THERE'S QUITE A EXTENSIVE SECTION DISCUSSING BUFFERS AROUND THE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS.

SO THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO BE HIDDEN, BUT THEY WILL BE LESS OBTRUSIVE WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD OR WHEN IT'S IN THE IN THEIR YARDS OR NEAR THEIR HOMES.

LIMITS THE AREA OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TO 1% OF THE LAND AREA TO BE USED FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. THAT'S ABOUT 3,850 ACRES.

RIGHT NOW, SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR IS 1,418 ACRES, SO IT'S ABOUT A THIRD ALREADY.

SO THAT WAS ONLY ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THAT 1% LEFT.

THE COMMISSION CAME UP WITH A GOOD IDEA THAT RATHER THAN PERMIT SOLAR DEVELOPERS FROM USING THE EASIEST TO USE LAND, WHICH WAS THE AGRICULTURAL LAND, THAT THERE HAD TO BE A MIX BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTED LAND BASED ON HOW MUCH THE RATIO BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTED LAND IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE WHAT I COULD FIND OF THE AGRICULTURAL LAND IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

LESS THAN 40% OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS USED FOR AGRICULTURAL USES.

THAT LEAVES ABOUT 60%.

THERE ARE SOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS, BUT 50 TO 60% OF THE AREA IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS FORESTED LAND. SO THAT WOULD MEAN THAT SOLAR INSTALLATION WOULD HAVE TO USE 50 TO 60% FOREST LAND AND LESS THAN 40% AGRICULTURAL LAND, WHICH WILL HELP PRESERVE THE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE.

THAT'S WHAT STATED THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS TO PROTECT AGRICULTURAL LAND AND PERMIT SOLAR ONLY IN VERY RESTRICTED AREAS.

THAT DOES GIVE NO SALVAGE VALUE FOR AND DECOMMISSIONING.

SO THERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP A BOND OR SOME SORT OF GUARANTEE FOR 100% OF THE COST OF DECOMMISSIONING, WHICH IS RARE IN VIRGINIA.

MOST PLACES DO GIVE SALVAGE VALUE, BUT PLANNING COMMISSION DOESN'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE TO TAKE ON THAT RISK OF WHAT THE SALVAGE VALUE MAY BE.

AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO MEET WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I KNOW THIS IS A VERY BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR FOR YOU, SO THERE CAN BE A MEETING OF THE MINDS BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING SO THEY DON'T PRESENT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT.

GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

WHAT WAS THAT DATE? WHAT WAS THAT DATE OF THAT MEETING? IT HASN'T BEEN SET. THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SET THE THAT WE CAN DISCUSS IT BECAUSE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS SO MANY MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT THEY'LL BE GLAD TO SHOW UP WHENEVER THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WOULD LIKE. BUT THEY HAVE A CUT OFF DATE.

[02:10:04]

THEIR PUBLIC HEARING WOULD HAVE TO BE NO LATER THAN THEIR JULY MEETING, WHICH IS THE SECOND THURSDAY IN JULY, SO THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN HAVE THEIR PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE THE FOURTH MONDAY IN AUGUST.

SO IT WOULD COME UP.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION FELT THAT IT TRIED TO WORK IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR.

SO HE WOULD BE EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AND NOT ALL THIS DUMPED ON HIM WHEN HE JUMPED IN HERE AND DELAYED IT A LITTLE BIT.

AND YET WE I THINK WE NEED TO WORK OUT THE NUTS AND BOLTS HERE, GET IT ALL DONE BY JULY.

LIKE I SAID, THE MORATORIUM RUNS OUT ON SEPTEMBER 10 I BELIEVE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND I WOULD MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS ONE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ONE WITH US.

SO I WOULD ADVISE PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TO READ THROUGH THIS 13 PAGE ORDINANCE AND BE PREPARED AT THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND I MYSELF WOULD PREFER THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR PUBLIC HEARING IN JULY, RATHER, I MEAN, IN JUNE.

SO THEY CAN IF THEY HAVE A CROWD THAT SHOWS UP WITH LOTS OF GOOD IDEAS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO 10 MINUTES AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSES, MAKE A DECISION.

IF THEY MAKE A DECISION AFTER HEARING SEVERAL HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY MADE THEIR DECISION BEFORE THEY WALKED IN.

SO IF THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR PUBLIC HEARINGS IN JUNE AND MAKE A DECISION IN JULY AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GETS IT IN AUGUST, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD SERVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITIZENS BEST.

QUESTIONS FOR MISS LEWIS? THESE MEETINGS ARE PRETTY INTENSE.

I THINK THERE WERE SOME FRIENDS THAT WERE FRIENDS WHEN THEY CAME TO THE MEETING.

THEY LEFT NOT MAKING FRIENDS ANYMORE FOR A WHILE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTENSE DISCUSSION AND A LOT OF DEBATE AND NOTHING WENT EASY.

THERE WAS A LOT, A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS PUT IN THIS.

AND THEN THE NEXT MONTH COMING BACK AND SAY, LOOK, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS AND GOING THROUGH IT AGAIN. SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK PUT IN THIS.

AND LIKE I SAID, I REALLY THE COUNTY NEEDS TO THANK MRS. LEWIS BECAUSE SHE PUT IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN THIS.

I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HER INPUT.

THANK YOU. AND BEFORE THIS LAST SIX MONTHS, I WAS GETTING THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE CALLS A WEEK FROM POTENTIAL SOLAR DEVELOPERS.

BUT SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUT THEIR SHOULDER TO THE GRINDSTONE IN THE PAST SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY.

I THINK THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE IF IT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLE OR WORTH IT TO WORK IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

WHICH I BELIEVE ARE MORE THAN A FEW PEOPLE.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

DO WE NEED A NEED TO SET A DATE TONIGHT? I THINK SO. I THINK WE CAN WORK THAT OUT, CAN'T WE? THAT'D BE MR. LEWIS.

AND I GOT A. I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ALL GOT WHATEVER IT HERE.

YOU YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING COVERED.

DO WE EVEN. I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE YOU YOU DID A GREAT JOB AND GOT IT READY FOR YOU PUBLIC HEARING. I DON'T EVEN THINK.

I MEAN, WOODY, I DON'T THINK YOU THINK WE NEED TO MEET WITH THEM, BUT YEAH, I THINK THEY DO. YEAH. OKAY.

I MEAN, I READ ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS AND I WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE FIRST ORDINANCE, YEAH, THREE YEARS OF WORK AND Y'ALL DIDN'T PUT ANOTHER YEAR INTO IT OR MAYBE TWO YEARS SINCE I.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT WAS MY TAKE WE CAN HAVE A MEETING, IF YOU WANT TO.

WE'VE BEEN PREPARING THIS FOR TEN YEARS.

WE STARTED GOING, LOOKING AT PLACES A LONG TIME AGO.

IT'S BEEN BEEN THEY WANT US TO MEET. THEY WANT TO BE WITH US.

YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. ASKS.

VERY DEFINITELY. THEY WILL.

IF YOU TAG IT ON TO ANOTHER MEETING THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, THEY'LL BE GLAD TO SHOW UP. BETH, MAYBE YOU AND MIKE COULD GET TOGETHER AND GET US A PROPOSAL OF OUR SCHEDULE. I'M THINKING EARLY MAY IS PROBABLY THE BEST.

THAT WAY YOU'LL HAVE YOUR DRAFT BUDGET ALREADY ADVERTISED AND BE OUT OF THE WAY.

AND THEN YOU SORT OF HAVE THAT LULL BEFORE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY.

SO I'M THINKING SOMEWHERE IN THOSE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF MAY, BUT WE'LL WORK OUT THE DATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[02:15:01]

YEAH, THAT. THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S SUITABLE. CERTAINLY, YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THEN WE GET BACK INTO NUMBER 16 MATTERS RELATED TO PROPERTY REASSESSMENT.

[16. Matters Related to Property Reassessment]

I BELIEVE THAT, RIGHT, MIKE? EVERY SIX FOR COUNTIES.

OKAY. WE NEED TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO ASSIST MRS. CARR, MRS. LOWE AND MR. JOHNSON AND RANKING THE PROPOSALS THAT PEOPLE WOULD DO THE JOB FOR US AND.

IF THEY'LL ACCEPT IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE.

MR. CORNWELL AND MR. GILLETTE. YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT.

OKAY. OKAY.

TWO VERY EAGER YESES THERE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. WE NEED A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE IT. OKAY.

THE SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

SO BE IT, THANK YOU MUCH.

THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

NOW, THE SECOND THING IS A LOCAL BOARD OF ASSESSORS, WHICH IS A BOARD THAT SORT OF SITS AROUND AND WATCHES THE PEOPLE WHO WE HIRE TO COME IN HERE AND MAKE SURE THINGS ARE IN LINE. AND.

I THINK YOU HAVE A LIST IN YOUR PACKET OF PREVIOUS MEMBERS OF THAT AND WE'LL NEED ONE FROM EACH DISTRICT.

AND WE'LL NEED EVERYBODY NEEDS TO COME UP WITH SOMEBODY FOR THE APRIL 26TH MEETING.

I THINK YOU HAVE A LIST OF PREVIOUS AND THEY CAN REPEAT.

THEY CAN DO IT AGAIN.

THE LAST TIME I WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE, I'VE NO LONGER KEPT UP WITH REAL ESTATE VALUES, BUT THE YOUNG LADY WHO WAS THE REALTOR THAT WAS IN OUR GROUP.

[INAUDIBLE] SHE WAS A TREMENDOUS SERVICE BECAUSE MANY OF THE PROPERTIES WE WENT AND LOOKED AT, SHE HAD EITHER LISTED THEM OR SOLD THEM, AND SHE HAD BEEN INSIDE A LOT OF THE HOUSES.

SO IF YOU COULD GET A REALTOR THAT'S UP TO DATE CURRENT, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW VALUABLE IT WOULD BE TO THAT COMPANY.

TAMMY CONLEY WAS ON THE BOARD EQUALIZATION, WHICH IS THE ONE ON THE BACK END OF THE ASSESSMENT THAT HEARS THE APPEAL.

NO, I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT IT HEADS OFF PROBLEMS EARLY BEFORE THAT. SO YOU WANT THAT? WHAT'S THE DATE YOU WANT THAT COMMITTEE IN PLACE BY? WE HAVE WE SHOULD BRING IN YOUR NOMINATIONS IN THE NEXT MEETING, APRIL 26.

AND IF IT SLIPS TO MAY, THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL IF YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME.

THEY WON'T ACTUALLY GET STARTED WORKING UNTIL AFTER JULY ONE.

HOW MANY MEETINGS DO THEY HAVE? THEY MEET PRETTY REGULARLY, I THINK, AS YOU ALL PROBABLY MET EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS, MAYBE INITIALLY EIGHT OR TEN TRIPS.

WE WENT AROUND THE COUNTY, LOOKED AT PROPERTIES.

YEAH, IT WAS GRUELING.

I MEAN, HE WOULD EIGHT, EIGHT HOUR DAYS AND LOTS OF TIME, OH, I CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE AND TELL YOU IT'S NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH OF WHAT WE LOOKED [INAUDIBLE].

SO HOW MANY HOW MANY DAYS? I WOULD SAY TEN, MAYBE THREE DIFFERENT DAYS.

SO WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO A POINT, WE NEED NOT TAKE ASH WITH US TO MAKE THE SALES IS WHAT I'M HEARING.

YEAH. YEAH.

ASH MENTIONED REALTORS ARE REALLY GOOD TO HAVE ON THERE.

IT'S IMPORTANT PROBABLY TO HAVE A FORESTER ON THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF TIMBER. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY ON THERE.

WE'VE HAD AN ATTORNEY THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES.

WE'VE HAD TEACHERS AND FARMERS.

WE'VE HAD BUILDING CONTRACTORS.

THAT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT OCCUPATION TO HAVE REPRESENTED AT THE TABLE.

ALL RIGHT IF EVERYBODY IS STRAIGHT ON THAT, WE NEED A MOTION TO UTILIZE THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS FOR THE 2024 REASSESSMENT.

SO MOVED, SECOND, AND SECOND.

ALL THOSE FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

OPPOSED NO. SO BE IT.

[02:20:02]

I MIGHT NOTICE $60.

OK REDISTRICTING.

[17. Matters Related to Redistricting ]

SET OF SEVEN DISTRICTS WE'RE NOW DOWN TO FIVE WHICH MEANS A.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL CONSIST OF ONE FROM EACH DISTRICT AND TWO AT LARGE IN THE FUTURE. AND YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US HERE.

CARLA, YOU WERE ON THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK UP AT ANY TIME, JUST TAKE THE TAKE THE HELM.

YEAH. AS YOU ALL KNOW, EVERY TEN YEARS WE'RE REQUIRED TO REDISTRICT.

THE PROCESS WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF COVID.

NORMALLY, WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE 2020 CENSUS DATA AND STARTED THIS PROCESS IN 2020 TO HAVE A REDISTRICTING PLAN IN PLACE FOR 2021.

BUT DUE TO COVID AND THE INDECISIVENESS OF THE STATE IN DRAWING THE CONGRESSIONAL LINES, WE DIDN'T GET STARTED UNTIL VERY LATE IN 2021.

AND IT HAS CONTINUED INTO 2022.

MR. JOHNSON PUT ME ON THE HELM OF THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE BY DEFAULT, I THINK, BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY ONE LEFT THAT DID IT IN 2011, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MR. REILLY. I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHO WAS ON THE COMMITTEE.

TWO SUPERVISORS.

MR. CORNWELL.

MR. FAISON.

WE HAD A CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVE.

MR. [INAUDIBLE].

THERE SHE IS, VOTER REGISTRAR LYNNE BURGESS.

WE ALSO HAD LYNETTE ALSTON, WHO IS ALSO ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND I APPOINTED PAT, THE I.T.

ASSISTANT, AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME.

I HAVE SOMEBODY TO TAKE THE HELM.

THIS ONE WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AND UNLIKE ANY THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST THAT I'M AWARE OF. THERE WERE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER WHATSOEVER, WHICH ULTIMATELY AND OBJECTIVELY DICTATED HOW THE MAP AND BOUNDARY LINES WERE DRAWN.

THERE WAS JUST NO SUBJECTIVITY.

WE PUT IN A LOT OF HOURS AND HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF CHANGES TO MAKE IT MATHEMATICALLY WORK.

THE MAP THAT'S UP ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS HOW THE COUNTY CURRENTLY LOOKS WITH THE SEVEN DISTRICTS.

BACK IN 2010, THE TOTAL POPULATION WAS 18,612 PEOPLE, AND THAT DECREASED TO 17,144 IN 2020.

WHICH LOOKS LIKE A DECREASE OF 1,468.

BUT THAT NUMBER IS MISLEADING BECAUSE IT TOOK OUT THE PRISON POPULATION IN THE DREWRYVILLE DISTRICT.

IN MY OPINION, THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN COUNTED BUT THEY WERE YEARS AGO.

AND THE LAW WAS PASSED TO PUT THEM BACK IN THE LOCALITY THAT THEY RESIDED IN AT THE TIME OF THEIR INCARCERATION.

SO WE LOST ABOUT 852 PRISONERS TOTAL BECAUSE IT INCLUDED PRISONERS AND SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE IN JAIL. AND WE HAD SOME TAKEN OUT AND SOME PUT BACK IN BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THAT REALLY WERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WHEN THEY WERE INCARCERATED.

SO THAT WAS AN OVERWHELMING LOSS IN THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT.

SO AGAIN, THAT THE MAP THAT'S UP THERE NOW IS THE IS THE CURRENT SEVEN DISTRICTS, INCLUDING YALL. ALL RIGHT.

THIS MAP LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT.

THERE WAS LITTLE GROWTH IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT RURAL AREAS.

I'M TRYING TO SEE IF I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK THIS THING.

LORD, I THOUGHT IT WAS A DOT.

IT IS. DOWN IN HERE, IT'S VERY, VERY RURAL.

NOT MUCH GROWTH THERE.

AND THE GROWTH THAT DID OCCUR HAPPENED UP IN THIS AREA.

AND SO YOU ALREADY HAD A HUGE HOLE TO MAKE UP, YOU KNOW, DOWN HERE IN THE DREWRYVILLE AREA BECAUSE OF THE PRISONERS.

AND THEN WE ALREADY HAD A TOUGH ENOUGH TIME AND THEN THE CONGRESSIONAL LINE WAS DRAWN.

AND IT IS HARD TO SEE, BUT IT'S A RED IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE THAT RED LINE.

[02:25:02]

AND THEN WHEN IT GETS DOWN HERE, IT GETS A LITTLE JAGGED.

SURE DOES.

AND THAT WAS DRAWN BY THE STATE.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THAT LINE.

WE CANNOT HAVE ANY SPLIT PRECINCTS.

IN THE OLD MAP, THIS AREA DOWN HERE THAT LOOKS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE ITALY.

THAT WAS ALL IN THE NEWSOMS DISTRICT THIS TIME, THE WAY IT WAS DRAWN.

IT TOOK IT PRETTY MUCH TOOK THAT PORTION OF NEWSOMS OUT OF THAT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WE HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER THAT.

WE'RE MANDATED TO FOLLOW THE CONGRESSIONAL LINE.

SO ALL OF THOSE FACTORS, THE PRISON LOSS, THE GROWTH IN THE BERLIN IVOR OR FRANKLIN CORTLAND AREAS, NOT SO MUCH GROWTH IN THE OTHER AREAS MADE IT MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BALANCE THE CURRENT SEVEN DISTRICTS.

WE TOOK THE POPULATION DIVIDED AT ABOUT SEVEN.

LET ME SEE WHAT MY MEAN WAS, HOLD ON.

SO OUR TARGET POPULATION WAS 2449 AND THERE WAS NO WAY POSSIBLE TO MATHEMATICALLY KEEP WITHIN A 5% UP OR DOWN DEVIATION FROM THAT NUMBER WITH SEVEN DISTRICTS, YOU JUST COULDN'T DO IT.

THE COMMITTEE PUT A LOT OF HOURS INTO IT, JUST MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

SO. WE THEN TRIED TO LOOK AT SIX DISTRICTS.

AND WE STILL COULD NOT GET IT TO BALANCE WITH SIX DISTRICTS.

IT WAS JUST MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

AND SO WE ENDED UP WITH FIVE DISTRICTS, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SUPERVISORS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SEVEN SUPERVISORS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER FROM 7 TO 5.

SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE FIVE SUPERVISORS, ONE FROM EACH DISTRICT, AND THEN TWO AT LARGE, THE TWO AT LARGE THAT WE DETERMINED AND HOW WE CAME UP WITH THIS.

AND THIS WAS AT THE DIRECTION OF MR. RAILY AS TO THE FAIREST IS OUR CURRENT NEWSOMS SEAT.

FALLS LIKE RIGHT AROUND THIS LITTLE AREA RIGHT HERE.

THE CONGRESSIONAL LINE TOOK THE NEWSOMS SEAT OUT OF THE CURRENT NEWSOMS DISTRICT.

NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT THAT WAS DRAWN BY THE STATE.

ALSO OVER HERE IN THE FORMER DREWRYVILLE DISTRICT, WE WERE TRYING TO FOLLOW THIS 58 LINE.

COULD NOT GET IT TO WORK.

WE ENDED UP HAVING TO GRAB THIS LITTLE THAT'S A CENSUS BLOCK THAT WE HAD TO GRAB IN ORDER TO GET THE NUMBERS TO WORK.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU GRABBED HERE.

IT WAS EITHER NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE OR TOO MANY PEOPLE.

AND IT JUST YOU JUST COULDN'T BALANCE IT.

SO WE HAD TO GRAB THIS LITTLE PIECE UP HERE, AND THAT INCLUDES THE CURRENT DREWRYVILLE SEAT. SO WE HAD TWO SEATS THAT AS A RESULT OF REDISTRICTING, TOOK THEM OUT OF THEIR ORIGINAL DISTRICT.

SO IT WAS ONLY FAIR TO MAKE THOSE TWO AT LARGE.

THEY ARE STAGGERED THE NEWSOMS SEAT WAS JUST REELECTED IN NOVEMBER AND SO NONE OF THIS WOULD TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THAT CURRENT TERM RUNS OUT.

AT LARGE CAN RUN FROM ANY AREA OF THE COUNTY.

AND IT WAS JUST IT WAS JUST A REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT PROCESS.

AND WHEN WE DID THIS, WE DIDN'T LOOK AT WHERE ANYBODY LIVED THE ROADS, WE JUST DID WHAT WE HAD TO DO.

AND THEN PUT SOME LITTLE TRIANGLES UP THERE SOMEWHERE.

IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE.

THEN WE ADDED THE TRIANGLES TO THE MAP OF WHERE ALL THE SUPERVISORS LIVE.

AND I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THIS RIGHT.

BUT I REMEMBER MR. RAILY SAYING THAT.

WE'RE REDISTRICTING FOR THE BOUNDARIES, NOT THE PEOPLE OR NOT THE REPRESENTATIVES, DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

YEAH, WELL. YOU GO BACK TO BAKER VERSUS CARR, THEY.

BIG CASE HAS SUPREME COURT, THE UNITED STATES [INAUDIBLE] THEY SAID THE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO REPRESENT, THAT'S IT, NOT THE REPRESENTATIVE CHOOSES WHAT PEOPLE HE WANTS TO REPRESENT.

[02:30:04]

THE TWO AT LARGE MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE CURRENTLY WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSED DRAFT, THERE ARE THREE SUPERVISORS THAT WOULD FALL IN THIS AREA.

AND THAT'S JUST JUST AS A RESULT OF REDISTRICTING AND TRYING TO BALANCE AND FOLLOW THE CONGRESSIONAL LINE.

SO WHEN THE NEWSOMS SEAT AND THE DREWRYVILLE SEAT COME UP FOR REELECTION, THEY CAN EITHER RUN IN THE DISTRICT THAT THEY CURRENTLY LIVE IN AT THAT TIME OR RUN AT LARGE.

AND MR. CLAUDE DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? YEAH.

YEAH. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A LITTLE FEEDBACK ON THAT.

THAT'S OK. YES.

THE DISTRICT NAMES YOU CAN SEE WERE CHANGED GENERICALLY TO D1, D2, D3, D4, D5.

THAT IS NOT IN STONE.

WE CAN CHANGE THOSE DISTRICT NAMES.

IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO COME UP WITH NAMES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHAT USED TO BE DREWRYVILLE AND CAPRON IS MOSTLY COMBINED BERLIN IVOR, BOYKINS BRANCHVILLE.

BUT THEN WHEN YOU GET TO NEWSOMS, NEWSOMS WAS MADE UP OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCALITIES AND SO IT WAS JUST HARD TO COME UP WITH A NAME.

THAT WOULD IDENTIFY THAT DISTRICT.

BUT I MEAN, I'M OPEN TO YOUR DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, NAME THE DISTRICT WE'RE NOT MARRIED TO D1, D2, D3.

FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH WHAT WE CAME UP WITH AT THE END WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION BY THE COMMITTEE. AFTER 9 OR 10 HOURS, THAT WAS THE BEST WE COULD DO AND AT ONE POINT, THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP SEVEN.

WE WERE AT THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING THE TOWN OF CAPRON IN THE DREWRYVILLE DISTRICT.

[INAUDIBLE] CORRECT.

WE HAD TO CHANGE THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IT WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION.

YES, IT WAS.

AND I BELIEVE THE FOLKS IN SHANDS WOULD BE VOTING IN BOYKINS WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP THE SEVEN DISTRICTS, IT JUST WASN'T WORKING.

AND I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER TOWNS THAT WOULD END UP BEING ABSORBED INTO ANOTHER DISTRICT.

NEWSOMS. YEAH. NEWSOMS WAS ANOTHER ONE, SO IT WAS JUST EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO.

WE TRIED TO EXPAND UPON WHAT MR. CLAUDE WAS SHARING WITH EVERYBODY.

WE TRIED FOR MANY MEETINGS, FOR MANY HOURS TO FIT THAT [INAUDIBLE] PEG TO THAT SQUARE HOLE AND MAKE IT WORK LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING IT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED. AND IT JUST AS HAS BEEN STATED AND AS HE EXPANDED UPON IT, THERE JUST WASN'T A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE DECIDED LATE AT ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS TO JUST SCRAP EVERYTHING WE HAD DONE UP UNTIL THAT POINT AND START LOOKING AT THE REDUCED NUMBER OF DISTRICTS AS A POSSIBILITY BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL LINE WAS DRAWN WITH THE OPTIMISM THAT IT WOULDN'T WREAK HAVOC.

WHEN THAT RED SQUIGGLY LINE CAME OUT, WE HAD TO ADJUST OUR SALES IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION BASED ON THE CONGRESSIONAL LINE THAT SPLIT THE COUNTY IN HALF IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT DID. YES, SIR.

IF THE PUBLIC CAN ASK A QUESTION, IS EACH COLORED DISTRICT D1- D5 REPRESENT AN APPROXIMATE EQUAL POPULATION? YES, THEY DO. AROUND 3,000.

YEAH. WHAT WE DID WAS WE TOOK THE CURRENT POPULATION NOW, WHICH IS 17,144, AND INSTEAD OF DIVIDING BY SEVEN, WE DIVIDE IT BY FIVE.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO STAY 5% WITHIN 5% OF THAT NUMBER UP OR DOWN.

SO, YES. AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, EVEN THOUGH THIS LITTLE AREA RIGHT HERE IS SMALL.

AS FAR AS PHYSICALLY SMALL, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF YOU'VE GOT JUST AS MANY PEOPLE RIGHT HERE AS YOU DO RIGHT HERE.

YEAH. AND WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE A

[02:35:08]

WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

IT'S HARD TO GET VOLUNTEERS FOR THAT.

AND THEN THAT FREES UP SOME EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

THE VOTING MACHINES.

WHEN WILL THIS TAKE EFFECT? THIS WILL TAKE EFFECT I THINK WE CAN CHOOSE WHEN WE WANT IT TO TAKE EFFECT, BUT IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY, WHEN WAS IT 21ST OR 31ST? WELL THE ORIGINAL DATE THAT I HAD WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS WAS I HAD TO HAVE A CONGRESSIONAL CHANGES MADE BY THE 21ST THEY'VE ADJUSTED DEADLINES SEVERAL TIMES IT WILL. YES, IT WILL.

DEFINITELY. WELL, WHAT ABOUT LIKE THE PLANNING COMMISSION? THE SCHOOL BOARD? YEAH.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR RICHARD ABOUT.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE. WHAT'S THE PLANNING COMMISSION DO FOUR AT LARGE? I SUSPECT SO, BUT I HAVEN'T I HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED AT IT.

DON'T TAKE THAT AS THE GOSPEL YET, BUT I SUSPECT THAT'S CORRECT.

NOW, CURRENTLY, THE SCHOOL BOARD IS NOT ELECTED.

SO IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BALLGAME IF THEY WERE TO BECOME ELECTED.

BUT THEN YOU WOULD TAKE THAT UP IN THE NEXT REDISTRICTING.

CORRECT. JUST LIKE IT WOULD YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN UNTIL THE TERMS UP.

RIGHT. IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IMMEDIATELY.

WHATEVER'S IN PLACE CONTINUES TO STAY IN PLACE NO OTHER SCHOOL BOARD HAS A TERM.

FOUR YEAR TERMS. THEY ALL. YES, SIR.

BUT AGAIN, THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE ANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER LIVES, WHERE ANY PLANNING COMMISSIONER LIVES OR ANY BOARD MEMBER LIVES.

WE DID THE NUMBERS AND FOLLOW THE CONGRESSIONAL LINE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE GOT.

AND THEN WHEREVER THEY FALL IS WHERE THEY FALL.

WELL, WE THANK YOU.

I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF WORK.

WE APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL HAVE TO, Y'ALL GOT ANY MORE QUESTIONS? TAKE WHAT WE GOT. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? MR. FAISON, YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO. I THINK YOU'VE COVERED EVERYTHING THAT I CAN THINK OF.

I JUST WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT OUR HANDS ARE SORT OF TIED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND THE FACT THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE A SPLIT DISTRICT.

BUT I CERTAINLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH EVERYBODY, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYBODY DID.

OKAY. WELL, WE CAN EITHER JUST SEEKING THE BOARD'S AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT THIS PLAN TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE CAN DO THAT OR NOT DO IT.

LIKE A RUSH IN AN ELECTION TIME, I GUESS.

WHAT DOES THE BOARD FEEL LIKE? WHAT ARE OUR CHOICES? OUR CHOICE IS A CERTIFICATION NO OBJECTION, I THINK OR NO REPLY AT ALL ISN'T THAT RIGHT MR. RAILY. BUT WE DON'T REPLY [INAUDIBLE] TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT'S THE SHORTCUT.

THEN TO PUT IT IN PLACE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ANYWAY WHEN YOU ADOPT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE READY FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

AND THEN YOU I MEAN, THIS CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS. SO YOU'RE ADVISING US TO GO AHEAD.

AND I AM DEFINITELY ADVISING TO GO AHEAD.

WITH THAT IN MIND, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL A CERTIFICATION OF NO OBJECTION. SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.

NO'S? NO, WE ONLY HAVE ONE NO. OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT WE GOT.

THAT'S. THAT'S THE HAND WE'RE DEALT.

WE HAVE TO PLAY IT. PROJECT UPDATES, COURTHOUSE

[18. Project Updates ]

[02:40:03]

BUT DESPITE A COUPLE OF MINOR ROOF LEAKS, THE CIRCUIT COURT, CIRCUIT COURT CLERK AND COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY ARE ALL SETTLED IN AT THE TEMPORARY COURTS BUILDING IN HUNTERDALE AND THEY ARE ATTENDING TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.

WE HAVE COMPLETED THE ADDITIONAL SECURITY FENCE AND WORK AND THE HOLDING CELL AREA THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MONTH.

AND IN ADDITION TO JURY TRIALS, THE CIRCUIT COURT IS GOING TO BEGIN HEARING BENCH TRIALS AT HUNTERDALE ON APRIL THE FIRST, WHICH SHOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL OPERATIONAL SAVINGS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT.

MEANWHILE, OVER THE COURTHOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, THE ABATEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE NOW COMPLETE. DEMOLITION AND PRELIMINARY SITE WORK IS ONGOING.

THE PROJECT SCHEDULE, WHEN I WROTE THIS REPORT LAST WEEK, HAD SLIPPED A LITTLE BIT.

THERE WERE ABOUT 36 DAYS BEHIND SCHEDULE, BUT BASED ON SOME ADDITIONAL TIME THAT WE WILL GRANT THEM, BASED ON SOME THINGS THAT GOT HELD UP AT HUNTERDALE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY RIGHT ON SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW, SO WE ARE STILL EXPECTING SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION BY MARCH OF 2023 AND FINAL COMPLETION BY MAY OF 2023.

SO FAR WE'VE PROCESSED THE CONTRACTOR'S FIRST FULL PAY APPLICATIONS, PAID THEM ROUGHLY $2.07 MILLION SO FAR.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

INSURRECTION TRAIL PROJECT, ANYTHING NEW THERE? WE'RE MOVING AND WE HOPE TO HAVE EVERYTHING OPEN ON IN AUGUST THE 21ST WHICH IS WHEN THE INSURRECTION OCCURRED.

OK NEWSOMS HOUSING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PHASE ONE.

SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS THERE.

WE'RE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING REHAB WORK IN THE PROJECT AREA OVER AT NEWSOMS. WE'VE GOT FOUR APPLICATIONS NOW THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS ELIGIBLE.

SO THE REHAB SPECIALIST IS GOING TO BE GOING IN, HOPEFULLY THE END OF THIS WEEK OR EARLY NEXT WEEK AND DOING THE WORK WRITE UPS ON THOSE FOUR HOUSES.

AND WE WILL BE PREPARING THE BID DOCUMENTS FOR LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO REHAB THOSE FOUR HOUSES COMING UP.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE PROJECT ENGINEER HAS BEGUN TO WORK ON THE WETLANDS DELINEATION AS WELL AS SURVEYING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF EASEMENTS WE WILL BE NEEDING FOR THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. SO SO FAR, SO GOOD.

STILL ON SCHEDULE, STILL ON BUDGET.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO 19, THEN THE HOT TOPIC NUMBER.

[19. Miscellaneous]

I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY SUGGESTIONS.

WHAT PEOPLE THINK WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS.

IT IS A PROBLEM. I MEAN [INAUDIBLE] COMING IN HERE, TRASH IS LAYING EVERYWHERE ALL OVER THE ROAD AND THE DITCHES.

IT'S DISGRACEFUL.

IT'S DISGUSTING. I WENT TO FOOD LION AND AROUND THE BACK OF HARDY'S AND IT WAS AWFUL IN THE WOODS. AND THEN I CAME HOME ON CEDAR BROOK TRAIL AND THAT WAS FULL OF LITTER.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN INCREASE THE FINE FROM $50 TO 500? I WILL DOUBLE CHECK THAT, MS. UPDIKE, BUT I KNOW WHEN THAT CAME UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE WERE AT THE STATUTORY MAXIMUM FOR COUNTIES BECAUSE WE INCREASED IT.

YEAH. WHAT IS IT INCREASED TO? I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S INCREASED.

I NEED TO CHECK. I THOUGHT IT WAS $50.

DO WE KNOW ANYBODY THAT'S GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE] THIS THAT WE COULD CONSULT WITH TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WE CAN DO? I MEAN, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

WE NEED TO GO AHEAD. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FINES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

DO WE KNOW ANYBODY THAT'S GOT ANY EXPERTISE IN THIS THAT COULD TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT? YES, SIR.

THE PREVIOUS COUNTY I LIVED IN WAS [INAUDIBLE] AND I FOUND A BAG ON MY FARM ONE TIME, A PLASTIC BAG, AND I OPENED IT HAD FIVE OR SIX ENVELOPES IN IT ADDRESSED TO THE SAME PERSON. AND I TOOK THEM TO THE SHERIFF AND HE SAYS THE SHERIFF OR A DEPUTY HAS TO OBSERVE SOMEONE TOSSING THE LITTER IN ORDER FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING.

IS THAT STILL IS THAT STILL THE WAY IT GOES NOW? SO SO I MEAN, I COULD DRIVE UNDER THE HIGHWAY AND FOLLOW UP HIS [INAUDIBLE] AND SEE HER TOSS OUT A COKE BOTTLE.

BUT I COULDN'T ARREST HER.

I COULDN'T REPORT OR THE SHERIFF COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE DIDN'T SEE IT.

WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WENT TO MAINE A FEW WEEKS AGO, NOT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THERE'S A SIGN ON THE ROAD SAYS 45,000 FIRST DEFENSE.

I UNDERSTAND THE SECOND OFFENSE IS THEY TAKE YOUR LICENSE AWAY FOR A YEAR OR IF THEY CAN DO IT THERE'S NOTHING.

YOU DON'T NEED. NOBODY SPITS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN MAINE.

I MEAN, SO THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF METHOD.

[02:45:03]

I KNOW THEY HAVE A BUDGET AND SOME MONEY THAT ISN'T GETTING UTILIZED IF WE COULD SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER TEAM UP WITH THEM TO FACILITATE SOME TYPE OF ACTION AGAIN OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE FACILITATE SOME CHANGES THAT I MEAN, MORE THAN HALF OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS DURING THE COMMENT PERIOD HAD AN ISSUE WITH TONIGHT, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SOME ACTION.

WE ALL THE ROOM ALSO IS CIRCULATING THAT IT'S NO NEED TO SEND ANYBODY TO COURT FOR LITTERING BECAUSE THE JUDGE WILL THROW IT OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE. I THINK A COMMITTEE IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA.

AND MAYBE SINCE YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED AND MRS. UPDIKE HAS VOLUNTEERED, THAT YOU TWO COULD COME UP WITH SOME COMMITTEE SUGGESTIONS BY NEXT MEETING? ABSOLUTELY.

YOU AGREE TO THAT? YEAH.

VERY GOOD. SO WE'LL DO SOMETHING.

SHERIFF. I HAD TRESPASSERS ON MY PHONE, AND I PUT UP TWO OF THESE CAMOUFLAGED STEALTH CAMERAS. AND I'VE PHOTOGRAPHED GOT VIDEOS OF PEOPLE DRIVING.

ME, TOO. I CAN'T READ THE LICENSE NUMBER, BUT OUR CAMERAS ARE AN OPTION FOR SOME OF THESE MORE OFTEN FREQUENTLY.

STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN TOO, THAT IF YOU PUT UP A SIGN THAT SAYS NO LITTER AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO THROW THE TRASH AT.

SO IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO PUT THE CAMERA.

WE'VE DONE IT. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO WE'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME ACTION THEN WE GOT TWO VOLUNTEERS AND WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF COMMITTEE AND PRESENT IT TO US.

WHATEVER MAKE UP DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE? WHATEVER NEXT MEETING.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SHERIFF.

IF HE DOESN'T MIND ANSWERING IT, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO FINGERPRINT SOMEBODY OFF OF A COURT BEER BOTTLE? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LIFT THE FINGERPRINT, HUH? [INAUDIBLE] I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT'S BECAUSE THE BEER BOTTLES HAVE GONE FROM 16 OUNCES TO 32 OUNCES ON MY ROAD.

AND IT'S A SPECIFIC BRAND [INAUDIBLE] SO WE CATCH THE WHOLE GANG AT ONE TIME.

[INAUDIBLE] AND THE PERSON WHO DRANK THE BEER MIGHT NOT BE THE ONE WHO THREW IT OUT.

DOESN'T MATTER. WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER ONE WHO DRANK THE BEER.

JUST THE ONE WHO THREW IT OUT.

OKAY. SOUNDS LIKE WE MADE SOME CATCH.

THAT GUY DRINKING BUD LIGHT.

WE GOT IT. SOUNDS LIKE WE MADE SOME PROGRESS HERE TONIGHT.

AT LEAST WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG BY NEXT MEETING.

THANKS FOR THE TWO VOLUNTEERS.

AND WE'RE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

CERTAINLY. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED CAMERAS, WE PURCHASED CAMERAS, PUT THEM UP ON SOME OF THE CORRIDORS AND WITH THE SPEED OF VEHICLES, YOU CAN'T CAPTURE THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS. CORRECT.

AND THE BOOM BOX WILL SHAKE THE CAMERA SO BAD YOU CAN'T GET A CLEAR PICTURE BECAUSE IT RATTLES MY TV.

OKAY. WELL [INAUDIBLE] WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE JOINT MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.

ISSUE, THAT WE POSTPONE THAT MEETING.

BUT WE DECIDED TO POSTPONE IT UNTIL AFTER THE LEGISLATURE MADE A DECISION.

RIGHT? NOT INDEFINITELY.

MY IDEA OF A MEETING WOULD BE THAT, YOU KNOW, FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY ASK US, BUT IT SEEMS I DON'T SEE I DON'T WANT TO GO TO A MEETING WHERE I DON'T HAVE THE FREEDOM TO ASK THE QUESTION.

LIKE I SAID IN THAT MEETING, THEY CAN ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS THEY WANT.

[INAUDIBLE] WELL, THE IDEA WAS TO LIMIT IT TO TO ONE STATE, ONE THING PRIOR TO THE SENATE MAKING THIS RULING.

NOW, THAT'S BEEN DONE.

[02:50:01]

THAT WOULD MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

LET'S GET INTO IT. COME ON.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT I'M GOING TO BE HONEST ABOUT THIS.

IF WE HAVE ONE MEETING, ABOUT ONE THAT ONE SUBJECT, THAT'LL BE THE LAST MEETING.

SO I WANT TO OPEN AND WE'RE OPEN.

WE'RE ABOVEBOARD.

THERE'S NOTHING BELOW THE TABLE HERE.

THEY CAN ASK US ANYTHING THEY WANT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ASK THEM ANYTHING I WANT.

I DON'T SEE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

WELL, WE'VE GOT A BUDGET MEETING WITH THEM COMING UP.

ALL RIGHT. SO.

WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU SAY, FOLKS? [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A BUDGET MEETING WITH THEM COMING UP, BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE TO BRING THEIR [INAUDIBLE] REPORT TO THEIR BUDGET TO US.

BUT WHAT BUDGET MEETING IS THIS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD? WELL, LAST YEAR WAS VIRTUAL, BUT THEY HAD THEIR BUDGET COMMITTEE VIRTUAL MEETING.

AND WE USUALLY IT'S THE SECOND THE FIRST WORKSHOP AFTER THE INITIAL BUDGET IS PROPOSED THE NIGHT WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL TYPICALLY PRESENT THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET.

IS THAT THE 13TH? THAT'S CORRECT. RIGHT.

THAT'S A PRESENTATION, THOUGH.

THAT'S NOT A MEETING. CORRECT.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

WE GOT A LOT OF STUFF ON THE COURTHOUSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE COMING UP AND THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR. I THINK WE OUGHT TO LET THINGS SETTLE DOWN AND GET ALL THAT FIXED AND GET OUR NEW ADMINISTRATOR IN HERE AND GO FROM THERE THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA. OKAY.

SO THAT SETTLES THAT. WE'LL JUST PUT THAT ON HOLD AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MEET.

BUT LIKE I SAID, I WELCOME THEM TO ASK THIS BOARD ANY QUESTIONS THEY WANT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK THEM ANY QUESTION I HAVE.

AND I. [INAUDIBLE] I THINK WE NEED AN AGENDA.

WE NEED A STRUCTURE AND NOT JUST HAVE A FREE FALL.

ASK HIM ANY QUESTION, BUT IF WE CAN GET MEET WITH THEM WITH AN AGENDA.

AND MAYBE WE SHOULD HELP SET THAT AGENDA AND THEN GO BACK THERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO KEEP US KEEP US FOCUSED.

OKAY. THAT'S REASONABLE ALSO.

OKAY. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

ISSUE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING SERVICES.

SO THAT'S JUST AN UPDATE FOR YOU.

WE DID RECEIVE FOUR PROPOSALS BACK ON THE RFP THAT WE PUT OUT.

OUR TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO MEET TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO REVIEW THOSE PROPOSALS WITH A GOAL OF SHORTLISTING TWO FIRMS TO BRING IN FOR INTERVIEWS.

SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON THEN.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF LETTERS IN YOUR PACKETS HERE.

I WANTED TO SAY, DEAR RESIDENTS OF SEDLEY OR DARDEN MILL ESTATES, WHICH EVERYBODY IN THOSE AREAS WILL RECEIVE CONCERNING THE GOLF CART ORDINANCE.

AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE EFFECT UNTIL WE HEAR BACK FROM VDOT WITH ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND THEN WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE THEN ANYBODY I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. I'LL TELL YOU, I ALMOST HAD A RUN IN YESTERDAY WITH A YOUNG LADY LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OLD DRIVING A GOLF CART AND SHE PULLED RIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I KNEW SHE WAS SO I SLOWED DOWN IF I HAD NOT.

DONE THAT THINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

OKAY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG THERE TWO REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MR. JACK RANDALL AND MR. MICHAEL MANN. ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? THEY HAVE AGREED TO SERVE AGAIN.

DO YOU NEED A MOTION? YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IT. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

YEAH, WE DID THAT.

WE DID THAT NOW. RIGHT AWAY.

ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER THING IS A LETTER FROM.

WHAT RED HAWK ROUND HERE CONCERNING THE DONATION TO THE INDIAN TRIBE.

[02:55:03]

THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE THERE.

AND AS HE SAYS, THE VILLAGE WAS VANDALIZED A FEW YEARS AGO.

SO THIS CAN COME UP AT OUR BUDGET WHEN WE HAVE THE BUDGET AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION TONIGHT.

I'M NOT SURE IF ANYTHING ELSE, SIR.

IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ELSE UNDER ARTICLES OF INTEREST [INAUDIBLE].

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THERE.

I HAVE ONE THING TO REMIND EVERYBODY DOWN HOME DAYS COMING UP, APRIL 9TH, 11 UNTIL 4:00 AND THE REBECCA [INAUDIBLE] HOUSE WILL BE OPEN IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

AND ALSO, I THINK THIS IS NORA ATKINS LAST MEETING.

YES, IT IS. AND WE WISH HER WELL IN HER ENDEAVORS.

IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU.

YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL AND VERY KIND TO ME, AND THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN VERY GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE].

OK 5:30 TOMORROW IF THERE'S NO MORE BUSINESS, AND WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.