>> I HAVE [OVERLAPPING] TO BE 710 B GETS IT HOW I ASK IF
[1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]
[00:00:07]
EVERYONE WILL STAND AS WE I PLEDGE TO FLAG.>> I ASK IF YOU ALL REMAIN STANDING AND I'LL HAVE A BRIEF INDICATION, YOU WE MAJORITY, IF YOU WOULD.
HAVE A FATHER, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY, LORD THAT WE CAN COME AND ASSEMBLE HERE TONIGHT TO CONDUCT A BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY BUSINESS PLANNING COMMISSION FOR OUR WONDERFUL SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED TONIGHT, LORD, WE ASK THAT WE HAVE A GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE MEETING TONIGHT, AND LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU GIVE TO US EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE ASK THAT DECISIONS MADE HERE TONIGHT WILL BE PLEASING TO YOU.
WHEN THIS MEETING IS OVER TONIGHT, BE WITH US THAT WE ALL HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY HOME.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE ASK YOUR SONS NAME. AMEN.
>> MAYBE SEATED. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE TONIGHT WHILE SEPTEMBER MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION.
MISS BAKER, I WILL LET YOU MAKE A NOTE THAT MR. RANDALL AND MR. RANDALL ARE NOT IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS HERE AND MR. MAN, YOU'RE NOT LATE.
>> THE COMMITTEE WE PUT HIM ON.
AGAIN, WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR MEETING TONIGHT.
ON OUR AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 2 IS ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS.
[2. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS]
MR. AND MISS DAY, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU ALL WILL COME DOWN TOGETHER, PLEASE.WE WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR RETIRING FROM OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.
YEAH. I'VE GOT TO KEEP MY GLASSES ON.
BUT TODAY, I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT FIRST.
THIS IS ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US.
NOT ONLY THE PLANNING COMMITTEE, BUT I GUESS I'M SPEAKING OF THE SIGHT OF.
BUT TODAY WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT AND THE EXPERTISE YOU'VE BEEN WITH SHELL OF US THROUGH THE YEARS, YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUST BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR THE REST OF US TO FOLLOW.
YOUR DEDICATION. I DON'T KNOW.
IF YOU MISSED THE MEETING, IT WAS VERY FEW.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN DEDICATED TO CALLS AND IF WE HAD A FIELD TRIP, YOU'RE READY TO GO AND WOULD YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO BRING YOU TO THE TABLE.
WE WERE JUST HUGELY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
THAT BEING SAID, I'M GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US TONIGHT.
OUR APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE HERE IS GOING TO REFLECT THE 21ST DAY OF AUGUST, AND THAT'S MY THAT WAS MY DOING.
WE WERE HOPING TO DO THIS LAST MONTH.
BUT DON'T LET THAT BE A TECHNICALITY FOR YOU [LAUGHTER] BUT WE DO APPRECIATE IT, AND I MIGHT LIKE TO READ IT TO YOU NOW, IF I COULD.
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION.
GOES ON TO SAY, WHEREAS WILLIAM W DAY SERVED THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THROUGH HIS FAITHFUL COMMITMENT AS A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION FROM JULY 28TH, 2014 TO APRIL 30TH, 2025, AND WHEREAS WILLIAM W DAY HAS UNSELFISHLY GIVEN HIS TIME AND TENTS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, PROSPERITY, AND THE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND WHEREAS HIS BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND CONCERN FOR THE WELL BEING OF HER CITIZENS CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S EFFORTS IN BALANCING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
WHEREAS HIS EXPERIENCE AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE HAS PROVIDED SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WITH VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS DURING HIS 10 YEARS AND NINE MONTHS OF DEVOTED SERVICE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
[00:05:02]
THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION DULY RECOGNIZES AND APPRECIATES THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WILLIAM W DAY.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BE SPREAD UPON THE MINUTES OF THIS BOARD, SERVING TO RECORD AND FOREVER DESERVE ITS GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF WILLIAM W DAY.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED THIS 21ST DAY OF AUGUST 2025.
MY FRIEND, WE'RE SAD TO SEE YOU GO, BUT WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT, YOU AND YOUR WIFE VOTE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND WE'LL DEBIT TO YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU.
>> CLAP YOUR HANDS [APPLAUSE].
>> ENJOY IT. MR. CHAIRMAN, HOLD ON, MISS MR. DAY.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION.
SECOND FOR MR. DAY FOR A SERVICE. IS SECOND.
>> YOU ARE WELCOMED. THANK YOU.
>> KEEP IN TOUCH ON THE TURKEY FEATHERS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU [NOISE].
>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> SPEAK THE LANGUAGE UP THERE WHERE YOU'RE GOING HERE.
>> YOU NOTICED THE END OF THE TABLE WHERE YOU SAT, WE STOOD UP.
>> MR. DAY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY WHILE MEETING.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE EXCUSED, WE UNDERSTAND.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME BACK ANY TIME AS WELL.
>> THAT MY FRIENDS IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF BEING THE CHAIRMAN.
OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID, IT'S FROM ALL OF US, AND IT'S FROM ALL THE COUNTY.
WE APPRECIATE IT WHAT MR. DAY SERVED HIS COUNTY WILL.
LET'S GO DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 3.
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.I SEE EVERYBODY HAD TO PACKETS FOR OF THEM.
DID ANYBODY RECOGNIZE ANY ADMISSIONS, IS ANY CORRECTIONS OR.
>>I ALWAYS LOOK AT MR. ERKART [LAUGHTER].
>> I AGREE. I KNOW YOU ALL GOT SOME REALLY SHARP KEEN EYES, AND I APPRECIATE MY PROOF READERS.
IT IN ORDER, I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT.
>> HAVE A PROPER MOTION OR A PROPER SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED, SAY AYE.
>> APPROVE LIKE SIGN. THEY PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 4 IS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD]
FOR THE ONES IN ATTENDANCE.I AT THIS TIME, I OPENED A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IF ANYBODY LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK OF ANY ISSUE REGARDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE COUNTY ITSELF? I JUST ASKED FOR YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
ANYONE LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK? THEN WE HAVE A LIGHT AGENDA TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ALL RIGHT. GO DOWN TO IT NUMBER 5.
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED TONIGHT.
I IT NUMBER 6, THERE WAS NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD.
ITEM NUMBER 7 AND THE NEW BUSINESS.
[7. NEW BUSINESS]
THERE WAS ISSUE OF PUBLIC RECORDS, ADOPTED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.I GUESS YOU SAW IN YOUR PACKET THAT MR. RANDOLPH HAD
[00:10:05]
SHARED SOME CONCERNS OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS.I WAS ALSO AWARE OF THOSE CONCERNS.
WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT SINCE IS THAT SOME OF THE MINUTES HAD BEEN SO CALLED ALTERED AND THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO BE FORMATTED FOR THE COMPUTER TO BE SIMILAR TO WHAT THE WHAT THE SUPERVISORS HAS RECORDED ON THE INTERNET.
SINCE I WAS AWARE OF THIS, NONE OF THE MINUTES I'M TRYING TO COME FORWARD TONIGHT, NONE OF THE MINUTES FOR THIS YEAR, STARTING IN JANUARY, I HAVE NOT SIGNED BECAUSE OF THOSE SLIGHT DISCREPANCIES.
NOW, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AND WHAT MR. RANDOLPH SHARED WITH ME, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO ANY REZONING OR ANY ACTION THAT WE TAKEN.
IT WAS JUST CERTAIN WORDS, HE ADMITTED, CHANGED, OR ADDED.
NOW, MR. RANDOLPH WAS PLANNING ON BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND HE WAS GOING TO SHARE WITH US BECAUSE HE TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO GO THROUGH WORD FOR WORD, TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AGENDA MINUTES THAT WE HAD THAT WE VOTED ON.
THERE WAS SOME IMPERFECTIONS ON WHAT IS SHOWN ON THE INTERNET.
AGAIN, I SAY, IT HAD NO BEING NO DETRIMENTAL BEING TO ANY ACTION THAT WE'VE TAKEN.
BUT SINCE THERE WAS SOME DISCREPANCIES, I ELECTED NOT TO SIGN ANY MINUTES SINCE THE JANUARY MEETING.
ANYWAY, THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
NO REFLECTION ON MISS BAKER, BY THE WAY.
I MEAN, MISS BAKER IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
BUT IT JUST IT SEEMS LIKE THIS FORMAT, AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WHERE A FORMAT MEANS, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE TO BE SLIGHTLY ALTERED CERTAIN WORDS TO MEET THE FORMAT.
BUT I'M BUT I'M GOING TO FIND OUT.
OF COURSE, IT'LL BE DISCLOSED TO EVERYONE.
BUT THAT WAS GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, MR. RANDOLPH IS NOT WITH US TONIGHT TO BRING US UP TO PAUL WITH WHAT HIS FINDINGS WERE.
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK IT THIS WILL BE A CONTINUING EFFORT GOING FORWARD.
MR. RYAN THROWER CALLED ME TODAY.
WE TALKED A FEW MINUTES AFTERNOON.
WE BOTH IN AGREEMENT THAT AGAIN, NO IT EMBARKMENT ON MISS BAKER, DOING A TERRIFIC JOB.
BUT IF IF MISS BAKER CAN IF SHE CAN HAVE THESE MINUTES IN THE PROPER FORMAT, THERE'LL BE NO REASON ANYONE ELSE TO GO BEHIND MISS BAKER, OKAY? IF THE PERSON THAT'S ACTUALLY DOING THE FORMAL CERTIFIED MINUTES FOR THE RECORD? WELL, THAT PERSON NEEDS TO BE HERE WITH US SO THAT WHEN WE ADOPT, LIKE WE JUST DID FOR THE MINUS OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE A CHANGE, NO FASHION.
DOES THAT MAKE DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT'S ALMOST LIKE A PERSON IT'S NOT A PERSON OF PROOF BAD.
THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL. MISS BAKER DOING A TERRIFIC JOB.
I COMMEND HER HIGHLY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FORMAT GETTING ONTO THE INTERNET.
THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS ARISING.
BUT THAT'S THAT'S ALSO GOING INTO THE OFFICIAL RECORD.
WHEN I COME IN, YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED IT THIS YEAR, BUT I KNOW IF YOU IF YOU WERE HIT THE PREVIOUS YEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN MISS LEWIS WAS HERE.
THERE WAS ALWAYS A STACK OF MINUTES AT MY DESK.
BEFORE THAT MEETING WAS OVER, I WOULD HAD TO SIGN ON AS WELL AS MISS LEWIS WAS SIGNED ON.
[00:15:02]
WELL, WHEN MR. KNUCKLE WAS THE INTERIM CAME IN, THAT STOPPED.ANYWAY, OUR PROCEDURE GOT LOST, YOU MIGHT SAY, WITH THE INTERIM? ANOTHER GOT BROUGHT UP TO SPEED.
BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE IT.
EVERYTHING THAT WE LIKE I SAY, WE'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
BUT WE GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT ENCOMPASSED THIS FORMAT ON THE COMPUTER.
I DON'T I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO EXAMINE IT THOROUGHLY TODAY, BUT I WILL.
WE'LL HAVE SOME EXPLANATION FOR ALL OF THIS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
NOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I KNEW AT THIS TIME.
BUT I THOUGHT I HAD TO GO AHEAD AND BRIEF YOU ON THAT MATTER.
BUT AGAIN, WE JUST NEED TO HAVE ONE PERSON TAKE THOSE MINUTES.
WHEN WE VOTE THEM AS A COMMISSIONERS BOARD, IT SHOULD NOT BE ALTERED FROM THAT POINT FORWARD.
THAT SHOULD WHEN WHEN MY NAME GOES ON IT, I'M CERTIFYING THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED ON.
THAT'S AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE FROM THIS MEETING FORWARD.
>> THAT YOU AND MR. RANDALL, THAT YOU CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN, TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
>> CERTAINLY. IS THAT OKAY WITH THE REMANDED TO THE BOARD.
WE COME BACK WITH THE STATEMENT NEXT MEETING?
>> I AGREE. IN FACT, MY SUGGESTION IS IF YOU NEED TO GET THE COUNTY ATTORNEY INVOLVED JUST TO CROSS ALL THE TEASE AND DOT ALL THE SO THAT NOBODY CAN COME BACK ON THESE SETTLEMENTS, NOT THAT YOU'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE ANYTHING WRONG, SMALL TECHNICALITY.
I THINK IT'S JUST A LITTLE HURDLE THAT WE NEED TO WE NEED TO MOVE THROUGH.
I THINK THAT TRANSITION WITH THE IN AND NO [INAUDIBLE].
I MEAN, HE OR SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT BEGAN AT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THAT AGREEABLE?
>> ALL RIGHT. I'LL CONTACT MR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> TRANSPARENCY SAKE, FOR THE CITIZENS ON THAT PROCESS, WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO PUT IN A ADDENDUM SHEET INSIDE OF THOSE MINUTES SHOWING WHERE THE DISCREPANCY WAS AND.
>> YES. MR. ARCO, THAT'S WHAT MR. RANDOLPH WAS WORKING ON THAT.
YES, SIR. I WILL TRY TO FOLLOW THROUGH. YEAH.
>> WE THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
ALSO UNDER NEW BUSINESS, PART B, WE WERE HOPING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION TONIGHT FROM THE NODAWAY RIVER NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER COUNTY CITIZEN GROUP.
AGAIN, FROM MR. THROWER SAID THAT THE PERSON THAT HAD BEEN CONTACTED TO COME AND SPEAK TO US TONIGHT, HAD DECLINED DECLINED TO OFFER, BUT I TOLD HIM THAT MAYBE I WOULD SEE THE FEELING.
I TOLD HIM I HAD ASK THE BOARD TONIGHT.
HE DIDN'T SAY HE WAS UNABLE TO COME.
>> I CAN PROBABLY ENLIGHTEN IT A LITTLE BIT FOR THEM.
>> IT WAS PRESENTED HERE AT A PUBLIC MEETING AND A LOT OF LAND OWNERS SHOWED UP AND ADD OPPOSITION TO IT.
A WEEK AFTER THAT, THERE WAS A MEETING AT SUSSEX, A SIMILAR MEETING. I'M NOT SURE.
HIS PLAN WAS IF THE MEETING WAS POSITIVE AT SUSSEX, HE WAS GOING TO COME BACK HERE.
COME TO THE BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND HAVE US APPOINT A COMMITTEE.
THE ONLY PART THAT HE WANTED TO SEE WAS APPOINTING A COMMITTEE, CITIZENS OR WHATEVER TO LOOK AT.
THERE WERE NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE IT OR NOT TAKE IT.
I GUESS WE'RE WAITING FOR HIM.
>> LIKE I SAID, AT THAT MEETING, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE AGAINST IT DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO HEAR THE FACTS.
I DON'T LIKE IT, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING.
I THINK YOU THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS RIVER.
IT'S THE ONLY ONE LEFT IN THE STATE THAT EVEN QUALIFIES FOR IT. ONLY ONE IN THE STATE.
[00:20:02]
IT'S THE MOST PRISTINE RIVER, MAYBE IN A WHOLE COUNTRY.I THINK WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT IT AND LEAVE IT LIKE THAT.
>> THERE'S NO OTHER RIVER IN VIRGINIA THAT HAS QUALIFIED.
>> RAPPAHANNOCK WAS CONSIDERED, BUT THAT HAS DROPPED OUT BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH DEVELOPMENT.
THERE ARE CONDOMINIUMS AND THINGS ON UNDER RAPPAHANNOCK NOW.
>> IF THIS WENT THROUGH, IT WOULD BE THE ONLY RIVER.
>> YES. IT IS PROTECTED UNDER STATE AUSPICES NOW.
BUT THIS WOULD BE FEDERAL NATIONAL.
THE COUNTY, WE WOULD STILL HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON THERE.
NO INTERFERENCE FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR WHATEVER.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK A LOT OF US WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT NOBODY EVEN WANTED TO LISTEN TO THE FACTS.
>> IT ALSO OPENS THE ABILITY TO GET FUNDS BECAUSE THE FUNDING WOULD COME TO HELP SUPPORT THE DESIGNATION OF BEING A NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVER.
IT WOULD PROBABLY OPEN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS FOR THE COUNTY.
NOT TO MENTION JUST THE NOTORIETY OF HAVING A NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVER.
PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THOSE TYPES OF RIVERS GENERALLY ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSERVATIVE.
THEY DO NOT DESTROY OR CHANGE THINGS.
I THINK THE ATTRACTION THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION THE NIGHT OF THE MEETING WAS THAT IT WAS GOING TO BRING THIS INFLUX OF PEOPLE.
BUT PEOPLE THAT COME TO A RIVER LIKE THAT ARE MORE ATTENTIVE TO TAKING CARE OF THE PRISTINE QUALITY OF A RIVER LIKE THAT OR THE SCENIC PART OF IT.
I JUST THINK THAT OUR COUNTY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT LEAST TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> WHO WOULD THE COMMITTEE CONSIST OF?
>> CITIZENS, INTERESTED BODIES.
THAT WAS HOW IT WAS PRESENTED AT THAT MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT.
WAS, IT WOULD JUST BE A CITIZEN COMMITTEE.
I GUESS WE WOULD CONTACT DR. EDWARDS, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IF WE ARE INTERESTED IN IT.
I THINK YOU SAW IN HERE, THEY HAD A LITTLE DESIGNATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WHAT I GUESS THEY CALL STAKEHOLDERS.
BUT THEY WOULD HAVE A CROSS SECTION OF INTERESTED COMMUNITY BODIES.
MAYBE EVEN ORGANIZATIONS AT THIS POINT.
I THINK I TALKED A LOT AND IN THE MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING, I TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS.
I JUST THINK THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE FUTURE BECAUSE THE WAY WE VIEW IT NOW IS NOT HOW THE NEXT GENERATIONS WILL VIEW.
IF WE DON'T PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE, IT WON'T BE HERE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
OUR ASSETS ARE AGRA-TOURISM AND ECO-TOURISM. THAT'S IT.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF OUR SCENIC PORTIONS OF OUR COUNTY AND THE SCENIC RIVER THAT WE HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, MS. AUSTIN. GO AHEAD, MR. URQUHART.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN JUST A MISCOMMUNICATION IN THAT MEETING TO HAVE THE CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WAS FOR THEM TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS TO SORT OF LIKE THINK TANK BEFORE ANY OTHER THING WAS PUT TOGETHER, AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE CHARGE OF THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER.
BECAUSE YOU WANTED THEM TO HAVE A LOT OF INPUT INTO THE SITUATION NOT AS A FEELING THAT GOVERNMENT WAS IMPOSING SOMETHING ON THEM.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF DISINFORMATION DISTRIBUTED TO THE LAND OWNERS ON THE RIVER.
THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN AMONG SOME PEOPLE TO TALK TO EVERYBODY ON THE RIVER.
THEY CALL JACK AND WE HAVE A LITTLE PIECE DOWN THE RIVER.
I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED, LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO TAKE OVER.
YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ON YOUR LAND ANYMORE, THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS.
YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. ONLY THING YOU CAN'T DO IS DO
[00:25:02]
ANYTHING THAT WILL HARM THE QUALITY OF THE RIVER.>> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING BY PEOPLE AT LARGE THAT DON'T REALIZE THAT THE RIVER BELONGS TO EVERYONE AND YOUR RIGHTS IN AT THE BORDER OR THE WATERLINE OF IT? THAT MAY BE THE MAJOR COMMUNICATION PROBLEM.
BECAUSE THEY WOULD SAY, WELL, I DON'T WANT THIS RIGHT HERE ON MY SECTION.
WELL, YOUR ARGUMENT STOPS THERE AT THE SHORELINE? OTHER THAN THAT, THE RIVER BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE POPULACE?
>> BECAUSE I BELIEVE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FISH ON THAT RIVER, THOSE WHO ARE INTO FISHERMAN.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S IT'S JUST PRIVATE PROPERTY.
>> THAT'S WHERE THE LEVEL OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITY COMES IN BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC RESOURCE THAT BORDERS YOUR PROPERTY.
EACH PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPECTING THE OTHER PARTY.
THE LANDOWNER RESPECTS THE PERSON ON THE RIVER, AND THE PERSON ON THE RIVER RESPECTS THE LANDOWNER.
>> I THINK IF THEY TALK ABOUT, YOU GET, I THINK IT'S $75,000 ONCE YOU'RE DESIGNATED.
THOSE FUNDS ARE FOR SOMEONE TO MONITOR WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT COULD BE FOR PUTTING AESTHETICALLY BLENDED SIGNAGE ON CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE RIVER.
IT COULD BE FOR PUTTING MORE TRASH RECEPTACLES AT THE BOAT LANDINGS AND JUST KEEPING THE FACILITIES THAT ARE THE BOAT LAUNCHES IN A BETTER CONDITION FOR RECREATIONAL USE.
TO ME, THERE IS NO DOWNSIDE TO IT.
>> THE INFORMATION MEETING, WHICH TOTALLY SLIPPED UP ON ME.
I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION, IT GOT BY ME.
I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TRIED TO ATTEND IT.
THE INFORMATIONAL MEETING THAT WAS HELD HERE, CORRECT? THE PURPOSE WAS TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE.
IS THAT WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THAT MEETING WAS?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE TO INFORM.
IT WAS A COURTESY FOR THOSE WHO LIVED ALONG THE RIVER.
BUT GOING FORWARD, THE COMMITTEE WOULD PROBABLY BE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THAT'S JUST HOW I ENVISIONED IT WOULD BE.
PEOPLE WHO USE THE RIVER, I MEAN, EVEN PEOPLE LIKE JEFF TURNER, WHO HAD STARTED THE RIVER KEEPER PROGRAM.
PEOPLE WHO REALLY ENJOY THE RIVER AND WANT TO PROTECT IT.
I CERTAINLY, LIKE DR. EDWARDS HAS SAID, DID NOT EXPECT THE ADVERSITY THAT CAME BACK.
IT WAS TOTALLY CLOSED MIND, WE DON'T WANT IT, NO MATTER WHAT.
NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL OF WHAT IT WOULD DO FOR OUR COUNTY AND WHAT IT WILL DO FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, AND PROTECTING IT IS PROTECTING IT FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS.
>> MR. EDWARDS, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU [INAUDIBLE].
NEWTON SUPERVISOR HE ATTENDED WELL, DO YOU THINK YOUR BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE US ENGAGED MORE ON THIS TOPIC AND MAYBE GET THIS PERSON TO COME TO GIVE US MAYBE THE SAME PRESENTATION? I GUESS WHEN MR. THROWER SAID THE DAY THAT HE DECLINED? HE DIDN'T SAY HE HAD OTHER ENGAGEMENT.
MAYBE I'M READING INTO IT MORE THAN I NEED TO.
BUT ANYWAY, DO WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT FURTHER? DO WE WANT TO BE INSTRUCTED BY THE BOARD TO PURSUE THIS FURTHER?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE.
DAVID CRAIG, I DON'T KNOW WHAT RESPONSE HE GOT IN SUSSEX, BUT IF HE GOT A POSITIVE RESPONSE, HE WAS GOING TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR US TO LOOK AT IT.
THE MEETING WAS ONLY TO SAY, LET'S FORM A COMMITTEE.
THERE WASN'T ANY COMMITTEE GOING TO BE FORMED THAT NIGHT.
NOTHING ELSE. FOUR STEPS, FORMING A COMMITTEE, STEP NUMBER ONE, AND NOBODY WANTED TO EVEN HEAR ABOUT.
>> I THINK I WAS EVEN ADDRESSING ONE OF THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS.
[00:30:01]
IT HAD A FLOW CHART.>> BOARD HAS SEEN ONE AND THEN THERE WAS ONE THAT NIGHT, TOO.
>> BECAUSE THE PACKET, THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT WE SAW.
THERE WAS COMMENTARY BY OTTO WATCHMAN AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSON FROM SUSSEX, AND MR. THROWER, AND THEN MR. CRAIG.
THEY ALL SPOKE AND GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE BENEFITS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD KEEP SOME SKIN IN THE GAME ALONG THE LINES THAT THIS COMMISSION HERE THAT ANYTHING THAT WE FUTURELY DEVELOP ALONG THAT LINES, WE WOULD BE OVERSEERS ALONG THE LINES THAT IT MEETS OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IN OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, MORE THINGS COULD BE ADDRESSED AND GIVING THE CITIZEN MORE AND MORE CHANCE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.
TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT, WE NEED TO KEEP THIS IN OUR CONSCIOUSNESS.
>> I CAN CONTACT MR. CRAIG IF YOU WANT TO.
I'VE TALKED TO HIM SEVERAL TIMES AND ASK HIM.
HE DID NOT WANT TO COME AND MAKE A PRESENTATION UNTIL HE TESTED THE WIND AT SUSSEX.
>> WELL, TO ME, IT IS OPPORTUNITY, A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, I WASN'T HERE BEFORE.
BUT THERE'S PEOPLE, CITIZENS THAT HAVE CONCERNS.
LIKE MR. ERKO HAS SAID, IT MAY BE CONSTRUED ABOUT SOME OF THE POINTS THAT COULD ARISE.
I WANT TO HEAR ALL SIDES OF IT, BUT IT IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR US THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE COULD CAPITALIZE ON.
AGAIN, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF, BUT I THINK I NEED MORE INFORMATION.
I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT'S INVOLVED.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN ENDEAVOR THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS BEEN ENDEAVOR TO PURSUE.
IF IT IS, I THINK WE NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF THE GAME AND SEE IF WE COULD CALL MR. CRAIG BACK AND SEE IF HE WOULD COME.
>> IT TIES BACK, AND I SAID THIS LAST TIME, IT TIES BACK INTO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE TALK ABOUT IN OUR PLAN ABOUT THE NODAWAY RIVER BEING A SCENIC RIVER.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER LEVEL TO THAT THAT WOULD GIVE US MAYBE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
IT WILL GIVE US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE RIVER AS PART OF OUR ATTRACTION FOR TOURISM.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND ENJOY THE RESTAURANTS, WHICH HAPPEN TO BE MAINLY IN FRANKLIN AND COURTLAND.
BUT STILL COME TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE MUSEUMS. THE AG MUSEUM IS WONDERFUL.
WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE THE NEW SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY MUSEUM.
THERE'S A LOT HERE, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OTHER ELEMENT OF WHAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY FOR EXPANDING OUR TOURISM INTO THE COUNTY.
>> IT ALSO MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST BIO DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS IN THE WORLD.
AT ONE SECTION UP THERE ALMOST TO THE SUSSEX LINE, THERE'S ABOUT 35 OR SO SEMI-ENDANGERED SPECIES.
IT'S A JEWEL BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTIES.
IF YOU'RE A TOURIST, YOU COME IN, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF YOUR BOAT, AND GET UP ON THE LAND.
IT'S AN AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU COME IN.
>> THE WORRY THAT PEOPLE HAD THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO COME CAMP ON THE LAND OR SOMETHING DOESN'T HOLD WATER.
BUT IF IT'S A WISH OF THE BOARD, I CAN CONTACT MR. CRAIG AND JUST SEE WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT IT.
WELL, LET ME ASK SOMETHING YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT A LOCAL COMMITTEE.
IS THERE SOME DISCUSSION WHETHER IT WAS 10 PEOPLE, 12 PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY, EIGHT PEOPLE.
>> NO DISCUSSION, WHATEVER YOU WANT.
>> ALL RIGHT. THERE'S ALL OF IT, FRESH GROUND WORK.
I RESPECT THE FACT THAT YES, THE RIVER BELONGS TO EVERYBODY.
I THINK VIRGINIA DEQ HAS A NORTH CAROLINA DEQ. ALL THE STATES.
[00:35:04]
>> STRESS ON THE QUALITY OF THE WATER.
WELL, THE WATER AND EVERYTHING.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU SET UP A COMMITTEE THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMITTEE HAS TO BE ADJOINING LAND OWNERS.
>> WELL, THAT IS 20%, 30%, 40%.
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT, THEY DON'T OWN THE RIVER, BUT THEY ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT WILL BE INTRUDED ON FROM RIGHT VISITORS.
NOW, I SAT HERE AND LISTEN, AND I HEARD YOU SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO STAY ON THE RIVER AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME ON YOUR PROPERTY AND CAMP AND THIS THAT AND THE OTHER.
I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT PERSONALLY.
I GOT PROPERTY ON THREE DIFFERENT RIVERS AND I HAVE COME ALONG AND FOUND A CAMP SITE WHERE THEY HAD BUILT A FIRE AND IT WAS WAY OFF THE ROAD.
THERE'S OTHER THINGS I HAVE FOUND THAT YOU COULD TELL THAT PEOPLE HAD GONE IN AND CLEARED UP A SPOT RIGHT THERE AND PLANTED SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES CORE.
>> YOU COULD PUT UP A POSTED SITE ON YOUR LAND IF YOU WANT TO. YOU COULD POST IT.
>> I CALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED.
>> I HAVE CALLED PEOPLE ON MY PROPERTY THEY HAVE PASSED FIVE POSTED SIGNS. WHERE I CALLED THEM.
I ASKED THEM IF THEY SEE THE POSTED SIGN AND NEXT COMMENT WAS, I DIDN'T SEE ANY.
I SAID YOU WENT PAST FIVE TO GET TO THIS POINT.
I MEAN, ALL OF THAT SIGNS GOOD ON PAPER.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THAT 55 MILE AN HOUR SIGN OUT THERE, AND SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, I'M SURE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT STILL WRITES TICKETS BECAUSE PEOPLE GO FASTER THAN 55 OR 60.
IT'S ALL A GREAT IDEA, BUT I CAN SEE WHERE THE ADJOINING LAND OWNERS HAVE A CONCERN BECAUSE WHEN YOU ADVERTISE IT, THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO THAT RUBBER INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY.
I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES JUST LIKE HUNTING SEASON, AND THAT'S GETTING RIGHT TO COME IN.
I DON'T WANT TO STEP ON THOSE TOES HERE, BUT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE COMING IN AND HUNTING ON THE PROPERTY, AND THEY WERE FROM A CITY, AND THEY JUST AND THIS WAS YEARS AGO, AND THERE WAS NO RESPECT FOR.
>> ARE YOU MAKING ASSUMPTIONS BEFORE YOU KNOW THE FACTS? WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAY.
>> THE FIRST THE FIRST MEETING JUST TO SAY, DO YOU WANT TO FORM A COMMITTEE OR NOT?
>> RIGHT. THAT'S IT. LOOK, I HAD THE THING ON MY BACK DOOR AND I COULDN'T MAKE THE FIRST ONE AND THEN I HAD A CONFLICT FOR THE ONE THAT WAS IN SUSSEX.
I HAD I KNEW I WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE ONE IN SOUTHAMPTON, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO GO TO THE ONE IN SUSSEX AND THAT FILED UP.
SO I'M GLAD THIS WAS IN THE PACKET TONIGHT.
IT'S GREAT TO LISTEN TO IT AND I DON'T HAVE MY MIND SET AGAINST IT.
I WILL SAY THAT SOME OF THESE CONCERNS ARE LEGIT.
I NOTICED IN HERE IT'S GOT THE SHOW ON WATERSHED AND THEN THERE'S THINGS WITH THE ALL THE DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS, THERE'S REGULATIONS THAT JUST COME WITH IT.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BRING THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S GOING ON IN THE PAST THAT CATCHES LANDOWNERS ATTENTION.
BUT YET, THE WATER BELONGS TO EVERYBODY.
I ENJOY GETTING ON THE RUB AS MUCH AS ANYBODY DOES AND FLOATING DOWN IT WITH THE CANOE.
THE BIGGEST THING I SEE SOMETIMES IT MIGHT HELP TREE DEBRIS THAT'S PLACES EVEN IN THE A WAY THAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A STUMP.
TO ME, SOME OF THAT THAT'S A HAZARD, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND IF THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY COULD CORRECT SOME OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE IF WE COULD STEER IT THAT WAY, BUT I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.
BUT THOSE OTHER ISSUES CATCH MY ATTENTION AS WELL.
>> WELL, THE MAJOR UNDERSTANDING THAT HAS TO BE MADE THAT IN NATURE, EVERYTHING IS IN BALANCE.
IN THAT BALANCE THAT EVEN COMES DOWN TO US ALONG THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION.
IN THAT BALANCE OF COMMUNICATION IS EVERYONE HERE ALL SIDES.
>> I AGREE. EVERYBODY MAKE SOME REAL STRONG COMMENTS AND THIS WHAT THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO BE LOOKING INTO.
>> ALSO, TO THE EFFORT THAT'S TRYING TO BE MADE, IT BASICALLY COMPLIMENTS THE LEGACY THAT MR. JEFF TURNER AND THE RIVER KEEPERS AND ALL OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE YEARS TO KEEP THE RIVER IN A PLACE WHERE IT CAN BE STILL NOW CALLED PRESTIGE.
[00:40:04]
>> IT IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE LAND OWNERS WHO ARE JOINED AND THE BENEFITS IT BRINGS TO THE COUNTY.
IT'S A IT'S THE BIG PICTURE AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL PICTURE AT THE SAME TIME.
HOW DO WE FIND A BALANCE WITH THAT?
>> THE ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF BEING ON A NOWAY BECAUSE I'M A BLACKWATER RIVER MAN MYSELF.
IS THAT BEFORE KNOWLEDGE IS LOST.
ARE THERE ANY MARKERS OR ANYTHING ON THE RIVERS NOW DESIGNATED? WELL, THIS IS AN OLD CYPRESS STAND, WHATEVER LIKE THAT, OR THIS IS WHERE SOMETHING HERE HAPPENED BEFORE ALL OF THAT KNOWLEDGE IS LOST, BECAUSE THE RIVER FLOWS AND THE KNOWLEDGE GOES WITH IT.
>> THAT JEFF TURNER DID, AND IT'S THE RIVER KEEPER BROOK, AND IT GOES DOWN THE NOT AWAY, DOWN THE BLACKWATER AND DOWN THE MAHAN.
IT'S MARKED OUT IN ONE MILE INCREMENTS.
IT SHOWS DESIGNATED POINTS ALONG THE RIVER OF SPECIAL, WHERE CYPRESS TREES ARE OR WHERE THERE WERE OLD BURIAL SITES OR WHERE THE CREEKS COME TOGETHER.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE BEEFSTEAK RAID THAT HAPPENED IN SUSSEX.
THAT'S ALONG THE RIVER FROM THE CIVIL WAR.
SO THERE ARE ALL THESE THINGS WHERE BOATS THAT USED TO COME UP THE RIVER.
THEY SHOW THOSE. THE MAP IS WONDERFUL.
IT'S A BOOK, AND IT HAS ALL THREE RIVERS, AND IT PUTS ALL OF THESE POINTS, THESE PLACES ALONG THE RIVER THAT ARE UNIQUE.
THERE'S A LITTLE WATERFALL ON THE NARROW WAY.
>> BECAUSE ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TO STRETCH EVEN WITH MY KIDS AND PEOPLE THAT I MEET.
I'M SAYING, I TELL THEM THAT THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAVE A UNIQUE POSITION THAT IN MOST OF THE THINGS THAT YOU READ IN HISTORY BOOKS, WE ACTUALLY LIVE IT.
WE WERE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROUD OF THAT.
>> WELL, IT SEEM IT STILL SEEMS LIKE THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION A MONTH OR SO BACK WAS KIND OF A MAKE AWARENESS TO THE CITIZENS AND TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET A COMMITTEE FORMED.
AND WHAT I RATIONALE BEHIND THE RESULTS OF THAT MEETING IS THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.
DO WE NEED TO TRY TO DO THAT AGAIN? WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS, WHY DOES THE PLANNING COMMISSION? WHAT IS OUR STAKE IN THIS COMMITTEE BEING FORMED? HAVE WE BEEN CHALLENGED TO DO THIS BY THE BOARD OR I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR POSITION IS?
>> I THINK FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO GET HIM TO COME AND PRESENT IT AND MAYBE ADVERTISE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, THAT MAYBE IF PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS OR WANT TO PURSUE IT, THEY CAN COME AND VOICE THEIR OPINION.
>> TO PRESENT IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION,.
>> ANYBODY ELSE IS INVITED TO COME.
>> I'M KIND OF LIKE MR. MAYOR, I THINK I WANT TO HEAR SOME PUBLIC INPUT AND THE PRESENTATION BEFORE I KIND OF MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IF WE RECOMMEND IT FOR APPROVAL TO GO TO THE BOARD FOR THE PHASE 1 COMMITTEE FORMING THING.
>> THE PART THAT GETS ME IS, HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO BE BEFORE THE BRONCO CLUB WANTS TO REBUILD.
WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE. IT IS PART OF THE RIVER.
>> THE BRONCO CLUB HAD A BIG REPRESENTATION WITH ME.
>> I'M SURE THEY'RE SCARED TO DEATH.
THEN DARK SIDE, WE'VE ALL EVEN THERE, NOT THERE NOW.
>> WELL, THE ONLY THING DEVELOPMENT WAS YOU CAN DEVELOP THAT ANYTHING HARM THE QUALITY OF THE WATER OR THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE RIVER.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WHO WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THEY WERE HIRED.
>> I DON'T NEED. BUT I DO PART OF MY JOB IS WE CREATE SITE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND SUBDIVISIONS AND WE DO THAT AND WE SUBMIT THEM.
QUITE OCCASIONALLY, SOME BUREAUCRAT DECIDES THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THAT PARTICULAR THING, AND THEY CREATE THEIR OWN LEVEL OF REVIEW.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO
[00:45:01]
AND WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO TACKLE ONE TO THIS.THIS DOESN'T GIVE US ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS NOTHING GOES ANYWHERE TO FORM A COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE CAN SAY HECK WITH IT.
>> NO. I MAY FEEL FREE TO DO THAT.
>> I'LL TALK TO MR. CRAIG IF IF PEOPLE WANT ME TO, AND SEE IF HE WANT TO COME PRESENT.
HE WAS RELUCTANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT UNLESS IT WAS POSITIVE.
THAT MEETING WAS VERY NEGATIVE.
>> I WOULD SAY IF WE HAD A PRESENTATION DONE HERE JUST FROM THE BOARD'S STANDPOINT, THAT IN THE PROCESS OF THAT PRESENTATION, HAVE IT EMPHASIZE HOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS INPUT INTO THE PROCESS AND EVERYTHING.
AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED HERE OF THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO KEEP IT IN MIND BECAUSE WE HAD STEWARDS TWO OF THE LAND AND EVERYTHING.
BUT I THINK THESE MEETINGS ARE HELPFUL BECAUSE YOU'RE INFORMING A PUBLIC WHO IS DEALING MORE OF EMOTION AND MISINFORMATION, IF WE JUST CALL IT HONESTLY.
YOU NEVER TRY TO MISS A OPPORTUNITY AS THE OLD SAYING GOES TEACH ONE AND REACH MANY.
>> THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, THE WOMAN WHO SAT BESIDE ME ON THE LAND FOR DARK SIDE.
SHE SAID, THIS IS JUST TO TALK TO CREATE COMMITTEE.
WHY DON'T WE JUST CREATE THE COMMITTEE? BUT THERE WAS A VERY VOCAL, LOUD GROUP WHO JUST OVERSHADOWED THOSE WHO WERE GOING, WELL, IT'S WORTHWHILE TO STUDY THIS.
I DON'T THINK WHILE THE MORE VOCAL ONES CAME ACROSS HARSHLY, AND MAYBE THAT IS WHY MR. CRAIG IS HESITANT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO FACE THAT AGAIN.
HE WAS STOPPED. THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO THE ONE BESIDE ME, THE ONES ACROSS THE AISLE, SAID WE SHOULD WHY DON'T WE TAKE A TIME TO LOOK AT THE STUDY?
>> IT WAS EMBARRASSING BECAUSE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PROTECT THE LAND, STEWARDS OF THE LAND.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
I AGREE YOU KNOW IF THERE IS A COMMITTEE, I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE THE MAJORITY OF LAND OWNERS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
IF THEY WANT TO SAY NO, THEN THAT'S FINE.
THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS. THERE'S NO OBLIGATION.
>> EVERYBODY'S BE OPEN MINDED. LOOK AT ALL OF IT.
>> EVERYONE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL IN THIS ROOM, IS THAT PODIUM.
WHERE YOU GET TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING AND YOU MAKE YOUR OPINION KNOWN.
THAT PODIUM SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE PLACE THAT WE HOLD REFERENCE TO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT AND THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK THEIR MIND AND EXPRESS ANYTHING.
>> WELL, THE CONSENSUS THAT I'M HEARING, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I INTERPRET IT WRONG, COULD BE ASKED IF DR ELLIS IS AGREE TO MAKE THE CONTACT.
I DO NOT KNOW, MR. CRAIG, BUT I DON'T MIND MAKING THE CALL, BUT IF YOU WOULD, SIR, LET'S SEE IF WE COULD GET HIM TO COME IN.
WE GET WE GET HIM ON THE AGENDA.
>> I'LL BE GLAD TO CONTACT HIM.
HE MAY SAY NO, I WANT TO DO IT.
OR IF HE DOES, I'LL COME BACK HERE AND GET EVERYBODY A REPORT AND SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
HE'S THE ONE THAT DOES MOST OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN THIS AREA.
HE'S VERY PROTECTIVE, EXTREMELY PROTECTIVE OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HE JUST SAYS, THIS RIVER IS SUCH A JEWEL.
IT IS THE LAST ONE OF VIRGINIA.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE ON IT.
>> SEE IF YOU CAN ARRANGE SOMETHING NEXT MONTH, OR MAYBE.
>> WHAT ELSE WANTS TO CONTACT HIM.
I'LL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU TEXT HIM HIS NUMBER.
MAYBE JAMIE CRAIG, THE C-R-A-I-G.
>> I TALKED TO HIM. SO AFTER YOU TALKED TO HIM, MAYBE I CAN TALK TO HIM.
[00:50:01]
>> I DON'T MIND CALLING EITHER. LET'S SEE IF WE FIND A MEETING TIMES CONVENIENT TO HIM TO COME IN, AND I'LL KEEP YOU ABREAST, WHAT IT IS. OKAY.
>> THAT RE PORTAL ORDER QUESTION ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM THAT WE HAD ON THOSE PUBLIC RECORDS? DID WE EVER OFFICIALLY STATE THAT WE WERE TABLEING THAT FOR FURTHER?
>> HE HE SAID WHEN MR. RANDOLPH COMES.
>> YEAH. WE'LL WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FROM WHERE WE ARE AT THE NEXT MEETING. YES, SIR.
>> ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS FROM THE BOARD? IF NOT, ITEM NUMBER 8,
[8. MEETING SCHEDULE]
THE FIRST TO OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 7:00 PM.IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD BEFORE WE ADJOURN? I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT TONIGHT.
EVERYONE IN I AUDIENCE, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.
>> DON'T FORGET. EARLY VOTING STARTS NEXT FRIDAY.
>> WE'LL BE MAILING OUT ETSY BART. PRETTY SOON.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'LL END THE A MOTION BEFORE ADJOURNMENT.
THANK YOU ALL. Y'ALL HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME.
>> YOU TOO.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.