Oct 24, 2023 Board of Supervisors

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

[00:00:02]

THIS IS OCTOBER 24TH, 2023, MEETING OF YOUR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WE'RE WAITING FOR ONE MORE MEMBER SO WE CAN HAVE A QUORUM.

IN HIS ABSENCE, WE'RE GOING TO ASSIGN HIM TO SEVERAL NEW COMMITTEES.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.

I THINK THAT'S ONE MORE.

THAT SHOULD BE WILLIAM HART.

WELL, YEAH. WE NEED A QUORUM IN ORDER TO GET HIM IN.

OKAY. LYNETTE.

YES, SIR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I HEAR YOU FINE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH. VOTE ON YOU IN A MINUTE.

GO AHEAD WITH THE FLAG AND THE INVOCATION.

WELL, YES, WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ON THE LIST IS THE INVOCATION.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER ALREADY.

THANK YOU SIR. JOIN ME IN PRAYER, IF YOU WOULD.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU GIVE TO US EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY THAT WE CALL HOME.

WE JUST THANK YOU FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE THAT WE HAVE, THAT IT WE NOT ONLY CAN HELP TO FEED THE PEOPLE HERE, BUT WE FEED THE PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND EVEN AROUND THE WORLD TO PLACES WHERE FOOD IS NOT AS AVAILABLE AS IT IS HERE.

AND WE JUST THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE THINGS YOU DO.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WHO VOLUNTEER IN THIS COUNTY AND IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

WE THANK YOU FOR POLICE AND EMTS AND FIREMEN.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR SUPERVISORS, AND WE JUST ARE THANKFUL THAT MR. GILLETTE IS DOING BETTER AND HOPE TO SEE HIM AT THE NEXT MEETING.

AND, LORD, WE JUST WE THANK YOU FOR THE FARMERS THAT WE HAD MENTIONED, OUR FOOD THAT WE GROW.

THE FARMERS ARE BUSY IN THE FIELD NOW AND JUST YESTERDAY OR A COUPLE OF THEM WERE INJURED AND SPENDING THE NIGHT IN SENTARA AND NORFOLK, MR. MICHAEL DRAKE AND DAVIS BROWN.

AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THEM AND TO BE WITH THE DOCTORS AND NURSES THAT THEY TREAT THEM AND AND GET THEM BACK TO US.

AND LORD, WE JUST AS WE LOOK AROUND THE WORLD AND WE SEE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, WE HEAR THE THE WARS AND THE RUMORS OF WAR THAT JESUS TALKED ABOUT.

AND FIRST IT WAS UKRAINE.

AND NOW WE'VE SEEN ISRAEL BEING ATTACKED, AND WE'VE JUST SEEN JUST HOW UGLY MAN CAN BE TO MAN AND HOW CRUEL HE CAN BE.

AND, LORD, WE JUST ASK YOU TO BE WITH THE PEOPLE BOTH OF UKRAINE AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AS THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES AND WHICH THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO. AND WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEM.

WE KNOW THAT YOU TOLD ABRAHAM THAT WHOEVER BLESSED HIM AND HIS PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD BLESS, AND WHOEVER CURSED HIM, THAT YOU WOULD CURSE THEM.

SO WE JUST PRAY THAT OUR COUNTRY WILL BE ON THE SIDE, ON YOUR SIDE, AND BE WITH YOUR PEOPLE AS THEY PROTECT THE LAND THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM.

AND LORD, NOW WE JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH US AT THIS MEETING, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THIS COUNTY, THESE THINGS, WE ASK IN JESUS NAME, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

GOOD EVENING. THANK.

I THINK.

ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

OKAY, NOW WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

AND NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A MOTION TO ALLOW SUPERVISOR GILLETTE TO JOIN US IN THE MEETING ELECTRONICALLY.

SO MOVED.

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

AYE, AYE. GOOD EVENING, WILLIAM HART.

YOU'RE IN THE MEETING.

GOOD EVENING. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE CITIZENS FOR THE PRAYERS THAT WERE OFFERED UP ON MY BEHALF AND THE LAST MONTH, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATED.

AND THE GOOD LORD BROUGHT ME THROUGH.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.

[00:05:03]

NEXT IS A CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD.

THIS WAS STARTED IN NOVEMBER 25TH, 2013.

WE CONSIDER THIS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE MEETING WHERE YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND SPEAK ABOUT ANY COUNTY BUSINESS.

I SAW SOMETHING INTERESTING FOR OUR OPEN UP A GALLUP POLL THIS PAST WEEKEND.

72% OF THE PEOPLE IN POLL HAD CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

57% HAD CONFIDENCE IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND 34% HAD CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THAT CONFIDENCE LEVEL UP.

WE WILL THEREFORE OPEN THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

[1. Citizens Comment Period]

I MISSED A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, GOT A FEW THINGS I WANTED TO ADDRESS BACK IN JULY MEETING.

THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN STOOD UP AND HE ASKED WHO WAS SUPERVISING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BROADBAND SYSTEM.

IT SEEMS THAT HE HAD NOTICED THAT DITCHES WERE BEING FILLED AND CULVERTS.

AND AS THEY WERE DIGGING, AND HE WAS, I GUESS WAS TRYING TO AVOID SOME SOME FUTURE PROBLEMS, AND I WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT NOBODY TURNED TO MR. THROWER OR TOLD HIM TO NOTIFY THE VDOT AND GET WITH THE BROADBAND PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LEFT WITH SOME ISSUES THAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH AFTER THEY'RE GONE. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WORK HARD TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS STRAIGHT AROUND HERE.

AND AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MORE THAN THEY CAN DO.

SO ANY, ANY HELP WE GET FROM SOMEBODY ELSE IS A GOOD THING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BROADBAND.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A ROOM OR NOT, BUT SOMEBODY WAS TELLING ME IT'S GOING TO COST US $140 A MONTH ONCE WE GET IT IN.

AND I HOPE IT'S A RUMOR.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE? OR IS IT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO DO US MUCH GOOD IF EVERYBODY CAN'T AFFORD IT? BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR STUDENTS IN THE RURAL AREAS THAT DON'T GET VERY GOOD RECEPTION RIGHT NOW, AND IF IT COSTS THEM MORE THAN THEY CAN AFFORD, THEN WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THEIRS? UH, GRASS CUTTING.

WE WERE SCHEDULED TO BE THE GRASS TO BE CUT THREE TIMES.

IT'S BEEN CUT TWICE, AND NOW IT'S TOO LATE TO CUT IT THE THIRD TIME.

IN FACT, THE SECOND TIME WAS CUT LATE ENOUGH THAT IT'S IT HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GROW AND PROBABLY WON'T GROW MUCH.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE SOME MONEY ALLOTTED.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT COMES FROM OUR BUDGET OR VDOT'S BUDGET, BUT IT DIDN'T GET SPENT AND IT EITHER NEEDS TO GO FOR A FOURTH CUT IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY CAN DO THAT THEY SHOWED US WITH THAT MONEY, PARTICULARLY IF IT'S COMING OUT OF OUR BUDGET.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, BUT WE NEED TO SEE SOMETHING FOR THAT MONEY.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO THIS POINT.

THE THREE CUTTINGS, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM, IT SHOULD BE SCHEDULED BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND VDOT IN THE WINTER AND THE CUTTER NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED.

WE NEED YOU THIS WEEK, WE NEED YOU THIS WEEK AND WE NEED YOU THIS WEEK.

SO WE DON'T GET IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT WILL PLACES IN THE COUNTY WHERE YOU GET TO THE CROSSROADS AND YOU CAN'T SEE LEFT, OR MAYBE RIGHT, AND IT MAKES A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

PLUS IT MAKES THINGS LOOK BAD.

IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HEAR THAT THE COURTHOUSE ON THE INSIDE WILL BE FINISHED AND BY THE END OF JANUARY ON THE OUTSIDE.

MY QUESTION IS, WHO'S GOING TO CHECK OFF THE WORK TO SAY WE ACCEPT THIS PROJECT, THIS MEETS OUR APPROVAL.

EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE AND THE MATERIALS ARE RIGHT.

I WANT TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO SIGN OFF ON THAT? AND WHO'S GOING TO SIGN OFF THAT THE AREAS OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, THE LAY DOWN YARDS AND THE PARKING LOTS ALL CLEANED UP LIKE IT SHOULD BE, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS FROM NOW SOMEBODY SAYS, UH OH, THE ROOF'S LEAKING OR THIS DOESN'T WORK OR THAT DOESN'T WORK, AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A HALF A MILLION OR ANOTHER MILLION ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT.

SO LET'S DON'T GET INTO THAT.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO SIGN OFF ON THIS THING.

ARE YOU GOING TO SIGN OFF ON THE DR.

EDWARDS? SOMEBODY'S GOING TO SIGN OFF AND SAY WE APPROVED BEFORE WE PAY THE LAST PAYMENT,

[00:10:01]

AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE ARE.

AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THE COMMUNIST CHINESE DO ANYTHING THEY DON'T WANT TO DO? HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THEM DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO? AND WE CAN'T GET JOHN DOE DOWN THE STREET TO CUT HIS GRASS.

SO THAT'S NOT A GOOD ANSWER TO ME.

AND I HOPE THAT'S BEEN PUT ON HOLD.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF ORDINANCES WE CAN PASS.

WHAT'S LEGAL? WHAT'S NOT LEGAL.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE SHOULDN'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS WE WILL NOT REZONE NOR ISSUE CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS TO ANY FOREIGNER OR ANY FOREIGN BUSINESS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FALL BACK ON.

I DON'T, I DON'T SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO TO SLOW IT UP, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM COUNTRYWIDE.

AND IF WE WANT TO TRY TO HELP PUT A STOP TO IT, WE NEED I KNOW WE CAN'T PASS LAWS, BUT MAYBE OUR ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, TELLS THEM UP FRONT, WE'RE GOING TO BE UNFRIENDLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOT PLENTY OF TIME.

ALL RIGHT, LAST CALL.

ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 MEETING.

[2. Approval of Minutes]

SO MOVE. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

NUMBER THREE IS VDOT MATTERS.

[3. VDOT Matters]

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE SAME THING, IS IT NOT? YEAH. OKAY.

ON STATESVILLE ROAD, BEHIND MY HOUSE THERE'S A BRIDGE, AND THERE'S A HUGE DEEP HOLE THAT COMES RIGHT OUT TO THE HIGHWAY.

AND IF ANYBODY GETS A WHEEL OFF THE ROAD, THEY IN THAT HOLE.

ANYBODY ELSE? A COUPLE OF THINGS I GOT, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT OUR BUSINESS CORRIDOR DOWN THERE AND CUTTING THE GRASS AND WEEDS.

A LOT OF TIMES IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD.

I'D LIKE TO ASK VDOT I MEAN, YOU CAN CUT, WHAT, THREE TIMES A YEAR? IF THEY COULD MAKE SOME SPECIAL ALTERATIONS THERE AND CUT A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN.

I THINK WE'VE HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT, MR. THROWER. ASK THEM IF THEY COME TO THE MEETING NEXT MONTH AND GIVE US A RUNDOWN ON THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT THERE AT STORY STATION.

A NUMBER OF US ON THE BOARD HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR MISSES.

BAD NEAR-MISSES DOWN THERE, AND I'VE SEEN THREE, AND I PROBABLY SPENT IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, PROBABLY 20 MINUTES AT THAT INTERSECTION. SO WHAT ELSE GOES ALONG THE OTHER UMPTEEN MINUTES.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE VDOT OR SOME, WHOEVER'S IN CONTROL OF THAT, TO LOOK ABOUT PUTTING A CAMERA THERE TO GET SOME OF THESE 18 WHEELERS THAT GO THROUGH THE RED LIGHTS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED.

WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE SUFFOLK.

I BET HALF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE GOTTEN A TICKET IN SUFFOLK.

SO JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ON THAT, THAT'S ONLY ALLOWED IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES AND SCHOOL ZONES WITH SUFFOLK HAS.

WE DID WE DID TALK TO VDOT, THE TRAFFIC CAMERA ISSUE.

THAT'S A LOCALITY RESPONSIBILITY.

SO I THINK THE COUNTY HAD LOOKED AT THAT BEFORE I GOT HERE PREVIOUSLY AND THEIR COST INVOLVED WITH THAT.

WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.

BRING THAT TO YOU DURING BUDGET.

AND IF YOU IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SPEND EXTRA MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ENTERTAINED.

[00:15:04]

WE LOOKED AT THAT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.

I THINK THAT LET'S ASK THEM TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY HIGHWAY MATTERS? I DON'T THINK THE GRASS BY MY HOUSE HAS BEEN CUT, BUT ONCE THIS YEAR.

IT'S WAIST HIGH IN PLACES.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET THE VDOT PEOPLE HERE AND AND GO OVER SOME OF THOSE MATTERS.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON THEN.

MONTHLY REPORTS.

[4. Monthly Reports]

MR. CHAIRMAN, COULD I BACK UP A SECOND TO ONE OF THE COMMENTS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE, I GUESS, THE PURCHASE OF LAND OVER THAT? YES, SIR. ON THE PARKWAY.

AND IF IT IS, I ASSUME I COUNTY ATTORNEY IS PRESENT TONIGHT, EITHER IN PERSON OR ON ONLINE.

YES, SIR. AND IF THEY COULD CHECK INTO THE GOVERNOR'S, UH I KNOW UP IN CHESTERFIELD, CHINESE COMPANY WAS GOING TO PUT A BATTERY PLANT UP THERE AND WAS MOVED TO MICHIGAN.

AND RECENTLY, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS CANCELED THE WHOLE THING FROM WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER.

NOW, WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP US COMING OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON WHAT CAN BE DEVELOPED WITH FOREIGN COMPANIES SUCH AS FOREIGN COUNTRIES SUCH AS CHINA, AND WHAT CAN'T IS ANY THING THAT WE CAN HANG OUR HAT ON, SINCE THE VETTING PROCESS, ACCORDING TO THE PENTAGON, IS VOLUNTARY.

UM. ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND SEE IF HE CAN GET US SOME INFORMATION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, AND I APOLOGIZE.

NO. YOU'RE OKAY.

MONTHLY REPORTS.

MR. THROWER. YES, HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, JUST YOU DO HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET SEVERAL PAGES OF ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON AT THE COUNTY OVER THE PAST MONTH.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

Y'ALL CAN READ IT AT YOUR LEISURE.

BUT JUST A FEW QUICK UPDATES ON THE COURTHOUSE.

THE LATEST SCHEDULE PROVIDED BY HEARTLAND CONSTRUCTION.

YOU CAN SEE THERE A SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION IS SLATED TO OCCUR ON FEBRUARY 9TH OF NEXT YEAR.

24 FINAL COMPLETION IN MARCH.

MARCH 6TH OF 24 TOTAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, INCLUDING CHANGE ORDERS, NOW STANDS AT $23,592,133.14.

A COPY OF THE LATEST CERTIFIED PAY APPLICATION IS ATTACHED.

WE PROCESS THE CONTRACTOR'S FIRST 23 PAY APPLICATIONS AND PAY THEM $18,379,360.14 TO DATE, AND I'VE INCLUDED A FEW PICTURES AS OF OCTOBER 18TH OF THE COURTHOUSE.

AND EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE PROGRESS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET UP TO THE MINUTE.

THE NEWSOME CDBG PROJECT WE DID, WE HAVE MONTHLY MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETINGS.

OUR LAST ONE WAS HELD ON OCTOBER 11TH.

WORK ON 22 405 THOMASTON ROAD.

WE'LL BE STARTING SOON AND WORK ON 22 180.

THOMASTON ROAD IS NEARLY COMPLETE, SO WE'RE PLUGGING ALONG AS BEST POSSIBLE ON THAT PROJECT.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO OBTAIN A COUPLE OF THE EASEMENTS FOR THE DRAINAGE WORK, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE WE FINISHED THE DEMOLITION OF THE FORMER SCHOOL BUILDING.

BAXTER BROTHERS WAS THE CONTRACTOR, AND THAT BUILDING IS GONE.

SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS ON THAT FRONT, THE EDGEHILL PROJECT, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

NOW. AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE INTENT OF THE PROJECT IS TO RESOLVE INFILTRATION AND INFLOW PROBLEMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE WORK CONSISTS OF SEWER LINE, POINT REPAIR, SEWER LINES, MANHOLE LININGS, AND SEWER LATERAL REPAIRS.

TRI-STATE UTILITIES IS THE CONTRACTOR.

THEY STARTED THE WORK IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, AND WE EXPECT THEM TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

[00:20:06]

WE STARTED ON THAT IN AUGUST AND AGAIN, THAT'S COMPLETE.

AND YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF THAT PROJECT.

BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE USING THE COUNTY'S ARPA FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS, THE RADIO PROJECT, THE JOINT PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN.

WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AND WILL BE PLUGGING AWAY AT THAT FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS.

WE DO HAVE VENDOR PROPOSALS THAT ARE DUE NOVEMBER 3RD.

ONCE. ONCE WE RECEIVE THOSE, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WILL EVALUATE THE PROPOSALS AND WE ESTIMATE SIGNING A CONTRACT WITH A VENDOR IN MAY OF 24.

AFTER THAT, IMPLEMENTATION WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO MORE YEARS AFTER THAT POINT.

SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO WITH THAT FINANCE DAVENPORT AND COMPANY WAS AT YOUR MEETING LAST MONTH TO TALK ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REVIEW AND DEBT CAPACITY ANALYSIS.

AND AS YOU WERE INFORMED, AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE'LL HAVE FINANCIAL POLICY GUIDELINES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

POLLING PLACES. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE REGISTRAR TO SOLIDIFY AND COME UP WITH CONTRACTS WITH ALL THE POLLING PLACES THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY, SO THAT'S A GOOD STEP IN. ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN EXECUTED TO DATE.

GOOD, GOOD STEP FORWARD ON THAT.

UTILITIES. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF RENEWING OUR TURNER TRACT AND BOYKINS BRANCH FIELD GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWAL PERMITS.

THE EDGEHILL GROUNDWATER PERMIT WAS ISSUED IN JUNE, AND DREAMVILLE PERMIT WAS ISSUED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

AND ON THE PERSONNEL AND HR SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WE DID FILL A UTILITY SYSTEM OPERATOR TRAINEE POSITION.

JESSE JENNINGS STARTED WITH THE COUNTY ON OCTOBER 16TH, AND LARISSA TAYLOR CAME BACK WITH THE COUNTY AND STARTED AS UTILITY BILLING ACCOUNTANT.

ON OCTOBER 2ND, WE DID HOLD A SUPERVISORY TRAINING SESSION WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS, SUPERVISORS AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

THE SERVICE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH.

TINA STEPHENS, THE HR DIRECTOR WITH VERSA, WHO IS OUR INSURANCE CARRIER, PROVIDED THE TRAINING SESSION AND FONDA CRAIG, SENIOR SAFETY CONSULTANT WITH VERSA, ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING ON VARIOUS SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT RELATED SERVICES THAT VERSA PROVIDES.

AND GOOD THING WAS THAT THAT WAS ALL FREE AND IT'S INCLUDED AS PART OF OUR VERSA MEMBERSHIP.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL I'VE GOT. BUT ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THE LIST.

IF ANYBODY OUT THERE CALL YOUR CATEGORY TO JUMP UP FINANCIAL REPORTS, TREASURER'S REPORTS.

I MEAN, MISS EDWARDS IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.

SHE SENT THAT REPORT IN.

RIGHT? YOU HAVE THAT GOT THAT ON YOUR EMAIL IN YOUR AGENDA IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANIMAL CONTROL.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

AND SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES.

NO QUESTIONS CONCERNING THOSE.

WE'LL MOVE ON. NEXT ONE IS FINANCIAL MATTERS.

[5. Financial Matters]

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION WHETHER THE WE NEEDED TO APPROVE OR VOTE ON THAT OR NOT.

ACTUALLY, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO VOTE, NOW IT SAYS TO NEED.

I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH NEED.

I THINK THERE IS A NEED THERE.

SO THE EXPENSE HAS ALREADY BEEN INCURRED AND MUST BE PAID REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE GOVERNING BODY APPROVES THE BILLS OR NOT.

MY TAKE IS THAT IF THE GOVERNING BODY VOTES ON IT, IMPROVES ON IT.

THAT LETS OUR TAXPAYERS KNOW THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT.

SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT THAT I'M GOING TO THROW IT OUT AND ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS WHAT THEIR COMMENTS ON THAT ARE, AND THEN WE'LL GO WITH WHATEVER THE MAJORITY THOUGHT IS.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? I LIKE BEING ABLE TO SEE WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS GO.

MR. CORNWELL. SO IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR US TO VOTE PUBLICLY OR NOT? I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEING PAID AND WHAT ISN'T BEING PAID.

AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY I GUESS I'M IMPARTIAL.

[00:25:04]

SO WE'RE GETTING INTO SEMANTICS.

I'VE NEVER WORKED FOR A LOCALITY WHERE THE GOVERNING BODY APPROVES.

BILL, IF YOU ALL WANT TO APPROVE THE BILLS, THAT'S FINE.

I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THERE IS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO APPROVE THE BILLS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAID OR HAVE BEEN PAID REGARDLESS.

THEY'VE BEEN PAID ALREADY. SO TECHNICALLY YOU'RE NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING.

SO YOU'LL BE PROVIDED THE BILLS IF YOU WANT TO APPROVE THE BILLS JUST BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE, THAT'S FINE.

BUT MOST LOCALITIES, THE GOVERNING BODY, I CAN'T SAY EVERY LOCALITY, BUT ONCE I WORK FOR THE GOVERNING BODY, DOESN'T APPROVE.

THEY REVIEW THE BILLS.

THEY DON'T APPROVE THE BILLS.

WE'RE DIFFERENT FROM A LOT OF LOCALITIES.

THIS IS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, THE WAY I SEE IT, I WOULD I THINK WE'VE DONE THIS FOR YEARS.

AND I THINK IT SIGNIFIES TO THE CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE LIST.

AND WE HAVE.

WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

MR. EVERETT. I AGREE.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

SUPERVISOR GILLETTE.

UH, THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS THIS MIGHT BE DIRECTED TO MS..

LOW. UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE A HELP IF WE WERE UPDATED ON THE PERCENT OF BUDGETED MONEY SPENT TO PAY THE BILLS.

THAT MIGHT HELP US KEEP ON TRACK OF HOW OUR APPROPRIATIONS ARE FARING.

THAT WOULD, UH, IN MY ESTIMATION, HELP ME.

UM, BETTER THAN INDIVIDUAL BILLS, UNLESS SOMETHING WAS EXTREMELY EXORBITANT.

BUT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PERCENTAGE OF APPROPRIATIONS SPENT COMPARATIVELY YEAR TO YEAR WOULD BE A BIG HELP.

THE BILLS, I AGREE, NEED TO BE PAID AND THEY GOT TO BE PAID WHETHER WE VOTE ON IT OR NOT.

WE OBLIGATED TO PAY IT, BUT IT WOULD ALSO HELP TO LET US KNOW THE PERCENTAGE OF.

HOW WE STAND IN PERCENTAGE OF MONEY SPENT.

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THAT WE COULD TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT, WHETHER YOU DO IT MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY.

UM, I KNOW SOME THINGS HAVE TO BE SPENT THAT WOULD EAT UP YOUR APPROPRIATION MAYBE IN SOME MONTHS, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUR M&O MONEY.

BUT AT ANY WAY IT WOULD HELP US STAY ON TRACK.

FOR ME, THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BETTER THAN JUST VOTING TO PAY THE BILLS.

OKAY. MAY I ADDRESS THAT, CHAIRMAN? YES. SO EVERY MONTH, THERE MAY BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHERE THERE IS NOT A FINANCIAL OVERVIEW IN YOUR PACKET.

LIKE LAST MONTH.

THERE WAS NOT THE PREVIOUS MONTH IT WAS.

AND THEN IN TONIGHT'S PACKET THERE IS A FINANCIAL OVERVIEW.

THAT IS THE YEAR END CLOSE FOR JUNE 30TH BECAUSE WE HAVE FINISHED MAKING ALL OF OUR ADJUSTMENTS PRIOR TO THE AUDITOR COMING.

THE AUDITOR IS HERE THIS WEEK.

NORMALLY THERE IS.

AN OVERVIEW IN THEIR EACH MONTH, AND IT SHOWS THE ORIGINAL BUDGET, PLUS ANY APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD DURING THE YEAR.

AND IT SHOWS THE ACTUAL FISCAL YEAR TO DATE AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET SPENT AND OR REVENUES RECEIVED. AND IT COMPARES TWO YEARS, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.

SO AFTER THIS ONE, THAT IS SHOWING YOU THE JUNE 30TH THROUGH ALL OF THE ADJUSTMENTS WE'VE MADE.

NEXT MONTH YOU WILL GET ONE THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP THROUGH OCTOBER.

WELL, SO IT WOULD BE MORE IT WOULD THAT WOULD PRETTY MUCH BE BACK BY QUARTER.

I TRY TO PUT ONE IN EACH MONTH.

THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IS A LITTLE DELAYED, BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON CLOSING OUT THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR

[00:30:06]

WE'LL SEE. SO AT THE BEGINNING OF SECOND QUARTER, THEN IT WOULD BE MONTHLY.

YES, SIR.

OKAY. THAT'S GREAT.

AND YOU WILL ALWAYS SEE A LIST OF BILLS I BELIEVE WE ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE TO PROVIDE A LIST OF BILLS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO OUR BOARD, AND THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

WELL, IT'S NOT SO MUCH WRITE APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE.

IT'S. AND YOU KNOW I IT THAT IT SHOWS THE PUBLIC SHOWS THE TAXPAYERS THAT THE BOARD HAS LOOKED AT THESE THINGS. OKAY.

YES, SIR. THAT'S THAT'S THE POINT.

AND WE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WITH ACCOUNTING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO SO TO CLARIFY, REGARDLESS, I THINK THERE ARE SOME MISINTERPRETATION.

WE WOULD STILL PROVIDE THE BILLS, AS WE CURRENTLY DO IN THE AGENDA PACKET TO THE GOVERNING BODY.

I BELIEVE WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO THAT.

IT'S A IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT.

YOU WOULD BE PROVIDED THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING, WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED NOR DO MOST GOVERNING BODIES QUOTE UNQUOTE APPROVE THE BILLS. IT'S NORMALLY LISTED AS A REVIEW OF THE BILLS WHERE YOU CAN STILL ASK QUESTIONS, WHATNOT.

YOU'RE JUST NOT TECHNICALLY HAVING A MOTION AND APPROVAL TO APPROVE THE BILLS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAID REGARDLESS.

SO EVEN IF YOU DISAPPROVE THE BILLS, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE PAID.

SO IN EFFECT, WHAT ARE YOU ACCOMPLISHING? OKAY. UH.

YOU GUYS WANT TO VOTE TONIGHT OR NOT VOTE TONIGHT? COULD YOU IN TURN ACCOMPLISH THE SAME FEAT BY SIMPLY LEAVING AN AGENDA ITEM THAT EARMARKS THE SAME THING FOR BILL REVIEW.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS AS THEY WERE PAID? THANK YOU. MR.. INSTEAD OF CALLING THE VOTE, JUST ASK THE BOARD.

THE CHAIRMAN COULD ASK THE BOARD, DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS AS THEY WERE PAID AS INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET? THE INTENTION WOULD IT WOULD LOOK JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE PACKET.

NOW SAYING THAT THIS IS INFORMATION ONLY.

NO INFORMATION IS REQUIRED.

SO IT WOULD LOOK JUST LIKE IT DOES EVERY MONTH IN YOUR PACKET.

YOU JUST WOULDN'T CALL A VOTE.

BUT I MEAN IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL WANT TO CONTINUE, I'M GOING TO KEEP LISTENING LIKE THIS.

KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING, TECHNICALLY THERE IS NO NEED FOR A FORMAL VOTE ON THE BILL.

YEAH, WE REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO TECHNICAL REASON, BUT THERE IS A REASON TO REVIEW THEM AND LOOK AT THEM AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING THAT. WELL, CERTAINLY.

YEAH. HOW ABOUT IF WE DO THIS, THIS VOTE ON TONIGHT, THIS DON'T CHANGE IT.

AND THEN WE CAN BRING IT UP TO THE NEXT MEETING AND DISCUSS IT AND SEE WHAT'S THE BEST PATHWAY IS.

MAYBE WE'LL HAVE SOME PUBLIC INPUT ON THAT BY THEN ALSO.

OKAY, I MOVE, WE PAY THEM.

EXCUSE ME. I WAS MAKING THE MOTION WE PAY THE BILLS TONIGHT.

SECOND. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS FIRST? YEAH I DO. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, I'LL ASK IT.

OKAY. THIS MAXIMUS ON ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR COST ALLOCATIONS.

IT'S A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ON STAFF THAT CAN DO THAT AND SAVE, TOO.

SO MAXIMUS IS NOT A HEALTH CARE ISSUE.

SO THAT IS A COST ALLOCATION THAT THE COUNTY PAYS TO HAVE DONE EVERY YEAR.

BUT BY PAYING THAT 2000 SOME ODD DOLLARS, WE SAVE $50,000 WITHIN THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO FURNISH TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

SO IT IS WELL WORTH IT.

NO, THERE IS NOBODY IN ONE STAFF THAT CAN DO THAT.

IT IS A VERY SPECIALIZED TYPE WORK, AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE SOFTWARE NOR THE ACCREDITATION TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

OKAY. WERE WE REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS RAMP? NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED BEFORE THE ADA GUIDELINES CAME OUT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD LOOKED AT OVER THE PAST PROBABLY THREE YEARS, AND ALSO WITH OUR NEW INSURANCE COMPANY, PROPERTY INSURANCE COMPANY.

THEY HAD A GRANT THAT WE COULD GET, AND SO THAT GRANT PAID FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THAT, AND

[00:35:08]

AND I SAW WHERE THERE WAS WATER DAMAGE TO RAWLS LIBRARY FOR 17,500, AND THE GEORGE TURNER WAS 970. DID INSURANCE COVER THAT? WAS THAT SO? INSURANCE COVERED SOME.

IT DID NOT COVER THE GEORGE TURNER.

THAT WAS A I BELIEVE THAT WAS A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS A ROOF LEAK.

BUT BACK IN DECEMBER, REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS VERY COLD AND FROZE, THERE WERE PIPES THAT BURST WITHIN RAWLS MUSEUM ARTS, I BELIEVE WE GOT APPROXIMATELY $40,000 IN INSURANCE.

SO THAT 17,000 THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS NOT THE FULL COST.

SOME THINGS WERE PAID FOR LAST YEAR, SOME THIS YEAR.

IT'S BEEN A PROCESS OF GETTING CONTRACTORS AND EVERYTHING, BUT WE ARE AT THAT POINT WHERE WE ARE ABOUT FINISHED WITH IT.

BUT WE PROVIDED THE 17,500 OR IS THAT WHAT INSURANCE.

THAT'S PART OF INSURANCE.

YEAH, THAT 17 IS INSURANCE.

OKAY. YES. AND THEN I SAW WHERE CREEDLE AND JONES HAD A LEASE CRUNCH FEE OF 2970.

AND THEN THE VRS AUDIT WAS 5000.

RIGHT. WHAT IS A CRUNCH FEE.

LEASE CRUNCH.

IT HAS TO DO WITH NEW GATSBY ACCOUNTING GUIDELINES THAT HAVE COME OUT.

AND SO WHERE WE LEASE OUR COPY MACHINES, POSTAGE MACHINES, AUDITING ACCOUNTING GUIDELINES CAME OUT THAT SAID WE HAD TO START SHOWING THOSE WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AND SO THAT IS THE COST OF THE SOFTWARE FOR US TO PULL ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER TO GENERATE THE JOURNAL ENTRIES FOR THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? MR. CORNWELL. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BILL.

DID YOU SAY YES, SIR? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OKAY. WE WILL DISCUSS THIS FULLY AFTER SOME PUBLIC INPUT IN NEXT MEETING, THEN.

OKAY. NUMBER SIX, WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.

[6. Western Tidewater Free Clinic-Iris Lundy, WTFC Board Member]

AND WELCOME.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNTY STAFF.

MY NAME IS IRIS LUNDY AND I AM A BOARD MEMBER WITH WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.

I CAME TODAY TO ONE GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE CLINIC, BUT ALSO TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT WITH THE WORK WE'RE DOING.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAS BEEN A FINANCIAL PARTNER AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL PARTNER OF OURS FOR A LONG TIME, SINCE 2007, AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR.

OUR OPERATING BUDGET, FUNDING 27,000, WILL PROVIDE YEAR LONG COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO OVER 18 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PATIENTS THROUGH OVER 168 VISITS.

SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT AS YOU CONTINUE TO HELP US, WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER VITAL MEDICAL CARE, DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, PREVENTIVE CARE MEASURES TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST.

AND IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO OFFER THEM A ACCESSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO USING THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR THOSE NON LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL ISSUES.

SO FOR EVERY $1 THAT'S DONATED, WE'RE ALMOST TRIPLING THAT IN SERVICES PROVIDED.

SO FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2023 THAT'S THROUGH JUNE.

OF JUNE 30TH, THE CLINIC HAS SERVED 110 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RESIDENTS THROUGH 486 VISITS, FOR AN AVERAGE OF FOUR VISITS PER PATIENT.

THIS REFLECTS 9% OF OUR CURRENT TOTAL PATIENT POPULATION.

WITH THE FREE MEDICATIONS.

IF WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT, THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO OUR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RESIDENTS, THE RETAIL VALUE OF THAT IS $91,450 AND COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES VALUED AT OVER $80,690 DURING THESE LAST SIX MONTHS.

[00:40:01]

WHEN WE TOTAL ALL OF THAT, THAT'S ABOUT 207,000 MEDICAL, DENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND ELIGIBILITY VISITS AND PHARMACY CONSULTS.

THESE PATIENTS HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 301,000 FREE MEDICATIONS, WITH A RETAIL VALUE OF OVER 57 MILLION OVER THAT TIME SPAN.

SO THIS SPRING, WE FINALLY BROKE GROUND ON AN AMBITIOUS BUILDING EXPANSION PROJECT WITH YOU ALL PROBABLY AWARE OF.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GROWING OUR DENTAL SUITE FROM TWO CHAIRS TO FOUR CHAIRS, AND WE'RE EXPANDING OUR FOOTPRINT OF ABOUT 1000FT². THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THIS TIME PERIOD.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING NEW PATIENTS IN THIS SPACE LATER THIS YEAR.

AS YOU KNOW, OUR PATIENTS ARE USUALLY CRITICALLY ILL.

THEY HAVE MULTIPLE COMORBIDITIES OR ILLNESSES.

AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT A PATIENT.

AND I'M GOING TO CALL HIM DAVE.

THAT IS NOT THE PATIENT'S REAL NAME.

BUT DAVE CAME TO US, BUT THIS WAS AFTER WE WHAT WE FOUND OUT HIS STORY AFTERWARDS.

BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH DAVE.

SO DAVE HAD DENTAL CONCERNS.

HIS TEETH WERE IN BAD REPAIR AND HE HAD BEGUN TO GET ABSCESSES IN HIS MOUTH.

HE WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD BLOOD POISONING.

HE FOUND OUT THAT THE REASON WAS BECAUSE OF HIS TEETH.

SO HE ENDED UP SPENDING SEVEN DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL.

WHEN HE WAS DISCHARGED HOME, HE WAS PROVIDED A HOME HEALTH NURSE.

BUT THAT PERSON KNEW OF THE CLINIC AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE CLINIC.

HE WAS ASSISTED WITH GETTING ELIGIBILITY AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF AND EVERYTHING WENT WELL.

BUT DAVE HAD TO HAVE ALL OF HIS TEETH REMOVED BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE THEY WERE IN.

SO HE WENT TO A SURGEON WHO HELPED PREPARE HIS GUMS FOR DENTURES, BUT HE CAME TO THE CLINIC SO HE COULD GET FULL DENTURES UPPER AND LOWER, AND HE WAS VERY THANKFUL.

HE WAS NERVOUS, HE WAS SCARED.

AND HE EVEN THANKED ONE OF OUR ASSISTANTS, MISSY, BECAUSE SHE HELD HIS HAND WHILE HE GOT HIS NOVOCAIN INJECTIONS.

SO WE ASKED DAVE WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE CLINIC ON YOU? AND HE SAYS IT'S GIVEN ME A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

HE SAYS, NOW I CAN EAT, WHICH IS SOMETHING I COULDN'T DO BEFORE.

HE SAID I WAS LOSING WEIGHT AND SINCE I'VE GOTTEN MY DENTURES, I'VE GAINED 10 POUNDS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.

AND WE SERVICE ABOUT 2200MI².

SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING REALLY HELPS MANY PEOPLE, EVEN BEYOND THE COMMUNITY LOCALLY.

WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CHOOSE TO INVEST IN OUR MISSION OF WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.

YOUR SUPPORT CREATES HOME HEALTH FOR, WELL, A HEALTH HOME FOR OUR PATIENTS.

IT MAKES HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND MAKES BETTER HEALTH POSSIBLE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO VISIT AND TOUR OUR CLINIC, WE WOULD WELCOME THAT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

OKAY. WE'RE HONORED TONIGHT TO HAVE MR.

[7. Digitization Project- Rick Francis, Clerk of Circuit Court]

I'M GONNA TIME YOU SEVEN MINUTES.

SEVEN MINUTES IS ALL I NEED.

BOARD MEMBERS, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND THE REST OF THE BOARD.

YOU MAY RECALL, MR. EDWARDS, I'M NOT SURE YOU WERE BACK HERE AT THAT TIME, BUT BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000, I CAME BEFORE THE BOARD REALIZING WE WERE GOING TO MOVE INTO A SMALLER RECORD ROOM. I HAD 110 FILE CABINETS OR SO OF PHYSICAL PAPER FILES THAT I WAS LOOKING TO TRY TO GET BACK SCANNED AND SO I COULD DIGITIZE THEM, SHRINK THE FOOTPRINT.

THE BOARD WAS KIND ENOUGH TO AUTHORIZE UP TO $130,000 TO FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND SO WE JUMPED INTO THE PROJECT WITH A COMPANY CALLED STARPOINT.

THEY'RE OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA.

I WAS THE FIRST CLERK'S OFFICE THEY HAD WORKED WITH.

THEY'VE WORKED WITH SEVERAL SINCE THEN AND SEEM TO BE GROWING ON OFF OF OUR SHOULDERS.

BUT I HAVE TO KEEP SOME OF MY RECORDS FOR AT LEAST THE TIME FRAME.

BUT THOSE BEYOND I'M NOT MANDATED TO TO KEEP.

[00:45:02]

LYNETTE LOWE, WHO IS ABLE TO PAY THE WAY SINCE THEY WERE A NORTH CAROLINA COMPANY AND BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM THROUGHOUT A WITHOUT A BIDDING PROCESS, THEY WERE ABLE TO JUMP IN AND SCAN WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE 8603 FILES AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $3.75 PER FILE.

SO IT WAS PRETTY COST EFFECTIVE.

BUT I RAN INTO A ROADBLOCK.

ONE OF THE ROADBLOCKS I RAN INTO WAS THAT THE STATE DID NOT SUPPORT A PLACE TO PUT THESE DIGITAL IMAGES BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT, SO I WAS HEMMED IN.

CRIMINAL 1998, CIVIL 2000, SO UP TO THAT POINT, I COULD SCAN ANYTHING OLDER THAN THAT, WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A PLACE TO PUT THEM THAT THE PUBLIC COULD GET TO.

SO WE CHOSE NOT TO TRY TO GO BEYOND THAT, TO DO INDIVIDUALLY SCANNING THEM AND TO PUT THEM ON SOME SORT OF HARD DRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

BUT NONETHELESS, THEY WERE DONE.

WE SHRUNK OUR FOOTPRINT DOWN SOMEWHAT.

IN THE MEANTIME, I PURCHASED A WITHOUT COUNTY FUNDS.

I PURCHASED A BOX AND HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THOSE PHYSICAL FILES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN BACK SCANNED.

I'M CHOOSING NOT TO SPEND MONEY ON BACK SCANNING SOMETHING.

I HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT IT.

I'M GOING TO HOLD THOSE FILES PHYSICALLY UNTIL THEY START COSTING US MONEY, AND THEN AT THAT TIME THEY MAY HAVE TO GO, BUT UNTIL THEN I'M WILL HOLD ON TO THEM.

SO NONETHELESS, WE'VE GOT THAT DONE.

THE BOTTOM LINE COST.

OH, AND I WON'T LET YOU KNOW THAT WHEN WE MOVE INTO THE COURTHOUSE, ONCE I GET IN PLACE, I'M GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST 25, IF NOT 50, HIGH QUALITY OLD STEEL FILE CABINETS, THE GOOD OLD KIND THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANY COUNTY OFFICE THAT NEEDS THEM.

THEY'RE TOO GOOD TO THROW AWAY.

THEY'RE MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT YOU CAN BUY TODAY.

BUT ANYWAY, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE COST TO THE COUNTY WAS $32,250.05.

SO THAT'S WHAT I SPENT OF THE 130,000 AUTHORIZED.

NOW, AS YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK FOR GRANT MONEY OR OTHER FUNDING, WHETHER IT BE FOR A HALON TYPE SYSTEM TO PROTECT THE RECORDS OR A ROLLER SHELVING UNIT TO BASICALLY MAXIMIZE SPACE IN THE NEW RECORD ROOM.

AND SO I WENT LOOKING FOR MONEY FOR DIGITIZATION AND ENDED UP COMING ACROSS A FUNDING FOR DIGITIZATION AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF MY AUDITOR, TO USE IT RETROACTIVELY ON WORK THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE THROUGH EARLE'S GRANT.

WHAT I'M DOING IS I'M TURNING OVER A CHECK BACK TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FOR $32,250.05, THE COST OF THAT PROJECT.

SO BASICALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDS OVER HERE TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY OVER HERE.

SO IF I MAY, I'LL TURN THAT CHECK OVER.

THANK YOU SIR. AND AND SO BASICALLY IT WAS A NET ZERO THEN TO THE COUNTY.

SO THAT WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL ALTOGETHER.

SO THAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF MY REPORT ON THAT BACK SCANNING PROJECT.

THOSE FILES THAT HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED, I'VE AUTHORIZED THOSE TO BE SHRED SO THEY WILL NO LONGER BE PHYSICALLY AVAILABLE.

THERE'S OTHER FILES WILL GO INTO A CONEX BOX.

I'M LOOKING FOR A HOME FOR THAT CONEX BOX THAT I CAN PUT A METAL GARAGE BUILDING OVER TOP OF, JUST TO PROTECT IT FROM THE HEAT AND CHANGE THE TEMPERATURES.

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FAITH IN ME AND AND THAT PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANYTHING THAT I CAN'T JUSTIFY COMING BACK DOWN THE LINE.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY FRUGAL.

WELL, I, I TRY I WILL SAY THERE ARE TWO THINGS I SHOULD ALERT THE BOARD TO THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON. THAT MAY BE EXPENSIVE DOWN THE ROAD.

ONE IS THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE REVIEWED MY BUDGET KNOW THAT I DON'T SPEND MUCH FOR CONVENTIONS AND TRAVEL.

I BASICALLY PAY THOSE OUT OF MY POCKET.

I'M PAID WELL.

I JUST FIGURE THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD PAY FOR CLARK'S CONVENTIONS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT IN TWO YEARS, I WILL BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLARK'S ASSOCIATION FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

AND I MAY NEED TO COME FOR YOU FOR SOME ASSISTANCE IN THAT, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A STATEWIDE REPRESENTATION.

[00:50:01]

AS I AS SEALING DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS.

IT WAS A GOOD PURPOSE.

THEY THEY WANTED TO SEAL ALL MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS THAT SO IT WOULDN'T HURT SOMEBODY ON THE JOB APPLICATION COMING UP.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY BROADEN IT OUT.

AND EVERYBODY WITH A POTENTIAL ISSUE HAS ADDED TO THAT LIST OF OTHER THINGS.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL NIGHTMARE FOR CLERKS UNLESS THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE BACKS AWAY FROM THAT OR REPEALS THAT STATUTE.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE PERSONNEL AND TIME IF THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY.

SO ALL THE CLERKS IN THE STATE ARE HOPING THAT WILL GO AWAY.

BUT IT HAS PASSED.

AND UNLESS SOMEBODY TAKES OTHER ACTION, IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO BE A MESS.

SO ANYWAY, OTHERWISE THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THE CONFIDENCE IN ME AND GLAD THIS PROJECT WORKED OUT LIKE IT DID.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.

THAT'S RIGHT. IF I CAN GET I THINK.

A MORE APPROPRIATE DATE ON THE COURTHOUSE MAY BE MARCH AND APRIL.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR.

OKAY, I THINK SO. I'M HOPING THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE THE RECORDS BEFORE WE MOVE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC INTO THAT BUILDING, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE MOVING THOSE THINGS BACK IN.

BUT WE'LL GET THEM IN.

SO ANYWAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

OKAY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE MR. CARL PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

[8. Economic Development Updates- Karl T. Heck, President & CEO of FSEDI]

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR THE OPEN SESSION.

THE WE ARE WORKING ON A VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM GRANT FOR THE BEALE FARM PROPERTY TO NOW THAT THAT'S COMING INTO COUNTY OWNERSHIP TO GET STATE MONEY TO RAZE THAT FROM TIER TWO, WHICH IT CURRENTLY IS IN THE VDP SYSTEM, UP TO TIER FOUR, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE GETTING MONEY FOR A NUMBER OF THE STUDIES AND USING THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE USED TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY AS THE MATCH.

SO IT'S A WAY OF GETTING NEW MONEY IN HERE AND MAKING THAT PROPERTY MORE MARKETABLE.

WE ARE MARKETING THE BEALE FARM AS IT SITS RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO TO HELP THAT.

SO THE PRE-APPLICATION FOR THAT IS DUE ON NOVEMBER 20TH AND THAT SOON WE GET A FINAL APPLICATION THAT WILL BE ON JANUARY 11TH.

I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS COMING UP ON NOVEMBER 25TH, AND WE'RE DOING A RADIO CAMPAIGN.

WE ALSO HAVE A DRAWING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, SO YOU'LL START SEEING INFORMATION FOR THAT.

WE ARE SOLICITING COUNTY AND CITY BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS CO NEIGHBORHOOD CHAMPIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.

NOT AT THIS OR STARTUP WINNER OPENED LAST WEEKEND.

THEY OPENED TWO WEEKS EARLY.

SO THEY ARE SELLING AS RETAIL AND THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR CUTTING AND STENCILING BUSINESS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO THEY ARE THEY ARE UP AND RUNNING NEXT TO PARKER'S PEANUT.

SO STOP ON BY.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT? I FORGOT THE KNOT AT THISTLE OR NOT AT THISTLE.

YEAH, THERE'S NO THE.

SO JENNIFER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT, SO THE OWNER OF THAT.

BROADBAND CONTINUES GOING FORWARD.

THEY'RE MOVING AT ABOUT SIX MILES A DAY.

SO THE PROJECT HOPEFULLY WILL BE DONE IN THE SUMMER TIME.

TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC COMMENT, SPECTRUM IS CHARGING THE SAME RATES FOR THE BROADBAND THAT'S GOING IN.

THEY CHARGE FOR THEIR OTHER CUSTOMERS.

SO THAT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY HAVE.

SO IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING TV AND CABLE ALONG WITH THE INTERNET, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT CHEAP.

BUT THE INTERNET, THERE IS FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S INTERNET CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOW INCOME, THAT WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, TO GET MONEY THROUGH SPECTRUM TO HELP PAY THEIR BILLS.

ON THE INTERNET SIDE, THAT DOESN'T COVER STUFF LIKE CABLE TELEVISION, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND THEN WE HAVE KYLE LAFAYETTE COMING IN TOMORROW FOR THE COUNTY PHOTO SHOOT, WHICH WE'RE DOING AS PART OF THE ARPA TOURISM PROGRAM.

SO WE'VE GOT A FEW SITES FOR HIM TO LOOK FOR THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING NEW PHOTO AND VIDEO PRODUCTS TO MARKET SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

SO WE'RE BLESSED THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT DAY TOMORROW, HOPEFULLY WITH 70 DEGREE WEATHER AND SUNSHINE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD DAY OUT WITH HIM.

SO THAT'S THE MAIN REPORT.

WE ARE SETTING UP A MEETING WITH THE EDA FOR RTI FOR RENEWAL OF THEIR PROJECT.

[00:55:02]

SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE THEM.

ANY QUESTIONS? INVITING THE AUDIENCE.

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. YOU MIGHT EXPLAIN WHAT PRTI IS FOR THE AUDIENCE.

OH, PRTI IS THE THEY'RE DEVELOPING IN THE SOUTHAMPTON COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS CENTER.

THEY HAVE BOUGHT A PARCEL.

THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ELSE YET, BUT THEY ARE A COMPANY THAT DOES TIRE MANUFACTURING AND RECYCLING.

SO THE COUNTY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.

THEY OWN ONE PARCEL IN THAT PARK AND ARE WORKING ON FINANCING TO GET THEIR MANUFACTURING PROJECT UP AND GOING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, NUMBER NINE.

GO AHEAD. DO YOU KNOW THAT IF SPECTRUM'S BASIC CABLE PACKAGE FALLS UNDER THE $50 FEDERAL SUBSIDY? I DON'T BELIEVE CABLE DOES.

I THINK THE SUBSIDIES FOR INTERNET, INTERNET, THE BASIC INTERNET PACKAGE THAT THEY WILL BE BASIC INTERNET WOULD CABLE, CABLE TV WOULD NOT.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. SO CABLES AND CABLES AND ADDITIONAL SERVICE TO THEM.

FOR THEIR INTERNET PACKAGE, BECAUSE THE INTERNET YOU HAVE SEVERAL TIERS OF HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET THROUGH ON DIFFERENT LEVELS, LIKE A 20 GIGABYTE LEVEL, A 40 GIGABYTE LEVEL, 50 GIGABYTE LEVEL THAT HAVE CERTAIN PRICE POINTS.

YEAH. THEY'RE BASIC.

WHATEVER. THE SLOWEST ONE IS, THE ONE I HAVE AT MY HOUSE OR WHATEVER THAT ONE IS.

SO THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN ANSWERING, WE HAVE HAD A FEW CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN.

I WILL SAY FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THE WE HAD OUR OWN ISSUE WITH UNDERGROUND BECAUSE MY OWN TELEPHONE POLE GOT HIT LAST WEEK AND SPECTRUM WAS OUT FOR THREE DAYS.

SO IF WE WERE UNDERGROUND IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

SO I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN A FEW GROWING PAINS WITH THAT, BUT IN THE END IT WILL BE A BETTER SERVICE FOR EVERYBODY.

OKAY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE MOVE ON TO NUMBER NINE.

OPEN BURNING IT, BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE I RECEIVED TWO PHONE CALLS FROM CORTLAND, ONE FROM SEDLEY AND ONE FROM INDIAN TOWN

[9. Open Burning- Request by Chairman Edwards]

AND I THOUGHT, MR. THROWER, YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT? SO I'VE JUST ADDED IT PER YOUR REQUEST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OTHER LOCALITIES I'VE WORKED FOR CITIES AND TOWNS, GENERALLY CITIES AND TOWNS, BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE COMPACT AND THE DEVELOPMENT IS MORE COMPACT AND RESIDENCES ARE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

A LOT OF CITIES AND TOWNS DO HAVE OPEN BURN PROHIBITIONS.

I THINK WHEN I WAS IN EMPORIA, WE JUST BASICALLY OUTLAWED THEM ALTOGETHER, EXCEPT FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES.

IF YOU'RE HAVING A FIRE BARREL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOME LOCALITIES BEING IN THE COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT MORE SPACE HERE.

SO. A LOT OF LOCALITIES DO HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON THEM.

SOME LOCALITIES, I WILL SUSPECT COUNTIES IN PARTICULAR PROBABLY LIKE US CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO OPEN BURNING ORDINANCE AT THE COUNTY HERE, BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT, WE CAN BRING BACK SOME INFORMATION IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO, AND Y'ALL CAN FIGURE OUT IF Y'ALL WANT TO PASS ANYTHING AND WHAT LEVEL OF RESTRICTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

IF SO, OBVIOUSLY IT DOES IMPACT MORE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

AND SO THAT'S WE CAN BRING BACK SOME OPTIONS AND HAVE YOU ALL LOOK AT IT AT LEAST, AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE.

ON HOW OTHER LOCALITIES, IN PARTICULAR COUNTIES, HANDLE OPEN BURNING.

I GOT A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS TO YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

WE'LL LOOK AT THAT IN NEXT MEETING, GET THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER.

IT WASN'T THE PAPER THAT THEY WERE BURNING.

IT WAS PLASTIC AND ORDINARY TRASH, I GUESS.

BUT THE PLASTIC WAS GIVEN OFF FUMES.

THEIR BURNING PLASTIC AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YEAH, YEAH, I'M FIVE AND A HALF MILES AS THE [INAUDIBLE] FLIES FROM THAT AND YOU CAN WALK OUT IN MY BACKYARD, IT HITS YOU.

UM, AND YOU GET THE, YOU KNOW, THE HUMIDITY AND THE TEMPERATURE GETS RIGHT AND THE, THE BAROMETER GOES DOWN.

PEOPLE IN COURTLAND AND OUT TOWARDS, I THINK OUT TOWARD INDIANTOWN ROAD OUT THERE REALLY GET HIT WITH IT.

[01:00:07]

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL LOOK AT IT NEXT MONTH.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION.

MR. THROWER. YES.

[10. Closed Session]

THE MOTION IS REQUIRED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 3711 A5, DISCUSSION WITH STAFF FROM FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.

CONCERNING A PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY, OR THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF THE BUSINESSES OR INDUSTRIES INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT. WE NEED A MOTION TO DO SO.

SO MOVED. A SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.