[00:00:01] ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. GOOD TO SEE YOU PEOPLE HERE. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE MAY 14TH BUDGET HEARING MEETING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF [ Call to Order] SUPERVISORS. IT WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING, AND YOU WILL GET TO SPEAK AND ASK QUESTIONS. AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE. AND THE FIRST THING IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PLEASE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FOR A INVOCATION FOR US TONIGHT? LET US PRAY. ETERNAL GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK THEE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE ASK THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, CITIZENS WILL COME TOGETHER WITH WONDERS OF MIND AND WITH WONDERS OF VISION. AS WE GO ABOUT THE BUDGET OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THE BOARD INDIVIDUALLY AND BLESS THEM COLLECTIVELY AND BLESS THEIR FAMILIES. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GO WITH THIS COUNTRY, THAT YOU WOULD STAND BY THE LEADERSHIP AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND IN CONGRESS AND IN THE SENATE, THAT YOU WOULD GO WITH THOSE THAT ARE STANDING IN HARM'S WAY OF A MILITARY PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY BE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE, COAST GUARD OR RESERVES. GIVE US ALL COURAGE AND GIVE US ALL STRENGTH THAT WE MIGHT BE ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS WE ARE ABOUT THE BETTERMENT AND THE WELFARE OF OUR CITIZENS. AMEN. AMEN. OKAY. FIRST ON THE LIST. MR. THROWER, WE NEED TO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION. YEAH, I DID TALK TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND HE IS ON HIS WAY. HE SHOULD BE HERE IN 5 TO 10 MINUTES. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WE CAN GO AHEAD INTO CLOSED SESSION IF YOU LIKE. AT THIS TIME, WE CAN. WE CAN WAIT OR YOU CAN WAIT. OR WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU BOUGHT ON THE SOLAR? IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. FILL IN A FEW MINUTES. IT'S IN YOUR PACKET. OKAY. I JUST WANT YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE IT? THEY DON'T HAVE THE PACKET. IT'S IN YOUR PACKET. RIGHT? THE VERY LAST FEW PAGES. [INAUDIBLE] WELL, IT IS A AN ARTICLE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. AND IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE WHAT WE WOULD CALL WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? DECOMPOSITION WHEN IT'S ALL OVER. DECOMMISSIONED. DECOMMISSIONED. THANK YOU. AND I PUT THAT IN THERE SO YOU MIGHT COULD SEE SOME OF THE DATA THAT OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY ARE STRUGGLING WITH. EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW AND SOME THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW. I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN FROM EUROPE. ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GO AHEAD. READ THE MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED. YES, SIR. OKAY. GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. THE BOARD WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING MOTION REQUIRED. [1. Closed Session] A MOTION IS REQUIRED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES. ONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.23711 8A CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE PERTAINING TO THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND A POTENTIAL POTENTIAL SOLAR PROJECT SITING AGREEMENT WITH BAP POWER LLC. THANK YOU. WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OKAY. LET'S GO IN THE BACK. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE FOR FOR WAITING. WE NEED A MOTION TO GO BACK INTO OPEN SESSION. SO MOVED. THERE'S A SECOND. SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY, WE ARE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS TO GO OVER HERE. [Additional Item] DO NEED TO ADOPT THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION. MOTION IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION BELOW. THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION MUST BE VOTED ON INDIVIDUALLY BY EACH BOARD MEMBER VIA ROLL CALL, [00:05:03] WHEREAS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING ON THIS DATE PURSUANT TO AN AFFIRMATIVE RECORDED VOTE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. AND WHEREAS, SECTION 2.23711 3712 D OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES A CERTIFICATION BY THE BOARD, THAT SUCH MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN CONFORMITY WITH VIRGINIA LAW. NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES, AND TWO, ONLY SUCH PUBLIC MATTERS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED MEETING WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, AND CONSIDERED BY THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND. OKAY. WE'LL VOTE. SUPERVISOR CORNWELL. YES. SUPERVISOR WHITE. YES. SUPERVISOR FAISON. YES. I VOTE YES. SUPERVISOR GILLETTE. YES. SUPERVISOR UPDIKE. YES. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR ITEMS THEN THAT WE NEED TO GO OVER. ALL RIGHT. I'VE GOT A MOTION THAT I NEED TO PUT FORTH MOTION TO PAY THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE FULL YEAR COST ESTIMATED BY THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DIVISION OF $9,884.39 SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FOYERS. SECOND, I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL VOTE FOR THAT. SUPERVISOR CORNWELL. YES. SUPERVISOR WHITE. YES. SUPERVISOR FAISON. YES. EDWARDS. YES. SUPERVISOR GILLETTE. YES. SUPERVISOR UPDIKE. YES. OKAY. THAT GOES THROUGH. SUPERVISOR CORNWELL, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES. I HAVE A SECOND MOTION TO PRESENT, MR. CHAIRMAN AND THAT'S TO APPROVE THE ENGAGEMENT OF COZEN O'CONNOR AND CHUCK SLEMP SO THAT HE CAN CONTINUE THE WORK ALONGSIDE THE TROUTMAN PEPPER LOCKE TEAM TO AUTHORIZE AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE THAT LETTER. I'LL SECOND IT. ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR CORNWELL. YES. SUPERVISOR WHITE. YES. SUPERVISOR FAISON. YES, I VOTE YES. SUPERVISOR GILLETTE. YES. SUPERVISOR UPDIKE. YES. OKAY. IT'S UNANIMOUS WE GO WITH THAT. SUPERVISOR GILLETTE. YES. I HAVE A RESOLUTION BY THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WHEREAS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SCHOOL BOARD AND ITS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS HAVE DEMONSTRATED INCOMPETENCE AND DERELICTION OF DUTY AND THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DIVISION. AND WHEREAS THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE REFUSED TO COOPERATE REPEATEDLY WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON ITS REASONABLE REQUEST TO REFORM AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION. AND WHEREAS THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT HAVE REFUSED TO COOPERATE REPEATEDLY WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RECORDS, AND WHEREAS THE STUDENTS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEIR PARENTS AND SCHOOL DIVISION'S EMPLOYEES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM THE POOR AND INCOMPETENT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DIVISION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT IT HEREBY CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. WITH AN ANSWER PROVIDED BY MAY THE 26TH BY NOTICE TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND I WOULD EVEN ADD WITH NO RENUMERATION RENUMERATION INCLUDED. ALL RIGHT. WE'VE ALL HEARD THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND. THERE'S A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO TO VOICE VOTE. VOICE VOTE THIS ONE. SUPERVISOR CORNWELL. YES. SUPERVISOR WHITE. YES. SUPERVISOR FAISON. I'M NOT READY TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT. YOU'RE GOING TO ABSTAIN. SUPERVISOR EDWARDS. YES. SUPERVISOR GILLETTE. YES. SUPERVISOR UPDIKE. YES. THAT RESOLUTION PASSES. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO PUBLIC HEARING ON [2. Public Hearing - FY26 Proposed Budget, Tax Rates, Fees, PPTRA and Bonus Payment for Constitutional Office and Social Services Employees] [00:10:03] THE YEAR 26 PROPOSED BUDGET. SO I'M GOING TO LET BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH YOU CAN TALK AND ASK QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO LET MR. THROWER GO OVER THAT JUST SKIM OVER THAT FOR US. YES. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS. APPRECIATE THAT. TONIGHT YOU HAVE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FEES, TAXES [INAUDIBLE]. AND A BONUS THAT YOU HAVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AT THE NEXT MEETING BY STATE CODE TO GIVE BONUSES OUT TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES BY STATE CODE. JUST TO GO OVER THE BUDGET. JUST A QUICK RECAP OF THAT. THE TOTAL BUDGET IS $87,887,099, BROKEN OUT BY THE DIFFERENT FUNDS. GENERAL FUND $28,189,486. OUR ENTERPRISE WATER AND SEWER FUND $4,977,323. BUILDING FUND $11,370,568. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND, WHICH IS SOCIAL SERVICES $3,313,525. SCHOOL SERVICES FUND $1,549,148. AND THE SCHOOL FUND AT $38,487,449. THAT'S THE TOTAL. THAT'S THE TOTAL BUDGET BROKEN OUT BY FUND. WHEN YOU GET INTO THE TAX ORDINANCE FOR FY 26, YOU DO HAVE THAT IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET. JUST AS A RECAP, THERE'S NO TAX INCREASES PROPOSED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET. EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME FROM THE CURRENT YEAR TO NEXT YEAR IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. WATER AND SEWER AND SOLID WASTE FEES FOR FY 26 PROPOSED. THERE ARE A REQUESTED PROPOSED INCREASES OF $5 EACH IN EACH OF THE WATER AND SEWER CATEGORIES. AND AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT MORE OF AN ENTERPRISE FUND FUNCTION WHERE IT'S SELF-SUSTAINABLE. AND THE SOLID WASTE FEE IS STAYED AT $200 PER YEAR, WHICH IS I BELIEVE HAS BEEN THAT SAME AMOUNT SINCE THE COUNTY INSTITUTED THAT YEARS AGO. YOU DO ALSO HAVE AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATE FOR FY 26. AND THE TAX PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF SHALL BE GRANTED AT A RATE OF 28% FOR THE FIRST $20,000 OF PERSONAL USE VEHICLE VALUE AND 100% PERCENT FOR PERSONAL USE VEHICLES VALUED AT $1,000 OR LESS. AND ALSO, AS I MENTIONED BY STATE CODE THERE HAS TO BE AN ORDINANCE ADOPTED WHEN YOU GIVE BONUSES TO EMPLOYEES AND THIS IS A BONUS THAT WAS INITIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNOR. IN ESSENCE, WE'RE A PASS THROUGH. WE'RE JUST A PASS THROUGH FOR THOSE FUNDS THAT AUTHORIZES PAYMENTS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES. SO THOSE ARE THE ORDINANCES. AS A RECAP, NO NO TAX INCREASES PROPOSED, JUST THE WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASES. AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS OVER SEVERAL BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COOPERATION WITH US. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? I, I KNOW THAT MR. THROWER, YOU AND MISS LOWE HAS PUT A GREAT DEAL OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS IN THIS, AND WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING CONCERNING THE BUDGET COME UP, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. MR. CHAIRMAN, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CHIEF WALT REDHAWK BROWN. I'M RESIDE AT 3333 4 SANDY RIDGE ROAD. I AM ALSO THE CHIEF OF THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE, AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION, WHICH IS A 501C3 TAX EXEMPT FOR THE TRIBE AT 27345 AQUIA PATH, OF WHICH CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, IT IS YOUR AREA. FIRST OF ALL, KUDOS AND ACCOLADES TO THE BOARD FOR THIS THIS LITTER PREVENTION CLEANUP INFORMATION, BECAUSE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST YEARS, HAVE BEEN A POT, A POTHOLE FOR LITTER. OKAY. WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED TO THIS BOARD IN 2004 THE FIRST COMMITTEE I WAS PUT ON WAS A LITTER CONTROL COMMITTEE. OKAY. AND ALSO ON THE ADOPT A HIGHWAY BOARD. WE'RE STILL DOING THE ADOPT A HIGHWAY. THE TRIBE AND I MATTER OF FACT JUST RECENTLY LAST MONTH PICKED UP 12 BAGS, 12 LARGE BAGS OF TRASH FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE ROUNDABOUT THROUGH THE FRONT OF ON BOTH SIDES AND THE MEDIAN THROUGH THE FRONT OF OF EDWARDS HARDWARE STORE. [00:15:04] ANYWAY I HAVE A QUESTION. AS YOU AS YOU'RE AWARE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE APPROACHED THIS BOARD IN REFERENCE TO A TRASH DUMP, A LITTER SPOT, WHICH IS A SAFETY VIOLATION AND CONCERN FOR CITIZENS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WHICH IS ON CATTASHOWROCK DRIVE, WHICH ENDS IN A CUL DE SAC WHICH IS A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD. ORIGINALLY, WHEN I APPROACHED THIS BOARD, I SUBMITTED PICTURES OF THE TRASH, THE LITTER, PICTURES OF CONDOMS PICTURES OF THE STAINS IN THE IN THE NOT ONLY IN THE CUL DE SAC, BUT IN THE ROADS WITH FECES AND WITH URINE TO INCLUDE PARAPHERNALIA, EVEN [INAUDIBLE] ETC.. OKAY. EVERYWHERE. SO AFTER WE APPROACHED THIS BOARD ALL THESE YEARS, I APPROACHED THE FOUNDATION OF A TAX EXEMPT. I SAID, LOOK, I SAID, I SAID, THIS IS CRAZY. THIS THIS IS A TRASH DUMP. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND TRY TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE BOARD TO ACTUALLY PUT A LIGHT UP. WE'LL PAY FOR IT AT LEAST FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY THE BOARD WILL COME ON BOARD AND TAKE CONTROL OF THAT. NOW MY BOARD AND MY COUNSEL IS TELLING ME, CHIEF BROWN, WE ARE VOTING THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE THAT LIGHT DOWN BECAUSE THE BOARD IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU. IF WE TAKE IT DOWN, IT'S GOING TO BECOME ANOTHER DUMP. IT'S GOING TO BE A SAFETY VIOLATION, SAFETY VIOLATION IN THIS COUNTY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK THERE. IT'S A LOVER'S LANE. THEY'RE DOING DRUGS, SELLING DRUGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. OKAY. SO YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT. SO THEY ASKED ME TO CONSIDER TAKING THAT LIGHT DOWN AND STOP PAYING FOR IT. NOW, I FOUR MEETINGS AGO, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS ASKED ME WHEN I APPROACHED THIS BOARD, ASKED ME TO GIVE ALL THE FINANCIAL ASPECT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE, WHICH I DID. I FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS, OKAY. 20 YEARS IN THE ARMY, ONE WAR TOO MANY AT LEAST I LEARNED TO DO THAT WITH MY DAD WHIPPING MY BUTT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. I SUBMITTED ALL THAT INFORMATION UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET. OKAY OF COURSE, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR LOOKED AT IT AND HE SENT ME A SENT ME AN EMAIL OF WHICH I RESPONDED TO IT. AND I ALSO SUCCEED YOU, CHAIRMAN EDWARD AND ALSO PERTAINING TO IT, BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS NOT FOR THE PRIMARY BENEFIT OF THE TRIBE. THE LIGHT WAS FOR THE PRIMARY BENEFIT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND WITH THE LIDDY AND A SAFETY VIOLATION TO TAKE CARE OF IT'S CITIZENS. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DID THAT. NOW, I'M LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AND UNDER I'M GOING TO ATTACH TWO ITEMS HERE, OKAY. UNDER PARKS RECREATION AND CULTURE, THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE OR OUR FOUNDATION. SOME YEARS AGO, I SUBMITTED A LETTER TO THIS BUDGET DURING COVID, BECAUSE MONEY WAS ALLOCATED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND BY THE STATE TO THE COUNTY TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE NONPROFIT ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY. I SUBMITTED A LETTER FOR 50 K, OKAY. I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD. I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THAT. MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I APPROACHED THAT LAST YEAR ABOUT THAT, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS SAID, WELL, YOU NEED TO GET A LETTER, BUT I NEVER GOT THE LETTER. OKAY. PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURE. THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE IN REFERENCE TO THE THE CULTURE OF THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE. WE HAVE BEEN DOING EVENTS HERE SINCE 2002, BRINGING IN TOURISM TO THIS COUNTY. OKAY. O'CONNOR. O'CONNOR'S AND CONOR'S. ITALY. GREECE. TURKEY. THE PUERTO RICO EVEN VIETNAM IS COMING NOW. OKAY. BRINGING TOURISM INTO THIS COUNTY. OKAY. THEN I LOOKED AT, LOOKED AT I SEE THAT THEY GOT THE COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION 4K. THEY DON'T BRING NO TOURISM INTO THIS COUNTY. PEOPLE DON'T DON'T EAT IN THE RESTAURANTS AND AND LIVE IN THE HOTELS. MATTER OF FACT, WHEN CHARLIE HAD HIS HOTEL, WE FILLED THAT UP THREE TIMES A YEAR HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. OKAY. THEN I WENT TO THE TO THE BUDGET WHERE IT HAS PUBLIC WORKS AND I SEE ON STREET LIGHTS, IT'S ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET 54 5 45K, $54,500 K. OKAY, SO WE HAVE REACHED A CULMINATING POINT BOARD MEMBERS, ON THIS LIGHT. I'M GOING TO BE FRANK WITH YOU. OKAY. IF WE TAKE IT DOWN IT'S GOING TO BE A MESS. SOMEBODY'S GOING TO END UP GETTING KILLED BACK THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE TRADING DRUGS BACK THERE. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DOING BEFORE WE PUT THAT LIGHT UP. ONCE WE PUT THAT LIGHT UP, WE SAW NO MORE TRASH, NO MORE DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, NO MORE CONDOMS, PEOPLE NOT GOING BACK THERE URINATING ON THE ROAD AND DOING THEIR SQUATS WITH THEIR FECES. OKAY, BUT BEFORE THAT, FOR THE FIRST FOUR YEARS, IT WAS TERRIBLE. I'M NOT KIDDING. IT REALLY WAS. SO WHAT I'M REQUESTING IS, RESPECTFULLY, I'M REQUESTING THAT THE FIGURES AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE GAVE TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND HE DID A GOOD JOB LOOKING AT IT AND FACTORING OUT, I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THAT BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET FOR 2026, THAT THE COUNTY FOR THE COUNTY'S BENEFIT. [00:20:01] THAT'S THE THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE LIGHT, IT BENEFITS THE COUNTY. OKAY. IT BENEFITS THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY. I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU PLEASE ADD THAT LIGHT TO THE BUDGET, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR IT. AND IF IT GOES AWAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTY WITH TRASH AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO END UP GETTING HURT BACK THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE TRADING DRUGS. OKAY, SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I HAVE FOR THIS. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE THIS IS REALLY GOOD. YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN I HAVE BEEN BEING BORN AND BRED IN THIS COUNTY, GREW UP IN THIS COUNTY ALL MY LIFE, EXCEPT FOR THE 28 YEARS I SERVED IN THE MILITARY. MY THING IS, I HAVE TO SUPPORT MY COUNTY. OKAY. AND THERE'S BEEN SOME TERRIBLE TRASH HIGHWAYS IN THIS COUNTY, GUYS. AND SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT WHEN YOU TRAVEL. OKAY. AND THERE STILL ARE. OKAY. AND AGAIN, IF WE GET RID OF THAT LIGHT, IT'S GOING TO BE A TRASH DUMP AGAIN. AND MR. GILLETTE HE CAME DOWN THERE AND LOOKED AT THE AREA BECAUSE WE HAD CLEANED IT UP. BUT BUT IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO BE A MESS. I'M JUST AFRAID THAT THE SAFETY THAT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO END UP GETTING HURT. YOU GOT [INAUDIBLE] TRAILER COURT BACK THERE. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TRASH COME FROM THERE OR WHAT. I MEAN, I SAW I WAS OUT THERE ONE DAY CUTTING GRASS IN THE EVENING, AND SOME AMBULANCE PULLED OVER AND HAD A NORTH CAROLINA TAG PULLED OVER IN THE CUL DE SAC AND GOT OUT AND URINATED RIGHT IN THE ROAD. AND I GEARED UP MY MY ZERO DEGREE TURN AND TRY TO CATCH HIM BEFORE HE LEFT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DOING ANY ACTIVITIES OUT THERE AT NIGHT. WE DON'T NEED THE LIGHT BECAUSE WE DON'T DO ANYTHING AT NIGHT. OKAY, ALL OF OUR THREE EVENTS, WHICH IS OUR GREEN CORN POWWOW, TAKES PLACE IN JULY DURING THE DAYTIME. OUR JUDEO OUR JUDEO-CHRISTIAN REVIVAL TAKES PLACE IN SEPTEMBER DURING THE DAYTIME AND OUR CORN HARVEST POWWOW SCHOOL DAY TAKES PLACE IN NOVEMBER DURING THE DURING THE DAY. SO WE DON'T NEED LIGHTS OUT THERE. WE DON'T NEED NO LIGHT OUT THERE TO GO IN THERE. BUT I'M JUST ASKING PLEASE CONSIDER THIS. CONSIDER THE BENEFITS THAT THIS IS GOING TO ADD TO THE COUNTY BY BY PUTTING THIS IN THE BUDGET SO THE COUNTY CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS LIGHT. WE APPRECIATE IT. I MIGHT ADD THIS ALSO IN CLOSING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT THE SECRETARY OF COMMONWEALTH APPOINTED ME TO THE VIRGINIA 250 REVOLUTIONARY WAR MUSEUM. OKAY. AND BEING THAT I WAS KNEE DEEP INVOLVED IN THE VIRGINIA 150 SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE CIVIL WAR WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD AND I BOUGHT THE MOBILE MUSEUM HERE. I MADE THAT RECOMMENDATION TWO YEARS AGO. SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A VIRGINIA 250 MOBILE MUSEUM. I WILL HAVE THAT ON THE TRIBAL LAND. OCTOBER THE 31ST FOR THE SCHOOL DAY AND ALSO FOR THE POWWOW NOVEMBER THE 1ST AND THE 2ND. OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER MY REQUEST. AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. QUESTION. EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR FOR THE COUNTY TO PAY THE MONTHLY? I DON'T HAVE MY HEARING AID CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER. OKAY. EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR? ARE YOU ASKING THE COUNTY TO PAY THE MONTHLY? YES. UTILITY. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS? WELL, IT'S ABOUT $60. IT'S 40 SOME DOLLARS. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE INFORMATION THAT CHIEF WALT BROWN SENT IN, HE'S ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SECURITY LIGHT INSTALLATION, WHICH WAS $3,259.48. SO THAT WOULD BE A ONE TIMER. AND PLUS $3,497, WHICH WERE THE BILLS THAT HE SENT IN THAT STARTED IN 2022 AND IT GOES THROUGH SIX MONTHS OF 2026 IS WHAT. BUT BUT IT AVERAGED ABOUT $60 A MONTH. IT'S ABOUT THE LIGHT BILL, ABOUT $1,000. THAT'S WHAT IT AVERAGES. AND THEN A RELATED AND SEPARATE BUT RELATED ISSUES. THEN A RELATED BUT SEPARATE ISSUE IS THE ONGOING COST OF ANY LIGHT BUT THIS LIGHT. WELL, EVEN IF EVEN IF YOU DON'T REIMBURSE US FOR THE INSTALLATION, PLEASE JUST TAKE OVER THE BILL. OKAY. IT'S ONLY ABOUT $60 A MONTH FOR THE LIGHT, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THE BOARD AND MY COUNCILMAN, THEY'LL BEAT ME ACROSS THE BROW ABOUT GETTING RID OF IT. AND I DON'T WANT IT TO GO BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT AREA. IT'S GOING TO BE TERRIBLE AGAIN. ANY QUESTIONS? MR. BROWN, FURTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. THROWER. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE? WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. AMANDA HALL, 1903 4 LAKESIDE DRIVE, COURTLAND, VIRGINIA. SO I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT AT THIS BUDGET HEARING ABOUT THE FUNDING AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, [00:25:05] THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M NOT HERE TO ASK YOU TO GIVE THEM A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY OR REDUCE THE MONEY, INCREASE THE MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME DEFICIENCIES WITHIN THEIR BUDGET PROCESS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE CLARIFIED BEFORE YOU ALL CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO FUND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE THIS SAME DOCUMENT. IT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND I GOT MINE THROUGH FOR YOU. IT'S JUST THE THE BIG BUDGET BOOK BASICALLY IS IS WHAT I'M CALLING IT THAT THEY APPROVED IN ONE OF THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PASSED OFF TO YOU ALL AS THEIR PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET WITH THE NEEDS THAT THEY DEFINED THAT THEY WANT FROM THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF FUNDING. SO THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT DOES NOT LIST ANY ACTUAL REVENUE FROM ANY PREVIOUS YEARS. IT HAS BUDGETED REVENUE LISTED. SO FOR EXAMPLE, FOR 2023 -2024, IT LISTS WHAT WAS BUDGETED, WHAT THEY ANTICIPATED AS THE THE REVENUE. BUT NOWHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT DOES IT LIST THE ACTUAL REVENUE FROM ALL THE SOURCES, FROM LOCAL SOURCES, FROM GRANTS, FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS. IT DOES NOT LIST WHAT WAS ACTUAL. IT ONLY LISTS WHAT WAS BUDGETED. SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS BUDGETED AND WHAT WAS ACTUALLY RECEIVED AS REVENUE. AND THIS DOCUMENT HAS HAS NOTHING LISTED FOR ACTUALS. IN ADDITION, IF YOU CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE PAGES WITH THE SUMMARY OF THE PROJECTED EXPENDITURES THESE PAGES AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST YOU CAN JUST TURN THE PAGES AND SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. IN EXPENDITURES, THERE'S NO LISTING OF ACTUAL EXPENDITURES FROM 2023 -2024 AS IT PERTAINS TO THE BREAKDOWN OF CATEGORIES LIKE CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGY. AGAIN, IT LISTS WHAT THE APPROVED BUDGET WAS, BUT NOT WHAT THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES WERE FOR 2023 -2024. YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS TREND KIND OF CONTINUES AS YOU GO THROUGH THE LIST OF PROJECTED EXPENDITURES FOR, YOU KNOW, 2025-26. THERE'S NOTHING TO SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SPENT OR RECEIVED FOR 2023- 2024. I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL STATE CATEGORICAL OPERATING BUDGET PAGE IT LISTS AMOUNTS BY CATEGORY, BUT IT'S PRE-AUDIT AMOUNTS. OKAY, SO I CAN SUMMARIZE WITH A FEW FIGURES HERE. SO THIS BUDGET BOOK REFLECTS LOCAL OPERATING EXPENSES FOR 2023 -2024 AS $36,307,666. AND THEN THE STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS TOTALED $2,297,695. SO THAT'S A TOTAL DIVISION OPERATING BUDGET, ACCORDING TO THIS DOCUMENT, OF $38,605,367. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTY'S AUDIT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD COMPONENT ON PAGE 154 OF OF THE COUNTY'S AUDIT, IT LISTS THE EXPENDITURES AT $40,489,860. SO THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT THEY PASSED AND THAT THEY MOVED TO YOU ALL IS MISSING A DIFFERENCE OF $1,884,493. AND AGAIN, I SAY THIS WITH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR AS WELL. I CONFIRMED WITH LYNETTE THAT THE BUDGET DOCUMENT CONTAINED PRE-AUDIT NUMBERS, AND THAT WORK WAS DONE DURING THE AUDIT TO, YOU KNOW, REFLECT THE CORRECTIONS NEEDED IN IN THE LEDGER. OKAY. SO I WOULD THINK THAT ANYONE MAKING DECISIONS ON HOW MONEY IS TO BE SPENT WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD WANT TO KNOW, [00:30:02] WELL, WHAT WAS ACTUALLY RECEIVED FOR REVENUE AND WHAT WAS ACTUALLY SPENT IN 2023- 2024. SO THAT IS MY FEEDBACK ON WHAT I THINK YOU MAY NEED TO HELP YOU MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT MONEY YOU ALLOCATE TO TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP I DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING PRE-WRITTEN WORD FOR WORD. I JUST HAD SOME STATISTICS AND SOME THINGS THAT I HAD MARKED UP IN THIS BOOK AFTER I REVIEWED IT VERY, VERY THOROUGHLY. SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY REFERENCES THAT YOU'D LIKE ME TO SPECIFY WITHIN THIS BOOK, I'M HAPPY TO. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MY QUESTIONS ONCE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GOING TO BE HERE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MANDY. YES, THANK YOU, MR. CORNWELL. ANYONE ELSE? YES. SO BASICALLY THEY HAD A ALMOST A $2 MILLION DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ACTUAL AND WHAT THEY HAD PUT IN THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM AND WHY. THERE'S A $2 MILLION DISCREPANCY. RIGHT. THERE'S A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT THEY BUDGETED AND WHAT THEY GOT AND WHAT THEY SPENT. BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT THIS BOOK SAYS THEY DID AND WHAT THE AUDIT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S AUDIT NUMBERS WERE. SO AT THE END OF THE AUDIT, THOSE NUMBERS SHOULD HAVE THEN BEEN USED FOR THIS. BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, AND AS FAR AS I'VE TRIED TO CLARIFY, THEY DIDN'T DO THAT AND THEY DIDN'T DO THAT LAST YEAR AND I THINK THE YEAR BEFORE AS FAR AS I'VE LOOKED BACK. IF I'M TRACKING WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING DOWN HERE, THE BOOK SAYS $36,307,666, PLUS THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS OF $2,297,695, FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF $38,605,367 ISH DOLLARS TOTAL BUDGET. THAT'S $1.8 MILLION ISH LESS DOLLARS THAN WHAT THE COUNTY AUDIT SAYS FOR THE ENTIRE BUDGET. YES, THE ENTIRE BUDGET, WHICH WAS $40,489,860. RIGHT. THAT WAS THE AMOUNT LISTED ON PAGE 154 OF THE AUDIT AS THE ACTUAL THE ACTUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2023 -2024. CORRECT. SO THE TOTALS IN THE BOOK DON'T ADD UP TO THE TOTALS PROVIDED IN THE AUDIT. CORRECT? OKAY. AND I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT. I'M NOT A MATHEMATICIAN. I'M A RESEARCHER. I KNOW DATA, AND I TRY TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE WHAT I'M THINKING AND WHAT I'M SEEING IS, IS WHAT IS ACTUALLY REFLECTED IN THIS BOOK. SO I'VE PROPOSED I POSED THESE QUESTIONS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND IN EMAILS AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE ON ON WHY THE DISCREPANCY IS THERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN, MAY I MAKE A COMMENT OF A COUPLE OF THINGS? YOU CERTAINLY CAN. OKAY. SO IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR, IN YOUR BOOK, THE BOOKS THAT CHRISTY AND I AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROVIDED IF YOU LOOK UNDER THE SCHOOL FUND, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALL THE REVENUES SINCE FISCAL YEAR 22 BROKEN OUT BY CATEGORY FOR THE SCHOOLS, THE ACTUAL NUMBERS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS THERE. NOW, AS FAR AS THE AUDIT NUMBERS, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE AUDITOR TAKES ALL OF THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPLIT OUT FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET. AND WHEN THE AUDITOR COMES IN, SHE CATEGORIZES THOSE INTO WHETHER IT BE INSTRUCTION OR JUST WHAT EVER THOSE ITEMS, THOSE PROJECT ITEMS FLOW AND SHE AND SEARCH THOSE THROUGH THE AUDIT PROCESS. SHE CONSOLIDATES THEM. THAT'S PROBABLY THE BETTER WORD. SO WHAT THE SCHOOLS I BELIEVE ARE TRYING TO THEY SEPARATE A LOT OF THEIR ITEMS SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH THAT PARTICULAR POT OF MONEY. SO THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE DIFFERENCE. [00:35:02] BUT YOU CAN TAKE ALL OF THE NUMBERS THAT ARE IN THE GENERAL LEDGER AND ADD THEM UP AND COME UP WITH WHAT'S IN THE AUDIT. AND IT'S MESSY. IT TAKES A WHILE TO SIT AND DO IT, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE. AND YOU CAN LOOK IN YOUR BOOKLET AND YOU WILL SEE ALL EXPENDITURES AND ALL REVENUES FROM FISCAL YEAR 22 FORWARD. MISS LOWE, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WHAT THEY HAVE IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE SCHOOL PROVIDED? WHEN YOU SAY THEY JUST TELL ME. WHAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS SEEING YEAH. BECAUSE MY STAFF AND I, WE GO THROUGH AND WE PULL TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT MORE MATCHES UP WITH THE ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE. OKAY. SO THAT IS TRUE. WHAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED, WHAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY YOU IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD. I UTILIZE, WHAT THEY GIVE ME, I UTILIZE WHAT THEY GIVE ME. BUT IT IS A DIFFERENT FORMAT. YEAH, BUT WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS WHEN THE WHEN THE SCHOOLS, MOST SCHOOL SYSTEMS, WHEN THEY PUT OUT A PROPOSED BUDGET, THEY'VE GOT ACTUAL AND YOU KNOW, PREVIOUS NUMBERS AND THEY DIDN'T SUPPLY THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY MADE IT HARD FOR US TO FIND IT. IT'S IN THERE. BUT YOU GOT TO DIG IN THE WEEDS TO FIND IT. AND I'LL GIVE A PRIME EXAMPLE. I DON'T YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT EITHER. BUT WHEN I SIT DOWN AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHERE THE MONEY IS, I TAKE THE TECHNOLOGY LINE FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET IS $784,885. AND THEY SPENT $1,547,835. THAT WAS IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, RIGHT? YEAH. SO WHERE DID THEY GET THAT? NONE OF THOSE. NONE OF THAT MATH IS MATH. SO, I MEAN, WHERE DID THE $504,945 GO? I MEAN, I BELIEVE IT'S IN THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP ME, RIGHT, BUDGET ANY OF IT. AND WE'RE THE ONES MAKING THE APPROPRIATIONS I. PAR FOR THE COURSE. IT'S A DIFFICULT SPOT TO BE IN WHEN THEY WON'T LET YOU IN THE BUILDINGS TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, AND THEY WON'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AS IT PERTAINS TO THE BUDGET YET THEY WANT YOU TO GIVE YOU ALL THE MONEY, WANT THEM, WANT US TO APPROPRIATE ALL THE MONEY SO THAT THEY CAN SPEND IT. IT'S A TOUGH SPOT TO BE. WELL, AND IT ALSO, THEY MADE THE POINT WHEN THEY CAME IN HERE WITH THEIR PRESENTATION, THE THE CFO, THE SCHOOL JOY CARR. SHE DIDN'T ASK US IF WE HAD ANY QUESTIONS. SHE GAVE HER PRESENTATION AND SAT DOWN. SO DIDN'T GIVE US, YOU KNOW, A CHANCE BUT. BUT ANYWAY, WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. YEAH. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SIR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SIR. I'M PAUL FRITZINGER. I'M THE DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON, ISLE OF WIGHT. I WAS IN HERE BEFORE Y'ALL LAST YEAR. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT. OUR OFFICE, AS YOU MAY KNOW, IS AT 203 C WIMBLEDON LANE, WE'RE IN SMITHFIELD. WE USED TO BE IN FRANKLIN, BUT RICHMOND, IN ITS INFINITE WISDOM, DECIDED THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IN SMITHFIELD. SO THERE WE ARE. BUT I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S RIGHT FOR Y'ALL TO GIVE US EVEN A DOLLAR WITHOUT US TELLING YOU WHAT IT GOES TO SUPPORT T HE BENEFITS OF YOUR SUPPORT. MAINLY HELP US TO TO RETAIN EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS AND STAFF. AND THAT BENEFITS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BECAUSE EXPERIENCED LEGAL COUNSEL ENSURES QUALITY REPRESENTATION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HERE, AND ALSO HELPS TO ENSURE JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY ACROSS THE BOARD, IN OUR COURTS. OFTENTIMES EXPERIENCE COUNSEL IN THESE SMALLER OFFICES WILL SEEK OFFICES WITH HIGHER SALARIES. WE'VE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PAST TO SUFFOLK. SUFFOLK, ACTUALLY GIVES THEIR CITY COUNCIL GIVES THEM $15,000 PER [00:40:02] ATTORNEY WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE IN MY IN MY MIND. BUT THAT BE THAT WHAT IS WHAT IT MAY THE THE SMALL AMOUNT THAT WE ASKED FROM THIS BOARD ACTUALLY DID GO TO HELP US TO RETAIN EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS IN OUR OFFICE. AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. AND WHAT WE DO IS IMPORTANT. I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. WE HAD I JUST PULLED OUT TWO CASES, KIND OF RANDOM FROM THIS LAST YEAR. ONE OF THEM INVOLVED STOLEN CHECKS, FORGERY AND OBTAINING MONEY BY FALSE PRETENSES OR LARCENY. A MAN WAS ARRESTED, AND CASE WENT ON FOR, I'LL SAY ALMOST TWO YEARS. AND THROUGH OUR WORK AND OUR INVESTIGATORS WORK AND A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO CONVINCE THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY THAT THEY HAD THE WRONG PERSON. THEY DID HAVE THE WRONG PERSON. AND THAT CASE NEVER ACTUALLY WENT TO COURT, WHICH SAVED A LOT OF MONEY. JUST HAVING ONE TRIAL IN THE CIRCUIT COURT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. IN ANOTHER CASE, IT INVOLVED SOME BREAK INS TO SOME AUTOMOBILES AND LARCENY. WE WERE ALSO ABLE, THROUGH OUR INVESTIGATOR AND WORK WITH THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE THAT THEY HAD THE WRONG PERSON. AND THAT'S ANOTHER CASE THAT DIDN'T GO TO TRIAL AND ENDED UP SAVING MONEY. AND WITH LESSER EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS AND INVESTIGATORS, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET THAT OUTCOME, THESE CASES WOULD HAVE GONE TO TRIAL. WE CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, FOR THE UNDERSERVED PEOPLE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. AND WE ONCE AGAIN JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR OUR FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I HAVE SEEN AND VERY HAPPILY SEEN THAT THAT SAME SUPPORT IS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR. AND WE HUMBLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONSIDER CONTINUING SUPPORTING OUR MISSION. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GO ON WITH THE BUDGET BETWEEN NOW AND THE FINALIZED BUDGET. I KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. THINGS GET PUT IN, THINGS GET TAKEN OUT. BUT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR A LOT FOR WHAT WE DO. IT DOES HELP. AND WE JUST ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. LAST CALL. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY UP HERE HAVE ANY ISSUES OR COMMENTS CONCERNING THE BUDGET? THIS IS OUR FINAL TIME TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. I CERTAINLY HEARD CHIEF BROWN TONIGHT, AND I'VE BEEN HEARING IT FOR SOME TIME. AND WITH FASHION ALL IN THE COUNTY LIKE IT IS, I DON'T THINK HIS REQUEST IS UNREASONABLE, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY WANT US TO DO SOMETHING TOWARD THAT. AND LET THE MINIMUM THING BE US TAKING ON THE MONTHLY FEES IN TERMS OF THE REIMBURSEMENT. EXACTLY HOW MUCH IS THAT? SO THEIR REQUEST ADDING UP THE ITEMS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR $6,756. SO THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO DECIDE IF WE WERE PUTTING THAT IN OR OR WHAT DECISION YOU WANT TO MAKE AS FAR AS. OR WHAT IF THE LATTER IS, THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON THE MONTHLY BILL GOING FORWARD STARTING JULY 1ST. [00:45:07] WE WOULD WE WOULD HAVE TO INCLUDE MONEY IN OUR STREETLIGHT ACCOUNT OR WHATNOT FOR THOSE COSTS. I SENT YOU SOME INFORMATION TODAY THAT THE ISSUE IS AND I DON'T DISPUTE THE THE IT DOES SERVE A PUBLIC NEED WITH THE LIGHT. AND THIS IS THESE STREETLIGHTS ARE AN ISSUE IN EVERY LOCALITY BECAUSE GENERALLY YOU DON'T HAVE A POLICY AND IT'S A JUDGMENT CALL. AND THAT'S WHERE THERE LIES THE, THE CONUNDRUM. SO LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF THAT, I THINK THE PREVIOUS BOARDS OR MAYBE THIS BOARD HAD DENIED THESE REQUESTS IN THE PAST WHEN, WHEN MR. BROWN CAME TO Y'ALL IN THE PAST Y'ALL HAD THE PAST BOARD HAD DENIED THE REQUEST. AND WHEN MIKE WAS STILL HERE AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FROM LOOKING BACK ON THE AGENDA FROM THAT EVENING, THE REQUEST IS, I THINK, MR. BROWN SAID, WAS THAT THE THE COUNTY WOULD SIGN THE AUTHORIZATION FORM FOR DOMINION TO AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION, BUT THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT THEY WISH THEY DID. THE TRIBE WOULD PAY THE INSTALLATION FEES AND THE MONTHLY FEES GOING FORWARD. SO I DON'T FAULT MR. BROWN FOR COMING AND REQUESTING THAT, BUT THAT THAT WAS KIND OF MY MY JUDGMENT ON WHETHER TO INCLUDE THAT COST IN THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD. SO THAT'S CERTAINLY YOUR CALL WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO ALL OF IT OR IS MR. BROWN OR MR. FAISON HAS SUGGESTED ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE JUST PUT THE MONTHLY COST IN OUR STREET LIGHT ACCOUNT GOING FORWARD IN FY 26, OR DO NOTHING. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TAKING OVER THE THE ELECTRIC BILL. THEY WENT THROUGH THE EXPENSE AND PUT IT IN. BUT I THINK WE CAN TAKE ON FUTURE EXPENSE AND PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL. I'M ALL RIGHT WITH IT. WHAT ABOUT YOU? ME TOO. I MOVE THAT WE PAY THE ONGOING ELECTRIC BILL. I'LL SECOND IT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO PAY ELECTRIC BILL, MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL BEFORE WE VOTE. STARTING JULY 1ST, NOTHING RETROACTIVE. SO LET ME SEE IF THAT'S THE WAY THE BOARD WANTS TO GO. WELL, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO AFTER YOUR VOTE AND THAT'S THE VOTE, WE'LL MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR BUDGET AND REVISE THAT AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR ADOPTION. INCREASE THE STREET LIGHT ACCOUNT. AND WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL INCREASE THE STREET LIGHT BUDGETED AMOUNT BY $1,000 TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERED. IT MAY BE LESS THAN THAT. IF WE NEED IT, IT'S THERE AND WE ONLY USE IT FOR THAT PURPOSE. THAT'S RIGHT. IT WILL BEGIN JULY 1ST, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, NEW BUDGET 2025. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU HEARD THE MOTION AND THERE WAS SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WELL, I'VE GOT A QUESTION. I'VE. YOU ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, CHIEF. HE DIDN'T HEAR YOU. CHIEF YOU'RE A NONPROFIT CHIEF. YES. I'M READY FOR YOUR QUESTION. ARE YOU A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION? THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE A BUDGET? DO WE HAVE A BUDGET? YES WE DO. AND WE DO A 1 0 2 AND A 990 EVERY YEAR TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TO THE STATE. DO YOU HAVE DONORS? DO WE HAVE DONORS? NO. WE HAVE. WE DO OUR POWWOWS. WE GET A FEE, YOU KNOW. SO WHEN YOU HAVE BASICALLY DONORS BASICALLY THE DONORS THAT PASTOR MIKE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. WELL, I'M ASKING LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE. OKAY. OKAY. THE DONORS WE HAVE IS THE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING SINCE 2002 TO EVERY MILITARY INSTALLATION IN HAMPTON ROADS. ALL THE UNIVERSITIES, ALL THE COLLEGES OF VIRGINIA, AND IN NORTH CAROLINA, ON THE HILL IN WASHINGTON, DC, ETCETERA. I DON'T TAKE ANY MONEY. I ASK THEM THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE A FEE FOR THE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT, THEN THEY GIVE IT TO THE FOUNDATION. THAT'S THE DONOR. AND SO I DON'T I DON'T TAKE THE MONEY. I COULD TAKE THE MONEY, BUT I DON'T. WHEN YOU SAY YOU COULD TAKE THE MONEY FOR YOUR NONPROFIT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO. I COULD TAKE IT FOR MY OWN PERSONAL USE BECAUSE I'M THE ONE GIVING THE PRESENTATION. YEAH, I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD. BUT I REQUEST I REQUEST WHOEVER, WHOMEVER I'M GIVING THE PRESENTATION TO THAT WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO PAY ME THAT THEY MAKE THE CHECK OUT TO THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. YEAH. MY ONLY. MY ONLY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THERE ARE A LOT OF NONPROFITS IN THIS COUNTY AND THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN SECURITY LIGHTS, AND. BUT WE ARE ALSO A TRIBE TOO. WE GOT WE GOT THE CHEROENHAKA NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE UP SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WHICH IS STATE RECOGNIZED. [00:50:03] AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FOUNDATION THAT WE HAVE. I UNDERSTAND. YEAH. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE EVENTS OUT THERE THAT DRAW PEOPLE, AND YOU HAVE A BUDGET. AND IT WOULD SEEM TO ME YOU WOULD HAVE WORKED THIS INTO YOUR BUDGET. NO, WE DIDN'T HAVE A BUDGET FOR THE STREET LIGHT, I DID THAT. NO NO, NO. YOU YOU HAVE A BUDGET TO OPERATE, I ASSUME, TO PUT ON THE POWWOWS, ALL THESE OTHER EVENTS. YEAH. WE HAVE THAT BUDGET IN REFERENCE TO WHAT WE WOULD GET FOR PEOPLE COMING. OKAY. RIGHT. AS AN EXAMPLE, AS AN EXAMPLE, KIDS ARE NORMALLY 3 TO $5, DEPENDING ON THEIR AGE. YEAH. I'M NOT. I'M JUST TRYING TO. SO IT'S A PROJECTED BUDGET. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE A MAKE A POINT HERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF NONPROFITS IN THE COUNTY, AND THEY SEEM TO BE PAYING FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY LIGHTS AND ALL THAT. THAT'S MY ONLY. YEAH, BUT THEY GET THEY GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DONATIONS MOST OF GILLETTE LIKE THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING YOU. I'VE NEVER SEEN YOUR BUDGET. YOU'VE NEVER COME UP HERE AND CHATTED WITH US. NO, WE DON'T WE DON'T GET THAT KIND OF MONEY. THE MONEY THAT WE GET IS FREE PRESENTATIONS THAT I GIVE. AND ALSO WHOEVER COMES TO THE POWWOW, THEY'LL GIVE, THEY'LL GIVE A FEE, OKAY, LIKE 4 TO $5 FOR KIDS, $7 FOR ADULTS AND AND SENIORS. AND THAT'S THE MONEY WE BRING IN ON TOP OF THE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS THAT I DO. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND. AND THAT MONEY COULD BE REVERTED TO BUY SOME OF THESE COSTS. AND IT DOESN'T IT JUST PERSONALLY, WE'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED BY 501C3 TO FURNISH SECURITY LIGHTS. THEY ALL FURNISH THEIR OWN. I MEAN, THAT'S ALL. I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS. SINCE THE LIGHT HAS BEEN THERE, IT'S BEEN A BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY. NOT JUST THE TRIBE, PRIMARILY TO THE COUNTY. AND SO I THINK THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT. AND THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I WOULD MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION OR THAT THAT MOTION. THE COUNTY USES THAT ROAD QUITE OFTEN THEN. IT'S A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY USES OR NOT. IT'S A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD THAT'S OPERATED AND MAINTAINED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. VDOT WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T BELONG TO THE TRIBE. JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW THERE ARE OTHER LIGHTS ACROSS THIS COUNTY THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE PAYING FOR, AND THEY'RE CALLED DONORS. AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD EVEN HAD THAT THOUGHT OR IDEA AND DID NOT COME TO ANY KIND OF A CONCLUSION OR SUPPORT, AND THEREFORE YOU HAD TO COME HERE. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO ESTABLISH THAT BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE SEVERAL MORE COME IN HERE IN YOUR SITUATION. WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED YOU'VE ANSWERED MY TO COME IN. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANOTHER TRIBE TO COME IN. YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS. YES, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE THE MOTION TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL. SECOND. ROLL CALL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ROLL CALL. OKAY, WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. IT GOES. IT GOES DOWN. IT GOES DOWN. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? IT DOESN'T PASS. THERE'S NO MAJORITY. THREE, THREE TIE YOU'VE GOT WITH WITH SIX MEMBERS, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FOUR. DID IT PASS OR NOT? I THOUGHT I THOUGHT THE CHAIRMAN IF IT'S A TIE VOTE, HE'S A TIE BREAKER. I THOUGHT MR. CHAIRMAN'S A TIE BREAKER IF IT'S THREE AND THREE. THAT'S THE WAY IT USED TO BE UNLESS THE POLICY HAS CHANGED. IT'S ONLY SIX. T HE CHAIRPERSON, THE CHAIRMAN GETS TO VOTE ANYWAY. SO HE'S. SO THE REQUEST DID NOT PASS? THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. THREE TO THREE IS NO MAJORITY. NO MAJORITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF TONIGHT. I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS DONE. [00:55:03] A LOT OF THINKING GOING INTO THE THINGS WE DID TONIGHT. AND I REALLY THINK WE DID THE BEST FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? THERE WAS ONE OTHER ITEM ON HERE THAT I'M GOING TO BRING THAT ONE UP. OH I JUST I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL EARLIER TODAY. I THINK THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT YOUR AND I'M NOT REQUESTING ACTION, BUT THIS IS JUST INFORMATION. THE WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD. IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE 10% MATCH. I SENT YOU SOME INFORMATION THAT BRANDON ROGERS SENT ME ON THEIR POLICY ON THIS 10% MATCH. MY GENERAL APPROACH TO OUTSIDE GROUPS, KIND OF GETTING BACK TO THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO LEVEL FUND THEM. AND I SEE THAT MORE AS A GOVERNING BODY DISCRETIONARY THING. SO HE DID SEND ME THIS POLICY ON THIS 10% MATCH. AND I GUESS HE WAS THE CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, IF A LOCALITY DOESN'T MEET THAT 10% MATCH SERVICES OR WHATNOT COULD BE AFFECTED. SO THEY HAD REQUESTED $98,016. AND IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS $81,428, WHICH IS, I BELIEVE, LEVEL FUNDING FROM LAST YEAR. SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT AS INFORMATION. IF YOU IF YOU DID WANT TO CONSIDER INCREASING YOUR THE BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR THAT ORGANIZATION. THAT'S THAT'S YOUR CALL. BUT THERE IS A THERE IT'S A LITTLE LESS DISCRETIONARY GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THIS 10% MATCH POLICY. YEAH. SO THE AMOUNT THAT HE'S LACKING THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS LACKING FROM WHAT WAS REQUESTED BASED ON THE GRANT FUNDING THEY ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN IS $16,588. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE. AND THEY HANDLE MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THIS IS IS THAT IF YOU IF YOU SEE YOUR POWERPOINT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES. CORRECT. SO BASICALLY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS WE'VE GOT TO MATCH IT. WELL, WELL YOU DON'T HAVE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUT IT'S IT'S DISCRETIONARY. BUT STATE FUNDING IS REDUCED BASED ON WHETHER WE NEED IT. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE SOME WAIVER PROVISIONS IN THERE. SO IT'S MOST LIKELY THAT MAY OCCUR, BUT THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS WHERE THEY COULD BYPASS THAT IF I'M READING THEIR POLICY CORRECTLY. WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION? THAT'S REALLY IN Y'ALL'S COURT. YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM DECREASE BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDING ON ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SIDE. SO WE DO HAVE SOME DISCRETIONARY FUNDS AND WE'VE GOT CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM CONTINGENCY THAT WHERE WE COULD MATCH THIS WITHOUT INCREASING ANY KIND OF. YEAH. GENERALLY IF IT'S A COMMUNITY GROUP WHERE IT'S NOT TIED TO A MATCH OR IT'S JUST Y'ALL'S, IT'S THE GOVERNING BODY'S DISCRETION. I KIND OF LEAVE THAT TO THE GOVERNING BODY, BUT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE WE'RE TIED TO OUR REQUIREMENT PER SE. SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD THING TO DO. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL RETARDATION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. AND WE NEED HELP IN ALL OF THEM. I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR ANY OF THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS, SINCE IT'S TIED TO A LOCAL MATCH AND THE AND THE GOOD SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, I THINK THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE ONES TO BUMP IT UP TO THEIR REQUEST LEVEL TO, SO THEY DON'T LOSE ANY FUNDING ON THE STATE SIDE. I'D LIKE TO SEE US OMIT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING STUDY FOR THIS YEAR. IT'S TOO TOO SOON TO HAVE THE STUDY, THINGS WILL CHANGE. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOMMEND WE OMIT THE SALARY STUDY FOR THIS COMING YEAR, AND THAT FREES UP SOME MONEY. SO JUST JUST AS MR. WHITE HAD MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE $300, SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THAT CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM THAT COULD BE USED FOR THE WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD INCREASE, IF YOU DO WANT TO, TO FUND THAT. BUT AS RECOMMENDED THE BUDGET THAT'S IT'S RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL MOVE FORWARD ON THE IN PARTICULAR THE SALARY STUDY AND THE THE BUILDING STUDY FOR THIS BUILDING. WE'VE GOT SOME FUNDS TO DO IT. THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT. I THINK IT'S TOO SOON IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THINGS WILL CHANGE. WELL, WE'LL SEE IF YOU ALL MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE ARCHITECT SAY AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL COST WOULD BE. [01:00:05] AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT WILL BE A DEBATE FOR THE FUTURE YEAR OR FUTURE YEARS. BUT I RECOMMEND YOU ALL MOVE FORWARD ON BOTH. AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET NOW. YES, SIR. IT'S ALREADY IT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET. YEAH. WELL, I THINK WE'RE ALL RIGHT WITH I REMEMBER WHEN HE GAVE THAT PRESENTATION FOR THE WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD. SO I THINK, ARE Y'ALL ALRIGHT WITH THAT? I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FUNDING THAT. SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO THAT. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO FUND THAT. AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. UNANIMOUS. OKAY. TELL ME ABOUT THE ADMIN BUILDING STUDY NOW WHAT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT? YEAH. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE LAST MEETING. WHAT IS THAT? WHICH SECTION IS THAT? IF YOU REMEMBER. THAT'S IN BASICALLY, THAT'S IT'S ABOUT $85,000. WHAT'S THE ESTIMATE? $ 94,000. SORRY. WELL, SOME OF IT WAS THE SECURITY, SOME OF IT'S THE SECURITY STUDY THAT WAS REQUESTED TO BE ADDED ON TO THAT. BUT IN EFFECT, THE SCOPE OF WORK JUST GOING THROUGH THAT. THIS IS A PROPOSAL I GOT FROM MOSELY LAST YEAR WHEN ALSO INCLUDED THIS IN THE BUDGET. SCOPE OF WORK CONSISTS OF A SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS AND THE CREATION OF A FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, WITH BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE EXISTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING LOCATED HERE. FURTHERMORE, ALL PROPOSED MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENTS SHALL OCCUR IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMPLEX ONLY. THE GOAL FOR THE PLANNED EXPANSION AND OR RENOVATION OR RECONFIGURATION IS TO BETTER UTILIZE AVAILABLE SPACE THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND PROVIDE THE COUNTY FUNCTIONS THEIR REQUIRED 20 YEAR SPACE NEEDS, SO THEY WILL GO OUT AND LOOK AT THE SPACE NEEDS FOR 20 YEARS AND DEVELOP A PHASED EXPANSION AND OR RENOVATION PLAN. SCOPE OF TASK ONE UNDER THE SCOPE OF SERVICES WOULD BE PREPARED DRAFT PROJECT SCHEDULE FOR REVIEW BY THE COUNTY. PREPARE DRAFT SPREADSHEET TEMPLATES FOR COMPILING THE SPACE NEEDS. TASK THREE DRAFT PROGRAMING QUESTIONNAIRES FOR THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTY FUNCTIONS LISTED, WHICH ARE BASICALLY IN THIS BUILDING WITH THE IDEA OF RELOCATING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING OVER HERE TO INCLUDE ALSO THE TWO NEW STAFF, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT BUILDING WE JUST HIRED THE EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR AND DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. THEY WOULD GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THE COUNTY STAFF FOR THE SPACE NEEDS. THEN THEY WOULD PASS TO I SKIPPED SOME THINGS, BUT THAT'S BASICALLY THE SPACE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. TASK TWO WOULD BE PREPARE A PRELIMINARY CONCEPTUAL DESIGN BASED ON THE SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS. SO YOU WOULD GET A PRELIMINARY CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF WHAT FUTURE SPACE COULD LOOK LIKE. TASK THREE PROGRAM, PRAGMATIC COST ESTIMATE AND PROJECT SCHEDULE. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL TASKS UNDER EACH OF THESE. BUT THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT WOULD ENTAIL. YOU KNOW, THINGS WE HAVE TO DO ON OUR SIDE. BUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE DEPARTMENTS TO FILL OUT THEIR SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS ESTIMATES. SO BASICALLY THOSE THINGS, THOSE THINGS THAT I JUST REFERENCED WITH THE CONDUCTING THE SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS DEVELOPING A PRELIMINARY CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND COMING UP WITH A PROGRAM IT COST ESTIMATE AND PROJECT SCHEDULE. SO THAT WILL PUT US ON THE RIGHT PATH TO, IN EFFECT, GO FORWARD WITH PUTTING A PRELIMINARY DESIGN TOGETHER. AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, IF THE COUNTY IS SO INCLINED IN FUTURE YEARS TO PUTTING PLANS TOGETHER AND POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION. SO I THINK THIS IS A RELATIVELY LOW COST PROJECT OUT OF A BUDGET OF ALMOST $88 MILLION TO LOOK AT OUR SPACE NEEDS IN THE COUNTY AND MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT. SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU IS THAT GOING TO BE COMPLETE IN ONE YEAR? YES. THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETE WITHIN A YEAR. MUCH, MUCH LIKELY LESS THAN A YEAR. WE'VE GOT A COURTHOUSE TO PAY FOR AND PROBABLY A K-12 SCHOOL DOWN THE ROAD, TOO. THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS $9,000 TO DO THE SAFETY STUDY IMPROVEMENTS. THE COURTHOUSE DEBT IS BUILT INTO THE BUDGET. [01:05:04] OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY HAS OTHER NEEDS TOO, BUT I WILL PUT I WILL PUT THIS HIGH UP THERE ON THE COUNTY'S NEEDS AS WELL. MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO TABLE THAT FOR A YEAR AND MIGHT NEED TO SAVE THAT $94,000 HELP THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S FIVE YEARS DOWN THE LINE. YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD IT'S HARD TO THE RUSSIANS TRIED DOING FIVE YEAR PLANS AND IT DIDN'T WORK. OKAY, SO JUST A LITTLE HISTORY THERE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? THE OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THAT, TOO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FUNDED OUT OF CURRENT REVENUES IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT THE BOARD WOULD SUPPORT SINCE THIS WOULD BE A ONE TIME STUDY. ANOTHER OPTION FOR THIS YEAR OR FUTURE YEARS YOU COULD OBVIOUSLY TAKE THAT PRETTY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF FUND BALANCE TO, TO LOOK AT DOING AS WELL, SINCE IT'S A ONE TIME EXPENSE FOR THE STUDY. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT'S IN THE BUDGET ALREADY. WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT. SO I THINK WE SHOULD GO FORWARD WITH IT. YEAH. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. BUT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO RAISE TAXES OR ANYTHING TO DO THIS, AND IT'LL HELP US PLAN. THAT'S UP TO Y'ALL. WHAT DO YOU. WHAT DO Y'ALL. WE HAVE A TRASH FEE TO TRY TO GET RID OF. AMEN. HE SAID AMEN. RIGHT. WELL, YEAH. I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THE TRASH ROUTE AGAIN. BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING, THAT THAT TRASH FEE DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF THE SERVICE. IF WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE THAT AN ENTERPRISE FUND TYPE ENDEAVOR, YOU WOULD DOUBLE THAT FEE. SO IN EFFECT, I KNOW FOLKS DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING A BREAK ON THAT. WHAT WERE YOUR FEELINGS, SUPERVISOR WHITE? I'M OKAY WITH IT. I NOTICED ON THE NEW POSITION FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISORS. I ONLY HAVE ONE ALREADY. ISN'T THAT HART COUNCIL'S JOB? WE HAVE IN YOUR IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, YOU APPROVED A DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY FILLED THAT POSITION. SO THERE'S THERE'S ONLY ONE NEW POSITION RECOMMENDING THE BUDGET IN THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. NO, NO, THERE'S WELL FULL TIME PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR. YES, BUT THAT WAS APPROVED SIX MONTHS WORTH WAS APPROVED IN FISCAL YEAR 25. WE JUST GOT THE ROLL OFF TRASH TRUCK AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST WEEK. SO AT THIS POINT, WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH HIRING A PERSON TO DRIVE THAT TRUCK. BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE A PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR. WELL, IT'LL BE A PUBLIC WORKS. WHAT HAPPENED THAT NECESSITATED THAT WE HAD TO DO THIS WHAT IS GOING WRONG? WHAT IS NOT BEING DONE THAT THIS HAS TO BE ADDED? WE ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING CALLS THAT THE TRASH IS NOT BEING MOVED QUICK ENOUGH FROM THE TRASH SITES. SO IN FISCAL YEAR THAT OH SORRY. YEAH, WE'RE ADDING, WE'RE ADDING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ADDING THIS TRASH TRUCK AND THE TRASH WE HAVE GROWING. YEAH. WE HAVE NOT ADDED THE WE HAVE NOT HIRED THE PERSON BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING FOR. SO JUST TO CLARIFY WHICH POSITION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU ALL APPROVED, THE BOARD APPROVED. I THINK THE POSITION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE BUDGET. YEAH. THAT'S ALL THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN. IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, THIS CURRENT BUDGET. SO SOMETHING NEW. SO THE ONLY THE ONLY THING THAT YOU'RE APPROVING CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT IS THE NEW POSITION IN THE IN THE. THEY'RE LOOKING APPARENTLY THEY'RE LOOKING AT PAGE 50 IN THE BUDGET AND IT SAYS PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR ZERO. SO THERE USED TO BE A POSITION, A PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR. THAT POSITION HAS NOT BEEN HIRED OUT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE HIRED OUT, IT'S NOT BUDGETED. SO IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THAT'S JUST A PLACEHOLDER FOR THE TITLES WE HAVE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. BUT WE'RE NOT HIRING THAT POSITION. SO. SO YEAH, WE'RE HIRING A CDL ROLL OFF TRUCK DRIVER. [01:10:07] YEAH. YEAH. AND THAT'S NEEDED, WHICH IS ALREADY APPROVED IN THE BUDGET ADOPTED LAST JUNE. SO THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY THING IN THE NEW BUDGET THAT MIGHT HELP. YEAH. WHAT'D YOU SAY, MR. [INAUDIBLE]? I'M DOING A JOB STUDY ON THE DRIVERS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TRUCKLOADS MOVED TODAY. ARE THEY SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME STANDING AROUND THE DUMP SITE TALKING MIC]. I DON'T KNOW. [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S BRIAN'S JOB. YEAH, AND WE HOPE NOT. BUT, YEAH, IF THAT'S A PROBLEM, WE'LL ADDRESS IT WITH THE DIRECTOR. THE NEED FOR THIS IS OBVIOUS, THOUGH. SOMEBODY CAN JUST WALK BY THE TRASH DUMP AND SEE PEOPLE DUMP [INAUDIBLE] AND PEOPLE PUTTING BAGS OF TRASH AROUND AROUND THE BINS. WELL, A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS UP HERE ABOUT THINGS TONIGHT. AND THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE MARK TWAIN SAID, IF YOU HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY'S THINKING THE SAME THING THAT NOBODY'S THINKING. SO ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? I WOULD LIKE TO MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY, JUST FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, I KNOW THE NIGHT IS DRAWING LONG, BUT CIRCLE BACK TO THE MOTION SECOND AND AND MATTER THAT WE PASSED REGARDING THE $9,884. PREVIOUSLY, WE KIND OF BREEZED THROUGH THAT AND AND FOR A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND FOR THE EDUCATION OF OUR GENERAL PUBLIC, I'D JUST LIKE TO PROVIDE A COMMENT ON THAT, IF I MAY. BUT THAT'S PERTAINING TO THE THE FOIA REQUEST FILED BY THE BOARD AGAINST THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. THAT WAS AN ORIGINAL $30,000 AMOUNT. AND AFTER THE COURT RULING, WELL, PRIOR TO THAT, THEY REDUCED THE AMOUNT TO $12,000 AND SOME ODD CHANGE, DON'T HAVE THE EXACT AMOUNT. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY PROVIDED US WITH A COST ESTIMATE FOR THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION, WHICH, IN MY GENERAL OPINION, BELONGS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ANYWAY. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PAYING ANYTHING FOR IT. IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE. BUT THAT AMOUNT CAME BACK AT A TOTAL OF $9,884. AND FOR THE SAKE OF MOVING THIS PROCESS ALONG AND GETTING THIS INFORMATION RELEASED TO US SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE PROCESS OF JUST LOOKING INTO THESE MATTERS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE WE VOTED TONIGHT TO GO AHEAD AND PAY THE $9,884 FOR THIS INFORMATION THAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE ANYWAY, FOR THE SAKE OF OF CONTINUING FORWARD WITH THIS MATTER. SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CLARITY AS THE BOTTOM LINE TO WHAT IT IS THAT WE VOTED FOR WHEN WE WE PASSED THAT MEASURE TONIGHT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS PROCESS SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE IN PLACE. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAD. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT. MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.