May 27, 2025 Board of Supervisors

[00:00:02]

WE SAY, MR. TIMEKEEPER. CLOSE ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT.

THE MAN WITH THE CLOCK SAYS IT'S TIME. WE WILL THEREFORE OPEN THIS MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,

[Call to Order]

AND WE WILL THEREFORE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALRIGHT. CAN WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FOR THE INVOCATION? THANK YOU, MR. SIMMONS. LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY THAT WE CALL HOME, THE FRESH AIR AND THE CLEAN WATER AND WIDE OPEN SPACES AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE. AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE TAKEN THESE JOBS AS SUPERVISORS TO COME HERE TONIGHT AND TO THE STAFF OF THE COUNTY AND, AND ALL THE CITIZENS. AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THEM.

AND WE JUST PRAY THAT THIS WILL BE A GOOD MEETING, THAT YOU'LL GIVE US WISDOM AND GUIDE US AS WE GO ABOUT THIS BUSINESS.

THESE THINGS WE ASK IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN.

AMEN. ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO MAKE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT.

THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE AGENDA TONIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE CLOSED MEETING, NUMBER FOUR, UP TO THE TOP. START WITH NUMBER FOUR, THEN WE'LL HIT NUMBER ONE WHEN WE COME BACK.

AND THIS IS SO THAT ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE BACK ROOM THERE WHEN WE COME OUT HERE AND DISCUSS IF APPLICABLE AND THERE WAS EVERYBODY WOULD STILL BE HERE.

ALL RIGHT. TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, THE BOARD WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING.

[14. Closed Session]

ONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.23711 A5, DISCUSSION WITH STAFF FROM FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED CONCERNING A PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY, OR THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY, WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF THE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY'S INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND TWO IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2 3711A8, 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.

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

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

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE SESSION, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. SECOND.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY, WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

WE ALSO NEED A MOTION THAT'S REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION BELOW.

THE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION MUST BE VOTED ON INDIVIDUALLY BY EACH BOARD MEMBER VIA ROLL CALL.

WHEREAS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING ON THIS DATE PURSUANT TO AN AFFIRMATIVE RECORDED VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION, 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 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 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.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT ? SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND TO THAT.

WE WILL VOTE THEN. YES. CORNWELL. WHITE. YES.

SUPERVISOR. YES, I VOTE YES. YES. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE CERTIFY THAT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND INDULGENCE AND WAITING FOR US CITIZENS.

COMMENT, PERIOD. WE STARTED THIS IN 2013. IT'S VERY VALUABLE TO US TO HEAR FROM YOU.

[1. Citizens Comment Period]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'LL BE BRIEF. MY NAME IS ASH KUTCHER AND I LIVE ON DARDEN POINT ROAD,

[00:05:07]

ONE IS SEDLEY AND ONE AT JONES BRIDGE ROAD, AND EACH ONE IS OPEN THREE DAYS A WEEK.

AND A LOT OF TIMES I GO TO ONE AND IT'S FULL, SO I HAVE TO GO HOME AND THEN GO TO THE OTHER ONE THE NEXT DAY.

THE LAST FEW MONTHS, ALMOST EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN, THE BINS HAVE BEEN FULL TO 4 OR 5FT ABOVE THE TOP AND THE RECYCLE BINS HAVE BEEN FULL. I'VE TAKEN RECYCLE HOME 3 OR 4 TIMES.

FINALLY, I GOT SO DISGUSTED THE OTHER DAY I JUST THREW MY RECYCLE IN THE REGULAR BIN.

BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO SOMEHOW HAVE MORE FREQUENT COLLECTIONS OR AN EXTRA BIN AT EACH SITE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC COMES WITH A PICKUP LOAD OF 5 OR 6 BAGS OF TRASH AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO PUT IT.

THEY JUST PILE IT ON TOP. SO WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE.

AT LEAST THOSE TWO SOLID WASTE SITES. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

LEROY HARDY 13321 IVOR ROAD, SEDLEY, VIRGINIA.

AND I WAS COMING I THINK I'M HERE TONIGHT FOR ITEM TEN, BUT DURING THE CITIZEN TIME, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND THANK YOU ALL FIRST OF ALL, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND DOING WHAT YOU DO.

HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT'S NO EASY TASK.

WITHIN OUR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, THIS PLACE WE LOVE AND CALL HOME.

WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE NATIONAL TREASURES, AND I BELIEVE ONE BEING THE HAND SITE, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE ACROSS FROM HERCULES, OVER IN HANDSOME, AND IT'S A HISTORICAL SIGN.

THEY FOUND THAT THAT PLACE PEOPLE, THE NOTTOWAY S AND OTHER TRIBES THAT STILL RESEARCH BEING DONE HAVE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE 1100.

LIVING, DOING COMMERCE, DYING, BURYING AND DOING WHAT THEY DID.

AND IT'S STILL ONGOING RESEARCH RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON.

AND THAT'S REALLY HUGE. UP THE RIVER JUST IN THE SUSSEX IS CACTUS HILL, THE EVIDENCE OF THE OLDEST HUMAN EXISTENCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THAT'S AN INTERNATIONAL TREASURE.

SO WE'RE HAVING THINGS THAT ARE THREATS TO US.

THE MINERAL MINING THAT YOU ALL MET ME FIRST TIME, WHICH YET I STILL NOT HAVEN'T HAD GOT WITH MR. GRAY, AS HE PROMISED ME TO ALLOW ME TO GO AND LOOK AND HELP HIM TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THERE.

CALLS AND RETURNS, SO JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE MISSING EACH OTHER, BUT THAT'S GOING ON. ANYTIME WE HAVE THESE MINERAL MINING PROJECTS, THEY'RE IN THE SAME AREAS THAT OUR PEOPLE LIVE BECAUSE WE LIVE NEAR THE WATER, AND THAT'S WHERE THAT RESOURCE IS. SO IT'S A THREAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING THERE THAT'S BEING DISTURBED OR ONE OF THESE NATIONAL TREASURES DESTROYED. AND ANOTHER THING IS ABOUT TAX REVENUE GENERATING TAX MONEY TO PAY, YOU KNOW, GETTING MONEY FOR THE TAX THAT YOU ALL COLLECT BY TAXES, TAX, BUDGET, ECHO, AG AND ECHO TOURISM COULD BE HUGE FOR SOUTHAMPTON.

IF YOU LOOK UP THE RIVER FURTHER AND GO TO PRINCE GEORGE, DINWIDDIE COMING DOWN TO SUSSEX, THEY'RE BEGINNING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. WE'RE HERE AT NOTTOWAY IN THE BLACKWATER HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO DECIMATE AND DESTROY THESE AREAS THAT COULD BE OF PROMINENCE AND ATTRACT PEOPLE INTO OUR AREA TO SEE, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IF PEOPLE CAME HERE BY THE THOUSANDS JUST TO GO OUT ON OUR RIVERS OR TO SEE SOME OF THESE SITES, THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY. AGRITOURISM RULES, GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO SEE, SOMETHING TO DO AND SOMETHING TO BUY.

THE COUNTY WOULD GENERATE FROM THAT. SO CURRENTLY THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN PLACE, BUT THERE'S SOME MORE I'M GOING TO NEED YOU ALL TO HELP US WITH IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, TO GET SOME OTHER THINGS IN PLACE TO SAFEGUARD SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE ANY OF THESE NATIONAL TREASURES.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO STOP MINERAL MINING OR SOLAR.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO STOP IT. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING IS BEING LOST, THAT WE CAN NEVER RECOVER AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? OH, YEAH. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS AND DISTINGUISHED BOARD AND EVERYTHING. SORRY I WASN'T HERE TO OH.

LET ME. FRANK URQUHART, 38465 GENERAL BOULEVARD, IVOR, VIRGINIA.

[00:10:07]

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION HERE JUST AS SOON AS WE GET THROUGH THIS PRIMARY SEASON RIGHT NOW. SO WE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING ALL THE SECURITY APPARATUS IN PLACE FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

AND ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DID TO MAKE THAT COME TO FRUITION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANYBODY ELSE? I'M GETTING THERE. GOOD EVENING. JIM HART , 24576 DELAWARE ROAD, CORTLAND.

JUST WANTED TO JUST TOUCH BASE WITH YOU ABOUT HIGHWAY 58 OUT HERE.

THE MAIN CORRIDOR, WHICH IS OUR GOLDEN MILE, IF YOU WILL, LIKE FRANKLIN'S GOLDEN MILE AND ARMORY DRIVE.

GOTTA BE REAL CAREFUL HOW THIS IS DEVELOPED. WE WANT TO HANDLE IT WITH KID GLOVES, BUT I'VE UNDERSTOOD IN THE LAST FEW DAYS THAT POSSIBILITY.

YOU'RE ALL GOING TO GO BACK AND RECONSIDER THESE CUTS.

THEY CAME UP, I DON'T KNOW, A YEAR OR TWO AGO.

AND THESE ARE CUTS THAT WERE DESIGNED FOR RURAL AREAS WHERE SOME, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FOUR LANE HIGHWAYS GO THROUGH RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THE ONE THAT'S CLOSEST TO US IS OVER THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MURFREESBORO.

AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW THEY OPERATE. BUT THEY'RE NOT DESIGNED FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS, THERE'S OVER 50,000 CARS COMING THROUGH THROUGH THIS AREA A DAY.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING I HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOST RECENT TRAFFIC STUDY, BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE OVER 50,000 CARS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT A CUT WHERE THAT IS. WE VISITED THIS A FEW FEW YEARS AGO, AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO REALLY CONSIDER OR TO NOT CONSIDER THESE CUTS AS AN OPTION. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN AREA OUT THERE THAT THE SIMMONS FARM IS PART OF IT THAT WE REALLY OUGHT TO REALLY DO SOME PLANNING AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PLAN AND MEET WITH PEOPLE AND VDOT, BUT ALSO SOME PRIVATE ENGINEERS AND PLANNING CAN SET THIS UP WHERE HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTROL TRAFFIC AND ALL? BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY EVENTUALLY SOMETIME IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED.

MAY IT MAY NOT BE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IT COULD BE 10 OR 15, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FURTHER THAN 20 YEARS, NOT THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY IS MOVING FROM THE EAST THIS WAY.

SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT PLANNING, AND WE DON'T NEED TO BE DOING OUR CUTS AND THEN COME BACK AND REDO THAT.

THE WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF THAT AREA, I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO PUT ANOTHER SIGN OF SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE TRUCKS AND CARS ENTER OR LEAVE THE CORTLAND AREA HEADING EAST ON 58.

AND THE SIGNAGE SAYING THAT THE SPEED LIMIT IS NOW REDUCED TO 50 MILES AN HOUR .

WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THE STOPLIGHT AND YOU DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THERE FROM THERE TO WHERE SHADYBROOK TRAIL, I THINK THEY THINK THEY'RE OUT OF THE 50 MILE AN HOUR ZONE.

THERE'S NO SIGNAGE SAYING 50 MILE AN HOUR. ONCE YOU GET PAST THE NOTTOWAY HOUSE.

SO THEY'RE PICKING UP SPEED AND THEY'RE RUNNING 60, 65 MILE AN HOUR THINKING THEY'RE NOT SPEEDING.

AND THEY ARE AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO PUT ANOTHER SPEED LIMIT TO REMIND THEM THEY'RE STILL IN THE 50 MILE AN HOUR ZONE.

I THINK THAT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. BUT I JUST WANT I KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I THINK IS GETTING READY TO ADDRESS OUR CUTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I JUST WANT TO COME BACK UP AND REMIND YOU. THE THIRD THING IS I'D LIKE TO JUST REMIND A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT 58, THERE WAS EITHER A SAFETY COMMITTEE OR A TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING FORMED.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NAME OF IT, BUT I KNOW TOMMY POTTER WAS PLACED ON IT AND SOME OTHER AND 1 OR 2 OTHER PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO, YOU KNOW, HIGHWAY ISSUES AND ALL. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MET.

HADN'T MET. I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED. AND IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ACTIVE ON IT, THEN THEY NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, CHANGING MEMBERSHIP OR ADDING MEMBERSHIP TO IT.

AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO APPOINT PEOPLE THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THAT AREA.

WE HAVE PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THERE.

I'M ONE OF THEM. AND I'D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER ON THAT.

AND I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE THAT OWN PROPERTY OUT THERE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ON IT.

SO BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU , SIR. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING OTTO.

[00:15:07]

ADDRESS IS OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY. IT'S 12218 STONY ROBINSON ROAD IN STONY CREEK, VIRGINIA, PART OF SUSSEX COUNTY. I JUST WANTED TO COME AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO HERE, AND LISTENING TO CITIZENS AND PROVIDING PROPER GOVERNMENT FOR THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE WHEN I SEE Y'ALL COME UP TO RICHMOND.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. ALSO HEARD THE GENTLEMAN SPEAK EARLIER ABOUT THE RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE THROUGH HERE, THE NOTTAWAY RIVER. MY BROTHER AND I HAPPENED TO PUT IN AT CAREY'S BRIDGE RECENTLY, CAME DOWN TO AND TOOK IT BEHIND THE COURTHOUSE AT CORTLAND.

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS RIVER NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED.

I SUPPORT THAT, AND IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON SATURDAY THE 21ST OF NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE PUT KAYAKS AND CANOES, AND IT CARRIES BRIDGE AND DRIFT DOWN. HOPEFULLY BE A NICE DAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US IF YOU PREFER. THANK YOU SIR.

BY THE WAY, THE NOTTAWAY IS THE MOST PRISTINE RIVER IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANKS MUCH. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS WARREN SIMMONS AND I LIVE AT 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY IN CORTLAND.

AND I WAS AT THE BUDGET MEETING A WEEK BEFORE LAST NIGHT, AND I I WASN'T PREPARED TO SPEAK THAT NIGHT, BUT I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TONIGHT. WE INCREASED OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR FROM LAST YEAR BY $4,226,397, AND WE DID THAT WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE.

HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE DO THAT BECAUSE A YEAR OR SO AGO WE WERE HERE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH DO WE SET THE TAX RATE AT. AND IT WAS LOWERED DOWN AND IT WAS THE LOWEST TOO LOW.

IT'S NOT LOW ENOUGH. AND WHATEVER WE DECIDED WE DECIDED IS $0.71.

AND I HAD SPOKE PRIOR TO THAT A FEW MONTHS WHEN IT WAS STILL PEOPLE WERE GETTING THEIR ASSESSMENTS, AND I HAD USED MY ASSESSMENT AND SEVERAL OTHERS AND DID FIGURES.

AND I TOLD YOU I NEEDED TO BE IN THE 50S. WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THE BUDGET.

AND OF THAT 4 MILLION, IT LOOKS LIKE TWO CATEGORIES MAKE UP THAT PRETTY MUCH THAT 4 MILLION AND IT'S $2,624,901 FROM A GENERAL PROPERTY TAX, AND ANOTHER $1,623,939 FROM A CARRYOVER FROM PROJECT FUNDS.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROJECT THAT DIDN'T USE THE MONEY, BUT THE 2,600,000 THAT CAME FROM NOT HITTING THAT MARK ON THE TAXES. SO INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT THING AND GIVING THAT MONEY BACK TO THE CITIZENS IN ANOTHER TAX TO DECREASE, WE INCORPORATED ALL OF THAT MONEY INTO THE NEW BUDGET FOR MORE BUREAUCRACY IN OUR COUNTY. AND REALLY WHAT IT WAS.

THE LAST FIGURE I HEARD WAS A PENNY RAISED ABOUT 168,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY NOW MORE WITH THIS, WITH HIGHER ASSESSMENTS AND EVERYTHING, BUT IT THAT OLD RATE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE THAT'S A 15.5 CENT INCREASE WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 55.5. AND WE'RE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY FOR EVERYBODY.

GOT A RAISE ALMOST ALL UP AND DOWN THE BUDGET.

BUT WE STILL DIDN'T FIND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO PUT A CAMERA AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT FOOD LINE.

WE DIDN'T FIND ANY MONEY FOR SOME EXTRA DOG KENNELS AT THE POUND.

OWNED AND A LOT OF LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT WE DID.

WE COULDN'T EVEN GIVE CHIEF BRIAN $220 FOR A STREET LIGHT, EVEN THOUGH WE RAISED THE BUDGET ON THE STREET LIGHTS BY $1,500, WHICH WE WOULDN'T, THEY OFFERED TO GIVE YOU A THOUSAND TO PAY US $720 BILL, BUT WE ALREADY HAD APPROPRIATED AN EXTRA $1,500 SO WE COULD HAVE EASILY COVERED IT.

SO I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED WE DIDN'T, WE WEREN'T A LITTLE MORE FRUGAL WITH OUR MONEY, BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO GET RIGHT,

[00:20:04]

AND WHERE'S IT GOING TO COME FROM? MORE TAX INCREASES.

AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE A PASSED IT.

WHAT WAS THE 88.5 CENT WE WERE BEFORE WE WE STARTED ON THIS ADVENTURE AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT.

I THINK NEXT YEAR WHEN WE LOOK AROUND THE CANYON AND WE SAID WE SPENT $4 MILLION, AND YOU ASK THE PEOPLE, WHERE DID WE GET. THEY WILL SAY NOTHING. SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT I HAD TO SAY TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS BRIAN.

COLLEEN FLICK, 7447 SADLER ROAD, WAKEFIELD. VIRGINIA.

23888. THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I TEACH CHILDREN IN SUNDAY SCHOOL AND CHILDREN'S CHURCH, AND I'M HEARING A LOT OF THINGS FROM THEM AND THEIR PARENTS ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND I HAPPENED TO WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE MAY 12TH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE GYM FLOORS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS FINE. BUT HOW CAN WE SEND OUR CHILDREN TO THE TO THE GYM IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN THERE'S VISIBLE BLACK MOLD ON THE WALLS? SO I FEEL LIKE OUR PRIORITIES ARE A LITTLE ASKEW.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE OR IF YOU GUYS CAN PUT CAN OVERSIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT ALL WORKS. I'M LEARNING. THERE'S A LOT OF I SUBSTITUTED AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

THE PAINT WAS PEELING. IT WAS MOLD THEN, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

AND I FEEL LIKE OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING PUSHED TO THE SIDE AND THEY'RE NOT GIVEN THE PRIORITY THAT THEY NEED.

SO DO YOU GUYS OVERSIGHT? ARE YOU LIKE OVER THE SCHOOL BOARD OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? LIKE WHO OVERSEES THEM? WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

BUT. WELL, I'M GOING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TOMORROW MEETING, BUT .

GOOD LUCK. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SAY THAT. WOULD YOU SAY GOOD LUCK IF THE BOARD CHAIR WOULD BE SO KIND AS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THEN SHE WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE ARE EQUAL BOARDS SHOULD BE QUICK TO TELL YOU, JUST THAT WE'RE EQUAL.

BUT I MEAN, SOMEBODY ANSWER TO US, THEY NEED TO ANSWER.

WELL, THEN THEY ANSWER TO ME BECAUSE I PAID THE TAXES FOR THE KIDS TO GO THERE. THEY SHOULD MOST CERTAINLY, YES. ALL RIGHT THEN, THAT'S WHAT MY STATEMENT WILL BE. THEY'RE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF US. WE APPROPRIATE THE MONEY, THEY SPEND IT HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT.

THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE BUILDINGS, AND ENSURING THAT THERE'S NO BLACK MOLD AND THAT THEY'RE SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ATTEND. THEM AND SOLELY THEM, NOT US. ONCE WE APPROPRIATE THE MONEY, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THEY'RE SAFE.

NO RESPONSIBILITY ONCE WE GIVE THEM THE MONEY TO SPEND REGRETFULLY.

AND THEN, AS FAR AS IF CARTERSVILLE SCHOOL HAS DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS, BUT THE SCHOOL IS SOUND AS FAR AS THE BUILDING CONCERNED IS IF WE TOOK THOSE CHILDREN AND MOVED THEM TO THE OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THEN USED CARTERSVILLE AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL UNTIL WE COULD GET THE MIDDLE SCHOOL UP, LIKE, WHO WOULD BE THE ONE THAT DETERMINES THAT? THE SCHOOL BOARD . CARTERSVILLE IN ALLOWAY COUNTY, NOT CARTERSVILLE, THE OTHER ONE TOWARDS EMPORIA.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF? CAPRON. CAPRON. SORRY. CAPRON.

YEAH, YEAH. ANYWAY, OKAY, SO OPERATIONALLY SPEAKING, ANY DECISION THAT WERE MADE AS IT PERTAINED TO THE MOVING OF ANY OF THEIR STUDENTS TO ONE BUILDING OR THE OTHER WOULD BE COMPLETELY SCHOOL BOARD.

YES, MA'AM. GOTCHA. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS FOR ME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? I'LL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MOLD. SURE.

MAYBE IT'LL HELP THIS LADY TALKING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I WOKE UP THANKSGIVING MORNING WITH A SORE THROAT, AND 17 DAYS LATER, THEY TOLD ME I HAD PNEUMONIA AND THEY TREATED ME FOR PNEUMONIA.

AND ALL DUE DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. I WAS TAKING MEDICINE THAT KEPT ME AWAKE AT NIGHT.

[00:25:02]

SO I HIRED A MAN WHO CAME AND INSPECTED MY DUCTWORK.

AND I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MOLD IN MY DUCTWORK, AND I'M ABOUT TO WRITE A CHECK FOR $38,000 FOR A NEW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND NEW DUCTWORK, AND TO ENCAPSULATE MY CRAWLSPACE AND MAKE IT LIKE A ROOM.

THEY TOOK OUT THE INSULATION. THEY TREATED IT FOR MOLD AND MILDEW AND ALL THIS STUFF.

BUT IT'S NOT CHEAP AND IT MAKES PEOPLE SICK. AND I'M LIVING PROOF THAT THE MOLD UNDER MY HOUSE IS MADE AND PROBABLY STILL MAKING ME SICK. SO THIS LADY, SHE OUGHT TO TELL THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT MOLD IS SERIOUS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. AND I HAD THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MOLD, AND I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET, AND ONE OF THEM, IT SAYS CAUSES RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.

SO THIS LADY NEEDS TO TELL THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT THEY NEED TO FIX THE MOLD, OR THE KIDS ARE GOING TO GET SICK, THE TEACHERS ARE GOING TO GET SICK, AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY THAN IN A FEW YEARS THAN THEY WOULD IF THEY FIXED IT TODAY.

THANK YOU. THE BOTTOM LINE. I GOT A REPLY. THIS WAS THEY ASKED FOR HALF $1 MILLION $500,000 FOR MOLD. THE BOARD TOOK A TOUR OF THE SCHOOL, ARRANGED AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO MOLD.

THEY SAID THEY HAD TAKEN CARE OF IT. SO I GOT YOU CAN USE YOUR IMAGINATION WHERE THE 500,000 WAS GOING.

OKAY. I PAID THEM $350 TO COME AND INSPECT MINE AND HAVE THEM ALL SAMPLED.

HE TOOK SAMPLES OF IT AND HAVE IT ANALYZED. SO FOR 3 OR $400, THEY COULD FIND OUT IF THEY REALLY GOT THE MOLD.

ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING, CINDY EDWARDS, 30421 SYCAMORE AVENUE, SEDLEY, VIRGINIA. THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO ADDRESS IS THE FACT YOU ALL USED TO HAVE YOUR CLOSED SESSIONS AT THE END OF THE MEETING, AND THE LAST 4 OR 5 MEETINGS, YOU'VE HAD IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.

I THINK IN ALL DUE RESPECT, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE IT, THEN CHANGE THE TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE HERE TILL 7:00.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, YOU KNOW, JUST SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE WAITING FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE YOUR CLOSED SESSION AND THEN COME BACK.

SO IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, I WOULD SUGGEST CHANGING THE TIME TO 7 TO 730 FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT SO LONG.

WE , I CAN ANSWER THAT. WE DID THAT. WE DO IT AS NEEDED.

IF WE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, THAT WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS AFTER THE CLOSED SESSION, WE DO IT FIRST WHILE EVERYBODY WAS HERE AND NOT WAIT TILL THE END OF THE MEETING WHEN NO ONE IS HERE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.

I JUST FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD CHANGE THE TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE HERE TO SEVEN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

SO EVERYBODY'S NOT SITTING HERE WASTING THEIR TIME.

THE OTHER, ANOTHER THING I WANT TO ADDRESS IS, I KNOW YOU ALL GET A LIST OF ALL THE BILLS.

WHAT'S BEING PAID EVERY MONTH? I WONDER HOW MUCH TIME Y'ALL ARE SPENDING LOOKING AT THAT.

I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR A SUBSCRIPTION TO SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.

THERE'S NOBODY IN THIS COUNTY THAT NEEDS TO BE RECEIVING A SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SUBSCRIPTION, UNLESS THEY WANT TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BILL LIST, YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOU CAN CUT WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING BY A LOT.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE BILL LIST, YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SHOW YOU OTHER ITEMS AS WELL.

AND THEN GOING TO THE SOLID WASTE FEE, YOU ALL ARE GETTING READY TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TONIGHT.

IF YOU CUT SOME OF THESE ITEMS OUT OF THE BUDGETS IT'S LIKE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.

YOU MIGHT THINK $35 FOR A SUBSCRIPTION IS NOT MUCH.

BUT FIRST OFF, NOBODY AT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO BE RECEIVING THAT.

AND THEN $35 HERE, $35 THERE. IT ADDS UP. AND YOU DID SAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO THE SOLID WASTE FEE ONE YEAR. AND THEN YOU SAID WHEN THE TIPPING FEES WENT DOWN THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GO DOWN ON THE SOLID WASTE.

SO YOU'VE TOLD THAT, BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

AND AS MUCH AS IT HAS THE TAXES ON SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND ALL THE WASTE THAT I SEE IN THESE BUDGET ITEMS, THE BOARD SHOULD REALLY BE EMBARRASSED TO CHARGE A SOLID WASTE FEE AT ALL.

THE TAX RATE BEING WHAT IT IS AND WHAT I SEE WE'RE WASTING MONEY ON.

SO YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TONIGHT, BUT I THINK YOU ALL REALLY NEED TO TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT WHAT'S BEING SPENT.

[00:30:05]

I CAN TELL YOU IN JUST A SECOND. OKAY. LAST MONTH.

IT WAS LAST MONTH. I DON'T SEE ONE. BUT IF THAT'S UNDER.

IF IT'S UNDER THE CANTEEN ACCOUNT OR THE INMATE TRUST ACCOUNT THAT'S FOR THE INMATES WITHIN THE JAIL.

AND THAT'S NOT PAID WITH TAXPAYER MONEY. BUT THIS WAS DATED 1/ 10/25 IS THE CHECK DATE.

OKAY. AND I'M NOT AWARE THAT ANYBODY UP HERE GETS TO SEE IT.

NO IT'S NOT. IT'S GOT TO BE INMATES. BUT IF YOU WOULD CHECK WITH ME, I CAN CERTAINLY PULL ALL THE PAPERWORK HERE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. WELL, THEY'RE LOCKED UP. THEY DON'T NEED SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. IT'S.

IT'S WITH THEIR MONEY. IT'S NOT TAXPAYER MONEY.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE. GOOD EVENING, MR. SIMMONS. ARE WE ON? LINDA SIMMONS, SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY.

SOMETHING CAME TO MIND WHEN JIM SPOKE . A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE THAT WAS MADE UP OF, I BELIEVE, EIGHT CITIZENS AT LARGE WAS ACTIVE, AND IT WAS DONE AWAY WITH OR WE HAVEN'T MET. BUT I FELT LIKE IT WAS BENEFICIAL BECAUSE WE SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN A LOT OF YOU DO, ESPECIALLY IF IN MY CASE, I'VE HAD EONS OF SAFETY TRAINING AND INTERNATIONAL PAPER, AND YOU SEE THINGS THAT ALMOST HAPPENED THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, MAY HAPPEN, PREVENTED HOW THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

AND WE BRING THOSE THINGS TO THE TABLE. I KNOW DENNIS WHITBY IS A FIRE CHIEF.

HE CERTAINLY HAS THOSE QUALITIES. THAT COMMITTEE WAS HAS NOT MET IN PROBABLY TWO YEARS, AND I THINK THAT COMMITTEE NEEDS TO BE REINSTATED. THE TRAFFIC ON 58 HAS PICKED UP. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT.

I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. AND I NOTICED THAT THE CONTAINER TRUCKS THAT ARE GOING BACK TO NORFOLK, THEY ARE THEY HAVE. NO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD IS.

THEY THEY HAVE NO CONFIDENCE OR NO CONFIDENCE IN THEIR DRIVE, AND THEY'RE RECKLESS.

THEY HAVE NEARLY RUN INTO THE BACK OF ME TO THE POINT I'VE CALLED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IT'S RIDICULOUS THE SPEEDS THEY'RE DRIVING THROUGH THERE, AND THE SPEED LIMIT IS 50 MILES AN HOUR.

SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET KILLED. SO I'VE SAID ENOUGH.

BUT THAT COMMITTEE SEES THINGS THAT YOU ALL DON'T SEE WHILE YOU'RE DOING OTHER PARTS OF YOUR JOBS.

AND ESPECIALLY I SEE THOSE SEVERAL TIMES GOING AND COMING FROM WHERE I LIVE.

I CAN SIT AND DRINK A CUP OF COFFEE IN MY FAMILY ROOM AND WATCH THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU CAN'T SEE, BUT THEY ARE GETTING RUTHLESS IN THAT 50 MILES AN HOUR CORRIDOR.

THEY'RE DRIVING WAY OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR WAY OVER, AND THE POLICE CANNOT BE EVERYWHERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO ABOUT IT, BUT I WANT TO BRING IT TO SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION, BECAUSE I'VE TOLD WARREN IT'S INEVITABLE THAT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET KILLED.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I SEE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE? YES, IT WAS A COMMITTEE. IT WAS DENNIS WHITBY, AND IT WAS WERE YOU ON IT? AND I WAS I WAS THE ONLY FEMALE ON IT. YEAH. I'M KIND OF SORRY.

IT WENT MYSELF. I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY VALUABLE COMMITTEE.

AND I ASKED [INAUDIBLE] TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT, WHETHER TO CONTINUE IT OR NOT.

YEAH, JUST JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD, WE THE BOARD HAS DISCUSSED THIS A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR.

BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR YOU TO DISCUSS.

AND IF Y'ALL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HAVING THAT COMMITTEE MEET, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO SO.

I WILL SAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THAT COMMITTEE ARE NATIVE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AND WHEN YOU'RE OUT DOING YOUR EVERYDAY JOBS LIKE WE WERE AT ONE TIME, AND MOST OF US ARE RETIRED, WE SEE THINGS AND WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO SEE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T SEE JUST IN AN INSTANT GOING DOWN 58.

YOU'RE TRAINED TO SPOT ACCIDENTS OR HOW THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND WHY WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING THE WAY THEY ARE.

AND IT IS IT IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL, AND PEOPLE ARE TAKING THIS TO MORE AND MORE CHANCES AT THAT STOPLIGHT, AT FOOD LINE, IT'S BECOME SO COMFORTABLE, THE CHANCES OF RUNNING THE LIGHT OR PICKING UP.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. SO JUST AS A REMINDER, I THINK THE REASON THAT COMMITTEE WAS SET UP WAS TO FOR THAT COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND TO THE

[00:35:05]

THAT'S THE LAST TIME THAT COMMITTEE DID MEET WHEN THEY DID DISCUSS THE R CUTS.

AND NO DISCUSSION IS TAKING PLACE ABOUT R CUTS SINCE THEN.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM. BUT THE THE BOARD DID DISCUSS THE SEATAC AND THEY BASICALLY WE'VE DECIDED TO UNLESS THE BOARD WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT, NOT TO HAVE THEM MEET UNLESS SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARILY COMES UP.

SO IF MY MEMORY IS RIGHT, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED DISBAND.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? IT WAS IT CAME FROM THE COMMITTEE TO DISBAND.

I DON'T RECALL THAT. SO I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS FORMED AND IT WAS NOT FORMED SOLELY FOR R CUTS.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TRANSPORTATION DECLINED TO, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, BE REAPPOINTED, AND THE REASON THAT COMMITTEE WAS FORMED WAS TO DISCUSS SMART SCALE APPLICATIONS, NOT DISCUSS, I MEAN, THEY CAN DISCUSS ANYTHING, BUT WE'VE ALREADY SENT A SPEED STUDY REQUEST ON 58 TO VDOT, VDOT'S ROAD. BUT WE CAN OBVIOUSLY DO WHATEVER THE BOARD WANTS TO DO.

IT ENDED ON THE NOTE OF THE R CUTS, BUT THAT WAS NOT WHAT THE INITIAL FORMATION OF IT.

THAT WAS JUST ONE ITEM THAT IT ENDED ON THE NOTE OF THE CUTS WHEN WE VOTED AGAINST THE CUTS FIRST.

THANK YOU. WELL, WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST FROM PEOPLE IN COUNTY.

SURE. WE'LL DISCUSS IT NEXT MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? YES. IT'S THE ONLY TIME, THE TIME THAT I WILL COME HERE TO PRESENT AN OPINION AND SOLUTION TO SOME THINGS.

AND ON THE PRIOR SITUATION THAT WAS HERE, THE YOUNG LADY WAS PASSIONATELY ADDRESSING HER GRIEVANCE THAT SHE HAD WITH SOME MATTERS WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AND EVERYTHING. I WOULD SUGGEST AS A GOOD WAY TO RESOLVE A LOT OF GRIEVANCES IS WHEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC GOES TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THAT AS JUST AS PASSIONATELY AS THEY PRESENT EVIDENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT WOULD BE WISE TO DOCUMENT SOME OF THOSE OBSERVANCE THAT YOU SEE AND PRINT IT OUT AND PRESENT IT AS EVIDENCE AT YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. SO THOSE PARTICULAR MATTERS CAN OFFICIALLY GO INTO THE RECORD, SO IT WON'T BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF HEARSAY AND BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSIONS AND DISCLAIMERS.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU DOCUMENT THINGS, YOU GET FURTHER ALONG IN YOUR GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE THAT SUGGESTION.

THAT'S SOMETHING. I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY ONE THING. THE CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WAS BORN OUT OF BORN OUT OF THE EFFORTS OF THREE WOMEN AS FAR BACK AS 2015, WHEN JANE FREESE AND LINDA UPDIKE AND I RECOGNIZED WE HAD A SPEEDING PROBLEM ON HIGHWAY 58.

AND THAT IS WHAT BIRTHED THE SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION FROM 60 TO 50.

WHEN WE MET WITH CHRIS HALL, WHO WAS THE TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER OUT OF SUFFOLK, AND WE STARTED AN EFFORT TO GET THE SPEED LIMIT REDUCED ON 58.

AND THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING NOW ARE BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THAT INITIAL EFFORT THAT STARTED IN 2015. WHEN I SAW TWO SCHOOL BUSSES NEARLY COLLIDE AT THE STOPLIGHT INTO A TRACTOR TRAILER, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED RED AT FOOD LION, AND IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TOO FAST.

IT GOES BACK NOW IT'S 2025, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT ISSUE FOR TEN YEARS, AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD HOW THIS THING STARTED.

AND ALL OF THESE OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE COME TO SURFACE AND BEEN PAID ATTENTION TO SINCE THAT INITIAL TIME WHEN THE THREE OF US STARTED THAT EFFORT.

AM I CORRECT, LINDA? 2015. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? LAST CALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT. IF NOBODY ELSE, WE WILL CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMENT.

[00:40:04]

[2. Approval of Minutes]

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. APRIL 16TH, 2025. BUDGET WORK SESSION.

ANY CORRECTIONS OR DELETIONS OR CHANGES THER E? MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. APRIL 22ND, 2025.

OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING. ANY CHANGES IN THOSE MINUTES? MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS VDOT MATTERS.

[3. VDOT Matters]

OH OKAY. WE DO HAVE GEORGE BOWMAN. HE'S THE ASSISTANT RESIDENT DIRECTOR.

HE'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THE SIX YEAR PLAN HERE IN THE ITEM FIVE.

BUT IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS FOR JUST REGULAR STREET MATTERS.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

GEORGE BOWMAN, ASSISTANT RESIDENT ADMINISTRATOR FOR FRANKLIN RESIDENCY.

I COME TO YOU IN THE FIRST PART OF TONIGHT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A COUPLE UPDATES, BUT ALSO TO TAKE A COUPLE CONCERNS FROM YOU OR THE CITIZENS. I WILL SAY THAT I STARTED OUT WITH TWO PAGES OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT AND LISTENING TO SOME OF THE CITIZENS COMMENTS. I NEED TO GO A LITTLE BIT OFF OF CHARACTER AND ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP.

BEING THAT I'M HERE TONIGHT I'VE HEARD A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES THAT THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE DARDEN POINT NOT BEING COMPLETED.

I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DID COMPLETE THE PIPE REPLACEMENT, BUT THERE WAS A UNKNOWN UTILITY ISSUE THERE THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK UP, AND IT CAUSED THE COMPACTION TO BE LESS THAN WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT SOIL BACK OUT AND RE COMPACT IT NOW THAT THE THE UTILITY HAS BEEN REPAIRED, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH PUTTING ASPHALT OVER THAT AS IT IS.

SO AS SOON AS MOTHER NATURE GIVES US A LITTLE BREAK, WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

WHAT'S THE TIME FACTOR FOR THAT? NO, I HOPE IF IT STOPS RAINING MIDDLE OF JUNE, THAT'S ALL THAT'S HOLDING US UP RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, IT'S SAT THERE FOR, WHAT, A YEAR? WEREN'T ARE WE DRIVING OVER IT COMPACTING IT ENOUGH? NO, SIR. NO, NO. IT'S NOT VIBRATING. AND, YOU KNOW, COMPACTING.

TAKE UP ALL THOSE ROCKS TOO. YES. OH, UNFORTUNATELY, YES.

THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN UTILITY DOWN THERE, THAT CHARTER CABLE.

YEAH. AND THEY HAD TO GO IN THERE AND PULL THAT UP AND REPAIR IT.

AND THEY UNDID WHAT WE DID. SO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE FOR YOU TO DRIVE OVER IT, I WANT TO RECOMPACT IT.

OKAY. SORRY FOR THE DELAY. ALSO A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT SIMILAR.

I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND BRIAN'S BEEN GIVING ME SOME GUIDANCE, AND I COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT NOBODY REALLY REPORTS TO EACH OTHER.

BUT WE'RE GETTING INUNDATED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE THE SIGNS THAT ARE OUT AT CAPRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THEY'RE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I'VE TALKED TO THE I'VE TALKED TO WILL SEVERAL TIMES.

I'VE NOW TALKED TO THE SHERIFF, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT REPAIRED.

GET THEM TO REPAIR IT. IF THEY DO NOT REPAIR IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE FORCED TO, UNFORTUNATELY BAG THE THE LIGHTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SO THEY'VE GONE AGAINST THE PERMIT.

THAT IS NOT OUR INTENTION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET DONE.

I THINK THAT SCHOOL IS ABOUT OUT. I'M NOT SURE.

I LIVE IN YORKTOWN. MY DAUGHTER'S GOT TWO MORE WEEKS, SO MAYBE THAT'LL GIVE THEM TIME TO GET IT FIXED.

BUT IT'S BEEN A BATTLE TO TRY TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

AND I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN FIELDING CALLS FROM CITIZENS THAT ARE UPSET ABOUT IT.

JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH ALL THE ENTITIES HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON TO GET THAT REPAIR DONE SO THAT WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD.

OKAY. CAN I MAKE ONE COMMENT THAT SO THE PEOPLE WOULD THAT'S TOTALLY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD? SURE NOT. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. RIGHT. DON'T DON'T TAKE THAT.

BUT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD PROBLEM FOR OVER TWO YEARS ON THOSE LIGHTS DOWN THERE.

RIGHT. I GOT CALLS THIS WEEK. I GET THEM EVERY WEEK.

AND THEY HAVE NEGLECTED TO FIX IT. SO THANK YOU FOR HELPING THEM.

[00:45:02]

I WILL JUST GIVE YOU MY MOST OF YOU HAVE MY NUMBER.

YOU KNOW WHERE I'M AT? I'M RIGHT HERE IN CORTLAND. ANYTIME THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THOSE ACTUALLY DO, ANY TYPE OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE PROPOSE TO THE COUNTY.

WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE OPEN AND HAVE OPEN DIALOG AND SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THE WHAT THE INTENTION OF THOSE ARE AND HOW THEY WORK SO THAT YOU CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THOSE. I THINK THAT I ATTENDED ONE OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO NOW.

AND I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, BRIAN AND I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.

ANYTIME THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A CONCERN, HE IMMEDIATELY GIVES IT TO ME.

AND WHETHER I CAN TAKE CARE OF IT LOCALLY WITH THE AREA HEADQUARTERS, OR IF I GET TRAFFIC ENGINEERING INVOLVED TO DO A STUDY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALWAYS USE I'M NOW IN CHARGE OF THE SIX YEAR PLAN AND IN CHARGE OF THE SAFETY PROGRAMS. WE'RE WORKING TO GET OUR CUTS. WE'RE WORKING TO GET THE TURN LANE AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS.

WE'RE WORKING TO ADDRESS SOME SAFETY CONCERNS THERE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY WHAT I THINK THAT THAT COMMITTEE COULD, COULD BENEFIT THE COUNTY MOST BECAUSE WE NEED GOOD SUBMISSIONS FROM THE COUNTY.

THERE'S FUNDING OUT THERE THAT YOU GUYS CAN USE FOR THESE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE SUBMITTED IN A FORM TO WHERE WE CAN GET THEM APPROVED. AND I THINK THAT THAT COMMITTEE COULD FOCUS ON THOSE SAFETY ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE INSIDE OF THE COUNTY AND SUBMIT THOSE TO US SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW THEM.

WE CAN HAVE THAT OPEN DIALOG AND HELP THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICATION IS DONE TO WHERE THAT THOSE FUNDS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE COUNTY IN A BETTER FASHION. SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WROTE DOWN FROM THE CITIZENS COMMENT.

ADDITIONALLY TO THAT, IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, I'VE RECEIVED OVER NINE REQUESTS FOR MR. THROWER THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED. THEY'VE EITHER BEEN TAKEN CARE OF OR WE GOT THEM ON A WORK SCHEDULE TO GET TAKEN CARE OF.

DARDEN SCOUT IS READY FOR US TO PUT THE SURFACE DOWN ON IT.

IF IT IF MOTHER NATURE WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK, WE'LL GET THAT DONE.

WE WENT THROUGH AND DID SOME OF THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION RESHAPED SOME OF THE DITCHES AND GOT SOME OF THE PIPES REALIGNED.

WE'RE READY TO PUT THE SURFACE ON THERE. LIKE I SAID, IF MOTHER NATURE WILL GIVE US JUST A LITTLE, LITTLE TIME TO GET THAT DOWN.

DARDEN POINT ALREADY MENTIONED. THERE WAS A SAFETY STUDY THAT I JUST GOT BACK LAST WEEK.

I HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FORWARD IT TO MR. THROWER FOR STORAGE STATION ROAD. WE REQUESTED A STUDY TO BE DONE ON THAT ROAD BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME RECENT INCIDENTS, AND THERE WAS ONE FATALITY ON THAT ROAD. TRAFFIC ENGINEERING HAS REVIEWED THAT ROAD.

THEY'VE REVIEWED THE CRASHES, THEY'VE REVIEWED ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE ON THAT ROAD, AND THEY'VE COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO TAKE THE SPEED LIMIT FROM 5545 DOWN TO A SOLID 50 MILE PER HOUR. AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL SIGNS OUT THERE TO WARN MOTORISTS.

I THINK THAT YOU'LL SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT OUT THERE.

THAT ROAD IS ALSO ON THE SCHEDULE TO BE SURFACE TREATED ON THE FY 26 SCHEDULE.

THAT WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT LATER. UPDATE ON THE MOWING CONTRACTOR.

WE WENT TO A FULL CONTRACT MOWING THIS YEAR. THEY GOT STARTED LAST MONDAY, BUT AGAIN RAIN HAS PUT A HAMPER ON THAT.

SO AS SOON AS IT QUITS RAINING, THEY'LL GET BACK OUT AND CONTINUE TO MOW THE SECONDARY ROUTES FIRST, AND THEN THEY'LL MOVE TO THE PRIMARY ROUTES. HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR WILL YOU MOW? THREE TIMES. AND IN BETWEEN THOSE THREE TIMES, LIKE I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, IF THERE'S SITE DISTANCE ISSUES, IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF ISSUE THAT CAUSES A SAFETY CONCERN, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL THE ONE 800 NUMBER AND WE'LL SEND THOSE OUT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. BUT FOR THE ENTIRE RIGHT OF WAY MOWING THAT'S DONE THREE CYCLES A YEAR.

WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE AG OFFICE TO RESOLVE A DRAINAGE ISSUE THAT IS BACKING UP ONTO BUSINESS 58.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE AG'S OFFICE BECAUSE THAT ISSUE TRANSVERSES ACROSS THE NOTTOWAY TRIBE LAND.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO SEEK THE PROPER APPROVALS TO ENTER THAT LAND TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSING THE WATER TO BACK UP ON BUSINESS 58. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR MY NOTES.

AND I'M PREPARED FOR ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE.

I'VE GOT A QUESTION. THERE WAS A TRAFFIC STUDY ABOUT REDUCING THE SPEED LIMIT BETWEEN FOOD LION AND CORTLAND.

WHATEVER HAPPENED ABOUT THAT? I THINK THAT THAT STUDY WAS COMPLETE.

I'LL HAVE TO TALK TO MR. MADDOX AND SEE WHERE THAT STUDY IS AT.

I THINK THAT THAT'S FINALLY BEEN COMPLETED. WHEN DID WE GET THE RESULTS?

[00:50:05]

OKAY. OKAY. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? OH, YEAH. I JUST HAD ONE ISSUE ON HAD A GLENN TURNER LIVES ON THE CORNER OF HOMESTEAD LANE AND MARTIN STREET IN SCOTSWOOD, AND HE SAID THERE'S A DRAIN PIPE THAT GOES ACROSS THE ROAD, AND IT'S IN HIS FRONT YARD BASICALLY, AND IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EROSION.

WHERE DID YOU SAY THAT WAS AT, I'M SORRY. SO HOMESTEAD LANE AND MARTIN STREET.

AND I RODE BY THERE AND LOOKED AT IT. IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF WASHING GOING, I GUESS WHEN WE HAVE A BIG RAIN, IT'S GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM AROUND THAT PIPE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S RIPRAP.

Y'ALL PUT RIPRAP THERE BEFORE IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT MIGHT NEED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO IT.

I HAVE THEM LOOK AT THAT. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE LIGHTS ON THE ROUNDABOUT.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S RAINING AT NIGHT. IT'S DARK.

IT'S HARD TO SEE. THERE WAS TWO ROUNDABOUTS, RIGHT?ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ONE ON BUSINESS 58? BIG ONE. THE BIG ONE? YEAH. ONCE YOU GO OVER THE OVERPASS.

YEAH, THE ONE THAT GOES OVER 58. SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE OVERPASS.

YEAH. OKAY, GOOD. ANYBODY ELSE? NOW'S THE TIME TO UNLOAD.

WELL, IT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THIS WEEK.

I SEE MISS LANE BACK THERE ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL.

THE LOG TRUCKS. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS A COMMENT, BUT I'VE STILL CONTINUED EVERY SALINAS, AS WELL AS CHIP TRUCKS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER TRUCK THAT'S STILL COMING DOWN THERE.

WELL, THEY HAVE TO. I REPORT IT TO SHERIFF WYCHE ALMOST EVERY WEEK.

OKAY. IN ORDER FOR US TO ADDRESS THAT. WE I GUESS SHERIFF CAN LET US KNOW.

OR YOU CAN PUT IN THE REQUEST TO US THAT THEY HAVE A LAND USE PERMIT.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THAT PERMIT, THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THAT THROUGH THE PERMIT.

GO AHEAD. ANYBODY ELSE? MR. HART. TRUCKS ON DELAWARE ROAD COMING DOWN WITH CHIP TRUCKS.

BEFORE THEY PASS SCHOOL BUSSES. I TOOK PICTURES A FEW TIMES, BUT TO TAKE PICTURES OF IT.

BUT THEY COME DOWN NOT A VERY WIDE ROAD AND VERY NARROW BRIDGE DOWN THERE GOES OVER THERE TOO.

TURNS OFF DELAWARE ONTO VALLEY ROAD, I THINK IT IS.

BUT THEY COME DOWN THERE, THEY COME THROUGH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, AND THERE'S SIGNAGE UP THERE THAT THERE'S NO TRUCK, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO DIRECT THEM DOWN TO 58.

RIGHT? PROBABLY 58. COME IN THAT WAY. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

MR. THROWER, BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED A COUPLE REQUESTS TO DO A NO THROUGH TRUCK TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD.

MAYBE IT COULD BE. I'M NOT. I KNOW SHADYBROOK IS A NO THROUGH TRUCK.

SO FOR THE CLARIFICATION OF THE CITIZENS HERE TONIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO REQUEST THAT TRUCKS DO NOT TRAVEL DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD THE COMMENT THAT IS VDOT'S ROADS, BUT WE ALWAYS ANY TYPE OF CHANGE LIKE THAT ANY TYPE OF SPEED STUDY, ANY TYPE OF NO THROUGH TRAFFIC, ANY TYPE OF REDUCTION, WE ALWAYS GO TO THE BOARD AND YOU PRODUCE THAT TO THE BOARD AND MAKE YOUR REQUEST.

IF THE BOARD FEELS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ENTERTAIN.

WE GET THE RESOLUTION AND WE DO THE STUDY. AND THAT STUDY WILL TELL US WHETHER WE CAN REDUCE THE SPEED OR DO A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT OR DO THE NO.

THROUGH TRUCK TRAFFIC. WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO COME OUT AND MAKE A DECISION JUST BECAUSE IT'S OUR ROAD.

WE WANT IT TO BE THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS.

SO THAT'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LET THEM KNOW, GIVE EVERYBODY ELSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO IT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE AGREE SO THAT WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION, IT'S A DECISION THAT'S BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO THIS BOARD ABOUT HIGHWAY 611.

ROBERT WHITE HAS TURNED IT IN A TIME OR TWO. IS THERE ANY PROGRESS ON THAT? 611 STOREY STATION TOWARD MAYNARD? YEAH. NO. NO.

JONAS. BRIDGE. OKAY. YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR.

[00:55:01]

MAYBE I THINK Y'ALL WANT TO DO SOME, SOME STRIPING OR SOMETHING OR WHATNOT, BUT THEY DID GO OUT AND AND PAINT LINES ON IT.

YEAH. THAT WAS ONE THING THEY DID. AND THEY WORKED ON THE SHOULDERS PUTTING ROCK DOWN ON THE SHOULDERS.

YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? GOVERNOR DARDEN ROAD IS STILL IN TERRIBLE SHAPE.

UPROOTED. AND I MEAN, IT'S YOU MEET SOMEBODY AND YOU HAVE TO GO OVER THOSE DUGOUTS IN THE ROAD, AND IT'S DANGEROUS. PEOPLE ARE CLEANING OUT THE DITCHES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

ALSO FOR THE CLARIFICATION, SIR, THERE ARE TWO NOTTOWAY TRIBES IN SOUTHAMPTON.

I THINK YOU'RE SPEAKING OF. YES. I'M SORRY. CHAIR.

NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE. CHEAPER THAN THAT LOUIS.

AUSTIN. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. HILL ROAD.

THE SIGN THAT TELLS YOU THAT'S THE END OF THE ROAD.

SOMEBODY KEPT GOING. KNOCKED IT DOWN IN THE CURVE ON 616 BETWEEN BEFORE GOING NORTH BEFORE YOU GET TO NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY. IT'S A DEEP HOLE ON IN ON THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT.

AND I'M AFRAID THAT A BUS OR SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HIT THAT AND OVER CORRECT.

AND IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET IN THE CURB, BEFORE YOU GET TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THE SIDE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU FOLKS COME AND SPEAK UP TONIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU , SIR.

THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYBODY HAVE ANY FURTHER MATTERS? BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO TALK ABOUT THE SIX YEAR PLAN? I THINK WE COVERED ALL THAT. NEXT ITEM. NEXT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MONTHLY REPORTS. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[4. Monthly Reports]

AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE, EVERYBODY'S BEEN WORKING ON THE BUDGET, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S WORK ON THAT.

THAT'S ON LATER ITEM FOR TONIGHT, FOR THE BUDGET TO BE ADOPTED.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING ON THE NEWSOME CDBG PROJECT, SPECIFICALLY THE DRAINAGE PORTION AT THIS TIME.

KCH CONTRACTING IS DOING THAT WORK. WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL HAVE THAT WORK COMPLETED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE DO CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR MONTHLY MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETING.

PAST ONE WAS MAY 14TH. RADIO PROJECT. WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY RADIO PROJECT MEETINGS WITH CTA.

JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES ON THAT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ON POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT PUTTING A TOWER AT THE NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THEY HAVE REQUESTED THAT CTA BRIEF THEM ON THAT POTENTIAL PROJECT AT THEIR JUNE 9TH MEETING.

AND WE'VE ALSO I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING APPLICATIONS OVER THE LAST MONTH WITH OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE AND SENATORS.

THOSE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL AWARDS, BUT HAVE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH CONGRESSMAN KEEGAN'S OFFICE ON SOME OF THAT. SO I'LL LET THE BOARD KNOW IF WE'RE AWARDED ANY FUNDS FOR THAT.

SO CROSS YOUR FINGERS. HUMAN RESOURCES, WE DID WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF AND MYSELF.

WE INTERVIEWED APPLICANTS FOR PERMIT TECH POSITION.

ON MAY 20TH, WE MADE AN OFFER TO A CANDIDATE.

AND THAT PERSON JUST ACCEPTED TODAY. SO WE HOPE THAT PERSON WILL BE ON BOARD IN THE NEXT 3 OR 4 WEEKS.

WE FEEL THE PUBLIC SERVICE WORKER TWO POSITION GLENN OWENS IS BACK WITH THE COUNTY.

HE STARTED ON MAY 1ST. THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND I ARE HART CONTINUED TO LOOK AT OUR REFUSE COLLECTION SITES.

WE'VE BEEN GOING OUT TO THE SHELTERS AND LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE THOSE, AS WELL AS NEXT YEAR, LOOKING AT IMPROVING SOME OF THE DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES FROM THE SITES THAT NEED THE MOST IMPROVEMENT.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON OUR BUSINESS READY SITES GRANT PROGRAM.

GRANT PROGRAM WITH TIMMONS GROUP. THAT'S ONGOING.

AS YOU'RE ALSO AWARE OF THE FARM LEASE FOR THE BEALE FARM PROPERTY? WE DID THE EDA DID APPROVE THAT LEASE WITH ROSE VALLEY FARMS LLC FOR $23,737.

SO ROSE VALLEY FARMS IS MOVING FORWARD ON FARMING THAT PROPERTY.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT FOR THE FARM PROPERTY WITH A PROSPECTIVE BUYER.

THE PROJECT WATER THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT'S GOING IN BEHIND THE FOOD LINE THE PROPERTY THAT THE EDA OWNS OR HAS SOLD TO

[01:00:05]

THAT'S A PHOTO FROM MAY 21ST. AND WE I BELIEVE CARL HAS CONFIRMED THE GROUNDBREAKING BREAKING RIBBON CUTTING ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH. IN THE MORNING AT NINE OR 9 OR 10, I BELIEVE.

AND THAT PER THE PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT, THAT'S A LITTLE OVER A $1.3 MILLION INVESTMENT WITH EIGHT FULL TIME JOBS BEING CREATED FOR THAT PROJECT. COUNTY ATTORNEY AND I CONTINUE TO WORK DAILY AND WEEKLY ON MANY ITEMS. AND YOU HAVE A LIST OF SEVERAL OF THE MEETINGS I'VE ATTENDED OVER THE LAST MONTH.

WE DID HOLD A SEVERAL LITTER. WE DID HAVE A LITTER CLEANUP DAY ON FRIDAY, MAY 16TH WITH STAFF AND LITTER CONTROL COUNCIL. DID PICKED UP ITEMS FOR ABOUT 2.5 HOURS THAT MORNING.

VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE DID TIRE AMNESTY DAYS. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL WE EXHAUST THE GRANT FUNDS THIS YEAR FOR THE BUDGET.

THOSE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENTS. SO THANK YOU TO LYNETTE AND HART AND TINA ON THAT.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE. DO THE CTA CONSULTANTS PLAN TO ATTEND THE JUNE 9TH SCHOOL BOARD, AS INVITED BY WILL MELBY TO PRESENT THE NEEDS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THAT TIME. YEAH.

THAT'S THAT'S THEY THEY SENT A LETTER BACK THAT THEY WANTED MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED OR AT LEAST DISCUSSED AT THIS TIME.

SO THE THE DISCUSSION IS FOCUSED ON PUTTING A NEW TOWER UP AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS REQUESTED THAT CTA COME AND JUST BRIEF THEM AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE ON THAT.

NOTHING SOLID AT THIS TIME. IT'S JUST CONCEPTUAL.

ANYMORE. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON. FINANCIAL REPORT.

YES, SIR. ONE THING I DID WANT TO BRING UP BEFORE I GO TO THE FINANCIAL REPORT IN BRIAN'S NOTES THERE IS A LETTER IN THERE FROM NOTATING THAT. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING THIS WEEK.

LET ME SEE. TOMORROW AT 9:30 A.M. TO DISCUSS CHANGES IN RATES.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE RATE WILL NOT CHANGE THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

FOR THE TRASH THAT'S IN OUR SITES. BUT THERE WILL BE A COUPLE OF CHANGES AS FAR AS CONTRACT NON MUNICIPAL CUSTOMERS WATER TREATMENT PLANT, SLUDGE CONSTRUCTION, DEMOLITION WASTE AND COMMERCIAL.

BUT JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE OUR BOARD MEMBERS WERE AWARE.

AS FAR AS THE FINANCIAL REPORT YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR PACKET.

COMPARING APRIL 2024 TO APRIL 2025, THE AMOUNT OF REVENUES COLLECTED AS COMPARED TO THE BUDGET AS OF THE END OF APRIL IS 98.04%.

AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, IT WAS 92.53%. THE EXPENDITURES YEAR TO DATE ARE 77.31%, AS COMPARED TO 79.73% LAST YEAR, AND WE ARE ON TARGET TO STAY ON BUDGET THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS, MISS LOWE? THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON THEN.

TREASURER'S REPORT, MISS EDWARDS? YES. I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE COLLECTION UPDATES.

RATES ON REAL ESTATE. LAST MONTH WE WERE AT 99.68%.

THIS MONTH WE'RE AT 99.78%. WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $650,443.66.

PERSONAL PROPERTY. LAST MONTH, THE COLLECTION RATE WAS 96.31%.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 96.57%. WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $2,146,209.75 ON THE SOLID WASTE. LAST MONTH, WE WERE AT 76.29%. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 78.69%. OUTSTANDING BALANCE IS $805,825.83. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS?

[01:05:05]

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY. SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES.

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

[5. Financial Matters]

OKAY. WE PAID TIMMONS. TIMOX? TIMOX IS A FARM CHEMICAL.

WE PAID TIMMONS OVER 12,680 AND THEN 69,110. WAS THAT COVERED BY A GRANT? THAT IS COVERED BY THE GRANT. THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE BEALE FARM.

YEAH, THE GRANT WAS $223,000. YES. THAT IS PART OF THE AGREED UPON CONTRACTED WORK.

OKAY. AND WE BOUGHT A VEHICLE FOR BUILDING AND GROUNDS.

WHO GOT THAT VEHICLE? LET ME SEE IF WE PAY DEBT SERVICE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT PAGE IT'S ON? YEAH, IT'S 4300 DASH 9400 DASH 2153.

AND THE AMOUNT. PURCHASED, $44,042. HANG ON ONE SECOND.

OKAY. TELL ME THE AMOUNT AGAIN. TELL YOU WHAT? THE NUMBER THE AMOUNT OF THE AMOUNT WAS $44,042.

AND THAT'S THIS MONTH? YEAH, YEAH. YEAH.

YEAH, I DON'T SEE. I DON'T SEE IT. IT'S 4300 9400 81 53. 8153. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING UNDER 8153 THIS MONTH. I MEAN, THE THE VEHICLE WE GOT FOR BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS WAS RECEIVED LAST AUGUST.

SO WE HAVE NOT BOUGHT ANY MORE VEHICLES FOR BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

SO I'M NOT I'M NOT SEEING THAT ON THE LIST. OKAY, I GOT IT FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE BILLS.

I GOT YOU. IF YOU TELL ME WHAT PAGE, I'M GLADLY.

BUT WE HAVE NOT BOUGHT ANY NEW VEHICLES FOR BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS SINCE AUGUST.

AND MY LAST QUESTION THERE WAS A PBIS GRANT UNDER SCHOOLS WAS PBIS.

LET ME THINK. YES.

I CANNOT REMEMBER WHAT THAT ACRONYM STANDS FOR, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY LOOK THAT UP FOR YOU BECAUSE I'VE GOT IT.

IN SEVERAL ENTRIES UNDER THAT GRANT. YEAH, IT'S WHERE THE MONEY CAME IN FOR GRANT, AND THEN WE HAVE ALLOCATED IT UP TO THE APPROPRIATE LINE ITEMS. I'LL FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS AND SEND YOU AN EMAIL.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYBODY. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON. B IS APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR $568,558.49 IN REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. A MOTION TO DO SO.

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

AYE. OKAY. C , APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION. SCHOOL FUND .

A TOTAL OF $311,445.91 IN REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

[01:10:06]

AYE AYE. D, RELOCATION APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION SCHOOL FUND.

SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY. DO I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE? ALL RIGHT.

MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX. SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS. BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

[6. Appointments]

THE ONLY REASON HE'S COMING OFF BY STATE CODE, THEY CAN ONLY SERVE TWO TERMS. SO YOU'LL HAVE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY. AND YOU DO HAVE A LETTER FROM BEN NEILL, THE DIRECTOR IN THERE.

AND EVERYBODY THINKS MR. WORSHAM FOR HIS TIME ON THE LIBRARY BOARD.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY NAMES? IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NAME TONIGHT, YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT ANYWHERE, RIGHT? AT YOUR NEXT MEETING. ALL RIGHT. BE SURE TO COME UP WITH A NAME FOR NEXT MEETING.

COMMUNITY POLICY AND MANAGEMENT TEAMS. THE CHAIRMAN STACY BARHAM, CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT COORDINATOR, IS REQUESTING THAT WE CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF VANYA WARREN LILY TO THE COMMUNITY POLICY AND MANAGEMENT TEAM. I MAKE THAT MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. SO MOVED. I GUESS THAT'S ALL THAT PAGE.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO. WHAT LOOKS TO BE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.

[7. Public Hearing - VDOT Six Year Improvement Program Resolution - Request to Adopt]

A SIX YEAR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. AND WE HAVE MR. GEORGE BOWMAN HERE. YOU'RE WELCOME BACK, SIR.

MAYBE IT WON'T BE SO ROUGH ON YOU THIS TIME. WE'LL SEE.

CHAIRMAN EDWARDS, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN THIS EVENING.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN.

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN PROVIDED A COPY OF THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT AND THE ESTIMATED ALLOCATIONS.

HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE ALLOCATIONS FOR FY 26 TO FY 31? AND DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

ANYONE LIKE TO LIKE TO SPEAK CONCERNING THAT? YES, SIR. OR SHOULD I? MAKE ROOM FOR YOU. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE SIX YEAR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AT THESE C-TECH MEETINGS, AND I THINK I WAS ON FOR FOUR YEARS, AND I WAS TERMINATED. BUT I WENT TO ABOUT 16 MEETINGS.

WE HAD WE WENT QUARTERLY, AND WE DISCUSSED THIS SIX YEAR PROGRAM ALMOST EVERY MEETING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TASKED TO DO WAS PRIORITIZE THE LIST OF THINGS FOR THE SIX YEAR PROGRAM.

AND AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE R CUTS. AND AT SOME POINT, SOMEBODY CAME HERE AND SHOWED A VIDEO TO THE TO A PUBLIC MEETING HERE OF THE CUTS. AND IT WAS A VERY RURAL AREA LIKE JIM HART MENTIONED.

WELL, TONIGHT AT 515, I WAS SITTING AT HARDEE'S EATING SOME CHICKEN FINGERS, AND I COULD LEAN FORWARD AND I COULD SEE ALMOST BACK TO NOTTOWAY HOUSE AND OFF TO THE LEFT, ALMOST TO HELENA CHEMICAL, AND AT ONE TIME STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.

THERE WERE 14 TRUCKS, ONE OF WHICH WAS A WRECKER, THE OTHER 13 WERE 18 WHEELERS, ONE WAS A LOG TRUCK.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THEY'RE PLANNING ON PUTTING THE CUT BETWEEN BETWEEN GRAYSON AND EMMA'S AND THE NOTTOWAY HOUSE.

THE TRAFFIC COMING WESTBOUND WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOCKING THAT IN BOTH LANES.

[01:15:01]

SO THAT'S THAT'S MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE ARCHIVES.

BUT I KNOW WE WERE TASKED WITH PRIORITIZING THE, THE SELECTIONS AND, AND NONE OF US WERE REALLY IN FAVOR OF THE R CUT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN.

YEAH. I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT OUR CUT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A RUMOR. YEAH. I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS R CUT STUFF IS COMING FROM.

WE WOULD NORMALLY BE THE FIRST ONES TO FIND OUT.

SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT R CUT AGAIN.

SO IT'S NOT NOT IN THE. YEAH BUT IT'S NOT IN THE PLANNING.

NOT EVEN ON THE SIX YEAR. IT'S NOT ON THE SIX YEAR PLAN TO SPEAK UP.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT FOR SIX MORE YEARS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PLANS FOR THE TOWN BANK.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE? IF NOT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS SUBJECT.

ANY DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD? LOOKS GOOD. DID A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SIX YEAR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE APPROVE IT. I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY. MOTION SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY, SIR. YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.

I'LL GET RIGHT ON IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

YEAH. OKAY. NUMBER EIGHT, ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.

[8. Public Hearing - Planning Commission Ordinance - Request to Adopt]

SO WE'VE HAD TO REORGANIZE UP HERE IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, HAD TO REORGANIZE, AND EVERYBODY ELSE, TOO. BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IS PRETTY UNANIMOUS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WANTED TO KEEP EIGHT MEMBERS, ONE FROM EACH DISTRICT, FIVE TWO AT LARGE AND ONE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SO ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT. SIR, YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION? YES, SIR. FRANK URQUHART, NORTHEAST DISTRICT PLANNING COMMISSION.

AS YOU SEE IN OUR MEMORANDUM THAT WE SENT TO YOU, THE HONORABLE SUPERVISORS, JAY RANDOLPH, SECRETARY OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MAY 27TH, 2025.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATION A PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR YOUR MAY MEETING TO CONSIDER REVISIONS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

COMPOSITION. COMMISSIONERS ARE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SERVE CENTRAL ROLE IN THE FUTURE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

AT THE DIRECTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WE DISCUSSED FULLY AT THE MEETING.

MISS RANDOLPH IS FORWARDING OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE REST OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A EIGHT MEMBER COMMISSION CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING. ONE APPOINTMENT FROM EACH OF THE FIVE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS, ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE GOVERNING BODY, AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED AT LARGE. THIS RECOMMENDATION IS BEING MADE TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY AND FLEXIBILITY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL, AT LARGE APPOINTMENT TO REPRESENT ANY GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE COUNTY, INCLUDING AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED OR AND TO ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUED REPRESENTATIVE OF PROVIDED ABOVE.

VICE CHAIR RANDALL PRESENTED THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND THIS ARRANGEMENT TO THE, AND THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER TURNER.

THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY. EIGHT ZERO THE PLANNING COMMISSION RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS AMENDED FORMAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS GENTLEMAN? SO JUST FOR THE BOARD'S RECOGNITION, THE WAY THIS WAS THAT Y'ALL INITIALLY DISCUSSED THIS CHAIRMAN EDWARDS IS CORRECT. THE THE WAY THIS IS IN YOUR PACKET IS WITH SEVEN MEMBERS, FIVE FROM EACH OF THE DISTRICT,

[01:20:05]

WE'RE AWARE OF THAT, BUT THEY'RE ASKING FOR EIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID ASK FOR EIGHT. SO YOU'VE GOT TWO OPTIONS IN EFFECT.

WELL, HISTORICALLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD FOR THE BOARD.

GOOD. PLANNING COMMISSION MAKES A GOOD BOARD.

BAD PLANNING COMMISSION MAKES A BAD BOARD. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TAKE THE HEAT FROM THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT COME AROUND.

AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TRY TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD.

SOMETIMES THAT'S DIFFICULT. WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IS THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN A LOT OF PLACES.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION OF EIGHT TWO AND ONE EIGHT.

A TOTAL OF EIGHT. I HAVE NO REASON TO NOT GO ALONG WITH THAT.

IS THE PUBLIC HEARING STILL OPEN? EXCUSE ME. IS THE PUBLIC HEARING STILL OPEN? YES. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

DOES THIS MEAN YOU HAVE TO REAPPOINT SOME NEW PEOPLE, OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO KEEP.

NO. PLANNING COMMISSION THE WAY IT IS. NO. OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ABIDE BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? I'LL SECOND IT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION TO GO WITH THE EIGHT MEMBER PLANNING COMMISSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT. NUMBER NINE, PUBLIC HEARING.

[9. Public Hearing - Industrial Development Authority Ordinance - Request to Adopt]

WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE WAY THE CODE AND COMPOSITION OF SOME OF THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE TO ALIGN THEM WITH THE NEW DISTRICTS.

SO RIGHT NOW, GOING FORWARD, WE DO HAVE FIVE FIVE DISTRICTS GOING FORWARD.

SO THIS WOULD READ THAT THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE IDA WOULD COME FROM EACH OF THE FIVE DISTRICTS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL TWO AT LARGE MEMBERS FOR A GOOD ODD NUMBER AT SEVEN, WHICH IS A GOOD GOOD SIZE FOR A GROUP, AND IT'S AN ODD NUMBER. SO IT'S GENERALLY GOOD TO HAVE ODD NUMBERS FOR THESE, THESE TYPE OF AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS.

SO THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DISCUSSED INITIALLY WE DISCUSSED AND SO ON FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.

HOW MANY DO WE HAVE NOW ? I BELIEVE IT'S SEVEN NOW.

SEVEN I BELIEVE SO WE HAVE TROUBLE GETTING A QUORUM SOMETIME.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL WITH THAT WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? ASH? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? I JUST JUST KNOW WE DON'T HAVE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETINGS.

THEY CALL US OR EMAIL US MR. THROWER TO TELL US WE NEED TO COME AND DISCUSS SOMETHING.

AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM. AND SOMEBODY SITS UP THERE AND CALLS ANOTHER MEMBER TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HAVING A LARGER ONE OR A SMALLER ONE WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO GET A QUORUM.

BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TROUBLE GETTING FOUR FOUR OF US HERE ON TIME.

THAT'S THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT. YEAH. AGAIN, I WOULD SAY WE'RE TRYING TO ALIGN THEM WITH THE, THE I THINK INFORMALLY THE COUNTY HAS JUST KIND OF GONE ALONG WITH THE OLD DISTRICT.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ALIGN THEM WITH THE NEW DISTRICTS. AND SEVEN IS A TYPICAL NUMBER FOR ANY GOVERNING BODY OR AUTHORITY OR COMMISSION FOR THAT MATTER.

BUT WE CAN WE CAN OBVIOUSLY DO WHATEVER THE BOARD.

SO WE'VE GOT FIVE FROM EACH, FIVE FROM EACH DISTRICT AND TWO AT LARGE.

TWO AT LARGE. KEEP IT AT SEVEN. YEAH. KEEP IT AT SEVEN.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? IF NOT, THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE KEEP IT AT SEVEN. SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO KEEP IT SEVEN. AND IT'S BEEN SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OKAY. IT'S SO MOVED. THANK YOU. OKAY. NUMBER TEN, PUBLIC HEARING, SOLAR PROJECT.

[10. Public Hearing - Solar Project Siting Agreement with BAP power, LLC]

[01:25:02]

SO WE DO. WE DO HAVE BAP POWER SYNERGY HERE TO GIVE A GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT THIS PROJECT IS.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, IT'S A PROPOSED SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED ON TAX MAP NUMBER 92, DASH TWO. THE PARCELS LOCATED IN THE GENERAL PROXIMITY OF GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY, DELAWARE ROAD, SHADY BROOK TRAIL, AND NEWMARKET ROAD. I'VE ATTACHED A GIS MAP OF THAT.

WE DO HAVE WILLIAM WHO GOES BY BILL PHAM AND KEVIN OSBORNE WITH SYNERGY.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THAT. AND WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

SO ANY ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME AND THEY'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

YEAH. THANK YOU, BRIAN, AND THANK YOU, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, FOR LETTING US SPEAK.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS BILL PHAM, ONE OF THE PRINCIPALS AT SYNERGY.

AND KEVIN OSBORNE IS ONE OF OUR SENIOR DEVELOPERS.

I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE THAT WE THINK IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.

AND THEN KEVIN WILL GET INTO SOME OF THE PARTICULARS OF OUR PROJECT.

WE REALLY BELIEVE THE STARS ARE ALIGNED FOR THIS PROJECT.

OUR MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO PUT UP CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS, BUT TO BENEFIT LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES ARE IN STEP WITH OUR PROJECTS. WE'VE WORKED WITH 30 PLUS COMMUNITY BENEFITING PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH MUNICIPALITIES FROM THE STATE OF MAINE, ILLINOIS, VIRGINIA, CALIFORNIA.

SO WE THINK THE STARS ARE ALIGNED BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, WE'RE A VERY CREDIBLE COMPANY.

WE HAVE OVER $300 MILLION OF BONDED CAPACITY, AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 17 YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROJECT DEFAULTS. NUMBER TWO STAR THAT'S ALIGNED IS WE WERE ACTUALLY AWARDED TO PARTNER WITH DOMINION ENERGY, THE PRIMARY UTILITY IN VIRGINIA. THEY HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE SCREENING AND SELECTION PROCESS.

AND OUR PROJECT HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WAS AWARDED AMONG MANY APPLICATIONS.

NUMBER THREE, THE COUNTY DOES HAVE A FAIRLY STRINGENT SOLAR ORDINANCE.

AND THIS PROJECT JUST HAPPENS TO FIT SQUARELY WITHIN THAT SOLAR ORDINANCE.

AT LEAST 20MW IN SIZE. IT'S ON REALLY SANDY LAND.

THAT'S THAT'S NOT SUITABLE. WHICH KEVIN WILL GET INTO FOR FARMING.

THE LANDOWNER THERE HAS JUST LEFT IT TO BASICALLY OVERGROWN WEEDS.

YOU CAN'T REALLY GROW ANYTHING THERE. AND WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER SIGNIFICANT LOCAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

THAT TOTAL OVER $1.6 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY AND TEN LOCAL NONPROFIT FIRE AND AND BASICALLY EMERGENCY RESCUE SQUADS WERE ABLE TO OFFER THAT BENEFIT, AND THAT ALSO HELPED US WIN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH DOMINION BECAUSE THEY SCREEN EXTENSIVELY FOR PROJECTS THAT ALSO BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITIES. OUR INTERCONNECTION WORKS, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET YOUR INTERCONNECTION APPROVED AND GET ENOUGH CAPACITY FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE ACROSS THE STREET FROM DOMINION'S OWN WOODCHIP PLANT, WHICH IS ABOUT 70 MEGAWATTS.

SO THERE'S ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY FOR OUR LOAD.

OUR SITE IS WELL SET BACK NEARLY HALF A MILE FROM THE NEAREST HIGHWAY, GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY.

IT'S NOT VISIBLE FROM NEIGHBORS OR THE STREET.

SO WE DO FEEL THE STARS ARE ALIGNED FOR A VERY GOOD PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.

WITH THAT, KEVIN WILL SPEAK TO SOME OF THE DETAILS OF OUR PROJECT.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. YOU CAN TURN THEIR MIC.

OH. OKAY. SO I'M KEVIN, I'M A PROJECT DEVELOPER WITH SYNERGY POWER AND SOME OF THE SLIDES THAT WE HAVE BEHIND YOU.

JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WE'VE DONE IN A FEW STATES.

SO THIS IS A 12 MEGAWATT PROJECT. WE WORKED WITH THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

[01:30:03]

IT'S A 25 MEGAWATT PROJECT. IT WAS THE LARGEST SOLAR PROJECT ON AN AIRPORT IN THE CONTINENTAL US AT THE TIME.

SO I JUST WANT TO I'LL SKIP THROUGH THIS TO THE KEY POINTS HERE.

ABOUT THE WHITE PROJECT THAT WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY. SO AS BILL MENTIONED, THE WHITE SOLAR STORAGE PROJECT IS LOCATED NEAR TO THE SOUTHAMPTON POWER STATION. THE LOOK.

SO THIS SITE IS NEXT TO GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY AND THE CROSSROADS DRIVE.

THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED 1000 AND 700FT, SET BACK FROM THAT GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY DRIVE.

THE PROJECTS WE'RE PROPOSING IS A PORTION OF A 300 ACRE PARCEL, APPROXIMATELY OVER JUST SLIGHTLY OVER 100 ACRES.

THE SYSTEM SIZE IS 20MW. THE AND A BATTERY SIZE OF EIGHT MEGAWATTS TIMES FOUR HOURS, BE GOING THROUGH DOMINION ENERGY. THIS PROPERTY HAS POOR SOIL AND IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO AGRICULTURAL USE.

GET INTO THAT IN A MOMENT. AND IT'S SURROUNDED BY TREES AND NOT VISIBLE FROM PUBLIC ROADS.

I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A JUST A VISUAL HERE ON THE SOIL CONDITIONS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AGRICULTURAL IS AGRICULTURAL.

PRODUCTIVITY IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT.

WE SYNERGY DOES. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SOIL CONDITIONS IT'S HALF THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE COUNTY.

AND IT'S JUST NOT IN A CONDUCIVE SITUATION FOR AGRICULTURAL CROPS.

THIS IS USING THE USDA NATIONAL COMMODITY CROP PRODUCTIVITY INDEX.

AND YOU CAN SEE 33 IS ON THE LOWEST PART OF THAT SCORE FOR PRODUCTIVITY.

OKAY, THIS IS A 3D VISUAL. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT OF WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE.

ON THAT VISUAL. YOU'LL SEE GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION, AND THIS SOLAR PROJECT IS SET BACK.

THAT'S 1700FT NORTH. SO IT'S KIND OF THE HIGHWAY IS THAT NUMBER ONE? YES, IT'S AT THE BOTTOM.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE SHADY BROOK TRAIL TO THE LEFT.

AND THE SOUTHAMPTON POWER STATION IS JUST ACROSS FROM IT.

OKAY. I WANTED TO GIVE A SENSE OF THE STREET VIEWS.

SO I'VE GOT THREE STREET VIEWS. THE FIRST ONE IS FROM GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY.

THIS. WE HAVE A 3D RENDERING, AND IT'S IT'S COMPLETELY BLOCKED OUT OF VIEW DUE TO.

THERE'S AN ELEVATION ALONG THAT CROSSROADS DRIVE.

SO THERE IS NO VISIBILITY OF ANY OF THE MODULES.

THIS IS JUST A LONG GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY AT AN ANGLE.

AGAIN, IT WOULD BE OUT OF VIEW. AND THEN ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL, THERE'S PLENTY OF EXISTING TREE CANOPY TO BLOCK THOSE VIEWS. WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE WANT TO BE A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNER TO THE COUNTY. SO THAT INCLUDES NOT JUST GENERATING LOCAL ENERGY. THAT MEETS DOMINION'S ENERGY FOR VIRGINIA'S CLEAN ENERGY REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S ALSO PROVIDING A COUNTY ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

I WANT TO BREAK THAT DOWN FOR YOU. SO PART OF THAT $1.6 MILLION THAT BILL MENTIONED WOULD BE 800,000 UPFRONT TO THE COUNTY. 200,000 BY THE BUILDING PERMIT DATE AND 600,000 AT THE PROJECT'S COMMERCIAL OPERATING DATE. AN ADDITIONAL 200,000 TO THE COUNTY OVER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF OPERATION.

SO THAT'D BE $40,000 EACH YEAR FOR THE FIRST FIVE.

AND THEN 0.3 IS 120,000 ACROSS 12 SOUTHAMPTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RESCUE SQUADS.

[01:35:04]

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE GENTLEMAN? THANK YOU.

OKAY. WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

NOW THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN ON THIS SUBJECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR NOT USING PRIME FARMLAND.

BUT I NOTICED THAT THIS BAP POWER COMPANY, LLC IS FROM CALIFORNIA.

WE JUST HAD A SITUATION WHERE SOME COMPANY FROM CALIFORNIA THAT BOUGHT THE FARM WAS REALLY OWNED BY THE CHINESE.

DOES THIS COMPANY HAVE ANY AFFILIATION WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY? NO, WE DON'T, SIR. THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS I HAVE SOME FRIENDS WHO ARE IN THE OIL BUSINESS IN NORTH DAKOTA. AND NOW THEY MAY BE BIASED AND PREJUDICED, BUT THEY SAY NONE OF THESE SOLAR OR WIND FARM PROJECTS WOULD BE WORTH A HOOT IF IT WEREN'T FOR GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

IS THAT TRUE? IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? I THINK THERE ARE INCENTIVES FOR EVERY SECTOR, INCLUDING OIL AND GAS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. OKAY.

AND THEN SECONDLY, I'VE SEEN SOME VIDEOS WHERE ONE OF THESE CARS WITH ONE OF THESE ELECTRIC BATTERIES CATCHES FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMES AND THEY CAN'T PUT THE FIRE OUT.

AND I NOTICED YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT OUR 12 FIRE COMPANIES.

ARE THEY GOING TO GET TRAINED IN THE PROPER WAY TO PUT THESE FIRES OUT IF SOME OF THESE BATTERIES CATCH FIRE? YES, SIR. OKAY. AND FINALLY, I READ ON THE INTERNET JUST YESTERDAY THAT SOME SCIENTISTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE EUROPEAN GRID IS MAINLY FIRED BY COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS. BUT IT'S A STEADY, EVEN SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY AND THE SOLAR AND WIND FARMS. IT'S A IT'S AN UNEVEN CYCLE, LIKE TODAY, A CLOUDY DAY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY THE SOLAR WOULD HAVE GENERATED, BUT THEY'VE CALCULATED IT'LL COST THE EUROPEAN UNION $3 TRILLION TO UPGRADE THEIR GRID SYSTEM TO HANDLE THESE IRREGULAR INPUTS.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS HERE, THE ONLY PEOPLE GOING TO PAY FOR IT ARE GOING TO BE THE END USERS, WHICH IS US. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? YES.

COLLEEN FLICK AGAIN. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. I WANT TO SAY ONE THING I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE IN IMPRESSING PRESSING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. I REALLY DO.

I MEAN, COMPARED TO THE OTHER COMPANIES THAT HAVE COME. I APPRECIATE IT, I DO.

BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND IT WASN'T MENTIONED.

YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT 15 YEARS. LIKE HOW LONG IS IS THIS LAND LEASED OR PURCHASED? IT'LL BE PURCHASED. OKAY. SO THE LAND IS ACTUALLY PURCHASED.

IT'S IT'S AT THE OPTION OF THE LANDOWNER. BUT WE ARE FLEXIBLE EITHER WAY.

OKAY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO? THE LANDOWNER.

THEY WILL LET US KNOW. THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE WE GET TO THAT 30 YEAR POINT, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS KIND OF THING WHEN THE SOLAR PANELS AREN'T WORKING ANYMORE.

SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS FROM THE VERY START, WE PUT UP A DECOMMISSIONING BOND.

OKAY. IT'S FULLY BONDED ANNUALLY. SO IF WE GO OUT OF BUSINESS FOR SOME REASON THAT BOND WILL TAKE OVER FROM A A RATED CREDIT

[01:40:04]

MOST LIKELY OUT OF WE WOULD WANT TO KEEP IT GOING AND REPOWER THE SYSTEM, JUST KIND OF RENOVATE IT AND PROVIDE MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF BENEFITS TO THE COUNTY AS WELL. I APPRECIATE SOLAR IN AND OF ITSELF.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT NEEDS TO BE.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT UTILIZING IF YOU GO TO DOMINION POWER IN ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, THE BUILDING, IT'S A FLAT ROOF. AND GUESS WHAT? THERE'S NO SOLAR PANELS ON IT.

THERE'S NO SOLAR PANELS IN THEIR YARD. I MEAN, I JUST FEEL LIKE INSTEAD OF TAKING UP LAND, ALTHOUGH YOU DID SAY THAT THE LAND WAS NOT FARMABLE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW TRUE THAT IS, BUT I THINK IF YOU GOT DIRT, YOU CAN PUT SOMETHING IN IT.

I FEEL LIKE SOLAR PANELS COULD BE PUT ON THE ROOFS OF HUGE BUILDINGS LIKE WALMART, AND EVEN IN THE PARKING LOT FOR CARS TO PARK UNDER. I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT USING THE TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS WE COULD.

BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GIVE TO THE COUNTY.

THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? YOU KNOW, I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING.

I LIVE ON SHADY GROVE, AND THIS IS NOT. THIS IS NOT GOING TO FLY WITH ME.

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. THE LAND OWNER. IS THIS THE SAME LAND THAT WAS UP FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BEFORE? CAN ANY OF YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? NO I DON'T.

IT WASN'T THE SAME LAND THAT WAS. WE'RE NOT AWARE OF IT.

OKAY. SECOND QUESTION. THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE A TOWN HALL MEETING AND THEN GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN COME TO THE BOARD. TONIGHT WE'RE JUST AIRING THIS OUT.

I KNOW, BUT WHEN PEOPLE CALLING ME, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CALL ME AND ASK ME QUESTIONS.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. SO THE SECOND QUESTION, I READ YOUR PROPOSAL, THOSE BENEFITS WERE GOOD FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL? WELL, WE'RE COMPLYING WITH THE COUNTY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADEQUATE SETBACK AND NECESSARY SCREENING.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THE MONEY COMING TO THE COUNTY, BUT IT'S NOTHING COMING TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL. THAT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT, I KNOW. I'M JUST SAYING, I KNOW, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT THAT THE COUNTY GETS EVERYTHING, BUT WE GET A AN EYESORE BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SEEN FROM THE ROAD, BUT IT PROBABLY WILL BE SEEN FROM THE ROAD.

THERE. NO, THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE SCREENING FROM ROAD OR FROM GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY.

WE'RE 1700 FEET BACK. SO IT'S NOT VISIBLE. SEEMS LIKE THIS LANDOWNER WANTED TO SELL THIS LAND BEFORE.

WE'RE JUST NOT AWARE OF THAT. OKAY. WHAT ABOUT YOU? WE'VE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS BEFORE, DIDN'T WE? WE HAD. I THINK YOU DID. I DIDN'T COME TO THAT MEETING, BUT I DID HAVE SOME TELEPHONE CALLS THAT NEXT DAY ABOUT IT.

I DID KNOW THE FOLKS THAT OWN THAT PROPERTY HAS HAD IT FOR 30 YEARS.

OKAY. BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT FOR IT. AND I LIVE ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL.

THANK YOU. BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, MA'AM, TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS.

DO THAT, DO THAT. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS? I'M NOT FOR OR AGAINST THE PROJECT. HOW YOU SAID THAT THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BENEFIT FIRE AND EMS. IS THERE ANY LOOKING INTO PUTTING PD IN THAT OR.

NO, IT'S JUST FIRING MS. WE CAN CONSIDER THAT.

AND IS IS THAT 10,000 STIPEND PER EACH DEPARTMENT 12 DEPARTMENTS.

IS THAT YEARLY OR IS THAT OVER THE 15 YEAR CONTRACT? ONE TIME PAYMENT. OKAY. WHAT YOU MENTIONED TRAINING.

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING CAN BE PROVIDED ON THESE FACILITIES? BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOLAR IN THE AREA AND THEY HAVEN'T PROVIDED ANY TRAINING.

AND WHAT THEY HAVE, THEY SAID STAY AWAY FROM IT AND LET IT BURN.

AND THEN IT BECOMES A BIGGER PROBLEM WHEN IT GETS OUTSIDE THE FENCE LINE. AND NOW IT GOES FROM A FIVE ACRE OR A SINGLE ACRE FIRE TO 40 ACRES.

WELL, THE COMPONENTS THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH TRAINING SIMPLY BECAUSE THE COMPONENTS ARE NOT FLAMMABLE.

RIGHT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOSTLY ALUMINUM, STEEL, GLASS.

SO TO SOME EXTENT, THE A LOT OF THE TRAINING IS TO SHOW PEOPLE WHERE THE EMERGENCY SWITCHES ARE TO KIND OF SHUT OFF THE POWER, AND THEN THE FLAMES WILL. IS THAT NOT GOING TO BE THERE?

[01:45:03]

IT JUST STOPS FROM CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE POWER TO THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. SO THERE'S A SWITCH THAT WE CAN TURN OFF BOTH PHYSICALLY AND REMOTELY.

WE CAN CONTROL IT REMOTELY. IF THERE'S A FIRE HAZARD, IT'LL TRIP.

AND IT SHOULD BURN ITSELF OUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT FLAMMABLE.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FLAMMABLE. TYPICALLY, AROUND HERE WE SEE MORE OF A BRUSH FIRE UNDERNEATH. AND THEN THE CONCERN IS, ARE THE CONDUCTORS AFFECTED? CAN WE PUT WATER? CAN WE PUT FOAM? CAN WE NOT? WHAT DO WE DO? SO MAYBE Y'ALL COULD HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN PLACE.

YEAH, WE CAN FOR FOR THE FACILITY. AND WE CAN TRY TO DISCUSS.

WE CAN WORK ON IT, BUT THE SITE'S GOING TO BE CLEARED, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MINIMAL BRUSH TO CAUSE.

ARE THEY GOING TO THEY ROUND IT. IS IT ALL ROCK? THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE GRASS UNDERNEATH THE SOLAR PANELS.

IT'S GOING TO BE MINIMAL, RIGHT? A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO BE GRAVEL. JUST SERVICE ROADS IN THE AREA.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? WHAT ABOUT A BATTERY FIRE? THAT'S THAT'S MY CONCERN A BATTERY FIRE.

THE BATTERY IS STORED ON THE FACILITY. YEAH, THE BATTERY WILL BE ALSO SET BACK.

AND THE THE ELEMENTS IN THE BATTERY IS, IS IRON PHOSPHATE, WHICH HAS MINIMAL THERMAL RUNAWAY ISSUES.

AND THERE'S ALSO BUILT INTO THE CONTAINERS OF THE BATTERIES FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.

THANK YOU. AGAIN JIM HART 24576 DELAWARE ROAD, CORTLAND.

I WASN'T EVEN AWARE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THIS UP TONIGHT. AND I REALIZE YOU CAN GO THROUGH GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU OPENING UP TONIGHT TO BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION A LITTLE BIT. I THOUGHT WE HAD PUT THIS BABY TO BED.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS NOT A MORATORIUM. IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO ON SOLAR.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? NO, WE WORKED ON THAT SOLAR ORDINANCE FOR FIVE YEARS AND WE FINALLY GOT IT TWEAKED.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORKED ON IT FOR SEVEN YEARS.

I THINK I WAS ON IT FOR FIVE YEARS. YEAH, IT'S THE STRICTEST SOLAR ORDINANCE IN THE STATE.

A LOT OF COUNTIES HAVE ADOPTED OUR ORDINANCE.

IT'S WE DESIGNATED LESS THAN 1% OR LESS OF OUR COUNTY LAND.

SOME COUNTIES WENT 4%, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE 1440 ACRES LEFT.

BUT TO CREATE A SOLAR PROJECT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ONE HECK OF A JOB AND ADHERE TO ALL THE ORDINANCE.

OKAY, WELL, I'M LOOKING AT IT. FIRST OF ALL, I SAID THAT IT WASN'T.

I'M GOING TO ADDRESS SEVERAL THINGS. THE FIRST THING IS, THEY SAID IS NOT SUITABLE SOIL FOR FARMING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS WHOLE CONDITIONS ARE ABOUT EXACTLY.

I JUST DON'T FLASH UP ON THE SCREEN. WE'LL GET INTO THOSE LATER.

BUT I LOOK AT THE LOCATION. WE NEED PROPERTY FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WANTS DEVELOPMENT TO BE WHAT IS MY WORD IS TOGETHER IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEY WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER AND THINGS ALONG THAT LINE TO THEM FOR DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE JUST REZONED 435 ACRES ADJOINING THE CITY OF FRANKLIN A FEW YEARS AGO FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I THINK WAS A HUGE MISTAKE. IT WAS IT WAS THE MOST PRIME PIECE OF PROPERTY.

AND THIS WAS PRIOR TO SOME OF YOU ALL EVEN BEING ON THE BOARD. BUT IT WAS IT WAS ZONED INDUSTRIAL.

IT REALLY OUGHT TO GO BACK TO RESIDENTIAL. BUT RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, THE COUNTY OF SOUTHAMPTON AND THE CITY OF FRANKLIN VERY LIMITED ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. SHADY BROOK TRAIL IS LINED WITH RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

A MAN IS BUILDING SEVERAL HOUSES ON SHADY BROOK TRAIL NOW FOR SALE, AND I THINK HE SOLD 1 OR 2 OF THEM.

YOU COME ON AROUND AND YOU GET ON DELAWARE ROAD, AND YOU'VE GOT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OVER THERE GOING TOWARDS THE FAIRGROUNDS AND WHATNOT. AND HE SAYS THAT 1700 FEET FROM GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY.

BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE ROADS TO CONSIDER.

YOU'VE GOT DELAWARE AND SHADYBROOK TRAIL, SHADY BROOK TRAIL.

IT HAS A DEEP WELL THAT FURNISHES WATER TO SEVERAL HOUSES, MOST OF THE HOUSES ON SHADYBROOK TRAIL, AND THAT WELL IS SET BACK OFF THE ROAD FROM SHADYBROOK TRAIL DIRECTLY TOWARDS THIS PROPERTY.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DISTANCE IS FROM THIS PROPERTY TO SHADYBROOK TRAIL OR TO THAT WELL, BUT THAT CERTAINLY IS A BIG CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IF YOU START NO.

DESTROYING THE WELL THERE. THE QUALITY OF THE WATER.

YOU REALLY OPENED UP A CAN OF WORMS. AND IT'S NOT BENEFICIAL FOR THESE PEOPLE WHATSOEVER.

[01:50:04]

IT WAS THE PROPERTY THAT CAME UP FOR REZONING.

YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A WE HAD THE PLACE COMPLETELY PACKED.

IT WAS MOVED. IT WAS IT WAS PLANNED FOR A LARGE INDUSTRIAL THING.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN VIVA OR NOT. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS MOVED.

I THINK IT WAS ENVIVA. DIDN'T ENVIVA WANT TO BE.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT PIECE OF PROPERTY . THAT WAS CLOSER TO 58.

THAT WAS. WELL, THAT WAS UP THERE BEHIND WHERE YOU KNOW, WHERE PETER COPELAND'S STORAGE FACILITY IS.

YEAH, THEY WERE GOING TO THEY WANTED TO PUT IT IN THERE BEHIND THAT. OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY ON OFF TO THE LEFT THERE.

THEY WERE GOING TO ACCESS IT FROM THE RIVER. OKAY.

SO ANYWAY, I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE LOCATION, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IS KIND OF MOVING OUT THAT WAY.

ALONG CAMP PARKWAY AND OFF TO THE SIDE, YOU'VE GOT APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT MR. WHITE. AND OF COURSE HE'S PASSED AWAY NOW, BUT I GUESS IT'S HIS FAMILY OR THE COMPANY THAT'S SELLING THIS PROPERTY.

BUT HE ALSO BUILT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, A COUPLE OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES ALONG THE BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL OUT THERE.

YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL CHURCHES THAT HAVE LOCATED OUT THERE.

AND THIS PROPERTY, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT DOES FACE DELAWARE ROAD.

I MEAN, FRONTS ON DELAWARE ROAD. IT DOESN'T. YOU CAN'T SEE IT, MAN.

I'LL RIDE BACK THERE WITH YOU, BUT IT DOESN'T.

IT COME ALL THE WAY. NOW, I JUST PULLED UP ON THE PHONE WHERE THOMAS WHITE'S SHOP IS.

THE. THAT'S WHERE IT GOES. BACK DIRECTLY BEHIND THAT.

YEAH, IT'S 100 ACRES, BUT IT DOESN'T COME ALL THE WAY DOWN.

LOOK, I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR IT. I'M JUST TELLING YOU IT DOESN'T COME ALWAYS DELAWARE ROAD.

PROPERTY DOES, BUT THE PROJECT, OKAY. THE PROPERTY DOES THE PROPERTY DOES COME ALL THE WAY UP.

YEAH. HE OWNS 322 ACRES RIGHT THERE. OKAY. JIMMY WHITE.

JIMMY OWNS IT NOW. AND THEY'RE NOT BUYING THE WHOLE 322 ACRES.

THEY'RE BUYING. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SELL IT. THEY'RE GOING TO LEASE IT. WELL, OKAY.

ARE THEY ARE THEY LEASING THE WHOLE 322 ACRES? NO, JUST 100 ACRES. 100 ACRES? YES. IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL PROJECT.

AND IF WE CAN I MEAN, LOOK, WE GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ALL THAT.

SO LET'S SAY PUBLIC HEARINGS. I THOUGHT THIS, THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TOO.

BUT BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO I GUESS I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY BACK THERE.

RIGHT. AND YOU CAN'T GROW ANYTHING ON IT. IT'S AND YOU CAN'T DIG SAND ON IT.

YEAH, IT IS SANDY, BUT THE SAND IS ONLY TWO FEET DEEP OR THREE FEET OR WHATEVER.

THEN YOU GET TO SOME MORAL OR WHATEVER. BUT OKAY, IT'S NOT SUITABLE FOR MINING.

IT'S NOT SUITABLE TO GROW CROPS ON. AND IT'LL BARELY GROW A PINE TREE.

THAT'S WHAT'S ON IT NOW. I THINK IT'S PINE TREES, BUT IT'S BASICALLY A SCRUB.

YEAH, OKAY. AND IT DON'T GROW ANYTHING. SO REALLY IT'S IT MAKES SENSE TO.

IT'S A PERFECT SITE FOR A SOLAR PROJECT BECAUSE IT DON'T MAKE ANY NOISE OR ANY POLLUTION.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY TRUCK TRAFFIC, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING. IT'S JUST GOING TO SIT THERE. YEAH. YEAH. SO THAT'S MY OPINION ON IT.

RIGHT. WE'VE GOT THE WHOLE BOARD. YOU GOT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU GOT EVERYBODY'S GOT TO HASH IT OUT.

THAT'S THREE MORE STEPS . I UNDERSTAND . MEETING .

I UNDERSTAND. GOES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN COMES BACK TO THE BOARD. I'M JUST BRINGING THESE UP SO THESE PEOPLE HERE CAN THINK ABOUT THEM.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED IN THE.

AND OTTO WAXMAN CAN PROBABLY. COMMENT ON THAT.

LAST YEAR WE, THE STATE ALMOST VOTED TO TAKE IT OVER.

SOLAR POSITIONING. TAKE IT OUT OF THE COUNTY .

WAS GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE LOCAL US AND PUT IT INTO THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL, AND THEY WOULD JUST COME IN AND PUT IT WHERE THEY WANTED.

YEAH. SO WE NEED TO APPROVE SOME SMALL SITES LIKE THIS TO SATISFY THE GOVERNMENT. THE STATE LEVEL. YEAH. WELL, SO, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT ISN'T THAT WHAT HAPPENED? WELL, IT'S BLOOD IN THE WATER. YEAH. YEAH. SO IF YOU DON'T APPROVE SOME OF THESE, THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND APPROVE IT.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND IT MIGHT BE A 1200 ACRE ONE.

RIGHT. WELL, 22% OF THE COUNTIES IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BANNED SOLAR ONE OUT OF FIVE.

WELL, WE'VE GOT A VERY STRICT SOLAR ORDINANCE.

WE WORKED ON FOR SEVEN YEARS. I KNEW THAT IT WAS A HOT TOPIC.

AND IT'S IT'S ANYBODY THAT'S WILLING TO ABIDE BY THAT ORDINANCE.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO BY SOME OF THE MOST STRICT.

WELL, ACTUALLY, OURS IS A SAMPLE EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES HAVE ADOPTED OUR SOLAR ORDINANCE.

THE ONLY REASON WE DIDN'T SAY 0% WAS WE THOUGHT IT COULD BE CHALLENGED IN COURT, AND 1% WAS PROBABLY THE LEAST WE COULD GET BY WITHOUT IT BEING CHALLENGED.

[01:55:08]

I MEAN, YOU KNOW SO WELL AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EQUIPMENT AS IT'S, YOU KNOW, AS IT DIES OFF.

IT BECOMES, YOU KNOW, UNUSABLE. WHERE DOES THAT GO? I MEAN, THIS IS A COUNTRYWIDE PROBLEM. IT'S ALL IN THE ORDINANCE.

YEAH. ALL THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU KNOW, WELL, THE BIG THINGS IS WHAT HAPPENS 30 YEARS FROM NOW.

RIGHT. AND IT'S ESTIMATED IT'S GOING TO TAKE 5 TO 7 TIMES THE MONEY TO TAKE IT DOWN AND CARRY IT AWAY THAN IT DID TO BUILD IT.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO REALIZE.

AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT MAY BE OUT OF OUT OF DATE IN 4 OR 5 YEARS ANYWAY.

SO. WELL, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS AND I HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE LOCATION.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE OTHER PROCESSES, I GUESS THAT YOU ALL SEE MY LITTLE SMILING FACE UP HERE AGAIN.

SO THIS IS JUST TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE SITING AGREEMENT AND WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE PROPOSING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I DON'T THINK YOU EVER HAVE.

YOU RUN OUT OF ROOM IN CALIFORNIA FOR THAT, SIR.

HAVE YOU RUN OUT OF ROOM IN CALIFORNIA FOR SOLAR FARM? WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING. YOU FILLED UP? OKAY. I JUST WANT AN HONEST ANSWER THERE.

OKAY. YES, SIR. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN.

OKAY. LEROY HARDY, 13321 IVOR ROAD, SEDLEY, VIRGINIA.

AND I STAND BEFORE YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBER. NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE OF VIRGINIA CHIEF LYNETTE LEWIS ALSTON.

AND I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE.

AND WE DEAL WITH ARTIFACTS, FUNERARY OBJECTS AND REMAINS.

AND THAT'S GOTTEN ME INTO THIS. WE'VE DEALT WITH IT EXTENSIVELY.

BY THE TIME WE GOT INVOLVED, THERE WAS TOO LATE FOR SURREY COUNTY.

SOME THINGS HAPPENED THERE. WE'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED UP IN SUSSEX COUNTY AND BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING TO GET WHAT WE DESIRE DONE BY THE SOLAR COMPANIES. AND PART OF ONE THING THAT WE CALL FOR, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA, IS SENSITIVE ANTHROPOLOGICALLY, HISTORICALLY, AS THIS AREA IS, BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT NEAR THE RIVER, ACROSS THE RIVER FROM THE HAND SITE THAT WE WILL CALL FOR A CULTURAL RESOURCE STUDY, SHOVEL AND PIT TEST.

YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. IF YOU DO THAT AND IT'S PASSED, WE ARE SATISFIED.

FROM A TRIBAL POSITION, I CAN STATE MY OWN OPINION, BUT AND I'M NOT HERE.

I DON'T HATE ANYONE. AND I'M NOT HERE TO FUSS IF I CAN HELP IT.

BUT I TEND TO BE LIKE MY DAD. BUT THANK YOU .

FOR OTHER THING IS, WHAT'S THE ZONING CURRENT? I GUESS THAT WILL COME UP BEFORE THE PLANNING, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S AN INDUSTRIAL PARK FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AND SEEM AS THOUGH IT'S MOVING INTO THAT AREA WHERE IT'S RESIDENTIAL BECOMING MORE INDUSTRIALIZED.

SO I ONE OKAY, SO THAT'S OUR BIGGEST THING FROM THE TRIBAL POSITION, NOTTOWAY, INDIAN TRIBE OF VIRGINIA.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CULTURAL RESOURCE STUDY DONE AND SOMEWHERE IN THE PROCESS, AND I'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MY NAME AND NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS. ARE THESE HEARINGS IN SUSSEX HAVE BEEN VERY CONTENTIOUS, BUT I APPLAUD THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BOARD BECAUSE SOUTHAMPTON DOES HAVE SOME REAL STRINGENT REGULATIONS AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE WHEN.

AND I KNOW THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN, SO I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR THAT.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO STOP YOU, SIR. NOT HERE TO STOP ANYBODY FROM MAKING MONEY GENERATING TAXES.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT'S IN THE GROUND IS CONSIDERED.

AND WE HAVE AN IDEA BEFORE IT'S DESTROYED AND LOST FOREVER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE WELCOME, SIR.

I WILL SAY, SIR, THAT I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE AT THIS JUNCTURE IN THE PROCESS.

UNLIKE THE LAST SITUATION WHERE WE HAD WITH THE GRAY FARM, AND IT WAS A FINITE HOUR OF ADOPTION IN THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.

IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE ALL FELT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE TIME FRAME THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE AT THE ONSET OF THIS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION SO THAT YOUR INFORMATION CAN BE PROVIDED TO THEM, SO THAT ALL THESE CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE MADE SO THAT THE PROPER STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE PROVISIONS ARE MADE, TO ENSURE THAT WHAT YOU NEED IS TAKEN CARE OF AT THE ONSET OF THE PROJECT.

AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS CAN BE HAD AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME.

[02:00:07]

THANK YOU. I'M OTTO WAXMAN, DELEGATE, 83RD DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SINCE MY NAME WAS MENTIONED BY SUPERVISOR WHITE, THERE WERE A FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST COME UP AND AND KIND OF SUPPORT.

SUPERVISOR WHITE IS CORRECT IN 2024, NOT THIS MOST RECENT SESSION, BUT THE ONE BEFORE THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO TRY TO TAKE AWAY LOCAL CONTROL, LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THIS ISSUE AWAY FROM THE COUNTY AND GIVE IT TO THE SCC.

I'M ONE NOT I'M NOT REALLY FOR NOR AGAINST SOLAR.

I THINK THERE'S MORE LIKE RIGHT AND WRONG PLACES, BUT I'M A VERY BIG PROPONENT THAT THESE DECISIONS DO NEED TO STAY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL WHERE YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTY.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE ON THAT THIS PAST YEAR, 2025 SESSION.

THE BILL CAME BACK, AND INSTEAD OF THE SCC TAKING AWAY THAT LOCAL AUTHORITY, THE PLAN WAS TO PUT TOGETHER A STATE GROUP THAT WOULD COME UP WITH GUIDELINES ON HOW COUNTIES SHOULD DEVELOP THEIR ORDINANCES.

THAT GROUP WOULD COME UP WITH MODEL GUIDELINES, GIVE IT TO THE COUNTIES, LET THE COUNTIES TAKE THOSE MODEL GUIDELINES, MAKE IT FOR THEIR OWN. AND THEN IF THE COUNTY DENIED ANY OF THOSE APPLICATIONS, IT WOULD GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL GROUP THAT DEVELOPED THE MODEL AUTHORITY, AND THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF THE COUNTY PROPERLY I TOOK THE GOOD FAITH OF THEIR MODEL AUTHORITIES INTO ACCOUNT SO THEY COULD BASICALLY OVER. THEY COULD MAKE A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THE COUNTY DENIED A CLAIM INCONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THEIR MODEL AUTHORITIES.

THAT I THINK, WOULD GIVE A VERY GOOD LEGAL STANDING FOR A DEVELOPER TO OVERRIDE THE COUNTY.

SO, YES, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MOVEMENTS IN THE IN RICHMOND TO TAKE AWAY A LOCAL AUTHORITY.

ONCE AGAIN, I STILL WANT THAT AUTHORITY TO STAY HERE.

THE PERCENTAGE 1%. I GO TO A LOT OF THESE TYPES OF MEETINGS IN MY DISTRICT.

IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A LIST OF THE 140 SOME LOCALITIES IN THE STATE, I THINK THE TOP TEN IS PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE OF THE SEVEN LOCALITIES THAT I REPRESENT ARE IN THAT TOP TEN LIST. IT'S A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON SOLAR IN THIS AREA.

SOME COUNTIES I KNOW ARE LIKE 2.5%. I THINK I HEARD MENTIONED AT ONE OF FOUR.

I'M NOT SURE WHO THAT IS, BUT I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE.

ONE COUNTY I KNOW THAT I REPRESENT STARTED A CAP OF 2.5%, AND WITHIN SIX MONTHS THEY CAME BACK AND CHANGED THEIR ORDINANCE TO DEFINE WHAT THAT 2.5% WAS, WAS ACTUALLY LAND UNDER PANEL AS OPPOSED TO THE SITE FOR THE FACILITY.

AND THAT PROBABLY MORE THAN DOUBLED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO ADOPT NOW.

AND I THINK ONCE THEY DID THE 2.5%, THEY FOUND OUT THEY'D ALREADY PERMITTED THAT MUCH AND THEY STILL WANTED TO PERMIT MORE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE THINGS FOR RESOURCE.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AT RICHMOND.

THE ISSUE OF BETTER DO IT NOW SO THEY WON'T SAY YOU'RE NOT DOING IT.

I'VE HEARD SOME LEGS TO THAT. WHETHER THAT'S A VALID LEGAL STATEMENT, I'M NOT REAL SURE, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FOR OKAY.

HE TOLD THE RURITAN CLUB ABOUT IT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN ON THIS.

EVENING, JEFF BROWN 30566 CAMP PARKWAY. I'M NOT REALLY A BIG FAN OF SOLAR ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

I REALLY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT THIS PROJECT UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE DAYS.

I HAVE REVIEWED THE SOLAR ORDINANCE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BECAUSE I THINK THE SOLAR ORDINANCE IS IS A IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING.

AGAIN, THIS PROJECT, I, I LIVE SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THIS, BUT I'M NOT REALLY GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY IT.

SO I'M I AM SHARE SOME CONCERNS FROM SOME OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT AS FAR AS THIS PROJECT GOES, FROM WHAT I SEE, THIS IS LIKE RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT THE SOLAR ORDINANCE REQUIRES.

IT'S BASICALLY IN LINE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO I THINK CURRENTLY THIS PROPERTY IS IDENTIFIED AS AN EMPLOYMENT CENTER.

SO THIS WOULDN'T BE LIKE WHAT HAPPENED AT ON CAMP PARKWAY WITH THE WITH THE FARM WHERE IT WAS LIKE, WELL, LET'S CHANGE THE COMPREHENSIVE A PLAN TO MEET SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE WE WANT TO DO WITH DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY.

SO I THINK THIS IS THIS WOULD BE A A PROJECT THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THAT AREA.

AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY BEING IMPACTED BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR OFF THE ROAD THAT YOU WON'T SEE IT AT ALL.

SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN.

IF NOT, LAST CALL. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

THIS WAS JUST TO AIR THIS OUT. WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION ON THIS TONIGHT.

[02:05:04]

TOWNHOUSE MEETING, PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN BACK TO THE BOARD.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS HERE AND A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT THAT'S GOING TO COME INTO THE CONSIDERATION.

I GOT ONE QUESTION. YES, SIR. THAT HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED ON.

RELIABILITY. YOU'RE CONNECTED WITH DOMINION AND WHERE PROJECTS HAVE GONE UP, AND THEY'RE CONNECTED IN WITH THE ENERGY GRID. THE RELIABILITY OF SOLAR BEING UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN.

YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BROWNOUTS? THAT SEEMS TO BE A NATIONAL TOPIC WHERE THESE PLACES LIKE YOU WERE ASKING FOR ARE BEING DEVELOPED.

AND DOWN THE ROAD. THE COMMUNITIES SUFFER FROM BROWNOUTS BECAUSE OF THE GRID AND THE INFLUX OF YOURS GOING IN WITH OTHER SOURCES OF ENERGY TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY. AND IN THE EQUATION, THE LOCALITIES GET BURNED WITH BROWNOUTS.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S PARTLY WHY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, DOMINION HAS AWARDED MORE PROJECTS THAT HAVE A STORAGE COMPONENT BECAUSE THE STORAGE IS KIND OF LIKE A BANK. IT'S A RESERVOIR. WHEN THE SOLAR IS PRODUCING TOO MUCH, IT GOES TO CHARGE THE STORAGE FACILITY WHEN IT'S PRODUCING TOO LITTLE.

LIKE TODAY, THE STORAGE CAN CHARGE FROM THE GRID AND THEN DISCHARGE TO KIND OF BASICALLY REGULATE THE FREQUENCY AND THE CONSISTENCY OF THE POWER. EACH TIME WE PUT UP A PROJECT THAT'S NEW, IT ACTUALLY FORTIFIES THAT CIRCUIT, BECAUSE DOMINION HAS TO CHECK EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONNECT, CAN CONNECT US.

SO IT ACTUALLY IS A TUNE UP FOR THAT CIRCUIT THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONNECT TO.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY GOT A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT AS WE CONNECT THESE SYSTEMS BECAUSE DOMINION, THE LAST THING THEY WANT IS UNRELIABLE POWER FROM SITES LIKE OURS. IT TENDS TO BE UNRELIABLE IN CERTAIN SEASONS OF THE YEAR.

AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE YOU LOOK, I KNOW YOU'RE.

WELL, NATIONWIDE. YEAH. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE BROWN ACT? NO, WE HAVE NOT. AND IN PART BROWNOUTS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH GENERATING CAPACITY RIGHT.

THAT'S THAT'S WHY THERE'S A BASICALLY A DEFICIT OF ENOUGH POWER.

AND IT'S GREAT TO THINK ABOUT NUCLEAR AND OTHER SOURCES OF POWER, BUT SOME OF THOSE SOURCES TAKE 5 TO 10 YEARS TO GET ONLINE.

AND RIGHT NOW THE DEMAND THROUGH A LOT OF DATA CENTER IS JUST SPIKING IN DOMINION.

AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BUY THE BEST, MOST RELIABLE SOURCES OF POWER IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

DO YOU SEE THE EFFECT OF ANYTHING BEING CODIFIED IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW? THAT WOULD. PUT A STRAIN ON YOU BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE.

WHAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF A WAY WHEN YOU INTEGRATE IT INTO THE GRID THAT YOU IT COMES TIME FOR YOU TO PUT OUT, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO PUT OUT. AND THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE FINDING OUT ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY IN CERTAIN PLACES.

AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD AS MUCH MORE OF THAT I HAVE.

BUT. RIGHT. WELL, TO BE HONEST, WE THINK A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE TRIPPING THEMSELVES BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME WHERE GENERATION AND CAPACITY IS MOST NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE SURGE IN ENERGY DEMAND. AND YET A LOT OF GOOD PROJECTS ARE BEING DENIED AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT'S WHY THERE IS SOME TALK ABOUT STATE LEVEL INTERVENTION.

SO IN THE FUTURE, DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN STAND ALONE.

STAND ALONE IN TERMS OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY.

YEAH. SO THE STORAGE COMPONENT IS ACTUALLY PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVEN THE SOLAR COMPONENT OF OUR SYSTEM, BECAUSE DOMINION NEEDS BASICALLY OFF RAMPS AND THEN ON RAMPS ONTO THE GRID.

AND THAT'S THE RESERVOIR THEY USE. THE ONLY THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS YOUR LINE OF PRODUCTIVITY IS GOING UP.

THE COST OF FOSSIL FUELS AND NATURAL GAS COST WILL BE COMING DOWN.

YOURS GOING UP. THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER, I WOULD THINK.

[02:10:02]

AND SO THERE'S A BENEFIT TO FIXING IT WHERE IT IS NOW IF ENERGY PRICES ARE LIKELY TO HAVE THE ELECTRIC BILLS FOR THE COMMON CONSUMER EVER GONE TAKING A DOWNTURN? YOU HAVE TO ASK DOMINION ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THAT. BUT I THINK DOMINION IS HAS A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE WORKING FOR THEM.

THEY'VE GOT IT BUILT INTO EVER INCREASE. THEY TOOK CARE OF THAT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUT PERHAPS YEARS AGO.

BUT BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR RELIABLE SOURCES AND CREDIBLE SOURCES.

RIGHT. SO THEY'RE BEING VERY SELECTIVE IN THEIR AWARD PROCESS.

AND WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TO GET AN AWARD.

WELL THAT'S MY THE BROWNOUTS ARE MY CONCERN FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN.

AND IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SOLAR THOSE THOSE AREAS DON'T EXPERIENCE BROWNOUTS.

THAT'S MY THAT'S TRUE. SO IN PART THAT'S WHY A LOT OF THE AWARDS NOW FOR DOMINION HAS TO COME WITH STORAGE, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR MUCH MORE CONSISTENT ENERGY PRODUCTION INTO THE GRID.

SO WE'D BE TAKING A CHANCE. WELL, I THINK IT WILL STABILIZE THE GRID WITH THE SOLAR PLUS STORAGE.

ARE YOU ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN THE ENGINEERING OF THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU JUST REPRESENT THE COMPANY? I REPRESENT THE COMPANY, BUT I'M FAMILIAR. FAMILIAR WITH THE ENGINEERING.

YOU ARE THE ENGINEERING. YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE ACTUAL BUILDING AND ENGINEERING OF THE.

YES, YES, WE ARE A TURNKEY SYSTEM PROVIDER. OKAY.

YES. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL COMES TO LIGHT. THAT SOLAR POWER, THAT CURRENT IS IN AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE IT THAT THE CONSUMERS COST GOES UP. WILL YOU ADMIT THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S TRUE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT OR NOT, BUT IT MAY BE TRUE.

BUT IN OUR CASE, WE ARE SELLING POWER AT A FIXED AT A FIXED RATE TO DOMINION.

SO WE'RE KIND OF A WHOLESALER. WE'RE NOT SELLING DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS.

WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY HAVE THIS, THE COST OF THEIR ELECTRICITY GOES UP.

AND THAT MAY BE THE CASE, SIR. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD KNOW, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH 17 YEARS.

YES. 17 YEARS. OKAY. OVER THE TIME. NOW, MR. GILLETTE MENTIONED BROWNOUTS.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY IMPROVEMENT OVER THOSE YEARS OR ARE THERE ARE THERE ARE, NO, THERE ARE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. SO THERE'S MORE PRODUCTION OVER THE YEARS.

THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT IS THE CONCEPT OF BEING ABLE TO SYNCHRONIZE IT WITH A STORAGE FACILITY, BECAUSE NOW, PRETTY MUCH CALIFORNIA, MOST STATES REQUIRE SOME PAIRING OF THE SOLAR WITH STORAGE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR THAT MORE BASELOAD, CONSISTENT PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY.

SO THAT'S BEEN THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN OUR INDUSTRY.

AND THAT'S WHERE UTILITIES LIKE DOMINION ARE AWARDING MOST OF THEIR CONTRACTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SIR, ARE Y'ALL IN SUSSEX? WHERE IS Y'ALL'S CLOSEST FACILITY TO? IF YOU WANT TO TALK, YOU NEED TO COME UP HERE. OKAY. I'M SORRY.

I JUST FORGOT TO ASK YOU, WHERE'S YOUR CLOSEST FACILITY TO THIS LOCATION.

DO YOU HAVE ONE IN VIRGINIA? WE'RE BASICALLY BUILDING ONE IN SOUTH BOSTON.

SOUTH BOSTON. OKAY. THANK YOU. SORRY. GETTING TO THE STORAGE.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T MENTION IT. HOW LONG? LET'S SAY IT WAS OVERCAST FOR TWO WEEKS.

WOULD THE STORAGE FACILITY THE BATTERY LAST THAT LONG? NO. IT LASTS. THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SYSTEM IS FOUR HOURS.

OTHERWISE IT WILL SWITCH TO GRID POWER. RIGHT.

OKAY, SO THEN IT WOULD SWITCH. GOTCHA. AND THEN IT'LL DISCHARGE AT THE HIGH PEAK HOURS, USUALLY EVENING HOURS.

FOR FOUR HOURS, LIKE FROM 5 TO 9 P.M.. OKAY. AND THE SOLAR TAKES OVER DURING THE DAY.

[02:15:01]

THIS IS JUST FOR AIRING IT OUT THE PUBLIC. AND YOU'VE HEARD THEY'VE ANSWERED SOME GOOD QUESTIONS.

ASK SOME GOOD QUESTIONS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER 11.

[11. Public Hearing - Tax Relief for the elderly and Disabled Ordinance - Request to Adopt]

IF YOU REMEMBER, WE DISCUSSED THIS AT YOUR APRIL 16TH BUDGET WORK SESSION.

SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS OR THESE AMENDMENTS WERE BASICALLY REQUESTED AND PRODDED BY OUR COMMISSIONER REVENUE.

AMY CARR. AND BASICALLY, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ORDINANCE, ALL THEY DO IS RAISE THE MINIMUM INCOME QUALIFICATION LIMIT TO 45,000.

CURRENTLY IT'S 40,399. SO IN EFFECT, YOU'RE JUST RAISING THE INCOME LIMIT AS WELL AS THE EXEMPTION AMOUNTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE TABLE THERE. AND BASICALLY WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION AND COST OF LIVING SO MORE PEOPLE CAN QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM.

THE QUESTION IS BROUGHT UP, DO YOU HAVE TO BE BOTH ELDERLY AND DISABLED OR ELDERLY OR DISABLED? JUST JUST ONE OR THE OTHER, AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES.

BUT THE COUNTIES HAD THIS IN PLACE, IT LOOKS LIKE SINCE 2006, SO ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW.

OKAY. WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. COLLEEN FLICK AGAIN.

JUST CURIOUS, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF ELDERLY.

IS THERE AN AGE SPECIFIC TO THAT? SO IF THE BOARD'S INCLINED AND IN 15-91. IT SAYS THE EXEMPTION IS PROVIDED FOR QUALIFIED PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE 65 OR OLDER, OR WHO ARE PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

WELL, I'M OVER 65 AND I CONSIDER MYSELF ELDERLY, BUT OKAY, I JUST WAS WONDERING.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN.

LAST CALL. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I MOVE. WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.

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

I WILL ADOPT THAT ORDINANCE. ALL RIGHT, NUMBER 12, ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.

[12. Public Hearing - Solid Waste Management Fee Relief for Elderly and Disabled - Request to Adopt]

SO AGAIN THIS IS THESE TWO ORDINANCES ARE TIED TOGETHER WITH THE QUALIFICATION LIMITS.

SO AGAIN THIS JUST BASICALLY INCREASES THE MINIMUM INCOME TO 45,000.

AND THE RANGE OF EXEMPTIONS IN THE IN THE TABLE, YOU'VE GOT THE RED LINES TO THE EXEMPTIONS BELOW.

THEY PRETTY MUCH THE BOTH OF THESE ORDINANCE MATCHES UP WITH EACH OTHER. SO BOTH OF THEM NEED TO BE ADOPTED AND AMENDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER.

SO SAME REASONS AS BEFORE. MINIMUM INCOME LIMITS INCREASE.

AND IT'S BASICALLY TO KEEP UP WITH WAGE AND INFLATIONARY PRESSURES SO MORE PEOPLE QUALIFY.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.

I JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT FOR THE RECORD. SO INDIVIDUALS COMING BACK VIEWING THIS.

COULD YOU PLEASE STATE WHAT THE SLIDING FEE SCALE IS FOR THE INCOME BRACKET? YOU SAID IT STARTS AT 45. AND THEN WHAT IS THE.

IT TOPS OUT AT WHERE YOU THE PERCENTAGE. YOU SAID THE TOTAL COMBINED HOUSING HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR THE HOUSEHOLD CANNOT EXCEED $45,000. AND THEN THEY HAVE A RANGE OF INCOME EXEMPTION.

AGAIN, THIS I GUESS THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE COUNTY HAS HAD THIS SOLID WASTE FEE.

IN OTHER WORDS, AT WHAT LEVEL DOES IT PEAK? 2020 $8,099 IS 100% EXEMPTION, THEN 28,000 TO 90 $9 TO $33,733.70 5% EXEMPTIONS 33,007 3301 TO 90 $39,367 50% EXEMPTION, THEN 39,367 AND ONE CENTS TO

[02:20:01]

NO NO EXEMPTION. BASICALLY SLIDING SCALE FORWARD SO MORE PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO QUALIFY.

AND AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2012.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK WHILE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OVER? NO QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MOTION TO APPROVE THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT TO APPROVE.

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

UNANIMOUS. OKAY. GOAL NUMBER 13, THE 26 BUDGET REQUEST TO ADOPT.

[13. FY26 Budget - Request to Adopt]

WE'VE MET SEVERAL TIMES, HAD A FEW BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU DID HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 14TH. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT HEARING, YOU VOTED.

YOU DID VOTE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED BUDGET BY INCREASING THE AMOUNT GIVEN TO THE WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD BY $16,588. WE DID TAKE THAT INCREASE FROM THE CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM, AND YOU DO HAVE THE ATTACHED BUDGET MEMO THAT OUTLINES THE GENERAL ENTERPRISE BUILDING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND, SCHOOL SERVICES FUND, AND THE SCHOOL FUND. ALL THOSE ARE LISTED IN THAT.

YOU DO HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TAX RATES ORDINANCE THAT WE HAD PUBLIC HEARING ON FEES ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON, THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON, AND THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BONUS PAYMENT FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES ORDINANCE. SO ALL THOSE ARE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I DO RECOMMEND YOU MOVE FORWARD AND ADOPT ADOPT THE BUDGET AND ORDINANCES AS ATTACHED. ALL RIGHT. IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO SO. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT ONE COMMENT. THIS YEAR, THE I JUST LIKE TO THANK LYNETTE AND CHRISTY AND EVERYBODY IN THE OFFICE AND BRIAN FOR DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB ON THIS BUDGET.

AND I KNOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG NUMBER, IT LOOKS LIKE WE, YOU KNOW, HAD ABOUT $4 MILLION MORE REVENUE THIS YEAR, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAD $4.5 MILLION IN INCREASES.

AND WE STILL DIDN'T RAISE THE PRICE OF ANYTHING.

OH, A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET WENT UP 600,000.

HEALTH AND WELFARE WENT UP 500,000. PUBLIC SAFETY WENT UP 1.1 MILLION.

JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS THE CIRCUIT COURT, COMBINED COURTS.

AND ALL OF THEM WENT UP 300,000. AND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND DEBT SERVICE.

DEBT SERVICE WENT UP 2.5 MILLION. ME, AND WE COVERED ALL OF THAT AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY INCREASES IN THE REAL ESTATE OR PERSONAL PROPERTY.

WE DIDN'T INCREASE PERSONAL PROPERTY. NO, NO INCREASES ANYWHERE.

AND I STUDIED THIS BUDGET LIKE WE ALWAYS DO, BEING WILLIAM HART HAVE AND WE CAN'T, I DON'T KNOW.

DID YOU COME UP WITH ANYTHING YOU GOT? I THINK WE'RE I THINK WE'RE GOOD ON THIS.

AND SOME OF THOSE WERE. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

WELL, ONE TIME IT'S GOING TO BE ONE TIME EXPENDITURES AND THAT'S CORRECT.

RIGHT. MUCH DISCUSSION AT OUR LAST BUDGET SESSION ABOUT THE FUTURE AND LOOKING AND TAKING CARE OF SOME NEEDS THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO POP UP IN THE FUTURE. AND NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THAT LEGWORK TO BE PREPARED.

SO THAT WAS A ONE TIME EXPENDITURE THAT WAS ADDED INTO THE INCREASE.

THE TOTAL INCREASE OF THE BUDGET. SO IT WAS AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

[02:25:02]

CORRECT. DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE ABOUT THE ONE TIME HOW MUCH HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE ONE TIME? THERE WERE VARIOUS THINGS IN THERE. SO ONE THING THAT DOES CONTINUE THERE WERE INCREASES TO FIRE AND RESCUE.

AS FAR AS THE CAPITAL FUNDS THAT ARE GIVEN THEM, GIVEN TO THEM THAT WE HOLD IN ESCROW UNTIL THEY GET READY TO BUY A MEDIC OR FIRE TRUCK OR WHATEVER. AND THEN ALSO THEIR NORMAL OPERATING COST.

SO WE DID GIVE MORE MONEY FOR THAT. AS FAR AS THE ONE TIME THINGS.

SO WE HAVE FINISHED UP WITH THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT.

WE'RE WELL INTO THE RADIO PROJECT, SO THAT'S A ONE TIMER THAT'S GOING TO FINISH UP PROBABLY THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR 27.

BUT WE'RE WE'RE KIND OF IN THE HEART OF THAT PROJECT RIGHT NOW.

TRYING TO THINK THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS. WE HAD THE COMPENSATION STUDY THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

POTENTIALLY THE BUILDING NEEDS STUDY AS FAR AS EXPANSION OF THIS BUILDING.

TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT ELSE SOME OF THE ONGOING COST OF THE STIPENDS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THAT WAS THE STIPENDS. THEY THEY'RE OH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

OKAY, SO UNTIL THAT COMPENSATION STUDY COMES INTO PLAY THERE IS A ONE TIME DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WAS GOING TO BE ADDED TO SOME OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS, PEOPLE THAT WORK, WHAT I'LL CALL A CALL SHIFT OR RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES, THINGS, PARTICULAR TYPES OF EMERGENCIES, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT WOULD NOT BE ONGOING AFTER THAT COMPENSATION STUDY IS, IS DONE.

THERE WERE A FEW OTHER THINGS, AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY RIGHT NOW.

YEAH. LYNETTE. LYNETTE MENTIONED THE BIG ONE, THE COMPENSATION STUDY AND THAT THAT WILL THEY'LL STUDY THE THE STIPENDS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY DO THE STUDY. BUT THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS GOING FORWARD.

IN ESSENCE, THERE WERE SOME PLANNING ISSUES THAT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO DO NOW THAN WAIT AND KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND DO THEM IN THE FUTURE.

SO THERE WAS A THERE'S A WATER SUPPLY PLAN. WE WANTED TO DO A STUDY FOR THAT BECAUSE WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, SOMETIMES WE'RE HAVING WATER WITHDRAWAL. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WITHDRAW MORE WATER FOR DIFFERENT TYPE PROJECTS.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE STUDY. THAT'S A THAT'S A ONE TIMER.

I'VE ALREADY SAID THE RADIO PROJECT. YEAH.

GUYS. THE FIRST THING THEY WANT TO KNOW IS HOW MUCH WATER IS THE BIG ISSUE. AND YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE WATER CONTROL THAT.

YEAH, YEAH, THEY CONTROL THE PERMITTING, BUT THEY CAN'T CONTROL HOW MUCH WATER IS IN THE GROUND TO WITHDRAW.

RIGHT. SO THEY HAVE TO ALLOCATE IT. AND THEN THE WATER MAINTENANCE, WATER TANK MAINTENANCE CONTRACT THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'RE DOING TO HAVE ALL OF THE WATER TANKS ON A NORMAL ROTATING SCHEDULE.

YEAH. SO TO ECHO ROBERT I DO APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S WORK WITH THE STAFF THIS YEAR.

IT'S GOING VERY WELL. APPRECIATE LYNETTE AND KRISTI AND TINA.

AND THE DEPARTMENT IS PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR BUDGET REQUEST.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S WORK AND CONSIDERATION ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.

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

AYE. OKAY. THAT WILL GO TO THE NEWSPAPER. AND WHEN I GO TO THE NEWSPAPER, WE WE WE ALREADY ADVERTISE THE PROPOSED BUDGET. BUT WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY WE'LL WE'LL PUT TOGETHER THE FINAL BUDGET AND SEND IT TO TIDEWATER NEWS IF THAT IF THEY LIKE, WILL YOU PUT IT ONLINE? YEAH WE DO. WE PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE.

SO BRIAN DID THAT APPROVAL DO. AND LET ME MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT I'M ASSUMING THAT INCORPORATES ALL THE ORDINANCES THEY THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT. YEAH. SEE YOU. SEE SOMETHING HERE.

[02:30:05]

THERE'S ALSO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THERE WERE THE TAX RATE ORDINANCES WHICH JUST STATES WHAT THEY ARE FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

THE FEE ORDINANCE THE ORDINANCE AND THE BONUS PAYMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES ORDINANCE. WELL, THAT'S ALL IN THE BUDGET.

SO IT IS IT IS ALL PART OF WHAT MAKES UP THIS BUDGET.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS YOUR INTENT.

THAT'S THE WAY I READ IT. OKAY. DO YOU ALL AGREE WITH THAT? I DO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? NOTHING. THANK YOU, IDA. WE SERVE WITH NO PAY.

WE'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR PAY. AS NUMBER ZERO.

ALL RIGHT. ARE WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO MULL OVER TONIGHT? I HAVE ONE THING. SO, MISS UPDIKE ASKED WHAT PBIS GRANT MEANT IN REFERENCE TO THE SCHOOLS.

THAT IS THE POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT GRANT.

AND I DID FIND THE NUMBER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

IT WAS NOT IN THE BILLS TO BE PAID. IT WAS IN THE FIRST COUNTY APPROPRIATION THAT YOU SAW.

AND IT'S WHERE REMEMBER MONTH BEFORE LAST OR LAST MONTH, WE FINALLY GOT THE APPROVAL TO GET THE LOAN.

SO THAT WAS THE MONEY COMING BACK, AND YOU GUYS HAD APPROVED.

IT WAS EITHER LAST JUNE OR JULY. YOU APPROVED A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION.

SO WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENDOR LAST AUGUST.

NOW WE HAVE THE FINANCING BECAUSE WE COMBINED ALL THE ITEMS WE BOUGHT.

AND SO THAT WAS THE REIMBURSEMENT PART OF THAT MONEY COMING BACK FROM THE LOAN.

SO THAT WAS PUTTING THE MONEY BACK IN BECAUSE WE'RE FINANCING IT.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? ANY LATE ARRIVING MATTERS.

NOTHING FROM STAFF? NO, SIR. ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.