Nov 28, 2023 Board of Supervisors

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[INAUDIBLE] GOOD EVENING, FOLKS.

[Call to Order]

GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT.

AND FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

EVERYBODY STAND FOR THAT, PLEASE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

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

YES, SIR. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME THIS EVENING THANKING THE CREATOR FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS BESTOWED UPON US.

WE ASK YOU IN THE NAME OF THE CREATOR, THAT AS THE BOARD GO FORTH WITH THIS MEETING, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM ONE MIND AS IN ONE BODY, THAT IT MIGHT BE ABOUT THE TRUE BUSINESS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

NOW WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THOSE THAT ARE STANDING IN HARM'S WAY.

ALL OF OUR MILITARY FORCES, ARMY, AIR FORCE, NAVY, MARINES, COAST GUARD RESERVES, ETC.

GIVE THEM COURAGE AND GIVE THEM STRENGTH.

GO WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN RICHMOND AND THE LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, DC.

THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF THE CREATOR.

WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

IN THE NAME OF YESHUA. AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU CHIEF.

OKAY. NEXT IS THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

[1. Citizens Comment Period]

AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK ON ANY ISSUE INVOLVING THE COUNTY AND JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND WE'LL OPEN THE CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD. THANK YOU.

MIC] THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF.

MY NAME IS ASH CUTCHEON AND I LIVE AT 29018 DARDEN POINT ROAD, COURTLAND, VIRGINIA.

DR. EDWARDS IS MY SUPERVISOR.

I HAVE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS, AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO READ INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD A LETTER I'VE WRITTEN TO THE TIDEWATER NEWS EDITOR.

SHE SENT ME AN EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON AND SAID SHE WOULD PUBLISH IT, BUT WITHOUT THE GRAPH.

YOU HAVE COPIES WITH THE GRAPH.

I KNOW THAT EXPERTS SAY THAT ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL, AND IT IS.

AND YOU ARE A LOCAL BODY.

BUT MANY TIMES DECISIONS MADE IN WASHINGTON ON A NATIONAL LEVEL TRICKLE DOWN TO US AND IMPACT US IN A LOCAL WAY.

SUCH IS THE CASE WITH THIS PHENOMENON THAT'S COME TO BE KNOWN AS BIDEN ECONOMICS.

FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY TIME I ADD FUEL TO MY PICKUP TRUCK, I WONDER HOW MUCH MORE THE COST WILL INCREASE BEFORE MY NEXT FILL UP.

IT'S UP TO $75 NOW.

AS YOUR READERS KNOW, THIS IS TO THE NEWSPAPER.

AS YOUR READERS KNOW, IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR OUR LOCAL COUNTY, REAL PROPERTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES TO BE PAID JUST IN TIME FOR US TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE LEFT TO SPEND FOR CHRISTMAS.

WITH THESE TAXES ON MY MIND, WHICH I PAID LAST WEEK BY THE WAY.

NOT ONLY AM I FACED WITH EXTRA FUEL COSTS FOR MY TRUCK, I ALSO SUSPECT THAT SIMILAR INCREASED FUEL COSTS HAVE AFFECTED THE OPERATION OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

SO, WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS AND AS A CITIZEN'S RIGHT, ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, I SENT FOIA REQUESTS TO BOTH THE SHERIFF AND TO THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ASKING FOR THEIR FUEL COSTS FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2019 THROUGH 2023.

I RECEIVED A PROMPT REPLY FROM SHERIFF WYCHE'S OFFICE, BUT AFTER A SECOND LETTER TO THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND A COPY TO THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRWOMAN DATED OCTOBER 23RD.

HERE I AM AT 62 DAYS AFTER MY FIRST REQUEST WITH NO RESPONSE FROM ANYBODY FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT APPEARS OBVIOUS THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM PAYS NO ATTENTION TO CITIZENS FOIA REQUESTS, AND I FIND THAT SITUATION APPALLING.

AFTER ALL THEIR SALARIES COME OUT OF THE MONEY WE SEND TO THE TREASURER TO PAY THOSE TAXES LIKE THE ONES I PAID LAST WEEK.

AND BECAUSE SOME OF THE NUMBERS FROM THE SHERIFF WERE HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

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OF COURSE, THE COUNTY FINANCIAL OFFICER DOES NOT EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO SCHOOL FUEL EXPENSES.

I TRIED TO RESURRECT MY MICROSOFT EXCEL KNOWLEDGE OF CREATING A GRAPH, WHICH IS SHOWN BELOW, AND THE NEWSPAPERS AREN'T GOING TO PUBLISH THE GRAPH, BUT THE VERTICAL NUMBERS ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE BAR GRAPH 0 TO 250,000 REPRESENT GALLONS AND OR DOLLARS.

THE HORIZONTAL NUMBERS ARE FISCAL YEARS BEGINNING WITH 2019 AND EXTENDING THROUGH FISCAL 2023.

THE SHORTER BARS IN THE GRAPH, THOSE WITH THE BUBBLES, REPRESENT GALLONS OF FUEL USED EACH FISCAL YEAR, AND THE TALLER BARS REPRESENT DOLLARS. YOU CAN SEE IN THE BAR GRAPH THAT ANNUAL FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS DECREASED SLIGHTLY -13% SINCE 2019, FROM 84,387 GALLONS TO 73,004 GALLONS, AN INDICATION THAT OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS ARE MAKING AN EFFORT TO CONTROL CONSUMPTION.

HOWEVER, ANNUAL FUEL COSTS HAVE INCREASED A STAGGERING PLUS 41% SINCE 2019, FROM $165,897 TO $234,631 EVEN USING LESS FUEL.

COSTS WERE A BIT LOWER FOR FISCAL YEARS 2020 AND 2021 BECAUSE OUR PRESIDENT, AFTER UNSUCCESSFULLY TRYING TO BUY MORE FUEL FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, TOOK PRECIOUS FUEL FROM OUR STRATEGIC RESERVE SUPPLY AND EVEN ALLEGEDLY SOLD SOME TO CHINA.

I SUSPECT THAT SUCH FIGURES ARE FAIRLY CONSISTENT FOR EVERY COUNTRY, EVERY COUNTY AND CITY IN AMERICA.

FROM THESE DATA AND PROBABLY SIMILAR FUEL COSTS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE EXCEPT DURING THE COVID SHUTDOWN, AS WELL AS SIMILAR FUEL INCREASES FOR OUR MILITARY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, IT IS REASONABLE TO CONCLUDE THAT OUR LOCAL TAXES, AS WELL AS OUR STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES, WILL PROBABLY INCREASE DRAMATICALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AFTER ALL, OUR LEADERS TELL US WE MUST TRY TO FIX THIS MESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND PROTECT UKRAINE'S BORDERS AND SUPPORT MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

OUR LEADERS ALSO SAY WE MUST CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND SUBSIDIZE WIND FARMS AND SOLAR FARMS, A GREEN ENERGY EXPENSE WHICH MOST AMERICANS OPPOSE. OUR NATIONAL DEBT NOW EXCEEDS $33 TRILLION, AND THE COST OF DEBT SERVICE ALONE, OR INTEREST, IS MORE THAN THE DEFENSE BUDGET.

A TRILLION IS A THOUSAND BILLION, BY THE WAY, AND $33 TRILLION REFLECTS A DEBT OF ABOUT $110,000 PER US CITIZEN.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I STOOD UP HERE AND SAID IT WAS ABOUT $46,000, SO IT'S MORE THAN DOUBLED.

THIS IS A FIGURE WHICH THE BIDEN ECONOMICS, THE BIDEN ECONOMICS ELITE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SIMPLY CANNOT RELATE.

THEY ARE BLIND AND DEAF TO THE PLIGHT OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CITIZEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WHERE AGRICULTURE IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO I CONCLUDE WE'VE BEEN HIT WITH A TRIPLE WHAMMY.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO PAY MORE FUEL, MORE TO FUEL OUR CARS AND TRUCKS AND COMBINES, BUT WE PAY MORE FOR FOOD AND CLOTHING.

BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED COST OF GETTING THESE ITEMS FROM THE FARMS TO THE STORES.

AND THIRD, OUR TAXES WILL PROBABLY INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER COST OF OPERATING OUR GOVERNMENT.

EVERYTHING IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT WAS BEFORE BIDEN TOOK OFFICE.

AND THE MAIN REASON IS HIS RELENTLESS WAR ON FOSSIL FUELS.

MY FRIENDS, THAT'S BIDENONOMICS AT WORK IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU VOTE.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING THE PUBLIC SPEAK.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? YES. MY NAME IS ERIC WIDMER.

I LIVE AT 14308 SAINT LUKE'S ROAD IN SUDLEY, VIRGINIA.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE DIGGING THE TRENCHES TO PUT THE NEW TELEPHONE AND CABLES IN.

THEY'RE GOING DOWN INTO THE DITCH.

THEY'RE PUTTING THE DIRT BACK IN THE DITCH, WHICH IS FLOODING A LOT OF THESE SIDE ROADS, LIKE SAINT LUKE'S HORSE PEN AND DIFFERENT ROADS.

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THEY GOT TREES AS BIG AS MY ARM COMING UP IN THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING.

AND I UNDERSTAND FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ONCE AND YOU'RE BEING NOTIFIED AGAIN.

AND IF SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER SOMEBODY HAPPENS TO GET IN A WRECK BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WATER SITTING ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THE DITCHES HAVE NOT BEEN CLEANED.

I UNDERSTAND, I DON'T KNOW LEGALLY, BUT I WAS LED BY SAYING THAT YOU WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DAMAGES IF THEY GET IN A WRECK AND THEY SAY THE ROADS ARE FLOODED BECAUSE THE DITCHES AREN'T BEING DRAINED.

SO THAT IS ONE ISSUE.

THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS I UNDERSTAND SOME SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT YOU ALL WANT TO RAISE THE TRASH PRICE.

WHY DO THAT THERE WHEN YOU CAN DO LIKE ELIZABETH CITY DID 15 YEARS AGO, 15, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.

THEY WENT IN AND DID A SURVEY.

THEY INCREASED THEIR CITY LIMITS BY ONE MILE ALL THE WAY AROUND ELIZABETH CITY.

THEY TURN AROUND WAS ABLE TO HIRE TWO TWO DEPUTIES, TWO CARS TO HELP TAKE OVER THE LITTLE EXTRA EXPANSION OF JUST THE TAXES, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID 75% OF THE LAND WAS FARM USE.

BUT HE TOOK ENOUGH BUSINESSES IN TO HELP PAY FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN TAXES THAT WAS SAVED A LOT OF TAXES ON ALL OF US THAT HAVE HAVE TO PAY TAXES, TRASH THAT. WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR TRASH TO THE DUMPS.

THERE'S DIFFERENT LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THERE, I THINK WOULD TRY TO HELP IF SOMEBODY WOULD TAKE I'M NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH TO DO IT, I'LL TELL YOU THAT NOW. IF SOMEBODY LIKE YOU PEOPLE, Y'ALL MORE EDUCATED WITH ALL THESE COMPUTERS, IF Y'ALL WOULD GET INTO IT AND SEE ABOUT IT, MAYBE WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO RAISE THE TAXES WE COULD TAKE AND JUST ENLARGE THE CITY LIMITS A LITTLE BIT.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND CHECKING INTO THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY.

MR. CHAIRMAN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HONORABLE BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS CHIEF WALT REDHAWK BROWN.

I'M CHIEF OF THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE, AND I STAND HERE TODAY REPRESENTING 405 PEOPLE THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE, WHO CAN TRACE THEIR THEIR ETHNICITY VIA A PAPER TRAIL BACK TO AN ETHNOHISTORIC SURNAME IN THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE.

BEING THAT TODAY IS THIS WEEK.

ACTUALLY, THIS MONTH IS NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.

WE JUST CELEBRATED NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY.

ON THAT DAY, I HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF GIVING A PRESENTATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND .

SINCE 2002 I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND DATA BEFORE I EXPRESS MY CONCERNS TO THE BOARD.

OKAY, IN REFERENCE TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM YOU 2002 WE BROUGHT DIFFERENT CLANS IN THE TRIBE TOGETHER AND STARTED THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE FEBRUARY THE 2ND, 2002.

SINCE THAT TIME, OVER THE LAST 22 YEARS, WE HAVE GIVEN PRESENTATIONS TO, BY OUR COUNT, TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE VIA TELEVISION DOCUMENTARIES TO INCLUDE IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY IN NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY, SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ELIZABETH CITY, TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ETCETERA, VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA TO INCLUDE EVERY MILITARY INSTALLATION IN HAMPTON ROADS TO INCLUDE TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS THIS OVER THE LAST 22 YEARS.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUTTING THE HISTORY OF THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIANS, THE FIRST PEOPLE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, ON THE MAP.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 22 YEARS.

OKAY. RECENTLY I WAS APPOINTED TO BY VIRGINIA GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN AND THE HONORABLE SECRETARY, KELLY G.

TO SERVE ON THE INDIAN AND VIRGINIA INDIAN ADVISORY BOARD, BASED ON THE ETHNOHISTORIC COMMAND THAT I HAVE ON THE HISTORY, THE ETHNOHISTORY OF VIRGINIA INDIANS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, AND SPECIFICALLY HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

OKAY.

I GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE [INAUDIBLE] MICHIKAMAU COVE STATE PARK, THE 50TH STATE PARK THAT WAS SET UP TO TO PUSH FORWARD THE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN VIRGINIA.

I WORKED WITH THE DESIGNERS OF THAT FOR THREE YEARS BECAUSE ORIGINALLY ALL THEY WERE LOOKING AT WAS THE ALGONQUIAN SPEAKERS OF VIRGINIA, NOTHING ABOUT THE IROQUOIS OR THE SIOUAN. SO I WORKED WITH THEM FOR THREE YEARS AND FINALLY GOT THEM ON THEIR ON THEIR PANELS FOR THE WALKING TRAIL, THEY CAPTURED THE HISTORY OF THE ALGONQUIAN SPEAKERS, THE

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I WAS PERSONALLY INVITED BY GOVERNOR NORTHAM FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY, AND BECAUSE OF MY INVOLVEMENT, I WAS THE ONLY CHIEF IN VIRGINIA THAT WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE WASHINGTON POST. AND WE HAD AN INTERVIEW IN THE WASHINGTON POST.

OKAY, SO WE HAVE BEEN BUSY OUT HERE TELLING THE STORY ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WHICH DATE BACK TO 700 AD 700 AD, BASED ON A HAND SITE EXCAVATION THAT WAS DONE IN 1965, 66, 66 AND 69, CALLED THE HAND SITE OR THE OLD POST OFFICE, USED TO BE CALLED HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.

MATTER OF FACT, MY FRIEND AND MY LEARNED COLLEAGUE WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA, WHICH I'M A LIFE MEMBER, HE'S RESTING IN THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM NOW. HE'S THE ONE THAT FOUND THAT SITE.

SO WHEN THEY DID THE EXCAVATION, BASED ON CARBON DATED MATERIAL, THEY FOUND IT DATES BACK TO 700 AD.

THAT'S HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN HERE IN THIS COUNTY.

LONG BEFORE THE COLONIALS CAME HERE.

OKAY. BESIDES, COLUMBUS NEVER CAME TO THIS PLACE ANYWAY.

THAT'S WHY I WAS SO GLAD WHEN GOVERNOR NORTHAM BROUGHT ABOUT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY INSTEAD OF CELEBRATING COLUMBUS DAY.

SO MY CONCERN IS THIS, OF ALL THE ALL THE VENDORS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT IN THIS COUNTY.

32 WE HAVE DONE 32 AMERICAN INDIAN POW WOW SCHOOL DAYS AND ALSO REVIVALS IN THIS COUNTY.

WE HAVE WE ONLY CAME TO THE COUNTY ONE TIME TO ASK FOR A DONATION TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL VENUE THAT WE DO IN OUR SCHOOL DAY.

AN OFFICIAL LETTER ON OUR TRIBAL LETTERHEAD OF WHICH WE NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

AND I CAME TO THIS BOARD LAST YEAR TWICE AND ASKED ABOUT THAT.

OKAY, AT LEAST, AT LEAST IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMMON COURTESY TO PROVIDE THE TRIBE A RESPONSE TO AN OFFICIAL LETTER TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BECAUSE YOU GUYS REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS TO INCLUDE MY TRIBE.

OKAY. A RESPONSE WHICH WE NEVER RECEIVED.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS I GOT.

OKAY. ALSO, WHEN WE DO NATIVE AMERICAN VENDORS HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE ARE VERY CAUTIOUS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T OVERLAP NOTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY.

HERE LATELY IT APPEARS THAT WHENEVER WE DO OUR FALL FESTIVAL IN NOVEMBER, THERE ARE OTHER ENTITIES POPPING UP DOING, DOING, DOING VENDORS LIKE ON OUR POWWOW ON NOVEMBER THE 3RD, 4TH AND THE 5TH.

ON THE 4TH, THEY HAD SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE FAIRGROUNDS THAT MORNING.

OKAY. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 32 YEARS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT RESPECT.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. OKAY, ONE THING ON THE RED ROAD, WE NEVER DO A POWWOW AT THE SAME TIME OR THE SAME DAY WHEN OTHER TRIBES ARE DOING THEIRS, OKAY.

BECAUSE WE RESPECT THEM.

SO THAT'S THE OTHER CONCERN I GOT.

ALSO, I RECENTLY GOT APPOINTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION.

WE HANDLE ALL THE TREES, ALL THE RIVERS, ALL THE FORESTS, ALL THE ROADS AND ALL ALL THE ALL OF THE BRIDGES.

OKAY. SO I'M JUST VERY HAPPY THAT THAT THE HONORABLE SECRETARY JAMES WAS NO LONGER THERE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

BUT NOW THE HONORABLE SECRETARY KELLY G, IN CONJUNCTION WITH, WITH GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN, IS REALIZING ALL THE EFFORT THAT WE HAVE PUT FORTH AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUTTING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ON THE MAP AS IT APPLIES TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

OKAY. AND LET ME SAY THIS BEFORE CLOSING, I'M A LIFE MEMBER OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY SUPERVISOR UPDIKE.

OKAY, I AM DOCUMENTED WITH SIX JOURNALS THAT I WROTE WITH THE ETHNOHISTORY OF THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, THAT'S ON FILE IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA.

I HAVE NOT ONCE BEEN ASKED TO DO ANY KIND OF HISTORIC PRESENTATION TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY DAY HERE IN SOUTH HAMPTON COUNTY, NOT ONCE.

AND I HAVE A COMMAND OF THE OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY.

OKAY. AND PEOPLE IN THE UPPER ECHELON, ON THE HISTORY, ON THE HILLS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE I WAS INVITED TO DO A NATIVE PRESENTATION TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TO ALL OF THE SENATORS AND THE HOUSE MEMBERS THERE.

SOME YEARS AGO, PEOPLE REALIZED THAT THAT WE HAVE A COMMAND OF THE HISTORY HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND WE WALK THAT HISTORY, WE LIVE IT, AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUTTING IT FORTH TO THE GENERAL POPULACE, NOT ONLY IN VIRGINIA, BUT NORTH CAROLINA, TO INCLUDE ON THE HILL IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED ONCE.

WE BRING PEOPLE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PHD DEGREE AND REALLY DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTIES PEOPLE.

OKAY. MATTER OF FACT, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE AND THEY CAME TO MY POWWOW FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN THE EARLY 2000.

AND EVERY PRESENTATION I GAVE, THEY RECORDED IT AND USED IT FOR THEIR DOCTORAL THESIS AND DIDN'T GIVE ME CREDIT.

BUT THAT'S ANOTHER PAUL HARVEY.

OKAY. SO I SAY THIS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB YOU GUYS ARE DOING, BECAUSE YOU ARE, YOU'RE DOING A SUPER JOB.

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OKAY. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB YOU'RE DOING, BUT I RESPECTFULLY ASK.

REMEMBER AND SUPPORT THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA FOR WE WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE HERE.

THE FIRST FIRST PEOPLE.

LONG BEFORE SOUTHAMPTON WAS ANNEXED FROM ISLE OF WIGHT IN 1749.

41,000 ACRES OF RESERVATION LAND BEGAN TO BE SOLD OFF IN 1735.

LAST PIECE DISAPPEARED IN 1953.

WE NOW OWN SOME $690,000 IN REAL ESTATE, OF WHICH WE DIDN'T ASK THE BOARD FOR A PENNY.

263 ACRES.

WE TURNED AROUND AND PLANTED 94,000 LONGLEAF PINES.

BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TREES THAT WERE INDIGENOUS TO THIS COUNTY BEFORE THE COLONIALS CAME HERE, AND CUT THEM ALL DOWN AND RESEEDED AND LOBLOLLY PINE BECAUSE THEY GREW FASTER.

NEVER ASKED THE BOARD FOR A PENNY.

YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WE ARE DOERS.

I LEARNED TO BE A DOER A LONG TIME AGO.

OKAY. BUT WE ASK ONE TIME.

I SPENT ABOUT 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO FOR SUPPORT FOR THE EDUCATION ADVENTURE WE HAD.

WE NEVER GOT A RESPONSE.

WE PUT IT IN WRITING.

BUT IN A WAY, I AM HOPING THAT, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.

OKAY? I DIDN'T MEAN TO VENT BECAUSE NORMALLY I DON'T COMPLAIN, BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON OVER THE LAST 22 YEARS, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, PUTTING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ON THE MAP AS FAR AS WHERE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE LOCATED.

OKAY. SO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND AS I SAID BEFORE, WE ARE CONSTANTLY DOING NATIVE AMERICAN PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

NOVEMBER IS A VERY DEMANDING MONTH FOR US TO DO NATIVE PRESENTATION.

YESTERDAY I DID FUQUA PRIVATE SCHOOL IN FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA.

YOU EVER HEARD OF FUQUA, MR. CHAIRMAN? F U Q U A.

FUQUA. VERY NICE SCHOOL.

WE DID EVERY CLASS THEY HAD FIRST THROUGH THE THROUGH THE 12TH GRADE.

AND I HAD TO TURN DOWN THE JOHN F KENNEDY AIRCRAFT CARRIER BECAUSE THEY HAD A CONFLICT WITH MY WITH OUR PRESENTATION THAT WE WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED.

BUT ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND JUST REMEMBER THAT WE WERE FIRST.

YOU NEED TO SUPPORT US IN WHAT WE'RE DOING, OKAY? EVENTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING TO THIS BOARD WITH OUR SITE PLAN TO PUT UP A $1.4 MILLION PROJECT, NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PENNY TO PUT UP OUR CULTURE CENTER.

OUR NON-DENOMINATIONAL WORSHIP CENTER AND OUR WELLNESS CENTER ON OUR TRIBAL LAND.

NOW, I WOULD SUSPECT.

I PROBABLY CAN COUNT THE MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD THAT'S BEEN OUT TO OUR 263 ACRES OF TRIBAL LAND AND ACTUALLY VISITED.

THE REPLICA 17TH CENTURY PALISADE FORT.

WE HAVE, AS IDENTIFIED BY WILLIAM BYRD II OF WESTOVER WHEN HE CAME TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY APRIL 7TH, APRIL 8TH 1728.

WE TOOK HIS WRITING AND ACTUALLY PUT UP THE PALISADE WITH THE LONG HOUSES, ROUNDHOUSES, THREE SISTERS GARDENS, FISHMONGERS, ETCETERA.

I DON'T THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AND LOOKED AT THAT.

OKAY. THAT'S ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

BUT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO VENT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS IS NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, SO I FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT I COME FORWARD AND KIND OF KIND OF TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.

OKAY. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T DO IT FINANCIALLY, AT LEAST YOU CAN COME OUT THERE IN PERSON AND SHOW YOUR FACE.

MR. GILLETTE, HE CAME OUT THERE, RIGHT? MR. GILLETTE CAME OUT THERE AND DID A PRESENTATION TO A RESOLUTION THAT YOU GUYS SIGNED.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND DID A RESOLUTION SOME YEARS AGO, REMEMBER [INAUDIBLE]? YEAH. SO I KNOW I GOT TWO PEOPLE BEEN OUT THERE.

SUPERVISOR GILLETTE AND SUPERVISOR CARL FAISON AND APPRECIATE IT SUPERVISOR GILLETTE T HANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

YES, SIR, I DO. IS IT A I'M NOT HEARING IN MY LEFT EAR? I GOT SOMETHING GOING ON WITH IT.

IS YOUR TRIBE A RECOGNIZED, REGISTERED TRIBE.

TRIBE RECOGNIZED WHAT NOW? A REGISTERED RECOGNIZED TRIBE.

YES. WE ARE. IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA? IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, AND WE ARE RECOGNIZED AS THE NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

THE PINE TREES, 263 ACRES.

WAS THAT DONATED? WHAT I DID I WROTE AN INCENTIVE GRANT WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ON THAT.

OKAY. WAS IT DONATED? NO, WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT.

WE PAID FOR IT THROUGH THE GRANT.

I GOT AN INCENTIVE GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND PLANTED.

I GOT, I THINK IT WAS $27,000 PAID FOR THE PINE TREES.

AND ALSO WE PAID FOR THE MEXICANS TO COME OUT THERE TO PLANT THEM.

BUT THAT USED TO BE ON THE TAX ROLLS.

I'M SORRY. THAT 263 ACRES USED TO BE ON THE TAX ROLLS.

263 ACRES USED TO BE ON THE TRACKS ROAD.

NO, ON THE TAX ROLL.

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I UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU'RE TAX EXEMPT, THAT WAS 263 ACRES THAT CAME OFF OF THE TAX ROLLS.

AND YOU HAVE A NO, WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T HAVE IT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE IT WHEN IT WAS ON THE TAX ROLL.

OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IN THE TRANSACTION THAT WAS INTERNATIONAL PAPER.

EXACTLY RIGHT. THEY PAID TAXES ON THE LAND.

I WOULD ASSUME THEY DID.

YEAH. IT WAS IT WAS DONATED TO THE TRIBE WITH 263 ACRES.

WELL NOT DONATED TO THE TRIBE.

WE PAID FOR IT.

THE REAL GRANT? NO, NO WE DIDN'T.

WE DIDN'T GET $690,000 IN GRANT MONEY SUPERVISOR GILLETTE WE WORKED AND DID I BOUGHT IN 40, 50 AND $60,000 IN NATIVE PRESENTATION TO HELP PAY FOR THAT LAND.

OKAY. FROM 2002 TO NOW, LAST YEAR, WE BROUGHT IN $36,000.

OKAY, SO.

SO IT WASN'T DONATED.

WE PAID FOR IT.

THROUGH DONATIONS? NOT ALL DONATIONS.

OKAY. YOU'VE GOT 263 ACRES OF LAND THAT'S EARNING REVENUE FOR YOUR TRIBE.

IS THAT CORRECT? NO, IT'S NOT EARNING REVENUE.

THE TREES AREN'T GROWING.

TREES ARE GROWING.

CAN YOU HARVEST THEM? YEAH, WE CAN HARVEST THEM PROBABLY 25 YEARS FROM NOW.

WELL, IT DEPENDS. YOU AND I BOTH WOULD BE LONG GONE IN 25 YEARS.

IT DEPENDS ON THE ROTATION YOU SET UP.

SOME OF THOSE TREES WILL BE READY IN TEN YEARS OR LESS.

NO, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT IN THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION.

RECREATION. OKAY.

WHAT WE DID, WE DID A PLAN WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST TEN YEARS TO ACTUALLY BURN THE PROPERTY, BECAUSE LONGLEAF PINES, IN ORDER TO MANAGE IT, YOU HAVE TO BURN THEM. OKAY. YOU HAVE 200.

AND IN MY ESTIMATION, YOU HAVE 263 ACRES ABLE TO SUSTAIN ITSELF.

NOPE. NOT CURRENTLY.

IN THE FUTURE? YES.

NOT CURRENTLY.

YOU CAN'T TAKE LONG LEAF PINE SIBLINGS THAT WERE PLANTED IN 2018 AND SAY THAT'S GOING TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF NOW BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ACREAGE ENLARGED THAT'S LOBLOLLY PINE.

WHAT NOW? THAT'S A LOBLOLLY PINE THAT YOU MENTIONED.

YOU DIDN'T SET THE 263 ACRES OUT IN LONGLEAF PINE.

NO, WE DIDN'T PLANT THE WHOLE SECTOR.

WE DID NOT PLANT THE WHOLE 263 ACRES IN LONGLEAF PINES.

OKAY SO YOU GOT 263 ACRES OUT THERE THAT YOU COULD MANAGE AND BE SELF SUSTAINING.

IS THAT CORRECT? NOT SELF SUSTAINING NOW.

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND, SUPERVISOR GILLETTE.

MAYBE 25 YEARS FROM NOW.

I DO.

OKAY. NOT NOW.

I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH YOU, BUT THROUGH YOUR DONATIONS, I'M ONLY ASKING.

YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE AN ISSUE, YOU AND I.

BUT I'M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU.

I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION.

THROUGH YOUR DONATIONS.

THROUGH WHAT? THROUGH YOUR DONATIONS THAT YOU RECEIVE PLUS THE LAND AND THE RESOURCE TO CREATE SUSTAINABILITY, YOU CAN EXIST.

WHAT DONATIONS? WE WORK TO GET MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.

YOU JUST TOLD ME YOU GOT GRANTS AND DONATIONS.

NOT FOR THE WHOLE 263 ACRES.

OKAY, LOOK, I'M DONE WITH THE QUESTIONS.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO THE PEOPLE.

MY POINT IS YOU'RE SELF SUSTAINING NO WE'RE NOT. NOT NOW.

NOT NOW. WELL, MAYBE YOU.

MAYBE 25 YEARS FROM NOW, WE'LL BE.

AND ONCE WE GET FEDERAL RECOGNITION, WE WILL DEFINITELY BE SELF-SUSTAINING.

OKAY. AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN RECOGNIZED FEDERALLY? NO WE HAVEN'T. THERE'S ONLY SEVEN TRIBES IN VIRGINIA THAT'S BEEN FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED.

THE LAST SIX WERE RECOGNIZED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN HE SIGNED UP ON THE BILL THAT THOMAS [INAUDIBLE] JORDAN BILL IN 2018.

THERE ARE STILL THREE TRIBES IN VIRGINIA THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED YET.

ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? I JUST TOLD YOU WE WERE.

OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION AND THANK YOU.

SO I HOPE I ANSWERED YOU OKAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

TOM, YOU WANT TO COME UP? OKAY.

STILL GOT PLENTY OF TIME. WHO'S NEXT? IT IS NOW THE TIME TO ADDRESS ITEM EIGHT.

WILL THAT COME LATER OR DO I NEED TO SPEAK ON IT NOW? NOW? NOW GO AHEAD.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING UP THIS BURN ORDINANCE, BECAUSE PROBABLY FOR THE LAST 2 OR 3 YEARS, MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON SOME DAYS HAS BEEN ENGULFED IN SMOKE TO THE POINT THAT I COULDN'T WORK IN MY GARDEN.

OUR VEHICLES FILLED UP WITH IT.

OUR HOUSES SMELL LIKE IT AND IT SETTLED LIKE FOG.

[00:30:03]

AND THAT'S WHEN THE WINDS OUT OF THE SOUTH, SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST, AND IT GOES ON FOR 2 OR 3 DAYS SOMETIMES.

AND THEN IF IT RAINS, WE SMELL THE BURNT ASH, WHICH IS WORSE THAN THE SMOKE.

YOU DON'T BREATHE THE ASH, BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY BAD.

AND THEN WHEN YOU IN CHURCH A COUPLE OF TIMES WE'VE COME OUT OF CHURCH ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY, THE WIND WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE WEST.

BY THE WAY, I'M ALLEN APPLEWHITE, 23430 INDIAN WOODS TRAIL, COURTLAND, VIRGINIA.

THE WHOLE CHURCHYARD IN COURTLAND WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE.

AND IT'S COMING FROM WHAT THE COUNTY OF COLLECTS IN THESE DUMPSTERS.

AND I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND I ASK, I SAID, ALL OF Y'ALL HAVE CHIPPERS, RIGHT? THEY SAID YES. AND CHIP TRUCKS WITH A DUMP BODY.

I SAID, IS IT FEASIBLE IF WE HAVE SEVERAL UH GATHERING POINTS IN THE COUNTY, MAYBE ONE IN EACH DISTRICT THAT THESE LEAVES, LIMBS AND WHATEVER CAN BE PILED UP AND Y'ALL CHIP THEM? AND HE SAID WELL YEAH, THAT'S FEASIBLE.

I SAID, WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THEM? HE SAYS, WELL, WHAT ARE THE TREE SURGEONS DO WITH THEM NOW? A LOT OF THEM HAVE PLACES THAT THEY CAN DUMP THE CHIPS OR GET RID OF THEM OR WHATEVER.

I SAID, WHAT ABOUT ENVIVA? BECAUSE WHEN THEY CUT TIMBER, THEY CHIP HOLLY BUSHES, GRAPEVINES, WHATEVER GOES IN THERE.

AND THE RESPONSE WAS, SOMETIMES IN THOSE DUMPSTERS, A MATTRESS HAS BEEN IN THERE, METAL, EVERYTHING BUT LIMBS AND ALL THAT ENVIVA WILL NOT TAKE THAT.

SO JUST AS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR US TO GET RID OF THIS DEBRIS, I HAVE NO IDEA.

I'M SURE THAT'S A BUDGET ITEM, BUT I THINK IF WE SET UP SOME CENTRAL POINTS WHERE THIS COULD BE DUMPED AND MANAGED, WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST THROWING WHATEVER THEY GOT TO INTO IT, IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO TO QUIT THIS BURNING, AND I REALLY CAN'T HONESTLY TELL YOU HOW BAD THAT SMOKE WAS SOMETIMES.

I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.

AND I KNOW WE GOT TO GET RID OF THE STUFF, I MEAN, SOME SORT OF WAY.

BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY THAN THAT.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT OUR DUMP SITES, ESPECIALLY THE ONE ON 35.

I THINK THAT'S YOURS, MR. FAISON, IN YOUR DISTRICT RIGHT HERE AT WHITE HOUSE ROAD.

NO, NO IT'S NOT.

WHOSE IS THAT? IS THAT YOURS? NO, I'M IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND I'M RIGHT ACROSS FROM YOU.

I'M NOW IN THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT.

YOU ON THIS SIDE ON THE.

I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.

I'M ON INDIAN. RIGHT OFF OF INDIAN TOWN ROAD.

NO, MY DISTRICT DOES NOT CROSS 58.

I'M ON 35. SOUTH OF 58? YES, SIR. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE..

THEY CAME DOWN INDIAN TOWN ROAD.

GOT TO THE RAILROAD TRACK.

CAME DOWN MY ROAD AND SPLIT MY FARM ON MY FARM PATH.

I VOTED IN YOUR DISTRICT AND MY SON VOTES IN CAPRON DISTRICT.

AND THAT WAY IT TOOK IN A CHUNK OF LAND, EVIDENTLY.

BUT THAT DUMP SITE I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IT FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

AND WHEN DID THEY PULL THE BINS OUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOUR WATER.

THEY TRASH UNDER IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE NOBODY EVER PICKS IT UP.

THE FENCE IS LEANING AGAINST THE LIGHT POLE.

IT'S HARD TO GET IN AND OUT OF IT.

THE HAND-PAINTED SIGNS THAT RUN IT SAYS NO TIRES.

AND THEN TIRES ARE LAYING OVER THERE AND THE BAND WITH THE LIMBS AND LEAVES AND EVERYTHING HAS SOME OR EVERYTHING IN IT.

THE RECYCLE BIN STAYS FULL MOST OF THE TIME, YOU CAN'T PUT ANYTHING IN THAT.

AND I'M PAINTING A TRUE PICTURE, I'M NOT UP HERE TO EXAGGERATE.

IF YOU HAD A GLASS DOOR ON THOSE SHACKS THAT THE MEN SIT IN, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE WHO COMES IN.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR SLEEP OR WHATEVER.

AND I THINK I COULD GO UP THERE AND DUMP A DEAD CAT IN THE BIN.

NOBODY WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND I SAY THAT NOT JOKINGLY, I'M SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

IT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE TO GO UP TO.

THE BINS HAVEN'T BEEN PAINTED.

THEY LOOK LIKE THIRD WORLD COUNTRY STUFF.

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.

I'M BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COUNTY.

MY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SIX GENERATIONS ON THAT SAME FARM, AND I LOVE LIVING HERE.

BUT WE NEED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF WHAT WE'VE GOT.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE, WHO'S NOT LOOKING INTO IT, WHETHER WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO IT.

[00:35:04]

NOW DUMP SITE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] NOW.

RIGHT ON 35 RIGHT BELOW VDOT.

RIGHT. OKAY. THAT'S NOT MY DISTRICT.

NOT. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD IS MY DISTRICT.

WELL, I NOW VOTE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

WE'VE GOT SOME PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THEM, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT LATER TONIGHT AND EIGHT A, LATE ARRIVING MATTERS.

WE'RE AWARE OF THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IT.

WELL, YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S A BETTER WAY OF DOING ALL LIMBS AND LEAVES AND WHATEVER WE DUMP IN THAT BIN. EVEN IF WE HAVE TO EVEN DO IT, I DON'T KNOW.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO? TAKE EVERYBODY'S LIMBS AND LEAVES? I MEAN, I COULD GO TO THE HOUSE AND CUT DOWN A PINE TREE THAT BIG AND GET IT IN BLOCKS BIG ENOUGH TO PUT IN THERE.

AND IF WE NEED TO DO IT, LET'S JUST NOT MAKE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE SUFFER.

I'VE GOT FRIENDS ON WHITE ICE ROAD AND ON RIDLEY ROAD.

THE OTHER DAY YOU COULDN'T EVEN SEE RIDING DOWN THAT ROAD.

IT WAS A WONDER THEY DIDN'T SHUT DOWN 58.

AND YOU COULD SMELL IT ALL THE WAY TO NEWSOMS, AM I RIGHT? YEAH, TO THE HUNT CLUB.

OKAY. THANK Y'ALL.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

OKAY. THE CHIPS, IF THEY CHIP THEM, IS THAT TOO COARSE FOR MULCH OR NOT? I DON'T THINK SO. IT'S PROBABLY A SMALLER CHIP THAN WHAT ENVIVA GETS BECAUSE IT'S A SMALLER CHIP OR TWO.

YOU KNOW, THEY'LL CHIP UP GREAT BIG STUFF.

THIS IS LITTLE STUFF.

OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT DEEPER THAN I HAVE, BUT THOSE TREE SURGEONS SAID, YEAH, IT CAN BE DONE, YOU KNOW, FOR A FEE, I'M SURE.

BUT THEY'VE ALL GOT SIX WHEELERS CHIP TRUCKS AND SHIPS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS AND HONORABLE BOARD AND EVERYTHING, I MEAN EVERYONE.

EXCUSE ME. YEAH, I WAS SUFFERING.

UM, FIRST I HAVE TWO ITEMS. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SEGWAY OFF OF MR. APPLEWHITE RIGHT QUICK.

WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO YOUR LINE ITEM EIGHT OPEN BURNING ORDINANCE, YOU MAY WANT TO VISIT PAGE FOUR AND DO A BETTER DEFINITION DEFINITION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE, GARBAGE AND TRASH.

BECAUSE AS YOU READ THROUGH SOME OF THE LINE ITEMS, IT GETS KIND OF CONFUSING BECAUSE SAYING ITEM BE OPEN BURNING IS PERMITTED TO SITE DESTRUCTION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE.

HOMEOWNERS OR TENANTS PROVIDED THAT THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET.

THEN WHEN YOU GET TO LINE THREE, ITS GARBAGE IS NOT BURNT.

SO IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD WASTE, TRASH AND GARBAGE? SO IN YOUR PART UP THERE WHERE YOU'RE DEFINING IT NEEDS TO BE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY TO THOSE TERMS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THAT.

NOW MY FIRST ITEM I WAS GOING TO TALK ON, FIRST OF ALL, BEING YOUR CHAIRMAN OF YOUR ELECTORAL BOARD, I WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS DID IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE CITIZENS FOR COMING OUT AND RUNNING A GREAT ELECTION, NICE TURNOUT AND PEACEABLE.

UH, SECOND OF ALL, I'M COMING TO THE END OF MY FIRST TERM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, GOING FROM REDISTRICTING TO THE ORDINANCE AND NOW UPCOMING THINGS WHERE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE DOWNSIZING IT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO NEED AS MUCH CITIZEN HELP AS POSSIBLE AS YOUR DUTIES GET MORE BEARING. AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE CITIZENS FOR THEIR EARLY VOTING.

THAT WENT GREAT. WE HAD GOOD TURNOUT ON THAT, AND WE ALSO HAD GOOD TURNOUT ON OUR BEAUTIFUL ELECTION DAY ON NOVEMBER 9TH.

THE ONLY LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH IS IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE CITIZENS WOULD OPEN THE MAIL AND LOOK AT THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS, SO THEY WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY NEED TO GO TO VOTE, BEING, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE BEEN REDISTRICT AND EVERYTHING, AND THAT WOULD HELP OUT A WHOLE LOT. BUT OUR POLL WORKERS WHO DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM REDIRECTING THEM TO THE PROPER PLACE THEY NEEDED TO VOTE AT.

SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT?

[00:40:09]

I LIVE AT 27511 SOUTH HAMMOND PARKWAY IN COURTLAND.

CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, LAST MONTH, WHEN WE OPENED THE MEETING, YOU TOLD US THAT THE STATISTICS ON HOW THE PEOPLE APPROVED OR WERE SATISFIED WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OF COURSE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS THE ONE THAT THEY TRUSTED THE MOST.

BUT IN THE COURSE OF THE MEETING LAST TIME, I LOST A LITTLE BIT OF MY TRUST IN LOCAL, BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BILLS AND HOW WE PAID THE BILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT APPEARED TO ME THAT WHAT I WAS HEARING WAS IF A BILL CAME IN THAT SOMEBODY IN THE COUNTY MADE THAT WE PAID IT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT WAS BUDGETED, APPROVED, WHETHER IT WAS SOMETHING WE NEEDED OR WHATEVER.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE HAD A BILL, WE PAID IT NO MATTER WHAT.

AND YOU ALL SPEND A LOT OF TIME COMING UP WITH A BUDGET.

YOU SPEND MORE TIME ON THE BUDGET THAN YOU DO ANYTHING.

AND TO NOT TAKE IT ANY MORE SERIOUSLY THAN THAT, I MEAN, I COME I'M NOT A CPA OR ACCOUNTANT, BUT I COME FROM A BACKGROUND THAT WE WERE CONSTANTLY ASKED, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE, MORE EFFICIENT, MAKE MORE MONEY, COST LESS TO MAKE THAT MONEY? AND OF COURSE, GOVERNMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THOSE SAME RESTRICTIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY ACTUALLY DO IN THAT ONE COUNTRY WILL TRY TO TO UNDERMINE ANOTHER ONE BY ECONOMICS.

AND I JUST WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THAT, THAT THE COUNTY DIDN'T FEEL THEY HAD TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD TO GET APPROVAL FOR SOME EXPENDITURES. NOW, I KNOW IF IT'S BUDGETED, IT'S FINE, BUT THERE COMES A TIMES WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING UNEXPECTED TO HAPPEN, AND MAYBE YOU'VE GOT 100,000 IN YOUR PARTICULAR LINE ITEM AND YOU'VE HAD A $30,000 UNEXPECTED THING.

SO YOU NEED SOME, SOME HELP.

AND YOU AND THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WOULD COME AND SAY TO YOU AND SAY, WELL, WE HAVE 30,000 SHORT HERE AND WE REALLY GOT TO HAVE THIS, AND, AND WE SEE WHERE WE CAN NOT DO THIS THIS YEAR.

AND 10,000 OVER HERE AND 20,000 OVER HERE, AND YOU CAN APPROVE IT.

BUT JUST TO SPEND THE 30,000 JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED IT WITHOUT SOME KIND OF APPROVAL, AFTER YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO TO GET THE MONEY TO START WITH, THAT DOESN'T SEEM ACCEPTABLE TO ME.

AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED AT THAT.

ANOTHER ITEM I WANTED TO BRING UP TONIGHT IS I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STOPLIGHT AT THE FOOD LION HERE IN COURTLAND.

THE PROBLEM THERE IS SPEED AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP AT THE LIGHT.

AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO KICK THE ALL CUTS AROUND AND, AND THOSE THINGS WHICH WE'VE ALWAYS GONE THROUGH BEFORE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, IF WE GO THAT ROUTE, WE'RE PUNISHING THE CITIZENS INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON OUT THERE IS PEOPLE FROM FRANKLIN, HUNTERDALE, SEDLEY, BLACK CREEK ALL OUT IN THAT AREA, COME TO STORE STATION ROAD AND COME UP TO FOOD LION TO CROSS ACROSS THE DELIGHT.

EVEN PEOPLE IN COURTLAND COME, GO FLAGGY RUN TO THE STORY STATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO COME UP 58, THEY FEEL SAFER COMING THAT WAY, AND AN HOUR CUT WOULD TAKE THAT LIGHT OUT.

NOW THEY'D HAVE TO GO DOWN AND COME BACK.

WELL, THESE GO DOWN AND COME BACK.

SO YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE GOING LIKE THIS.

AND, AND WITH THE ISSUE IS, IT'S THE TRUCKS MAINLY AND TO THE CREDIT OF THE CITIZENS, THEY KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS. SO EVERYBODY WILL TELL YOU I DO NOT MOVE WHEN THAT LIGHT TURNS GREEN I WAIT TILL THE WAY IS CLEAR.

SO THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF THAT.

BUT STILL WE THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE ARE RUNNING THE STOPLIGHT AND THEY'RE GOING TOO FAST TO STOP.

AND WE'RE HERE THAT WE CAN'T STOP THE TRUCKS OR WE CAN'T STOP THE TRUCKS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY FOR THEM TO STOP.

OH, YES WE DO.

IF THEY'RE GOING EASTBOUND.

THERE'S A PLACE THAT THE TRUCK DRIVERS HAVE MADE OVER THE YEARS TO PULL OFF, JUST PAST WHERE YOU TURN FROM SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY ONTO CAMP PARKWAY.

YOU CAN PUT A SIGN UP THERE.

WE CAN PUT A SIGN THAT SAYS RESERVE FOR TRUCKS THAT ARE BEING PULLED FOR GOING TOO FAST.

THAT WAY, THE TRUCKERS WOULD SEE THE SIGN, KNOW WE'RE SERIOUS, AND SLOW DOWN.

[00:45:01]

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE MORE POLICE ENFORCEMENT COULD HELP.

WE CAN MAKE ANOTHER PLACE GOING WEST WHERE YOU COULD THEY COULD PULL OFF.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A PLACE WE COULD DO THAT, WHERE THEY COULD BE PULLED.

IF THEY NEEDED TO BE PULLED, WE COULD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PULL MANY BEFORE THEY COMMUNICATE ON THEIR RADIOS.

AND THE TRUCK STOPS.

THEY THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

GO TO SUFFOLK, SEE HOW FAST THE TRUCKS ARE RUNNING.

AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULDN'T SLOW THE TRUCKS DOWN IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GET TO THE PORT AND THEY HAD TO GET TO 95.

WELL, LOOK WHAT SUFFOLK IS DOING.

YOU GOT TO GO 35, AND IF YOU GO A LITTLE BIT OVER 35, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A TICKET BECAUSE MAYBE SOME OF Y'ALL EVEN GOT A TICKET.

BUT ANYWAY, AND ANOTHER ISSUE ON THE, SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD DEAL.

I THINK WE JUST NEED TO TRY TO SLOW THE TRUCKS DOWN AND TRAFFIC DOWN AND KEEP THEM FROM RUNNING THE STOPLIGHT BY GIVING TICKETS, RATHER THAN AFFECTING ALL THE COMMON, THE REGULAR PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THEN I WANTED TO ASK, AND I SEE MR. MADDOX IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU, AND I HOPE YOU'LL ASK HIM, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY WE SAVED FOR NOT CUTTING GRASS THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO SPEND THAT MONEY? AND I THINK MR. THROWER WOULD BE, IT'D BE GOOD FOR YOU AND MR. MADDOX TO TO GET TOGETHER IN JANUARY AND WORK OUT A SCHEDULE WHERE WE KNOW AHEAD OF TIME, BECAUSE NOW I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS WE CALL THEM.

SO WE NEED THE GRASS CUT AND THEY SAY, AND THE CONTRACTOR SAYS, WELL, I'M WAY OVER HERE ROUND RICHMOND NOW I CAN'T COME THERE FOR A MONTH, SO WE NEED TO TRY TO GET THEM SCHEDULED IN A YOU KNOW, DIVIDE THE YEAR UP AND, AND SO YOU CAN GET YOUR THREE CUTS AT A, REGULAR INTERVAL TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? I'D LIKE TO, LINDA SIMMONS, 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT WARREN SAID ABOUT THESE R CUTS.

THE SPEED LIMIT WAS LOWERED AFTER STRUGGLING FOR WHAT LINDA? FIVE YEARS.

THEY HAD A 50 MILES AN HOUR.

NOBODY'S GOING 50.

AND YOU GO AND YOU PUT THESE R CUTS OUT THERE.

FIRST OFF, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE BUSINESS AT FOOD LION BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE THE ROUNDABOUT.

THE R CUTS WERE MENTIONED TODAY TO ONE PERSON BY ME AND THEY SAID, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH SILLY STUFF OUT HERE ALREADY.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE ROUNDABOUT.

THEY'RE LOST IN IT.

SOME OF THE SIGNS, BY THE WAY, MR. MADDOX, ARE DOWN AT THAT RIGHT NOW AS I SPEAK, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY.

THEY'RE HITTING THE SIGNS AND KNOCKING THEM DOWN.

THE TRUCKS CAN'T NAVIGATE IT.

THEY'RE RUNNING OVER THE TOP OF IT.

SOME OF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ONE PART I SAW THE OTHER DAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BROKEN OFF.

THEY CAN'T NAVIGATE THAT.

BUT THE R CUTS, IF THEY DON'T SLOW THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE ACCIDENTS IN THAT CORRIDOR.

WARREN AND I WILL HAVE BEEN OUT THERE DECEMBER THE 13TH, 45 YEARS.

I KNOW EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THAT CORRIDOR.

AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU I INITIATED THAT PROJECT TO LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE WAITING FOR ANOTHER DISASTER TO HAPPEN, UNLESS WE DON'T NEED THOSE.

I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO PLAY ENGINEERING UP HERE, BUT IT WILL BE A TOTAL DISASTER OUT THERE.

WE'VE ALREADY HASHED THIS OUT WITH THE COMMISSIONER FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA BACK IN 2018, OR WHENEVER THEY LOWERED THE SPEED LIMIT, WE FINALLY WERE SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THEY WERE NOT, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WORK AT THAT TIME.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO WORK THIS TIME.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO FOOD LION NOW FROM EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING FRANKLIN, BECAUSE THEY LIKE THAT STORE.

I HATE TO TALK STATISTICS, BUT SUNDAY MORNING I WERE PRIVY TO A NUMBER OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS MADE IN THE FOOD LION STORE SUNDAY.

THEY SET A RECORD AND IT WAS ENORMOUS.

PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING THERE FROM EVERYWHERE.

IF WE DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND PUNISH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BREAKING THE LAW, ENFORCE THAT STOPLIGHT FOR WHAT IT IS.

THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE NOT ADHERING TO THE LAW OR CUTS ARE NOT GOING TO FIX IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO CAUSE US MORE ACCIDENTS.

PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO SPEED.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE WRECKS AND PEOPLE, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE BUSINESS FOR THE ONE BUSINESS THAT'S OUT THERE IN THE CORRIDOR WORTH A HOOT.

AND I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME OTHERS, BUT THEY'RE SMALL.

BUT FOOD LION IS THE MAGNET OUT THERE, AND IT'S A SHAME TO PUNISH THAT STORE AND THAT BUSINESS WITH STUFF THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

AND I'M HERE TO SAY IT WON'T WORK.

I WANT IT IN THE MINUTES, IT WON'T WORK.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

[00:50:03]

OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 24TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING.

[2. Approval of Minutes ]

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. THOSE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

NUMBER THREE, VDOT MATTERS.

THIS IS SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, AND WE HAVE MR.

[3 . VDOT Matters ]

NUMBER ONE, THE GRASS CUTTING ON THE 58 CORRIDOR, WHICH HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

AND NUMBER TWO, SAFETY CONCERNS CONCERNING THE STORY STATION 58 INTERSECTION.

WELCOME, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU HAVING US AND GETTING TIME TO COME UP AND TALK TO YOU.

FIRST I'LL TALK ABOUT THE MOWING THAT WE'VE DONE TWO CYCLES OF MOWING ON THE PRIMARY THIS YEAR IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. FIRST CYCLE WE STARTED ON JUNE 15TH AND THE SECOND CYCLE STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.

WHAT WE TRY AND DO WHENEVER WE CAN, AS FAR AS THE MAINTENANCE AND MOWING GOES, IS WE TRY AND DO SOME SPRAYING WITH THE GRASS TO KIND OF KEEP IT LOW AS MUCH AS WE CAN, SO WE CAN PUSH OUR CYCLES BACK AND GET THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.

WITH THE WINTER THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF WETNESS, A LOT OF RAIN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THE DRYNESS AND THE SPRAYING THAT WE DID REALLY, REALLY BENEFITED WITH THAT, WITH THE, THE GRASS.

AND WE REALLY GOT TO PUSH THAT CYCLE TO JUNE, WHICH HELPED.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS THAT LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THAT.

WHEN WE DO.

IT'S NICE THAT WE CAN TAKE SOME OF OUR MAINTENANCE FUNDS AND DO SOME OTHER WORK WITH IT.

WE DID A LITTLE BIT MORE SURFACE TREATING.

WE WERE ABLE TO REPLACE A LOT OF CROSS PIPES ON SIGNPOST ROAD THAT HAVE BEEN IN DISARRAY, AND WE HAVE MORE WORK SCHEDULED ON SIGNPOSTS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO IN THE PAST.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO DO THAT ENTIRE ROAD.

UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY WITH US TO THE COST OF MATERIALS AND EVERYTHING KEEPS GOING UP BUT MOWING, WE'RE COMMITTED TO MOWING.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO GETTING OUR BOTH OUR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MOWING WITH CONTRACTORS TO KEEP THEM ON SCHEDULE, TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN DONE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

AND WE DO OPERATE WITH THE ONE 800 NUMBER.

YOU KNOW THAT IF WE DO GET ISSUES WHERE THERE IS SIGHT DISTANCE, THAT WE CAN GET OUR AREA HEADQUARTERS TO GET OUT THERE AND GET THOSE SITUATIONS TAKEN CARE OF AS QUICK AS WE'RE MADE AWARE OF THEM.

BUT IT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO, OUR MOWING CYCLE AND THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND ON MOWING.

WE TRY AND GET THE MOST BENEFIT OUT OF THAT AS WE CAN.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE AWARE OF.

I MEAN, AGAIN, WE'RE RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH HAMPTON.

I DRIVE 58 EVERY DAY COMING AND GOING TO WORK.

SO, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS HIGH ON OUR LIST TO GET DONE AS WELL.

IT'S A, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD EVERYWHERE, THE WHOLE RESIDENCY.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD AND GET THE MOST THAT WE CAN FOR IT.

SO THAT'S HOW WE LOOK AT IT AND USING OUR CONTRACTORS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO ISSUE WHEN IT'S TIME TO MOW.

WE CALL OUR CONTRACTOR UP PER THE SPECS OF THE CONTRACT.

THEY'VE GOT A REQUIREMENT WITHIN TEN DAYS THAT THEY'VE GOT TO START THEIR CYCLE.

SO WE PUT THEM ON NOTICE.

THEY COME OUT AND WITHIN 30 DAYS THEY'VE GOT TO COMPLETE A NORMAL CYCLE.

UNLESS DURING THAT CYCLE WE GET SOME WEATHER, SOME RAIN THAT KIND OF SLIDES IT BACK A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WE DO KEEP THEM TO THE CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING, THAT WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING FOR IT.

I DON'T, I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ADVERSARIAL, BUT I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

SURE. I SAW A LITTLE THING COME SCROLLING ACROSS MY TV SCREEN THAT THE PENTAGON WANTED 115 MILLION MORE DOLLARS

[00:55:07]

STATE AGENCIES, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PUT INTO DEI OR CULTURAL COMPETENCY THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE TAKEN CARE OF SOME UH, GREATER NEEDS, SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY, MORE AND THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES THAT TEND TO SOMETIMES CREATE SITE AND ACCIDENTS.

HAVE YOU GOT ANY IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY WENT INTO THAT TRAINING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION? JUST YOUR DEPARTMENT? NO, I DON'T.

I MEAN, I DIDN'T THINK SO, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY A HUGE NUMBER.

AND SOMEBODY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT IN THEIR BUDGET REQUEST AND THEIR UPCOMING BUDGET REQUEST.

ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO ATTACK IT NOW THAT WE'VE GOT A GOVERNOR, THAT'S SOMEWHAT WELL, NOT SOMEWHAT, THAT IS MORE IN LINE WITH REDUCING THE EMPHASIS ON DEI.

AND WE ALL SEE IT NOW.

WHAT'S HAPPENED TO US WITH REGARD TO OUR UNIVERSITIES? I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HAS 94 PROFESSORS IN THEIR DEI OFFICE.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, THAT OTHERWISE COULD BE PUT INTO MORE VALUABLE EDUCATION.

AND THIS IS AFFECTING ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

IT'S AFFECTING OUR TRASH.

IT'S AFFECTING ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF, AS A LOCAL ENTITY OF VDOT HAS ADDRESSED THIS WITH OUR SENATOR.

I ADDRESSED SENATOR WARNER, AND I'VE GOT ALL THE EMAILS ARCHIVED ON MY PHONE WHEN HE CAME TO FRANKLIN CONCERNING THIS WOKE CURRICULUM, GETTING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND HOW IT GOT THERE SO QUICKLY.

I WAS CORRECT IN PRESENTING TO HIM THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT WAS TIED TO GRANTS.

THE FURTHER QUESTION WAS THAT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER FROM IN HIS OFFICE WAS, THAT'S THE CARROT AND THE STICK THAT THEY USE TO GET IT INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, THREATENING GRANT MONEY.

MY LAST QUESTION, I HAD FOUR QUESTIONS.

THE LAST ONE WAS WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRYING TO STABILIZE AND MAKE IT SO SECURE IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT ATTACHING TO ANOTHER FEDERAL LAW CALLED THE FARM BILL, WHERE THE SCHOOL LUNCH MONEY IS.

AND IF THE POLICIES AREN'T ADOPTED OR ACCEPTED BY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ARE THEY THREATENING THEM WITH THE FAILURE TO RECEIVE THEIR SCHOOL LUNCH MONEY? I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN ANSWER ON THAT ONE YET.

AND THIS TO ME, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT FILTERS DOWN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SUCKS AWAY TAX MONEY, THAT COULD BE PUT TO PRODUCTIVE USE AND THE LACK OF IT PRODUCES THESE COMPLAINTS.

SO I HOPE VDOT HAS SOMEBODY WITH GUTS ENOUGH TO STAND UP AND TELL THEM THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS AND HELP FIGHT TO CUT OUT THIS SPENDING THAT IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

UH, WE COULD NOT AGREE ON GENDER IN MY EMAILS.

UH AND WHAT THEY HOW THE GENDER IDENTITY GOT INTO TITLE NINE.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE MEN COMPETING IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.

AND SO HOW DID IT GET THERE SO QUICKLY? THEY SUBSTITUTED BIOLOGICAL SEX, WHICH IS IN TITLE NINE.

THEY SUBSTITUTED GENDER IDENTITY AND ONCE THEY GOT IT IN THERE, IT'S AFFECTED EVERYBODY.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE MULTI-MILLIONS OF PROBABLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAS GONE NATIONWIDE.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT'S BEEN SUCKED OUT OF THE REVENUE STREAM CALLED TAXES TO FUND IT.

AND IT'S AFFECTING US.

IT'S AFFECTING YOUR OPERATION.

IT'S AFFECTING THE PRISON SYSTEM.

UH, AND IT'S FILTERED DOWN TO US AND.

[01:00:02]

I KNOW, BUT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SPEAK UP WHEN THESE THINGS ARE PUT IN PLACE AND THEY'RE TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

AND I'M NOT, I SOUND LIKE I'M FUSSING AT YOU, BUT I'M NOT FUSSING AT YOU.

IT'S THE SYSTEM, AND WARNER DID NOT.

HE SAID HE TOLD THE CROWD IN FRANKLIN, I'M GOING TO INVESTIGATE IT.

HE DIDN'T, AND I LET HIM KNOW THAT IN AN EMAIL.

HE DIDN'T. HE PASSED IT OFF TO AN AIDE.

THAT AIDE PASSED IT OFF TO AN EDUCATION AIDE.

NOW, HE DIDN'T STAND FOR A POSITION.

THE AID. HE ASKED FOR MY CONTACT INFORMATION, WHICH I GAVE IT TO HIM.

THEY DIDN'T STAND FOR THEIR POSITION, THEY PASSED IT OFF TO THE EDUCATION.

SO NOBODY'S STANDING FOR ANY POSITION.

THEY HAVEN'T GOT GUTS ENOUGH TO STAND.

AND WE GOT TO GET THIS BACK IN OUR GOVERNMENT, OR WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO TAX ENOUGH.

AND I FEEL FOR YOU IN YOUR POSITION BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING DOWN HERE TRYING TO TAKE THESE NUMBERS.

YOU DON'T APPROVE THEM.

THEY WERE APPROVED ABOVE YOU, BUT THEY'RE GIVEN TO YOU.

WE'RE STRETCHING EVERY DOLLAR WE HAVE.

I UNDERSTAND.

TRUST ME, I UNDERSTAND.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THE SYSTEM.

I'VE GOT A QUESTION A LOT LIGHTER THAN WILLIAM HART'S.

THE SIGNPOST ROAD, WHERE THAT FISHING HOLE IS.

YES. ARE YOU GOING TO PUT? GUARDRAIL, YES.

WHEN THE PROJECT IS DONE AND WE GO IN AND DO THE PAVING OF THE ROAD, ONCE THAT'S ALL COMPLETE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT GUARDRAIL DEFINITELY THERE.

POSSIBLY ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

YOU'RE GOING TO RUIN PEOPLE'S FISHING.

WE'LL MAKE IT LOW. BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE R CUT, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ON MAINTENANCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YES. IN BOYKINS ON DELOACH AVENUE, THAT ROAD IS DETERIORATING QUITE A BIT.

THE FIRST DRIVEWAY TO THE RIGHT, THERE'S A POTHOLE RIGHT THERE AT THAT DRIVEWAY.

AND I LIKE FOR YOU, JUST LOOK AT THAT ROAD.

IT NEEDS ATTENTION.

TALK TO THE AREA TO HAVE THEM GO OUT AND TAKE THEM.

EVEN WHEN IT LEADS INTO WHAT NUMBER EIGHT SIGNPOST.

THAT WHOLE SECTION. OKAY.

I GOT A TEXT THIS MORNING THAT WORK HAD COMMENCED ON CORINTH ROAD REGARDING ROOT DAMAGE TO THE ASPHALT, WHICH TORE ALL THE PIECES.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT.

WE APPRECIATE IT. TRY AND GET THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD, GOOD. THANK YOU.

I'VE GOT ONE JONAS BRIDGE ROAD FROM BLACK CREEK ROAD TO ISLE WIGHT, YOU KNOW, LAND, YOU KNOW, AT THE JONAS BRIDGE ITSELF. YEAH.

WE'VE HAD I'VE HAD SOME COMPLAINTS FROM FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT ABOUT PEOPLE SPEEDING THROUGH THERE ALL THE TIME, AND WE'RE HOPING WE COULD GET IT DROPPED TO 45 THROUGH THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL GOT TO DO A STUDY ON IT OR WHAT, BUT YEAH.

THAT'S A MAJOR CUT THROUGH, RIGHT? PEOPLE CUT THROUGH THERE FROM ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY COMING TO COURTLAND.

AND WE COULD DROP THAT SPEED LIMIT.

I THINK IT WOULD HELP AND IMPROVE THE ROAD IF YOU CAN.

I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW IT TAKES YEARS TO GET THAT DONE, BUT.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK. OKAY.

AND THERE'S A HOLE BY THE BRIDGE ON BOND'S CHURCH CIRCLE.

BRIAN TOOK A PICTURE OF IT.

IT'S ABOUT 3.5FT DEEP.

OKAY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

ANY OTHER CONCERNS OR ISSUES? ON CARYS BRIDGE ROAD, THANK YOU FOR FIXING THAT CULVERT.

MAYBE THAT'LL HELP WITH THE FLOODING.

YEAH. TRYING TO GET OUT THERE.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN DONE.

GOOD. FINISHED.

IT WAS BETWEEN [INAUDIBLE] AND CARYS BRIDGE IS WHAT I CALL.

OKAY. TO TALK ABOUT THE FUN STUFF NOW. YARD CUT.

[01:05:01]

WE DID TALK TO PAUL AND STAFF, BETH LEWIS AND I.

I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO.

THIS TOPIC KEEPS COMING UP AT ALMOST EVERY BOARD MEETING ALONG WITH THE DUMP SITE ISSUE.

SO THOSE APPEAR TO BE HEAVY CONVERSATION TOPICS IN THE COUNTY.

SO WE DID ASK PAUL AND HIS STAFF TO COME TO THIS MEETING TO ADDRESS THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE.

AND WE DID PUT I DID PUT IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.

THERE WAS A PRESENTATION AND A PLAN.

JUNE 12TH, 2019, US 58 ARTERIAL PRESERVATION PLAN, WHERE THEY LOOKED AT THE 58 CORRIDOR FROM, I GUESS, SUFFOLK TO EMPORIA.

AND THAT PLAN, IT CALLS FOR RECONFIGURING THAT INTERSECTION INTO WHAT THEY CALL AN R CUT CONFIGURATION.

AND WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME VIDEOS HERE.

VERY INFORMATIVE VIDEOS, ONES ABOUT 2 OR 3 MINUTES, ONES PROBABLY 7 OR 8 MINUTES.

BUT IN LOOKING AT THAT PROJECT, WE DO FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD SMART SCALE PROJECT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THIS CONCEPT TO THE JANUARY CTEC MEETING FOR THEIR REVIEW AND FEEDBACK, AND THEN PLAN ON BRINGING THIS BACK TO YOU ALL AT YOUR FEBRUARY MEETING TO ENDORSE.

ASK FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT ON THAT PROJECT.

BUT I'LL LET PAUL KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW, AND THEN I'LL ASK SUSAN TO PLAY THE FIRST OF THE TWO VIDEOS.

SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ARTERIAL STUDY THAT BRIAN TALKED ABOUT AGAIN, DONE IN JUNE OF 2019 AND EMPORIA TO SUFFOLK AND TWO OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED WHEN THEY DID THAT ARTERIAL STUDY, JUST AS A MATTER OF FACT, STARTED TODAY WITH SOME DRILLING AND CORING THAT WAS BEING DONE BOTH AT THE CROSSOVER NUMBER 73, WHICH IS RECONFIGURING THE CROSSOVER AT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS THE INTERSECTION NUMBER 38, WHICH IS RECONFIGURING THE INTERSECTION OF US 58 AND CAMP PARKWAY.

SO BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS ARTERIAL STUDY, AND THEY BECOME SMART SCALE PROJECTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT. SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT THING TO GET A SMART SCALE PROJECT AND TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAN HELP.

FOR THIS, OUR CUT, WHICH IS IT'S UNDER THE CATEGORY OF INNOVATIVE INTERSECTIONS, AND IT STANDS FOR RESTRICTED CROSSING, U-TURN, R CUT, SOMETIMES THEY'RE CALLED SUPERSTREET INTERSECTIONS AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE REFERRED TO AS J TURNS.

THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT THEM.

AND THE REASON THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE IS BECAUSE THEY DO TWO THINGS VERY WELL.

THEY CUT DOWN ON ACCIDENTS AND THEY CUT DOWN ON THE SEVERITY OF ACCIDENTS.

AND THE MAIN REASON THAT THEY DO THAT IS, IS BY ELIMINATING CROSS POINTS.

SO WHEN YOU'RE AT AN INTERSECTION AND YOU START MAKING LEFT TURNS AND THERE'S ONCOMING TRAFFIC, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF INTERSECTING POINTS THAT YOU CAN HIT THAT CAUSE ACCIDENTS, T-BONING OR OFF ANGLE ACCIDENTS, OR SOME OF THE MOST SEVERE ACCIDENTS THAT YOU CAN HAPPEN THAT CAN HAPPEN OUT THERE BY PUTTING IN AN R CUT, BY ELIMINATING THAT POSSIBILITY, YOU BECOME HAVE A LOT SAFER INTERSECTION. THERE ARE EIGHT STATES THAT I LOOKED AT JUST WHEN I WAS PULLING UP SOME INFORMATION AND GOOGLING IT TODAY.

THERE ARE EIGHT STATES THAT HAVE PUT IN R CUTS AROUND MARYLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, AND THEY'VE DONE AND STUDIED THESE THINGS.

THEY'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT THEM TEN YEARS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN PUT IN.

THEY'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT THEM, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AFTER THEY WERE PUT IN TO MAKE SURE TO LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, TO LOOK AT THE CRASH DATA, TO LOOK AT THE ACCIDENT COUNT. AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

THEY WORK AT BEING SAFE, WHICH IS WHAT AN R CUT IS REALLY ABOUT.

SO LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AT THIS ARTERIAL STUDY, LOOKING AT WHAT BACK IN 2019, THEY IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE REALLY ADDS SOME INTERESTING AND SAFE ISSUES TO PUT THERE.

AND THAT'S BY NO MEANS IS AN R CUT A 100% THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING, NOTHING IS.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT SAFETY AND YOUR CONCERN IS SAFETY, AN R CUT REALLY GOES A LONG WAY IN MAKING THINGS SAFER, MAKING INTERSECTIONS SAFER.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO AND LOOK AT, GOOGLE R CUTS.

[01:10:03]

THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY, THEY PUT OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION ON R CUTS BECAUSE WHEN A STATE DECIDES TO PUT ONE IN, THEY COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT.

THEY LOOK AT THE RESULTS.

MARYLAND, THEY PUT NINE R CUTS AT INTERSECTIONS ALONG US 15 AND US 201, VERY BUSY ROADS IN MARYLAND.

AND OVERALL THEY HAD A 44% REDUCTION IN TOTAL CRASHES.

MINNESOTA DID EIGHT R CUT INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THEY HAD AT THOSE EIGHT R CUT INTERSECTIONS, THEY HAD A 100% REDUCTION IN FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY RIGHT ANGLE CRASHES, AGAIN, THE T-BONE CRASH.

NORTH CAROLINA HAS 93 R CUT INTERSECTIONS, AND OVERALL, THEY'VE SEEN A 59% REDUCTION IN TOTAL CRASHES AND A 71% REDUCTION IN FATAL AND INJURY CRASHES.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT TO LOOK AT IT, TO READ SOME OF THE STUDIES.

THEY'RE VERY INFORMATIVE AND IT'S WRITTEN THAT, YOU KNOW, ANYONE CAN UNDERSTAND IT, AND ANYONE CAN LOOK AT THE DATA AND GO THROUGH THE INFORMATION.

BUT JUST AN AWFUL LOT OF IT THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT REALLY MAKES A GOOD POINT WITH IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THAT ARTERIAL STUDY.

AGAIN, THINK IT'S A GREAT CANDIDATE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SMART SCALE.

YOU'VE HAD TWO GREAT SMART SCALE PROJECTS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.

AND JERRY PAULY FROM THE DISTRICT CAME OUT TO, HE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND HOW THIS ONE LOOKS, BUT I THINK WATCHING THE VIDEOS MIGHT BE A GOOD BREAK TO KIND OF SO EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT IN FACT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY WORK IN OPERATION.

THESE PLANS ARE PRE-APPROVED AND ARE CORRECT AT VDOT? THE PLANS FOR AKA TRANSPORTATION.

PRE-APPROVED. YEAH, YEAH, I'LL.

MY QUESTION ARE THERE ARE TWO OF THEM? THREE OF THEM? HOW MANY DIFFERENCES? ONE, IN MY ESTIMATION, IS A LITTLE TOO SMALL FOR WHERE IT'S LOCATED AND BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS.

AND SECOND, THERE'S SO MUCH AT A PUBLIC WHEN THEY APPROACH IT, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET USED TO IT.

THEY'RE PUMPING THE BRAKES.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN TO YIELD.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN TO STOP.

MYSELF, I HAD TO GO UP THERE AND DO A REHEARSAL.

WHEN YOU PUT IT IN. I DROVE UP THERE ONE NIGHT WHEN THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC AND, AND AND DID A PRACTICE RUN AND BUT I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DRIVERS.

THAT ARE CONFUSED BY THE SIGNAGE AND THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN TO STOP OR WHEN TO YIELD.

AND I KNOW IF SOMEBODY IN THE CIRCLE YOU YIELD, RIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING, BUT THAT ONE IS TOO SMALL.

I'M GETTING BACK TO HOW MANY PLANS DO YOU HAVE? THAT A PRE-APPROVED SO.

OKAY, WELL, YOU DIDN'T DESIGN THAT ONE QUITE BIG ENOUGH FOR THE TURNS.

AND WELL, IT'S DESIGNED BASED UPON WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE THE DESIGN VEHICLE.

IT COULD BE A SCHOOL BUS.

WELL, HOW ABOUT A TRACTOR TRAILER? THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO UPON WHICH ONE OF THE.

I CAN'T SAY I WASN'T INVOLVED WITH THE DESIGN OF THAT.

I CAN'T SAY WHAT THEY DESIGNED IT FOR, BUT THEY CHOOSE A SPECIFIC VEHICLE AND DESIGN IT FOR THAT.

IF YOU REVIEW THINGS AS YOU SEE.

WELL, THAT'S THE SECOND THING.

IT DOES HAVE MOUNTABLE CURB.

SO. YOU GET ENOUGH ASPHALT FOR A AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS NOW, NOT THE ONES WHERE THE ROUNDABOUTS YOU GET X AMOUNT OF ASPHALT.

AND THAT'S WHERE MOST CARS AND MOST VEHICLES WILL RIDE.

BUT YOU GIVE A CONCRETE APRON INSIDE THAT TRACTOR TRAILERS CAN ACTUALLY USE TO MAKE THEIR TURN.

THAT'S DONE ON PURPOSE.

AND IT'S USED AS A CHANNELIZING DEVICE, SO CARS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO RIDE UP ON IT.

BUT WHAT WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THESE PROJECTS? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? IN TIME? YEARS? THREE YEARS? FOUR YEARS? WELL, IT COST.

THIS IS THE PROGRAM.

[01:15:01]

SO WE'D BE TALKING IN THE 20.

MYSELF, RIGHT? 2728 TIME FRAME.

28 YES.

SO MY QUESTION IS WE'RE MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU GOING TO DO NOW? WELL, THAT'S FOUR YEARS, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

I UNDERSTAND YOU GOT TO GET IT IN THE PROGRAM.

THEN IF IT'S A GOOD AND CHEAP ENOUGH PROJECT, A LOT OF TIMES THESE SMALLER PROJECTS ARE MOVED FORWARD AND ACTUALLY BUILT BEFORE THEY SHOULD BE.

I CAN'T SAY THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPEN WITH THIS.

SO IT COULD BE 2 OR 3 YEARS.

COULD BE. SO WHAT DO WE DO FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS? I MEAN, WE'RE NOT WE'RE LOOKING AT A SOLUTION THAT VDOT OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH NOW, NOT TWO, 3 OR 4 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM NOW.

WHAT PROBLEMS DO YOU LET GO FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS? IF YOU HAVE A CANCER, YOU DON'T WAIT FOUR YEARS TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

I UNDERSTAND, SO I MEAN, YOU'VE HAD TRAFFIC COME DOWN HERE.

IT SEEMS TO ME YOUR ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF NEAR MISSES.

I'VE HAD A NEAR MISS AT THAT TRAFFIC LIGHT THERE.

I'VE SEEN THREE OF THEM IN THE LAST 2 OR 3 MONTHS, AND I'M ONLY THERE ABOUT 15 MINUTES OUT OF THAT THREE MONTHS.

LORD KNOWS HOW MANY THEY ARE THERE.

SO OUR CONCERN THAT THIS PROJECT IS FINE, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW.

NOT TWO, 3 OR 4 YEARS FROM NOW.

COULD YOU ENHANCE THE FLASHING LIGHT THAT TELLS YOU WHEN IT'S BLINKING? EXPECT A RED LIGHT.

COULD YOU ENHANCE THAT? BECAUSE IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE BLINKING LIGHTS, IT WORKS.

BUT FOR SOME REASON THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION OF THE DRIVERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THAT.

BUT BUT I KNOW IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE YELLOW LIGHTS BLINKING, IT WORKS.

IT DOES. I SEE THOSE WHEN I COME AND GO FROM WORK EVERY DAY.

IF I SEE THEM BLINKING, I PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S..

EXACTLY THEY DO WORK.

BUT APPARENTLY THE TRUCKERS ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BLINKING LIGHTS.

AND WHEN YOU SEE UP LIKE YOU DO IN EMPORIA, WHEN YOU COME UP TO 95? RUMBLE STRIPS, AND WHEN YOU SEE THEY PUT THEM UP, I DON'T KNOW, EVERY SO MANY YARDS OR WHATEVER, BUT.

THEY DON'T. I KNOW VDOT DOESN'T LIKE TO PUT THEM IN IF IT'S CLOSE TO RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE THEY ARE LOUD.

YEAH, THEY ARE LOUD.

AND ONE CASE THAT I HAD, WE HAD HOUSES THAT WERE HALF A MILE AWAY, MILE AWAY, COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NOISE, THE CONSTANT BURP, BURP, BURP.

SO THEY DO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THAT.

AND LIKE I SAY, IF IT'S CLOSE TO RESIDENTIAL.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT TRAFFIC COULDN'T CONSIDER.

WHEN YOU SEE THE BLUE LIGHTS BLINKING BEHIND FLASHING BEHIND YOU, THAT..

THAT'S A GREAT DETERRENT TOO.

YEAH. IT WORKS.

THE PROBLEM IS, I MEAN, THE SHERIFF DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SIT OUT THERE AND RUN RADAR ALL THE TIME.

WE WANT THEM TO, BUT THEY OUT THERE SOMETIMES WHEN I COME BY, SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT.

SOMETIMES STATE TROOPERS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT.

SO I MEAN, THAT'S NOT THE REAL ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS, WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN SUFFOLK WORKS.

WHY DID WE DISCONTINUE [INAUDIBLE] THE CAMERAS AGAIN? BECAUSE I MEAN, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY SLOWS DOWN.

YOU DON'T HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU DONE SLOWED DOWN.

SO CAN WE DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT DOING RED LIGHT CAMERAS, THAT'S ON YOU, THE COST TO PUT THAT IN AND THE COST TO HAVE AN OFFICER THAT LOOKS AT THE PICTURES.

AND SO AS WE DISCUSSED, THAT IS A LOCAL THAT IS LIKE PAUL SAID, THAT'S A LOCAL, AND I BELIEVE THE COUNTY PRIOR TO ME BEING HERE HAS LOOKED AT THAT. AND THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC IS SO LOW AND THE STRESS THAT PUTS ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, THAT'S A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON THAT.

WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT DOING THAT AND WHAT THE EXPENSE WOULD BE, IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT IN YOUR FY 25 BUDGET.

THE CONUNDRUM HERE, JUST LIKE I DEALT WITH THIS FOR YEARS IN EMPORIA, YOU'VE GOT A HIGHWAY WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO PUSH FREIGHT AND TRUCKS, WHERE IT'S INCREASINGLY BECOME COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.

AND THERE LIES THE CONFLICT.

SO WHAT WE PRESENTED, IT MAY NOT BE OVERNIGHT, BUT IS A GOOD PROPOSAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME LONG TERM STRATEGIES.

BUT BESIDES LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE TO 40 OR 50 THROUGH THERE AND POSSIBLY MORE ENFORCEMENT, I DON'T I DON'T

[01:20:08]

THE CAMERAS ARE LOCAL.

THE R CUTS OF VDOT RIGHT? WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT CAMERAS, WHAT'S THE COST OF THE CUT? WHAT'S THE FORECAST FOR THE CUT COSTING US 1.2 I CAN'T REMEMBER 1.2, 1.2 MILLION.

1.2 MILLION.

ALL RIGHT. TIME OUT.

TIME OUT. NOW LET'S COMPARE THAT TO THE COST OF THE CAMERA AND DEDUCT IT FROM THE COST OF BUILDING THE R CUT.

PUT THE CAMERA IN AND LET'S SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

AND SAVE SOME MONEY.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE WANT YOU.

WE WANT GO TO YOUR BOSS AND TELL YOU, HEY, BOSS, WE'RE GOING TO SAVE SOME MONEY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT I THINK LONG TERM THE R CUT WILL BE MUCH MORE SAFER.

ALTERNATIVE THAN PUTTING THIS CAMERA WILL BE REGARDLESS.

WHEN FOLKS START GETTING $200 BILLS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T STOP..

WORDS GONE GET AROUND THESE TRUCKERS ONCE THEY FIND, YOU KNOW, WORD GETS AROUND.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I KEEP ON HEARING SUFFOLK BEING REFERENCED WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN SUFFOLK, THAT IS IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND ALSO SCHOOL ZONES THAT ARE YOU CAN ONLY PUT THOSE TYPE CAMERAS IN THOSE PLACES BY STATE CODE.

YOU CAN'T JUST PUT THOSE CAMERAS ANYWHERE.

WELL ADVERTISE IT FUTURE CONSTRUCTION SAVINGS FROM R CUTS AND PUT THE SIGN UP AND LET'S GET ON WITH IT AND SAVE SOME MONEY AND STOP THE TRUCKS.

LET'S PUT LET'S GO HERE FIRST THING THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TO PUT IN AN APPLICATION.

I FOLLOW YOU, I LOOK GOVERNMENT.

THERE IS NO MONEY THAT'S SITTING THERE WAITING FOR THIS.

THIS IS JUST TO PUT IN AN APPLICATION TO BE FUNDED IN THE.

BUT THERE'S A NUMBER WITH IT.

THERE'S A NUMBER WITH IT, AND THAT NUMBER CHANGES OVER THE COURSE OF THE TIME SPAN BEFORE YOU GET THERE.

YES, SIR. THERE'S A NUMBER WITH IT.

SO THE PURPOSE TONIGHT WAS JUST TO BRIEF YOU ON THAT.

SUSAN, CAN YOU PLAY THE FIRST VIDEO? THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, VDOT, IN ITS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING SAFETY AND MOBILITY FOR ALL ROAD USERS IN VIRGINIA, PRESENTS INNOVATIVE INTERSECTIONS AND INTERCHANGES.

THE RESTRICTED CROSSING, U-TURN, OR R CUT IS ONE TYPE OF INNOVATIVE INTERSECTION.

AN R CUT IS MADE UP OF ONE MAIN INTERSECTION AND TWO MEDIAN CROSSOVER INTERSECTIONS.

ALL VEHICLES FROM A SIDE STREET START BY MAKING A RIGHT TURN.

TO TURN LEFT, OR TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, SIDE STREET VEHICLES MAKE A U-TURN AT AN ADJACENT MEDIAN OPENING.

R CUTS ARE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE ALL ROADWAY USERS, INCLUDING LARGER VEHICLES SUCH AS SCHOOL BUSSES, EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND TRUCKS, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS. LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW AN R CUT WORKS FOR MOTORISTS.

ON THE MAJOR STREET, MOTORISTS TURN LEFT, CONTINUE STRAIGHT AND TURN RIGHT, JUST LIKE AT A CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTION.

FROM THE SIDE STREET, ALL MOTORISTS START BY TURNING RIGHT.

THOSE WHO WISH TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT OR MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM THE SIDE STREET WILL GO TO THE ADJACENT MEDIAN OPENING AND MAKE A U-TURN.

THESE MOTORISTS WILL THEN EITHER CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON THE MAIN STREET OR TURN RIGHT ONTO THE SIDE STREET.

PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS CAN ALSO NAVIGATE AN R CUT.

PEDESTRIANS USE MARKED CROSSWALKS TO SAFELY CROSS THE INTERSECTION.

CYCLISTS CAN ALSO NAVIGATE THE INTERSECTION USING CROSSWALKS AND PEDESTRIAN PATHS, OR, IF THEY'RE MORE COMFORTABLE, CYCLISTS CAN FOLLOW THE SAME PATHS AS VEHICLES.

THERE ARE SEVERAL BENEFITS OF AN R CUT DESIGN, SUCH AS IMPROVED SAFETY.

OUR CUTS REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POINTS WHERE VEHICLES CROSS PATHS, AND ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAD ON CRASHES FROM THE SIDE STREETS.

INCREASED EFFICIENCY AT AN R CUT, EACH DIRECTION OF THE MAJOR STREET OPERATES INDEPENDENTLY, WHICH ESSENTIALLY CREATES TWO ONE WAY STREETS.

THIS MEANS THAT THERE ARE FEWER INTERRUPTIONS, AND MORE VEHICLES CAN MOVE THROUGH THE SAME SPACE MORE EFFICIENTLY.

SHORTER WAIT TIMES.

R CUTS CAN DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME MOTORISTS WAIT AT AN INTERSECTION.

R CUTS TYPICALLY OPERATE WITH FEWER TRAFFIC SIGNAL PHASES THAN CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTIONS, RESULTING IN LESS STOPPING FOR MAINLINE VEHICLES.

TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF VIRGINIA ROADS, VDOT WORKS WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO FIND THE RIGHT INTERSECTION TYPE FOR A LOCATION, AND THEN TAILORS THE DESIGN TO ITS SPECIFIC NEEDS.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT R CUTS AND OTHER INNOVATIVE INTERSECTION DESIGNS, VISIT VDOT'S WEBSITE AT VIRGINIADOT.ORG/INNOVATIVE

[01:25:06]

TODAY, OUR COMMUNITIES FACE A GROWING NUMBER OF TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES.

AS TRAFFIC VOLUMES GROW AND CONGESTION WORSENS, MOTORISTS, PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS CONFRONT GREATER RISKS AT INTERSECTIONS.

WE NEED BALANCED SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE SAFETY AND KEEP PEOPLE MOVING.

AT THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.

OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS SAFETY, AND OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE MOBILITY FOR ALL USERS OF OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS.

IN SUPPORT OF THESE GOALS, WE'VE BEEN EVALUATING INNOVATIVE INTERSECTION DESIGNS FOR MANY YEARS WHERE THEY'VE BEEN BUILT.

TRAVELERS SAVE TIME, AGENCIES SAVE MONEY, AND COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM SAFER FACILITIES.

ONE INNOVATIVE INTERSECTION DESIGN THE RESTRICTED CROSSING U-TURN, CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE CRASHES RELATED TO CROSSING AND TURNING LEFT AT INTERSECTIONS ALONG BUSY MULTI-LANE HIGHWAYS.

AT MANY INTERSECTIONS, THE CRITICAL QUESTION IS HOW TO ADDRESS LEFT TURNS.

HOW THEY ARE TREATED HAS AN IMPACT ON THE EFFICIENCY OF THE INTERSECTION, AND CAN REDUCE A CRASH TYPE THAT TENDS TO BE QUITE SEVERE.

ALTERNATIVE INTERSECTIONS ARE WORTH CONSIDERING BECAUSE THEY DELIVER MORE FOR LESS.

THEY GET MORE CARS THROUGH THE SAME SPACES THAN A CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTION, AND THEY DELIVER BETTER SAFETY THAN A CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTION.

THE RESTRICTED CROSSING U-TURN OR CUT INTERSECTION, ALSO KNOWN AS A J TURN OR SUPERSTREET, CHANGES HOW TRAFFIC FROM THE MINOR ROAD ENTERS OR CROSSES THE MAIN HIGHWAY BY RELYING ON A COMBINATION OF RIGHT TURNS AND U-TURNS.

MULTI-LANE, HIGH SPEED DIVIDED HIGHWAYS FUNCTION AS VITAL ECONOMIC LINKS BETWEEN CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, REDUCING TRAVEL TIMES AND IMPROVING SAFETY FOR LONGER DISTANCE TRIPS.

HOWEVER, ALONG THESE ROUTES, ACCESS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND ADJACENT BUSINESSES IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

INTERSECTIONS, WHILE PROVIDING THIS ACCESS CAN BE CHALLENGING IN THESE ENVIRONMENTS.

MOTORISTS CROSSING THE HIGHWAY OR TURNING LEFT FROM THE MINOR ROAD MUST GAUGE TRAFFIC APPROACHING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS ACROSS A WIDE AREA, A DIFFICULT TASK WHEN SPEEDS ARE HIGH.

SHOULD A CRASH OCCUR, THE RESULT CAN BE DEADLY.

THE R CUT IS AN INTERSECTION DESIGN THAT PROVIDES ACCESS IN A MUCH SAFER WAY, WHILE ALSO IMPROVING OPERATIONS ALONG THE HIGHWAY.

LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNSIGNALIZED, R CUT SOMETIMES CALLED A J-TURN, IN A TYPICAL RURAL SETTING.

NOTICE THAT TRAFFIC TRAVELING ALONG THE MAIN HIGHWAY CAN STILL CONTINUE THROUGH.

TURN LEFT OR TURN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION.

NO DIFFERENT THAN AT A CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTION.

WHERE AN R CUT DIFFERS IS IN HOW IT HANDLES VEHICLES ENTERING OR CROSSING THE MAIN HIGHWAY FROM THE MINOR ROAD APPROACHES.

CHANNELIZING ISLANDS AT THE INTERSECTIONS FORCED THE MINOR ROAD TRAFFIC TO TURN RIGHT, JOINING THE TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

A MEDIAN U-TURN ALLOWS THE MINOR ROAD TRAFFIC TO PROCEED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

THE EQUIVALENT OF A LEFT TURN, OR TO THEN TURN RIGHT AND CONTINUE TRAVEL ALONG THEIR ORIGINAL MINOR ROUTE.

THE EQUIVALENT OF CROSSING THE MAIN HIGHWAY AT A CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTION.

BY ELIMINATING TWO OF THE HIGHEST RISK MOVEMENTS FROM THE INTERSECTION AND REPLACING THEM WITH U-TURNS AND RIGHT TURNS.

SAFETY IS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFLICT POINTS ARE REDUCED, AND THOSE THAT REMAIN ARE LESS SIGNIFICANT.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, STUDIES SHOW THAT INJURY CRASHES ARE REDUCED MORE THAN 40% AND FATAL CRASHES ARE REDUCED 70% COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTIONS.

ONE OF THE TRADE OFFS WITH ARCOT INTERSECTIONS IS THAT VEHICLES ENTERING FROM THE MINOR ROAD TRAVEL SLIGHTLY LONGER DISTANCES AS COMPARED TO A CONVENTIONAL

[01:30:03]

HENCE THE NAME SUPERSTREET.

THERE IS A RELIABILITY ASPECT WHERE THE SUPERSTREET WILL RELIABLY GIVE BETTER PERFORMANCE TO EVERYBODY ON THAT CORRIDOR, AND SO THE A LITTLE BIT ADDED INCONVENIENCE OUTWEIGHS THE GREATER CAPACITY BENEFITS AND ALSO THE SAFETY BENEFITS.

SUPER STREETS ARE VERY SAFE CORRIDOR.

ONE OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE SIGNALIZED ARCOT OR SUPER STREET CORRIDOR IS THE ABILITY TO SYNCHRONIZE TRAFFIC FROM ONE INTERSECTION TO THE NEXT, EASILY ADAPTING SIGNAL TIMING TO HEAVY OR LIGHT TRAFFIC VOLUMES.

ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT SUPER STREETS, AND REALLY WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM, IS THAT YOU SEPARATE THE TWO, TRAVEL ON YOUR ON YOUR MAIN ARTERY.

SO WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS CREATED TWO ONE WAY STREETS.

SINCE THEY'RE ALL TWO PHASED SIGNALS, YOU ALSO REDUCE THE CYCLE LENGTH, WHICH ALSO INCREASES THE EFFICIENCY.

AND YOU HAVE THE DRIVERS ON THE SIDE STREET WAITING A LOT LESS THAN THEY WOULD AT A TRADITIONAL EIGHT PHASE SIGNAL.

ART GOT. INTERSECTIONS HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES INCLUDING MARKED CROSSWALKS, REFUGE ISLANDS AND PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS, WHETHER SIGNALIZED OR UNSIGNALIZED.

THE ART CAN BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR INTERSECTIONS ALONG DIVIDED HIGHWAY CORRIDORS.

NOT ONLY IS IT SAFER.

THE ART CAN BE A COST EFFECTIVE CHOICE FOR LOCATIONS WHERE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, OR EVEN A FULL INTERCHANGE MAY BE NEEDED IN THE FUTURE.

ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF THE SUPERSTREET IS THE FLEXIBILITY YOU HAVE IN IMPLEMENTING IT.

YOU CAN TAKE A 30 YEAR DESIGN LIFE FOR A SUPERSTREET, AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND ACQUIRE THE RIGHT OF WAY AND PUT IN THE ASPHALT FOR THE DUAL LEFT TURNS AND THE DUAL U-TURN MOVEMENTS AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU YOU MAY NEED IN THAT 30 YEAR TIME FRAME.

THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES AND AGENCIES TO CONSIDER THE RESTRICTED CROSSING U-TURN TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF EXISTING INTERSECTIONS, AS WELL AS AN OPTION FOR NEW INTERSECTIONS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESTRICTED CROSSING U-TURN AND OTHER INNOVATIVE INTERSECTION DESIGNS, PLEASE VISIT SAFETY .FHWA.GOV.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL DO TOMORROW IS I'LL REACH OUT TO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO.

NOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN.

I MEAN, THIS IS THAT'S FOR ALL ABOUT SAFETY FOR YEARS NOW.

WHAT ABOUT SAFETY RIGHT NOW? THAT'S. BUT OUTSIDE OF ENFORCEMENT, I CAN SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING IF THE RUMBLE STRIPS ARE AN OPTION.

MORE SIGNS, MORE FLASHING LIGHTS.

BUT THAT'S ALL IT IS.

I MEAN, IF SOMEBODY'S SPEEDING, THEY'RE STILL SPEEDING.

CAN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND GET BACK TO US IN A FUTURE MEETING? LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'LL TALK TO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING TOMORROW AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUICK FIX KIND OF THINGS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE.

ANY COMMENTS? I DO A WHILE BACK THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CUTS AT RULEVILLE AND THE FIRE AND RESCUE.

PEOPLE WERE VERY OPPOSED TO IT BECAUSE IT SLOWED THEM DOWN.

FOR GOLF. THEY HAVE TO GO DOWN AND BACK INSTEAD OF GOING STRAIGHT ACROSS, YOU KNOW, TO COME TONIGHT.

I LOOKED FOR INFORMATION ON TIMING FOR WHAT AN HOUR CUT ADDS OR DOESN'T ADD.

AND THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE.

THEY'RE IN STUDIES THAT THEY'VE DONE.

ONE THING YOU GOT TO CONSIDER THAT DROLL OTHER THAN FIRE AND RESCUE, IS FARM EQUIPMENT.

YEAH. YOU GOT THESE.

TELL US NOW THAT IF YOU IF YOU ENTER THE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND YOU HAVE TO GET OVER TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, YOU GO, YOU'RE YOU'RE GOING TO BLOCK THE LEFT TURN, YOU'RE GOING TO BLOCK THE INSIDE LANE AS WELL.

AND YOU NEED TO CONSIDER.

YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTA DID IN THEIR STUDIES IS THEY SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT AGRICULTURE VEHICLES, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH AGRICULTURE VEHICLES USED IN THE CUTS.

BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN ONE OF THE MINNESOTA STUDIES, LIKE I SAID.

AND THAT'S GREAT QUESTIONS, GREAT, GREAT INFORMATION.

YOU CAN FOLD THEM UP, BUT SO MANY FEET.

RIGHT. BUT THEY DID LOOK AT THAT WITH THEIR CONCERNS AS WELL.

[01:35:01]

THANKS. THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO YOU.

GET BACK WITH US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIM.

AND I APPRECIATE TAKING TIME AND HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU.

JUST AS A LAST COMMENT ON THAT, WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT OBVIOUSLY THE PORT TRAFFIC AND THE TRUCKS HAVE I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PERCENTAGES, BUT IN EFFECT DOUBLED PROBABLY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, WHICH IS, AS WE CAN ALL SEE, THE INCREASE IN TRUCK TRAFFIC.

SO THAT'S THAT.

ALL THE LOCALITIES UP AND DOWN 58 IS WE'RE ALL THEY'RE ALL EXPERIENCING THIS, THESE THINGS.

SO THANK YOU ALL. THANKS. THANKS PAUL AND JERRY AND JASON.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO MONTHLY REPORTS.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR.

[4. Monthly Reports]

HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I'VE PUT TOGETHER A FEW UPDATES ON VARIOUS PROJECTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER ALL OF THOSE, BUT ON THE COURTHOUSE, THAT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND THESE DAYS.

WE DO HAVE THE LATEST SCHEDULE.

AND AGAIN, THE LATEST SCHEDULE AS OF TODAY IS FOR SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION TO OCCUR EARLY FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY 9TH FOR FINAL COMPLETION AT THIS TIME IS MARCH 6TH.

THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, INCLUDING CHANGE ORDERS, STANDS AT $23,767,016.14. YOU DO HAVE THE LATEST PAY APPLICATIONS.

WE PROCESS THE CONTRACTORS FIRST 24 PAY APPLICATIONS AND PAY THEM $19,332,187.58. YOU HAVE A FEW PICTURES OF THE BEAUTIFUL COURTHOUSE, THEIR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, ON THE NEWSOM'S PROJECT WE'RE MAKING.

WE HAVE, AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE HAVE A MONTHLY MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETING EVERY MONTH.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL TRYING TO OBTAIN EASEMENTS FROM A COUPLE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

UM, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH B&B CONSULTANTS ON PUTTING THE BID PACKAGE TOGETHER FOR THE DRAINAGE PROJECT AND WORKING WORKING ON THAT. SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AS WE CAN ON THOSE PROJECTS.

THOSE PROJECTS ALWAYS TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO IMPLEMENT FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, VARIOUS REASONS.

UH, EDGEHILL PROJECT, AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

THAT'S PART OF WE'RE USING PART OF OUR ARPA FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT AND DOING SEWER LINE, POINT REPAIR, SEWER LINING, MANHOLE LININGS, AND SEWER LATERAL REPAIRS.

TRI-STATES THE CONTRACTOR, AND WE HOPE THAT MOST OF THE WORK WILL BE DONE BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR NEXT MONTH.

WE DID FINISH THE BOYKIN SEWER REPAIR PROJECT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

WE'RE WORKING ON THE RADIO PROJECT.

WE, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, BEGAN PROPOSALS BACK AND WE'LL BE INTERVIEWING VENDORS IN JANUARY.

FINANCE. AS YOU REMEMBER, DAVENPORT CAME HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND BRIEFED YOU ON THEIR DEBT CAPACITY ANALYSIS AND FINANCIAL REVIEW. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON FINANCIAL POLICY GUIDELINES.

AND MOST LIKELY, DAVID ROSE AND HIS GROUP WILL BE BACK IN JANUARY TO BRIEF YOU ON THOSE PROPOSED POLICIES, AND WE'LL BE SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL AT THAT MEETING.

THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS.

WE DID HAVE A KUDOS TO PUBLIC WORKS.

WE DID HAVE A TIRE AMNESTY DAY BACK IN LATE OCTOBER, OCTOBER 25TH, SEVENTH, NINTH AND NOVEMBER 1ST AT OUR JOINERS BRIDGE REFUGE SITE.

I WAS HOPING TO PUT THE TONNAGE OF HOW MUCH, HOW MANY, THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRES WE DISPOSED OF, BUT WE COULDN'T GET THE LAST BATCH IN.

BUT WE'LL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AT A LATER TIME.

BUT THAT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THAT AND WE THINK THAT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED HAVING A TIRE REFUGE DAY AT THE OTHER CENTERS? JOHN IS A LONG WAYS FROM NEWSOME'S.

IT IS A LONG WAYS, BUT WE, OUR PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE, WENT OUT AND ASSESSED THE SITES AND WHERE WE HAD ROOM FOR VEHICLES TO GET IN, TO TAKE THE TIRES AND A PLACE TO PUT THE CONTAINER.

AND WE ALSO HAD TO PUT ROCK STONE AS A BED FOR SETTING IT.

AND JOINERS BRIDGE WAS REALLY OUR ONLY OPTION, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER.

UM, HAVING SOMETHING IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY EVERY SO OFTEN, AS OPPOSED TO PEOPLE HAVING TO GO TO SUFFOLK

[01:40:04]

BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY A BIG SUCCESS.

WE HAD ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED IT FOR THREE DAYS.

WE DID EXTEND IT ONE MORE TO GET THAT FOURTH DAY, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE.

TRYON BASIN SOIL AND WATER HAS A TIRE AMNESTY.

A ONE DAY THING EVERY FEBRUARY.

ONLY FOR AGRICULTURAL PEOPLE.

ONLY REGULAR VEHICLES TOO? NO. WELL, I ASKED UNLESS THEY CHANGED IT LAST YEAR ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WE.

GOT INFORMATION FROM? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT THEY HAVE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS WHERE THEY SET UP? THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY.

AND I TALKED WITH ML EVERETT GARY CROSS.

IT'S ONLY FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.

YEAH, IT'S FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, BUT WE CAN SIGN UP AS MANY AS 40 VEHICLE TIRES.

I GOT YOU, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO COVER ALL OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

YEAH, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING FOR OUR REGULAR RESIDENTS EVER, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

BUT THAT WAS A GOOD JOB.

PUBLIC WORKS AND LYNETTE AND TINA AND STAFF HERE, THAT WAS A GOOD FIRST TIME DOING THAT.

SO THANK YOU. OUR OWN TINA, SHE PUT TOGETHER HOW TO CONDUCT A LITTER CLEANUP FLIER THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET TOO.

SO WE'LL BE TAKING THAT TO THE JANUARY LITTER CONTROL COUNCIL MEETING AND DISCUSSING LITTER CONTROL EFFORTS WITH THAT GROUP.

SOME OF THE SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM ONGOING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND CITIZENS ON THE REFUGE AND CONVENIENCE CENTER SITES.

SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS, LYNETTE AND I AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING DOWN ADDITIONAL GRAVEL AT THE SITES, DRAGGING THE REFUGE SITES, PUTTING DOWN GRAVEL.

WE'VE BEEN REMOVING SOME OF THE HAND-MADE AND WOODEN SIGNS FROM THE SITES, SOME OF THE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD AND CITIZENS. AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A YEAR AND A HALF, BUT AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A CIP, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN GOING FORWARD. SO THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF Y'ALL'S MAJOR CONCERNS, BOTH IN THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS GOING FORWARD.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT PUTTING IN THE FY 25 BUDGET, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE MORE COSTLY SITE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'VE REFERENCED, LIKE FENCING AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS. AND LOOK AT POSSIBLY HOW SOME OF THE OTHER LOCALITIES SET UP THEIR SITES.

SO WE'LL BE PUTTING SOME INFORMATION TOGETHER ON THAT AND LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OUR SITES GOING FORWARD.

SO I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT TO THE BOARD.

WELL, WELL EXCUSE ME.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO DISCUSS THAT, BUT I THINK A LOT OF US ON THE BOARD HAVE RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THESE SITES.

THAT'S LONG TERM, BUT I THINK WE HAVE SOME SHORT TERM CONCERNS.

NUMBER ONE, I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAIN TO ME THAT CONTRACTOR STUFF, SHINGLES, CINDERBLOCK, WHATEVER IS GETTING DUMPED AT THESE SITES AND THERE'S NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT.

I KNOW I WENT TO THE CITYLINK ON MILL ROAD TWICE, AND THERE WERE NEW SHINGLES THERE EVERY TIME.

AND. I'M NOT SURE THAT WHEN THE PEOPLE MANNING THESE DUMPS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING FOLLOWED UP ON.

WE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE THERE, TO SUPERVISE THIS, AND THEY FOUND A VIOLATION.

AND I UNDERSTAND IT THAT THE VIOLATIONS ARE NOT BEING FOLLOWED UP.

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT THAT'S WHAT I HEAR.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO MAN THESE SITES TELL ME.

THEY TELL ME TO, I'VE HEARD IT TWICE.

SO THE SHORT TERM THING IS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US UP HERE IS VERY HAPPY WITH THAT.

THEIR CONTRACTOR STUFF BEING DUMPED IN THESE SITES.

AND I UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO SEVERAL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE SITES THAT THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE GOING UNNOTICED.

SO..

AND ONE WAS TOLD TO JUST TO LET IT GO.

AND THESE ARE REPUTABLE PEOPLE WHO TOOK TAKE PRIDE IN DOING THAT JOB.

[01:45:03]

THEY ARE TOLD TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

SO I THINK WHOEVER'S IN CHARGE OF THAT OR WHATEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THAT.

MR. THROWER, YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM.

IF IT IS A PROBLEM, WHICH I THINK IT IS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I ANSWER THAT, PLEASE? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO MANNED THE DUMPS SAY, LOOK, I'M PROUD OF WHAT I DO, BUT WHEN I COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING, I GET A LICENSE NUMBER FROM NORTH CAROLINA THAT'S DUMPING CINDER BLOCKS IN MY BIN.

NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

SO I REACHED OUT TO THE WEEK BEFORE LAST WHEN OUR DUMPSTERS COME IN, WHEN THE TRUCK, WHEN THE LOADS COME IN AND GO TO THE SUFFOLK LANDFILL.

THEY KNOW WHERE EACH LOAD COMES FROM.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS OF CINDERBLOCKS SHINGLES.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COMPLAINTS OF TIRES GETTING IN THERE, BUT FOR THE LAST YEAR THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS.

AND WHEN THERE ARE, WE GET A PHONE CALL THAT DAY, THE DAY IT IS DUMPED ON THE FLOOR.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO.

I'M SAYING THERE IS NO COMPLAINTS FROM CIPSA WHERE THE LOADS ARE TAKEN AND DUMPED ON THE TIPPING FLOOR, BUT THEY CAN'T TELL WHICH ONES CAME FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY CAN TELL WHAT COMES FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

WE ARE CHARGED FOR EACH LOAD THAT COMES FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

WELL, LAST WEEK THERE WAS A BIG PILE OF SHINGLES OUT IN THE IN THE SEDLEY DUMP.

AT THE SEDLEY DUMP.

YEAH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH NORTH CAROLINA LICENSE PLATES COMING OVER HERE AND DUMPING STUFF. AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THEIR LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS ARE TAKEN DOWN OR WHATEVER AND THEY'RE REPORTED, NOTHING IS DONE.

SO IF YOU CAN CONVINCE ME THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE, THEN, OKAY.

BUT THESE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE DUMPS ARE TELLING ME THIS.

I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THEY'RE TELLING.

I TALKED TO MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE TOO.

BUT I WILL SAY ONE POTENTIAL SOLUTION IS WE CAN PUT REPORTS AT EACH OF THE HOUSES SO THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN WRITE UP WHAT THEY SEE.

DO AN INCIDENT REPORT FOR THE DATE, TIME, WHATEVER THEY SEE.

BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS SOMETIMES THAT ARE FROM THE PAST.

FROM THE AND FROM THE PAST.

PEOPLE KEEP BRINGING UP THINGS THAT HAPPENED ONE, TWO, THREE YEARS AGO.

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

I NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHICH SITE IS HAPPENING AT.

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TIME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAY I KNOW WHO IS WORKING AT THAT SITE ON THAT DAY.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE LISTENING TO THIS AND IF YOU GO TO DREWRYVILLE AND TRY TO PUT SHINGLES, YOU'RE NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THERE.

YOU AIN'T SUPPOSED TO. YOU CANNOT WITH CLEAVE.

IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

HE GOING TO STOP IT? CORRECT.

CLEAVE. AND THAT SHORT GUY THAT USED TO BE A DEPUTY.

THEY RETIRED.

THEY DON'T TOLERATE IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEMS. GO TO CAPRON.

HAD NO PROBLEMS. ADAMS. I LIVE IN DREWRYVILLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEMS IN THOSE THREE PLACES.

SO THAT TELLS YOU TO, IT TELLS ME THAT IT'S THE PEOPLE WE GOT SOME PEOPLE, IN MY OPINION, THAT ARE KIND OF LAZY AND THEY STAY IN THE BUILDING AND WATCH TV.

WARREN HAD A GOOD SUGGESTION.

PUT GLASS DOORS IN THE HOUSE.

PUT CAMERAS OUT THERE OR SOMETHING.

BUT THAT'S WHAT I THINK.

SO I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE COMMENTS AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO THOSE.

NOW THESE COMPLAINTS, THE I HAVE ASKED THAT I DID TALK TO LYNETTE AND HART THAT OVERSEE THIS AND ASK THAT THEY, THE SITE ATTENDANTS, BE MORE VISIBLE AND PROACTIVE, LIKE MR. EVERETT SAYING IN SOME SPOTS WHERE THEY VISIBLY GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PUTTING IN.

SO I DON'T AND I DO THINK SOME AREAS HAVE MORE PROBLEMS THAT ARE THAT ARE MAYBE CLOSE TO CAROLINA AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT STILL, LYNETTE CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW HER PROBLEM CHILDREN AND SHE CAN TELL YOU THE ONES THAT ARE NOT.

AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

[01:50:02]

NOW, ON THE ON THE ISSUE OF OUT OF STATE AND THIS DECAL ISSUE, LET'S GO INTO THAT.

SINCE THAT CONTINUES TO BE A REOCCURRING THEME FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE COUNTY USED TO DO THIS YEARS AGO.

THE COUNTY DOES NOT DO THIS ANYMORE.

SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT.

WE'VE GOT A MEETING SET UP, I THINK THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE TREASURER IT, MYSELF, PUBLIC WORKS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SPIN OFF.

IT'S NOT A I KNOW PEOPLE THINK IT'S EASY JUST TO IMPLEMENT A STICKER PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF VARIABLES THAT GO INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW THAT WORKS.

SO YOU CAN'T JUST DO IT OVERNIGHT.

BUT WE ARE MEETING ON AND LYNETTE AND HART AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR 2 OR 3 MONTHS NOW OF HOW BEST TO REINSTITUTE THIS PROGRAM IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANNER POSSIBLE. SO WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOU.

I DO THINK IF WE KEEP THE STICKER PROGRAM, WE NEED TO HAVE STICKER OR A DECAL PROGRAM, BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE APPLICABLE TRASH FEES.

THEY'RE CAUGHT UP ON THEIR TAXES BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR.

I THINK WE CAN ALL FUNDAMENTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

IT'S NOT FAIR WHEN SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT PAYING THEIR TRASH FEE, BUT THEY STILL GET TO USE THE DUMP SITES.

NOW, THE SPIN OFF ISSUE IS IF YOU DON'T ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A DECAL BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CAUGHT UP ON THEIR TRASH FEE, WHAT'S THE LOGICAL CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE? THEY'RE GOING TO THROW IT AND DUMP IT DOWN THE ROAD TO BACKWOODS SOMEWHERE, WHICH IS AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.

SO ONE GOOD THING CAUSES A NEGATIVE THING.

AND IT'S NO, IT'S NO EASY ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS.

THAT ONE THING DOESN'T AFFECT THE OTHER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT.

THE ISSUE OF PAYING THE FEE OVERALL HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, AND I THINK I MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO SEVERAL OF YOU ALL.

WE ARE GOING THROUGH A REEVALUATION EVALUATION PROCESS ON TAXES REASSESSMENT PROCESS.

IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE THIS TONIGHT, I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE.

IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO CONSIDER TO DO AWAY WITH THE FEE ALTOGETHER.

AND WE CAN STILL KEEP THE DECALS, YOU CAN ABSORB THAT REVENUE INTO THE REASSESSMENT WHEN YOU HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL INFLUX OF MONEY NEXT YEAR, BUT THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED DURING YOUR BUDGET PROCESS.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ON THIS TRASH DECAL DUMPSTER SITE ISSUE THAT I KNOW IS TRASH, BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX EVEN WHEN YOU GET INTO PEOPLE THAT OWN PROPERTY HERE, BUT THEY DON'T LIVE HERE.

WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DUMP PEOPLE THAT COME IN TEMPORARILY GRANTED A TEMPORARY TEMPORARY DUMPING PASS.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE LITTLE ISSUES THAT HOW THINGS FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS, THAT ARE A LITTLE HARDER TO COME UP WITH A DEFINITIVE SOLUTION.

ALL WE ARE MEETING TO DISCUSS THOSE.

SO WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM TO Y'ALL AFTER WE MEET INTERNALLY ABOUT HOW THAT COULD POSSIBLY WORK WITH REINSTITUTING THE DECAL PROGRAM.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? ANYBODY ELSE? BUT I DON'T KNOW IF NOW IS THE TIME, BUT I MEAN, WE'RE STILL ON THE TRASH TOPIC, SO.

BUT I GOT A REAL PROBLEM THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE PAY $200 AND OTHER PEOPLE DON'T PAY IT.

AND THEN AFTER TWO YEARS WE FORGIVE IT.

AND I THINK 75% PAY.

I THINK 25% DON'T PAY.

I THINK, YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S BULL.

SO IF EVERYBODY DON'T PAY, I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT AT CHURCH SUNDAY WE AT SUNDAY SCHOOL IT BECAME THE MAIN TOPIC.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNMENT OR SOMETHING.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY SAID SOMEBODY THE TRASH FEE AND THAT 20 HOW MANY PERCENT THEY HAD SEEN IT, THAT ALL WAS FORGIVEN THE DEBT.

AND THEY SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO PAY.

ALL OF THEM SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO PAY MY $200 FEE NEXT YEAR.

MISS EDWARDS CAN TELL US ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH. HE COULDN'T HE COULDN'T.

HE CAN REIN IT IN. SO ANYWAY.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL QUIT TALKING TRASH.

YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.

FINANCIAL REPORTS.

ARE YOU THROUGH, MR. THROWER? OH, JUST ONE ADDITIONAL THING.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THE BEALE FARM PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

ERIC ASSISTING WITH THAT.

AND WE'RE BRINGING.

I'LL LET ERIC MENTION THIS IF HE WOULD LIKE.

[01:55:01]

ERIC, DO YOU WANT TO MENTION THAT? YES, SIR. MR. THROWER, WE ARE ENGAGING A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY BECAUSE THESE KINDS OF TRANSACTIONS, PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES ARE PRETTY COMPLEX. AND YOU MAY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY'S INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED.

SO I LIKE TO UTILIZE THE LAW FIRM OF CHRISTIAN AND BARTON FOR THESE TRANSACTIONS, WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE.

FOR THAT, I WILL STILL OVERSEE THE TRANSACTION AND WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY ON THAT AND TRY TO KEEP THE COSTS DOWN.

BUT I BELIEVE IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO TO PROTECT THE COUNTY'S INTERESTS.

I THINK YOU MIGHT GET CLOSE TO THAT, MIKE, SO THAT PEOPLE OUT THERE CAN.

THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. OH, MAN, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

CORNWELL. I HAD A QUESTION.

I THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK IT.

ONE BECAUSE IT PERTAINS TO TRASH AND LITTER.

TWO, BECAUSE THIS WAS INCLUDED AS A PART OF MR. THROWER REPORT. BUT THE.

LETTER FROM THE DECK PERTAINING TO THE GRANT AWARD FOR LITTER PREVENTION AND RECYCLING TO THE COUNTY AND AND TOWNS HERE IN. WHAT CAN THAT BE UTILIZED FOR, JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, FROM 30,000FT? SURE, THE $23,207 THAT WAS AWARDED BACK IN OCTOBER.

YEAH. SO JUST LIKE THE YEAR THAT JUST ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2023, WE USED IT TO BUY THAT ONE CONTAINER TO USE FOR THE SPECIAL TIRE RECYCLE TIRE AMNESTY DAYS, BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY USE IT FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.

SO I CAN'T USE IT TO BUY A CONTAINER TO SIT OUT THERE ALL THE TIME, OR FOR EVERY CONVENIENT SITE THAT WE COLLECT ALL THE TIME.

DAY IN AND DAY OUT. IT HAS TO BE A SPECIAL PROJECT.

SO WE BOUGHT A CONTAINER.

WE'VE HAD TO PAY FOR SETUP FOR THAT.

WE USE IT TO BUY VESTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO WEAR GRABBERS, WHICH YOU WOULDN'T THINK ARE EXPENSIVE BUT ARE. RECYCLE CONTAINERS LIKE THE PLACES THAT HAVE THE THE CURBSIDE RECYCLING AND SOME OF THE TOWNS. WE UTILIZE IT TO BUY THOSE CONTAINERS BECAUSE THEY'RE RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE TOO.

YOU WOULDN'T THINK, BUT THEY'RE BETWEEN 60 AND $75 A PIECE FOR A BLUE BIN.

RIGHT. BUT FOR SPECIAL THINGS LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, IF YOU KNEW OF A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT NON-RECURRING EXPENSES.

BUT SPECIAL PROJECTS PERTAINING TO.

YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ANYTHING ON THE FINANCIAL REPORT? DO YOU SEE THE FINANCIAL REPORT IN THERE? IT IS AFTER IT IS IN MR. THROWER'S. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.

ARE THEY NUMBERED? BRIAN.

SO THEY USED TO BE IN THE AGENDA AS A SEPARATE ITEM, BUT MR. THROWER HAD STARTED PUTTING THEM BEHIND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

SO. YOU SEE THE FLIER THAT WAS HOW TO CONDUCT A LITTER CLEANUP.

THE NEXT MR. THROWER HAD PERSONNEL CHANGES.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, YOU HAVE THE SEPTEMBER 30TH YEAR TO DATE.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW.

DID ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON IT OR.

DID YOU WANT ME TO GO OVER ANYTHING WITH IT? BUT THESE HAVE HISTORICALLY QUESTIONS.

THESE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN.

ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS FOR MR. SIMMONS, HE WOULD KNOW THAT ANYONE IN THE COUNTY THAT IS IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY TO EXPEND FUNDS FOR THE COUNTY.

UM, JUST LIKE YOU PICK UP MEG.

I NEED TO BUY A SET OF TIRES OR WHATEVER.

IT'S THE SAME DIFFERENCE.

AND AND THE DEPARTMENT IS REVIEWING THEM LEGITIMATE PURCHASES.

AND THEN THEY. THIS LADY OVER HERE EXPANDS THEIR FUNDS, MAKES SURE THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S THE WAY BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED.

THOSE PEOPLE, IF ANYONE WAS TO PROCURE SOMETHING THAT THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO, IT WOULD GET CAUGHT.

AND THEN SHE WE HAVE A SEPARATE AGENCY.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME THAT DOES AN AUDIT OF EVERY EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S SPENT HERE IN THE COUNTY AND FOR THE BOARD OF SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS KIND OF DIFFERENT.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT.

BUT AND I HAVE EXTREME TRUST IN THIS LADY HERE WHO WORKED FOR ME WHEN I WAS WARDEN ALSO.

SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF SHE SAYS IT'S A LEGITIMATE BILL AND PAYS IT, IT IS.

YES. SO YES, I WILL ADDRESS THAT.

[02:00:03]

IT IS MY JOB AND MY FINANCE PEOPLE'S JOB AND ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS.

SO EVERY INVOICE THAT COMES IN IS SIGNED OFF BY THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, BY THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PERSON, AND THEY ARE LOOKED AT BY OUR FINANCE MANAGER.

AND THEN I EVEN HAVE ONE GO THROUGH WHERE I'M LOOKING FOR COPIES OF THINGS THAT WE MAY NEED FOR GRANTS OR FOR OTHER REPORTING PURPOSES.

SO NOTHING IS PAID JUST BECAUSE IT COMES IN.

EVERYONE'S HELD RESPONSIBLE.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO TREASURER'S REPORT.

MISS EDWARDS, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU UPDATES ON A COLLECTION REPORTS FROM OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER.

THE REAL ESTATE IN OCTOBER WAS AT 99.79%.

THIS MONTH IT'S AT 99.80%.

AND IN PERSONAL PROPERTY LAST MONTH IT WAS AT 96.89%.

THIS MONTH IT'S AT 97.14%.

THE SOLID WASTE FEE LAST MONTH WAS AT 78.93%, AND THIS MONTH WE'RE UP TO 79.55%. IF YOU WANT ME TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE FEE, IT'S THREE YEARS THAT YOU CAN COLLECT ON IT, AND AFTER THAT IT HAS TO BE WRITTEN OFF.

BUT I WOULD NOT ADVISE TRYING TO GET BY WITHOUT PAYING IT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT AND YOU HAVE A JOB, I'M GOING TO GET IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THE PENALTY AND THE INTEREST THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.

I MEAN, I DISAGREE WITH THE SOLID WASTE FEE.

I'VE MADE THAT KNOWN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.

I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE TELL ME, YOU KNOW, YEAH, IT'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING THE SOLID WASTE FEE.

WELL, IF YOU PUT THIS TAKE THAT AWAY AND PUT IT ON VEHICLES, PERSONAL PROPERTY, PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY THAT PHYSICALLY CAN DRIVE AN AUTOMOBILE DRIVES ONE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A NICER VEHICLE THAN THEY DO HOME.

SO AGAIN, I WILL SAY WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH THE SOLID WASTE FEE AND PUT IT ON PERSONAL PROPERTY.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN BUSINESSES DISAGREE WITH THAT MR.WHITE BEING ONE OF THEM, BUT WHOEVER HAS THE MOST USUALLY PAYS THE MOST.

THAT'S WHERE IT WORKS. IF YOU WANT A NICE PICKUP, YOU PAY THE TAXES THAT GO WITH A NICE PICKUP.

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT GET YOU TO THE 7-ELEVEN AND MIGHT NOT, THEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT DEPENDABLE.

BUT YES, IF YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO BE HELD PRETTY MUCH RESPONSIBLE, YOU NEED TO PUT IT ON THE VEHICLES.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAY, PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY HAS A RIDE.

WE'RE IN THE TOP SIX IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND PERSONAL PROPERTY ALREADY IN MY HEAD FOR NUMBER ONE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LEARN THE COST TOO.

WE NEED TO LEARN TO CUT COSTS.

I MEAN, I SWEAR I SEE IT, I DON'T I MEAN, WE'RE WAY UP THERE AT THE TOP.

I MEAN, OH, YEAH, WE ARE.

I MEAN, THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING TO ME.

THEY SAY BETWEEN PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE, YOU KNOW, HOW COULD THE BOARD POSSIBLY ASSESS US ANOTHER $200? YES. WE'RE UP THERE.

AND I ALSO HEAR WE DON'T HAVE NICE PARKS.

WE DON'T HAVE THINGS TO GO TO IN THE COUNTY THAT OTHER LOCALITIES HAVE.

AND WHEN I GO TO OTHER LOCALITIES, YES, THEIR TAXES ARE NOWHERE NEAR OURS AND THEY HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE TO OFFER IN THE COMMUNITY THAN WHAT WE DO.

YES, YOU HAVE CLEAN AIR AND FAIRLY CLEAN WATER AND NICE AND QUIET.

WELL, YOU TAKE YOUR CHOICE.

YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHERE THE ASSESSMENTS ARE MADE AND HAVING TO PAY $200 FEE ON TOP OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE.

SO. AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SHOW FOR WHAT WE'RE PAYING TAXES NOW.

I MEAN, WE HAVE EMT, EMERGENCY MEDICAL, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, FOREST PARKS OR ANY KIND OF RECREATION, ANYTHING FOR OUR CITIZENS, WE DON'T HAVE IT. GO TO ISLE OF WIGHT.

I KNOW THEY'RE LARGER.

THEY HAVE A LOT MORE BUSINESSES.

BUT LOOK AT WHAT ISLE OF WIGHT HAS.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. OUTSTANDING.

UNPAID. DO YOU WANT IT ON EVERYTHING OR JUST.

OKAY. YEAH. THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE ON THE REAL ESTATE IS $386,734.23.

[02:05:07]

I GOT A QUESTION. ARE THOSE OUTSTANDING BALANCES OR COMBINED OF THREE YEARS? IT'S FOR THREE YEARS. THE THREE YEARS COMBINED AMOUNT.

THAT'S CORRECT. YES.

YEAH. GOOD POINT.

YEAH. WELL.

OF COURSE. THAT'S JUST ON THE SOLID WASTE NOW.

OKAY. YEAH.

PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE IS ALSO A THREE YEAR COMBINED.

NO, PERSONAL PROPERTY IS FIVE YEARS AND REAL ESTATE FIVE YEARS.

NO. REAL ESTATE IS 20 YEARS.

OH, IT IS OKAY. YEAH.

Y'ALL KEEP IT ON THE BOOKS FOR 20 YEARS.

WELL, NO, BECAUSE I'M SELLING PROPERTY.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU SEE, I'VE SEEN IT.

YES. YEAH, I'VE SEEN THAT.

YEAH. WELL, IF IF EVERYBODY PAID THEIR TAXES, WE'D BE FINE.

RIGHT. BUT EVERYBODY'S NOT GOING TO PAY THEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY HAVING A JOB.

YOU DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY HAVING A BANK ACCOUNT.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT OR A JOB, IT'S HARD TO COLLECT ANYTHING.

I UNDERSTAND, BUT I'M JUST GOING BY THE ARITHMETIC, RIGHT? YEAH, BUT NO JOB.

NO BANK ACCOUNT.

SO. AND THERE'S NO NEED FOR ME TO TRY TO TAKE SOMEBODY'S VEHICLE FOR TAXES UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS WORTH ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY PAY THE TAXES.

IF IT'S NOT GOING TO EVEN PAY THE ATTORNEY OR WHOEVER I HAVE GO OUT AND GET THE VEHICLE, IT'S NOT WORTH DOING.

IT'S JUST COSTING THE COUNTY MONEY.

61% OF THIS COUNTRY IS HAVING TROUBLE PAYING THEIR BILLS RIGHT NOW AND PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.

EXACTLY. YEAH.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT UP HERE HAS, YOU KNOW, DONE THE SAME THING THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING.

THEY HAVE OVERSPENT AND OVERSPENT.

WE OWN OURSELVES TO CHINA.

YOU'RE RIGHT. AND PRETTY SOON THEY'RE GOING TO END UP TAKING OUR SOULS.

NOT JUST THE MONEY.

THEY'RE GOING TO END UP TAKING LIVES, I'M AFRAID.

YEAH, WE THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT.

THE LIGHTER SUBJECT, ANIMAL CONTROL.

I GOT A COMMENT THIS MONTH.

THEY DIDN'T EUTHANIZE ANY DOGS.

AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

FANTASTIC. VERY GOOD.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF US DOG LOVERS.

YEP. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES.

ALL RIGHT. NO COMMENTS ON THAT.

WE'LL MOVE TO THE FINANCIAL MATTERS NUMBER FIVE.

[5. Financial Matters]

ANY QUESTIONS DISCUSSION I ADDED UP.

WE HAD OVER 33,000 IN REPAIRS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND WE HAD OVER 4000 FOR HOTELS.

AND I JUST WONDERED WHAT ALL OF THAT WAS ABOUT.

HOTELS WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR TRAINING.

THE TRAINING WAS $162 A MEAL.

751. WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF THEY GO SOMEWHERE, THEY HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT FOR TRAINING.

YEAH. LET'S SEE.

WHAT PAGE WERE.

LET'S SEE THE REPAIRS.

LET ME SEE. AND THE QUESTIONS? THE MOTION TO PAY THE BILLS, THEN.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I'M PAYING THE BILLS.

SAY AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL PAY THE BILLS.

B IS THE YEAR 24 SEMIANNUAL APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION.

APPROPRIATES REMAINING FUNDS IN THE 24 YEAR BUDGET.

FOR A TOTAL OF $34,174,214.

AND THE FIRST APPROPRIATION WAS APPROVED AT OUR JUNE MEETING.

SO THIS IS THE SECOND AND LAST ONE, I GUESS.

CORRECT. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? DUE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THAT.

SO MOVED. A SECOND.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

OKAY. SEE, IS THE YEAR 24 DEFERRED REVENUE APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION.

THAT'S $2,625,275.73.

IN DEFERRED REVENUE FROM EXPENDITURE, REFUNDS IN VARIOUS DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

[02:10:08]

SO THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS RECEIVED IN FISCAL YEAR 23 THAT.

HAD NOT BEEN SPENT YET AND WAS AVAILABLE THAT WE THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BOOKS RIGHT.

ON JUNE 30TH OF 2023, WE HAD TO MOVE OVER TO 2024.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL OCCURRENCE.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS, MISS LOWE? MOTION TO PROVE THAT.

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

IT'S UNANIMOUS. D THE YEAR 24 CARRYOVER APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION $1,681,821.72. CARRYOVER REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND PROGRAMS. OF THIS SUM, $129,129.32 IS APPROPRIATED TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND $1,552,692.40 IS APPROPRIATED TO THE SCHOOL FUND.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? MOVE, WE ADOPT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

NUMBER SIX, APPOINTMENTS.

[6. Appointments]

AND WE NEED.

THESE ARE FIVE YEAR TERMS. AND MR. KEY HAS DECIDED THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR REAPPOINTMENT.

SO IT SAYS ONE MEMBER SHOULD BE AT LEAST AN EXPERIENCED BUILDER.

ONE SHOULD BE A REGISTERED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING ARCHITECT, AND AT LEAST ONE SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCED PROPERTY MANAGER.

WHICH ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES ARE WE LACKING? ANYBODY KNOW? ANYBODY HAVE? ALL RIGHT. LET'S BE PREPARED BY NEXT MEETING THEN TO FIND SOMEBODY IN ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

SOMEBODY IN MIND. I'LL ASK THEM.

OKAY. VERY GOOD.

WE'LL WE'LL RELY ON YOU TO COME UP WITH THAT NEXT MEETING, SIR.

JUST TO EASE YOUR EASE YOUR MIND.

I'VE NEVER EVEN KNOWN OF ANY OF THESE.

BOARD OF BUILDING, CODE OF APPEALS BOARD MEETING IN ANY LOCALITY I'VE WORKED IN.

IT'S VERY RARE, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY.

WHICH IS GOOD. OKAY.

MOVING ALONG TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE IDA.

MR. CUTCHENS AND MR. TURNER'S TERMS WILL EXPIRE IN DECEMBER 31ST THIS YEAR.

BOTH HAVE FORTUNATELY EXPRESSED THEIR INTEREST IN BEING CONSIDERED TO REAPPOINTMENT TO THE IDA.

THE MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT BOTH OF MS REAPPOINTMENT.

SECOND. THERE'S A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. CUTCHENS. BRAD.

BRAD. TURNER. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER SEVEN, FIREWORKS PERMIT.

[7. Fireworks Permit]

THE DISPLAY WILL BE WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE RURITAN BASEBALL FIELD.

AND PER THE COUNTY CODE OF 10-73, WE NEED TO GRANT A PERMIT.

IS ANY, MS. LOUIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? EVERYTHING'S IN ORDER.

ALL THE INSURANCES AND ALL THAT STUFF? THAT'S CORRECT. YES.

AND RANDOLPH COOKE IS HERE FROM THE RURITAN CLUB.

OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I MOVE WE GRANT IT.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. OKAY.

THEY CAN HAVE THEIR FIREWORKS DISPLAY.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS.

TO THE MEAT OF THE NIGHT, I GUESS THE OPEN BURNING ORDINANCE AND A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

[8. Open Burning Ordinance]

[02:15:01]

I'M SIX MILES FROM THE.

BURNING SIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CAUGHT BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THERE, AND I CAN SMELL THAT IN MY BACK YARD.

SO. I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE A THE STATE CODE THAT MR. THROWER HAS VERY APPROPRIATELY AND KINDLY SUPPLIED TO US.

SO. I WOULD, SO I'LL JUST I'LL JUST GIVE A LITTLE INTRODUCTION, IF THAT'S OKAY.

YOU DO HAVE THE CHAIRMAN EDWARDS IS CORRECT.

THE MODEL LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA PUT TOGETHER.

I HEARD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THIS A LITTLE EARLIER.

SO THIS IS THE STATE CODE.

THIS IS THE STATE MODEL ORDINANCE THAT THE STATE PUT TOGETHER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT, IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

AND JUST DOING A REALLY BRIEF RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER, ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY AND CITY OF SUFFOLK, AS YOU CAN SEE IN YOUR ATTACHMENTS, HAVE ADOPTED ORDINANCE THAT THAT GENERALLY FOLLOW THE STATE'S MODEL ORDINANCE.

CITIES OF FRANKLIN, AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AND EMPORIA CITIES AND TOWNS GENERALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE DENSER DEVELOPMENT AND CLOSER TO HOUSES AND DEVELOPMENTS CLOSER TOGETHER GENERALLY PROHIBIT, LIKE EMPORIA AND FRANKLIN'S DOES PROHIBIT BURNING ALTOGETHER.

AND SO FOR MINOR STUFF LIKE, YOU KNOW, A FIRE PIT IN YOUR BACKYARD OR COOKING, COOKING SOME FOOD.

SO JUST TO KEEP THIS KIND OF AT THE HIGH LEVEL, I DID PUT TOGETHER A FEW OPTIONS FOR YOU.

THREE OPTIONS YOU DO HAVE IS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO, WHICH IS DO NOT BURN.

DO NOT ADOPT AN OPEN BURNING ORDINANCE.

CURRENTLY, AS YOU'RE AWARE, YOU DO NOT HAVE AN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE AN OPEN BURN ORDINANCE.

UM, SECOND OPTION WOULD BE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE SIMILAR TO THE CITIES OF FRANKLIN AND EMPORIA THAT PROHIBIT OPEN BURNING ALTOGETHER EXCEPT FOR COOKING, COOKING, AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES, AS WELL AS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES BY FIRE CHIEFS OR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

OR OPTION THREE ADOPT THE STATE'S MODEL ORDINANCE, THE SAME AS THE CITY OF SUFFOLK AND ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY.

THAT ALLOWS FOR SOME OPEN BURNING WITHIN PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS.

AND I'LL JUST READ THROUGH.

IF YOU ENTERTAIN ME FOR A MINUTE, READ THROUGH THE MAIN LIKE ONE SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT.

THE FRONT PORTION OF THIS TALK IS A LOT OF DEFINITIONS, BUT DEFINITIONS ARE IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO ANY ORDINANCE.

BUT IF YOU TURN BACK REALLY PAGE 3 OR 4 ON THE MODEL ORDINANCE THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT'S PERMITTED IN TERMS OF OPEN BURNING, AND IT SAYS OPEN BURNING IS PERMITTED ON SITE, IS PERMITTED ON SITE FOR DESTRUCTION OF LEAVES AND TREE YARD AND GARDEN TRIMMINGS LOCATED ON THE PREMISES OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, PROVIDED THAT THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET.

THE BURNING TAKES PLACE ON THE PREMISES OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND THE LOCATION OF THE BURNING IS NOT LESS THAN 300FT FROM ANY OCCUPIED BUILDING, UNLESS THE OCCUPANTS HAVE GIVEN PRIOR PERMISSION OTHER THAN THE BUILDING LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY ON WHICH THE BURNING IS CONDUCTED.

NO REGULARLY SCHEDULED COLLECTION SERVICE FOR SUCH TRIMMINGS IS AVAILABLE AT THE ADJACENT STREET OR PUBLIC ROAD, SO THAT ADDRESSES THE YARD DEBRIS.

TREE DEBRIS OPEN BURNING IS PERMITTED ON SITE FOR DESTRUCTION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE BY HOMEOWNERS OR TENANTS, PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET.

THE BURNING TAKES PLACE ON THE PREMISES OF THE DWELLING.

ANIMAL CARCASSES OR ANIMAL WASTE ARE NOT BURNED.

GARBAGE IS NOT BURNED.

THE LOCATION OF THE BURNING IS NOT LESS THAN 300FT FROM ANY OCCUPIED BUILDING, UNLESS THE OCCUPANTS HAVE GIVEN PRIOR PERMISSION, OTHER THAN A BUILDING LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY ON WHICH THE BURNING IS CONDUCTED.

NO REGULARLY SCHEDULED COLLECTION SERVICE FOR A REFUGE IS AVAILABLE, WHICH WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEN IT TALKS ABOUT OPEN BURNING PERMITTED ON SITE FOR DESTRUCTION OF DEBRIS, WASTE RESULTING FROM PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, DEVELOPMENT OF MODIFICATIONS OF ROADS OR HIGHWAYS.

BUT THOSE ARE REALLY ANCILLARY.

REALLY. WHAT I JUST READ THROUGH BEFORE WOULD BE THE MAIN ALLOWANCES FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY BURNING ON PREMISES.

AND JUST TO NOTE, IF YOU READ AND I THINK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WOULD AGREE WITH ME, BUT THE STATE CODE, IF YOU DO, IF A LOCALITY DOES WISH TO DEVIATE BASICALLY FROM THIS ORDINANCE, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER PROCESS TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE STATE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD TO ADOPT A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THIS ORDINANCE.

[02:20:01]

SO I DO RECOMMEND, IF YOU DO WISH TO IF YOU DO WISH TO IMPLEMENT AN OPEN BURNING ORDINANCE, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU AUTHORIZE ME TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE THAT, IN EFFECT, MIRRORS THE STATE MODEL ORDINANCE AND ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AT YOUR DECEMBER 19TH MEETING.

IT SHOULD BE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF MAYBE QUESTIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, BUT YOU'VE GOT THE STATE'S MODEL ORDINANCE THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER.

OTHER LOCALITIES HAVE ADOPTED.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? WELL, DEFER TO THE BOARD MEMBER, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD AGREE WITH MR. THROWER AND I WOULD CONCUR WITH HIS RECOMMENDATION.

AND I REVIEWED EVERYTHING THAT HE PROVIDED AND DID SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH.

AND I THINK THAT'S IF THE COUNTY IF THE BOARD WISHES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, THAT'S THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT.

OF COURSE, THE PROOF WILL BE IN THE PUDDING.

AND THE ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO BE KEY HERE.

SO YOU HAVE THE COUNTY HAS TO COMMIT TO ENFORCEMENT TO REALLY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

BUT THE ORDINANCE ITSELF AND IT'S THE PROCESS IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

AND I AGAIN CONCUR WITH MR. THROWER RECOMMENDATION.

ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? I HAD ONE COMMENT.

I AGREE WITH THE STATE PLAN, EXCEPT ON PAGE SIX, NUMBER B ABOUT OPEN BURNING OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE.

IT SAYS YOU CAN BURN TRASH BUT NOT GARBAGE, BUT APPARENTLY YOU CAN BURN PLASTIC AND THAT'S A CARCINOGEN.

ISN'T THAT COVERED IN THERE SOMEWHERE? YOU CAN'T BURN PLASTICS? I'M NOT SURE. I DON'T KNOW, IT SAYS FOLLOWING, PROVIDED THAT THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET.

WELL, IF IT ISN'T, IT NEEDS TO BE THERE, JUST NOT BURNED.

YES, IT'S GARBAGE, BUT PLASTIC IS NOT GARBAGE, IS IT? PLASTIC DOES NOT QUALIFY AS GARBAGE.

GARBAGE IS DEFINED AS READILY PROTRUSIBLE DISCARDED MATERIALS COMPOSED OF ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, OR OTHER ORGANIC MATTER.

YEAH. I BELIEVE THE BURN SPOT Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT IN COURTLAND.

DON'T THEY BURN THE COUNTY'S..

YEAH. YOU KNOW, OUR TREE WASTE.

YEAH. SO WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM TIME TO GET A SOLUTION TO NOT BURN IT.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT COST US.

FOR NOT TO BURN IT. IF THEY GOT TO BUY A CHIPPER OR AND BUY SOME OPEN TOP OR CHIP TRAILERS TO HAUL IT TO ENVIVA OR WHEREVER, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO GIVE THESE GUYS A CHANCE AND THEN COME UP WITH A PRICE PER TON.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING NOW.

DO YOU KNOW BRIAN PER TON? I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND. FOR THE TREE WASTE.

WE PAID 4200, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT.

YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT COVERS.

I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE PER TON TO CHIP IT AND HAUL IT COMPARED TO BURNING IT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH THAT IN THE BUDGET WE NEED.

SO I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE JUST YOU GOT TO QUIT BURNING IT.

WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT.

WE GOT TO PUT IT OUT ON BID.

I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY THAT BILL SOMETIMES.

YOU GOT TO YOU GOT TO TAKE A DIVE THERE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW. OH YEAH, I UNDERSTAND I'M WITH YOU ON IT, BUT WE GOT TO THEY CAN BURN THAT STUFF AND NOBODY ELSE CAN.

I MEAN, THAT'S SO.

YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

SO. WELL I THINK ALL DONE.

MATT KREIDER TAKEN IN ON 671 TWO FOR THE COUNTY.

I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO SITES.

NOT ANYMORE. SO WHEN THIS WAS PUT OUT FOR BID, WE ASKED FOR MR. JOHNSON WAS HERE AND HE ASKED FOR SOMEBODY THAT COULD HAUL IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRUCKS AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND WE WERE GETTING BEHIND AS WE PUT THE BOXES AT EACH SITE, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T USE TO HAVE ONE AT EACH SITE.

AND THEN OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE ADDED, BUT WE HAVE NOT ADDED ANY MORE TRUCK DRIVERS AND WE HAVE NOT ADDED ANY MORE COUNTY ROLL OFF TRUCKS.

SO IT WAS PUT OUT FOR BID.

BUT. THE PERSON, WHOEVER, WHATEVER VENDOR NEEDED TO HAVE THEIR OWN ROLL OFF TRUCK TO TRANSPORT AND DISPOSE OF THE ITEMS. AND IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S A PLAN OF THE COUNTY WITH A GOOD SERVICE, BUT WE GOT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO COME UP.

[02:25:03]

YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO BID IT OUT.

I DON'T THINK THE BURNING PROHIBITION IS THE ANSWER HERE, TO BE QUITE HONEST.

YEAH. I MEAN, I DON'T THINK A BLANKET BURN BAN.

OH, NO, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

I KNOW WE CAN'T. OH, I'M WITH YOU, I MEAN, CHIP IT, GIVE IT BACK TO THE COUNTY RESIDENTS AS MULCH I THINK MIGHT BE A BETTER SOLUTION THAN BANNING BURNING COUNTYWIDE.

OH NO, WE CAN'T BAN. WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE THAT.

YEAH, WE CAN'T BURN IT.

YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T HAVE A BURN BAN.

I KNOW THAT, I JUST, I, I'M JUST TRYING TO COME.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.

THAT'S FINE. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONTRACTORS IN THE COUNTY THAT BURN TIRES AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF BLACKS, I MEAN, A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL.

YEAH. WHO'S IN WHO'S ENFORCING IT, WHO'S WHO'S ENFORCING IT.

THE SAME PEOPLE WE GOT.

YOU SAW THOSE PICTURES, RIGHT? YEAH. THE SAME PEOPLE WAS ENFORCING.

THAT'S ENFORCING THE SPEED LIMIT ON 58 AT FOOD LINE.

YEAH I MEAN YEAH THERE'S THERE'S SO MUCH YOU CAN DO I AGREE THAT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL.

YOU KNOW, PASSING ANOTHER LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T BURN IN THE COUNTY IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT.

NO. I GOT AN EMAIL FROM SOMEBODY WHO SAID HIS NEIGHBOR WAS BURNING CREOSOTED POST.

IT'S ILLEGAL ALREADY.

I KNOW, YEAH IT IS.

SO YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, I THINK THE STATEWIDE ORDINANCE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

YOU CAN STILL BURN WOOD WASTE AND, YOU KNOW, TREE WASTE AND YARD WASTE.

SO ONE SUGGESTION WE COULD PUT YOU COULD PUT THIS OFF FOR A MONTH OR TWO TO, TO TALK TO THE CONTRACTORS WE USE TO DO THIS AND SEE WHAT IMPACT POTENTIALLY THAT WOULD HAVE ON, ON THEIR END US OPERATIONS.

BUT I MEAN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF EMPORIA, THAT'S SEVEN SQUARE MILES AND THEY HAVE A BURN ORDINANCE, THE CITY OF FRANKLIN'S EIGHT SQUARE MILES, AND THEY HAVE A BURNER.

YEAH, THAT'S ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY HAS A DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

WE HAVE AN ALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE MATRIX TO DEAL WITH.

AND YEAH, I MEAN WE CAN'T DO LIGHTLY IS WHAT I'M AT.

YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I HAVE I HAVE AN OFFICE STAFF OF TEN PEOPLE AND A 400 SQUARE MILE CITY.

AND WE CAN'T KEEP ON TOP OF IT.

YEAH, IT RUNS US RAGGED.

EVERY WISP OF SMOKE THAT ANYBODY SEES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE CALLING 911 REPORTING THEIR ILLEGAL BURN, AND IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

SO YEAH, WE GOT A I JUST WANT TO PROCEED VERY CAUTIOUSLY.

IF WE LOOK TO BAN BURNING IN A 600 SQUARE MILE COUNTY.

NO, WE CAN'T BAN BURNING.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING WE'RE GETTING AT.

BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT.

OH, WE DO IT IN A.

IF WE DO COME UP WITH AN ORDINANCE, WE NEED TO.

OH. STUDIED REAL HARD, SO WE DON'T PUT SOME OF THESE FOLKS TO SERVICE.

AND NOT JUST THE COUNTY, BUT, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTORS AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T PUT THEM IN A BAD SITUATION.

SO YEAH, WE NEED TO COME UP CAUSING A HEALTH HAZARD.

I MEAN, THAT IS A BAD AGREE WITH AN ILLEGAL TRASH.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE HEALTH HAZARD THAT'S CAUSED BY THE ILLEGAL TIRES AND CREOSOTE AND THE SMOKE THAT'S CAUSING A BIG PROBLEM.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ANSWER.

I THINK WE NEED TO FIX THAT FOR OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS.

YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THEM BURNING OUR LIMBS AND IT CREATING A HAZARD TO THE CITIZENS, WE NEED TO FIX THAT.

BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER MEANS OF US FIXING IT.

UM, ANOTHER MEANS OF GETTING RID OF THOSE LIMBS VIA CHIPPING AND OTHER MEANS OTHER THAN JUST BANNING BURNING COUNTY WIDE.

WELL, THIS ORDINANCE SAYS, YOU KNOW, NO BURNING OF DEMOLITION MATERIALS.

THAT COVERS A LOT.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SEDLEY.

RIGHT? AND THAT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL.

RIGHT. CREOSOTE SMELLED OVER MY HOUSE.

YEAH, ILLEGAL AS IT CAN BE RIGHT NOW.

YOU JUST GOT TO GET IT IN FOR SOME HIGH.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIRECT MR. THROWER TO DO? OKAY. WHAT? THE COUNTY IS BURNING.

THAT WOULD BE THAT.

THAT WOULD BE LEGAL.

EXCEPT THAT IT'S CREATING SMOKE.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT THEY'RE NOT BURNING TIRES OR ANYTHING.

THEY ARE. NO, THEY'RE BURNING LEGAL.

ALL WOOD WASTE.

BUT IT CREATES THE SMOKE AND YEAH, IT'S SMOKING AND IT'S CREATING A PROBLEM AREAS.

BUT THEY MIGHT BE THROWING SOME OTHER STUFF IN THERE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

WELL I MEAN, ALLEN, IF YOU SMELLED ANYTHING, OTHER THAN WOOD BURNING.

NOT THAT I DEFINITELY.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT RUBBER SMELL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT SMELLS LIKE WOOD BURNING LEAVES.

YEAH. I GOT YOU.

THE PROBLEM IS, IT CONTINUES TO SMOLDER.

[02:30:03]

THIS ORDINANCE COVERS THAT I BELIEVE IN.

ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS IS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T LET IT SIT THERE AND SMOLDER.

SO ALLEN WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.

EXCUSE ME. ALLEN APPLEWHITE WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT.

COME ON UP FRONT, SIR.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IF THEY DID SMALLER PILES AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THERE 24 HOURS WHEN YOU'RE BURNING LIKE THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

LOOK, THE GRAYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF STARTING A LOCAL BUSINESS, AND I'M ALL FOR THEM.

BUT I'M NOT ALL FOR WHAT I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

AND IT'S NOT EVERY DAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND BLOW IT OUT OF PROPORTION, BUT WHEN IT COMES MY WAY, IT'S BAD.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO COURTLAND, IT'S BAD.

A CHIPPER AND SOME WAY TO DISPOSE OF IT IS THE ANSWER.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.

YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH TREE SURGEONS HERE, YOU COULD PUT ONE IN EACH EACH DISTRICT.

HAVE A COLLECTION POINT AND MAYBE THEY COULD COME UP WITH IT.

I SUGGEST YOU TALK.

IF THE GRAYS ARE NOT INTERESTED AND I SEE A SIGN THERE THAT SAYS MATT KREIDER DELIVERY IN FRONT OF GRAY'S GATES. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

CRIDER DELIVERY.

WOULD YOU? I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE BURNING THAT TOO OR NOT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

I KNOW HE USED TO GET IT.

KIND OF USED TO TAKE SOME TO MATT KREIDER'S PLACE OVER THERE ON 671 TO, WELL, DON'T MOST TREE SURGEONS HAVE A CHIPPER? YEAH, ALL OF THEM GOT A CHIPPER AND THEY GOT A SIX WHEEL OR LARGER CHIP TRUCK WITH A DUMP BODY.

SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OPTIONS.

I'M ALL FOR THE GRAYS DOING IT IF THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, STOP THERE.

AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S COMPLAINING.

ALL MY NEIGHBORS, THEY WANT TO GO WHERE'S THAT SMOKE COMING FROM.

AND YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T BLOWN IT OUT OF PROPORTION OUT OF THE WATER.

AND I'M NOT. BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTY THAT PAYS TAXES.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

YEAH, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN GET THEM, TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT.

AND I WOULD OFFER THIS.

I WOULD, I WOULD SAY ALLOW STAFF TO TALK TO GRAY AND SONS TO SEE HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT THEM, HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT US.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S NO I DON'T BELIEVE, A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT A LOCALITY HAS THIS TYPE OF SERVICE.

SO THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

NOT HAVING THE SERVICE ALTOGETHER, THE RESIDENTS CAN DISPOSE OF IT THEMSELVES.

THEY CAN SHIP IT THEMSELVES.

WHOEVER THE CONTRACTOR IS CAN SHIP IT THEMSELVES.

SO THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS, AS YOU ALL DISCUSSED.

SO THERE ARE GOOD OPTIONS TO POSSIBLY DISCUSS THIS INITIALLY WITH THE FOLKS WE DO BUSINESS WITH TO SEE WHAT IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON THEM AND THE COUNTY. THERE'S NO RUSH TO I MEAN, THE COUNTY'S NEVER HAD AN ORDINANCE ON THIS SINCE 1749.

SO. SO IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO GIVE YOU TIME? TO RESEARCH.

WELL, I WOULD RESEARCH THE IMPACT BEFORE WE ADOPT.

WELL, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDLESS.

SO YOU HAVE BUILT IN MONTH AT LEAST ANYWAY.

AND EVEN THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT IT.

EVEN IF YOU AUTHORIZED A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT IT ON DECEMBER 19TH.

YOU COULD PUT ANY DECISION OFF AT THAT TIME, DEFER IT, PUT IN A LATER EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE.

BUT WE GOT WE GOT TWO THINGS GOING ON HERE.

SEEMS LIKE TO ME ONE IS TAKING CARE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN CHIP AND HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO IT.

THE BURN ORDINANCE IS DIFFERENT, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME, I DON'T KNOW, AM I CONFUSED? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED MY INPUT, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING AT THE PROBLEM, RIGHT? THE CHIPPING WOULD THEORETICALLY ALLOW PEOPLE TO AVOID BURNING SOME OF THE WASTE THAT'S BEING BURNED NOW, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.

SO THAT SEEMS TO BE SORT OF AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BURN ORDINANCE, POSSIBLY.

NOW, EVEN IF YOU HAVE THIS BURN ORDINANCE IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE, BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT GOING TO PREVENT OR PROHIBIT ALL BURNING.

OF COURSE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A BURN BAN THAT IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE OR AT LEAST THE MODEL ORDINANCE.

IT'S STILL GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BURN, BUT IT WILL STOP CERTAIN BURNING AT CERTAIN TIMES AND IMPOSE SOME LIMITATIONS ON IT THAT WILL, IF ENFORCED, PROBABLY RESULT IN LESS BURNING, BUT IT WON'T PROHIBIT ALL BURNING.

SO, MR.

[02:35:01]

WE. ADOPT THIS RECOMMENDATION.

SECOND. WHAT IS THE FURTHER DISCUSSION AND ALSO BE SPECIFIC TO WHICH RECOMMENDATION YOU'RE IS THAT TO TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DECEMBER 19TH ON THE STATE MODEL ORDINANCE? YES, YES.

AND ON THE STATE MODEL ORDINANCE, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU AUTHORIZE TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE THAT MIRRORS THE STATE'S MODEL ORDINANCE AND ADVERTISES FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE A SECOND? MAY I ASK A QUESTION, CHAIRMAN? COULD I ASK A QUESTION? IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PASS SOMETHING TO CORRECT ONE ISSUE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD MAY.

OKAY. WHAT'S THE ONE ISSUE? THERE'S MORE THAN ONE ISSUE HERE.

OKAY. IT SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUE THAT BROUGHT ALL OF THIS UP WAS SMOKE AND BURNING AT ONE PARTICULAR LOCALITY OR A PLACE.

IS THAT NOT WHAT IT WAS? NO. WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE PLACES.

SEDLEY'S GOT A PROBLEM.

THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM OVER HERE ACROSS THE RIVER.

OKAY. BUT THE SEDLEY PROBLEM HAS A LAW THAT ADDRESSES IT ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

OKAY. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? SOMETHING THAT CITIZENS EVERYWHERE HAVE? OR IS IT BEING DONE AT SITES OWNED BY THE COUNTY? NOT ON SITES OWNED BY THE COUNTY.

NO, THEY'VE GOT A CONTRACT THAT THEY BURNS THE WOOD WASTE FROM THE COUNTY.

BUT BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS THAT IT'S ONLY THE COUNTY'S WOOD WASTE.

NO. THEY CAN COLLECT FROM ANYBODY THEY WANT.

SO US TAKING OUR WOOD WASTE AWAY DOES NOT SOLVE.

THAT'S NOT ALL OF THIS.

YEAH, THAT DOESN'T PRODUCE ALL THE SMOKE.

SO IF YOU ALL ARE INCLINED TO.

AND I CAN GO BOTH WAYS, YOU'RE.

NO. YOU'RE IN NO RUSH TO PASS THIS SINCE THE COUNTY'S NEVER HAD AN ORDINANCE.

SO PUTTING IT OFF ANOTHER MONTH IS NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH GRAY AND SONS TO SEE WHAT EFFECT THEM CHIPPING WOULD HAVE.

DO THEY EVEN WANT TO CONTINUE DOING IT? WHAT WOULD BE THE INCREASED COST OF ANY TO THE COUNTY? WHAT IMPACTS IT WILL HAVE WHEN WE CAN GET THAT SAME INFORMATION? HOPEFULLY WITHIN THREE WEEKS.

BUT YOU'RE CORRECT. THERE ARE OUTSIDE OF JUST THAT ISSUE THERE.

THAT'S WHY THE STATE BURNING MODEL ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT.

IT TRIES TO BALANCE BOTH, ESPECIALLY IN COUNTIES.

I MEAN, IF IT'S A CITY LIKE MR. CORNWELL SAID, SEVEN, EIGHT SQUARE MILES, EVERYBODY IS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

IT MAKES SENSE TO BASICALLY OUTBURN IN A COUNTY WITH 603MI².

YOU GET OPEN AREAS WHICH YOU COULD GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LATITUDE TO BURNING, WHICH I THINK THE STATE MODEL DOES DRAW A GOOD BALANCE OF BOTH INTEREST IN THAT. SO ANYWAY, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WE'LL TRY TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM GRAY AND SONS, AND AT THAT TIME ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ON IF YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO DO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 19TH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT, AS WITH ANY ORDINANCE, UNLESS IT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT ON THAT NIGHT, AND YOU CAN PUT IT OFF OR PUT AN EFFECTIVE DATE LATER ON IT TO GIVE MORE TIME TO EVERYBODY.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND.

SECOND. ARE WE WAITING FOR A SECOND? OKAY, WE HAVE TWO SECONDS.

SECOND AND THIRD.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE MOTION.

WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. OPPOSED? NO. OKAY.

MR. THROWER. THROWER, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WORK ON THAT, SIR.

I APPRECIATE IT. WE'RE EXPECTING ONE HECK OF A PLAN.

WELL, ON THIS ONE, IT'S BASICALLY COPY AND PASTE AND FILL IN COUNTY OF SOUTHAMPTON ONE OF YOU COPY AND PASTE AND [INAUDIBLE] FOR FRANKLIN.

NO, JUST THE STATE.

OKAY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY LATE ARRIVING MATTERS? CAN I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID? IF NOT, THEN NUMBER NINE, WE NEED TO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION, MR. THROWER. YES.

[9. Closed Session]

HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

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

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 3711 A EIGHT.

CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE PERTAINING TO THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT/DOMINION ENERGY DELAYS.

CAMP PARKWAY/SOUTHAMPTON LANCE LLC LAND SALE AND PRTI INC PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT.

[02:40:08]

SO MOVE. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION.

I MOVE THAT WE RESUME OUR SESSION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY, WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

WILLIAM HART. WHEREAS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENED A CLOSED MEETING ON THIS DATE PURSUANT TO 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 CERTIFICATION BY THE BOARD, THAT SUCH CLOSED MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN CONFORMITY WITH VIRGINIA LAW.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST 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 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.

I MOVE THAT.

WE ACCEPT A MOTION.

A MOTION TO WHAT THE HECK DO I DO? ADOPT THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION.

YEAH. ADOPT THE CERTIFICATION.

THANK YOU. YOU GETTING BETTER AT THAT? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE, PLEASE. WE NEED. FOR A ROLL CALL.

VOTE ON THAT. THAT PUTS US DOWN TO, ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE..

VOTE, PLEASE. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.

YOU GOT TO RAISE YOUR HANDS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION.

THE MOTION. SO JUST EVERYBODY SAY AYE..

EACH ONE.

THE AYES HAVE IT. DID YOU HEAR? I THINK WE HEARD EVERYBODY. RESOLUTION.

TWO OF THEM KIND OF WANT A ROLL CALL.

VOTE ON IT. THANK YOU.

WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

I THINK WE DO, SIR.

SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT.

ROLL CALL PLEASE. WE DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL FOR THAT, DO WE? I'LL BE SITTING HERE A LONG TIME.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

I'M SORRY. WHAT'S IN THIS PACKET?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.