HE COMES ACROSS. I'LL LEAVE HIM UP HERE. OKAY. [Call to Order] [00:00:03] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S 6:00. IT'S TIME TO OPEN THIS APRIL THE 28TH 26 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. THIS IS OUR REGULAR MEETING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. AND THE FIRST THING WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT IS TO SAY 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. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR AN INVOCATION? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. LET US BOW OUR HEADS AND COME BEFORE THE LORD IN PRAYER. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, BUT ALSO MANY CONCERNS. WE HAVE MANY THINGS FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL. OUR NATION, OUR COMMONWEALTH, AND OUR COUNTY. WE ASK YOU TO SEND US ANOTHER GENTLE RAIN SO OUR FARMERS CAN CONTRIBUTE, CONTINUE TO FEED THE WORLD. AND LORD, WE ASK YOU TO PROTECT OUR LEADERS, BUT ALSO TO GET INSIDE THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS AND URGE THEM TO CEASE THIS HATEFUL RHETORIC AND CALLING EACH OTHER VILE NAMES WHICH ONLY ENCOURAGE EXTREMISTS TO COMMIT OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT ASSASSINATIONS. WE ASK YOU TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS, PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND PROTECT OUR SUPERVISORS. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, FIRST THING ON THE LIST IS THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD. [1. Citizens Comment Period] THIS HISTORICALLY STARTED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2014. ACTUALLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION STARTED BEFORE US, AND WE DO VALUE THIS LISTENING TO YOU AND LISTENING TO WHAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT AND WRONG WITH THE COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND KEEP THE ISSUES TO THINGS CONCERNED WITH THE COUNTY. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND THERE'S SOMETHING DOWN THE LIST THAT WE'RE GOING OVER TONIGHT, IF YOU COULD SAVE THOSE COMMENTS FOR THAT. SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN THE CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD. MR. CHAIRMAN, MY NAME IS ASH CUTCHIN AND I LIVE ON DARDEN POINT ROAD. AND YOUR COMMENT ABOUT GOING DOWN THE LIST, THINGS ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED LATER. ARE YOU REFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM 11 ABOUT THE COURTHOUSE? IS THAT GOING TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING? WE WILL ALLOW SOME PEOPLE TO SPEAK, YES. SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO WAIT. EITHER WAY. YOU WANT TO DO IT? YES. IT'S BRIEF. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE TWO COMMENTS. FIRST, ALTHOUGH IT IS AN IMPROVEMENT, THE PAVING OF DARDEN SCOUT ROAD IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF AN ENGINEERING MARVEL. BOTH THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN ENDS ARE VERY ROUGH AND BUMPY AND FULL OF POTHOLES, AND THE PAVEMENT IS ERODING ON THE POND SIDE AT THE CULVERT, NORTH OF THE SOUTHERN INTERSECTION, THE PATH THAT LEADS TO MRS. FIELDS DAM. IT'LL ONLY GET WORSE AND DANGEROUS. BUT JUST ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, I SAW THAT SOMEONE SOMETIME TODAY, HAS STUFFED A BALE OF STRAW IN THE HOLE. IT'S A TEMPORARY FIX, I'M SURE. ANYWAY, SECOND ITEM. NOW THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED ME, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT NAMING THE COURTHOUSE. NOW I'M SURE THAT IN A FEW MINUTES, MR. FRANCIS WILL RENEW HIS DRAMATIC APPEAL TO NAME IT AFTER JUDGE GOODWIN. NOW, I DO NOT KNOW JUDGE GOODWIN, NOR DO I HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST HIM. BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD HE'S FAMOUS FOR MANY THINGS ONE, BEING A GREAT ATHLETE, ALSO BEING AN HONOR STUDENT, A DISTINGUISHED JURIST, AND ALSO BEING FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WHERE I'M ALSO TOLD THAT HE DEPARTED AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS NOT LIVED HERE SINCE. I BELIEVE OUR COURTHOUSE ALREADY HAS A NAME, WHICH IS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. LET IT BE. LEAVE IT ALONE. IT DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER NAME. HOWEVER, IF THE CITIZENS INSIST ON RENAMING IT AND INSIST ON NAMING IT AFTER A FAMOUS AFRICAN AMERICAN, SOMEONE WHOSE LEGACY HELPED PUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ON THE MAP AND IN HISTORY BOOKS. THEN I SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO OTHER CHOICES DRED SCOTT AND NAT TURNER. [00:05:05] MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT BOTH OF THESE MEN MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE SLAVES BEING FREED, AND I THINK PERSONALLY, THAT NAT TURNER'S UPRISING IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IN AUGUST OF 1831 WAS A MAJOR FACTOR WHICH LED TO THE CIVIL WAR 30 YEARS LATER. BOTH THESE MEN WERE SLAVES, AND BOTH ARE VASTLY MORE WELL KNOWN THAN JUDGE GOODWIN. BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY AND EVEN INTERNATIONALLY. SO FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, LET'S HAVE A NAT TURNER/DRED SCOTT COURTHOUSE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING THE PUBLIC SPEAK. ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I REALIZE YOU WANT US TO TALK ABOUT IT LATER, BUT IT WASN'T LISTED AS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SO I RUSHED HERE TO. AND I'VE LEFT MY CHILDREN AT A BALLPARK. SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK NOW. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF RENAMING OUR COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN HONOR OF OUR FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT CHIEF, FORMER CHIEF GOODWIN. THIS IS MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE A REMARKABLE LEGACY ROOTED RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN A SMALL, RURAL COUNTY LIKE OURS, IT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THE PATH TO EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT LIES SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT HIS STORY PROVES OTHERWISE. FROM THESE VERY STREETS, SCHOOLS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS, HE ROSE TO THE HIGHEST JUDICIAL POSITION IN OUR COMMONWEALTH. THAT IS SOMETHING WORTH HONORING AND SOMETHING WORTH MAKING VISIBLE. RENAMING THE COURTHOUSE WOULD SERVE AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO A CAREER DEFINED BY INTEGRITY, SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO JUSTICE. BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, IT WOULD SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WHERE YOU COME FROM DOES NOT LIMIT WHERE YOU CAN GO. THE GREATNESS CAN GROW RIGHT HERE AT HOME. EVERY DAY, CITIZENS WALK THROUGH THOSE COURTHOUSE DOORS SEEKING FAIRNESS, RESOLUTION, AND JUSTICE. WHAT BETTER SYMBOL COULD WE OFFER THAN THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO UPHOLDING THOSE VERY PRINCIPLES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL? I'VE HEARD THE ARGUMENT THAT BECAUSE HE DID NOT PRESIDE IN THIS COURTHOUSE, IT SHOULD NOT BEAR HIS NAME. RESPECTFULLY, I THINK THAT SETS THE WRONG STANDARD. IF WE ONLY NAMED BUILDINGS AFTER PEOPLE WHO PHYSICALLY WORKED INSIDE THEM, WE'D EXCLUDE MANY OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL PUBLIC SERVANTS WE COULD HONOR. COURTHOUSES IN PARTICULAR, AREN'T JUST WORKPLACES, THEY ARE SYMBOLS OF THE RULE OF LAW. THE QUESTION ISN'T, DID HE SIT ON THAT BENCH? IT'S, DID HE EMBODY THE IDEALS THAT BUILDING REPRESENTS? OUR FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE DID EXACTLY THAT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN VIRGINIA. HIS DECISIONS AND LEADERSHIP SHAPED THE LAW THAT GOVERNS EVERY COURTHOUSE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING OURS. AND THAT SENSE, HIS INFLUENCE ABSOLUTELY REACHED THIS BUILDING, EVEN IF HE DIDN'T PRESIDE HERE DAY TO DAY. WE ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF PRECEDENT FOR THIS KIND OF RECOGNITION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FEDERAL BUILDINGS, INCLUDING COURTHOUSES, ARE OFTEN NAMED AFTER JUDGES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO IMPACT THE BROAD, NOT CONFINED TO A SINGLE LOCATION. IT'S ABOUT HONOR AND SIGNIFICANCE, NOT GEOGRAPHY OR SQUARE FOOTAGE. AND AND THERE'S A LOCAL DIMENSION THAT MATTERS JUST AS MUCH. HE IS ONE OF OUR OWN. RENAMING THE COURTHOUSE ISN'T JUST WHERE HE SERVED. IT'S ABOUT WHERE HE CAME FROM. IT'S ABOUT SHOWING OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT SOMEONE FROM RIGHT HERE ROSE TO THE VERY TOP OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. SO RATHER THAN DIMINISHING THE MEANING OF THE COURTHOUSE, NAMING IT AFTER HIM WOULD ELEVATE IT, TIE IN OUR LOCAL INSTITUTION TO A LEGACY OF STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THIS STEP AND CREATE A LEGACY THAT REFLECTS BOTH PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BELIEF IN ITS POTENTIAL. THANK YOU. REMIND EVERYBODY, JUST KEEP IT TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS, PLEASE. ANYBODY ELSE? EVENING, MR. CROSS. GOOD EVENING BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION. GARY CROSS FROM BLACK CREEK. MR. CORNWELL. MISS LOWE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK YOU'VE DONE FILLING IN AS OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TIME AND THROUGH THE BUDGET, BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND AND STRIVE ON. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO SPEAK AGAIN ABOUT THIS DILAPIDATED DUMP SYSTEM WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY. IT WAS A YEAR AGO I SPOKE TO Y'ALL, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE UP A LOT OF YOUR TIME. [00:10:06] TRASH IS STILL COMING IN FROM OTHER COUNTIES, OTHER LOCALITIES, AND CAUSING OUR TIPPING FEE TO GO UP. A SIMPLE, ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE ROADS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY GIVEN TO THE ATTENDANTS. AND THEN THE ATTENDANTS CAN GIVE OUT DECALS WAS WHAT I ASKED FOR LAST TIME. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR THIS TIME, BUT Y'ALL GOT OFF ON A BENT THINKING I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE $200 AND TRY TO GET THEM TO COLLECT THAT. I COULD CARE LESS WHO'S PAID THE $200 IS CLEAR BY NOW THAT 20% OF OUR POPULATION IS NOT GOING TO PAY IT ANYWAY, BUT AT LEAST LET THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTY BE THE ONE THAT USED THE DUMP. SO I'M ASKING ONCE AGAIN, MR. LOWE, YOU'RE IN CHARGE. LET'S GET AFTER THESE ATTENDANTS. WAKE THEM UP. GET THEM OFF THE TELEVISION, WATCHING BALL GAMES, SLEEPING ALL DAY LONG AND NOT SEEING WHO COMES AND GOES AND WHAT THEY'RE THROWING IN THE DUMPSTERS. THERE'S NO SENSE IN IT AT ALL. IT'S VERY EASILY SOLVED. FIND A NICE, ATTRACTIVE DECAL. IF HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE AND HIS ADDRESS MATCH A ROAD IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. ASK HIM WHAT HE PLEASE PUT THAT ON HIS WINDSHIELD. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. LET THE REST OF THE COUNTY WORRY ABOUT WHO PAID THE TAXES AND WHO DIDN'T. BUT IT'S VERY SIMPLE. I'M NOT ASKING THE ATTENDANTS TO CAUSE ANY SCENE AT THE DUMPS. I SAID I WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT AFTER I SAW ALL THE PEOPLE IN HERE TONIGHT AND WHAT THEY'RE ARE HERE FOR. BUT SINCE THEY'RE HERE FOR THAT, I'LL SPEAK AS WELL. ON THE VERY ISSUE ON ITEM NUMBER 11. US OLDER FOLKS, I CALL MYSELF OLD NOW BECAUSE HE WAS IN SCHOOL ABOUT THE SAME TIME I WAS. I KNOW WHO HE IS, BUT NOBODY ELSE DOES. THIS YOUNGER GENERATION DON'T. HE HASN'T BEEN HERE. HE HASN'T PAID TAXES. YOU KNOW, YOU SEE IT IN COLLEGES ALL OVER NC STATE AND VIRGINIA TECH, WILLIAM AND MARY, PEOPLE DONATE LARGE SUMS OF MONEY, GET A BUILDING NAMED AFTER THEM. AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE. BUT FOR SOMEBODY TO LEAVE HERE AFTER LEFT HIGH SCHOOL DONE VERY WELL FOR HIMSELF. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. OH, MR. GOODWIN, I WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM IF HE WAS SITTING IN A ROOM TONIGHT. I'D BEEN SO LONG SINCE I SEEN HIM. BUT NOT THIS BOARD OR THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS AUDIENCE TONIGHT SHOULD NAME THIS COURTHOUSE. IF Y'ALL GOT TO NAME IT SOMETHING, COME UP WITH SOME ALTERNATIVES AND PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE WHOLE COUNTY NAME THIS COURTHOUSE. SIMPLE AS THAT. GIVE US SOME ALTERNATIVES AND LET US NAME IT. BUT SINCE THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TAXPAYERS PAID FOR THIS BUILDING AND ARE STILL PAYING FOR IT, I THINK THE NAME HAS GOT NOW FITS A PRETTY DAMN GOOD. SO I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING BAD ABOUT MR. GOODWIN NOW. FINE, MAN. DONE WELL FOR YOURSELF. BUT THIS BOARD, NOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE HAS CONTROL OVER WHAT THAT COURTHOUSE SHOULD BE NAMED. THAT NAME WILL BE ON THERE FOR 50, 75, OR 100 YEARS. AND I THINK IT'S WRONG FOR ANY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE TO DETERMINE A NEXT GENERATION'S HISTORY. ANYWAY, Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD EVENING. I THINK I'M GONNA GO ON BACK AND KNOCK OUT A FEW THINGS BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO ME AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. ANY TIME. ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT? DAVID EDWARD SADLER, VIRGINIA. AND I KNOW YOU ALL SAID NOT TO TALK ABOUT NONE OF THIS, BUT TUCKER SWAMP ROAD FROM 460 TO UNITY TO SIDE ROADS ABOUT FALLING APART, ESPECIALLY FROM 460 TO SEEKONK CHAPEL IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE. NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. I KNOW YOU ALL SAID THIS, BUT ON 13, ON THE MISCELLANEOUS WITH THE DEQ, CAVALIER GOLF COURSE WANTS TO PUT A WELL IN. I'M AGAINST THAT. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT A CALIFORNIA ALL THE DEEP WELLS AND NOW THEY'VE STOPPED THEM FROM IRRIGATING. MY WIFE SAYS IT WILL NOW NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WATER BEING GONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT 100 YEARS FROM NOW WOULD BE GONE. I'M AGAINST THAT. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ISSUE CONCERNING THE COUNTY? [00:15:12] ALL RIGHT, IF THAT'S THE CASE. LAST CALL FOR ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TALK. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL THEREFORE CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD. THANK YOU ALL. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO NUMBER 2. [2. Approval of Minutes] WE GOT SOME APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THREE MEETINGS. MARCH 27TH, 2026 REGULAR MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES. ANY QUESTIONS, CHANGES? I MOVE WE. EXCUSE ME. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED LIKEWISE. OKAY. THOSE APPROVED. APRIL 8TH, 2026. THE BUDGET WORK SESSION. THE FIRST ONE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THOSE MINUTES? NOT, A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. UNANIMOUS. OKAY. AND THE SECOND WORK SESSION WAS APRIL 15TH 2026. ANYBODY HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS DELETIONS OR PROBLEMS WITH THOSE MINUTES? IF NOT. MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A VERY AGREEABLE VOTES TONIGHT. [3. VDOT Matters] OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER 3, VDOT MATTERS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ROAD MATTERS THEY'D LIKE TO DISCUSS? WELL, I DO CABIN POND ROAD. HALF OF IT IS STILL NOT HASN'T BEEN PAVED. IS THAT SOMETHING WE WAIT FOR THE SIX-YEAR PLAN TO WORK ON, OR BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW? YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO TALK ABOUT IT. WE WILL HAVE PUT THE LISTING IN ORDER NEXT MEETING IN MAY FOR THE SIX-YEAR PLAN. OKAY. I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE CABIN POND ROAD AND BOYKINS TO BE ON THAT LIST. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY? OKAY, GOOD. WE'LL MOVE ON. NUMBER 4, MONTHLY REPORTS. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MISS LOWE. [4. Monthly Reports] YES, SIR. THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF PROJECTS AND UPDATES OF ITEMS IN VARIOUS PHASES OF COMPLETION. PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. NEWSOM'S PLANNING GRANT FOR PHASE II, SUMMIT DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES HAS AGREED TO FILE THE INITIAL GRANT FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY/TOWN OF NEWSOMS. KATHERINE JACKSON, WITH SUMMIT WILL BE ATTENDING THE DHCD TRAINING REGARDING THE UPCOMING GRANT PROCESS THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY 2026 TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFICS AND THE TIMELINE FOR THE UPCOMING PLANNING GRANT. PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO PROJECT UPDATE. THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OF COMPLETION WAS DECEMBER 20TH 6TH JANUARY OF 27. AS OF LAST WEEK, THAT TIMELINE HAS BEEN DROPPED BACK TO SPRING OF 2027. CTA CONSULTANTS IS MONITORING THE PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION VERY CLOSELY. THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT TEAM CONTINUES TO HAVE A MONTHLY MEETING, MONTHLY TEAMS MEETING AND EMAILS ARE PROVIDED AS NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE MONTH REGARDING ADDITIONAL UPDATES. HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL WITHIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT I, RECEIVED, WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TEN APPLICATIONS. THREE INDIVIDUALS WERE INTERVIEWED. MISS ELLE PHELPS WAS SELECTED AND BEGAN WORK ON APRIL THE 13TH. WE ARE VERY GLAD TO HAVE HER WORKING WITH US. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVERTISING WILL OCCUR IN MAY 2026 FOR THE POSITION. DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS AND THE QUALITY OF APPLICANTS, INTERVIEWS WILL BEGIN THE FIRST PART OF JUNE. PUBLIC SERVICE WORKER II AND PUBLIC UTILITIES. ADVERTISING IS ONGOING FOR THAT POSITION. COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY. SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PARTNERED WITH PAYPOINT HR, FOR THE COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY. THE PROCESS BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2025. AS OF APRIL 2026, WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE UPDATED POSITION DESCRIPTIONS. REFUSE COLLECTION SITES. THREE SITES ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE ASPHALT LAID AT THE ENTRANCE WAYS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. THOSE SITES ARE SEDLEY, SEBRELL AND THE REFUSE SITE ON 258. MONROE BRIDGE KAYAK LAUNCH AREA. THE FINAL PARTS OF THE SIGNAGE HAVE ARRIVED AND THE SECURITY CAMERAS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. ALL WILL BE. EXCUSE ME. ALL WILL BE INSTALLED WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF MAY 2026. [00:20:08] EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE. WE WILL HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION LUNCHEON ON MAY THE 1ST, 2026. THE EVENT WILL BE FLOATING BETWEEN 11:30 A.M. TO 2 P.M.. WE ARE SETTING UP ON THE FRONT LAWN OF THE ADMINISTRATION CENTER. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE BEALE FARM. VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY GRANT. THE FINAL BILLING HAS COME THROUGH ON THE $223,000 DUE DILIGENCE SERVICES PERFORMED BY TIMMONS GROUP. THE FOLLOWING WORK WAS PERFORMED: WETLAND DELINEATION, WETLAND CONFIRMATION, PRELIMINARY GEOTECHNICAL REPORT, LAND BOUNDARY AND TITLE SURVEY, AERIAL TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY, PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT, CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT, WELL STUDY AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT. ALL OF THESE TO MOVE THE BEALE FARM PROPERTY FROM A TIER 2 TO A TIER 4 WITHIN THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP SITE SELECTION CRITERIA. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. COMMERCE AND LOGISTICS CENTER, WHICH IS THE TURNER TRACT AREA OFF OF ROSE VALLEY ROAD. THE WORK IN THIS AREA IS BEING PAID THROUGH A GO-VIRGINIA SITE READINESS GRANT, WITH THE REMAINING PORTION BEING FUNDED THROUGH FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED. THE SAME TYPE WORK THAT IS BEING PERFORMED ON THE BEALE FARM IS ALSO BEING PERFORMED ON THE TURNER TRACT AREA, WITH THE SAME PURPOSE TO MOVE FROM A TIER 2 TO A TIER 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE STUDY, TO LOCATE SUITABLE PROPERTY IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FOR FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES. FINAL REVISIONS ARE BEING MADE. WE HAVE BEEN BILLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE CONTRACT. ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES/SPACE NEEDS STUDY AT THE ADMINISTRATION CENTER BUILDING. WORK IS BEING PERFORMED BY MOSELEY ARCHITECTS AND IS STILL IN PROGRESS. FUTURE NEEDS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE REGARDING THE PROPER LAYOUT AND PARKING. NEW BUILDING TO GO BEHIND THE VOTER REGISTRAR'S OFFICE. THE CEMENT FOUNDATION WAS LAID IN APRIL 2026. WE ARE AWAITING DELIVERY OF THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING WILL PROVIDE SPACE FOR SET UP AND PROGRAMING OF VOTING MACHINES, CAGES FOR THE VOTING MACHINES AND TO PROVIDE A TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED AREA FOR PROPER STORAGE OF RECORDS. COURTHOUSE HOLDING CELLS. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON A SUITABLE PLAN. RECORDS ROOM HVAC. AFTER TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS AT RECEIVING ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH HOBBS & ASSOCIATES. THE COMPANY IS PART OF A CONTRACT PUT OUT BY THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA THAT WAS WRITTEN AND ACCEPTED IN VIRGINIA WITH A CLAUSE TO ALLOW OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND LOCALITIES TO UTILIZE IT. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HOBBS MADE A SITE VISIT AND HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH RICK FRANCIS, LYNN PARKER AND MYSELF. WE ARE WAITING TO RECEIVE INFORMATION BACK FROM THE VENDOR SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT PRICING AND A CONTRACT FOR THE BOARD TO REVIEW AND POTENTIALLY APPROVE. TURNER TRACT/BEALE FARM WELL DRILLING PROJECT, CURRENTLY IN THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING STAGE OF THE WELL DRILLING PROJECT. THERE WILL BE TWO WELLS UPON COMPLETION WORKING TO COMPLY WITH DEQ REQUIREMENTS. WE CURRENTLY DRAW FROM THE VIRGINIA BEACH AQUIFER. BY OCTOBER 19TH OF 2033. 96% OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S WATER DRAWN FOR THE BEALE FARM AND TURNER TRACT AREA MUST COME FROM THE POTOMAC AQUIFER. CAITT ESTATES SUBDIVISION ON FLAGGY RUN ROAD. LAST DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD YESTERDAY, APRIL 27TH. THE PROJECT IS MAKING PROGRESS. COUNTY ATTORNEY/LEGAL MATTERS. OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, MR. ERIC GREGORY, HAS MADE HIMSELF AVAILABLE FOR DISCUSSIONS AS NEEDED. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE FINANCIAL REPORT. GOOD EVENING. BEFORE YOU IS THE FINANCIAL OVERVIEW FOR MARCH OF 2025 VERSUS MARCH OF 2026. [00:25:06] IN MARCH OF 2025, WE HAD 96.62% COLLECTED OF THE BUDGETED REVENUES. FOR MARCH. DID I SAY 2026? I'M SO SORRY. THAT WAS MARCH OF 2025. FOR MARCH OF 2026, WE HAVE COLLECTED 88.98% OF THE BUDGETED REVENUES. AND THEN FOR THE EXPENDITURES, IN MARCH OF 2025, WE WERE AT 75.08% OF THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURES. AND FOR MARCH OF 2026, WE WERE AT 67.44% OF THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURES. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WHEN WE'RE DONE. TREASURY REPORT. I SEE MISS EDWARDS IS HERE TONIGHT. YES. YES. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO GIVE A COLLECTION PERCENTAGES UPDATE FROM LAST MONTH TO THIS MONTH. REAL ESTATE, LAST MONTH, WE WERE AT 99.66%. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 99.71%. WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $655,265.89 ON OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY. LAST MONTH WE WERE AT 96.27%. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 96.61%, WITH AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF $2,319,736.44. ON THE SOLID WASTE. YOU KNOW, WE JUST PASSED OUR DEADLINE FOR THE MARCH 31ST SOLID WASTE. SO OUR PERCENTAGE DROPPED DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THAT. LAST MONTH WE WERE AT 83.35%. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 78.21%. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ABOUT 80-81 ON THAT? WE HAVE BEEN UP TO 84. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT WE THE HIGHEST. YES, SIR. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVE ON TO ANIMAL CONTROL, IF YOU HAVE ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT'S INVOLVED IN THAT, JUST JUMP IN HERE. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY. SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES. PERSONNEL UPDATE. ANY PERSONNEL UPDATES? WE DID. WE HAD MISS ELLE WAS HIRED ON APRIL 13TH AND THEN MISS KRISTI NEWSOM WAS MOVED TO ACTING DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LAST MONTH. THAT'S OUR YOUNG LADY RIGHT OVER HERE. THAT'S MISS ELLE PHELPS. YES. SHE'S OUR NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, PLANNING COMMISSION. I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF UPDATE ON THAT. I'LL SHARE WITH EVERYBODY. I BELIEVE SUPERVISOR CORNWELL A FEW MONTHS AGO BROUGHT IT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION ABOUT THE BATTERY STORAGE SITUATION. BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS ORDINANCE. EVIDENTLY, IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN PLACE BY JUNE THE 30TH, JULY 1ST, THEN THE STATE SENDS US THEIR ORDINANCE. SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S BEEN BUSY ON THAT THE LAST TWO MONTHS. WE HAVE GOTTEN ORDINANCES FROM OTHER COUNTIES OUR WAY AROUND, AND WE HAVE TRIED TO ASSIMILATE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH ONE. I MIGHT SAY THAT WE DO HAVE AN ENGINEER ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, JACK CLAUD. HE'S BEEN IN CHARGE OF THIS. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE ON THIS. SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS A DRAFT ORDINANCE IS GOING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY THE 14TH, AT THE REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00. AND IF THAT GOES THROUGH, IT WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD HERE ON THE 26TH I BELIEVE FOR DISCUSSION. AND THEN AFTER THAT IT WILL BE ADVERTISED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND OUR FINALIZATION ON JUNE THE 23RD AT THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING IN JUNE. SO WE'RE HOPING WE CAN GET THIS DONE. IF THERE ARE SOME SNAGS ALONG THE WAY, WE MAY HAVE TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER CALL MEETING OR SOMETHING, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH WE HAVE TO DO IT DOING IT. OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH THE STATE'S ORDINANCE ON THIS. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AS FRIENDLY AS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE COMING UP. SO WE'VE BEEN BUSY ON THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO TUNE EVERYBODY IN ON THAT. [00:30:01] IF ANYBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW. COME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE MAY 14TH MEETING AND YOU'LL HEAR ALL ABOUT IT. SO ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, [5. Appointments] ITEM NUMBER 5, APPOINTMENTS. THE WESTERN TIDEWATER SERVICE, COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEBODY TO TAKE THAT POSITION. WILLIAM HART. YES, MISS STACEY BARHAM WHO IS THE CHILDREN'S SERVICE COORDINATOR, STARTED HER CAREER AT SUSSEX COUNTY, WORKED AS A CHILD CARE WORKER, FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION WORKER, AS WELL AS CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN 2014, JOINED SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AS A FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION WORKER. WITH BOTH EXPERIENCES, SHE'S HAD SIGNIFICANT CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD REGARDING GETTING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. CURRENTLY, AS A CSA COORDINATOR FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SINCE 2020, SHE WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD. I. LET'S SEE, THE FAPT CPMT TEAMS, AS THEIR PROGRAMS ARE GROWING AND THE EFFORTS TO SERVE THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES HAVE INCREASED. SO AT THIS POINT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT SHE BE APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. MISS BARHAM IS APPOINTED CHAIRMAN. COULD I ADD ONE THING TO THAT? MISS CINDY EDWARDS HAD FAITHFULLY SERVED ON THE WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD SINCE JANUARY 1ST OF 2016. THE TERM LIMIT IS THREE CONSECUTIVE THREE YEAR TERMS, AND MISS EDWARDS'S TERM HAS RUN OUT. SHE HAS SINCE BEEN ELECTED AS A BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS. THANK YOU. VERY APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. [APPLAUSE]. SHE DESERVES A HAND. OKAY. NEXT APPOINTMENT. SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S SERVICE. EVIDENTLY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS HIRED A SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR, DR. CAMILA FEREBEE. FEREBEE. EXCUSE ME, HAS BEEN HIRED, AND THE SCHOOL HAS REQUESTED THAT SHE FILL IN THIS ROLE FOR THE FOR THE COMMUNITY POLICY AND MANAGEMENT TEAM. EVIDENTLY. OBVIOUSLY, WELL QUALIFIED. AND THAT COMES WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION. AND I QUESTION HOW LONG IS THE TERM? LET ME SEE, I WILL NEED TO GET WITH STACEY ON THAT, BUT NORMALLY THEIR TERM WILL BE AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN THAT POSITION. IT'S NOT LIKE A LOT OF THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A THREE YEAR OR FOUR YEAR OR WHATEVER. AS LONG AS SHE IS WITH THE SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOLS WISH FOR HER TO REMAIN WITH US, THEN IT WILL CARRY FORWARD. MISS FEREBEE HERE TONIGHT? I DO NOT BELIEVE I SEE HER. NO. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO THAT? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS NOMINATION SAY AYE? AYE. OKAY. WE THANK HER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET MY AGENDA. MOVING ON TO NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS FINANCIAL MATTERS, THE BILLS LIST. [6. Financial Matters] DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILLS? WE DON'T VOTE ON THIS BUT JUST INFORMATIONAL. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WE MOVE ON TO NUMBER 7, WHICH IS. FIND IT HERE. [7. VML/VACO Financing Resolution - FY26 School Buses] SURE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO READ IT, I WILL DO THAT. I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO READ THAT. OKAY, SO NUMBER 7 IS VML/VACO FINANCING RESOLUTION, REQUEST TO ADOPT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 APPROVED BUDGET, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED THE ANNUAL PURCHASE OF SCHOOL BUSSES. [00:35:01] WE WAIT UNTIL THE SPRING OF THE YEAR TO OBTAIN FINANCING DUE TO THE LEAD TIME BETWEEN ORDERING THE BUSSES AND ACTUALLY RECEIVING THEM. 365 PASSENGER BUSSES AND 124 PASSENGER BUS WERE ORDERED IN FISCAL YEAR 26. THIS BOARD APPROVED A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION ON FEBRUARY 24TH OF 26. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE 24 PASSENGER BUS. THE REMAINING THREE BUSSES HAVE BEEN BUILT OUT BUT ARE ON HOLD AWAITING FOR A THREE WAY SWITCH. THE ISSUE AMOUNT OF THE FINANCING IS $561,579. THE FINAL MATURITY DATE IS JUNE 1ST OF 2031. THE INTEREST RATE IS 4.21%. THE ISSUANCE IS TAX EXEMPT AND BANK QUALIFIED. FUNDING WILL COME THROUGH HOME TRUST BANK. VERY GOOD. WE'VE BEEN BUYING BUSSES EVERY YEAR. USUALLY BY FIVE, IS FOUR THIS YEAR? WE DO. WITH THE FUNDS THAT WERE SET ASIDE AND SOME INCREASES IN COST. WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO GET FOR NEXT YEAR. MAYBE THREE BUSSES. WE'RE HOPING FIVE NEXT YEAR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS FINANCIAL RESOLUTION FOR THESE BUSSES. I RECOMMEND WE APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE BUSSES. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S UNANIMOUS. WE'LL GET, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, WHAT, 10, 12 YEARS AT LEAST? PROBABLY 12 TO 15. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER 8, WHICH [8. FY27 Proposed Budget - Request to Advertise and Hold Public Hearing] IS THE YEAR 27 PROPOSED BUDGET. AND TONIGHT WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. AND THE REQUEST TO IS TO SEND THIS TO ADVERTISEMENT. AND THEN HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS WHICH WOULD BE ON 5/28. THE 28TH DAY, THE NEXT MEETING. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE MAY 20TH OF 2026. EXCUSE ME, MAY 20TH. EXCUSE ME. THAT WILL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. YES, SIR. ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? SEND THIS ADVERTISEMENT. HAS TO BE ADVERTISED, WHAT, TWO WEEKS? YES, SIR. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO READ WHAT IS IN HERE? AND THAT'S NOT A REGULAR MEETING, FOLKS. THAT'S THE MAY 20TH IS A WEDNESDAY. SO KEEP THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR. WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THAT ON. SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A COUPLE OF [9. Proclamation - National Aphasia Awareness Month (June 2026)] PROCLAMATIONS HERE. I COULDN'T GET CARL TO READ THEM, BUT. MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE AI CAN DO THIS. THE FIRST ONE IS A PROCLAMATION CONCERNING THE NATIONAL APHASIA AWARENESS MONTH. IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, APHASIA IS A NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION THAT USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH STROKE. AND IT'S AN IMPEDIMENT IN THOSE THREE TYPES OF IT. I WON'T GO INTO THAT, BUT IT CAN BE VERY DISABLING AND IT CAN RESULT IN ISOLATION OF THE PERSON WHO'S AFFECTED. WHEREAS, JUNE HAS BEEN DECLARED NATIONAL APHASIA MONTH, APHASIA IS A COMMUNICATION DISORDER CAUSED BY DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN, OFTEN THROUGH A STROKE OR BRAIN INJURY. APHASIA IMPARTS A PERSON AND, IMPACTS A PERSON'S ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE READING, WRITING AND ABILITY TO SPEAK. IT, HOWEVER, DOES NOT AFFECT A PERSON'S INTELLECT. AND WHEREAS, APHASIA AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MANY RESIDENTS OF VIRGINIA, IT REMAINS A MISUNDERSTOOD DISABILITY TO THE PUBLIC. AND WHEREAS, PEOPLE WITH APHASIA OFTEN ENCOUNTER SOCIAL ISOLATION AND FRUSTRATION DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF LANGUAGE WORK AND LIMITATIONS WITH ENGAGING IN EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS. AND WHEREAS, INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF APHASIA CAN REDUCE THIS STIGMA, PROMOTE INCLUSION AND SUPPORT COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. AND WHEREAS, NATIONAL APHASIA MONTH SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE RESILIENCE OF PEOPLE WITH APHASIA, HONOR THE FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBLE, ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. [00:40:03] NOW THEREFORE, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2026 AS NATIONAL APHASIA AWARENESS MONTH. IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT APHASIA. THOSE AFFECTED BY IT AND SUPPORT LIVING INDIVIDUALS WITH COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES. GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL 2026. IT IS A REAL PROBLEM. IT'S IT ALMOST ALWAYS ACCOMPANIES A STROKE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH PARALYSIS TO. AND THE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER OR DON'T REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT USUALLY AFFECT INTELLECTUAL ABILITY. THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL, STILL SMART. ALL RIGHT. I MOVE, WE APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. THAT'S WELL DESERVED. ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT ONE IS PROCLAMATION IS [10. Proclamation - National Small Business Week (May 3-9, 2026)] SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, WHICH IS MAY 3RD THROUGH 9 THIS YEAR. AND I'LL READ THAT. WHEREAS AMERICA'S STRONGEST ECONOMY, ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE RESILIENCE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO CONTINUE TO PIONEER INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO OUR COUNTRY'S GREATEST CHALLENGES AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND WORKERS. AND WHEREAS, FROM THE STOREFRONT SHOPS AND ANCHOR MAIN STREET TO THE HIGH TECH SETUPS THAT KEEP AMERICA'S ON THE CUTTING EDGE TO THE SMALL MANUFACTURERS DRIVING OUR COMPETITIVENESS ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY AND THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR NATION'S PROMISE. AND WHEREAS WHEN WE SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, JOBS ARE CREATED AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES PRESERVE THESE UNIQUE CULTURES AND VIBRANCY. AND WHEREAS, BECAUSE THIS COUNTRY'S 36 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES CREATE NEARLY TWO OUT OF THREE NEW JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE CANNOT RESOLVE OURSELVES TO CREATE JOBS AND SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AMERICA WITHOUT DISCUSSING WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR ENTREPRENEURS. AND SO WHEREAS, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS PROCLAIMED NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK EVER SINCE 1963 TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRAM AND SERVICE AVAILABLE TO ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. AND WHEREAS, THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HERE BY SUPPORTS AND JOINS IN THE NATIONAL EFFORT TO HELP AMERICA'S SMALL BUSINESSES TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST, GROW THEIR BUSINESSES, CREATE JOBS, AND ENSURE THAT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES REMAIN VIBRANT TOMORROW AS THEY ARE TODAY. NOW, THEREFORE, THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECOGNIZE MAY 3RD THROUGH MAY 9TH, 2026 AS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK. I CALL THIS RESOLUTION FOR TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT OUR COUNTY'S SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS. GIVEN UNDER MY HAND, THE 28TH DAY OF APRIL 2026. MOVE TO [INAUDIBLE]. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY SAY AYE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, MOVE ON TO NUMBER 11, [11. Courthouse Naming - Speaker - Honorable Richard Francis] WHICH IS COURTHOUSE NAMING. AND WE HAVE THE HONORABLE RICK FRANCIS HERE WHO WANTS TO TALK WITH US TONIGHT. RICK, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, DR. EDWARDS, CHAIRMAN AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I THINK, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR, AT LEAST LAST NOVEMBER, WHEN I CAME BEFORE THE BOARD WITH THIS TOPIC, YOU ALL WERE KIND ENOUGH TO AT LEAST LET ME CONTINUE THIS MATTER OVER FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL SOME THINGS MAYBE MELLOWED A LITTLE BIT AND GET TO KNOW BERNARD GOODWIN, OUR CHIEF JUSTICE, RECENTLY RETIRED. DR., WELL CHIEF JUSTICE GOODWIN RETIRED ON THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, AND SINCE THEN, THERE'S BEEN NO NEGATIVE PRESS, NO NOTHING COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK. [00:45:04] AS A RESULT OF ANY BAD DISPERSIONS UPON HIM. I KNOW THERE WAS SOME COMMENT, SOME CONCERN THAT A NAMING OF A BUILDING WAS SOMEONE ACTIVELY ON THE BENCH MIGHT SET A BAD PRECEDENT. SO HE HAS NOW RESIGNED. JUSTICE SETTLE. NOTHING NEGATIVE HAS COME UP. I REMEMBER THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, CONCERNED ABOUT HIS RELIGIOUS RELIGIOSITY, HIS RELIGIOUS NATURE, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT EVEN BEFORE I CAME TO SPEAK LAST TIME, QUITE FRANKLY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, I BELIEVE HE HAS BEEN A DEACON AT THE LOCAL GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH. HE DOES HOLD PROPERTY IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, SO HE IS A TAXPAYER, BUT HIS NATURE OF HIS CHARACTER IS ONE OF A STRONG BACKBONE IN RELIGION, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY. ANY DECISIONS THAT HE HAS MADE THAT HAVE EITHER REDUCED HIS STATURE AS THE HAVING TO PRESIDE OVER AS CHIEF JUSTICE OVER THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AS TO RELIGION. SO I KNOW OF NONE. AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR. IF YOU HAVE COME ACROSS ANYTHING IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS SINCE I LAST STOOD BEFORE YOU. SO THE, THERE WAS A CONCERN WHEN WE LAST APPEARED OR WHEN I LAST APPEARED, THAT HE NEVER PRACTICED PRACTICES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, AND QUITE FRANKLY, HE CAME THROUGH THE RANKS. SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, WE ALREADY DISCUSSED HOW HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A YOUNG MAN, DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF THROUGH OUR HIGH SCHOOL. LEADING US TO A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HAS BASICALLY DONE EVERYTHING ANYONE COULD OR WOULD HAVE ASKED OF A YOUNG MAN COMING UP, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME THAT HE CAME UP IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. HE CHECKED ALL THOSE BOXES AND AND NOT ONLY SUCCEEDED, BUT DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF TO THE ADMIRATION OF HIS COLLEAGUES, THOSE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THOSE HERE AT HOME. SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD CAN ASSAIL HIS CHARACTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL. AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS. AND SO I WOULD POINT OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT PRACTICED IN SOUTHAMPTON. QUITE FRANKLY, HE ROSE LIKE A ROCKET THROUGH THE LOWER COURT. CIRCUIT COURT AND THEN THE SUPREME COURT. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THOUGH HE DID NOT PRACTICE HERE. CASES FROM SOUTHAMPTON WOULD HAVE COME UP TO HIM, AND HE WOULD HAVE BASICALLY PUT A SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BENT ON ANY DECISION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE. BUT I WOULD POINT OUT TO YOU THAT, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WHEN WE CAME BACK IN NOVEMBER, THAT THE LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS O'SHUCKS, IS AS OLD AS BOB POWELL, JIM RAINEY AND MYSELF AND AS YOUNG AS JON PITMAN ARE COMING INTO THE PARK, TO THE BAR. WHEN THE QUESTION WAS POSED TO THEM, KNOWING PAST COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, PAST DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, PAST CLERKS OF COURT, PAST STATE REPRESENTATIVES. THAT BAR ASSOCIATION, RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE A NEWLY RENOVATED COURTHOUSE. THAT BAR ASSOCIATION UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED THE SUPPORT. I GOT MYSELF IN TROUBLE WHEN I SAID RENAMING. AND THAT'S ON ME. THE WORDS SOUTHAMPTON COURTHOUSE THAT, ON, ABOVE THOSE COLUMNS WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE IN MY PROPOSAL OR NOT. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WOULD WE HONOR AN INDIVIDUAL? WOULD WE HONOR SOMEONE AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION, WHICH, WHICH AGAIN SPANS SUCH A LONG LONGEVITY OF TIME BETWEEN OLDEST AND YOUNGEST MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY SAID THAT WE SHOULD DEDICATE THAT COURTHOUSE TO BERNARD GOODWIN AND TO WHAT HE STANDS FOR. AND THAT, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT IS LOCALS SPEAKING THAT ARE IN THAT ARE NO, THE COURT SYSTEM AS WELL AS ANY. I REMEMBER THE CONCERNS THAT WE DISCUSSED BEFORE THAT CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN IS NOT DEAD. [00:50:05] THANK GOODNESS HE IS NOT DEAD. I CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT ONE. QUITE FRANKLY OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT AS WE DISCUSSED BEFORE, THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN SOCIETY, WHETHER THE OSCARS, WHETHER THEY'RE NAMING BATTLESHIPS, WHETHER THEY'RE DOING TO RECOGNIZE THE LIVING INDIVIDUALS FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR AS MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A FEATHER IN OUR CAP TO HAVE THAT COURTHOUSE DEDICATED, IN THE NAME OF CHIEF JUSTICE S. BERNARD GOODWIN. NOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. AND IF EVERYBODY SPEAKS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT. BUT I WOULD ASK KIND OF, AS I DID BEFORE, OF THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF SOME SORT OF DEDICATION OF THIS COURTHOUSE TO CHIEF JUSTICE BERNARD GOODWIN IF YOU WOULD. AND LET ME LET ME PAUSE THAT FOR A SECOND. I CAME BEFORE YOU BEFORE ASKING FOR SOME OUTSIDE LETTERING OF THE COURTHOUSE PERHAPS THE ESPLANADE GOODWIN JUDICIAL CENTER OR SOMETHING. I STILL THINK THAT OUTSIDE LETTERING IS IMPORTANT. AS AS THE SPEAKER SPOKE EARLIER FROM TOWN OF BOYKINS. IT MAKES AN IMPRESSION. IT MAKES AN IMPRESSION ON THOSE WHO GO BY THE BUILDING AND MAKES AN IMPRESSION OF THE, UPON THE YOUTH THAT COME BY THAT BUILDING, NOT THOSE THAT ARE NECESSARY IN THE BUILDING THAT WEAR THEIR TRAJECTORY MAY NOT BE HEADING SKYWARD, BUT IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT YOUNG LIVES WHEN THERE STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET HOLD OF THOSE LIVES. SO I STRONGLY THINK THAT OUTSIDE LETTERING IS IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, FOR WHAT WE AS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY STANDS FOR, AND WHAT BERNARD GOODWIN HAS STOOD FOR ALL OF HIS LIFE. I THINK THOSE ARE THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF THE AUDIENCE HERE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF SOME RECOGNITION OF BERNARD GOODWIN, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT, WITH LETTERING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, NOT CHANGING THE SOUTHAMPTON COURTHOUSE, FOR GOD'S SAKE. BUT OF DOING THAT, WOULD YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND? AND AGAIN, WE ARE ALL FRIENDS IN THIS ROOM. THANK YOU ALL. PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN. WE ARE ALL FRIENDS IN THIS ROOM. AND ANY OF THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE NAMING OF THE COURTHOUSE WITH OUTSIDE LETTERING. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND. THANK YOU. SO THAT IS WHAT I CAME BACK FOR. THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER AND I THINK IS, QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS LOOKING AT THE BEST OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND HOLDING THAT UP FOR ALL TO SEE THAT PASSED BY THAT COURTHOUSE IS S. BERNARD GOODWIN REPRESENTS THE BEST OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. AND SO I WOULD. THAT'S WHAT I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. NUMBER ONE. NOW, THIS BEING SAID, I AM NOT BLIND TO THE FACT THAT THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD MAY NOT BE THERE AT THIS POINT YET. I APPRECIATE MISS BUTLER'S EMAIL, AND I THANK HER FOR COPYING ME. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, AGAIN, KEEPING ME IN THAT LOOP. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBERS MAY NOT BE THERE FOR THAT OUTWARD DECLARATION LIKE I'M ASKING YOU FOR. I STILL HOLD TO THAT. AND I HOPE THAT YOUR MIND COULD BE CHANGED TO THAT. BUT SHOULD IT NOT BE, SHOULD WE NOT HAVE THOSE NUMBERS, I WOULD ASK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE AN APPROPRIATE PORTRAIT INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE IN A PROMINENT LOCATION ONE THAT WOULD HAVE THE CHIEF JUSTICE REPRESENTED PERHAPS A PLAQUE NEXT TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE PORTRAIT. I HAVE CROSSED THE STATE. I'M TRYING TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO VISIT EVERY COURTHOUSE IN THE COMMONWEALTH DURING MY YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE VIRGINIA CLERKS ASSOCIATION. BUT HERE'S ONE THAT A COURTHOUSE IS DONE. BASICALLY, A PORTRAIT AND A PLAQUE OR TWO, SMALLER PLAQUE BASICALLY WAS LIMITING [00:55:06] NAMING ITEMS THAT THE PERSON BEING HONORED HAD ACCOMPLISHED DURING HIS LIFETIME. SO BASICALLY, AT LEAST SOMETHING TO THAT, TO THAT LEVEL IN A PROMINENT PLACE IN OUR COURTHOUSE SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD SEE IT AS THEY COME AND AS THEY GO. AGAIN, I'D RATHER CATCH KIDS BEFORE THEY GET INTO THAT COURTHOUSE FOR GOODNESS SAKE RATHER THAN HAVE THEM AFTER THEY'RE ALREADY HEADING TO JUVENILE COURT OR OTHERWISE. SO ANYWAY, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT THOUGHT IN THAT REQUEST COMING BACK AGAIN BEFORE YOU FIRST, I WOULD ASK FOR THAT OUTSIDE LETTERING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OVERWHELMING, BUT IT'S PLACEMENT THERE IS IMPORTANT. BUT IF WE CANNOT GO THAT FAR, IF THAT'S A BRIDGE TOO FAR, THEN A PORTRAIT INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE. AND AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING NOT AT COUNTY EXPENSE, BUT WE WOULD AFFORD THE COST OTHERWISE FROM PRIVATE FUNDING. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'LL STAND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. IF NOT, I'LL TAKE MY SEAT. I GOT A QUESTION. YES, SIR. SO YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY RENAMING THE COURTHOUSE? IT'S GOING TO BE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE DEDICATED TO BERNARD S. GOODWIN, CHIEF JUSTICE. SOMETHING. EXACTLY. I SHOULD HAVE MY PANTS. SOMEBODY ELSE SHOULD KICK ME IN THE REAR. WELL, EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT'S WORDED, IT'S JUST EVERYBODY SAID, OH, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE. YEAH. TAKE THE LETTERS OFF THE FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE. THE TAXPAYERS PAID FOR IT, YOU KNOW. AND THOSE COURTHOUSES THAT I'VE SEEN ACROSS THAT, THAT DO THIS IT HAS, YOU KNOW, THE SPOTSYLVANIA COURTHOUSE. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU COME UP, BUT YOU'LL SEE MAYBE A WALL AS YOU APPROACH ENTER THE BUILDING THAT THIS IS THE IN LACK OF SOMETHING ELSE, S. BERNARD GOODWIN JUDICIAL CENTER. YOU SEE THAT KIND OF LETTERING AND OR YOU MIGHT SEE IT INSIDE THE BUILDING, BUT I THINK OUTSIDE FOR THE PURPOSES THAT THAT BERNARD'S LIFE REPRESENTS AS FAR AS HIS ACHIEVEMENTS. I THINK THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE WE CAN CONVEY TO OUR YOUTH. WELL. WHILE YOU'RE THERE, I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS. YES, SIR. AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AND A LOT OF THINKING. NAMING A PUBLIC BUILDING, SUCH AS COURTHOUSE AFTER A LIVING PERSON IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED A BAD IDEA. IT PREMATURELY IMMORTALIZES A LEGACY IS NOT YET COMPLETE, CREATING A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FUTURE EMBARRASSMENT. PUBLIC BUILDINGS ARE MEANT TO BE REPRESENT ENDURING CIVIC VALUES, NOT THE TEMPORARY POPULARITY OF A POLITICIAN OR INDIVIDUAL. AS FAR AS IT LOOKS, I DON'T THINK QUALIFICATIONS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. I DON'T THINK POPULARITY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. AS A MATTER OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE CORRECTLY. PARTISAN POLITICS. PUBLIC BUILDINGS SHOULD BELONG TO ALL CITIZENS NOT REPRESENTING A SPECIFIC POLITICAL PARTY OR LEADER. AGREED. I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS. I THINK THEY WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF A PORTRAIT INSIDE, BUT I THINK THERE ARE DEFINITELY ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO ANYTHING ON THE OUTSIDE WALLS. IT'S SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND I THINK SHOULD REMAIN THAT. THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BUILT IT SHOULD HAVE THEIR NAME ON IT. WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR IT FOR THE NEXT 26 YEARS. NOW, AS FAR AS RECOGNITION AND GETTING CHILDREN TO BE ENTHUSED TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS, PUT SOMETHING IN THE SCHOOL, PUTTING IT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE WALL. NOT MANY KIDS WILL GO DRIVE BY THERE AND LOOK AT THAT AND GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT. SO I'M ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO IT. I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA. I'M IN FAVOR IF YOU'RE PUTTING SOMETHING INSIDE A PORTRAIT AND FINE, OR EVEN CONTACTING WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS TO GET SOMETHING IN THERE. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE KIDS, LOOK AT IT AND IF THAT'S WHERE YOU DO IT. THOSE ARE MY DECISIONS. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW JUSTICE GOODWIN FOR THE MAJORITY OF HIS LIFE, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BECOME INVOLVED WITH ANYTHING THAT'S NOT HONORABLE. I WOULD CERTAINLY VOUCH FOR HIS CHARACTER. AND AS FAR AS THE FACT THAT HE IS LIVING NOW AND HAS YEARS AHEAD OF HIM, I HAVE NO RESERVATION ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW HIM, I KNOW HIS CHARACTER, AND I KNOW HE'S A CHRISTIAN MAN. [01:00:05] AND SO I WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH DOING THAT. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING FORTH THAT WE ARE NOT CHANGING IT FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT. IT'LL ALWAYS BE SOUTHAMPTON CIRCUIT COURT, BUT WE ARE RECOGNIZING A MAN WHO HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. OKAY. BEYOND ANYBODY ELSE I KNOW FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. AND I REALLY DON'T FORESEE SOMEBODY FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ACCOMPLISHING THAT. I'M NOT SAYING IT WON'T. OKAY. BECAUSE 50 YEARS AGO, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE PREDICTED THAT'S. BERNARD GOODWYN WOULD BE CHIEF JUSTICE. BUT LOOK AT WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED. AND I JUST COMMEND HIM FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE AND WHO HE IS. I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR, I GUESS, 50 YEARS, AND I'VE NEVER KNOWN HIM TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S NOT A CREDIT TO PEOPLE. I'VE TALKED TO HIS PEOPLE, BUT HIS PEOPLE ARE ALL PEOPLE. AND SO I CERTAINLY RECOMMEND THAT. AND AS FAR AS HIS NAME BEING ON THE COURTHOUSE AND PEOPLE NOT COMING BACK. OKAY, WE HAVE BOOKS THAT BECOMES AN ITEM OF HISTORY THAT SHOULD BE IN BOOKS. AND SO THEN IN TERMS OF PERSONS KNOWING ABOUT HIM IS NOT LIKE THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO BE HERE IN CORTLAND AND NOWHERE ELSE. THIS WOULD BE HISTORY, AND I CERTAINLY WOULD. VOTE THAT WE DO THIS TO HONOR CHIEF JUSTICE S. BERNARD GOODWIN. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT IT WILL STILL BE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT. CERTAINLY THE NAME S BERNARD GOODWIN WILL NOT REPLACE THAT. BUT THERE WILL BE SOME SIGNIFICANT RECOGNITION OF WHO, OF WHAT HE, WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. ROBERT. YEAH. I'M IN FAVOR OF RECOGNIZING BERNARD AND I THINK WOULD BE GOOD WITH PUTTING THE PICTURE ON THE INSIDE AND THE PLAQUES AND EVERYTHING. SO I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. I THINK HE DESERVES THE RECOGNITION, AND EVEN PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TOO WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. IT'S A GOOD IDEA. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. THAT'S IT. I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK ALL OF OUR CITIZENS FOR WEIGHING IN ON THE FUTURE OF WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR OUR HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, AND FOR SHARING THE MANY THOUGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES REGARDING THIS MATTER HERE TONIGHT. AND OVER THE LAST SINCE NOVEMBER, WHEN YOU FIRST PRESENTED IT TO US. ASSIGNING OUR HISTORIC COURTHOUSE THE NAME OF A LIVING PERSON, PARTICULARLY ONE WHO HAS NOT MAINTAINED A LONG TERM CONNECTION TO THAT COURTHOUSE OR THE COMMUNITY IN RECENT YEARS, DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE BROADER PURPOSE AND SYMBOLISM OF THAT PARTICULAR INSTITUTION. OTHER ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS STRIKE ME AS BOTH MORE APPROPRIATE AND MORE IMPACTFUL AS WELL. PERHAPS RECOGNIZING JUSTICE GOODWIN WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, WOULD PROVIDE FAR GREATER VISIBILITY AND MEANING. AS YOU MENTIONED JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO. MR. FRANCIS, I'D RATHER CATCH KIDS BEFORE THEY GET TO THE COURTHOUSE. GREAT IDEA. I LIKE THAT. PLACING A PORTRAIT AND AN INTERPRETIVE DISPLAY IN A PROMINENT AREA, SUCH AS THE MAIN ENTRANCE WOULD NOT ONLY HONOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT ALSO SERVED AS A TANGIBLE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. A RECOGNITION PLACED IN A LOCATION WITH DAILY EXPOSURE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD CARRY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE VALUE IN TERMS OF HIS LEGACY AND INFLUENCE TO THIS COMMUNITY. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT HONORING INDIVIDUALS IN SPACES WHERE THEY HAD A MORE DIRECT AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTION IS MOST APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE, SUCH AS THE SCHOOL THAT HE ATTENDED AND PLAYED SPORTS IN. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. FOR THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE WAS RAISED BETTER REFLECTS BOTH HIS STORY AND THE INTENT OF THE RECOGNITION WHERE WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE TONIGHT. I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL INPUT THAT I'VE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON THIS MATTER, AND I THANK EACH OF THOSE PERSONS FOR REACHING OUT AND CONTACTING ME AND TAKING THE TIME TO ATTEND HERE TONIGHT AND SHARE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. AND I, BASED ON THE MAJORITY OF THE CALLS THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS OF MY DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THAT I REPRESENT, DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME TO RENAME OR, OR DEDICATE THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. [01:05:03] THE COURTHOUSE REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE, THE RULE OF LAW, AND THE ENDURING IDENTITY OF THE COUNTY ITSELF, SO I. THAT'S ALL I PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO SAY ON THE MATTER. I DO BELIEVE THERE'S JUST BETTER WAYS TO RECOGNIZE HIS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY THAN IN THE COURTHOUSE OR AT THE COURTHOUSE. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MORE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AND IMPACTFUL AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAN THERE. THANK YOU. OKAY, WELL, LISTENING TO THE HONORABLE CLERK OF THE COURT. THERE WAS MORE RECOMMENDATION TO IMPACT THE STUDENTS. THE YOUTH WAS USED A LOT. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IS THE MOST IMPACT THIS COUNTY COULD GAIN FROM IT, IS TO PUT IT IN A SCHOOL, TO LET THESE YOUTH UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHERE IT STARTED, AND AT THE SAME TIME WHAT IT LED TO AND BY FAR MORE WOULD SEE IT. AND WE CERTAINLY NEED THAT KIND OF IMPACT ON CHILDREN'S LIVES TODAY, PROBABLY MORE THAN THE AS MUCH AS ANY TIME IN HISTORY. AND OVER THE YEARS, THE LAST, CERTAINLY THE LAST 7 OR 8 YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A REAL NEED FOR THAT TO BE EXPRESSED IN THE SCHOOLS, AS YOU SAY, BEFORE THEY GET TO COURT. AND I HOPE IF THAT'S THE CHOICE THAT THAT IS THE OUTCOME OF. HIS HISTORY BEGINNING AT SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, THESE KIDS WOULD PICK UP ON. THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY, TOO MANY PRETTY VIOLENT DISCIPLINARY THINGS TO HAVE HANDLED AT THE SCHOOL IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND I CERTAINLY HOPE IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD BE MINIMIZED. AND I'M REFERRING TO FIGHTS, AND I WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE FAR MORE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE IT EXPOSED TO STUDENTS EVERY DAY RATHER THAN ONCE IN A WHILE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE. NOT TO SAY IT'S NOT AN HONORABLE ACHIEVEMENT, BUT IT CERTAINLY I THINK WOULD HAVE MORE IMPACT EXACTLY WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE. I LIKE A TWO PRONGED APPROACH PERSONALLY HAVING IT ON BOTH, BUT I DO THINK THE SCHOOL RECOGNITION THERE WOULD BE WORTHY AS WELL. I AGREE WITH THAT. AND HAVING IT IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK THAT'S GREAT. BUT WHO GOES THROUGH OUR HIGH SCHOOL? STUDENTS, RIGHT? BUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS MORE THAN STUDENTS. THIS STATE IS MORE THAN STUDENTS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. SO WHILE PUTTING IT IN THE SCHOOL, I THINK IS VERY APPROPRIATE, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE SOME OUTSIDE LETTERING TOO, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T GO TO SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL TO OTHER SCHOOLS. OKAY. AND I THINK THAT TYPE OF EXPOSURE IS GOOD. AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS A HISTORICAL EVENT. THAT S. BERNARD GOODWIN BECAME THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF VIRGINIA COMING FROM BRENTWOOD. SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, HE WAS BOYKIN'S FIRST, THEN. BOYKIN'S FIRST. BOYKIN'S FIRST. AND THEN IT WAS BRANCH HILL. OKAY. SO HE'S CERTAINLY FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT'S A FEATHER IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S. WHERE DO YOU PUT FEATHERS IN A COUNTY? OKAY, I THINK I THINK THAT'S GREAT. SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR BOTH. I TAKE IT, MR. FRANCIS, THAT YOUR PURPOSE WOULD BE MORE TO IMPRESS THE STUDENTS AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY THAN IT WOULD BE TO PROMOTE OR PROMOTE JUDGE GOODWIN, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, BUT I. IF THAT'S CORRECT, THEN I THINK, WELL. IT IS CORRECT TO A POINT. IT CERTAINLY RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD REFLECT UPON THOSE WHO VIEW [01:10:04] IT JUST AS YOU'RE IN MY ACTIONS, REFLECT UPON OTHERS THAT SEE US. NOW, IF IT WAS JUST LOOKING TO IMPACT UPON THIS KID, I WOULD PUT SOME MOVIE STAR UP THERE OR A BASKETBALL PLAYER OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. BUT THE CHARACTER OF THIS INDIVIDUAL GOES WAY BEYOND THAT. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF HAVING ABILITY TO JUMP HIGH AND DUNK A BASKETBALL. IT'S HAVING THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY SUCCEED, HAVING THE THOUGHT OF MIND, THE STRENGTH OF MIND TO HANDLE A QUARTERBACK'S POSITION ON THE FIELD, BUT ALSO TO DISCERN THE LEGAL INTRICACIES OF AN ARGUMENT AND A CASE THAT WILL LIVE PROBABLY UNTIL IT'S OVERTURNED, WHICH MAY BE DECADES UPON LATER. SO I CAN'T SAY IT'S JUST TO ALERT THE KIDS. IT IS TO ALERT THE KIDS BY RECOGNIZING THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY CAN BE LIKE HIM IF THEY JUST STUDY HARD, WORK AT IT, AND BASICALLY FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE THAT HE HAS. I'LL FOLLOW THAT PATH, BEFORE I FOLLOW JUST A SPORTS STAR OR SOMEONE ELSE. NOT TO PUT THAT DOWN, BUT THIS MAN, THE CHARACTER RUNS DEEP AND IS SOMETHING THAT WE, I THINK WE COULD ALL ASPIRE TO. AND SO THAT'S WHY I KIND OF COME STILL AS, AS A TWO PRONG, I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO I REALLY LIKE THE BOARD, OF COURSE, TO THE OUTSIDE LETTERING TO HONOR HIM WITH OUTSIDE LETTERING, THE ESPLANADE, GOODWIN JUDICIAL CENTER OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. BUT IF YOU CAN'T GO THAT FAR, THEN WITH THE PORTRAIT, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT I JUST SHOWED INSIDE THE COURTROOM IN A PROMINENT LOCATION. SO. ANYWAY, I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND. DOES THE, WHAT ABOUT LIKE, IF YOU DID, YOU KNOW, DEDICATE IT TO BERNARD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANY LETTERHEADS ON ANY OF YOUR STATIONERY OR NONE OF THAT. NO. IT'S ALL STILL GOING TO BE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURT SYSTEM. YES. CORRECT. YES. I GENERALLY WHAT YOU HAVE IS BE SOUTHAMPTON CIRCUIT COURT. YEAH. IS WHAT I REPRESENT IN THERE. IT COULD BE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THE ESPLANADE-GOODWIN JUDICIAL CENTER THAT WOULD GENERALLY FOLLOW UNDERNEATH THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. IDENTIFY YOURSELF FIRST AND THEN BASICALLY ENHANCE IT BELOW IT. COULD I ASK YOU A QUESTION? YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY. IN TERMS OF EXPOSURE TO YOUTH, WHERE WOULD IT RECEIVE MORE EXPOSURE TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN THIS PROCESS OF LIFE AND CAREER ON THE COURTHOUSE. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'D HAVE MORE YOUTH COMING THROUGH THE COURTHOUSE. NO, BUT THE COURTHOUSE IS A SYMBOL OF POWER AND AUTHORITY AND JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUSTICE IS SOMETIMES A HARD THING TO COME BY. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THEY GOT TO STOP AND READ IT. WELL, I'M HOPING THE FEW TIMES THEY RIDE BY THAT'S GOING TO SINK IN ON THEM. YOU NEVER SEE. YOU NEVER NOTICE ANYTHING THE FIRST TIME. FOURTH TIME YOU GO BY THE BILLBOARD, YOU STOP IN FOR THE FRENCH FRIES. BUT AT THE SAME TIME FOR EXAMPLE, ON THAT SMALL WALL THAT IS RIGHT BEHIND THE SECURITY, IT SITS AT AN ANGLE TO THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S BASICALLY, I THINK WOULD BE PERFECT FOR SOME STAINLESS STEEL OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD STAND OUT FROM THE BRICK LETTERING. JUDGE BERNARD GOODWIN JUDICIAL CENTER BOOM. BUT YOU GOT ABOVE THE COURTHOUSE, STANDING ABOVE ALL ELSE IS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. AND ALSO. NOW, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, OKAY, I THINK PEOPLE WOULD LEARN ABOUT THIS WITHOUT DRIVING DOWN MAIN STREET CORTLAND, BECAUSE SOMEBODY MIGHT PUT IT IN A NEWSPAPER, SOMEBODY MIGHT PUT IT IN A BOOK. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ISOLATED TO MAIN STREET CORTLAND. YOU HAVE YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH THE JUDGE, RIGHT? I HAVE, YES, SIR. IS HE AWARE THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY? HE'S AWARE THAT IT'S CONTROVERSIAL. IN REGARDS TO YOUR MY DISCUSSION I SPOKE WITH HIM AS RECENTLY LAST WEEK. I TOLD HIM THAT I'M APPEARING BACK BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THAT HE APPRECIATED IT. HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE THE SUBJECT OF CONTROVERSY. [01:15:03] ABSOLUTELY NOT. AS IF NONE OF US WOULD. BUT, YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T GET TO BE CHIEF JUSTICE WITHOUT HAVING SOME SCRAPS AND SOME FIGHTS ALONG THE WAY. AND TO BASICALLY HAVE SOME CONTROVERSY, PERHAPS ALONG THE WAY. BUT THAT SAID, NO, I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO STAND OUT. THIS IS THIS IS I MEAN, I GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS, BUT THIS, THIS IS THE RICK FRANCIS SHOW TO SOME EXTENT. THIS IS NOT THE ESPLANADE GOODWIN. HE'S NOT HE DIDN'T COME TO ME AND SAY, HEY, I GOT AN IDEA. HOW ABOUT HOW ABOUT YOU SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO? NO, THIS IS NOT THAT. HE, HE. THANK YOU, RICK, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WHICHEVER WAY IT COMES OUT. YOU KNOW, IT'S FINE. YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS. CLERKS CONVENTION. WHEN I CALLED HIM, IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THIS, SO. BUT IF IT WERE GOING TO TEAR THIS COUNTRY APART. NO, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WOULD WANT TO DO THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK. BOB HAD SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY VERY A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. VERY COMPLEX. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? WOULD YOU BUY OUT OR WOULD YOU GO AHEAD AND PRESS THE ISSUE? I THINK THE, MY BEING HERE TONIGHT FOR THE SECOND TIME AND ANSWERS THAT QUESTION. I'M HERE BASICALLY PUTTING MYSELF BEFORE YOU GUYS AND, AND WHATEVER CONTROVERSY THERE IS I'M A BIG BOY. I CAN STAND IT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING IF I WAS NOT, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. I'M. OH. AND NOW, THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF RIGHT AND WRONG. NO, IT'S NOT OKAY. IT'S AN ISSUE OF WHAT PEOPLE WANT. WHAT IS THE DESIRE? AND EACH ONE OF US HAS HIS DESIRE. OKAY? EACH ONE OF US CAN EXPRESS HIS OR HER OPINION. OKAY. AND HOPEFULLY AFTER THIS IS DONE, WHETHER WE NAME IT OR WHETHER WE DON'T, I THINK THAT PEACE, LAW AND ORDER IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS PARAMOUNT. ABSOLUTELY. SO THEN REGARDLESS OF HOW THE OUTCOME IS, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER. OKAY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT S. BERNARD GOODWIN STANDS FOR, AND I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY. JUST LIKE OUR MR. FRANCIS, I THINK I'VE MADE MY OPINION KNOWN. OKAY. BUT THAT'S MY OPINION. AND I RESERVE MY RIGHT TO HAVE THAT OPINION. AND EACH ONE OF YOU, REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE, YOU HAVE THE SAME CHOICE. OKAY. SO THEN ONCE THIS IS DECIDED, WHAT WE HAVE TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND IS WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? AS I SAID, THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG. OKAY. I REMEMBER A SONG THAT I USED TO SING TO LILY. IT WAS A ARE. THERE IS NO GOOD GUY. THERE IS NO BAD GUY. IT'S JUST YOU AND ME. AND WE JUST DISAGREE. THAT'S TRUE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY. A GOOD WAY TO FACE SITUATIONS. IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER, THEN YOU DON'T WANT SOMETHING THAT'S EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL. NO, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE POSITIVE CALL OR EMAIL, AND I'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF THEM FROM PEOPLE I REPRESENT WHO DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PITCHER IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NAME ON THE COURT. AND I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT, OKAY, THAT HAVE THE OPINION THAT I HAVE, OKAY. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THAT OPINION. OKAY. BUT I JUST GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT IT'S NO GOOD. IT'S NO BAD. OKAY. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF OPINION. AND ONCE THAT'S DONE AND ONCE IT'S DONE, OKAY, THERE'LL PROBABLY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE REAL SATISFIED, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY NOT SATISFIED REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO. BECAUSE JUST LIKE YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST IT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR IT. SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OUTCOME IS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE FEELING BOTH WAYS. OKAY. AND NEITHER ONE IS RIGHT AND NEITHER ONE IS WRONG, BUT EACH ONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINION. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK GOD THAT WE HAVE A COUNTRY WE CAN VOTE IN. AND I PRAY THAT WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE ONE. AND THAT'S THE SAME THING WE WILL BE DOING TONIGHT. NO. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS, MR. FAISON, BUT AT THE [01:20:04] SAME TIME. WHERE IS HOPE AND SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT? MORE APT TO IMPRESS SOMEONE THAT WOULD SEE THE ACCOLADES THAT MR.. AND YOU ARE PUTTING FORTH. AND IT'S IN OUR YOUTH, AND THERE ARE WAY MORE COMING AND GOING IN SCHOOL THAT CAN BE AFFECTED THAN CAN BE IN A COURTHOUSE, BECAUSE PROBABLY MORE GO OUT THE BACK DOOR THAN THE FRONT. AND WE WANT, WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE THE HOPE AND THE ASPIRATIONS TO ACHIEVE TO A CERTAIN STANDARD, AND THIS WOULD BE THE HEIGHT OF IT. THAT WOULD BE EXPOSED TO MORE WAY MORE CHILDREN. AND YOUR RECOMMENDATION AS WELL AS MR. FAISON, I THINK POINTS THAT OUT. AND I THINK THESE PEOPLE HERE MAY HAVE BEEN TO AS MANY MEETINGS AS I HAVE OVER THE YEARS. AND IF THERE'S ONE PHRASE THAT I HAVE HEARD MORE THAN ANY OTHER AT THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE ARE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, IS THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE. AND THERE'S MORE RESPONSE TO THAT THAN ANYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN STATED IN PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS BEING DECIDED. IT IS, IT RINGS OUT THAT CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE. AND THAT TO ME WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE EXPOSED AS TO ASPIRE TO A FUTURE LIKE THAT. AND THAT'S MY STAND. I WOULD ADD TO MY PREVIOUS STATEMENT, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE CHIEF JUSTICE S. BERNARD GOODWIN MEMORIALIZED IN SUCH A MANNER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNMENT STUDENTS HAVE TO STUDY HIM, LEARN HIM, WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER ON HIM AS A PART OF THEIR FINAL PROJECT FOR CLASS. THAT'S REALLY HOW I WOULD ENVISION HIM BEING REMEMBERED AND HAVING AN INFLUENCE ON OUR COUNTY'S YOUTH IN A POSITIVE WAY, SHOWING THEM HOW HE CAME FROM THERE, RIGHT THERE WHERE THEY'RE STANDING AND HOW HE BECAME THIS. IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LEARN HIM AND TO UNDERSTAND HIM AND HOW HE CAME FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS, RIGHT, RIGHT THERE FROM WHERE THEY STAND IN THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT. AND I SEE THAT AS AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TEACHERS TO GET INVOLVED IN PUSHING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT HE STANDS FOR AND HAS STOOD FOR HIS ENTIRE CAREER AND HOW OUR YOUTH CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT MOVING FORWARD. I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING. I'M SURE EVERYBODY IN HERE HAS HEARD OF NIL NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS. IT'S ABOUT TO RUIN THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. RIGHT ON DOWN THROUGH UNIVERSITIES, RIGHT ON DOWN TO HIGH SCHOOLS. IT'S EVEN AFFECTING LITTLE LEAGUES. AND TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT NIL TO ME IS WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SPORTS ARENA. THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT POSSIBILITY, IF I MIGHT USE THAT WORD FOR OUR YOUTH AND ITS HIS ACCOLADES SHOULD BE LIFTED UP TO THE YOUTH AND THAT'S THE PLACE TO PUT IT. I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY A BASKETBALL PLAYER. I THINK YOU DID A BASKETBALL PLAYER OR A FOOTBALL PLAYER. WHY NOT HAVE A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE IN THERE USING THE SAME NIL NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS? THEY JUST DON'T GET THE EXCITEMENT. THE JUDGES JUST DON'T GET THE EXCITEMENT OF BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND FOOTBALL PLAYERS. NOR DO THEY GET THE GIRLS ALL THE TIME. WELL, SADLY WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT HAPPEN LATELY IN WASHINGTON. OH, YEAH. BUT YOU WON'T SEE IT WITH BERNARD GOODWIN. AND THAT'S WHY HIS PICTURE NEEDS TO BE IN SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE POINT. IN ADDITION. ADDITIONALLY INTO THE SCHOOL. ANYWAY, I LEAVE THE QUESTION FOR YOUR VOTE. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU. IF THAT'S THE POINT, AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE OUTSIDE LETTERING. [01:25:02] AND THEN MAYBE FOR THE INSIDE PORTRAIT. GENERALLY, IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN OUTSIDE LETTERING, YOU WOULD HAVE IT INSIDE PORTRAIT AS WELL. BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE MARRIED TOGETHER. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE TWO IDEAS NOW. ONE DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE OTHER. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. BOTH COULD BE DONE. BUT I THINK WE'VE I THINK WE'VE REALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT. OKAY. I THINK EVERYBODY THAT'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION. AND SO AT THIS POINT NOW I MOVE THAT WE HAVE SOME OUTSIDE LETTERING AT THE COURTHOUSE FOR THE HONORABLE S. BERNARD GOODWIN, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. SECOND TO THAT. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S NO SECOND. THERE'S NO SECOND TO THAT MOTION. THEN THE MOTION DOES. I MOVE THAT WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITION FOR S. BERNARD, HONORABLE S. BERNARD GOODWIN. LET'S VOTE ON THE COURT, OUTSIDE COURT FIRST AND THEN WE COME BACK. I THINK WE ALL KNOW, YOU KNOW NOBODY VOTED. IT FAILED. THERE'S NO VOTE. NO SECOND. NO SECOND. ONE SECOND. SO THAT'S DEAD. OKAY, SO NOW I'M MAKING ANOTHER VOTE. OKAY, OKAY. AND THERE'S OTHER VOTE IS THAT WE USE SOME LETTERING ON THE COURTHOUSE TO HONOR CHIEF JUSTICE S. BERNARD GOODWIN, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT. THAT'S THE SAME THING WE JUST DIDN'T GET A MOTION ON. OH, OKAY. OKAY, I CHANGE, OKAY. I MOVE THAT WE DO SOMETHING IN THE COUNTY. OKAY. NOW, WE MENTIONED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT SEE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK FOR US, OKAY? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN PASS A SOMETHING TO TELL THE SCHOOLS WHAT TO DO. NOW WE CAN APPEAL TO THE SCHOOLS. SURE. AND I THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE VERY MUCH AGREEABLE WITH DOING IT. BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL THEM TO DO THAT. I CONTACTED SOME PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOLS AND THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. OKAY. I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOME IN WRITING OR SOMETHING DEFINITE SAYING THAT THE SCHOOLS WILL ARE IN FAVOR OF THAT BEFORE WE ADD OUR NAME TO IT. WOULD ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD BE OBJECTIONABLE TO MY PUTTING UP, AGAIN, NOT A TAXPAYER'S EXPENSE, A PORTRAIT AND SOMETHING NOT NECESSARILY THIS, BUT SOMETHING SIMILAR WITHOUT THE WORD DEDICATION. MAYBE SOUTHAMPTON'S OWN OR FAVORITE SON OR SOMETHING INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE. I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE GO WITH THE PORTRAIT AND THE, WHAT HE'S RECOMMENDING. I SECOND IT. WHAT HE'S RECOMMENDING. I SECOND. OKAY, WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT? NO BASICALLY THAT WE TAKE A WALL AGAIN, NOT AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE, BUT WE HANG A PORTRAIT. AND GENERALLY WITH THE PORTRAIT WE'LL GO SOME EXPLANATION OF WHO THE INDIVIDUAL WAS. THIS ONE HASN'T HAVE TWO. I'M NOT MARRIED TO THIS, BUT IT BASICALLY A PORTRAIT AND A RECOGNITION PLAQUE OR FRAMED STATEMENT WHO HE IS, WHAT HE STANDS FOR, BASICALLY PUT THAT IN THE COURT BUILDING WITHOUT OUTSIDE LETTERING, BUT TO WHERE PEOPLE WOULD SEE IT COMING AND GOING OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE. THERE'S A SPOT RIGHT NEXT TO THE SECURITY UP FRONT THAT PEOPLE GOT TO PASS IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND IT WOULDN'T BE IN ANYBODY'S WAY, PARTICULARLY IN SECURITY, TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. YEAH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION THAT WE PUT HIS PORTRAIT IN THERE AND, AND THE PLAQUE THAT, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING BERNARD GOODWIN. IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS? IT'S DONE ALREADY. FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. YEAH. FAILS. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. WHAT WAS THE VOTE? 3 TO 2 AGAINST THREE TWO AGAINST. I THINK THE MESSAGE TONIGHT IS IF YOU'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN IN. GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO EMULATE THIS AND ACHIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE SCHOOL, IN THE COURTHOUSE. HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE GO TO THE COURTHOUSE? THOSE THAT DIDN'T LEARN IN SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOLS DO TAKE TRIPS TO THE COURTHOUSE [01:30:09] OR DON'T THEY? YEAH, THEY HAVE. YEAH, THEY TAKE FIELD TRIPS, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD IN BOTH PLACES. ONE IS THE SYMBOL OF JUSTICE IN THE COURTHOUSE, AND ONE IS SYMBOL OF EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL. BUT YOU SAID THAT THAT MOTION FAILED TOO. YES. OKAY. THAT FAILED. THREE TWO. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON NUMBER 12, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MR. [12. Economic Development- Mr. Karl Heck] KARL HECK. THANK YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU FOR PASSING THE RESOLUTION ON NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK. THE OUR EVENT IS MAY THE 7TH, THURSDAY AT 8TH. SO JUST GIVE THEM TIME TO GET OUT. ALL RIGHT. WHOEVER'S GOING TO LEAVE. CLEAR IN THE ROOM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL START AGAIN. SO OUR, THANK YOU FOR PASSING THE RESOLUTION ON NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK. OUR ANNUAL EVENT AT THE FRANKLIN BUSINESS CENTER WILL BE THURSDAY AT 8:00 AND IN THE MORNING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BRING UP BUSINESS AND WE'RE FEATURING SEVERAL OF THE TENANTS IN THE BUSINESS CENTER, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER BUSINESSES. THEY'LL HAVE TABLES, THEY'LL BE INTRODUCED AND THAT KIND OF THING TO SHOW PEOPLE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE. SO IF YOU ALL CAN COME, IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE THERE AS POSSIBLE. SO THAT'S THURSDAY, MAY THE 7TH, FROM 8 TO 9:30 AT THE BUSINESS CENTER. KNIGHT WATER, THE NEW WATER CANNON COMPANY IS TAKING ORDERS. THEY'RE GOING TO START PRODUCTION IN MAY. SO THEY ARE OVER THERE AND READY TO GO. OUR VA 250 COMMITTEE IS MEETING. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT MONTH WITH A COUPLE ALTERATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE NEW INTERESTED PEOPLE AND A COUPLE PEOPLE WILL BE COMING OFF. SO THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AS IT DID THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THE CORTLAND MAIN STREET GROUP FORMS AND IS CALLING THEMSELVES THE HISTORIC CORTLAND ASSOCIATION. SO THERE'S A BOARD OF THOSE MEMBERS. THEY RECEIVE RECOGNITION FROM VIRGINIA'S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS EXPLORING MAIN STREET. SO YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THEM SOON AS WELL. AND WE'LL ALSO BE COMING OUT SOON WITH OUR COMMUNITY VISIONING, BRANDING AND LOGO EXERCISE. I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT. WE'LL BE GETTING IT TO MORE PEOPLE KIND OF CONCURRENTLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. SO START LOOKING FOR THAT OUT IN THE PUBLIC. MISS LOWE MENTIONED THE VARIOUS GRANT SITE GRANTS THAT WE'RE DOING, AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH THE SITE STUDY AS WELL AS THE WATER STUDY AND THE FUTURE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AND THAT'S MY MAIN REPORT FOR THIS TIME AROUND. ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HECK? I DO. WHAT'S BEING BUILT ON 671? NOT HAMPTON FARMS. I KNOW WHAT IT IS. SECOND. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ACROSS FROM THE LEE WHITE TRUCKING? YEAH. THEY'RE PUTTING A SWITCH OUT THERE TO, ON. THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A SWITCH ON EACH SIDE OF THAT SUBSTATION SO THEY CAN ISOLATE IT WITHOUT SHUTTING THE POWER GRID DOWN. SO THEY'RE NOT BUILDING ANYTHING NEW. IT'S JUST THEY'RE ADDING TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE TO WORK ON THAT SUBSTATION. ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU KARL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOVE ON TO NUMBER 13, MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [13. Miscellaneous correspondence] ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING IN THERE THEY WANTED TO INTERESTED IN? NOT REALLY. SO THIS SECTION IS MAINLY JUST TO HAVE CORRESPONDENCE THAT HAVE HAS COME IN DURING THE MONTH FOR THE BOARD TO REVIEW. THERE ARE LETTERS FROM DEQ, FORECLOSURES AND ABC LICENSES THAT CAME THROUGH DURING THE MONTH. YOU KNOW, ONE THING I SEE FROM ALL THIS CORRESPONDENCE AND EVERYTHING, WATER IS BECOMING A PROBLEM. IT IS. IT IS. OKAY. IT'S OBVIOUS [14. Closed Session] WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION. A MOTION IS REQUIRED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE. [01:35:03] IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2.2-3711 (A) (5), DISCUSSION WITH STAFF FROM FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED CONCERNING A PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY, OR THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF THE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY'S INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. ALL RIGHT, WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT. OKAY. YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. NOW WE'RE IN OPEN SESSION. WE'RE IN OPEN SESSION. I'M GOING TO READ THE YEAH. SO SOMEBODY MADE A MOTION TO COME BACK IN. YEAH, WE'RE IN OPEN SESSION. WE DID. WAS THAT ON RECORDED OR. NOT RECORDED. THEN I GUESS WE NEED I MOVE THAT WE GO BACK A SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. WE'RE IN OPEN SESSION. YES. OKAY. 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. AND WHEREAS, SECTION 2.2-3712 (D) OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES A CERTIFICATION BY THE BOARD, THAT SUCH CLOSED MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN CONFORMITY WITH VIRGINIA LAW. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED MEETING TO WHICH THIS CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES, AND TWO 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. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. SUPERVISOR CORNWELL? YES. SUPERVISOR WHITE? YES. SUPERVISOR FAISON? YES. SUPERVISOR EDWARDS? AYE.. SUPERVISOR GILLETTE? YES. ALL RIGHT. THE RESOLUTION IS ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. THANK YOU. I'M GONNA GO GET THOSE TICKETS. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. OKAY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.