[00:14:49]
AND MR. THROWER TOLD ME TONIGHT THAT VDOT HAS ASSIGNED A TRAFFIC ENGINEER TO STUDY THE PROBLEM,
[1. Citizens Comment Period]
[00:14:55]
AND THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER WENT OVER THERE AND DECIDED THEY COULD PRUNE A FEW OF THE BUSHES ALONG THE VDOT RIGHT OF WAY,[00:15:00]
BUT THAT AIN'T GOING TO CUT IT. THEY NEED TO PRUNE BACK FARTHER INTO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY WHICH THE GIRL SCOUTS OWN,[00:15:07]
AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T MIND IF WE DO IT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT VDOT SAYS THEY CANNOT GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.NOW, I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE SEVERAL YEARS AGO I HAD A PINE TREE ON MY FARM THAT THE LIMB WAS LEANING OUT OVER THE HIGHWAY AND I WENT TO THE BEFORE IT WAS VDOT, IT WAS THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT AND ASKED HIM IF THEY COULD REMOVE THE TREE AND THEY SAID, YES, IF YOU'LL GIVE US PERMISSION TO GO CUT IT DOWN.
WHICH THEY DID. CAME ON MY PRIVATE PROPERTY, CUT THE TREE DOWN, HAULED THE THINGS AWAY.
AND ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS WAS A LITTLE OLD LADY.
MISS JANIE DIES, AND SHE WAS FROM TANGIER ISLAND, AND SHE HAD A HEAVY ACCENT.
IT WASN'T AS BAD AS THE AFRICAN SCHOOL TEACHERS, BUT SHE CAME TO MY HOUSE AND SHE SAID, A YEAR OR TWO, YOUNG FELLER, WHAT GOT THAT PINE TREE CUT DOWN? AND I SAID, WELL, I DIDN'T CUT IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT CUT IT DOWN.
SHE SAYS, WELL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE THAT OLD TREE, SHE WAS A BURDEN IN MY BREAST.
I HAD NEVER HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE. BURDEN IN MY BREAST.
BUT THE CURVE OF MY SUBDIVISION HAS BECOME A BURDEN IN MY BREAST.
AND, DOCTOR EDWARDS, IT SHOULD BE A BURDEN IN YOUR BREAST BECAUSE YOU LIVE THERE, TOO.
AND THE PROBLEM IS MORE URGENT THAN WAITING FOR VDOT TO DO IT, BECAUSE IT MIGHT TAKE SEVERAL YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING US, THE PUBLIC, SPEAK. THANK YOU.
OKAY. WE KIND OF GOT INTO THIS A LITTLE EARLY.
CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD WAS STARTED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2013.
WE SET ASIDE AN HOUR. IT'S VERY VALUABLE TO US TO HEAR WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY ABOUT THE COUNTY.
AS LONG AS IT'S GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTY.
AND THE RULES ARE FIVE MINUTE LIMIT. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD A VERY STRICT TO THAT.
OUR TIMEKEEPER MR. WHITE HERE HAS GOT THE ONLY ROLEX ON THE BOARD.
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS APPROACH THE PODIUM AND GIVE YOUR YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR AGENDA, I THINK EVERYBODY PROBABLY GOT AN AGENDA.
IF YOU SEE THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU NEED TO GET UP AND DO IT DURING THIS TIME BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON A NON PUBLIC HEARING.
SO I HOPE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT. WITH THAT SAID WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
CITIZENS COMMENT. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. I'LL TAKE LESS THAN 45 SECONDS OF YOUR TIME.
I'M NEIGHBORS WITH MISTER HUTCHENS 19130 LAKESIDE DRIVE.
MY NAME IS JACK RANDALL, AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT CURVE IS A VERY BAD CURVE.
SO I WOULD ECHO HIS COMMENTS. I WOULD SAY THAT I'M COMING TO YOU HERE TODAY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY OF FRANKLIN. CAN I HOLD ONE SECOND? YOUR YOUR NUMBER 14 ON THE AGENDA. CORRECT. YOU'RE NOT THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
CORRECT? I BELIEVE MR. FRANCIS HAS TAKEN THAT TIME.
I'M JUST HERE TO SAY SOMETHING VERY BRIEF AND VERY SUCCINCT AS AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, CITY OF FRANKLIN BAR ASSOCIATION AND AS A CITIZEN, I SUPPORT THE NAMING OF THE BERNARD GOODWIN JUDICIAL COMPLEX.
AND I'M SPEAKING FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE BAR AS ITS PRESIDENT.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SUBMIT I BELIEVE THERE WAS A LETTER THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THROUGH MR. THROWER, AND ALL OF MY COMMENTS ARE IN THAT LETTER.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A VERY GOOD NIGHT TONIGHT, BEING WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING. LADIES FIRST.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHARON. MY NAME IS SHARON JORDAN CALLAHAN.
AND I'M HERE TONIGHT IN WEARING 2 OR 3 HATS. FIRST, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1979, IN WHICH CHIEF JUSTICE GOODWIN WAS OUR VICE PRESIDENT AND OUR VALEDICTORIAN.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF, IT WAS 177 CLASSMATES WHEN WE GRADUATED IN 1979.
WE HAD ABOUT 24 JUST PASSED AWAY. SO WE'RE ABOUT ABOUT 150.
AND I WOULD INVITE YOU, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, WHERE YOU WOULD SEE THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CLASSMATE, CHIEF JUSTICE GOODWIN. I'M ALSO HERE IN THE CAPACITY AS THE FAMILY HISTORIAN AND LEADER OF THE JOYNER FAMILY AND ROLLINS
[00:20:10]
FAMILY, MANY OF WHICH LIVE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, STILL HAVE PROPERTY AND IN THIS AREA PAY TAXES.AND ALTHOUGH I LIVE IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, I ALSO HAVE LAND AND PROPERTY HERE WHERE I PAY TAXES TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND SO ON BEHALF OF THE 350 JOINERS AND THE 300 ROLLINS, THEY HAVE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF NAMING THE COURTHOUSE AFTER JUSTICE GOODWIN.
I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR MONTHS NOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, SO I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IT ON YOUR AGENDA TO DISCUSS IT.
I WORK WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND I THINK HIS RESUME WILL TELL YOU ALL THE REASONS OF WHY HE WOULD DESERVE THIS HONOR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. HE'S GOTTEN THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT YOU CAN GET FROM THE SUPREME COURT.
HE'S GOTTEN THE HIGHEST AWARD FROM THE VIRGINIA BAR ASSOCIATION.
AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE NUMBERS, BUT IT'S ABOUT HIS SERVICE.
BUT I WOULD LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHY WOULDN'T YOU NAME THE COURTHOUSE AFTER CHIEF JUSTICE GOODWIN? I'VE HEARD THREE THINGS. ONE, SOMEBODY SAID HE ISN'T DEAD YET.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THERE'S NO REASON WHY YOU HAVE TO BE DEAD TO HAVE AN HONOR.
IT REMINDED ME OF A PICTURE I HAD ABOVE MY DESK.
I'M A PRODUCT OF SOUTHAMPTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLASS.
I HAVE A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AND HERE I HAVE A PICTURE THAT I CHERISH AS WITH PRESIDENT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, WHEN THEY NAMED THE CARRIER AFTER HIM, AND IT WAS HIS HONOR AND HIS PLEASURE TO BE LIVING TO SEE THAT HE WAS GIVEN SUCH HONOR. THERE'S NO PRESIDENTS THAT SAY YOU CAN'T NAME A BUILDING AFTER A LIVING PERSON.
YOU CAN SEE IT ALL THE TIME IN COLLEGES, CITIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THE SECOND THING WAS THEY SAID IT NOT SERVED IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC COURTS.
AND LASTLY, SOMEBODY SAID HE DOESN'T LIVE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
SO I'VE KNOWN AND I'M GOING TO CALL HIM BERNARD BECAUSE HE'S MY FRIEND.
I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD. I KNEW HIM BEFORE HE BECAME CHIEF JUSTICE.
HE'S HAD IT FOR YEARS. HE'S A HE'S A DEACON AT GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH.
HE COULD GO TO ANY CHURCH IN THE WORLD. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY HE'S COME BACK ANYTIME SOMEBODY ASKED HIM TO MENTOR PEOPLE, HE'S COME BACK TO THIS COUNTY. HE LOVES SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
WE LOVE HIM. AND THE OWL EYES TONIGHT ARE ON SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TO SEE IF WE WOULD MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, TO NAME THIS COURTHOUSE AFTER MY FRIEND AND MY CLASSMATE, CHIEF JUSTICE S BERNARD GOODWIN.
NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON, DOCTOR EDWARDS, AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LARRY BLUNT AND I RESIDE AT 158 ABATTOIR ROAD HERE IN PORTLAND.
AND I JUST WANT TO STAND FOR A FEW MINUTES TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT BERNARD GOODMAN.
I KNOW THAT MR.. FRANCIS, I'M SORRY, IS GOING TO SPEAK ON AND GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I SUPPORT HONORING THIS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY NATIVE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER PUTTING HIS NAME ON THE COURTHOUSE BUILDING.
HE IS THE ONLY SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY NATIVE TO ACHIEVE THIS POSITION.
HE'S A JURIST OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER. SON OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND I BELIEVE, AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT HE DESERVING OF THIS RECOGNITION BY OUR COUNTY, BY HAVING HIS NAME ON THE BUILDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? YES. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I AM BOB BARNES, RECENTLY RETIRED BACK TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
[00:25:07]
I'M A DEACON AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THERE IS A VERY, VERY I'M GONNA CALL IT A TROUBLESOME SITUATION.IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OFF OF HIGHWAY 58 ON THE BRANCH CHURCH ROAD.
IT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. I'M REPRESENTING BRYAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND IT'S JUST BEEN SO MANY NEAR MISSES OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN A PART OF ON THAT ROAD.
THE SAME SITUATION THAT EXISTED WHEN WE DID THE RIGHT TURN LANE ON HIGHWAY 58 GOING ON THE POST STATION ROAD, THE EXACT SAME SITUATION EXISTS ONE MILE FURTHER.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
AND IN THIS THREE YEAR QUEST, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE FOR THREE YEARS.
AND PART OF IT IS WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE PROPER PROCESS, ADMITTEDLY.
BUT WE'RE HERE. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THOSE. AND IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND, PLEASE, PLEASE, BEFORE THERE IS A MAJOR TRAGEDY RIGHT THERE, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT GETTING A RIGHT TURN LANE OFF OF 58 HIGHWAY ONTO BRYANT CHURCH ROAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME.
ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING. I AM ERNEST CLOYD, LIVING AT 18 312 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY, CAPRON, VIRGINIA.
MR. GILLETTE IS MY SUPERVISOR. I ATTENDED THE MEETING ON OCTOBER THE 2ND, AND MY PURPOSE HERE IS NOT TO EVALUATE THAT REPORT. MY CONCERN, THOUGH, IT DEALS WITH ONE ITEM THAT WAS IN THE REPORT, AND THAT IS THE PART THAT SUGGESTED THAT A FAILURE TO RECEIVE GRANTS.
NOW, IN THE REPORT, IT DIDN'T SAY WHAT KIND OF GRANTS THEY WERE MISSING.
AND MANY OF US KNOW THAT MOST GRANTS FOR EDUCATION ARE OPERATIONAL GRANTS.
THE STIPULATION USUALLY IS NO BRICK AND MORTAR AND NO PERSONNEL.
WHICH MEANS IF YOU WANT TO CONDUCT A PROGRAM, A SOLID PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO ALREADY HAVE A FACILITY, AND YOU MUST ALREADY HAVE PERSONNEL TO OPERATE THAT PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GRANTS WERE, BUT THE REPORT, IT DID NOT INDICATE THAT.
NOW, THERE ARE MANY GRANTS OUT HERE. PERSONALLY, I HAPPEN TO SERVE ON A BOARD THAT GIVE GRANTS AND THAT IS THE STIPULATION THERE. NO MORTAR, BRICK AND MORTAR, NO PERSONNEL.
AND THE REASON BEHIND THIS IN ALL PLACES IS IF YOU GET A GRANT AND BUY NEW PERSONNEL, HOW CAN YOU SUSTAIN THE GRANT? IF YOU WOULD GO THAT FAR, THEN YOU MORE LIKELY CAN SUSTAIN THE GRANT.
THE OTHER PART OF THAT CTE WAS MENTIONED THERE AND THAT'S CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
THAT WAS MY JOB FOR 25 YEARS WITH THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MENTIONED, BUT IT SUGGESTED THAT THEY DIDN'T GET THE MONEY.
I DIDN'T APPLY FOR IT. DURING THE 25 YEARS THAT I WORKED WITH, SOUTHAMPTON WAS RECEIVING BETWEEN 60 AND $65,000. WE DID NOT HAVE TO APPLY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS FEDERAL MONIES CHANNELED THROUGH THE STATE, AND WE RECEIVED IT EACH YEAR. BUT EVEN THEN, WE COULD NOT BUILD A FACILITY, NOT COULD WE HIRE PERSONNEL. AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE WERE RECEIVING THE SAME THING.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN A NEED FOR WELDERS AT THE SHIPYARD, AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND THE HAMPTON ROADS AREA WERE RECEIVING THE SAME KIND OF GRANT.
[00:30:02]
BUT IF THEY DID NOT HAVE A WELDING FACILITY AND HAVE A WELL AND INSTRUCTOR ON BOARD, THEY COULD NOT USE THEIR PERKINS MONEY IN ORDER TO BUILD A FACILITY OR HIGH PERSONNEL.SO IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THEN THEY COULD NOT USE THE MONEY.
AND IF I MAY GO A BIT FURTHER HERE, OVER THE COUPLE OF YEARS, SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED THIS PODIUM AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO CLEAN THE ROAD AREAS AROUND THE COUNTY, TRASH AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
THAT BEING TRUE, IF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY OR THE GILLETTE FOUNDATION, IF I MAY SAY, MR. GILLETTE DECIDED TO GIVE SOME MONEY, SOME GRANTS TO DO THIS, THEN, UNLESS THE COUNTY ALREADY HAVE THE PEOPLE TO DO THIS, ARE YOU GOING TO APPROPRIATE THE MONEY TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO IT? YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR THAT GRANT. SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THOSE GRANTS WERE, BUT THAT CAME THROUGH AND I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER AND IT WASN'T PUT THERE. SO MY SUGGESTION IS MAYBE IF SOMEBODY AND PEOPLE IN HERE DO RESEARCH, CHECK TO SEE WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THOSE GRANTS, WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE GRANTS? THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY WHILE I'M HERE THAT SUPPORTS SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND THAT'S WHAT VDOT, I GAVE YOU MY ADDRESS WHERE I LIVE FOR 50 PLUS YEARS, I'VE BEEN CUTTING MY GRASS ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE HIGHWAY TO 58.
LIKE DOING IT. IT LOOKS BETTER THAT WAY. THE DITCH THAT COMES DOWN FROM CAPEN.
I'M ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM CAPEN. THEY'RE JUST COMING THIS WAY.
JUST BEFORE YOU GET TO CAPEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT WATER HAS STARTED TO CUT INTO THAT NICHE.
THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I CONTACTED VDOT WITHIN A WEEK.
THEY WERE THERE, TOOK CARE OF IT, PUT SOME BIG ROCKS AND WHAT HAVE YOU IN IT.
AND THAT LASTED ABOUT, I GUESS, 4 OR 5 YEARS.
AND IT STARTED CUTTING BEHIND THAT AGAIN. I CONTACTED THEM.
THEY CAME, TOOK CARE OF IT. NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND I'VE BEEN CONTACTING THEM.
I'VE BEEN CALLING. I'VE BEEN TO THE OFFICE EVERYTHING SINCE APRIL AND NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING YET.
SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME HELP AND I CAN'T GET IT.
SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP GET SOME HELP THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
AND WHILE I'M HERE, I WOULD SAY THE RESOLUTION THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED.
I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND NAMING CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN NAME FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT? GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? I'M VICTORIA EDWARDS FROM 32425 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BOYKINS, VIRGINIA. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT OF NAMING THE COURTHOUSE AFTER CHIEF JUSTICE GOODWIN.
I THINK IT'S A HUGE HONOR. I AM NOT FROM BOYKINS, BUT I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, AND PRIDE IS STRONG THERE, AND WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF ANYBODY WHO HAS COME FROM BOYKINS AND HAS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
IS IS ONE I WISH YOU ALL WOULD SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY MISS UPDIKE AND MR. FAISON BEING FROM THAT AREA AND COVERING THAT DISTRICT.
THAT ASIDE, I ACTUALLY COME HERE FOR THE SCHOOL. I'VE COME HERE BEFORE TO VOICE YOU ALL CONSIDERING USING THE FINE INCOME FROM THE CAMERAS ON 58 TO HELP SUPPORT AT LEAST THE MAINTENANCE COST OF THOSE LIGHTS.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO GO TO AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD YOU ALL WERE ALSO CUTTING BACK YOUR SEATS. AND THE CONVERSATION CAME UP THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD MIMIC THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SEATS.
[00:35:03]
AND SO I WAS WONDERING, DO YOU ALL KNOW IF THEN THEY WILL START CUTTING BACK THE SEATS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MIMIC THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ALL AREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE AN AT LARGE SEAT.DO YOU ALL KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? OBVIOUSLY THAT MATTERS TO ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR CHANGE AT THE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL.
ANYWAY. OH, AND AND I WANT TO THE COMMENTS OF THE STUDENTS THE TEACHERS WITH ACCENTS.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY. MANY PEOPLE NEVER LEAVE THE BORDERS OF THIS COUNTY, AND IF THEY DID, THEY'D UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR WORLD IS MADE UP OF A LOT MORE THAN JUST US.
WE HAVE ACCENTS. PEOPLE CANNOT UNDERSTAND US WHEN WE TRAVEL, AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE WOULD EXTEND THAT COURTESY AND BE THANKFUL THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE VARIOUS PEOPLE TEACHING THEM.
THANK YOU. OKAY. WHO'S NEXT? PLEASE KEEP IT TO FIVE MINUTES OR LESS IF YOU WOULD.
SIR. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I HAVE A LITTLE BRONCHITIS, SO I MIGHT COUGH, BUT I'M NOT CONTAGIOUS.
I'VE BEEN TREATED. I'VE SEEN THE PHYSICIAN. MY NAME IS SHEILA ELLIOTT, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S TIME FOR ME TO COME UP HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE VIRGINIA NOTTOWAY INDIAN CIRCLE AND SQUARE FOUNDATION.
A REQUEST FOR TAXATION EXEMPTION. AM I IN ORDER OR OUT OF ORDER? THAT'S ACTUALLY ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO.
YEAH, BUT WE WENT DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER 14, AND THAT'S WHAT THREW ME OFF.
OKAY. WELL, ACTUALLY, THIS IS AN OPEN PERIOD, SO I CAN GO AHEAD AND SEE WHY YOU COULDN'T.
IF YOU JUST HOLD IT FOR THAT, IT'D PROBABLY BE MORE MEANINGFUL TO PUT ALL THAT IN ONE GROUP.
OKAY, SO YOU MADE A WAY. IT'S NO PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW.
PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER EIGHT. YOU CAN SPEAK. I CAN SPEAK NOW OR WAIT.
WHAT'S WHAT'S THE BEST? WELL, I WOULD THINK IF YOU WANT TO BE MORE MEANINGFUL AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF YOU WAITED TILL THAT TO SPEAK.
THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE. I CAN DO THAT. I JUST WANT.
I THINK YOU GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. THEN. NOT A PROBLEM. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? YEAH.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. HOW Y'ALL DOING? GOOD.
MY NAME IS GREGORY SCOTT. I RESIDE AT 20304 HARRIS ROAD, FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA.
AND I WE HONOR HIM. WE APPRECIATIVE OF HIM BEING A SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PRODUCT, ME BEING A SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PRODUCT, ALSO BEING AN NFL DRAFT PICK. I KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO COME FROM A SMALL AREA AND BE ABLE TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS.
ALSO, I'M HERE TONIGHT ALSO AS A SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON Y'ALL'S WEBSITE TODAY, AND LOTS OF GREAT INFORMATION UP THERE.
THAT'S A GREAT WEBSITE, BY THE WAY. I SAW THAT A LITTLE OVER MAYBE $300,000 WAS SPENT ON LAWYERS TO FIGHT A CASE AGAINST THE SCHOOL BOARD. $300,000 COULD PAY FOR AN AMERICAN TEACHER.
WE ASK THAT WE STOP THIS BICKERING GOING BACK AND FORTH.
WE'RE A TEAM. WE'RE HERE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I THINK WE PUT OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE AND DO OUR JOBS AT HAND.
IT WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE, BECAUSE, AGAIN, BEING A SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL PRODUCT, I LOVE MY COUNTY. I WAS ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS IN MY COUNTY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT COME FROM IT.
Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT? HELLO. MY NAME IS TIA CYPHERS. I LIVE AT 29488 HUNTER POINT ROAD, CORTLAND.
I'M COMING TO ASK YOU THAT YOU PURSUE WHAT YOU'RE DOING ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO SPEAK AND I WAS KIND OF RELUCTANT TO SPEAK.
I DID NOT SPEAK ABOUT WHAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH FROM THE INVESTIGATION.
[00:40:09]
WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE BOARD MEMBERS REACTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, OF WHICH THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS ANYBODY'S COMMENTS, THEY JUST WILL NOT ADDRESS YOU.THEIR FACES AND EXPRESSIONS WERE SNEERING. PASSING BACK CELL PHONES WHILE PEOPLE WERE SPEAKING.
AND I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION, THAT ALONE IS REASON TO PURSUE THIS.
IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, THEN THEY WOULD PRESENT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO PRODUCT TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED. AND I WOULD ASK YOU PLEASE, TO PURSUE IT.
IN MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES IF NEED BE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME LEFT.
ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MOSES WHITE AND I RESIDE 22361 PINE RIVER ROAD IN CAPRON, VIRGINIA.
I DIDN'T COME TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT AFTER LISTENING TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR SALEM COUNTY FOR EIGHT YEARS AND I ENJOYED IT.
PEOPLE ASK ME HOW YOU LOOK SO GOOD AT 83 PLUS.
I SAID, GOOD OLD COUNTRY LIVING [LAUGHS]. I SAID ALL THIS TO SAY THAT I WAS SURPRISED AT THE MEETING AND THAT WAS HELD IN FRANKLIN THAT THAT THE BOARD PAID THE LAWYER ALL HIS MONEY TO TELL YOU ALL SOMETHING, THAT YOU ALL ALREADY KNEW THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS TWO DIFFERENT [INAUDIBLE]. WE NEED TO START WORKING TOGETHER.
WE DON'T NEED ALL THIS BICKERING IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
I BELIEVE WE CAN GET ALONG BETTER IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING.
STOP BUYING THE TIDEWATER NEWS BECAUSE TIDEWATER NEWS.
YOU LISTEN TO THAT. THEY AIN'T GONNA DO NOT GET YOU CONFUSED.
ALL I'M ASKING THAT WE TRY TO LEARN HOW TO WORK TOGETHER AS CITIZENS OF SALEM COUNTY.
THANK YOU. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, MR. CHAIRMAN. RICK FRANCIS TOWN OF BOYKINS.
I JUST WANT TO TOUCH BASE. WOULD I BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT NUMBER 14 COMES UP.
SINCE JACK RANDALL IS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE THE MAIN SPEAKER THERE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'D BE FINE. AND I'LL HOLD MINE TILL LATER. OKAY.
THANKS. YES, MA'AM. I'M CAROLYN KINNEY. I LIVE AT 23250 SHANDS DRIVE IN CORTLAND, AND I'M HERE SPEAKING AS A FORMER TEACHER IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM.
YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO PURSUE EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS GOT MAJOR PROBLEMS AND THIS COUNTY IS NOT GOING TO GROW UNTIL YOU GET THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM STRAIGHTENED OUT.
AND THAT'S JUST A FACT. SO PLEASE PURSUE WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO.
BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT. I'VE WORKED FOR, I WORKED IN TENNESSEE, I'VE WORKED IN GEORGIA, AND I WORKED FOR A LITTLE BIT IN MAINE. THESE WERE ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND I HAVE NEVER WORKED IN ANY PLACE LIKE THIS. THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE THREE PRINCIPALS THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THERE ARE CHILDREN UNSUPERVISED IN A GYM ON A REGULAR BASIS. THAT ALONE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
AND I WON'T TAKE YOUR TIME GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE REPORT.
BUT THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES HERE. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].
ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING. I HOPE EVERYBODY'S DOING OKAY.
MY NAME IS JOHN GRANTHAM. MY WIFE IS DIANE GRANTHAM.
WE WERE AT THE LAST MEETING. THAT WAS IN HAMPTON, AT THE SCHOOL.
[00:45:03]
AND I LIKE TO BACK UP WHAT THIS LADY OVER HERE HAD JUST SAID ABOUT THE KIDS BEING MOUNTED, YOU KNOW, BEING CROWDED UP INTO A GYM OR WHEREVER THEY'RE AT BECAUSE MY GRANDKID IS GETTING BULLIED IN THAT SAME AREA.THERE IS NO SUPERVISION. THERE IS NO STAFF MEMBER OR ANYBODY IN THAT AREA.
IN FACT, WE HAD TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND PUT HIM IN THE HOME SCHOOL.
TO ME, THAT'S A FAILURE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON.
BUT WHAT I'M REALLY UP HERE FOR IS I'M REALLY DONE AT THE WAY THIS ACCOUNTABILITY IS BEING HELD, BEING DONE. I'M RETIRED ARMY FOR 25 YEARS. THEN I PUT IN ANOTHER 18 YEARS IN THE NUCLEAR SYSTEM, TRAVELING ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND I HAVE AND I REALLY HAVE INVESTED MY TIME INTO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
WELL, I ENJOYED WHAT YOU SAID. I TAKE IT TO HEART.
MY WIFE, DIANE, TAKES IT EVEN A LITTLE FURTHER.
AND I LIKE TO SEE THAT YOU GUYS AND, MA'AM, TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SYSTEM.
THIS IS UNHEARD OF, YOU KNOW. ALL I'M. ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THE THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF THERE'S CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, I SAY PURSUE IT.
NOW, I'M NOT A NATIVE HERE. I HAD A GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM WHEN I GREW UP.
AND THEN I HAD A LOT OF WORK AROUND THIS AREA.
I'LL JUST SAY IN MY PIECE, MY WIFE, I REPRESENT MY WIFE ALSO, BUT SHE'S OUT OF TOWN.
SO I'M JUST WANTING YOU GUYS TO DO YOUR DUTY AND GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? YES, SIR.
GOOD EVENING, MICHAEL GRIZZARD. 32412 PEBBLEBROOK DRIVE.
I'VE HEARD A COUPLE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MR. SCOTT AND MR. WYCHE TALKING ABOUT GETTING ALONG, COOPERATING, BEING TEAM PLAYERS.
I AGREE WITH THEM FOR ONCE. I DO AGREE THAT 300,000 COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT MORE WISELY.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO HAD TO SPEND IT WHERE THE RUB IS.
CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY WANTED ANSWERS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO CONTINUE. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS A GOOD FIGHT.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE ONE NOT BEING A TEAM PLAYER.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE COULD HAVE SPENT THAT 300,000 BETTER, BUT WE HAD TO GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE, THAT'S ALL.
GOOD EVENING. I AM JANE RIDDICK. FREEZE. MY ADDRESS IS 30319 CAMP PARKWAY, COURTLAND, VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ONGOING LACK OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. ALTHOUGH I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THAT DOES NOT MEAN I LACK A VESTED INTEREST IN HOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE MANAGED, HOW FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT, THE CONDITION OF OUR FACILITIES, AND WHETHER WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE TRULY PROVIDING THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH. THE STRENGTH OF OUR SCHOOLS AFFECTS ALL OF US.
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS.
YOUR DECISION TO HIRE THE LAW FIRMS COZEN O'CONNOR AND TROUTMAN PEPPER LOCKE TO INVESTIGATE THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, WAS BOTH IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY.
I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY BY SHARING ALL OF THE REPORTS, THE DATA, SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MANDY HALL FOR HER DEDICATION TO KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED,
[00:50:02]
AND A FAIR AND FACTUAL WAY. SHE HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN HER PURSUIT OF WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR YOUTH, AND IT IS TIME FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO STAND WITH HER, NOT JUST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT BY SHOWING UP AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND VOICING OUR CONCERNS DIRECTLY TO OUR ELECTED LEADERS. IT WAS MY HOPE AFTER THE INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS WERE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AND SHARED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.COMMON SENSE AND RESPECT WOULD PREVAIL. THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD CHOOSE TO RESIGN.
WHEN THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, I HAD HOPED THAT OUR SCHOOL BOARD WOULD ACT AND REQUEST HER RESIGNATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED. WHILE UPCOMING ELECTIONS MAY BRING SOME CHANGE, THAT WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL A FEW MONTHS, AND FRANKLY, THIS SITUATION HAS GONE ON FAR TOO LONG.
AS A PRODUCT OF THE FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE 1980S, I CAN ATTEST THAT BOTH OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE THRIVING AND BY FAR IN A BETTER STATE THAN THAN THEY ARE NOW.
AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. I AM NOT BASHING OUR TEACHERS WHO GET UP EVERY DAY WITH ONE GOAL, AND THAT'S TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR VERY TALENTED YOUTH.
THEREFORE, AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, I STRONGLY URGE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY TO PURSUE AN INVESTIGATION AND FORENSIC AUDIT OF SOUTHAMPTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THE STATE POLICE.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURES ARE BEING COMPROMISED.
TAX DOLLARS AND GRANT FUNDS ARE NOT BEING USED RESPONSIBLY, AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IS AT RISK.
THIS HAS BECOME DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING, AND AT THIS POINT IT FEELS DISRESPECTFUL TO TAXPAYERS, PAIRS TO PARENTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR STUDENTS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND THAT WE HOLD OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO THE MOST BASIC STANDARDS RESPECT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. IF WE ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT US AS A COMMUNITY? AND WHAT DOES THAT TEACH OUR CHILDREN? WE WANT TO INSTILL IN OUR YOUTH THE BELIEF THAT THE STATUS QUO, THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN EXCELLENCE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME [APPLAUSE]. ALL RIGHT.
WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE TIME LEFT. WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING. MANDY HALL, 1903, FOUR LAKESIDE DRIVE IN CORTLAND.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE TOPICS IN THE REPORT AND THE THINGS THAT WERE INVESTIGATED, AND PARTICULARLY THE THE GRANTS. EVERY SINGLE ISSUE, FROM MISMANAGEMENT TO NOT KNOWING HOW GRANTS ARE SPENT TO NOT HAVING A STUDENT ACTIVITY MANUAL TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOT GETTING PAID, TO NOT GETTING REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSIVE EXPENSES.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE TOPICS WAS INITIATED BY SOMEONE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S A FORMER EMPLOYEE, A CURRENT EMPLOYEE, A PARENT, OR A STUDENT. THESE THINGS WERE NOT JUST PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR.
THEY WEREN'T MADE UP. THEY WEREN'T TARGETING ANYTHING SPECIFIC.
ALL OF THESE THINGS CAME FROM PEOPLE WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TRYING TO SUPPORT, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TRYING TO RETAIN, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TRYING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARTICULAR GRANTS THAT WERE INVESTIGATED, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE READ THE REPORT FROM THE LAW FIRM BECAUSE IT DOES DETAIL ALL OF THE USE OF THE GRANT AND THE DETERIORATION OF THE GRANT PROCESS AND THE
[00:55:02]
QUESTIONS THAT STILL REMAIN WITH THESE TYPES OF GRANTS.SO I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THIS IS COMING FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ITSELF.
OVER THE PAST, HOWEVER MANY YEARS, THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REARING THEIR HEADS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. WE GOT TIME FOR ONE MORE.
SIR. MY NAME IS PASTOR ANTHONY GOODWIN. 2200 WILLCIRCLE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF VIRGINIA. I JUST STARTED TO JUST SUPPORT BERNARD BEING NAMED BEING LISTED.
WE HAVE SOME ORGANIZATIONS ARE PART OF ALSO OUR SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY WE SUPPORT.
NAME THE COURTHOUSE AFTER CHIEF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN JUST CAME.
JUST BRING THAT TO SHARE THAT. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ONE MORE, ONE MORE PLEASE. THEN WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMENT.
MARY. WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO LATER TONIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, CINDY EDWARDS 30421 SYCAMORE AVENUE, SUDLEY, VIRGINIA.
I HAVE THREE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
THAT'S A LARGE WASTE OF MONEY. THE SECOND WASTE OF MONEY.
YOU SPENT MORE MONEY TO FIX WHAT THEY SCREWED UP WHEN THEY DID THE JOB.
AND THEN AT THE LAST REGULAR MEETING, YOU TURNED AROUND AND SPENT MORE MONEY FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
AND SO THAT INDICATES POOR PLANNING AND NOT HAVING A PROJECT MANAGER, BUT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND FOR THE LIFE OF ME HOW YOU ALL DID NOT HOLD THE CONTRACT TO RESPONSIBLE. AND NOW YOU HAVE PLANTED FALL GRASS, RYE GRASS.
SO YOU REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER HOW YOU'RE SPENDING THE FUNDS.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT STOOD UP UP THERE.
SOMEBODY OVER THAT OLD CORNER WANTED TO TALK.
IF NOT, LAST CALL. WE THEREFORE CLOSE THE CITIZEN COMMENT.
PERIOD. OKAY MOVE ON TO NUMBER TWO. THE MEETING MINUTES.
[2. Meeting Minutes]
SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2025, REGULAR SESSION. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. CHANGES. DELETIONS. MOTION TO APPROVE.SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY ANY PROBLEM WITH THOSE MINUTES? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OKAY. THOSE MINUTES WILL GO UP. VDOT MATTERS.
[3. VDOT Matters]
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY MATTERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT THEY'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT? YEAH I'VE GOT GOT ONE. BRIAN, DID YOU HAVE A LOOK? FOLLOW UP ON THE HEMLOCK STREET WITH THE TREE ROOTS GROWING INTO IT.YOU KNOW, WHEN I TOOK THE PICTURES, DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT IT? I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK ON THAT. ALL RIGHT, WE NEED TO CHECK ON THAT AGAIN, I GUESS. I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT STATESVILLE ROAD FROM THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
THEN IF YOU WOULD, I'D NOTE MR. CLAUDE'S COMMENTS ON THIS DITCH.
YES, I MADE A NOTE OF THAT. THANK YOU. AND I GUESS THE BRIAN'S CHURCH ROAD.
DID YOU? YES. GOT THAT? YOU GOT BRIAN'S? YES.
I SENT Y'ALL SOME INFORMATION ON THAT. I GOT IT.
YEAH. YEAH, IT'S VERY LITTLE CRASH DATA THERE.
IF Y'ALL WANT TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION REQUESTING VDOT DO A SAFETY STUDY.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST. IF Y'ALL WANT TO DO SOMETHING ON THAT NEXT.
[01:00:05]
IF Y'ALL IF Y'ALL WANT ME TO BRING THAT BACK AS AN ITEM AT A FUTURE, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT MEETING, JUST LIKE WE'RE DOING FOR BUCKHORN ROAD. WE CAN.I CAN DO THAT, IF THAT'S. YEAH. THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
YEAH. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? MR.. I UNDERSTAND THE LAKESIDE DRIVE ISSUE IS BEING LOOKED AT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. I SENT I SENT THE BOARD AN EMAIL LATER THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THAT AND GEORGE BOWMAN WITH VDOT, HE'S THE ASSISTANT RESIDENCY ADMINISTRATOR. JUST LIKE MR. CUTCHIN ALLUDED TO EARLIER, THEY HAD SENT THAT TO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DATA AT THIS LOCATION THAT WARRANT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? GEORGE DID REQUEST THAT THE ROADSIDE DIVISION CUT THE AREA BACK TO THE RIGHT OF WAY LIMITS.
HE SAID THAT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER.
HE SAYS VDOT CAN'T PERFORM ANY ADDITIONAL WORK.
THAT IS OFF VDOT RIGHT AWAY. SO AGAIN IF THAT'S IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE BOARD WANTS TO LOOK AT FURTHER I WOULD SUGGEST ASKING VDOT TO DO A SAFETY STUDY ON THAT AS WELL, IF THAT'S SOMETHING Y'ALL RECOMMEND OR WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH.
ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ROAD ISSUES? IS THAT IS THAT THE WILL OF THE. DID Y'ALL DO, Y'ALL WANT TO HAVE THAT AS A ITEM NEXT MONTH? OKAY. FOR NEXT MEETING. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON. NUMBER FOUR MONTHLY REPORTS, MR.
[4. Monthly Reports]
THROWER. YES. JUST A FEW UPDATES ON A FEW ITEMS. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FINISH UP OUR NEWSOME CDBG PROJECT.THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WALKTHROUGHS WITH KCH CONTRACTING.
MOST OF THAT'S BEEN DONE. THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO FINISH UP SOME PUNCH LIST ITEMS ON THAT.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT. CTA CONSULTANTS IS HERE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BRIEF YOU ON THAT A LITTLE LATER TONIGHT, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE REQUEST TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW TOWER SITE AT THE BERLIN REFUSE SITE.
SO I'LL, WE'LL GET AN UPDATE FROM CTA FROM, ON THAT A LITTLE LATER.
PERSONNEL. WE DO HAVE ONE VACANCY RIGHT NOW. PUBLIC SERVICE WORKER II FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES.
SO IF Y'ALL KNOW OF ANY FOLKS WITH CDLS, SEND THEM OUR WAY.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THE COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY.
WE'VE DONE INTERVIEWS AND WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH PAYPOINT HR TO CONDUCT THE STUDY.
WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING ON OCTOBER 8TH. WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER MEETING ON NOVEMBER 12TH.
TINA IN OUR OFFICE IS KIND OF HEADING THAT UP.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMMITTEE'S WORK ON THAT.
REFUSE SITES. WE'VE BEEN IMPROVING SOME OF THE DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
DRIVEWAYS LOOK NICE, AND WE HOPE THAT CORTLAND WILL BE DONE ANY DAY NOW.
WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THE CONTRACTOR TO DO THAT ONE.
THE OTHER DRIVEWAYS WILL BE DONE IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/BEALE FARM/VEDP GRANT. AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR SITE STUDY. TIMMONS IS DOING THAT WORK, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING A KICKOFF MEETING ON FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY ON HALLOWEEN TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT EXCITING PROJECT, TO TRY TO FIND SOME ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITES IN THE COUNTY.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THE COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS RFP.
THIS ITEM, THIS IS ACTUALLY ITEM 12 ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS INTO THE BUDGET, GRANT FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE, TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON OUR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES RFP FOR THE COUNTY BUILDING HERE TO DO A SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS AND A LITTLE BIT OF PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR THAT. AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. WE DID GET EIGHT PROPOSALS INTERVIEWED FOR FIRMS AND WE'VE CHOSEN MOSLEY TO DO THE WORK ON THAT
[01:05:03]
PROJECT. SO WE'LL BE STARTING TO KICK OFF MEETING WITH THEM SOON.VOTER REGISTRAR BUILDING. WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS.
THAT SHOULD BE STARTING. WORK ON THAT ANYTIME NOW.
I BELIEVE WE HAD TO DO AN ASBESTOS STUDY AND REMOVING THE ASBESTOS.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THE COURTHOUSE HOLDING CELLS AND CLERK OF COURT RECORDS ROOM.
WE GOT PERSONNEL REPORT, MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE.
I DID, PER REQUEST OF THE BOARD I'M GOING TO READ AN EMAIL I DID RECEIVE RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, LATE THIS AFTERNOON, FROM DOCTOR SHANNON. JUST FOR THE BOARD'S INFORMATION.
I WAS NOT AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE AT THAT TIME.
HOWEVER, HAD I BEEN THERE, MEETING WITH HIM WOULD HAVE BEEN AGAINST COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED AND AGREED UPON BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. FOR BACKGROUND, IN 2021, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ESTABLISHED A FORMAL COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL. ALTHOUGH YOU WERE NOT SERVING IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE AT THAT TIME, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS REMAINED THE SAME.
BOARD TO BOARD COMMUNICATION OCCURS THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE BOARD CHAIRS.
OPERATIONAL MATTERS ARE DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND SUPERINTENDENT.
MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SHOULD NOT CONTACT THE SUPERINTENDENT DIRECTLY, AND MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT CONTACT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DIRECTLY.
IF FOLLOW UP OR STAFF LEVEL COORDINATION IS NECESSARY.
SINCERELY, DR. GWENDOLYN SHANNON, SUPERINTENDENT.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. ANY COMMENTS FOR MR. THROWER? WELL, YEAH, I WENT THAT. I WENT AND ASKED AFTER MEETING WITH THE SHERIFF OVER THE LIGHTS FOR THE SCHOOL.
I PROMISED HIM I WOULD GO AND ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO TALK WITH DOCTOR SHANNON TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM REAL QUICK. AND I WAS TOLD THAT SHE WASN'T AVAILABLE.
I SAID, THAT'S FINE THE REST OF THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK, THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I ONLY NEED 15 MINUTES.
SO I GET A LOT OF THAT. I WASN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN THERE AND ASK TO SEE HER.
SO ANYWAY WORKING TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
YES, I WAS AT THAT ORIGINAL MEETING WHEN IT WAS DECIDED.
BUT AT ANY RATE HAD INTENTIONS OF, AFTER MEETING WITH THE SHERIFF RESOLVING THIS ISSUE REAL QUICK AND I NEEDED 15 MINUTES TO DO IT, AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
ALL RIGHT. I HAD A LITTLE COMMENT AFTER LOOKING AT THIS.
I'VE BEEN IN PRACTICE MEDICINE FOR 48 YEARS. I'VE DEALT WITH A LOT OF UNCOOPERATIVE PATIENTS, UNCOOPERATIVE HOSPITALS, UNCOOPERATIVE INSURANCE COMPANIES, UNCOOPERATIVE FAMILIES.
AND I'M GETTING TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT HOW WE HAVE TO GET TOGETHER.
THIS BOARD IS WILLING. WE HAVE SET OUT OLIVE LEAVES, OLIVE BRANCHES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS.
AND YOU PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE GOT YOUR HEADS BURIED IN THE SAND ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION BETTER GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE UNTIL WE GET AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD AND WE GET NEW LEADERSHIP THERE.
[01:10:01]
NO. OKAY. I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THE REST OF THEM HERE.FINANCIAL REPORT? YES, SIR. WE HAVE TWO FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THIS MONTH'S MEETING.
WE CLOSED OUT THE BOOKS FOR JUNE 30TH, 2025. THE AUDITOR HAS BEEN HERE.
THE AUDIT TEAM HAS BEEN HERE. THE AUDIT IS IN PROCESS NOW.
THE FINAL PRODUCT WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE DECEMBER BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
AND THE WAY THOSE BOOKS STAND NOW, WE COLLECTED 107% OF THE INITIAL BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, AND WE SPENT 94% OF THE PLAN BUDGET.
AS FAR AS THE FISCAL YEAR 26 NUMBERS WE HAVE PRESENTED THROUGH AUGUST OF 2025.
AND PLEASE NOTE, THE REVENUES SEEM SMALL, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE IN THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST, MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS STATE MONEY THAT'S COMING IN THAT IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENDITURES THAT HAPPENED EITHER IN MAY OR JUNE. SO AS OF AUGUST 31ST, 2025, 3% OF BUDGETED REVENUES WERE COLLECTED AND 10.9% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES HAD BEEN SPENT AS OF AUGUST 31ST.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LOWE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON. NOW, LET'S GO TO THE TREASURER'S REPORT.
MISS EDWARDS IS HERE TONIGHT. WE MISSED YOU THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
YES, I'VE HAD OTHER MEETINGS, UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE COLLECTION PERCENTAGES.
REAL ESTATE, IN SEPTEMBER, WE WENT 99.79%. WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 99.79%.
WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $445,606.41.
ON PERSONAL PROPERTY, IN SEPTEMBER, WE WENT 97.12%.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 97.36%. OUTSTANDING IS $1,653,071.20.
ON THE SOLID WASTE, IN SEPTEMBER, WE WENT 1.58%.
WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 82.53%, HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $659,099.59.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD THROUGH DEBT SET OFF WITH THE STATE.
AND WE HAVE COLLECTED A TON OF MONEY THAT WAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS EDWARDS? THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO DOWN THE LIST.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY, SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES.
WE USUALLY DON'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM THOSE THINGS ANYWAY. NUMBER FIVE, FINANCIAL MATTERS.
[5. Financial Matters]
THAT'S THE BILLS LIST. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I GOT A QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER 4. WHY HAVE WE STOPPED GETTING THE ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT? AND THE SHERIFFS DIDN'T SEND IT SIR. I KNOW YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.I KNOW THEY'VE HAD SOME PERSONNEL CHANGES DOWN THERE, OFF AND ON, WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SO, I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE WE NEED TO REACH OUT AND SEE WHO NEEDS TO BE GETTING THAT TOGETHER NOW AND LET THEM KNOW WHEN THEY NEED TO BE SENDING IT UP.
OKAY, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? FOR QUESTIONS, WE'VE GOT THE QUESTIONS. YOU SEND IT TO ME AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON THEN. APPOINTMENTS. ONE OF OUR FAVORITE TOPICS.
[6. Appointments]
LITTER CONTROL COUNCIL. I BELIEVE SUPERVISOR GILLETTE YOU HAVE SOME NEWS FOR US? THAT WAS LAST MONTH. I'VE GOT IT RIGHT DOWN HERE.YEAH. I THINK YOU. OH. YOU. OH. YEAH. YOU WANTED A.
[01:15:01]
MR. COBB. I HANDED THAT OVER TO BRIAN. YEAH, YEAH.SO THAT YEAH, IT'S ON THE AGENDA. SO THE THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO APPOINT IF Y'ALL SO CHOOSE TO DO SO.
CHARLES COBB HAS VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE. OKAY. GOSH, I TOOK CARE OF THAT LAST MONTH.
I THOUGHT I WAS THROUGH WITH IT, BUT ANYWAY, I HAVE FORWARDED HIM THE INFORMATION THAT HE NEEDS.
THEY MEET ABOUT THREE TIMES A YEAR, AND THE APPOINTMENT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, I SUPPOSE. YEAH. THE. I BELIEVE IT ENDED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THE LAST DAY OF THIS MONTH, IS IT NOT? MR. THROWER.
WE HAD A MEETING A COUPLE OF A WEEK OR TWO AGO, BUT THEY HAVE FOUR SCHEDULED MEETINGS A YEAR, QUARTERLY. BUT YEAH, THIS WILL BE FOR A THREE YEAR TERM.
WHOEVER YOU APPOINTED. SO IT'S GOOD THAT YOU CAN EVEN GET A VOLUNTEER TO, TO SERVE.
THAT WAS A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT, SIR. RIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE.
OKAY. STOP INCORPORATED. I'VE GOT A I'VE GOT A VOLUNTEER FOR THAT, KIM WILLIAMS. WHO? SHE VOLUNTEERED TO DO IT. FANTASTIC. YEAH.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL RIGHT, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WOULD THAT BE FOR THE PRIVATE OR PUBLIC? THIS ONE REQUESTED FOR THE PRIVATE SECTION AND THIS ONE REQUESTED FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
WE JUST GOT ONE FOR THE PRIVATE. PRIVATE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYBODY IN THE OTHER CATEGORY? LET'S PLEASE DO SOME THINKING AND GET THIS DONE BY NEXT MONTH.
OKAY. MOVE ON TO THE SPSA BOARD. TONY PARNELL, HE'S OUR CURRENT MEMBER, AND HE WOULD LIKE TO SERVE A SECOND FOUR-YEAR TERM, BUT WE EVIDENTLY HAVE TO APPOINT TWO MORE PEOPLE AND SEND IT TO THE GOVERNOR, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. YOU HAVE TO. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.
THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY IS SUPPOSED TO APPOINT OR NOMINATE THREE MEMBERS.
THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT THE STATE CODE SAYS. TONY IS OUR CURRENT, TONY IS YOUR CURRENT NOMINEE REPRESENTATIVE, SO. AND THEY PICK ONE FROM THE THREE. THE GOVERNOR GOVERNOR WILL PICK ONE OF THE THREE.
NORMALLY, YOU SUBMIT YOUR LIST IN THE ORDER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE.
HE'S VERY WELL VERSED IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND WHAT HE DOES AND HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO THE BOARD.
I WILL JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT TO THE BOARD. WELL, WENDY, TWO MORE NAMES, BUT IT'S CUT AND DRIED, RIGHT? FORMALITY. YES, SIR. ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO PUT THEIR NAME ON THAT? ALL RIGHT. WE CAN COME UP WITH TWO MORE NAMES BY NEXT MEETING, THEN.
OKAY. NEXT ONE IS OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. MONROE BRIDGE KAYAK/CANOE LAUNCH PROJECT.
[7. Public Hearing- Monroe Bridge Kayak/Canoe Launch Project- Deed of Dedication of Open Space Land]
AND THIS IS THE DEED OF DEDICATION OF OPEN SPACE LAND.AND IS MR. CRAIG HERE TONIGHT? YES, SIR. MR. CRAIG, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
GOOD NIGHT. THIS GENTLEMAN HAS DONE ALL THE BUSINESS CONCERNING THE SITUATION.
DO WE HAVE THE VISUALS? WE GOT SOME PHOTOS HERE.
OKAY, SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS JAMIE CRAIG. I'M THE PRINCIPAL FOR A GROUP CALLED BEECHTREE GROUP.
I DON'T OWN ANY LAND. WELL, THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY TRUE.
MY ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU I HAVE AN OPTION ON LAND IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
AND I WROTE ALL THE GRANTS FOR THE COUNTY TO BUY IT, SO IT WILL COST YOU EXACTLY ZERO.
IN ADDITION TO WRITING THE GRANTS TO BUY THE LAND, I WROTE THE GRANTS TO BUILD A NEW CANOE RAMP WHICH IS PICTURED IN THE FOREGROUND OF THIS PHOTO. YOU ARE BASICALLY STANDING AT THE RIVER'S EDGE, LOOKING INLAND ON THE 160 ACRE TRACT OF LAND KNOWN AS THE MONROE BRIDGE TRACT. IT'S CURRENTLY OWNED BY DON AND KIMBERLY BRIGHT, AND THEY'VE AGREED TO SELL IT AT A SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNT TO MARKET VALUE TO ENABLE THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC ACCESS CANOE AND KAYAK RAMP, WHICH IS EXACTLY FIVE MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM THE HERCULES BOAT RAMP.
THIS WILL CREATE A WONDERFUL BLUEWATER TRAIL ON THE RIVER FROM HERCULES TO THIS LOCATION.
[01:20:11]
PRESENTLY, THE FIRST PLACE YOU CAN GET OUT ON THIS RIVER.THERE'S A PRIVATELY OPERATED BOAT RAMP IN ROUND GUT, AND THEN YOU GOT A FEW MORE MILES DOWN TO THE BRONCHO ROD AND GUN CLUB, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S PRIVATE AS WELL. SO THIS WILL BE A PUBLIC ACCESS BOAT RAMP, BUT IT IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR KAYAKS AND CANOES.
NOW SLIDE PLEASE. THIS IS LOOKING AT THE RIVER.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE DONE A PROJECT OF THIS NATURE.
THE LAST ONE I DID WAS FOR THE BLACKWATER PARK IN THE CITY OF FRANKLIN.
GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN ACTUALLY CAME DOWN AND CUT THE RIBBON ON THAT.
IT WAS A FANTASTIC PROJECT. WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MILES OF WALKING TRAILS ON THAT PROPERTY.
THE PICNIC PAVILION, AND WE RECENTLY ACQUIRED AN ADDITIONAL 99 ACRES THAT INCLUDES A PRIMITIVE CAMPING AREA, WHICH WILL BE FOR YOUTH GROUPS AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO RENT IT.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THAT TRANSITION TO THE CITY OF FRANKLIN.
THIS IS THE AREA WHERE YOU WOULD INGRESS AND EGRESS THE RIVER.
THE CONCRETE STOPS JUST SHORT OF THE EDGE OF THE BANK.
SO YOU ARE GOING TO INHERIT AN IN COMPLIANCE PROJECT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE ABOUT THIS AREA WAS THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO GET INTO THE RIVER TO EFFECT A RESCUE.
APPARENTLY, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT SOME YEARS AGO WHERE SOMEBODY FLIPPED THEIR JOHNBOAT OR SOMETHING, AND THEY WERE SITTING ON IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THEY, YOU KNOW, HAD TO DEPLOY THE I WON'T SAY THE CAJUN NAVY BECAUSE Y'ALL AREN'T LOUISIANA, BUT I'LL SAY THE SOUTHAMPTON NAVY TO GO GET THEM.
I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER PHOTO THAT SHOWS A GATE.
THAT MAY BE IN THEIR PACKET. OKAY, WELL, SO IF YOU'LL JUST HOLD RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
DO YOU HAVE THAT LITTLE POINTER THING THAT I LIKED LAST TIME I WAS HERE SO MUCH? THANK YOU. YEP. WOULD I PUSH THE MIDDLE ONE OR THE TOP? THE TOP ONE'S GOING TO LASER IN. OKAY. SO RIGHT IN THIS AREA RIGHT HERE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED BOLLARDS WHICH ARE THE POSTS THAT GO IN THE GROUND. THEY'RE SET THREE FEET APART.
AND THEN THERE ARE TWO POSTS AND THERE IS A GATE WHICH KEEPS THIS AREA CLOSED TO TRAFFIC SO THAT THE GENERAL CITIZENRY CANNOT JUST BACK A JOHNBOAT UP AND LAUNCH IT. THAT GATE WILL HAVE A KEY ON IT, WHICH THE COUNTY 911 WILL EITHER HAVE THE KEY FOR OR A COMBINATION IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
EXCUSE ME. WANT TO CARRY A JOHN BOAT DOWN THERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
IF THEY'RE FEELING STRONG, THEY WILL. BUT IT'S FOR THE KAYAKS AND CANOES.
AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT, BUT IN THAT PACKET, I POINTED OUT TO YOU THAT THIS TRAIL THAT STARTS AT HERCULES WINDS THROUGH A SECTION OF THE RIVER THAT INCLUDES THE NARROWS. THE NARROWS IS A HISTORIC PLACE FOR THE NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE VIRGINIA INDIANS THEY USED TO NET SHAD AND HERRING THERE AND DRY AND SMOKE THE FISH. IT IS A BREATHTAKING PADDLE. AND I MEAN THAT LITERALLY BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THAT SECTION OF THE RIVER, THE NOTTOWAY RIVER GOES FROM THIS TO THIS, AND THE WATER IS BOILING AND IT IS IN A YOU HAVE TO PADDLE AND WORK.
BUT THE BEST PART OF THAT IS, IS EVERY FARM FROM THE QUARRY PROPERTY AT THE HERCULES BOAT RAMP TO THE MACK CROWDER PROPERTY, TO THE SYCAMORE BEND PROPERTY. AND THEN THERE IS ONE OTHER PROPERTY THAT I CAN'T DISCUSS BECAUSE IT'S STILL UNDER CONTRACT, HAS BEEN PLACED ONTO OR UNDER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH THE VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION OR ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THE STATE.
SO THIS SECTION OF RIVER IS VIRGIN OLD GROWTH TIMBER AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE VIRGIN OLD GROWTH TIMBER.
AND THIS IS MY WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THIS WE HAVE A LOT OF PAPERWORK.
[01:25:02]
ERIC WRIGHT, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CHRIS. HOW CLOSE ARE WE? VERY CLOSE. IT SHOULD BE APPROVED TONIGHT. OKAY.YOU WILL HAVE TO KEEP IT AS ONE PARCEL. YOU CAN'T SELL ANY OF IT OFF.
YOU GOT TO KEEP ALL THE ALL 160 ACRES. THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDES WETLANDS.
AND SO ANYTIME WE CAN PROTECT WETLANDS AND PROVIDE FOR FLOOD STORAGE IN A COMMUNITY, WE HELP THE COMMUNITY THAT'S DOWNSTREAM FROM THIS AREA. WE ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING AN ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE FLORA AND FAUNA THAT INHABIT THIS UNIQUE RIVER ECOSYSTEM. NOW I'M A DEER HUNTER.
I'M A DUCK HUNTER. YOU KNOW, I'M AN OUTDOORSMAN.
I'M A SCOUT LEADER. ALL OF THIS IS BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I ONLY WORKED ON THE TOP 40 ACRES. YOU HAVE ANOTHER 110 ACRES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MONROE BRIDGE ROAD THAT IS WIDE OPEN FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO. THERE ARE TRAILS, MONIES THAT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE STATE.
I'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MORE YEARS IN ME, I'M AFRAID.
AND YOUR DEED OF COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SAYS BASICALLY THREE THINGS.
AND, ERIC, YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE. YOU GOT TO KEEP IT FOREVER.
YOU CAN'T SUBDIVIDE IT, AND IT HAS TO BE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND PUBLIC USE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THAT DEED THAT'S MATERIAL? NO. OKAY, SO THE OPEN SPACE LAND EASEMENT WILL BE HELD BY THE VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION.
CORRECT. AND THEY ARE A CREATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1969.
THEY'RE THE LARGEST HOLDER OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN THE STATE.
AND THEY WILL BE VERY EASY TO WORK WITH. AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ONE I'M BUILDING. I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE EXTREMELY DEDICATED TO THIS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. CRAIG BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? I WILL ASK THE CITIZENS TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE LEVEL OF EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THIS AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT THIS. I WILL OPEN IT.
OPEN PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING.
I LIKE THIS GUY. I'LL TELL YOU THAT. I USED TO BE A SCOUTMASTER IN THE 80S AND 90S.
A LONG TIME AGO, WHEN MY KNEES WORKED A LOT BETTER.
AND I PUT CANOES IN THERE AT HERCULES THINKING I WAS GOING TO GET DOWN BRONCO CLUB REAL EASILY.
AND WE STAYED OUT HOURS ON THOSE CANOES. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE HAD THIS.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES, SIR. MR. HUTCHINS? YES, I SUPPORT IT, TOO.
I WAS A BOY SCOUT AS A TEENAGER. BUT IF IF WE'RE GOING TO NAME THE COURTHOUSE AFTER JUDGE GOODWIN, I THINK WE OUGHT TO NAME IT AFTER THIS GENTLEMAN HERE.
THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? LAST CALL BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD? IF NOT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ATTACHED DEED OF DEDICATION OF OPEN SPACE LAND. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND.
SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY. THE RECOMMENDED MOTION ON YOUR THE MEMO HAS VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ENUNCIATE ON THE RECORD, PLEASE, IF I MAY ASK MR. WHITE TO READ THE MOTION AS PRESENTED THERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
OKAY. I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONVEYANCE BY DON AND KIMBERLY BRIGHT, OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP NUMBER 105-11 ALONG THE NOTTOWAY RIVER ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE ROUTE 684 AND ADJACENT TO THE MONROE BRIDGE, AND, IN TURN, TO APPROVE THE DEED OF DEDICATION OF OPEN SPACE LAND CONCERNING THE SAME REAL PROPERTY AS PRESENTED.
[01:30:02]
THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? I'LL SECOND IT.ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED LIKEWISE. UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU SIR.
YOU'RE WELCOME. JUST ONE POINT FOR YOUR NOTE.
THE GATES ARE CURRENTLY LOCKED, AND WE HAVE IT THAT WAY ON PURPOSE.
UNTIL THE COUNTY FIGURES OUT A MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IT CAN REMAIN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC SINCE WE'RE GOING INTO WINTER.
BUT JUST CONTACT ME AFTERWARDS. IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
[8. Public Hearing - Virginia Nottoway Indian Circle & Square Foundation- Taxation Exemption]
PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS THE VIRGINIA NOTTOWAY INDIAN CIRCLE AND SQUARE FOUNDATION.TAXATION EXEMPTION. EXEMPTION, EXEMPTION. JUST FOR THE BOARD'S SITE. THIS CAME TO YOU LAST MONTH. AND DOCTOR ELLIOTT HERE IS WITH THE VIRGINIA NOTTOWAY INDIAN CIRCLE AND SQUARE FOUNDATION.
SHE'S REQUESTED YOU EXEMPT HER ORGANIZATION FROM PROPERTY TAXES IS ALLOWED BY STATE CODE.
PER STATE CODE SECTION 58.1-3651, LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES, BY ORDINANCE, MAY EXEMPT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS UTILIZING THE PROPERTY FOR HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL PURPOSES FROM REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.
A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO DOING SO.
BEFORE ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE GRANTING THE EXEMPTION STATUS, THE GOVERNING BODY SHALL CONSIDER THE QUESTIONS OUTLINED IN STATE CODE AND IN READING HER LETTER AND THE STATE CODE. IT DOES APPEAR THE ORGANIZATION'S MEETS THE CRITERIA TO BE GRANTED AN EXEMPTION.
AMY CARR COMMISSIONER REVENUE SAYS THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS $109,200, AND THE ASSESSED TAXES AGAINST THE PROPERTY EQUATE TO $775.32. AND I AM RECOMMENDING YOU ADOPT THE ATTACHED ORDINANCE TO EXEMPT THAT PROPERTY.
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE IS OPEN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS SHEILA ELLIOTT, AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE VIRGINIA NOTTOWAY INDIAN CIRCLE AND SQUARE FOUNDATION WHICH IS THE NONPROFIT ARM OF THE NOTTOWAY INDIAN TRIBE OF VIRGINIA. CHIEF LYNETTE AUSTIN IS OUR CHIEF.
WE'RE A SMALL ORGANIZATION, AND WE REALLY OPERATE PRIMARILY UTILIZING FUNDING FROM OUR MEMBERS AND GRANTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. OUR FIRST PRIORITY AS FAR AS MISSION AND SO FORTH, HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATION.
AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
YES. THANK YOU. PRESENTATION. THAT'S SOMETHING RIGHT UP ALONG OUR ALLEY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NOTTOWAY RIVER AND OUR TRIBE BEING NAMED AFTER SUCH. SO I HOPE THAT OUR REQUEST WILL BE REVIEWED POSITIVELY BY THE BOARD AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS TO THIS YOUNG LADY? VICTORIA EDWARDS AGAIN FROM BOYKINS. I'M ACTUALLY FROM CAPE AND I GREW UP IN CAPE AND I LOVE SEEING THAT ON THE CORNER IN CAPE.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL SUPPORT HER. MY QUESTION IS, WILL THIS ALSO COVER TOWN TAXES BECAUSE IT'S WITHIN THE CORPORATE INCORPORATED TOWN LIMITS OF CAPRON, WHICH SHE ALSO NEED TO GO TO THE TOWN AND REQUEST THAT SHE BE EXEMPT FROM THEM AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO ASSUME YES. AND I JUST WANTED HER TO KNOW THAT.
THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. OPEN HEARING IS STILL OPEN, ANYBODY ELSE? I'M SORRY. I DO APOLOGIZE. YES, I WANT TO ASK MISS UPDIKE, THE SOUTHAMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROPERTY WHERE THE MUSEUM AND ALL THAT.
[01:35:03]
WE'RE TAX EXEMPT, IS THAT CORRECT? THEN I SUPPORT THIS ALSO.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RICK FRANCIS AGAIN FROM TOWN OF BOYKINS.
I'LL HAVE BEEN IN YOUR BUILDING AND YOU ALL HAVE SET IT UP MARVELOUSLY AS A FIRST CLASS MUSEUM.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO COME, GO THERE.
PLEASE GO TAKE A LOOK. I'M IN FAVOR AS WELL. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE STILL OPEN.
ANYBODY ELSE? MR. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD. I LIVE NEAR THE FACILITY THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'VE BEEN IN THERE. I'VE SEEN IT. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE REQUEST THAT THEY'RE MAKING, I SUPPORT IT. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? I ALSO SUPPORT IT. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? LAST CALL. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE.
ALL RIGHT BOARD. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GRANT THEM TAX EXEMPTION.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION. AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED LIKEWISE.
IT'S UNANIMOUS. YOU ARE NOW TAX EXEMPT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO RADIO PROJECT, WHICH IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
[9. Radio Project- Request to Construct New Tower- Appropriation Resolution]
THIS REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT A NEW TOWER AND NEEDS AN APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION.I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO MR. THROWER. THANK YOU.
VERY MUCH. OR WHOEVER. YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S JUST AS A BACKGROUND.
THIS IS A REQUEST, AND WE DON'T. SORRY. WE DON'T HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION UP HERE, BUT BUT ANYWAY WE JUST REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT A NEW TOWER. WE DO HAVE CTA CONSULTANTS HERE WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM PROJECT.
THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE WORK IS $426,565.35.
THE COST WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE PROJECT.
PER THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY, TOWER COSTS ARE ABSORBED SEPARATELY BY THE LOCALITIES.
THE CAPITAL PROJECT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTED FY26 BUDGET.
THEREFORE, WE'RE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS WORK. IN NEGOTIATING A LEASE WITH THE CURRENT SEDLEY TOWER OWNER, ATC, AMERICAN TOWER COMPANY, ITS FINAL OFFER WAS 5500 PER MONTH WITH A 3% ANNUAL INCREASE.
WHICH IS NOT VIABLE NOR COST EFFECTIVE. THIS EQUATES TO, IF YOU DO IT OVER 15 YEARS, A LITTLE OVER 1.2 MILLION AND OVER 30 YEARS, ABOUT 3.1 MILLION. AND YOU CAN SEE AN ATTACHED SPREADSHEET THAT WAS PREPARED BY CTA THAT OUTLINES THOSE EXPENSES.
IN CONTRAST, THE COST OF 426, A LITTLE OVER $426,000 IS A ONE-TIME EXPENSE.
CTA BELIEVES THERE WILL BE ENOUGH AVAILABLE EXTRA SPACE ON THE TOWER TO POTENTIALLY LEASE OUT AT LEAST TWO ADDITIONAL CARRIERS AT 2 TO $3000 PER MONTH PER CARRIER. WE DID, LYNETT AND I DID TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS THE COURTHOUSE ITEMS WITH DAVENPORT AND COMPANY, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, AND THEY RECOMMEND PAYING FOR BOTH PROJECTS.
AS YOU APPROVED AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING, UTILIZE UTILIZING THE COUNTY'S UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
WE DO HAVE AN ATTACHED MEMO FROM DAVENPORT THAT OUTLINES THAT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE WELL IN COMPLIANCE AND ACTUALLY ABOVE OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TARGET OF 25% OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND FURTHERMORE, THE EXPENSE AND TIME REQUIRED TO ISSUE A FINANCING OF THAT SIZE OF LESS THAN A MILLION. IT'S NEITHER COST EFFECTIVE TIME EFFECTIVE.
AND WE DO HAVE CHERYL HERE WITH CTA. WE DON'T HAVE OUR PRESENTATION.
[01:40:02]
THAT'S MY FAULT. BUT SHE'S SHE CAN BRIEF YOU ON THE PROJECT, AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT IS.YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. TELL US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. RIGHT. OKAY. AND WHEN I GET TO THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM, I'LL JUST KIND OF POINT, YOU KNOW, INTO SPACE WHERE OUR TOWERS ARE. BECAUSE I DID HAVE A NICE GRAPHIC ON THERE FOR YOU, BUT I'M SURE WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU LATER SO THAT YOU CAN SEE IT.
WHAT I WANTED TO START WITH IS JUST KIND OF UPDATE YOU ON WHERE WE ARE ON THE PROJECT. I KNOW I'VE BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES BEFORE, SO IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF GOOD TO SEE WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
IN 2024 WE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH JVCKENWOOD AND WE ALSO HELD A KICKOFF MEETING AND SIDEWALKS FOR ALL OF THE SITES THAT THEY HAD IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONTRACTED DESIGN. AND THIS YEAR, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS WE HAD A DETAILED DESIGN REVIEW MEETING.
THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY KIND OF DIG IN DEEP AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR DESIGN IS A VERY SOLID DESIGN.
IT'S GOING TO MEET THE 95% PUBLIC SAFETY GRADE COVERAGE THAT WE NEED FOR ALL OF OUR USERS.
AND JUST TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, DOT ALL OF OUR I'S AND CROSS ALL OF OUR T'S.
WE ALSO DID A FACTORY STAGING. SO BASICALLY THEY PUT YOUR WHOLE SYSTEM TOGETHER.
OUR TEAM AND SEVERAL OF YOUR PEOPLE WENT DOWN TO THEIR FACILITY IN TEXAS, AND WE ACTUALLY SAW THE SYSTEM, DID A WHOLE SLEW OF TESTING. SO WE KNOW THAT IT IS OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL AS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE.
SO NOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS ONCE WE HAVE OUR SITES UP, THAT ALL THAT EQUIPMENT WILL GET SHIPPED OUT TO THE SITES, AND THEN WE'LL DO ALL THAT TESTING ALL OVER AGAIN JUST TO MAKE SURE NOTHING HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, IN SHIPPING AND NOTHING HAPPENED IN INSTALLATION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S WORKING PROPERLY.
AND WE'VE ALSO STARTED WORKING ON NEGOTIATING.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SITES THAT ARE NOT OWNED BY US.
THEY'RE OWNED BY COMMERCIAL CARRIERS. SO WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE A LEASE WITH THEM.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT BRINGS US TO YOU TODAY.
WE HAVE A PARTICULAR SITE WHICH IS SEDLEY TOWER.
THAT'S UP IN OUR NORTH SORT OF NORTHEASTERN AREA OVER IN THE IVOR AREA.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME DIFFICULTIES NEGOTIATING WITH THAT PARTICULAR SITE OWNER.
SO WE'VE ALSO TALKED TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE. THERE WE GO.
YEAH. MAGIC. MAGIC. THANK YOU. OKAY, I'M A FEW SLIDES.
I SCOOTED RIGHT ON. OH, ONE TOO MANY. OH THERE WE GO.
OKAY, SO I'M ON THAT LAST BULLET ALREADY. SO WE'VE HAD TO LOOK AT SOME ALTERNATIVE SITES.
AND THIS THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL IN A PROJECT OF THIS COMPLEXITY, RIGHT? ANY NUMBER OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN IN THE SITES THAT YOU BELIEVE ARE IDEALISTICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE BEST SITES FOR YOUR SYSTEM. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SOMETIMES DO A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ON A TOWER AND FIND OUT THAT THE TOWER CAN'T HOLD ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT, AND SOMETIMES IT'S MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE VERSUS TRY TO BUILD UP THAT TOWER.
SO THIS IS KIND OF A NATURAL PROGRESSION IN OUR PROJECT.
SO WE'VE HAD SOME ALTERNATIVE SITE DISCUSSIONS, NOT ONLY WITH THE TOWER OWNER, BUT ALSO WITH VDOT, WITH THE NOTTOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT OUR OWN BERLIN COLLECTION SITE.
SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS THIS IS THE ONE.
NOW I DON'T HAVE TO ACT THIS OUT. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE YOUR SYSTEM HERE.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT IS THE MAP OF YOUR COUNTY, OF COURSE, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT SITES THAT WE NEED TO GIVE YOU THAT 95% PUBLIC SAFETY GRADE COVERAGE. BUT ALSO IT LOOKS AT THE TWO DISPATCH CENTERS THAT WE HAVE, ONE IN THE CITY OF FRANKLIN AND ONE HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
SO BASICALLY THIS IS A FIVE CHANNEL, 800MHZ ATLAS SYSTEM FROM JVCKENWOOD.
WE WILL RECEIVE 95% GUARANTEED SERVICE AREA COVERAGE.
SO THAT MEANS IF ANY SITE GOES DOWN, OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM DOES CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
WE HAVE CONNECTIVITY BY A MICROWAVE NETWORK AND YOU SEE HOW ALL THE THINGS ARE CONNECTED.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE SITE THAT'S THAT LITTLE TEXAS OVER IN OUR SOUTHWEST CORNER THAT WILL BE A MONITORED HOT STANDBY, WHICH MEANS WE'VE DOUBLED THE EQUIPMENT. SO WE HAVE REDUNDANCY THERE.
THAT WAY, IF ONE RING FAILS ONE SITE. SITE. LINE OF SITE FAILS.
NOW. SO LET'S LOOK AT ALL OUR SITES. SO AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF SITES.
YOU HAVE THE ONE THERE IN RED. THAT'S OUR SEDLEY SITE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY. SO THE REASON IT'S NOT VIABLE IS BECAUSE THEY WANTED $5,500 A MONTH.
[01:45:03]
IT ACTUALLY STARTED HIGHER THAN THAT AND A MUCH HIGHER ANNUAL ESCALATION.SO WE WORKED REALLY LONG AND HARD WITH THEM TO TO WORK IT DOWN.
SO THEY SAID THAT MADE IT COST PROHIBITIVE FOR THEM TO GO BELOW 5500.
I WILL TELL YOU, THAT'S A BIT UNUSUAL FOR US.
USUALLY WE'RE ABLE TO TALK THESE GUYS DOWN TO GENERALLY ABOUT $1000, $1,500 A MONTH, WHICH IS KIND OF OUR GOAL, WHICH WE HAVE DONE IN ANOTHER SITE. AND SOMETIMES WE NEGOTIATE ACTUALLY PURCHASING SITES.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS MR. THROWER MENTIONED, THAT'S ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 1.2 MILLION OVER 15 YEARS.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. SO OUR NEXT STEP IS, OKAY, WHAT IF WE BUILD A TOWER? WHAT IF WE CAN FIND A PLACE TO BUILD A TOWER? BECAUSE WE DID LOOK AT VDOT, THEIR PLOT WAS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR US TO ADD A TOWER TO IT.
SO WE DID REACH OUT TO THREE LANDOWNERS TO SEE IF MAYBE THAT WOULD WORK.
AND SO WE FOUND OUT THAT THAT WAS OPEN TO US TO PURSUE.
SO ONCE YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT MEETS YOUR REQUIREMENTS. NOW WE FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH DO WE THINK IT WILL COST TO BUILD THIS TOWER. WELL, I'M ALWAYS CONSERVATIVE WHEN I DO WHAT WE CALL ROUGH ORDER OF MAGNITUDE COSTS.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, OKAY, ABOUT 700,000 PROBABLY.
I NEED A 250 FOOT TOWER TO BE ABLE TO LINK INTO ALL OF THE OTHER SITES.
THAT'S JUST MY GUT FEEL WITHOUT DOING ANY REAL DETAILED.
SO WE'RE THINKING 700,000 IS A LOT LESS THAN 1.2 MILLION.
SO ONCE YOU GET THAT KIND OF COST DIFFERENCE, WE SAY, OKAY, LET'S PURSUE IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
SO WE GO TO OUR NEXT SLIDE. YEAH OKAY. SO THIS IS OUR SITE.
I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. WE DIDN'T SKIP ANYTHING.
NO. YEP. THIS IS IT OKAY. SO THIS IS OUR SITE.
THIS IS THE BERLIN AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ON THE LEFT.
SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE FAR ENOUGH AWAY. WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF SPACE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE OUT THERE, SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE CIVILS COMPANY, FROM JVCKENWOOD.
WE ALSO HAD A TOWER COMPANY GO OUT AND OUR ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN OUT, AND EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF SPACE FOR US TO BUILD THE TOWER THAT WE NEED, AND TO PUT A SHELTER FOR ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE RIGHT IS WHAT THE TOWER WOULD LOOK LIKE, POTENTIALLY, RIGHT. THAT'S JUST SORT OF A RENDERING OF WHAT A TOWER OF THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY THAT WE NEED TO PUT OUR EQUIPMENT ON.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT SLIDE. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE SAY OKAY, WE HAVE A LOCATION.
WE THINK THIS ROB COST IS BETTER THAN OUR RENT COST.
WHEN THEY FIRST CAME BACK WITH THE PRICE, IT WAS A BIT HIGHER THAN WE WANTED. IT WAS LESS THAN 700,000, BUT IT WAS A BIT HIGHER THAN WE WERE EXPECTING.
AND IT IS ALL INCLUSIVE, THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THAT SITE.
WHAT YOU SEE OVER ON THE RIGHT IS JUST A BASIC RENDERING OF WHAT THE TOWER.
YOU KNOW, WILL POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE AND WHAT YOU SEE IN GREEN.
THOSE ARE OUR MICROWAVE DISHES. THE STICKS, THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR RF ANTENNAS.
I KNOW MR. THROWER MENTIONED SEVERAL. WE DO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL.
I THINK IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON HOW HEAVY THE CELLULAR EQUIPMENT.
SOMETIMES IF YOU SEE THESE CELLULAR ARRAYS, THEY'RE BIG AND BULKY.
THOSE WEIGH MORE. SO IF WE ALLOW ONE TO COME IN AND WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY HEAVY.
IT MAY BE THAT WE ONLY GET ONE, BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE JUST CHARGE THEM MORE.
BUT I THINK EVEN WITH JUST ONE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A REALLY GOOD RETURN.
[01:50:08]
OUR SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO LAST 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE 1.7 MILLION OVER 20 YEARS.IT COULD GET ALL THE WAY UP TO 3 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS IF WE BUILD THIS TOWER.
I WAS NOT AWARE THAT YOU HAD FUNDS THAT YOU COULD GO, YOU KNOW, GET IMMEDIATELY.
WHAT I USUALLY DO WHEN I DO A COST COMPARISON, I THINK.
OKAY, WHAT IF WE USE, SAY, TAX FREE BONDS? WHAT'S THE CURRENT INTEREST RATE? RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 4.1% INTEREST RATE.
OBVIOUSLY, YOUR SAVINGS WOULD BE EVEN LARGER, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT OUTRIGHT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT FINANCE COST OVER TIME. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, YOU'D BE SPENDING 571,000 IF YOU FINANCED IT.
BUT ALSO IF YOU WERE TO ABLE ABLE TO GET ONE POTENTIAL CELLULAR CARRIER ON THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 528,000 OVER 15 YEARS.
SO THAT'S JUST HOW IT KIND OF WORKS OUT FINANCIALLY, RIGHT? NEXT STEPS. SO OBVIOUSLY APPROVING A CHANGE ORDER, WE WOULD NEED TO SUBMIT FINAL CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS.
WE NEED TO GET A PERMIT NOTICE TO PROCEED. OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE BREAKING GROUND HERE. THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, A NEPA, SHPO, GEOTECH, JUST ALL THE THINGS YOU NORMALLY HAVE TO DO TO BREAK GROUND.
ORDER OUR STEEL, SITE PREP, TOWER FOUNDATION, ERECT A TOWER.
WE NEED TO DO OUR COVERAGE TESTING IN FULL FOLIAGE.
THAT MEANS WHEN ALL THE LEAVES ARE ON THE TREES, BECAUSE THAT'S WORST CASE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHEN OUR SYSTEM WILL PERFORM AT ITS WEAKEST WITH ALL OF THE LEAVES ON THE TREES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF.
SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 6 TO 8 MONTHS, THE SOONER WE CAN GET THIS MOVING WE STILL BELIEVE, LIKE WE CAN MAKE THAT FOLIAGE WINDOW NEXT YEAR AND MAYBE IN THE AUGUST AND AT THE VERY LATEST SEPTEMBER, BE TESTING OUR SYSTEM AND YOU KNOW, YOUR USERS COULD BE ON THIS SYSTEM STILL BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
AND THAT'S IT. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? EXPLAINED IT PRETTY GOOD TO ME.
GOOD LUCK. HOW TALL IS THAT TOWER? 250FT. DOESN'T THAT COME UNDER FEDERAL REGULATIONS? OVER 200FT. IT DOES. ALL THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE TO REGISTER IT WITH THE FAA.
WE WOULD POTENTIALLY EITHER HAVE TO PAINT IT OR PUT LIGHTS ON IT.
THE FAA WILL TELL US WHAT WE'LL NEED TO DO. WE DO TRY TO STAY UNDER 200 IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, BUT WE NEED THAT EXTRA HEIGHT TO MAKE THAT LINE OF SIGHT TO OUR OTHER TOWERS.
ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS LIKE THE BEST DEAL. YEAH, WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE TO THE TOWER OWNER OUT THERE TRIED TO PUT US OVER A BARREL. SO I THINK WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET OUR OWN TOWER AND THEN MARKET IT, AND IT'LL PAY FOR ITSELF. YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? YEAH. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE BUILD THE TOWER.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? SECOND. IS THERE? ALL RIGHT.
I KNOW. OKAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED LIKEWISE. UNANIMOUS. OKAY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. NUMBER 10, SCHOOL INVESTIGATION REPORT.
[10. School Investigation Report- Request to Ratify Supplement to Report]
YES. TINA. TINA'S PASSING OUT THE THE SCHOOL INVESTIGATION REPORT.THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE REPORT THAT DEALT WITH THE RYAN LUPTON ISSUE.
[01:55:07]
AND PER ADVICE OF ERIC AND THE ATTORNEYS, THEY'RE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU RATIFY THE SUPPLEMENT JUST AS A PROCEDURAL.WITHIN OUR PACKET. IT IS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT, SIR? SURE. I'D BE HAPPY TO. THANK YOU, MR. THROWER.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THE SUPPLEMENT DEALS WITH A SPECIFIC ISSUE IN THE REPORT SECTION 7B1 OF THE REPORT TO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGARDING THE EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ADDRESSES MANAGEMENT IN PART MANAGEMENT OF THE STUDENT ACTIVITY FUND, AND SPECIFICALLY ZEROED IN ON SOME QUESTIONS CONCERNING WHAT WAS REFERRED TO AS IN SCHOOL RECORDS AS THE RYAN LUPTON WELLS FARGO.
SO IN THE REPORT, THEY RAISED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT NOT HAVING ANY INFORMATION, FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE TRANSACTIONS WERE FOR OR WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM OR WHERE IT WENT. AFTER THEY PRESENTED THE REPORT PUBLICLY ON OCTOBER 2ND, AS YOU RECALL MR. LUPTON ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THEM. THEY HAD TRIED TO FIND MR. LUPTON AND HAD ASKED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IF THEY KNEW MR. LUPTON. NOBODY HAD. AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAD.
SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW WHO RYAN LUPTON WAS AND WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT.
SO THE REPORT INCLUDED QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. MR. LUPTON, AS I MENTIONED DID CONTACT OUR TEAM OF EXTERNAL LAWYERS TO TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT WAS.
AND HE EXPLAINED THAT HIS FORMER EMPLOYER, WELLS FARGO, OPERATED AN ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN THAT MATCHED EMPLOYEE DONATIONS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. MR. LUPTON GENEROUSLY CHOSE TO DONATE TO SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH HE CREDITED WITH CONTRIBUTING TO HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
MR. LUPTON WAS INFORMED AT SOME POINT THAT HIS GIFT WAS ULTIMATELY USED FOR RESURFACING OF THE TENNIS COURTS, BOOKS AND COMPUTERS. THE SUPPLEMENT HAS BEEN POSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE IN FULL.
SO WE AT THIS POINT THAT YOUR THE TEAM FROM TROUTMAN PEPPER LOCKE AND COZEN O'CONNOR AND I AND MR. THROWER RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE THE SUPPLEMENT AND RATIFY ITS PUBLIC RELEASE AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR GREGORY? IS THIS JUST RELEASING INFORMATION OR REQUIRING ACTION OR? JUST THE MOTION. JUST REQUESTING THE ACTION IN THE FORM OF THE MOTION THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
THE, TO APPROVE THE SUPPLEMENT AND RATIFY ITS PUBLIC RELEASE.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. I'LL SECOND IT. ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF RATIFYING THE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.
SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. IT DID ANSWER ABOUT THREE OF THE 200 QUESTIONS.
OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER 11, WHICH IS THE BUCKHORN QUARTER ROAD - SAFETY STUDY
[11. Buckhorn Quarter Road- Safety Study Resolution]
RESOLUTION. YES. THIS ITEM YOU REQUESTED THIS BE PUT ON LAST LAST MONTH'S MEETING ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. THIS IS SAFETY STUDY REQUEST ON BUCKHORN QUARTER ROAD, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN TRUCK TRAFFIC AND THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALONG THAT PROPERTY. SO THIS WILL BE REQUESTING VDOT CONDUCT A SAFETY STUDY IN THAT AREA.ANY QUESTIONS TO SEE YOU, SWEETHEART. YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, RIGHT? ANY COMMENTS? NO, I SO MOVE. ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO A SECOND.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OKAY. OPPOSED LIKEWISE. WE'LL MOVE ON WITH THAT.
AND NUMBER 12 IS COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS PARKS STUDY, WHICH REQUIRES APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION.
[12. Commerce and Logistics Park Study- Appropriation Resolution]
AND I'LL TURN THAT OVER. MR. KARL HECK, WHO'S INVOLVED WITH THAT, IF YOU LIKE, SIR.YEAH. THIS PROJECT IS A GO VIRGINIA GRANT. SO THERE IS GO VIRGINIA FUNDS, AND DUE TO THE DELAYS THAT WE'VE HAD, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF OVERAGE THAT'S GOING TO BE COVERED BY FSEDI, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE.
[02:00:07]
SO IN EFFECT THIS IS A THIS IS A REQUEST FOR THE BOARD TO APPROPRIATE THAT GRANT MONEY AND FSEDI FUNDS IN TO THE BUDGET SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT.AND THEN THE CONTRACT WILL BE SIGNED. THEY CAN START.
IT'S A PROJECT TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE BEALE FARM WITH THE COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS CENTER AT STATE FUNDING, IT'S JUST FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE THAN THE BUSINESS RATE SITES PROGRAM.
IT MAKES IT READY FOR SOMEBODY TO GO TO WORK QUICKLY.
THAT'S THE IDEA. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE DELAYS. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO DO SO. YES. I MOVE, WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
THE APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
ALL WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE. YOU'RE ON THE. YOU WOULD JUST LIKE TO STAY UP THERE AND GO TO NUMBER 15, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE. I COULD DO THAT.
I COULD PROBABLY USE THE EXERCISE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE.
I KNOW THAT'S BEEN IN THE PRESS, THE VARIOUS CUTBACKS AND VARIOUS THINGS, BUT THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR BODY AND TO THE POINT FOR ONE OF THE OTHER TOPICS THAT CAME UP TODAY, THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PROJECT IS ENTIRELY UNDERGROUND, AS THE UTILITY COMPANY WOULDN'T WORK WITH US ON THE POLES.
SO WE, CHARTER SPECTRUM MADE IT ALL UNDERGROUND.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BETTER SOLUTION IN THE LONG RUN.
BUT IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES THERE. MR. THROWER MENTIONED THE BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM, THE LAST THING DUE ON THE BEALE FARM AS THE ARMY CORPS WETLANDS DELINEATION, WHICH IS PARTIALLY BEING HELD UP BY THE SHUTDOWNS.
HOPEFULLY WHEN THEY'RE BACK TO WORK, WE CAN GET THAT BACK UNDERWAY.
WE HAVE, WE'VE DONE A COUPLE EVENTS. OUR PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT DAY HAD 51 PEOPLE IN OUR FRANKLIN BUSINESS CENTER LUNCH, AND LEARN HAD 24 FOR INTRODUCTION TO AI, AND WE HAD MORE PEOPLE SHOW UP THAN SIGNED UP, WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR ONE OF OUR EVENTS, USUALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP.
I'LL MENTION THAT THE WE HAVE A VA 250 COMMITTEE CELEBRATING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
THE STATE'S MOBILE MUSEUM WILL BE AT THE CHEROENHAKA FACILITY THIS WEEKEND AS PART OF THE POW WOW.
I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT WILL BE A FREE THING THAT'S ON THE SIDE AND BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE IT, THAT IT'S LIKE THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS MOBILE MUSEUM THAT COMES HERE FROM TIME TO TIME SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THE HISTORY AND AVAILABLE.
SO THAT'S OUT THERE NOW, AND WE'RE GEARING UP FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY ON NOVEMBER 29TH AND THE BUSINESS EXPO WITH THE CHAMBER, WHICH WILL BE AT CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON NOVEMBER 20TH.
SO LOTS GOING ON AS WE MOVE INTO THE HOLIDAYS.
I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE CANNED WATER BUSINESS? THEY ARE. I TALKED TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EARLIER TODAY IS THAT THEY'RE ALMOST FINISHED WITH THEIR BUILDING AND SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL SOON.
ALL THE SITE WORK IS DONE AND MOST OF THE BUILDING PROJECTS ARE DOING ELECTRICAL RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY'RE WORKING ENTIRELY INSIDE THE BUILDING, BUT THEY SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING VERY SOON.
OKAY. DID ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HECK? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER 13, WHICH IS WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.
[13. Western Tidewater Free Clinic- Presentation by Dana Stallins, WTFC Board Member]
AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE MRS. ANNE CHRISTENBERRY HERE TONIGHT WHO'S A BOARD MEMBER TO PROVIDE US UPDATES ON THAT VERY IMPORTANT INSTITUTION. IF I KNEW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE HERE.I WOULD HAVE TURNED THIS DOWN WHEN THEY ASKED ME THIS AFTERNOON AT THE LAST MINUTE, SO.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNTY STAFF.
I'M ANNE KELLY CHRISTENBERRY, A BOARD MEMBER OF WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.
ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD AND PATIENTS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT SUPPORT.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025, WE SERVED 145 COUNTY RESIDENTS THROUGH 1136 VISITS, 82 DENTAL PATIENTS THROUGH 284 VISITS.
[02:05:04]
326,000 FREE MEDICATIONS VALUED AT MORE THAN $64.4 MILLION.NOW, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A STORY WITH THE NAME CHANGE TO PROTECT THE PATIENT PRIVACY.
TONY SPEAKS HIGHLY OF THE CLINIC, PRAISING THE INCREDIBLE DEDICATION OF THE NURSES AND EXPRESSING HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT THAT HE RECEIVES, RECOGNIZING HIS COMPLEX HEALTH NEEDS. WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC REFERRED HIM TO A NETWORK OF SPECIALISTS, INCLUDING, LET'S GET READY FOR ALL THESE BIG WORDS, ENDOCRINOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, GASTROENTEROLOGY, DERMATOLOGY AND VASCULAR CARE. THE CLINIC ALSO PROVIDED CRUCIAL MEDICATIONS TO COMBAT HIS LOW IRON AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY.
ADDITIONALLY, HE RECEIVED ATTENTION FROM A VOLUNTEER NURSE PRACTITIONER TO ADDRESS SKIN LESIONS AND HEEL SPURS, AND CONSULTED A VOLUNTEER OPHTHALMOLOGIST FOR HIS PERSISTENT DRY EYES AND CHRONIC MIGRAINES.
TONY'S JOURNEY IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY HIS DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AND MULTIPLE ENDOCRINE NEOPLASIA TYPE ONE, WHICH IS A RARE GENETIC DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY TUMORS IN THE ENDOCRINE GLANDS.
REFLECTING ON THE PROFOUND IMPACT THE CLINIC HAS HAD ON HIS LIFE, HE STATES, IF I WASN'T ABLE TO BE SEEN AT THE CLINIC, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT THE MEDICATIONS I NEED.
I MAY NOT BE HERE WHEN I CALL THE CLINIC. I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO GET ME WHAT I NEED, AND I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL. TONY'S STORY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT WESTERN TOWER FREE CLINIC PLAYS PLEASE PROVIDE IN PROVIDING LIFE SAVING CARE AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED. THE FINANCIAL BACKING FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR COMMUNITY ENABLES US TO KEEP SERVING THOSE IN DIRE NEED WITHIN OUR 2200 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA.
WE COMMITMENT TO THE MISSION OF WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.
YOUR SUPPORT HELPS US CREATE A HEALTH HOME FOR OUR PATIENTS, INCREASE HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND PROMOTE BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE MISSION OF WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY. I WILL DO MY VERY BEST.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS YOUNG LADY? THANK YOU.
DID PRETTY GOOD FOR US. THANKS. NOW I NEED A BOTTLE OF WATER.
THANK YOU. QUESTION. WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? THE QUESTION WAS WHERE ARE WE LOCATED? AND WE ARE ON MEAD PARKWAY, LAKE MEAD PARKWAY, AT LAKEVIEW MEDICAL CENTER, THE ENTRANCE IN SUFFOLK.
SO RIGHT OFF FOR 60 CALL FROM OUR DOCTOR, CRAWFORD.
SNYDER. YES, RIGHT ACROSS FROM DOCTOR SCHNEIDER'S OFFICE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER 14, THE COURTHOUSE NAMING REQUEST BY SUPERVISOR FAISON.
[14. Courthouse Naming- Request by Supervisor Faison]
I UNDERSTAND THAT MR. FRANCIS HAD LET JACK RANDALL OFF THE HOOK, AND WE'LL TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO MR. FRANCIS. AND I THANK JACK FOR THAT. HE DID SAY HE HAD TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.I'M NOT SURE WE HAD TO BE, BUT I'M RICK FRANCIS, LIVE IN BOYKINS 33251 PINECREST DRIVE.
AND I'M HERE TO FOLLOW UP WITH MY EARLIER COMMUNICATION WITH YOU ALL ABOUT OR MY SUGGESTION TO NAME THE COURTHOUSE, OR DEDICATE THE COURTHOUSE TO CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN, WHO IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I WILL SAY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT I'M ASKING, I PUT SOME HANDOUTS ON THAT BACK TABLE AND THERE'S STILL A HANDFUL THERE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AND READ EITHER ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT OR WHAT I'M ASKING FOR, THAT'LL HELP BRING YOU UP TO SPEED. ABSOLUTELY.
THE, SO, BUT DOCTOR (INAUDIBLE), DOCTOR EDWARDS, RATHER AND HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS, I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME TONIGHT TO COME. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WHEN I LEFT MY OFFICE, I UNDERSTOOD THAT I WOULD BE SPEAKING FOR ONLY FIVE MINUTES.
SO AROUND MY DESK IN THE OFFICE, THERE'S A BUNCH OF PAPER THAT OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE FIVE MINUTE VERSION.
[02:10:03]
I THINK SO MAYBE GET YOU OUT HERE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ANYWAY.I SENT TO YOU. AND WHAT'S IN THAT PACKAGE BACK THERE? THE RESUME OF OUR CHIEF JUSTICE, BERNARD GOODWIN FROM BOYKINS.
AND A LITTLE SYNOPSIS OF WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
DID EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT? ALL RIGHT. I THANK YOU. AND AND I ALSO SENT A VIDEO OF THE JUSTICE AT THE LAST FRIDAY BAR ASSOCIATION MEETING IN NORFOLK THAT HE SPOKE AT HIS HE WAS THE WRAP UP SPEAKER AT HIS RETIREMENT PARTY.
AND I THINK THAT WE GIVE YOU AN AN INSIGHT INTO HIS MODESTY AND HIS HUMANITY.
BUT BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE SENT ONLINE WHAT YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT AND SOME VIGOROUS BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SPIRITED THAT HAVE INCLUDED THE BOARD AND MYSELF.
I THINK YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH HEARD EVERYTHING AS FAR AS ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN TO WHO I'M SPEAKING OF ATTORNEY ERIC. I'M SORRY. I DO NOT KNOW YOUR LAST NAME.
GREGORY RECORD. YES, SIR. I WILL GIVE YOU ONE OF THESE TWO, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN READING SOME OF THE RESUME OF OUR CHIEF JUSTICE, BERNARD GOODWIN FROM BOYKINS. SO IT ANYWAY OTHER THAN WHAT I CAN ADD IS, IS ONLY THE TRIVIAL. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED THAT HE DOES OWN A MODEST HOUSE OUT ON JOINER'S ROAD.
A MODEST RESIDENT. HE IS HE AND HIS WIFE. AND THAT HE STILL OWNS PROPERTY IN BOYKINS ON DELAWARE AVENUE, THE SAME PROPERTY UPON WHICH HE WAS RAISED. SO HE STILL KEEPS THE CONNECTIONS BESIDES OR IN ADDITION TO COMING BACK AND PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE BOYKINS TOWN PARADE AND SCHOOL FUNCTIONS AND AND THE TIMES THAT HE'S BEEN OFFERED OR ASKED TO PARTICIPATE ON ON COMMITTEES OR ON ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA.
SO HE KEEPS THE CONNECTION AS WELL AS HIS KEEPING HIS DEACONSHIP AT GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH THERE AND BRANCHVILLE. SO HE HAS MAINTAINED HIS CONNECTION TO US.
AND I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT SAME TO HIM. NOW, TO REITERATE, I AM NOT ADVOCATING BRINGING DOWN THE LETTERS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ABOUT.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE HONOR A LIVING MAN WITH PLACING APPROPRIATE LETTERING LETTERING ON SOME OUTSIDE PORTION OF OUR COURTHOUSE. AND I WOULD SUGGEST SOMEWHERE, MAYBE NEXT TO THE FRONT DOOR IN A BARE SPACE.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT IT MIGHT GO ON THE LITTLE CORNER PORTION THERE.
THE NEW PORTION THAT BASICALLY FACES MAIN STREET.
SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THIS MODEST AREA.
SOMETHING ALONG THE SIDES OF THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I THINK MAYBE A LITTLE OVERKILL. AND BUT I'LL TAKE WHATEVER YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THAT SCORE.
BUT BASICALLY SOME LETTERING THAT'LL STAND OUT AGAINST ONE OF THESE BACKGROUND OR BACKDROPS AND WILL BASICALLY THAT WOULD BE ALL THAT WOULD BE ON THE OUTSIDE. INSIDE WE'D HAVE A PORTRAIT OF CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN AND MAYBE A SEPARATE LITTLE FRAMED BIO OF HIS CONNECTION TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND TO BOYKIN'S HAVE THAT ON ONE OF THE INTERIOR WALLS.
WE DON'T CALL IT THAT, BUT WE CALL IT THE SUFFOLK COURTHOUSE.
THE SAME WITH ISLE OF WIGHT. ISLE OF WIGHT IS NAMED AFTER THE FAMILY OF THE NOW RETIRED BUT STILL LIVING CLERK OF THE COURT AND OF A SLAVE THAT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING THE COUNTY RECORDS BY KEEPING THEM OUT OF UNION HANDS BACK IN THE CIVIL WAR. BUT THAT IS STILL KNOWN AS THE ISLE OF WIGHT COURTHOUSE.
[02:15:04]
SO I'M NOT SHAKING THINGS UP, I DON'T THINK. AND I DON'T NOT LOOKING FOR AN EARTH SHATTERING CHANGE.AND I GRANT YOU, YOU ALL BLESS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO THE COURTHOUSE OTHER THAN TO HANDLE COURTHOUSE STUFF AS FAR AS THE CONSTRUCTION AND ALL, BUT FOR LAWYERS, THIS IS A REALLY BIG THING.
AND THAT'S WHY IT CAME OUT OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION UNANIMOUSLY FROM OUR LITTLE BIT THAT'S WHY IT IS A PROMINENT TOPIC RIGHT NOW. AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SO WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT SOMETHING TO COORDINATE WITH HIS RETIREMENT IS THAT WE DO THIS TO HONOR HIM, BEING FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION YOU KNOW, BASICALLY AT THE HEART OF THINGS, THOSE OF US RAISED IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE. WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE, BUT WE HAVE ONE THAT BASICALLY WHERE WE GET EACH OTHER AND WHERE WE KNOW WHEN WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE THE SHARED VALUES THAT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAVING THAT COMMON BACKGROUND GIVE EACH OF US, AND WE TAKE THOSE VALUES OUT INTO THE WORLD INTO OUR WORK WORLD OR INTO OUR SOCIAL LIFE.
BUT BASICALLY WE END UP BEING THE AMBASSADORS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
WHEREVER WE GO, THOSE EVERYONE IN HERE IS THE AMBASSADOR OF THEIR HOME.
THEY COME FROM, YOU KNOW, LOVING PARENTS WHO HAVE HOPEFULLY INSTILLED IN THEM THE, THE GOOD VALUES THAT WILL HOLD THEM FIRM. THEY'VE GONE TO THE SCHOOLS, THEY PICKED UP WHAT IS AVAILABLE THERE AND WE GO AND WE ARE ALL TAKING THAT AMBASSADORSHIP EVERYWHERE WE TRAVEL. AND SO HERE WE'VE GOT AN AMBASSADOR FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THAT IS ONE THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED HIMSELF ON THE BIG STAGE.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. BUT YOU GOTTA ADMIRE SOMEBODY WHO CAN TAKE THE LOCAL SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY VALUES AND BASICALLY GET TO THE HIGHEST JUDICIAL OFFICE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
IT'S JUST IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, HE HE TAKES US WITH HIM WHEN HE PRESIDES OVER THE SUPREME COURT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
SO BUT AS YOU HAD BEFORE YOU AND AND AS THOSE WHO PICKED UP A HANDOUT, YOU GOT THE FULL RECORD OF BERNARD GOODWIN, GOT HIS YOUTH, HIS ACADEMICS, HIS ATHLETICS, HIS SCHOLARLY AND HIS CAREER PURSUITS, WHICH, WITH ACCOLADES HAVE THRUST BERNARD INTO THE POSITION OF CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
BUT THRUST IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD BECAUSE CHIEF JUSTICE ALL ALONG THE WAY, WHEN HE WAS JUST BERNARD HAD THE STRUGGLE. HE HAD TO FIGHT AND COMPETE TO BE THE VALEDICTORIAN OF YOUR CLASS THERE.
I'M CLASS OF 74. I'M A LITTLE OLDER, BUT HE HAD TO COMPETE TO BE THE VALEDICTORIAN.
HE HAD TO FIGHT TO BRING THE STATE'S CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TITLE BACK TO THIS COUNTY.
HE HAD TO FIGHT TO BECOME MAGNA CUM LAUDE OF HARVARD.
AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING THE HARVARD GENTLEMAN, BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER MIX OF RELIGION AND EDUCATION THAT YOU WILL FIND IN BERNARD GOODWIN.
HE WENT THERE ON A SCHOLARSHIP. FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP OUT OF SOUTHAMPTON OPENED THAT DOOR FOR HIM.
SOUTHAMPTON DID, AND HE HAD TO WORK OFF HIS SCHOLARSHIP, YOU KNOW, WORKED 20 HOURS A WEEK PLAY, RAN TRACK, PLAYED ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM THERE AND STILL CAME OUT OF HARVARD MAGNA CUM LAUDE.
I DID GO TO WAKE FOREST, WHICH I'M HAPPY ON, BUT I'M, IT'S ON A STAGE THAT I COULD NOT COMPETE AND QUITE FRANKLY VERY, VERY FEW COMING OUT OF SOUTHAMPTON CAN COMPETE ON.
[02:20:04]
BUT THEN HE CAME BACK AND HE INDICATED HE CAME BACK TO SERVE HIS STATE AND HIS AREA.HE CAME BACK TO UVA. HE HAD OFFERS ELSEWHERE, BUT HE CAME BACK TO UVA AND GOT HIS LAW DEGREE.
AND WHILE THERE, AND THIS IS WHERE I WISH RICHARD RILEY WAS SITTING OVER THERE BECAUSE HE EARNED THE THE RECOGNITION AND WAS BASICALLY RECOGNIZED AS EXEMPLIFYING THE QUALITIES OF HONOR, CHARACTER, AND INTEGRITY ENVISIONED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON.
SO BERNARD GOODWIN, ALL THROUGH HIS LIFE HAS FOUGHT FOR AND HE'S FOUGHT TO ACHIEVE WHERE HE'S BEEN.
AND IF YOU LOOK BACK A LITTLE BIT IN THE WORLD OF 2008, HERE'S A 47 YEAR OLD BLACK MAN UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED BY THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
RED AND BLUE ALIKE UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED TO BE ON THE SUPREME COURT AND BOOM. BUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZED THAT BERNARD GOODWIN WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL.
HE WAS A PERSON WHO ALL WANTED TO REPRESENT VIRGINIA.
ALL OF THEM WANTED TO REPRESENT VIRGINIA ON THE HIGHEST COURT.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN FROM BOYKINS IS THAT HE IS LITERALLY LIVING HISTORY AND AND DOING AN AMAZING JOB. EVERYTHING HE HAS TOUCHED, HE HAS WORKED WITH AND SURPASSED EVERYTHING FROM PLAYING SAXOPHONE UP TO RUNNING TRACK AND FOOTBALL AND DOING ALL THAT.
EVERYTHING HE TOUCHED, HE DID WELL. SO THE CHIEF JUSTICE ROOTS ARE HERE, HIS FAMILY IS HERE.
THE FOUNDATION OF WHO HE IS. RISE FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PARENTS, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ON SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BALL FIELDS. THOSE FOUNDATIONS LED HIM TO THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS POSITION THAT A JUDGE CAN HOLD IN VIRGINIA.
NOT ONLY BEING JUDGE, BUT THE HIGHEST POSITION OF BEING JUDGE IN VIRGINIA.
AND IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS LEGAL BUILDING IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WOULD BEAR THE NAME OF ITS MOST PRESTIGIOUS JUDGE AND PRESTIGIOUS SON. YEAH, BUT WE'RE SERIOUS.
OH, WELL, I WANT TIVO. I SAY TIVO. ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
BUT LOOK LOOK LOOK LOOK LOOK LOOK LOOK, WE HAVE STATUES.
WE HAVE STATUES OF WHO WE WERE IN THE PAST, WHICH HONORED TO STAND TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE BRAVERY AND FIDELITY OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CITIZENS OF THAT TOWN, AND NONE OF US CAN REACH BACK TO THINGS OF THE PAST TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
BUT WE CAN ONLY IMPACT THE ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE US IN OUR TIME, WITH THE HOPE THAT THOSE DECISIONS WILL BE POSITIVE AND BENEFICIAL TO THOSE THAT COME AFTER US. SO WHAT I'M ASKING AND I'M LONG WINDED, BUT I'M A LAWYER TOO.
BEFORE I CAME ON TO THE CLERK'S JOB, I'M ASKING YOU AS A BOY TO MAKE A STATEMENT, ONE WHICH WILL RESONATE WITH ALL OF OUR CITIZENS THAT WE AND IN OUR TIME, SHOW THAT WE VALUE A MAN'S LIFETIME DEDICATION TO STUDY.
WE VALUE HIS ATHLETIC SUCCESS IN HELPING BRING HOME A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE VALUE HIS PERSONAL SUCCESSES, HIS CALM STRENGTH TO EXCEL AT THIS NATION'S PREMIER COLLEGES, HIS PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS ON THE STATEWIDE STAGE IS INTEGRITY AND IS ACHIEVING THE ABSOLUTE PINNACLE OF VIRGINIA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE DEDICATION OF OUR COURTHOUSE TO CHIEF JUSTICE S BERNARD GOODWIN IS A STATEMENT OF WHERE WE, WHERE SOUTHAMPTON STANDS HERE AT THE END OF 2025.
IT IS A STATEMENT THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND THAT WE PLACE VALUE UPON THE SUCCESS OF OUR CHILDREN,
[02:25:04]
THAT EVEN FOR MEAGER FINANCIAL BEGINNINGS, THOSE OF YOU WHO KNEW DOLLIE AND SAM GOODWIN FROM COMING FROM MEAGER FINANCIAL CONDITIONS, THAT EVEN SO, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE.AND QUITE FRANKLY, I AS A PARENT, I CAN THINK OF NO HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT FOR AN ADULT TO ACHIEVE THIS, AND NO STRONGER MOTIVATION FOR A CHILD WRITING THEIR HISTORY.
AND SO IT IS. IT IS HUMBLY THAT I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER DEDICATING THIS BUILDING TO ESPLANADE GOODWIN CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT.
AND I THINK THAT DECISION WILL BODE WELL FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FOR THE DECADES TO COME.
I THANK YOU. ALL. I THINK PROBABLY BUT BEFORE I GIVE UP THE MICROPHONE, LET ME DO THIS, IF I MAY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO SUPPORT THIS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE HERE IN SUPPORT, PLEASE? THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE. I'M SORRY. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. NOW, IN ALL FAIRNESS. THANK YOU GUYS.
YOU'RE ALL POLICE. IN ALL FAIRNESS, I KNOW THIS HAS COME FAST AND FURIOUS TO SOME.
ALL THOSE THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THIS SUGGESTION.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND. I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I TAKE IT AS IT COMES.
ANYWAY, I THANK YOU. I WANTED, I WANTED THOSE THAT TO BE QUIET, BUT I STAND FOR QUESTIONS.
OKAY. I THINK EVERYBODY UP HERE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
AND I THINK IT WAS A GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT WE NOT PUT A NAME ON IT.
WE LEAVE IT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. NOW, WHEN THIS CAME UP SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, SOCIAL MEDIA GOT A HOLD OF IT. AND I HAVE REQUESTS FROM GROUPS THAT SUGGESTED A LONG TERM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER BE CONSIDERED. I GOT SUGGESTIONS FROM GROUPS THAT A LONG TERM COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY WHO SERVED FOR OVER 45 YEARS IN THIS COUNTY BE CONSIDERED. AND I GOT ALSO FROM A GROUP CLOSE TO MY HOME FROM A FORMER GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND SERVED A YEAR AS A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS.
FROM MY FROM MY STANDPOINT, JUST HOLD IT DOWN.
FROM MY STANDPOINT, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A POPULARITY CONTEST.
AND THIS I DON'T THINK THIS BOARD WANTS TO GET INTO A POPULARITY CONTEST.
I UNDERSTAND, FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS. SO I THINK IT DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR NAME.
AND I CANNOT VOTE FOR ANY, ANYBODY, ANY PERSON'S NAME ON THIS.
IF PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME DOWN HERE AND SAID, I WILL PAY $25 MILLION FOR THE COURTHOUSE, IF YOU PUT MY NAME UP, I'D SAY NO. SO I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ANY NAME EXCEPT WHAT'S ALREADY ON THE COURTHOUSE.
UNDERSTOOD. I WOULD MAKE, IF I MAY RESPOND INTO ONE.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST, AT LEAST FOR A COURTHOUSE OR COURTROOM, IT MIGHT BE INAPPROPRIATE TO NAME IT AFTER A PROSECUTOR OR DEFENSE COUNSEL, EITHER ONE, SINCE JUSTICE IS TO BE JUDGED. AND IF YOU WANTED TO NAME THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THE RICHARD C GRIZZARD, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. BUT IT MIGHT BE THESE THINGS ARE ALSO DONE POSTHUMOUSLY ONCE ONE IS DEAD.
AND I DON'T WISH THAT ON THE CHIEF JUSTICE AT ALL.
[02:30:09]
ADMINISTRATION, THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING TO DO.I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. I'VE KNOWN. SHH. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE TO NAME THE COURTHOUSE AFTER CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN.
HE REPRESENTS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY ELSE FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WHO HAS ACHIEVED WHAT THIS PERSON HAS ACHIEVED. AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE TO TO NAME IT AFTER HIM.
I'VE KNOWN I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS A CHILD, AND I CAN REMEMBER A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT HIM.
I CAN IMAGINE IF I WAS A COACH. HE'S THE TYPE OF GUY I'D WANT TO COACH BECAUSE I WAS A TEACHER.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT BERNARD HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH, AND IN EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH, HE HAS MADE A GOOD NAME FOR HIMSELF AND A GOOD NAME.
AND HE REPRESENTED THIS COUNTY VERY, VERY MUCH.
OKAY. AND I KNOW MR. FRANCIS ALWAYS SAID BOYKINS, BUT I WAS LIKE BRANCHVILLE, TOO.
AND HE REPRESENTED SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SO WELL.
AND IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING NAMED, BUILDINGS BEING NAMED AFTER THEM AFTER THEY'RE DEAD OR WHATEVER.
THERE ARE MANY BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED, AS MR. FRANCIS POINTED OUT, WHILE THE PERSON WAS LIVING.
OKAY. AND I DON'T WANT DEATH TO BE THE REASON TO NAME IT.
AMEN. BUT FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND AS I SAID, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO HAS MADE FROM VIRGINIA.
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY I SHOULD SAY WHO HAS MADE THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT BERNARD HAS.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE TO NAME THIS BUILDING AFTER HIM.
ANYBODY ELSE? NO. GO AHEAD. I GRADUATED IN 1980, AND I HAD CLASSES WITH BERNARD, AND. I'M FOR NAMING IT, YOU KNOW, I'M PUTTING THE PLAQUE OUT THERE AND EVERYTHING, JUST LIKE YOU SAID. I WAS ON THE FENCE BEFORE WE HAD THE MEETING TONIGHT.
IT'S STILL SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, BUT IT'S DEDICATED TO BERNARD GOODWIN, AND THEREFORE, I'M FOR IT. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? I'M SORRY.
THESE LETTERING OR THIS. WHATEVER. OKAY. THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? YEAH. MR. FRANCIS, THANK YOU. VERY COMPELLING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR AGENDA PACKET AS WELL.
I MEAN, I'VE READ ALL OF IT. I HAVE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN, I DIDN'T I'M I WAS BORN THE YEAR HE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, SO, I MEAN, I DON'T DIDN'T PRIOR TO ANY OF THIS KNOW HIM, SO I'VE, I APPRECIATE THE HISTORY LESSON.
I APPRECIATE GETTING TO KNOW HIM AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AND HOW DEEPLY THEY RUN, NOT ONLY HERE LOCALLY BUT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND HIS EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND WHAT HE'S HAD TO OFFER. I ASK MYSELF THESE QUESTIONS.
WHAT? WHAT IS FAIR? WHO IS QUALIFIED? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? AND LOOKING AT ALL ANGLES OF THESE SITUATIONS.
JUST HEAR ME OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, OKAY? THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN WE SET UP HERE.
SO I LISTEN TO THEM. I LISTEN TO THEM VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
[02:35:02]
AND I ASKED MYSELF IF WE EVER WERE GOING TO NAME A BUILDING, IF I WAS EVER GOING TO CONSIDER NAMING A BUILDING OR BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING AS GARGANTUAN AS THIS THAT WE'RE FACED WITH RIGHT NOW.YEAH. CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN WOULD BE THAT GUY, NO DOUBT.
UNEQUIVOCALLY. WITHOUT A DOUBT. HIS RESUME SPEAKS VOLUMES.
VOLUMES FOR BEING THAT THAT PERSON. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M THERE TONIGHT YET, FOR MANY REASONS.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT BUT I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT IF I EVER WERE THE CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN WOULD MOST DEFINITELY GIVEN HIS CREDENTIALS, BACKGROUND, HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL THOSE THAT HE'S BEEN BLESSED WITH COMING INTO CONTACT WITH WOULD DEFINITELY MEET THAT BILL.
SO THANK YOU. WELL, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM.
WELL, THE STATEMENT THAT DOCTOR EDWARDS MADE WHEN WE STARTED THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT.
I THINK, WAS PRETTY MUCH UNANIMOUS ABOUT NOT PUTTING A MAN'S NAME ON THE COURTHOUSE.
THERE'S NO ARGUMENT HERE ABOUT THE LIFE OF BERNARD GOODWIN.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO ARGUMENT TO BE MADE AS FAR AS ANY MAN.
MY, MY ISSUE AND THIS CAME A LITTLE BIT BEFORE I WAS EVEN READY TO CONSIDER IT GOING THROUGH THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF IT, NOT TO MENTION THE SITUATION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN CHARGED BY THE CITIZENS TO LOOK INTO WHICH WE'VE DONE.
AND I GOT A, I'VE GOT PHONE CALLS MYSELF FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.
AND I'M NOT DOUBTING BERNARD GOODWIN, BUT BEING CHIEF JUSTICE, SOME OF THESE ATTORNEYS IN THE ROOM MIGHT COULD HELP ME OUT.
I'M MORE INTERESTED IN HIS POSITIONS ON SEVERAL MATTERS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. I WOULD LIKE TIME TO SEARCH THEM OUT.
THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IS IN A VERY, VERY STORMY POSITION.
WE, IT, I HEAR THAT THIS HASN'T GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT AS A BOARD MEMBER I HAVE DONE ON LOOKING INTO, AND A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL, AND I HAVE NOT FOLLOWED HIS CAREER THAT CLOSE.
AS TO THE POLICIES OR VIEWS, HE MAY NOT HAVE HAD TO EXPRESS THEM IN THE POSITION HE WAS IN.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE COME OUT. SO MY POSITION WAS LET THE MAN RETIRE AND THEN.
THOSE THINGS CAN BE EXPLORED AND PEOPLE CAN GET THE ANSWERS TO THEM.
AND I PERSONALLY WOULD RATHER KNOW THAT THAN LOOK BACK.
I MEAN, MY GOD, WE TORE DOWN COLUMBUS. WE TORE DOWN ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WE TORE DOWN A LOT OF OTHER STATUTES HERE. JUST FIVE YEARS AGO. AND I THINK TO ME, TO BE FAIR TO BERNARD GOODWIN, THIS THING WOULD REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE TIME.
THERE'S THERE IS A LOT OF LIFE TO LIVE. AND THERE IS AMPLE TIME FOR MYSELF.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW DEEP DOWN, IF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE NOT FIGURED IT OUT YET.
THERE IS A CONSPIRACY, EVEN LOCALLY AND IN THIS COUNTRY, AGAINST GOD AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO.
THERE'S A FLAW. LET'S KEEP IT QUIET. PLEASE HOLD.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE LAW THAT HAS USED A STATE SENATOR POINTED
[02:40:04]
THIS OUT TO ME WHEN HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO INVESTIGATE IT.JUST TWO YEARS AGO, AUGUST, TO BE CORRECT, IN 2023, WHEN I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT REPRESENTING A RURAL COUNTY AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND THE MONIES THAT WENT INTO IT, AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF MY PRESIDENT WAS GOING TO PROMOTE WITHHOLDING MONEY FROM RURAL DISTRICTS, IF THEY DID NOT ADOPT THE GENDER POLICIES. THAT WAS BROUGHT INTO CONTENTION BY THE SENATOR, AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO INVESTIGATE IT.
NOW, SOME OF YOU IN THIS ROOM WERE THERE THAT DAY WHEN I CONFRONTED THE SENATOR.
LO AND BEHOLD, HOLD. HE TURNED IT OVER TO AN AIDE.
HE WANTED ME TO GIVE MY CONTACT NUMBERS TO THE AIDE.
I DID, AND AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ON SEVERAL FRONTS.
NOT ONLY THE MONEY, BUT THE POLICY AND WHAT WAS BEHIND THE POLICY.
BY USING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT TO CONNECT GENDER IDENTITY TO IT AND CHANGE TITLE IX FOR WOMEN, THOSE OF YOU IN HERE THAT ARE WOMEN, CHANGE TITLE IX, AND STRIKE WOMAN AND PUT GENDER IDENTITY AND THEN CONNECT IT TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. THAT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO CREATED A TWO GENDERS, AND THIS COUNTRY HAS GONE ON A RAMPAGE TO OVERRIDE THAT.
AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLICIES. AND I KNOW THIS WOULD BE EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THE FEDERAL COURTS HAVE BANNED ABORTION, LEFT IT UP TO THE STATES.
AND RIGHT NOW, THAT IS A EXTREMELY WHAT I'M SAYING IS I WANT TO KNOW THE POSITION ON LIFE.
ON LIFE. AND I THINK THAT'S FAIR TO ASSESS A MAN WHERE HE STANDS FOR LIFE.
I KNOW IT IS NOT. NO. NO, SIR, IT IS NOT. LISTEN, LET'S KEEP IT QUIET.
NOW HE HAS THE FLOOR. IF YOU COULD KEEP IT UP, I'LL ASK THE SHERIFF TO CLEAR THE ROOM.
NO, SIR. IT'S YOUR CHOICE. THIS IS NOT A. THIS IS NOT A, WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR CONGRESS AND IN OUR HALLS OF JUSTICE. THESE THINGS WERE OVERTURNED, SCRIPTURE WAS OVERTURNED.
MY VOTE. NOT ANYBODY ELSE'S VOTE, BUT MY VOTE.
BUT AS I STAND NOW, THIS HAS COME UP TOO FAST FOR ME TO MAKE A DECISION.
AS I TOLD THE CALLER THAT CALLED ME WHO WAS FROM THIS COUNTY AND SHE CALLED ME IN SUPPORT AND I'VE HAD SEVERAL OTHER CALLS FOR THAT, BUT ALSO FOR OTHER PEOPLE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I TOLD HER I REALLY HADN'T GIVEN IT A WHOLE LOT OF THOUGHT.
I KNEW HE WAS BACKED AND SUPPORTED BY LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHERE I AM. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT BERNARD.
I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S WHERE HE STANDS ON IT.
BUT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE ABOVE ALL, AND YOU KNOW THAT IN SOME COURTHOUSES THEY HAVE DISALLOWED EVEN THE 10 COMMANDMENTS. THEY HAD TO BE STRIPPED.
AND THAT HAPPENED IN THE, THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE JUDICIAL FEELINGS I'LL SAY FEELINGS AT THE MOMENT. BUT GETTING BACK TO THE STATE SENATOR THIS WAS GETTING READY ALONG THOSE LINES AND APPARENTLY IT'S BEING CONTESTED ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
[02:45:01]
AND I KNOW BERNARD, HE'S SAID HE'S GOING TO RETIRE IN, I BELIEVE, DECEMBER.SO JANUARY 1ST HE'LL BE RETIRED. AND I THINK AT THAT POINT, WHATEVER HIS PERSONAL BELIEFS ARE OR OPINIONS CAN BE KNOWN. NOW YOU CAN SAY IT'S RACIAL.
IT IS NOT RACIAL. THIS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WHITES AS WELL AS BLACKS HAVE MAINTAINED AND HAVE STOOD BEHIND. AND THEY ARE IN ERROR WITH THE SCRIPTURES, AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD LIKE I EVEN I, I'D GO AND DISCUSS IT WITH HIM PERSONALLY.
AND IT'S THAT SIMPLE. MISS UPDIKE. I HATE TO FOLLOW THAT.
WELL, MAY I INTERJECT? ONLY THAT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND ANY.
I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A JUDGE, MUCH LESS A JUSTICE THAT IS AS CLOSE TO GOD.
AND BASICALLY DOES NOT ACT WITHOUT THAT BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST.
NOW, I GRANT YOU THE VIEW AS HEAD JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT HE UNDERSTANDS TO BE THE CONSTITUTION THAT OF MATTERS COMING BEFORE HIM. BUT THE THING THAT I HAVE TAKEN FROM HIM IS THAT IF HE HAD A MOTIVE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO INCREASE THE ACCESS TO THE COURTS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT THAT THAT MAY THEY NOT HAVE THE POWER OF A THICK WALLET OR A BIG LAW FIRM, THAT EVERY MAN OR WOMAN THAT COMES BEFORE HIM IS TREATED AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
HE IS BIG ON RESPECT FOR EVEN THE LITTLE PERSON COMING BEFORE THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT.
AND HE NOT ONLY DOES HE LIVE IT, HE DOES IT FROM THE BENCH.
AND THAT FROM THOSE LAWYERS. YOU CAN'T MAKE LAWYERS HAPPY.
BUT THAT'S ONE THING THAT THEY ALL SAY IS THAT HE ACCESS TO THE COURTS.
MISS UPDIKE. I CAN'T. I WON'T GET MISS UPDIKE TIME TO EXPRESS HER OPINIONS PLEASE.
WELL, I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PHONE CALLS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, AND ONLY ONE WAS IN FAVOR OF NAMING OUR COURTHOUSE AFTER ANYBODY. AND SO I AGREE WITH DOCTOR EDWARDS. ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DOES ANYBODY GOT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE? SO WHAT DO YOU SAY, CARL? WELL, I HAVE STATED THAT I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THE NAMING OF THE COURTHOUSE AFTER HIM.
AND AGAIN, I EMPHASIZED THE ACHIEVEMENT THAT HE THAT HE HAS MADE, THAT I MEAN, NOBODY IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CAN EVEN BE COMPARED WITH HIM IN TERMS OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
OKAY. NOW WE CAN INTERJECT OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT HE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE TO RULE, HAD HAS HAD TO RULE ON. OKAY. BUT THAT'S HIS JOB THAT, YOU KNOW, TO RULE ON MATTERS THAT COME BEFORE HIM BASED ON HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSTITUTION.
AND KNOWING BERNARD, I BELIEVE THAT HE HAS DONE THAT.
TODAY WE HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE CONSTITUTION AND EVIDENTLY THROWING IT IN THE TRASH CAN.
THE WAY THAT A LOT OF RULINGS ARE NOW BASED ON THE CONSTITUTION.
BUT I THINK BERNARD HAS BEEN TRUE TO HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AS A JUDGE WELL, THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW BERNARD HAS DONE.
HIS INTEGRITY HAS NOT BEEN QUESTIONED. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DALLAS JONES IS ONE OF THE NAMES CAME UP. HE GAVE OVER 50 OR 60 YEARS OF HIS LIFE HERE.
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE STOOD FOR. DICK GRIZZARD GAVE 45 YEARS OF HIS LIFE HERE.
WE KNOW WHAT HE STOOD FOR. AND GOVERNOR COLGATE DARDEN STILL HERE, STILL GOT FAMILY HERE.
AND WE KNOW WHAT HE STOOD FOR. I AGREE WITH SUPERVISOR GILLETTE.
[02:50:08]
AND WE'RE PAYING FOR IT. YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT. HERE WE ARE TAXPAYERS TOO.IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, MR. FRANCIS. YES, SIR.
MY COMMENTS WERE NOT A SLAP AT A PERSON. UNDERSTOOD MY TAKING OF THAT.
MY COMMENTS ARE, AND ONLY JUDGES. THEY CAN. THEY CAN CORRECT ME, AND I'M SURE THEY WILL AFTER THIS MEETING IF THEY CAN VERIFY SOME THINGS, BUT ONCE THE LAW IS IN EFFECT, THE JUDGE CAN GO FOR THE LAW. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF IT VIOLATES THE SCRIPTURE? THAT'S WHERE I AM. I AM OF BELIEF THAT WHEN YOU CHANGE THE FACT OF A MAN AND A WOMAN AND YOU CHANGE THAT YOU HAVE VIOLATED, AS WE PRAY IN THE LORD'S PRAYER, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. AND WE HAVE PERVERTED THE HIGH COURT OF HEAVEN AS IT IS ON EARTH. AND THAT IS THAT IS WE DID THAT WITH THE CHANGE OF A LAW.
WE USED A FEDERAL LAW TO DO IT, CALLED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
AND IF YOU DOUBT IT, I STILL HAVE IT. A SCREENSHOT ON MY TV.
I TOOK THE SCREENSHOT. THE PRESIDENT WAS GOING TO WITHHOLD THOSE MONIES AND NO JUDGES REVERSED IT.
TO THIS DATE, THEY HAVEN'T REVERSED IT AND IT NEEDS TO BE REVERSED.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU SEE. I HAVE A SOUL, AND MY SOUL IS A IS ACCOUNTABLE UNTO GOD. AND THE WORD AND THE WORD STANDS FOR ITSELF.
AND WHEN YOU CHANGE THAT, THAT IS A HIGHER CHANGE THAN MAN CHANGING A LAW.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING BERNARD WAS INVOLVED IN CHANGING ANY LAW OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT HE WAS A JUDGE OF THE LAW AS FAR AS I KNOW. AS FAR AS THE CONSTITUTION WAS CONCERNED.
BUT I STILL THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I WANT TO FIND OUT BEFORE I VOTE.
WOULD THE BOARD CONSIDER MAYBE CARRYING THIS TO MARCH? MR. RICKS, I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW. ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FOR US TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON AND CALL FOR THE MOTION IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION.
THANK YOU. FOR WHAT? IS SOMEBODY GOING TO MAKE A MOTION? OKAY. MAYBE IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA IF WE WAIT UNTIL HIS ACTUAL RETIREMENT, AND THEN WE COME BACK AFTER HE'S ACTUALLY RETIRED.
WOULD YOU SAY WAIT TILL MARCH? I WAS JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE TO GIVE YOU A WINDOW OF TIME.
YOU KNOW, I'LL BE ACTUALLY CANDID WITH YOU. THERE'S GOING TO BE A HARD FOR A JUDGE TO WALK THE BIBLICAL LINE WITH SOME OF THE PARTS OF THE CONSTITUTION AS THEY STAND.
I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR HIM ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK LEGAL COUNSEL.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THIS SITUATION, THERE ARE A LOT OF LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS UP HERE.
AND I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT SHOULD BE A UNANIMOUS DECISION.
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD SHOULD SAY, OKAY, IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY NAME ON THE ON THE BOARD, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD WANT. OKAY, SO I QUESTION WHY HE WOULD WANT HIS NAME ON THE COURTHOUSE NOW ANYWAY.
HE DIDN'T ASK. HE DIDN'T HE DIDN'T HE DID NOT ASK THIS.
ABSOLUTELY. IS HE AWARE OF THIS? HE HE IS AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE HE CALLED IT ON FACEBOOK, AND HE CALLED ME ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WAS HAPPENING IN BOYKINS ON PUMPKIN FEST OR SOMETHING. BUT HE SAID, RICK, I GOTTA CORRECT YOU.
I WASN'T SECOND IN THE CLASS AT HARVARD. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I NEED TO CORRECT YOU. I WASN'T SECOND IN THE CLASS.
[02:55:03]
SO OKAY. WELL, IT'S A IS THERE A MOTION ANYWHERE? I MOVE THAT WE REVISIT THIS AFTER HE HAS ACTUALLY RETIRED.IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
OKAY. SHALL BE REVISITED. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ALONG, MR. THROWER. CLOSED SESSION. YES, CLOSED SESSION.
[16. Closed Session]
TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, THE BOARD WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING.A MOTION IS REQUIRED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES ONE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711 (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 IS MADE, BEEN MADE OF THE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY'S INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING THIS FACILITY SINCE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND.
QUIET PLEASE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711 (A7) AND (A8) ACTUAL LITIGATION AND CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PERTAINING TO THE NEWSOM CDBG DRAINAGE PROJECT/DRAKE EASEMENT CONDEMNATION.
AND 3, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS 2.2-3711 (A7) AND (A8) ACTUAL LITIGATION AND CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PERTAINING TO THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FOIA LAWSUIT. ALL RIGHT.
WE MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. SO MOVED.
YEAH. MOTION. MOTION IS 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 CONVENED A CLOSED MEETING ON THIS DATE PURSUANT TO AN AFFIRMATIVE RECORDED VOTE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. 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 EXTENT 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. READER.
MR. CORNWELL. WE NEED A VOTE ON THAT. YES. YES.
RIGHT. SUPERVISOR. FAISON. YES. EDWARDS. YES.
YES. YES. OKAY. WE HAVE VOICE VOTE. UNANIMOUS.
OBVIOUSLY. SO. OKAY. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD I AM ASKING YOU TO, BY MOTION, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. THROWER, TO EXECUTE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE, WHICH IS BEFORE YOU AT THIS MOMENT THAT WOULD RESOLVE THE FOIA LITIGATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
THAT WAS ENGAGED IN OVER LAST SPRING AND SUMMER AND WOULD RESULT IN THE PAYMENT OF $10,000 TO THE COUNTY IN RESOLUTION OF THAT LITIGATION AND THEIR AGREEMENT NOT TO APPEAL THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU PREVAILED IN THAT LITIGATION.
SO I NEED A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT, PLEASE. I SO MOVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION FURTHER? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THAT WILL DO. WELL, DOES ANYBODY WANT TO STAY HERE ANY LONGER? NO, SIR. MOTION TO ADJOURN. I NEVER SEE MY KIDS.
RICK FRANCIS TOLD ME TO GET THROUGH. ABOUT 20IN.
YEAH. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN. YEAH, WELL, IT WAS A TALKING MOTION.
YEAH. THEY CAN. YEAH, THAT WAS JUST BLABBING.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY. YES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.