Apr 08, 2026 Budget Workshop

NICE TO SEE YOU. GOOD EVENING FOLKS. I'VE BEEN INFORMED IT'S 6:00.

[Call to Order]

[00:00:04]

THIS IS APRIL THE 8TH. AND I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE TWO MORE MEETINGS SCHEDULED A WEEK FROM NOW ON APRIL THE 15TH AND ANOTHER ONE ON APRIL THE 22ND, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.

AND WE'LL START BY STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

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

DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE TO GIVE US AN INVOCATION FOR TONIGHT? THANK YOU, MR. SIMMONS. YOU'RE WELCOME. LET'S ALL PRAY.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME THAT WE CAN GATHER TOGETHER TONIGHT IN YOUR PRESENCE AND IN YOUR GREAT CREATION.

AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR EACH AND EVERY THING THAT YOU BLESS US WITH.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY, A PLACE WE CALL HOME.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE COUNTY, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT TONIGHT AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND WE JUST PRAY TONIGHT AS WE GO ABOUT THIS BUDGET, THAT YOU WILL GIVE US UNDERSTANDING, WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE WILL BE HELPFUL FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY AND PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT.

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

OKAY, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE PRESENTATION OF THE FY 27 BUDGET AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT

[1. Presentation of FY27 Draft Budget (Lynette C. Lowe, Acting County Administrator)]

THIS IS HER FIRST PRESENTATION. OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO YOU.

OKAY. SO ON THE BACK EVERYONE THERE WAS A COPY OF THE BUDGET SYNOPSIS IN CASE YOU WANTED ONE TO GO ALONG WITH.

AND FIRST THING I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO GIVE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGARDING THE DRAFT BUDGET HERE FOR APRIL 8TH, THE BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2027 DRAFT BUDGET AS PRESENTED TONIGHT, APRIL 8TH, 2026, STANDS AT A TOTAL OF $93,786,279. THIS IS A 6.71 INCREASE FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 26 ADOPTED BUDGET. PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE NO INCREASES IN TAX RATES AND NO INCREASE OF WATER AND SEWER RATES.

THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES WITHOUT THE SCHEDULED TRANSFER TO OTHER FUNDS BEGINS THIS EVENING AT A TOTAL OF $28,648,488. THIS IS A 1.63% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. THERE WERE DECREASES IN A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS, LED BY ONE TIME OUTFLOWS THAT OCCURRED IN FISCAL YEAR 26.

THE LARGEST INCREASE IS SHOWN IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION HR DEPARTMENT.

I HAVE PLACED FUNDS IN THIS CATEGORY TO FUND A PHASE IN OF THE COMPENSATION STUDY, WHICH IS NEARING COMPLETION.

THIS WAS THE BEST OPTION FOR PLACING THE FUNDS IN ONE SPOT UNTIL THE STUDY CAN BE COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

THEN THE BOARD CAN DECIDE IF AND WHEN IT WOULD LIKE TO PHASE IN THE SALARY CHANGES.

THERE IS A 3% COLA INCORPORATED IN THE GENERAL FUND SECTION.

THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED NEW POSITIONS. ONE INSPECTOR UNDER THE INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ONE MAINTENANCE WORKER UNDER BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. THE ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS YOUR WATER AND SEWER FUND, IS SHOWING A 71.05% INCREASE. THE TOTAL COST ARE SHOWING AT $8,513,679.

A 3% COLA IS INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION. INCLUDED IN THE ENTERPRISE FUND IS THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE TWO NEW WELLS THAT MUST BE PLACED IN THE TURNER TRACT AND BEALE FARM AREA OF THE COUNTY.

CURRENTLY, OUR WELLS DRAW FROM THE VIRGINIA BEACH AQUIFER.

DEQ HAS MANDATED THAT WE CONSTRUCT TWO NEW WELLS AND THOSE WELLS SHALL DRAW THEIR WATER FROM THE POTOMAC AQUIFER.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE WELL MUST BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 19, 2031 AND THE SECOND BY OCTOBER 19TH OF 2033.

BY THE OCTOBER DATE OF 2023, 96% OF ALL WATER WITHDRAWN WITHIN OUR INDUSTRIAL AREA OFF OF ROSE VALLEY

[00:05:10]

EXCUSE ME. TIMMONS GROUP IS UNDER CONTRACT AS OF MARCH 20, 2026 TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTING THE NEW WELLS AND PREPARING A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT FOR THE TURNER TRACT SYSTEM.

IT IS MOST COST EFFECTIVE TO DRILL BOTH WELLS AT THE SAME TIME TO REDUCE MOBILIZATION COSTS.

IF THE BOARD APPROVES THE WELL DRILLING, IT WILL BE MY INTENT TO OBTAIN A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION IN JULY OF 2026 THROUGH MCGUIRE WOODS AND THEN TO WORK WITH DAVENPORT REGARDING THE NECESSARY FINANCING.

THE PROJECT ONLY GOES FORWARD WITH BOARD APPROVAL.

THE POTENTIAL EXPENDITURE AND LOAN PROCEEDS ARE SHOWN WITHIN THE DRAFT AS $3,860,000.

ONCE FINANCING IS OBTAINED, THE ACTUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS WOULD BE MADE OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, AS DETERMINED BY THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY AND DAVENPORT REPRESENTATIVES.

THE BUILDING FUND, WHICH IS YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, IS COMING IN AT $9,000,838.

EXCUSE ME, $9,838,976, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 13.47% FROM LAST YEAR. THE DECREASE IS DUE TO THE COURTHOUSE FINAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS BEING DISPERSED, AND ALSO TO THE PROGRESS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO PROJECT, WHICH SHOULD BE NEARING COMPLETION BY JANUARY OF 2027.

IN THIS DRAFT BUDGET, FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE AN INCREASE IN CAPITAL FUNDING OF $610,500 TO HELP WITH THE CONTINUING RISING COST OF EQUIPMENT.

THE SCHOOL FUND IS INITIALLY SHOWING AN INCREASE OF 8.01%.

THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES PROPOSED IN THIS DRAFT BUDGET ARE $41,570,425 FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, THE EXPENDITURES IN THE APPROVED FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET WERE $38,487,049.

IN FISCAL YEAR 26 THE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT WAS $9,115,046.

THE REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT IN FISCAL YEAR 27 CURRENTLY STANDS AT $10,508,319, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $30,000 TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL PROGRAM. THIS IS A $1,423,273 INCREASE IN FUNDS COMING FROM THE COUNTY. THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE IS A CHANGE IN THE COMPOSITE INDEX FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THE LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX IN VIRGINIA IS USED TO DETERMINE THE PERCENTAGE OF FUNDING A LOCALITY IS EXPECTED TO PAY, AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THE STATE IS TO SUPPLY.

THE LOCALITIES ABILITY TO PAY IS DETERMINED IN A STATE COMPUTATION THAT CONSIDERS THE INCOME OF THE COUNTY, PROPERTY VALUES WITHIN THE COUNTY, AND TAXABLE SALES WITHIN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THE INCREASE IN THE STATE CONTRIBUTION IS $1,457,322 FROM FISCAL YEAR 26 TO 27. THE INCREASE IN FEDERAL FUNDING COMES IN AT $11,364.

THE SCHOOL BUDGET IS PREPARED WITH A 2% COLA IN THIS DRAFT THE COUNTY IS PLANNING TO FUND THE PURCHASE OF FIVE NEW BUSSES.

THE SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE FUND SHOWS AN INCREASE OF 13.94%.

THE MAJORITY OF THE INCREASE IS DUE TO THE FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAM, WHICH INCREASED BY 10.07%.

THE SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE BUDGET IS PREPARED WITH A 2% COLA.

THE FINAL FUND SHOWING ON THE CONSOLIDATED ONE PAGE BUDGET SYNOPSIS IS THE VIRGINIA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND, WHICH MOST OF US REFER TO AS THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

IT IS SHOWING AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 4.11% FROM FISCAL YEAR 26 TO 27.

[00:10:01]

SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET WAS PREPARED USING A 2% COLA.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PREPARATION OF THIS BUDGET IS NOT A ONE PERSON PROJECT.

IT TAKES THE INPUT AND SUPPORT OF MANY. AND THIS AFTERNOON WE SHOWED THAT WITH PAT AND SUSAN CHIPPING IN WITH CHRISTY AND ALL OF US TO GET THIS COMPLETED FOR YOU TONIGHT. I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO NOTATE THE TREMENDOUS ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY CHRISTY NEWSOME.

SHE HAS WORKED A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL HOURS WITH ME OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS AS WE PREPARED THIS DRAFT BUDGET FOR YOU.

I HAVE RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED THIS APRIL 8, 2026 DRAFT BUDGET AS A STARTING POINT FOR DISCUSSION.

IF THERE IS FURTHER INFORMATION THAT I CAN PROVIDE TO CLARIFY ANY ITEMS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

THANK YOU. WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL, AND I THINK WE ALL, ALL THE BOARD AND EVERYBODY OUT THERE OUGHT TO APPRECIATE THAT THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THIS.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CAN WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IT? WE GOT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT. IT'S GOOD. IT'LL BE.

IT'LL BE GOOD. THANK YOU ALL. YOU'RE WELCOME.

WORKING SO HARD ON IT. THERE IS ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP.

SO NUMBER TWO ON YOUR AGENDA IS TO PRESENT AN UPDATED BUDGET CALENDAR.

[2. Present updated budget calendar]

ON MAY 13TH WE HAD PLANNED TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT WE NEED TO BUMP THAT BACK TO MAY 20TH.

AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY OUR BOARD MEETING FALLS IN THE MONTH OF APRIL AND THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ADVERTISE IN THE PAPER FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

WE NEED A MOTION TO MAKE THAT MOVE. SO MOVED.

SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY.

THAT IS MOVED UNTIL MAY THE 20TH. THANK YOU SIR.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CALENDAR THAT WE NEED TO. REMIND EVERYBODY WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 4-25 AND 4-22 CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUDGET. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.

[3. Budget Presentations by Department Heads and County Supported Organizations]

AND I THINK WE GO BY THE ORDER YOU SIGNED UP, BY OUT THERE.

AND THE FIRST ONE ON THE LIST IS MR. ERIC COOKE SOUTHAMPTON COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, SIR.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MRS LOWE.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. I KNOW YOU'RE WELL AWARE I TEND TO STEER CLEAR OF BOARD MEETINGS IN GENERAL, NOT BECAUSE I'M UNINTERESTED, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT I DO.

I TRY TO STEER CLEAR OF THE POLITICS BEST I CAN.

I WOULD SAY RIGHT OFF THE BAT COMPLIMENTS TO YOU ON YOUR SELECTION OF MRS. LOWE TO FILL THE ACTING POSITION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

WE KNOW WHAT GOES INTO THAT AND HOW MUCH WORK SHE'S PUT INTO IT AND HOW SHE INTERACTS WITH EVERYBODY AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN MAKE THAT PERMANENT IN A FEW MONTHS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO APPEAR IN FRONT OF YOU JUST TO TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY OFFICE, AND TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS AS WE TRY TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A SAFER PLACE. YOUR EFFORTS ARE NOT UNACKNOWLEDGED.

WHEN I SEE YOUR BUDGET CALENDAR, AND I SEE THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT YOU ALL ARE MEETING AND THE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE TO COVER ANNUALLY.

IT'S A LOT, AND I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY UNDERAPPRECIATED BY ALL OF THE COMMUNITY AND US IN GENERAL, BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. IN MY OFFICE WE HAVE SOME CHANGES SINCE THE LAST TIME I APPEARED BEFORE YOU.

I'VE GOT ED FERREIRA WORKING FOR ME NOW. HE COMES TO ME FROM PORTSMOUTH AND SUFFOLK.

HE'S AN EXPERIENCED PROSECUTOR. HE'S BEEN THERE ALMOST A YEAR NOW IN MY OFFICE.

HE'S DOING A FABULOUS JOB. HE JUST COMES IN AND PUTS HIS NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE AND STAYS AT IT ALL DAY LONG.

JANET HILL'S BEEN WITH US SINCE CANDICE MIDYETTE LEFT THE VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM TO GO OVER TO EMPORIA TO BE THE DIRECTOR.

JANET'S DOING A GREAT JOB. SHE'S FOLDED RIGHT IN TO THAT ASSISTANCE POSITION.

I'VE GOT JOHN PEAKE, WHO WAS PROBABLY WITH ME A FEW MONTHS WHEN I CAME BEFORE YOU THE LAST TIME.

HE'S BEEN WITH ME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. HE'S STILL CUTTING HIS TEETH IN THE JDR COURT.

HE'S A NEW ATTORNEY. THIS IS HIS FIRST LEGAL JOB, AND HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB.

[00:15:03]

HE'S FROM THE LOCAL AREA. HE'S, A COUNTRY GUY, LIKES TO HUNT AND FISH AND SO FORTH.

HE'S, HE'S GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY DYNAMIC.

HE JUST NEEDS TO FINISH GETTING HIS FEET WET.

SO HE'S DOING THAT NOW. WE'VE GOT THE PARALEGALS POSITION THAT YOU AUTHORIZED FOR ME LAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE GETTING SOME INTEREST IN THAT. I EXPECT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HIRE ON THAT VERY SHORTLY.

I'M GETTING SOME GOOD INTEREST ON THAT AND WITH SOME PEOPLE WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WE NEED. SO I'M OPTIMISTIC THERE.

AND YOU MAY HAVE HEARD KAY KITCHEN, MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, IS GOING TO BE RETIRING AT THE END OF MAY.

I'M SAD TO SEE HER GO. SHE'S BEEN WITH US ABOUT 12 YEARS OR 12.5 YEARS, BUT SHE'S READY TO RETIRE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO FILL THAT POSITION. AND WE'RE ADVERTISING NOW AND GETTING SOME GOOD RESPONSE.

FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU HAVE FUNDED THE DRUG RECOVERY COURT, I THINK PRIMARILY USING THE ABBOTT LAB SETTLEMENT MONEY.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD WE'VE HAD SOME ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES WITH THAT PROGRAM IN TERMS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

IT WAS BEING DONE THROUGH WESTERN TIDEWATER MENTAL HEALTH, AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD, THEY'VE HAD SOME ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES. AND SO FOR THE TIME BEING, THAT PROGRAM IS ON HOLD.

IT'S BEING RECONSTITUTED WITH IT LOOKS LIKE A MOVE TOWARDS HAVING THE CITY OF SUFFOLK ACTUALLY ADMINISTER THE PERSONNEL AND THE FUNDS ON BEHALF OF THE PROGRAM.

AND IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM. I WAS INITIALLY RELUCTANT, I GUESS, TO EXPEND THAT KIND OF RESOURCES ON SUCH A FEW NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT IT HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY WORTHWHILE. SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE ONCE IT GETS BACK ON ITS FEET.

AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE YEAR MOVING FORWARD.

WE'VE GOT SOME REAL CHALLENGES FOR THE YEAR TO COME.

PROSECUTION WISE THINGS ARE SOLID. WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF SERIOUS CASES THAT ARE COMING THROUGH A NUMBER OF HOMICIDE CASES ARE BEING PROSECUTED AS WELL AS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED, WHICH IS EXTREMELY TIME CONSUMING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IS WE'RE PROSECUTING A LOT MORE OF THESE KIDDY PORN CASES.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF FRANKLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, BOTH DEDICATING RESOURCES TO THAT.

SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT LOCALLY OR WHO ARE BEING TARGETED LOCALLY ARE BEING ARRESTED AND WE'RE PROSECUTING THOSE SUCCESSFULLY.

AND I'M GOOD, HAPPY FOR THAT. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE COMING OUT OF RICHMOND, AS WE SAW FIVE YEARS OR SO AGO. THEY REALLY DID A JOB ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN WAYS THAT, IN MY ESTIMATION, WERE DETRIMENTAL. I EXPECT WE WILL SEE THAT AGAIN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THERE ARE SOME PROPOSED CHANGES THAT I THINK ARE VERY BAD, BUT WE'LL WAIT AND SEE HOW THAT GOES.

HOWEVER IT IS, WE WILL ADJUST, AS WE DID WITH THE CHANGES THAT THERE WERE A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.

I'M MINDFUL AND APPRECIATE THIS BOARD'S POSITION IN THE PAST WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

I KNOW THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S PROBABLY STILL ON YOUR MINDS AS WE SEE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES COMING OUT OF RICHMOND.

I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT I SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

IT IS CRITICAL TO THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY. I'M MINDFUL OF THAT, AND I WILL BE MINDFUL OF THAT IN MY PROSECUTION DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

I KNOW MRS. LOWE HAS PRESENTED YOU WITH OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS, OF MR. COOKE? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ONE ON THE LIST IS THE BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY.

WE HAVE MR. BEN NEAL. GOOD EVENING BEN. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR EDWARDS, BOARD MEMBERS.

MADAM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU AGAIN.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF EVERYTHING THE LIBRARY DOES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.

FOR ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE OR ANYONE ON THE BOARD WHO DOES NOT HAVE A LIBRARY CARD, PLEASE SCAN THAT QR CODE AND WE CAN GET YOU SIGNED UP INSTANTLY.

YOU'LL HAVE INSTANT ACCESS TO OVER A MILLION EBOOKS.

I HAVE TO GET MY PROMOTION IN ANYTIME I CAN. SINCE JULY 1ST THE RAWLS LIBRARY IN COURTLAND HAS SEEN OVER 14,000 VISITORS, AND WE SIGNED UP OVER 170 NEW LIBRARY CARDS. OUR CIRCULATION IS UP 4% YEAR OVER YEAR.

WE'VE CIRCULATED OVER 33,000 BOOKS. LIBRARY OF THINGS ITEMS, WHICH IS EVERYTHING FROM CORDLESS DRILLS TO GUITARS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

[00:20:06]

SINCE JULY 1ST, WE'VE HAD OVER 155 PROGRAMS REACH OVER 6,000 PEOPLE.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE LIBRARY. BONNIE LAUBER, WHO'S OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WHO'S IN THE BACK, IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT NOT ONLY INDOOR LEARNING, BUT OUTDOOR LEARNING.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS DIGITAL AGE, TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN NATURE.

AND WE'VE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF OUTDOOR AND NATURE THEMED STORY TIMES THAT WE'RE DOING TO GET KIDS TO ADOPT A LOVE OF READING, BUT ALSO A LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PARTNERS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

FOR INSTANCE, FOR FIRE SAFETY WEEK, THE COURTLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT COME IN, THEY BRING THEIR TRUCK.

THE KIDS ARE ABLE TO WEAR THE FIREMEN'S HATS.

AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO LEARN NOT JUST ABOUT READING, BUT ALSO ABOUT FIRE SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE OFFER STEAM PROGRAMS AND A LOT MORE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE ALSO DO A LOT FOR ADULTS. THE LIBRARY'S NOT JUST FOR KIDS.

WE RECENTLY HAD A BEGINNING LINE DANCING CLASS AT THE LIBRARY, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN FOR ALL THE PARTICIPANTS.

CRAFTING PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS OF ALL INTEREST IN AGE LEVELS.

AND WE ALSO HOST A LOT OF FIELD TRIPS. LIBRARY, BOTH FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO WE RECENTLY HAD A FIELD TRIP FROM THE MEMORY CARE UNIT AT THE VILLAGE. WE ALSO OUGHT TO BE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAD SOME VOLUNTEERS HOST A LIBRARY PROGRAM, WHICH WAS A GHOST WALK TOUR OF DOWNTOWN COURTLAND RIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN.

THE SHERIFF'S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WERE ALWAYS THERE.

AND LITTLE EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS THE BOYKINS PUMPKIN FEST.

IF YOUR CHURCH, CIVIC GROUP WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE INVOLVED IN IF THEY'RE HOLDING A LITTLE FAIR OR FESTIVAL, WE WANT TO BE THERE. BUT PLEASE LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL TRY TO BRING THE BOOKMOBILE OUT.

BECAUSE WE'RE, REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT NOT WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE LIBRARY, BUT BRINGING THE LIBRARY TO PEOPLE.

A COUPLE RELATIVELY NEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE STARTED TO OFFER IS SOMETHING CALLED SENSORY KITS.

AND THESE ARE AIMED TOWARDS FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.

THEY'RE BASED ON DIFFERENT THEMES SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION OR DINOSAURS.

AND THEY INCLUDE A BOOK, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, TACTILE TOYS THAT THOSE WITH SENSORY NEEDS MIGHT NEED.

SO FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CAN COME INTO THE LIBRARY NOT JUST FOR A BIT, BUT GET A WHOLE KIT THAT REALLY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILY.

AND WE'VE HAD THIS PARTNERSHIP FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS. IT CHALLENGES FAMILIES TO ABOUT BY THE TIME THE CHILDREN MAKE IT TO KINDERGARTEN TO READ 1000 BOOKS.

AND WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH BRONCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. WHEN THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM, THEY RECEIVE A $25 STARTER SAVINGS ACCOUNT IN THEIR BUZZ CLUB, WHICH IS THEIR CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

SO IT'S A GREAT WAY TO FOSTER NOT ONLY EARLY LITERACY, BUT EARLY FINANCIAL LITERACY, WHICH IS ALSO CRUCIAL.

AND A FEW THINGS WE HAVE COMING UP. AS YOU KNOW, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING LATER FROM KARL AND DOCTOR QUARSTEIN AND SOME OTHERS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS TOO. BUT WITH THE VA AND AMERICA 250 WE ARE PUSHING VERY HARD TO HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE ABOUT OUR NATION'S FOUNDING AND ABOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY. SO WE'RE DOING READING CHALLENGES PROGRAMS. WE'RE BRINGING SOMEONE IN FROM THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA LATER THIS YEAR FOR A SPEAKING EVENT.

WE HAVE WEEKLY STORY TIMES, ONE OF OUR RELATIVELY NEW PROGRAMS THAT'S BEEN A BIG HIT WITH TEENS AND TWEENS IS OUR POKEMON CLUB.

AND OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

ROARING THROUGH THE STATS JUNE 15TH THROUGH TO AUGUST THE 8TH WE'VE EXPANDED OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM TO AN EXTRA COUPLE WEEKS TO HOPEFULLY KEEP CHILDREN ENGAGED AND EXCITED ABOUT READING AND LEARNING ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER.

AND WITH THAT, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SIR.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THIS GENTLEMEN? OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THIRD ONE ON THE LIST IS SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY MUSEUM. THAT'S LYNDA UPDIKE AND MR. JOHN QUARSTEIN.

[00:25:09]

[LAUGHTER] HEY, LYNDA. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. THE LENS FELL OUT OF MY GLASSES, SO I GOT THESE AT DOLLAR TREE. I'M LYNDA UPDIKE, AND THIS JOHN QUARSTEIN. OKAY. SEE, THIS IS JOHN QUARSTEIN, AND RONNIE WEST CALLED HIM OUR HIRED GUN.

HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY MUSEUM AND DIRECTOR EMERITUS OF THE MARINERS MUSEUM.

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY STRIVES TO ALWAYS MAKE THE COUNTY BETTER BY HELPING TO PRESERVE OUR PAST AND OUR PRESENT FOR OUR FUTURE.

THE NAT TURNER INSURRECTION IS THE TAIL THAT WAGS THE DOG, DRAWING VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR.

BUT WHEN THEY GET HERE, WE WANT THEM TO SPEND SEVERAL HOURS TOURING THE AG MUSEUM.

THE REBECCA VAUGHAN HOUSE, THE SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY MUSEUM REMA NOTTOWAY EVENTS.

MAHONE'S TAVERN AND COURTLAND MAIN STREET. WE ALSO HOPE THEY WILL BUY MEALS, PEANUTS, FUEL AND SPEND TIME IN A MOTEL WHEN WE GET ONE. WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR YOUR HELP FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT NOW WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO HIRE A TOURISM COORDINATOR TO PROMOTE OUR COUNTY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PLACES.

WE NEED WHATEVER HELP YOU CAN GIVE US. YEAH. IF YOU ARE A HIRED GUN, IT'S YOUR TURN.

YES, MA'AM, I THINK I AM OR BEEN KNOWN AS TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW, I REALLY NEED THE MICROPHONE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOHN QUARSTEIN.

I'VE BEEN WORKING IN MUSEUMS FOR 50 YEARS. ACTUALLY, 20 YEARS AGO, I APPEARED IN FRONT OF THIS A GUST BODY TELLING ABOUT WHAT WE COULD CREATE WITH THE NAT TURNER TRAIL.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KIND OF SAID, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

WELL, NOT ONLY COULD WE CREATE THE NAT TURNER TRAIL AND RESTORE THE REBECCA VAUGHAN HOUSE, WE ALSO ARE CREATING A NEW MUSEUM, THE SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY MUSEUM.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, ALL RIGHT, NOW THAT WE HAVE RAISED OVER $4 MILLION OF GRANTS AND OTHER FOUNDATION GIFTS, PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO CREATE ALL OF THIS AND TO HELP MAINTAIN IT.

THIS IS UNIQUE FOR THIS REGION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PLACE BASED HISTORY HAS SO MUCH MEANING AND IT DRAWS PEOPLE TO IT WHERE YOU CAN STAND IN THE REBECCA VAUGHAN HOUSE AND REALIZE THE HORROR THAT OCCURRED THERE.

AND YET THE MEANING OF THAT, THAT LASTS WITHIN PEOPLE'S SOULS AND MINDS AND HEARTS.

SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE REALIZE THAT AFTER BUILDING A MUSEUM AND BUILDING NAT TURNER TRAIL, THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE EFFECTIVE WAYS OF PROMOTING OUR INSTITUTIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

SEE, WE'RE JUST ONE PART OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE, WITH OTHER MUSEUMS, STAND TOGETHER TO ACTUALLY EXTEND A VISITOR'S TIME IN THIS TOWN FOR ABOUT SEVEN HOURS. NOW, CAN YOU THINK ABOUT A VISITOR BEING HERE THAT LONG? WELL, THE ANSWER IS YES, THEY CAN. NAT TURNER TRAIL, MAHONE'S TAVERN.

IT IS AMAZING THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AND OUR BIG PROBLEM THAT LIES AHEAD OF US IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING BROWN SIGNS ON 58 AND TRAILBLAZING SIGNS FOR THE NAT TURNER TRAIL.

ALL THE NAT TURNER TRAIL SIGNS ARE ACTUALLY UP THE HISTORICAL ONES, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO HELP ACTUALLY GO OUT AND PROMOTE THIS TREMENDOUS HISTORY, TO PROMOTE THIS HISTORIC COMMUNITY, TO PROMOTE OUR HISTORIC STREETSCAPE, TO PROMOTE OUR DIFFERENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE SO DYNAMIC.

SO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ACTUALLY IS WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH THE VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION TO BE NAMED

[00:30:08]

SO THAT'S GOING TO GO IN OUR NEW BUILDING, WHICH WAS, OF COURSE WE PAID FOR, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO HELP US.

AND I KNOW THE HONORABLE KARL HECK IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT TOURISM TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

I KNOW THEY'VE ASKED FOR SOME MONEY, WHICH WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.

SO HOWEVER YOU FIND IT APPROPRIATE TO HELP SUPPORT OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND THIS IS A NEW INDUSTRY FOR US INDUSTRY THAT WE HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKING FOR 100 YEARS OR MORE. AND YET NOW WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF SUCCESS.

AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT FOR BOTH THE TOURISM INITIATIVE BY THE FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.. I THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT. ALMOST GOOD. KARL CAN HIT IT.

SO BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FUND RACKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT MAPS TO BE A VISITOR CENTER.

SO ANY DOLLARS THAT YOU CAN ADDITIONALLY GIVE TO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

I ALWAYS SLIP THAT UP. AND THE MONEY FOR TOURISM WILL BE WELL SPENT BECAUSE IT IS A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY.

IMAGINE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 20,000 PEOPLE WHO COME, BUT THEN LEAVE.

SO WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? YOU'RE GOING TO CHARGE THEM TAXES.

YOU'RE GOING TO THROUGH GAS AND MEALS AND HOTELS.

SO THIS IS REALLY A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE CREATED.

AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO BRING IT FURTHER.

SO I JUST HAVE TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.

I DO BELIEVE THAT TOURISM IS THE HIDDEN GOLDMINE FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I CAN TALK FOREVER.

WANT A HISTORY LESSON? OR, YOU KNOW. WELL APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT IS SENIOR SERVICES. THAT'S STEVE. IS IT COLOS, C O L O? ZOLLOS OKAY. I COULDN'T READ YOUR WRITING AS BAD AS MINE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. I AM STEVE ZOLLOS I AM THE CEO WITH SENIOR SERVICES OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA.

WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FOR 50 YEARS PLUS NOW.

AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF YOUR OLDER ADULTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

I'M GOING TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES. I DO HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION.

I'M JUST GOING TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE POPULATION, WHAT'S CHANGING, AND HOW OUR THINKING NEEDS TO ADJUST TO IT.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT, HERE'S THE SERVICES AND NUMBERS THAT SENIOR SERVICES HAS BROUGHT TO YOUR COUNTY.

SO RIGHT NOW, 1 IN 4 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE 65 YEARS AND OLDER.

AND I WILL SAY WE'VE HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK AS SENIOR SERVICES AND REALLY LOOK AT OUR SENIOR POPULATION IN TWO DIFFERENT AVENUES, ALL 65 PLUS REALLY FOR US 60 PLUS. BUT THERE'S THOSE WHO ARE STILL VERY HEALTHY, VERY ACTIVE, VERY TUNED INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE SEGMENTS OF THE SOCIETY THAT WE SUPPORT.

THE OTHER IS THOSE WHO MAYBE HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND NEED ASSISTANCE MORE THAN OTHERS.

AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT WE REALLY PUT A PRIMARY EFFORT INTO, BUT WE SERVE BOTH THOSE PARTS OF THE OLDER ADULT POPULATION.

THIS IS A LOOK AT THE AGES. WE'RE COMPARING AGES 0 TO 17 TO AGES 65 PLUS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BLUE LINE IS AGES UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE POPULATION OF 65 PLUS IS EXPANDING WHILE THE UNDER 18 IS RETRACTING.

THIS IS NEW TO SOCIETY. YOUR COMMUNITY IS A LITTLE FURTHER AHEAD IN THIS DIVERGENCE THAN MOST OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. BUT IT BRINGS A NUMBER OF VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO LIGHT AS WE THINK ABOUT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, AS WE THINK ABOUT THE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY HAS FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS.

[00:35:04]

SO EXPERT DEMOGRAPHERS PREDICT THAT THIS SHIFT IS NOT TEMPORARY, BUT LONG TERM.

A LOT OF TIMES WE THINK IT'S THE SILVER TSUNAMI THAT'S GOING TO COME AND GO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN DUE TO INCREASES IN LONGEVITY AND EXPONENTIAL TECHNOLOGY.

AS WE LEARN FASTER HOW TO ACCOMMODATE OR ELIMINATE DISEASES OR LIVE WITH IN BETTER WAYS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEY GO ON TO SAY, THIS IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF THIS GENERATION, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS SHIFT.

SO WHAT DO WE SEE? THAT'S DEMOGRAPHERS. GREAT.

THEY'RE ALWAYS PULLING NUMBERS AND SAYING, ISN'T THIS, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AT LARGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNDER 18 POPULATION, WE SEE THE CLOSING AND CONSOLIDATING OF SCHOOLS.

WE SEE A REDUCTION IN YOUTH PROGRAMS, REDUCED DEMAND FOR PEDIATRICS, SMALLER KINDERGARTEN CLASSES, ETC.. SO THESE ARE INDICATIONS THAT AS WE THINK ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHERS AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, IS THIS REAL? WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND? YES, THIS IS REAL.

AND FROM WHAT A SENIOR SERVICES IS SEEING, ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM IS WE'RE SEEING GROWING ELDER HUNGER.

WE'RE SEEING INCREASED ELDER HOMELESSNESS. FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS THE ELDERLY.

WE KNOW THAT THE ELDERLY CANNOT SURVIVE ON THE STREETS.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY. LIMITED ACCESS TO SERVICES, PRIMARILY DUE TO TRANSPORTATION LIMITATIONS AND STRAINS ON FAMILY AND CAREGIVERS. SO LET'S SHOW YOU THESE TWO SLIDES JUST TO SAY WHAT THE DEMOGRAPHERS ARE SAYING ISN'T SOMETHING IN THE DISTANT FUTURE.

THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS HERE NOW 2030. WE'RE EXPECTING THAT OLDER ADULTS WILL OUTNUMBER UNDER 18 BY 200,000 PEOPLE. SO IT'S HAPPENING. IT'S HAPPENING NOW.

AND WE'RE SEEING IT ON THE STREETS. LACK OF SUPPORT FOR SENIORS RESULTS IN MORE ACUTE APPEARANCES AT THE HOSPITALS AND EMERGENCY ROOMS, INCREASED HOMELESSNESS, HIGHER RATES OF AVOIDABLE HOSPITALIZATIONS, LOSS OF INCOME FROM FAMILY CAREGIVERS. MANY OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE ARE IN SUPPORT OF CAREGIVERS WHO ARE AT HOME DOING THE BEST THEY CAN FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. SO WHAT IS SENIOR SERVICES DOING RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY? IN 2025, WE PROVIDED OVER 1200 FREE RIDES TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, EYE DOCTORS, TO SHOPPING FOR FOLKS WHO CANNOT GET AROUND ON THEIR OWN. WE TOOK OVER 128 CALLS OF PEOPLE JUST SAYING, I HAVE A SITUATION.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. AND WE CONNECT THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO OVER 2000 HOURS OF COMPANIONSHIP.

THE ONE THING THAT WE REALLY LEARNED FROM COVID WAS SOCIAL ISOLATION IS A DEATH KNELL, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ELDERLY.

AND SO WE PROVIDE SENIOR COMPANIONS AND OTHER COMPANION RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THESE OLDER ADULTS FROM BECOMING ISOLATED.

67 HOURS OF AFFORDABLE IN-HOME CARE, 1700 WELLNESS SESSIONS.

THIS IS THE FOLKS WHO WE WANT TO KEEP OUT OF THE HOSPITALS, KEEP THEM HEALTHY.

GIVE THEM ACTIVITIES SO THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN AND, BUILD THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS 3000 HOME DELIVERED MEALS 900 SENIOR CENTER MEALS AND 28 MEDICARE BENEFITS COUNSELING SESSIONS.

IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO SIGN UP FOR MEDICARE, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU HEAR AND YOU GO, OH, IT'S KIND OF A FLUFF SERVICE. THE TRUTH IS, SIGNING UP FOR MEDICARE IS A MAZE AT BEST.

PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THEY'VE EARNED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE.

AND GETTING A CALL OR HEARING AN AD ON TV IS BASICALLY A SALES PITCH OF SOMEONE SAYING, WE GOT YOU WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.

WHEN THEY COME TO SIT DOWN WITH US, WE WALK THEM THROUGH FACE TO FACE WHAT YOU'VE EARNED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE NOW, WHO PROVIDES THAT? AND WE CAN HELP YOU SIGN UP OR YOU CAN SIGN UP ON YOUR OWN.

WE DON'T PROVIDE WE'RE NOT A PROVIDER OF MEDICARE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, JUST AN UNBIASED SERVICE TO UNTANGLE THE MESS THAT PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN.

SO THAT'S A FEW OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE RIGHT HERE.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO INCLUDE A STORY TO GO ALONG WITH IT TO SHOW HOW OUR SERVICES AFFECT FOLKS.

[00:40:01]

MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, SHE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO STOP DRIVING.

I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE UNTIL I HAD AN ACCIDENT, SHE SAYS.

SHE WAS A WISE YOUNG WOMAN. I DIDN'T WANT BUT THE DECISION CREATED A CHALLENGE FINDING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO HER DIALYSIS TREATMENTS. MISS W TRAVELS TO DIALYSIS IN FRANKLIN EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY.

FAMILY SUPPORT IS LIMITED. OF HER TEN CHILDREN, ONLY THREE ARE STILL LIVING AND NONE LIVE NEARBY WITHOUT I-RIDE SHE SAYS, I WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO MY TREATMENT. IT HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE, SHE SAYS OF I-RIDE AND IT HAS ALLOWED HER TO REMAIN IN THE HOME THAT SHE LOVES.

THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE FOLKS THAT WE SERVE.

SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WE LOOK AT THE FINANCES.

PER CAPITA SUPPORT FOR YOUTH UNDER 18 IN THIS COUNTY $3,290 PER CAPITA FOR YOUTH.

PER CAPITA SUPPORT FOR SENIORS, $307. WE WHAT WE'RE PROMOTING IS WHAT WE CALL AN EQUITY FLOOR AND NOT JUST IN THIS COUNTY, BUT IN ALL THE COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT WE SERVE.

MEANING THAT FOR EVERY $1,000 THAT WE PROVIDE TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH, WE PROVIDE $200 TO SUPPORT OUR OLDER ADULTS.

WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE THIS YEAR.

BUT WE THINK IT'S A GOAL THAT'S WORTH TRENDING TOWARDS.

THIS YEAR WE'VE SO, THE EQUITY FLOOR IS, THAT'S THE GOAL WE WANT TO GET TO.

WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR OLDER ADULTS WITHIN 20% OF WHAT WE DO FOR OUR YOUTH.

THIS YEAR WE'VE ASKED FOR SUPPORT FOR GENERAL PROGRAMING OF $30,000.

WE WILL BRING AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $251,000 IN SERVICES AND PROGRAMS HERE TO YOUR COUNTY.

SO THAT'S OUR REQUEST. YOU CAN SEE WE DO A LOT FOR THE OLDER ADULTS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AND FIND THOSE DOLLARS TO HELP SUPPORT.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR WHATEVER SUPPORT YOU DO PROVIDE. SO THANK YOU.

AND I CAN CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY.

NEXT WE HAVE MR. KARL HECK, FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALSO. DR. QUARSTEIN GET TO TALK IN POETRY.

SO I GET TO TALK IN PROSE AS THE OLD SAYING, SO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE WHOLE THING.

SO IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU TO MRS. LOWE AND THE TEAM FOR PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER.

OUR UNDERSTANDING IS A LOT OF WHAT WE ASKED FOR IS IN IT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO.

TO UPDATE FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR, WE ADDED JAMIE WEIST, A LOCAL ENGINEER TO OUR BOARD WHO REPLACED BRIAN HEDGPETH, WHO WAS A LONG TIME MEMBER, FORMER HEAD OF BRONCO CREDIT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION.

OUR FUNDING MECHANISMS AND STAFF REMAIN THE SAME IN THE PAST YEAR.

I MENTIONED THE BASE CONTRIBUTION OF $125,000, THAT WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE CHARITIES AND CAMP FOUNDATION.

LAST YEAR WE'VE ASKED FOR THE SAME FROM FRANKLIN AS WE ASKED FROM THE COUNTY AS OUR IS OUR REGULAR PRACTICE.

AS DOCTOR QUARSTEIN AND MS. UPDIKE MENTIONED WE'VE REQUESTED $30,000 FROM ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.

WE STARTED AT THE CITY AT THEIR REQUEST AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

THIS WILL GO TO THE CHARITIES NEXT WEEK. FOR THEIR PART, FOR TOURISM COORDINATOR THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM ON THE CREATION OF A VISITOR CENTER IN THEIR NEW FACILITY.

HAVING THIS POSITION, ALONG WITH SOME PART TIME WORKERS, MARKETING, OUTFITTING, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED, THAT WE'D HAVE NEW BROCHURES AND PERHAPS SOME INTERACTIVE THINGS.

SO THAT PART OF IT STILL WORKED UP, BUT THERE'S $120,000 FUND THAT WE'RE ASKING THE FOUR PARTNERS FOR TO WORK WITH OUR EXISTING TOURISM PROGRAM TO ENHANCE THE SCHEDULE TO REACH NEW VISITORS AND TOURISTS. OUR FOUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS ARE MAIN BUSINESS ATTRACTION, BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

WE WERE ACTIVE IN ALL THOSE AREAS THIS YEAR. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE NEW SITE AND WATER STUDIES THAT WERE FUNDED LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND YOU'LL BE SEEING MORE ACTIVITY FROM THOSE COMING FORWARD.

WE DID RUN A CLASS OF STARTUP FRANKLIN SO AS SOUTHAMPTON, AND RETAIL SALES CONTINUE TO RISE WE CONTINUE ACTIVELY WITH OUR BUSINESS RETENTION

[00:45:09]

SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND THE NEW PEOPLE DO SEEM TO BE INVESTING.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR TOURISM PROMOTION CAMPAIGN.

NIGHTWATER.COM THE NEW FACILITY BEING BUILT IN THE SOUTHAMPTON BUSINESS PARK OFFICIALLY WILL START TAKING ORDERS ON FRIDAY.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF THE PRODUCT ROLL OUT OF THE DOOR OUT THERE.

SO IT'S THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE CONTINUE ON OUR BUSINESS READY SITES GRANT FOR THE BEALE FARM AND THE GO VIRGINIA GRANT FOR THE COMMERCE LOGISTICS CENTER, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT DONE, ALONG WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'VE WORKED DURING THE YEAR, INCLUDING WORK WITH HAMPTON FARMS AND A COUPLE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING.

WE HAVE CREATED CLOSE TO 900, BEEN INVOLVED IN CREATION OF CLOSE TO 900 JOBS IN OUR HISTORY.

IN THE MOST RECENT YEARS, PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ARE FORTHCOMING HAVE CREATED ABOUT 290 JOBS AND RESULT IN $230,000 OF INVESTMENT. WE CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER THE ENTERPRISE ZONE FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND ARE STARTING TO WORK WITH BOTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK AT THE MAPS OF THOSE, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKED AT QUITE A WHILE TO SEE IF WE CAN FREE UP SOME SPACE FOR MORE BUSINESS LAND IN THOSE AREAS.

WE CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER THE FRANKLIN BUSINESS CENTER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY 83% OCCUPANCY.

SUPERVISOR WHITE SERVES AS THE COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT ADVISORY BOARD.

WE GRADUATED TWO PEOPLE THIS YEAR, SO THAT GOES TO 27 IN THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY, AND THAT SERVES RESIDENTS IN FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL. WE CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE IN A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AREAS.

WE HOUSE THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE WILL BE HAVING OUR SMALL BUSINESS WEEK BREWING UP BUSINESS ON MAY THE 7TH, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WE DID LAST YEAR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE BUSINESS CENTER, HAVE BOOTHS, AND THEN HAVE PEOPLE DO PRESENTATIONS. SO THAT'LL START GETTING OUT TOO AND WE WILL BE BRINGING STARTUP BACK IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS WELL, WHICH I MENTIONED THAT WE DIDN'T DO AROUND THIS WINTER SPRING, BUT WE'LL EITHER BE DOING ONE IN THE FALL. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT IN LIGHT OF CURRENT EVENTS, INCLUDING THE NEW MAIN STREET PROJECT IN COURTLAND, AS A POSSIBILITY FOR TARGETING THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT, AS WELL AS THERE'S A SIMILAR EFFORT GOING ON IN FRANKLIN, BUT WE IT WILL BE BACK IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

STARTUPS AWARDS 17 BUSINESSES IN THE FIRST SEVEN ROUNDS AND EIGHT OTHER NON WINNERS HAVE OPENED AS WELL.

AND HISTORY I MENTIONED OUR BUSINESS RETENTION EXPANSION PROGRAM THAT WE WORK WITH OUR REGIONAL AND STATE PARTNERS TO FACILITATE BUSINESS ACTIVITY. BROADBAND CAME UP WITH MR. NEAL THAT OVER 4900 PASSINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

THERE'S ABOUT 160 LEFT TO GO. SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT REMAIN BASICALLY HAVE TO DO WITH THE RAILROADS AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS THAT OWN TRAILER PARKS AND THAT KIND OF THING, AND DON'T WANT TO LET THE BROADBAND FOLKS IN THERE AND ON THEIR PROPERTY SO THAT BUT MOST OF THE REST IS BASICALLY DONE. AND IT HAS THIS MADE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN A LOT OF THE RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY.

TOURISM WAS MENTIONED. OUR ONGOING EFFORT INCLUDES OUR WEBSITE, OUR ACTIVITIES AS A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION AND THE GROUPS THAT WE'VE, BECOME MORE ACTIVE ON A REGIONAL BASIS TO TRY TO ATTRACT TOURISTS HERE.

AND AS DR. QUARSTEIN MENTIONED, ONCE THEY'RE HERE, EXPAND THEIR TIME SO THEY SPEND MORE MONEY AND SUPPORT MORE IN THE ECONOMY AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON A HOTEL, GETTING A NEW HOTEL IN HERE.

THE SAME WITH THE TOURISM COORDINATOR THAT WILL ASSIST WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE NEW MUSEUM ANTICIPATES 10,000 NEW VISITORS.

I HAVE TO SAY, THE RAWLS MUSEUM AND THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE AREA HAVE ALSO REVITALIZED AND ARE DOING A LOT MORE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE NEW MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION, BOTH IN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY VISIONING INITIATIVE THINGS.

WE'RE STARTING TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN APRIL AND SHOULD ARE WORKING TOWARD A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE.

WE HIRED QUANTUM CREATIVE TO DEVELOP BRANDING TAGLINE NEW INFORMATION.

SO LOOK FOR THAT SOON. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT COMING FORWARD AND, YOU KNOW, CREATING A NEW IMAGE FOR US.

A LOT OF THE EVENTS, SOME OF YOU ATTEND SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, WHICH WILL BE COMING IN NOVEMBER.

OUR COMMUNITY VISIONING WILL BE SCHEDULED SOMETIME SOON, AND I MENTIONED THE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK EVENT IN MAY.

[00:50:04]

EXPANDING OUR BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION. CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE HOTEL.

WE DO SEEM TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON THAT WE ARE TRACKING THE MORE VISITORS WE CAN GET IN HERE FOR THE DAY, THE MORE LIKELY WE CAN GET SOMEBODY FOR THAT EFFORT.

TOURISM IS PART OF THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO GENERATE MORE OF OUR OWN SELF LEADS TOO.

IT'S LIKE THE, IT'S NO SECRET THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN UP AND DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE SECTORS THAT ARE BIG IN THIS AREA, SUCH AS LOGISTICS. SO THE MORE WE CAN ATTRACT ON OUR OWN, WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO ENHANCE THE SITES THAT WE HAVE.

SO OUR FOCUS REMAINS THE SAME WORKING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AND HELPING PEOPLE HAVE THEIR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPTON.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE THEM.

ANY QUESTIONS? I HOPE WE HAVE A GOOD YEAR. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR.

NEXT IS MRS. JANE RIDDICK-FRIES. AND TALK ABOUT THE COURTLAND REVITALIZATION PROJECT, WHICH IS GOING ON.

GOOD EVENING. I FIRST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. I BEFORE I SAY WHY I'M HERE, I DO WANT TO REITERATE ONE THING THAT MR. COOKE SAID. I'VE KNOWN LYNETTE LOWE FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

SHE'S A GREAT FRIEND AND SHE IS A TRUE ASSET TO THIS COMMUNITY.

SO I HOPE SHE CONTINUES TO STAY WHERE SHE IS.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY ON THE BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AT THE RAWLS MUSEUM FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

AND THE REGIONAL LIBRARY HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE AT THE RAWLS MUSEUM, INCLUDING OUR RESOURCE FAIR THAT WE HAD LAST MONTH FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THE RAWLS MUSEUM IS [INAUDIBLE]. AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT ASSETS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THERE'S A GROUP THAT HAS GOTTEN TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER A MAIN STREET COURTLAND REVITALIZATION EFFORT.

AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE RECEIVED OUR APPROVAL LAST WEEK AS A FIRST TIER EXPLORING MAIN STREET COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND GETTING A GROUP TOGETHER AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO FORM OUR NONPROFIT.

MY POINT FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING IS THAT THE MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION EFFORT AND THE TOURISM COORDINATOR POSITION THAT THEY'VE REQUESTED MONEY FOR THIS EVENING, A PORTION GO HAND IN HAND TOGETHER.

AND SO COURTLAND, AS WE ALL KNOW, USED TO BE A VERY VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK IT CAN BE THAT WAY. AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY. WE HAVE GREAT MUSEUMS. MUSEUM ROW ON LINDEN STREET. AND WITH ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES ON MAIN STREET, COURTLAND, I THINK THAT WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND GROW SMALL BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET.

IT IS ONE EFFORT, ONE PIECE OF THE PIE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO OUR COUNTRY AND THE TOURISM PIECE AND THE MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION PIECE.

ARE IMPERATIVE, I THINK, FOR BRINGING COURTLAND AND PROVIDING MORE REVENUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE TO THE TOURISM COORDINATOR AS WELL AS TO THE RAWLS MUSEUM.

THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. QUESTIONS. THAT WAS UNDER THREE MINUTES.

YOU DID IT. [LAUGHTER] GET THAT [INAUDIBLE]. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS THE WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.

MR. WITT HARPER. HI. HOW ARE YOU ALL? I'M WITT HARPER.

PLEASURE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. I DO APPRECIATE, AS AS WAS SAID EARLIER.

I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK HERE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK FOR MONEY AND HAVING TO DECIDE HOW TO DOLE IT OUT.

BUT THAT SAID, HOPEFULLY WE'LL MAKE IT A LITTLE HARDER.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS THE FREE CLINICS, GRATITUDE FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT, AND ASK FOR SOME CONSIDERATION IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR'S BUDGET. SINCE THEY'VE OPENED THEIR DOORS IN 2007, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAS BEEN A VITAL PARTNER IN THEIR MISSION.

[00:55:09]

THAT SAID WE ALSO HAD 82 DENTAL PATIENTS. AND ALL IN ALL, THEY RECEIVED 284 VISITS.

SINCE INCEPTION, WE HAVE HELPED MORE THAN 8,470 UNDUPLICATED PATIENTS THROUGH MORE THAN 241,000 VISITS.

AND FREE MEDICATIONS VALUED AT OVER $66.9 MILLION.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER ONE OF OUR PATIENT STORIES, WHO WE'LL CALL SARAH FOR HIPAA PURPOSES.

IN JUNE OF 2025, SHE DISCOVERED A LUMP ON HER LEFT BREAST, AN EARLY SIGN THAT SHE COULDN'T IGNORE.

AND SHE WAS DIRECTED TO THE WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC.

SHE CAME TO THE CLINIC WITHOUT INSURANCE, BUT WAS ABLE TO SECURE MEDICAID COVERAGE THROUGH OUR EVERY WOMAN'S LIFE PROGRAM.

IN JULY, SHE FACED HER DIAGNOSIS, HIT ON WITH A MAMMOGRAM THAT CONFIRMED SHE DID HAVE BREAST CANCER.

BY SEPTEMBER, THANKS TO EXPERT CARE AT SENTARA.

SHE HAD UNDERGONE A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.

IN LOOKING BACK AT HOW THE CLINIC AFFECTED HER, SHE STATED, I CAN ONLY REALLY SAY THAT THE CLINIC LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE.

SHE EXPRESSED HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO OUR DONORS.

SAYING SHE HAS A BIG THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE CLINIC.

THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE HELPING SAVE LIVES EVERY DAY.

YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT ALLOWS US TO SERVE OUR 2200 SQUARE MILE AREA EFFECTIVELY, AND WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AND HUMBLY REQUEST $46,709 FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO ASSIST OVER 29 SOUTHAMPTON PATIENTS OVER 233 VISITS.

IF YOU EVER CARE TO SEE THE WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC FACILITY, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL. I CAN SET YOU UP WITH SOMEBODY THERE.

AND WE DO TRULY, GRATEFULLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU MUCH, Y'ALL. DO Y'ALL DO SOME GOOD WORK? THANK YOU. THANKS. ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN? DO WHAT? HE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS.

OH. WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] YOU'RE GOOD.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE ANOTHER ONE. WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD.

AND THAT'S VONDA WARREN-LILLY. AND THE TRUE MARIANA.

AND WHO'S THE OTHER YOUNG LADY? I COULDN'T READ YOUR NAME. I TOLD HER, I SAID.

OKAY. I LOOKED UP AT YOU. I SAID, HE CAN'T READ THAT.

WELL, WE'RE NOT WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC, WE'RE WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. I'M GOING TO START OFF WHERE'S THE CLICKER FIRST? [INAUDIBLE] MARIANA DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

BRANDON ROGERS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO'S UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.

SO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME PRESENTING TO YOU. SO BE LIGHT ON ME.

OKAY. AND VONDA WARREN IS THE DIRECTOR THAT SERVES YOUR LOCALITY.

OKAY. SO AS YOU KNOW THAT YOU GUYS DO SUPPORT US AND WE APPRECIATE EVERY BIT OF MONEY YOU DO SUPPORT US ON, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE MONEY THAT YOU ARE GIVING US? WESTERN TIDEWATER PROVIDES ACCESS TO YOUR COMMUNITY, TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, PSYCH SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH OUTPATIENT THERAPY, AND EMERGENCY AND CRISIS SERVICES.

PREVENTION SERVICES. SO I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE OVERSEES OF PREVENTION SERVICES AND OF COURSE OUR PREVENTION SERVICES, NOT ONLY SERVICES SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, BUT OUR OTHER THREE LOCALITIES AS WELL.

WE OFFER TRAININGS SUCH AS, AS YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, SAFE TALK, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, CANNABIS EDUCATION PROBLEM GAMING AND GAMBLING AWARENESS.

WE ALSO OFFER PARENTING GROUPS AND PROGRAMS NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAMS THAT WE CALL THE MPP AND THE STRONG AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES PROGRAM AS WELL.

I LIKE TO SAY THAT THESE TRAININGS ARE NOT NOT ONLY OFFERED INTERNALLY, BUT THEY ARE EXTERNAL.

OKAY, SO OUR PREVENTION SERVICES EXTEND TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU THINK OF MENTAL HEALTH, YOU THINK OF PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. SO PREVENTION IS THE COMPONENT THAT WILL ASSIST THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FROM NEEDING TREATMENT. RIGHT? AND SO THESE TRAININGS THAT WE OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AS TO HOW TO INDULGE IN SERVICES THAT WE OFFER TO

[01:00:01]

OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT IS INCLUSIVE OF RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

EQUIPPING THEM, AS I STATED, WITH TOOLS TO SUPPORT THEM FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AS IT RELATES TO PREVENTION OF SUICIDE, VIOLENCE, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. OUR SCIP PROGRAM.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS LAST TO COME ABOARD.

WE OFFER THIS SERVICE IN ALL OTHER OF OUR LOCALITIES, BOTH THE CITY OF SUFFOLK, FRANKLIN AND THE COUNTY OF ISLE OF WIGHT AND NEWLY ADDED TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO START THE SCIP PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO START IN SEPTEMBER, BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, RIGHT? SO WE ARE STARTING NOW AND WE'RE HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING.

YOU ASKED WHAT SCIP IS. I'M GLAD YOU DID. SO SCIP IS INCLUSIVE OF TWO PROGRAMS, PRIMARILY CASE MANAGEMENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES.

OUTPATIENT SERVICES IS JUST AS WHAT YOU ALL HAVE IMAGINED IT TO BE.

IT IS WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY GO INTO THE CLINIC TO RECEIVE.

BUT IT'S UNIQUE WITH WHAT WE OFFER BECAUSE WE ARE LOCATED IN THE SCHOOL.

IT ALLOWS THE PARENTS TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DRIVING THEIR CHILD TO A CLINIC FOR THERAPY SERVICES.

WE WILL HOUSE THE THERAPISTS IN THE SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WE WILL PROVIDE THAT SERVICE FOR THEM.

IN ADDITION TO THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES, WE HAVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

CASE MANAGEMENT IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT WILL ALLOW US TO DISCOVER WHAT THE CORE UNDERLYING ISSUES ARE THAT ARE ANSWERING WHAT THE SURFACE BEHAVIORS THAT THE TEACHERS ARE SEEING IN THE CLASSROOM, RIGHT? AND SO IF WE NEED TO LINK THE CHILD AND OR THE FAMILY TO SERVICES DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED NEED, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. OKAY. SUFFOLK, FRANKLIN, ISLE OF WIGHT, SOUTHAMPTON. THIS IS WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD LOCALITY THAT WE SERVE.

WHAT I HAVE UP HERE, AND I THOUGHT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SEE, IS THAT EACH LOCALITY WITH THE POPULATION THEY SERVE AND WHAT FUNDING AND MATCH THEY PROVIDE. SO YOU SEE, SUFFOLK, WE SERVE 103 FUNDING $939,000 POPULATION OF FRANKLIN'S 8,373 FUNDING IS $48,000. ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY POPULATION 40,942 $325,000.

SOUTHAMPTON 17,941. FUNDING 98. TOTAL POPULATION AS I MENTIONED, 17,941 11% OF TOTAL LOCAL POPULATION.

LOCALITY FUND $98,000 WHERE WE ASKED THEM FOR 7%.

TOTAL LOCALITY FUND MATCH. WE ARE SERVING ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

SO FAR WE HAVE SERVED 320 ONGOING TREATMENT SERVICES FOR THIS LOCALITY.

IF YOU BREAK THIS DOWN AS OUR BUDGET OUR FINANCE GUY DID, HE BROKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO YOU GUYS.

YOU'RE RECEIVING $23.49 RETURN ON YOUR FUNDING.

THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S GOOD NUMBERS THERE. RECOMMENDATION.

SO IT'S 10% MATCH AND 25 WAS $81,428. THIS FISCAL YEAR WE'RE REQUESTING $98,000.

WOO SO HAPPY TO GET DONE WITH THAT. ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE? HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THE LIST. ANYBODY ELSE? HAVE WE MISSED ANYTHING? ANYBODY DIDN'T SIGN UP AND, LIKE. I'LL SAY SOMETHING.

I'M SORRY, SHERIFF, BUT YOU'RE NOT ON THERE. WRITE IT IN NEED IT.

THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.

FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING BOARD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS.

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS VERY BLESSED. WE ARE BLESSED HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THAT HAVE THE MOST DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN THERE IS IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT. I TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M IN THAT JAIL RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE TEN SHORT, BUT THE PEOPLE DON'T BACK DOWN AS FAR AS MY DEPUTIES AND COMING IN AND DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

I KNOW I HAVE COME BEFORE THE BOARD AND ASKED FOR A SUPPLEMENT TO HELP THEM.

AND EACH DAY, I MEAN, THIS MORNING I WAS IN A MEETING, 06:30 WITH MY STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THEY ASKED ME, SHERIFF, ARE WE GOING TO BE GETTING A RAISE? I SAID, I'M ASKING, OKAY, SO I'M ASKING YOU AS THE BOARD TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN TO HELP ME GET THOSE GUYS SOMETHING PAID TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPENSATED FOR THE JOB THAT THEY DO.

[01:05:03]

WE ARE INTO EVERYTHING. I AS A SHERIFF, I DON'T BELIEVE IN NO WHEN ASKED TO DO SOMETHING.

JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD THE EASTER EGG HUNT. I WISH EACH OF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT FOR THAT EASTER EGG HUNT.

I MEAN, IT TAKES A LOT TO PUT THAT ON, BUT I TELL YOU, WHEN I ASKED MY STAFF TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, I GOT A TOTAL OF SUPPOSED TO HAVE 82, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT MANY.

BUT THEY ALL COME AND SHOW UP. BUT NOT ONLY DO THEY SHOW UP, THEY DO A GOOD JOB WHILE THEY'RE THERE.

WE'RE TRYING TO TEACH OUR KIDS THAT WE'RE NOT THE BAD GUY, OKAY? AND I FEEL IF WE TEACH OUR KIDS THAT WE ARE NOT THE BAD GUY THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE WILLING TO RUN UP TO US ALL THE TIME.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, WE'RE MAKING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS FOR THE FUTURE.

SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING YOU AS THE BOARD TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN, AND WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS MOMENT TO SPEAK.

ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION. THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION BEFORE ABOUT INCREASING THE DEPUTY SALARIES IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM HERE. YES. ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT WITH WHAT? ONCE IT IS INCREASED AND IF WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE, WITH EVERYBODY ELSE THE DEPUTIES THEY'LL STAY BECAUSE I MEAN, A LOT OF THEM, THEY COME TO ME AND THEY SAY, SHERIFF, IF I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE.

BUT I MEAN, I CAN'T SURVIVE WITH THE LITTLE PAY THAT I'M GETTING.

SO THEY WILL STAY ONCE WE INCREASE THE SALARY.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, WE'RE GOING TO BE ENTICING OTHERS TO COME.

JUST THE OTHER DAY, I HAD ONE THAT COME TO ME FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I'M TIGHT. THEY MUST BE TIGHTER THAN I AM, BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU GOT PEOPLE THAT'S COMING EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE MAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE AT DOC. THEY'RE COMING BECAUSE THEY NEED PEACE OF MIND.

AND IF I CAN GET THEM, I'M TAKING THEM. OKAY.

SO YEAH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE THAT WE'VE MISSED, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

I SEE CINDY EDWARDS BACK THERE. YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

I'LL SAY SOMETHING. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO. GOOD EVENING BOARD. I'M GOING TO TAILGATE ON WHAT JOSH JUST SAID.

I HAVE A PROBLEM. ALSO IN MY OFFICE, PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID.

AND WHEN YOU START SOMEBODY OUT AS A DEPUTY CLERK AT $32,547, I MEAN, A SINGLE PERSON CANNOT LIVE OFF OF THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND TIME YOU PAY TO RENT A PLACE AND BUY GROCERIES AND, YOU KNOW, TAXES ARE TAKEN OUT AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO PAY FOR YOUR INSURANCE. BUT THE PORTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO PAY IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE.

AND SO IF ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL CAN DO TO GET US UP TO WHERE THE OTHER LOCALITIES IN THE AREA ARE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE COST OF LIVING AT THE SAME TIME SO WE DON'T FALL BEHIND AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? IF NOT, I GUESS WE'VE REACHED THE END OF THE LINE.

OUR NEXT MEETING IS ONE WEEK, SAME TIME, 6:00 NEXT WEDNESDAY, THE 15TH MIDDLE OF THE MONTH.

AND WELCOME TO HAVE YOU COME HERE AND ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS.

WE WILL ALLOW SOME COMMENTS AT THAT TIME ALSO.

AND ANYBODY UP HERE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO GO OVER? THAT'S ALL. GENTLEMEN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.