May 23, 2023 Board of Supervisors

[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING, FOLKS. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE MAY 23RD BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

[Call to Order]

GOOD TO SEE A CROWD.

WE GOT EVERYBODY HERE.

WE HAVE QUORUM SO WE CAN CONDUCT BUSINESS.

ONE CHANGE IN THE PROGRAM.

NUMBER TEN, THE RADIO PROJECT.

WE'RE MOVING THAT UP TO BETWEEN 4 AND 5 ON YOUR PROGRAM.

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

OF ALLEGIANCE] CAN WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR THE INVOCATION.

SHORT PRAYER FROM SOMEBODY.

THANK YOU.

AMEN. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE MOVE ON TO THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

[1. Citizens Comment Period]

THE RULES ARE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, JUST COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU CAN ADDRESS ANY SITUATIONS PRO OR CON CONCERNING THE COUNTY.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

JOHN LUCAS 29011 [INAUDIBLE] POINT ROAD IN COURTLAND, VIRGINIA.

THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I WANT TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT A LIGHT ORDINANCE IN THE COUNTY AS FAR AS STREETLIGHTS, RESIDENTIAL LIGHTS, THE LIGHTS THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY [INAUDIBLE] AMBER, AND NOW THEY'RE SWITCHING OVER TO LED, WHICH IN A RESIDENTIAL IT DOESN'T SEEM NECESSARY, AND THEN ALSO IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, YOU HAVE FLOODLIGHTS THAT ARE SHINING OVER INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT ORDINANCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST ALLOWED TO SHINE FLOODLIGHTS 24/7 ON YOUR PROPERTIES AND YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GLARE.

YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NATURAL WILDLIFE, ETCETERA.

SO IF THERE'S AN INITIATIVE OR SOME KIND OF PROCESS TO START AN ORDINANCE I JUST REQUESTED ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN IT OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME AT THE END OF THIS AND THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? CINDY EDWARDS 30421 SYCAMORE AVENUE, SEDLEY, VIRGINIA.

I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK AND SPEAK AGAIN ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE FEE.

CINDY, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED OF HEARING.

NO, HOLD ON A MINUTE. YOU'RE RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, AND THAT'S A FORM OF POLITICKING.

I'M COMING FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, BUT I WANTED TO ADDRESS WHAT YOU SAID LAST WEEK ABOUT I KEEP COMING BACK EVERY YEAR.

YES, I DO, BECAUSE IF YOU HAD DONE WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN UP HERE THE FIRST TIME, MUCH LESS THIS MANY TIMES.

THAT'S UNDERSTOOD.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO.

OKAY, WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING. FRANK URQUHART.

38465 [INAUDIBLE] BOULEVARD.

I'VE, VIRGINIA.

I JUST HAVE ONE HIGHWAY MATTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE KNOWN TO MY COUNCILMAN CORNWELL 36102

[00:05:01]

THE YOUNG FARMERS CLUB HAVE A CULVERT PIPE THAT'S CAVING IN AND WITH THE EVENTS AND STUFF THAT WE ARE HAVING THERE, IT'S MAKING IT REALLY DANGEROUS.

SO WE NEED VDOT TO GET OUT THERE AND TAKE CARE OF THAT ASAP, IF YOU CAN.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT? I'M WARREN SIMMONS 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY, COURTLAND, VIRGINIA.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, SO I WANT TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

RIGHT AFTER THE FEBRUARY MEETING AND THE TIDEWATER NEWS.

THERE WAS A COUPLE OF ARTICLES IN THAT I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THE FRONT PAGE WITH ONE ABOUT TOWN OF BOYKINS.

THEY WERE CLEANING UP.

THEY HAD SENT ALL THEIR RESIDENTS A LETTER TELLING THEM THAT THEY WERE NOW GOING TO ENFORCE THEIR ORDINANCES AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE CLEANING UP THEIR YARDS OR THEIR BUSINESSES , AND THEY ALSO INFORMED THEIR TOWN POLICEMAN THAT HE WAS TO MONITOR THE AREA TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE BEING IN COMPLIANCE.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOD ON THEIR PART AND IT'S SOMETHING MAYBE THE OTHER TOWNS IN THE COUNTY CAN LEARN FROM WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THERE WAS ANOTHER LITTLE PICTURE IN THE BACK OF THE PAPER WHERE ONE OF OUR BUSINESSES HAD MOVED FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY INTO FRANKLIN, AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS A PICTURE OF PEOPLE IN FRANKLIN, OFFICIALS ALONG WITH MR. HECK. SO I GIVE HIM A MINUS ONE ON THAT ONE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE GOT ANY PLUS ONES YET, BUT HE'S GOT A MINUS ONE ON THAT ONE.

ANOTHER ISSUE I SPOKE TO THEN WAS AND I DIDN'T I PLANNED ON SPEAKING TO IT BEFORE I GOT HERE AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO KIND OF BE ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT WAS WE WERE SETTING OURSELVES UP TO BE THE NEXT REGIONAL LANDFILL, AND OF COURSE, THE MAN CAME UP AND SAID THAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS LOOKING AT [INAUDIBLE] FOR LOCATION, AND I GOT FROM HIS PRESENTATION THAT HE WAS MORE WORRIED ABOUT HIS JOB AND HOW MUCH WORK HE HAD TO DO THAT HE DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER SATELLITE AREA SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND HE GOT Y'ALL TO PASS AN ORDINANCE SOMETHING SAYING THAT YOU WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT WHEN THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WANTS SOMETHING, WHAT WE SAY THAT CARRIES SO MUCH WEIGHT, I'M AFRAID, AND THERE WILL BE A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLAINING AND A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING AND EMAILING AND APPEARING IF THAT WOULD COME TO FRUITION AND I DON'T THINK THAT MAN HAS A LOT OF PULL IN IT EITHER.

I DIDN'T GET THAT.

I JUST THINK HE WAS WORRIED MORE ABOUT IT HIMSELF, AND IF IT COMES TO PASS, HE CAN TELL YOU, WELL, AT LEAST I TRIED NOT TO GET IT INSIDE [INAUDIBLE] AND COVER HIS BACKSIDE, BUT I DON'T PUT ANY FAITH IN IT, AND YOU NEED TO KEEP IT THIS FAR FROM YOUR MIND AT ALL TIMES.

WHAT HE SAID WAS FOR FIVE MORE YEARS, AND IF HE GETS IT IN SUFFOLK, IN FIVE YEARS, HE'S GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.

SO YOU CAN SEE ALREADY WHERE I WANT TO BRING IT WHEN WE CAME UP TONIGHT, MY FATHER ALWAYS SAID YOU COULD TELL WHAT THE INSIDE OF SOMEBODY'S HOME LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE YARD. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE YARD.

BUILDING WAS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, AND IT STAYED THAT WAY UNTIL THE EMPLOYEES STARTED COMPLAINING.

I KNOW THE JUDGES HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT THE EMPLOYEES HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT TOO, AND NOW WE'RE FOCUSING ON THERE AND NOT FOCUSING ON HERE, BUT IF YOU LOOK OUTSIDE, THE SIDEWALKS NEED POWER-WASHING.

THE POSTS ARE RIGHT THERE.

PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN PAINTED SINCE THE DAY THEY WERE PUT THERE.

SOME OF THE SIGNS ARE JUST COMPLETELY BLANK.

YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT THEY SAY.

THEY'VE PROBABLY BEEN OUT THERE SINCE [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S A 3 TO 4 FOOT TREE [INAUDIBLE] ONE OF THE ENTRANCE DOORS.

SO THIS YOU DON'T HAVE PERSONNEL IN THIS CASE TO DO MAINTENANCE WORK.

I THINK WE'VE GOT TWO MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES.

I'VE HEARD THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR THE FACILITIES WE HAVE, AND I'D LIKE TO BRING UP TRASH AS WELL, BUT [INAUDIBLE] THE NEXT TIME YOU GO, YOU'RE GOING TO GO THE OLD WAY AND GO [INAUDIBLE] GO TO THE OVERPASS AND LOOK DOWN AT THAT DUMP SITE.

YOU CAN GET AN AERIAL VIEW OF IT AND COMPARE IT TO THE DUMP SITE YOU GO TO IN THIS.

YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE'S NO TRASH THERE.

[00:10:03]

EVERYTHING'S SHIPSHAPE ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU'RE IMPRESSED BY THAT, THEN GO TO WINDSOR.

I HAD THE PLEASURE ONE DAY OF GOING TO WINDSOR [INAUDIBLE] TICKETS [INAUDIBLE] AND I THOUGHT I'D GET THAT.

I'D [INAUDIBLE] THE BUILDING FORM WITH THEM FOR 10 OR 15 MINUTES AND WE WOULD SHOOT THE POOL OR SOMETHING, AND.

WHEN I GOT THERE, THAT LITTLE RETIRED FAT MAN WAS RUNNING EVERYWHERE.

THEY'VE GOT ASPHALT ALL AROUND, DUMPSTERS, ALL THE WAY AROUND NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, RECYCLED SCRAP METAL, LEAVES, BUSHES, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF AND HE WAS RUNNING AROUND.

YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THIS HERE. YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THAT OVER THERE, AND I'M THINKING, WHEN I LOOK INTO A DUMPSTER, WHEN I GO TO THE DUMP LOOKING AND I SEE STUFF THAT CAN BE COMPOSTED, STUFF THAT CAN BE RECYCLED [INAUDIBLE] SCRAP METAL, AND IF YOU TOOK ALL THAT OUT OF ALL OUR DUMPSTERS, 75% OF OUR TRASH WOULD GO AWAY.

THAT MEANS 75% OF OUR BILL WOULD GO AWAY.

THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY HAVE IT IN THEIR HANDS.

WE COULD CHANGE WHAT WE PAY FOR THE LAND, AND WE COULD PROBABLY ELIMINATE THAT TOO, BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE NEEDED. I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR YOU NEXT YEAR WHEN BUDGET TIME COMES ALONG.

I KNOW YOU'VE GOT IT SET FOR.

WE NEED MONEY TO GET THE CORRIDOR OUT ON THE EAST SIDE OF CORTLAND EXTRA TIME.

WE NEED WE NEED MONEY TO.

YOU NEED TO SPEND SOME MONEY IN CORTLAND TO UPGRADE SIDEWALKS, CROSSOVERS, LIGHTING TO CONNECT THIS BUILDING TO THE COURTHOUSE.

THE REGISTRARS PUT IT ALL, MAKE IT ALL COME TOGETHER AND LOOK NICE.

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY COME FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND WE'VE GOT TO PUT A BETTER IMPRESSION OUT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSING THROUGH EVERY WEEK, I GUARANTEE YOU ON 460 AND 58, SOMEBODY PASSES THROUGH THIS COUNTY, IT'S GOING TO PUT A BUSINESS SOMEWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

COULD BE HERE, BUT THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT MAKES THEM WORSE FROM HERE.

SO WE'VE GOT TO PUT ABOUT A FOOT FORWARD AND EVERYTHING WE DO TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE.

SO WE CAN ATTRACT SOME BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES NOT ONLY FOR TAX REVENUE, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE TO HAVE AMENITIES TO LIVE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TONIGHT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

PLENTY OF TIME. WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN.

MY NAME IS YVONNE ROSE AND I RESIDE AT [INAUDIBLE] PARK CIRCLE COURT IN VIRGINIA.

I REALLY DON'T EXPECT THAT ANY CHANGE WILL COME FROM ANY THING THAT THE SPEAKERS OR MYSELF WOULD SAY TO THIS BOARD TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE A PREDETERMINED DECISION MADE FOR ANY MATTER THAT COMES BEFORE YOU AND NO ONE, INCLUDING YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IN YOUR FINAL DECISION.

IF WE EXTEND OUR HAND OUT WITH OUR POINTING FINGER FORWARD, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE ARE THREE FINGERS THAT POINT BACK AT YOU.

ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S ON THE THREE FINGERS POINTING BACK.

FINGER ONE, IN THIS BUDGET, YOU HAVE PROPOSED MAKING A TAX CUT DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE HAS STATED THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES AND THE EFFECTS OF DOING SO.

WHY DON'T YOU ALL CUT TAXES? WE ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET OUR CURRENT EXPENSES AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF OPERATION.

WHY CUT TAXES WHEN OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROPOSES A RETREAT FOR PURPOSE OF PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTY AND YOU [INAUDIBLE] LIKE $17,000 IS TOO MUCH TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE, WHY CUT TAXES WHEN YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE ASSESSED $200 FOR TRASH DISPOSAL? AN ASSESSMENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO GO ON INDEFINITELY.

IT MEETS THE CURRENT SHORTFALL AND THEN SHOULD BE ELIMINATED, AND IT'S UP TO THIS PARTY TO PLAN THE BUDGET SO THAT THE GAP THAT WAS PRESENT IS FILLED IN THE BUDGET AND NOT WITH AN ASSESSMENT.

AT LEAST THAT'S HOW MOST LEADERS SEE IT.

WHY CUT TAXES WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A COURTHOUSE THAT IS BEING ERECTED THAT IS ALREADY PROJECTED TO GO OVER YOUR BEGINNING BUDGETED AMOUNT AND YOU WILL HAVE TO

[00:15:08]

IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET WAS IN THE NEGATIVE, WOULD YOU MEET YOUR HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES BY DECREASING YOUR JOB HOURS OR BY QUITTING YOUR JOB [INAUDIBLE]? WHY CUT TAXES WHEN HISTORICALLY YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED VERY LITTLE TO THE UPLIFTING AND UPBUILDING OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM? BUT I'LL ADDRESS THAT LATER.

WHY CUT TAXES WHEN AND THEN REAPPRAISE PROPERTIES SO THAT THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS WOULD ACTUALLY BE AN INCREASE IN TAX? WHERE IS THE WISDOM AND COMMON SENSE THAT WE THOUGHT EXISTED IN [INAUDIBLE]? FINGER NUMBER TWO. YOU HAVE GIVEN TAX BREAKS TO FARMERS, TO TREE GROWERS, AND ALL KNOWING THAT THEY OWN AND OCCUPY AND USE THE GREATER PORTION OF THEIR ACREAGE IN THIS COUNTY.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO COME A POINT IN TIME WHEN THEY [INAUDIBLE] OF THE TAXES IS RECOUPED.

WHO MONITORS THIS? WHO HANDLES THE BUDGET? I MEAN, THE BOOKKEEPING BOARD.

WHEN, IF EVER, IS OUR OUTSTANDING TAX BALANCE GOING TO BE PAID? THE LAND IS RENTED OUT FOR FARMING.

WHY IS THIS NOT CONSIDERED A BUSINESS PROPOSITION WHERE THE COST OF THE TAX IS PASSED OFF TO THE RENTER, THEREBY TERMINATING THE FREEBIE THAT'S GIVEN TO THE OWNER? THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE IN HOW THIS FARM TAX LUXURY IS HANDLED.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY REVIEW OF THE CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNTY CODE THAT ADDRESSES THIS TAX BREAK? GIVEN CONSIDERATION THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES TO FARMERS, THERE SHOULD NOT BE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES THE FARMERS.

THERE SHOULD BE A RECONSIDERATION OF THIS PROVISION AS A WHOLE.

MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, IF THEY ARE ASSESSED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WE COULD MEET OUR BUDGET, HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH, AND THEN WE COULD CONSIDER LOWERING TAXES, GIVING A TAX BREAK TO EVERY TAXPAYER.

FINGER NUMBER THREE.

THE SCHOOL BUDGET. YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING TO DO TO OUR CHILDREN [INAUDIBLE].

FOR SOME REASON, WHICH MOST OF US SUSPECT IS PERSONAL.

IT APPEARS THAT YOU ALL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T DICTATE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD HOW TO RUN THE SYSTEM.

NOTWITHSTANDING THAT, YOU ARE NOT, IN MY OPINION, TELLING YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING THE COUNTY WISELY.

MOST OF THE MONEY THAT GOES TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS COME FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

HISTORICALLY, OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS CONTRIBUTED VERY LITTLE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SYSTEMS FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE TALK ABOUT THE RATE OF TURNOVER AND THE LACK OF RETENTION, BUT WE DON'T LOOK AT OUR PAY STRUCTURE FOR OUR TEACHERS.

OUR TEACHERS ARE SOME OF THE LOWEST PAID IN THE STATE, AND WHEN THE STATE GIVES AN INCREASE FOR TEACHERS, WE TAKE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY LOCALLY NOT TO GIVE THEM ANYTHING.

THIS IS THE PRIMARY FACTOR FOR THE LOSS OF OUR INSTRUCTORS OTHER THAN WHAT RETIREMENT IS FOR LOW PAY.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO TAUGHT 15 YEARS IN THIS SYSTEM WITH A MASTER'S, AND AFTER 15 YEARS SHE WAS ONLY MAKING $22,000, AND THAT INCLUDED A SUPPLEMENT FOR ASSISTING WITH THE BAND.

SHE LEFT HERE, WENT TO [INAUDIBLE] GOT A $20,000 RAISE, HER FIRST YEAR, AND THEN A $10,000 RAISE THE SECOND YEAR.

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD NOT MAKE THAT KIND OF A DECISION WHEN THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY? YOU ALL EMBRACE MISINFORMATION AND YOU SCREW IT OUT AS IF IT WERE A FACT.

NOT TAKING THE TIME TO DO YOUR OWN INVESTIGATION, BUT PROMOTING WHAT SOME NOT SO INFORMED PERSONS GIVE YOU.

SOMETIMES, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH TRUTH AND FACT, YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AND YOUR EARS AND STILL OPERATE IN A STATE OF IGNORANCE.

FOR EXAMPLE, CRT, WE'VE HEARD IT MANY TIMES HERE.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS NOT, HAS NOT AND WAS NEVER TAUGHT IN VIRGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IT'S A COLLEGE LEVEL SUBJECT, AND EVEN IN COLLEGE IT'S NOT MANDATED TO BE TAUGHT TO EVERYONE.

IT APPEARS THAT YOU PUT THIS THEORY OUT THERE TO INCITE FEAR IN PARENTS AND TO PROMOTE AN UNFAVORABLE TEACHING ENVIRONMENT SO THAT YOU CAN PROMOTE YOUR OWN AGENDA, WHICH IS WE KNOW GRANTS.

YOU ALL ARE AWARE THAT GRANTS ARE NOT ALL ALIKE.

SOME COME FROM THE GOVERNMENT OR OTHER SOURCES WITH SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND SOME ARE APPLIED FOR AND AWARDED WITH CONDITIONS WRITTEN IN BY THE GRANTEE AND THEY HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT IF YOU WRITE THEM IN, AND THEN SOME COME WITH REQUIREMENTS THAT THERE BE A MATCH OR MAYBE EVEN

[00:20:08]

DOES THE COUNTY HAVE FUNDS TO PUT UP MONEY TO SUPPORT ANY GRANT APPLICATION THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL REQUEST? EVEN IF IT DOES, IT'S THE TRUST FACTOR SO LOW ON BOTH PARTS THAT ONE CANNOT OR DOESN'T BELIEVE THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER TO APPLY FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

YOU MISS YOUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

IN MAKING OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COUNTY GREAT.

BY NOT PUTTING ASIDE YOUR PETTY DIFFERENCES AND PERSONAL AGENDAS.

INDUSTRY WOULD NOT BE ATTRACTED TO AN AREA WHERE THERE IS NOT A PERCEPTION OF A THRIVING SCHOOL SYSTEM.

OUR CHILDREN HAVE [INAUDIBLE] TO LOOK FORWARD TO COMING HOME WHEN THEY HAVE COMPLETED COLLEGE WITH THIS CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] IN THE ATMOSPHERE, WE MUST DO BETTER.

WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE FINGERS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE WITH AN OBSERVATION.

AS LEADERS OF OUR COUNTY, I CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO PURCHASE AND STUDY THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

THERE HAS BEEN NO TRUE ORDER TO THIS BOARD SINCE DALLAS JONES STEPPED DOWN AS CHAIR, AND IT IS EMBARRASSING TO SEE THAT NO ONE CALLS FOR ORDER WHEN THE CHAIR MAKES A MOTION AND THEN CARRIES HIS OWN MOTION JUST FOR INFORMATION.

YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

LET ME TELL YOU, I WAS PREPARED FOR THIS.

THE 12TH EDITION OF ROBERT'S SAYS THE CHAIR CAN MAKE A MOTION, CAN SECOND A MOTION AND VOTE ON MOTION, AND IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, I'LL LET YOU HAVE IT TONIGHT.

I HAVE ONE. THEN I THINK YOU NEED TO READ IT WHEN YOU MAKE THE MOTION.

[INAUDIBLE] THE ONLY OTHER OBSERVATION I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT IF YOU WERE SPEAKING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, YOU WOULD HAVE ONLY SPOKEN ABOUT 10% OF WHAT YOU SAID BECAUSE THE BELL WOULD HAVE GONE OFF.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] SHE DROPPED SOMETHING.

[INAUDIBLE] SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

HOW ABOUT YOU, MR. VICK? NO, SIR.

I DON'T NEED TO GET YELLED AT TONIGHT.

[CHUCKLING] ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. LAST CALL AND WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON.

WE HAVE THREE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES ON APRIL 5TH, APRIL 12TH

[2. Approval of Minutes]

SO WE'LL TAKE THEM IN ORDER.

THE MINUTES OF THE BUDGET WORK SESSION, APRIL 5TH.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS, AMENDMENTS, CHANGES? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

GO AHEAD, SIR. I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR, MAYBE A YEAR BEFORE THE CITIZENS ASKED US TO ADD SOME BUDGET MEETINGS.

SOME BUDGET HEARINGS.

RATHER THAN HAVING ONE, I THINK, AND SO WE DID SO, AND JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE HERE TONIGHT, NOBODY CAME. SO I JUST WANTED THAT TO KIND OF COUNTERACT A COMMENT.

I JUST HEARD ABOUT HAVING MINDS MADE UP.

IT WAS MADE UP WITH THE INFORMATION WE GOT AND NOBODY CAME TO THOSE MEETINGS.

SO I JUST WANTED THE PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT TO KNOW THAT, BE AWARE OF THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THE FIRST WORK SESSION, APRIL 5TH.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. ALL RIGHT. THE SECOND BUDGET WORK SESSION, APRIL 12TH.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES? CORRECTIONS? IF NOT A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. UNANIMOUS, AND THE THIRD BUDGET WORK SESSION, WHICH WAS ON APRIL THE 19TH, 2023.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES, ANY MISTAKES OR ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED THERE?

[00:25:04]

A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER THREE, HIGHWAY MATTERS.

[3. Highway Matters]

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING IN THEIR DISTRICT OR ANYWHERE ELSE? ALL RIGHT--MR. [INAUDIBLE] BROUGHT FORWARD AT 36102 [INAUDIBLE] CHAPEL ROAD FOR MY FRIENDS AT THE YOUNG FARMERS CLUB, WHERE THE CULVERT PIPE IS CAVING IN, CAUSING A HAZARD TO TRAVELERS AND PATRONS THERE AT THE CLUB.

[INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE MONTHLY REPORTS.

[4. Monthly Reports]

JUST JUMP IN IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.

FINANCIAL REPORT.

THE TREASURER'S REPORT.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE COLLECTIONS ON THE REAL ESTATE.

LAST MONTH WE WERE AT 99.69%.

THIS MONTH WE'RE AT 99.72%.

WE HAVE $534,756.19 OUTSTANDING.

THE PERSONAL PROPERTY.

LAST MONTH WE WERE AT 95.96%.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 96.20%.

WE HAVE OUTSTANDING $2,044,172.62.

ON THE SOLID WASTE LAST MONTH WE WENT 75.36%.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 76.73% AND WE HAVE OUTSTANDING $1,215,527.66, AND IF YOU THEN LOOK [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL REAL ESTATE TAX SALES AND I HAVE DONE PRETTY WELL WITH COLLECTING ALL THOSE BY DOING ONLINE AUCTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS EDWARDS? WHEN PEOPLE FILE BANKRUPTCY, THAT'S IT, RIGHT? WELL, WHEN IN BANKRUPTCY, YOU CANNOT GO AFTER THEM TO COLLECT, BUT WHEN THEY COME OUT, USUALLY THE ONLY THING THAT'S DONE AWAY WITH IS FEES LIKE SOLID WASTE. SO THAT'S WRITTEN OFF, BUT THEN ONCE THEY COME OUT OF BANKRUPTCY, YOU GO BACK TO COLLECTING TAXES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANIMAL CONTROL.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES.

PERSONNEL. MR. THROWER.

YES. HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS.

WE DID HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES HIRED IN THE MONTH OF MAY, DARREN LEWIS AND HUNTER SHERMAN, BOTH IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE DID HAVE ONE RETIREMENT IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

GREG GRIFFITH.

WE DID HAVE THREE EMPLOYEE SEPARATIONS, TWO IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

[INAUDIBLE] THOMAS AND CASSANDRA TUCKER.

WE DID HAVE ONE SEPARATION IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

MEGAN SMITH. THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. AS WE SAID BEFORE, WE MOVE NUMBER TEN, THE RADIO PROJECT UP TO THIS PLACE TONIGHT.

[10. Radio Project - Request by Vice Chairman Gillette]

WELL, YES, I DID ASK FOR AN UPDATE AND I DON'T KNOW IF MR. THROWER HAS ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE LATEST.

I INCLUDED SOME COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION ON THIS IN YOUR PROJECT UPDATES SECTION OF YOUR AGENDA.

SO I'LL JUST I'LL JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WERE JOINTLY WORKING ON OUR JOINT PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM PROJECT.

YOU KNOW, CTA CONSULTANTS DID CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM AND THEY DID PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MOVING FORWARD.

I BELIEVE THEY WERE AT YOUR FEBRUARY 28TH MEETING TO GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY.

[00:30:01]

AT THIS TIME, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WERE WORKING WITH CTA.

WE'RE PUTTING AN RFP TOGETHER THAT WILL BE SENT TO POTENTIAL VENDORS.

WE ANTICIPATE ISSUING THE RFP IN JULY.

THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE THAT'S COMPRISED OF STAFF FROM BOTH THE CITY AND THE [INAUDIBLE] DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE RFP AND THE SUBSCRIBER EQUIPMENT DID INCLUDE THAT PRESENTATION AND ATTACH IT TO YOUR AGENDA.

PROPOSALS FROM VENDORS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE DUE IN OCTOBER.

THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE AND CTA WILL THEN EVALUATE THE PROPOSALS.

OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, CTA ANTICIPATES THE CITY AND THE COUNTY SIGNING A CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR AT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR IN MAY OF 2024. IMPLEMENTATION IS ESTIMATED TO COMMENCE IN JUNE 2024 AND WILL LAST ALMOST TWO YEARS, ENDING IN MARCH OF 26, AND I DID INCLUDE THE LATEST UPDATED SCHEDULE PREPARED BY CTA.

IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.

THAT SHOWS YOU EXACTLY WHAT I JUST KIND OF WENT OVER THERE.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN ON DEVELOPING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL PRIMARILY ADDRESS GOVERNANCE AND PROBABLY MORE OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN, THE DIVISION OF COST.

AGAIN, WE'RE I'M WORKING WITH THE FRANKLIN CITY MANAGER ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE FINALIZED WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

CTA HAS SENT US SOME TEMPLATES THAT OTHER LOCALITIES THAT HAVE DONE JOINT PROJECTS, WHICH IS COMMON, HAVE USED.

IT'S A PRETTY BASIC DOCUMENT, 5 OR 6 PAGES.

ONCE THAT'S FINALIZED, I'LL SHARE THAT WITH THE BOARD, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE STAND AT THIS JUNCTURE.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO GETS WHAT TYPE OF RADIOS, WHICH DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, THAT'S ALL INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET THAT CTA PROVIDED A PRESENTATION ON THE WAY THEY ARRIVED AT THOSE NUMBERS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THEY DID INTERVIEWS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BACK LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME WHEN THEY STARTED THE STUDY.

SO WE'VE KIND OF GOT AN IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF RADIOS.

BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON.

THAT'S NOT SET IN STONE AT THIS POINT.

THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RFP, BUT THERE'LL BE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES, AND I'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH CTA REGARDING THIS WHERE WE COULD PULL BACK SOME OF THOSE RADIOS IF NEEDED, DEPENDING ON THE BUDGET AND WHAT THE QUOTES COME BACK FROM THE VENDORS TO BE IN.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE STAND.

THE RFP WILL BE ISSUED HOPEFULLY AGAIN IN JULY IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THIS WILL BE A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS MOVING FORWARD. ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS? I DO. REGARDING PULLING BACK, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN THIS BEGAN THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON FIRE AND RESCUE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO WHEN YOU SAY PULL BACK, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PULL BACK ALL THE DATA THEY'VE GOT IN THEIR PROPOSALS SO FAR BACK TO FIRE RESCUE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS DISCUSSED PRIOR TO ME GETTING HERE.

I KNOW WHEN I STARTED WE KICKED THIS OFF AND THEY INTERVIEWED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

NORMALLY, A LOCALITY INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THEY ASKED TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE THEY ARE NEEDED IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

NOW, ULTIMATELY, IT'S UP TO THE BOARD OF WHETHER Y'ALL WANTED TO PULL SOME OF THIS BACK.

I DON'T SUGGEST IT.

I WOULD REQUEST WE MOVE FORWARD RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE GOT IN THE RFP, WELL, DEVELOPING THE RFP WITH THE NUMBER OF RADIOS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND LET ME JUST NOTE ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I DID GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND MAYBE THE SHERIFF COULD PROBABLY TALK SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN I CAN.

[00:35:04]

SO THEY DON'T REALLY EVEN HAVE A FUNCTIONING RADIO SYSTEM LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT THIS TIME THAT THEY CAN USE TO REALLY ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATE IN AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEY USE A, LIKE I SAID, A NAVIGATE 360 APP AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MONITORS RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE SCHOOL WITH THESE CELL PHONES, AND THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF INTERNAL RADIO SYSTEM, BUT IT'S NOT TO THE LEVEL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT THIS NEW SYSTEM WOULD BE AND THIS AND ALLOWING THEM TO BE PART OF THIS SYSTEM WOULD GIVE THEM MUCH NEEDED DIRECT ACCESS TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY.

SO AGAIN, WE CAN PULL SOME OF THIS BACK ONCE WE GET.

THE PROPOSALS FROM THE VENDORS DEPENDING ON BUDGET.

SO AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE I GOT HERE, BUT TYPICALLY YOU INCLUDE YOUR ALL YOUR CITY OR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, AND AS I SAID, THE CITY OF FRANKLIN IS INCLUDING THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEIR PROJECT.

IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE FRANKLIN WANTS A WHOLE LOT MORE OUT OF IT THAN WE CAN AFFORD.

CAN'T YOU BID IT BOTH WAYS? WELL, RIGHT NOW IT'S SET UP AS A JOINT SYSTEM.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE WAY THE WAY THESE COSTS ARE SPLIT ARE GOING TO BE SPLIT WHEN YOU EXCUSE ME, BUT WHEN YOU SAY A JOINT SYSTEM, IF THEY PUT SCHOOLS IN, THE BID IS EXPECTING US TO PUT SCHOOLS IN.

WELL, LIKE I SAID, IF Y'ALL, AS THE BOARD DECIDE YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR SCHOOL RADIOS, WHICH WOULD LEAVE THEM TOTALLY OUT OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITH THIS RADIO SYSTEM, WHICH I DON'T AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING BEFORE WE START LEAVING ANYBODY OUT, I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST.

LIKE I SAID, I WOULD RECOMMEND WE FIND OUT WHAT IT'D COST AND THEN AT A LATER TIME, ONCE WE HAVE A COST, WE CAN IF NEEDED, AND IF YOU ALL DECIDE THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL WANT TO DO, PULL THOSE COSTS OR NOT PAY FOR THOSE RADIOS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ASK THEM TO FUND IT OR NOT FUND IT AT ALL, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST WE INCLUDE THAT IN THE RFP AND PULL OUT POTENTIALLY AT A LATER TIME IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD DECIDES OR THE BUDGET IN WHATEVER FORUM THEN ALLOW FOR IT.

DO THEY HAVE RADIOS IN ALL THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NOW? THEY DON'T HAVE A RADIO THAT FULLY CONNECTS, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY HAVE LIKE AN INTERNAL RADIO SYSTEM THAT AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE POINT, AND THESE HORRIFIC SCHOOL EVENTS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY AT THIS TIME.

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE A VERY GOOD SYSTEM TO DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MAYBE THE SHERIFF CAN SPEAK TO THAT BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT AND THEN THEY USE THESE CELL PHONES THAT THEY GIVE TO THE BUS DRIVERS AND TEACHERS, AND THIS NAVIGATE 360 APP WHERE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN MONITOR NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT THAT'S NOT AS GOOD AS A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AS WE WILL HAVE IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM.

SO I WOULD THINK IN THIS TIME, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE BOARD, THE COUNTY PAYS FOR IT OR YOU ASK THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PAY FOR IT OR SOME COMBINATION OF THE TWO, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO HAVE BE IN THE LOOP OF BEING ABLE TO FULLY COMMUNICATE IN TIMES OF SOME OF THESE HORRIFIC ACTS WE HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

JOSH, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AS FAR AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RADIOS, WORKING WITH Y'ALL'S RADIOS? [INAUDIBLE] SO WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM, IT WOULD AND YOU ALL ARE ADVOCATING THAT, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? OKAY. THIS RADIO SYSTEM, THE OLD RADIOS THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALL THE OTHER HOSPITALS HAVE, ARE THEY ABLE TO BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SO THAT WAY IT SAVES MONEY AND ALSO THE INTEROPERABILITY? THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T REALLY NEED TO BE TALKING TO SUFFOLK OR CHESAPEAKE.

[00:40:03]

FOOD FOR THOUGHT. MRS SUPERVISOR UPDIKE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPRESS YOUR WHAT YOU HAVE THOUGHT MAYBE WOULD BE THE BEST PATH FOR US TO DO? I TALKED TO TOMMY POTTER AND HE GAVE ME THE NAME OF SOMEBODY IN ISLE OF WIGHT AND SUGGESTED THAT WE TALK TO SURROUNDING AREAS WHO HAVE RADIO SYSTEMS AND SEE WHAT KIND OF OPINIONS THEY HAVE, AND I HAVE A CONTACT PERSON.

YOU THINK WE COULD ARRANGE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? SOMEBODY THAT HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS AND GOING THROUGH THE THROES OF THIS, LIKE ISLE OF WIGHT COMING IN [INAUDIBLE] SO WHEN ISLE OF WIGHT DID THIS A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS ACTUALLY WITH THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD AND THEY USED A GENTLEMAN NAMED TERRY HALL, WHICH HE'S I FORGET HIS EXACT TITLE WITH YORK COUNTY OR ANOTHER LOCALITY LIKE THAT.

I JUST REITERATE TO THE BOARD THAT WE'RE ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT WITH CTA CONSULTANTS TO DO THIS WORK FOR THE COUNTY.

WE'RE UNDER THIS TIMELINE THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED TO GO FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT.

IF YOU WANT TO JUST HAVE GENERAL DISCUSSION WITH WHOEVER THESE PEOPLE ARE, I CAN INVITE THEM TO A BOARD MEETING IF YOU LIKE, OR YOU CAN TALK INDIVIDUALLY WITH THEM, BUT WE WE NEED TO STAY WITH THIS TIMELINE THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED TO HAVE THIS JOINT PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, BECAUSE IF WE START FALLING OFF THAT I THINK I GOT AN EMAIL BACK FROM CHERYL, ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS ON THIS PROJECT.

WE WILL MISS A FOLIAGE DEADLINE WHERE THEY CAN TEST THE HOW WELL, HOW GOOD OF COVERAGE WE HAVE AT THAT 95 OR MORE PERCENT LEVEL WITH THE RADIO.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST AND ASK THAT WE KEEP ON SCHEDULE.

WE ALREADY HAVE A CONSULTANT ON BOARD CTA CONSULTANTS THAT WE'RE PAYING TO DO THIS PROJECT FOR US, BUT IF Y'ALL WANT TO IF Y'ALL WANT TO BRING WHOMEVER TO YOUR BOARD MEETING AND HAVE A GENERAL DISCUSSION AND STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TIMELINE I'VE GIVEN YOU, IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU DID, I BELIEVE, DO A $4 MILLION BOND ISSUE BASED ON HOWEVER THOSE, HOWEVER, THAT COST WAS DETERMINED.

WHEN YOU DID THAT BOND ISSUE BACK THEN.

SO LIKE I SAID ONCE, ONCE WE GET PROPOSALS BACK AND GO THROUGH, THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY IF THE BOARD DECIDES TO PULL BACK SOME OF THOSE RADIOS IN SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH I DON'T NECESSARILY RECOMMEND, BUT THAT'S ULTIMATELY YOUR CHOICE AND WITH SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS BUT ISLE OF WHITE GOT, WENT THROUGH THIS YEARS AGO THEY USED TO TERRY HALL WITH BELIEVE YORK COUNTY THEY STARTED OUT IT WAS 11 MILLION AND THEY GOT IT DOWN TO 7 MILLION.

SO AND THE INFORMATION THAT CTA GAVE YOU AND TALKED ABOUT AT THEIR MEETING AND I JUST RECENTLY SENT YOU AGAIN, THEY ANTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE YOU A GOOD EDUCATED GUESS ON WHAT THIS SYSTEM WOULD COST, AND I THINK THEY WILL PROBABLY GET BACK, YOU KNOW, 11-$12M AND THEN THEY GO THROUGH SEVERAL NEGOTIATIONS AND WE HOPE TO GET IT DOWN TO THE NEGOTIATED PRICE OVERALL AT THE 7 OR 8 MILLION MARK.

SO MAYBE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UNDER CONTRACT WITH CTA CONSULTANTS FOR THEM TO HANDLE, AND DO THIS CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD AND THAT 7 TO 8 MILLION THAT WOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN BASED ON HOW THE THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE, BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE CTA CONSULTANTS YOU CAN DO IT BY POPULATION.

I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO PAY MORE COST BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE POPULATION.

OR YOU CAN DO IT BY SUBSCRIBER UNITS, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE MORE OF THOSE, AND WHAT THEY GAVE US TEMPLATES OF THAT OTHER LOCALITIES HAVE USED MAYBE A BLENDED MODEL.

I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COUNTY, WE HAVE MORE USERS AND WE HAVE MORE POPULATION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO PAY, YOU KNOW, OVER 50% OF THE COST, WHATEVER THOSE PERCENTAGES COME TO, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN AND I'VE CONFIRMED THIS WITH CTA CONSULTANTS HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE CAN PULL BACK SOME OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, WHICH MEANS THE NUMBER OF RADIOS AT A LATER TIME UP UNTIL WE SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR TO PULL BACK THE NUMBER OF RADIOS IF WE NEED TO

[00:45:10]

SO THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL THAT NUMBER BACK IF THE BOARD SO CHOOSES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, BOARD? I THINK WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH MR. THROWER TALKING ABOUT THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND I DON'T THINK ANY DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE LEFT OUT UNLESS IT JUST HAS TO.

WE CAN'T SPEND MONEY WE DON'T HAVE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO INTO THIS LOOKING FORWARD TO EXCLUDING ANYTHING UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHAT THE COST IS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY WHO'S GONE THROUGH IT AND FOUND OUT WHAT THE HANG UPS AND WHAT THE THINGS ARE THAT I DON'T KNOW.

I'LL JUST THROW THAT IDEA OUT.

I CAN SET IT UP WITH BRIAN CAN.

I MEAN, I CAN ALSO ASK CTA CONSULTANTS TO COME BACK AND THEY CAN BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST HERE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE IF YOU HAVE MORE.

I DON'T THINK THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS ASKED AT THAT MEETING, BUT IF YOU NOW HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OR IMPLEMENTATION, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE SINCE WE ARE PAYING THEM AS OUR CONSULTANT TO ASK.

I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY IT'S BID SO THAT YOU DON'T DESTROY THE BID PROCESS WHEN YOU START DRAWING OR PULLING BACK.

I THINK IT'S BETTER TO HAVE IT KNOWN UP FRONT EITHER OR AND I MEAN, I THINK MOST COMPANIES WOULD WOULD GIVE YOU A BID, BUT WHEN THEY FIGURE THE TOTAL PROJECT AND SUBMIT A BID AND THEN YOU START DRAWING THINGS OUT OF IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK OUT.

I'VE SPECIFICALLY [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU REMOVED THEM UP FRONT AND BID EITHER OR.

I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE CHERYL WITH CTA THAT QUESTION WILL THE TWO LOCALITIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RADIOS FROM THE FINAL NEGOTIATED CONTRACT WITH THE SELECTED VENDOR AFTER THE RFP IS ISSUED? SHE SAYS YES, YOU WILL HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES, ONE DURING FINAL NEGOTIATIONS PRIOR TO CONTRACT SIGNING AND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AGAIN PRIOR TO DETAILED DESIGN REVIEW.

SO THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES BUILT IN JUST LIKE ON ANY PROJECT, AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ABOUT DELETING AND TAKING AND ADDING FROM RFP, BUT ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS, I WOULD SUGGEST WE KEEP IT IN AND PULL BACK IF NEEDED RATHER THAN EXCLUDE IT AND NOT HAVE IT BUILT INTO.

YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE UNIT COST? I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL, BUT I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS EITHER.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WE WON'T KNOW UNLESS THEY PUT IT IN THERE, AND AT LEAST IF THEY PUT IT IN THERE AND WE REDACT IT LATER, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE UNIT COST WAS COMPARED TO WHAT IT WILL BECOME AFTER WE REMOVE IT.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IF IT'S AFFECTING THE OUTCOME OF OUR ULTIMATE UNIT COST IF IT'S REMOVED AT A LATER TIME.

I'M JUST TRYING TO BE ABLE TO SEE ALL THE ALL THE CARDS ON THE TABLE.

AT THAT POINT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE TOTAL UNIT COST, THE TOTAL PROJECT COST, AND ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGES TO THE OVERALL COST OF THE PROJECT SHOULD WE MOVE THOSE PAWNS ANYWHERE ELSE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO AVOID HAVING TO REBID THE WHOLE THING.

RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO REBID.

OKAY. NOW LET'S GET TO THE MOU.

WHEN IS THAT? WHEN IS THE MOU? IS IT A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT? A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, AND I'VE GOTTEN TEMPLATES FROM OTHER LOCALITIES THAT CTA HAS SENT US.

WHEN THEY SEND US FROM STAUNTON, AUGUSTA AND WAYNESBORO.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT TALKS ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND IT TALKS ABOUT PRIMARILY HOW THE COSTS ARE SPLIT AND PRIMARILY HOW YOU GET INTO THAT.

YOU CAN BASE THE COST ON ANYTHING, BUT USUALLY IT'S BASED ON POPULATION OR SUBSCRIBER UNITS OR A BLEND OF BOTH.

DOES IT ADDRESS ADD ONS LIKE IF ONE ENTITY, THE COUNTY OR THE CITY, THE ONE WANTS TO ADD ON TO THE CONTRACT WITH COMPONENT WITHIN IT? IS THAT A SPLIT COST OR IS THAT.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY COVERED UNDER GOVERNANCE AND BUDGET AND FISCAL MATTERS, BUT YEAH, THAT WOULD I'M SURE COMPONENTS OF THAT WOULD BE BUILT INTO IT AND OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD REVIEW ANY MOU THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

BEFORE OR AFTER THE PROVISIONS OF THE RFP ARE AGREED UPON.

[00:50:04]

IS IT THAT MUCH MORE DEPENDENT ON THE CITY OF FRANKLIN WANTED TO DO THAT SOON TOO.

IS IT THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE FOR US TO HAVE OUR OWN RATHER THAN FRANKLIN? IT'S A JOINT SYSTEM, SO BUT WE WOULD HAVE OUR OWN SYSTEM INSTEAD OF GOING WITH FRANKLIN.

I THINK THAT I THINK THAT [INAUDIBLE] HAS ALREADY LEFT THE HORSE HAS ALREADY LEFT THE STABLE ON THAT.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO REDESIGN.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW YOU WOULD GO ABOUT DOING THAT.

WE'VE ALREADY UNDER WE HAVE SEPARATE AGREEMENTS WITH CTA, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO THIS IS THE WAY THIS SYSTEM, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN SET UP SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

SO TO TRY TO RE-ENGINEER THAT SYSTEM AND PROCESS, YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY TRYING TO RE-ENGINEER THAT PROCESS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A JOINT SYSTEM, AND REALLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE HOW THE COSTS ARE SPLIT.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.

WE HAVE TIME CONSTRAINTS HERE, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO INTO THIS AS SMART AS WE CAN.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY WHO WENT THROUGH IT.

SEE WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THEY RAN INTO TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING TO SEE WHAT TO LEAVE IN OR WHAT TO LEAVE OUT.

WELL, AGAIN, ALL I CAN SAY IS THE COUNTY AND THE CITY PROCURED CTA CONSULTANTS PRIOR TO ME BEING HERE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT SOME OF Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT TO DO.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING BY HAVING WHOEVER COME IN.

I MEAN, IF YOU ALL WANT TO GO TALK TO WHOMEVER YOU LIKE TO THAT'S FINE OR I CAN INVITE THEM TO A MEETING, BUT WE NEED TO STAY ON THE SCHEDULE AND THE PROCESS THAT CTA THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT THE COUNTY HAD PROCURED PRIOR TO ME EVEN BEING HERE AS WELL AS THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

MY CONCERN WHEN WAS THE $4 MILLION BOND THAT WAS INITIALLY SET? [INAUDIBLE] I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YEAR THAT WAS DONE.

I THINK IT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ROOFS, SCHOOL ROOFS.

I'M NOT SURE, BUT IT WAS DONE ABOUT, WHAT, FIVE YEARS AGO? I THINK MY CONCERN IS WHAT IF THE SHARED COST IS 8 MILLION? WELL, AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD EITHER I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

EITHER YOU WOULD HAVE TO CUT SOME OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT OUT OR BORROW SOME MORE MONEY FOR IT.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE YOUR TWO OPTIONS, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THAT UNTIL YOU ISSUE THE RFP AND GET PROPOSALS BACK AND GO THROUGH A NEGOTIATION TO EVEN GET TO THAT POINT TO KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE OR WHAT YOU DO HAVE. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS WERE STARTED WITH CTA BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERTISE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

WE HAVE HIRED PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] AND TO GO FORWARD, AND IF WE GET SOMEBODY TO COME IN, WHO ARE THEY? ARE THEY EXPERTS FROM ISLE OF WIGHT OR? THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SYSTEM.

JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THEY RAN INTO SO THAT WE DON'T GET RUN INTO THOSE SAME PROBLEMS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU KNOW THE EXPERTS, BUT IF THEY WENT THROUGH THE SITUATION, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WHAT PROBLEMS THEY RAN INTO AND HOW THEY SOLVED THEM AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 7-8 MILLION BUCKS; WE MIGHT AS WELL KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT.

I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ASK SOMEBODY FROM ISLE OF WIGHT TO COME TO OUR JUNE MEETING.

I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WHO IS ACTUALLY FROM ISLE OF WIGHT? I COULD ASK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THE IT DIRECTOR.

IT'S ON MY COMPUTER, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER.

I'LL GET IT TO YOU TOMORROW.

GOTCHA. DO YOU THINK YOU COULD TALK TO THEM AND FIND OUT AND ASK HIM TO COME? OKAY, WELL, LET'S DO THAT.

[00:55:01]

WE AIN'T GONE CHANGE NOTHING WITH CTA.

WE'D KEEP USING THEM, BUT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO HEAR WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS, AND THIS RFP GOES OUT IN JULY.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR.

SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WON'T CHANGE THE TIMELINE ON [INAUDIBLE].

NO, I'M ASKING QUESTIONS.

WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS? THAT'S A LITTLE SMARTER.

YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT WE DO NEED TO STICK WITH CTA LIKE HE SAID, AND STAY ON THE TIMELINE, AND WE'LL HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE AHEAD.

ANYTHING ELSE? [INAUDIBLE] NO, I JUST WANTED THE BOARD TO BE AWARE AND THE PUBLIC TOO OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE THAT WERE HERE TO SEE THE ORIGINAL ROLLOUT FROM CTA HAD THIS PRICE GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO $12 MILLION.

SO I KNOW SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE THAT NIGHT, BUT THAT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR ME, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING WITH THE ARE SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN BID THIS THING.

IT USUALLY IS, AND THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN.

OKAY. I DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT AND SAY, WELL, DAGGONE, I WISH WE'D HAVE BID IT.

ANOTHER WAY.

WELL, WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK AT THIS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

THIS IS LIKE BUILDING ANOTHER SMALL COURTHOUSE.

HEAVEN FORBID. IT'S CRAZY.

OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER FIVE, FINANCIAL MATTERS.

[5. Financial Matters]

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS? MOTION TO PAY THE BILLS.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

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

OKAY, MR. THROWER WE WILL PAY THE BILLS.

B IS A WRITE OFF OF CERTAIN DELINQUENT UTILITY ACCOUNTS.

EVIDENTLY IS ABOUT 29,000 WITH INTEREST AND PENALTIES.

THAT'S GONE UP TO 62,000, AND OUR OUR AUDITORS RECOMMEND THAT WE GET THIS OFF THE BOOK AND IT AVOIDS MESSING UP THE BOOKKEEPING, AND IF ANY OF THESE PEOPLE SHOULD RETURN TO OPEN ANOTHER ACCOUNT, THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARGES AND PENALTIES THAT THEY HAVE NOT PAID.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENT? MOTION TO WRITE OFF THE ACCOUNTS AS BAD DEBTS.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT, AND NUMBER C IS THE APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL FUND.

TOTAL $1,338,484.14.

IT'S THE COMBINATION OF EXPENDITURES, REFUNDS AND REIMBURSEMENTS, AND THOSE ARE FROM THE SOURCE.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH CONCERNING THAT? MRS. LOWE IS HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS IF YOU DO.

IF NOT, WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ATTACHED GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION.

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

AYE. OKAY. THAT'S BEEN APPROVED.

[6. FY24 Proposed Budget - Request to Approve]

THE FIRST ONE IS A YEAR 24 PROPOSED BUDGET REQUEST TO TO APPROVE.

AS YOU SEE, THIS WAS WORKED ON.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PUBLIC SESSIONS PEOPLE COULD HAVE PUT IN THEIR TWO CENTS.

THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS ON MAY 15TH, AND THIS HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPER.

SO [INAUDIBLE] TONIGHT TO GO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH THE BUDGET.

BEFORE WE DO, I THINK IT'S IN ORDER, WE NEED A MOTION TO CATEGORICALLY MOVE AHEAD OF THIS, MOVE 100,000 FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ATTENDANCE AND HEALTH WITHIN THE SCHOOL'S PROPOSED BUDGET TO INSTRUCTION TO THE CATEGORY OF INSTRUCTION WITH OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INTENT OF THESE FUNDS GOING TO TEACH US, AND I PUT THAT IN A MOTION.

[01:00:03]

THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THEN DISCUSSED THAT AND THEN CUT THAT DOWN TO $5000.

AS I PUT TOGETHER HERE, I'M REQUESTING YOU INCREASE THAT LINE ITEM BACK TO $9,500, WHICH IS THE ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM THAT I NEED TO PROPERLY PUT THAT BACK TOGETHER FOR YOU.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE RETREAT WITH THE RETREAT FACILITATOR THAT I'VE USED IN PREVIOUS LOCALITIES.

SHE'S WILLING TO GIVE US A DISCOUNT AND I'M WILLING TO FOREGO A COUPLE OF CONFERENCES.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE $2,500 FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S TRAVEL CONVENTION AND EDUCATION LINE ITEM, AS WELL AS $2000 FROM SUPERVISORY TRAINING LINE ITEM AND MOVE THAT $4,500 TO THE BOARD PLANNING SESSION LINE ITEM.

THAT WOULD GIVE A TOTAL OF $9,500 FOR THAT LINE ITEM SO WE CAN HAVE A PROPER RETREAT WHERE YOU CAN DEVELOP YOUR VISION AND PRIORITIES FOR A 2 OR 3 YEAR TIME PERIOD.

SO WE ALL HAVE A SHEET OF MUSIC TO WORK OFF TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITIZENS GOING FORWARD.

SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU AMEND THE CURRENT BUDGET TO INCLUDE WHAT I JUST STATED.

MR. GILLETTE, WOULD YOU PLEASE RESTATE YOUR MOTION SO THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON THAT, SIR? IS THAT GOING TO BE A SECOND? IS THAT GOING TO BE A SECOND MOTION? IT CAN BE SEPARATE IF YOU WANT TO IF YOU WANT TO DO TWO SEPARATE ONES.

LET'S DO TWO SEPARATE ONES.

IT WILL BE LATER. YEAH, MINE.

MY MOTION WAS TO MOVE 100,000 FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY.

ATTENDANCE AND HEALTH WITHIN THE SCHOOL'S PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE CATEGORY OF INSTRUCTION WITH OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INTENT OF THESE FUNDS GOING TO TEACHERS. WHAT ABOUT THE NURSES? THAT'S BECAUSE.

BECAUSE THE CATEGORIES ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY JUST ADMINISTRATION.

YES. ADMINISTRATION, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT INCLUDES [INAUDIBLE] THE NURSES.

I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT TEACHERS, AND THIS IS AY WAY TO DO THAT.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.

HAS THE MOTION BEEN SECONDED? I DID. OKAY.

I DID. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? NO. OKAY, THAT MOTION IS PASSED.

NOW, THE SECOND PART IS WHAT MR. THROWER WENT THROUGH.

CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY GO THROUGH THOSE FIGURES ONE MORE TIME? YES, SIR. JUST RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE GOT $5,000.

THERE'S $5,000 IN THAT RETREAT PLANNING SESSION LINE ITEM.

I'M ASKING THAT WE YOU ALLOCATE ANOTHER $4,500 TO THAT LINE ITEM AND WE WOULD DEDUCT $2500 FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, WHICH INCLUDES SEVERAL PEOPLE, NOT JUST ME, BUT WOULD INCLUDE TWO OF MY CONFERENCES I GO TO OR PLAN TO GO TO AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS TRAVEL CONVENTION AND EDUCATION LINE ITEM DEDUCT FOR $2,500 FROM THAT LINE ITEM, DEDUCT $2,000 FROM THE SUPERVISORY TRAINING LINE ITEM.

THAT WOULD GIVE US $4,500 TO MOVE INTO THE BOARD PLANNING SESSION LINE ITEM.

THAT WOULD GIVE US A TOTAL OF $9,500 TO PUT THAT TOGETHER, AND IT WOULD NOT INCREASE YOUR BUDGET.

IT WOULD NOT INCREASE YOUR BUDGET. YOU'RE JUST MOVING MONEY FROM ONE LINE TO ANOTHER OR TWO LINES.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

IT'S JUST MOVING MONEY FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER WE'VE ALREADY APPROPRIATED.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE HIS REQUEST.

[01:05:01]

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT. SO [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE BEFORE WE ADOPT THE ANNUAL BUDGET? ANYBODY MIGHT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IN EMERGENCY SERVICES THERE'S $75,000 TO BE SHARED BETWEEN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

[INAUDIBLE] SHARING BETWEEN FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.

I THINK SOUTHAMPTON NEEDS ITS OWN, AND I DON'T WANT TO APPROVE THE BUDGET WITHOUT THAT BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THAT OUT OF THE BUDGET OR? FOR NOW. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE A SHARED SERVICE.

I WANT IT TO. CAN WE PUT A PLACEHOLDER ON THAT? SURE. YOU CAN LEAVE IT IN THE BUDGET WITH A HOLD ON HOW TO PROCEED, AND THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT LATER, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF THE BUDGET, BUT YOU CAN.

YOU CAN LEAVE IT IN WITH THE SPECIFICATION THAT HOW WE PROCEED WILL BE DETERMINED.

WELL, COULD WE TAKE IT OUT AND PUT IT IN THE RESERVES TILL WE NEED IT? IF YOUR INTENT IS TO EVENTUALLY HAVE ONE WITHIN THIS FISCAL YEAR, THEN THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO LEAVE IT IN.

YEAH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

THIS IS A WIN-WIN IN EVERY SCENARIO FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO HAVE A SHARED SERVICE WHICH SAVES MONEY FOR BOTH SIDES.

IT GIVES THE COUNTY COVERED FUNCTION OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY APPROVE A STANDALONE POSITION FOR THE COUNTY, YOU'RE GOING TO END UP SPENDING TWICE AS MUCH AS WHAT YOU'VE GOT IN THE BUDGET NOW, $150,000 WHEN YOU CAN GET IT FOR HALF THE COST WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, THAT ALREADY PROVIDES EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITHIN SPECIFIED AREAS.

SO BUT AGAIN, THAT'S YOUR CALL.

SUPPOSE YOU HAVE A HURRICANE.

WILL THAT PERSON BE IN FRANKLIN OR CORTLAND? THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE ANOTHER PERSON THAT'S GOING TO HELP THAT WILL, AND THEY AMANDA AND BERNIE CAME TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND WE HAD ABOUT AN HOUR LONG DISCUSSION ON THIS OF ALL THE PROS AND THE SAVINGS ADVANTAGES THAT THE CITY OF FRANKLIN COULD PROVIDE TO THE COUNTY IF WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

SO I WOULD ASK AND RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ON THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

RIGHT, AND BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT CHANGING THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO JUST REVIEW WHAT LED US TO THAT POINT AND NOT JUST DISBAND THAT WITHOUT SAYING WHY WE WE HAVE THAT.

I WOULD SUGGEST, IF ANYTHING, YOU KEEP THAT FUNDING IN THE BUDGET IF WE NEED TO, AND IF YOU'RE REQUESTING THE CITY OF FRANKLIN PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR BOARD MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AMONGST ALL OF YOU ALL, WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THINGS ANYWAY, MAYBE WE CAN WE CAN ARRANGE THAT, BUT I WOULDN'T TAKE THE 75,000 OUT OF THE BUDGET COMPLETELY.

SUPERVISOR EDWARDS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AGAIN? WELL, I DON'T WANT US TO PIGGYBACK WITH FRANKLIN.

I THINK THAT'S A HUGE MISTAKE.

YES, IT WOULD COST US HALF THE MONEY.

WE GET HALF THE SERVICE.

WE DON'T NEED HALF THE SERVICE.

WE GOT A BIGGER FIRE AND RESCUE THAN ANYBODY'S GOT, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE AROUND.

FRANKLIN DOESN'T COME CLOSE, AND THEY'RE ALL [INAUDIBLE], AND WHEN I TALKED TO THEM, THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF US HAVING OUR OWN EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR, AND I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 30 SOME YEARS.

IT'S A BIG, BIG PROBLEM FOR US TO BE LEANING ON SOMEBODY ELSE.

YOU SIT BACK THERE AND IF YOU DON'T THINK I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, ASK THE SHERIFF.

PULL HIM ASIDE AND ASK HIM WHAT HE'S IN FAVOR OF, AND SEE WHAT HE TELLS YOU, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S KIND OF LIKE, WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO? DO WE WANT TO BE BEHIND SUSSEX SURREY, FRANKLIN HAS ALREADY GOT ONE.

SUSSEX AND SURREY'S ALREADY GOT ONE.

ISLE OF WIGHT. WE'RE THE ONLY ONE DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

[01:10:05]

THE IDEA FOR THAT CAME FROM HIM, NOT FROM US, AS CARL WAS WONDERING WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, BUT THAT'S WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND I AGREE WITH HIM.

WE DO NEED EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR.

THERE'S NO QUESTION, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE IT WITH FRANKLIN.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE [INAUDIBLE] SOMETHING NEED TO BE EXPLORED, BUT WE JUST CAN'T DO IT TONIGHT, BUT I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO IT AND THEN MAKE A DECISION ON IT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE THAT IN THE BUDGET FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT WE NEED TO SPECIFY THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WITH FRANKLIN IN THE BUDGET. I WOULD SUGGEST LET ME TALK WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN AGAIN AND ASK THEM TO ATTEND A MEETING AND THEY CAN ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, AND AT THAT TIME, YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET, AT LEAST FOR REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO, THEY CAN ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS OR TRY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, BUT NOT TAKE IT OUT OF THE BUDGET, AND IF YOU WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A STANDALONE POSITION, WHICH I AGREE.

SUSSEX COUNTY, SURREY, ALL THESE OTHER COUNTIES, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE A BIGGER CITY NEXT TO THEM, THEY DO HAVE A STAND ALONE POSITION. SO I UNDERSTAND MR. EVERETT'S POINT ABOUT HAVING A STAND ALONE POSITION.

I JUST SAT ON AN INTERVIEW PANEL FOR THE SUSSEX COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSON AND FOR SALARY YOU'RE TALKING YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST SAY CLOSE TO $100,000 FOR THAT PERSON PLUS FRINGES PLUS VEHICLE PLUS A PLACE TO PUT THEM, PLUS ALL THE STUFF THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION, AND I WOULD SUGGEST KEEPING THAT $75,000 IN THE BUDGET.

WE CAN ASK THE CITY OF FRANKLIN IF THEY'RE WILLING TO COME ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS , AND AT A LATER TIME, YOU CAN FULLY DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO HAVE A STAND ALONE POSITION OR SHARED SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN.

I DON'T I DON'T SEE ANY HARM IN THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IN A PERFECT WORLD, I CAN SEE IT WORKING, BUT HOW DO WE SPLIT A PERSON IF WE FIND OUT IT DOESN'T WORK? WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT THREE YEARS AGO, ALMOST FOUR YEARS.

WE HAVE OUR EXPERIENCE OF THAT SINCE BEING ON THE BOARD OF KNOWING HOW WELL IT DIDN'T WORK, OF KNOWING HOW WELL THAT DIDN'T PAN OUT AND HOW WELL IT HAS WORKED SINCE WE'VE WELCOMED THOSE AND IT WASN'T BACK TO THE [INAUDIBLE] IS SOLELY OURS AND [INAUDIBLE] THAT IS.

I AGREE WITH WITH DAVID FROM THAT STANDPOINT, BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE HERE AND OUR FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THAT AND EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, JUST SEEING HOW THAT ALL WORKS, I THINK THAT'S IDEAL.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT AND CERTAINLY MOST CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THE NEED.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED THAT POSITION, DESPERATELY NEED IT.

IF WE LEAVE IT IN THE BUDGET, CAN WE AS A PLACEHOLDER, IT'S NOT A COMMITMENT TO NECESSARILY SPEND THE MONEY.

IT'S NOT A NECESSARILY A COMMITMENT TO SPEND THE MONEY IN FRANKLIN.

IS THAT A MOTION? I'M JUST MERELY ASKING A QUESTION.

OKAY. AT THIS JUNCTURE, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO, IS THAT WE NEED THE POSITION.

I'D LIKE FOR US TO KEEP THE POSITION ON THE TABLE.

TO SPEND AT LEAST THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON.

I MEAN, WE CAN EXPLORE IT FURTHER, LEAVE IT IN THE BUDGET AND PLACE A HOLD ON IT UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

I MEAN, WE GOT TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, WE'RE AT A STANDSTILL HERE.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN THIS.

YEAH. SO, YEAH, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING.

SOME OF THE SHARED STUFF AND I'VE HEARD IT IN OTHER LOCALITIES, IT SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER , AND SOME OF THESE POSITIONS DON'T LEND THEMSELVES TO WORKING THEMSELVES OUT, GIVEN THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED, GIVEN THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY ALREADY PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. I THOUGHT IF ANY OF THE POSITIONS COULD WORK, THIS WOULD BE THE POSITION, BUT I DO APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT Y'ALL HAVE WITH SHARED POSITIONS AND PAST EXPERIENCES.

[01:15:09]

ALL RIGHT, WE CAN DO THAT.

DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? YOU HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DO THAT.

I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE LEAVE THE 75,000 THAT'S BEEN SET ASIDE FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR.

WHAT'S THE PROPER LANGUAGE IN THAT? DO YOU KNOW? JUST UNTIL THE BOARD TALKS FURTHER AND DETERMINES WHAT COURSE OF ACTION IT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE.

APPROPRIATE THE REST OF THE BUDGET AS WE HAVE AGREED UPON.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. WELL, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN ALL THOSE OUT OF THE WAY, SO WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE FY 24 ANNUAL BUDGET AS BEEN ADVERTISED AND BEEN IN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO MOVED.

IS THERE A SECOND? YEAH, I'LL SECOND IT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE DID TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

WE DID. I'M NOT SURE WE DID THE SORT OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK--ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE DOUBLE SURE.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

B ADOPTION OF THE 24 YEAR ANNUAL TAX RATES.

MR. [INAUDIBLE], WOULD YOU JUST RUN THROUGH THAT REAL QUICK? YES.

YOU DO HAVE A TAX ORDINANCE THERE.

IT SAYS BE ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, FOR THE YEAR 2023, WHICH IS FY24.

THERE IS HEREBY LEVIED TAX RATE OF $0.89 PER 100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL REAL ESTATE IN THE COUNTY, INCLUDING MANUFACTURED HOMES TAX OF $4.70 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL TAXABLE TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE COUNTY EXCEPT HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND PERSONAL EFFECTS.

A TAX OF $1.90 PER 100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ON ALL FARM MACHINERY AND FARM IMPLEMENTS, SAVE AND ACCEPT MACHINERY DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH FOUR HEREIN BELOW LOCATED IN THE COUNTY, A TAX RATE OF $1.25 PER 100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL FARM MACHINERY DESIGNATED SOLELY FOR PLANTING, PRODUCTION OR HARVESTING OF A SINGLE PRODUCT COMMODITY LOCATED IN THE COUNTY.

TAX OF $0.89 PER 100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL REAL ESTATE AND $4.70 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL TAXABLE TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS. BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT FIXED BY THE STATE CORPORATE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION OF VIRGINIA, THE TAX OF $2.40 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE ON ALL MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX OF $0.50 PER $100 VALUATION ON MERCHANTS CAPITAL.

A TAX OF $1.95 PER 100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL HEAVY CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LAND MOVERS, BULLDOZERS, FRONT END LOADERS, GRADERS, PACKERS, POWER SHOVELS, CRANES, PILE DRIVERS, FOREST HARVESTING, HARVESTING EQUIPMENT AND DITCH, AND OTHER TYPES OF DIGGERS AND A TAX OF $2.20 PER $100 ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, TRAILERS, SEMI TRAILERS WITH A GROSS VEHICLE, WEIGHT OF 10,000 POUNDS OR MORE USED TO TRANSPORT PROPERTY FOR HIRE BY A MOTOR CARRIER ENGAGED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE, AND ALL LEVIES SHALL BE DUE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 5TH, 2023.

THANK YOU, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS? MOTION TO ADOPT THE TAX RATES AS WE JUST WENT THROUGH.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? NO. OKAY.

C IS THE ADOPTION OF THE YEAR 24 WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE FEES.

DO YOU MIND JUST RUNNING THROUGH THOSE REAL QUICK? YES, SIR.

IN TERMS OF WATER FEES, THE BASE RATE WILL BE $31 PER MONTH FOR THE FIRST 4000 GALLONS.

OVER 4000 GALLONS, $9 PER 1000 GALLONS OR ANY FRACTION THEREOF.

MULTIFAMILY UNITS SHALL BE ASSESSED.

THE BASE RATE TIMES THE NUMBER OF CONNECTED RESIDENTIAL UNITS, PLUS $9 FOR EACH 1000 GALLONS OR FRACTION THEREOF, ABOVE THE NUMBER OF CONNECTED RESIDENTIAL UNITS TIMES

[01:20:06]

$11 PER 1000 GALLONS OR ANY FRACTION THEREOF.

MULTIFAMILY UNITS SHALL BE ASSESSED.

THE BASE RATE TIMES THE NUMBER OF CONNECTED RESIDENTIAL UNITS, PLUS $11 FOR EACH 1000 GALLONS OR FRACTION THEREOF, ABOVE THE NUMBER OF CONNECTED RESIDENTIAL UNITS TIMES 4000, AND AGAIN, THE SOLID WASTE FEE STAYS THE SAME AT $200 ANNUALLY FOR EACH OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLD.

THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION.

MOTION TO ADOPT THOSE FEES.

SO MOVED.

SECOND. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT.

THE LAST ONE D IS AN ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RE-INSPECTION FEES.

EVIDENTLY, WHEN THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL INSPECTION TRIP NECESSARY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE OWNER OR CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR TO PROPERLY CORRECT FAULTY WORK, AND THAT FEE HAD BEEN PROPOSED TO BE INCREASED FROM $50 TO $80.

ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON THAT? MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN THE BUDGET OUT OF THE WAY.

JUST LIKE TO GIVE THANKS TO OUR STAFF AT THE COUNTY.

LYNETTE LOWE, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF FINANCIAL ADVISOR, AND CHRISTIE NEWSOM AND TINA AND ALL THE OTHER FOLKS IN OUR OFFICE.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, AND THANK THE BOARD FOR--THANK YOU ALL.

I TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN ON I THINK THIS IS MY 12TH BUDGET AND THIS IS THE MOST STRENUOUS AND MOST WORK THAT I CAN REMEMBER EVER DOING.

WE PICKED THIS THING APART PIECE BY PIECE.

OKAY, MOVING ON TO NUMBER SEVEN.

THE HUNTER DALE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING.

[7. Hunterdale volunteer Fire Department - Request for Capital Projects Funding]

IF YOU REMEMBER LAST MONTH, YOU HAD A SIMILAR REQUEST FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

YEAH. THIS COMES OUT OF MONEY THAT'S ALREADY APPROPRIATED FOR THEIR USE.

I MOVE. WE APPROVE THE REQUEST.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER EIGHT, ENTERPRISE ZONE APPLICATION PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT REQUEST TO APPROVE.

[8. Enterprise Zone Application and Performance Agreement - Request to Approve]

WELCOME. VERY SMALL.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS.

[INAUDIBLE].

SO IT'S A VERY SMALL PROJECT.

[INAUDIBLE] COLD STORAGE AND GRAIN [INAUDIBLE] HIGHWAY [INAUDIBLE] FEWER THAN FIVE EMPLOYEES [INAUDIBLE] QUALIFY FOR THE MACHINE TOOLS TAX PART OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE. IT'S A $1,365,000 PROJECT AND THEY WOULD GET [INAUDIBLE] REBATE FOR FIVE YEARS. THAT'S APPROVED.

THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY [INAUDIBLE] THE PROJECT AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT BEING DONE.

[INAUDIBLE].

PART OF WHAT SUPPORTING THE HAMPTON FARMS [INAUDIBLE] DOWN THE STREET AND THEN THEY'VE HAD THIS OTHER FUNCTION THAT HELP SELL GRAIN AND OTHER COMMODITIES HERE IN THE AREA.

COULD YOU JUST GIVE US A BRIEF THIRTY SECOND RUNDOWN OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE AND HOW.

THE ENTERPRISE ZONE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COVERS AN AREA OF UP TO FOUR SQUARE MILES AS DESIGNATED BY THE COUNTY.

SO IN THAT AREA WHERE INVESTMENT TAKES PLACE, BUSINESSES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN INCENTIVES THAT INCLUDE THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS PARK, THE SOUTHAMPTON BUSINESS PARK AND THE LARGE AREA ALONG GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY [INAUDIBLE].

SO INCENTIVES ARE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT ARE CREATED.

A LOT OF THE INCENTIVES DON'T KICK IN UNLESS THERE'S FIVE OR MORE EMPLOYEES, WHICH JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN, BUT HAS OTHER PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS

[01:25:08]

SO ANY KIND OF BUSINESS, THERE'S ALSO A STATE LEVEL ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM FOR MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS AND BIGGER OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR LIKE RETAIL AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INCENTIVES AT THAT LEVEL AS WELL, BUT THIS IS A LOCAL PROJECT.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? WHAT ARE THEY EXPECTING FROM THE COUNTY? JUST THE MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REBATE [INAUDIBLE].

FOR HOW LONG? FIVE YEARS.

IS IT FIVE YEARS? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.

WE ARE REQUESTED TO APPROVE THAT, I BELIEVE WE NEED-- MOTION WE APPROVE IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BRING JOBS AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF.

.. IT'S GREAT FOR THE FARMERS IF WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, AND IT WILL BE A CLOSER PLACE WHERE THEY WON'T HAVE TO TRUCK THE GRAIN AS FAR, YOU KNOW, TO SELL IT.

SO YEAH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING.

IT'S GOING TO CREATE SOME JOBS AND ADD ANOTHER ADDITION TO OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE HERE.

VERY GOOD.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT? SECOND. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OKAY.

IT'S APPROVED.

[9. Project Updates]

COURTHOUSE RENOVATION.

YES. HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS DID INCLUDE THE COPY OF THE LATEST PAY APPLICATION.

WE PROCESSED THE CONTRACTORS' FIRST 18 PAY APPLICATIONS AND IT PAID THEM $12,654,374.30 UP TO THIS DATE.

THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, INCLUDING CHANGE ORDERS, NOW STANDS AT $22,106,557.14, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE AGAIN, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH BEEN THE SAME DATES PROVIDED THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION DATE IS SLATED TO OCCUR AT THIS TIME ON DECEMBER 22ND OF THIS YEAR, 23 AND FINAL COMPLETION IN JANUARY OF 24.

THE INSURRECTION TRAIL PROJECT.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO ADD ON THAT UNLESS SUPERVISOR UPDIKE DOES OR ANYBODY ELSE.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COLLEGE GROUPS COME DOWN TO TOUR FROM NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON, DC.

IT'S GREAT. ALL RIGHT.

WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BE ON CHANNEL THREE WTKR.

BARBARA CIARA CAME DOWN AND FILMED.

WHEN IS THAT? I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE ON TV.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN FILMED.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD. GREAT NEWS.

HOW ABOUT THE NEWSOM'S HOUSING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT? GOOD NEWS ON THAT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE DID APPLY FOR A BROWNFIELDS RESTORATION AND ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT FUND APPLICATION.

SOME OF THE COSTS WITH THE SCHOOL DEMOLITION WERE OVER BUDGET, AND FRIDAY I FORWARDED YOU ALL AN EMAIL.

WE DID JUST GET WORD THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED $50,000 IN GRANT FUNDS TO COMPLETE, HOPEFULLY COMPLETE THAT DEMOLITION.

SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

IT'S GOOD TO GET SOME GOOD NEWS ONCE IN A WHILE.

CERTAINLY IS. SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING'S BAD SOMETIMES, BUT GOOD NEWS.

GOOD NEWS ON THAT FRONT.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE BROADBAND PROJECT.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO SHARE ON THAT.

ERIC COLLINS FROM CHARTER SPECTRUM WAS AT YOUR APRIL BOARD MEETING AND THEY'RE STILL PROGRESSING ON THAT PROJECT, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE.

THEY'RE STARTING THE FIRST 237 [INAUDIBLE].

THE EDGEHILL I&I PROJECT, AS YOU KNOW, JAMIE WEIST WITH KIMLEY-HORN, HE'S MANAGING THIS PROJECT WITH THE COUNTY FOR THE COUNTY, AND WE'RE UTILIZING OUR ARPA FUNDS FOR THAT PROJECT TO RESOLVE THE INFILTRATION AND INFLOW PROBLEMS IN THE EDGEHILL NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE JUST DID HAVE A ON-SITE MEETING ON FRIDAY, MAY 18TH AT 9 A.M, IN EDGEHILL NEIGHBORHOOD DID A WALK AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BASED ON THAT SITE VISIT. WE'RE REVISITING OR REVISING AND FINALIZING THE BID PACKAGE.

THEN WE WILL GET A BID FROM TRI-STATE AND AWARD THAT CONTRACT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE THE TIMELINE THERE, WE HOPE TO START CONSTRUCTION LATER THIS

[01:30:04]

THE LAST ONE WAS THE RADIO PROJECT AND WE JUST HAD A WE WENT THROUGH THAT IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION 20 OR 30 MINUTES AGO ON THAT, SO.

ALL RIGHT.

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE.

ANYBODY SEE ANYTHING THERE INTERESTING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

LATE ARRIVING MATTERS.

NOT REALLY, IT'S 7:30.

IF NOTHING THERE, MR.

[13. Closed Session]

YES, SIR.

THERE IS A NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE.

A MOTION IS REQUIRED INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE.

ONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH VIRGINIA STATE CODE.

SECTION 2.2-3711(A) LEGAL MATTER REQUIRING THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF REGARDING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE PROJECT DELAYS AND TWO IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711(A)(5) FIVE DISCUSSION WITH STAFF FROM FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.

CONCERNING CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS, 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.

ALL RIGHT. WE NEED A MOTION THEN TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF GOING IN CLOSED SESSION, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MEET IN THE BACK. WE'LL BE IN CLOSED SESSION.

ALL RIGHT, I MOVE THAT WE GO BACK INTO OUR OPEN SESSION.

SECOND. SECOND ON THAT.

YEAH. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE.

WILLIAM HART READ THE RESOLUTION.

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 IT RESOLVED THAT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST INTEREST, 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 THIS CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES, AND TWO 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, AND THEREFORE I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION.

THE SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE RESOLUTION SAY AYE.

AYE. SO MOVED.

NO ACTION TO BE VOTED ON.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S CORRECT. I MOVE WE ADJOURN.

WE GOT THE BUDGET OUT.

WE CAN PAY ATTENTION TO THE OTHER THINGS.

I MUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE DID THE BEST WITH THAT BUDGET WE COULD DO.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.