Apr 25, 2023 Board of Supervisors

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. WE'LL CALL THE APRIL 25TH MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ORDER.

[Call to Order]

[00:00:06]

WE HAVE A FULL LOAD.

WE HAVE A QUORUM SO WE CAN DO BUSINESS.

FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS I'LL STAND 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.

OKAY. WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR INVOCATION.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.

GOOD EVENING. WE PRAY, HEAVENLY FATHER, WILL COME AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON, FATHER, GIVING THANKS AND PRAISES TO YOU.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE COME TOGETHER TO HEAR AND TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

WE KNOW YOU ARE EVERYWHERE, BUT WE INVITE YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT AND WE JUST ASK FATHER THAT YOU GUIDE AND DIRECT OUR THOUGHTS AND MINDS, AND WHATEVER WE DO WILL BE BE PLEASING TO YOU.

IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[1. Citizens Comment Period]

IT'S A CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

THIS WAS STARTED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2013.

DO WE WISH TO SPEAK PRO OR CON ON ANY ISSUE CONCERNING THE COUNTY? ALL WE ASK IS YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

SO WE'LL OPEN THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

GOOD EVENING. CINDY EDWARDS AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET, BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION A FEW THINGS.

YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE, BECAUSE I HAVE MENTIONED IT EVERY YEAR ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE FEE AND THE MEETING ON MAY 23RD OF 2012.

AND SUPERVISOR EDWARDS SAID, AND I'LL QUOTE THE STATEMENT FROM THOSE MINUTES IS OUR TIPPING FEES GO DOWN AND THEY MIGHT GO DOWN BY THE TIME WE GET OUT OF THIS CONTRACT IN 2018, THIS FEE WILL COME DOWN.

THIS FEE IS GOING TO BE REVIEWED ON A YEARLY BASIS AND A PUBLIC HEARING IN FRONT OF YOU.

FOLKS, IF OUR TIPPING FEES COME DOWN, THE $200 TRASH IS GOING TO COME DOWN AND A LIKE PERCENTAGE, YOU ALL HAVEN'T DONE WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO ON THAT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

AGAIN, IT'S STILL A SORE SUBJECT WITH PEOPLE COMING TO MY OFFICE ASKING WHEN THE TRASH FEE IS GOING TO GO DOWN OR WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE DONE AWAY WITH.

AND THEN ALSO IN THE BUDGET, THERE'S NO MONEY TO GIVE ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY $100.

I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO TAKE $100 FROM ANY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, AND I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD TAKE THAT OUT OF THE BUDGET.

ALSO, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RETREAT.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN MAKE A PLAN, BUT GOING DOWN THE ROAD, IF NEW SUPERVISORS COME ON, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND DIFFERENT PLANS.

I DON'T SEE SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY TO HAVE A RETREAT.

MOST OF THE TIME YOU'LL FIND THAT MOST MEETINGS, IT'S A LOT OF WASTE OF TIME.

I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE ATTENDED PLENTY OF MEETINGS THAT WHEN YOU LEFT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME.

AND ALSO I DON'T SEE USING THE COUNTY MONEY, THE TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO THE Y.

IT'S JUST LIKE, IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU ALL GAVE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE COUNTRY CLUB.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO THE COUNTRY CLUB OR IF THEY WANT TO GO TO THE Y, THEY SHOULD FORK THAT OUT OF THEIR PERSONAL FUNDS.

AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU ALL CONSIDERING THOSE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET, SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU SOME THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE GOT PLENTY OF TIME? ALL RIGHT. IF NOBODY ELSE IN LAST CALL, WE'LL CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMENT, PERIOD.

[2. Approval of Minutes]

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES? DELETIONS? CORRECTIONS?

[00:05:01]

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OKAY, WE WILL.

NUMBER THREE, HIGHWAY MATTERS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CONCERNS IN THEIR DISTRICTS OR ANYWHERE ELSE? I'VE ALREADY GIVEN MINE TO BRIAN.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE?

[4. Monthly Reports]

I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THE LIST HERE.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO JUMP IN FINANCIAL REPORT.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

YES, I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR COLLECTIONS.

AS FAR AS THE REAL ESTATE, IN MARCH WE WERE AT 99.67% COLLECTION.

IN APRIL WE HAD 99.69%.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO COLLECT $597,767.77 IN REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.

LAST MONTH WE WERE AT 95.71%.

WE ARE NOW AT 95.96%.

WE'RE LOOKING TO COLLECT $2,178,529.17 IN THE SOLID WASTE FEE. AS YOU KNOW, THE DEADLINE WAS MARCH THE 31ST.

SO NOW WE HAVE, OF COURSE, GOT A LOWER PERCENTAGE THAN WE DID LAST MONTH.

LAST MONTH WE WERE AT 76.72%.

THIS MONTH WE HAD 75.36%.

WE'RE LOOKING TO COLLECT $1,287,623.44.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DON'T COLLECT IT? WHAT'S THE RECOURSE? WELL, IF WE CAN'T COLLECT IT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET BLOOD FROM A TURNIP, BUT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR US, GARNISHMENTS, LIENS, OUTSOURCING IT SOMETIMES TO TACS OR DOLE AND REID TO HELP US COLLECT THAT.

CAN YOU DO THAT FOR PERSONAL PROFIT? I MEAN, FOR TRASH FEE? YES. WE'RE DOING THAT SAME STUFF FOR THE TRASH FEE.

YES. WE ONLY HAVE THREE YEARS TO COLLECT ON THE TRASH BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED A FEE INSTEAD OF A TAX.

BUT I USE EVERY METHOD THAT I CAN TO COLLECT.

AND OF COURSE, IF PEOPLE ARE NOT HOLDING A JOB, YOU KNOW, AND DON'T HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT, THEN YOU CAN'T DO A LEAN OR GARNISH THEM IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING OR HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? HOW MUCH HAVE WE COLLECTED AGAIN ON THE TRASH FEE AND WHAT TIME PERIOD IS THAT FROM? IS THAT JUST FOR THIS YEAR? IS THAT FROM ALL YEARS? NO, IT'S FOR THE YEARS THAT WE CAN COLLECT ON.

AND IT'S $1,287,623.44.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I GUESS NOT. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT.

ANIMAL CONTROL.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES AND MR THROWER PERSONNEL.

YES. HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WE DID HAVE SEVERAL CHANGES IN APRIL OF 2023 IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES HIRED JAMES PILFLEY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE HAD TIMOTHY MASON SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SUE MORRIS WAS AN ADDITION IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

WE HAD THREE EMPLOYEES SEPARATE THIS MONTH.

CAROL HARRINGTON IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, ROBERT EPPS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND CARRIE FROELICH IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

TWO OUT OF THREE IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND COMP BOARD ADJUSTMENTS, COMPENSATION BOARD ADJUSTMENTS.

SERENA WHITE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

BECKY ARMBRUSTER SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

ALL THESE ARE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VICTOR BRANCH, CHRISTY BOYCE, DIANE VINCENT AND TAMISHA WIGGINS.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON. NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE FINANCIAL MATTERS A, THE BILL LIST.

[5. Financial Matters]

WHO OR WHAT IS STANDBY SYSTEMS? SO THEY DO REPAIRS ON OUR.

RADIO TOWERS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

IS IT A LOCAL COMPANY OR.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE ADDRESS.

WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM FOR THE REPAIRS.

YOU KNOW THE QUESTIONS.

WE NEED A MOTION TO PAY THE BILLS.

SO MOVE. SECOND.

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

[00:10:03]

AND THAT FINANCIAL MATTERS.

THE APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION FOR THE SCHOOL FUND, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $190,149 IN REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOLS. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LOWE? IF NOT A MOTION TO APPROPRIATE THAT.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OKAY.

[6. Appointments]

NUMBER SIX TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES AND WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO SERVE ANOTHER FOUR YEAR TERM.

THE FIRST ONE IS MISS LYNETTE ALSTON.

I THINK HE'S BROUGHT A LOT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SEES IT, THE LARGE, A LARGE MEMBER AND I THEREFORE I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT SHE BE REAPPOINTED FOR FOUR YEARS.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ALL RIGHT. THE SECOND ONE IS MICHAEL DRAKE, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND I BELIEVE, LINDA, THAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT.

YES. I'D LIKE TO REAPPOINT HIM.

AND HE'S WILLING TO SERVE.

HE'S DONE A SUPER JOB AND HE NEEDS TO STAY THERE.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OKAY. BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN REAPPOINTED FOR FOUR YEARS.

[7. Land Acquisition Financing]

AND WE HAVE MR. DAVID ROSE. STEVE AND GUYS AND I AS DAVID GUSTON HERE TOO.

ALSO WE GOT EVERYBODY.

OKAY, GOOD.

I'LL JUST TURN THAT OVER TO YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I AM DAVID ROSE AND GOOD FORTUNE TO BE BACK TO SEE ALL OF YOU, YOUNG FELLA HERE IN FRONT OF ME.

STEVEN GUICE IS WITH ME AND HE'S HANDING OUT THE BOOK THAT EVERYONE ELSE CAN SEE UP ON THE WALL.

DAVID GUSTON IS ACTUALLY WITH YOUR BOND COUNSEL, SO HE IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE RESOLUTION WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO APPROVE IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, JUST GO QUICKLY THROUGH THIS, IF YOU WOULD, ON PAGE ONE, WHICH IS THE BACKGROUND.

OKAY. LET ME GO RIGHT BACK.

BACKGROUND AND AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, I THINK PROBABLY ABOUT 35 YEARS OR SO, AND I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF DOING THAT.

SO THANK YOU.

WHAT WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO DO IS TO RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE STRATEGY THAT WE HAD TALKED TO YOU ABOUT.

AT SOME POINT WE INDICATED WE WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, TALK TO BANKING INSTITUTIONS.

WE DID THAT.

AND WORKING WITH YOUR VERY ABLE STAFF, WE ARE RECOMMENDING TONIGHT A PARTICULAR PATHWAY.

SO WITH THAT SAID, WHAT WE DID BACK IN LATE MARCH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS PUT TOGETHER A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

WE GAVE IT TO BANKS THAT WERE BOTH LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND GOT SEVERAL RESPONSES.

SO WITH THAT SAID, WE ASKED FOR A NUMBER OF OPTIONS TO LOOK AT FUNDING FOR THIS LAND PURCHASE.

THE FIRST OPTION THERE WAS TO DO WHAT WE CALL LEVEL DEBT SERVICE.

THE SECOND OPTION WE CALL A BULLET MATURITY.

ULTIMATELY, WE RECOMMENDED A LEVEL DEBT SERVICE APPROACH.

IT WAS MORE STRATEGIC IN TERMS OF CASH FLOW AND MANAGEABLE.

AND THE SECOND PART THERE WAS WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT TERMS TERM OPTION A, WHICH WOULD BE A FIVE YEAR MATURITY TERM.

OPTION B WOULD BE A TEN YEAR MATURITY.

ONCE AGAIN, TALKING PARTICULARLY TO MS..

LOWE, WHO IS OF COURSE YOUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, WE WITH THE FOUR PROPOSALS WE RECEIVED ULTIMATELY ARE RECOMMENDING THAT OPTION B, SO IF YOU GO TO PAGE THREE, WHEN WE PUT THE BIDS OUT, WE RECEIVED FOUR DIFFERENT FIRMS, BANKING INSTITUTIONS, FARMER'S BANK, WHICH IS YOUR LOCAL BANK, IT'S YOUR BANK OF RECORD.

IT'S NOW BEEN ACQUIRED BY TOWN BANK.

SO GOING FORWARD, THAT WILL BE THE NAME I UNDERSTAND, KEYBANC, WHICH IS A NATIONAL BANK AND T BANK LIKEWISE, AND CAPITAL ONE, WHICH TECHNICALLY IS A BANK BUT DOES A WHOLE LOT OF WORK IN THE CREDIT CARD AREA AND BANKING AND HAS A VERY LARGE PRESENCE IN VIRGINIA.

[00:15:02]

AND THAT IS VERY, VERY SIZABLE, EVEN ON A VERY MODEST SIZE LOAN.

IT'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT WE ARE AVOIDING BY VIRTUE OF THAT OPTION.

SO AGAIN, ON PAGE FOUR IS A SUMMARY OF THESE OPTIONS.

AND I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT POINTS I'D LIKE TO MAKE.

NUMBER ONE, BY VIRTUE OF THE WAY WE STRUCTURED THE RFP, THAT 4.2% IS LOCKED IN THROUGH CLOSING, EVEN IF INTEREST RATES GO UP OR GO DOWN, WE'RE SET WITH THAT RATE.

SO WE KNOW THE EXACT CASH FLOWS WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF.

NUMBER TWO, IT ALLOWS A PREPAYMENT THAT IS AS FLEXIBLE AS WE COULD HOPE FOR WITHIN THE FIRST 180 DAYS OF A CLOSING, WE CAN DO SOME PARTIAL PREPAYMENT AND THEN RESET THE AMORTIZATION OF THIS LOAN ALL STILL BEING AT 4.2%. SO WE'VE GOT THAT OPTION.

HOWEVER, SHOULD INTEREST RATES GO DOWN MATERIALLY, WE CAN PREPAY THIS WITHOUT A PENALTY.

AND AGAIN, THAT WORKS FOR US BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'VE DONE THAT WITH YOU BEFORE OVER THE YEARS.

BANK FEES, THEIR FEES ARE NOT TO EXCEED $5,000.

WE THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY REASONABLE AND FAIR.

AND THEN THE SECURITY IS ALL THAT WE COULD HOPE FOR, AND THAT IS BASICALLY THE AUTHORITY AND THE.

COUNTY AGREE THEY'LL MAKE THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT GOES THROUGH THE IDA AND THAT WILL HAVE TO MEET.

WE UNDERSTAND, SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.

THAT'S A REQUIREMENT.

UNDER VIRGINIA LAW, THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A PASS THROUGH.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MY COLLEAGUE BEHIND US, DAVID FROM THE LEGAL COUNSEL, CAN MAKE SURE THEY REALIZE, AS WE'VE HAD THE PAST, THE THING THAT THEY'VE ASKED US TO DO, WE OFFERED THIS WAS TO PUT IN ESCROW ROUGHLY ABOUT A MILLION, 540,000 THAT'LL GET REINVESTED IMMEDIATELY.

SO WE GET THE INTEREST OFF OF THAT.

THAT WORKS AGAINST THE INTEREST ON THAT 4.2%.

SO WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, WE SEE THIS COST OF MONEY AS BEING VERY, VERY MODEST.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY AS THE COUNTY, WE'D LIKE TO THINK CASH IS KING, SO WE HAVE THOSE DOLLARS.

SHOULD THERE BE SOME PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD? AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.

WE WANT TO BE IN A VERY STRONG BALANCE SHEET BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD ON ANYTHING.

SO LASTLY, ON PAGE FIVE, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE FULL LOAN LOOKS LIKE, ALL 1 MILLION, 540.

HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE EVENT IN TERMS OF THE SALE OF SOME OF THAT LAND.

AND SO ULTIMATELY, VERY QUICKLY, WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS, THAT ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE SHOULD GO TO UNDER $100,000 A YEAR.

AGAIN, WE CAN PREPAY IT ANY TIME.

IT'S UP TO YOU AS TO WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO DO GOING THROUGH STAFF.

AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION FARMERS BANK.

WE THOUGHT THEY GAVE US EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD HOPED FOR.

THEY GAVE US THE FLEXIBILITY WE HOPED FOR.

THEY GAVE US A LOCKED IN INTEREST RATE THAT I SAID WAS LITERALLY ALMOST TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS LOWER THAN THE NEXT RATE.

AND WE EVEN SEE SOME RATES THAT WERE EVEN HIGHER THAN THAT.

WE CAN KEEP ANY TIME WITHOUT PENALTY.

AND THAT INTEREST RATE, LIKE I SAID, IS NOT INDICATIVE.

IT IS ACTUAL IT'S THAT 4.2%.

SO WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, ON THE LAST PAGE, PAGE SEVEN, WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE TIME FRAME AND THE TIMELINE.

WE WERE BACK IN MARCH, AS I SAID, I WAS HERE PRIOR TO THAT ASKING FOR YOUR BLESSING, WHICH YOU GAVE US.

WE TOURED ALL THE THINGS WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO, PUT IT OUT COMPETITIVELY.

AND I WOULD POINT OUT FOR THIS BOARD, WHEN YOU GET FOUR DISTINCT BIDS ON SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE, THAT MEANS THAT THE BANKING COMMUNITY LIKES THE WAY SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS, IS TAKING CARE OF ITS FINANCES.

OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THIS.

SO WE TAKE THAT AS A VERY POSITIVE SIGN.

WE RECEIVED THE BIDS.

WE'RE HERE TONIGHT ASKING YOU TO DO WHAT WE'RE HOPING, WHICH IS TO FORMALLY APPROVE THE RESOLUTIONS AT THAT POINT SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. PROBABLY BE HERE AS WELL TO TALK TO THE IDA AND HAVE THEM MAKE THEIR FORMAL APPROVAL.

AND THEN WE ASSUME WE WERE GOING TO CLOSE PRIOR TO MAY 19TH GETTING ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TOGETHER.

[00:20:03]

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE BEST PLAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE NEED A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT THE ATTACHED BOND RESOLUTION.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.

WE'LL GO WITH IT. YOU LIKE A ROLL CALL, DON'T YOU? USUALLY ROLL CALL VOTES.

WHAT? WHAT LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT LAW, WHICH I'M NOT A LAWYER FOR THIS, SO THEY NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.

ALL RIGHTY. IN FAVOR? UH, SUPERVISOR UPDIKE? YES. SUPERVISOR WHITE? YES. SUPERVISOR FAISON.

YES. SUPERVISOR EDWARDS SAYS YES.

SUPERVISOR GILLETTE.

YES. SUPERVISOR EVERETT.

YES. AND SUPERVISOR CORNWELL.

YES. UNANIMOUS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GO ON TO NUMBER EIGHT, THE DEADLY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IS ANYBODY HERE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? WHAT'S THAT? YOU WANT IT TO BE MOVED UP IN THERE? WHERE'D YOU PUT IT? WHO DID? HE'S WAITING. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT NUMBER 12? STARTED TALKING ABOUT 12, YOU KNOW.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. HE'S REQUESTED TO COME.

OKAY. GOING TO MAKE A LITTLE CHANGE IN THE SCHEDULE HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NUMBER ITEM NUMBER 12 UP BEFORE NUMBER EIGHT.

[12. Broadband Project Updates]

UPDATES BY MR. COLLINS. ERIC COLLINS.

SORRY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I WAS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE POWERPOINT, COME UP.

IT'S COMING AND WE'LL GET STARTED.

BUT WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED.

SINCE THE AWARD OF THE BODY PROGRAM IN THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS WITH YOU, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ART OF THE RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND, WHICH IS THE FCC GRANT THAT WE ALSO WON THROUGH A REVERSE AUCTION.

SO THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO GRANTS IN HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING UNIVERSAL SERVICE FOR BROADBAND TO ALL RESIDENTS HERE IN THE COUNTY.

SO MY NAME IS ERIC COLLINS.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND.

I SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME ACTUALLY HERE IN VIRGINIA SINCE WE HAVE THE AWARD OF THE BROADBAND GRANT.

SO I JUST SAY NEXT SLIDE.

MAYBE I CAN GET IT TO MOVE.

MY POINTER IS NOT WORKING HERE.

YEAH. LET'S BACK UP A MINUTE.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT. SO WITH OUR BROADBAND INITIATIVE, WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE GOING ON, WE AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD ABOUT A GRANT APPLICATION THAT WAS A COMBINATION WITH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, SUFFOLK AND ISLE OF WIGHT.

AND WITH THAT VAT APPLICATION, WE WERE AWARDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE STATE.

AND IN THAT GRANT, WHAT WE DID WAS LEVERAGED ALL OF OUR OUR OFF PASSINGS THAT WE WERE AWARDED FROM THE FCC.

AND WITH THAT WE ENDED UP WITH 12,223 PASSINGS FOR THE THREE COMMUNITIES.

THE BUILD IS GOING TO BE A FIBER TO THE PREMISE LIKE WE HAD PROMISED BEFORE, THE FIBER TO THE PREMISE.

IT BRINGS THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY FUTURE PROOF FOR BROADBAND AND ALL THOSE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR BROADBAND, VIDEO SERVICES, DIGITAL PHONE AS WELL AS OUR OTHER DIGITAL SERVICES.

SO HERE IN THE COUNTY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PASSINGS THAT WE WERE AWARDED 1089 PASSINGS AND WITH THE COUNTY WITH OUR AWFUL WATER RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND PASSINGS, WE HAD 3873 PASSINGS.

SO WITH THE COMBINATION OF THOSE PASSINGS IS CLOSE TO 5000 4962 OF THE THREE LOCALITIES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE PARTNERED WITH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS BY FAR THE LARGEST HAS MORE PASSES THAN ANY OF THE OTHER TWO PASSINGS.

[00:25:06]

ACTUALLY, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED CONSTRUCTION IN, I WOULD SAY, THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY, AND WE'LL GET INTO THAT WITH SOME SLIDES.

WE ACCORDING TO OUR COMMITMENT, WITH OUR CONTRACT WITH DHCD, WE HAVE A 36 MONTH COMMITMENT FOR THE TO BUILD OUT THOSE 12,223 PASSINGS.

AND THAT TIMELINE BEGINS AT THE SIGNING OF THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT.

SO THE CONTRACT WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED ON JULY 8TH, 2022.

FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO BEGIN WALK OUT AND BEGIN DOING SOME WORK ACTUALLY BEFORE THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED.

BY DOING THAT, THEY SORT OF PUT US AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH THIS PROJECT, OUR LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TEAM, TYPICALLY WE HAVE A REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION TEAM COME IN AND THEY MANAGE THE PROJECT. WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, EVEN WITH THE SHEER SIZE OF IT, BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY LARGE CONSIDERING THE THREE LOCALITIES WE ACTUALLY USED OUR IN HOUSE CONSTRUCTION TEAM, OUR LOCAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AND HIS TEAM IS ACTUALLY MANAGING THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

THE REASON I LIKE THAT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TEAM THAT EVERYONE KNOWS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IF THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT MR THROWER HAS OR ANY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY REACH OUT.

AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THOSE MANAGERS AND THOSE SUPERVISORS THAT'S MANAGING THAT PROJECT, THE CONTRACTORS THAT'S COMING IN, THEY KNOW THE AREA PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.

SO THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

NOT ONLY THAT, WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD THIS IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY UNDERGROUND.

THERE'S GOING TO BE NO AREA IN THIS BUILD.

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE UNDERGROUND.

AND WITH IT BEING UNDERGROUND, WE'RE ALSO UTILIZING OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, BUT WE'RE ALSO UTILIZING OUR IN-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION TEAM.

OUR IN-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION TEAM IS AN UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION TEAM THAT WE STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

SO WE'RE UTILIZING OUR UNDERGROUND GROUND CONSTRUCTION TEAM AS WELL AS OTHER CONTRACTORS.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY.

IT'S INHERENT PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WHEN YOU GO UNDERGROUND, WHETHER PLAYS A PLAYS AN ISSUE.

BUT OUR GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.

SO NEXT NEXT SLIDE IS A MAP THAT I'VE PRESENTED TO YOU THE LAST TIME.

YOU CAN SEE THE BOUNDARY LINES OF EACH COUNTY.

THERE YOU CAN SEE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THOSE DOTS THAT YOU SEE IN THE PINK PURPLISH SHADED AREA, THOSE ARE THE ARDOLPH EXCUSE ME, THE VATIA WATER AREAS THAT WE WON.

SO ALL OF THOSE DOTS REPRESENT THOSE 1089 PASSINGS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE REASON IT'S SO SPORADIC AND SO SPREAD OUT IS THAT WHAT WE WERE LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH WAS UNIVERSAL SERVICE.

THAT WAS THE GOAL OF EACH OF THE LOCALITIES, ESPECIALLY HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AND THAT GREEN SHADED AREA IS THE AREAS OF WHERE OUR ART IS AWARD WAS AT.

SO IF YOU COMBINE THOSE TWO TOGETHER, THAT SHOWS THAT WE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHING UNIVERSAL SERVICE FOR BROADBAND ACROSS THE COUNTY.

AND LET ME SPEAK TO THIS.

OUR BROADBAND SERVICE IS GOING TO BE HIGH SPEED DATA.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SPEEDS OVER A GIG.

IF A IF THERE'S A BUSINESS THAT WANTS OVER A GIG, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT WITH DEDICATED CIRCUITS.

BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A GIG SERVICE OR MORE TO HOUSEHOLDS IN THE COUNTY.

NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY. CLICKER NOT WORKING.

WE GO. SO THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BETTER MAP HERE OF A GOOGLE EARTH MAP THAT I DOWNLOADED AND UTILIZED OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR MAP IS IN FOCUSING ON SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THE SHADED AREAS IN GREEN, YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE CITY OF SUFFOLK, THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WE COMPLETED.

THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE WE STARTED BECAUSE OUR HEAD END FEED COMES FROM SUFFOLK WITH A DEDICATED FIBER THAT WE'RE BRANCHING OUT.

AS YOU SEE, WE'VE BUILT OVER INTO ISLE OF WIGHT AND WE'RE NOW INTO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

SO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, THOSE GREEN, DARK GREEN SHADED AREAS ARE AREAS THAT WE WE'VE ACTIVATED THE LIGHT GREEN MINT COLOR OVER THERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THOSE ARE WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING CONSTRUCTION.

SO YOU'LL PROBABLY GET SOME RESIDENTS, I CAN ASSURE YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME PROBABLY SOME QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS OR SOME COMPLAINTS OF RESIDENTS AS WE'RE DOING UNDERGROUND THAT CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS DAMAGE MY LAWN OR MY YARD.

[00:30:04]

THAT'S NOT TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.

OUR CONTRACTORS ARE REALLY GOOD, OUR MANAGERS, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD WE'RE USING HAPPY WE'RE USING OUR LOCAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY GOOD ABOUT RECEIVING CALLS THAT ANY COMPLAINTS THAT COMES IN TO GET IT RESOLVED REGARDLESS TO WHAT IT IS.

SO WITH UNDERGROUND, YOU WILL YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY UNDERGROUND WITHIN THE COUNTY.

SO THIS MAP, AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM, IS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.

THOSE THE ORANGE AREA, THOSE AREAS ARE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.

IF WEATHER PLAYS IN OUR CONSTRUCTION TO TEAM WORKS, AS DILIGENT AS I THINK THEY ARE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO EXPAND THIS MAP A LITTLE MORE.

BUT THOSE ORANGE SHADED AREAS, AS WE BEGIN TO WORK IN THOSE AREAS, WE BEGIN TO LIGHT UP THOSE LIGHTS AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.

SO HERE'S WHAT WE CAN EXPECT NEXT AND WHAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF MACHINES.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ORANGE CONDUIT TRENCHING THAT'S GOING ON IN ROAD BORES DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH VDOT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE PERMITTING PROCESSES AND FOLLOWING THEIR RULES AND REGULATIONS, ACCORDING TO THE FCC AND ACCORDING TO VDOT RULES, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FLAGGERS TO MAKE SURE OUR CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE FOLLOWING OBEYING ALL LAWS IN ACCORDANCE TO THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. WITH THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE INSTALLATION OF THE CONDUIT.

AFTER THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER CREW COMING IN, PULLING THE FIBER WITHIN THAT CONDUIT TO IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN CONNECT THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS FOR THE FIBER AND THE OTS THROUGH THE FIBER SPLICING.

I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE SLIDE THAT I WANTED TO GET TO.

AND THIS ONE HERE, THIS REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S JUST GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

ONCE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, WE'RE EXPECTING THIS PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED BY 2025.

CHARTER HAS WE PARTICIPATE IN THE FCC'S AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM.

THE FCC'S AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PLAN IS A PLAN BY WHICH QUALIFYING HOUSEHOLDS CAN REGISTER AND GO ONLINE AND DO APPLICATIONS TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED SERVICES FOR BROADBAND.

THOSE DISCOUNTED SERVICES ACTUALLY COME OUT TO BE WHERE BROADBAND CAN ACTUALLY BE FREE TO THE HOUSEHOLDS.

NOW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT FCC IS GOING TO HAVE THIS AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM AVAILABLE.

THEY'VE NEVER GIVEN US ANY INCLINATION.

WE CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE COVID AND THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT FUND IS GOING TO LAST.

HOWEVER, CHARTER HAS ALWAYS HAD A SPECTRUM INTERNET ASSIST, WHICH IS A LOW COST INTERNET SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.

IT PROVIDES SERVICES TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS WHO QUALIFY FOR IT, THAT HAVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE A FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, NOT ONLY IF THEY HAVE A FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, THEY QUALIFY.

IT ALSO HELPS SENIORS, SENIORS THAT RECEIVE A SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT, A BENEFIT FOR THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY.

THEY ALSO QUALIFY FOR A LOW INCOME FOR HOUSEHOLD BROADBAND.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IN THE FUTURE AS WE BEGIN TO ROLL OUT THE CONSTRUCTION PLAN HERE, IS TO TO HOLD SOME EVENTS HERE WITH THE COUNTY AND PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE PROGRAMS WITH SENIORS, WITH SCHOOLS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, WHETHER IT BE TRAINING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, FOR COMPUTER TRAINING.

WE'LL WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON PLANNING THAT.

IT'S REALLY LEFT UP TO THE COUNTY AND HOW AND WHAT PROGRAMS YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH US IN.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY.

WE'LL TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE PRICE.

OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? YEAH. THE PART OF SOUTHAMPTON SOUTH OF 58 THAT HAD NO ACTIVITY.

WHEN? WHEN DO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT GET BROADBAND? OH, THAT. THAT IS STILL BEING PLANNED ON THE MAP.

AND WE CAN GO BACK TO THE MAP HERE.

SO ARE YOU TALKING IN THIS WHERE THE WORD BOYKINS IS? YES, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY BECAUSE AS WE'RE HAVING TO BUILD EVERYTHING FROM THE EAST AND GOING WEST AND COMING SOUTH, SO WE'LL MOVE AT ONE SWATH ACROSS.

SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE A CONSTRUCTION TIMEFRAME.

WELL, HERE'S WHERE YOU NEED IT THE MOST.

YEAH, THEY'RE IN. BOYKINS YEAH, BUT I MEAN, IS THERE ANY PLAN TO EXPEDITE THAT AREA OR.

[00:35:06]

WE'RE USING FIBER.

SO THEREFORE, IF WE GO TO BOYKIN AND BUILD FIBER, THEY STILL WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE CONNECTED UNTIL WE GOT BUILT BACK TO WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT BECAUSE THERE'S NO FEED COMING TO THEM, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO YOU BUILD IT, YOU KNOW, YOU ACTIVATE AS YOU BUILD AND AS YOU GO.

SO IT'S IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO START IN THE VERY SOUTHERN WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

WITHOUT STARTING IN THE.

EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE FIBER TO BE ABLE TO SERVE FROM THE SUFFOLK TO GET THERE.

AND I COMPLETELY ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. ANYBODY ELSE.

YOU'RE FIGURING TO HAVE THE WHOLE PROJECT DONE WITHIN THREE YEARS? 36. THAT'S CORRECT.

THE WHOLE COUNTY? THAT'S CORRECT.

AND FURTHER QUESTIONS.

ARE YOU ACTIVATING IT AS YOU GO? YES, WE ARE.

AND HOW DO THOSE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE? WHEN WE WHEN WE START WHEN OUR GUYS ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS, THE CONTRACTORS ACTUALLY DOOR HANG DOOR HANGERS.

WE ALSO HAVE A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT WE MEET TWICE A MONTH.

AND RIGHT NOW, MR CARR HECK IS SERVING.

ASHLEY COVINGTON WAS SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE.

MR CARL'S WORKING WITH US.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM.

AS WE ACTIVATE ADDRESSES, WE SUBMIT THOSE ADDRESSES TO OUR STEERING COMMITTEE SO EACH LOCALITY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT STREET, WHAT ADDRESS THAT WE'RE ACTIVATING.

BESIDES HANGING THE DOOR HANGERS.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THOUGH THERE THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALREADY, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY USING IT NOW? YES, AND IT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT UNSERVED AREAS THAT HAD VERY UNRELIABLE SERVICE. THE ONE THING THAT I'M GETTING FROM THEM, THEY'RE AMAZED AT HOW FAST IT IS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S IT.

BECAUSE THEY WERE USED TO LIKE TEN MEGABYTES.

NOW THEY'RE THE STANDARD, JUST THE STANDARD SERVICES, LIKE 3 OR 400.

SO IT'S BLOWING THEM AWAY.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUSINESSES WILL HOME BUSINESSES IS BENEFITING TREMENDOUSLY FROM THIS.

WELL, I CERTAINLY JOIN THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO THINK ABOUT BOYKINS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

YEAH. IT'S PART OF OUR COMMITMENT NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY TO GET IT DEPLOYED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. COLLINS. THANK YOU.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL THEN, ONCE WE GET STARTED, MAYBE EACH QUARTER OR EVERY FOUR MONTHS, I CAN COME BY AND GIVE UPDATES TO YOU.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE FIELDING QUESTIONS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AREAS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GET BACK TO NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS SADLY, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS FOR CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING.

[8. Sedley Volunteer Fire Department]

AND THEY'RE REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED REIMBURSED FOR THE MONEY THEY SPENT, WHICH IS 18,500.

WE'VE ALWAYS GONE WITHOUT A PROBLEM IN MY DISTRICT, SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO AHEAD AND AND APPROPRIATE THAT REQUEST FOR THE $18,500. SECOND IS THIS MONEY THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

EXCUSE ME, IS THIS THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF WHAT IT IS, 600,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR COMING OUT OF THE CAPITAL FUND? OKAY. 300.

YES. IT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE.

THEN THAT FUND WITHDRAWAL OUT OF.

DID YOU MAKE A MOTION? I MADE THE MOTION SECOND.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SECOND.

AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

NUMBER NINE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION.

[9. Public Hearing- School Board Election Ordinance-Request to Adopt]

NOVEMBER 8TH, 2022.

THE REFERENDUM IS A REFERENDUM WHERE FOR AN APPOINTED SCHOOL BOARD ARE ELECTED AND 80% OF THE VOTE.

[00:40:01]

SO WE STARTED THE PROCESS AND THE PROCESS HAS BEEN HINDERED AND MADE MORE COMPLEX BY THE FACT THAT REDISTRICTING WENT ON AT THAT TIME, TOO.

AND WE WENT FROM SEVEN DISTRICTS DOWN TO FIVE, WHICH CREATED A MATHEMATICAL PUZZLE THERE.

SO WE HAVE FINALLY COME DOWN AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS THE BEST.

I THINK WE GOT THE BEST WE CAN GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

AND WE HAVE YOU CAN SEE THE DISTRICTS BEHIND YOU ON THE NOVEMBER 20TH, 23RD ELECTION.

THERE WILL BE ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELECTED FROM THE NORTHWEST DISTRICT, WHICH IS D ONE, AND THERE WILL BE ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELECTED FROM THE NORTHEAST DISTRICT, WHICH IS D FIVE.

BOTH OF THOSE TERMS ARE FOUR YEARS AND THERE'LL BE ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELECTED FROM THE SOUTHEAST DISTRICT, WHICH IS D THREE FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS.

THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE NOVEMBER 24TH ELECTION.

THERE'S ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELECTED AT LARGE FROM THE COUNTY FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS.

WE MOVE ON TO A NOVEMBER 2025.

ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELECTED AT LARGE FROM THE COUNTY FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS.

ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BE ELECTED FROM THE SOUTHEAST D THREE DISTRICT FROM THE COUNTY FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS AND ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BE ELECTED AT LARGE FROM THE COUNTY FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS.

THE MOVE ALONG TO THE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS NOVEMBER 2026, WHERE ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED FROM THE SOUTHWEST, WHICH IS D TWO FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR.

THEN ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BE ELECTED FROM THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS D ONE FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS, AND THEN ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BE ELECTED AT LARGE FROM THE COUNTY FROM A TERM OF THREE YEARS.

WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS STATE LAW SAYS THAT THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE APPOINTED BOARD, THE SAME NUMBER HAVE TO GO TO THE ELECTED BOARD. SO IT'S NINE AND NINE.

THAT'S HOW IT WENT. AND AFTER THAT, WE GET TO WE GET THAT LATER, 2029, I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A SITUATION WHERE THERE WILL BE AN ELECTED MEMBER FROM EACH DISTRICT THAT'S FIVE DISTRICTS AND FOUR AT LARGE, I BELIEVE.

SO THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE THE COMMENTS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? IS MR. REILLY ON THE LINE? YES, HE IS. THAT CAME FROM HIM TODAY.

YOU DON'T HEAR RICHARD? YES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

QUESTION ABOUT THE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

IS THERE ANY LEGAL OBSTRUCTION TO WHERE? WE CAN'T ARRIVE AT FIVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ALONG WITH FIVE ONE IN EACH DISTRICT, ALONG WITH FIVE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ONE IN EACH DISTRICT.

WILLIAM. THE PROBLEM THERE IS THAT THE STATUTE MANDATES THAT THE.

A NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD CONSISTING OF ELECTED PEOPLE SHALL HAVE THE SAME NUMBER AS EXISTED PRIOR TO THAT.

SO THERE WERE NINE. IT HAS TO BE NINE.

NOW WHAT YOU COULD DO AT A LATER DATE.

IT IS UP TO THE BOARD AT THAT TIME, BUT FOR THIS TIME FOR MOVING IN TO THIS, IT HAS TO BE NOW, RIGHT? THAT.

THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP.

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? IF NOT, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS SUBJECT.

ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK CONCERNING THAT? JUST COME TO THE PODIUM.

GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

ANY MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

MY NAME IS DEBORAH GOODWIN AND I LIVE AT 34467 JORDAN ROAD IN BRANCHVILLE.

I'M ALSO CURRENTLY CHAIRPERSON OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

SO FIRST I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT A FEW THINGS.

[00:45:02]

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES NOT HAVE TO INCORPORATE OR INCLUDE INFORMATION OR INPUT OR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OTHERS INTO THE ORDINANCE THAT IT ADOPTS.

NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD ENGAGED IN DISCUSSION PERTAINING TO THE DRAFT SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ORDINANCE.

HOWEVER, I DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL VOTE ON TONIGHT DOES NOT INCLUDE INPUT FROM THE ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

THE POSITION OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY AND THE ADVICE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY HAS GIVEN TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IS THAT THE DRAFT ORDINANCE PRESENTED HERE TONIGHT WILL BE OPEN FOR LEGAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY DID ELABORATE ON HER CONCERNS IN A COMMUNICATION TO THE ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SO THANK YOU. JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE CONTACTED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES EARLY IN THIS PROCESS, I THINK EARLY DECEMBER, AND WE RECEIVED NO ANSWERS FROM YOU.

SO THEN WE FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE OFF AND GET THIS ON OUR OWN.

MR EDWARDS. THE IDEA IS THAT THE ATTORNEYS DID CONFER.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT PLACE THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THAT WE DIDN'T ASK YOU.

WE DID ASK YOU. WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

I NEVER SAID YOU DID NOT ASK ME.

I ACKNOWLEDGED.

REMEMBER I SAID, I DO ACKNOWLEDGE.

LET ME READ IT AGAIN SO YOU CAN CLEARLY HEAR IT.

YOU KNOW, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD ENGAGED IN DISCUSSION.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

BUT I ALSO WANT THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE HERE TONIGHT DOES NOT INCLUDE INPUT FROM THAT ATTORNEY.

THAT WAS THE ONLY POINT THAT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE.

AND THE OTHER POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY FEELS THAT THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE WILL BE OPEN TO LITIGATION BECAUSE IT DOES NOT, IN HER OPINION, MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYBODY ELSE? COULD I MAKE A COMMENT? YES, SIR.

AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO EVERYONE INTENDED, I THINK WE'VE ALL REALIZED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOT TO BE DONE AND I CERTAINLY RESPECT EVERYBODY.

BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD'S ATTORNEY DID CONTACT ME AFTER THE DRAFT WAS WENT UP AND SHE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UH, SOME FALLACIES IN THE WAY IT WAS DRAFTED.

AND I HAVE READ NOT REDRAFTED, BUT MADE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS, WHICH BEEN ALL FOR TONIGHT WITH MY SUGGESTION, AT LEAST IN GOOD FAITH, TRIES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS THAT SHE RAISED.

I HONESTLY THINK THAT NOW I AM IN ALL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE AND HAS REACTED TO WHAT SHE SAID THROUGH MY CONVERSATION WITH HER AND HER CORRESPONDENCE TO ME. SO I'M NOT SURE THAT MADAM CHAIRMAN IS AWARE OF THAT, BUT THAT DID OCCUR AND THAT CERTAINLY WAS CONSIDERED.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? WE'RE STILL OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? YOU'RE WELCOME. LAST CALL.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN.

[00:50:03]

MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.

ARE YOU APPROVING IT AS MODIFIED WITH MY SUGGESTIONS OF TODAY? YES. YES.

YES. OKAY.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? ORDINANCE AND MODIFICATION.

OUR SECOND. SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT THOSE MODIFICATIONS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY? AYE. AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? NO. I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.

I ASKED FOR QUESTIONS. I'VE ALREADY ASKED THE QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THE VOTE WAS SIX.

DID YOU VOTE? NO.

HOLD ON. OKAY.

WITH SIX, DO YOU ABSTAIN OR VOTE? NO. THE QUESTION WAS, OKAY, IS THIS THE THE DRAFT THAT WAS ADVERTISED FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT WILL BE RIGHT OR IT HAS.

NO, WE'RE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING NOW.

YEAH. YEAH. SO WE HAVE WE CAN'T VOTE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR SOMETHING THAT WASN'T CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS ADVERTISED.

CAN IF I COULD STEP IN AND I'LL LET RICHARD TALK ABOUT THIS MORE.

HE WHAT WE SENT YOU TODAY WAS FROM RICHARD AND HE PUT SOME MINOR TECHNICAL CHANGES TO WHAT WAS INITIALLY IN YOUR PACKET, WHAT WAS ADVERTISED AS JUST A GENERAL. I THINK WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS LAST TIME.

WHAT WAS INCLUDED IS THE SAME ADVERTISEMENT WE HAD BEFORE.

IT DIDN'T GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF THE ORDINANCE.

IT JUST SAYS AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH CHAPTER 19 SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS PER REFERENDUM HELD NOVEMBER 8TH, 2022, PROVIDES THE PROCESS WHEREBY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHALL BE SELECTED BY POPULAR VOTE OF THE DULY QUALIFIED SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY VOTERS.

SO THE THE WHOLE ISSUE OF WHEN A PUBLIC WHEN AN ORDINANCE IS INITIALLY READ AND THEN YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, PART OF PART OF THE REASONING FOR HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING IS TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT.

AND THEREFORE, A LOT OF TIMES THE ORDINANCE CAN CHANGE AFTER THE FACT.

SO AS I JUST READ THROUGH THE ADVERTISEMENT, THERE WAS NOTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT TERMS FROM THIS DISTRICT OR THAT DISTRICT, AND I'LL LET RICHARD EXPOUND UPON THAT.

BUT SOME OF THE REVISIONS THAT HE MADE WERE MINOR TECHNICALLY FROM.

SO THERE IS NO THERE'S NO DEVIATION FROM THE INITIAL PUBLIC HEARING ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS PUT IN.

I'LL LET RICHARD TOUCH ON THAT IF HE LIKES TO.

NO, I THINK. ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT, MR. REILLY? BUT I THINK WAS ADVERTISED IS FINE.

IT'S ALWAYS CONTEMPLATED AFTER SOMETHING IS ADVERTISED.

WHEN YOU HAVE A HEARING THAT THEY MAY BE SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS OF, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE SUGGESTED AND A LOT OF DATA TODAY TO ALL OF YOU.

AND THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE AIR AND THERE'S A CHANGE IN D AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE JUST SO THE ORDINANCE AND 27 AND AND 29 WOULD BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTE.

THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED.

SIX MR FAISON DID YOU VOTE YES OR NO OR YES? OKAY. IT'S UNANIMOUS.

SEVEN ZIP. NO, I DIDN'T VOTE.

HE DIDN'T VOTE. LINDA DIDN'T VOTE.

I THOUGHT WE ALL VOTED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. EVERYBODY VOTED.

OKAY. IT'S UNANIMOUS.

OKAY. WHERE THE ANY IS WHERE THE ANY NAYS.

THERE WERE NO NAYS.

YEAH, I WAS.

YOU VOTED NAY.

YEAH. IF I COULD, I WOULD HAVE SAID NO.

BECAUSE THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS ORDINANCE AND THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN, I READ IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M RIGHT BECAUSE I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME NUMBER AS WE HAD WHEN WE WERE APPOINTED.

SO THAT'S NINE, NINE AND NINE.

NOW, AFTER AFTERWARDS, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE NINE.

SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING AWAY DOLLARS TAX DOLLARS FOR YEARS ON END BY HAVING MORE THAN FIVE IN FUTURE

[00:55:06]

THE REASON THAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT.

BUT WE CAN EVENTUALLY CHANGE IT.

CHANGE IT TO FIVE CAN'T CHANGE.

I MEAN, IF WE GOT THE 2029, WHO'S THE WEEK AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD? THE BOARD? OKAY.

THEN IT WAS 61641 OPPOSED.

THAT'S THE OFFICIAL VOTE.

OKAY. NUMBER TEN IS THE PUBLIC HEARING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT

[10. Public Hearing- Conditional Use Permit Application ]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ENTERTAIN THAT FOR US? GOOD EVENING. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A FIREWOOD OPERATION.

THAT'S TO BE LOCATED AT 30520 BERLIN ROAD IN IVER, WHICH IS TAX PARCELS NUMBER 22, DASH 24, 22, DASH 24 B AND 22 DASH 24 C.

IT WAS THE FORMER FARM SERVICE BUILDING AT THE INTERSECTION OF BERLIN ROAD AND I'VE ROAD.

THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES A FIREWOOD OPERATION, HAVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING AND HE OFFERS SEVERAL CONDITIONS.

THIS WILL TAKE PLACE ON 6.08 ACRES OF PROPERTY.

THE FARM SERVICE PROPERTY.

HE WILL USE THE CLEARED AREA BEHIND THE BUILDING FOR HIS OPERATIONS.

THE THE OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT ARE THERE WILL NOT BE USED.

THE SCALE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND HAS BEEN FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO USE IT.

HE OFFERS THAT THE PLAN IS TO OPERATE DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8 TO 5.

HE ESTIMATES APPROXIMATELY FIVE LOG TRUCKS A WEEK TO BRING LOGS.

IT WAS HE ORIGINALLY SAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A SINGLE EMPLOYEE OPERATION, BUT HIS BUSINESS IS GROWING FASTER THAN HE EXPECTED.

SO NOW IT WILL BE HIM AND HIS BROTHER IN LAW AND MAYBE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE.

BOTH THE APPLICANT, MR. STEVENS, AND HIS BROTHER IN LAW ARE FIREFIGHTERS.

AND SO AS OFTEN TIMES FIREFIGHTERS HAVE OTHER JOBS.

SO IT WILL BE THE TWO BROTHERS IN LAW AND PERHAPS ANOTHER EMPLOYEE.

THE PLAN IS FOR THE BUSINESS TO BE DELIVERY ONLY SO THERE WON'T BE ANY PUBLIC TRAFFIC.

AND THEY PLAN TO STORE APPROXIMATELY 500 CORDS OF FIREWOOD ON THE PROPERTY.

YEAH. PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD.

THE APPLICANT SPOKE.

HIS FATHER IN LAW SPOKE, AND A NEIGHBOR FROM ACROSS THE STREET SPOKE AND ALL WERE IN FAVOR OF THE OPERATION.

THE PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN IN AGRICULTURAL USE, SO NO ACTIVE FARMLAND IS BEING REPLACED.

AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION THAT APPROVAL THAT THIS WAS A THIS WAS A NEEDED BUSINESS IN THAT AREA.

THEY'RE USING LOCAL PRODUCTS AND THEY ARE PUTTING A RECENTLY UNUSED PIECE OF PROPERTY BACK INTO PUBLIC USE. THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET SAID SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOME UNSAVORY ACTIVITIES THAT TOOK PLACE ON THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE IT WAS ABANDONED.

AND NOW THAT MR. STEVENS AND HIS BUSINESS ARE THERE, IT'S CUT DOWN ON THE ILLICIT ACTIVITIES THAT WERE GOING ON.

THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS UNANIMOUS, 9 TO 1 RECOMMENDATION.

AND MR. STEVENS IS HERE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY AS WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LEWIS BEFORE WE OPEN? MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN ADJOINING INTEREST AND THEREFORE WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE CONVERSATION AND VOTING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYBODY LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK? LOOK LIKE A WINNER TO ME.

THERE WAS NOTHING THERE AND I WAS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING THERE.

IF NO FURTHER COMMENTS AND WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD.

I WOULD MOVE THAT THIS MOTION BE APPROVED.

[01:00:03]

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WITH THE AMENDED CONDITIONS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE IT, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER 11, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES.

[11. Economic Development Updates and National Small Business Week Proclamation]

NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU ALL.

AND THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE PREVIOUS MOTION ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

SO THE JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING START UP, SO WE HAVE EIGHT BUSINESSES GETTING READY FOR PITCH NIGHT, WHICH WILL BE ON MAY 24TH.

THERE'S TWO MORE CLASSES AND THEN THEY'RE OUT WORKING.

SO THAT INCLUDES CITY AND COUNTY PROPERTIES.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHARTER ON A FEW THINGS THAT LAY DOWN YARD.

WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM ON THE PUBLIC EVENTS.

SO WE WERE TALKING OUTSIDE.

AS THE SUMMER COMES, THERE WILL BE PUBLIC EVENTS AND I WILL BE WORKING ON THOSE TO GET THE WORD OUT FOR PEOPLE FOR THE VARIOUS BROADBAND PROJECTS.

WE DO HAVE A TOURISM PERSON COMING IN AS PART OF THE ARPA PROJECT ON MAY 19TH TO DO B-ROLL, VIDEOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY AS PART OF OUR PROMOTION OF TOURISM OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AND WE RECENTLY HAD AN INFLUENCER IN AMBER MILLER DO THE SAME KINDS OF THINGS.

WE'VE BEEN ALSO TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPERATING THE SPEEDWAY.

AND WE HAD TALKED TO SOMEBODY THERE A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT THEY ARE THEY HAVE A TEN YEAR LEASE TO REOPEN AND RE OPERATE SPEEDWAY.

SO THEY ARE WORKING. I WAS OUT THERE ON SUNDAY AND THEY ARE WORKING ON THE PROJECT AND THEY'RE PLAYING AT GRAND OPENING EVENT IN JUNE AND BRINGING MORE ACTIVITIES.

AND WE RECENTLY MET WITH VIVA TO WORK ON LABOR FORCE ISSUES WITH THEM.

THEY'RE UP TO OVER 100 EMPLOYEES NOW, SO THEY'RE BASICALLY AT FULL CAPACITY AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TO CONTINUE TO GET LABOR FORCE.

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR THEM AS WELL AS INVESTING IN THEIR FACILITY.

SO THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS I HAD FOR NOW.

SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE GLAD TO TAKE THEM.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? SO THEY'RE GOING TO THE TRACK AND KAPRON IS GOING TO OPEN IN JUNE.

THEY SAID THEIR FIRST GRAND OPENING EVENT.

THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. THEY HAVE THEY'RE GOING TO REPAVE THE WHOLE THING.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN ASPHALT TRACK.

AND THEY'VE GOT A DRIFTER GROUP THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH TO START, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER KINDS OF EVENTS, BOTH RACING RELATED AND NON RACING RELATED TO UTILIZE THE SPEEDWAY. SO THEY HAVE EVIDENTLY HAVE A TEN YEAR LEASE WITH THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE SORT OF EVENT MANAGER FOR THE PLACE.

BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE A DRIFTER GROUP THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST TENANT, SO TO SPEAK, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON OTHER ACTIVITIES AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

SEEING THE PROCLAMATION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT? SO MOVED. AND THERE'S A SECOND.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE PROCLAMATION SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NO.

OKAY. UNANIMOUS.

UH, NUMBER 13.

[13. FY24 Proposed Budget]

THE REQUEST TO ADVERTISE THIS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY THE 15TH, I BELIEVE.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO.

MR THROWER YES, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, LET'S I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S WORK ON THE BUDGET, THE BOARD, THE BUDGET COMMITTEES, STAFF.

LYNETTE, IT'S BEEN A IT'S BEEN AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR IN THE FIRST BUDGET PROCESS.

SO IT'S BEEN A LEARNING CURVE.

BUT JUST LET'S GO THROUGH SOME TIMELINES HERE WITH HOW WE HOW WE STARTED.

WE PRESENTED THE I PRESENTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON APRIL 5TH OF THIS YEAR.

AND JUST I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERY DETAIL OF THAT.

BUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AT THAT TIME STOOD AT $89,218,208, AND THE EXPENDITURES BROKEN OUT BY FUND WERE GENERAL FUND AT $22,725,089.

THE ENTERPRISE WATER AND SEWER FUND AT 6.6 MILLION $73,290.

BUILDING FUND AT $17,355,769.

THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND SOCIAL SERVICES, WHICH IS $3,014,799.

SCHOOL FUND FOR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES FUND.

[01:05:02]

AS YOU'RE AWARE, IN THE IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, IN THE FY 22 BUDGET, THE PROPERTY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE WAS $5 AND WE INCLUDED SOME VARIOUS PERSONNEL RELATED ITEMS WE'LL GET INTO IN A MINUTE WHEN WE GET TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND.

WE DID PROPOSE OR I DID PROPOSE TO INCREASE THE RATE BY $2 FOR ALL WATER AND SEWER RATE TIER CATEGORIES ON THE BUILDING FUND.

AS I SAID, THAT THAT WAS $17,355,769.

AND ON THE SCHOOL FUND, AGAIN, THE PROPOSAL, THE TOTAL WAS $37,903,851.

AND THAT INCLUDED A LOCAL FUNDING OF $12,704,194 FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS.

AND THEY DID REQUEST $15,885,665.

SINCE THAT TIME, IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU VOTED TO HAVE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE FURTHER REFINE THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO JUST JUST TO BRING EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED.

SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF WE'VE HAD SOME DEVELOPMENTS, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

ONE ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 20TH AND APRIL 24TH TO START REVIEWING THE BUDGET ON APRIL 20TH.

I BELIEVE. LITERALLY JUST BEFORE THAT MEETING, WE DID GET SOME GOOD NEWS FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE THAT ONE OF OUR LOCAL INDUSTRIES WERE WE WERE PROJECTING TO BRING IN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE, MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX.

SO THAT WAS THAT WAS GOOD NEWS ON THAT SIDE THAT WITH THAT INCREASE ON THE REVENUE SIDE, WE COULD POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE FROM $0.93 TO $0.89 AND ALSO POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE PROPOSED INCREASE ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FROM 480 TO 470.

SO USING THAT AS A DISCUSSION POINT, A FRAMEWORK FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND THE BUDGET COMMITTEE KIND OF TALKED AROUND THAT SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO HAD RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL MOSTLY MOSTLY REDUCTIONS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

AND I WOULD JUST YOU'VE GOT THOSE AT YOUR SEAT, BUT I'LL JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH THOSE ONE ONE BY ONE ON YOUR BUDGET PROPOSED REDUCTIONS.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE'S RECOMMEND RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

PAGE 31 THEY WANTED TO REDUCE THE STANDARD BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PAY BY 10% THAT WERE REDUCED THE PROPOSED 41 540 1500 BY $4,150, LEAVING $37,350.

THE SECOND THE SECOND REDUCTION ON PAGE 31 OF YOUR BUDGET, TRAVEL, CONVENTION AND EDUCATION REDUCE PROPOSED BY 2000, WHICH WOULD LEAVE YOU ZERO IN THAT LINE ITEM.

PAGE 31 THE IF YOU REMEMBER, WE CALLED THIS RETREAT INITIALLY, BUT I GUESS WE'RE CALLING IT A PLANNING SESSION AT THIS POINT. REDUCE, PROPOSED, PROPOSED 15,000 IN THE BUDGET.

THEY AT THIS POINT REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD LOOK AT REDUCING THAT $10,000, LEAVING THAT LINE ITEM AT 5000. AND AGAIN, I WOULD REITERATE FROM THAT POINT, I WOULD ASK THE BOARD AS A WHOLE TO RESPECTFULLY LOOK AT INCREASING THAT LINE ITEM TO AT LEAST 10 OR $11,000 TO HAVE A PROPER PLANNING SESSION TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS.

ON PAGE 31, THE COMMITTEE LOOKED AT THEIR RECOMMENDING REDUCING THE PROPOSED BUDGET BY $10,000, LEAVING $1,000 FOR THE I'M SORRY, REDUCE THE PROPOSED 10,000 BY 1000, LEAVING $9,000 FOR THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR.

[01:10:02]

NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO SOME EMPLOYEE TYPE RECOMMENDATIONS.

PAGE 33.

THE HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS BONUS.

INITIALLY, WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER, WE TRIED TO PUT 46,000 TO GIVE EVERY EMPLOYEE A $200 BONUS.

WE EVENTUALLY CUT THAT BACK DOWN TO 23 AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THE COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED CUTTING THAT OUT ENTIRELY, LEAVING ZERO.

UM, THE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION RECOGNITION BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED AT $25,000.

THE COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED CUTTING THAT OUT ENTIRELY, LEAVING ZERO.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION, AND THIS WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL THAT INCLUDED STARTING AN EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS BANQUET TO EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE WORKED HERE IN FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS TO GIVE THEM A RECOGNITION FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY. AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, PART OF THAT PACKAGE WAS A PROPOSAL TO HAVE THE COUNTY PARTICIPATE IN A YMCA EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT PROGRAM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CHAMBER JUST STARTED.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JUST STARTED THREE, 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO, THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN WHERE THE YMCA WOULD DEDUCT $20 PER MONTH FROM THE EMPLOYEE MEMBERSHIP FEE AND THE ORGANIZATION BUSINESS WOULD PAY THE OTHER 20.

SO IT WOULD BE A NET DISCOUNT TO THE EMPLOYEE FOR $40.

IN MY OPINION, THAT'S A VERY GOOD RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

BENEFIT FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

I DID DO A SURVEY AND THE EMPLOYEES.

OVERWHELMINGLY DID APPRECIATE AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT GO FORWARD.

AND I'LL SEND YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THAT IF YOU LIKE.

AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF THAT WAS HAVING A HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS BANQUET.

I DON'T I'M NOT SURE THE COUNTY HAS DONE THAT RECENTLY, BUT JUST STARTING TO TRY TO INITIATE SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION.

INITIATIVES. SO ON THOSE TWO, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD RECONSIDER THOSE TWO ITEMS. IN PARTICULAR IN ADDITION TO THE PLANNING PLANNING SESSION.

NUMBER EIGHT, PAGE 55, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GENERAL FUND.

THE BUDGET COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING REDUCE THE 432,219 BY 18,792, WHICH WILL LEAVE 413,427 IN THAT LINE ITEM.

PAGE 56 VOLUNTEER RESCUE.

EXCUSE ME JUST ONE SECOND.

EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT THESE REDUCTIONS ARE NOT CUTTING THE BUDGET.

THEY'RE CUTTING THE INCREASE IN THE BUDGET.

PERCENTAGE WISE.

SOMETIMES ITEMS ARE INCREASED OR PROPOSED AT 15 OR 20 OR EVEN SOME OF THESE AS HIGH AS 30 AND 40%. SO THE PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE WAS REDUCED, NOT THE NOT THE OVERALL NUMBER THAT WAS IN THE DRAFT BUDGET.

IT WAS THE PERCENT OF INCREASE THAT WAS REDUCED.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING.

YES, SIR. I'M ON PAGE 956, VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER RESCUE DEPARTMENTS.

AGAIN, THAT WAS A REDUCE BY 10,391, LEAVING 228,155.

PAGE 72 SENIOR SERVICE CONTRIBUTION REDUCED BY 2000, WHICH WILL LEAVE 18,000 IN THAT LINE ITEM PAGE 74 COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION REDUCED REDUCED BY $1,750, LEAVING 3000 PAGE 76. THE REBECCA VAUGHAN HOUSE PROJECT REDUCE FROM THE PROPOSED 5000 REDUCE BY 5000, WHICH WILL LEAVE ZERO IN THAT LINE.

ITEM 78 GATEWAY SIGNS REDUCE THE PROPOSAL FROM $20,000 REDUCED BY 20,000, WHICH WOULD LEAVE ZERO, WHICH AGAIN, THAT'S A MANY, IF NOT MOST LOCALITIES DO HAVE NICE GATEWAY SIGNS FOR THE LOCALITY

[01:15:02]

95 SCHOOLS REDUCED LOCAL OPERATING FUNDS BY 100,000.

IF YOU REMEMBER THE THE MY RECOMMENDED BUDGET LEVEL FUNDED THE OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOLS.

THIS WOULD REDUCE THE OPERATING PORTION BY 100,000, MAKING THE TOTALS AS FOLLOWS DEBT SERVICE $2,378,979. MAKING LOCAL OPERATING THE LOCAL OPERATING PORTION IN ADDITION TO THE DEBT SERVICE AT $10,225,215, FOR A TOTAL OF $12,604,194.

THE THE COUPLE OF PROPOSED ADDITIONS WE GOT THIS ONE KIND OF LATE IN THE PROCESS AFTER THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET WAS PUT OUT AND JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.

THE CLERK OF COURT AND JUDGES ARE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 12,500 FOR WHAT THEY CALL AN EASY, EASY JURY SYSTEM.

WITHOUT GETTING INTO DETAILS, THAT JUST MAKES THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT.

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY AND SUFFOLK USE IT, THE JUDGES AND THE COURT SYSTEMS LIKE THAT.

SO THEY'VE REQUESTED THAT THAT BE INCLUDED.

FUND 300 FULL FUNDING OF FIRE AND RESCUE CAPITAL FUNDS NEED TO INCREASE PROPOSED INITIAL DRAFT BUDGET BY 12 FIVE.

AND AGAIN, WHAT YOU'VE GOT NOW WITH THESE CHANGES, YOU'VE POTENTIALLY GOT THE TAX RATE, REAL PROPERTY RATE BACK AT $0.89 PER 100, AND THE PROPOSED PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FROM 480 TO 470 AGAIN. AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING TONIGHT, THIS IS JUST A JUST TO MAKE EVERYBODY CLEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.

THIS IS JUST A REQUEST TO ADVERTISE THE BUDGET.

AT THIS POINT. YOU JUST HAVE TO ADVERTISE A BUDGET FOR INFORMATIONAL FISCAL PLANNING PURPOSES.

NOW, ANY TAX RATES THAT YOU PROPOSE TO INCREASE, YOU DO HAVE TO ADVERTISE PROPOSED TAX AND PROPOSE TAX INCREASES AS PART OF WHAT THE STATE CODE SAYS. BUT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN AND WHEN YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET LINE, ITEMS CAN CHANGE, FIGURES CAN CHANGE, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T INCREASE ANY OTHER THAN WHAT'S GOING TO BE PUT IN THE PAPER.

YOU CAN'T INCREASE THE TAX RATES ANY MORE THAN WHAT YOU ADVERTISE FOR.

SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO PUT THAT IN IN CONTEXT FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU'RE NOT MAKING A FINAL DECISION, AS YOU'RE AWARE, ON THE BUDGET TONIGHT.

YOU'RE JUST KIND OF IN GENERAL FORM AUTHORIZING AN ADVERTISEMENT, PARTICULARLY AS IT ON ON THE ON THE ON THE TAX RATES THEMSELVES.

AND KNOWING THAT YOU ONCE YOU ADVERTISE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH SET IN THOSE TAX RATES.

BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE THE LINE ITEM TO LINE ITEM AND HOW YOU SHIFT AROUND MONEY IF YOU SO CHOOSE, I BELIEVE.

MR GILLETTE DID YOU WANT TO READ THROUGH YOUR I THINK YOU HAD SOME ADDITIONS TODAY.

DID YOU WANT TO READ THROUGH THOSE OR ME OR.

YES, LET ME GET TO THE CORRECT PAGE.

IT'S. WHAT PAGE IS THAT ON? YEAH. IT'S I THINK IT'S 39, I THINK.

YES. YEAH.

IT'S ON PAGE 39IN YOUR IN YOUR DRAFT AND.

AFTER DISCUSSING THIS THIS AFTERNOON, YOU'LL SEE ON PAGE 39 UNDER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, THE 3170 SUBOBJECT.

NO, I'M WRONG AGAIN.

THAT'S RIGHT. HOLD ON.

33. 30? YEAH. ON WHAT PAGE NOW? 39. PAGE 39.

IN YOUR BOOK, LET ME GET THE RIGHT 3321 I THINK IN THAT IT.

LYNETTE. 33 2020.

THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE CONTRACTS.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE.

THAT WAS AN INCREASE.

OF 16%.

WE BELIEVE WE CAN FOR ROUND FIGURES TAKE 2000 OUT OF THAT AS A REDUCTION.

FROM 65,000 THAT WOULD LEAVE 63 AND DOWN AT THE LAST LISTING UNDER

[01:20:10]

REDUCING THAT BY 5000 TO.

56,000 INSTEAD OF 61.

RIGHT. AND ARE THE ONLY TWO ADDITIONAL CHANGES THAT I HAD.

SO IN THAT PAGE 39, IT REDUCES IT BY 7000 ABOVE WHAT? MR THROWER. SEVEN SEVEN.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? NOTHING FROM STAFF. WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING.

A BUDGET. WITH WHICHEVER TAX RATES COULD ADD A COMMENT.

THIS WAS NOT EASY, AND I'M SURE YOUR PERSONAL BUDGETS ARE NOT EASY.

GOING FORWARD WITH INFLATION AND THE UNKNOWNS THAT ARE OUT THERE TODAY.

IN PARTICULAR.

OH, ONE THING THAT I WAS APPROACHED WITH WITH SEVERAL CITIZENS.

THIS IS AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY AND A LOT OF THE PRODUCERS OUT THERE HAVE AN EXTREME DIFFICULTY GETTING THE INPUTS THAT THEY NEED TO PRODUCE AN OPTIMUM CROP.

AND I HAD SEVERAL CALLS ABOUT THAT.

THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS PASS THOSE CALLS ON TO THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT AND RICHMOND AS TO WHY SUPPLY CHAINS WERE INTERRUPTING THE DELIVERY OF COMMODITIES THAT THEY NEED TO GET THIS CROP IN THE GROUND.

AND I DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A LOT OF EXPLANATION, BUT LIME, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET AND A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE IT AS OF LAST WEEK, HAD IT ORDERED FOR A YEAR.

AND OUR REAL ESTATE TAXES IF WE HAVE.

INCLEMENT WEATHER, I.E.

A DROUGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ALONG WITH SOMETHING LIKE LYME THAT YOU CAN'T CORRECT IN JUST ONE YEAR.

AND THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE INTAKE OF THE OTHER COMMODITIES TO PRODUCE OPTIMUM CROP.

WE'VE BEEN BLESSED IN THIS COUNTY WITH SOME OUTSTANDING CROPS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, ALONG WITH OUTSTANDING WEATHER TO GET THEM HARVESTED.

IN A BREAK IN THAT CYCLE WOULD AFFECT THE REVENUE POSSIBLY COMING IN.

SO WE WORKED REAL HARD TO KEEP THESE REAL ESTATE RATES THE SAME AS THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

AND I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE END OF SUPPLY CHAIN WITH THESE TYPE OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES THAT THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE TO PRODUCE THE CROP.

BUT IT'S IT'S SERIOUS.

IT DIDN'T START HERE. IT STARTED IN THE NETHERLANDS WHERE THEY CUT THEIR SUPPLY OF NITROGEN THREE YEARS AGO IN HALF.

THEY WERE, I THINK, THE NUMBER TWO EXPORTER IN THE WORLD.

UH, AND THEY'RE STILL PROTESTING OVER THERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THEIR COMMODITIES.

IT DIDN'T SHOCK ME TO START HEARING ABOUT IT HERE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND YOU COMBINE THAT WITH INFLATION AND WE WORK REAL HARD TO KEEP THESE REAL ESTATE RATES AT THE SAME AS THEY WERE LAST YEAR. AND I WILL CONCLUDE ANYTHING I HAVE TO SAY UNLESS SOMEBODY'S GOT SOME QUESTIONS.

HOW LONG HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? 89? ABOUT THREE YEARS, AT LEAST THREE YEARS, I THINK IT WAS.

I REMEMBER IT WAS 89 AND THEN IT WENT TO 89.5 AND THEN 89, 89.

AND THIS WILL BE ANOTHER 89, I BELIEVE.

I THINK WE'RE REAL PROUD OF THAT, THAT WE'VE HELD THINGS DOWN AND HELD THE FENCES DOWN AND GOT THE NECESSARY THINGS.

AND WE'LL GO TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT ALSO.

MR THROWER INITIALLY YOU WERE SAYING THAT WITH THE INCREASED REVENUE, YOU SAY YOU EXPECTING THAT ALONE YOU.

DID THAT KEEP IT AT EIGHT AND NINE AND 4 OR 74.

IS THAT AFTER THE CUTS OR BEFORE THE CUTS THAT IT WAS ALL PART OF IT TOGETHER?

[01:25:05]

WE WERE AT 4 OR $0.05 ABOVE THAT BEFORE, CORRECT? WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $0.04.

BUT THEN AFTER WE RAN ALL THE NUMBERS, IT APPEARED THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO PUT IT AT $0.90 FOR REAL ESTATE.

AND SO THAT'S WHEN THE COMMITTEE MET AGAIN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND MADE ADDITIONAL CUTS.

MRS AND I SAY MADE ADDITIONAL CUTS.

WE WE THE COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN YOU THESE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE SPOKE OF TONIGHT, AND IT IS UP TO YOU ALL TO LOOK AT WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED AND TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH ALL OF THOSE AND OR IF YOU HAVE OTHER CONCERNS.

OKAY. SO WE DO NEED A DECISION TONIGHT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION TO THE PAPER BY FRIDAY MORNING FOR ADVERTISEMENT.

SO TO AT LEAST ADVERTISE, YOU STILL HAVE SOME WIGGLE ROOM.

BUT WE CAN'T WE CAN'T BE CHANGING TAX RATES IN EFFECT, AFTER AFTER, AFTER, AFTER THIS BUDGET, AFTER IT'S PUBLISHED.

OKAY. BUT WE CAN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, WE CAN REDUCE YOU CAN REDUCE AND YOU CAN SHIFT BETWEEN LINE ITEMS. SO BUT YOU JUST CAN'T YOU CAN'T INCREASE YOU CAN'T INCREASE THE TAX RATES ANYMORE THAN WHAT YOU ADVERTISE THEM FOR.

CAN I MOVE THAT? WE ADVERTISE THE BUDGET AS IT IS THEN AND CONSIDER ALL THINGS WHEN WE.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? EVERYBODY ELSE. JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AS PROPOSED APRIL 5TH? I PROPOSED OR PROPOSED BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

THIS THIS BUDGET AS THIS BUDGET AS AS AS WE HAVE IT HERE.

OKAY. SO THAT ONE WAS THE INITIAL PROPOSED BUDGET AND THEN THE CHANGES WE GAVE TONIGHT THAT WILL BE THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO YOU DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE A BOOKLET YET WITH THOSE NUMBERS OTHER THAN US.

SPEAKING OF THEM TONIGHT TO SEE WHAT YOU AGREE WITH AND THEN WE WILL MAKE YOU ANOTHER BOOK.

I WITHDRAW MY SECTION.

SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING, I'M USING THE TERM WHEN I SAY PROPOSED, I MEAN MY INITIAL PROPOSED BUDGET FROM APRIL 5TH.

BUT THEN YOU'RE GETTING IT.

LIKE LYNETTE SAID, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE IS NOW BRINGING YOU THEIR PROPOSED.

SO I THINK WE'RE INTERTWINING PROPOSED IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON YOUR MOTION SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

IT'S GOT TO 70, RIGHT, WITH THE.

YEAH, THAT'S A SET 89 FOR 70.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I AGREE WITH AGREE WITH ALL OF THIS.

I NEED TO CONSIDER THIS IS THE NIGHT TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION ON THAT AND TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WE'RE NOT AGREEING ON THOSE TONIGHT.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TO REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE THIS AND HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.

IF WE ADVERTISE SOMETHING AND WE DECIDE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO REDUCE IT AS FAR AS WE WANT, AS THIS, WE COULDN'T GO UP.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO I DON'T WANT TO BE LOCKED INTO SOMETHING AND SEE WHAT THAT'S.

I CAN'T GO FOR THAT AND CAN'T RAISE IT.

I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IN OTHER LOCALITIES I'VE WORKED FOR.

THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT.

IF IF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS MORE THAN WHAT THE GOVERNING BODY WILL, OFTENTIMES YOU'LL ADVERTISE THE PROPOSED BUDGET KNOWING THAT YOU CAN STEP THAT DOWN, BUT YOU CAN'T OVERSTEP LATER.

SO THIS JUST KIND OF Y'ALL'S PREFERENCE, WHETHER YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE THE THE 93 CENT AND THE 480 CENT PROPOSED BUDGET OR WHICH IS WHICH IS IN YOUR BOOKLET OR YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE TODAY, TODAY WHAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED BRINGING IT BACK DOWN TO 89 CENT AND 470.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE.

BUT YOU'RE NOT DECIDING ON THE OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL KNOW THIS.

YOU'RE NOT DECIDING. YOU'RE NOT ADOPTING A BUDGET TONIGHT, BUT YOU HAVE TO ADVERTISE.

WHICH VERSION OF THE BUDGET AND WHICH SET OF TAX RATES.

BUT YOU'RE EXACTLY CORRECT.

MR. FAISON.

AND A LOT OF RESPECT, IF YOU'RE STILL UNDECIDED ON WHAT YOU WANT TO CUT OR LEAVE OR THIS AND THAT, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADVERTISE.

MORE. THE HIGHER TAX RATES, KNOWING THAT YOU MAY COME DOWN WHEN YOU ACTUALLY ADOPT THE BUDGET, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T GO BACK UP.

SO I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE EXACTLY CORRECT.

RIGHT. IT GIVES YOU WIGGLE ROOM TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE IN THIS IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU WOULD HAVE $0.04 TO PLAY WITH ON THE

[01:30:01]

IF YOU ADVERTISE AT $0.89 AND FOR 70, YOU CAN'T GO ABOVE THAT NUMBER UNLESS YOU'RE ADVERTISE AGAIN. AND THEN THAT WILL PROBABLY PUT US AFTER JULY.

AND YOU HAVE TO ADOPT A BUDGET BY JULY.

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF EVER VOTING TO ADOPT A BUDGET THAT CONTAINS A 93 CENT PERSONAL PROPERTY INCREASE.

SO THEREFORE I CAN'T VOTE TO POST A BUDGET TONIGHT THAT INCLUDES A 93 CENT INCREASE.

THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.

OKAY, LISTEN, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADVERTISE.

AND IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I DON'T KNOW IF MR FAISON THAT SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION.

WELL, MY MOTION DIED.

THAT WAS. I WAS VOTING FOR THE INITIAL BUDGET, BUT IT'S DEAD, SO.

OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

I DON'T. I DON'T. I DON'T DISLIKE MR FAISON MOTION.

I JUST DON'T LIKE THE RATE.

YEAH, PART OF IT.

THAT'S. YOU KNOW, I DON'T.

I'M NOT IN COMPLETE DISAGREEMENT.

WITH YOU MR FACE. AND I JUST.

I CAN'T PERSONALLY VOTE TO POST THAT KIND OF RATE INCREASE ON OUR CITIZENS.

GO AHEAD, ROBIN. AND I'M NOT LOOKING FOR THAT EITHER.

BUT I JUST WANT I DON'T WANT TO ADVERTISE SOMETHING AND THEN FIND THAT, LOOK, THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK AND WE CAN'T AND WE CAN'T GO UP.

SO EVEN IF BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT $0.93 EITHER.

IT GIVES YOU SOME WIGGLE ROOM. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK PUT INTO THIS.

AND I, I MEAN, THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'LL WORK.

I MEAN, IT'S WE MADE CUTS.

WE DID.

YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T DO THIS OVERNIGHT.

THIS WAS DONE OVER A NUMBER OF MONTHS.

THE CORNWELL. YOU DON'T LIKE THE 89 OR 70 OR.

RIGHT? NO.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE 93? THE 93 AND THE 480 IS WHAT YOU.

YEAH, I DON'T LIKE THAT EITHER.

YEAH. BUT RIGHT NOW AT 89 AND FOUR SEVEN.

IF, IF WITH THE THAT'S WITH THE CUTS RIGHT.

YEAH. THE THE THE PROPOSED LIST THAT MR THROWER WENT THROUGH BRINGS YOU FROM 93 CENT IN REAL ESTATE BACK TO 89 CENT AND IT BRINGS YOU FROM 480 AND PERSONAL PROPERTY BACK TO 470.

AND IN THE WAY, WAY IT WAS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE BUDGET IS MINIMAL CUTS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO REALLY HURT ANYBODY, RIGHT? SO. I PROPOSE THAT WE GO WITH $0.89.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO WITH $0.89 ON THE REAL ESTATE RATE FOR 70 ON PERSONAL PROPERTY.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION 89 AND FOR 70.

AND WE REQUEST TO ADVERTISE AND AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT ON MAY 15TH.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT LOOKS LIKE WE GO WITH IT ON.

AS STATED ON PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY THE 15TH.

PROJECT UPDATES.

COURTHOUSE RENOVATION?

[14. Project Updates]

JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR COURTHOUSE RENOVATION.

AGAIN, THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, LAST FEW MONTHS, THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION DATE IS STILL SLATED FOR DECEMBER 22ND OF THIS YEAR.

IT'LL BE A GOOD CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

FINAL COMPLETION IN JANUARY OF 24.

THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, INCLUDING CHANGE ORDERS, NOW STANDS AT $22,106,957.14. THE LATEST CERTIFIED PAY APPLICATION IS ATTACHED.

WE'VE PROCESSED THEIR FIRST 17 PAY APPLICATIONS AND PAID THEM $12,025,516.97.

AND YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE COMING ALONG PRETTY GOOD NOW ON THE COURTHOUSE.

IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TO LOOK AT IT, INSURRECTION TRAIL PROJECT, NOT A WHOLE LOT TO UPDATE YOU ON THAT.

MOST OF THE SIGNS, THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

AGAIN, THE LAST FIVE WILL BE INSTALLED AFTER THE COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES DID APPROVE THE TRAIL SIGNS AT ITS MARCH 16TH MEETING.

[01:35:06]

LAST MEETING WAS APRIL 11TH.

WORK IS NEARING COMPLETION ON 23 222 402 THOMASTON ROAD.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS HAVE PREPARED THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT EASEMENT DOCUMENTS AND OUR STAFF IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO OBTAIN THOSE FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS. IT ALWAYS TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH OUT-OF-TOWN FOLKS.

WE DID SUBMIT A BROWNFIELDS RESTORATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REDEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND GRANT APPLICATION TO HOPEFULLY COVER ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR DEMO OF THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDING THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON THAT.

BROADBAND PROJECT.

MR COLLINS JUST UPDATED YOU ON THAT.

THE EDGEHILL PROJECT.

YOU ARE AWARE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH KIMLEY-HORN ON THAT PROJECT? JAMIE WEAST IS OUR PROJECT MANAGER.

I'M SURE MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW JAMIE.

GREAT GUY. HE'S MANAGING THIS PROJECT FOR THE COUNTY AND WE'RE UTILIZING OUR ARPA FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE INFILTRATION AND INFLOW PROBLEMS IN OUR EDGEHILL NEIGHBORHOOD.

NEXT STEPS ON THE PROJECT INCLUDE FINALIZING THE BID PACKAGE.

HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, SENDING THE BID PACKAGE TO TRI-STATE AND SCHEDULING A PRE PRE BID SITE VISIT, HOPEFULLY IN EARLY MAY.

RECEIVING THE BID FROM TRI-STATE BY MAY 30TH OF THIS YEAR.

REVIEWING AND NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT AND AWARDING THAT CONTRACT IN JUNE OF 23.

WE ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN LATE SUMMER AROUND AUGUST, SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, AND WE DO ANTICIPATE THE AS LONG AS THERE'S NO MAJOR HICCUPS, WE DO ANTICIPATE THE PROJECT BEING COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

SO WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH THAT PROJECT.

EVERYTHING'S GOING WELL.

THAT'LL SOLVE A LOT OF ISSUES ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED.

CAN I ADD SOMETHING ON THE INSURRECTION TRAIL? WE'VE HAD TWO COLLEGE PROFESSORS IN TOWN THE LAST IN THE LAST WEEK.

ONE FROM UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, ONE FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK, MAKING PLANS TO BRING STUDENTS TO TAKE THE INSURRECTION TRAIL. GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ANY CORRESPONDENCE THAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE.

LATE ARRIVING MATTERS NONE FROM STAFF.

ALL RIGHT. OBVIOUS THAT WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION.

[17. Closed Session]

TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, THE BOARD WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING.

A MOTION IS REQUIRED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 3711.

A FIVE 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 PROSPECT'S OR BUSINESS'S INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THE A MOTION. ALL RIGHT, WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION. MEET IN THE BACK.

WE NEED A MOTION TO GO BACK INTO OPEN SESSION, THEN.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF GOING BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

WE GOT A QUORUM HERE.

OKAY, WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AND WE'LL READ THE RESOLUTION.

YES. THE SECOND MOTION REQUIRES A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION BELOW.

THAT READS. WHEREAS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENED A 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 RESOLVED THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBERS KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES, AND TWO ONLY SUCH PUBLIC MATTERS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION.

[01:40:04]

NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND? I'M APPROVAL. SO MOVED.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE.

THAT'S IT. BEEN A PRODUCTIVE NIGHT.

ANY FURTHER BUSINESS? YES, SIR. MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. A NEW DISTRICT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.