Dec 19, 2023 Board of Supervisors

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GOOD EVENING, FOLKS, ITS 6:00.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE DECEMBER 19TH, 2023, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE PARTICIPATING IN THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE A QUORUM TONIGHT SO WE CAN VOTE ON ALL THESE ISSUES.

FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

WE CAN ALL STAND AND FACE THE FLAG.

ALLEGIANCE] OKAY. WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR THE INVOCATION FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ERIC WIDMER.

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

I GOT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS.

I'D BRINGING UP. ONE IS.

EXCUSE ME. WE WANTED TO HAVE THE INVOCATION FIRST.

OH. I'M SORRY. OKAY.

JOIN ME, IF YOU WILL, IN PRAYER.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU THAT WE CAN COME TONIGHT TO THIS PLACE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR GOVERNMENT, AND WE JUST THANK YOU THAT WE CAN LIVE IN A LAND WHERE THIS IS ALLOWED, AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, WHO WE CELEBRATE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

AND WE JUST PRAY, LORD, THAT YOU WILL BLESS THIS CANDIDATE, THAT YOU WILL BLESS HIS PEOPLE, THAT YOU WILL HELP US TO DO AS JESUS TAUGHT AND AND LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES AND BRING HELP TO MAKE THIS PLACE EVEN A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

AND WE ASK NOW THAT YOU BLESS THIS MEETING AND BE WITH US, GIVE US GUIDANCE AND WISDOM AS WE DISCUSSED THE BUSINESSES, CANDIDATES, THINGS WE ASK IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

THANK YOU. OKAY, CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

[1. Citizens Comment Period]

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ISSUE PRO OR CON INVOLVING THE COUNTY, ALL WE ASK THAT YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. SO I'LL OPEN THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

MY NAME IS ERIC WIDMER.

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

I GOT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS I WANT TO BRING UP.

ONE IS THE DITCHES AROUND HERE, THE RAIN THAT WE HAD SUNDAY ALL DOWN SAINT LUKE'S ROAD, HORSEPEN, UNITY ROAD, [INAUDIBLE] ROAD.

THE WATER WAS ALL THE WAY UP ONTO THE TOP OF THE ROAD.

IT WAS COMING INTO THE ROAD.

AND, THERE'S A LOT OF THEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY'VE PUT THESE CABLES IN.

THEY HAVE FILLED THE DITCHES IN.

WE'RE NOT HAVING NO DRAINAGE.

LUCKILY, I DUG THE DITCH OUT IN FRONT OF MY OWN HOUSE, MADE SURE TO KEEP THAT ONE DRAINING.

BUT ANYHOW, THAT'S THE ONE THING.

THE OTHER THING IS.

OH, Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS WOOD BURNING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

TALK ABOUT IT GETTING A CHIPPER.

IF YOU GET A CHIPPER, YOU CAN ALSO TAKE AND SELL SOME OF IT TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HORSES, BECAUSE THEY USE A LOT OF THAT IN THEIR PENS FOR HORSES AND COWS, BECAUSE I USE IT IN MY CHICKEN PEN FOR MY CHICKENS.

AND YOU CAN PROBABLY RESELL IT AND GET RID OF SOME OF IT THAT WAY.

OH, MY.

THE OTHER THING IS.

THE. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? I'M HAVING PAINS RIGHT THIS MINUTE.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

I GOT TO GET MY THOUGHTS BACK NOW.

A LOT OF THESE MAILBOXES THAT ARE SITTING ON ON THE ROAD.

THEY ARE SITTING RIGHT ON TOP OF THE ROAD AND LIKE THE ONES DOWN ON SAINT LUKE'S ROAD, ESPECIALLY THAT I KNOW OF.

THESE FARMERS AND THESE TRUCK DRIVERS, THEY'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO GET OVER, BUT SO FAR.

[00:05:02]

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HAVE THEM SORT OF SET BACK SOMEWHAT OR SET ON BECAUSE OF, AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW TREES ON SAINT LUKE'S ROAD, TOO THAT NEED TO BE TRIMMED BACK BECAUSE OF THE.

THEY'RE HANGING RIGHT INTO THE ROAD.

AND THESE 18 WHEELERS AND THESE FARMERS AREN'T GOING TO RUN INTO IT.

AND A LOT OF US HAVE HAD TO STOP AND WAIT FOR THEM, BUT MAINLY ABOUT THE DITCHES.

IF YOU THROW THAT THING BECAUSE A BUDDY OF MINE THAT'S RETIRED, HE USED TO WORK FOR VDOT.

HE SAID IF THEY TAKE THAT DITCH WITCH THING AND CRANK IT WIDE OPEN.

YOU CAN THROW THAT MUD ON OUT THERE.

TEN, 15FT OUT INTO THE FIELDS, OUT INTO THE WOODS, AND INSTEAD OF JUST THROWING IT UP ON THE BANK, BECAUSE THEN WHEN IT TURNS AROUND AND RAINS, IT'S RIGHT BACK DOWN IN THE DITCH, AND [INAUDIBLE] GOOD.

I KNOW THE FARMERS ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, OH, YOU'RE MESSING UP MY CROPS.

THERE'S NO REAL CROPS.

THERE'S MORE OR LESS, HOLDING THE GROUND TOGETHER RIGHT NOW.

BUT, THEY GOT THAT LITTLE COVER CROP, BUT YOU COULD TAKE IN A LOT OF THE WOODS AREA, AND A LOT OF THAT WOULD ELIMINATE A WHOLE LOT OF THIS WATER PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING ON A LOT OF THESE BACK ROADS.

HAVE A GOOD DAY. OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? OH. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS PETER COPELAND.

29075 BETHANY SCHOOL ROAD.

MISS UPDIKE, MISS LOWE.

GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK [INAUDIBLE] I APOLOGIZE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A SOMEWHAT OF A REPEAT OF WHAT YOU HEARD THURSDAY NIGHT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO IT.

ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS PETER COPELAND.

I'M PUSHING 70 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FAMILY FARMING OPERATION FOR OVER 50 YEARS IN THIS COUNTY.

I AM AGAINST SOCIALISM AND BELIEVE IN LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

I THINK GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ARE EXCESSIVE WITH WAY TOO MANY PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.

STATISTICS SAY ONE IN EVERY SEVEN WORKERS IS A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.

I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF PROPERTY OWNERS AND FEEL IF THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS ARE NOT INFRINGED UPON, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO UTILIZE THEIR LAND AS THEY CHOOSE. I'M NOT ALLOWED TO DICTATE HOW OTHERS CAN USE THEIR PROPERTY AND FEEL IT SHOULD BE A TWO WAY STREET.

OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PURCHASE OF SEVERAL FARMS IN THE FOX RIVER AREA.

SOME WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IF YOU OWNED SOMETHING, YOU CONTROLLED IT.

MY FATHER ALWAYS PREACHED LAND WAS A SOLID INVESTMENT.

I CAN STILL HEAR HIM SAY THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY MORE OF IT.

IS LAND A SOLID INVESTMENT, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY? DO YOU CONTROL YOUR LAND? I THINK NOT.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THROUGH RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DICTATES HOW YOUR LAND CAN OR CANNOT BE DEVELOPED.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AN EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE PRINTED RECENTLY IN THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH.

I WILL SHARE A COPY OF THE ARTICLE WITH YOU AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.

IF NOTHING ELSE, I ASK YOU TO READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH.

SOLAR ENERGY REQUIREMENTS ARE GOOD FOR RURAL VIRGINIA, BUT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE INCREASINGLY OUTLAWED.

FOR VIRGINIA'S ECONOMY TO GROW, WE NEED MORE ENERGY TO POWER IT.

AND THIS NOTION IS THE BACKBONE OF GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN'S ENERGY PLAN.

WE MUST MOVE CLOSER TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

GOING BACK IN TIME.

I ALSO MADE A PRESENTATION AT THE APRIL 2022 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.

I ASKED THE COMMISSION TO ALLOW SOLAR ON LAND, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL UNDER PAST AND PRESENT COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.

THE SLIDE I'M REFERRING TO WAS CALLED CYPRESS COVE, AND IS LOCATED ON A PARCEL DIRECTLY ACROSS 58 FROM PRETLOW INDUSTRIAL PARK. I STILL REMEMBER A COMMENT FROM A PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER THAT MY REQUEST WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST OF MANY IN THIS COUNTY DID NOT NEED OR WANT SOLAR.

NOT EXACTLY THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS COUNTY'S NEEDS.

ANOTHER COMMENT THAT STANDS OUT BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER STATED THEY COULD GO WITHOUT ELECTRICITY, BUT COULD NOT GO WITHOUT FOOD.

I BEG TO DIFFER.

MY FAMILY WENT WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR NINE DAYS AFTER HURRICANE FLOYD.

[00:10:02]

PRESERVING FOOD, PREPARING FOOD, HAVING FRESH WATER OR THE MAIN ISSUES ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT DURING THE DAY AND NIGHT.

AC UNITS, REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS AND WATER PUMPS ALL REQUIRE ELECTRICITY.

YOU ALSO HAD A FARMER REPRESENTING FARM BUREAU TELL YOU YOU WERE WELL WITHIN THE NEEDED ACRES PER COUNTY TO MEET VIRGINIA'S NEEDS.

HE FAILED TO MENTION THAT MANY COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA DID NOT MEET SOLAR REQUIREMENTS DUE TO MOUNTAINS AND ROLLING TOPOGRAPHY.

IN 2016, I SIGNED A SOLAR CONTRACT ON APPROXIMATELY 400 ACRES AND PRIOR TO 2020, THE PROJECT ADDED NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH. THESE NEIGHBORS WERE DAVID STORMS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 ACRES, AND RAY MILLER FARMS WITH APPROXIMATELY 200 ACRES.

DAVID STORMS LAND RECENTLY FAILED TO RECEIVE A FAVORABLE RESPONSE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE ZONING CHANGE.

MY LAND AND PROJECT WENT UNDER CONTRACT WITH OPTION PAYMENTS IN 2016 AND STAYED UNDER CONTRACT UNTIL THE ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT.

THIS WAS A 700 ACRE PROJECT ON LAND ALREADY DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A $40 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THIS COUNTY.

AT THAT APRIL MEETING, I ASKED WHAT THE TAXABLE INCOME FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR A $40 MILLION SOLAR FACILITY.

I'VE NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER.

IF I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I WOULD WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH MY DECISION WAS COSTING THE COUNTY IN LOST REVENUE.

IF THIS COUNTY COULD GENERATE MORE INDUSTRY BASED TAXES, THE CITIZENS REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES COULD BE REDUCED.

THIS YEAR, MY WIFE AND I PAID SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY OVER $40,000 IN REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH WE FEEL IS EXCESSIVE. DOES THIS COUNTY NOT NEED INDUSTRIAL BASED TAXES? AND ARE WE CONTENT TO ACCRUE TAXABLE INCOME THROUGH PERSONAL TAXES WHILE OUR SOLAR DOLLAR IS NOT CONSIDERED? WHILE WE CAUGHT UP IN PRESERVING FARMLAND THAT IS ALREADY DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL.

DO WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH SO FARMERS WHO DEPEND ON RENTAL LAND CAN CONTINUE TO RENT WITHOUT OUTSIDE INTERVENTION TO ENSURE THEIR PROFITABILITY? WHERE DO THE RIGHTS OF LANDOWNERS FIT IN THIS THOUGHT PROCESS? IN THIS SOLAR PROJECT, TWO OF THE LANDOWNERS WERE FARMERS TRYING TO ADD FINANCIAL STABILITY TO EXISTING OPERATIONS.

THE THIRD LANDOWNER IS A GENTLEMAN IN HIS UPPER 90S TRYING TO MARKET HIS PROPERTY.

YOUR ORDINANCES KILLED HIS SOLAR ATTEMPT.

HIS LAND IS FARMED BY A LARGE FOREIGN PARTNERSHIP FROM SUFFOLK, WHAT I CALL A CORPORATE FARM.

THIS OPERATION IS FAR FROM THE FAMILY FARMS YOU SEEK TO PROTECT.

HIS NEXT ATTEMPT WAS TO MARKET HIS LAND, BUT THAT ALSO FAILED BECAUSE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL.

BECAUSE HE HAD TOO MANY USES LISTED.

OUR WATER AND SEWAGE AVAILABLE FOR HIS AND OTHER SITES IN CYPRUS COVE.

I DON'T THINK THEY ARE.

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR THIS SITE OTHER THAN ALLOWING A SANDPIT? I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY CHANGES IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PASS UP SOLAR POSSIBILITIES FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS ON INDUSTRIAL LAND WITH NO WATER AND SEWAGE AND LIMITED 58 ACCESS? THIS LIMITS IT TO AG AND FORESTRY.

AND GOES BACK TO THE QUESTION DOES THIS COUNTY NEED TAXABLE INDUSTRY? DRIVING BACK HOME FROM SUFFOLK A WHILE BACK, WE PASSED A SOLAR FARM UNDER CONSTRUCTION JUST EAST OF HOLLAND.

MY WIFE ASKS HOW WAS THIS ALLOWED? WHEN? TEN MILES EAST OF OUR SITE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.

I SAY THAT QUESTION SHOULD BE REFERRED TO A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER.

THAT OPPORTUNITY CAME AND THE CONVERSATION ENDED WITH THAT MEMBER RELAYING A PREVIOUS STATEMENT BY MR. RALEY. HE STATED, WE COULD NOT STOP SOLAR, BUT WE CAN IMPOSE SO MANY REGULATIONS THAT IT CANNOT HAPPEN.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS PROPOSED AND PASSED.

JUST SO YOU WILL KNOW THAT SOLAR LAND IN SUFFOLK IS FARMER OWNED.

AND HE RENTS A LARGE AMOUNT OF LAND IN THE FOX RIVER AREA.

HOW CAN WE AS FARMERS COMPETE? THAT FARMER CAN EASILY EXCHANGE THE INCOME FROM ONE ACRE OF SOLAR FOR 7 TO 10 ACRES OF RENTAL LAND IN OUR COUNTY.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

FARMERS WHO OWN LAND DO NOT HAVE THAT OPTION.

HOW ABOUT SOME ORDINANCES THAT PREVENT OUTSIDE FARMERS WITH SOLAR INCOME FROM COMING INTO THIS COUNTY?

[00:15:06]

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT IF YOU FARM IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BY RENTING LAND, YOU'RE PROTECTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

YOU CAN PUT YOUR MONEY IN A FARMING INFRASTRUCTURE ENTERPRISE WITHOUT THE WORRY OF OUTSIDE INFRINGEMENT ON RENTED LAND FROM NONAGRICULTURAL SOURCES OF INDUSTRY.

IT'S CLEAR WITH FARMERS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT IT HAS A PRO FARM AGENDA, AND THEY DON'T WANT SOLAR COMPETITION FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR CHILDREN.

IF YOU OWN LAND AND WANT TO GO IN A NONAGRICULTURAL DIRECTION, I SEE IT AS BEING A TOUGH ROAD TO HOE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

YOU AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MAKE DECISIONS WHICH AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND FINANCIAL PROSPERITY.

YOU HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE OF TWO FARMING OPERATIONS AND MR. STORMS WHO CHOSE TO INVEST IN LAND IN THIS COUNTY.

MY WIFE AND I WOULD BE CONSIDERING RETIREMENT.

NOT FOR YOUR ORDINANCES.

I THOUGHT THIS PROJECT WAS A WIN WIN FOR ALL INVOLVED.

I JUST CANNOT SEE HOW THIS COUNTY WOULD NOT HAVE BENEFITED FROM 20 YEARS OF SOLAR WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES TO FOLLOW.

PLUS THE INCOME AND ENERGY WOULD HAVE CREATED.

BUT YOU CHOOSE TO KEEP LAND DEEMED INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURE USED WITH NO PLANS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OR USE.

I SUPPOSE MY NEXT STEP WAS SUCH A DISMAL FUTURE FOR THIS PROPERTY SHOULD BE TO ENROLL IT IN AN AG AND FOREST SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND KEEP IT IN AG AND FORESTRY FOR PROBABLY IN MY LIFETIME. I ALSO FEEL THAT YOUR ORDINANCES ARE A CLEAR CASE OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.

WHILE YOUR RESTRICTIONS CLEARLY KILL SOLAR PROJECTS IN THIS COUNTY, WHILE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES PROCEED WITH LITTLE OR NO RESTRICTIONS.

I'M NOT A TREE HUGGER, AND I QUESTION THE GLOBAL WARMING.

PHENOMENAL. I'M AGAINST SOCIALISM, AND I AM A STRONG BELIEVER THAT LANDOWNERS SHOULD HAVE INPUT AND CONTROL OF HOW THEIR LAND IS USED.

WITH MINIMUM GOVERNMENT CONTROL, I'M GOING TO PASS OUT THIS ARTICLE.

AND LIKE I SAY, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ IT, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THAT YOU AT LEAST READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EMMA HOLLAND AND I'M FROM 31426 GARDEN STREET IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

OH. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

OH, COUNCILMAN, COUNCIL LADIES, I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE, UNDER THE NEW MANAGEMENT OUT HERE AT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE LIVE AT SOUTHAMPTON MEADOWS PARK, AND, WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS OUT THERE SINCE UNDER THE NEW MANAGEMENT.

IF YOU EVER CAME TO SOUTHAMPTON MEADOWS PARK, YOU WOULD SEE THE CONDITIONS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND THAT WE BRING IT BEFORE THIS BOARD TODAY AND SOME OF THE DEEPEST THINGS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH OUT THERE.

WE OWN OUR OWN TRAILERS.

AND I AGREE WITH MR. HOWARD. WHEN YOU OWN SOMETHING, YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT YOU OWN.

BUT OUT THERE, THE NEW MANAGEMENT IS TAKING OVER WHAT WE OWN, NOT ONLY OF THEIR LAND, BUT WHAT WE OWN AS WELL. WE HAVE PROBLEMS OUT THERE WITH THE WATER.

SOMETIMES THE WATER GOES OFF, SOMETIMES THE WATER HAS SMELLS, SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE NO WATER AND A LOT OF LIES.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ROADS OUT THERE.

THERE'S SO MANY DEEP POTHOLES IN THE ROAD THAT YOU CANNOT PASS.

COMING AND GOING.

IF. PLEASE, ONE DAY, TAKE A RIDE OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THESE HOLES OUT HERE IS ACTUALLY DEEPER THAN SOME OF THE DITCHES THAT WE PASS THROUGH.

AND THAT'S THE TRUTH.

WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH BOARDED UP TRAILERS AND THE OUT RUN OF WEED AND GRASS OVER THE BORDER OF TRAILERS, BUT YET THEY COMPLAINS ABOUT OUR YARDS, WHICH IS KEPT CLEAN AND CUT GRASS.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OUR MANAGEMENT.

OUR MANAGEMENT STALKING US.

THAT WRITHES AROUND TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS OR COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT.

BESIDE ME OUT HERE, I HAVE A FEW MEMBERS OF SOUTHAMPTON MEADOWS PARK, AND THEY ALSO IS FED UP WITH THIS.

WE HAVE ONE MEMBER HERE WHO'S BEING CONTINUALLY HARASSED EVERY DAY, BEING INTIMIDATED AND FOLLOWED

[00:20:04]

THEY HAVE NEW RULES OUT THERE NOW.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED SO MANY YEARS.

IF I HAVE SIX CARS BEFORE NEW MANAGEMENT TAKE, WHY WOULD I JUST CUT DOWN TO FOUR? I ONLY HAVE IF I HAVE SIX, AND THEY AIN'T GIVING US NO DESIGNATION AS TO WHERE TO PUT YOUR EXTRA CARS.

BUT THEY DON'T WANT THOSE SIX CARS IN YOUR YARD.

THEY MY HUSBAND.

HE HAS GRILLS THAT HE BUILT FOR CAMPING, FOR COOKOUTS OR WHATEVER, HAVE YOU.

HE HAS TRAILERS THAT HE BUILT FOR HELPING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY HAVE USED HIS TRAILERS TO HELP OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT YET WE CANNOT HAVE TRAILERS AND GRILLS IN THE YARD.

IT'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON OUT THERE THAT WE JUST FED UP WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING OUT THERE.

WE HAVE THE MANAGER, WHO IS NOW, TAKING OVER BECAUSE IT'S UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT, WHO JUST GO AROUND HARASSING, TAKING PICTURES OF YOU TAKE TAKING PICTURES OF YOUR YARD, FOLLOWING YOU AROUND FOR WHATEVER REASON, SHE WANT TO FOLLOW YOU.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SHE SENT US EMAILS, THREATENING EMAILS.

AND I HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS HERE TODAY THAT SHE HAS SENT OUT.

BELIEVE ME, IT'S A LOT.

WE HAD NO PLAYGROUND OUT THERE ANYMORE FOR THE CHILDREN.

WE HAD NOTHING FOR THE KIDS TO DO.

BUT YET WHEN WE PUT A BASKETBALL GOAL OUT, SHE TOLD US TO TAKE IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE YARD TO SAY THIS IS TO SAY THAT.

TO SAY THAT IS TO SAY THIS.

SHE SAID SHE WON'T THE LANDSCAPE TO GROW.

I'VE BEEN OUT THERE EVER SINCE 2009 AND WHERE I LIVE NEVER HAD GRASS WHERE I LIVE AND REMIND YOU, BEFORE THE PARK GOT PAID, IT WAS JUST PLAIN OLD DIRT OUT THERE, JUST PLAIN DIRT.

AND NOW THEY GOT A LITTLE PAVEMENT ON THE GROUND, ON THE ROADS.

BUT YET, AS I SAID BEFORE, THEY ARE WORN DOWN.

THEY ARE TORN DOWN.

THEY ARE RIDICULOUS.

TRAVEL IN THAT PARK.

WE HAVE HER TAKING NOT ONLY PICTURES, BUT COMING UP TO YOUR HOUSE AND ASKING YOU THINGS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR HOUSE, WHAT'S GOING ON AT YOUR HOUSE, AND IF YOU OWN IT'S YOURS.

WE HAVE NEW RULES THAT SHE BRINGS OUT NEARLY EVERY TIME SHE FEELS LIKE BRINGING NEW RULES.

AND TO SAY THIS, I KNOW OUR TRAILER PARK MAY NOT LOOK LIKE BEAVER BROOKS.

AND IT NEVER HAD BEEN, BUT TO BRING RULES FROM ANOTHER TRAILER PARK TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR NEEDS OF THE PARK THAT'S BEING WORN DOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

UNLESS YOU TEAR DOWN WHERE WE LIVE AND REBUILD.

SO IT'S HARD FOR US OUT THERE IN SOUTHAMPTON MEADOWS TO, REALLY RELAX OUT THERE.

NO WORRIES.

I DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE THING.

BUT WE FORM US A COMMITTEE SOUTHAMPTON TENANT ASSOCIATION OUT THERE WHERE WE HAVE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, AND SO ON.

AND SO WHAT? SO WE CAN MEET TO TRY TO FIND SOME KIND OF STRATEGY TO HELP IN THIS COMMUNITY, TO HELP IMPROVE IT, TO HELP BETTER, OUR SITUATION AND WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO BRING TOGETHER.

SHE BRINGING IT PULLING APART.

WE ASKED HER NUMEROUS A TIME TO COME TO THE MEETING SO WE CAN DISCUSS THESE THINGS WITH HER.

NEVER APPEARED.

SAID SHE WOULD NEVER WANT TO COME, SO WE CAN'T GET THINGS STRAIGHT WITH HER IF SHE NEVER ATTEND OR LISTEN TO US.

WE CAN'T GO TO THE OFFICE TO SPEAK WITH HER UNLESS WE HAVE APPOINTMENT WITH HER.

AND SOMETIME WHEN YOU CALL HER AND LEAVE VOICEMAIL.

SHE NEVER ANSWERED OR SHE NEVER RETURNS THE CALL.

IT'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

AND ANOTHER THING.

SHE HAS NO VISITORS PARKING ON THE GRASS.

SO IF WE ONLY CAN HAVE FOUR CARS IN OUR YARD, AND WHEN OUR DAUGHTERS OR SONS OR OUR MOMS OR WHOEVER MAY COME TO VISIT US, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PARK? THEY CAN'T PARK IN THE YARD.

THEY CAN'T PARK ON THE PAVEMENT BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY TAKING UP THE PAVEMENT.

SO WE HAVING ISSUES OUT THERE AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY THAT THE COUNCILMEN AND COUNCIL

[00:25:04]

I MEAN, JUST JUST RIGHT OUT.

I GUARANTEE YOU, IF YOU COME IN THERE AN UNFAMILIAR CAR, SHE'S GOING TO FOLLOW YOU.

SHE'S GOING TO LOOK FOR YOU.

SHE GOING TO LOOK SHE GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHAOS.

SO WE ASK THAT THE COUNTY WILL GIVE A CONSIDERATION OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE HAVE ON TODAY, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO STRIKES OUT AGAINST HER BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH US ANYTHING.

WE CAN'T GO TO WAR WITHOUT THE AMMUNITION.

AND SO WE DON'T TRY TO MAKE HER LIFE MISERABLE THE WAY THAT SHE'S MAKING OURS MISERABLE.

IT'S A SAD THING TO LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE.

IT'S A SAD THING TO BE IN A CITY OR A COUNTRY WHERE YOU CAN'T BE SET FREE.

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAND OF THE FREE.

WHY CAN'T WE HAVE OUR FREEDOM? BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE TO LET HER THINK, SHE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RUN OVER US? WE ARE NEVER GET WHERE WE WANT TO GO, WHAT WE HAVE.

WE THANK GOD FOR IT.

WE THANK GOD THAT HE GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE BLESSING THAT HE BESTOWS ON US.

BUT THE THINGS THAT WE GOT TO GO THROUGH TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE IS RIDICULOUS.

AND WE WISH THAT YOU ALL JUST TRY TO ONE DAY JUST COME OUT AND VISIT OUT THERE AT SOUTHAMPTON MEADOW PARK AND SEE THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD, SEE THE BURNT DOWN TRAILERS AND BOARDED UP TRAILERS THAT SHE NEVER TOOK CONCERN OF REMOVING OR FIXING THAT PROBLEM.

BUT YET THE PEOPLE THAT LIVES IN HOMES SHE GOT A PROBLEM WITH.

SO IF SHE WANT THE COMMUNITY LOOK GOOD, SHE HAS TO START MAKING IT LOOK GOOD AS WELL.

BECAUSE IF I LIVE BESIDE A TRAILER THAT'S BEING BURNED DOWN THE GRASS TOWARDS THE TRAILER, HOW THAT MAKING MY HOME LOOK.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE COME OUT HERE TODAY.

I GUESS SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME WITH ME PROBABLY HAD SOME MORE ISSUE.

I'M GONNA SAY THIS BEFORE I LEAVE.

I KNOW THE, RESPONSE THAT WE HAD WITH HER ASSIGNING LEASES AND SHE FORCE US TO SIGN MONTH TO MONTH LEASES.

WE OWN WHAT WE OWN AND WE SHOULD HAVE YEARLY LEASES.

SO THEREFORE IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR HER TO FORCE WHAT SHE WANT JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A MANAGER OUT THERE.

NOW, I HAD TO GET A LAWYER INVOLVED JUST TO GET ME TO HAVE A YEARLY LEASES.

BUT I HAVE PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO HAD SIGNED MONTH TO MONTH LEASES, AND SOME OF THEM MAY BE AFRAID TO TAKE A STEP FURTHER, AFRAID OF WHAT SHE MIGHT DO TO THEM BECAUSE OF WHAT WHAT STEP THEY TAKE.

BUT I DID WHAT I FELT WAS RIGHT FOR ME.

SO I GOT MY YEAR TO YEAR LEASE, AND I JUST WANT THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO OWN, TO HAVE, AND TO CONTINUE TO KEEP WHAT WE GOT WITHOUT SOMEONE ELSE TRYING TO STEP IN, TO TAKE OVER AND TAKE IT FROM US.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? [INAUDIBLE] SOMETIME, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? MY NAME IS ROY WHITEHEAD.

I LIVE ON 31078 EAST DAYTON STREET IN SOUTHAMPTON. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I GOT A GRANDSON, HE MENTALLY ILL.

I TRIED TO LET HER KNOW THAT MY SON WAS MENTALLY ILL.

[INAUDIBLE].

SHE FATHERED HIM AROUND THE PARK.

I GAVE THEM A LAWNMOWER TO CUT GRASS SO THEY STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND HAVE SOME CHANGE IN THEIR POCKET.

SHE FOLLOWED THEM ALL AROUND THE PARK AND EVERYTHING, AND MY GRANDSON TURNED AROUND AND SAID, WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? AND SHE LIKE I TOLD HER AT FIRST HE WAS MENTALLY ILL AND THAT HE DON'T BOTHER NOBODY. HE JUST TRY TO DO WHAT HE CAN.

[00:30:01]

SHE GOT A.

WHAT YOU CALL THAT? THE LAW TO COME OUT THERE THAT RESTRICT HIM FROM BEING THERE.

HE COULD NOT STAY THERE.

HE HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT MY GRANDSON, HE'D BEEN OUT THERE SINCE 2006.

SEVEN. EIGHT.

[INAUDIBLE]. GAVE ME THAT HOME WHEN I WERE IN THE FLOOD.

I DON'T BOTHER WITH NOBODY.

I TRY TO HELP EVERYBODY.

AND ONCE SHE CAME ON THE SCENE, SHE GOT MY GRANDSON OUT OF THERE.

AND, I SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

I SUPPPOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE GET TO THE DOCTOR I SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE HE GETS TO THE COURT AND EVERYTHING.

AND MADE IT HARDER FOR ME AND EVERYTHING.

I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT.

I THINK A MENTALLY ILL PERSON GOT A RIGHT JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

WE ALL GOT PROBLEMS. WE TRY TO DEAL WITH THE BEST WE CAN.

BUT. SHE IS DOING TOO MUCH.

WHEN A CHILD CAN'T WALK DOWN THE STREET PUSHING HIS LAWNMOWER TO CUT A GRASS, TO MAKE HIM A LITTLE CHANGE JUST TO GET BY, NOT BOTHERING NOBODY.

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] HIM AND KNOW THAT HE IS MENTALLY ILL.

WHAT, YOU THINK HE'LL GET AN ATTITUDE? YES. HE'S MENTALLY ILL.

HE'LL LASH OUT.

BECAUSE YOU TREAT THEM LIKE AN ANIMAL, YOU'RE CHECKING ON THEM ALL THE TIME.

IT DON'T MAKE SENSE.

I WISH Y'ALL CAN OR WILL.

COME BACK AND CHECK OUT.

I WISH Y'ALL WILL LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE.

WE THE PEOPLE. WE NEED YOU.

WE NEED Y'ALL TO LOOK INTO THIS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT TIME I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM TO.

THEY GAVE ME THE NAME OF THE MANAGER, THE OWNER OF THE PLACE.

I NEVER GOT IT.

WHEN I GOT OUT THERE, I ASKED FOR THE NAME OF THE OWNER.

I NEVER GOT IT.

WE IN CHARGE.

YOU TAKE EVERYTHING FOR US.

THE LEAST. WHEN FEMA MOVED ME OUT THERE, I SIGNED ONE AGREEMENT.

I HAVEN'T HEARD AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, AND I'VE BEEN OUT THERE SINCE 2001, I THINK 2001, SOMEWHERE ALONG THERE.

AND NOW SHE CAME HERE.

HERE GO LEASE YOU GOT TO DO THIS.

I HAD TO MOVE MY CAR.

THE CAR WAS THERE.

IT NEEDED WORK DONE TO IT.

SHE ASKED ME TO MOVE IT.

I DON'T HAVE NO WAY TO MOVE THINGS SO QUICKLY.

I GOT FINED FOR $100.

IT DON'T MAKE SENSE.

IT. WE NEED HELP.

AND I WISH THAT EACH ONE OF Y'ALL TRY TO LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE WE JUST PEOPLE TRYING TO LIVE AND LEO AND LEO.

AND I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? NAME IS WARREN SIMMONS.

I LIVE AT 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE IN ANYTHING, I SAY THAT MAYBE I THOUGHT YOU SAID, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE, AND I JUST GO BY WHAT I HEAR AT THE MEETINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A PRETTY REGULAR ATTENDEE, SO SOMETIMES I MAKE MISTAKES AND MAYBE SAY THE WRONG THING, BUT I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

I'M TRYING TO DO THE BEST I CAN TO BE INVOLVED.

ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS KIND OF A HOUSEKEEPING QUESTION, SINCE WE LOST A COUPLE OF BENCHES HERE FOR THE FOR THE HANDICAPPED RAMP, I WANTED TO KNOW, CAN I BRING A LAWN CHAIR AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO SIT OVER HERE WHEN THE NEW TAX ASSESSMENTS COME OUT? I'M EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, DOWN AND OUT IN THE YARD GROUP TO COME UP THAT NIGHT.

[00:35:03]

BUT, I REALLY THINK THAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO SEND OUT SOME KIND OF NOTICE TO TELL PEOPLE THEY ALREADY HAVE HEARD THE RUMORS.

THERE'S A 30 TO 60% INCREASE, AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S PRETTY ACCURATE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND FRUSTRATION AND MAYBE EVEN ANGER BECAUSE OF IT.

SO. IF THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT DOWNWARD IN THE TAX RATE TO KIND OF LEVEL IT OUT, THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT IN ADVANCE.

AND IT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING FOR YOU ALL TO DO VERSUS GETTING EVERYBODY RILED UP AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

BUT I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

MY WIFE AND I, WE WERE LEAVING IMMIGRATIONS AND WE TURNED ON TO AGRIPARK DRIVE THERE.

AND RIGHT HAND LANE, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO COME UP TO THE STOPLIGHT AND TURN RIGHT TO GO TO FRANKLIN.

SO WE WEREN'T WE TURNED OUT THERE WAS A CAR UP IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE HAD STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT.THE STOPLIGHT WAS RED, SO THERE WAS NO NEED TO SPEED UP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO STOP ANYWAY.

BUT AS THIS IS GOING ON, A TRACTOR TRAILER COMES PAST US IN THE LEFT LANE.

IT DIDN'T SLOW UP AT ALL.

IT WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT, TURNED RIGHT INTO THE RIGHT LANE IN FRONT OF THE PERSON THAT WAS SITTING THERE WHO MAY COULD'VE MADE A RIGHT TURN IF THERE WAS NOBODY COMING. AND I JUST SEE THAT THE PROBLEM IS A YOU SEE IT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IS A DISREGARD FOR THE LAW.

AND I THINK THEY RUN THE STOPLIGHT SO MANY TIMES OUT ON 58 NOW THEY'RE GOING TO RUN IT GOING ON TO 58.

AND WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT ALL CUTS AND ALL THESE THINGS VDOT SUGGESTED WHEN THE PROBLEM IS JUST PEOPLE ARE GOING TOO FAST AND RUNNING THE STOPLIGHT.

I MEAN, EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THERE ARE CARS TURNED OVER AND IN THE MEDIAN STUCK AND JUST ALL IN THE FIRE TRUCKS AND AMBULANCES GOING BACK AND FORTH.

AND IT'S A MESS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE JUST IN A HURRY TO GO EVERYWHERE.

BUT WHEN YOU CALL VDOT TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM WITH ROADS, YOU GOT TO REMEMBER VDOT HAS THREE DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS OF EMPLOYEES.

THEY GOT THEIR MANAGEMENT.

THEY GOT THE ENGINEERS AND THEY GOT THE PEOPLE TO DO THE PHYSICAL LABOR.

SO WHEN YOU CALL THEM UP AND SAY, I GOT AN ISSUE, IT GOES TO THE ENGINEERS, THE ENGINEERS ARE GOOD GUYS.

THEY'RE SMART, THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED WELL.

BUT EVERYTHING HAS AN ENGINEERING SOLUTION TO IT.

SO THEY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND DRAW AND LAY OUT AND SURVEY AND DO ALL THESE THINGS AND COME UP WITH A PLAN AND A BIG COST TO DO THE JOBS. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY TOLD US LAST MONTH THEY WERE GOING TO START CORE DRILLING OUT AT HIGH SCHOOL AND AT CAMP PARKWAY TO SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY, AND I'VE SEEN THEM OUT THERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ALL CUTS OUT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO NOW THE KIDS LEAVING SCHOOL, THE ONES THAT WANT TO GO WEST ARE GOING TO GO EAST, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO WEST IN THE MORNING.

THE ONES WHO WANT TO GO EAST, THEY'RE GOING TO GO WEST AND COME EAST.

SO YOU GOT ALL THESE CARS GOING LIKE THIS.

SO EVERYBODY GOING TO SCHOOL AND COMING FROM SCHOOL IS GOING TO DRIVE ANOTHER MILE OUT THERE IN THAT CONGESTION.

THE SOLUTION IS EASY.

GIVE ME $5,000 TOMORROW, PERMISSION TO FIX IT.

AND I CAN FIX IT.

AND I'LL KEEP $3,000 FOR ME.

TAKE A TRUCK.

GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF [INAUDIBLE].

GET SOME OF THEM JERSEY WALLS.

COME DOWN AND PUT THEM IN FRONT OF THE THE ENTRANCE FROM 58 INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE NOBODY CAN COME IN AND NOBODY CAN GO OUT.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

EVERYBODY'S GOT TO GO ON THE STREET INSIDE THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.

THEY GO UP TO 35.

THEY'RE GOING SOUTH.

THEY'RE JUST GOING 35.

THEY GOT TO GO EAST AND WEST TO GET ON THE OLD PASS, OR TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY FOR IT.

TAKE THE EXIT RAMPS, GO ON INTO COURT AND JUST KEEP ON.

$2,000 IS WHAT IT SHOULD COST TO GO DOWN AND GET THEM JERSEY WALLS AND BRING THEM UP THERE.

FIXED. INSTEAD OF A MILLION.

WHAT CAN WE DO WITH $1 MILLION ON SECONDARY ROADS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SMOOTHING THEM OUT, WIDENING THEM UP? WE COULD MAKE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THEM SOMEWHERE WE DON'T NEED IT.

WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO LAST MONTH.

I SAW THE VIDEO.

IT'S PROBABLY MY THIRD TIME SEEING IT BECAUSE THEY DEVELOPED THOSE VIDEOS AND THEY DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR FROM SUFFOLK

[00:40:06]

SO IT'S BEEN AROUND BECAUSE THEY WANT THESE TRUCKS HAVE GOT TO GO FAST TO GET TO 95.

GOT TOO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THEY'RE FLYING THROUGH SUFFOLK RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAVE TO WE CAN'T STOP THEM.

THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO GET RID OF A STOPLIGHT.

SO. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE VIDEO, THE FIRST THING I SAW WAS THERE'S NOT MUCH TRAFFIC ON THOSE ROADS AND SOME OF THOSE ROADS I TRAVEL ON EVERY NOW AND THEN.

IT'S NOT MUCH TRAFFIC.

SECONDLY, THERE'S NOBODY GOING TURNING OFF INTO THEIR HOME, INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, INTO A BUSINESS, TO A FACTORY.

THERE'S A SECOND. THERE'S A SIDE ROAD ON EVERY ONE OF THEM.

THEY SHOWED. SO THEY MIGHT BE TAKING THE ALL CUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT TURNING OFF THAT ROAD.

THEY'RE TAKING THE EXIT RAMP OR ENTRANCE RAMP.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WE'RE NOT COMPARING APPLES AND APPLES ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUT HERE AT FOOD LION VERSUS WHAT THEY'RE SHOWING US ON THIS VIDEO, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT ALL THOSE PLACES YOU WANT TO TURN UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD.

A SIDE ROAD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MAKE IT LIKE WHAT THEY'RE SHOWING.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO LET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VIOLATING THE LAW.

GO FASTER.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OBEYING THE LAW HAVE TO DRIVE MORE AND I THINK TAKE MORE CHANCES.

SO IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME AT ALL.

THE PROBLEM IS ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.

AND I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT THOSE CAMERAS WORK.

I HEARD TODAY, SUFFOLK.

YOU SHOULD GET A RAISE, CHRIS.

ALL THE MONEY SUFFOLK'S TAKING IN.

THEY'RE SAYING $5 MILLION THEY'VE MADE SO FAR AT $100.

6 IN THE BANK AND NINE TO BE COLLECTED.

TRUSTEE. I GOT THAT FROM THE MAN THAT LOOKS AFTER IT.

YEAH, I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT PAYING, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT FITS FOR US RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE CUTS, AND I HOPE Y'ALL WE WON'T INVEST OUR MONEY IN THAT.

I MEAN, WE NEED TO SPEND OUR ROAD MONEY ON THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY ARE RIDING THE BACK ROADS.

MORE TO STAY OFF 460 AND 58 BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.

LIKE I TOLD YOU LAST TIME, THEY GO TO STORE STATION TO COME ACROSS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO COME, 58 TO GO.

THEN THEY GO BACK.

PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME FROM CORTLAND THEY GO [INAUDIBLE] RUN STORE STATION.

THEY'RE GOING 2 OR 3, FOUR MILES OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE THEY FEEL SAFER.

BUT THOSE ROADS WERE BUILT IN 1925 FOR, YOU KNOW, 5 OR 6 CARS A DAY, NOT 5 OR 6 CARS A MINUTE.

AND WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF WRECKS ON.

THE SHERIFF WOULD TELL YOU THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO SPEND OUR MONEY AND NOT ON ALL CUTS AND THOSE THINGS.

WE JUST NEED TO PULL A FEW TRUCKS.

AND BECAUSE WE GOT LIGHTS OUT THERE, I'LL TELL YOU THIS ONE THING.

WE GOT THE LIGHTS THAT BLINK.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU THE LIGHTS IS GOING TO CHANGE.

SLOW DOWN. AND PROBABLY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

BUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE, WHEN THEY SEE THE LIGHTS, THEY KNOW THEY GOT TO SPEED UP SO THEY CAN GET THROUGH THE LIGHT BEFORE IT TURNS RED.

THEY LOOK AT IT JUST THE OPPOSITE WAY.

SO THAT JUST TELLS THEM IF THEY'RE WAY BACK FROM THE LIGHT.

BUT IF THEY HAD THE LIGHT, THEY SPEED UP TO GO THROUGH.

THAT'S WHAT I HAD TO SAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT THINK WE'RE ALL TALKED OUT.

LAST CALL. ANYBODY ELSE? MARK WILL CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.

THE NEXT ITEM, NUMBER TWO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

[2. Approval of Minutes]

SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. THEY'RE APPROVED.

THIRD ONE IS VDOT MATTERS.

[3 . VDOT Matters]

[00:45:07]

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYBODY VDOT.

WE'RE NOT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'D ASK THEM TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING.

WE ASKED THEM, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST MEETING, TO COME UP BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH STORY STATION.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ANOTHER WRECK THERE TODAY.

SO WE CAN PLEASE GET THAT THE MESSAGE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

WEDON'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME PROJECT 4 OR 5 YEARS FROM NOW.

YEAH, THEY WERE LOOKING AT SOME, TEMPORARY, THINGS LIKE POSSIBLY DO.

SO I'LL CHECK WITH THEM ON WHERE THEY STAND ON THAT.

AND IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE READY TO PRESENT ANY.

OPTIONS ON THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING.

ALL RIGHT. MONTHLY REPORTS, MR.

[4. Monthly Reports]

HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

YOU DO HAVE, MONTHLY REPORT.

JUST A FEW ITEMS OF NOTE, THE COURTHOUSE ACROSS THE STREET.

THE LATEST SCHEDULE IS PROVIDED AND ATTACHED TO YOUR REPORT.

AND WE'RE STILL, AT THIS DATE, LOOKING AT SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION FOR FEBRUARY 9TH AND FINAL COMPLETION MARCH 6TH.

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, INCLUDING CHANGE ORDERS, STANDS AT $23,882,989.14. WE PROCESSED THE CONTRACTOR'S FIRST 25 PAY APPLICATIONS AND PAID THEM $20,034,534.61 TO DATE.

THE NEWSOME CDBG PROJECT.

WE'RE STILL MAKING SLOW BUT STEADY PROGRESS ON THAT.

STILL TRYING TO GET TO OUR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PORTION.

STUDY ON THAT, STILL WORKING ON SOME HOUSES AND MOVING FORWARD ON THAT, EDGE HILL, ON OUR PROJECT, UP THE QUICK UPDATE ON THAT 100% OF ALL THE SEWER MAINS HAVE BEEN REHABBED OR REPAIRED AND THIS IS PER JAMIE WEST, OUR PROJECT MANAGER WITH, KIMLEY-HORN. ABOUT 35% OF ALL LATERALS HAVE BEEN REHABBED.

THREE MANHOLES NEED TO BE REHABILITATED, LOOKING AT THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY FOR THOSE AND ROADWAY RESTORATION, WHERE TWO POINTS WERE REPAIRED, WERE COMPLETED.

WILL BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE'RE WELL WITHIN THE TIMELINES FOR USING THE ARPA FUNDS FOR THAT PROJECT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE COMPLETED THE SEWER MAIN PROJECT, THE SEWER REPAIR PROJECT IN BOYKINS USING ARPA FUNDS, THE RADIO PROJECT WITH FRANKLIN.

WE'RE ON TRACK WITH THAT.

THE COMMITTEE IS LOOKING AT THE PROPOSALS NOW WHEN LOOKING AT HAVING ORAL INTERVIEWS WITH VENDORS AND EARLY JANUARY, AND THOSE ARE PRETTY MUCH THE MAIN POINTS ON SOME OF THE MAIN ITEMS FOR THIS MONTH.

THAT'S IT ON MY REPORT.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON.

FINANCIAL REPORT.

YES, SIR. YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR PACKET THAT THE, FINANCIAL OVERVIEW ENDING WITH THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 31ST, 2023, AS COMPARED TO OCTOBER 21ST OF 2022 IS IN YOUR PACKET TONIGHT.

YOU WILL SEE THAT TOTAL REVENUES FOR THAT TIME PERIOD COLLECTED IS 16.68% OF OUR BUDGET, AS COMPARED TO OCTOBER OF 2022, 20.74% WAS COLLECTED.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE THERE WAS THAT WE HAD FEDERAL AID THAT CAME IN OF 1.7 MILLION LAST YEAR.

AND FOR YOUR EXPENDITURES, YOU WILL SEE ON THE LAST PAGE THAT AS OF OCTOBER OF 2023, WE HAVE SPENT 19.75% OF OUR BUDGET AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS 21.93%.

AND THE BIG DIFFERENCE THERE WAS LAST YEAR, WE SPENT $1 MILLION AT THIS TIME TO PUT TOWARDS THE BROADBAND PROJECT.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. TREASURER'S REPORT.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR COLLECTIONS LAST MONTH.

[00:50:02]

WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $372,489.03 ON PERSONAL PROPERTY.

LAST MONTH, WE WERE AT 97.14%.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 97.27%, WITH AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $1,473,459.68. ON THE SOLID WASTE LAST MONTH, WE WERE AT 79.55%. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 79.94% COLLECTED.

WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $764,917.11.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ANIMAL CONTROL.

DID WE HAVE AN ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT THIS MONTH? NO, WE DID NOT.

PART OF THIS PROBABLY IS BECAUSE WE'RE ON A SHORT MONTH.

IT'S ONLY BEEN A THREE WEEK GAP IN BETWEEN FROM THE LAST MEETING, BUT THEY USUALLY THEY SEND THOSE USUALLY MONTHLY.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER FIVE.

[5. Financial Matters]

THE BILLS LIST.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS? I'VE GOT A QUESTION.

WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO CUT GRASS AT THE COUNTRY CLUB? I KNOW IT'S ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE COUNTRY CLUB.

THERE'S ONLY, A NUMBER OF SPACES THAT OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PERSON CAN TYPE THINGS IN FOR THIS.

AND IT'S THE WORDING.

IT'S ACTUALLY PROPERTY ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD.

BUT WHOSE PROPERTY IS IT? I DON'T HAVE THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

YES. OKAY.

IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON AND IT'S VACANT PROPERTY.

SO THERE IS NO ADDRESS, BUT WE CUT IT A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR.

IT'S ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD.

IT'S A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER.

AND THEY GET A BILL.

DO THEY PAY IT? I DON'T KNOW IF THEY PAY IT, BUT THEY DO GET IT.

BUT IT'S THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN NOTATE WHERE THE PROPERTY IS.

IT'S ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD, BUT IT'S A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER.

AND I ALSO HAD A QUESTION WHAT IS THE [INAUDIBLE] BRD/RM? YOU. THE BOARD ASKED FOR THE SOLO BOARD TO BE REMOVED.

OUT FRONT, SO IT WAS PAYMENT TO REMOVE AND DISPOSE OF THE SOLAR BOARD AS REQUESTED.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOTION TO PAY THE BILLS.

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

AYE. ALL RIGHT MOVE ON TO THE APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION FOR THE SCHOOL FUND.

THIS LOOKS LIKE $261,438.57.

VARIOUS SOURCES TO THE SCHOOL FUND.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS APPROPRIATION IS IN THE ANNUAL, LEASE PAYMENT FOR THE FORMER, HUNTER DALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR USE AS A TEMPORARY COURT BUILDING.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? WE DO NEED A MOTION FOR THAT.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

A SECOND. SECOND.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION, GENERAL FUND AND BUILDING FUND.

YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION HERE WHICH APPROPRIATES, 1 MILLION, $15,283.48 IN REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES TO THE GENERAL AND BUILDING FUNDS.

THE GENERAL FUND PORTION IS $213,510.49.

THE BUILDING FUND PORTION IS $801,722.99.

THE APPROPRIATION CONSISTS OF EXPENDITURES, REFUNDS, DONATIONS, OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS, REIMBURSEMENTS, AND GRANTS.

IF I HAVE ANY.

I MOVE, WE ADOPT THE APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION.

[00:55:02]

AYE. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON.

NUMBER SIX APPOINTMENTS.

[6. Appointments]

WE HAVE ONE MEMBER WHO TERMS EXPIRED IS NOT WISH TO BE REAPPOINTED.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THAT ARE.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYBODY? YES. OKAY GO AHEAD SIR.

OKAY. I HAVE A WILBERT WILLIAMS JR BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS IS THAT THEY ARE A BUILDER.

AND HE IS A CONTRACTOR.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT.

NOTIFY HIM HE'S BEEN APPOINTED, THEN.

OKAY. I HAVE INFORMATION FOR YOU, LIKE.

PASS THIS OUT.

[INAUDIBLE]. OKAY.

THE SECOND IS THE CITIZENS, TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE IN THIS COUNTY.

I HAVE A NOMINATION.

ALL RIGHT FOR THE AT LARGE SEAT DENNIS WHITBY.

DENNIS WHITBY.

OKAY. GOT YOU.

ANYBODY SECOND.

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

AYE. LET'S SEE.

DO WE NEED MORE THAN ONE THERE? YOU NEED ALSO MATTHEW GILLETTE DOES NOT WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR REAPPOINTMENT.

AND WE ALSO JUST DID RECEIVE LITERALLY WORD BEFORE THE MEETING THAT FROM [INAUDIBLE] KEITH BARRETT FROM BERLIN.

[INAUDIBLE] DOES NOT WISH TO BE CONSIDERED.

GET US ONE BY NEXT MEETING.

I'LL TRY. OKAY.

THIS IS NEWS TO ME.

OKAY. SEE HIM ABOUT EVERY DAY.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WITH YOU DOWN THERE? THERE'S SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER, AT LARGE.

BERLIN [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.

MR. CORNWELL, GONNA HAVE SOMETHING NEXT MONTH, RIGHT? LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN FINALIZE THIS BY NEXT MONTH.

OKAY. NOW, THESE PERSONS HAVE COME FROM A DISTRICT, AND WE.

YEAH. INSTEAD OF [INAUDIBLE] THERES NORTHWEST.

RIGHT. OKAY, I KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING THEY HAVE TO COME FROM THOSE SPECIFIC DISTRICTS.

YEAH. THIS IS AN ISSUE ON EVERY BOARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT, OF HOW Y'ALL GO FORWARD ON THE REST OF Y'ALL'S BOARDS WITH THIS NEW DISTRICTS.

SOME OF THIS, BY CODE, DOES NOT REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE PEOPLE APPOINTED FROM EACH DISTRICT OR AREA.

Y'ALL HAVE JUST BEEN CHOOSING TO DO SO IN THE INTEREST OF REPRESENTATION.

SO THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE YOU'RE GOING TO FIX TONIGHT BY ANY MEANS.

BUT GOOD POINT, CARL.

THANKS. YEAH. IMPORTANT THING IS GET SOMEBODY WHOSE INTERESTED AND SOMEBODY WILLING TO DO IT.

THAT'S NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE FROM.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THE ANSWER IS WE'RE NOT HELD TO ASPECIFIC DISTRICT IF WE FIND SOMEONE TO FILL.

NOT TONIGHT. I THINK YOU WERE SAYING.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS.

I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND HOW THE [INAUDIBLE] ACTUALLY READS, BUT LIKE PLANNING COMMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE NOT BOUND TO BY STATE CODE.

YOU'RE NOT BOUND TO APPOINT PEOPLE FROM EACH DISTRICT YOU HAVE.

YOU CAN HAVE, I FORGET OFFHAND, SO MANY TO SO MANY MEMBERS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

THEY COULD BE ALL THAT LARGE IN THE COUNTY IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

OR YOU CAN REDUCE THEM BASED ON YOUR NEW DISTRICTS.

BUT THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE A.

CYCLE OF MATRICULATION WITH THOSE BOARDS.

THAT'S GOING TO GET COMPLICATED REAL FAST.

ANYWAY, THAT'S A THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER NIGHT.

BUT GOOD POINTS.

EVERYTHING GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED, WHICH I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A WHILE, BUT ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER SEVEN.

[7. FY23 Audit - Presentation by Kimberly W. Jackson, CPA- Creedle, Jones and Associates, PC]

OKAY. MR. CHAIRMAN, MRS. KIMBERLY JACKSON, CPA, A PARTNER WITH THE FIRM OF CREEDLE JONES AND ASSOCIATES, WILL PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR 23 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT VIRTUALLY.

SHE HAS OTHER REPORTS TO PRESENT FOR MULTIPLE LOCALITIES TONIGHT.

[01:00:02]

FIRST, I WILL REMIND US ALL THAT THE AUDIT IS A SNAPSHOT ON JUNE 30TH, 2023 OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S FINANCIAL POSITION.

AN ELECTRONIC COPY HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS TONIGHT, AS WELL AS I HAVE PLACED AT, EACH SEAT A LIST OF THE PAGES THAT I WILL BE GOING OVER BEFORE KIM GOES THROUGH HER PART, ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC, AN ELECTRONIC COPY IS POSTED ON THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WEBSITE.

OKAY. SO FIRST WE'LL GO TO PAGE 175 THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET.

AND THAT IS THE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS.

THE REPORT INCLUDES AN UNMODIFIED OPINION WHICH IS THE TOP OPINION ALLOWED WITH REGARDS TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES, NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES, NO FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS, AND NO INSTANCES OF FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS TO REPORT.

THE MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS, AS YOU SEE ON THIS PAGE SHOWING WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THIS YEAR ARE THE CHILD NUTRITION CLUSTER, THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF, AND THE CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.

THE NEXT PAGE WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER IS PAGE 117 AND YOU WILL SEE THAT I HAVE CIRCLED A NUMBER ON THAT PAGE FOR YOU AND THAT IS SHOWING THAT THE GENERAL FUND NET EXPENDITURES EXCEEDED NET REVENUES BY $740,281.

I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE FISCAL YEAR 23 ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS APPROVED USING TWO POINT, EXCUSE ME, 1.2 MILLION OF FUNDS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S ACCUMULATED RESERVE FUND, OF WHICH WE USED 557,927 LESS THAN ORIGINALLY EXPECTED.

ALSO DURING THE YEAR, BASED ON FINANCING OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM THROUGH TOWN BANK, EXCUSE ME, THROUGH TOWN BANK, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WAS REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH A RESERVE ACCOUNT EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF THE LOAN, THE AMOUNT THAT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE RESERVE FUND TO SERVE AS COLLATERAL FOR THE FINANCING WAS 1.5 MILLION.

WITHOUT THAT TRANSFER, THE GENERAL FUND WOULD HAVE SHOWN GROWTH OF $772,719.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MONEY IN THIS RESERVE FUND WILL REVERT TO THE GENERAL FUND IN THE FUTURE, WHEN THE PRINCIPAL OF THE FINANCING IS SATISFIED.

NEXT WE WILL GO TO PAGE 116.

AND I HAVE A NUMBER CIRCLED ON THERE FOR YOU ALSO.

THE SCHOOL BOARD UNDERSPENT ITS LOCAL BUDGET BY $8,835.

THE NEXT PAGE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO IS PAGE 48.

DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE, YOU'LL SEE SOME NUMBERS THAT I HAVE WRITTEN IN WHERE I ADDED, A COUPLE WITHIN THE COLUMNS TOGETHER.

AND THIS IS THE LONG TERM INDEBTEDNESS OF THE COUNTY, AND IT INCLUDES COMPENSATED ABSENCES FOR EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT DECREASED FROM 83.5 MILLION TO 81 MILLION, WHICH IS A REDUCTION OF 2.5 MILLION.

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PAGE 11.

AND THAT SHOWS THAT THE COUNTY'S OVERALL NET POSITION FOR GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES IMPROVED FROM 30.5 MILLION TO 36 MILLION. THE NET POSITION IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IMPROVED BY 2.7 MILLION, WHICH WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO INCOMING ARPA FUNDS FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.

THE NEXT PAGE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO IS PAGE 14.

ONCE AGAIN, I'VE GOT A NUMBER CIRCLED ON THERE FOR YOU TO MAKE IT EASY TO FIND THE END OF THE YEAR GENERAL FUND BALANCE IS CURRENTLY $10,639,678, AND THIS UNAPPROPRIATED BALANCE EQUALS 30.2% OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.

AND I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE WELL WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, OF MAINTAINING AT

[01:05:09]

I ALSO WANTED YOU TO NOTE THAT THE NEW FINANCIAL GUIDELINES THAT DAVENPORT AND COMPANY HAVE BEEN HELPING BRIAN AND I BUILD, SPECIFIES THAT THE PROPER UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 25% PLUS A POTENTIAL BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND RESERVE OF 5%, WHICH EQUALS A RESERVE GOAL OF 30%, WHICH WE DID MAINTAIN FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.

BUT JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT GOING FORWARD.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT 16%, WAS VERY LOW COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAD, WHICH WAS THE 30.2%.

AND THEN THE FINAL ITEM THAT IS IN YOUR PACKET OR PAGES 170 AND 171 AND IT IS THE REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA'S LAWS, REGULATIONS, CONTRACTS AND GRANTS.

AND AT THIS POINT I WILL HAND IT OVER TO KIM JACKSON.

ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY. HANG ON . [INAUDIBLE].

HERE WE GO.

HI, KIM, COULD YOU HEAR THE REPORT THAT I GAVE THE BOARD JUST BEFORE YOU CAME ON? SHE CAN'T HEAR US.

WELCOME.

SHE LOOKS LIKE A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS.

LET'S SEE.

OKAY. LET'S SEE.

LET ME.

OKAY. HANG ON.

WE GOT ONE MORE THING WE CAN DO.

SORRY, GUYS.

EXCUSE ME.

[INAUDIBLE] .

THIS IS INTERMISSION. ANYBODY WANT TO GO GET A DRINK OF WATER? YEAH. YOU GO TAKE US UP ON IT, HUH? [INAUDIBLE]. WORKED FINE THIS AFTERNOON.

[01:10:01]

[INAUDIBLE]. THERE WE GO. OKAY.

WE CAN SEE YOU. KIM, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU. FINE.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME. FINALLY.

HI, I KNOW, OKAY, SO I'M JUST GOING TO HIT A FEW HIGH POINTS ON THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT THAT YOU RECEIVED. SO THE FINANCIAL SECTION IS THE FIRST PART OF THE AUDIT REPORT AND INCLUDES THE AUDITOR'S REPORT, WHICH STATES THAT THE AUDIT WAS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE AUDITING STANDARDS BASED ON THE AUDIT PROCEDURES PERFORMED AND UNMODIFIED OPINION OR CLEAN OPINION WAS ISSUED FOR THE COUNTY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. PAGES 1 TO 9 REPRESENT THE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SECTION, WHICH SUMMARIZES THE FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IN A CONDENSED FORMAT.

PAGES 10 TO 19 COMPRISED THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COUNTY.

PAGES TEN AND 11 HAVE WHAT ARE KNOWN REFERRED TO AS THE FULL ACCRUAL BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YOUR BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES.

THESE STATEMENTS INCLUDE YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS AND THE COUNTY'S LONG TERM DEBT.

PAGE 12 ARE THE BALANCE SHEETS FOR THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDES THE GENERAL FUND, THE COUNTY'S MAIN OPERATING FUND.

ON PAGE 12, TOTAL FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND IS 10 MILLION, A DECREASE OF 740,000 FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS REFLECTED ON PAGE 14.

STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE.

THIS DECREASE WAS DUE PRIMARILY TO THE TRANSFER RELATED TO THE BEALE FARM FUND, WHICH I THINK LYNETTE WAS GOING TO TOUCH ON EARLIER.

ON PAGE 12, THE UNASSIGNED PORTION OF THE FUND BALANCE IS THE 10.6 MILLION.

THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE FUND BALANCE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ASSIGNED, COMMITTED OR RESTRICTED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.

PAGES 16 TO 18 REFLECT THE FINANCIAL POSITION AND ACTIVITIES OF YOUR PROPRIETARY FUNDS, WHICH IS YOUR WATER AND SEWER FUND.

THE NET POSITION FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IS APPROXIMATELY 2.7 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 2.7 MILLION FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THE FUND BALANCE WAS AT A DEFICIT.

PAGES 19 TO 20 ARE THE FIDUCIARY FUNDS.

THESE FUNDS INCLUDE THE OPEB TRUST FUND FOR THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND THE FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDE THE ESCROW TRUST FUNDS, THE BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY, AND THE SPECIAL WELFARE FUNDS THAT ARE HELD AT SOCIAL SERVICES.

THE BULK OF THE REPORT ARE THE FOOTNOTES, WHICH ARE PAGES 21 TO 112.

THESE ARE REQUIRED DISCLOSURES UNDER ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND INCLUDE AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON VARIOUS COUNTY FINANCIAL MATTERS.

I WILL JUST DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A FEW.

PAGE 41 TO 44 OR FOOTNOTE NINE DISCLOSES THE COUNTY AND CAPITAL.

AFTER THAT. PAGES 45 TO 48 ARE FOOTNOTE 11.

IS YOUR LONG TERM DEBT, WHICH REFLECTS THE BORROWINGS OF THE COUNTY AND ALSO THE SCHOOL.

PAGE 51 OR FOOTNOTE 13, IS RELATED TO A NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD THAT WAS REQUIRED TO BE IMPLEMENTED DURING FY 23, WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS GASB 96 OR SUBSCRIPTION BASED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH ARE OTHERWISE KNOWN AS YOUR CONTRACTS, USED TO USE CERTAIN VENDOR SOFTWARE. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE NEW LEASE STANDARD THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR FOR GASB SEVEN.

PAGES 55 TO 111 ARE ALL REQUIRED FOOTNOTES RELATED TO THE COUNTY'S PENSION AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THESE TABLES ARE BASED ON ACTUARIAL REPORTS AND RESULTS REFLECTED IN EXHIBITS ONE AND TWO, WHICH ARE ON YOUR FULL ACCRUAL BASIS.

[01:15:05]

PAGE 113 STARTS THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, WHICH BEGINS WITH THE DETAILED BUDGET TO ACTUAL COMPARISON SCHEDULE FOR YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.

EXPENDITURES DID NOT EXCEED APPROPRIATIONS AT THE FUND LEVEL FOR ANY GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, AND IN ADDITION, THERE WERE NO FUND DEFICITS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

PAGES 119 TO 145 INCLUDES MORE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA ON THE PENSION AND OPEB.

PAGE 146 REFLECTS THE DETAIL FOR THE COUNTY'S OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS AND SCHOOL FUNDS, FINANCIAL POSITION AND FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

THEN PAGES 158 TO 164 IS YOUR OTHER INFORMATION SECTION WITH VARIOUS FINANCIAL DATA COMPARISONS FOR THE TEN YEAR PERIODS FOR YOUR REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, ASSESSMENTS, TAX LEVIES, COLLECTIONS, AND OTHER INFORMATION.

PAGE 165 TO 175 IS THE COMPLIANCE SECTION, WHICH INCLUDES AUDITOR REPORTS AND OPINIONS ON INTERNAL CONTROLS, COMPLIANCE OVER MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA LAWS, REGULATIONS, CONTRACTS AND GRANTS.

ALL OPINIONS RELATED TO THESE WERE CLEANED.

PAGE 171 DOES LIST TWO FINDINGS OF NONCOMPLIANCE RELATED TO STATE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.

THE REPORT ENDS WITH THE COUNTY'S SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS AND SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS, AND QUESTIONED COSTS.

THERE WERE NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES REPORTED IN RELATION TO FEDERAL FUNDS EXPENDED BY THE COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

ANY? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR KIM? I KNOW IT WAS A LOT TONIGHT, AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH IT'S PRETTY MUCH NEW TO US RIGHT NOW AT THE MOMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS TONIGHT, KIM CAN ANSWER THEM.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS LATER, WE CAN ALWAYS GET IN TOUCH WITH KIM TO GET WHATEVER YOU NEED.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

OKAY. JUST AS A REMINDER ON THAT ONE, YOU'LL NEED TO, MAKE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT THE FY 23 AUDIT. SO MOVE.

SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? THANK YOU.

OKAY. MOVE ON.

NUMBER EIGHT, PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[8. Public Hearing - Open Burning Ordinance]

THE FIRST ONE IS THE OPEN BURNING ORDINANCE, AND THIS CAME ABOUT, I THINK WE BROUGHT IT UP IN OCTOBER MEETING.

AND THEN, WE WENT THROUGH IT IN NOVEMBER, WAS, CAME UP WITH AN ORDINANCE AND THEN WAS ADVERTISED.

AND TONIGHT IT COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION AS A PUBLIC HEARING.

MR. THROWER, YOU LIKE TO THROW IN EXACTLY WHAT? YEAH. I'LL TRY MY BEST.

ALL RIGHT. CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, AS CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, FIRST DISCLOSED? WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A COUPLE OF MEETINGS NOW, AS INITIALLY REQUESTED BY CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, AND LOOKING AT THIS, AND WHAT OTHER LOCALITIES DO AROUND US, THERE'S A STATE MODEL ORDINANCE, A MODEL LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE STATE THAT, BASICALLY THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SUFFOLK HAVE ADOPTED, THAT'S BEEN THAT'S IN EFFECT, PROPOSED TONIGHT.

IF THE BOARD WOULD DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

THE CITIES OF FRANKLIN, A LOT OF CITIES AND TOWNS JUST HAVE ORDINANCES THAT PROHIBIT IT ALTOGETHER.

GIVEN THE FACT THAT CITIES AND TOWNS ARE SMALLER AND MORE COMPACT BEING A COUNTY, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE OPEN AREA, WHICH WOULD TEND TO FAVOR MORE MODERATE, IF AT ALL, REGULATIONS ON THIS, SO ANYWAY, I PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT OF OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE, IF YOU'RE IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO PURSUE THAT'S BASED ON THE STATE MODEL ORDINANCE, AND I'LL SEE ALEX GRAY HERE.

GRANT. SO WE DID FOLLOW UP WITH, GRANDSONS.

THEY DO, TAKE OUR YARD DEBRIS AND THE IMPACTS OF, POTENTIALLY IF THE BOARD WERE TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE, WHAT EFFECTS THAT WOULD HAVE ON OUR OPERATIONS, GRANDSON'S OPERATIONS.

DID TALK TO ALEX A LITTLE EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THAT AND I THINK ALEX IS GOING TO SPEAK, DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION, BUT THAT WOULD, IF YALL WERE TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR OPERATIONS HERE AT THE COUNTY, DUE TO THE DUE TO NO BURNING REQUIRED.

[01:20:09]

BUT IF Y'ALL WERE GOING TO ADOPT SOMETHING, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT Y'ALL PUT THIS OFF FOR THE TIME BEING AND TABLE IT.

YOU CAN STILL CONDUCT YOUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, BUT ON THE STAFF SIDE, LYNNETTE AND I NEED TO WORK THROUGH A FEW LOGISTICS ON HOW WE WOULD DEAL WITH DISPOSING OF YARD DEBRIS IF IT WERE NOT TO BE HANDLED BY GRANDSONS, AND IF HE WERE NOT TO BURN THAT DEBRIS, AND HOW WE WOULD POSSIBLY DISPOSE OF THAT WASTE, OR POSSIBLY DO AWAY WITH THAT SERVICE ALTOGETHER SO YOU CAN STILL CONDUCT YOUR PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU COULD STILL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE IF YOU WANTED TO, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU WE COULD TABLE THIS ITEM AT LEAST TO THE NEXT MEETING, TO WORK THROUGH THE LOGISTICS OF HOW WE WOULD DEAL WITH THE YARD WASTE AND OTHER ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIALLY ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE.

BUT SO WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE OF ADOPTING THIS? I TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENED? I WENT TO SEDLEY THIS WEEKEND AND ACRID SMOKE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THE THE BURNING HAS RAMPED UP BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS COMING.

AND I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF PUTTING IT OFF.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE HAD COMMENTS FROM COURTLAND, SEDLEY THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

SO THE DOWNSIDE IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY'S OPERATIONS, WE CURRENTLY GRANDSONS HANDLES OUR YARD WASTE.

SO THAT WOULD IMPACT HOW THEY PROCESS OUR YARD WASTE.

OR THEY MAY NOT WANT TO DO IT AT ALL, TO BE QUITE HONEST.

SO THEREFORE WE AS A COUNTY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE AT ALL OR PUT IT BACK ON THE CITIZENS TO DISPOSE OF THEMSELVES.

THEREFORE, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT'S WHY WE WOULD TABLE THIS ITEM AT LEAST A MONTH.

SO LYNETTE AND I CAN COME BACK WITH SOME OPTIONS ON HOW WE DEAL ON OUR SIDE WITH DEALING WITH THE YARD WASTE AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE RESIDENTS.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING PROHIBITING THE BOARD FROM, ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TONIGHT OR AT A FUTURE TIME.

BUT THOSE ARE SOME LOGISTICAL THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK OUT TO.

IN ALL FAIRNESS TO ALL SIDES.

WELL, IF WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT'S JUST STILL COULD BE WORKED OUT AND WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT? NO. IF THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OF THESE OPTIONS, YOU CHOOSE.

SO IF THE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE TO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR ANOTHER MONTH TO LOOK AT THIS.

IF THE COUNTY WERE TO PUT THIS IN PLACE, GRANDSONS MAY NOT WISH TO TAKE OUR YARD DEBRIS.

THEN THE CHOICE HAS TO BE MADE OF WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO PAY EXTRA, WHICH IS GOING TO INCREASE THE COST TO TRANSPORT, POTENTIALLY, THAT DEBRIS TO ANOTHER LANDFILL, WHICH IS GOING TO BE INCREASED COST TO THE COUNTY CITIZENS OR DO AWAY WITH THAT SERVICE ALTOGETHER.

SO THERE ARE SOME TIME ELEMENTS TO THIS TO SEE HOW WE POTENTIALLY IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE.

RIGHT. AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM.

AND, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW SERVES A PURPOSE.

SO THEN THIS SAME PURPOSE HAS TO BE MET REGARDLESS OF HOW WE DO IT.

AND RIGHT NOW, IF WE JUST APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, I THINK IT WOULD PUT I THINK IT WOULD PUT US IN A POSITION THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN. SO I THINK I WOULD WANT TO FOLLOW MR. THROWER RECOMMENDATION THAT WE TABLE IT FOR THE MONTH AND LET THEM CONSIDER IT WAS STILL A PUBLIC HEARING.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T.

I'M JUST SAYING BECAUSE THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST PASSING AN ORDINANCE INVOLVING ON OUR SIDE THAT WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH AGAIN WITH.

WELL, WE KNOWN ABOUT THIS THREE MONTHS SINCE OCTOBER, AND I'VE GOT PEOPLE CALLING ME EVERY WEEK.

HAD ONE CALL ME THIS WEEKEND ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE STREET.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO STOP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE STREET.

I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THIS.

ALL RIGHT ALEX GRAY.

OH, MY BUSINESS ADDRESS IS 23495 SUNLINE DRIVE.

LOCAL CONTRACTOR CURRENTLY CONTRACTED WITH THE COUNTY TO RECEIVE GREEN WASTE.

I WAS APPROACHED AT CHURCH OF ALL PLACES TO DISCUSS THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT ANY OTHER WAY, BUT THAT'S ON A SIDE NOTE.

SO A LOT OF THE I GUESS SMOKE HAS BEEN PINPOINTED TOWARDS US WITH NO RHYME OR REASON.

[01:25:09]

I DON'T KNOW IF MR. APPLEWHITE KNOWS THE EXACT DATE, BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND FIND THAT OUT, BECAUSE WE CALL IT CONTROLLED BURN EVERY TIME.

AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THERE STANDBY AT ALL TIMES, BUT ON A SIDE NOTE, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY TOOK THIS FROM THE COUNTY, IT WAS TO ALLEVIATE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE GOING TO WHEN YOU TAKE LIMBS, CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, PUT IT INTO YOUR MUNICIPAL CONTAINER.

AT THESE REFUSE SITES, IT ADDS UP, AND YOU'RE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF TONNAGE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE].

WELL, WHEN WE WHEN MIKE JOHNSON WAS HERE, WE DECIDED TO TRY AND ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT COST FOR THE CITIZENS.

AND WE DECIDED THAT WE COULD HELP BY BURNING THE DEBRIS AT A REDUCED RATE AND COST IF IT WAS CLEAN DEBRIS, OF COURSE. FAST FORWARD TO NOW.

IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE BECAUSE OF CONCERNS WITH THE CITIZENS.

AND I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT.

AND MY BROTHER AND MY FATHER, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT, PRAYED ABOUT IT, AND I THINK WE DECIDED THAT INSTEAD OF BEING A BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY AND CAUSING EXTRA PROBLEMS, THAT WE WOULD STOP ACCEPTING THE DEBRIS FROM NOW ON FROM THE COUNTY.

WE REALLY IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE.

IT'S NOT LUCRATIVE.

WE'RE NOT MAKING ANYTHING OFF OF IT TO WE'RE BARELY BREAKING EVEN.

BE HONEST WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH WE MAKE PER BOX WE PICK UP IN THE COUNTY AT THE REFUSE SITES.

IT'S $50 A BOX.

YOU CAN'T EVEN GO BUY A PIZZA FOR THAT.

AND WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? YOU WANT US TO GRIND IT? THE MAJORITY OF THE MATERIAL IS DECKING BOARDS, TREATED LUMBER, SIDING, BAGS OF LEAVES WITH PLASTIC IN IT. WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? DO WE GIVE IT BACK TO YOU? DO WE PUT IT IN ANOTHER TRUCK, SEND IT BACK? COST US TO SORT IT FOR $50 A BOX.

GO TO I THINK IT'S ABOUT 6 OR 7.

I MEAN, WE WERE TRYING TO PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR THE COUNTY TO KEEP THE COST DOWN BECAUSE I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

I WANT TO LIVE HERE. I WANT MY KIDS TO GROW UP HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN SMOKE EITHER, BUT EVERYTHING COMES AT A COST.

IT'S EITHER YOU DEAL WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SMOKE AND YOU LOWER THE COST OF TAXES SO MY KIDS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, OR YOU JUST SEND IT OFF TO BURIED IN SUFFOLK AND PAY THE BURDEN OF THE TAX.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S UNWARRANTED.

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S ME.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF THAT IT WAS US.

BUT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH THE TREE SURGEON.

AND YOU HAVE A TREE SURGEON NEXT DOOR, RIGHT? THIS DISPOSING OF LEAVES AND GREEN WASTE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

OKAY, WELL, YOU'RE GETTING INTO MINE, SO WE.

YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN HIM BURNING LEAVES FOR ALL WE KNOW.

TREE DEBRIS. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU COME IN HERE AND SPECULATE AND MAKE MY BUSINESS LOOK BAD IN THE COMMUNITY'S EYE.

I'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS.

20 YEARS. HAVE WE EVER HAD A COMPLAINT? NO, BECAUSE WE TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THIS IS THE RIGHT THING FOR ME.

SO WHETHER YOU GUYS PASSED THIS BURN LAW AND I HOPE YOU DO, I HOPE YOU DO, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ENFORCE IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE FIRE MARSHALS. YOU DON'T.

THIS GUY RIGHT HERE, HE KNOWS MORE ABOUT IT THAN ANYBODY.

YOU SHOULD BE CONSULTING WITH HIM.

DON'T GO AND RUSH BECAUSE ONE PERSON SMELLS A WHIFF OF SMOKE.

AND MR. APPLEWHITE, LAST YEAR, YOU DIDN'T MIND THE SMELL OF YOUR SMOKE WHEN WE BURNT YOUR HOUSE, YOUR PARENTS HOUSE DOWN FOR YOU TO SAVE MONEY.

DID WE? WE COULD HAVE PUT IT IN A CONTAINER.

SHIPPED IT OUT.

COST YOU TWICE.

THREE TIMES WHAT IT WAS WORTH.

BUT WE DIDN'T. WE DID YOU A FAVOR.

WE GOT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CODE AND BURN IT DOWN FOR YOU.

AND WE BURIED IT ON THAT FARM, DIDN'T WE? YES. SO IF YOU WANT TO POINT FINGER AT PEOPLE, POINT AT YOURSELF.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

OKAY, WELL, TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS PEOPLE BURNING HOUSEHOLD TRASH, PLASTIC PRODUCTS.

WE BURN GREEN WASTE.

[01:30:01]

I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

AND, WELL, IT SEEMS. WE HAVE PEOPLE BURNING TIRES AND BURNING CREOSOTE.

I HAVE PICTURES, WE SORT OUR PRODUCT.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU. WE GET TIRES IN THOSE CONTAINERS.

WE GET BUILDING DEBRIS.

I HAVE SHOWN THE PICTURES TO BRIAN.

HE'S WELL AWARE OF WHAT COMES IN THOSE CONTAINERS.

IT TAKES TIME.

IT TAKES MANPOWER.

IT TAKES MONEY TO SORT THAT STUFF OUT.

AND WE SORT IT OUT AND WE SHIP IT OFF.

AND WE'VE DONE THE BEST WE CAN, BUT YOU DON'T CATCH EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE NOT INCLUDING YOU IN THAT GROUP.

THAT'S WHY I. IT SURE SEEMED LIKE IT BY LAST MONTH.

I MEAN, MY NAME WAS THE ONLY NAME THAT WAS SPOKEN LAST.

OUR COMPANY WAS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT WAS SPOKEN LAST MONTH, WASN'T IT? AM I RIGHT? SO IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE YOU PINPOINTED ME OUT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I LIKE YOU GUYS, AND I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR THIS COUNTY BECAUSE I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, BUT I WILL NOT GET DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD ON ACCOUNT OF THE SMELL OF UPSET BECAUSE WE BOUGHT A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT HE HUNTED ON, AND HE CAN'T NO LONGER HUNT ON IT BECAUSE OF MY INSURANCE.

IF HE GETS HURT, FALLS OUT OF A TREE STAND AND HE'S MAD ABOUT IT.

SO HE DECIDES TO COME DOWN HERE AND TALK ABOUT A SMELL OF SMOKE.

AND THAT WAS ON WHITE HOUSE ROAD.

IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO HIS HOUSE.

SO, I MEAN, I SPOKE ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT IT.

IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO TO BURN [INAUDIBLE].

IT'S UP TO Y'ALL. BUT I MEAN, EITHER WAY, I MEAN.

AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS CAN MAKE THE DECISION YOU WANT TO MAKE.

IF IT GOES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEVER OUR CONTRACT AT THIS POINT WITH THE COUNTY, BECAUSE AT A RATE OF $50 PER BOX, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CHIP UP, BUILDING DEBRIS.

AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SELL IT IN VIVA AND VIVA.

THEY ONLY ACCEPT CHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY.

I KNOW THAT WAS BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK.

WE'VE ALREADY ATTEMPTED AND WE'VE ALREADY EXHAUSTED OUR OPTIONS TRYING TO GET RID OF MATERIAL IN ANOTHER WAY.

OTHER THAN BURNING IT AND CHIPPING IS NOT GETTING RID OF IT.

IT'S REDUCING IT.

IT'S NOT RECYCLING IT.

IT'S NOT DISPOSING OF IT.

IT'S REDUCING IT FROM ONE VOLUME TO ANOTHER.

THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF IT IS TO LET IT ROT OR BURN IT TO ASH.

THERE'S NO WAY TO COMPLETELY GET RID OF THE DEBRIS, AND IT ALL COMES AT A COST.

YOU CAN EITHER CONTINUE TO BURN IT OR YOU CAN SEND IT OFF TO Y'ALL MAKE A CHOICE, Y'ALL.

WE ALL VOTED YOU IN FOR.

I GOT A QUESTION. YES, IF NOTHING CHANGES, ARE YOU WILLING TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING? NOT. ARE YOU GOING? I THINK I THINK WE HAD ALREADY DECIDED IT WASN'T.

IT'S NOT FEASIBLE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ACCEPT BASICALLY DOING THE KIND OF SERVICE WE'RE DOING A SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND TRYING TO HELP US SAVE MONEY.

WE ARE IF WE IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE, IT'S GOING TO KNOCK PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY OUT OF THE BALLPARK.

IT'S WHAT, IS IT 50? WAS IT HOW MANY MILES IS IT ARBOR FROM HERE?.

FROM HERE.

15 MILES? SO I'M RUNNING 30 MILES ON A TRUCK TO PICK UP ONE BOX FOR $50.

I MEAN, WOULD YOU GUYS GO TO ARBOR AND BACK TO PICK UP A PIZZA? YOU KNOW, OR IF THEY WERE PAYING YOU TO EAT IT.

I WOULDN'T DRIVE A TRUCK THERE AND BACK.

I MEAN, YEAH, BUT. YEAH, BECAUSE YOU JUST PAID $250,000 FOR A ROLL OFF TRUCK, DIDN'T YOU? YES, SIR.

SO HOW LONG WOULD YOU MAKE MONEY? YOU CAN'T MAKE MONEY. SO ON AVERAGE, WE BRING IN $4,000 WORTH OF REVENUE OFF OF THESE BOXES.

A NEW ROLL OFF TRUCK PAYMENT IS $4,600.

I'M NOT EVEN MAKING THE PAYMENT ON THE TRUCK.

BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT.

I HAVE OTHER MEANS TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THE TRUCK.

BUT THE PROBLEM. BUT THE THING OF IT WAS.

I WAS TRYING TO PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR THE COUNTY TO KEEP YOU GUYS FROM OVEREXTENDING YOURSELF.

AND I MEAN, YOU WANT TO GO ON A WHIM BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S UPSET WITH ME AND AND DO SOMETHING DRASTIC AS FAR AS CREATING MORE HEADACHE FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO HAVE TO MONITOR AND HAVE TO GO AND.

SEARCH FOR CELLS SMOKE IN DIFFERENT AREAS, INSTEAD OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE IN WHICH THEY NEED TO, AND KEEPING CRIMINALS OFF THE STREET AND SPEEDING TICKETS ON 58.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WHO'S GOING TO POLICE IT? WE DON'T HAVE AN EMERGENCY SERVICE.

WHO'S GOING TO? I MEAN, WHO'S GOING TO UPHOLD THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? WHO'S GOING TO KEEP THEM UP TO CURRENT STATE AND CODE ON BURNING REGULATIONS?

[01:35:03]

WE TRY TO MAINTAIN IT AND KEEP IT.

I THINK WE BURNT THREE TIMES THIS YEAR.

AND YOU THINK ABOUT FROM MARCH TO JUNE, THERE'S A BURN LAWN EFFECT ANYWAY, SO FROM THAT PERIOD, WE CAN'T BURN ANYWAY.

SO THE STUFF COMPOUNDS ON MY PROPERTY AND I NO LONGER WANT IT ON MY PROPERTY.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE GIST OF IT.

IF I'M NOT GOING TO GET, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THE COMMUNITY TO LOOK DOWN ON OUR COMPANY AND SAY THAT WE'RE A BURDEN TO THIS COMMUNITY ON ACCOUNT OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WANT EVERYBODY WHO THINKS OF OUR COMPANY, THINK OF IT AS SOMEBODY WHO'S WILLING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND IS PROVIDING JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PAYING TAXES. I MEAN, THE AMOUNT OF STUFF, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I'M, I PAY MORE IN PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES IN A YEAR THAN Y'ALL PAY ME FOR THIS GREEN WASTE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO PAY ME MORE.

I'M JUST NOT ASKING.

I'M JUST ASKING YOU NOT TO MAKE US THE CRIMINAL HERE.

I MEAN, LIKE YOU DID LAST WEEK WHEN I WASN'T HERE TO DEFEND MYSELF.

SO THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.

ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK? YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] AND, MR. EDWARDS, I'M TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I'M MITCHELL GRAY.

I LIVE ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL HERE IN COURTLAND.

YOU WALK OUT THAT DOOR RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL SMELL SMOKE.

IT'S NOT COMING FROM WHERE MY BUSINESS IS.

WHEN I COME BY EVERY MORNING COMING TO MY JOB UP HERE.

I COME BY THE [INAUDIBLE] OUT THERE MY TRUCK FILLS UP WITH MARIJUANA SMOKE.

HAVE I STOPPED AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO COMPLAIN? NO. WHILE AGO, ME AND MY WIFE COME AND [INAUDIBLE] COME BY THE DAY'S INN OR [INAUDIBLE] ALL YOU SMELL MARIJUANA SMOKE FILLS THE TRUCK UP.

YOU GET HERE IN] CORTLAND, YOU GOT CHIMNEYS SITTING OUT THERE SMOKING WHERE FOLKS ARE BURNING FIREWOOD TO KEEP WARM.

ANYWAY, YOU GO OUT HERE TONIGHT, YOU'LL SMELL SMOKE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU CAN GO AND CAN'T, BUT I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING.

WHEN A MAN RIDES BY YOUR PROPERTY AND HE SEES A SIGN THAT SAYS CROWDY AUTOMATICALLY HE COME IN HERE AND HE GOING TO SAY WHAT THEY'RE TAKING.

MATT CROWDER'S DEBRIS.

WE DON'T TAKE MATT CROWDER'S DEBRIS.

IF HE'LL DO A LITTLE MORE INVESTIGATION AND STOP IN THE OFFICE.

WE GOT A LADY THAT WORKS IN THE OFFICE FROM 8:00 IN THE MORNING TO FIVE IN THE EVENING.

SHE CAN TELL HIM WHAT THAT SIGN IS FOR.

YOU GOT PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS BRIDGE OUT HERE ON THE BYPASS.

THERE'S A COMPANY OUT OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, CROWDER CONSTRUCTION.

THEY BUILT THE TWO BRIDGES A YEAR AGO OVER THERE ON 671.

WELL THEY ARE.

THEY ARE WORKING ON A BRIDGE, AND THEY ASKED US IF WE DIDN'T MIND UNLOADING SOME TRUCKS THAT COME WITH MATERIALS THEY NEED FOR THE BRIDGE AND KEEP IT THERE AS THEY NEED IT. THEY COME AND GET IT AND CARRY IT TO THE BRIDGE.

THAT'S WHAT THE DESIGN IS.

IT'S NOT CAUSE WE'RE TAKING DEBRIS FROM MATT CROWDER TO BURN.

I'M THE ONE THAT BURNS THE DEBRIS MOST OF THE TIME.

I GOT AN APP ON MY PHONE THAT GIVES ME HOUR BY HOUR WIND DIRECTION AND THE WIND SPEED.

I DO NOT LIGHT A PILE OFF UNLESS THAT WIND IS OUT OF THE WEST NORTHWEST OR WEST SOUTHWEST.

WELL, MAY I ASK, WHAT DO YOU BURN? WHAT DO YOU BURN? I BURN THEM LIMBS AND STUFF THAT COMES IN THEM BOXES AND TWO BY FOURS.

NOTHING BUT COUNTY WASTE AND NOTHING BUT COUNTY WASTE AND I.

YEAH, I TAKE A EXCAVATOR AND AND SORT THE STUFF AS I BURN IT.

AND IT'S NO FIVE ACRE PILE.

I GOT A BURN PIT THERE THAT BURNS IS ABOUT 20 FOOT IN DIAMETER AND FIVE SIX FOOT DEEP.

THAT'S WHERE THE ASHES GO.

WELL, YOU'RE NOT THE PROBLEM.

YOU'RE NOT THE PROBLEM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

I KNOW WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT MEETING LAST MONTH AND THIS MAN GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY, WELL, IS HE TAKING STUFF FROM CROWDER? HE GOT A SIGN ON THE GATE THAT IS SPECULATING.

I WAS RAISED UP IN THIS COUNTY.

I WAS RAISED UP SINCE I WAS TWO YEARS OLD OUT HERE ON [INAUDIBLE] ROAD.

I GOT RESPECT AND I'VE WORKED IN THIS CITY OR TOWN OF COURTLAND IN 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT PLACES.

[INAUDIBLE] STATION.

UNTIL I GOT TWO YOUNGINS HERE AND MY WIFE THAT DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE INTEREST I GOT, AND WE STARTED A COMPANY AND WE KEPT THE COMPANY IN

[01:40:09]

I COULD HAVE WENT TO FRANKLIN, I COULD HAVE WENT TO ISLE OF WIGHT.

I COULD HAVE WENT ANYWHERE I WANTED TO AND STARTED THIS BUSINESS.

BUT NOW WE'RE HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO THINK OF OUR CITIZENS.

BEFORE I LIGHT A MATCH, TO STRIKE, TO BURN ANYTHING, I THINK OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S IN MY AREA AROUND THAT AREA.

WHO IS GOING TO BOTHER? BUT I TRY NOT TO.

TRY NOT TO BOTHER ANYBODY.

BUT WHEN YOU GOT SOMEBODY THAT COMES UP TO YOU AND PAINTS A PICTURE LIKE BOB ROSS WOULD PAINT ON WHRO A LITTLE TREE HERE OR THERE, OR, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] TAKING THIS OTHER DEBRIS.

WHAT ARE THEY BURNING? AND HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO POISON EVERYONE OF HIS MIND THE OTHER MONTH, AND HAD YOU SPECULATING ON WHAT WE WERE BURNING UP THERE.

WE DON'T BURN NOTHING.

I TAKE IN CONSIDERATION OF PEOPLE'S LUNGS AND PEOPLE LIVING NEARBY.

BUT IN MOST TIME WHEN I BURN, IT'S SO CLEAR YOU CAN'T SEE THE SMOKE COMING OFF THE PILE BECAUSE IT'S ALL HEAT, WAVES AND FIRE.

AND I MEAN, I SAID, I WONT SAY NOTHING, RIGHT? BUT I COULDN'T HELP BUT I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL, AND I HOPE Y'ALL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION, BUT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

BUT, I MEAN, OUR LAST MONTH'S MEETING, EVERYTHING WAS POINTING TO US AND I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT.

BUT I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE I SHED A LIGHT ON SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT WAS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? I'M ALAN APPLEWHITE AND I LIVE ON 23430 INDIAN WOODS TRAIL, COURTLAND, VIRGINIA.

AND I WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT WAS JUST SAID.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE LAST MEETING, I SAID THIS WAS A COUNTY PROBLEM, NOT A GRAY CONSTRUCTION PROBLEM.

AND I THINK, MR. GRAY, YOU'LL TELL THE TRUTH.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I CALLED YOU AND TOLD YOU HOW PROUD I AM WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY? STARTING THIS START, I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

WELL, LET ME FINISH. WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM.

WAIT A MINUTE. WE DO.

AND I SAID THIS IS A KIND OF PROBLEM.

IT ISN'T YOUR PROBLEM.

YOU WERE DOING THE KIND OF SERVICE.

AND THAT'S THE WAY. THAT'S THE WAY I PRESENTED IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I STILL STAND BY.

Y'ALL ARE A LOCAL FAMILY THAT STARTED A LOCAL BUSINESS AND HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

AND I'M PROUD OF YOU.

AND I'VE TOLD YOU THAT 2 OR 3 TIMES.

THE OTHER THING ON THIS HUNTING THING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE, BECAUSE MY SON AND I WERE SO GLAD Y'ALL BOUGHT IT INSTEAD OF SOMEBODY ELSE COMING IN THAT WOULDN'T LOOK AFTER IT LIKE Y'ALL DID.

AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE, ASK HIM.

I WOULD RATHER Y'ALL HAVE IT THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

I EVEN LET GREG GO ON THE PROPERTY AND FIND HIS DEER.

AND HE OPENED A CABLE [INAUDIBLE].

LOOK, LISTEN, YOU NEED TO COMMENT.

YOU NEED TO COME UP HERE, OKAY? I'M SORRY. ANYHOW, I JUST WANTED.

[INAUDIBLE]. I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS SAID.

BUT THIS IS A KIND OF PROBLEM.

IT IS NOT A GRAY CONSTRUCTION PROBLEM.

IT'S UP TO THE COUNTY TO COME UP WITH WHAT TO DO WITH THIS DEBRIS.

AND MY STATEMENT LAST TIME WAS, WHAT WERE THEY BURNING? I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES IN THERE IN THOSE BINS.

AND I SAID THAT JUST LIKE THAT, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A FINGER POINTED AT GRAY CONSTRUCTION DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

IT HAS BEEN. WHAT CAN THE KIND OF DO WITH THIS DEBRIS OTHER THAN BURN IT? DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR ANYTHING? BECAUSE I'LL SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.

I AM VERY PROUD OF THEM.

THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD NEIGHBORS, BUT IT'S A COUNTY PROBLEM.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? [INAUDIBLE]. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

LAST CALL WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

FROM MY STANDPOINT, I AGREE WITH HIM.

IT'S NOT. SOMEHOW IT GOT MISCONSTRUED THAT YOU WERE THE PROBLEM.

HE'S RIGHT. IT'S A TOTAL COUNTY PROBLEM.

IT'S PEOPLE BURNING PLASTICS, CREOSOTE, TIRES.

COUNTY. THAT'S, I THINK, THE PURPOSE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, WHICH IS ALREADY ILLEGAL.

WHICH I FAIL TO SEE HOW AN ADDITIONAL ORDINANCE WILL HELP US COMBAT THAT.

[01:45:05]

IF IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL, WHY DON'T WE ENFORCE THAT? WHOSE JOB IS IT TO ENFORCE IT? THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ALREADY LAWS ON THE BOOKS IN THE COMMONWEALTH THAT PROHIBIT SUCH BURNING, AND IF WE ENFORCE THOSE, THEN THE PROBLEMS WE'D HAVE TO ABATE THOSE TYPES OF PROHIBITIONS WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF, AND IT WOULDN'T AFFECT THE ILLEGAL BURNING THAT WE HAVE TAKING PLACE IN OUR COUNTY ALREADY.

IT'S ONLY HAPPENING THREE TIMES A YEAR.

THEY'RE DOING IT IN A 20 FOOT WIDE DIAMETER, SIX FOOT DEEP PIT WHEN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE CONDUCIVE TO DO SO IN THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY I SEE FIT. I WANT TO THANK THE GRAYS FOR COMING FORWARD TONIGHT AND SPEAKING.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. APPLEWHITE FOR COMING FORWARD AND AND PROVIDING HIS COMMENTS AS WELL TONIGHT.

ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THAT'S MY BIGGEST HANG UP.

WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE THIS? IT'S GREAT. WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE IT? SO WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION TO PEOPLE BURNING TOXIC MATERIALS? HAVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE TO PROHIBIT SUCH BURNING.

IF WE PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T BURN SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL TO BURN, WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE IT? ITS GREAT IF WE SAY YOU CAN'T BURN TIRES AND CREOSOTE LOGS AND PLASTIC.

BUT THEN WHAT? THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAN'T ENFORCE IT.

SO SOMEBODY BURNING TIRES IN MY 17 YEAR OLD SON ROLLS UP ON THE BRUSH TRUCK WITH THE IOWA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND HE'S BURNING TIRES FOR THEM.

WHAT? AS FAR AS THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY, SIR, YOU CAN'T BURN THOSE TIRES OR. WHO DOES HE CALL THEN? THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

OKAY, WELL, HE CAN DO THAT WITH THE LAW THAT'S ON THE BOOKS NOW.

HE DOESN'T NEED THE ORDINANCE TO CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO HAVE HIM COME ENFORCE THE STATE LAW.

THAT'S ALREADY THERE TO SAY YOU CAN'T BURN THE TIRES AND THE CREOSOTE LOGS.

IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? THE REINFORCEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS.

WELL, DICK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CATCH SOMEBODY BURNING, A LANDOWNER HAS SOMEBODY NEXT DOOR TO THEM, AND THEY'RE OVER THERE BURNING TIRES.

YOU CAN CALL DEQ AND REPORT THEM, AND THEY WILL COME OUT AND CHECK IT BECAUSE, I'VE HAD PEOPLE COME CHECK ME WITH BURNING PALLETS BEHIND THE SHOP.

YOU KNOW, WE'LL ACCUMULATE A WOOD PILE AND YOU CAN'T CHIP THEM OR NOTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE FULL OF NAILS AND BOLTS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DEBRIS WE BURN IS WOOD DEBRIS THAT YOU CAN'T RUN IT THROUGH A CHIPPER.

YOU CAN'T. IF YOU TAKE IT TO THE LANDFILL, IT'S GOING TO COST A FORTUNE.

SO YOU BURN IT.

CLEAN YOUR NAILS UP WHEN THEY LAND ON THE GROUND AFTER IT COOLS OFF.

SO TO ME, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IT UNTIL WE REALLY STUDY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BAN, INSTEAD OF JUST PASSING A BLANKET ORDINANCE THAT'S GOING TO JEOPARDIZE PEOPLE LIKE THE GRAYS AND US.

OH, ANYBODY THAT BURNS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FARMERS BURN DEBRIS TO CLEAN UP LAND AND STUFF.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO STUDY THIS THING.

I THINK WE NEED TO LET THEM TAKE, LET BRIAN AND TWEAK THIS THING AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO APPLY IT.

LIKE, HE SUGGESTS.

LET ME BRING ONE MORE THING UP IN FRONT OF YOU ABOUT THIS OPEN AIR BURNING.

YOU GOT WOOD PRODUCERS.

YOU GOT PEOPLE THAT OWN LAND IN THIS AREA.

WHEREAS FORESTRY, WHEN THEY LOG IT, A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF THEY TURN AROUND AND HAVE CONTROLLED BURNS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS WOULD UNION CAMP IN THE WOODLANDS? I RUN A BULLDOZER UP AND DOWN THE ROAD.

CONTROLLING THEM BURNS WHEN THEY BURN THEM WITH THE CONTROL BURN.

YOU GOT? JUST LIKE I HIT THE CHAIR OF THE INDIAN TRACK.

HE GOT THEM LONGLEAF PINES OUT THERE.

WELL, THEY BURNED THROUGH THEM ALMOST EVERY YEAR.

THE UNDERGROWTH AND STUFF ON THEM TREES.

THAT'S A OUTSIDE BURNING.

I MEAN, THAT'S EYE BURNING.

BUT YOU GOT TO DO THAT FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT, JUST LIKE ALEX JUST SAID.

RIGHT. THAT'S CRITICAL.

YEAH, IT'S CRITICAL FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT.

I MEAN, IF YOU BANNED IT, I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET A PERMIT OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? YEAH. OR SOMETHING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER SIDE THAT WE HAD TO LOOK AT, RIGHT? WE HAVE AN ALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKFORCE, IF YOU WILL.

[01:50:01]

THEY DEPEND SOLELY ON OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF, OUR TRUCKS.

AND WHEN WORD GETS OUT THAT WE'VE PASSED AN OPEN.

BURN BAN.

PROHIBITIONS ON OPEN BURNING.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO READ THE FINE DETAILS OF WHAT IT SAYS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT LIKE WE DO AND OTHER PEOPLE DO.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY IT'S A BAN ON OPEN BURNING.

SO EVERY WISP OF SMOKE THAT EVERY NEIGHBOR SEES, IT'S GOING TO BE ALL THESE NEIGHBORLY.

TRUST ME, I'M TELLING YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, IT'S GOING TO BE ALL THESE NEIGHBORLY CONFLICTS AND DISPUTES.

EVERY NOW I'M GOING TO SEE ROBERT WHITE.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE THIS WISP OF SMOKE AT HIS HOUSE.

AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO PICK UP MY PHONE AND I'M GOING TO CALL THE DISPATCHER, AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS SMOKE OVER AT ROBERT'S HOUSE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SEND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEIR CALL VOLUME IS GOING TO GO UP EXPONENTIALLY OVERNIGHT, AND THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING RAGGED.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHASING SMOKE ALL OVER THE 600 SQUARE MILE COUNTY.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE CAPABLE AND OR ABLE TO HANDLE THE EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME, JUST CHASING SMOKE ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

I THINK THAT'S ONE MORE THING TO ONE.

ONE ADDITIONAL THING TO CONSIDER AS WELL.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM.

OKAY. AND RIGHT NOW IN PLACE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TO IN LEGITIMATE WAYS TO TO HANDLE THE SITUATION.

AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO JUST RUSH THROUGH PASSING AN ORDINANCE THAT COULD COMPLICATE THE ISSUE, BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL BRING CONFUSION.

AND, I WOULD LIKE TO US TO NOT PASS THIS TONIGHT, NOT VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, AND GIVE A CHANCE TO WORK THROUGH TO SEE IF THERE ARE YOU MAKE A MOTION ON THAT, THEN.

I'M MAKING A WELL I'M NOT WELL.

YEAH, I WILL MAKE THAT A MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.

AYE. WHAT IS THE MOTION THAT WE NOT MOVE, THAT WE NOT DO ANYTHING TONIGHT? ALRIGHT THEN IT'S ANYBODY WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HAVE MR. THROWER LOOK INTO THIS AND SETTLE THESE ISSUES SO THAT WE HAVE SOME REASONABLE BURN ORDINANCE IN THE COUNTY TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM TOXIC MATERIALS.

JUST TO CLARIFY, IF YOU READ THE STATE CODE, THE STATE PUT THIS TOGETHER.

AND I'M NO EXPERT ON OPEN BURNING BY ANY MEANS.

WHEN I WORKED IN CITIES AND TOWNS, WE JUST BASICALLY PROHIBITED AND SAY, IF YOU WANT TO GO BURN, GO TO THE COUNTY.

SO I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE, I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SWITCH NOW.

BUT, SO IF YOU DEVIATE FROM THE STATE MODEL ORDINANCE, IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH THE STATE POLLUTION AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD.

SO WE CAN'T JUST START.

I DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO THINK WE CAN START AMENDING THIS TO TO EXCLUDE THIS AND INCLUDE THAT WITHOUT IT GOING OUTSIDE OF Y'ALL TO THE STATE FOR THEM TO REVIEW. AND THEN AT THE OTHER, LIKE Y'ALL REFERENCED BEFORE THIS, THIS COMES DOWN REALLY TO COST AND SERVICE EXPECTATIONS.

WHAT'S NOT BURNED? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISPOSE ONE WAY, WHICH IS MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO COST MORE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO CITIZENS, OR YOU DO AWAY WITH THE SERVICE ALTOGETHER, I.E. THE CITIZENS DISPOSE OF, HOWEVER, LEGALLY THEY COULD UNDER THIS ORDINANCE WITH THEIR OWN BRUSH, WHETHER THAT'S AT THEIR HOUSE, IF IT COMPLIES WITH THE ORDINANCE, OR CONTRACTING DIRECTLY WITH A PRIVATE PROVIDER TO DISPOSE OF THIS.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT.

IS THE COUNTY GOING TO ABSORB OR HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS BECAUSE BURNING IS THE CHEAPEST COST IS THE LEAST COST, OR ARE YOU GOING TO DISCONTINUE THE SERVICE ALTOGETHER, WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T BRING THEIR YARD WASTE TO THE DUMP SITES AND THEY DISPOSE OF IT THEMSELVES UNDER THE APPLICABLE LAW ORDINANCE? IF Y'ALL, THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING DOWN TO.

BUT WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE POTENTIAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AS BEST POSSIBLE.

BUT THAT'S AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THAT'S THE DEBATE.

YOU HAVE TO AND WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THIS GENERALLY, REGARDLESS, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO ACCEPT SOME ORDINANCE OR NOT.

JUST LEAVE NO ORDINANCE AT ALL.

YOU CAN HAVE AN ORDINANCE, BUT ANY ORDINANCE, IF YOU DEVIATE AWAY FROM THIS MODEL ORDINANCE HAS TO GO TO THE STATE FOR THEM TO, IN EFFECT, APPROVE.

IF I BELIEVE ERIC, OUR ATTORNEY, SAID THE SAME THING LAST MEETING.

AND IF YOU DEVIATE AWAY FROM THIS STATE MODEL ORDINANCE, THEY HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE SHERIFF HAS TO SAY.

SO. GOOD EVENING.

WHAT THE SHERIFF HAS TO SAY IS, IF YOU DEVIATE FROM THE ORDINANCE, THEN I'M GOING TO BE ASKING THE COUNTY FOR TWO FUNDING POSITIONS TO MAKE SURE I HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER TO DO WHAT YOU ASK TO BE DONE.

ANY QUESTIONS? IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE.

[01:55:05]

THEN WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, AS FAR AS I CAN SEE.

BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING ON? AND MORE QUESTIONS.

IF PEOPLE ARE BURNING, WHATEVER DO THEY CALL YOU? DO THEY CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR DO NOTHING? WELL, IF THEY CALL US, THEN WE'LL BE CONTACTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I'M SURE, DEPENDING ON HOW THE BURNING IS.

I MEAN, IF THE BURNING IS GOING ON, WE CAN GO.

CERTAINLY. GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THAT.

THE COUNTY FUND TWO POSITIONS FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? OKAY. IF YOU WERE CALLED AND HAD TO GO TO A SITE AND YOU FIND THAT IT'S SOME ILLEGAL BURNING GOING ON, WHAT DO YOU DO? IF I'M CALLED AND GO TO A SITE AND IF IT'S ILLEGAL, THEN MY DEPUTY WILL ISSUE A SUMMONS AND IT GOES TO COURT.

THEN THE COURT DECIDES WHETHER OR WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT.

AND THAT'S ALREADY THE SITUATION? YES. OKAY.

BUT I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WE HAD A SITUATION COME UP A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE SOMEBODY COMES IN AFTER THE FACT AND YOU CAN'T CATCH THEM IN THE ACT OF BURNING.

SO THEN IT BECOMES, I MEAN, THE SHERIFF CAME TO FORCE IT.

THAT GETS INTO A DEQ ISSUE, A STATE ISSUE.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST LIKE A LOT OF ORDINANCES, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE AN EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR, WHICH WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

WE DON'T HAVE A FIRE MARSHAL.

WE DON'T HAVE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENTS WHICH ISLE OF WIGHT, THEY PUT THIS UNDER THEIR EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COORDINATOR.

WE DON'T. SO IT'S MORE COMPLICATED WHEN YOU GET INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW THIS WORKS.

SO I'M NOT SAYING THE COUNTY SHOULDN'T CONSIDER IT BECAUSE OTHER COUNTIES DO HAVE ORDINANCES THAT ADDRESS THIS.

AND THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS BUILT IN.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THE SHERIFF IS CORRECT.

THE SHERIFF WOULD ENFORCE IF Y'ALL ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE, THE SHERIFF WOULD ENFORCE IT.

HE'S GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF, MANPOWER AND MORE MANPOWER TO HANDLE THE CALLS.

AND A LOT OF THIS, YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE AFTER THE FACT, OR THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THEY WERE DOING AN ACTIVITY THAT FELL UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.

SO THEY WERE SAYING, WELL, I WAS HAVING A COOKOUT IN THE BACKYARD, OR THEY GOING TO THROW A GRATE ON TOP OF THE ON THE FIRE PIT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCES TO THIS.

IN A COUNTY THAT'S 600 AND 3/4 SQUARE MILES.

BUT ANYWAY, I CAN BRING BACK WE CAN BRING BACK SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

BUT THAT IN EFFECT, THAT'S THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT KEEPING THE SERVICE INCREASED COST OR DOING AWAY WITH THE SERVICE AND HAVE THAT ON THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DISPOSE OF THEIR OWN BRUSH.

ANYMORE QUESTIONS? WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE NEED IS SOMETHING TO PREVENT BURNING OF TOXIC MATERIAL.

AND THAT'S ALREADY ADDRESSED IN THE STATE CODE, THESE TOXIC MATERIALS.

ARE ALREADY PROHIBITED IF IT FALLS UNDER THOSE CODE SECTIONS FOR THE STATE.

NOW, WHETHER THAT'S DEQ OR THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OR WHATNOT.

THAT'S A STATE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.

BUT MR. GRAY, IF I MIGHT I'D LIKE.

AM I CORRECT THAT IN THE LAST 12 MONTH CYCLE, YOU BURNED THREE TIMES THAT? THREE TIMES AND I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED. NOW, THE NEXT THING YOU CLEARED UP FOR ME THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO, WAS THE FACT THAT YOU.

BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN THE BURN, YOU CHECK THE OPTIMUM TIME TO BURN.

JUST LIKE A CONTROL SITUATION IN A PINE PLANTATION OR.

YES, SIR, I DO.

I'VE GOT THE WAVY APP ON MY PHONE THAT GIVES YOU AN HOUR BY HOUR FORECAST.

WIND DIRECTION, WIND SPEED.

RIGHT.

THE THING, THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY IS GOING TO WALK OR OUT THE HOUSE IN THIS COUNTY SOMETIME OR ANOTHER, NOT SMELL SMOKE.

IF YOU REMEMBER, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THAT OLD STEAM ENGINE, THEY WERE RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE TRACKS UP YONDER IN STANTON SET THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY ON FIRE.

WE SMELLED THAT SMOKE FOR 2 OR 3 WEEKS HERE.

IT WAS 6000 ACRES ON FIRE DAY AND THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, WHERE THEY WERE GATHERED OLD STEAM ENGINE MUSEUM AND RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE TRACKS THERE, NOT TO MENTION CANADA, NOT

[02:00:05]

AND THEN YOU GOT.

YOU GOT CALIFORNIA, WHICH CALIFORNIA COULD DO A LITTLE BETTER JOB IF THEY HAD A FOREST MANAGEMENT LIKE WE HAVE HERE.

THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD, HAS GRAY CONSTRUCTION MADE UP THEIR MIND TO DISCONTINUE THE HANDLING OF THE GREEN, REFUSE, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE BURNING FOR THE COUNTY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALEX IS GOING TO HAVE TO.

HE'S THE ONE THAT'S IN CHARGE OF THE.

THE CONTRACT ON THAT.

I'M NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.

OKAY. WHAT I DO FOR THIS COMPANY, I USE TO OPERATE THE SANDPIT AND KEEP THAT IN.

IN THE SHAPE THAT THE MINE AND MINERALS FOLKS WANT US TO DO, BECAUSE THAT'S IN THAT'S INSPECTED EVERY QUARTER BY THE STATE.

AND WHEN I'M NOT THERE, I'M WHERE THE BURN PILE IS IF THE WEATHER IS PERMITTING.

BUT WHEN WE HAD THAT REAL DRY SPELL HERE BACK AT THE END OF THE AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, I DIDN'T BURN A THING UNTIL WE GOT SOME RAIN, YOU KNOW.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME, MOST OF [INAUDIBLE] WHEN I BURN, I'LL CALL THE DISPATCH OVER HERE AND TELL HER THAT I'VE GOT A CONTROLLED BURN.

I'M GETTING READY TO START, AND I'LL TELL HER I'M WITH IT UNTIL IT GETS OUT.

BUT I KNOW THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD THE SMOKE SO THICK THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SHUT THE ROOM DOWN.

I DON'T BURN WHEN IT GOES THAT WAY.

BUT WE HAVE GOT AN OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACE THERE AT THE SHOP THAT THE SMOKE GOES ACROSS 58 WHEN THE WIND'S OUT EAST.

BUT I DON'T EVER BURN WHEN THE WIND IS ANYWHERE ELSE BUT\ AT THE NORTHWEST.

THE WEST. OR SOUTH WEST THAT CARRIES IT BACK TOWARDS THE PEANUT WAREHOUSES AN IS LESS POPULATION BACK THAT WAY, GOING TOWARDS THE [INAUDIBLE] TRACK.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE IT USUALLY GOES.

I TRY TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND WE BUILT A BUSINESS ON BEING WITH A GOOD REPUTATION, AND WE WON'T TRY TO KEEP IT.

THANK YOU. WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO ASK? I WAS GOING TO ASK.

I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS WAITING ON ME TO TUCK THEM IN.

SO WHAT WERE YOU SAYING? HAVE YOU MADE YOUR MIND UP TO DISCONTINUE THE GREEN REFUSE? I WILL TALK TO BRIAN AND LYNETTE ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK THE CONSENSUS BETWEEN ME AND MY FATHER AND MY BROTHER, WE NO LONGER WANT TOO AND IT'S NOT JUST DUE TO THE ISSUES AT HAND WITH.

I THINK IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW.

MY TRUCKS ARE BUSIER THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN, AND MY MANPOWER SHORT AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE'S.

AND IF I HAVE TO GO AROUND THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE MAKING OFF OF IT, THEN, YOU KNOW, JUST WILL NOT DO IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION, I'LL BE WILLING, I'M SORRY.

I'LL BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH BRIAN AND THEM TO MAYBE COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF SOLUTION FOR YOU GUYS.

AND I THINK I'M WILLING TO BRAINSTORM AND PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING, FOR YOU GUYS TO KIND OF CURTAIL YOU INTO A NEW WAY OF DISPOSING OF IT OR GETTING RID OF IT.

BUT I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE ASKING, WILL WE CONTINUE TO CONTRACT? I'LL BE WILLING TO CONTINUE IT UNTIL, WHENEVER IT'S UP OR IF THE BURN LAW, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T KICK IN UNTIL AFTER THAT.

I MEAN, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE HONESTLY, THERE'S NO MONEY IN IT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF IT ANY OTHER WAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING IT AT A SHOESTRING BUDGET, YOU KNOW, AS IT IS.

SO THE CHEAPEST METHOD IS TO BURN IT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

SO, I'LL BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH IF IT'S TABLED, OR WHICH I GUESS IT WAS, BUT AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN KIND OF COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF IDEA THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

MY QUESTION, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TONIGHT TO TAKE ON THE COST ANALYSIS OF WHAT THIS DECISION LEADS TO.

SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION AND I THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM TO PUT SOME KIND OF I MEAN, YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE A EVERYTHING COMES AT A COST OBVIOUSLY.

AND IF YOU JUST MAKE A DECISION ON A WHIM, I HONESTLY, I'M FOR A BURN BAN.

I MEAN, HONESTLY, IF YOU WANT TO BE TOTALLY TRUTHFUL ABOUT IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT COMES AT A COST.

[02:05:04]

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'LL.

AND YOU HAVE ENFORCEMENT THAT CAN'T.

IT'S ALREADY TAXED THAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT LIVES AT JEOPARDY RUNNING FOR SMELLS OF SMOKE WHEN YOU KNOW THERE'S SOMEBODY GETTING ROBBED OR SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS PROTECTION.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTY, IT'S NOT A GOOD DECISION.

BUT YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH. I'LL SIT DOWN WITH BRIAN, AND I'D BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU GUYS CLOSED DOOR SESSION AND MAYBE KIND OF COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF IDEA, BUT AS THE STUFF IS, CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO REALLY RECYCLE IT OR DISPOSE OTHER THAN EITHER LANDFILL OR BURN WOOD ASH.

SO. OKAY.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NO PROBLEM.

YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, SO I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

YEAH. WE DO. WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MOTION? I KNOW IT WAS TO PUT IT OFF.

WE THAT WE NOT DO THAT TONIGHT.

AND I THINK YOU SECOND IT.

WELL I THINK WE OUGHT TO CHANGE IT TO NOT MOVE FORWARD AT ALL WITH IT.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO LOSE OUR SOLUTION, NOT MOVE FORWARD AT ALL AND JUST IGNORE IT.

BURN BAN. WE'VE GOT WAYS.

I THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK WE NEED TO JUST WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE MONTH AND LET, THE ADMINISTRATOR AND EVERYBODY GET TOGETHER AND COME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATION AND LET US LOOK AT THAT BEFORE WE TRY TO MAKE A DECISION.

ONE THAT YOUR MOTION WAS THAT WE HAVE A MOTION NOT TO DO ANYTHING TONIGHT.

A SECOND. WE'LL VOTE ON THAT.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, SAY AYE.

AYE. UNANIMOUS.

SO. NOW.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? CARL, LISTEN TO WHAT IS PRESENTED SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT RECOMMENDATION AND MAKE A DECISION.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN ONE MONTH FOR SURE.

WE GOT A BUDGET CYCLE COMING UP, IN THE FIRST QUARTER TO DEAL WITH AND.

THIS IS GOING TO COST.

THE CITIZENS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN ONE MONTH.

WE I DON'T THINK WE CAN VOTE ON IT NEXT MONTH.

WELL, THEN JUST LET'S NOT PUT A TIME PERIOD ON IT THEN.

BUT EXACTLY AFTER THE RECOMMENDATION IS MADE, THEN WE'LL MAKE A, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS.

WELL, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, WE'LL WAIT TILL MR. THROWER TELLS US HE'S GOT A SOLUTION.

I APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE, BUT I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION.

THEY'RE GOOD PROS AND CONS WITH ALL THIS.

BUT WE LIVE IN A SITUATION.WE ARE A RURAL COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY, CITIES HAVE ORDINANCES.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE A LEASH LAW IN THIS COUNTY, AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE A BURN ORDINANCE IN THIS COUNTY.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS NEIGHBORS HAVE GOT TO GET ALONG.

PEOPLE MOVE OUT HERE TO GET AWAY FROM THE CITY.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IN MOST CASES, THEY BRING THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THEM AND WANT TO CHANGE THE RURAL AREA TO FIT THEIR PROBLEMS. THEY'RE GOING TO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND WORK THESE THINGS OUT.

IF THE LAW IS ON THE BOOKS, THEY GOT TO WORK IT OUT.

AND I'M SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE.

I WON'T GET INTO THAT, BUT, YOU NEED TO LEARN TO WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.

IF YOUR NEIGHBOR IS BURNING CREOSOTE WOOD, GO OVER THERE AND TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND TELL THEM TO STOP IT.

AND IF HE DOESN'T STOP IT AND YOU'RE NOT MAN ENOUGH TO GO OVER THERE AND TELL HIM TO STOP IT.

OR WOMAN, ENOUGH.

EXCUSE ME.

OR WOMAN. ENOUGH.

PERSON ENOUGH.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SOME A FEW THINGS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO GRIEVE.

AND I THINK YOU NEED TO WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS MYSELF.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF THAT DOESN'T WORK? HE TELLS YOU TO GO TAKE A HIKE.

WELL, JUST FOR ANYONE EVERYONE'S GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

DAKOTA VIRGINIA ALREADY READS.

IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE ALREADY HAVE.

NO PERSON.

SHALL PERMIT OPEN BURNING.

FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF RUBBER TIRES, ASPHALT MATERIALS, CRANKCASE OIL IMPREGNATED WOOD OR OTHER RUBBER OR PETROLEUM BASED MATERIALS, WHICH

[02:10:04]

INSTRUCTIONAL OPERATING OPERATIONS.

WELL, WE'VE HEARD THE SHERIFF NEEDS SOMEBODY ELSE TO ENFORCE IT.

HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL.

I DON'T SEE HOW A ORDINANCE IS GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

IT'S ALREADY GOT A STATE LAW IN PLACE.

TAKE CARE OF IT. SO.

I AGREE. WELL, ALL RIGHT, WE CAN TABLE IT.

I GUESS WE GOT THIS.

WE HAVE THE STATE LAW.

THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IF YOU NOTICE A VIOLATION IS CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

LET THEM TAKE CARE OF IT.

IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU, SHERIFF? YES, SIR. AS LONG AS THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE [INAUDIBLE] . IT'S BEEN A LIVELY DISCUSSION.

WE DON'T HAVE HOPE.

THE NEXT ONE'S NOT AS LIVELY.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO, JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT'S TO STILL TO TABLE IT AND BRING THAT SOME INFORMATION BACK FROM STAFF AT A LATER TIME.

OKAY. WE VOTED.

YEAH. TO HAVE YOU SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH, VERY CONSTRUCTION AND COME BACK WITH SOMETHING REASONABLE THEN, SIR.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

NUMBER NINE, PUBLIC HEARING, REZONING REQUEST.

[9. Public Hearing - Rezoning Request-Maurice Copeland, LaMontree Trucking]

WE HAD MISS LEWIS TONIGHT, AND WE'LL LET HER GIVE US A FULL RUNDOWN ON THAT SITUATION.

THANK YOU. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO WELCOME A NEW BUSINESS TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FROM A-1 AGRICULTURAL TO CONDITIONAL GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT CB2. THE PLAN DESIGNATION IS CURRENTLY COMMERCIAL.

THIS PROPERTY IS ON NEW MARKET ROAD, APPROXIMATELY 2200FT EAST OF ITS INTERSECTION WITH SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY.

IT IS NEXT TO THIS STORAGE FACILITY, STORAGE SOLUTIONS, THAT'S OWNED BY PETER COPELAND.

THIS IS MAURICE COPELAND.

HE IS THE OWNER OF LAMONTREE TRUCKING, AND HE IS SEEKING A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT TO BUILD A 15,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE, WAREHOUSE, BUILDING AND YARD SPACE FOR VEHICLE PARKING AND STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT ON 6.034 ACRES.

HE INCLUDED IN HIS APPLICATION.

THE OWNER APPLICANT HAS A PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER, LAMONTREE TRUCKING AND TRUCKING AND WAREHOUSING COMPANY.

PROVIDED THIS REZONING REQUEST IS APPROVED, WE'LL CONSTRUCT A 15,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE WAREHOUSE THAT WILL WAREHOUSE COTTON, SOLAR PANELS AND MACHINE PARTS.

THERE WILL ALSO BE YARD SPACE FOR PARKING AND STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT.

SINCE THE TIME THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED, MR. COPELAND HAS PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

HE LISTS THE TYPES OF USES THAT HE WOULD HAVE ON THE PROPERTY.

PARKING LOTS, BUT NOT AUTOMOBILE SALES OR STORAGE, TEMPORARY STANDS OR OUTDOOR AREAS FOR TEMPORARY PARKING. AUTOMOBILE SERVICE AND REPAIR, INCLUDING BODY OR FENDER REPAIR, BUT NOT AUTO SALVAGE OR JUNK.

IN ANY MAJOR REPAIR OR STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS OR DAMAGED VEHICLES SHALL BE IN A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING.

A FARM SUPPLY AND SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS IMPLEMENT SALES GARAGES, WHOLESALE BROKERAGE OR STORAGE ESTABLISHMENT WITH FLOOR AREA DEVOTED TO STORAGE OR WAREHOUSING LIMITED TO 20,000FT².

ALTHOUGH THAT'S WHAT THE ZONING ORDINANCE SAYS.

HIS APPLICATION SAYS 15,000FT².

AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THERE WAS DISCUSSION AND MR. COPELAND PROFFERED TO LIMIT THE TRUCKS TO AN AVERAGE OF FIVE TRUCKS A DAY, AN AVERAGE OF 25 TRUCKS A WEEK, AND A FIVE DAY WORKWEEK.

THE AGRICULTURE.

THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN IN AGRICULTURAL USE FOR YEARS.

IF YOU DRIVE DOWN NEW MARKET ROAD, YOU SEE THE STORAGE FACILITIES, THE SALES OF FARM AND STORAGE BUILDINGS.

THE COUNTY'S FAIRGROUND IS DOWN THAT PROPERTY.

THERE'S A CHURCH, THERE'S A VDOT OFFICE, THERE'S A SURVEYORS HOME AND OFFICE, A TENT COMPANY, AN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY.

AT THE SOUTHERN END OF NEW MARKET ROAD THERE ARE SOME HOMES, BUT MOSTLY THIS NORTHERN END OF NEW MARKET ROAD IS COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL IN NATURE. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, VDOT APPROVED A SMART SCALE REQUEST TO DO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INTERSECTION OF NEW MARKET ROAD AND SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY TO HELP ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.

THE SOIL REPORT NOTED THAT NONE OF THE LAND IS.

[02:15:04]

THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT TRUCKS PULLING IN AND OUT OF THE PROPERTY, AND THAT'S A VDOT QUESTION.

THEY WOULD DETERMINE WHERE THE SITE, WHERE THE DRIVEWAY IS AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE.

AND VDOT SAYS I SPOKE WITH THE APPLICANT AND HE INDICATED THAT THE USE WOULD GENERATE 4 OR 5 TRUCKS A DAY, WHICH IS 8 TO 10 TRIPS BECAUSE YOU COUNT ONE AND ONE OUT, THE VOLUME WOULD CAUSE LITTLE IMPACT TO THE EXISTING ROADWAY.

THE ENTRANCE DESIGN WOULD BE ADDRESSED DURING THE SITE PLAN REVIEW, AND THE SITE DISTANCE APPEARS TO BE MINIMAL AND MITIGATION MAY BE REQUIRED, INCLUDING A SIGN INSTALLATION OR TREE CLEARING TO ENSURE SAFE ACCESS.

NEW MARKET ROAD CARRIES 400 VEHICLES A DAY, 8 TO 10 MORE TRUCK TRIPS A DAY, AND THE LIMITED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT HE HAS IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT 400 ROAD THAT'S ALREADY CARRYING 400 TRUCKS A DAY, 400 VEHICLES A DAY DURING THEIR TIME.

THE TRAFFIC ON NEW MARKET ROAD, OF COURSE, INCREASES, BUT THE FAIR IS FOUR DAYS A YEAR.

THIS IS FIVE DAYS A WEEK, 52 WEEKS A YEAR.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSED THIS.

THEY MADE A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL.

AND MR. COPELAND IS HERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LEWIS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY WITH THAT, WE WILL OPEN THE COMMENT PERIOD ON THIS ISSUE.

ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK PRO OR CON ON THIS ISSUE IS WELCOME TO COME UP.

ALL RIGHT. LAST CALL.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU WANT A MOTION? YES, MA'AM.

I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.

I'LL SECOND IT. ALL RIGHT.

THAT WOULD BE REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM A1 TO AGRICULTURE.

CB2 CONDITIONAL WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY PROPOSED.

YEAH. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? LIKEWISE. OKAY.

IT'S BEEN APPROVED.

OKAY. MISS BURGESS.

[10. Voter Registrar Updates- Lynn Burgess, Director of Elections]

GREETINGS. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTORAL BOARD FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON TWO BRIEF ISSUES.

THE FIRST ONE IS, HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT APPLICATION THAT WE, WENT THROUGH THIS SUMMER.

FAIR AND SECURE ELECTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO DEMOCRACY.

VOTING SYSTEMS ARE AS MUCH A PART OF OUR NATION'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS ARE TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY AND WATER SYSTEMS. AND APPARENTLY, AFTER TONIGHT, BURNING WASTE AS WELL.

LAST SUMMER, THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCALITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VIRGINIA CYBER NAVIGATORS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S ELECTORAL BOARD JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED TO THEM THROUGH THIS PROJECT.

PARTNERING WITH VIRGINIA UNIVERSITIES, THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS BUILT A COALITION WHICH OFFERED LOCAL ELECTORAL OFFICES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS, IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN SECURITY AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

SOUTHAMPTON WAS ASSIGNED TWO FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA STUDENTS WHO WERE COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS.

WITH THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IT DIRECTOR SUSAN WRIGHT, THE PROJECT'S ACTIVITIES WERE ASSIGNED SUCH AS RISK ASSESSMENT, ASSESSMENT, REVIEWS OF THE GIS INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATION FOR AN ENCRYPTION TOOL, AND ANALYSIS OF OUR PHYSICAL SECURITY.

THE FINAL ASSIGNMENT GIVEN TO THE INTERNS WAS A GRANT APPLICATION FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, 2023 STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM FUNDED BY FEMA.

[02:20:01]

IN SOUTHAMPTON.

THE FEDERAL GRANT ALLOCATION WAS $25,000 AND THE FINAL AWARD AMOUNT WAS $25,000.

WITH THESE FUNDS, OUR IT DIRECTOR WILL BE ABLE TO TO INSTALL A SECURITY SYSTEM WHICH WILL PROTECT AND MONITOR OUR BUILDING, AS WELL AS PROVIDE STAFF WITH A PANICKED SYSTEM LINKED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR BACKUP DURING TIMES OF PHYSICAL THREAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SUSAN WRIGHT, OUR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY I.T.

DIRECTOR, FOR GOING OVER AND BEYOND HER JOB REQUIREMENTS TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR WITH THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER SECURITY HOOPS WE JUMPED THROUGH TO MEET SECURITY STANDARDS SET IN PLACE BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS.

AND SUSAN AND I, REVIEWED THE GRANT APPLICATION AND THE PART WHERE IT SAYS SUB RECIPIENTS REQUIRED COST SHARE AMOUNT IS NOT APPLICABLE.

SO THEREFORE WE DON'T HAVE TO MEET ANY.

AND THAT IS THE FIRST ITEM I WANTED TO BRING TO Y'ALL'S ATTENTION.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE GOT THAT GRANT AND THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOME UPGRADES TO OUR BUILDING, THANKS TO SUSAN.

THE SECOND ITEM THAT I'M GOING TO ADDRESS, THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ELECTORAL BOARD, REQUESTS THAT THE OFFICIAL RECORDS FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ACKNOWLEDGE THE YEARS OF SERVICE OFFERED BY MRS. MARIE W SYKES, WHO RETIRED IN 2020, AND MR. RM BOB PHELPS JR, WHO WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2023.

PAST REGISTRAR PEGGY DAVIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO ELECTIONS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

TOGETHER, THEY MENTORED THREE REGISTRARS AND A MULTITUDE OF ELECTORAL BOARD MEMBERS.

BOTH ARE HELD IN THE HIGHEST REGARD BY THEIR PEERS FOR THE SERVICE GIVEN TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

MRS. SYKES, WITH HER KIND, CALM, DIGNIFIED DEMEANOR, COMMANDED ORDERLY DECORUM WITH GRACE AND RESPECT.

SHE CONSTANTLY APPLAUDED THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY THE REGISTRARS, NEVER TAKING FOR GRANTED WHAT IT TOOK TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK OF EXECUTING AN ELECTION. HER DELIBERATIONS AT BOARD MEETINGS ALWAYS MAINTAINED A STANDARD OF FAIR, HONEST ELECTIONS FOR ALL CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY AND COUNTRY. MR. PHELPS, OUR LONG TIME MENTOR AND TRUSTED ADVISOR, HAS BEEN A GUIDING LIGHT SINCE 2006.

HIS WISDOM HAS BROUGHT EXPERIENCED INSIGHT INTO THE VIRGINIA ELECTION CODE AND CONSTANT UPDATES ON LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.

BOB GUIDED US THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ELECTIONS, EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION, AND REDISTRICTING.

HIS PUBLIC RELATIONS SKILLS SERVED AS AN INTERVENTION TOOL USED WITH DISTRAUGHT CITIZENS ON ELECTION DAYS.

HIS DEDICATION TO FAIR, HONEST AND SECURE ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF HIS STEWARDSHIP.

TO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ELECTORAL BOARD.

THE NONPARTISAN TEAMWORK THEY DEMONSTRATED TO THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT DELIVERS CONFIDENCE TO THE POPULACE WE SERVE.

RUNNING FAST, SECURE ELECTIONS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL IS WHAT SECURES THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF WHAT WE DO ACROSS THE STATE TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF ALL OUR ELECTIONS.

WE THANK MRS. SYKES AND HER MR. PHELPS FOR THEIR PATRIOTIC SERVICE TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THEIR LEADERSHIP WILL BE CHERISHED AND MISSED, SO MOTE IT BE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE THAT WORK AND APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO LIGHT.

OKAY. MR. CARL HECK, DO YOU HAVE SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES FOR MR.

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

SOUTHAMPTON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN EDWARDS.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BROADBAND CONTINUES TO MOVE AT A RAPID PACE THROUGH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT EVERYTHING KIND OF NORTH AND EAST WILL BE DONE THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND THEN THEY'LL START WORKING IN THE SOUTH OR WEST, I WAS AT THE COMMUNITY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETING IN BRANCHVILLE, AND PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THE SERVICE COME THERE.

SO WE'RE HOPING BY THE SPRING THEY'LL BE OUT IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, AND THEY'RE SHOOTING TO BE DONE BY JUNE.

WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE LATER IN THE SUMMER, BUT THEY'RE WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET A NUMBER OF CREWS IN.

SO THEY HAVE LIKE EIGHT CREWS WORKING AT THE MOMENT.

SO THEY'RE DOING LIKE SIX MILES A DAY OF PROGRESS.

[02:25:03]

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE IT TAKES IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT THERE ARE ABOUT A THIRD DONE.

SO THERE'S A LOT IN THE GROUND.

LIKE IF PEOPLE SAW WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF JACK RANDALL'S, THAT WAS 1,000,000FT², THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, THOUGH, ABOUT DIRT LEFT IN THE DITCH.

THERE'S A FEW, AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THEM AS WE GO.

SO WE HAD A DITCH COMPLAINT THE OTHER DAY.

SO, I MEAN, WE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING THE OFFICE, SO IT'S LIKE NO PROJECT OF THAT MAGNITUDE GOES WITHOUT A FEW ISSUES.

I KNOW THAT RECENT RAIN WAS DEFINITELY A TEST OF.

I DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THAT GOING, NOT ONLY HERE BUT OTHER PLACES.

BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PROGRESS.

I KNOW IN OUR. PART OF THE COUNTY.

SEDLY [INAUDIBLE].

AREA THEY HAVE.

THEY'VE GOT ANOTHER CREW THAT COMES BACK THROUGH AND CLEANS THE DITCHES UP.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT OVER THERE ON SAINT LUKE'S ROAD BUT.

RIGHT. YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A I KNOW THEY CLEANED THE DITCHES UP OVER LIKE ON VICTORVILLE ROAD OR [INAUDIBLE].

ROAD. THEY'VE CAME BACK WITH, YOU KNOW, NOW THE CREW COMES IN BEHIND THE INSTALLATION CREW.

SO. YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ROAD IN PARTICULAR WAS A SPECTRUM ISSUE OR NOT, BUT WE CAN CHECK INTO THAT.

YEAH, WE'RE WORKING ON VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM GRANT, THAT'S DUE TO JANUARY 11TH FOR THE BO FARM TO BRING THAT FROM HOPEFULLY IF IT GETS FUNDED TO DO, TOPOGRAPHY, ARCHEOLOGY, THE THINGS TO TAKE IT FROM TIER TWO TO TIER FOUR.

SO THAT'S COMING INTO COUNTY OWNERSHIP.

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SOME INTEREST IN ALREADY, BUT TO TRY TO ENHANCE THAT AND USE THE MONEY INVOLVED WITH THE OPTION, THE FUTURE PURCHASE TO MATCH STATE MONEY, TO BRING MORE TO THAT SITE, TO BRING IT UP TO SPEED.

WE ARE WORKING ON STARTUPS.

STARTUP APPLICATIONS WILL BE OUT ON FEBRUARY 2ND, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT PROGRAM WILL START THE END OF MARCH.

SO IF PEOPLE ARE DECIDE THEY ARE INTERESTED IN DOING A BUSINESS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

WE ALSO ARE, HAVING THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER COME BACK TO MORE OF A MONTHLY SCHEDULE, WHICH GOT LOST IN THE COVID, AND THEY WENT VIRTUAL FOR A WHILE, BUT THEY ARE COMING TO THE OFFICE MORE OFTEN.

SO IF PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH THEM, WE CAN ARRANGE THAT FRANKLIN BUSINESS CENTER LIKE WE USED TO BE ABLE TO, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THE ARPA TOURISM SHOOT THAT GOT DONE IN THE FALL SO THAT KYLE LAFAYETTE IS PUTTING TOGETHER THE VIDEO.

WE'VE GOT A DRAFT OF IT.

SO YOU'LL START SEEING THOSE ASSETS, THE PHOTOS AND THE VIDEO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS PROMOTING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WILL START USING THAT STUFF.

SO THAT'S MY REPORT FOR NOW.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CARL? WELL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE LATER ON A MATTER THAT, PLANNING COMMISSION LOOKED AT THIS MAP.

WITH THIS, I'M NOT SURE I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT ESTIMATES.

AT LEAST 8000 ACRES.

MAYBE IT'S CLOSE TO 9000 ACRES OF SOLAR FARMS THAT ARE GOING IN AND [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY.

AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION ASKED IF THE BOARD WOULD AND I'VE TALKED WITH MR. THROWER ABOUT THIS, GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OFFICIALS OVER THERE AND SUSSEX COUNTY AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE THE PLANNING COMMISSION FELT THAT THIS WOULD IMPACT US IN SOME WAYS.

AND IF WE COULD CONTACT THEM AND, I BELIEVE MR. THROWER YOU SAID YOU HAD A GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR THERE AND, MAYBE SET UP SOME SORT OF DIALOG THERE AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S, I'VE HEARD 9000 ACRES AND PEOPLE SAID AT LEAST 8000 ACRES.

AND, IT'S QUITE A BIG, UNDERTAKING, AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR HOUSES AMONG THE PROPOSED SOLAR FARMS. YEAH.

IT LOOKS IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, THERE'S HOUSES AND FARMS AND EVERYTHING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT COMES RIGHT UP TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BORDER.

AND, MR. BILL DE, FORESTER FELT THAT IT MAY IMPACT OUR FORESTRY INDUSTRY HERE.

SO, I THINK WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IT, AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SOLAR AUDITS OVER THERE IN THAT COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FEELING IN THAT COUNTY IS AS FAR AS THIS GOES.

[02:30:03]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION, MR. THROWER. YES BOARD, MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE.

[12. Closed Session]

WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

SO MOVED. A SECOND, SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL RIGHT. WE MEET IN THE BACK IN CLOSED SESSION.

OKAY, CARL, I'M GOING TO DO ROLL CALL.

I MOVE THAT WE GO BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.

SECOND. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF GOING BACK TO OPEN SESSION SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NO.

OKAY. WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

[INAUDIBLE] .

GILLETTE OKAY.

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST INTEREST OF EACH MEMBERS KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM THE OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THIS CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES, AND ONLY SUCH PUBLIC MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED MEETING WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, AND CONSIDERED BY THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I MOVE THAT WE.

IS THERE A SECOND? ADOPT THE CLOSED SESSION.

SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THE MOTION. AYE.

Y'ALL DO NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL.

INDIVIDUALLY, IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. ROLL CALL CERTIFICATION.

VOTE, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT. DOCTOR EDWARDS, WE REALLY NEED TO GIVE DAVID A CERTIFICATE OR SOMETHING FOR SERVING ON OUR BOARD, DON'T YOU THINK? THAT'S I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

NORMALLY, PLACES I WORKED IN NORMALLY GIVEN A RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING TO OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS.

AND THE CHAIRMAN CAN, PRESENT IT AT A FUTURE MEETING.

OKAY. AT THE JANUARY MEETING? SHOULD BE. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS? [INAUDIBLE].

EVERYBODY A NICE MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CELEBRATE THE TRUTH THAT GOD GAVE HIS ONLY SON TO SAVE US.

AMEN TO THAT.

REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON? YEAH. ARE WE ADJOURNED? SO WE ADJOURNED THEN. RIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.