Jun 28, 2022 Board of Supervisors

I KNOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE

[00:00:03]

WE'LL CALL THE JUNE 28TH MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ORDER.

[Call to Order]

AND THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION BY SUPERVISOR DALLAS JONES FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] ELECTION DISTRICT.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO? SO MOVED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

MR. JONES, IS HE ON THE LINE NOW? OKAY FINE. WE DO NEED A CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT.

[CLOSED SESSION]

YES. HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WE DO HAVE CLOSED MEETING ITEMS TONIGHT.

IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE BOARD TO NOW CONDUCT A CLOSED MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS SET OUT IN CODE OF VIRGINIA 1950, AS AMENDED FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 3711, A 5 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.

AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 3711, 8, SEVEN AND EIGHT CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED AND RETAINED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

REGARDING LEGAL REMEDIES, INCLUDING POTENTIAL LITIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT FOIA REQUESTS SUBMITTED TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND THREE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 3711 A 7 AND 8 CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED AND RETAINED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGARDING POSSIBLE REMEDIES ASSOCIATED WITH CHARGES IMPOSED AND PROJECT DELAYS CAUSED BY DOMINION ENERGY'S RELOCATION OF A PRIMARY ELECTRICAL CABLE AT THE SOUTHAMPTON COURTHOUSE.

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

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY, WE'RE GOING IN THE BACK.

WE'LL BE IN CLOSED SESSION.

[2. Certification Resolution]

WHEREAS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENED TO CLOSED MEETING ON THIS DATE PURSUANT TO AN AFFIRMATIVE RECORDED VOTE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

AND WHEREAS SECTION 2.2-3712 D OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES A CERTIFICATION BY THE BOARD, THAT SUCH CLOSED MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN CONFORMITY WITH VIRGINIA LAW.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST INTEREST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM THE OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW WERE 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 MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION.

SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THAT'S APPROVED.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FOR THE INVOCATION TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. SIMMONS. WELCOME.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CHALLENGES AND LORD WE THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US A GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM THAT WE ARE GLAD

[00:05:07]

WE JUST THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THIS GOVERNMENT WE LIVE UNDER.

WE JUST PRAY THAT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE AND KEEP THAT GOVERNMENT GOING.

AND LORD WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WE ASK TONIGHT THAT SHE WOULD BE WITH SUPERVISOR JONES, THAT HE'S NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US NOW.

AND WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU COMFORT HIM AND BE WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY IN THESE DAYS.

WE AND WE JUST MISS MR. UPDIKE. GLENN UPDIKE.

HE'S BEEN SUCH A VITAL PART OF THIS MEETING FOR SO MANY YEARS AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN UP TO DATE ON ALL THE ISSUES.

AND YOU CAN COUNT ON HIM TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE.

AND WE JUST APPRECIATE HIM.

JOHNSONS SERVICE ALL THESE YEARS.

AND WE WELCOME OUR NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MR. THROWER. AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS MEETING TONIGHT.

WE JUST PRAY THAT WE'LL HAVE WISDOM AND [INAUDIBLE] ALL THINGS WILL BE DONE TO BE ACCEPTED IN YOUR SIGHT THESE THINGS WE ASK IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO ON TO NUMBER THREE ACTIONS ARISING FROM THE CLOSED MEETING.

[3. Actions Arising From Closed Meeting]

NUMBER FOUR, THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THESE MEETINGS.

[4. Citizens Comment Period]

AND I MIGHT ADD, IF YOU SEE THERE'S ISSUES COMING UP ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT THAT ARE NOT PUBLIC HEARINGS, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES, PLEASE. ALL WE ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS THE SPEAKER AND ANY ISSUES CONCERNING THE COUNTY AND WE'LL OPEN THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

SOMEONE STOLE MY THUNDER, BUT I'M GOING TO STILL SAY IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT WITHOUT GLENN UPDIKE SITTING BACK THERE BEHIND ME.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ASH KUTCHEN AND I LIVE ON GARDEN POINT ROAD AND DR.

EDWARDS IS MY SUPERVISOR AND I HAVE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS ABOUT THREE OR FOUR ITEMS. SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER LAST MONTH THAT I WAS WELL, I HAD ANOTHER BRIEF ENCOUNTER WITH THAT PERSON THIS WEEK.

AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE CEILING LEAK OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING, NOT FROM BAD ROOFS, BUT FROM LEAKING VALVES AND A SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND OVERFLOWS INTO HVAC AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS. WHY DIDN'T THE SCHOOL BOARD TELL US THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE? PROBABLY SAVING ALL THE HOSTILITY WE'VE BEEN OBSERVING [INAUDIBLE] AS A CITIZEN AND A TAXPAYER WHO SUPPORTS THE SCHOOLS I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD TONIGHT BY STATING PUBLICLY TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION THAT WE, THE CITIZENS AND OUR SUPERVISORS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN OPERATING THE SCHOOLS.

WE REALLY WANT FOR THE BEST FOR THE STUDENTS, BOTH IN THEIR CURRICULUM AND IN THEIR FACILITY.

THERE'S NO ROOM IN THIS COUNTY FOR ANIMOSITY, BITTERNESS, SUSPICION, ILL WILL, AND UNKIND WORDS AMONG THESE THREE GROUPS.

THE TAXPAYERS PROVIDE MOST OF THE FUNDS.

THE SUPERVISORS ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO THEIR JOBS, TAKE CARE OF THE STUDENTS, TAKE CARE OF THE BUILDINGS, AND PROVIDE A SAFE, HEALTHY AND QUALITY EDUCATION TO OUR STUDENTS.

LET US PUT THIS PROBLEM BEHIND US, PLEASE.

ONE MORE THING I THOUGHT OF A FEW MINUTES AGO.

I'M A VETERAN. THREE YEARS IN THE US ARMY.

WHILE IN THE ARMY I QUALIFIED ON THE M1 AND THE M14 RIFLES, A QUALIFIED EXPERT ON THE 45 CALIBER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL, THE M60 MACHINE GUN, THE 105 MILLIMETER AND [INAUDIBLE] ROCKETS FIRED FROM MY AIRPLANE.

I WAS A HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR FOR 28 YEARS, BOTH IN CALIFORNIA AND VIRGINIA.

AND I'VE HAD A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT SINCE GEORGE ALLEN WAS OUR GOVERNOR.

[00:10:04]

I WOULD GLADLY VOLUNTEER TWO DAYS A MONTH TO SIT IN ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS ARMED WITH WHATEVER WEAPON YOU CHOOSE TO GIVE ME.

ON A DIFFERENT ITEM CONCERNING THE DELAYS WITH THE COURTHOUSE.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY ISN'T DOMINION POWER FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF OUR COST OVERRUNS AND DELAYS BECAUSE OF THE POWER FEE CABLE BEING INCORRECTLY MARKED? ONE MORE ITEM, AND THIS IS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

IN MAY, JUST LAST MARCH.

THERE WERE 239,416 KNOWN ILLEGAL CROSSINGS AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

MAKING IT THE 15TH STRAIGHT MONTHS OF ONE OF THE HIGHEST THIS REPRESENTS A 32% INCREASE FROM 2021 AND A 900% INCREASE FROM 2020.

AND AS MORE THAN 2 MILLION INVADERS.

IN 15 MONTHS.

NOW AS THIS HISTORIC CRISIS WORSENS AND SOME 60 OR SO DIED YESTERDAY IN SAN ANTONIO.

OUR US BORDER PATROL AGENTS ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE LOST ALL MORALE DUE TO THIS ADMINISTRATION'S LACK OF ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND THEIR OPEN BORDER AGENDA. I URGE YOU, OUR BORDER SUPERVISORS, TO CONTACT OUR TWO SENATORS, KAINE AND WARNER, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND BEG THEM TO STRONGLY INSIST THAT THE WHITE HOUSE PUT A STOP TO THIS INVASION.

AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AN INVASION.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING THE PUBLIC SPEAK.

THANK YOU, SIR. WHO'S NEXT? MY NAME IS CHRIS DANIELS WITH RANDALL PAGE AND BROCK.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF LAND FOR HEROES.

ARE YOU GOING? YOU KNOW, YOU'RE.

YOU'RE ON THE AGENDA.

OKAY, SO THAT'S WHAT I MISINTERPRETED.

YOU NODDED AS I THOUGHT, THAT'LL COME UP ON THE AGENDA.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR ONE BROUGHT UP WITH US.

I'D LIKE TO BE HERE WITH YOU GUYS.

I'LL WAIT FOR THAT TIME.

OKAY. I THINK THAT'D BE THE BEST APPROPRIATE TIME, SIR.

I AGREE. WELCOME, SHERIFF [INAUDIBLE] .

GOOD EVENING BOARD, CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I'M UP HERE TO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK MIKE JOHNSON FOR HIS DEDICATED YEARS OF SERVICE HERE FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

I'M ALSO HERE TO ALSO WELCOME MR. BRIAN THROWER AS OUR NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

FURTHER, I WANT TO INVITE EACH OF YOU ON AUGUST THE SECOND TO COME OUT FOR A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, WHICH WE WILL BE HAVING AT THE FAIRGROUND.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE HELD ALL OVER THE WORLD, BASICALLY.

BUT AGAIN, I'M HERE TO INVITE EACH OF YOU OUT TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AUGUST 2ND.

IT'LL BE BETWEEN SIX AND 9 P.M..

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT GOOD EVENING.

I WILL NOT BE BEFORE YOU.

MY NAME IS ORRIS LANE.

I LIVE AT 26315 SHADY BROOK TRAIL IN CORTLAND.

I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO MR. JOHNSON FOR THE DEDICATED SERVICE HE HAS GIVEN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AND I WANT TO GIVE HIM A SPECIAL CARD TODAY BECAUSE HE HELPED ME WITH MY INITIATIVE OF THE NO THROUGH TRUCKS ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL, AND WITHOUT HIS HELP, I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN IT DONE.

I LIKE TO GIVE THIS TO MR. JOHNSON.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIME.

WARREN SIMMONS 27511 SOUTH [INAUDIBLE] PARKWAY, CORTLAND.

I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS NOW FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS AND TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S KIND OF EASY AND SOMETIMES IT'S IT'S NOT AS EASY TO KEEP UP BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS HEAR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HEAR.

[00:15:08]

AND I WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING FROM A YEAR OR TWO AGO NOW MAYBE THAT WHEN THE RULES WERE DONE AT THE SCHOOLS AND YOU, YOU BORROWED THE MONEY AND I TOOK IT THAT YOU'RE PAYING IT BACK FROM YOUR BUDGET.

BUT WHEN I WAS READING IN THE PAPER LAST WEEK ABOUT AN ARTICLE BY DR.

GOODMAN THAT IT WAS IT WASN'T LIKE THAT.

THEY GOT THE LOAN AND THEY'RE PAYING IT IN THEIR BUDGET.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHO GOT THE LOAN? WHO'S PAYING? WHO'S PAYING THE PAYMENT? AND IS IT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THROUGH THEIR BUDGET OR IS IT THE SCHOOL BOARD THROUGH THEIR BUDGET? THAT'S KIND OF MY QUESTION.

BECAUSE THAT WAS I WAS UNDERSTANDING YOU ALL WERE DOING IT AND SHE SAID THEY WERE DOING IT.

SO THAT PUTS A QUESTION IN MY MIND.

WELL, I DON'T THINK WE'RE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE ANY MONEY MAKING PROCESSES.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WHAT I WAS SAYING IS, IS IT PAID OUT OF YOUR BUDGET OR THEY GET ARE YOU GIVING THEM MONEY TO PAY IT OUT OF THEIR BUDGET? I THINK IS MY QUESTION.

CHAIRMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO ANSWER THAT? CERTAINLY. SO EACH YEAR WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE SCHOOL BUDGET HAS TWO PARTS, THE DEBT SERVICE AND IT HAS THE OPERATING.

THE SCHOOL BOARD CANNOT BORROW MONEY.

SO ALL OF THE MONEY IS BORROWED THROUGH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

SINCE WE'RE THE TAXING AGENCY.

SO WE ALWAYS THE MONEY IS BORROWED THROUGH THE COUNTY AND THEN IT IS PUT IN THE SCHOOLS BUDGET.

BUT WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO ALLOCATE TO THEM FOR THE DEBT.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I THINK IT DOES SO.

SO YOU GIVE THEM THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND THEN YOU GIVE THEM THE MONEY TO PAY.

THEY HAVE OPERATING AND THEY HAVE DEBT SERVICE.

OKAY. WELL, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

WHO'S NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ANAS WORRELL.

I'M CURRENT CITY MAYOR OF NEWSOME.

I DIDN'T COME OVER HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT I WANT TO GET SOME THINGS STRAIGHTENED OUT WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO SAY, WHERE YOU FROM? I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TRAINING SCHOOL, 1957.

WHEN WE HAD PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL.

WE DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT TODAY.

BUT UNDER MR. JOHNSON AND SOME OF THE OTHER GOING ON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THREE SCHOOLS WERE BUILT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

I SERVED PROUDLY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN I WAS STILL IN UNIFORM FOR 24 YEARS, AND I RECEIVE HONOR AND RECOGNITION FOR THAT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE ALL KNOW HOW IT OPERATES.

IF YOU DON'T DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW IT OPERATES, WE GOT TOO MUCH DICKERING ABOUT NOTHING.

AND I MUST SAY ALSO THAT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD TO WORK TO PAY OUT MY BOOKS THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I KNOW BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THOSE BOOKS.

THEY RECEIVED THEIR BOOKS CHEAP AND FREE.

SO IF YOU GOT SOME PROBLEM WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TODAY, COME ME.

AND I'M GLAD TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 25 TO 50 YEARS IN DEALING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

MR. JOHNSON.

MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN LIKE A BALL BOUNCING OFF MANY WALLS, DEAL WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, SO MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON ANY AND EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE IN THE COUNTY.

AN INDIVIDUAL IN HIS POSITION.

A LOT OF TIME HELD RESPONSIBLE STUFF THAT HE HAS TO DESIGNATE SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT.

[00:20:07]

NOR CAN I.

OR I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO DO THAT.

BUT COLLECTIVELY, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE UNITY AND DISCUSSION AMONG ALL PARTIES, WHETHER ELECTED OR APPOINTED OR WHATEVER.

AGAIN. I WAS BORN LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM WHERE I LIVE TODAY, 83 YEARS AGO.

VERY PROUD OF IT.

SO I LIVE NEAR ON IN NEWSOME.

I USED TO HAVE TO WALK PAST NEWSOME HIGH SCHOOL TO GET TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I WAS LIVING ON MAIN STREET, WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE NAMES UP THEN, BUT I LIVED IN A LITTLE HOUSE RIGHT THERE.

LITTLE WOODEN HOUSE.

MY MOTHER, MY BROTHER AND MYSELF.

SO I'M VERY PROUD OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY I OPTION TO BE HERE.

MY LATE WIFE ALSO RUDY SMITH WORRELL, WAS FROM HOUSTON.

SO SPREAD THE WORD WHEN PEOPLE COME UP, KNOW, WHERE YOU FROM? I WAS BORN IN NEWSOME, VIRGINIA.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? I'M MELINDA SIMMONS AND I LIVE AT 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY.

AND I JUST LISTENED TO THIS GENTLEMAN REFER TO A SITUATION AS BICKERING.

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING AND THEY DON'T GET ANSWERS, THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY DESCRIBE IT AS BICKERING.

I DON'T HAVE A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT I'M VERY CLOSE TO SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL HAVING COME THROUGH THIS, BORN IN THE COUNTY AND BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT.

AND I'VE BEEN AT THESE MEETINGS AND LISTENED TO HOW YOU ALL HAVE PLEADED FOR CLARITY WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.

IT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED UNLESS I'M SEVERELY MISCOMMUNICATED WITH.

AND I THINK IT'S SAD THAT A GROUP OF ADULTS CHOOSE TO CREATE AN IMPASSE RATHER THAN WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU ALL AND BRING UNDERSTANDING.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE IN A BUSINESS IN FRANKLIN WHO HAS A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I WAS HOPING HE WOULD BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT HE ASSURED ME HE HAD SOMETHING HE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THAT HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH SOMETHING HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL. I WILL NOT TRY TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE ALL UNAWARE OF.

AND YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY AWARE OF MANY THAT I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I WOULD BE AFRAID TO HAVE A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET ANSWERS ABOUT MY CHILD OR TAKE THINGS AWAY FROM HIM.

AND I NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE TAKEN AWAY OR FOR HIM TO COMPLY WITH REQUEST FOR TWO WEEKS OUT OF SCHOOL AND THEN BE TOLD THAT HE HAD BEEN EXPELLED FOR THE YEAR.

AND THESE THESE COMMENTS ARE COMING TO ME TRUTHFULLY FROM SOMEBODY IN BUSINESS THAT I'VE DEALT WITH SINCE I WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

THEY WILL NOT LIE TO ME AND I WILL NOT LIE TO YOU.

SO WE HAVE PROBLEMS THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WE HAVE.

AND IT'S VERY SCARY THAT WHEN PEOPLE TAKE POSITIONS YOU ALL MYSELF AND CHURCH BUSINESS, COUNTY AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND LEADERS THAT WE CAN'T GET CLARITY ABOUT SITUATIONS, IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING.

IT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL.

AND I DON'T CALL THAT BICKERING.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A COME TO JESUS MEETING AND PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE.

AND WHEN ONE SIDE WON'T COME, WHAT IS IT THAT THEY'RE AFRAID OF SHARING WITH US? IT PUTS ALL THE RED LIGHTS GLARE ON THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

AND I'M NOT CALLING ANYBODY OUT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE PROBLEMS ARE, BUT IT CERTAINLY ALLUDES ITSELF, DO WE HAVE MAJOR ISSUES HERE? SO I HOPE IN THE PATH FORWARD THAT ALL OF THIS WILL STOP.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT YESTERDAY AND I MAY SAY THIS WRONG.

I HAVEN'T STAYED UP LIKE I SHOULD HAVE, ALTHOUGH I'M VERY INTERESTED IN IT.

THE REAPPOINTMENT OR REQUEST FOR REAPPOINTMENT FOR POSITIONS WHERE A MASS MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY THAT IS COMING TO LIGHT WITH THEIR COMMENTS IS DISSATISFIED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE POSITIONS AND THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONSENTED TO BE PUBLIC

[00:25:02]

AND WHEN YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT, IF YOU'RE NOT DOING WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT WANT YOU WANTED YOU TO BE THERE.

IF YOU'RE NOT DOING WHAT THEY WANTED, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO STAY? SOMETHING DOES NOT ADD UP.

SO I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

AND AND HE'S RIGHT THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE THINGS BETTER, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A CLOUDY MESS.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? STILL GOT TIME.

ALL RIGHT, LAST CALL.

WILL THEREFORE LAST CALL, ANYBODY ELSE.

I SEE SOME MOVEMENT BACK THERE.

WITH THEREFORE CLOSED THE PUBLIC VERSION.

[5. Approval of Minutes]

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR WHO SPOKE TONIGHT.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. WE HAVE THREE SETS.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING MAY 16TH, 2022.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS, AMENDMENTS? MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL RIGHT. THE SECOND ONE IS THE SOLAR WORKSHOP WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MAY 18, 2022.

CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, I WAS INFORMED WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CORRECTIONS TO THOSE MINUTES.

SURE. FIRST CORRECTION FROM THE JOINT MEETING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE 18TH AT THE TOP OF PAGE FIVE.

IT CURRENTLY STATES THAT IT REQUIRES THE SUBSTATIONS AND OTHER PARTS OF A SOLAR INSTALLATION TO BE 500 MILES FROM DWELLING SCHOOLS, ETC.

JUST A 500 FEET, I BELIEVE, INSTEAD OF 500 MILES.

AND ALSO THE SECOND..

I LIKE THE 500 MILES. RIGHT, THE SECOND, ALSO FROM THE JOINT MEETING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

TOP OF PAGE TEN, IT CURRENTLY STATES, ACCORDING TO THE STATS, 93% OF THE COUNTY IS M1 OR M2.

IT SHOULD BE A1 OR A2.

IT'S ALL THE CORRECTIONS I HAD.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY, HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.

MOTION WITH THOSE REVISIONS.

SO MOVED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

ALL RIGHT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE REGULAR SESSION, MAY 24 OF THIS BOARD.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES THERE.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED.

SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO NUMBER SIX, HIGHWAY MATTERS.

[6. Highway Matters]

THE PROPOSED WIDENING OF FOUR 60 WAS SHELVED.

IT WAS CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE FOR THE SMART SCALE FUNDING.

AND LAST MONTH WE HAD THE DISCUSSIONS OF THE TURBO T AND THE R CUT, THE SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY AND DRURY ROAD INTERSECTION. WE DECIDED NOT TO SUBMIT THAT.

SO WE DO NOT WE WILL NOT BE SUBMITTING A [INAUDIBLE] FUNDING APPLICATIONS DURING THIS ROUND FIVE.

MONTH OF CONCERNS, AS ANY OF THE SUPERVISORS HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROADS IN THEIR DISTRICT OR ANYWHERE.

I HAVE ONE, THERE'S A BARREL SITTING OVER A HOLE ON BARNES CHURCH CIRCLE NEAR BARNES CHURCH.

ANYBODY ELSE.

THE ONLY THING I HAVE.

I HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT KEEPING THE GRASS CUT OUT HERE ON THE PARKWAY.

OUR BUSINESS SECTION, WE THINK THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT NEGLECTED.

THAT'S OUR BUSINESS SECTION.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY COME IN TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

SO JUST THOUGHT I'D PASS THAT ON.

IS DALLAS ON THE ARE YOU THERE, DALLAS? YEAH. YEAH.

YOU SAY GERMAN? OR HE COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

HE DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

HE COULDN'T HEAR YOU. SIR.

[7. Monthly Reports]

THE MONTHLY REPORTS, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE.

[00:30:02]

FINANCIAL REPORT.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

YEAH. I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU ALL UPDATES ON THE COLLECTION RATES.

IN MAY, THE REAL ESTATE WAS AT 99.73%.

HEY, CAN YOU HEAR HIM? YES, WE CAN HEAR HIM NOW.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM? YES.

I MADE UP AN ANSWER.

YES. HOLD ON.

YES, WE CAN HEAR HIM.

OKAY. YOU CAN HEAR HIM NOW.

YES, SIR. WE GOT IT.

GREAT. OKAY.

GOOD DEAL. I'LL PUT IT BACK ON.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE VIDEO AND THE AUDIO ARE NOT IN SEQUENCE TOGETHER.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO ON.

THE COLLECTION RATE FOR MAY FOR THE REAL ESTATE WAS AT 99.73%.

FOR JUNE, IT'S AT 99.75%.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, A $489,929 AND 6810.

AS FAR AS THE PERSONAL PROPERTY IN MAY, WE WERE AT 96.91%.

IN JUNE, AT 97%, WE'RE LOOKING TO COLLECT $1,550,960.52 FOR THE SOLID WASTE FEE IN MAY AT 72.99% IN JUNE, WE'RE AT 73.99%.

AND WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $1,122,022.33.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, THE BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES.

PERSONNEL. MR. THROWER. YES.

HONORABLE. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

UNDER PERSONNEL CHANGES FOR JUNE OF 22, EMPLOYEES HIRED.

THAT WOULD BE ME FOR ONE.

AND SAMANTHA HOWELL IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE HAD ONE EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION, MICHAEL VAN DER FORD IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, $46,810 AND ONE RETIREMENT.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, MR. JOHNSON. AND THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO NUMBER EIGHT FINANCIAL MATTERS.

[8. Financial Matters]

FIRST ONE IS THE SEMINAR PREPARATION RESOLUTION FOR THE FY 23, WHICH IS THE PIC SECTION.

AND THERE WAS A SIMILAR ANNUAL APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION WHICH PROVIDES A TOTAL OF $37,645,353.

AND THE BALANCE OF THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THE APPROPRIATION TO DECEMBER, AND WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ATTACH RESOLUTION FOR THAT APPROPRIATION.

SO MOVE IN A SECOND.

THAT'S SECOND DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I MIGHT BE APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION, SCHOOL FUND.

THAT'S THE GREEN TAB.

THE APPROXIMATELY $233,669.08 IN REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES TO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE REVENUE WAS DERIVED FROM EXPENDITURE REFUNDS, INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENTS, TUITION PAYMENTS AND DAYCARE PAYMENTS, AND THERE IS NO NEW MONEY THERE. MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OKC GENERAL FUNDS BEHIND THE BLUE TABS.

WITH TOTAL OF $786,619.58 OF THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION OF $452,684 OR $0.62 IS FOR THE GENERAL FUND $17,901 FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES FUND, $315,004.95 FOR THE BUILDING FUND AND $29 FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.

[00:35:02]

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO I CAN'T IN DISCUSSION ALL THOSE SAY AYE.

OKAY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE BILL LIST, HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS.

THAT'S YELLOW TABS BEEN AUDITED.

EVERYBODY'S HAD TO LOOK GOOD TO LOOK AT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO PAY THE BILLS.

I MOVE WE PAY THE BILLS.

SECOND. SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT.

NUMBER NINE APPOINTMENTS WE HAVE, ACCOMPLISH THE APPOINTMENTS

[9. Appointments]

THIS WAS DONE AT THE APRIL 26 MEETING.

WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE ONE FROM EACH DISTRICT, SO THERE ARE SEVEN AND THEY INCLUDE MR. ALLEN APPLEWHITE, DAMIEN DWYER, KARL EASTON, FREDERICK PHELPS, CHRISTOPHER HOULE, JAMES H .

LEE, THE FOURTH AND DENNIS WHITBY.

THEIR TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION ON JUNE 22ND AT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY OFFICE CENTER HERE.

SO WE NEED A MOTION TO GO AHEAD SINCE THEY'VE BEEN APPOINTED AND TRAINED TO APPOINT THESE INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS EFFECTIVE JULY ONE, 2023.

SO MOVED.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT, MAYBE DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

ALL RIGHT. THE CAMP COLLEGE BOARD, VERY IMPORTANT.

CAMP COLLEGE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTY.

I CAN'T OVER ESTIMATE WHAT IT IS, IT'S JUST TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TWO.

MRS. NORMA JONES, WHO'S ELIGIBLE FOR A SECOND TERM, AND TIMOTHY DRAKE, HE'S ELIGIBLE FOR THE FIRST TERM. HE FILLED A AN EXPIRED TERM, AND THEY ARE BOTH WILLING TO SERVE.

SO IN ROTATION, A MOTION TO ACCEPT THOSE.

ALL RIGHT. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ONE VACANCY.

THIS IS MR. ALAN AUSTIN, SERVED ON THE BOARD.

HE DOES NOT WISH TO SEEK REAPPOINTMENT, AND THEREFORE, WE NEED TO APPOINT A NEW INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE AS THE THIRD REPRESENTATIVE WITH A TERM OF 7/1/22 TO 6/3/26, FOUR YEARS.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MANDY HALL.

ALL RIGHT. SHE'S MY DISTRICT.

I'LL SECOND THAT. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS.

DR. DEBORAH GOODMAN.

I THINK SHE'S ALREADY ON IT, ISN'T SHE? NO. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT NOMINATION.

RIGHT. THAT DOES FOR LACK OF A SECOND, ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS? WE'RE DOWN TO MISS MANDY HALL.

SHE'S VERY EDUCATED, VERY WILLING TO DO THIS AND HAS A VAST AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE.

SO I THINK SHE WOULD BE EXCELLENT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD A NOMINATION AND SECOND DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? NO.

OK. WE'LL HAVE TO NOTIFY HER THAT [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT.

THE LAST ONE ON THE APPOINTMENTS.

HAMPTON ROADS, MILITARY AND FEDERAL FACILITIES ALLIANCE.

WE FUNDED THIS.

WE NEED TO APPOINT ONE MEMBER FROM THE BOARD TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY ON THIS BOARD.

WE HAVE MANY VOLUNTEERS.

WHAT IS IT EXACTLY? WHO'S SERVING LAST TIME? I BELIEVE THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION Y'ALL ALL JUST APPROVE OF FUNDING IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.

I BELIEVE THIS IS A NEW ORGANIZATION THE COUNTY JUST COMMITTED TO.

[00:40:02]

WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

ENTHUSIASM IS OVERWHELMING.

THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE TONIGHT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE DONE TONIGHT, BUT PROBABLY THE QUICKER THE BETTER.

BUT. ALL RIGHT.

WHEN'S THE NEXT MEETING? SEPTEMBER. I BELIEVE SO.

I BELIEVE THEY MEET QUARTERLY.

OKAY. WE'LL THEN TABLE THIS TO NEXT MEETING OR WE MIGHT LOOK AT THEIR CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE AND SEE IF THEY WHAT THEY THINK OF IT.

I DON'T GUESS WE REALLY KNOW WHAT THIS ENTAILS.

COULD YOU GIVE US A RUNDOWN ON THAT, MR. THROWER? I'M STILL LEARNING ABOUT THE BOARD, BUT I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN ORIENTATION SESSION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL THAT RUNS THIS ORGANIZATION, SO I SHOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT ORGANIZATION AFTER I GET BRIEFED BY THE THE DIRECTOR ON THE DETAILS OF THE LEVEL OF COUNTY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY WERE JUST SEEKING A BOARD APPOINTMENT TO SERVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. BUT I'LL BRING BACK MORE INFORMATION ON THAT ORGANIZATION NEXT MONTH.

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER TEN, PUBLIC HEARING.

[10. Public Hearings]

AND WE WILL THAT WILL INTRODUCE MRS. LEWIS, WHO IS OUR PROFESSIONAL PLANNER.

WELCOME. THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE FIRST OF A TWO PART REQUEST FOR THIS PROJECT.

THIS IS A REQUEST TO WITHDRAW 5.51 ACRES FROM THE SANDS STATESVILLE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT.

A NUMBER OF YOU, I'M SURE REMEMBER THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT STARTED IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IN 2017 AND 2018, 2017. THERE WERE TEN APPLICATIONS.

IN 2018, THERE WERE 38 APPLICATIONS.

THIS IS THE ONLY APPLICATION THIS YEAR AND THE APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES JUNE 30TH.

SO THIS IS THE ONLY ONE.

IN THIS CASE, THIS IS A REQUEST TO REMOVE FIVE AND ONE HALF ACRES FROM THE SANDS STATE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IN THIS IS PART OF TAX PARCEL 103-14C. THAT PARCEL IS 119.54 ACRES.

THE SAND STATE CIVIL DISTRICT AS A WHOLE IS 10,656.1 ACRES, AND THERE ARE ABOUT 160,000 ACRES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IN VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICTS.

THAT'S ALMOST HALF OF THE COUNTY'S LAND AREA.

THIS REQUEST IS TO REMOVE THIS 5.51 ACRE SECTION TO CONSTRUCT A COUNTRY INN, WHICH WILL HOUSE NO MORE THAN 20 DISABLED VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE TIME.

AND THERE'LL BE ACTIVITIES FOR THEM TO PARTAKE IN.

THE APPLICATIONS SAID HOUSE, BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS AN INN, THIS IS LIKE A HOTEL OR A BED AND BREAKFAST.

NOBODY WILL LIVE THERE AND IT WILL BE FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY THERAPY PERSONNEL.

THIS IS JUST A VACATION RETREAT FOR PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION IS CALLED LAND FOR HEROES, INC.

AND TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY INN THEY NEED TO REMOVE FIVE AND ONE HALF ACRES FROM THE AGRICULTURE DISTRICT BECAUSE THIS TAKES IT OUT OF AGRICULTURAL USE.

THE SITE AS A WHOLE, 120 ACRES, THE REMAINING OF THE 120 ACRES WILL STILL BE IN AGRICULTURAL USE AND FORESTRY USE.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT STAY AT THE INN MAY USE THIS AREA FOR HIKING AND HUNTING AND FISHING AND AND ALL SORTS OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

THOSE CAN THAT AREA CAN REMAIN IN THE AGRICULTURE DISTRICT BECAUSE THOSE ARE RECREATIONAL USES.

THE ONLY AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED OUT IS THE 5.51 ACRES THAT WILL HOUSE THE INN ITSELF, IT'S PARKING AND ONE ACCESSORY BUILDING.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT REMOVING PROPERTY.

SO AN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT, NOT SPECIFIC TO THIS REQUEST SO MUCH, BUT REMOVING ANY LAND FROM AN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT, THEY FELT THAT THAT WAS TAKING LAND OUT OF AN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT AFFECTS NEGATIVELY AFFECTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHOLE PROGRAM. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

THEY DISCUSSED IT OVER TWO MEETINGS AND IN THE END THERE WAS A VOTE OF SIX IN FAVOR OF REMOVING THAT PROPERTY FROM THE DISTRICT AND ONE

[00:45:09]

BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT REMOVING ANY PROPERTY FROM AN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.

EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS ONLY FIVE AND A HALF ACRES.

THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT IS PART OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST, WHICH LISTS ALL THE CONDITIONS THAT THIS PROPERTY WOULD BE DEVELOPED UNDER SHOULD IT BE APPROVED.

BUT THIS REQUEST IS JUST TO REMOVE IT FROM THAT VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.

I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LEWIS? THANK YOU, OK.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

WE'LL OPEN THIS UP TO THE PUBLIC.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. EVERYONE IS PREMATURELY STATED EARLIER.

I'M CHRIS DANIELS.

I'M A FRIEND OF [INAUDIBLE] AND WE ARE SERVING AS COUNSEL FOR LAND FOR HEROES, HELPING GUIDE THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

MR. EDWARDS WAS KIND ENOUGH TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO ME AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT I REVIEW THE TRANSCRIPTS.

I THINK THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT I'M ANTICIPATING FROM YOU GUYS THAT CAME FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, SO I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY RUN THROUGH THOSE.

AFTER THAT, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS IS, WHAT WE PLAN TO DO HERE, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK ME.

SO OBVIOUSLY LAND FOR HEROES.

WE'RE SETTING UP A RETREAT, A COUNTRY RETREAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A HOME BASE FOR HUNTING AND OTHER OUTDOOR OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA.

IT'S GOING TO EXTEND THE AREA IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO SPRING OUT.

IT'S GOING TO GO OUT TO THE SHORE AND IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE THERE IS NO COMPARABLE FACILITY IN THIS AREA.

AND IN THE LARGER I'M NOT SURE THERE'S EVEN ONE OUT TOWARDS HAMPTON ROADS, BUT DEFINITELY OUT THE SOUTH SIDE AND SOUTHAMPTON.

THERE IS NO FACILITY LIKE THIS BUILT EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF DISABLED VETERANS.

OBVIOUSLY WE DO HAVE THINGS LIKE 4H WHICH HAVE ADA REQUIRED HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE AREAS, BUT THEY'RE NOT BUILT EXCLUSIVELY FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE, 4H IS MOSTLY GRAVEL PAVED RIGHT WHEN WE COME TO ACCESSIBILITY.

SO LET'S GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M ANTICIPATING.

WHO SETS UP THE INVITATIONS? WHO GETS INVITED TO THIS FACILITY? RIGHT. WE'RE ANTICIPATING NO MORE THAN 20 FOLKS AT A TIME.

SO THE PEOPLE BEHIND LEND FOR HEROES, AND THAT'S MR. JAMES AND HIS FAMILY ALREADY PARTNER WITH A NUMBER OF FOUNDATIONS, MOST NOTABLY THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION AND FREEDOM ALLIANCE.

THE VETTING PROCESS IS GOING TO BE REALLY DONE MORE ON THE SIDE OF THOSE FOUNDATIONS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE SENDING RECOMMENDED VETERANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN THESE EXCURSIONS TO LAND FOR HEROES AND THEN LAND FOR HEROES WOULD GO AND HELP THEM COME ON DOWN HERE.

SO THIS THERE'S GOING TO BE VERIFIED PEOPLE FROM OTHER VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE RANDOM PEOPLE OFF THE STREET IS COMING OUT INTO THE WOODS TO GO HUNTING, IS GOING TO BE DISABLED VETERANS, DISABLED FIRST RESPONDERS, A TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION. THAT WAS A BIG QUESTION.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE CONTRACTOR, IT'S A LOCAL VETERAN OWNED CONTRACTOR HERE TONIGHT THAT WE'LL BE USING AND IN TALKING WITH HIM.

WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I ASKED HIM HOW LONG.

HE SAID LONG YEAR AND NOTHING AGAINST CONTRACTORS.

BUT TO ME THAT SOUNDS LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF.

SO I'D LIKE TO SAY BETWEEN GETTING EVERYTHING DONE WITH MODIFYING THE FARM LEASE, THAT WILL BE NECESSARY.

WE CAN'T BREAK GROUND UNTIL THE FARM LEASES ON THE DRIVEWAY, AT LEAST UNTIL THE FARM LEASE HAS BEEN MODIFIED BECAUSE OF THE PLANTING SEASON.

BETWEEN EVERYTHING I ANTICIPATE TWO YEARS AS THEY VARY CONSERVATIVE IF EVERYTHING GOES SLOWLY TYPE SCENARIO IF WE HAVE A LOT OF MUDDY DAYS.

FORESTRY THOUGH INSOFAR AS GETTING THAT BACK PATH IN TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS MONTH.

DO YOU ALL HAVE RENDERINGS AND THE SITE PLAN? BECAUSE I'VE GOT PAPER COPIES IF THEY WEREN'T PROVIDED TO YOU.

[00:50:03]

SHOW YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY SET BACK IN THE WOODS.

WE'RE NOT TAKING FARMLAND OUT OF OPERATION.

THE PROPERTY WAS ACTUALLY ACQUIRED WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT EXISTING FARM OPERATIONS WOULD NOT BE DISTURBED, EXISTING FARMERS WOULD BE HONORED AND CONTINUED WITH. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE SET BACK IN THE WOODS SO THAT IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE WEST, IT'S BARELY GOING TO BE VISIBLE.

YOU'RE COMING FROM THE EAST. YOU'LL SEE IT SET BACK BEHIND THE FIELD IN THE WOODS.

THE ANOTHER BIG QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE CHARITY WHO SPONSOR AND WHOSE UNDERWRITING RICK DAWSON IS PROVIDING FINANCIAL BACKER AND FINANCIAL BACKING LARGELY IN THE WAY OF ESSENTIALLY FREE FINANCING.

HE PUT UP ALL THE MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY.

RICK DAWSON, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, HE OWNS THE HORSE THAT JUST WON THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

SO HE'S DOING OKAY RIGHT NOW.

AND IN ADDITION TO MR. DAWSON, WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH CORPORATE BACKERS, ASA.

WHEN YOU GO TO THE MECHANIC AND IT'S GOT THAT LITTLE BLUE SIGN.

THEY'VE GOT AROUND 9000 SHOPS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE DOING A ROUNDUP PROGRAM WITH THEM.

THAT'S WHEN YOU GO.

AND I KNOW THEY'RE TERRIBLY ANNOYING, BUT WHEN YOU GO TO CHECKOUT AND YOU'VE GOT 2.99 AND ASK IF YOU WANT TO ROUND UP THE THREE, THOSE CENT DONATIONS, THOSE 20 CENT DONATIONS REALLY ADD UP.

OUR GOAL OVER THOSE 9000 SHOPS, IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE $2,000 PER SHOP.

OBVIOUSLY NOT 1000 TIMES 2000.

THAT THAT WOULD PUT US IN A POSITION TO NOT ONLY QUICKLY CONSTRUCT THIS FACILITY, BUT EXPAND.

THE GOAL IS TO USE THIS AS THE INITIAL FACILITY FOR A MULTISTATE OPERATION TO GET MORE LAND FOR HEROES LODGES BUILT, AND HAVE THIS BE SOMETHING THAT VETERANS CAN ENJOY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ANOTHER BIG CONCERN WAS WHERE THE HUNTING IS GOING TO OCCUR.

SO THIS 140 ACRES IS OBVIOUSLY TOO SMALL TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT HUNTING OPERATION.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME HUNTING, BUT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE DOGS OUT THERE.

AND IT'S NOT THE MAIN BASE.

WE ARE, THERE'S ONGOING DISCUSSION WITH LOCAL HUNT CLUBS IN EASTERN VIRGINIA, EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, THE SOUTH SIDE, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, BECAUSE THERE ARE NO WRITTEN CONTRACTS OR AGREEMENTS IN PLACE AS TO WHICH ONES WILL BE USING AND WHEN.

I DON'T WANT TO THROW ANY NAMES OUT THERE PREEMPTIVELY, BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE HAVING ANY DIFFICULTY IN THE SIGNIFICANT GEOGRAPHIC AREA WE WILL BE WORKING IN TO FIND HUNT CLUBS THAT ARE PATRIOTIC ENOUGH TO BRING ON AMERICAN HEROES AND LET THEM USE THEIR LAND.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LEAST OF THE CHALLENGES.

AS FAR AS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE JAMES FAMILY, THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING FISHING FOR HEROES FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

AND WHAT THAT HAS BEEN, IT'S BEEN ABOUT UPWARDS OF 50 TRIPS AT THIS POINT THAT IS PARTNERING WITH VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ONES I MENTIONED EARLIER AND TAKING VETERANS OUT.

DEEP SEA FISHING, OFF SHORE FISHING, ETC..

THE I GUESS THE FOCUS SHIFTED TO LAND FOR HEROES DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THERE WAS SOME TIME TO STEP BACK.

OBVIOUSLY WEREN'T HAVING A LOT OF FISHING TRIPS AT THAT POINT.

AND THE THE LAND FOR HEROES IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER, HAVING THAT BREAK WITH FISHING FOR HEROES FACILITATED THAT.

WHO'S IN CHARGE? MR. JAMES AND HIS FAMILY ARE ON THE BOARD.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING RICK DAWSON, THE FINANCIAL BACKER, TO THE BOARD.

HOWEVER, THAT ACTION HASN'T OFFICIALLY TAKEN PLACE YET.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, WITH HIS SIGNIFICANT INVOLVEMENT, THAT WILL BE COMING SOON.

SOMEONE I LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST.

THIS IS NOT ALL ABOUT HUNTING.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT PROVIDING A COUNTRY RETREAT FOR THE VETERANS.

SOMEWHERE THEY CAN GO AND GET SOME PEACE.

GET OUT OF WALTER REED, GO SOMEWHERE QUIET, HAVE SOME GOOD FOOD AND PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THEM.

[00:55:06]

HE'S GOT A NEW RECORD OUT, AND HE'S GOING TO BE USING THAT TO BRING ADDITIONAL PUBLICITY, ADDITIONAL FUND RAISING TO LAND FOR HEROES AND ITS MISSION.

SO THOSE ARE THE MAIN QUESTIONS I SAW LAST TIME.

WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS DO YOU GUYS HAVE? HAVE YOU? QUESTIONS.

HAVE YOU RULED OUT THE 4H CENTER FOR A WHILE? THE 4H CENTER HAS BEEN RULED OUT AS AS A LAUNCHING BECAUSE LARGELY BECAUSE WHILE IT HAS HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATIONS, IT DOESN'T IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVELY HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE JUST FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING IS BUILT TO BE HANDICAPPED, ACCESSIBLE INSTEAD OF ISOLATED PEOPLE AND ONLY HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE AREAS. DO YOU HAVE A 501C3? WE HAVE A 501C3 YES.

SO MR. JAMES HAS GOT TO BE THE SO-CALLED CEO OF THIS SITUATION.

YES, HE'S THE DIRECTOR.

HE IS. IT'S CONVENIENT WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED BECAUSE THE JAMES FAMILY LIVES ACTUALLY DOWN A PATH THAT CUTS THROUGH THE WOODS RIGHT THERE.

SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BE ON SITE AND MAINTAIN EVEN IN THE OFF SEASON.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A GO FUND ME ACCOUNT THAT GOES TO JIM HART.

WHERE DOES THAT WHAT'S THAT MONEY USED FOR? SO.

THE ADDRESS BECAUSE I HAVE AN OFFICE THERE ALSO.

AND THAT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

YES, THAT'S IT.

AND THE GENERAL FUND IS OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHERE OPERATING EXPENSES RIGHT NOW, THE MAIN USE OF THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO BE TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION.

EXPENSES. THE MAIN BUY IN IS ACTUALLY THE CONSTRUCTION.

ONCE THAT'S DONE WITH MR. JAMES AND HIS FAMILY PROVIDING THE COOKING SERVICES, ETC., YOU GET A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS ALSO, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE PUTTING WORK IN, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO NEED AS MUCH CONSTANT FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

DO YOU HAVE A JOB OTHER THAN THIS OR WHAT? 25 YEARS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY? DOES [INAUDIBLE] OWN IT OR..

LAND FOR HEROES? YES.

HE PROVIDED THE FINANCING THAT ALLOWED LAND FOR HEROES TO MAKE THAT PURCHASE.

FURTHER QUESTIONS. YOU HAD SOMETHING? YEAH, I HAVE ONE.

STAFF. HOW MANY STAFF PERSONNEL ARE GOING TO BE THERE TO.

DON'T ANTICIPATE A HIRING STAFF, THE JAMES FAMILY WILL BE SERVING AS THE STAFF ALONGSIDE VOLUNTEERS BUT SINCE THEY LIVE RIGHT THERE, THEY'LL BE ABLE AND THEY'VE GOT REST.

HOW MANY ARE IN THE JAMES FAMILY, IF I MIGHT ASK? THREE THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE CONSISTENTLY AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AFTER 20.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE HANDICAPPED VETS.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BACKBONE.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE VOLUNTEERS COME IN ADDITION TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL NEEDS.

BUT AS FAR AS COOKING AND CLEANING, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONSTANT PRESENCE.

SO THREE PEOPLE SUPPLEMENTED SIGNIFICANTLY BY VOLUNTEERS.

SO THREE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COOK, CLEAN, AND IF VOLUNTEERS DON'T SHOW UP, GET THESE MEN OUT.

I'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE.

WITH VETERANS HUNTING, RIGHT? IT TAKES ONE ON ONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE IN WHEELCHAIRS.

RIGHT. AND QUITE A FEW OF THEM ALL BUT QUITE A FEW VETERANS THAT ARE DISABLED ACTUALLY CAN WALK

[01:00:06]

IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY COME FROM, THE ORGANIZATION THAT THEY COME FROM.

SOME MIGHT BE SOME MIGHT BE ABLE TO WALK AND CARE FOR THEMSELVES, BUT OTHERS WOULD NOT.

AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES TWO MEN TO MOVE AND PLACE THESE MEN AROUND.

SO I'M AND MY QUESTION INVOLVES STAFF THAT WOULD BE THERE.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY SHORTAGE FINDING PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP OUT WITH THIS CAUSE FROM THE INTEREST WE'VE SEEN THUS FAR.

BUT AS FAR AS IF WE HAVE A PARTICULARLY HIGH NEEDS CLIENT, WELL, LET ME LET ME PHRASE MY QUESTION ANOTHER WAY.

IS THERE ANOTHER AND I'M ALL FOR VETERANS AND TAKING THEM HUNTING.

AND A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COUNTY DO THAT EVERY SEASON.

SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER FACILITIES LIKE THIS THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME INFORMATION FROM THAT'S ALREADY UP AND RUNNING.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY YOU'VE PUT THIS THING TOGETHER, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THESE VETERANS.

SO PART OF THE HELP WITH CARE FOR THE VETERANS HAS COME FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PLACING THESE PEOPLE HERE.

AND THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE SUPPLEMENTED BY THE LOCAL VOLUNTEERS.

BUT THE HIGH CARE WE'RE ANTICIPATING IS GOING TO BE MORE FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PLACING THEM.

THE, I SUPPOSE, THE ISSUE OF ARE THERE OTHER PLACES LIKE THIS IN OUR AREA? NO, BUT PROBABLY VISITING OTHER LOCATIONS THAT ARE DOING THIS.

SO THERE ARE OTHER LODGES THAT DO THIS.

OTHER FACILITIES LIKE HOW MANY STAFF DO THEY HAVE? SURE. HE DOESN'T EVEN NEED ME AS THAT.

HE DOESN'T EVEN NEED ME. HE JUST CAN COME OFF FOR HIMSELF.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON THAT, I HAD WORKED WITH PROBABLY 25, 30 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I'VE DONE MAYBE 500 HUNTS WITH VETERANS MYSELF.

WE WILL WE DO HAVE ACTION TRACK CHAIRS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT ACTION TRACK CHAIRS ARE THE BIGGEST TRACK CHAIR COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES FACILITATE DISABLED VETS TO GET OUT.

I'VE DONE DEER HUNTS, PHEASANT HUNTS SO THEY WOULD BE THEY THEY HAVE THEY HAVE THEY HAVE A LOT OF IT IS VOLUNTEERS.

WAIT A MINUTE. WHOA. THE ACTION TRACK, CHAIRS WILL BE WILL BE USING THOSE.

THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE LODGE.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

YEAH. WE USE THOSE AT OTHER HUNTING FACILITIES THAT WE WORK WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE PLAN ON AS THIS THING GROWS TO STAFF A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, HOPEFULLY FROM THE COUNTY, YEAR AROUND TO HELP WITH IT.

SO A LOT OF THIS IS HOPEFULLY INCLUDING VOLUNTEER.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT A LOT OF OUR OWN BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS INTO IT, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DONE.

AND THAT'S THREE PEOPLE.

WELL, I HAVE MORE THAN THREE.

I HAVE LIKE TEN IN MY FAMILY THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THE FOOD BUSINESS FOR SEVEN YEARS.

WE KNOW HOW TO FACILITATE LARGE DINNERS FOR OVER 150.

WE HAD A RESTAURANT THAT WAS 150 SEAT RESTAURANT.

SO WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO OPERATE THE FOOD REQUIREMENTS, THEIR NEEDS.

AND BASICALLY, YEARS AGO, I STARTED WORKING WITH THE GUYS AT WALTER REED HOSPITAL.

WELL, THAT GUY'S VISION AND AND..

MY CONCERN IS, IS IT PROPERLY STAFF? THAT'S A LOT OF WORK AND..

IT'LL BE PROPERLY STAFFED.

BUT AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO DEPEND ON VOLUNTEERS.

THIS IS GOING TO RUN WHAT MONTHS? YEAR ROUND. YEAR ROUND.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT DURING THE SUMMERTIME, A COUPLE MONTHS, BUT WE'LL HAVE IT GOING YEAR ROUND.

OTHER THAN THE OFF SEASON, SO THE OFF SEASON BEING MOST OF THE SUMMER, WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT FOR REHABILITATING THE FACILITY SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE BREAKS DURING HUNTING SEASON.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE STAFFING.

I MEAN, IF WE HAVE TO IF WE SEE THE NEED THAT WE NEED TO HIRE A FEW OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.

BUT WE HAVE WE ARE A FAMILY OF TEN.

MY WHOLE FAMILY WERE VETERANS.

ALL MY UNCLES, GRANDFATHERS, MY BROTHER.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS PROJECT.

NOT TO MENTION OUR SPONSORS AND FINANCIAL BACKERS AND PARTNERS.

[01:05:03]

THE GUNS ARE GOING TO USE.

DO WE HAVE THE WEAPONS? WHO SUPPLIES THOSE? I WILL HAVE, ACTUALLY.

DO THEY BRING THEM WITH THEM? NO. NO, THEY WON'T.

ACTUALLY, IN THE BLUEPRINTS, WE HAVE A SAFE GUN ROOM.

IT'S UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

SO YOU KEEP, YOU'LL SUPPLY THE WEAPONS.

YEAH, WE HAVE. WE HAVE.

I HAVE REMINGTON AS A SPONSOR.

BOWTECH BOWS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAINTAINED...

TEAM [INAUDIBLE] MACEO, I COULD GO ON LISTING, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING, BUT, YEAH, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY HUNT EQUIPMENT.

WE'LL HAVE IT ALL THERE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ALSO, JUST FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ACCESS, EXCEPT WHILE OUT ON THE HUNT, THE WEAPONS ARE LOCATED IN THEM, SEPARATE IN A SAFE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE HUNT.

JUST AND I, I MEAN, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE EVEN MYSELF, I'VE TAKEN GUYS OUT.

IT WAS SOME OLDER GENTLEMAN AND WORLD WAR TWO VETS WERE IN WHEELCHAIR.

SOME OF THE BEST MEMORIES OF MY LIFE.

MY SON AUSTIN IS HERE WITH ME.

HE DID THE PRAYER 50 PARALYZED VETERANS ONE MORNING.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HONORABLE THINGS I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS 80 SOME YEARS OLD.

AND THEN I REMEMBER HIM SAYING THAT JUST IT'S GOOD TO BE OUT.

THAT'S WHAT HE SAID, YOU KNOW, AND.

WELL, I'LL LET HIM FINISH.

ALL RIGHT. BUT I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE TAKING CARE OF THE FOOD, AND YOU GOT ALL THESE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE WITH THEM TO GET THEM TO AND FROM.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO SERVE THEM LUNCH, COOK THEM BREAKFAST, FIX THEM DINNER.

WHO'S GOING TO SKIN THE DEER? WELL, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

I PROBABLY SKINNED OVER 500 MYSELF, BUT THE GUYS THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE TAKEN THESE GUYS IN, HE'S RIGHT.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE PEOPLE GET THEM THERE.

I MEAN, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GO? HAVE YOU GOT A SKINNING HOUSE? YES, WE DO. YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE CONCRETE.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE COOLERS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

IT'S GETTING THEM THERE WORSE THERE.

AND I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY WRITTEN AGREEMENTS FOR HUNTING LEASES OR HUNT CLUBS.

IS THAT RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE ANY WRITTEN AGREEMENTS BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE BUILD IT AND BUILD.

WE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF LANDOWNERS IN NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO ME IF I WAS DOING IT, I'D HAVE THIS HAVE MY DUCKS IN A ROW BEFORE I DID ANYTHING.

WELL, WE HAVE BACKWOODS OUTFITTERS.

THERE'S ALL TYPES OF. ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS HAS 14,000 ACRES OF LAND HE LEASES AND WE'RE GOING TO BE PARTNERING WITH HIM TOO AND THEY'RE JUST ACROSS THE BORDER OVER THERE, NOT TEN, 12 MILES FROM US.

SO YOU'VE GOT A TRANSPORTER.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

WE'VE GOT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHEVY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, CHEVY SUBURBANS AND ALL KINDS OF COOL STUFF.

SO. FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YEAH. WHEN IS DISABLED VETERANS COME? HOW LONG WILL THEY STAY? JUST A FEW DAYS AT A TIME.

THREE OR FOUR DAYS. A LOT OF THE GUYS THAT COME DOWN FROM WALTER REED HOSPITAL, THEY CAN THEY CAN ONLY GET OUT LIKE ON THE WEEKENDS, THEY SAY THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE GUYS FOR A LONG TIME.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HUNTING.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING THEM TO A PLACE FOR THE HAVE A SENSE OF NORMALCY AND JUST DON'T HAVE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS OR IF THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS, THEY CAN. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S JUST A GIVE THEM PEACE OF MIND AND GIVE BACK TO WHAT THEY GIVE GIVEN FOR US.

WHILE THE SONGS THAT I'VE WRITTEN AND TRAVELED ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY WITH HAVE BEEN ABOUT THAT, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I'VE LIVED IT AND SEEN IT SO.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THIS COUNTY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

IT'S ONE OF A KIND.

HONEST ABE LOG HOMES PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO DESIGNING IT.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY DISABLED VETERANS AND ALSO A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, SHAWN ADAMS. YOU CAN LOOK HIM UP ON YOUTUBE.

GARY SINISE BUILT HIM A BEAUTIFUL HOME.

SEAN'S A DOUBLE AMPUTEE RIGHT BELOW HIS HIPS AND HE HELPED DESIGN THIS WHOLE THING, INCLUDING ALL THE THOUGHTS OF ELECTRICAL 24 INCHES OFF THE GROUND BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE GUYS CAN'T REACH DOWN AND PLUG STUFF IN.

WE'VE GOT PULL DOWN CABINETS.

WE'VE GOT THE SHOWERS ARE GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL TILE SHOWERS AND THEN GO INTO A WHEELCHAIR AND PULL YOURSELF UP ON AN INCLINE SHOWER BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL STONE.

THERE'S NOT A FACILITY LIKE THIS IN THE COUNTRY.

WHILE THESE VETERANS ARE HERE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MEET THERE HEALTH NEEDS.

OH, YEAH. I'VE WORKED WITH SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND BEEN TO A LOT OF THESE LODGES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

[01:10:02]

ON ALSO.

YOU ASKED ME A LITTLE WHILE AGO WHAT ELSE I DO.

WE WE ALSO OWN A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND 75 YEARS.

WE WORK COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL ROOFING FOR THE MILITARY.

WE DO WORK ON DAM NECK, LITTLE CREEK OCEAN AND NORFOLK NAVAL BASE.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS, THEN YOU MUST HAVE MEDICAL PEOPLE ON STAFF.

IS THAT IT? YOU HAVE A MEDIC.

OH, IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? MEDICAL NEEDS? YES.

OH, I DIDN'T HEAR. IT'S NOT HERE.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT'S A CARE TO THE DEGREE OF HAVING THERAPY ON SITE OR THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE CLEAR TO APPLICANTS.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE EXTRA LICENSING THAT WILL BE NECESSARY.

WHERE WE HAVE MEDICAL FACILITIES ON SITE IS IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT ABOVE WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO BITE OFF.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CLEAR TO BE AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO DAYS.

NOT PEOPLE WHO NEED CONSTANT CARE WHILE THEY'RE OUT.

I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION, BUT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S ALSO IT'S GOING TO BRING REVENUE INTO THE COUNTY.

WE'RE, OF COURSE, GOING TO BE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORES AND BUYING DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND USING SERVICES TO WORK ON THE VEHICLES.

LOCAL SHOPS LIKE BOBBIE'S.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT THINGS WILL BE PICKING UP.

I'M SURE THOSE LITTLE HANDYMAN NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN JUST LIKE AN EVERYDAY HOUSE BUSINESS OR ANYTHING.

[INAUDIBLE].

AS FAR AS THE FIRST APPLICATION IS CONCERNED.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE IS MINIMAL INTERRUPTION TO THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT.

WE'RE NOT BUILDING THIS OUT IN AN EXISTING FIELD.

WE'RE CUTTING DOWN TREES TO BUILD IT IN THE WOODS.

AND THE LAND IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR AGRICULTURE ALMOST ENTIRELY.

THE ONLY PART THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE CONTINUED IS A SMALL DRIVEWAYS AND A CUT DOWN THE CENTER.

OBVIOUSLY TO A WIDE DRIVEWAY TO ALLOW FOR ACCESSIBILITY.

SO, THEY AT THE TIME THE APPLICATION FOR THE LAND WAS PUT INTO THE DISTRICT, THIS WAS NOT A FORESEEABLE USE.

OBVIOUSLY THE LAND HAD NOT BEEN PURCHASED YET.

LAND WAS PURCHASED WITH THE DREAM OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN, WHICH IS WHY THE CHARITY PURCHASED IT.

SO AS FAR AS CONDITIONS FOR MOVING IT FROM THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT, I THINK THAT HAS ALL BEEN SATISFIED.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M VERY PRO FARMER.

I'VE WRITTEN TWO SONGS.

ONE IS CALLED THE AMERICAN FARMER, AND THE OTHER ONE IS HARVEST FOR HEROES.

AND I DID A TOUR WITH BAYER CORPORATION.

WELL, IT WAS MONSANTO TO TELL OUR STORY ABOUT THE AMERICAN FARMER AND THE FARMERS AT WORK, OUR PROPERTY.

I HAD MUCH RESPECT FOR THEM.

HIS FATHER WAS A VETERAN.

I THINK HE'D BE HONORED TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUILT, AND I'VE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THEM TO PLACE IT BACK FURTHER INSTEAD OF TAKING UP LAND.

AND I MET WITH THEM.

I SAID, HEY, WOULD THIS WORK OUT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DISTURB YOUR CROPLANDS? BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF IT'S GETTING DISTURBED, ESPECIALLY ABOUT SOLAR AND, YOU KNOW.

IT'S A LOT OF THINGS I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT, TOO, BUT ANYWAY, I'M PRO I'M PROBABLY AMERICAN FARMER.

SO AND THERE IS A FAMILY GRAVEYARD ON THAT SITE BEING BUILT WELL AWAY FROM THAT.

FOR THE QUESTIONS. HOW MANY SQUARE FEET, ROUGHLY, IS THIS? APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? ALSO, I MIGHT ADD ON THE BLUEPRINT, THERE'S GOT TWO FAMILY ROOMS ON THE END.

SO OUR GUYS AND OUR PEOPLE MIGHT STAY IN THE NIGHT OR VOLUNTEERS WILL HAVE SOMEWHERE TO STAY RIGHT THERE WITH.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE.

BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS ASK SOMEBODY TO GET UP AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING TO TRY TO HELP GET EVERYTHING READY WHEN THEY CAN JUST STAY RIGHT ON THE SITE.

WE DESIGNED IT WITH THAT, IN FACT, SORT OF TO PUT LESS STRESS ON OUR VOLUNTEERS.

THAT'S ONE THING I NOTICED WORKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF THESE LODGES, A GUY WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR OR SOMETHING TO GET TO WHERE THEY WERE GOING AND.

THEY WERE LIKE, HEY, IT'D BE NICE IF WE HAD SOMETHING RIGHT HERE.

SO WE DESIGNED IT WITH THAT IN MIND.

THIS MIGHT BE A BEST QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW. WHAT WOULD THIS BE CLASSIFIED AS? IT'S NOT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AT A HOTEL, IS IT? IS THERE WATER OUT THERE ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO SUPPLY? THE NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF THIS PROJECT WOULD BE SERVED BY A WELL AND SEPTIC SYSTEM.

[01:15:03]

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU COME UP TO APOLOGIZE.

SIR, IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, YOU NEED TO COME UP HERE SO WE CAN ALL HEAR YOU.

THE QUESTION I HAVE IS DEALING WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BASED ON OUR OWN POSITION IN THE U.S.

AND UPDIKE THINK TOUCHED ON THAT.

I LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ROADS AND THE FACILITIES THAT'S AVAILABLE IN [INAUDIBLE].

SO NOT ANTICIPATE THIS CAUSING SO MUCH TRAFFIC THAT IT WOULD NECESSITATE ANY CHANGES IN THE ROAD.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? YES, SIR.

COME ON UP FRONT. OH, COME ON.

I FORGOT MY HEARING AID, SO I DIDN'T HEAR EVERYTHING MS. LEWIS SAID, BUT I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY.

I'VE WALKED ON IT.

I'VE APPRAISED PROPERTY IN THE AREA.

I'VE KNOWN MR. JAMES FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

HE'S BEEN A CLIENT OF MINE.

I'M A VETERAN. I'M IN FAVOR OF HELPING VETERANS, ESPECIALLY DISABLED VETERANS.

BUT I CAN SEE ON THE MAP THAT IT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM THE BACKSIDE OF MRS. UPDIKE'S PROPERTY, AND IT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM MRS. DRAKE'S PROPERTY.

IT'S KIND OF IN BETWEEN THEM.

AND I JUST WONDERED, I DIDN'T HEAR, DOES THIS COME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION? AND THEY APPROVED IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR THAT IT HAS? OK HE HAD TO DISQUALIFY HIMSELF BECAUSE OF ADJACENT, BEING ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER.

OKAY, SO IT'S MET ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

WELL, HE COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING IN THIS ISSUE.

I'M SURE THAT HE CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION OR VOTING IN THIS ISSUE BECAUSE HE'S AN ADJACENT LANDOWNER.

I UNDERSTAND. OKAY.

OKAY. WELL, THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS, DOES HE HAVE ANY COMMENTS AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, ADJACENT LANDOWNER, NOT A PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIRMAN? JUST CURIOUS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK WHAT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS THAT RENEWABLE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS OR IS IT IN PERPETUITY? AS LONG AS THE CONDITIONS ARE MET, IT'S IN PERPETUITY.

AND ONE OF THE CONDITIONS, OF COURSE, WOULD BE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH ALL THE HUNTING REGULATION.

THEY DON'T BAIT FOR DEER AND THAT SORT OF THING? THIS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT NOW IS FOR THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT ONLY.

SO THE CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY ARE IN THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING.

THANK YOU. THAT CONDITIONS WOULD INCLUDE THAT THEY MEET ALL LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL RULES ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE COMBINING THEM, BUT NO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE COMMENT.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR.

THIS REQUEST IS JUST FOR THE REMOVING THE PROPERTY FROM THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT.

AND YOU SEE IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT THERE ARE FOUR THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU HAVE A REQUEST TO REMOVE PROPERTY FROM A DISTRICT.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL OR FOREST OPERATIONS ON LAND WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

THE SECOND ONE IS THE PROPOSED NEW LAND USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THIRD ONE IS THE PROPOSED LAND USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST OF THE COUNTY AND THAT IT PROMOTES THE HEALTH, SAFETY OR GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTY RATHER THAN ONLY THE PROPRIETARY INTEREST OF THE OWNER.

AND THE FOURTH ONE IS THE PROPOSED LAND USE WAS NOT ANTICIPATED BY THE OWNER AT THE TIME THE LAND WAS PLACED IN THE DISTRICT.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE THAT TIME.

AND THESE FOUR CONDITIONS ARE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE GENERAL STATUTES OF VIRGINIA THAT CREATED THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT.

SO THOSE ARE FOUR QUESTIONS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

CAME TO A VOTE OF SIX IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED TO THIS.

AND THAT'S YOUR TEST FOR THIS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE

[01:20:03]

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONDITION [INAUDIBLE], WHATEVER FOLLOWS.

THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I THROW UP TO THINK ABOUT.

YOU JUST CAN'T SAY WE'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW FIVE ACRES FOR WHAT? THERE HAS TO BE A PART B THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER WITH THIS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, DON'T [INAUDIBLE] THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WELL, WE'RE STILL OPEN.

WE'RE STILL OPEN. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY HAVE ANY LAST COMMENTS BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ? COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I DID PLAN ON SPEAKING. MY NAME IS STEVE DANIELS.

I'M FROM SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA.

NOT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, NOT YET.

HOPEFULLY SOON BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LOOKING.

I AM NOT OFFICIALLY THE CONTRACTOR ON RECORD, BUT THE CONTRACTOR THAT HAS VOLUNTEERED FOR THIS PROJECT VOLUNTEERED.

MY EXPERIENCE GOES BACK TO MR. JAMES INTO THE WOUNDED WARRIORS.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE VOLUNTEERED.

I ALSO AM A DISABLED VETERAN, SO I GET IT.

I GET THE POINT OF THIS. THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

[INAUDIBLE] VERY NEAR IS DEAR TO ME.

MANY OF YOU ARE BACK.

MANY OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN OF VETERANS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN ANSWER A LITTLE BIT OF THIS TIME ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT SIDE, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANYTHING I CAN.

THE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE.

BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ASPECT OF THIS CALL, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED FOR DISCUSSION.

I THINK DAVE EXPLAINED PRETTY WELL WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

I KNOW YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS GOING TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH.

THIS APPLICATION, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DERIVED FROM THE.

AG FOREST DISTRICT.

SO I THINK WE KIND OF KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH IT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOTE ON THE AG FOREST REMOVAL.

THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.

I AGREE. WELL, THAT'S OF THE DISCUSSION.

YOU KNOW, ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I VOTED FOR THIS.

WITH RESERVATIONS.

AND I GOT TO BE HONEST, I STILL HAVE RESERVATIONS.

I JUST DON'T SEE ALL THESE THINGS COMING DOWN.

THEY DON'T MAKE THAT MUCH SENSE TO ME.

SO I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

I LOVE THE IDEA, AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN FOR OUR VETERANS.

IT SEEMED LIKE A TASK THAT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IT MIGHT SEEM SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE.

BUT FROM THE PLANNING AND THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR, I THINK THAT A GOOD GROUND.

WELL, A GOOD GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN LAID.

AND I WOULD VOTE TO GO FORWARD WITH IT.

I'VE HAD 13 PHONE CALLS TODAY, AND THEY ALL GIVE MR. JAMES AND HIS ROOFING COMPANY A BAD NAME ABOUT PAYING HIS DEBTS.

AND I WOULD VOTE NO.

I AGREE WITH YOU, DR.

EDWARDS, ON PART OF WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY ANYWAY, AND THAT I DO HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.

THE MORE THEY TALK, THE MORE QUESTIONS I HAD, JUST LIKE ANYBODY WOULD HAVE.

THE MORE I FLIPPED THROUGH THE PACKAGE, THE MORE QUESTIONS I HAD.

I'M THANKFUL THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL MINE.

TO ANSWER THAT, I DON'T MIND TO SEEK RESOLUTIONS TO IT'S THEIRS TO COME UP WITH.

THE ANSWERS TO IS THEY WORK TO RESOLVE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES.

I'M A SKEPTIC.

I'M A REALIST.

AT THE SAME TIME, I HOPE THAT FOR OUR VETERANS SAKE, THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD WORK.

AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT.

[01:25:01]

BUT FOR FOR THOSE REASONS, I'D BE WILLING TO TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE CONCEPT, IF FOR NOTHING ELSE, TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT FLY ANYWAY.

THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE I SEE IN YOUR COMMENTS AND MINE.

WELL, IF I'VE UNDERSTOOD THINGS THAT OPEN LAND.

I MEAN, HOW MANY ACRES OUT OF THE 110 ARE OPEN OR WE'LL BE LEFT OVER.

I SEE CLEAR ON HERE.

IS THAT TO BE CLEARED OR ALREADY CLEAR? IS THAT THE OPEN LAND I'M LOOKING AT IN THIS MAP, THAT TRACT AS A WHOLE IS 120 ACRES.

THEY'RE GOING TO USE FIVE ACRES.

FOR THE LODGE? RIGHT. AND THE REST IS A MIX OF AGRICULTURE AND URBAN LAND.

THERE'S AGRICULTURE AND FOREST LAND.

THIS IS DESIGNATED WOOD, RIGHT.

AND THIS IS DESIGNATED WOOD RIGHT.

AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN LOOKS OPEN TO ME.

YES. AND THE BACK GOES BACK MUCH FURTHER THIS WAY.

AND THAT'S ALL FOR. SO THE FACILITIES ONLY USE, WHAT, FIVE POINT SOME ACRES? THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT'S RIGHT NOW WOODED.

AND YOU WANT TO CLEAR THAT.

AND IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THE CROP LAND.

SO THAT LEAVES THE HUNTING ON THE WOODLAND, WHICH.

LOOK IT.

SO FOR THIS CONCEPT, THIS BUILDING AND THE FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF, IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO ME THE PLAN EXACTLY FITS FOR HUNTING.

IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE INTERFERING WITH THE FIELDS AT ALL.

YOU'RE LEFT OF THIS AREA UP IN THE CORNER AND THEN WHATEVER'S.

WHATEVER'S IN THE BACK.

THE CONCEPT I LIKE, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO FIT THIS PARTICULAR, IN MY MIND PIECE OF PROPERTY IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE HUNTING AND RIGHT EVEN NATURE TRAILS OR RIDING TRAILS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CROSS.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CROSS THAT OPEN LAND SOME KIND OF WAY.

IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT OR AM I LOOKING AT IT WRONG? WELL, THE DRIVEWAY THAT CROSSES THE FIELD, I SEE THE DRIVEWAY.

BUT AS FAR AS I THINK YOUR CONCERN IS, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CONCERN IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE HEAVY VOLUME HUNTING ON THIS PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT THE HOME BASE FOR HUNTING.

IT'S THE HOME BASE FOR STAYING OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND THEN GOING TO HUNT CLUBS IN NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA.

PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, AREAS IN NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHERN VIRGINIA.

WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE SECURED.

YOU HAVEN'T GOT AGREEMENTS OR LEASE AGREEMENTS, WRITTEN AGREEMENTS TWO YEARS OUT? NO. BUT HONESTLY, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HUNT CLUBS OF ALL ORGANIZATIONS BEING UNWILLING TO HELP DISABLED VETERANS. THEY TEND TO BE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I PARTICIPATED IN IT AS WELL.

BUT THIS WOULD BE THAT.

YOU WOULD BE HERE EVERY DAY OF THE HUNTING SEASON WITH VETERANS, AND YOUR OBLIGATION IS TO SUPPLY THEM SOMEWHERE TO USE NATURE OR HUNT. RIGHT.

AND YOU'RE COUNTING ON LAND THAT IS YET TO BE SECURED TO ACHIEVE THAT.

THAT SEEMS TO THE POINT OF HAVING WHERE WE GIVE NAMES.

YES. THAT SEEMS TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR ME AS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MY GUEST.

WELL, THERE AREN'T GOING TO BE GUESTS OUT THERE WITHOUT HUNT CLUB HAVING BEEN SECURED TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO JUST COME OUT THERE AND HUNT ON THAT PARTICULAR LAND.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE 20 GUYS OUT THERE HUNTING ON THAT 110 ACRES WHEN IT'S AN ACTIVE FARM.

THE WHOLE POINT OF THE CONCEPT IS A MINIMAL DISRUPTION TO THE ACTIVE PRESENT USE OF THE PROPERTY.

MINIMAL DISRUPTION FOR NOT ONLY THE USE, BUT THE NEIGHBORS.

[01:30:03]

THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HAVING THE HUNTING OPERATIONS ON SITE.

BOTH [INAUDIBLE] HAVE TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT PARTICIPATE.

I MEAN, SUCH A NICE FACILITY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SOME LOOSE ENDS THAT.

HAVE TO BE DEPENDENT UPON TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS AND.

ANYWAY FOR THE DISCUSSION HERE.

NO SOONER THAN YOU'RE CONCERNED AT ALL.

BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS GO DOWN THE DRAIN.

IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN MAYBE GIVE A BETTER INDICATION THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SECURE? WHAT'S BEING ASKED ABOUT IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE THIS? ABSOLUTELY. WE COULD MAKE KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THAT WE NEED ACTUAL WRITTEN AGREEMENTS IN PLACE TO SAY, ASSAD, SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS AND I'D SAY YOU CAN GET ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS JUST TO GET ALL THAT PUT TOGETHER.

IF THAT WOULD HELP YOU ALL, WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO PROMPT THEM TO GO AHEAD AND ENTER INTO THOSE AGREEMENTS NOW.

AND THEN THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT MAYBE GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

ABSOLUTELY. AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND BASED OFF THAT, I WOULD ASK THAT THE SUPERVISORS CONTINUE THIS OUT SUCH THAT THAT INFORMATION CAN BE.

I'M ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS FOR 60 DAYS.

I'LL SECOND THAT. WON'T 30 BE SUFFICIENT, YOU THINK? HOW MUCH TIME DID YOU ALL SAY YOU NEEDED TO GET? YOU WANT 30 OR 60 TO 1 OR TWO MONTHS.

YOU GIVE ME THE OPTION BETWEEN 30 AND 60.

I'M GOING TO CHOOSE 60. OKAY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND.

IT LOOKS LIKE $1,000,000 FACILITY TO ME.

SO. IF THEY NEED 60 DAYS TO FIGURE IT OUT, I'LL SECOND.

OKAY. WE GOT A MOTION ON A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND.

AND THE MOTION. YOU TAKE THAT ACCOUNT.

WHO MADE THE MOTION CALL? WE CONTINUE THIS FOR 60 DAYS TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.

SECOND. YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL VOTE ON MISS UPDIKE.

VOTE FOR THAT. EXCUSE ME.

I WILL VOTE FOR THAT.

WE WILL VOTE FOR THAT.

YES. YES.

YES. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THE EXTENSION IS HOW LONG? 60 DAYS.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO WITH THAT.

YES. YES.

ALL RIGHT. DALLAS.

THIS DALLAS.

HE'S NOT WITH US. OKAY.

SO HE WAS.

OK. THIS ISSUE IS THEN TABLED OFFICIALLY FOR 60 DAYS AND ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND DO NOT NEED TO GO THROUGH THE CONDITION YOU PERMIT UNTIL A IS PASSED RIGHT.

OR YOU NEED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON IT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE OPENING IT UP FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS TO ADVERTISE WHERE YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE THIS.

MR. LEWIS I TRIED TO GET AWAY, OKAY? THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS FOR THIS THIS COUNTRY IN UNDER THE ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 18-3720, IT IS DEFINED AS A COUNTRY INN WITH MORE THAN FOUR GUESTS.

THIS IS ON TAX PARCEL 103.14C OF 5.51 ACRE PORTION OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

THE PROPERTY HAS AGRICULTURAL ZONING AND IS NOTED AS AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, OPEN SPACE AND RURAL RESIDENTIAL AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE APPLICATION PROVIDES A NARRATIVE OUTLINING THE PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS NINE TO PERSON ROOMS AND TWO FOR PERSON OR FAMILY

[01:35:05]

IN THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN ON SITE THERE WILL BE AN OUTDOOR STORAGE BUILDING.

THERE WILL BE THERE MAY BE A TWO ACRE STOCKED FISHING POND ON SITE, WHICH MAY VERY WELL BE THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY AS WELL. THE PROPERTY WILL BE USED FOR HUNTING, FISHING AND CAMPFIRES FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

THIS IS A BED AND BREAKFAST.

THEIR CONDITIONS ARE STATED IN THEIR APPLICATION AND THESE CONDITIONS ARE CONTINGENT WITH THE PROPERTY NO MATTER WHO THE OWNER IS.

THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL STAY IN PLACE.

THE SITE WILL BE USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF DISABLED VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

ENTRY WILL BE BY INVITATION ONLY.

THE SITE WILL NOT BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST QUESTIONS IN FIVE YEARS IS THERE GOING TO BE A HOLIDAY INN SIGN OUT FRONT? BUT THIS WILL BE A FACILITY UNDER INVITATION ONLY FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, OUR COUNTRY, AND WILL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS WITH AN ESTIMATED MAXIMUM OF 20 GUESTS AT A TIME.

THERE WILL BE A PATH IN FROM THE ROAD TO THE END, WHICH WILL HAVE A CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY AND AN ADJACENT PARKING AREA.

PRIMARY ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE AT THE SITE WILL INCLUDE HUNTING, FISHING AND CAMPFIRES.

THERE WILL BE NO DOG KENNELS.

THERE WILL BE NO CAMPER HOOKUPS.

THERE MAY BE A TWO ACRE POND CREATED TO BE STOCKED FOR FISHING BY INVITED VISITORS.

THERE WILL NOT BE HORSES OR OTHER LIVESTOCK KEPT ON THE PROPERTY.

THERE WILL BE WALKING PATHS TOO.

AND IN THE WOODS, IN THE VICINITY OF THE COUNTRY, INN LAND FOR HEROES DESIRES TO PRESERVE AS MUCH FARMLAND AND WOODED AREA AS POSSIBLE.

LAND FOR HEROES INTENDS TO PLANTATION SOME TREES IN THE VICINITY OF THE COUNTRY.

INN AND THERE WILL BE AN OUTBUILDING IN THE VICINITY OF THE COUNTRY INN.

ASIDE FROM THE OUTBUILDING, THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS WILL BE THE 11 ROOM AND THAT WILL HAVE ITS GREAT ROOM FOR SERVING MEALS, A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND AN OUTBUILDING.

THE PROPERTY WILL BE CONDITIONED WITH THOSE USES, AND THAT'S ALL.

IF IT'S EVER NOT USED FOR THOSE PURPOSES, IT LOSES ITS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND HAS TO APPLY FOR NEW CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR WHATEVER THE NEXT USE IS, WHETHER IT'S A TRADITIONAL BED AND BREAKFAST WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OR ANOTHER USER, ANOTHER CHARITABLE USER LIKE THIS.

IF THIS ISN'T USED FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO LONGER APPLIES.

PLANNING COMMISSION HAD A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

I FORGOT TO BRING UP THAT MR. DRAKE IS AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, SO HE HAD TO RECUSE HIMSELF.

AND MR. RANDALL.

MR. DANIELS IS AN EMPLOYEE OF MR. RANDALL AT THE LAW FIRM.

SO MR. RANDALL HAD TO RECUSE HIMSELF AS WELL.

THAT'S WHY THERE WERE ONLY SEVEN PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS VOTING.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID VOTE 6 TO 1 TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION OF THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THIS INDUSTRY.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LEWIS? THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CONDITION NEWS PERMIT.

I HAVE ONE ONE COMMENT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT MS. LEWIS READ ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT THIS LAND WOULD BE USED FOR HUNTING, AND HE SAID IT WOULDN'T BE HUNTING.

SO THERE'S A CONFLICT RIGHT THERE BETWEEN WHAT I'M HEARING THESE TWO PEOPLE SAY.

THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.

UH, I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS NOT SIGNIFICANT HUNTING ON THE PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT THE PROPERTY.

THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME HUNTING ON THE PROPERTY NO MORE THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT OUT IN THE COUNTRY IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE 20 GUYS OUT THERE HUNTING ALTOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE SITE.

SORRY, I WOULD ASK THAT THE BOARD TABLE THIS MOVE IT OUT TWO MONTHS SO IT CAN ACCOMPANY THE OTHER APPLICATION THAT WAS JUST MOVED OUT TO AUGUST.

THIS IS THE CONDITION YOU PERMIT SAYS NO HUNTING ON THE PROPERTY.

THE APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SAYS PRIMARY ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE AT THE SITE WILL INCLUDE

[01:40:06]

THAT DOESN'T SAY THAT THE ONLY HUNTING THAT THE GUESTS AT THIS END WILL TAKE PART IN WILL BE ON THIS PROPERTY.

BUT IT DOES SAY THAT THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HUNTING, FISHING AND CAMPFIRES.

THANK YOU. SIR.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED WELLS, AND I DIDN'T GO DOWN THE AXIS ACTUAL WEAPON, BUT YOU OUGHT TO HAVE A RANGE, IF I'M CORRECT.

NO RANGE. HOW WILL YOU GO TO YOUR SHOOTING? YOU'RE OUT OF RANGE. OKAY.

HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION.

HE SAID NOTHING. NO RANGE.

WARREN SIMMONS CORTLAND I THINK WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, MORE PEOPLE AND CONGESTION AND PROGRESS, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, IS GOING TO COME TO THIS COUNTY NO MATTER WHAT WE DO.

WELL, WE'VE GOT TO BE CONCERNED IS WITH WHAT PROGRESS, WHAT PEOPLE COME.

CAN WE GET PEOPLE THAT DON'T MIND RIDING BEHIND A TRACTOR FOR 25 MILES AN HOUR FOR FIVE MILES? OR DO WE GET SOMEBODY THAT HAS TO HAVE A WALMART AND WALK INS AND ONE AND IDAHO AND AND JUST CHANGE EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO HUNT.

THAT'S A NATIONAL EVENT IN SPORT IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

SO THAT'S HOW KIND OF PEOPLE.

THAT'S COUNTRY PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE NEED TO LOOK TO ATTRACT INSTEAD OF CITY PEOPLE, BECAUSE CITY PEOPLE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU GOT.

THEY WANT IT LIKE THEY COME FROM.

AND THAT'S JUST MY OBSERVATION.

BUT SO WE NEED PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE WE HAVE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP IT LIKE WE'VE GOT IT JUST LIKE WE DID. SO IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FITS AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WOULD.

BALLS OR ANYTHING.

WE'RE DOING MUCH.

I MEAN, 20 PEOPLE WITH THEIR FAMILIES ARE THERE AND THEY GO HUNTING.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPREAD ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I MEAN, IF SOME OF THEM ARE HUNTING WITH A HUNT CLUB AND NEWSOME, SOME OF THEM ARE BEING CAUGHT AND SOME OF THEM I BEING CAMO OR MUFFINS, BURRO OR WHALE.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT'D BE SPREAD OUT AND NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S THE KIND OF TAX REVENUE THAT WE WANT VERSUS, LIKE YOU SAY, A HOLIDAY INN THAT BRINGS IN THREE OR 400 PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO WHAT? WHO KNOWS WHAT? SO THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

IT'S KIND OF MATCHES WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER THAN SOME OTHER THINGS I'VE SEEN.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? CHILLY IN HERE. GOOD EVENING.

MS. SCOTT, 33306 GEORGE BRIDGE ROAD, FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.

GREAT JOB, MIKE. I THINK THAT HERE'S SOMETHING MENTIONED ABOUT DISABLED VETS, AND I THINK I HEARD SOMETHING ECHOED THAT NOT EVERY DISABLED VET IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME AND ATTEND THIS RETREAT.

IS THAT NOT SO? SO WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE DETERMINATION AND THE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO USE TO EVALUATE WHO COME AND WHO DON'T COME? AND AND IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DISABLED VETS IN THE LAND FOR HEROES, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE INCLUDED TO SOME DEGREE.

SO CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT FOR ME, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. SO WHEN I SAY THAT CERTAIN VETERANS MIGHT NOT BE IN A PLACE TO ATTEND.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF THEIR DOCTOR TELLS THEM THAT THEY'RE NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO EVEN WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ADVANCED WHEELCHAIR AND THAT SORT OF THING, BE OUTSIDE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A FEW DAYS.

CERTAIN PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE CONDITIONS THAT ARE SO EXTREME THAT THEY WON'T BE IN A POSITION, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CHARITY WILL MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THEIR DOCTOR. AND SO WE WON'T BE EXCLUDING PEOPLE, JUST IF SOMEONE'S DOCTOR SAYS THEY CAN'T COME.

[01:45:03]

ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN.

ANYBODY ELSE? EVERYBODY ELSE. LAST CALL.

ANYBODY ELSE? WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS CONDITION YOU COMMIT.

ALL RIGHT. DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD HERE.

I MOVE THAT WE CONTINUE WITH THIS TO.

WE HAVE TO I MEAN I'LL SECOND THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO.

YEAH. NOTHING WE CAN DO UNTIL WE COME BACK.

OKAY. THIS UPDIKE.

I VOTE TO CONTINUE.

YES. YES.

CONTINUE. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THIS THIS'LL BE CONTINUED FOR 60 DAYS.

SEE BACK ON THE ONES BACK ON THE LINE.

YES. YOU WITH US, DALLAS? YES. HOW DID YOU HEAR ME? YES. ALL RIGHT? YES. YES, SIR.

GO AHEAD. NO.

I'LL GO WITH THE 60 DAYS.

HE GOES WITH THE 60.

THAT'S WHAT HE SAID. WE COUNTED HIM POSITIVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO ON TO NUMBER 11, PLAYING UP DATES.

[11. Plan Updates]

ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE THINGS? I'LL MOVE WE ADOPT THE TWO ATTACHED RESOLUTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. FOR THE DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE. AYE.

ALL RIGHT. UNANIMOUS.

WANT TO BE THE HAMPTON ROADS MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? MOTION TO ADOPT HAVING [INAUDIBLE]? SO MOVED. SECOND.

I CAN ALWAYS SAY, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, MR. JONES VOTED. VOTED YES.

ALSO YES.

CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.

GOOD. ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. THE NUMBER 12 FIREWORKS PERMIT, IT'S BEEN AN ANNUAL EVENT, AND SADLY, I THINK IT WAS CURTAILED SOMEWHAT BY COVID, BUT I

[12. Outdoor Entertainment and Fireworks Permit]

THEREFORE, WE MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PERMIT.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, ALL THE PAPERS.

THEY ARE RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, NUMBER 13, FIRST, A READING ON PERMIT FEES THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

[13. First Reading- Permit Fees]

SHE CAN GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL.

THIS IS THE FIRST READING I'VE PROPOSED.

INCREASES TO THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES.

ALL THE LAND DISTURBING FEES, STORM WATER FEES AND ZONING FEES.

THE FEES HAVEN'T BEEN RAISED SINCE AT LEAST 2013.

WE HAVE WE HAVE YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT IT COSTS US TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR SOMEONE WHO'S BUILDING A NEW HOME.

WE TOOK A TYPICAL NEW HOME IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BROKE DOWN WHAT IT COST US TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

TODAY, THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES COVER LESS THAN HALF OF THE COSTS OF WHAT IT COSTS US TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

SO WE FEEL THAT'S A DECISION FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS TO WHO PAYS FOR THOSE SERVICES.

WHEN SOMEONE BUILDS A NEW HOUSE, THERE'S ONLY ONE ENTITY THAT BENEFITS FROM OUR INSPECTION SERVICES THAT'S THE OWNER OF THE NEW HOUSE.

BUT IF THE PERMIT FEES DON'T COVER THE COSTS, THEN ALL THE TAXPAYERS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ARE PAYING TO SUBSIDIZE THAT COST.

[01:50:09]

FEES DON'T COVER THE FULL COST OF OUR INSPECTION SERVICES, BUT THEY COME CLOSER THAN IT IS TODAY.

THIS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS A 600 SQUARE MILE COUNTY AND INSPECTOR ON A TYPICAL DAY SPENDS BETWEEN TWO AND 3 HOURS DRIVING TO GET FROM SITE TO SITE.

MR. GOODWIN NOTES, WE PUT OVER 20,000 MILES A YEAR ON INSPECTION VEHICLES JUST GETTING INSPECTIONS DONE.

SO THESE FEE INCREASES HELP COVER THE COST OF.

PROVIDING OUR SERVICES TO SOMEONE WHO'S WHO'S BUILDING OUT ALL OF THE FEE INCREASES WOULD GO UP.

SOMEONE WHO'S ADDING A ROOM OR UPGRADING THEIR ELECTRICAL SERVICE OR WHATEVER.

BUT THOSE FEES DON'T GO UP AS MUCH AS THE ONES THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH BUILDING A NEW HOME.

AND WITH THAT PROPOSED FEE INCREASES, THAT BUILDING PERMIT FEES WOULD BE LESS THAN 1% OF THE COST OF THE HOUSE.

AND WE ASK THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HELP CONTRIBUTE TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BUDGET BY HELPING OUR DEPARTMENT COVER OUR EXPENSES. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MRS. LEWIS? WE HAVE BEEN ALL UP SINCE 2013.

2013. THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'S WHAT, NINE YEARS AND THE BUILDING CODE HAS CHANGED, I BELIEVE, TWICE IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO EVEN.

THE NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS AND THE INTENSITY OF THE INSPECTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED TODAY ARE MUCH MORE THAN THEY WERE IN 2013.

SO NOT ONLY ARE THERE MORE INSPECTIONS, THEY TAKE LONGER BECAUSE THE INSPECTIONS HAVE TO BE MORE PRECISE OR INSPECTOR OR WHATEVER.

THEY HAVE TO BE MORE INTENSE.

SO IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROCESS TO PROVIDE BUILDING INSPECTIONS FOR A BRAND NEW HOME.

WE'RE LUCKY IF INSPECTIONS THE INSPECTOR ONLY HAS TO MAKE EACH INSPECTION ONE TIME.

SOMETIMES A HOUSE HAS TWO, THREE, FOUR RE INSPECTIONS.

WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T PASS AN INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR TELLS THEM HOW TO FIX IT.

IF, WHEN HE'S CALLED FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION, THEY STILL DON'T FIX IT.

IT'S STILL NOT RIGHT.

THEN THEY PAY A REINSPECTION FEE.

BUT YOU REALLY GET TWO INSPECTIONS EACH TIME.

YOU GET THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU GET IT WRONG AND THE SECOND TIME THAT YOU GET IT RIGHT.

AND THERE ARE SOME BUILDERS THAT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE ON HOUSE AFTER HOUSE AFTER HOUSE.

SO YOU'D THINK THEY'D LEARN AFTER THE FIRST ERROR.

BUT YOU SEE THE INSPECTION REPORTS AND THEY'RE THE SAME ERRORS, DIFFERENT HOUSES, SAME CONTRACTOR, SAME MISTAKE.

SO WE'RE WE'RE HOPING TO HELP COVER OUR COSTS.

THE QUESTIONS YOU LOOK AT COMPARED TO THE COST OF YOUR OTHER BUILDING, THESE FEES ARE VERY, VERY SMALL.

YES, THE PRICE IS VERY MUCH FOR A NEW HOUSE.

THE INCREASE IN PERMIT FEES IS LESS THAN $300, WHICH IS PERHAPS WHAT SOMEONE WOULD SPEND ON THE HARDWARE ON THEIR BATHROOM VANITY.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANY COMMENTS? PASS THIS ON. WELL, THE THING.

I'M SORRY. THE INCREASE IS THE VERY MINIMUM, SO I THINK WE SHOULD APPROVE IT.

YOU MADE A MOTION? WELL, YEAH, I'M MAKING A MOTION TO IT.

I LIKE YOUR MOTION AND A SECOND TO AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ADVERTISE THIS ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON OUR JULY 26 REGULAR MEETING. ALL THOSE PAPERS THEY ARE.

OKAY. SO. EVERYBODY'S HERE.

OKAY. UH.

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER 14, DISCUSSION OF POLICY RELATED TO CONCEALED AND OR OPEN CARRY OF FIREARMS BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES

[14. Discussion of Policy Related to Concealed- and/or Open-Carry of Firearms by County Employees at the Southampton County Office Center]

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE IS SECTION 18 283.2 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

AND THIS IS A STATUTE WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2021, IN PARTICULAR

[01:55:07]

UNDER B, IT SAYS IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO CARRY ANY FIREARM AS DEFINED IN SECTION 18 2308.2 OR EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS AS DEFINED AT 18 2308.2 WITHIN THE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA, THE CAPITAL SQUARE AND SURROUNDING AREA.

AND THEN WE GET TO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US.

ANY BUILDING OWNED OR LEASED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY AGENCY THEREOF, OR ANY OFFICE WHERE EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY AGENCY THEREOF ARE REGULARLY PRESENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES. WELL, NUMBER ONE, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS NOT ONLY A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE COMMONWEALTH, IT'S ALSO AN AGENCY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND IF YOU AREN'T SATISFIED WITH THAT AND SAY, WELL, IT'S REALLY NOT AN AGENCY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, WHICH I SUBMIT THAT IT IS.

ANY OFFICE WHERE EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY AGENCY THEREOF ARE REGULARLY PRESENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES. AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

FREQUENT AND WORK IN THIS BUILDING.

IF ALL OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND I SUPPOSE I'VE LEFT SOMETHING OUT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2021 JUMP INTO THIS FIELD AND VIRGINIA'S AUDITOR GENERAL STATE FOR SURE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE COULD PASS AN ORDINANCE CONTRARY TO THIS.

I WOULD ADD IN PASSING THAT UNDER 15.2, WHICH IS WHERE THE COUNTIES GET THEIR AUTHORITY 15.2915, WE COULD PASS SEVERAL ORDINANCE, PERHAPS EVEN MORE RESTRICTIVE IF WE WANTED.

FOR LOTS OF PLACES YOU CAN HAVE A STATEWIDE SPEED AND THAT APPLIES EVERY PLACE.

I'M JUST USING AN EXAMPLE OF TRAFFIC OFFENSE OR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COULD PASS ITS OWN FOR REVENUE PURPOSES.

SO I TAKE THE POSITION AND THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TRUE UNTIL 2021 BASED ON MY RESEARCH.

BUT I TAKE THE POSITION THAT ANYTHING THAT WE PASSED WOULD BE VOID AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE STATE STATUTE, WHICH TRUMPS US.

I NOTICE IN HERE THE COURTS ARE NOT MENTIONED.

OH, THE COURTS I MENTIONED IN ANOTHER PLACE.

BUT THE COURTS WOULD DEFINITELY BE THE COURTHOUSE WOULD DEFINITELY BE AN AGENCY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEYS.

BUT THEY HAVE WEAPONS.

WELL, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHO CAN HAVE A WEAPON.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AVERAGE PERSON THAT COMES IN, OBVIOUSLY IN THIS ROOM THE SHERIFF AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CAN HAVE A WEAPON. BUT JUST AS OBVIOUSLY NOBODY ELSE OTHER THAN A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO SITS IN THIS ROOM CAN HAVE A WEAPON.

NOBODY BUT THE CRIMINALS.

AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE SHERIFF AND THE OTHER CRIMINALS THAT ARE IN HERE.

THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY FURTHER.

WELL, THE REASON I BROUGHT IT UP.

THANK YOU, RICHARD, FOR RESEARCHING THIS.

I DIDN'T KNOW THIS CODE, BUT IT MADE, IT JUST MADE TOO MUCH SENSE TO ME.

WE HAVE A CARRY PERMIT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING DO.

SOME OF THE WOMEN DO.

AND IT WOULD SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY TO PROVIDE OUR OWN SECURITY IF WE'VE BEEN TO THE TRAINING AND OBTAINED A CARRY PERMIT TO BRING IT TO WORK.

[02:00:02]

THE COURTHOUSE IS IN A DIFFERENT SECTION FROM WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING, BUT OVER THERE, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY AND THE TREASURER? I THINK THE TREASURER COMES UNDER THIS, THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY.

WELL, THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEYS ARE NOT ONLY IN THE COURTHOUSE, BUT HE'S A STATE EMPLOYEE.

WELL, HOW ABOUT THE COMMISSION OF REVENUE? COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY THEY ARE STATE EMPLOYEES OR NO? WHAT THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY IS.

HIS SALARY IS SET BY THE COMPENSATION BOARD.

THE TREASURER I SUPPOSE THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

WHEN THE COMMISSIONER OR THE TREASURER ROUTINELY TOOK INCOME TAX RETURNS, STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS, THEN YOU GOT AN ARGUMENT THERE THAT THEY'LL SAY EMPLOYEE.

BUT I TAKE THE POSITION THAT ALL OF THEM ARE BECAUSE I TAKE THE POSITION THAT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS AN AGENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

WELL, CERTAINLY WE AREN'T LIKE A CITY.

WE AREN'T A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.

WE ARE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

WELL, JUST FROM WHAT I SEE THE NO GUN ZONES ARE WHERE THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM.

AND THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE BEING IN TEXAS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ALLOWED PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK WITH THE WEAPONS, AND THEY'VE NOT HAD ONE INCIDENT SINCE 2000 IN THE LAST 22 YEARS.

WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED ME TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

IT JUST MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE.

IT WOULDN'T COST THE COUNTY FOR THE SECURITY.

THE EMPLOYEES WOULD PROVIDE IT.

WELL, THEN YOUR SOLUTION? JUST THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED THIS IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IN 2021.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN REPEAL THIS.

MAY I IMPOSE ON OUR DELEGATE IN THE BLUE BLAZER .

AND WHEN THEY WENT TO THE ARE YOU GOING TO TRY AGAIN? THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY DO SECURITY AND ALL.

BUT I HAVE RESERVATIONS OF HAVING EMPLOYEES IN THE BUILDING WITH GUNS.

I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS RULE.

YOU KNOW, THESE TO CARRY CONCEALED WEAPONS.

THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING WHERE THE NO CARRY ZONES ARE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

FIRST THING TO DO IS RUN IN AND LOCK THE DOOR BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOBODY IN THERE HAS GOT A WEAPON.

I DON'T KNOW OF A CASE YET THAT THEY DID IT AT TECH.

THEY DID IT AND THEY'VE DONE IT IN ALL OF THEM.

THEY CHAIN, THE DOORS, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY DO.

SO NOBODY CAN GET OUT AND NOBODY CAN SHOOT BACK.

THE PLACES THAT ALLOW IT HAVE NO PROBLEMS. HE'S NOT GOING. THE OFFENDER IS NOT GOING TO RUN IN, LOCK THE DOOR AND HAVE ALL THE GUNS POINTED AT HIM.

HE CAN'T GET OUT. [LAUGHTER] YEAH.

I MEAN, MOST OF THEM ARE COWARDS.

I MEAN, THEY PROVE IT BY KILLING THEIRSELF WHEN IT'S ALL OVER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT.

IT IS A RIGHT.

AND CAN WE HELP? MR. WAXMAN, IN ANY WAY TO MAYBE MOVE THIS FORWARD IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TO TOUCH A FEW SENATORS ? ELECT THE RIGHT PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME POSITION THAT WE DO THAT'S THE AMERICAN

[02:05:07]

OR IT COULD'VE HAPPEN IN 2021 AND BE ERASED IN 2023.

WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT MAKES SENSE TO ME TO THINK ABOUT THIS, TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

THESE CRIMES ARE OCCURRING IN GUN FREE AREAS.

I MEAN, THEY ARE NOT OCCURRING IN THE COURTHOUSES ANYMORE LIKE THEY USED TO BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S WELL ARMED SECURITY.

I LIKE THE SIGN I SAW IN A GROCERY STORE AT ONE TIME.

THIS STORE IS GUARDED BY A HIDDEN FELLOW WITH A DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN.

HE WORKS SIX DAYS OF THE WEEK.

YOU GUESS WHICH DAY HE IS OFF ANYWAY? [LAUGHTER] OKAY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? NO, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NUMBER 15, CONSIDERATION OF PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT AND PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH PRTI INC..

[15. PRTI Agreements]

DO HAVE SEVERAL AGREEMENTS HERE THAT REQUIRES YOUR ATTENTION WITH A MOTION REQUIRED TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENTS. THIS IS, AS YOU RECALL, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, INCLUDING BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.

PRTI INC.

WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE ON THE REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCT THEIR FACILITY IN THE TURNER TRACT INDUSTRIAL PARK, AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN DECEMBER OF 2018. THAT SAID, THEY WEATHER, THE ECONOMIC STORM AND ARE NOW PREPARED TO RELAUNCH THE PROJECT BIGGER AND BETTER AGAIN.

ATTACHED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ARE THREE DOCUMENTS A PROPOSED PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, WHICH ARE INDICATED WITH THE BLUE SHEETS.

OUR PROPOSED REAL ESTATE OPTION AGREEMENT THAT'S REFERENCED WITH THE GREEN SHEETS AND A PROPOSED PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT WITH PRTI INCORPORATED WITH THE YELLOW SHEETS.

THE COMPANY NOW PROPOSES TO PURCHASE 20 ACRES IN THE TURNER TRACT INDUSTRIAL PARK AT A DISCOUNTED RATE OF $10,000 PER ACRE, ACQUIRING A 180 DAY REAL ESTATE PURCHASE OPTION FOR AN ADDITIONAL 26.6 ACRES ADJACENT THERETO AND INVEST APPROXIMATELY $52.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO CONSTRUCT AND EQUIP THE FACILITY FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF WASTE TIRES AND PRODUCTION OF ENERGY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THE FACILITY IS ESTIMATED TO CREATE 28 FULL TIME JOBS, WITH AN ANNUAL AVERAGE COMPENSATION OF $47,825.

AND THE COMPANY WILL AGREE TO MAINTAIN THE INVESTMENT IN JOBS FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS.

IN ADDITION TO THE DISCOUNTED SALE OF THE PROPERTY, THE ATTACHED PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT OFFERS VARIOUS ECONOMIC INCENTIVES.

THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $390,000 ANNUALLY IN DIRECT TAX REVENUES.

AND THESE AGREEMENTS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND WE'LL BE SCHEDULING THAT MEETING SOON WITH THE IDA TO APPROVE THOSE AGREEMENTS SUBJECT TO YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE MR. CARL HECK HERE TONIGHT.

CARL. YES.

MR. THROWER BROUGHT IT OUT PRETTY WELL, WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS AND HOW THAT'S ALL GOING TO WORK.

SO THAT'S THE PROPERTIES BEING DELINEATED AND THEY PLAN TO MOVE AHEAD IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO WITH THE PROJECT TO OBTAIN UTILITIES AND DEVELOP A FACILITY ON THAT.

SO. ON THE 20 ACRE SITE, AND THEN THERE MAY BE A COMPANION FACILITY ON THE OTHER 26 ACRE OPTION.

SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S SEPARATE THE WAY THEY ARE SO IF PEOPLE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE THEM.

IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

NOT ONLY [INAUDIBLE] PROVIDE INCOME FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE AND THE TAX RELIEVE THE TAX BURDEN.

BUT EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF THAT PROXIMATELY WHERE YOU'RE TOLD 20% OF THE TIRES THAT COME OUT OF YOUR MANUFACTURER'S SITE AND GO TO THE LANDFILLS ARE NOT, SO THIS WILL TAKE THOSE TIRES AND PROCESS THEM

[02:10:04]

AND SAFER YOU KNOW I LIVED NEAR A TIRE FIRE ONCE.

IT'S NOT A PRETTY SITE, SO NOR DO ARE THEY PUT OUT QUICKLY.

I MEAN, THIS MEETS A REAL NEED IN THE WORLD OUT THERE.

THAT PROPERTY IS IN THE ENTERPRISE ZONE.

SO THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE THE ENTERPRISE ZONE BENEFITS THAT MAYBE MATCH.

BUT ONE TIRE FOR EACH PERSON IN THE COUNTRY, 330 MILLION A YEAR.

THEY'RE NOW COMING HERE, THOUGH.

I THINK THEY GET STARTED THAT DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT LATER ON DOWN THE LINE, I THINK WE'LL MAKE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS TOO FOR THEM TO DO THAT AT THAT TIME ALSO.

YEAH. THE FACILITY WILL PROCESS ABOUT 5 MILLION TIRES A YEAR, SO THEY WILL RECYCLE THE MATERIALS THAT CAN BE RECYCLED, BUT STEEL AND THAT AND THEN THE REST WILL BE CONVERTED TO OIL AND SYNTHETIC FUELS FOR USE AS A SERVER FARM FOR COMPUTER PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.

SO ALL OF THE MATERIAL, EXCEPT FOR A BIT OF ASH WOULD BE ELIMINATING.

THANK YOU ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, SIR.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I KNOW YOU WORKED HARD ON THIS.

THANK YOU. WE ALL DID.

I APPRECIATE THAT. LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THINGS MOVING AHEAD.

ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, LADIES.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. SUPERVISOR JONES VOTES AYE ALSO.

[16. Project Updates]

MR. THROWER. YES. HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

YOU DO HAVE ATTACHED IN YOUR AGENDA A FEW PROJECT UPDATES, INCLUDING THE COURTHOUSE RENOVATION.

STAFF CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE ARCHITECT AND CONTRACTOR TO MOVE THAT PROJECT FORWARD.

WE'RE DOING WE'VE BEEN DOING PREPARATORY WORK WITH DOMINION ENERGY FOR THE TRANSFORMER RELOCATION THAT'S NOW COMPLETE.

AND THEY'RE HOPEFULLY EXPECTED TO BE ON SITE TO RELOCATE THE TRANSFORMERS AND THE PRIMARY CABLE.

HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

INTERIOR FRAMING IS NEARING COMPLETION IN THE 1960S BUILDING, ALONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING ROUGH END WORK.

WE'VE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE PROJECT ARCHITECTS REPORT FROM JUNE 15TH FOR YOUR REFERENCE IT DOES INCLUDE VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS YOU CAN REFERENCE AND LOOK AT.

WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED AN UPDATE SCHEDULE FROM THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT A SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION DATE OF JULY OF 2023.

CHANGE ORDER FOUR WAS AUTHORIZED THIS MONTH IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $111,855.10, WHICH WILL BE COVERED BY THE PROJECT CONTINGENCY. THE MAJORITY OF THAT COST IS ASSOCIATED WITH A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO ADDRESS UNFORESEEN REGULARITIES IN THE MASONRY FAÇADE OF THE 1960S BUILDING, WHICH WERE NOT VISIBLE TO ANYONE UNTIL THE PRECAST STONE PANELS WERE REMOVED FROM THE BUILDING EXTERIOR. THE ENGINEERS RECOMMENDATION WAS TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE IRREGULAR MASONRY AND REPLACE IT WITH 14 GAUGE COLD STEEL FORM STEEL FRAMING.

THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, INCLUDING CHANGE ORDERS ONE THROUGH FOUR, NOW STANDS AT $21,763,713.21.

AND YOU DO HAVE THE LATEST CERTIFIED PAY APPLICATION ATTACHED.

AND AT THIS TIME WE'VE PROCESSED THE CONTRACTOR'S FIRST SEVEN PAY APPLICATIONS AND PAID THEM ROUGHLY THREE, 3.43 MILLION DOLLARS.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STAYING.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT PROJECT MOVING ALONG.

AND SO THANKS.

THANKS, EVERYBODY. THANKS TO THE FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR HELPING US OUT THIS LAST MONTH WITH THAT, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB GUIDING ME ALONG ON THAT PROJECT.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. INSURRECTION TRAIL PROJECT.

WHAT'S IN THIS PACKET IS ACCURATE.

OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ALONG SLOW, BUT SURE HUH? WE WERE MOVING MORE THAN SLOW.

ALL RIGHT. THE NUISANCE, HOUSING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PHASE ONE.

DON'T WE RUN INTO A SNAG? UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY ONE BIDDER RESPONDED TO THEIR BIDS RANGE 65 TO 100% HIGHER THAN THE ESTIMATES.

[02:15:07]

AND THEY DO HAVE SEVERAL CONTRACTORS WILLING TO BID.

ALL RIGHT. THAT PROJECT HERE HAS HAD TROUBLE GETTING OFF THE GROUND.

ALL RIGHT. MOVE ON TO NUMBER 17.

CHAIRMAN, ONE ITEM ON THAT.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT ITEM WAS WITH MR. JOHNSON'S RETIREMENT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF POLICIES THAT YOU WILL NEED TO AMEND.

MOTION IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE SECTION 504 GRIEVANCE POLICY TO LIST ME AS THE COUNTY'S POINT OF CONTACT AND ALSO UPDATING THE HOUSING REHABILITATION ADVISORY BOARD BYLAWS TO APPOINT ME AS A VOTING MEMBER WITH MR. JOHNSON COMING OFF. SO THOSE TWO DOCUMENTS ARE ATTACHED REQUIRING YOUR APPROVAL.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION FOR THAT.

OKAY SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT, MOTION PASS.

ANYTHING ELSE, THERE BEFORE WE MOVE ON.

THANK YOU, THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.

[17. Miscellaneous]

I WOULD ADD WE DID INCLUDE CORRESPONDENCE FROM I BELIEVE Y'ALL GOT CORRESPONDENCE FROM STEVE BURNS WITH RED LETTER ROOFING PERTAINING TO THE SCHOOL ROOF ISSUE.

THAT'S BEEN INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.

THEY STILL HAVE WARRANTY ON THE ROOF THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO STAND BY.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE ATTRIBUTING SOME OF THE LEAKING PROBLEMS TO OTHER ISSUES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROOFS.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT.

BUT THEY'RE BEING REPAIRED, RIGHT? THAT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT.

THAT'S A SCHOOL MAINTENANCE THEY'RE SIDE.

BUT YOU DO HAVE THE CORRESPONDENCE HERE FROM THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR SAYING THAT IT'S NOT WHAT THEY THINK.

IT'S NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR WORK, WITH THE ROOFS, ANY LEAKING THAT MAY BE OCCURRING.

ALL RIGHT. WE'VE DONE ALL WE CAN DO WITH THAT.

I THINK WHAT WE STARTED OUT TO BRING THAT TO ATTENTION IS SUCCEEDED.

IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO ATTENTION AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT? ALL RIGHT. MOVE ON TO B CORRESPONDENTS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY DISCUSSION AS A VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, INFORMATION THAT YOU GOT IN THERE IS QUITE EXTENSIVE.

I WAS FORWARDED WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT'S STILL ON THE WEBSITE AND THAT'S THE MEETING NOW TO CHANGE THAT OR GET IT IN LINE AND A COPY OF THE ONE THAT'S ON THE WEBSITE I THINK WAS IN YOUR PACKET.

SO IT'S JUST FOR YOUR READING TO BRING YOURSELF UP TO DATE WITH HOW [INAUDIBLE] ARE MOVING FORWARD.

IT WAS PRETTY COMPLEX ISSUES.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SITUATION HERE.

THEY HAVE HELPED EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN TREMENDOUSLY, GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.

WE SHOULD BE VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM.

AND I JUST I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING MORE POSITIVE ABOUT THAT, THAT WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE THEM HERE.

I MOVE, WE ADJOURN.

ALL RIGHT. YES, SIR.

BEFORE WE ADJOURN.

ON LATE ARRIVING MATTERS IS IT OKAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO MAKE A COMMENT? SURE. OKAY I HEARD MR. RAILY TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL ZONE.

YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT MOST OF THESE MASS SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN SCHOOL ZONES WHERE NOBODY IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A GUN.

RIGHT. AND LIKE YOU SAID, THE BAD GUY.

BUT THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED SINCE I RETIRED FROM THE AIRLINE.

BUT SINCE 911 THEN PILOTS ARE PROPERLY TRAINED AND THEY CARRY SIDE ARMS TO WORK IN THE COCKPIT.

AND THERE'S NOT BEEN A SINGLE HIJACK OR DAMAGED PLANE SINCE THEN.

SO THESE POTENTIAL TERRORISTS KNOW THAT THEIR PEOPLE

[02:20:07]

I KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO SUPPORT A NEW RESIDENCE.

NATIONALLY, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES COST MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT $0.30 MORE A DOLLAR 30 FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY GENERATE IN PROPERTY TAX.

SO HOUSE REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, KID'S A SCHOOL BUS OR TEACHER'S DEPUTY SHERIFF SO IT'S NOT ONLY THE COST OF INSPECTING THE HOUSE, IT'S JUST THE COST THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY EVERY TIME A NEW HOUSE IS BUILT IN THE COUNTY.

SO THOSE ARE MY LATE ARRIVING COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] IS THERE A UPDATED PROJECTED DATE ON VDOT? I HAVE ONE IN MY AREA IS ASKING.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

BEEN AWHILE, I WENT UP AND ASKED THEM AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T GIVE AN ANSWER.

AND I MEAN, THE BRIDGE IS FINISHED.

THEY'RE DOING IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE TAKING STUFF OUT FROM UNDER IT OR SOMETHING.

I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THEY'VE GOT LIKE A SKELETON CREW WALKING UP THERE RIGHT NOW.

TOMMY CATLIN TOLD ME THAT WAS THE $64 MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

YEAH SO. WE'LL REACH OUT TO VDOT AND TRY TO GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION AND GET BACK WITH YOU.

I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ONE MORE TIME TO THANK MIKE JOHNSON FOR ALL HIS YEARS OF SERVICE.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. GODSPEED, MIKE.

AND. AND DEBBIE, FOR YOU PUTTING UP WITH ALL THE SHENANIGANS ALL THESE YEARS.

FIRST TIME SHE'S BEEN HERE.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.