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GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DENVER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR FEBRUARY THE 21ST, 2023.[1. ROLL CALL]
WE HAVE ROLL CALL MR. LEE? HERE.UH, AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE AN INVOCATION AND WE'LL HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND WITH ME? BEFORE WE DO THE INVOCATION, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A AND HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR TO LANIE RAINEY AND FOR HIS FAMILY AND THE LOSS THAT THEY, WE, AS A COUNTY HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST WEEK.
WILL YOU JOIN ME IN THAT SILENT PRAYER? THANK YOU.
WE NOW HAVE THE INVOCATION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
OUR FATHER HEAVEN HALL, ME THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME, THOU WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAY OF BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRES PASSAGE AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.
AND LEAD US NOT TO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US OF EVIL.
FOR INE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE FOR EVERY EVER.
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.
[4. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA]
RIGHT, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA.DO WE HAVE ANY FROM STAFF? AND MR. CHAIRMAN, WE'D LIKE TO ADD UNDER SECTION SIX REPORTS, A SIX E, A BROADBAND UPDATE, AND WE HAVE CASEY LOGAN, THE, UM, THE HEAD OF PRINCE GEORGE ELECTRIC AND RURAL BAND WITH US.
SO CASEY LOGAN BROADBAND UPDATE SIX E.
ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S ALL FROM ANY SUPERVISORS? NO.
IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, ACCEPT THE AMENDED AGENDA, UH, GOING FORWARD.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM FIVE IS YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS A SUMMARY OF CLAIMS, VRA, UM, REQUISITION, AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES PROVIDER CONTRACT AWARDS AND MINUTES.UM, YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THOSE.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THOSE? IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN TO APPROVE.
[6.A. Virginia Department Of Transportation ]
THE FIRST ONE IS WITH BDOT AARON FRENCH.I'LL START OFF WITH A PROJECT UPDATE FOR THE MONTH, UH, BRANCHES ROAD.
ROYAL RUSTIC IS STILL ON SCHEDULE WITH THE SURFACE TREATING STILL BEING PLANNED FOR THE SPRINGTIME ONCE WE GET TO OUR CHIP CEILING EQUIPMENT.
UH, TYPICALLY FIRST COUPLE WEEKS OF APRIL, UH, THE BALTIMORE ROAD CULVERT STILL IN SCHEDULE FOR SPRING BREAK.
OUR PIPE REHABS ON WATERFORD DRIVE IN CHESON BOULEVARD, WE ARE STILL WAITING ON MATERIALS FOR THOSE PIPES, UM, LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT CONTRACT METHOD FOR THOSE PIPE REHABS IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE MAY SEE A LITTLE BIT FASTER TURNAROUND ON THOSE, HOPEFULLY.
UM, OTHER PROJECT, UH, LAST ONE WOULD BE THE QUAKER ROAD AND ROUTE ONE INTERSECTION.
WE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS, UH, INTERSECTION AFTER LAST MONTH'S MEETING, AND THERE IS INDEED AN ISSUE WITH, WITH THE ANGLE AT WHICH IT COMES IN.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT OF WAY TO MAKE ANY FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS, BUT
AND THE EXISTING UTILITY POLE WOULD, WOULD POSE AN ISSUE TO US DOING ANY WIDENING IN THERE AS WELL.
BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SCOPE THAT FOR A LARGER SCALE PROJECT.
AND WILL THE, THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME ON THAT ONE.
UM, WE DID A FULL TRASH CYCLE ON ALL OF OUR PRIMARY ROUTES WITHIN THE KENNY WITH IN THE COUNTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR ROUTES IN THE MCKINNEY AREA, UM, WHICH IS ROUTE 40 IN THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF ROUTE ONE BECAUSE WE PERFORM THE MOWING ON THOSE ROUTES OURSELVES.
WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT BODY TO ISSUE A TASK
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ORDER FOR LITTER PICKUP AT WILL.WE ARE HOWEVER, UM, CREATING A CONTRACT TO DO THAT.
THAT WOULD BE ISSUED SHORTLY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
SO YOU SHOULD SEE THEM OUT THERE PICKING UP THE TRASH ON THOSE SECTIONS IN THE COUNTY AS WELL.
AND WE WILL HAVE THAT AVAILABILITY MOVING FORWARD TOO.
SO WE'LL HAVE COHESIVE LITTER PICK UP THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
UM, WE ALSO, UH, DID LITTER ON RIVER ROAD AS WELL WITH HELP FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, THANKS TO DEPUTY BATES FOR HELPING LINE THAT UP WITH ME.
UM, CREWS ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON SHOULDERS ON ROUTE ONE AND ROUTE 40, UH, CUTTING THOSE SHOULDERS THERE.
I WAS RODE THROUGH 40 YESTERDAY AND DIDN'T SEE 'EM, SO THEY SHOULD BE ON ROUTE ONE.
UM, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK, UH, YET FOR THE SIGNAL TIMING AT 2 26 ON ROUTE ONE.
I HA AM ACTIVELY PURSUING AN UPDATE ON THAT GIVEN IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS NOW.
ONCE I HAVE SOMETHING I WILL, I WILL LET THE BOARD KNOW RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL NEXT MONTH.
THE SIGNAGE WAS INSTALLED FOR THE UPGRADED, UH, TRUCK RESTRICTION AT STERLING ROAD NASH ROAD WAS TRIMMED AND WE ALSO WORKING ON, UH, WORKING ON TRIM LIST FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
IF THERE ARE ANY IMMEDIATE CONCERNS OR CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
UH, THE WHITE OAK ROAD, THE SPEED STUDY WAS PERFORMED, UM, SPEED, EXCUSE ME, THE SPEED STUDY WAS REVIEWED.
UM, SPEED STUDY WAS NOT RECOM RECOMMENDED BASED ON THE LACK OF CRASH DATA.
THEY ARE, HOWEVER, PERFORMING OR THE SAFETY STUDY FOR SIGNAGE AND ANYTHING AND TO IMPROVE SIGNAGE SITE DISTANCE THAT THROUGHOUT THAT ROUTE AS WELL.
THOSE CORRIDORS ON FOUR 60 GOT A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON ON FOUR 60.
THE LOW SPOT THERE THAT IS ON WESTBOUND ACROSS FROM, BUT WOOD ROAD INTERSECTION STARTED LOOKING AT THAT AND THAT, UH, TURNED OUT TO BE MORE THAN WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING.
PULLED THE, UM, PLANS FROM, I THINK IT WAS 1935 AND THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO OLD BRIDGES UNDER, UNDER WESTBOUND FOUR 60 RIGHT THERE THAT WERE PROBABLY DEMOLISHED IN PLACE AND MAYBE CAUSING SOME OF OUR ISSUES.
NOT AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERN, BUT IT IS, IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PAVEMENT.
UM, THEY, THEY DRILLED CORES AND IT LAST WEEK WENT 30 FOOT DOWN AND THREE DIFFERENT PLACES I BELIEVE.
SO, UH, WILL GIVE US A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON UNDER THE PAVEMENT THERE.
AND, UH, I LOOK TO HAVE AN ENGINEERING SOLUTION IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING THAT FIXED, UH, PRETTY, PRETTY QUICK 'CAUSE IT IS, IT'S DETERIORATING.
UM, ALSO ON FOUR 60, UH, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT I'M CALLING A RIGHT OF WAY RECLAIM.
UM, I HAVE A RENTED ROBOTIC SLOPE MOWER SO IT CAN REACH THE AREAS ON OUR SLOPES THAT TYPICALLY ATTRACT WITH A MOWER CAN'T.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN 40 INSIDE OR FOUR 60 INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AND START, START CUTTING BACK SOME OF THOSE AREAS WHERE WE'VE GOT THE LARGER SAPLINGS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY GET WHEN WE, WHEN WE DO A FULL WIDTH MOW.
SO THAT SHOULD, UH, HELP WITH SOME AESTHETICS AND SAFETY AS WELL.
LESS BUT NOT LEAST ON FOUR 60.
UH, SCOPED IT OUT ON FRIDAY AND LOOK TO ISSUE A TASK ORDER THIS WEEK FOR DOING FORCE TO DO THE TRENCH WIDENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AS WELL.
THIS WON'T BE THE ENTIRE STRETCH OF THE COUNTY, UM, DUE TO OUR LIMITATIONS, BUT IT SHOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD PORTION.
A COUPLE MILES GOING IN EACH DIRECTION ON FOUR 60.
UM, OUR RESURFACING SCHEDULES, OUR SEASONING, UH, RESURFACING WORK HAS STARTED.
WE WILL BE SENDING OUT THE TWO WEEK LOOK AHEAD SCHEDULES, SO YOU SHOULD ALREADY BE RECEIVING THEM.
UM, AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, CALL, TEXT, EMAIL, ANYTHING, UH, ANYTHING I CAN DO.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT HAS BEEN A YEAR, BUT IT IS TIME FOR THIS SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN TO BEGIN AGAIN.
SO WE'LL BE LOOKING TO ATTEND THE WORK SESSION NEXT MONTH.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS OF VDOT? LUDY? HAVE WELL GO AHEAD.
UH, ON NUMBER ONE RIGHT BEFORE THE, UH, WEST GATE, I SAW SOME, I GUESS SOME OF YOUR, UM, WORKERS OUT THERE DOING SOMETHING.
WHAT WERE THEY DOING TO THAT BRIDGE? IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BRIDGE RIGHT BEFORE VDOT, THE LITTLE IN THE RESIDENCE RANK.
THEY WERE OUT THERE THE OTHER DAY DOING SOME THINGS.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
I AM NOT CERTAIN IT WAS LIKELY THE STRUCTURE AND BRIDGE GROUP WE DID.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THAT BRIDGE IS A POSTAGE STRUCTURE ON A PRIMARY ROUTE, THERE'S KIND OF A PUSH TO, HEY, LET'S KEEP CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THIS CASE, SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS EXPEDITED, BECAUSE THAT IS ALSO THE DETOUR ROUTE 4 85 AND THERE'S A LARGE PREFERENCE FOR US TO NOT HAVE POSTAGE STRUCTURES ON A DETOUR ROUTE FOR AN INTERSTATE.
UM, BECAUSE THEY DO USE THAT ROUTE FROM 85 IF ANYTHING'S GOING ON, ON THE, ON THE, UM, HIGHWAY.
AND I, UH, YOU DID MENTION ABOUT THE TRASH PICKUP, WHICH IS GOOD.
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UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING, UM, FROM NUMBER ONE GOING ON 85 BACK TOWARD PETERSBURG ON THAT, THAT LITTLE STRETCH.I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE JUST THROW TRASH, BUT IT'S AGAIN, IT WAS DOING REALLY? YEAH, IT WAS DOING GOOD AT ONE TIME, BUT NOW TODAY I SAW IT AS JUST A BUNCH OF TRASH THERE.
UH, BEFORE YOU, UM, EXIT ONTO 85, BUT IT IS TRASH ALL THE WAY DOWN ON ROUTE ONE.
UM, WELL ON THE, WHEN YOU TURN OFF ROUTE ONE ON THAT AS YOU EXIT TO GET ON, UM, OKAY.
UM, AS YOU LEAVE MCDONALD'S AND TURN, YOU KNOW THAT LITTLE TURN AND GO, IT'S HEADING SOUTH.
I MEAN NORTH, NORTH, NORTH, I'M SORRY HE AIN'T, IT IS HEADING NORTH.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
ON THE ROAD IT'S JUST, IT'S, I MEAN, UM, AND I THINK BECAUSE THE WIND IS BLOWING AS WELL, IT'S BREEZY, IT'S JUST BLOWING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY OUR, OUR RAMPS AND INTERSTATE ENTRANCES DO SEE A LOT OF THE, A LOT OF THE TRASH YOU ACCUMULATE IN THEM.
BUT, UM, I WILL PASS THAT ON TO OUR INTERSTATE GROUP AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE AND GET IT CLEANED UP.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON BRICK ROAD.
UH, THEY GOT ALL THOSE CAR PARTS UP.
BUT SOMEONE HAS DUMPED A WHOLE LOAD OF SHINGLES RIGHT IN A DITCH MM.
IN BETWEEN WHERE THOSE, UM, AUTO PARTS WAS, BUT I KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM THERE.
SOMEBODY'S BUILDING WELL, BUT IT'S THERE RIGHT IN THE DITCH.
BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON CLEANING ALL THE PARTS UP, SO, GREAT.
ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO PLAY A HUNDRED QUESTIONS WITH YOU.
UM,
UM, AND THAT'S DETERMINED BY THE WIDTH OR THE, UM, I, OR IS IT TRAFFIC OR HOW IS A SECONDARY ROAD DESIGNATED? IT WOULD BE BY THE FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION.
UM, THERE'S DIFFERENT, THERE'S ACTUALLY DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS WITHIN SECONDARIES ACTUALLY, BUT TYPICALLY IT IS ROADWAY GEOMETRY AND, UH, TRAFFIC VOLUME PLAYS A LARGE, A LARGE FACTOR IN IT AS WELL.
AND IF THERE'S NO SIGN POSTED, TYPICALLY THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55? YES, SIR.
AND IN THE LEE FAMILY, WE HAD TWO DRIVING RULES, UM, FOR MY FOUR KIDS WHEN THEY GREW UP.
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE SPEED LIMIT ON ALL SECONDARY ROADS WAS 45 MILES AN HOUR.
UM, THE SECOND ONE WAS, DON'T SWERVE FOR A DEAL, SHOW ME THE DEAL.
UM, AND SO, UH, AND LUCKILY THEY NEVER SWERVED FOR A DI I HAD A COUPLE OF DI I HAD TO GO GET.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, MY POINT, I DON'T THINK ANY SECONDARY ROAD IN THIS COUNTY NEEDS 55 MILE AN HOUR, UM, TRAFFIC ON IT.
AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROCEDURE TO GET THAT CHANGED WHETHER WE NEED TO GO TO RICHMOND OR CAN WE, CAN THIS BOARD DO IT THROUGH VDOT? UM, BECAUSE I THINK, AND, AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED ON FLAT FOOT ROAD THE OTHER NIGHT, BUT I WILL BET YOU SPEED HAD A, HAD A PART IN IT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.
AND ANYBODY THAT WALKS THESE BACK ROADS NOW IS TAKING THEIR LIFE IN THE HANDS BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT GET OVER FOR ONE THING AND THEN THEY'RE RUNNING.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE HAD, UH, NASH ROAD, UH, IS A PRETTY STRAIGHT GOOD, UH, BACK ROAD AND WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT SPEED.
THEY'VE SET UP RADAR, BUT YOU RUN 55 ON NASH ROAD AND GO BY SOMEBODY'S HOUSE, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE FLYING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T WRITE A TICKET FOR 55 WHEN THE SPEED LIMIT'S 55.
SO, UM, I, I JUST THINK WE'VE GOT A REAL PROBLEM AND WHILE THAT CAN BE FIXED OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW MM-HMM
YEAH, I WILL AGREE THAT THAT SPEED AND DRIVER AND ATTENTION ARE, ARE LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE ACCIDENTS THAT WE DO SEE INSIDE THE COUNTY.
UM, AND THAT 50 FOR THE STATUTE TEST, THE STATUTORY 55 IS, IS MORE OR LESS, UH, WHAT IS PUT IN PLACE, UM, TO GO COUNTYWIDE.
I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE TO DO SOME
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I KNOW THAT ON AN INDIVIDUAL ROUTE BASIS, WE COULD, WE COULD GO THROUGH THE SPEED STUDY PROCESS WITH EACH ONE AND, AND IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING MORE OR LESS THE COUNTY IS, IS REQUESTING AND, AND WOULD REALLY LIKE THIS ROAD TO BE REVIEWED AND FOR A POTENTIAL REDUCTION.
UM, AND THAT WOULD HAVE THE CONCURRENCE ON OUR BEHALF AS WELL.
AND THEN THEY WOULD PERFORM THE SPEED STUDY.
AND THEN THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS ENFORCEMENT.
YOU KNOW, JUST 'CAUSE YOU MAKE IT 45, UM, DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE SLOW DOWN EITHER.
BUT AT LEAST IT GIVES US A TOOL MAYBE TO SLOW, SLOW PEOPLE DOWN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AGO IT WASN'T VERY MANY PEOPLE DRIVING AND THEN THE FARM EQUIPMENT TODAY IS THREE TIMES THE SIZE THAT IT WAS.
SO YOU GO AROUND A CURVE RUNNING 55 AND RUN INTO A COMBINE, IT TAKES UP THE WHOLE ROAD, UH, SOMEBODY'S GOT A PROBLEM.
UM, AND THAT 10 MILES AN HOUR DIFFERENCE MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
THAT'S, AND, AND I DON'T, I DON'T GUESS ANY OF THAT WAS A QUESTION, BUT, UH, ANYWAY, IF YOU COULD FIND OUT WHETHER IT NEEDS TO LIKE STATE LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO DO IT COUNTYWIDE OR, OR WHETHER, YOU KNOW, IT CAN'T BE DONE, I WILL CERTAINLY DO SOME RESEARCH FOR YOU.
I, I GOT A FEW QUESTIONS ALSO.
UM, I NOTICED IT WAS GOING ON IN AWA COUNTY AND THEN IT, UH, YESTERDAY I BELIEVE IT STARTED PUTTING ARROWS ON ALL THE CURVES.
HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? UH, DECIDING TO DO THAT AND IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING, BUT ON ALL THE CURVES YOU GET ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT ARROWS TELLING YOU THAT IT'S A CURVE COMING UP.
DO YOU THEY ARE COMING THIS WAY.
THERE WAS, LET ME SEE, I'VE GOT NOTES ABOUT THAT.
THAT WAS, UH, THAT IS PART OF THE SIGN STUDY, I THINK IT WAS IN NOVEMBER.
UM, I, I GOT THAT AND DISCUSSED IT A LITTLE BIT.
IT IS A ROADWAY DEPARTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
UM, AND THEY STUDIED ROUTE FOUR 60 FROM ROUTE ONE ALL THE WAY TO FARMVILLE.
UM, THE, IT IS AIMED AT REDUCING ROADWAY DEPARTURES AND INCREASING VISIBILITY THROUGH SIGNAGE.
IT'LL BE, UM, MOSTLY THOSE, THOSE CHEVRONS IN THE CURVES, UH, INTERSECTION AWARENESS, TURNING VEHICLE AWARENESS AND DEER CROSSING AREAS.
THE DEER CROSSING AREAS ARE A LARGE LL
BUT THERE IS A, A SET OF CRITERIA THAT YOU, THEY USE TO ACTUALLY DETERMINE THE DEER CROSSING AREAS, UM, BUT THAT THEY ARE MAKING THEIR WAY INTO, INTO DENWOODY COUNTY AND SHOULD BE HERE SHORTLY.
IS THAT AS FAR AS WHAT POT OF MONEY DOES THAT COME OUT OF? DOES THAT COME OUT THAT DIDN'T COME OUT OF DENWOOD POT, SIR? OF MONEY? NO, SIR.
FEDERAL OR STATE? I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD LIKELY BE FEDERAL.
SAFETY STUDY LIKE THAT OF THAT NATURE.
IT'S, I THINK THIS IS MORE OR LESS, UH, EXPLORATIVE IN NATURE KIND OF STUDY.
THOSE ARE LIKELY FEDERALLY FUNDED.
UM, ALSO I DID NOTICE IN NOT THE WAY THAT, THAT THAT ROBOTIC MACHINE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, I NOTICED THAT ONE DAY LAST WEEK IT WAS ON SOME OF THE STEEP RAVINES AND SOME OF THE, HOPEFULLY, ESPECIALLY AT INTERSECTIONS WHERE YOU CAN'T GET THE TRACTOR IN THERE, MAYBE CLEAR OUT SOME VISION MM-HMM
AREAS THAT YOU CAN SEE A LOT BETTER.
SO ABSOLUTELY, WE'VE GOT THAT MACHINE UNTIL JUNE DOING A ROTATION THROUGH THE RESIDENCY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, LIKE TO OWN ONE IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, BUT THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE
UH, IF ANYBODY KNOWS OF INTERSECTIONS OR WHATEVER, IT'S GONNA BE MAINLY ON LIKE THE MAJOR ROADS MM-HMM
WE KNOW THE AREAS WE LET YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT, MIGHT BE AN ISSUE.
AND LET'S SEE, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SHOULDERS BEING THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH, WITH THE WINTER COMING OUT, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AREAS THAT THE SHOULDERS ARE WAY DEEP WHEN YOU, ESPECIALLY ON BACK ROADS WHEN YOU'VE GOTTA MEET A BIG TRUCK OR SOMETHING, YOU, YOU'RE OFF THE PAVEMENT AND IT'S NO WAY OUT, BUT IT'S A DROP, YOU KNOW? MM-HMM.
AND GETTING BACK ON IS DIFFICULT.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF PLACES, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN 'EM ALL, BUT MAYBE A VDO CREW CAN CHECK OUT THE AREAS AND KIND OF GET THOSE PLACES FIXED.
AND, AND WITH, WITH THE KIND OF ABNORMAL WINTER THAT WE'VE HAD THERE, THERE WILL BE A LARGE EMPHASIS ON SHOULDERS COMING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T, TYPICALLY IN THE WINTERTIME WE CAN, WE CAN HIT SOME WHEN, WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE WORKING OUT THERE.
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FREQUENT ON OUR SECONDARY ROUTES.SO I WILL, UH, I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE IN ANY, ANY AREAS THAT I SEE I WILL HAVE ADDRESSED.
BUT WE CAN GO THROUGH THE WORK ORDERS AS WELL.
WE GET QUITE A FEW OF THEM THROUGH THE WORK ORDERS AND, UM, I WILL HAVE THE CREWS MAKE AN EMPHASIS THAT EMPHASIS ON IT IN THE NEXT, UH, MONTH OR SO AS WELL.
AND THE LAST COMMENT, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT MR. LEE SAID ABOUT THE BACK ROADS OR ANY ROADS IS, I THINK ITS DRIVER INATTENTION HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT TOO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
THEY'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE PHONES OR THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HIT SOMEBODY.
UM, JUST FOR MYSELF, JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THE SPOT THERE AT BUTTER WOOD AND FOUR 60.
UM, IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT THERE'S SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THAT ROAD
UH, THE OTHER THING, AND I'M GONNA HAVE MR. MASSI PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THE SIGNAGE AT STERLING ROAD.
HE AND I HAD A CONVERSATION, WE'VE HAD, UH, ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS OUT IN THAT AREA CONSTITUENT THAT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK WE'VE FOUND THAT ANSWER, SO I'LL LET MR. MASSEY GO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
SO AARON, IF YOU RECALL, THIS WAS A, A CONCERN OF OF TRUCK TRAFFIC DUMP TRUCK SPECIFICALLY USING STERLING ROAD.
AND THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS BEFORE ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS ADEQUATE SIGNAGE GOING BOTH DIRECTIONS ON 2 26 THAT WOULD PREVENT PEOPLE FROM USING STERLING ROAD IN THAT MANNER.
WE WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT IT, TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
AND WHAT WE'VE CONCLUDED WAS THE SIGNAGE IS THERE, SO THERE'S SIGNAGE ON UM, UH, 2 26 AND THEN ON THE ROUTE ONE SIDE THERE'S ALSO SIGNAGE THAT, THAT SAYS IT'S RESTRICTED.
UM, BUT WE'RE STILL SEEING, AND I KNOW FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT WE CAN MAYBE LOOK MORE AT THAT.
UM, BUT I, I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE JUST HAD FOR YOU, I MEAN THIS, THIS SIGNAGE HAS BEEN IN PLACE AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS ANYBODY CAN REMEMBER.
UM, IS THERE ANY TYPE OF NEW SIGNAGE? I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BECOME SO DESENSITIZED TO THE SIGN AND EVEN DEBATING THE FACT THAT THE SIGN'S NOT THERE.
BUT THE SIGN IS OBVIOUSLY THERE.
UM, IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE SIGN TO, OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SIGNAGE THAT COULD BE, UM, LOOKED AT? I DON'T, I DON'T IT.
I WENT OUT AND PERSONALLY LOOKED AT IT THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK TO BE WORN, UM, OR WEATHERED.
I MEAN IT'S, THE SIGNS ARE THERE, BUT, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL USING THE ROAD.
SO WE'VE GOT AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE THERE, BUT IF YOU CAN JUST LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER NEW SIGNS OR ANYTHING THAT MAYBE COULD BRING ATTENTION TO IT.
WE WANT TO GO TO THE EXPENSE OF PUTTING LIGHTS ON THE SIGN TO REALLY BRING ATTENTION TO IT, BUT WE SEEM TO BE STILL HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
AND I JUST GOT A COUPLE OTHER THINGS WHILE I'M GOING, AARON, IF, UH, ONE YOU MENTIONED THE SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN, AND I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING THAT ON MARCH 7TH WHEN YOU AND I MET WITH DIANA.
I KNOW DIANA WAS CONCERNED MS. BRYANT ABOUT THE TRAFFIC COUNTS ON SOME OF THE SECONDARY ROADS WERE LAST DONE, UH, WHEN, I GUESS 2020.
AND THE CONCERN OF VDOT, UH, WAS THAT IF YOU DID TRAFFIC COUNTS IN 2020 COVID, MOST PEOPLE WERE PROBABLY STAYING INDOORS.
AND IT'S PROBABLY ACTUALLY SOME OF OUR MORE RURAL RUSTIC ROADS AND SOME OF THE OTHER ROADS, YOU KNOW, ARE GONNA SHOW A, A DECREASE IN, IN THE, THE ROAD COUNTS.
THEY COULD FIND THEMSELVES NOT EVEN ELIGIBLE FOR SOME FUNDING.
SO I'M, I'M COMPLETELY COOL GOING MARCH 7TH IF WE HAVE ALL THE DATA WE NEED ON THE ROADS.
IF, IF FOR SOME REASON, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF, UM, COUNTERS OUT AND IF, IF YOU NEED TO MOVE TO THE APRIL 4TH MEETING, WE CAN DO THAT TOO.
I JUST KNOW WE HAVE THAT BACKSTOP THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IN MAY.
UM, BUT I THINK WE JUST REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
I I WANTED TO BE A FRUITFUL CONVERSATION MM-HMM
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE DATA THAT YOU, THAT YOU NEED.
AND I, I, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR THE ROUTES THAT WE SAW THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN TRAFFIC ON FOR THAT 2020 COUNT.
WE WENT BACK TO A, I THINK IT WAS 20 18, 20 16 AND USED, USED THAT COUNT FOR, FOR THE SAKE OF THE SIX YEAR PLAN.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PERFORMING RECOUNTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
SO WHAT I WILL DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT OUR DATA FROM LAST YEAR, LOOK AT OUR ROUTES FROM LAST YEAR THAT WERE HIGH ON THE LIST, AND THEN GET WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET COUNTERS ON THOSE ROUTES HERE THIS SPRING.
MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST ON THAT POINT YEAH.
ESPECIALLY THE ROADS THAT ARE REAL CLOSE, YOU KNOW THAT, THAT MIGHT GO OVER JUST BELOW.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT REALLY NEED TO CHECK THE OTHER ONE.
AARON COURTHOUSE ROAD ON THE SECTION BETWEEN THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE TO THE POST OFFICE.
UM, THERE'S A, A COUPLE TURNS IN THAT ROAD THAT, ESPECIALLY DAYS WHERE IT'S BEEN RAINING A LOT THAT WE'RE STILL SEEING A LOT OF FLOODING AND ONE OF THOSE DITCHES THAT'S THERE.
I I'VE GOT THE EXACT LOCATION I'LL SEND TO YOU.
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OKAY.IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A, THERE'S A TREE AND A CONSTITUENT CALLED EARLIER TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT THAT'S THE TREE THAT'S BEEN LEANING AND IS CONTINUING TO LEAN.
I KNOW ONE OF THEM I THINK WAS CUT DOWN, I BELIEVE BY YOU ALL, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE WERE KIND OF KEEPING OUR EYE ON.
UM, BUT THE CONSTITUENTS STILL INDICATED THAT IT'S, THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH IT SO WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND LOOK AT THAT.
AND THEN OUR, UM, I GUESS BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET CITIZEN COMMENT ON FACEBOOK.
THERE WAS A, A PICTURE PUT OVER THE WEEKEND OF, UM, A LOCATION IN DEY COUNTY.
DON'T KNOW IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE, UM, IDENTIFIED WHERE IT IS, BUT IT'S A, AN AREA THAT HAD BEEN, UH, REPAVED AND STRIPING CAME IN AFTER THE REPAVING AND IT, IT ALMOST APPEARED THAT WHOEVER WAS DOING THE STRIPING WAS TRYING TO GET AROUND SOMETHING IN THE ROAD.
'CAUSE IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM THE BEGINNING TO END.
I COULD TELL YOU WHERE IT IS,
THERE'S A, A STRIPING THAT LOOKS A LITTLE WEIRD THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO REDO.
I'VE GOT A NICE EXHIBIT A TO SHOW YOU ON THAT ONE, IF YOU DON'T MIND SENDING, DO WE KNOW IF IT'S ON A PRIMARY OR A SECONDARY? RIGHT? UH, IT LOOKS LIKE A SECONDARY.
MAY BE ABLE TO NARROW THAT DOWN.
MYSELF,
WHAT? THAT'S A SQUIRREL STRETCH.
HOW'S A SQUIRREL? YEAH, SOMETHING WAS IN THE WAY.
I WILL, UH, I'LL TAKE A, TAKE A RIDE.
I KNOW THAT WE WERE HAVING SOME STRIPING DONE ON SOME PATCH PATCHING AREAS, SO I WILL, UH, I WILL TAKE A LOOK.
DO YOU HAVE THE PICTURE UP RIGHT NOW, SIR? I DO.
NOT IN THIS COUNTY, NOT IN THIS DISTRICT, BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I HAVE SEEN WORSE.
BELIEVE THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
OUR OPERATOR WAS CONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY AND DID NOT NEED A STRING LINE TO, TO PAINT THE ROAD.
CHAIRMAN, I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT.
I, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU.
THE VDOT STAFF THAT ATTENDED THE FUNERAL OF A CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND OF OURS A COUPLE YEARS, HE WAS AN EMPLOYEE I GUESS FOR BEAT OFF FOR 30 SOME YEARS, WASN'T HE? 42.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU Y'ALL'S SUPPORT AND YOUR KIND WORDS FOR HIM.
[6.B. Friends Of The Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR)]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX B AND THAT'S OUR FRIENDS FROM THE LOWER APPOMATTOX RIVER FLAR.HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS EVENING, WENDY? I AM FINE, THANK YOU.
IS THIS GOOD? HER? I'M NOT GETTING SITUATED HERE.
I I HAVE THE PDF D SO YOU JUST, IF YOU WANT ME TO JUST SCROLL THROUGH.
I, I WANNA SAY WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO WORK WITH MS. BROWN
UM, YES, WENDY AUSTIN, EXEC DIRECTOR WITH FRIENDS OF LOWER APPT RIVER HERE WITH, UM, HEATHER BARAR, OUR TRAILS PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
SHE'LL COME UP AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
AND THEN ALSO HERE IS VIRGINIA PEEVY, OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND FUND DEVELOPMENT, UH, DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
I THINK YOU KNOW, OUR ESTEEMED, UH, APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER FROM DEN WITTY, MISS TAMMY COLLINS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SAM HAYES, UH, FROM DEN WITTY, AND HE WAS REELECTED TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD THIS YEAR.
SO YOU HAVE VERY STRONG REPRESENTATION.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY FOR AN UPDATE ON OUR WORK, UH, TOWARD ACHIEVING OUR MISSION HERE.
UH, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, TOWARD CONSERVING, PROTECTING, AND PROMOTING THE APPOMATTOX RIVER FOR ALL TO JOY.
I THINK YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR, UH, SERVICE AREA COURSE, UH, 25 MILE CORRIDOR SOUTH, UH, UH, WEST, SORRY, EAST OF LAKE CHEIN, SIX JURISDICTIONS LISTED HERE.
UH, DINWITTY BEING ONE OF THE PROMINENT ONES.
UH, AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FEDERAL, STATE, UH, INSTITUTIONS.
FORT LEE, UH, UH, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY THAT WE'RE PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH AND, AND HAVE, UM, IN OUR SERVICE AREA, I MENTIONED OUR TWO BOARD MEMBERS FROM D WITTY.
UM, ONE OF THE, UH, REAL PILLARS OF FLAR IS ITS LEADERSHIP, UH, AND THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR, UH, SIX JURISDICTIONS.
EACH HAS TWO REPRESE REPRESENTATIVES.
[00:30:01]
ELECTED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY.AND THEN A NUMBER OF AT LARGE ARE AT LARGE POSITIONS.
AND EVERY SINGLE ONE, I MUST SAY, BRINGS ABSOLUTE, UH, YOU KNOW, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE THAT HELPS, UH, ACCELERATE OUR PROJECTS, UH, AND, AND KEEPS MOVING US FORWARD.
WE ALSO HAVE NOW THREE FULL-TIME AND A PART-TIME, UH, STAFF PERSONS WHO ARE ALSO, UH, QUITE EXPERT IN HELPING US, UH, MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
ONE OF OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2022 WAS THAT WE CONDUCTED, UH, STRATEGIC PLANNING, UH, WITH A FACILITATOR AND ENGAGING OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND REGIONAL PARTNERS.
UM, WE WORK THROUGH, UM, DEVELOPING STRATEGIES AND REALLY, UH, TO HELP, UM, UNDERSTAND THE REGION'S ISSUES AND PRIORITIES BETTER DEFINE OUR ROLE, AND THEN ALSO, UH, BEGIN TO PLAN OUT OUR STRATEGIES FOR THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
UH, AND YOU SEE, WE, WE BETTER DEFINED OUR F OUR'S ROLE IN THE REGION, DO IT, HELPING WITH CONVENING THE REGION AROUND OUR ISSUES, COORDINATING PROJECTS, EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE BLUEWAY GREENWAY AND, UM, IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS.
AND THEN AGAIN, FOUR MAJOR STRATEGIC GOALS TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WHICH YOU SEE LISTED HERE, REALLY PUSHING AND HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE, UH, COMPLETION OF THE BLUEWAY GREENWAY, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY, UM, LEADING ADVOCACY.
AND THAT INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT.
ONE OF THE MAIN PILLARS IS BRINGING INVESTMENT TO THIS PROJECT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN AGAIN, CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN OUR ORGANIZATION, TO BRING US OUR VISION TO REALITY.
THERE YOU SEE, UH, A WELCOMING BLUEWAY GREENWAY OF EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTY AND CULTURAL RICHNESS THAT FOREVER CONNECTS, UH, NATURE PEOPLE AND OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE ENVISION OUR BLUEWAY GREENWAY TO BE.
AND WHY, WHY IS ALL THIS IN PLACE? PEOPLE, WHY ARE WE SPENDING TIME BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS IT BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY? WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, THE A A, YOU KNOW, STRONG NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, WELCOMING AND SAFE, CONNECTED PATHWAYS, UH, WILL BRING WELLNESS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, PROSPERITY THROUGH TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND OF COURSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
AND THAT'S TRUE FOR EVERY RESIDENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT CAN AFFECT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS THAT POSITIVE, UH, BENEFIT FOR EACH.
SO, UH, OF COURSE, SO WE STARTED WORKING ON ALL OF THIS REALLY IN EARNEST, WELL, 20 YEARS AGO.
WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF ALL VOLUNTEERS, BUT IN 2017, THE CAMERON FOUNDATION FUNDED THIS STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ALL 25 MILES, UH, A PATH FOR US.
AND, UM, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH BRINGING THAT TO FRUITION SINCE THEN.
AND OF COURSE, VERY PLEASED TO HAVE OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
UM, ALL SIX JURISDICTIONS AND THE OTHER PARTNERS HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT, INCLUDING D WITTY, AS YOU KNOW.
UM, SO WE ARE REALLY PLEASED ANOTHER PILLAR OF OUR, UH, EFFORTS WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKING THROUGH THE WHOLE 25 MILES IS A BIG PROJECT.
SO THE PLAN ITSELF WAS DEVELOPED TO, UH, WORK IMPLEMENT IN SECTIONS AS FUNDING AND ACCESS BECOMES AVAILABLE.
UM, SO RECENTLY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE WESTERN EIGHT MILES OF THE 25 MILES, UH, WHICH IS OF COURSE, UH, BEGINNING IN DINWITTY COUNTY AND, UH, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, UM, THE EIGHT MILES, UH, THEN FROM CHESTERFIELD AND DINWITTY TRAVELS EAST, UH, THROUGH, UM, THROUGH PETERSBURG, AND THEN INCLUDES THE COLONIAL HEIGHTS, PETERSBURG, UM, AREA UP TO I 95.
SO WE CONSIDER THAT THE, UM, EIGHT MILES.
AND WE HAVE HAD GREAT MOMENTUM WITH THAT, WITH ONE LAST, UM, ACQUISITION OF A PARCEL THAT WE'RE SO CLOSE ON.
UH, WE SHOULD HAVE CLEAR PUBLIC ACCESS THE ENTIRE EIGHT MILES.
SO THAT IS A REAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
UM, THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS.
THIS STUFF DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT OR YOU ALL KNOW THAT, BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MAYBE, MAYBE LONGER THAN 20 MILES, 20 YEARS.
SO WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO, UH, PASS IT.
OH, WAIT, I THINK I GOTTA DO FUNDING REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE, UM, AS I MENTIONED, UM, ONE OF THE PILLARS IS TO BRING INVESTMENT
[00:35:01]
TO OUR COMMUNITY.AND WE WORK BOTH IN, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT, UH, FUNDING AREAS AS WELL AS PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.
IT'S GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC TO BRING THESE, UM, UH, THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, TO FRUITION.
UH, WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR WITH THE VDOT FUNDING THIS YEAR.
HEATHER WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH RON AT THE MPO AND CRATER PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION AND THE JURISDICTIONS, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY SUBMITTED SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO THIS YEAR, BUT THEY, WITH ALL THAT LEARNING, THEY STRATEGIZED, SLICED THE PROJECTS UP.
UH, SO THEY WERE REALLY, UM, ALIGNED WITH THE PROGRAM, THE FUNDING.
AND, UM, ALSO WE HAD SOME FUNDING ALREADY AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE THAT WE THEN APPLIED TO SOME OF THESE APPLICATIONS.
SO THEY, UM, SUBMITTED SEVEN APPLICATIONS DIRECTLY RELATED TO FUNDING THE TRAIL.
AND, UM, SIX HAVE MADE IT THROUGH ONE BIG HURDLE, WHICH IS STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO THE BOARD, UH, CENTRAL VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION BOARD.
UM, THAT BOARD WILL, UH, VOTE IN JUNE TO WHETHER THESE SIX PROJECTS WILL THEN BE APPROVED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SIX YEAR PLAN, TRANSPORTATION PLAN, OVERALL STATE PLAN.
AND, UH, THEN THE FULL FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE AS THAT PLAN IS ROLLED OUT OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
UM, I, I'LL MENTION THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY FOR EACH PROJECT, FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, AND THAT'S, UH, FAIRLY HIGH BECAUSE THE VDOT THIS YEAR REQUIRED THE INCLUSION OF THE COST VALUE OF THE LAND THAT THE TRAILS ARE GOING OVER.
BUT IT WILL NOT BE THAT HIGH BECAUSE MOST OF THE LAND IS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, ALREADY PUBLICLY OWNED.
AND HEATHER'S GONNA CHECK ME ON IF I MADE ANY MISTAKES ON THIS.
WHEN SHE COMES UP
UM, THEN LASTLY ON FUNDING THE OTHER GREAT, GREAT ACHIEVEMENT, WE WERE JUST THRILLED, RELIEVED, AND THRILLED LAST YEAR TO, UM, MEET THAT, UH, THE CABELL FOUNDATION, $500,000 MATCH, UM, MONEY INVESTING INTO OUR TRI-CITIES COMMUNITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE THE 500,000, UH, MATCH AND CABELL SENT THE MONEY, UH, AND OF COURSE THE MILLION DOLLAR INITIAL INVESTMENT BY THE CAMERON FOUNDATION HELPED US ACHIEVE THAT.
AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CAMERON FOUNDATION HAS INVESTED AN ADDITIONAL $600,000, UH, IN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARC APPOMATTOX RIVER CONNECTOR BRIDGE, UH, TO BE, UH, REALLY A, UM, UH, ICONIC, UH, UH, BRIDGE AND, AND CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO WITH THAT $2.3 MILLION, UH, IN MOSTLY PRIVATE FUNDING, BUT THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITIES LIKE DINWITTY CHESTERFIELD, WHO DID ALSO HELP SUPPORT.
AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF OTHER, UH, PRIVATE FOUNDATION SUPPORT, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE ON A GREAT TRAJECTORY.
UM, THAT $2.3 MILLION WILL BE INVESTED IN THIS WESTERN, UH, ENTRANCE, DINWOODY CHESTERFIELD AND PETERSBURG, UH, IN THAT APPOMATTOX RIVER, UH, CONNECTOR BRIDGE, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAIL, APAX RIVER TRAIL, AND, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC FERNDALE PARK THAT SITS HERE IN D IN DINWITTY.
SO, UH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
UM, AND TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHERE IT IS AND SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE PROJECTS, HEATHER'S GONNA COME UP AND TALK THROUGH THAT.
GREAT TO, GREAT TO BE HERE AGAIN WITH YOU GUYS.
UM, I'M GONNA JUMP INTO SOME MORE PROJECT DETAILS.
LIKE WENDY SAID, WENDY KIND OF GAVE YOU THE BIG FULLER OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I'M GONNA KIND OF GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE WEEDS.
UM, I THINK YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THIS SLIDE IN THE PAST TALKING ABOUT, AGAIN, THAT WESTERN ENTRANCE CONCEPT.
UM, AND THIS IS WHERE THAT IS HAPPENING.
RADCLIFFE CONSERVATION AREA IN CHESTERFIELD, AND THEN FERNDALE PARK, UM, AND THE CANAL TRAIL IN DENWITTY.
AND THEN JUST ANOTHER AERIAL TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT, UM, TO SEE WHERE FERNDALE PARK IS.
AND THEN IF YOU GO TO THE WEST, YOU'LL SEE WHERE THE SITE OF THE APPOMATTOX RIVER CONNECTOR IS IN PINK.
AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A FEW SLIDES ON THAT PROCESS TOO.
UM, SO FIRST, LET'S, SO WENDY SAID IT'S THREE PARTS.
SO LET'S LOOK UP PARTS ONE AND TWO FIRST.
SO THAT'S, UM, FERNDALE PARK AND THE APPOMATTOX RIVER TRAIL, PARTS ONE AND TWO.
WE COMPLETED A MASTER PLAN, UM, LAST YEAR, AND I THINK SOME OF YOU CAME OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING.
AND WE DID A ONLINE SURVEY TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE
[00:40:01]
TO SEE FERNDALE PARK RE-IMAGINED AS WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY SEEKING AS FAR AS RECREATIONAL ASSETS.AND SO WE CREATED A MASTER PLAN.
YOU CAN SEE THE MASTER PLAN IS THAT GREEN, WHICH IS FERNDALE PARK, BUT IT'S ALSO TWO MILES OF TRAIL THAT WE HAVE MASTER PLANNED.
AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A LITTLE MORE DETAIL HERE.
AND, UM, REALLY WE HAVE A GREAT FOOTPRINT ALREADY IN PLACE.
AND THIS, UH, MASTER PLAN REALLY JUST TAKES THE EXISTING BONES AND THIS REALLY KIND OF IMPROVES UPON THAT.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE, I'D SAY IS IN THE BACK OF THE PARK, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR RIGHT NOW, THE BACK IS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE WOODED, A LITTLE, LITTLE REMOTE BACK THERE IN THE PA.
SO WE ARE REALLY OPENING UP THE BACK OF THE PARK, UM, MAKING SOME OPEN PLAY FIELDS, UH, MAYBE A, A FIELD THAT COULD BE USED FOR SOCCER OR VOLLEYBALL, KIND OF AN OPEN CONCEPT FIELD, A DOG PARK BACK THERE.
AND THEN, UH, YOU'LL SEE A LOOP TRAIL AROUND THE ENTIRE PARK.
AND SO THAT WILL REALLY ACTIVATE THE PARK, RIGHT? THAT WILL KEEP EYES AND EARS AROUND THE ENTIRE PARK PERIMETER.
AND THAT REALLY IS WHAT HELPS, UM, THESE PARKS STAY SAFE AND STAY USED.
UM, ALSO LOOKING AT MAYBE A NEW RESTROOM FACILITY IN THE BACK OF THE PARK TO SUPPORT THAT REALLY GREAT LARGE SHELTER WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE.
IT'D BE GREAT FOR RENTALS, UM, IF WE HAVE SOME MORE ASSETS BACK THERE.
AND THEN IN THE FRONT OF THE PARK, UH, IMPROVING THE PLAYGROUND, USING THAT EXISTING BUILDING.
YOUR BUILDING INSPECTOR SAID THE BUILDING'S REALLY IN GOOD CONDITION.
UM, IT JUST NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK.
SO REALLY THINKING OF THAT AS MAYBE, AGAIN, ANOTHER RENTAL SPACE IN THE UPSTAIRS, GIVING YOU GUYS SOME, SOME GOOD SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN HAVING AN OUTFITTER MAYBE IN THE DOWNSTAIRS THAT COULD DO, UM, BICYCLE RENTALS OR, UM, KAYAK RENTALS IN THE, IN THE BOTTOM SPACE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME MASTER PLANNING ON THE TRAIL.
YOU MIGHT THINK A TRAIL IS JUST, YOU KNOW, A EASY PIECE OF PAVEMENT OR JUST SOME GRAVEL DOWN, BUT WE WANNA HAVE, UM, SOME DIFFERENT STOPPING POINTS ALONG THE TRAIL.
SO YOU'LL SEE AS YOU'RE GOING UP OR DOWN RIVER, MAYBE HAVING A COUPLE OVERLOOKS WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THE TRAIL, MAYBE HAVING A PICNIC AREA, REALLY, AGAIN, SOME DESTINATIONS THAT ARE DRIVING PEOPLE TO WALK THESE, THESE LINEAR SECTIONS OF TRAIL.
SO, UH, THE MASTER PLAN IS COMPLETE.
WE WORK WITH ALL THE STAFFS AND ALL THE LOCALITIES.
UM, GREAT SUPPORT AND WE'LL TAKE THIS BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN 2023.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANNA MENTION IS THE ARC OR THE APPOMATTOX RIVER CONNECTOR.
UM, THAT IS THE, UH, CONNECTOR OVER THE RIVER BETWEEN, UH, RATCLIFFE PARK, WHICH IS IN CHESTERFIELD.
AND THEN IF YOU WALK FROM FERNDALE PARK, A MILE AND A HALF DOWN THE CANAL TRAIL, YOU WOULD GET, IF YOU REMEMBER, IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, IT HAS THE OLD LOCK SYSTEM WHERE THE CANAL MEETS THE RIVER.
UM, THAT IS WHERE THE CONNECTOR WILL BE.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE CONNECTOR IS NOT JUST A TYPICAL BRIDGE, YOU KNOW, THAT GOES FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
AND REALLY THE DESIGNERS, THE OLIN TEAM, UM, REALLY SAW THAT, THAT OUR RIVER IS A BRAIDED RIVER.
IT'S NOT ONE SINGLE, UM, CHANNEL.
AND THAT REALLY GAVE THEM THE INSPIRATION TO MAKE A BRAIDED STRUCTURE OVER THE CHANNEL.
UM, AND IT REALLY GIVES A P PLACE TO STOP AND PAUSE.
SO YOU CAN DEFINITELY BIKE AND WALK ACROSS IT, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF AREAS TO STOP, CONNECT WITH NATURE.
UM, THERE'LL BE SEATING, SO IT'S GONNA BE, UH, LIKE NO OTHER EXPERIENCE IN THE ENTIRE STATE, HONESTLY.
AND WE'VE HAD FOLKS WHO LIKE TO RUN AND WALK, AND THE CITY OF RICHMOND WHO SAID, YOU CANNOT HARDLY RUN ACROSS THEIR BRIDGES AND YOU DEFINITELY CAN'T STOP AND HAVE A MOMENT.
SO THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE AN ASSET LIKE THIS THAT TAKES INTO A, YOU KNOW, AN ACCOUNT THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY STOP AND ENJOY THE RIVER WHILE YOU'RE OUT USING IT.
SO, UM, THIS, UH, LIKE WENDY MENTIONED WAS FUNDED.
THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WAS FUNDED BY THE CAMERON FOUNDATION, THAT CONCEPTUAL DESIGN IS WRAPPING UP IN MARCH.
AND, UH, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY THEN WILL BE TAKING THAT INTO THEIR CIP PROCESS AND, AND FURTHER DEVELOPING THAT PROJECT.
UM, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN A GOOD, GOOD PROJECT TO WORK ON, UH, WORKING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL DESIGN TEAM AND, AND REALLY GETTING THE COMMUNITY OUT AND INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT TOO.
OH, AND THEN I FORGOT I HAD THIS GREAT IMAGE TO SHOW YOU.
UM, HAR WE HAVEN'T BEEN SHOWING THIS MUCH, SO I'M EXCITED TO SHOW YOU GUYS THE, UM, INSPIRATION FOR, FOR THE CONNECTOR ACTUALLY IS THE BAU.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE SO PROUD AND WE KNOW THAT HISTORY OF THE BAU IN THIS AREA IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE DESIGN TEAM TOOK THAT BAT TOE CONCEPT AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY MAKING THE CONNECTOR OUT OF WOOD, UM, WITH THAT RIBBING.
SO WHEN YOU'RE STANDING ON THE CONNECTOR, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE ACTUALLY IN A BAT TOE.
AND THEN REALLY THAT SHADE STRUCTURE, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, UM, WE WANNA PUT SOME SHADE OUT THERE.
'CAUSE IN THE SUMMERTIME IT CAN GET QUITE WARM.
THAT SHADE STRUCTURE WAS ACTUALLY ON SOME BATES TO, UM, TO PROVIDE SHADE FOR THE GOODS ON THE BOAT.
SO THAT EVEN THAT TAKES, UM, A CUE FROM HISTORY.
UM, SO YOU'LL BE SEEING MORE OF THIS COMING OUT, UM, IN THE COMING YEARS.
BUT THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT PROJECT AND UM, REALLY WILL BE JUST MONUMENTAL FOR THE REGION TO HAVE SOMETHING
[00:45:01]
LIKE NOTHING ELSE IN THE REST OF THE STATE.UM, SO THEN I WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE REST OF OUR SIX LOCALITIES.
SO THAT WAS CHESTERFIELD AND DENWITTY.
WE'VE BEEN SPENDING, UM, A LOT OF TIME AND EVERY COMMUNITY HAS GREAT PROJECTS.
I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY POINT OUT THE OTHER PROJECTS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON.
I THINK SOME OF YOU MAYBE CAME IN 2021 FOR THIS GROUNDBREAKING.
YOU CAN SEE THE BEFORE AND, AND AFTER PHOTOS.
UM, BUT WE REALLY JUST SPRUCED IT UP.
THIS WAS FLAR FUNDED ALL PRIVATE FUNDING, UM, ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
WE MANAGED THE PROJECT FOR THE CITY AND WE CAN SEE FROM OUR TRAIL COUNTERS THAT THIS, UM, TRAIL IS ACTUALLY GETTING MORE USE ALREADY.
WE SEE LOTS OF LOCAL FOLKS, LOTS OF FOLKS WITH BICYCLES AND, UM, AND SCOOTERS USING THIS, THIS PART OF REALLY PAVED EASY ACCESS TRAIL.
ALSO IN PETERSBURG, I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE FALL LINE, UM, THE NEW TRAIL FROM RICHMOND TO ASHLAND, UM, 42 MILES.
AND, AND DEFINITELY THERE IS, I THINK, POTENTIAL TO KEEP THAT GOING INTO DENWOODY SOMEDAY WITH THE EAST COAST GREENWAY ALIGNMENT.
BUT WE REALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE FALL LINE FOLKS KNOWING THAT THE APAX RIVER TRAIL AND THE FALL LINE TRAIL WILL INTERSECT RIGHT THERE IN PETERSBURG.
UM, THAT PROJECT IS FULLY FUNDED, UH, EIGHT MILES FROM PETERSBURG TO CHESTER IS FULLY FUNDED AND WE'LL BE GOING OUT TO BID HOPEFULLY LATER THIS YEAR.
SO WE'LL BE REALLY KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT PROJECT AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE STRONG CONNECTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE OTHER THREE LOCALITIES, JUST TO QUICKLY MENTION, UM, HOPEWELL HAS A COUPLE GREAT PROJECTS GOING ON.
THEY, UH, HAVE FULL FUNDING TO EXTEND THE RIVER WALK.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA DO THAT IN TWO PHASES.
SO THIS YEAR WE HOPE TO HAVE THE RIVER WALK EXTENDED TO THE WATER PLANT.
AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE A WHOLE BIKE LANE NETWORK COMING TO THE ENTIRE CITY.
UM, AND THAT REALLY WAS BASED ON WORK FROM THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, FULLY FUNDED THROUGH A VDOT PROJECT.
AND THAT SHOULD BE COMING ON THIS YEAR.
AND APAX RIVER TRAIL, WHEN IT GETS TO HOPEWELL, DOES LEAD THE RIVER, GO ON ROAD TO BIKE LANES AND THEN COMES BACK TO THE RIVER.
'CAUSE HOPEWELL'S SO DEVELOPED.
AND, UM, THIS IS A REALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT ON THE RIVER.
AND THEN WE GET TO, UH, COLONIAL HEIGHTS.
WE HAVE, UH, ROSALYN LANDING WILL BE EXTENDING THEIR, UM, TRAIL SYSTEM TO THE EAST THAT SHOULD BE BREAKING GROUND THIS YEAR.
AND THEN FINALLY WE RECEIVED SOME FUNDING TO WORK IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, UM, AT THE AX RIVER REGIONAL PARK.
WE'RE GOING TO BE JUST, UM, IMPROVING THE PARKING LOT AND SIGNAGE, JUST MAKING THAT, UM, PARK A LITTLE MORE WELCOMING.
IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU DRIVE PAST THE JAIL, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT'S GONNA KIND OF SPRUCE UP SOME OF THAT AND MAKE PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE MORE WELCOME AS THEY ENTER THAT PARK.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE A NATIVE PLANT, POLLINATOR GARDEN.
AND SOMETHING WE'RE DOING WITH ALL OUR, OUR PROJECTS IS NOT ONLY IMPROVING THEM FOR PEOPLE, BUT IMPROVING THEM FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY KEEP IN MIND.
UH, SO I'M JUST GONNA ROUND OUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PLANNING PROCESSES AND, AND SOME OTHER GOOD PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING ON.
AS WENDY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, OUR BASIS, OUR FOUNDATION IS THAT, UM, SIGNAGE AND, UH, MASTER PLAN THAT WE ADOPTED IN 2017.
BUT SINCE 2017, WE HAVE NOT STOPPED THERE WITH PLANNING.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING.
WE DID A COASTAL CHANGE, A CLIMATE CHANGE, UM, COURSE TO MAKE SURE ANYTHING WE'RE BUILDING IS GONNA BE SUSTAINABLE INTO THE FUTURE.
UH, THE AME RIVER TRAIL IS INCLUDED IN THE STATE'S FIRST COASTAL RESILIENCE MASTER PLAN.
AND THEN WE ALSO ARE DOING SOME LAND CONSERVATION PLANNING, AGAIN, LOOKING, UH, AT THE HOLISTIC REGIONAL ASPECT.
BUT AS WE CREATE ALL THIS DATA, LIKE THE LAND CONSERVATION PLAN AS A GIS TOOL, THAT DATA IS THEN AVAILABLE TO YOUR STAFF TO USE IN YOUR PLANNING LEVELS.
SO WE'RE TAKING A REGIONAL LOOK, BUT MAKING SURE ANYTHING WE COLLECT CAN BE USED BY YOUR STAFF AND, UM, AND YOUR PLANNING PROCESSES TOO.
UH, AND THAT'S INCLUDING TRAIL COUNTS IS ANOTHER THING WE COLLECT.
THE CRATER HEALTH DISTRICT, UH, FUNDED A TRAIL COUNT SYSTEM.
SO IN CONCERT WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, WE COLLECT DATA ON, UM, ALL PARTS OF THE TRAIL, INCLUDING FERNDALE PARK.
AND WE KNOW WE HAD 170 COUNTS, 70,000 COUNTS ON THE TRAIL LAST YEAR.
FERNDALE IS OUR NUMBER THREE, UM, MOST USED PARK OUT OF ALL THE SITES WE COLLECT.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS DATA IS REALLY SHOWING US IS THAT THE SITES THAT ARE MOST IMPROVED GET THE MOST USE.
HOPEWELL RIVERWALK, ROLAND LANDING HAVE BATHROOMS, THEY HAVE GOOD PARKING, THEY HAVE GOOD PAVE TRAILS.
AND THAT'S REALLY KIND OF SHOWING US THAT'S THE PARKS THAT ARE GETTING THE MOST USE ARE THE PARKS THAT HAVE SOME OF THE MOST IMPROVEMENTS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS DATA THAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOUR STAFF TO USE.
UM, AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS.
UM, WE'RE HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE COMP PLANS ACROSS THE REGION, AND AGAIN, HOPING OUR DATA THAT WE COLLECT, YOU KNOW, HELPS, HELPS WITH YOUR EFFORTS TOO.
I MENTIONED THE LAND CONSERVATION PLAN THAT REALLY IS HELPING US DRIVE, UM, WHERE TO SPEND PRECIOUS MONEY AND PRECIOUS TIME ON THE RIVER.
[00:50:01]
ACRES ALONG THE RIVER, PERMANENTLY PROTECTED, WHICH IS, IS GREAT NEWS.THAT'S ABOUT 23% OF THE ENTIRE RIVERFRONT IS PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS LAST YEAR WE ADDED 144 ACRES, UM, IN, UH, CHESTERFIELD RIGHT HERE ACROSS FROM DENWOODY.
SO REALLY IMPACTING YOUR WATERSHED AT THE RADCLIFFE CONSERVATION AREA.
AND THEN IN, UM, CHESTERFIELD, COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN PETERSBURG WE'RE ABLE TO PROTECT SOME MORE WATERFRONT LAND.
SO, UH, SOMETHING WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT, CONSTANTLY DOING WITH PARTNERS LOCALITIES, AS WELL AS, UM, NONPROFIT PARTNERS LOOKING HOW TO CONSERVE THAT RIVERFRONT, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, VIEWS FROM THE RIVER, VIEWS ACROSS THE RIVER, UM, AND, AND REALLY PROTECTING THE WATER QUALITY.
AND THEN FINALLY I WANTED TO MENTION A NEW, A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED AT FLAR THAT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AND THAT'S INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE START TO BUILD THIS TRAIL AND HAVE FOLKS OUT, UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE FOREST IS AS HEALTHY AS CAN BE.
AND, UH, INVASIVE PLANTS ARE A REAL MAJOR, UM, CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US IN THE NATURAL RESOURCE FIELD AND IN THE AGRICULTURE FIELD.
UM, THERE ARE PLANTS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE OUTCOMPETING ARE NATIVE PLANTS, AND, AND YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THOSE PLANTS ARE ACTUALLY A LITTLE OPPRESSIVE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE TRAIL.
THEY KIND OF FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TAKING OVER.
UM, BUT THEY'RE ALSO NOT PROVIDING GOOD FOOD FOR OUR WILDLIFE.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVING A LOT OF BENEFIT.
SO WE, UM, PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER WHO IS REALLY TAKING CARE OF PLANTS AND PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO SHE'S OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR.
SHE'S DOING A BRAND NEW VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FOR FOLA, REALLY FOCUSED ON REMOVING INVASIVE PLANTS AND, AND PUTTING IN NEW NATIVE PLANTS.
AND SO THIS IS A GREAT PICTURE, UM, WHERE WE BRING HISTORY INTO THE MIX TOO.
THIS IS A, UH, SOME HISTORIC FOUNDATIONS IN PETERSBURG AND HAD INVASIVE PLANTS ON IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY A WIN-WIN WHERE WE REMOVE PLANTS WITH STUDENTS, BUT ALSO ARE UNCOVERING AND, AND HONORING THOSE HISTORIC ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'LL CERTAINLY BE DOING A LOT OF INVASIVE PLANT WORK IN FERNDALE PARK.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY UNIQUE ACTUAL, UM, RESOURCES IN FERNDALE PARK IDENTIFIED BY DCR, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE INVASIVE SPECIES TO PROTECT THAT UNIQUE, UM, RESOURCE WE HAVE AT FERNDALE.
SO I'M JUST GONNA WRAP UP WITH SHOWING YOU OUR CALENDAR AND INVITING YOU TO, UH, COME OUT AND JOIN US.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS LIKE, UH, PADDLE OR BATTLE IN EVERY FALL.
UM, WE HAVE ADDED ALL THESE STEWARDSHIP SATURDAYS YOU'LL SEE TO THE CALENDAR.
SO EVERY SATURDAY WE'RE OUT WITH VOLUNTEERS, UM, DOING THAT INVASIVE CLEAN AND CLEANUP WORK.
UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY ADD MORE IN DURING THE, DURING THE YEAR IF ANYONE HAS A SPECIFIC CIVIC GROUP OR SCHOOL GROUP THAT THEY WANNA TAKE OUT, WE'RE CERTAINLY, UM, HAVE SOME MORE STAFF CAPACITY TO HELP DO THAT.
SO WE'LL BE HOPEFULLY GETTING OUT TO FERNDALE PARK AND STARTING TO DO SOME OF THAT WORK AT FERNDALE THIS YEAR.
UM, SO WE HOPE YOU CAN COME JOIN US IN JUNE.
WE'LL HAVE OUR COMMUNITY AWARDS AND WE HOPE YOU CAN COME JOIN US FOR, FOR ANY EVENT THIS YEAR.
AND WITH THAT, UM, WENDY, AND ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE WORKING AT THIS WESTERN ENTRANCE AND WORKING IN DENWITTY AND SUCH GOOD TIMING WITH YOUR COMP PLAN AND ALL THE OTHER GREAT PLANNING WORK YOU GUYS HAVE.
SO WE ARE, ARE HAPPY TO, TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE FOR AN UPDATE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
F HAS COME A LONG, LONG WAY FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE ALMOST THE BEGINNING OF FLAR, UH, AT THE CREATOR PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION AND, AND OTHERS INVOLVED.
WE, THERE'S THE SITE THAT WE'RE GOING FORWARD IS FANTASTIC.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT FERNDALE PARK AND OTHER AREAS ALONG THE THE WATERWAY.
[6.C. The James House]
MOVE ON ON THE SCHEDULE.WE'VE GOT THE JAMES HOUSE WITH US TODAY.
LILY QUINTANA, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
I JUST WANNA GIVE A FEW SHOUT OUTS BEFORE I GET STARTED.
UM, OUR BOARD MEMBER AND OUR DEAR MS. BRENDA BONNER.
SO WE, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SERVING ON OUR BOARD AND DR. MOORE.
THEY LET ME KNOW THAT YOU STOPPED BY, SO WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION AS WELL, UM, WITHIN THE AGENCY.
UM, SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AS WELL.
UM, I KNOW LAST TIME I CAME HERE I SPOKE ABOUT A NEW INITIATIVE THAT WE WERE GONNA START, WHICH WERE THE TEEN HYGIENE KITS THAT WE WERE GONNA PROVIDE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS JUST WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY EVEN ENTERED INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UM, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE.
AND THAT HAS ACTUALLY LED TO PARTNERSHIPS.
[00:55:01]
WE'VE RECEIVED PHONE CALLS FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, UM, ABOUT FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED OF OUR SERVICES.SO WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE FAMILIES AT THE SCHOOL.
UM, SO THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING THIS FRIDAY WITH THE DENWOODY HIGH SCHOOL TO POSSIBLY BRING IN PREVENTION WORK.
UM, AND THIS IS AN AWESOME PROGRAM, SO WE HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FULFILL THAT WORK AS WELL.
UM, I ALWAYS SAY I WANNA WORK MYSELF OUT OF A JOB, SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE NEWS THAT THERE'S NO MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND NO MORE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THEY DON'T NEED ME ANYMORE.
UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICE OF PREVENTION AT A YOUNG AGE AND LET YOU KNOW THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS KNOW AND THE YOUTH KNOW WHAT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
SO HOPEFULLY THOSE NUMBERS START TO GO DOWN.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK IN DUNWOODY COUNTY.
WE'VE BEEN JOINING A LOT OF THE TRIAD MEETINGS.
SO I'VE SEEN MY BUDDY, UH, THE DEPUTY
WE'VE BEEN HOSTING EVENTS AT THE EAST SIDE ENHANCEMENT CENTER.
I PERSONALLY, I AM A RESIDENT OF DENWOODY COUNTY, SO I'VE BEEN WORKING OUT OF THERE AS WELL.
JUST LETTING THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE'RE THERE AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO OUR BUSINESS OFFICE.
WE CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICE BASICALLY ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, AND WE JUST CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS THAT JAMES HOUSE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND HELP TO FAMILIES.
UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IS JUST WITH BEING IN A RURAL COUNTY, THERE ISN'T REALLY A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION.
UM, SO THAT WE'RE ALSO SEEKING FUNDING FOR BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION THROUGH LYFTS AND UBERS TO HELP CLIENTS, UM, THAT ARE HERE IN THE COUNTY, GET TO OUR SHELTER OR GET TO ANY DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS THAT THEY MAY NEED THAT IS GONNA HELP THEM OR ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS TO HELP THEM TO GET INTO HOUSING AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE THAT MOVE AND LEAVE THEIR PERPETRATOR.
SO JUST ON BEHALF OF THE JAMES HOUSE, WE WANNA THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING US.
UM, AND WITH FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS THAT ARE COMING DOWN OUR WAY, WE'VE HEARD SOME NOT SO GOOD NEWS.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, AND WE, WE COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE THIS WAY WE CAN TRULY HELP THE FAMILIES IN NEED AND THE CHILDREN HAVE A SAFE HOME.
UM, WE'RE ALSO ENGAGING WITH THE DIMITY CHAMBER, UH, SO I'M ACTUALLY A BOARD MEMBER NOW ON THERE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO JUST BE ACTIVELY INTO D WITTY AND JUST HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
SO, BEHALF OF THE JAMES HOUSE, THANK YOU ALL SO, SO MUCH.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
UM, I TALKED TO HER THE OTHER WEEK AND, UM, SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT THEY HAVE AND, UM, I'M A PART OF THE PETERSBURG, UM, SENIOR CENTER.
AND, UM, SHE DON THEY DONATED SOME, UM, BRAND NEW, UM, JEANS AND SKIRTS AND THINGS, AND I TOOK THEM OVER AND ALSO PURSES WITH, UM, UH, SOME TOILETRIES IN THERE.
AND, AND SOME OF THE SENIORS, THEY WERE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
ONE OF THE LADIES WHO'S ALWAYS, UM, KNITTING, SHE WAS REALLY HAPPY.
I SAID, YES, IT'S FREE, YOU KNOW, SO SHE WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
AND, UM, THEN I CALLED HER, I TALKED TO, UH, THREE BUSINESSES AND, UM, THEY'RE GONNA MAKE A DONATION TO THE JAMES HOUSE, SO I HAD TO GET WITH LILY AND TELL THEM, UM, WHERE WE CAN MEET THEM AND, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO, UM, GIVE US SOME CHECKS.
SO THAT IS A GREAT THING, YOU KNOW, HE SAID, JUST COME.
I SAID, OKAY, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, HE SAID HOW MUCH? I SAID, DON'T ASK ME THAT.
SO, BUT, UM, WE ARE GONNA BE DOING THAT.
SO THREE BUSINESSES AND I WILL BE GETTING WITH LILY TO, UM, GET THOSE DONATIONS TO THE JAMES HOUSE.
SO I'LL SHARE MY STORY, HOW, WHERE THE CLOTHES CAME FROM.
SO I HAVE AN 18-YEAR-OLD THAT'S A SENIOR AT DENWOODY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I WENT INTO HER ROOM AND IT LOOKED LIKE A DISASTER AREA,
AND I TOLD HER, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU HAVE CLOTHES IN HERE THAT HAVE, HAVE NOT BEEN ON YOUR BODY IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
WELL, SHE'S GROWN ABOUT THREE INCHES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I SAID, I WANT YOU TO TAKE OUT THE CLOTHES THAT YOU'VE GOT THAT YOU CANNOT WEAR, AND I WILL TAKE THEM TO THE JAMES HOUSE SO THEY WILL BE WORN BY SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS HELP.
AND SO, SIX BAGS FROM OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM WENT TO THE JAMES HOUSE THIS PAST THURSDAY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE THINGS.
UH, I KIND OF HAVE A MOTTO, IF IT HADN'T BEEN ON MY BODY IN THE LAST YEAR, IT PROBABLY ISN'T GOING ON MY BODY.
SO FROM A CLOTHING POINT OF VIEW, YEAH.
SO, UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO US COMPARED TO GOODWILL, BECAUSE I KNOW WHO IT GOES TO.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE LISTENING, UM, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
ALL THEY GOTTA DO IS CALL THE JAMES HOUSE.
THEY'RE ON THE WEBSITE TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT CLOTHING DOWN THERE, OR OTHER GIFTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.
[01:00:01]
THANK Y'ALL.[6.D. Virginia Crossroads]
ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER SIX D IS VIRGINIA CROSSROADS AND BEVERLY HAWTHORNE IS WITH US TODAY.I THINK LAST YEAR I GAVE EVERYBODY A COPY OF OUR BROCHURE, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
EVERYBODY WILL HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO YOU ALL REMEMBER ME? I'M BEVERLY HAWTHORNE, AND UM, UP UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH, I WAS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSON IN THE CITY OF EMPORIA.
I HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED LAMAR HOY, AND Y'ALL WILL HOPEFULLY MEET HIM SOON, BUT HE'S GETTING, UM, ACCLIMATED TO EMPORIA AND I THINK LEARNING A LOT.
SO MY PHONE IS RINGING EVERY NOW AND THEN.
I HAVE WITH ME MY OTHER REPLACEMENT IN THE PART OF MY WORLD.
HE IS THE PLANNING AND ECONOMIC AND TOURISM DIRECTOR FOR NOTTAWAY COUNTY.
AND SO HE HAS TAKEN OVER AS THE CHAIRMAN OF VIRGINIA'S CROSSROADS.
BUT I THINK ONE THING THAT I NEED TO MENTION, UH, VERY IMPORTANTLY, AND THAT IS STACY, YES.
WE, WE HAVE EMAILED BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WE'VE NEVER EVER MET EACH OTHER YET.
SO ANYWAY, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SO STACEY REPRESENTS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH VIRGINIA'S CROSSROADS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
CHANGE IN PEOPLE, OKAY? MM-HMM
SO, UM, AND GREG IS NEW TO NOT AWAY.
SO WE HAVE FIVE OR SIX OF THE COUNTIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF VIRGINIA'S CROSSROADS THAT HAVE HAD NEW PEOPLE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SO THAT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, KNOW, KIND OF MAKES FOR SOME INTERESTING THINGS.
WE HAVE TO BACK UP AND REVOTE ON SOME THINGS BECAUSE SOMEBODY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND, THEY'D NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE, AND ALL THESE THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WHAT YOU HAVE, UM, THE BACKUP, THE BACKGROUND IS VIRGINIA CROSSROADS BY DEFINITION IS A MARKETING CONSORTIUM MADE UP OF 14 MEMBERS CURRENTLY.
OKAY? THOSE MEMBERS ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN REMEMBER.
'EM,
CITY OF PETERSBURG, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, VIRGINIA STATE PARKS, AND THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK AT APAX.
SO THOSE ARE THE PAYING MEMBERS AND THE VOTING MEMBERS, OUR ME OUR MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME AND THAT HAS GOOD IDEAS.
UM, SO THIS CHANGE THING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, LET'S SEE, SOMEBODY HAS, NO, NOBODY HAS THIS ONE.
I HAVE THIS ONE, ONE PLACE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING FOR YEARS.
YOU, YOU ALL PAY $4,500 A YEAR, OKAY? AND THE CRUX OF WHAT VIRGINIA'S CROSSROADS DOES, CIVIL WAR TRAILS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND EDUCATION, HERITAGE TRAIL, THEN WE HAVE ALSO GOT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OF ALL KINDS.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WAS THE BIG THING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
THAT'S WHY OUR BROCHURE SAYS TRAILBLAZERS WELCOME, BECAUSE MOST EVERY COUNTY IN OUR WHOLE AREA HAS GOT OUTDOOR THINGS TO DO WITH TRAILS, WHETHER IT BE AS IN DENWITTY WITH MOTOR SPORTS OR WITH FLAR.
AND, AND I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW FLAR FROM THE CRATER, UM, THE CRATER P UM, PLANNING DISTRICT.
AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM IN OUR BROCHURE.
OKAY? UM, SO THAT IS WHAT WE DO.
THOSE ARE THREE THE BASIC THINGS WE DO.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT ADDING A TRAIL OF MUSIC, OKAY? SO JUST HAVE, AND, AND WHEN WE SAY A TRAIL, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GO FROM ONE COMMUNITY TO THE OTHER.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO GET THE, UM, THE MUSICAL EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN ALL OF OUR COUNTIES, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE, UM, DRAMA EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN ALL OF OUR COUNTIES.
[01:05:01]
THERE, WE WILL ADVERTISE ON SHORT TERM WEEKENDS OR LONG WEEKS THAT INCLUDE TWO OR THREE OF THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES.OKAY? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE.
NOW, ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE USING TO DO THIS IS A COM, IT'S A PUBLICATION CALLED RECREATION NEWS.
RECREATION NEWS IS A PUBLICATION THAT EVERYBODY WHO WORKS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA GETS THIS PUBLICATION.
AND, AND SO THIS IS THE STATISTICS.
THE STORY WENT TO APPROXIMATELY 100,000 PRINT SUBSCRIBERS, 60,000 WEB VIEWS, AND ANOTHER 60,000 DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERS IN THE WASHINGTON BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN AREA.
OUR READERS HAVE AN AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND, 108,000 A YEAR, AND AN AVERAGE OF 49 DAYS OFF PER YEAR.
NOT COUNTING WEEKENDS, GOVERNMENT PEOPLE WE'RE ALL THERE, OKAY? THEY'RE AN ACTIVE AUDIENCE AND IT TAKES AN AVERAGE OF 11 LEISURE TRIPS PER YEAR.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES THAT WE ADVERTISE BECAUSE THEY'RE CLOSE BY, THEY HAVE MONEY, AND WE HAVE THINGS THEY DON'T HAVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
NOW, THE THINGS THAT THEY DO FOR US FOUR TIMES A YEAR, THIS IS ONE OF THE COPIES.
AND HE'S, HE, THEY CALL US UP AND SAY, WHAT DO YOU WANT IN THE ARTICLE THIS TIME? OKAY.
AND SO THAT'S WHEN I SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO EVERYBODY AND SAY, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT GOING ON IN APRIL? AND MAY SEND IT BACK TO ME.
IF Y'ALL'S REPRESENTATIVE DOESN'T SEND IT BACK TO ME, I DON'T GET IT.
OKAY? SO, AND THAT'S, THAT'S TRUE OF EVERYBODY.
AND I'M NOT PICKING ON STACY OR ANYBODY HERE BECAUSE THEY'VE USUALLY BEEN REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT GIVING ME THINGS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL COMPLAIN THAT, WELL, MY STUFF DIDN'T GET IN THERE.
WELL, IF YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THE EMAIL, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THREE MONTHS TO GET IT READY.
BUT THIS ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS NEW SITES ALONG THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION HERITAGE TRAIL, WHICH WAS A YEAR AGO, WAS COMPLETED.
AND THIS ONE HAS GOT BRUNSWICK BUCKINGHAM, CHARLOTTE DENWITTY, CUMBERLAND DENWITTY, GREENSVILLE EMPORIA, HALIFAX BURG, MECKLENBURG PETERSBURG, PRINCE EDWARD, ALL ARE IN HERE.
AND THEN THEY SEND US TO OUR WEBSITE.
OKAY? SO ADDITIONALLY WE GET PEOPLE'S EMAIL ADDRESSES WHEN THEY ASK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE, OKAY? SO WE HAVE WAY TO FOLLOW PEOPLE UP.
GREEN MEANS ONE THING AND WHITE MEANS ANOTHER.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT, BUT GREEN IS BETTER.
SO, BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF ADVERTISING THAT WE ARE DOING.
SO EACH ONE OF YOU HAS AN ADVERTISING TYPE IN YOUR HAND, IF YOU'D PLEASE HOLD IT UP.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT ONE FOR JUST A SECOND.
WELL, THEY ALL KIND OF FILTERED THEIR WAY BACK.
OKAY, THIS ONE IS FROM USA TODAY.
THAT IS FROM THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE ADVERTISED IN THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, USA TODAY SPECIAL SECTION.
NOW OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A VERY SMALL AD, BUT THAT GOES TO EVERY USA TODAY PRESCRIBER SUBSCRIBER.
IT IS SOLD ON STANDS, AND IT IS ONLINE DIGITALLY.
SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE, THEY GOT IT.
DID THEY READ IT? DID THEY SEE OUR AD? WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT WHEN WE GET MORE HITS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT COMES OUT ON OUR WEBSITE, WE KIND OF SORT OF HAVE TO THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
KEVIN, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT? HUNT AND FISH.
THAT IS ANOTHER, UM, ANOTHER OF THE USA TODAY PUBLICATIONS.
AND THIS ONE, UM, IS VERY, I THINK IT'S VERY NEAT.
IT COVERS HUNTING AND FISHING.
AND OF COURSE, BEING WITH MECKLENBURG ALL THE WAY UP TO DENWITTY AND PETERSBURG, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES ON THE LAKES, ON THE WATER, YOU KNOW, FISHING.
AND THEN IN THE HUNTING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, UM, HUNT CLUBS ALL AROUND.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS OUT IN OUR AREA CALLED OUTDOOR ACCESS THAT MARRIES PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HUNT WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE LAND THAT WANT SOMEBODY TO COME AND HUNT ON.
THAT MAGAZINE ALSO IS SUPPORTED BY AND CARRIED BY ON THEIR WEBSITE.
UM, BASS PRO SHOPS AND CAPELLAS.
SO WE, WE HAVE DONE THAT, THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT LAST YEAR.
AND WE ARE GONNA DO THAT ONE THIS YEAR ALSO.
[01:10:01]
LEE'S RETREAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF VIRGINIA'S CROSSROADS.IT WAS THE ORGAN, IT WAS THE TRAIL THAT DEVELOPED THE FIRST COUNTIES THAT GOT TOGETHER, WHICH ARE THE ONES ALONG THE NOR NORTHERN EDGE.
AND THEN IN THAT BROCHURE IS ALSO THE WILSON COUCH RAID, WHICH CARRIES, CARRIES THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES THAT CAME BACK.
THAT ONE IS, UH, GETTING READY TO BE COMPLETELY REDONE.
WE'VE HAD ALMOST ALL THE SIGNAGES DONE, UH, UPDATED.
UM, THE CIVIL WAR TRAILS IS VERY, VERY, UM, AWARE OF BEING SURE TO ADD IN DIVERSITY WHEREVER IT CAN.
AND THE DIVERSITY CARRIES A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AS FAR AS A WAR IS CONCERNED.
OKAY? AND I THINK ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES IS, IS THERE IS A CIVIL WAR TRAIL SIGN RIGHT OFF OF THE APP APPALACHIAN TRAIL.
OKAY? THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL MARKER STILL HAS ALL THE INFORMATION, BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THAT, WHY THAT MARKER WAS THERE TO BEGIN WITH.
BUT NOW THEY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED WHAT DID THE CIVIL WAR UNION AND CONFEDERATE PERSON CARRY ON HIS BACK WALKING DOWN THIS TRAIL? SO IT'S AN INFORMATIONAL THING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL THESE THINGS NOW THAT IF WE'VE GOT 15 POUNDS ON OUR BACK, WE THINK, WHEW.
OUR GUYS, OUR, OUR SOLDIERS FROM BOTH THE UNION AND THE CONFEDERATE ARMIES, WERE CARRYING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 POUNDS ON THEIR BACKS ON GOOD DAY.
OKAY? SO LEE'S RETREAT, ALL THE CIVIL WAR TRAILS ARE STARTING TO UPGRADE.
THEY'RE BRINGING IN OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN AND INTEREST FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN THIS BATTLE WAS GOING ON.
WE ARE IN THE VIRGINIA TRAVEL GUIDE IN TWO PLACES IN THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA AREA, AS WELL AS THE SOUTHERN VIRGINIA AREA.
EVERY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HAS, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE TRAVEL GUIDE.
AND EVERYBODY SENDS EVERYBODY BACK TO THE WEBSITES AND TO OUR WEBSITE NORTHEAST.
THAT IS ONE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA DO AGAIN.
BUT THAT'S ALSO A USA TODAY, UM, ADVERTISEMENT PUBLICATION.
IT HAS A WHOLE SECTION COMING FROM MAINE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GOOD OLD MID-ATLANTIC STOPPING WITH US IN VIRGINIA.
AND WE ARE IN THE VIRGINIA SECTION AND, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO CHARLOTTESVILLE.
I DIDN'T GET MINE BACK I'S FAR, I'S GOT ONE BROCHURE.
AH, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION HERITAGE TRAIL, ANOTHER ONE OF OUR VERY HAPPY, HAPPY THINGS.
UM, WE HAVE ADDED ALL OF THE SITES THAT WE CAN ADD ON THE SECOND ROUND.
AND ALL WE HAVE LEFT TO DO IS HAVE A DA GUIDELINES PUT IN AND INSTALLED IN ALL OF THE NEW SITES.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE MONEY.
OKAY? WE THINK THAT, UM, WE ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I KNOW THAT WITH, UM, A LOT OF NEW FOLKS COMING ON, THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, ONLINE AND VIRTUAL.
AND WELL, WHAT ABOUT THIS, WHAT ABOUT THAT? WHAT WE DID A YEAR AGO, AND I'M PRETTY SURE I TALKED ABOUT IT LAST YEAR, WAS WE WORKED WITH A, A GENTLEMAN.
AND I KNOW AS A PERSON WHO USES THE INTERNET, IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU.
BUT IF YOU GOOGLE SOMETHING AND THEN THE NEXT TIME THAT THAT COVER PAGE OR THAT FRONT PAGE COMES ON, THERE'S AN AD ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST GOOGLED.
OKAY? I MEAN, HAS THAT HAPPENED TO EVERYBODY? MM-HMM
SO IF ANYBODY TALKED ABOUT CIVIL WAR HISTORY, IF ANYBODY ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT CIVIL WAR HISTORY, ABOUT BLACK HISTORY, ABOUT EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS, UM, ANYTHING ABOUT ANY OF THE STUFF THAT WE COVER, UM, UH, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? UM, WHAT IS IT? WHEN YOU SWING THROUGH THE AIR ON A, OH, ZIP ZIPLINING LINE ZIPLINING, THANK YOU.
WHOEVER, UM, ZIPLINING, IF YOU, IF YOU, IF YOU GO, IF YOU ASK A QUESTION ABOUT ZIPLINING, WHERE CAN YOU ZIPLINE? GUESS WHAT? VIRGINIA'S CROSSROADS AD WITH ITS, ITS WEBSITE APPEARED, MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO CHECK THIS OUT, KIND OF THING THAT CREATE, IT CREATED SO MANY MORE HITS ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WE GOT A LITTLE CONCERNED.
SO WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IN THIS, THE END OF THIS YEAR AND INTO NEXT YEAR, IS WE WILL BE UPDATING OUR WEBSITE.
WE WILL BE UPDATING THIS BROCHURE AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOT SOMEBODY THAT IS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THE WEBSITE AND IS ALSO ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON FACEBOOK.
SO WE ARE BUSY AND I'M GLAD HE'S GONNA BE IN CHARGE
[01:15:01]
SO ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? NO.BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GOOGLE ANYTHING ANYMORE.
ALL YOU'VE GOTTA DO IS THINK IT OR SAY IT AINT LOUD.
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, IT APPEALS.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
AND I'M GONNA SAY THIS, THIS YEAR, JUST LIKE I DID LAST YEAR, PETERSBURG AREA REGIONAL TOURISM IS A GREAT GROUP AND THEY SERVE AND, AND HANDLE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ASPECT OF WHAT YOU ALL DO FROM WHAT WE DO.
SO I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT US BOTH.
YOU WANT THESE BACK? I'M GONNA TAKE THOSE BACK.
[Additonal Item]
ALRIGHT, LET'S GET US A BROADBAND UPDATE.UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, WISH I WAS HERE WITH A LITTLE BIT BETTER NEWS TO TELL YOU A LOT MORE THAT, THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE, GET DONE.
BUT, UH, BUT WE'VE REALLY, UH, WORKED HARD IN DEN WI COUNTY, WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO, TO GET WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT SEE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE FIELD, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE.
UH, FIRST OFF, OUR COOPERATIVE LIVING ROOM, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS, HAS HAD A CHANCE TO GO BY AND VISIT THE COOPERATIVE LIVING ROOM.
WE HAVE IT STAFFED EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, AND WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT FIVE FAMILIES PER DAY COMING THROUGH THERE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
WE'VE DONE THIS IN ANOTHER LOCALITY, AND WE, WE DON'T GET NEAR THAT MUCH FOOT TRAFFIC THROUGH THERE.
SO I THINK THE LOCATION THAT, UH, THE COUNTY HELPED US DECIDE ON REALLY, UH, ADDS TO THE APPEAL OF COMING INTO THAT COOPERATIVE LIVING ROOM.
UH, SECONDLY, I JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A WAREHOUSE IN DENWITTY COUNTY.
UM, IT'S OVER THERE BY THE AIRPORT.
UM, WE'RE USING THAT TO STORE ALL OUR FIBER RELATED MATERIALS.
SO ONCE THE CONSTRUCTION PART REALLY GETS ROLLING, WE'RE NOT WASTING THE CONTRACTOR'S TIME GOING TO WAVERLY AND, AND TRYING TO COME ALL THE WAY BACK TO DENWITTY.
SO WE WENT AHEAD AND INVESTED IN THAT TO, TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE STREAMLINED FOR US AND FOR THE COUNTY TO GET THE PROJECT DONE.
UM, THIRD ON MY LIST HERE IS, IS SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC.
UM, SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC'S LEADERSHIP, RURAL BAND, AND DE WITTY COUNTY'S LEADERSHIP MET YESTERDAY.
UM, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A COMMON GROUND ON OUR POLE ATTACHMENT REQUEST.
AND TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND OF IT, UH, IT, THERE, THERE'S TWO WAYS OF, OF LOOKING AT OUR REQUEST FOR SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC.
MEDIUM, UM, NESC STANDS WITH THE NATURAL NATIONAL ELECTRIC SAFETY CODE.
UH, BASICALLY MEDIUM ALLOWS, UH, THE STUDIES TO BE FORMED, UH, TO BE PERFORMED AT A QUARTER INCH OF ICE.
AND THEN THE OTHER STANDARD IS NESC HEAVY.
AND THAT HEAVY BASICALLY GETS LOOKED AT AS A, AT A HALF INCH OF ICE.
WELL, DENWOOD COUNTY, THE ZONE THAT IT IS IN, IT IS ACTUALLY RATED FOR NESC MEDIUM AND WE'RE WORKING WITH SOUTH SIDE TO, TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME STUDIES PERFORMED WITH THEM, UH, AT THAT RATING.
THAT'S REALLY GOING TO SAVE US TIME AND A LOT OF COST ON, ON DOING POLE CHANGE OUTS IF, IF WE CHOOSE TO ATTACH TO THEIR POLES.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE OVER 2,500, UH, POLE ATTACHMENT REQUEST IN WITH SOUTH SIDE.
AND THIS UNCERTAINTY IS REALLY WHAT'S CAUSED OUR DELAYS IN THE COUNTY OF, OF ALLOW, YOU KNOW, US NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND GET, GET THE CONSTRUCTION ROLLING UNTIL WE FIGURE THIS PART OUT.
IT IS GONNA HOLD US BACK FOR A LITTLE BIT.
NOW ON THE HEELS OF THAT, I DO WANT TALK ABOUT SOME PROACTIVE STEPS THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, IN THE COUNTY.
UH, IN ZONE ONE, UH, OUR INE ZONE, WE HAVE ALREADY BEGAN UNDERGROUND WORK IN THIS ZONE.
SO EVEN THOUGH, UH, BUILDING FIBERS OUT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA PUT IN YOUR FIRST STEP, SECOND STEP, THIRD STEP, AND, AND BUILD THE, ALMOST LIKE A WATER LINE.
YOU GOTTA START AT THE WATER TOWER AND BUILD OUT.
UH, AND EVEN THOUGH WE WON'T, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE, THE PROCEEDING SECTIONS BUILT OUT TO SOME OF THE UNDERGROUND WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING AS MUCH DONE AS WE CAN.
SO WE'RE LAYING FIBER DOWN, UM, IN THE SUBDIVISIONS AND ZONE ONE, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO, TO WORK THAT ZONE OUT ANYWHERE WE CAN DO OUR UNDERGROUND WORK, UH, TO COMPLETE THAT.
UM, WITH THAT, UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME PLACES WE CAN GO ON DOMINION SYSTEM.
UM, WE'VE GOT A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH DOMINION.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY APPLIED AND GOT APPROVAL FOR 400 POLE ATTACHMENTS, AND THERE'S ONLY ABOUT FIVE POLES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED OUT ON DOMINION SYSTEM.
SO THAT'LL BE DONE FAIRLY QUICKLY.
[01:20:01]
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT DOES 400 POLES MEAN, THAT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 25 MILES THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND START PULLING ON DOMINION SYSTEM.NOW WITH THIS CHANGE AND, AND HOW WE'RE TRYING TO, I'M, I'M GONNA KINDA USE LIKE HOP, SKIP, AND JUMP.
UM, WE'RE GONNA REALLY TRY TO, TO GO INTO INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND GET EASEMENTS.
UH, THE STATE LAW ALLOWS US TO ATTACH TO A ELECTRIC UTILITY AS LONG AS WE ATTACH TO THEM, UH, OR GO IN THEIR EASEMENT THE SAME WAY THE ELECTRICITY'S RAN.
SO IN DENWITTY EVERYTHING'S PRETTY MUCH OVERHEAD.
SO IF WE WANT TO TRY TO EXPEDITE THE BUILD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME STRATEGIC WAYS TO GO UNDERGROUND.
IF WE DO GO UNDERGROUND, WE'RE GONNA CONTACT INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO OBTAIN A SEPARATE EASEMENT FOR THAT.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA TAKE TIME ONE, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME YOU GOT TO GO AND TRY TO PROCURE EASEMENTS, UM, THAT, THAT'S GONNA TAKE TIME AND IT'S GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LAYS WITH KNOWING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE 20 LANDOWNERS WHO ARE 100% OKAY WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, GOING ACROSS THEIR PROPERTY UNDERGROUND.
IF YOU GET ONE, THE ONE RIGHT NEXT TO 'EM, NOT WANTING TO ALLOW YOU ON THEIR PROPERTY, THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BE A HEADACHE FOR US THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
UM, AND LASTLY, UH, THE ORIGINAL DEPLOYMENT ORDER THAT WE HAD AND IT WAS POSTED ON DENWITTY COUNTY'S WEBSITE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MODIFY THAT.
UH, GIVEN THE WORKAROUNDS WE'RE DOING, UH, WE HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE THAT CLEANED UP AND CAN, CAN PRESENT SOMETHING BACK OUT TO THE PUBLIC IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
'CAUSE IT'S, UH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT WE HAVE, BUT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY ANGLE WE CAN AND, AND TRYING TO FIND, YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY, DIFFERENT WAYS TO SCAN THIS CAB.
UM, ALSO WANNA TOUCH ON, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF CERTIFYING AND, AND PRE-REGISTRATION.
WHAT SELF CERTIFYING IS, IS, UH, WE WERE OF COURSE GIVEN A GRANT, UM, THROUGH THE VADI PROGRAM IN DEITY COUNTY TO SERVE ALL UNDERSERVED LOCATIONS OR NON SERVE LOCATIONS.
WELL, THOSE LOCATIONS WERE BASED OFF OF FCC MAPS THAT, UM, IF YOU FOLLOW ANYTHING, UH, WITH BROADBAND, THEY'RE FAR FROM PERFECT.
SO ANY RESIDENT THAT MIGHT NOT BE INCLUDED IN A CURRENT ZONE THAT WE HAVE, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE AND WE'LL SET THEM UP THROUGH THE SELF-CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
WHAT THAT WILL DO THAT, THAT ALLOWS RURAL BAND TO THEN USE SOME OF THE STATE FUNDING AND, UH, COUNTY FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE TO SERVE THOSE HOMES WITHOUT THEM SELF CERTIFYING.
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE STATE FUNDS TO SERVE ANY HOMES OUTSIDE THE PROJECT SCOPE.
SO THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT FOR ANY HOMEOWNER.
AND WE, WE'VE HAD PROBABLY 10 TO 15 ALREADY CONTACT US AND GET ON THAT LIST SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WAYS TO BUILD TO THEM.
UH, AND LASTLY, PRE-REGISTRATION.
UH, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LET US KNOW WHAT THE, UH, APPETITE IS FOR IN-HOME CONNECTIONS WHEN WE GO INTO AN AREA, IT'S JUST ONCE WE GET ALL OUR EQUIPMENT IN AN AREA AND START DOING THE CONSTRUCTION, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO RUN THOSE DROPS TO THE HOMES WHILE WE'RE THERE VERSUS HAVING TO COME BACK AT A LATER DATE TO INTERCONNECT A HOUSE.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD, UH, FOR QUESTIONS, ANYTHING YOU SAY? NO.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, NO BIG COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
JUST HOPE WE CAN WORK THOSE THINGS OUT AND GET THE THINGS MOVING, MOVE ALONG QUICKER.
AND WE, AND LIKE I, LIKE I MENTIONED, IF, IF WE CAN'T GO ONE ROUTE, WE'RE GONNA FIND A WAY TO GO ANOTHER ROUTE.
UM, MIGHT, MIGHT TAKE MORE TIME, UH, TO WANT TO PREP THE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN THE COUNTY FOR THAT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS PROJECT SUCCESSFUL.
MR. I, I'D LIKE IT, IT'S, UM, I HAVE IT AND, UH, IT'S REALLY GOOD.
SO I'M JUST HOPING EVERYBODY ELSE CAN GET THE SAME THING I HAVE, SO YES, SIR.
I, I, UH, ONE APPRECIATE CASEY GIVING THE UPDATE TODAY AND, AND HAVING SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC'S LEADERSHIP, UH, COME TO THE TABLE YESTERDAY TO, TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AND AS AN END RESULT OF THAT CONVERSATION YESTERDAY, WE, ABOUT TWO WEEKS, WE'RE GONNA BE MEETING BACK AGAIN WITH THE, THE CEOS LIKE CASEY AND JASON AND, UM, TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WANTING TO COME TO THE TABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
[7.A. Contract Award, Tent Rentals For County Fair]
GOT SOME ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING.SEVEN A IS A CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE 10TH RENTALS FOR THE COUNTY FAIR.
STACEY ENGLISH, HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING? GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.
SO THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS, UM, A CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE TENT RENTALS.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN UNDER CONTRACT WITH TOP SIDE SINCE 2020 AND THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES, UM, WELL EXPIRED JANUARY.
UM, WE HAVE RELEASED AN RFQ FOR TENT RENTALS.
ONE VENDOR, WHICH IS TOP SIDE, THE ONE WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH, RESPONDED WITH
[01:25:01]
A QUOTE OF, UM, JUST UNDER $15,000 FOR THE TENT RENTALS.SO THE COUNTY FOUND THIS QUOTE TO BE REASONABLE AND UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVING THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU.
OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, IS THAT A QUESTION? IS THAT A CONTRACT? WHAT IS IT A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT OR? YES.
SO IT'S, UM, A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND IT'S RENEWABLE FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS.
SO THROUGH 2027 IT'S POSSIBLE WE COULD GET OUT AFTER ONE YEAR IF WE HAD TO.
MS. CHAIRMAN TO THAT POINT AND THE, IF YOU ADD UP ALL THE FIVE YEARS, YOU'RE OVER THE 50,000.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE, YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO LOOK AT THAT NOW.
BUT IT DOES GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT YEAR OVER YEAR, BUT WE'VE BEEN PRETTY HAPPY WITH THEM OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM.
MR. CHAIRMAN? NO, THE QUESTIONS.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND ROLL CALL.
[7.B. Contract Award, Temporary Lights And Generators For County Fair]
WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND PART AND THAT IS THE CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE TEMPORARY LIGHTS AND GENERATORS FOR THE COUNTY FAIR? YES.SO, UM, WE HAVE BEEN UNDER CONTRACT WITH SUNBELT RENTALS, UM, SINCE 2020 AND THAT CONTRACT EXPIRES IN MARCH.
WE RELEASED THE RFQ UH, FOR LIGHTS AND GENERATORS ON JANUARY 18TH OF THIS YEAR AND WE HAD TWO VENDORS RESPOND.
UM, AFTER CAR CAREFUL REVIEW, WE DECIDED TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO SUNBELT RENTALS WITH AN ESTIMATED COST PER YEAR OF A $10,000.
UM, AND IT'S THE SAME CONTRACT GOOD FOR A YEAR, RENEWABLE UP TO FOUR YEARS THROUGH 2027.
UM, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION PROVIDED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MAKE A MOTION BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.
[7.C. Contract Award, New Transaction Counter For Circuit Court]
ALL RIGHT.UH, NEXT CONTRACT AWARD IS UM, SEVEN C AND THAT IS THE NEW TRANSACTION COUNTER FOR THE CIRCUIT COURT.
WE HAVE MR. BARR CHAPEL WITH US TODAY, THE CLERK OF THE COURT.
UM, I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE, UM, CONTRACT FOR THE NEW TRANSACTION COUNTER.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, IN THE MEMO, WE, WE PUT THIS OUT TO BID THREE TIMES AND, AND FIRST TIME UNSUCCESSFUL.
HOPEFULLY THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY TO FORM BY TYLER, HOPEFULLY TO FORM ONLY.
UM, THE, THE, UM, BENEFITS THIS WILL HAVE, IT'S, IT'S, WE'RE DOING A REDESIGN OF OUR WORKING AREA.
UM, THE WORLD'S CHANGED A LOT SINCE THE COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO.
AND UM, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, HARRISON, I BELIEVE YOU WERE ON THE BOARD THEN.
UM, AND UH, WE'RE ONE OF THE LAST OFFICES THAT IS NOT UNPROTECTED BY A SECURE AREA.
SO, UM, I KNOW MY STAFF HAS BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR A WHILE.
I'VE BEEN A LITTLE HESITANT AT LEAST WHEN I FIRST UM, STARTED.
'CAUSE IT DOES GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA SEPARATION FROM THE CITIZENS, BUT I BELIEVE AT THIS TIME IS PROBABLY APPROPRIATE.
SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS JUST THE DESIGN WORKABILITY, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO WORK STANDING UP.
NOBODY REALLY SITS DOWN UP THERE AND IT'S AT A, UM, SITTING LEVEL.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO, TWO BIGGEST REASONS.
YOU HAVE THE NEW CONTRACT BEFORE YOU, UM, CAN WE GET A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONTRACT AS PRESENTED? I MOVE.
AND I SECOND MOTION AND SECOND ROLL CALL.
JUST WIPE THAT THING DOWN EVERY NIGHT.
'CAUSE THAT'S A EXPENSIVE COUNT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE, WE, WE PROBABLY SHOULD STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE, TO APPRECIATE MR. CHAPEL'S PATIENCE IN THIS PROCESS.
I, YOU KNOW, WE HAD NO IDEA WHEN WE STARTED THIS THAT PRICES WOULD GO WHERE THEY WERE OR ARE NOW.
AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO KIND OF WAY OUT.
IS NOW THE RIGHT TIME? IS IT NOT THE RIGHT TIME? BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT
[01:30:01]
HE'S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND 2020 CHANGED EVERYTHING A LITTLE BIT MM-HMMAND SO I DO THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS A MUCH BETTER PRODUCT THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THERE.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
AND I, I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK Y'ALL FOR, UM, SUPPORTING IT.
SO I HAVE TO STEP OUT, BUT UM, I'M GONNA BE LISTENING TO THE CITIZEN.
I MEAN THE BOARD COMMENTS, SO.
[7.D. Contract Award, Printing And Direct Mailing Services ]
ITEM SEVEN D IS A CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE PRINTING AND DIRECT MAILING SERVICES.UM, OBVIOUSLY WE, UM, OUTSOURCE OUR PRINTING AND MAILING OF OUR REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS.
AND THAT COULD LEAN TO BEING MORE LIKE THE, SOME OF THE SUPPLEMENTS MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE AS SMALL BATCHES GOING FORWARD.
SO THEY MAY END UP, THOSE MAY BE END UP PRINTED BY THE, UM, PRINTER ALSO, BUT ALSO LATE NOTICES.
UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 120,000 MAILINGS ARE SENT OUT EACH YEAR WITH AN AVERAGE COST OF $22,000 APPROXIMATELY.
AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE POSTAGE.
THE POSTAGE IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.
UM, THE COUNTY CHOSE TO, UM, USE A CO-OPERATIVE PROCUREMENT WITH THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG'S CONTRACT TO PROCURE, UM, PRINTING AND DIRECT MAILING SERVICES FOR ALL TAX BILLS.
AND, UM, I DID NOT PUT IT OUT FOR BID BECAUSE I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THIS COMPANY DEVELOPING THE NEW BILLS AND IT WAS A FAIRLY GOOD AMOUNT OF COSTS JUST TO DO THAT AND I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
AND SO JUST TO TRY TO GET THE COSTS MORE UNDER CONTROL, WE DECIDED TO USE A PROCUREMENT THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE TREASURER? UH, MR. CHAIR, I HAD A QUESTION OR COMMENT.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT ON THIS CONTRACT HERE, BUT, UH, WE TALKED SOME IN THE PAST ABOUT, UH, MAYBE PUTTING, IF SOMEBODY'S GOT SEVERAL TAX PARCELS BEING ABLE TO SEND ONE ENVELOPE INSTEAD OF WE DO, WE DO THAT NOW? MM-HMM
AND WE, THEY'LL ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET UP E-BILLING.
THE TAXPAYERS WILL, YOU KNOW, THE JURISDICTIONS I'VE TALKED TO THAT HAVE THAT SAY YOU MIGHT GET 10% OF YOUR PEOPLE DOING THAT.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THE NUMBERS.
YOU THINK YOU MIGHT, YOU WOULD HOPE IS THIS COST HERE THE MAX AND WILL IT GO DOWN ANY, IF THEY COULD DO A LOT OF EMAILS OR EMAILING OR IT WOULD HELP.
IF WE COULD DO MORE, IT DEFINITELY WOULD HELP IF WE COULD HAVE MORE E-BILLING.
THE POSTAGE IS VERY EXPENSIVE ALSO MM-HMM
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRINT IT, YOU JUST HAVE TO EMAIL IT, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE PRINTING EITHER.
I HOPE THAT THE TAXPAYERS WILL USE THAT, THAT FEATURE.
I KNOW I USE IT IN OTHER PLACES, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE WILL DO HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO, THEY DO HOLD, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO HOLD A PAPER
THEY DO, BUT THEY, THEY CAN GET IT AND THEY CAN PRINT IT OFF AT, AT HOME OR WHATEVER.
WELL IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE BILL, IT'S NOT REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO GET IN AN EMAIL, BUT IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF BILLS, YOU'RE PROBABLY STILL GONNA WANT, WANT THEM.
IS THAT AN OPTION TO THE TAX? IT'S AN OPTION.
IT ON THE NEW IT ON THE NEW WEBSITE.
SO, MS. CHAIRMAN, I WAS GONNA ASK MS. PERKINS, IF YOU WOULD TO JENNY, IF YOU COULD JUST 'CAUSE THE VANITY'S LIVE NOW.
IT'S ON GO TO DO MANY COUNTY WEBSITES.
THE FIRST THING YOU SEE ON THE WEBSITE IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE LIVE.
AND I KNOW IF YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE A RIGHT STATEMENT ABOUT THAT OR WHERE WE'RE AT.
IT WOULD BE, UM, WE'RE, WE'D LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO START TRYING TO SET THEMSELVES UP.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU GET YOUR BILLS THERE'S GONNA, I'M GONNA SEND SOMETHING OUT WITH THE BILLS THAT'S BEEN DRIVING THE COST OF PRINTING UP SIX SOME TOO.
WE'VE BEEN PUTTING OUT INFORMATION TO EDUCATE PEOPLE.
UM, I SENT OUT A FLYER WITH ALL THE DELINQUENCY BILLS.
ANY SUPPLEMENTALS I SEND OUT, I'M GONNA HAVE TO SEND SOMETHING OUT WITH IT TO, UM, INTRODUCE THEM TO THE WEBSITE BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO KNOW YOUR NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER, YOUR SOCIAL, IT'S A COMBINATION OF A CO YOU KNOW, SOME INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE TO HELP YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, HELP YOURSELF SET YOUR THINGS UP AND THE NEW SYSTEM.
BUT I MEAN, IF YOU WANNA DO THAT NOW, THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
YOU'LL SEE YOUR STAFF, YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
WE CAN GIVE YOU YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER OR IF YOU,
[01:35:01]
YOU KNOW, HAVE SOMETHING OTHER INFORMATION TO SET IT UP.IS IT LIKE A DEADLINE THAT YOU HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION BACK BEFORE YOU GET SENT THE, THE PAPER COPY? YOU CAN SIGN UP TO GET AN E-BILL AND IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR E-BILL WITHIN 30 DAYS, YOU'RE GONNA GET MAILED A COPY.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.
BUT I MEAN, HOW, HOW SOON DO YOU HAVE TO REQUEST THE E-BILL BEFORE THE THEY'LL MAILED OUT.
WE DON'T DO THE BIG BILLS UNTIL APRIL.
THEY PEOPLE HAVE SOME TIME NOW.
AND THEY'RE GONNA GET, THEY'RE GONNA GET THAT PACKAGE.
WELL, I GUESS, I GUESS I, BUT YOUR QUESTION I CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME IS THAT THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA, NOT EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE SIGNED UP FOR E-BILL.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE INFORMATION TO DO IT.
MAYBE IN DECEMBER THEY WILL, OR MAYBE ON SOME SUPPLEMENTALS THEY WILL.
BUT IT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN SET UP SOME PAYMENT PLANS.
I MEAN, THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY CAN DO AND THEY CAN THEY COME TO YOUR OFFICE IF THEY'RE IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THIS BUILDING TO BE ABLE TO SET THAT ACCOUNT UP? UM, WE CAN HELP THEM.
WE DON'T HAVE, I MEAN WE WOULD, WE COULD GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION AND HELP THEM.
THEN THERE ARE FAQS ON THE, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE WEBSITE THAT GOES INTO A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO SET YOURSELF UP.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE TALKING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR DISTRICTS AND THIS, THIS TOPIC COMES UP, OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO INFORM PEOPLE, PLEASE DRIVE 'EM TO THE WEBSITE.
'CAUSE THE FAQ ARE THERE, THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WHATNOT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THERE.
AND TO MR. MOODY'S POINT, IF WE'RE, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND JUST GO AHEAD AND CREATE THEIR ACCOUNT NOW YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO THAT.
IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR YOU THEM TO DO SOME THAT IF I DO PAY REMIT PAYMENT THAT WAY.
THERE IS A CONFIRMATION NOTICE THAT'S SENT TO YOU THAT, THAT THE PAYMENT'S RECEIVED.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL STAND IN LINE JUST TO GET THE YEAH.
'CAUSE THEY WANT THAT RECEIPT IN THEIR HAND.
BUT IT'S, IT IS VERY CONVENIENT.
ANYBODY'S DONE ONLINE BANKING.
I MEAN, E CHECKS ARE STILL FREE.
UM, ONLINE PAYMENTS NOW ARE AT 2.3% FROM, WE BROUGHT THEM DOWN FROM 3%.
SO, I MEAN IT'S, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT I WOULD THINK TO PEOPLE.
AND UM, SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
WE ARE NOTICING THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
NOW, NOW PEOPLE WHO DON'T, UM, HAVE ACCESS I GUESS TO THAT, I GUESS THEY WILL STILL BE GETTING THEIRS BY MAIL.
CAN THEY DO, CAN THEY DO THAT ON THEIR PHONE? THEY HAVE A, UM, SMARTPHONE.
CAN THEY DO THIS PROCESS? I DON'T THINK SO.
'CAUSE SOME, SOME OF THE ELDERLY MAY NOT, UM, HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT HAVE THE COMPUTER SKILLS OR NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THEY'LL PROBABLY STILL DO IT THE OLD WAY.
UNLESS SOMEONE HELPS 'EM WITH THAT.
I MEAN, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO LIVE YOU HAVE ISSUES FOR A WHILE.
SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO SET UP AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT, UM, I MEAN RIGHT NOW I'M WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH BEFORE, BUT IT'S, UM, JUST HAS TO BE WORKED THROUGH.
UM, PROGRESS IS PAINFUL SOMETIMES.
I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK JENNY AND I KNOW LORI STEVENS, THEY'VE BEEN BOTH WORKING VERY HARD TO, TO TRY TO GET THESE TWO SYSTEMS RIGHT.
BUT I THINK I'M, YOU KNOW, ONE THE OPTIMISM OF, OF KNOWING THAT A BETTER DAY'S AHEAD AS FAR AS WHAT THE SYSTEM CAN DO.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT WORKING EXTRA HOURS, WORKING THROUGH HOLIDAYS IN SOME CASES TO TRY TO UM, YES.
TO GET THE SYSTEM WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
BUT, AND ANOTHER DAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE OTHER ERP SYSTEM THAN WE'RE MUNI
WELL THAT ONE ACTUALLY IS, IS VERY GOOD.
WE'VE GOT TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
SOMETIMES IT'S, IT CAN BE
WE LOVE WHAT WE'RE, WE'VE GOT.
I GUESS WE NEED, WE GOTTA GET A MOTION.
ALRIGHT, SO WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE PRINTING OF THE TAX BILLS.
ALRIGHT, WE GOT CITIZENS' COMMENTS NEXT.
AND LET ME READ THE STATEMENT IF I CAN.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DESIRES TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS OF
[01:40:01]
MATTERS THAT ARE NOT LISTED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS MEETING.IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD IS PROVIDED.
THIS TIME IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD, NOR IS IT A TIME FOR DIALOGUE WITH BOARD MEMBERS OR STAFF CITIZENS WHO TAKE PART IN THIS COMMENT PERIOD MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH DECORUM LOUD, DESTRUCTIVE, OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TO INCLUDE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE SHALL BE AVOIDED.
AVOID WORDS OR ACTS THAT ARE AIMED TO EVOKING VIOLENCE OR CAN BE DEEMED TO BE A BREACH OF THE PEACE.
AND LASTLY, DIRECT ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD'S CHAIR.
WE'LL OPEN THE COMMENT, CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP? MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THIS TIME? ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE CITIZENS' COMMENT PERIOD AND WE'LL
[9. County Administrator Comments]
MOVE ON TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS.MR. MADISON, GIL, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, FIRST I I JUST WANTED TO THANK THOSE THAT PRESENTED TODAY FROM SOME OF OUR OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE ALL THROUGHOUT BUDGET DEVELOPMENT TIME IS FOUR OR FIVE OF THESE OUTSIDE AGENCIES COMING TO, TO GIVE BRIEFINGS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO GOVERNMENT TO PARTNER WITH OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO OURSELVES.
AND I THINK SOME OF THAT WAS SEEN TODAY.
I I WOULD PUBLICLY THINK, OR I GUESS I AM PUBLICLY THINKING THOSE THAT WERE HERE BECAUSE WHEN MS. BROWN REACHED OUT TO THEM, THEY GET, THEY WERE ABLE TO SIGN UP AND SO THEY WERE THE BRAVE SOULS TO SAY, HEY, I WANNA GO FIRST.
AND SO THEY WERE, THEY, THEY, UM, THEY DID THAT.
BUT AGAIN, WHAT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, UM, OF WORK THEY DO FOR US.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE ALREADY ANNOUNCED, UH, THAT MOODY'S INVESTMENTS HAS LOOKED AT OUR BOND RATING, BUT ONE WAY THAT WE TRY TO KEEP THE PUBLIC TRUST IS REALLY LOOKING AT THE OVERALL FINANCIAL WELLBEING OF THE COUNTY.
AND I, I CAN TELL YOU MISS HOWERTON AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN A PART OF THESE REVIEWS IN THE PAST, OVER OUR CAREER IN DENWOOD SINCE WE, UH, ACTUALLY RECEIVED A RATING.
THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE INTENSE ONES.
USUALLY I'LL, ANNE DOES ALL THE, THE TALKING WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES, IT SEEMED LIKE THIS TIME AROUND, THEY WANTED TO KNOW ALL THE POLICIES.
THEY REALLY WANTED TO KNOW, UH, MORE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT Y'ALL HAVE RECENTLY DONE.
I MEAN, A A VERY DETAILED, UH, SEVERAL HOURS OF A MEETING AND FOLLOW UP, UH, TO THAT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, IT, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR MOODY'S INVESTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THE OVERALL POSITION OF DEWIN COUNTY FINANCIALLY NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED.
UM, I THINK IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT OF, OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR ACCOUNTING OFFICE.
WE'VE ALL, YOU KNOW, JUST TO REITERATE, UH, ANN HOWERTON HER VALUE WITH, UM, WITH WHAT WE DO HERE AS A COUNTY AND THE LEADERSHIP FINANCIALLY THAT SHE GIVES AS A GOOD STEWARD OF FUNDS.
UM, AND IT JUST CAN'T BE SPOKEN ENOUGH OF WHAT SHE DOES FOR DEWIN COUNTY.
AND, AND THEN FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO HAVE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT AREN'T JUST WORDS ON A PAPER, BUT, BUT THINGS THAT YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT EVERY YEAR.
AND I KNOW WE'RE IN THE THROES OF BUDGET AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY PRIORITIES.
MR. LEE SAYS IT'S HIS FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR THAT SURELY
BUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY WORKING WITHIN A SET OF GUIDELINES AND RULES AND YOUR POLICIES AND NOT DEVIATING FROM THAT, I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL WHEN YOU'RE BEING LOOKED AT.
AND WE'VE GOT SOME SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE BIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE YEARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING A, A BOND RATING THAT'S BEEN UPGRADED NOW THAT THEN WE IS, IS TRULY WITH, WITH JURISDICTIONS OUR SIZE, WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE, THE MOST HEALTHY POSITION THAT I THINK YOU CAN BE.
UM, SO AGAIN, JUST WANT TO, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT IN OUR LIFETIMES WE'LL EVER BE AT A AAA, YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR, THAT'S YOUR NORTHERN VIRGINIA, THE, MAYBE SOME OF THE BIG FOUR.
YOU, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE THERE.
BUT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, AA TWO, WHERE WE'RE AT NOW IS ABOUT AS HEALTHY, MAYBE ONE TICK HIGHER AS A POSSIBILITY.
BUT, BUT AGAIN, JUST, UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT MR. LOGAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT BROADBAND.
AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT I KNOW THAT ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE AT HOME, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT IF, UM, AND WE HOPE OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT, THAT WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD BEHIND THE SCENES AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS AND TRYING TO WORK THROUGH BROADBAND.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ENCOURAGING YESTERDAY FOR MS. COLLINS, MYSELF TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THE CEOS OF, OF SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC AND, AND RURAL BAND TO KIND OF JUST TALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES.
BUT AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE THAT IN TWO WEEKS WE'LL STEP BACK DOWN AGAIN AND HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UM, SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC AT, AT THAT TIME.
AGAIN, THAT'S MARCH 2ND THAT WE PLAN TO SET BACK DOWN WITH THEM.
UM, FY 23 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT OR, YOU KNOW, 24 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, UM, IS,
[01:45:01]
IS, UH, UNDERWAY.WESTON AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL MEET TOMORROW MORNING WITH, UH, MYSELF AND THE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH THE, THEIR FY 24 BUDGET REQUEST.
YOU KNOW, THAT REQUEST IS TECHNICALLY DUE TO US BY THE END OF FEBRUARY.
SO THAT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM NOW AT YOUR MARCH 7TH WORKSHOP, WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO DO, UM, THIS OUTSIDE OF BUDGET, BUT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO, TO REALLY SPEND SOME TIME ON THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN TOO.
SO I KNOW THE, THESE WORKSHOPS LATELY HAVE BEEN BEEN PRETTY EASY, BUT THIS ONE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE OUTSIDE AGENCIES, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE COMP PLAN REVIEW ON SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE COMP PLAN.
AND THEN WE, IF, UM, IF AARON CAN PULL IT TOGETHER WITH VDOT, WE'D LIKE TO START A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ON THE SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN.
IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE THAT TO APRIL.
BUT, UM, MARCH 14TH AGAIN, I JUST WANT YOU TO HAVE THESE DATES.
MARCH 14TH, UH, YOU'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, SO YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM.
WE'LL PROBABLY DO THAT AT EAST SIDE.
UM, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT LIKE SIX O'CLOCK OR SO AT, UH, AT EAST SIDE FOR THAT.
UH, AND THEN AFTER THE 14TH, THE 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH YOU'LL BE WITH US.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THOSE ARE GONNA BE SHORT DAYS, BUT THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE GONNA BE ACTUALLY BE SOME OF THE LONGEST SESSIONS WE'VE HAD TO DATE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT THE TAIL END OF A REASSESSMENT CYCLE.
AND, AND YOU ALL KNOW THIS, SO THIS IS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MORE DIFFICULT TIME TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE A BUDGET IS AT THIS TIME.
SO WE GOT A LOT OF BIG DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE.
AND SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT ON THE 15TH, 16TH, AND 17TH.
AND THEN THAT ALL LEADS UP TO MARCH 21ST.
AND SO AT MARCH 21ST AT YOUR REGULAR MEETING A MONTH AWAY, YOU HAVE TO GIVE DIRECTION TO MS. HOWERTON AND MYSELF ON WHERE YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE THE TAX RATES.
SO WE CAN THEN HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH GOES TO MS. PERKINS WHO WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE, THE PRINTING OF THAT DONE.
SO, UM, TO GET THOSE TAX TICKETS OUT IN APRIL SO PEOPLE HAVE TIME, AMPLE TIME TO PAY BY JUNE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, UM, AS FAR AS THE NEXT MONTH AND NEXT 30 DAYS.
THE OTHER THING WAS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
UM, ONE OF THE HITS ALREADY FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAD AN ACCOUNTING ERA.
AND THAT ERA IS, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW IS CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLAR ERA.
I MEAN 200, $1 MILLION ERROR, UH, FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT.
AND SO THE IMPACT TO THE DENE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OVER THAT ACCOUNTING ERA ERA IS ABOUT $236,000 THIS YEAR.
UH, SO WE WERE PLEASED TO LEARN THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT THAT $201 MILLION ERROR WILL BE MADE WHOLE FOR, UM, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE GONNA BE FUNDED THIS YEAR.
I, IF I WAS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I WOULD BE WORRIED A LITTLE ABOUT ABOUT NEXT YEAR.
'CAUSE THAT 236 MILLION GOES TO OVER A HALF A MILLION NEXT YEAR.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE GOTTA KEEP OUR EYES ON FOR THAT.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS, UM, MADE AN, UH, UH, HIS BUDGET AT 5% FOR ALL STATE, UH, SUPPORTED POSITIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, SOQ FUNDED POSITIONS.
FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER THAT THE GOVERNOR'S EVER RECOMMENDED A PERCENTAGE.
AND IT GOES TO THE MONEY COMMITTEES AND THE PERCENTAGE ACTUALLY INCREASES.
SO BOTH ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE SIDE, IT WENT TO 7%.
SO ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, YOU'RE LOOKING AT FIVE, BUT ON THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE MONEY COMMITTEES, YOU'RE LOOKING AT SEVEN.
UM, WE WERE LOOKING AT 2.36% FOR OUR FOLKS, UH, TRYING TO GET MAYBE TO FIVE.
UH, BUT NOW WITH THE SEVEN, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
AND SO AGAIN, KEEPING IN MIND, WE'RE JUST HOPING THAT THERE'S REVENUE TO BE ABLE TO, TO MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME OF THE INITIATIVES IN THE COUNTY.
BUT THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT, UM, UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THEY'RE JUST FUNDING, AGAIN, FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS.
WE'VE GOT 64 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND I THINK 21 OF THEM, 22 OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED BY, BY THE STATE.
SO WHEN YOU MISS THAT OTHER, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS, THAT ALL ADDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
UH, SO YOU'LL BE, UM, BRIEFED ON THAT AS WE WE MOVE FORWARD.
ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION A COUPLE ADMINISTRATIVE DATES, YOU KNOW, MOVING AWAY FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
UM, WELL, I WILL SAY THIS ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA BALANCE THE BUDGET.
I, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE VERSION, THEY'RE OFF SIGNIFICANTLY.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BILLION DOLLAR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
SO I THINK THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY ADJOURN WITHOUT A BUDGET
[01:50:01]
AND OBVIOUSLY THE GOVERNOR'S GONNA HAVE TO CALL THEM BACK IN A SPECIAL SESSION, PROBABLY NO LATER THAN APRIL TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.UM, SO IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO, TO KEEP AN EYE ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE THIS MAY, MAY END UP.
JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE IT ON YOUR CALENDARS.
AGAIN, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION, WE'RE GONNA MEET WITH THEM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8TH.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT SIX 30 AT INE UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE OUR NEW LADDER TRUCK THERE, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT LADDER TRUCK.
AND UM, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN, IN YEARS.
UM, SO I KIND OF HOPE THAT EACH ONE OF Y'ALL CAN ATTEND THAT.
AND IT'S IN BRENDA'S BACKYARD.
SO YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE, HOW DARK IT IS IN OLD HICKORY SO WE CAN, THIS IS, THIS IS TRUE
WE'LL BE IN GOOD, WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE THERE.
UM, ALSO SPRING GOVERNMENT DAY, WE, UM, THERE'S A NOTICE THAT WAS SENT OUT ABOUT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND.
SO TYPICALLY WE HAVE GOVERNMENT DAYS ON TUESDAYS, BUT WE TRY TO MOVE THIS TO A WEDNESDAY, UH, THIS TIME AROUND.
SO I JUST WANT, I KNOW THE DATE WAS MAYBE SENT OUT, BUT I DON'T WANNA SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL, IF Y'ALL CAN'T MAKE THAT DATE.
WE NEED TO KNOW PRETTY QUICKLY 'CAUSE WE HAVE IT.
UM, I THINK AT THIS POINT, UH, SCHEDULED FOR THAT WEDNESDAY AGAIN ON, ON MARCH 22ND, THAT WILL BE AT THE RAGSDALE COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, UNLIKE THE LAST ONE THAT WAS DONE AT EAST SIDE, NOT AN ALL DAY THING, BUT, UM, AGAIN, JUST LOOK AT THAT, THOSE DATES.
AND THEN THE TEEN EXPO, UM, AND YOU, YOU MAY BE TALKING ABOUT THIS TOO, DR. MOORE, BUT JUST WANTED TO MENTION AGAIN THAT THE TEEN EXPO IS GONNA BE APRIL 22ND, UM, OF, OF, OF OBVIOUSLY THIS YEAR.
AND MARIE WAS TELLING ME THAT THE, THE SENIORS, THE 12TH GRADERS, THEY, THEIR REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A SENIOR AND YOU, YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF TEEN EXPO, YOU CAN REGISTER TODAY AND THEN GRADE SEVEN THROUGH 11, UM, YOU COULD NEXT WEEK COME TO THE COUNTY WEBSITE, THERE'LL BE A LINK AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REGISTER FOR, FOR THAT AT THAT TIME.
SO AGAIN, APRIL 22ND, THAT'S A SATURDAY AT PRITCHER BLA COLLEGE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE VIRGINIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.
UM, NOTHING LIKE BEING IN A, IN A, YOU KNOW, A CONFERENCE WITH ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES, CITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS THE, THE STATE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AND, AND MODERATE A BREAKOUT SESSION ON REGIONALISM.
AND SO, UM, I GUESS IT WAS ONE OF THE MORE SENIOR IN THE AREA, I WAS ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THREE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT WERE BEING HIGHLIGHTED ACROSS VIRGINIA.
IT WAS RECEIVED EXTREMELY WELL, BUT IT, IT WAS, IT'S AMAZING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SIMILAR CHALLENGES AND SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I, AFTER LISTENING TO A LOT OF THE OTHER COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AND CITY MANAGERS, I WAS STRUCK BY HOW LUCKY WE ARE IN, IN DENWOODY TO HAVE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY CONCERNS STATEWIDE, I GOT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH STAFFING, UM, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS ABOUT INTEGRITY AND, YOU KNOW, THE HEART OF A PUBLIC SERVANT AND, AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED SOME HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF TOTALLY GETS THAT.
AND SO WHILE THEY'RE SHARING THEIR WAR STORIES AND, AND YOU KNOW, REALLY KIND OF HAVING A, A THERAPY SESSION, FOR ME, IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE OF TALKING ABOUT HOW, HOW WONDERFUL OUR STAFF IS IN MANY WAYS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS OF HOW TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER, ESPECIALLY AFTER ATTENDING THE, THE CONFERENCE.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO END WITH, YOU KNOW, HOW SPECIAL IT IS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH THAT WE HAVE THE HOMETOWN HEROES TONIGHT.
AND, UM, COULDN'T BE ANY MORE PROUD OF THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.
AND THEN I GUESS FOR THIS BOARD, BECAUSE IT WAS THIS BOARD WHO SAID WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND, AND DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT MR. STEVEN BONNER FOR, FOR LOOKING AT, UM, WHAT WE SHOULD DO HERE.
AND SO WHEN SHE WAS CHAIR, SHE CAME BACK AND, AND THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE STUCK WITH IT FOR 12 YEARS.
AND IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED OVER THAT TIME, UM, IT'S JUST SOME TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUALS.
AND TONIGHT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM THAT.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE GOT TWO WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE HERE.
BUT MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
[10. Board Member Comments]
WE'LL GO WITH BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.UM, WELL, UH, FEBRUARY ALSO IS A BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BUT IT IS ALSO, UM, AMERICAN HEALTH MONTH.
SO WE, UM, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND, UM, CHECK ON YOUR HEART IF NEED BE.
AND, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH OUR HEART, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
ALSO, UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, I WAS, UM, LOOKING AT, UM, IN TV AND THEY
[01:55:01]
WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, BONE MARROW, UM, CHA, UH, UH, BONE MARROW, YOU KNOW, IN INDIVIDUALS DOING THAT.AND THEY CALLED IT SECOND CHANCES.
AND THEY, THEY SHOWED SEVERAL COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND YOUNG PEOPLE, UM, USING THE SWAB TO, UM, TO TRY TO SEE IF THEY'RE MATCH FOR ANYONE.
IT WAS JUST EXTRAORDINARY SEEING COLLEGE STUDENTS AND, UM, GOOD MOR, GOOD MORNING, AMERICA IS ON EARLY, SO THEY ARRIVED THERE AT 5:00 AM AND SOME DID NOT HAVE CLASSES TODAY, SO THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP SOMEONE.
I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT THING.
UH, JUST, JUST SHOWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UH, COLLEGE STUDENTS DOING THAT TODAY AND TRYING TO BE A MATCH TO TRY TO HELP SOMEONE ALSO.
UM, AND, UH, DEALING, STILL TALKING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UM, MS. COLLINS AND I, TAMMY COLLINS AND I, WE WERE RECOGNIZED THAT, UM, OLIVE BRANCH CHURCH ON SUNDAY, UH, WITH REVEREND NORTHERN, UH, HE HAD 15 WOMEN.
UH, HE SAID LAST YEAR THEY DID THE MEN.
SO THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR THEY WERE DOING THE 15 WOMEN.
AND, UM, TAMMY AND I REPRESENTED THE GOVERNMENT SIDE OF THE COUNTY, AND THE OTHER LADIES, UM, UH, REPRESENTED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEY HAD, UM, RETIRED, UH, TEACHERS, TEACHERS THAT DID A WHOLE LOT IN THE COUNTY.
AND HE ALSO MENTIONED ONE THING, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MAYBE TAMMY KNEW THAT, UM, UM, MS. SHARON, UH, SHARON YATES WAS RECOGNIZED AND IT WAS A STUDENT THAT WROTE ABOUT HER AND WON.
AND THE, UH, YOUNG LADY WON $20,000, UH, SCHOLARSHIP.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
YOU KNOW, SHE THOUGHT A LOT OF, UH, MS. YATES AND, AND WON THAT, THAT, UH, KIND OF MONEY.
AND ALSO SEEING ALL THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE IN SERVICE
AND WE, UM, THANK, UH, REVEREND NORTHERN FOR, RECOGNIZE MS. COLLINS AND MYSELF ON, ON SUNDAY, ONE OF, UM, TWO OF THE 15.
AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME, UH, MEALS ON THE WHEELS TO GO AND DELIVER, UM, TRAYS AND DENWITTY COUNTY, WE COULD GO OUT TO THE HOMES OR WE COULD ALSO JUST VOLUNTEER.
UM, INSIDE, THEY'RE ASKING FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO DO THAT.
SO I CAN DEFINITELY LET THE BOARD MEMBERS KNOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T SPEAK UP ALL AT ONCE, BUT, UM, WE COULD, UM, WE COULD TRY TO DO IT.
THEY SENT
UM, AND THE LAST THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS, UM, UM, JUST SHOWING HOW POSITIVE SOMEONE CAN BE DOING SOMETHING ON THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS, UM, DURING FOOTBALL SEASON, THE YOUNG MAN, UM, UH, DEMAR HAMLIN, AND HE PLACED WITH THE BUFFALO BILLS AND, UM, HEALTHY YOUNG MAN 24 AND, UM, GOT HIT IN THE CHEST AND ALMOST DIED ON THE FIELD.
AND, UM, UH, HE, THEY STILL DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT HAPPENED, BUT, UM, I THINK A DOCTOR SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IF YOU ARE HIT WITH BLUNT FORCE IN THE CHEST, YOU COULD, YOU CAN STOP YOUR HEART.
AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TYPICALLY DIE.
AND, WHICH HE ALMOST DID, THEY HAD TO BRING HIM BACK, I THINK HE SAID TWICE.
AND JUST THE OUTPOURING OF, OF LOVE.
SOMETIMES WE NEED SOMETHING WE, YOU NEVER KNOW WHY THINGS HAPPEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT JUST THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.
PEOPLE JUST LOOKING AT, UM, THIS YOUNG MAN, HE, HE, UM, WAS TRYING TO RAISE MONEY FOR, UM, TO TOYS FOR STUDENTS WHEN HE WAS, UM, IN HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE HE BECAME A PRO PLAYER.
AND OF COURSE IT JUST TOOK OFF.
UM, HE ONLY WANTED LIKE, I THINK IT WAS 2,500, BUT HE ENDED UP, I THINK IT WAS 9 MILLION PEOPLE JUST DONATED TO HELP.
UM, AND, UM, CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T HAVE TOYS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT ALSO PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR CPR, UM, TO TRY TO SAVE SOMEONE BECAUSE, UM, IT DOES, WE SEE THAT IT DOES HELP AND WE SEE THAT IT, IT CAN SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE AND, UM, IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.
AND PEOPLE JUST SIGNED UP FOR CPR PEOPLE, UM, JUST REGISTERED AND, UM, AND TAKING CLASSES FOR THAT.
[02:00:01]
YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND JUST HAVE THE LOVE TO JUST HELP SOMEONE.IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, YOUR BACKGROUND, BUT JUST HELPING SOMEONE TO SURVIVE.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.
HE SAID HE THINK, YOU KNOW, DIVINE INTERVENTION.
GOD HAD HAD A PLAN TO HELP PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.
HE'S, UM, HE'S DOING WELL RIGHT NOW.
UM, HE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT, UM, I JUST THOUGHT THAT, UM, IN LIGHT OF THINGS THAT ARE, THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A, UM, A SILVER LINING AT SOMETIMES TO JUST TO SHOW THAT WE DO STILL HAVE GOOD PEOPLE THAT'S ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
AND I THINK THAT WAS JUST, UM, GREAT ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR STORY.
SO, AND WITH THAT, I YIELD OUT
THANK YOU, MS. BARN, MR. MOODY.
UH, I, I THINK WE HAD A COUPLE GOOD REPORTS TODAY FROM OUR OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE THOSE REPORTS BECAUSE, UH, KIND OF GET RIGHT BEFORE BUDGET TIME, WE KIND OF SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND, UH, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THOSE REPORTS.
I'M GLAD THEY CAME TODAY TO GIVE THOSE REPORTS.
AND THE LAST THING I WAS GONNA SAY IS, YOU KNOW, VIRGINIA IS, COUNTIES ARE HAVE, UH, A RULE BY THE DI RULE.
IT MEANS WE CAN'T DO ANY MORE THAN WHAT THE STATE GIVES US AUTHORITY TO.
AND THERE WAS A BILL IN THE JOURNAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR THAT WOULD, WAS GONNA TAKE AWAY SOME OF OUR LAND USE AUTHORITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOLAR FARMS. BUT THAT BILL WAS KILLED, THANKFULLY, THAT, UH, THAT WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO CON UH, MAKE DECISIONS ON THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND VACO ALSO AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AT THE STATE AND NACO AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, STAY INVOLVED AND THOSE ISSUES SO WE CAN PROTECT, UH, PEOPLE'S RIGHTS.
UM, I'LL JUST, UM, I TOO LIKE THE, UM, OUTSIDE AGENCIES COMING IN AND, AND, UM, DOING THEIR, UM, PRESENTATIONS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE FIRST YEAR WE DID IT, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF 'EM HAD, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA, RIGHT? UM, WHAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND, UM, AND THEN I KNOW WITH LIKE SOCIAL SERVICE, THEY WERE HERE EVERY MONTH, UM, WITH THE MANY THINGS THAT THEY DO, UM, WITHIN THE COUNTY.
BUT, UM, UH, I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND, UM, AND OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TALKED ABOUT, THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR, SO THANK YOU MR. LEE.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, I WANNA START WITH MY COMMENTS ON TO RAINEY.
UM, I PERSONALLY HAD KNOWN, UH, LANIE SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER.
UM, LANDY CAME OUT PROBABLY IN THE MIDDLE SEVENTIES, AND MY FOSTER FATHER HAD, WAS A REALTOR IN PETERSBURG AT THAT TIME, AND LANDY, OF COURSE, DID A LOT OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT.
AND HE WAS WITH A LAWYER WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT.
AND MY FOSTER FATHER AND CLAYBURN WERE BEST OF FRIENDS.
AND, UH, SO I REMEMBER EARLY IN LIFE, UM, RELATIONSHIP WITH LANNY AND LANNY HAD BEEN MY REGISTERED AGENT FOR MY COMPANY FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.
AND, UH, YOU COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER PERSON TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH.
UM, AS FAR AS DEN WITTY COUNTY IS CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, LIVED HERE ALL OF HIS LIFE OTHER THAN GOING TO SCHOOL, UH, COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY FOR 20 YEARS, UH, TON CLUB FOR 50 YEARS.
IF, IF, IF I'M CORRECT, UH, DEN TON CLUB, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY, THOSE OF US THAT GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES, I'D COME IN THE PASS GATE AND I'D GO BY THE PRESS BOX AND GIVE HIM A THUMBS UP.
HE WAS ALWAYS IN THAT PRESS BOX, UM, WHETHER HE WAS DOING ANNOUNCEMENTS OR OTHER THINGS, KEEPING STATS WAS THERE.
UM, AND THEN THE COUNTLESS LIVES THAT HE PROBABLY TOUCHED THROUGH LITTLE LEAGUE SOCCER, UM, I KNOW MY SON, UH, AFTER LANNY HAD HAD HIS, UH, OPEN HEART SURGERY.
UM, HE WAS REFFING GAMES OVER IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN THE, IN THE SOCCER LEAGUE.
AND MY SON PLAYED OVER THERE IN THE LEAGUE.
AND, AND MANY SATURDAYS I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP TO LANNY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST SAY HELLO AND, AND THANK HIM FOR WHAT HE WAS DOING.
YOU, HE KNEW HE HAD TO EXERCISE MM-HMM
UH, FROM A HEALTH POINT OF VIEW.
[02:05:01]
ALL I CAN SAY IS MY HEART GOES BACK TO THE FAMILY, UM, AND TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE LOST A GIANT IN OUR COMMUNITY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.SO PRAYERS WILL BE WITH THEM, AND I WILL BE AT THE FUNERAL ON FRIDAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO HIM FOR A JOB WELL DONE HERE IN DENWOODY COUNTY.
UM, MR. MASSING AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE CIVILIAN MILITARY COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK, LAST THURSDAY, GENERAL SIBLEY, UH, HAD SOME KIND REMARKS TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING.
AND IN APRIL THERE WILL BE A NAME CHANGE FROM FORT LEE TO FORT GREG ADAMS. AND HE GAVE THE HISTORY ON THAT.
UH, AND WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO, TO THAT EVENT.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE EVENT THAT'LL BE OCCURRING AT, UH, FORT PICKETT BEFORE THAT, UM, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO FORT BRADFORD.
UM, AND THAT'S GONNA BE LATE MARCH, IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS POSTED.
BUT THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I TOOK FROM THAT MEETING WAS THAT THEY MADE A POINT TO SAY, IF WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED EITHER LEADERSHIP OR PRESENT DAY SOLDIERS THAT AT FORT LEE TO CALL UPON THEM, UM, SUSAN GARLING, WHO IS, WHO IS THAT POINT, UH, PERSON, YOU KNOW, CALL HER IF WE HAVE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS OR WE HAVE THE SCHOOLS, OR WE HAVE SOME KIND OF A NEED FOR THE SOLDIER, UM, TO BE IN PRESENCE IN DENWITTY COUNTY, DON'T HESITATE TO CALL.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I TOOK FROM THAT MEETING.
UH, THEY WANT TO BE A GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNER AND THEY WON'T, DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT UNLESS WE ASK THEM.
UM, SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE TEEN EXPO, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE MIGHT WANT TO GIVE SOME MM-HMM
UM, SOME PARTICIPATION FROM FORT LEE THERE, JUST, JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
UM, SO THAT BEING SAID, UM, THAT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING AND ALSO BEING IN THE ROOM WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER CITY MANAGERS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS THAT, THAT TOUCH US, UH, AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.
THAT'S A, THAT WAS A GOOD, GOOD OUTING.
UM, OF COURSE TODAY, IF I'M CORRECT, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZED THE STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FROM DENWITTY COUNTY ON THE FLOOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
AND WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING THEM IN OUR MARCH MEETING, HAVING THEM, AND I WOULD HOPE, AND I'M GONNA BE A DAD NOW WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD INVITE THE BAND AND THE CHEERLEADERS, THOSE THAT WERE INVOLVED, UM, IN, IN THAT FOOTBALL SEASON TO BECOME A PART, BE A PART OF THAT EVENT.
UM, OF COURSE, TONIGHT IN OUR SEVEN O'CLOCK SESSION, WE HAVE TWO RECIPIENTS FOR OUR HOMETOWN, UH, HEROES AWARDS.
AND I PROMISE YOU BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY, VERY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND, UM, IT'LL BE A DELIGHT TO PRESENT BOTH OF THEM TONIGHT.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, TODAY IS A VOTING DAY.
AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT VOTED THAT ARE IN HERE, YOU HAVE TILL SEVEN O'CLOCK TONIGHT TO WALK A HUNDRED YARDS THAT WAY AND TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.
UM, BUT OF COURSE WE'VE GOT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VOTE THAT IS TODAY.
AND, AND POLLS CLOSE AT SIX O'CLOCK.
SO THOSE THAT MAY BE LISTENING, UH, IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED, PLEASE UH, GO.
AND WE DO HAVE, UH, SAME DAY, UH, REGISTRATION.
I THINK SOMETIMES THAT GETS LOST, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, YOU CAN VOTE.
UH, REGISTER AND VOTE ON THE SAME DAY.
[11. CLOSED SESSION]
THAT, UH, WE HAVE A NEED TO GO INTO, UH, CLOSED SESSION.THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO A CLOSED SESSION UNDER 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A ONE.
PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS, APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY BOARD, JIM WOODY AIRPORT AND INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD, 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 180 5.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION CONCERNING PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY, OR THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS UPDATE 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A THREE, DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR OF THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY, WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PERTAINING TO ACTUAL LITIGATION OR SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING AND OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATION POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OPIOID LITIGATION, SETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT, AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 180 8.
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH.
COUNSEL BROADBAND, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSE PLEASE? SO MOVED.
[02:10:01]
ROLL CALL MR. LEE A, MS. EBRA BONNER.WE, WE'LL BE BACK AT SEVEN O'CLOCK BEFORE OUR EVENING SESSION.
THANK YOU MAYOR MADAM CLERK READY? NEED A MOTION TO COME OUT A CLOSED SESSION? SECOND ROLL CALL MR. LEE.
WHEREAS THIS BOARD CONVENED IN A CLOSED MEETING UNDER 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A ONE.
PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY BOARD, DIMITY AIRPORT AND INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD, 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A FIVE.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION CONCERNING PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY, OR THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS UPDATE 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A THREE, DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR OF THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PERTAINING TO ACTUAL LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULT, CONSULTATION, OR BRIEFING IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATION POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OPIOID LITIGATION SETTLEMENT.
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL BROADBAND.
AND WHEREAS NO MEMBER HAS MADE A STATEMENT THAT THERE WAS A DEPARTURE FROM THE LAWFUL PURPOSE OF SUCH CLOSED MEETING OR OF THE MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION DISCUSSED NOW BE IT CERTIFIED THAT ONLY THOSE MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED IN THE MEETING.
I NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT PLEASE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE SEVEN 7:00 PM UH, PORTION OF OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING
[12.A. Hometown Heroes]
WHERE WE'LL HAVE, UH, HOMETOWN, UH, HEROES PRESENTATIONS FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AFTER THAT.SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. KEVIN MASS.
OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS, THE BOARD.
AND FOR EVERYONE GATHERED HERE TONIGHT, IT'S A DISTINCT PLEASURE THAT I HAVE TO, TO BE ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR, OUR HOMETOWN HEROES AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A, A BACKDROP OF, OF, UM, HOW THIS PROGRAM GOT STARTED.
SO WHEN, WHEN THIS BOARD CAME INTO OFFICE IN, IN 2012, AND IT WAS WHEN MS. EBRA BONNER WAS CHAIR, WE, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHEN HE CAME TO FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT JUST EXEMPLIFIED WHAT IT WAS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND JUST REALLY TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LED THE WAY IN SO MANY WAYS.
SO THAT YEAR OF 2015, WE STARTED THE HOMETOWN HEROES PROGRAM.
SINCE 2015, WE HAVE RECOGNIZED 19 MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE NOTHING SHORT BUT TRAILBLAZERS FOR DIM WITTY COUNTY.
UM, AND TONIGHT WE GET TO RECOGNIZE TWO MORE THAT WILL BE IN AN ELITE CLASS.
SO WE'LL HAVE 20 AND 21 THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN RECOGNIZED.
I'M NOT GOING TO, I THINK Y'ALL PROBABLY KNOW WHO THEY ARE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO STEAL DR.
MOORE'S THUNDER AND HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH THIS.
BUT I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT IF WE ARE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO HAVE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM.
I KNOW I SEE A COUPLE THAT, THAT ARE HOMETOWN HEROES AND HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED BY THIS BOARD AS SUCH.
COULD YOU STAND AND MR. CHAIRMAN AT THIS TIME? I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF WE COULD, UM, GO DOWN TO THE PODIUM ABSOLUTELY.
AND, UM, RECOGNIZE THESE TWO FINE INDIVIDUALS.
[02:15:07]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.YOU KNOW, IT'S TIMES LIKE THESE THAT WE BRING FORTH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY CITIZENS OF DEN WITTY COUNTY AND RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS.
AND I HAVE THE PRES, UM, PLEASURE OF REPRESENTING THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY TO DO THAT TONIGHT.
SO THE FIRST PERSON WE'RE GONNA INTRODUCE IS MARY MABRY BENJAMIN, I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIO FOR MS. BENJAMIN
MARY MABRY BENJAMIN WAS BORN SEPTEMBER THE SIXTH, 1946 IN DENWOODY COUNTY.
SHE IS THE OLDEST OF TWO CHILDREN BORN TO SUNNY P MABERRY AND BARBARA BRANCH MABERRY.
MS. MABERRY ATTENDED MASONTOWN ELEMENTARY AND ROSENWALD SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1964.
NOW, HOW MANY FOLKS IN HERE GRADUATED FROM SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL? I KNOW IT'S A NUMBER IN THE ROOM.
SHE ATTENDED VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE, WHICH IS NOW VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN FOODS AND NUTRITION IN 1968.
35 YEARS LATER, MS. BENJAMIN GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT.
MS MAYBE WORKED IN FOOD SERVICES FOR RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ONE YEAR AFTER MARRYING HER LATE HUSBAND, CHARLES BENJAMIN.
IN 1969, THE COUPLE MOVED TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE MS. BENJAMIN WORKED FOR 35 YEARS IN FOOD SERVICE FOR FOOD SERVICES FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SHE RETIRED IN 2005 AND RETURNED TO DENWOODY COUNTY IN 2008.
CHARLES AND MARY BENJAMIN HAD TWO CHILDREN, EDWIN AND TRACY.
EDWIN LIVES IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH HIS WIFE DR.
SHANA GREEN BENJAMIN AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN, CHLOE AND SPENCER TRACY RESIDES IN NEW JERSEY.
UPON RETURN TO DENWITTY COUNTY, MS. BENJAMIN MET MRS. DORETHA MOODY, 2017 HOMETOWN HEROES DORETHA HERE TONIGHT? NO.
WHO ENCOURAGED HER TO WORK ON BARACK OBAMA'S FIRST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN? AT THE SAME TIME SHE JOINED THE DEMI DENWITTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, WHERE SHE MET THE LATE MRS. RUBY EVANS, A 2018 HOMETOWN HERO WHO ENCOURAGED HER TO SERVE ON THE COUNTY'S ELECTORAL BOARD.
SIX MONTHS LATER IN 2015, CIRCUIT COURT CLERK BARRETT CHAPEL ENCOURAGED MS. BENJAMIN TO RUN FOR THE DENWITTY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
SINCE THAT TIME, MS. BENJAMIN HAS SERVED AS BOTH CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SHE HAS SERVED ON THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF ANTE TECHNICAL CENTER AND THE APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOVERNOR SCHOOL.
CURRENTLY, SHE SERVES ON THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF MAGGIE WALKER AND CODE RVA.
MOST RECENTLY, MS. BENJAMIN WAS THE REGIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.
SHE HAS PARTICIPATED ACTIVELY IN VSBA EVENTS EACH YEAR OF HER SERVICE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE OF HER COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND OTHERS.
MRS. BENJAMIN WAS NAMED THE 2017 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR AND THE 2019 ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION FOR THE SOUTH SIDE REGION.
MRS. BENJAMIN ADMITTED THAT WHEN SHE WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, SHE WAS SURPRISED BY ALL THAT WAS EXPECTED OF THE MEMBERS.
BARBARA PITTMAN QUICKLY BECAME HER MENTOR AND GAVE HER ADVICE THAT WAS, THAT HAS SHAPED HER SERVICE ON THE BOARD.
MS. PITTMAN TOLD HER THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP AT SCHOOL EVENTS AND EVERYWHERE THERE ARE STUDENTS.
AS PART OF HER HOMETOWN HEROES NOMINATION, DR.
CARRIE WESTON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS STATED AS A RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, MRS. BENJAMIN ALWAYS PUTS STUDENTS FIRST.
SHE IS A CHAMPION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE ENTIRE ITY COMMUNITY.
MRS. BENJAMIN FAITHFULLY ATTENDS COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND REGULARLY COMMUNICATES WITH OUR LOCAL AND STATE DELEGATES ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION.
[02:20:03]
MRS. BENJAMIN HAS SERVED THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT THE APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM TREASURER FROM 2010 TO 2018 SOUTH SIDE AREA DEMOCRATIC WOMEN AND ASSOCIATES CLUB MEMBER, LITTLE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, SECOND VICE CHAIR OF THE DENWITTY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE DENWITTY COUNTY, VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL COALITION OF 100 BLACK WOMEN RECOGNIZED AS WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN 2009.RICHMOND METROPOLITAN AREA CHAPTER 2017, MEMBER OF THE PETERSBURG ALUMNI CHAPTER OF THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY AND CORPORATE
AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE DENWITTY ELECTORAL BOARD, MRS. BENJAMIN CONSIDERS HERSELF TO BE A RESOURCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE LOOK TO HER FOR GUIDANCE AND ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.
SHE DOES HER BEST TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
HER GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND SERVE IN HER FREE TIME.
MS. BENJAMIN ENJOYS WATER AEROBICS AT THE PETERSBURG YMCA AND LOVES TO TRAVEL.
SHE SPENDS AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND NEW JERSEY WITH HER FAMILY.
AND SHE PLANS TO VISIT ARUBA AND MARTHA'S VINEYARD LATER THIS YEAR.
IT IS AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE AS MRS. MARY MABRY BENJAMIN AS ONE OF DENWITTY COUNTY'S 2023 HOMETOWN HEROES.
I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING.
I TELL YOU, THIS HAS JUST BEEN, IT'S JUST WONDERFUL.
AND I DON'T, I'M LOST TO WORDS AND MOST OF YOU KNOW, I'M NEVER LOST TO WORDS.
I ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
WESTON, WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT YOU?
I DON'T LIKE A WHOLE LOT OF FANFARE.
I LIKE TO SERVE FROM THE BACK AND JUST DO WHAT I DO TO HELP PEOPLE.
BUT I HAD ONE LITTLE QUOTE THAT I WANT TO SAY TONIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS WORKED AND YOU'VE DONE A FEW THINGS TODAY AND, AND YOU WANT TO GET HOME AND GET SOME REST.
I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES, MY CHURCH MEMBERS, MY USHERS, SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, SCHOOL BOARD EMPLOYEES, SORORITY MEMBERS, THE NATIONAL COALITION OF BLACK WOMEN, ALL OF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT.
AND I HAVE SOME PEOPLE, MY SON FROM NORTH CAROLINA, HE MADE IT IN THIS AFTERNOON.
AND THEN I HAVE, UM, I HAVE THREE REAL CLOSE COUSINS.
I GUESS IF YOU SAID IF I HAD A SISTER, IT WOULD BE THEM.
THE ONE IS NOT HERE, BUT ELIZABETH TUCKER AND BESSIE EVANS AND, AND I, AND YOU KNOW, I, IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I SAY THIS? MS. MEREDITH STIFF.
I I ADOPTED MEREDITH'S HUSBAND AS MY BROTHER
SO I'M ALWAYS, I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO SEE MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE
BUT I, I READ THIS, UH, UH, TODAY AND IT'S A PART OF A QUOTE, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO IMPACT THE WORLD IS TO BE A SERVANT, FIND A NEED IN THE WORLD AND FILL IT.
SO MS. BENJAMIN, WE GOT A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION AND WE ALSO HAVE THE HOMETOWN HERO MEDAL THAT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE TO YOU AS WELL.
BUT LET ME READ THE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.
IT'S BY THE VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, IN THE DEM WITTY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVIS, THERE IS HEREBY SUPERVISORS THERE IS HEREBY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE MARY
[02:25:01]
MABRY BENJAMIN AS A 2023 HOMETOWN HERO FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITIZENS OF DEN WITTY COUNTY AND SIGNED BY ME AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND DR. MOORE AS THE CHAIR.ANOTHER THING THAT I, THAT I HAVE TO SAY THAT IS FITTING THAT I SERVED THIS HONOR, SHARED THIS HONOR WITH MR. COLEMAN.
MY DAD WAS A FARMER, LOVED FARMING, AND I GREW UP ON A FARM.
AND THEN ALSO TODAY IS ELECTION DAY.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME, KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT ELECTIONS.
SO ALL OF THIS IS JUST FITTING FOR ME TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO PLANNED IT OR HOW IT HAPPENED, MAYBE JUST FELL IN PLACE, BUT I THANK YOU.
WE'RE GONNA GET, WE'RE GONNA GET SOME PICTURES IN IT.
WE CAN GET THIS PICTURE NOW, BUT WE'RE GONNA GET SOME PICTURES WITH YOUR FAMILY.
WE HAVE FOUR, I BELIEVE FOUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS THAT ARE HERE AS WELL.
SO AT THE CONCLUSION, WE'D LIKE TO STAY BACK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL PICTURES.
BUT WE'D LIKE TO GET A PICTURE OF YOU AND, AND US.
YOU GONNA MAKE THIS ONE REAL? IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S PERFECT.
DO, DO YOU WANT US NOW, KEVIN, OR OKAY.
THIS WAY BACK OR SHIFT TO THE RIGHT.
NOW LADIES, ALWAYS GO FIRST, MR. COLEMAN
SO OUR SECOND HONOREE IS ABSOLUTELY THAT AS A FARMER HERE IN DENWITTY COUNTY, THERE ARE TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE LIVE ON FARMS THAT ARE BEHIND ME.
AND THIS COUNTY WAS BUILT ON AGRICULTURE, AND SO MUCH OF THIS COUNTY IS STILL AGRICULTURAL.
UM, SO THAT BEING SAID, OUR SECOND RECIPIENT TO THIS EVENING IS HENRY LEE COLEMAN.
HENRY LEE COLEMAN WAS BORN DECEMBER THE SIXTH, 1935 IN DENWOODY COUNTY.
HE'S THE SIXTH OF SEVEN CHILDREN BORN TO ERASMUS AND ROSA COLEMAN.
MR. COLEMAN WAS EDUCATED IN DENWITTY AND GRADUATED FROM SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1955.
AND WHEN HE PASSED IN 1950, WHICH YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL, I GUESS NINTH GRADE, I GUESS, WHEN YOUR FATHER PASSED.
HENRY AND HIS MOTHER TOOK OVER THE FARMING OPERATION.
WHEN, WHEN ROSA COLEMAN PASSED IN 1979, HENRY ASSUMED FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FARM AS NONE OF HIS SIBLINGS HAD AN INTEREST IN FARMING.
IN ADDITION TO FARMING, MR. COLEMAN WORKED AT CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL.
THIS IS WHERE HE MET HIS WIFE, JEAN DEWITT COLEMAN.
AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED, THE NEW COLEMAN, THE NEW MRS. COLEMAN LEFT HER HOME IN PETERSBURG TO BEGIN HER LIFE.
ON THE FARM, THEY RAISED PEANUTS, TOBACCO, SOYBEANS, AND CORN.
TOGETHER THEY HAD SIX CHILDREN.
WESLEY, LESLIE, CASSANDRA, VALLETTA HENRY JR.
MR. AND MRS. COLEMAN NOW HAVE SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN.
FARMING IS TOUGH, BUT BEING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMER WAS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
SECURING F-A-F-H-A LOANS AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMER WAS QUITE CHALLENGING.
MR. COLEMAN CREDITS BT HARGRAVE FOR HELPING HIM.
THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGING TIMES, BT HARGRAVE ALLOWED FARMERS TO PURCHASE ON CREDIT WITH PAYMENT DUE FOLLOWING THE HARVEST.
MR. COLEMAN IS 87 YEARS YOUNG, OKAY? NOT OLD, YOUNG, AND HAS SEEN MORE THAN HIS FAIR SHARE OF CHANGES OVER THE PAST 72 YEARS OF FARMING.
[02:30:01]
TOOK OVER THE FARMING IN, IN 1950, THEY HAD TWO HORSES AND A PLOW.TODAY MR. COLEMAN ENJOYS MODERN EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES AN AIR CONDITIONED TRACTOR AND COMBINE
MR. AND MS. COLEMAN ARE MEMBERS OF MOUNT LEVEL BAPTIST CHURCH IN DENWITTY, WHERE MR. COLEMAN SERVES AS AN USHER.
IN 2020 MOUNT LEVEL RECOGNIZED HENRY COLEMAN AS THE OLDEST BLACK FARMER IN DENWITTY COUNTY.
IN 2022, HE TRAVELED TO MISSISSIPPI TO RECEIVE THE OLDEST BLACK FARMER AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION.
AT 87 YEARS YOUNG HENRY LEE COLEMAN CONTINUES TO DO WHAT HE LOVES TODAY.
HE SINGLE HANDEDLY FARMS 87 ACRES OF SOYBEANS.
HE SHARED THAT, THAT HE HAS GOOD FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HELP KEEP, HELP HIM IN THIS, ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO KNOW HIM, MR. COLEMAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN FIRST TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO SUPPORT OTHER SMALL FARMERS.
HIS DAYS BEGIN EARLY AND IN LATE, BUT HE ALWAYS FINDS TIME IN THE EVENING TO WATCH TELEVISION.
HE ENJOYS WATCHING WESTERNS AND JIMMY KIMMEL
ON THE RARE DAY OFF, HE ALWAYS TAKES MRS. COLEMAN SHOPPING.
MR. COLEMAN IS ALSO AN AVID SPORTS FAN.
HIS FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAMS OR THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE DENWITTY GENERALS.
HE ESPECIALLY ENJOYS ATTENDING ITY GENERAL GAMES AND TRAVELING TO LIBERTY UNIVERSITY TO SEE THEM CLINCH THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR.
HENRY LEE COLEMAN IS KNOWN THROUGHOUT GEN WITTY COUNTY AS A KIND MAN.
HE IS A MENTOR AND A FRIEND TO MANY AND LOOKS AT EVERY SITUATION WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
MY MIND, DEAR, I WISH YOU WERE THAT FOR EVERYBODY AT DEN WITTY COUNTY, ALWAYS HELPING OTHERS WHEN HE CAN FAITH, FAMILY, AND FARMING, KEEP MR. COLEMAN STRONG AND ARE THE REASONS HE IS ABLE TO CONTINUE HIS LABOR OF LOVE.
IT'S WITH MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE HENRY LEE COLEMAN AS A 2023 DENWITTY COUNTY HOMETOWN HERO.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
AND COGNIZE AS THE HOMETOWN HERO OF DENWOODY, OF ALL THE WALLS I HAVE RECEIVED, THIS IS THE BEST ONE IN MY HOMETOWN.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY, BUT I SURE.
THANK THE PEOPLE FROM MARYLAND BAPTIST CHURCH AND ALL MY FRIENDS FOR COMING OUT SUPPORT ME TONIGHT.
WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU TO AS WELL, CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION AND WE DO HAVE THE HOMETOWN HERO MEDAL TO GIVE TO YOU.
SO AGAIN, BY CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, IN THE DENWOODY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THERE IS HEREBY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED HENRY LEE COLEMAN AS A 2023 HOMETOWN HERO FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITIZENS OF DEWIN COUNTY.
AGAIN, SIGNED BY ME AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND DR. MOORE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD.
IF WE COULD GET MR. COLEMAN'S FAMILY TO COME FORWARD, IF THEY
[02:35:01]
WISH TO BE IN THE PICTURE.MIKE PARISH IS HERE, MIKE, TO STEP UP CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS THAT ARE HERE.
WE'RE BE IN THE, COME ON, MIKE.
HE'S GONNA STAND RIGHT HERE BESIDE YOU.
MIKE, YOU COME STAND RIGHT HERE BESIDE, I'LL STAND ON THE OUTSIDE.
IT SHOULD BE IN AS CLOSE AS YOU BENJAMIN, YOUR FAMILY.
CAN YOU GET YOUR, YOU NEED THE BOX AND YOU HOLD A CERTIFICATE.
MAYBE WE CAN, CAN WE GET YEAH, YEAH.
MOVE DOWN SOME MORE PEOPLE COME ON THIS SIDE.
BEFORE WE MOVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO COME FORWARD TOO.
YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD? YES.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
Y'ALL WISH TO COME FORWARD? YEAH, SHE SAID.
[02:40:37]
UM, DON'T LEAVE.UM, IF WE COULD GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION FOR ONE, JUST ONE QUICK, QUICK MOMENT.
I KNOW WE GOT A COUPLE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS, BUT MR. LEE, UM, I THINK THAT, UH, THING THAT IMPRESSED ME TONIGHT, UM, WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, BOTH CANDIDATES, UM, ABOUT GETTING ALONG AND, UM, THEIR POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
AND IF ANY OF Y'ALL KNOW, THE DYNAMICS OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, TYPICALLY SCHOOL BOARDS AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DON'T GET ALONG VERY WELL.
AND PRIOR TO 2015, I THINK YOU COULD SAY THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND, UM, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WASN'T BAD, BUT IT WASN'T GREAT.
AND I THINK MS. BENJAMIN WAS BIG PART OF SEEING TO IT THAT THE TWO BOARDS GOT ALONG, UM, VERY WELL.
AND SHE ALWAYS CARRIED A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, UH, WHEN ASKING FOR MONEY.
THAT WAS THE, YOU KNOW, THE, AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE PUT IN, IN A, IN A TOUGH SITUATION THE WAY THE FUNDING IS.
AND MS. BENJAMIN NEVER LET THAT BOTHER HER AND ALWAYS HAD A POSITIVE, UH, OUTLOOK AND ALWAYS VERY FRIENDLY.
AND, UH, IF I KNEW I NEEDED TO TALK TO HER, I COULD PICK UP THE PHONE AND, AND CALL HER.
UM, AND THEN MR. COLEMAN, UM, I FARMED ALL MY LIFE.
AND, UM, WHEN I THINK OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN SINCE YOU STARTED FARMING TILL NOW, UM, IT IS JUST MIND BLOWING.
MY SON, I RODE WITH HIM LAST YEAR PLANTING SOYBEANS, AND HE'S IN A TRACTOR THAT DRIVES ITSELF AND HE IS ON HIS CELL PHONE TALKING TO ANOTHER FARMER WHO'S TRACTOR IS DRIVING ITSELF.
AND I TOLD HIM, I SAID, YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING.
ALL YOU DO IS SIT RIGHT AND TALK ON YOUR PHONE WHILE THE, WHILE THE TRACTOR'S DRIVING ITSELF.
BUT, UM, AND I KNOW THAT, THAT AIR CONDITIONING AND, UH, AND THOSE CA AND THE CAB TRACTORS, UM, WHEN IT'S COLD OR WHEN IT'S HOT, UM, SHE'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, UM, WITH YOUR LIFE BEING A FARMER AND THEN WITH THE COUNTY.
SO THANK BOTH OF Y'ALL, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, UH, MR. COLEMAN, I, I'M ALSO A FARMER AND, UH, I BELIEVE THIS IS ABOUT THE FIRST FARMER WE'VE HAD THAT I CAN REMEMBER.
BUT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SOME FARMERS ALSO RECOGNIZE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND ALSO, MS. BENJAMIN, I'VE WORKED WITH YOU FOR EVER SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THAT.
AND, AND, UH, IT'S, YOU, YOU'RE GREATLY DESERVING OF THIS HONOR.
I WAS RAISED UP ON A FARM, SO DRIVING A MILL, I WOULD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE AN AIR CONDITIONER TRACTOR, SO GOD BLESS YOU, MS. BENJAMIN.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD, UH, TO, LIKE MR. LEE SAID, UH, WORKING WITH YOU ON THE BOARD, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
AND I WAS, I WAS CHOSEN TO BE ON THE BOARD THIS TIME TO CHOOSE WHO WAS GONNA BE THE HOMETOWN HEROES, AND I THINK WE CHOSE TWO GREAT PEOPLE.
UM, I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE, UM, MR. COLEMAN.
AND, UM, I TOO GREW UP ON A FARM, SO I DO KNOW A LITTLE BIT, UH, WHAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH, BUT WE HAD THE PIGS AND CHICKENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND, YOU KNOW, UM, I, I COULDN'T RIDE A TRACTOR, SO I WASN'T ALLOWED TO
[02:45:01]
DO THAT BECAUSE I WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY WITH THE TRACTOR.BUT I AM, I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU, AND I'M, I'M SO HAPPY FOR THIS AWARD FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GREAT SEEING, UM, EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF YOU ALL TODAY.
UM, AND IT'S, AND IT'S JUST GREAT.
SO I'M, AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE, AND GLAD YOUR FAMILY HERE IS HERE, AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
UM, AND, UM, MS. BENJAMIN, UM, AND SEE, MS. BENJAMIN AND I, WE TALK ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, UM, EARLY IN THE MORNING, SOMETIMES LATE, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT ALL DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, UH, IN THE COUNTY.
SHE, UM, SHE IS, UM, A GREAT PERSON AND SHE'S ALWAYS, UH, WILLING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE COUNTY, FOR, UH, THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S REALLY INTO HER, UM, INTO SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND EVEN THE, UM, ELDERLY POPULATION.
SHE'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO HELP, UM, ELEVATE EACH ONE.
UM, SO WE, WE DO THAT A LOT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME.
MATTER OF FACT, WE WERE TALKING LAST NIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING, BUT, UM, OF COURSE SHE TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, ELECTION AND EVERYTHING, AND SHE'S, UH, BIG ON THAT, MAKING SURE YOU GET OUT TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST PLEASE DO IT.
DON'T EVER, UM, STAY AT HOME ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UM, GREAT PERSON AND WE WILL, UM, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
I'M GLAD YOUR, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CHILDREN ARE HERE.
'CAUSE, UM, I ASKED HER BEFORE I KNEW ABOUT HER BEING ELECTED, SO I KEPT CALLING HER AND I SAID, HAVE YOU HEARD FROM MARIE AS MARIE? MS. RAN OVER? SHE SAID, NO, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MARIE.
SO, BUT MARIE CALLED HER ON HER HOUSE PHONE.
I ALWAYS CALLED ON HER CELL PHONE.
SO THEN I TOLD HER, I SAID, WELL, IT IS ON YOUR CELL PHONE.
I'M ON YOUR HOUSE PHONE NOW, SO I'M JUST GO AHEAD AND TELL YOU YOU WERE, UH, SELECTED TO BE THE HOMETOWN HERO.
SO, UM, AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UM, CONGRAT, UH, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH WELL DESERVING INDIVIDUALS.
UM, MR. COLEMAN, FIRST, UM, I DON'T KNOW YOUR WHOLE FAMILY, BUT I KNOW SEVERAL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, UH, LATRICE THAT'S HERE.
UH, AND HENRY, UH, WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, WITH MY, MY WIFE AND GRADUATED.
AND, UM, WHEN, WHEN THEY GRADUATED TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, SHE INDICATED OUTSIDE OF ME THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF HER FAVORITE PEOPLE ON EARTH WAS HENRY COLEMAN
SO I TOOK THAT AS A WIN AND, AND ENDED UP MARRYING HER ANYWAY.
SO, BUT WHEN I, WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT, WHAT THE BOARD HAS TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS, UM, IT'S GOOD FOR ME JUST TO REFLECT BACK ON SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED.
UM, BUT MR. COLEMAN, FOR YOU AND, AND WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A COUPLE FARMERS.
UM, BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT YOU, I THINK ABOUT MIKE PARRISH.
SO OVER THE YEARS, UM, MIKE HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST FAN.
UM, AND SO I KNOW YOU CAN LEAD YOUR LIFE EVERY DAY AS A FARMER AND THINK THAT YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY STAND OUT OR THAT MAYBE YOU WEREN'T MAKING A DIFFERENCE, BUT FOR THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE, AND I WAS HUMBLED BY YOU SAYING THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST RECOGNITIONS THAT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED.
BUT IT'S REALLY FOR US, NOT FOR YOU.
BECAUSE REALLY YOU HAVE LED THIS COMMUNITY IN SUCH A STRONG AND SILENT WAY, NOT EVER WANTING ANY TYPE OF GRATITUDE, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE MOST FLASHY OR IT'S NOT THE LOUDEST PERSON THAT HAS MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.
AND FOR YOUR FAMILY, THERE'S A GUY SITTING BEHIND YOU, UH, MARSHALL, NOW MARSHALL'S ON MY BASKETBALL TEAM,
NOW, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE PICTURES TONIGHT TOO, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
BUT THE APPLE DIDN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE.
YOUR FAMILY, TO ME, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEM, AGAIN, SPEAKS VOLUMES OF WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED THE MOST AND WILL LIVE FOR GENERATIONS BEYOND NOW FOR MS. BENJAMIN.
UM, AND I THINK I SAID THIS TO MARIE, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER MET ANYONE QUITE LIKE MS. BENJAMIN.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THE SUBJECT IS.
I DON'T CARE HOW HEAVY THE SUBJECT MAY BE OR HOW DIFFICULT THE, THE THINGS BEFORE US ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, OBSTACLES ALONG THE WAY.
I HAVE NEVER MET AN INDIVIDUAL WITH SO MUCH OPTIMISM AND WILL NOT LET YOU GO ASTRAY OTHER THAN TO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE HEADED AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND AGAIN, THE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU'VE MADE
[02:50:01]
IN THE LIVES OF EVERYONE THAT YOU'VE BEEN AROUND.UM, I'M SO GLAD IT WAS YOUR TURN, THAT YOU ARE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE'RE BEING RECOGNIZED TOO TONIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, PROFESSIONALLY, I'M A BIG FAN.
UM, BUT JUST LIKE I SAID FOR MR. COLEMAN, YOU NEVER, YOU NEVER ONCE ASKED FOR ANY CREDIT.
IT WAS NEVER AND HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT YOU.
AND I JUST HOPE BY BRINGING ATTENTION TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU, MS. BENJAMIN, AND, AND MR. COLEMAN, THAT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHEN WE SAY WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE, WE STAND ON PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT, WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND FOR BOTH OF Y'ALL, FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND I'LL END IT BY, BY SAYING THAT GOD HAS BLESSED BOTH OF YOU AND YOUR LIVES HAVE BEEN A TESTAMENT TO YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH.
AND YOU HAVE MADE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN DENWITTY COUNTY A BETTER PERSON.
SO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR, FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO THAT GOODNESS THAT WE SHARE CONTINUES TOMORROW, JUST LIKE TODAY.
WE ARE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
HEARING PORTION OF THIS EVENING'S MEETING,
[13.A. Real Estate Exemption For Elderly And Disabled Persons Income Cap Adjustment Ordinance]
THE FIRST CASE WE'VE GOT IS THE REAL ESTATE EXEMPTION FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS INCOME CAP ADJUSTMENTS ORDINANCE, UM, COMMISSIONER REVENUE, LAURIE STEVENS.LORI LAURIE, CHAIRMAN MOORE BOARD.
UM, JUST TO RECAP ON SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS FROM THE DECEMBER 6TH WORKSHOP.
IF YOU RECALL, I HAD, UH, COME TO Y'ALL TO, UH, ASK YOU TO CONSIDER INCREASING OUR CURRENT, UH, TAX RELIEF INCOME LIMIT FROM 40,000, UM, TO CONSIDER 45 OR 50.
UH, SOCIAL SECURITY DID INCREASE IN 22, AND THEY ARE, UH, IN INCREASING AGAIN FOR 23.
UH, I FORGOT THE DATA THAT I SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE, BUT, UM, AT THIS TIME I, YOU KNOW, WOULD ASK THAT WE STRONGLY CONSIDER 50,000 FOR ANYBODY WHO'S ON THAT LIMIT OF 40.
WITH THIS INCREASE, THEY'LL GO UP TO 42, 360, AND THEN WHEN THEY, UH, ADD THE INCREASE OF 2023 OF 8.7, THEY'LL GO OVER 45,000.
UM, SO FOR OUR FOLKS THAT, UM, REALLY DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY NEED IT THE MOST, THIS, THIS INCREASING THAT, THAT LIMIT REALLY KEEPS THEM IN THE PROGRAM.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I'M, I'M AVAILABLE TO, TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE.
UH, AS, JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, LAST YEAR WE HAD 42 DENIALS, UM, AND 31 OF THOSE WERE GROSS INCOME OVER RELATED.
UH, WE ARE, UH, WITHIN OUR, UM, IN OUR REGION, PRINCE GEORGE IS SITTING AT 45,000.
UH, OUR SISTER COUNTY'S POLYTAN AND CAROLINE ARE AT 50, UH, PETERSBURG'S AT 35,000.
CHESTERFIELD HAS A SLIDING SCALE STARTS, UH, 33,000.
THEY GIVE A HUNDRED PERCENT AND THEN UP TO 55,200, THEY GET 35%.
MS. MOODY CHAIRMAN, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT IF IT'S TWO, TWO ELDERLY IN THE HOUSEHOLD, IT WOULD BE THE COMBINED CORRECT.
SO THEY COULD VERY EASILY, THEY COULD GO OVER THAT AMOUNT? YEAH.
SO IT'S A TOTAL INCOME FOR THE TWO INDIVIDUALS, BUT NO MORE THAN TWO.
IF THEY HAVE OTHERS LIVING IN THERE, UM, WE TAKE OFF 7,500 AND THEN THE REST IS INCLUDED.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND I THINK IT'S GOOD WHEN WE CAN HELP OUR ELDERLY AND DISABLED.
SO IT'S, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING WE'RE DOING.
ANY COMMENT? YEAH, JUST IF I COULD MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, RELATIVE TO THE NUMBER.
SO AGAIN, IN THE ORDINANCE WHAT YOU'RE AMENDING IS, IS BOTH JUST, JUST TWO SIMPLE THINGS.
[02:55:01]
JUST, IT'S JUST THE DOLLAR FIGURE THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOU'RE AFFECTING TODAY.AND PRESENTLY WE'RE AT 40 MM-HMM
UM, AND SO WE ARE AGAIN, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, UH, WE CONCUR WITH THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE, THAT 50,000 IS WHAT WE THINK THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER AND UH, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I KNOW THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS BEEN ASKED TO ALSO LOOK AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF ANYBODY THAT'S 65 AND OLDER.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME, SOME INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY OF THAT.
WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO TONIGHT WAS SPECIFICALLY GET THIS DONE SO IT CAN GO RETROACTIVE BACK TO, UM, JANUARY, I GUESS JANUARY ONE.
SO ACTING TONIGHT ON THIS GETS YOU TO THAT JANUARY ONE.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE'RE JUST BEGINNING, I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE, MS. STEVENS HAS ALSO DONE SOME ADDITIONAL LEGWORK ON WHAT THAT IMPACT WOULD BE FOR 65 AND OLDER OR MUCH HIGHER INCOME VALUES.
AND SO WE'RE STILL TRYING TO, TO COLLECT SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK BY JUST DOING THIS TONIGHT THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT OR EVEN GOING THROUGH THAT, UM, THAT PROCESS TO EVALUATE IT.
BUT AGAIN, WHAT TONIGHT IS, IS TRYING TO MAKE THIS SO THAT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO JANUARY ONE, BUT WE CONCUR WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP? MR. CHAIRMAN? I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IS ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT? HEARING NONE.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
UM, YOU HAVE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION THAT IS TO RAISE THE CAP FROM 40,000 TO 50,000.
UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AMONGST THE BOARD? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED AS PRESENTED WITH THE 50,000.
[13.B. Rezoning Request, P-23-2, 20515 Cox Road]
CASE IS THE REZONING REQUEST.MR. ROBINSON, IF YOU'LL PRESENT THAT TO US THIS EVENING, SIR.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
OKAY, EVENING I'M GONNA GIVE A BRIEF STAFF PRESENTATION FOR REZONING APPLICATION P DASH 23 DASH TWO.
THE APPLICANT FOR THIS UH, APPLICATION IS RUTH M GALLION.
THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO REZONE, UH, PROPERTY THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 2.17 ACRES, PLUS OR MINUS FROM ITS CURRENT B ONE, WHICH IS THE BUSINESS LIMITED DISTRICT TO B TWO, WHICH IS THE BUSINESS GENERAL DISTRICT.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 2 0 5 1 5 COX ROAD IN SUTHERLAND.
UH, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS THE SUTHERLAND MARKET.
THE PROPERTY IS MORE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE RECORDS AS TAX MAP PARCEL 19 DASH TWO DASH D AND AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE UH, THE MAP, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF COX ROAD, WHICH IS ROUTE FOUR 60.
AND IT IS APPROXIMATELY 0.2 MILES WEST OF SUTHERLAND DRIVE, WHICH UH, GOES INTO THE SUTHERLAND MANOR SUBDIVISION.
AND AGAIN, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO REZONE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FROM B ONE TO B TWO WITH, UH, THE INTENT TO OPERATE AN AUTOMOBILE SELF-SERVICE STATION, WHICH IS THE ZONING ORDINANCES TERM FOR A GAS STATION.
UH, AS INDICATED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY'S URBAN AREA.
THE PROPERTY WAS REZONED TO ITS CURRENT B ONE ZONING IN 1972 AND THE PROPERTY WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED WITH A SUPERMARKET OR GROCERY STORE, WHICH IS PERMITTED BY WRIGHT AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
THE EXACT DATE IS UNKNOWN, BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, FUEL PUMPS WERE ADDED TO THE SITE WHICH CHANGED THE CHARACTER OF THE BUSINESS, UH, FROM A SUPERMARKET TO AN AUTOMOBILE SELF-SERVICE STATION OR GAS STATION, WHICH IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE B ONE DISTRICT.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY CEASED OPERATION PRIOR TO THE 2020 PANDEMIC AND HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE THAT TIME.
I UNDERSTAND FROM THE APPLICANT, UH, THAT THERE WAS A SITUATION INVOLVING ONE OF THE FORMER TENANTS, UH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THE PROPERTY HAD, HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE THAT TIME.
UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22 DASH 2 46
[03:00:01]
OF THE COUNTY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, IF ANY NON-CONFORMING USE BEING A STRUCTURAL OR ACTIVITY IS DISCONTINUED FOR A PERIOD EXCEEDING TWO YEARS AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE ORDINANCE FROM WHICH THIS CHAPTER DERIVES, OR ANY OR AFTER ANY SUBSEQUENT ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER, IT SHALL BE DEEMED ABANDONED AND ANY SUBSEQUENT USE SHALL CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER.THEREFORE, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THIS REZONING TO REOPEN THE BUSINESS AND OPERATE AN AUTOMOBILE SELF-SERVICE STATION AS A USE BY RIGHT INSTEAD OF AS A NON-CONFORMING USE, WHICH HAS OPERATED FOR MANY YEARS.
THE PROPERTY IS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDED BY A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
UH, BUT THERE IS OTHER, UM, THERE ARE OTHER TYPE USES WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH INCLUDE BUSINESS USES, CIVIC USES AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USES ALONG ROUTE FOUR 60.
SO YOU SHOULD BE FAMILIAR, UH, THAT TO THE EAST, UH, OF THE PROPERTY, UH, WITHIN A ONE MILE LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S THE DENWITTY SPORTS COMPLEX, SULLIVAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEN THE WALMART DISTRIBUTION CENTER.
UH, THOSE USES ARE LOCATED ON PROPERTIES THAT ARE ZONED EITHER A TWO OR M1, WHICH IS OUR INDUSTRIAL LIMITED DISTRICT.
AND THEN EAST OF THE PROPERTY, UH, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR, THERE IS, UH, OCRE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND ADJACENT TO THAT USE ARE TWO PARCELS THAT ARE ZONED.
UH, THEY CONTAIN A FARM MARKET IN A VACANT RESTAURANT AND THEN EVEN FURTHER WEST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF UH, CLAYBORN ROAD IN ROUTE FOUR 60, THERE IS B TWO ZONE PROPERTY THERE.
UM, YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT THE, THERE IS A SUTHERLAND PHARMACY AND A SHELL GAS STATION LOCATED AT THAT INTERSECTION.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE PROPERTIES JUST MENTIONED, THERE IS ALSO B ONE ZONING ALONG HART ROAD, WHICH IS WEST OF THE PROPERTY IN THAT AREA YOU HAVE A POST OFFICE AND AN INSURANCE OFFICE.
SO JUST TO MENTION ALL OF THAT TO SAY THERE IS A PRESENCE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ZONING AND USES IN THE AREA IN THE PRESENT, UH, PRESENCE OF EXISTING B ONE AND B TWO ZONING.
AS I MENTIONED, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE UH, URBAN AREA IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS CONTAINING MEDIUM TO HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
SEWER, WATER AND ROADS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE GROWTH WITH SOME UPGRADES AND EXTENSIONS NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE HIGHER DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND HEAVY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPOSED REZONING TO B TWO WOULD ELIMINATE THE NON-CONFORMING STATUS OF THE PROPERTY AND ALLOW AN ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL BUSINESS TO RESUME OPERATION.
SO TO SUMMARIZE THE IMPACTS OF THIS REZONING APPLICATION ON THE COUNTY'S, UH, FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS EXISTING, THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY IMPACT TO PUBLIC UTILITIES, SCHOOLS, OR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS A COMMERCIALLY, UH, ZONED PROPERTY.
AND THEN, UH, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPED WITH EXISTING ENTRANCES, THERE WOULD BE NO IMPACT ON THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
SO BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, UH, STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST.
GIVEN THAT ONE, THE REQUESTED ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF B TWO IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING ZONING PATTERN AND SURROUNDING LAND USES.
AND THEN TWO, THE PROPOSED USE CONFORMS TO THE UNDERLYING USES RECOMMENDED IN THE URBAN AREA IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THIS GENERAL AREA.
AND I'LL MENTION AS I SUMMARIZE AND CONCLUDE, I'LL MENTION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, DID HEAR THIS APPLICATION AT THEIR MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE EIGHTH, EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THEY DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ZERO AND THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT THIS EVENING.
MR. JEFFREY MAGALLON IS PRESENT.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I ONLY HAVE ONE AND THAT IS PERTAINING TO IF THE CHANGE GOES FROM B ONE TO B TWO, THE SIGNAGE, BECAUSE THE APPLICANT HAS ASKED ME ABOUT THAT, WHAT WOULD THE SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS BE? I'LL HAVE TO GO TO MY ZONING ORDINANCE.
RIGHT, BUT JUST TRYING TO, I THINK HE HAS A CONCERN WITH THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION NOW.
I'M GONNA SAY AS I LOOK AT THE REGULATIONS THAT I BELIEVE THROUGH THE SIGNAGE ALLOTMENT FOR THE PROPERTY WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE GENEROUS BECAUSE IT IS B TWO, RIGHT? INSTEAD OF B ONE.
CURRENTLY IT HAS A SIGN THAT'S
[03:05:01]
PROBABLY 20 FEET HIGH, UH, OVER TOP OF THE PUMPS OR AT THE PUMPS.SO, UM, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING IF HE GETS A CLIENT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS HIS OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNAGE FOR THE PROPERTY? OKAY.
AND HE CAN ASK THAT ALSO WHEN HE COMES FORWARD.
SO WITH A QUICK GLANCE, HE WOULD BE ALLOWED ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR SIGNAGE, UH, 130 SQUARE FEET AND B ONE AS OPPOSED TO 250 SQUARE FEET AND B TWO GOOD NEWS.
WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO COME FORWARD? DR. MOORE, I HAVEN'T RESEARCHED THE QUESTION OF THE SIGN, BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A RULE OF GENERAL APPLICABILITY THAT SIGNS ARE NOT TO BE MORE THAN 10 FEET TALL.
I BELIEVE THAT TALL IS, THAT SIGN IS MORE, BUT IT IS ALSO BEEN THERE SINCE PRIOR TO THAT RULE.
SO THE, THE SIGN IS KIND OF IN A NON-CONFORMING GRANDFATHERED STATUS, WHICH I THINK JUST MEANS IT COULDN'T BE EXPANDED.
BUT I THINK THE SIGN IS OKAY TO REMAIN THERE.
THAT'S ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS.
THERE'S NO OTHER, UH, STIPULATIONS IF SOMEBODY FILES FOR A LICENSE AGAIN.
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT IT WENT DOWN.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 40 YEARS SELLING GAS AND I HAD A MAN, I LOST A LEASE OVER THIS, THE MAN SUPPOSED TO START PAYING ME FEBRUARY THE FIRST.
HE BROKE THE LEASE IN, UH, BEGINNING OF JANUARY.
'CAUSE I GUESS HE WAS JUST AFRAID OF, HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING, HE AIN'T GOT A BUSINESS LICENSE, SO I COULDN'T DO, HAD TO GIVE HIM HIS MONEY BACK.
SO THIS GOING, I DON'T GET NOBODY IN THERE QUICK.
THIS GONNA COST ME, UH, PROBABLY $50,000 ABOUT IT, OR IT COST ME 7,500.
TECHNICALLY MY MOTHER WHO JUST PASSED AWAY JANUARY 1ST.
UH, AND UH, THAT'S MY CONCERN ABOUT IT.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 40 YEARS BY TWO THOU.
BY 1980 THE PUMPER PUT IN AND THEY GOT REDONE IN AROUND 2003 AND THE COUNTY APPROVED THAT PUT TO DO, UH, FIVE GLASS TANKS IN THERE.
THE COUNTY JUMPED THE, UH, ASSESSMENT ON THE PROPERTY 'CAUSE OF THAT.
SO THE COUNTY KNEW EVERYTHING.
THEY'VE BEEN GOING ON LEASING.
I'VE BEEN HAVING FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE LEASING BETTER THE PROPERTY IN DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM TO THIS TIME.
I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT
BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING AND UH, I SEE WHAT HAPPENS COMING FORWARD, I GUESS.
UM, SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO LEASE THE, THE GAS PUMPS AND THEN THE UM, LIKE A CONVENIENCE STORE? OPERATE AS A CONVENIENCE? YEAH.
I HAD SOMEBODY BUT THEY, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET THE LICENSE SO THEY, THEY BACKED OUT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
IS ANYONE SIGNED UP? MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
DOES ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK? IF NOT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
UM, YOU HAVE YOUR REPORT BEFORE YOU, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS.
GOT THE STANDARD STATEMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
RESOLVED THAT IN ORDER TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2286 A SEVEN.
IT STATED THE PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS INITIATED IS TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, GENERAL WELFARE, AND GOOD ZONING PRACTICE.
I MOVE THAT REZONING P DASH 23 DASH TWO AS PRESENTED.
[14.A. Appointments]
ITEM IS, UH, NUMBER 14 IS OLD AND NEW BUSINESS.WE HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS THIS EVENING.
MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, CHAIRMAN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, HAVE A APPOINTMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE, UM, TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM ON THE DEITY COUNTY INDUSTRIAL UM, AUTHORITY.
THE IDA MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT SUSAN WATKINS TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF MAX WATKINS TO END 1 31 24.
[03:10:01]
MR. MOODY? AYE.AND SECONDLY, WE HAVE A NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE DEITY COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALSO AN UNEXPIRED TERM, UM, TO 3 31 20 26.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT, UM, TARA LEWIS TO A TERM TO EXPIRE.
[14.B. Opioid Litigation Settlement]
14 V IS OPIOID LITIGATION SETTLEMENT.MR. SABO, I THINK MYSELF FOR REMINDER TOMORROW RELATED TO THE ACTION.
SO I HAVE A MEMO WITH A RESOLUTION TO HAND OUT TO YOU ALL HERE.
SO AS YOU ARE AWARE, DENWITTY COUNTY HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST TIVA, ALLERGAN, WALMART, WALGREENS, CVS, AND THEIR RELATED CORPORATE ENTITIES, UH, FOR THEIR ROLES IN THE DISTRIBUTION MANUFACTURER AND SALE OF OPIOID PRODUCTS THAT HAVE FUELED AN EPIDEMIC.
AFTER YEARS OF LITIGATION, THESE DEFENDANTS HAVE NOW AGREED TO TERMS OF A GLOBAL NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT THAT COMBINED OVER $18.7 BILLION TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR ABATEMENT OF THE HARMS CAUSED BY THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, THOSE SETTLEMENTS WOULD OFFER SOME WHAT'S CALLED INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO STOP THE DEFENDANTS FROM DOING CERTAIN THINGS.
ASSUMING THAT EVERYBODY AGREES TO THE SETTLEMENT, IT WOULD RESULT IN VIRGINIA SHARE BEING ABOUT $425 MILLION.
THAT'S THEN DIVIDED UP AGAIN INTO DINWOODY COUNTY SHARE.
UM, AND THEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MONEY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER ABOUT AN 18 YEAR TIMEFRAME.
UM, SO ONCE APPROVED, THESE SETTLEMENTS WOULD FLOW, WOULD THE MONEY WOULD FLOW UNDER THE TERMS OF THE, UH, O UNDER THE VIRGINIA OPIOID ABATEMENT FUND AND SETTLEMENT ALLOCATION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WHICH THIS BOARD ENTERED INTO BACK IN 2021.
IT WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE SETTLEMENTS WITH JANSEN AND WITH THE DISTRIBUTORS.
UH, THIS WAS A SECOND WAVE OF LITIGATION AGAINST THESE DEFENDANTS.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLICATED, UH, LITIGATION AND NEGOTIATION AND WE'VE BEEN ASSISTED IN THAT BY OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.
THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT YOU APPROVE THESE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS AND, AND I DO CREDIT THEM WITH THE ASSISTANCE IN HELPING ME DRAFT THE MEMO AND, UM, IN RESOLUTION, OF COURSE, TAILORING IT TO DENWITTY.
BUT, UM, THANK THEM FOR THEIR HELP WITH THAT.
I'M HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK, UM, IT'S FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE PROBABLY ABOUT 3000, UM, UNITS OF GOVERNMENT OF SOME SHAPE OR FORM THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS LITIGATION.
AND ONCE WE HAVE THESE DEFENDANTS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE WILLING TO SETTLE AND WHERE, YOU KNOW, OUR OUTSIDE COUNSELOR RECOMMENDING APPROVAL, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, UM, AN AN ACTION OF OF GETTING EVERYBODY TO SIGN OFF ON THEM.
OF COURSE, IF ENOUGH POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS DON'T SIGN OFF, THE WHOLE SETTLEMENT FALLS APART AND POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET ANYTHING.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU? WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT.
UM, AND WE WOULD ASK FOR MR. CHAIRMAN MM-HMM
NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE DENWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS 21ST DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2023, APPROVE THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF OPIOID RELATED CLAIMS AGAINST TIVA, ALLIGAN, WALMART, WALGREENS, CVS, AND THEIR RELATED CORPORATE ENTITIES AND DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OR THE COUNTY'S OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SETTLEMENT, INCLUDING THE REQUIRED RELEASE OF CLAIMS AGAINST SETTLING ENTITIES.
GOT A MOTION? CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND MOTION.
[03:15:01]
AYE.[15. CITIZEN COMMENTS (3 MINUTES)]
NEXT SEGMENT IS THE CITIZENS' COMMENT PERIOD.UM, WE'LL OPEN THE CITIZENS' COMMENT PERIOD.
IS ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE MICHAEL MULLEN.
HOWARD, GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD.
MY TOPIC TODAY IS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE ENTRY AND EXIT FROM LEONARD'S LANE INTO, UM, RIVER ROAD IN DENWOODY.
BOL ENTERPRISES HAS HELD TWO FUNCTIONS AT THIS EVENT SITE AND AT THE END OF LEONARD'S LANE.
THE, THIS ROAD IS A PRIVATE ROAD WITH A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND IT'S LESS THAN 12 FEET WIDE IN MULTIPLE AREAS.
IT IS MY BELIEF BEING AS RIVERSIDE VINES IS ALREADY BOOKING EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR AND 2024.
IT SHOULD MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS STATED IN ITY CODE 1893.
A SECOND MEANS OF ENTRY AND EXIT, PLUS A DIVIDED MAIN ENTRY.
HE SAID ANYWHERE FROM TWO TO 300, UH, PEOPLE ATTENDING EACH EVENT AT 36 EVENTS.
UM, I LIVE ON CHEIN BOULEVARD.
I WAS OUT THERE THAT NIGHT WATCHING EVERYBODY GO IN AND, UH, PEOPLE GOT LOST.
THEY WENT DOWN CHEIN BOULEVARD.
IT'S CONGESTED ENOUGH WITHOUT HAVING 50 OR 60 OTHER CARS.
UM, THERE ARE NOW FIVE RESIDENTS SERVED BY LEONARD'S LANE, WHICH CERTAINLY MEETS VDO T'S REQUIREMENT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
THE ROAD IS ONLY 50 FEET FROM THE ENTRY OR EXIT OF CHES AND MANOR, WHICH HAS 121 RESIDENTS, WHICH IS THE STATE MAINTAINED ROAD.
SO THIS IS A BUSY, UM, LOCATION ON ROUTE 6 0 1.
IT IS LOCATED AT THE END OF A DOUBLE BLIND CURVE AS WELL.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ACCIDENTS THERE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE ENTRY EXIT AT LEONARD'S LANE AT 6 0 1, THERE ARE SIX MAILBOXES.
A, UM, VERIZON DISTRIBUTION BOX THERE, WHICH ACTUALLY HIDE THE ENTRANCE TO LEONARD'S LANE.
THEY, IT OBSCURES YOU FROM THE VISION OF IT.
SO TRYING TO WIDEN IT 30 FEET, THERE'S NOT ROOM TO FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BUT THAT, THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IN THE, IN THE, UM, IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND, AND, AND FOR OUR SUBDIVISION.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS BEFORE, MR. MOORE, MR. MASSING, WE KNOW THAT 18 DASH 93 WAS NOT FOLLOWED, SO A SECOND ROAD WASN'T THERE.
SO CHE BOULEVARD IS IT, WE NEED TO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN WITH THIS, WITH A BUSINESS.
UM, I'LL, I'LL ASK KEVIN MASSENGALE, UH, HAS THE BOS CONTACTED SEABOLD ENTERPRISE AS THE OWNER OF THE ROAD TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INTERSECTION OF RIVER ROAD? UM, THE ROAD MANUALLY IN INDICATES A WIDTH OF 30 FEET FOR AN ENTRY OR EXIT.
IS IT A REQUIREMENT FOR THIS INTERSECTION AS WELL AS STANDARD OF BUSINESS? SORRY, WRAP UP YOUR, YOUR TIME.
WELL, I JUST BA BASICALLY, UM, Y'ALL HAVE READ MY LAST THREE EMAILS.
SO I HAVE TO COME UP HERE AND IN THREE MINUTES I TRY TO GET, UM, SOME SO OF AN ANSWER.
UM, BUT THIS IS NOT A QUESTION IN THE ANSWER.
I, I I KNOW, BUT, BUT I CAN, BUT I, IN, IN THE PAST THOUGH, KEVIN HAS BEEN QUITE VOCAL IN TRYING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT I'VE ASKED.
THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT CITIZENS.
IT ISN'T MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULDN'T MIND MR. MULLEN HIRE IF YOU WANT TO STAY, UM, IF IT'S A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD THAT IF YOU WISH FOR ME TO RESPOND, UM, AND I'LL, I'LL KEEP THIS VERY GENERAL IN THE SENSE THAT IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS AUGUST OF 2021, THIS BOARD HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING, UH, NUMEROUS THINGS WERE DISCUSSED AND SPECIFICALLY AN AN AGRITOURISM ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE THE FULL EFFECT OF THE WHOLE COUNTY.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY LOOKED AT NON-CONFORMING USES.
THEY LOOKED AT PROHIBITIVE NOISE ORDINANCE AND HOW THAT WOULD RELATE TO AGRITOURISM.
[03:20:01]
ADDITION TO THAT, THEY LOOKED AT SPECIAL EVENTS AS THEY WERE DEFINED.UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT HEARING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEN THE AGRITOURISM ORDINANCE WAS PASSED FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, THAT EVENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE PLACE AS LONG AS THEY FELL WITH UNDER AGRITOURISM AS IT MEETS TO THE COUNTY CODE.
AS LONG AS, IF YOU RECALL THAT YOU WERE LIMITED TO 36 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS PER YEAR OF THOSE 36 PUBLIC EVENTS, IF, IF YOU STARTED TO GET BEYOND 300 INDIVIDUALS AT ONE TIME, UH, THAT'S WHEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO FORTH AND GET A, A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT.
UM, SO AGAIN, JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD NOW AS IT RELATES TO RIVERSIDE VINES, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUES OFFICE.
UM, THEY ARE OPERATING UNDER THE AGRITOURISM ORDINANCE.
UM, AS SUCH, AGAIN, THEY HAVE THE, THE ABILITY TO HAVE 36 EVENTS PER YEAR.
UH, AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE OPEN BOTH PUBLICLY AND FOR PRIVATE BOOKINGS, BUT THEY HAVE NO MORE THAN 36 EVENTS AND AN EVENT IS DEFINED AS A DAY.
SO IF IT WAS A THREE DAY EVENT, IT WOULD COUNT AS THREE, NOT NOT ONE INDIVIDUALLY.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE, AS FAR AS THE AGRITOURISM ORDINANCE GOES IN REGARDS TO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROADWAY TO PARKING, THAT'S ALL SPELLED OUT IN THE AGRITOURISM ORDINANCE.
UM, SO IN THE EVENT THAT THE, LET'S SAY THAT TBO ENTERPRISES DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO EXCEED THAT 36TH EVENT AND THEY WANTED TO OPERATE DIFFERENTLY, THAT'S WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE THIS BOARD, LET'S SAY, TO OPEN AN EVENT CENTER WHERE THEY WERE GONNA TRANSITION MORE TOWARDS A FULL-FLEDGED BUSINESS OPERATION OTHER THAN THE AGRITOURISM NATURE BY WHICH THEY FALL UNDER.
UM, SO AGAIN, NOT, NOT IN THE SENSE OF, AGAIN, YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, REGULATE AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE TO SAY AS STAFF, BUT IN THE SENSE OF JUST TRYING TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR COMMENTS, MR. MULLEN HOWER, UM, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING SPECIFICALLY TO MR. ALT'S PROPERTY IN RIVERSIDE VINES.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, UH, BOTH AT EITHER MS. COLLINS AND MS. ROBINSON OF WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AS FAR AS, UM, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD BE NA NEEDED ON THAT, THAT PARTICULAR PIECE.
I, I, I'VE SENT HIM AN EMAIL ON THAT.
I ASKED HIM
SO NONE OF YOU IN INTEND ON ANSWERING ANY OF MY EMAILS.
MR. SOUTHALL, YOU'VE IGNORED THE LAST FIVE SIMPLY YES, WE HAVE.
OTHER PEOPLE I THINK WANT TO, WANT TO COMMENT DURING THIS PERIOD.
NO, BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHERS.
ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? NO ONE ELSE HAS SIGNED UP.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? NO.
IF NOT, WE'LL CLOSE THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD.
[16. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? I'M GOOD.I JUST WANNA SAY, I THINK TONIGHT WAS A GOOD NIGHT WITH, UM, THE HOMETOWN HEROES AND, UM, IT, UM, I THINK KEVIN'S REMARKS ABOUT A A, A LIFE THAT'S LED, UM, YOU LEAD BY EXAMPLE IS, UM, WAS, WAS SUCH A GOOD STATEMENT.
UM, AND I THINK THERE, UH, UM, SO MANY PEOPLE IN DINWOODY THAT THAT LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND WHAT A, WHAT A GREAT, UM, TRIBUTE TO THAT THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE TONIGHT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. CHAIRMAN? THIS IS NOT FOR ME UNDER BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS, BUT IT IS RELATIVE TO A BOARD MEMBER.
UH, SO I JUST AT THE, THE, THE, THE TRANSITION MEETING OPERATIONS MEETING THAT WE HAD, ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO THE BOARD, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS AT THAT TIME, JUST JUST CHALK IT UP TO LOGISTICS AND, AND SUPPLY CHAIN.
BUT WE'RE, WE WANT TO PRESENT THIS TONIGHT TO HARRISON MOODY, UH, FOR THIS IS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AND THE BOARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP AS THE 2022 CHAIR OF THE DUY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THAT TO MR. MOODY AT THIS TIME.
I JUST ENJOYED SERVING AS CHAIR LAST YEAR AND, AND I'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT A GOOD BOARD AND IT IS EASY TO WORK WITH WHEN YOU HAVE A GOOD BOARD, BOARD
[03:25:01]
AND A GOOD AMEN.ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, THERE'S ONLY ONE THING LEFT AND THAT IS CAN WE GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
MEETING IS ADJOURNED? MEETING IS ADJOURNED.