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[1. ROLL CALL]
AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DE MOODY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM MAY 16TH, 2023.CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL MR. MOODY? HERE.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA, UH, STAND AND HAVE AN INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE THE LORD'S PRAYER, AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
AFTER THAT, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND WITH OUR FATHER REGARDING HEAVEN HALL BE THY NEED.
THOU WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY ON OUR DAILY BREAD.
AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WE TRESPASS AGAINST US.
AND HE NOT TEMPTATION WITH THE DIVERSE FROM EVIL FOR THY IS THE KINGDOM AND OUR HONOR.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[4. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA]
IS THE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA TO STAFF.HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS? NO AMENDMENTS FROM STAFF, MR. CHAIRMAN AND FROM FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
NOW WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
IS YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH YOU HAVE YOUR SUMMARY OF CLAIMS. VRA 2019 C, TAX EXEMPT BOND REQUISITION NUMBER 42.UM, REVERSAL OF SURPLUS OF COUNTY PERSONAL PROPERTY.
ITEM D IS MEHERON RIVER REGIONAL JAIL AUTHORITY AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION FOR A CHANGE IN PER DIEM CALCULATION.
E RE-APPROVAL OF REMOTE MEETING, UM, MINUTES.
AND, UH, SECTION F SECTION OF MINUTES.
AND YOU HAVE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THOSE, UM, LISTED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA? LEMME TRY AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM IF THERE'S NO CORRECTIONS.
[6.A. Virginia Department Of Transportation]
UH, WE HAVE ONE THIS EVENING AND THAT'S VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.GOOD AFTERNOON MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE'LL START OFF WITH THE PROJECTS.
PER USUAL, OUR BRANCHES ROAD, ROYAL RUSTIC IS STILL UNDERWAY.
THEY'RE BOUNCING ON AND OFF THAT PROJECT WHILE THEY'RE WORKING ON THE SHOULDERS ON ROUTE 40, JUST EQUIPMENT MATERIAL DEPENDENT, BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT ONE AND IT IS STILL IN THE SCHEDULE TO BE SURFACE TREATED.
OUR PIPE REHAB PROJECT ON WATERFORD JO WATERFORD DRIVE WAS COMPLETED.
UM, WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE MATERIALS FOR CHEAN BOULEVARD.
UM, AT OUR DISTRICT LEVEL, WE'RE WORKING ON PROCURING A NEW PIPE REHAB CONTRACT.
IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE, THAN THE CONTRACT.
WE DO THIS KIND OF WORK UNDER RIGHT NOW.
IT'LL BE A CONTRACT THAT I'LL HOLD AT THE RESIDENCY AND IT'LL BE SELF PERFORMED, UM, RATHER THAN OUR CONSTRUCTION DIVISION HANDLING IT.
UM, I'VE WORKED UNDER A CONTRACT LIKE THIS PREVIOUSLY AND ALLOWS US TO DO THESE PIPE REHAB PROJECTS MUCH FASTER AND MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.
UH, HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR GETTING THAT CONTRACT GOING.
UM, I SENT AN EMAIL FOR THE 2 26 AND FOUR 60 SIGNAL TIMING REQUEST.
I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE BACK YET, BUT I WILL SEND AN UPDATE ONCE I DO GET THAT REQUEST.
UM, THERE WAS SOME CHANGES GOING ON WITH OUR SIGNAL TIMING DEPARTMENT THAT LIKELY CAUSED THAT DELAY THERE.
I BELIEVE THAT ADMINISTRATOR POSITION IS STILL VACANT.
UM, TOMORROW I'LL BE MEETING WITH A CONTRACTOR TO LOOK AT FOUR 60 AT BUTTER WOOD ROAD TO DO THAT PAVEMENT AND REPAIR.
UM, WE HAD THE CORING DONE ON THE INSIDE LANE AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT WHEN FOUR 60 WAS WIDENED, THAT INSIDE LANE HAS SOME ADDITIONAL MATERIAL UNDERNEATH OF IT.
IT IS A CEMENT TREATED AGGREGATE UNDERNEATH THAT CONCRETE PAD THERE, WHEREAS THE OUTSIDE LANE DOES NOT HAVE THE CEMENT TREATED.
AGGREGATE GIVEN US THE RESULT, UH, THAT YOU RIDE OVER AND FEEL QUITE A BIT
UM, WE'LL BE STARTING ON THURSDAY WITH ADDITIONAL TRENCH WIDENING ON FOUR 60.
UM, HAD A REVIEW, UM, OF THOSE QUANTITIES AND WE ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO ADD SOME MORE QUANTITIES TO THE
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TRENCH WIDENING FOR FOUR 60 ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE.WE WILL NOW BE GOING ALL THE WAY TO 6 25 TO WELLS ROAD.
WE'LL BE PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO 6 24 COLEMAN'S LAKE ROAD, I BELIEVE.
SO A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TRENCH WIDENING COMING.
UM, AND WE WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THAT INTO NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
UM, SHOULDERS, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE WORKING ON SHOULDERS ON ROUTE 40 CONTINUOUSLY TAKING A BREAK THIS WEEK TO GET SOME TRAINING DONE.
AND WE HAVE MOWING UNDERWAY, UM, AROUND THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND THAT IS INCLUDING A MO TRIM ON ROUTE 85.
THEY'RE DOING SOME SLOPE MOWING AS WELL.
UM, AND THE INTERCHANGES AT ROUTE ONE AND 7 0 3, THOSE, THOSE GORE AREAS THAT HAVE A TENDENCY TO GROW UP AND CREATE A SITE DISTANCE FOR THOSE MERGING TOGETHER.
UM, THE INTERSTATE CONTRACTOR WILL NOW BE MOWING THOSE BIWEEKLY.
SO NO MORE SITE DISTANCE ISSUES OR AESTHETICS AS WELL.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE CREWS WORKING IN WEST PETERSBURG.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE FOR ABOUT A WEEK, ABOUT A WEEK, UM, KNOCKING OUT SOME VARIOUS ITEMS AND THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD IN THERE.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HAVE THE RESULTS OF OUR THROUGH TRUCK RESTRICTIONS.
UM, OR THE REQUEST FOR THE REVIEW, UM, ON WHAT WE CAN CALL THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF THE COUNTY, UM, SCORE LEVEL FLANK SIMPSON AND HALIFAX ROADS, UM, AND CHURCH ROAD AS WELL WAS INCLUDED IN THAT.
WHAT WE, WHEN WE TOOK AND LOOKED AT THESE DIFFERENT ROUTES, UM, WE MADE SOME ASSUMPTIONS THAT THE AREAS, THE ROUTES SOUTH OF THE INDUSTRIAL AREA, UM, SCORE LEVEL AND FLANK, MOST OF THOSE ROUTES ARE UTILIZED TO GO EAST TOWARDS THE INTERSTATE SOUTH AND EAST TOWARDS THE INTERSTATE.
AND THEY END UP ON 6 0 4 ON HALIFAX ROAD.
IF WE RESTRICT HALIFAX ROAD, THAT'S MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS THAT WE'RE SEEING ON SQUIRREL LEVEL AND FLANK ROAD THAT ARE USING THOSE ROUTES TO EVENTUALLY GET DOWN TO CARSON.
UM, THAT WAY IS A FASTER FOR THE TRUCKERS.
AND B, THEY AVOID THE SCALES ON ROUTE 95, WHICH IS A, UM, LARGE CONSIDERATION OF WHY THEY'RE MORE THAN LIKELY USING THAT ROUTE.
WE, UM, DID SOMETHING SIMILAR, UM, IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IN THE FALL, AND THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN INFLUX OF ADDITIONAL TRUCK TRAFFIC ON 6 0 4 AS WELL.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THEY CONSIDERED 6 0 4 FOR A FORMAL STUDY.
UM, IT DID MEET SEVERAL OF THE CRITERIA FOR A FORMAL STUDY AND ANALYSIS FOR THE THROUGH TRUCK RESTRICTION.
UM, THAT BEING THE REASONABLENESS OF THE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE.
UM, AND THE FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION, IT IS A COLLECTOR ROUTE, UM, WHICH DOES QUALIFY IT FOR A THROUGH TRUCK RESTRICTION.
UM, THE ONE THING THAT THAT MAY LIMIT IT IS SOME OF THE TRAFFIC CLASSIFICATION AND ROADWAY DATA.
UM, THE STUDY, UM, WILL CLARIFY THAT AND ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH IT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, CRASHES ARE CONSIDERED IN THAT THERE IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN 48 CRASHES ON THAT ROAD, FOUR OF THEM INVOLVING TRACTOR TRAILERS.
UM, I WILL SAY JUST FROM AN AESTHETIC STANDPOINT, FROM LOOKING AT THAT ROAD FOR FROM 6 0 4, UM, ALL OF OF OUR HORIZONTAL CURVES, THE SHOULDERS ARE, ARE WORN OUT.
AS THOSE TRUCKS MAKE THE TANGENT ACROSS THAT CURVE, THOSE, THOSE BACK WHEELS HAVE A TENDENCY TO, TO BLOW OUR SHOULDERS OUT.
UM, SO THAT WAS THE MAIN RECOMMENDATION OF OUR OVERALL OVERALL REVIEW FOR THE TRUCK RESTRICTIONS.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FORMAL STUDY ON 6 0 4 ON HALIFAX ROAD, WHICH WILL REQUIRE A BOARD RESOLUTION AT THE NEXT MEETING IF THE BOARD CONCURS.
UM, PART OF THE REVIEW WAS CHURCH ROAD.
INITIALLY THEY HAD SAID CHURCH ROAD DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A THREE TRUCK RESTRICTION.
I HAD THEM LOOK, LET'S STILL GO AHEAD AND DO THE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS.
UM, THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT CRITERIA THAT HAVE TO BE MET FOR THE ROAD TO QUALIFY FOR THE THREE TRUCK RESTRICTION.
THEY ARE REASONABLE IN THIS OF THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE CHURCH ROAD MEETS THAT.
UM, IT DOES NOT MEET THE CHARACTERISTIC OR FREQUENCY OF THE TRUCK TRUCK TRAFFIC, THOUGH THEIR MAIN CONSIDERATION IN IT NOT MEETING THAT CRITERIA WAS THE GEOMETRY OF THE ROAD.
UM, BEING THAT IT IS 22 FEET WIDE WITH A CENTER LINE, IT CAN
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ACCOMMODATE TRUCKS.UM, THE OTHER CONDITION THAT IT DID NOT MEET WAS THE RESIDENTIAL AND NATURE.
UM, FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE, I BELIEVE THERE HAS TO BE 150 HOUSES AND A THOUSAND FOOT SECTION OF THE ROAD.
UM, WHILE THERE IS ARE HOUSES THAT ARE ON CHURCH ROAD, THEY ARE ACCESSED THROUGH A FRONTAGE ROAD.
SO THAT WOULD NOT QUALIFY THEM FOR BEING CONSIDERED AS RESIDENCES ON CHURCH ROAD.
UM, SO THAT WAS THE TWO CONDITIONS THAT WERE NOT MET, UM, TO DISQUALIFY THAT ROUTE FROM BEING CONSIDERED 43 TRUCK RESTRICTION.
NOW, IF, IF THE BOARD WISHES TO FURTHER PURSUE IT, WE CAN STILL DO A RESOLUTION FOR IT.
ONCE IT GETS TO THAT FORMAL REVIEW, REVIEW PHASE, THOUGH IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT IT WILL PROCEED.
ANY QUESTIONS? WHERE DOES CHURCH ROAD RUN INTO WHAT ROAD TODAY IS THAT SQUIRREL OVER ROAD SQUIRREL WEEKLY? I BELIEVE IT'S WEEK WEEKLY.
BUT THERE'S A, UH, A GRAVEYARD THERE TOO.
THERE'S A LOT OF PARKING ON THAT.
AM I RIGHT? IS THAT THE ONE? NO, THAT'S UHUH UHUH.
IT'S NOT THE CHURCH RIGHT THERE.
NOT THAT I YOU'RE THINKING OF ST.
NOW YOU CHURCH ROAD RUNS PERPENDICULAR FROM UM, WEEKLY ROAD, CORRECT? YES.
IT RUNS FROM HOFHEIMER WAY TO WEEKLY ROAD AND THEN GOES FROM HOFHEIMER ROAD.
MS. CHAVIS, WERE YOU, YOU HAD COMPLAINTS WAS ALSO TRUCK TRAFFIC GO TO ST.
DURING THE CURB, DURING THE CURVE THROUGH THERE WAS S CURVES.
THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE AND HALIFAX.
AND HALIFAX LOSES A LOT OF MAILBOXES AND I THOUGHT WE'D BEEN STUDYING THAT FOR HOW MANY YEARS? AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWAY THEN.
NOW YOU COMING BACK AND SAY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A SO MM-HMM
ONCE WE, GIVEN WE PROCEED, UM, WITH THE STUDY FOR HALIFAX, I I THINK IT'S PRETTY LIKELY THAT THAT ONE WILL MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE THREE TRUCK RESTRICTION.
I MEAN, IT IS, THEY USE THAT TO, TO GET BY THE SCALE MM-HMM
YOU KNOW, TO COME OUTTA CARSON.
SO, AND I'VE HAD COMPLAINTS EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD ABOUT MM-HMM
THE, THE SHOULDERS ON THAT ROUTE ARE, ARE MAINTENANCE ISSUE FOR ME.
UM, MY TRUCKS DON'T FIT DOWN THERE WHEN TRACTOR TRAILERS ARE GOING DOWN THAT ROAD EITHER, SO IT, IT, WELL I TRAVEL THAT ROAD EVERY DAY.
I'M GOING TO WORK AND IT'S A LOT OF, I MEAN IT'S DANGEROUS.
SO 7 0 3, UH, WHEN WOULD THAT BE COMPLETED AS THEY'RE ALREADY GO DO JUST SPOT GRAVEL FOR THE SURFACE TREATMENT? YEAH, I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THE SCHEDULE.
UM, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE PROJECT MANAGER THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON IT.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT KNOW THAT IT IS COMPLETE.
I LOOK LIKE THAT'S SPOT IT TOO, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH AND THEN NOT FINISH IN OR WHATEVER.
AND I KNOW YOU SAID, UM, CHURCH ROAD AND GOING TO, UM, WEEKLY, YOU SAID IT IS LIKELY NOT TO BE, UM, APPROVED.
NOW I KNOW I'VE SAT AND I'VE WATCHED, ESPECIALLY GOING DOWN, YOU KNOW, WEEKLY MM-HMM
I MEAN, I THINK A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I SAW THIS, UM, TRUCK CARRYING ALL THIS, UM, METAL AND STUFF GOING DOWN THERE.
AND THEY DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY JOGGED ON IT ROAD.
SO THE THING OF IT IS, I MEAN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TRUCKS AND TAKING SHORTCUTS, I WILL SAY THAT SINCE WE'VE TALKED TO YOU ALL ABOUT WEEKLY, SOME OF THE TRUCKS DO GO AROUND ON HEIM'S AND GO BACK UP TO GRIDDELL.
I HAVE SEEN THAT MORE TRUCKS DOING THAT, BUT I STILL SEE, UM, A LOT OF 'EM STILL TRYING TO CUT THROUGH TO GET TO DALE MM-HMM
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW.
AND I THINK AND KNOW YOU SAID THAT, UM, IT'S LIKELY, I THINK YOU SAID PART OF IT WAS, UM, THE RES, UM, IT WAS OKAY.
AND, BUT THE OTHER PART BECAUSE OF THE HOUSES, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
THE HOUSES DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA.
SO FOR THE RESIDENTIAL, FOR THE ROUTE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE THREE TRUCK RESTRICTION, IT IS, UM, LET'S SEE, 12 DWELLINGS, UH, PER 1000 FEET OF ROADWAY.
UH, THOSE ARE DWELLINGS, FRONTAGE WITH FRONTAGE ON THE ROAD.
SO ANYTHING, A HOUSE THAT'S NOT YARD ISN'T ON THE ROAD THAT THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I LOOKED AT IT AND I THINK THERE
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ARE THREE HOMES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE FRONTAGE ON THAT SECTION OF CHURCH ROAD.THE REST OF 'EM COME OFF ON A FRONTAGE ROUTE, WHICH I SAY LAKE LAKEVIEW COURT, LAKEVIEW CIRCLE.
UM, AND THOSE WHILE THEY ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE ROUTE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE FRONTAGE ON THE ROUTE.
IT'S JUST, UM, AND, AND I'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS TO CALL WITH, WITH ME AND THEY HAD CONCERNS, YOU KNOW MM-HMM
I MEAN, I, I DO PLAN ON TOUCHING BASE WITH THE CITIZEN THAT ORIGINALLY, UM, REQUESTED THAT YES.
AND HELPING, UH, CLARIFY SOME OF THAT WITH HER AND UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN REACH A RESOLUTION WITH HER ON THAT AS WELL.
'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S ANOTHER GENTLEMAN WHO HAS WHO, WHO, UM, REACHED OUT, UM, A YEAR OR SO AGO, UM, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC TALKING ABOUT THAT.
ALRIGHT, MS. CHAIRMAN, BACK BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE RESOLUTION TO RESTRICT TRAFFIC ON HALIFAX OR TRUCK TRAFFIC.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FARMERS THAT HAVE TRUCKS GOING UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD TO THE MARKET AND ALL AND THEY WILL, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO USE A ROAD TO GET OUT.
THEY WOULDN'T BE RESTRICTED FROM USING THAT ROAD, WOULD THEY? THESE HOUSES? SO THEY DON'T COUNT IF THE, I KNOW THAT IF THE DESTINATION OF THE TRUCK IS ON THE ROUTE, THEN THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL THE ROUTE SO THEY DON'T COUNT AS FAR AS AGRICULTURAL TRAFFIC IS CONCERNED.
I'M NOT CERTAIN OF I WILL FIND THAT OUT.
IS THIS RESOLUTION SOMETHING WE CAN THINK ABOUT AND COME BACK NEXT MONTH OR WHATEVER TO NO, CERTAINLY.
YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO IT.
AS FAR AS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, I CAN SEE THAT.
YOU GOT THREE OR FOUR BIG FARMS DOWN THROUGH EXACTLY MM-HMM
AND, AND IF THE TRUCK IS LEAVING THE FARM THAT THAT IS ON THAT ROUTE, HE, HE CAN BE ON THAT ROAD ALL DAY LONG MM-HMM
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT THE, THE STATE POLICE, UH, ARE GONNA BE CHECKING IT OR, OR GONNA, THEY'LL BE STOPPING A FEW PEOPLE UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WHAT FOR A WHILE.
SO I HAVE A LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
OR IF YOU HAVE A DELIVERY COMING TO THE FARM, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT? YEAH.
WHATEVER THAT DELIVERY MIGHT BE.
IT WOULD BE ALLOWABLE UNDER, I KNOW FOR A FACT ON THAT UNDER A THREE TRUCK RESTRICTION THAT THAT WOULD STILL BE ALLOWABLE.
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION FOR US, I THINK.
BUT BACK TO THE POINT YOU WERE MAKING, YOU SAID THE POSSIBILITY OF IT PASSING IF WE DO A RESO RESOLUTION IS PRETTY SLIM.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER FOR HALIFAX.
IT, IT WOULD PROBABLY PROCEED.
NOW THIS RESOLUTION IS TO DO THE FORMAL STUDY FOR THE THROUGH TRUCK RESTRICTION.
UM, AND THEN THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER STEPS TO GET IT FORMALLY APPROVED HAS TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AND A FULL PROCESS.
BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE STUDY, IT WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY MEET THE CRITERIA.
I THINK WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT FARMERS USE MM-HMM
UH, WHAT I'M SAYING IS ALL THESE MANUFACTURERS THAT'S ON THAT ROAD THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE STEEL PLANTS, THE UH, MEAT PLANTS YES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IT WOULD BE YOU, YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POINT WHERE YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT THE DIFFERENCE ARE.
SO, SO I BELIEVE THE, THE PROPOSED BEGINNING OF THE RESTRICTION WOULD BE AT THE INTERSECTION WITH FLANK ROAD.
SO OUR INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES THAT ARE OFF HOFHEIMER WAY AND IN THAT AREA, THAT AREA, THOSE TRUCKS WOULD HAVE NO EXCUSE TO BE
UM, THE FACILITY THAT IS ON 6 0 4 THAT COULD BE USING IT NOW IS NORTH OF FLANK ROAD I BELIEVE SO THEY MAY, YES.
IT'S BE ABLE TO LEAVE AND TRAVEL SOUTH, BUT THEY CAN HIT THAT THROUGH TRUCK RESTRICTION WHEN THEY GET TO FLANK ROAD.
WELL THAT'S WHY THEY MADE THAT DIRT HERE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO GET OUT.
THEY IMPROVE THAT AREA FOR THAT REASON.
FOR THE PLANTS TO GET BACK ON 85 OR INTERSTATE.
ALRIGHT, MR. LEE, ANY GOOD? OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. MASS? GO AARON, JUST A QUESTION.
SO THAT, WHERE DOES THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
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FALL INTO THIS? WOULD, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, IS THERE ANY ACTION THAT'S REQUIRED OF THAT GROUP OR CAN THE BOARD GIVE THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD? OR DOES IT ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT ASK FOR THAT TO BE DONE? THE BOARD HAS TO PASS A RESOLUTION.TYPICALLY WE HANDLE IT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING ANY IN THE, WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
UM, THE PROCESS FOR THE THROUGH TRUCK RESTRICTION IS A LENGTHY PROCESS, SO EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS AT A MINIMUM.
SO I BROUGHT IT FORWARD TODAY JUST TO GO ON AHEAD AND THEN WE CAN GET IT STARTED.
ALRIGHT, WE GOT MULTIPLE ACTION ITEMS THAT WE ARE
[7.A. Dinwiddie County Emergency Operations Plan]
GONNA TAKE CARE OF THIS EVENING.FIRST ON SEVEN A, THE FIRST ONE IS DENWITTY COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, CHIEF HALE.
UM, WE'RE BACK BEFORE YOU TODAY.
UM, FOLLOW UP TO YOUR WORKSHOP MEETING ON THE SECOND, UH, WHERE WE NEED TO TODAY FORMALLY ADOPT, UM, THE FOUR YEAR REWRITE UPDATE OF THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO BE UPDATED EVERY FOUR YEARS.
UH, IT WAS LAST UPDATED IN MAY OF 2019.
UH, SO WE'RE DUE TO DO THAT TODAY.
UH, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, WE MADE THE PRESENTATION TO YOU GUYS AT YOUR WORKSHOP.
UM, JUST BE AWARE OF TWO THINGS IN YOUR RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY.
YOU'RE APPROVING THE PLAN AND YOU'RE AUTHORIZING MR. MASEO MYSELF TO PROMULGATE IT AND CARRY IT OUT SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.
SO THAT'S THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR RESOLUTION THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALRIGHT.
YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION, SO MOVE.
I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE SECOND PIECE FOR MR. UH, UM, CHIEF HALE AND THAT IS THE TASK ORDER
[7.B. Task Order Approval, Design Services For HVAC Upgrades]
APPROVAL DESIGN SERVICE FOR HVAC UPGRADES.THIS IS A PART OF YOUR CIP FROM FROM LAST YEAR WHERE WE APPROVED THE UP MECHANICAL UPGRADES, THE HVAC UPGRADES FOR FIRE STATIONS.
ONE HERE IN DENWITTY AND FIRE STATION THREE IN MCKINNEY.
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT WHICH IS REDESIGNING AND REPLACING THE HVAC SYSTEMS WITHIN THOSE TWO BUILDINGS.
UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST THE TASK ORDER FOR OUR CONTRACT.
UM, ONE OF OUR CONTRACT ENGINEER ARCHITECTS, WHICH IS DJG OUT OF UH, WILLIAMSBURG, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH THEM BEFORE AND WE CHOSE THEM, UM, BECAUSE THEY DID THE DESIGN OF THE NEW FIRE STATION IN FORD, WHICH BELIEVE IT OR NOT IT'S 10 YEARS OLD NOW.
BUT, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT.
AND WE WANT A SIMILAR DESIGN FOR THESE OTHER TWO STATIONS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME FLOOR PLAN.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY WERE CHOSEN.
AND, UM, YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU ISSUE THE TASK ORDER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? KEEP HAVING ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, IF NOW WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
WE'RE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
[7.C. Contract Award, Grass Cutting And Lot Cleanup For Code Compliance]
IS A CONTRACTOR WAR FOR GRASS CUTTING AND LOT CLEANUP FOR CO COMPLIANCE.GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY USES CONTRACTORS FOR CODE COMPLIANCE, UH, SPECIFICALLY PERTAINING TO GRASS CUTTING AND LOCK CLEANUP.
THE CURRENT FOUR CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE EXPIRED ON APRIL THE 20TH.
SO THE COUNTY RELEASED AN RFP ON APRIL THE FIFTH.
FIVE VENDORS RESPONDED TO THAT RFP.
AND AFTER REVIEWING THOSE PROPOSALS, THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, UH, ELECTED TO AWARD CONTRACTORS CONTRACTS TO THREE OF THOSE VENDORS, UH, WHICH INCLUDE HEATINGS LAWN MAINTENANCE, OAK RIDGE ENTERPRISE, AND OUS LANDSCAPING.
SO YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET THE PROPOSED CONTRACTS AND STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
I CAN ATTEMPT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AT THIS TIME.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR STAFF? AND IS THAT DONE ON A ROTATING BASIS? YES.
YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.
I KNOW, I KNOW WITH THE, UM, UH, GRASS CUTTING, UM, WHEN YOU SEND PEOPLE OUT, I KNOW IT'S A CERTAIN, UM, LENGTH,
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UM, AS FAR AS THE THE INTEREST AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, UM, HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO DO THAT? I MEAN, IF THEY'RE NOT COMPLIANT, IS IT A CUTOFF OR A TIME THAT YOU DO SOMETHING? UM, I GUESS IF THEY CONTINUE TO DO IT, I MEAN, ON AND ON AND ON.UM, SPEAKING TO THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE CONTRACTOR MM-HMM
SO THAT WAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS PART OF THIS ELECTION OF THE, UH, VENDORS MM-HMM
AND ANY ISSUES WITH RESPONSIVENESS WE MIGHT HAVE HAD IN THE PAST MM-HMM
BUT I THINK WHAT SHE, I THINK WHAT MS. EBO WAS ASKING IS IN NOT, NOT NECESSARILY THE CONTRACT AS IT'S RELATED TO THE GRASS CUTTING IT SPECIFICALLY IS THE VIOLATION ITSELF.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS, UH, HABITUALLY AND OUT OF COMPLIANCE, SHE, I I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR APPROACH THAT IF SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, PERIOD AFTER TIME PERIOD AFTER TIME, IS THERE ANY ESCALATED IN OR IS IT JUST EACH ONE IS STILL TREATED ON ITS INDIVIDUAL BASIS? I BELIEVE EACH ONE IS TREATED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
BUT I BELIEVE A, A LIEN WOULD BE PLACED AT SOME POINT.
AND, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING BECAUSE UM, I HAD SOME CONSUMERS ASK ME THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG DO YOU GO IF IT'S, IF IT'S TWO YEARS AND THEY, THEY'LL STILL, AND THIS IS I THINK, VACANT PROPERTY IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING AND HOW LONG DOES IT GO BEFORE, UM, I GUESS A MAJOR ACTION IS DONE.
SO AND SO, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE ASKING.
I MEAN, I HAD THAT COUPLE OF WEEKS, SOMEBODY ASKED ME THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, 'CAUSE I GUESS IF SOME, IF YOU LIVE NEXT TO SOMEONE IN WHAT, TWO YEARS AND, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON AND THE COUNTY HAS BEEN CUTTING GRASS.
I MEAN WHEN IS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING THE CUTOFF TIME.
WHEN DO YOU SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IT, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR PROPERTY OR WE GONNA CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO CUT NO MATTER WHAT.
I CAN LOOK INTO THAT SOME MORE IF YOU'D LIKE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. BONNER.
I BELIEVE SO IF, IF INDIVIDUALS PAY THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRASS CUTTING, THEY CAN PROCEED ON WITH THAT AND THE COUNTY SENDS THEM THE LETTERS EVERY YEAR AND CUTS THEIR GRASS EVERY YEAR.
AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT THE MOST EXPENSIVE WAY POSSIBLE TO GET YOUR GRASS CUT.
UM, IF THEY DO NOT PAY THE THE FEES, THEN IT ENDS UP AS A LIEN ON THEIR PROPERTY, WHICH CAN EVENTUALLY END UP RESULTING IN A TAX SALE.
ALTHOUGH WE DO REALLY TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TO GET THEIR LIENS PAID OFF.
BUT IT, IT CAN, IT CAN COME TO SUCH A POINT WHERE IT WOULD NEED TO BE SOLD, UM, FROM THE LIENS.
SO MS. RA, I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING TO IF THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE GRASS HAS BEEN CUT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO ONCE THE COUNTY ISSUES A NOTICE OF VIOLATION MM-HMM
AND EITHER THEY, THEY DON'T COME INTO COMPLIANCE AND WE HAVE TO SEND OUT ONE OF THESE CONTRACTORS THAT MR. ROBINSON JUST MENTIONED FOR EACH SEASON.
THEY DON'T GET ANOTHER 10 DAYS EACH TIME.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
THEY DO NOT GET 10 DAYS EVERY OCCURRENCE FOR HIGH GRASS AND THAT'S 12 INCHES.
SO THE COUNTY CAN ELECT TO GO AHEAD AND SEND A CONTRACTOR OUT IF THERE'S A SECOND OCCURRENCE AFTER THEY'VE BEEN OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED.
BUT WE'RE DOING THAT PER SEASON PER NOT CONTINUALLY.
YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, YOU HAVE THE CONTRACTS BEFORE YOU THE MOTION.
CAN WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONTRACTS? MOVE FOR APPROVAL, MR. CHAIRMAN.
GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND ROLL CALL.
[7.D. Proclamation: Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2023]
ITEM IS A PROCLAMATION OF ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY 2023.MR. MASSEY, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IN YOUR, IN YOUR PACKET YOU'LL SEE A, A RESOLUTION PROCLAMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE CRATER DISTRICT AREA AGENCY ON, ON, UH, AGING OUR PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT, THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN.
AND I, UM, LET ME JUST SAY FROM MY ROLE AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD AND THE OVERSEER OF SOCIAL SERVICES, THAT, UM, AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE DESIGNATING JUNE 15TH, 2023 AS THE ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY FOR, UH, HERE IN THE COUNTY AS WELL.
BUT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK A LOT WITH OUR SERVICES AND, AND I SEE THE ABUSE THAT TAKES PLACE NOT ONLY BY CHILDREN,
[00:30:01]
BUT FOR ADULTS.AND, AND THIS, I'M NOT GONNA READ THE EACH EACH, WHEREAS I THINK IT'S WELL WRITTEN.
UM, BUT I I JUST WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE THAT IN, IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, THAT IT WAS, UH, ESTIMATED REPORTED OVER 40,000 REPORTS OF, UM, ADULT ABUSE AND NEGLECT, UM, THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE.
AND 77, 70 7% OF THOSE OF THE STATEWIDE DATA WERE PERSONS THAT WERE 60 YEARS OR OLDER.
SO, AND YOU, YOU START TALKING IN SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL, WHEREAS ABOUT THE, THE NEGLECT THAT TAKES PLACE AND THE FINANCIAL EXPLORATION, THE EXPLOITATION THAT TAKES PLACE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TOO.
AND SO, AGAIN, I I, FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROCLAMATION AND WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD ALSO SUPPORT IT SO WE CAN EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY TO IT.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROC PROCLAMATION FOR ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DATE 2023.
[7.E. Board Of Supervisors' FY 2024 Salaries]
NEXT ITEM IS, IS IN FINANCIAL NATURE.SO I, I THINK MR. LEE AND MYSELF PROBABLY NEED TO READ OUR STATEMENTS AT THIS TIME.
'CAUSE IT IS RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
YOU GO AHEAD AND READ YOUR STATEMENTS.
ALRIGHT, I'LL READ MINE MR. LEE, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT YOURS.
ALRIGHT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ MINE AT THE MAY 16TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF THE DENWITTY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION AND VOTE CONCERNING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR DENWITTY COUNTY.
THE BUDGET MAY DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS APPROPRIATED TO THE DE WITTY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
MY WIFE IS EMPLOYED BY THE DE WITTY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
THESE ITEMS MAY AFFECT ALL SCHOOL BOARD EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY, AND I'M ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTIONS FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AT THE MAY 16TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF THE DEITY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I, DANIEL DELEY, INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION AND VOTE CONCERNING THE BUDGET FOR FY 2024 AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR DIY COUNTY.
THE BUDGET WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEWINE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
MY WIFE IS EMPLOYED BY THE DEWINE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND THESE ITEMS MAY AFFECT ALL SCHOOL BOARD EMP EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY, AND I AM ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY.
I'M EMPLOYED BY THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, WHICH HAS AN ADDRESS OF 13 9 15 BOARD AND PLANK ROAD, VIRGINIA DENWOODY, VIRGINIA 2 3 8 4 1.
DUE TO MY EMPLOYMENT WITH THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSION OR VOTE PERTAINING TO THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD.
WHEN I CAST MY VOTE ON THE BUDGET, I WILL ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON THE PORTION OF THE BUDGET THAT CONCERNS THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD.
SO THE NEXT ITEM UNDER UM, REPORTS IS, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR ACTION ITEM, EXCUSE ME, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FISCAL YEAR 2024 SALARIES.
MR. MADISON GIL, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IN, IN YOUR PACKET YOU'LL SEE A, A MEMO, UH, WRITTEN FROM ANNE HOWERTON IN REGARDS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FI 24 SALARIES.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING OUR BUDGET PREPARATION AND, AND AGAIN, YOU ALL ARE KEENLY AWARE THAT A A SITTING BOARD CANNOT GIVE ITSELF AN INCREASE IN SALARY.
THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN DO THAT IS TO, WHEN YOU'RE ADOPTING THE BUDGET BEFORE A GENERAL ELECTION, NOT KNOWING WHO IS GOING TO OCCUPY THE SEAT, UM, WHEN THERE'S A, A SWEARING IN CEREMONY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR OF 2024.
SO THAT BEING SAID, WE, WE AS STAFF PUT IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND WHAT, UH, AN INCREASE IN SALARIES FOR BOTH THE CHAIR, THE VICE CHAIR, AND ULTIMATELY THE SUPERVISORS THEMSELVES.
AND OUR, UH, FUNDING METHODOLOGY IN THAT WAS, UM, THAT THE SALARIES WOULD REPRESENT THE CUMULATIVE COLA PERCENTAGE THAT WAS RECEIVED BY ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES OVER THE, THE, THE LAST, UH, PERIOD OF TIME SINCE YOU ALL HAD RECEIVED, UH, THE LAST ADJUSTMENT, WHICH WAS IN 2020.
SO IN THAT, WHAT PRESENTLY WE HAVE IS THAT THE CHAIR MAKES $11,227.
[00:35:01]
24 WOULD PROPOSE THAT THAT WOULD GO UP TO $12,041.VICE CHAIR, UH, PRESENTLY IS AT 10,000, UM, $867 AND WOULD GO TO $11,655.
AND THEN SUPERVISORS THAT ARE NOT IN A AN EXECUTIVE POSITION WOULD BE AT 10,506 PRESENTLY.
AND THAT WOULD MOVE TO 11,267.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I, IN DOING A LITTLE BIT OF HOMEWORK IN, IN THE OTHER NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND WHERE WE'RE AT, UM, THIS BOARD IS, IS IN LINE WITH A LOT OF THE, THE OTHER NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND SO EVEN, EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE SOME OF OUR SISTER COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS CAROLINE AND PALATAN, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY MUCH IN LINE.
IN FACT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY JUST STILL A LITTLE BIT BELOW THEM, UM, FROM, FROM WHERE THEY'RE AT COMPARED TO, AGAIN, OVERALL POPULATION AND SIZE WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE TWO COMMUNITIES.
SO MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, WHAT SIMPLY WE NEED IS A, A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE AS THE RESOLUTION IS PRESENTED, UNLESS THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE OF STAFF, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PERTAINING TO IT.
JUST A COMMENT THAT IF YOU FIGURE IT OUT OVER MONTHLY, SO ABOUT $63 A MONTH, UH, PER BOARD MEMBER.
SO IT'S NOT A HUGE INCREASE AS FAR AS BUDGET GOES.
AND IT IS FOR THE INCOMING BOARD AND NOT FOR THE BOARD THAT'S SITTING NOW.
WHETHER COMMENTS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
[7.F. Adoption Of FY 2024-2033 Capital Improvements Plan]
IS ITEM F AND THAT'S THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 THROUGH 2033.CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN? YES.
MR. MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AGAIN, THERE'S A, ANOTHER MEMO HERE IN YOUR PACKET THAT GOES THROUGH THE BACKGROUND IN PREVIOUS ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU HERE IS THE CIP AS YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ADOPTING A, A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR 24 TO 33, THE SPECIFIC YEAR OF FUNDING IS IN THIS FY 24 YEAR THAT'S IN PLACE.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA READ THE MEMO, YOU'VE HAD IT IN YOUR PACKET TO REVIEW IT, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I, I PERSONALLY ATTENDED AND PRESENTED TO OUR, OUR PLANNING COMMISSION LAST WEEK, UH, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED, UM, AT THEIR MAY 10TH MEETING, UM, TO APPRO RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR YOU ALL ON THAT.
AND SO THAT, THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CIP I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON IT AND YOU CAN, UM, SIMPLY, UM, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
AND WE'RE WE'RE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
OF COURSE, WE'VE KIND OF GONE THROUGH IT FROM HEAD TO TOE
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PERTAINING TO IT? ALRIGHT, IF NOT, WE GO AHEAD.
I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK STAFF ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE ON, UM, BUDGET AND CIP AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE IT ANY YEAR, BUT THEY
AMEN TO THAT, THAT, SO WITH THAT, I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
[7.G. Adoption Of The FY 2024 Budget]
MOVE ON TO ITEM G AND THAT'S THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET.AND I KNOW THIS IS MR. LEE'S FAVORITE
YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN, THE BOARD.
UM, YOU'LL SEE, UH, ANOTHER BRIEFING MEMORANDUM HERE IN YOUR, IN YOUR PACKET, BUT IS THE FINAL RESULT OF MANY, MANY MONTHS OF, OF WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES, AND WE THINK THAT THE BUDGET IS JUST, IT JUST STARTS, UM, YOU KNOW, AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, BUT WE ARE, WE'RE CONSTANTLY, AS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT, AT OUR OVERALL FINANCIALS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, NOT GONNA SPECIFICALLY READ THE MEMO TO YOU IF YOU'VE HAD IT FOR YOUR REVIEW, BUT, UM, AS MR. LEE WAS THINKING, THE STAFF, I, I ALSO WANT TO, AS FAR AS OUR, OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM AND OUR, OUR DEPARTMENTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND, AND REALLY CAREFULLY LOOKING AT THEIR EXPENSES
[00:40:01]
AND, AND I, AND REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT THEY THINK THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES THAT, THAT WE HAVE.UM, AND THAT WE'RE ALREADY AFFORDING OUR, OUR CITIZENS.
AND SO I'M, IT'S JUST A PLEASURE.
I HAVE TO, TO HELP LEAD THAT GROUP EVERY YEAR.
UM, AS MR. LEE SAID THIS, THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT YEARS JUST 'CAUSE REVENUE WAS SO FLAT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT WE COULDN'T FUND, BUT THERE WAS A LOT THAT WE DID FUND TOO.
AND SO I THINK YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY THAT YOUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SPEAKS YOUR PRIORITIES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE MORE FUNDING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THIS YEAR AND A YEAR THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
WE ALSO MADE A, A STRONG COMMITMENT TO, UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF THIS YEAR, UM, IN, IN HIRING NINE NEW FIRE AND EMS POSITIONS AS WELL AS TWO DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND MAKING A, A CONCERTED EFFORT WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN WHICH WE KNOW HAS BEEN UNDERSTAFFED, UH, FOR YEARS.
BUT PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THE FACT THAT OUR, OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WE'RE GLAD THEY CHOOSE TO WORK HERE AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE 'EM HERE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN, CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO WORK IF THEY WANT TO, BUT I'M GLAD, I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY SEE DENWOODY COUNTY AS A PLACE THAT THEY WANT TO GIVE TOO.
AND SO WE'RE, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT 'EM.
AND SO THAT WAS, IT WAS VERY PLEASED THIS YEAR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE 5% ADJUSTMENT, UH, TO ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR THAT.
UM, SO THE BUDGET'S BEFORE YOU AND, UM, ONE LAST PERSON TO THINK IS ANN HAMILTON.
AND IF, YES, IF THE PEOPLE, AND WE SAY THIS EVERY YEAR, BUT IF, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY KNEW, WHICH WE HOPE THEY DO, UH, THE, THE TIRELESS EFFORT THAT GOES INTO KEY, EACH ONE OF THESE NUMBERS, UH, INTO THE BUDGET.
UM, AND EVEN THAT, JUST THE OVERALL STEWARDSHIP AND LEADERSHIP THAT GOES INTO GOVERNING YOUR FINANCES EVERY YEAR.
AND I MEAN, ANNE HAMILTON DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB FOR DEWINE COUNTY AS ONE OF OUR STRONGEST ASSETS.
AND SO, ANNE, I KNOW I TELL YOU ALL THE TIME, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH A NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAM.
WE DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT
SHE MORE DIFFICULT, IT IS STRESSFUL ANYWHERE TO PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET AND BUT TO DO IT IN THE SAME TIME OF A CONVERSION OF A NEW SOFTWARE SYSTEM YEAH.
MAKES IT DOUBLE HARD, DOUBLE HARD THAT, THAT'S FOR SURE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY YOU COULD, YOU COULD CHANGE THE BUDGET STILL UP TO THE VOTE.
YOU, YOU DID HAVE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 2ND.
AND AGAIN, THE CODE CONTEMPLATES THAT BY THE DELAY IN VOTING.
AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SINCE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE SIMPLY NEED A MOTION TO, UH, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED AND AN WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
ANY, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN THE MOTION? UH, ANN, I THINK SHE LIVES HERE.
THIS IS HER HOME IS HER SECOND PLACE, IS HER HOME RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, I, I'D JUST LIKE ALSO ECHO TO FIND WORK THAT THE COUNTY STAFF HAS DONE FOR HELPING TO WHITTLE THIS BUDGET TO WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE, BUT ALSO PROVIDING THE NEEDED SERVICES THAT WE, WE HAD TO PUT IN PLACE.
UM, IT WAS A HARD, TOUGH JOB FOR EVERYBODY AND APPRECIATE THE STAFF WORKING WITH US AND APPRECIATE THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, UH, UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS.
AND, AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED.
IT TAKES EVERY DEPARTMENT, UM, TO PUT A BUDGET TOGETHER.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S A MOVING DOCUMENT UNTIL TODAY, UH, WHEN IT'S FORMALLY ADOPTED.
BUT THANK YOU TO ANN AND TO ALL STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH IT.
UM, AND TO OUR INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, I CAN TRULY SAY I THINK IN THE 12 YEARS, THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT BUDGET THAT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH, UH, AS FISCALLY TIGHT AS WE COULD, COULD MANAGE.
UM, AND I, AND I HOPE THAT THE CITIZENS RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT WE ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
UM, AND THAT, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ME IS DOING, DOING WHAT'S RIGHT AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU.
AND, UM, SO AT THIS TIME WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU MR. SORRY, MR. LEE, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU ABSTAIN FROM THE PART THAT APPLIES TO SOIL AND WATER? YES.
JUST WANTED, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE OH, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.
[8. CITIZEN COMMENTS (3 MINUTES)]
[00:45:01]
NEXT IS CITIZENS' COMMENT, PERIOD.THIS IS A THREE MINUTE PERIOD.
LET ME READ A STATEMENT BEFORE WE OPEN THAT CITIZEN'S COMMENT.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DESIRES TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT LISTED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS MEETING.
IT IS FOR THAT PURPOSE THAT THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD IS PROVIDED.
THIS TIME IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER, NOR IS IT A TIME FOR A DIALOGUE WITH BOARD MEMBERS OR STAFF CITIZENS DO WHO DO TAKE PART IN THIS COMMENT PERIOD MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS.
THE BOARD WITH DECORUM LOUD, DISRUPTIVE, OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IS, UH, TO INCLUDE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE SHALL BE AVOIDED.
AVOID WORDS OR ACTS THAT ARE AIMED TO AT EVOKE, UH, VIOLENCE OR CAN BE DEEMED TO BE A BREACH OF THE PEACE.
AND LASTLY, DIRECT ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD'S CHAIRMAN.
ARE THERE ANYONE, CITIZENS, UM, SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE CARLA JONES.
I KNOW THIS IS WHAT, TWO WEEKS IN TWO, TWO MONTHS? WELL, A MONTH IN A ROW, RIGHT? YES.
UM, MY NAME AGAIN IS CAR JONES.
I LIVE AT 2 5 9 0 5 WEEKLY ROAD.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, UH, THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT, UH, THE TR THE TRUCKS ON WEEKLY ROAD.
AND I, UM, I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THAT ROAD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE TRAVELED WEEKLY ROAD AND SO NARROW ROAD AND THE TRUCKS COME THROUGH AND THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL TRUCKS THAT HAVE GONE OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE HOW NARROW IT IS IN THE SCHOOL BUSES TRYING TO GET THROUGH CARS, TRYING TO GET THROUGH AT THE SAME TIME.
AND, UM, BECAUSE IT'S SO NARROW, I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE THAT THOSE TRUCKS COME THROUGH THAT ROAD.
AND THAT'S MY CONCERN ABOUT WEEKLY ROAD AND THOSE BIG TRUCKS COME THROUGH AND PLUS THEY COME THROUGH.
IT'S NOT THAT THEY, I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE TRANSPORTATION PUT THAT THING OUT, WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY TRUCKS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME TYPE OF SIGNAL THAT THEY'RE COMMUNICATING TO DRIVERS OR NOT, BUT THE TRUCKS COME THROUGH THAT ROAD CONTINUOUSLY.
AND I KNOW THAT MOTHER JONES, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW HER, BUT SHE USED TO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETINGS.
SHE HAD, I HAVE RECORDS WHERE SHE HAS HAD PICTURES TAKEN OF TRUCKS TRAVEL.
SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONCERN AND SHE PASSED IN 2017.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A LONG CONCERN OF THIS COMMUNITY WHERE THESE TRUCKS TRAVELING THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY, AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY'RE LEAVING POTHOLES AND THE ROADS ARE NOT REPAIRED TO A, UM, STANDARD.
AND SO THAT IS MY CONCERN THAT A WEEKLY ROAD, WELL, UH, IF ROAD'S NOT EXPANDED AND AND FIXED PROPERLY, THEN THE TRUCK SHOULD HAVE NO THROUGHWAY THROUGH WEEKLY ROAD.
AND I THINK THAT THEY HAD FIXED THAT OTHER ROAD TO ALLEVIATE THAT ROAD BY, UM, OFF OF ROUTE ONE.
AND I NOTICED, I KNOW TRUCKS GO THAT WAY, BUT STILL IT'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC TR TRAVELING ALL WAY.
SO I WOULD WISH THAT YOU ALL WOULD, UM, ADHERE TO THAT.
MY NAME IS KEITH JONES AND I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, WEEKLY ROAD ALSO, UH, AS MY WIFE, UH, 2 5 9 0 5 WEEKLY ROAD.
MY CONCERN ALSO, UH, IS ABOUT WEEKLY ROAD.
UM, A CONCERN ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AS A WHOLE, UH, COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.
I GREW UP IN THAT, UH, PARTICULAR, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE TRUCKS, IT'S THE TRAFFIC, UH, THAT I THINK THERE IS TOO MUCH TRAFFIC THERE.
AND, UM, IT'S THE VIBE OF TRAFFIC ALSO.
UH, IT'S DETERIORATION OF THE ROADS.
THEY CALL THEMSELF, I GUESS, DOING MAINTENANCE ON THE ROAD WITH POTHOLES, BUT IT'S TEMPORARY AND THEY DO SOMETHING A MONTH LATER.
UH, THE ROADS ARE DETERIORATED AND ALSO WITH THE TRAFFIC, THERE'S TRASH FROM EMPLOYEES THAT COME FROM THEIR PLANT, FROM GR GRID DOOR AND KNOW ALL KINDS OF TRASH IS THROWN AND THE CONDITIONS OF THAT TRASH INVITES OTHER PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TO DUMP TRASH, WEEDS, ALL OTHER KINDS OF THINGS, UH, COME ABOUT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S NEGLECTED AND, UH, I THINK THAT WE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD DON'T BENEFIT FROM ALL THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THAT GOES ALONG WITH HAVING THAT PLANT THERE.
[00:50:01]
UM, I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT IT.YOU KNOW, I DO A LOT OF WALKING THERE AND THE TRAFFIC, THE TRUCKS COME BY SPEEDING.
AND I'VE NOTICED NUMEROUS TIMES, EVEN AS OF MARCH THE 13TH, A TRUCK RAN OVER TOO FAR RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND I WAS THERE.
I'VE SEEN 'EM JACKKNIFE MM-HMM
UH, SIMPSON AND, UH, WEAKLEY ROAD WHERE IT, THERE TOO MUCH TRAFFIC IN THE, I'M NOT SAYING IF THIS DON'T GO, IF THEY GOING TO HAVE THE, THE TRUCKS COME THROUGH, AT LEAST MAKE THE ROADS TO SUPPORT THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES THROUGH.
AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND, UH, I HOPE THAT THE BOARD AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL CONSIDER MAKING SOME CHANGES TOWARD THAT.
SO WE AS CITIZENS WILL BE BETTER.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WAS THE LAST ONE SIGNED UP.
IS ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK DURING THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD.
[9. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS]
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS.MAKING SURE I DIDN'T HAVE THREE MINUTES SO I CAN YEAH,
THAT'S WHY, UH, FOR, FOR KEITH AND CARLA JONES, I JUST, I WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT, UH, PUBLICLY THAT I KNOW THAT EARLIER WHEN VDOT, MR. FRENCH WAS BEFORE US, HE WAS TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT AS FAR AS THE NO TRUCK TRAFFIC ON HALIFAX, AND SPECIFICALLY IF THEY COULD, IF THAT'S THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL TO GET TO THAT DIRECTION, IF THEY COULD ELIMINATE THAT, MAYBE THAT WOULD HAVE SOME IMPACT ON SO MANY TRUCKS NOT WANTING TO TRAVERSE THROUGH THAT AREA.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, AND I KNOW THE BOARD, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION TO, TO START THAT FORMAL PROCESS, BUT MR. CHAVIS AND MYSELF AND CHIEF HALE WHO'S WITH US, WE, WE, UM, ALSO SERVE ON THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
AND IN, IN THAT COMMITTEE THERE'S SOME SAFETY FUNDS THAT ARE ALSO ALLOWED, UM, ARE AFFORDED TO DIMITY COUNTY.
AND SO WHAT, WHAT I'VE MADE A NOTE OF JUST FOR YOU TO BE AWARE, I'VE, I'VE MADE A NOTE TO TALK TO THE COMMITTEE THAT IF IT'S NOT PROHIBITING NO TRUCK TRAFFIC, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN'T HAPPEN BY VDOT STANDARD, ARE THERE OTHER IN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE DONE? NOW I WILL SAY UPFRONT, THAT'S, YOU GOTTA BE VERY CAREFUL 'CAUSE THE, THE WIDER YOU MAKE A ROAD OR THE BETTER THE ROAD BECOMES, THE FASTER PEOPLE DRIVE ON IT TOO.
AND SO THERE'S, THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER SAFETY WAYS THOUGH, AND OTHER OTHER ASPECTS WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
AND ONE IS JUST, YOU KNOW, SIGNS SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET DESENSITIZED TO, BUT SOMETIMES JUST NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC, TO YOUR POINT MR. JONES, THAT, THAT IF SOME OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS MAY, MAY WANT, MAY PREVENT PEOPLE FROM, FROM TAKING THAT ROUTE.
AND IT'S ALSO LIKE A CUT THROUGH ROAD TO PETERSBURG AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE INTERSTATE, THEY GO THROUGH THAT ROAD.
SO, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
WE ARE PROBABLY A COUPLE MONTHS AWAY FROM HAVING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S, UM, TALKED ABOUT AT THAT TIME.
UM, SO AGAIN, FOR THE, THE BOARD MEMBERS, UM, AS FAR AS MY FORMAL COMMENTS TONIGHT, WHAT I, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT WAS WE JUST, THE TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO GET TO THE, THE END OF THE BUDGET PROCESS LIKE WE JUST DID.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT FY 20 FOUR'S BUDGET AS MUCH AS WE CAN ALREADY.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, LASHONDA LEE, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, CHIEF A AND I, WE EVEN MET YESTERDAY TO TALK ABOUT REALLY THE SUBSTANTIAL RECRUITMENT EFFORT THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET THE NINE, UH, FIRE EMTS, UH, HIRED.
AND WE, WE'VE DECIDED, UH, TO, TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS AND THEIR RECRUIT SCHOOL AND TO DO THAT TRAINING COLLECTIVELY.
IT MAY EVEN HAVE ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY PARTICIPATE IN THAT, BUT THAT SCHOOL STARTS SEPTEMBER 1ST, SO TO GET NINE PEOPLE HIRED, UH, WHEN WE ACTUALLY BACK UP FROM THAT, AND THIS, THIS MEETING WE HAD YESTERDAY, UM, TOMORROW WE START RECRUITING FOR, FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY, UH, IMPORTANT THAT WE TO PULL THAT OFF, THAT, THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT RECRUITMENT STRATEGY, ALSO COMPENSATION LETTERS TO EVERY SINGLE COUNTY EMPLOYEE.
WE'D LIKE TO GET THOSE OUT NOW THAT THE, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
MS. HOWTON, MYSELF AND MS. LEE MET YESTERDAY TO, TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE HOPE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, WILL GET THAT LETTER PROBABLY THE FIRST OF THE, THE MONTH OF JUNE.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE CIP THAT WE JUST, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S SOME, SOME THINGS IN THAT, THAT WITH PROCUREMENT THE WAY THAT IT IS AND, AND LEAD TIME, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA START PRETTY QUICKLY IN TRYING TO GET SOME OF THE CIP EFFORTS UNDERWAY AS WELL.
[00:55:01]
I'D MENTIONED EARLIER I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE, THE MAY 10TH, UH, MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.UH, BEFORE THE, THE, THE FORMAL MEETING.
THERE WAS A WORKSHOP IN WHICH TWO THINGS HAPPENED.
I JUST WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE BARRY DON, WHO IS OUR CONSULTANT THAT'S BEEN HELPING US WITH OUR RECREATION FACILITIES PLAN.
THEY, THEY PRESENTED, DID A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION TO OUR, OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEY, UH, WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT THEY'VE DONE TO COLLECT DATA ON THE REC PLAN.
THEY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH WHAT THEY'VE LOOKED INTO ALREADY.
UH, EVERY SINGLE SITE THAT DENE COUNTY HAS, WHETHER IT'S IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED.
AND, AND I THOUGHT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT WAS AN ASSET INVENTORY RANKING WAS DONE ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE IF YOU EVER INTERACT.
AND WE'RE GONNA PRESENT IT TO YOU LATER, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A REAL THICK DOCUMENT OF ALL OF OUR ASSETS THERE.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW TOO THAT IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GIVE YOUR OPINION TO THAT PLAN.
SO ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AND, AND OUR, AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, THERE'S A SURVEY THAT, THAT SURVEY IS ACTIVE UNTIL MAY 30TH.
SO IF ANYBODY WISHES TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THEIR INPUT, UH, THEY CAN STILL DO THAT.
THE SECOND THING WE, WE DID THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, I WANNA UPDATE THE BOARD ON WAS THE BERKELEY GROUP HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US IN OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP OUR COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN.
UM, SO THAT PLAN WAS PRESENTED IN WHAT I WOULD CALL THE FINAL DRAFT FORM WITH, UM, NOTATIONS OF SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT HAS BEEN MADE.
BUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO HAVE THIS ON THEIR, UH, JULY AGENDA FOR ADOPTION, WHICH THEN WOULD BRING IT TO YOU ALL AT YOUR AUGUST, UH, UH, ADOPTION OF YOUR, OF YOUR REGULAR MEETING.
SO IF THERE WAS ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT YOU WANT, I KNOW SOME OF YOU EVEN TODAY HAVE CALLED AND ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMP PLAN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR IF YOU FEEL LIKE ANOTHER WORKSHOP IS NEEDED, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS DOCUMENT, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S, IT'S WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.
AND THEN I JUST WANT TO, I KNOW, I KNOW THAT THE NEXT WORKSHOP WE HAVE IS SCHEDULED FOR, FOR JUNE 6TH, AND THAT'S AT 4:00 PM IN THE TRAINING ROOM.
THERE'S TWO TOPICS WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT AT THAT, SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A, A LITTLE HEADS UP ONE.
UM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY, UH, AN ORGANIZATION, A COMPANY BY NAME OF BLUE LINE SOLUTIONS AND BLUE LINE SOLUTIONS HAS A, UM, WHAT THEY CALL TRUE BLUE SPEED ENFORCEMENT IN SCHOOL ZONES.
AND SO THIS IS A, A PHOTO SPEED ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM THAT COULD BE SET UP IN, IN SCHOOL ZONES.
AND THE, THE STATE LEGISLATURE OPENED IT UP SO THAT, UM, YOU COULD DO THIS IN, IN SCHOOL ZONES AND YOU COULDN'T DO IT IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES.
AND SO YOU WOULD, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IN THE CONSTRUCTION ZONES, YOU USUALLY WOULD HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SIT THERE AND THEY TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVERTIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAID, HEY, WHY DON'T WE JUST PUT THESE PHOTO, UM, SPEED ENFORCEMENT DEVICES UP, AND THEN THE SAME THING'S ALLOWABLE FOR, FOR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ZONES.
AND SO, UM, WE WANT TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU IN MORE DETAIL AT THE NEXT MEETING, UH, WHETHER YOU DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT OR NOT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION.
THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION A COUPLE TIMES, UM, AND SEEMS TO BE A, A SOMEWHAT OF AN ADVOCATE OF IT AT THIS POINT.
THE SECOND THING THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN MUCH DETAIL IS OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND, AND SOME OF OUR COUNTY STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL, LOOKING REAL CLOSE AT OUR, UM, ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE WORKPLACE POLICY.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SPACE.
AND SO WE JUST WANNA REVIEW SOME OF THE CHANGES OR SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSION, UM, TO, TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIELD, OF DIRECTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEFORE WE THEN GO BACK AND, AND CHANGE THE POLICY AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU.
SO JUST WANT YOUR THOUGHTS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THAT.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO, TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON OUR, OUR BROADBAND PROJECT.
AND AS, AS EACH OF YOU ARE AWARE, UM, WHILE RURAL BAND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THEIR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, THEY, THEY MET SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO LOCATE ON SOUTH SIDE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, UH, OVERHEAD LINES.
AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED PUBLICLY ABOUT THE STANDARD, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NATIONAL ELECTRIC SAFETY CODE STANDARD THAT, UH, SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC, UM, THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED BY NATIONAL STANDARD TO BE AT A MEDIUM ICE LOAD CONDITION AND THEY OVERBUILD TO A HIGH STANDARD, UH, WHEN RURAL BAND DEVELOPED THEIR INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, THEY BUILT THAT TO A, A MEDIUM STANDARD.
SO THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MEDIUM AND THE HIGH STANDARD, WHICH
[01:00:01]
RESULTED IN NOW RURAL BAND HAVING TO REEVALUATE THEIR ENTIRE APPROACH TO THE UNIVERSAL BROADBAND PROJECT, UM, AND HAVE DETERMINED AT THIS POINT THAT PROBABLY IF YOU CAN'T GO ABOVE GROUND, YOU GOTTA GO UNDERGROUND.AND SO THAT BEING SAID, ON ON MAY 12TH, LAST FRIDAY, THE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, OFFICE OF BROADBAND SPECIFICALLY FACILITATED A MEETING BETWEEN DIMITY COUNTY, UH, RURAL BAND AND RIVER STREET.
AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING WAS TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, OR STRATEGIES THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED FOR BOTH RURAL BAN AND RIVER STREET TO COLLABORATE.
AS YOU REMEMBER, RIVER STREET HAD BEEN AWARDED FEDERAL ADOLF FUNDS IN NEARLY 60% OF THE COUNTY.
AND AGAIN, RIVER STREET WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE DADDY STATE FUNDS, UM, IN THOSE OTHER NON ADOLF AREAS.
UH, SO I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO, TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE MEETING WENT VERY WELL.
UH, BOTH COMPANIES, UM, HAVE AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP POTENTIAL STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS, UH, TO MOVE THE UNIVERSAL PROJECT, UH, FOR DIMITY FORWARD AND TO HOPEFULLY BETTER POSITION, UH, THE COUNTY FOR SUCCESS IN OBTAINING FUTURE DADDY FUNDS, UH, FROM THE COMMONWEALTH.
UH, WE, AT THE END OF THE MEETING WITH THIS, THIS REAL COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT, UM, EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
AND EVEN HERE AT HOME, EVERYONE, UH, WANTS THIS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
BUT I WAS, I WAS REAL PLEASED THAT THE PRESIDENT CEOS OF BOTH RURAL BAND AND RIVER STREET WANTED TO GET IN THE ROOM AS FAST AS THEY COULD TO, UM, TO SHOW SOME RESULTS.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE MEETING AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY TO GO OVER THOSE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES AND, AND POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT MAY BE, UM, IN THE WORKS.
UH, I WISH I COULD BE IN A, IN A BETTER POSITION TO, UM, TO TELL THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHAT THOSE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES ARE GONNA LOOK LIKE.
BUT I DO WANT TO PUBLICLY EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION.
'CAUSE I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A VERY FRUSTRATING PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC.
IT HAS BEEN FOR THIS BOARD AS WELL.
BUT WE, WE APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED PATIENCE OF THE PUBLIC, UM, AND, AND KNOW THAT THAT BROADBAND FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND THIS BOARD HAS, HAS NEVER WAVED, WAVERED FROM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT TO, TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR DENWOODY.
BUT THE, THE NUMBER ONE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS PROJECT IS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
AND SO I WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED THAT THE STATE WOULD FACILITATE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT, IT'S THEIR MONEY.
UM, AND SO OUR, OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO, IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STATE.
UM, THEY'RE IN THE LEAD OF THIS, AND WE'RE GONNA COLLABORATE WITH THEM.
WE'RE GONNA FIND SOLUTIONS, UM, AND, AND KNOW THAT WE GOTTA GET INTERNET, INTERNET TO OUR CITIZENS THE MOST EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE WAY THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO HOPEFULLY AFTER THE 26TH, WE'LL WE'LL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SHARE PUBLICLY AS THERE ARE SOME NEGOTIATION AND STRATEGIES THAT ARE GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
SO I, THAT'S, THAT'S BROADBAND.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO PUBLICLY STAY.
'CAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE MET SINCE THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER EVENT, UM, THAT WE HAD OVER AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX.
AND WHAT A PHENOMENAL EVENT THAT WAS.
WE FELT LIKE IT WAS A, A WONDERFUL SUCCESS.
OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY REALLY SHOWED UP, UM, TREMENDOUS SPEAKERS AND, AND MUSIC THAT, THAT, UH, WAS ABLE TO BE, HAD THAT DAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, ALREADY PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT NEXT YEAR AND TRYING TO GROW THAT EVENT.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A, A HUGE SUCCESS.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I WILL BE ATTENDING RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE'S GRADUATION COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY AS TOMORROW.
SO I'LL BE DOING THAT AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY.
SO I'LL REPRESENT TY COUNTY THAT WAY.
I THINK WE HAVE A, A BOARD MEMBER TOO THAT MAYBE WILL GOING BE GOING TO THAT AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND ALSO WE, WE COULDN'T TALK ABOUT GRADUATION THIS WEEK WITH COLLEGES WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT HERE IN DENWOODY THAT WE HAVE OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
SO I JUST ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT PUBLICLY TO RECOGNIZE THE STUDENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2023 AND CAITLYN GI.
I REMEMBER BRINGING ATTENTION TO CAITLYN.
CAITLYN HAS BEEN WITH US UNWAVERING IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND SHE DID SO WELL AS A, AS DURING THIS TIME OF SHADOWING, UH, MR. SOUTHALL THAT SHE'S AGREED TO COME BACK AS A SUMMER INTERN.
AND WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE, UH, WORKING IN MR. SOUTHALL'S OFFICE, AND KAITLYN'S GONNA BE GOING TO RANDOLPH MACON, I THINK IS WHERE YOU'VE DECIDED TO GO.
[01:05:01]
JUST WANTED, YOU KNOW, JUST A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT THE CLASS OF 2023 IS LIKE.BUT I MEAN, TO, TO REALLY ALL THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, UM, I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THE CLASS OF 2023 IS GOING TO DO, UH, WITH THEIR CAREERS AND THEIR LIVES AND WHAT THEY HAVE IN STORE FOR THEM.
SO, KAITLYN, CONGRATULATIONS AND ALL THE OTHER, UM, UH, STUDENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2023.
AL ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE CRATER WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD, UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH QUIN HENDERSON AND OUR, OUR DIMITY YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS OFFERING A, A STEAM CAMP FOR DIMITY YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 24.
AND SO WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THIS, IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOTTA BRING IT UP AT A BOARD MEETING.
WE, AND THERE'S ONLY FIVE SPOTS LEFT, SO YOU REMEMBER THE OLD COMMERCIAL, THE LAST REST RICE KRISPY TREAT.
THIS IS KIND OF WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE, BUT THERE'S ONLY, THERE'S ONLY FIVE SPOTS AVAILABLE.
BUT GET THIS, THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETERS WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD, UM, AND MAINTAIN A 3D PRINTER, AND THEY GET TO TAKE IT HOME WHEN IT'S OVER.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, EACH PARTICIPANT WILL BE PROVIDED A MACBOOK, UH, FOR COURSEWORK AND BE PROVIDED A CASH STIPEND FOR THE COURSE COMPLETION.
IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, WE'RE GONNA GIVE 'EM BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND A SNACK ALL THE WAY FROM JUNE, JUNE 5TH THROUGH THE NINTH.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE AT THE RAGSDALE COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE FIVE I, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT QUINNELL, UH, ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND HE HAS SEVERAL OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT HE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT IF THERE'S SOMEBODY IN YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THE STEAM CAMP SEEMS TO BE A LOT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE CULINARY CAMPS.
WE HAVE A COSMETOLOGY CAMP THAT'S GONNA BE, UH, DONE THIS YEAR.
AND WE GOT THE SUMMER BASED LEARNING PROGRAM.
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE LETTERS SENT OUT THIS WEEK, HOPEFULLY, OF, OF, OF WHERE, UM, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ASSIGNED, UH, FOR THAT.
UM, NOW, TWO, TWO FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I TOLD YOU A LITTLE BIT LONGER TODAY, BUT TWO, TWO FORM LAST ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ONE, UH, MEMORIAL DAY IS COMING.
AND SO I TALKED TO THE MASONIC LODGE, WHO HAS PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UM, OVER A DECADE NOW.
BUT THE, THE MASONIC LODGE EVENT OF, UM, ON MEMORIAL DAY WILL BE ON MEMORIAL DAY AT 10:00 AM IT ONLY LASTS ABOUT 30 MINUTES.
SO MANY OF US THINK ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY, AND THEY THINK ABOUT COOKING OUT AND BEING WITH FAMILY AND HAVING PICNICS.
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A SENSE OF FELLOWSHIP, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S, THERE'S ANOTHER MEANING TO MEMORIAL DAY TOO.
AND IF I SWEAR TO YOU, IF YOU COME TO THIS, THIS 30 MINUTE EVENT, IT YOU'LL, YOU'LL BE MUCH, UH, MORE PROUD OF YOURSELF FOR COMING AND YOUR FAMILIES.
IT'S A, IT'S A WONDERFUL CEREMONY.
UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO MENTION LASHONDA LIPSCOMB LEE SHONDA'S IN THE BACK WEARING RED, WHICH IS REALLY APPROPRIATE BECAUSE EACH YEAR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, UH, RECOGNIZES WHAT THEY CALL A WOMAN OF IMPACT.
AND SO THIS YEAR, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION OF RICHMOND, OF QUITE A FEW PEOPLE, THEY COULD RECOGNIZE THE WOMAN OF IMPACT FOR THE RICHMOND AREA IS LASHONDA LEE.
SO I JUST WANNA GIVE A ROUND, AND, YOU KNOW, FOR LASHANDA, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS, AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, LASHANDA HAD A, A HEART ATTACK A FEW YEARS BACK, AND WE, WE ALL, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER TODAY, BUT YOU, THERE WAS NO ONE KNOWS, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE VALUE OF YOUR HEALTH MM-HMM
AND, YOU KNOW, SO I CAN'T THINK OF ANY BETTER PERSON JUST IN MY TIME ASSOCIATION WITH LASHANDA WORKING FOR US THAT CAN REPRESENT THE ISSUES OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND, AND ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE HEART, UM, MORE THAN LASHANDA.
AND SO, AGAIN, LASHANDA, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A WONDERFUL JOB, UH, IN, IN CARRYING ON, UM, RELENTLESSLY THE, THAT PARTICULAR FOCUS.
UM, SO MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME, UNLESS THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
[10. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
MS. BONNER FOR BOARD COMMENTS.I, UM, ALSO ATTENDED THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, AND THAT WAS, UM, A VERY, VERY NICE EVENT AND WAS NICE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COMING OUT.
IT WAS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND IT HAD SOME SPEAKERS AND SOME WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL SINGING.
AND, UM, THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
[01:10:01]
AND, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS JUST A NICE, UH, EVENT TO COME TOGETHER.AND PEOPLE JUST, UH, JUST TALKING ABOUT PRAYING.
OF COURSE, THE BIBLE TELLS US TO ALWAYS PRAY WITHOUT CEASING ALL THE TIME, BUT TO SET ASIDE A DAY WAS JUST WONDERFUL TO DO THAT AND HAVE PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS TO COME, NOT JUST A PARTICULAR ONE, ALL FAITHS.
SO THAT WAS, UM, A WONDERFUL THING.
I ALSO ATTENDED, UM, THE, UH, NA UH, AT INE THE, UH, THEY HAD A, UM, STATE OF THE ART FIRETRUCK THAT THEY, UM, I GUESS CHRISTEN, THEY, THEY PULLED IT OUT AND PUSHED IT BACK IN AND PUT WATER ON IT AND EVERYTHING.
AND, UM, UH, THAT WAS A, UM, A VERY NICE, UM, EVENT.
I WAS THERE FOR THAT LAST SUNDAY, AND I MET SOME GENTLEMEN THERE.
UM, OH, YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURES YEP.
OF THERE NOW, AND IT'S FROM, UH, LEFT TO RIGHT IS MR. BILL QUEEN, MR. JAMES BLAND AND EARL, UM, MATON MATON.
AND, UH, MR. BLAND IS A CHARTER MEMBER OF, UM, INE AND HE HAS HIS HAT ON MM-HMM
AND HE TOLD ME, THEY WERE TELLING ME THAT, UM, WHEN THEY STARTED OUT, FIRE TRUCKS WERE, UM, THE PRICE WAS 27,000.
I SAID, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.
AND THEY WERE JUST SO HAPPY ABOUT THE TRUCK AND EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE TRUCK.
AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE EVERYTHING'S EXPENSIVE NOW.
SO, UM, IT'S A STATE OF THE ART TRUCK.
AND, UH, IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL.
UM, I TOLD 'EM I HAD TO LEAVE CHURCH AND RUN THERE AND TRY TO CATCH THEM AND, UM, AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD THAT WE ARE JUST HAPPY.
UM, AND THIS IS AT INE AND, AND THE NORTHERN END DENWOODY.
SO, UH, THOSE THREE GENTLEMEN, THEY WERE JUST HAPPY AS, AS LARKS JUST TO BE THERE AND JUST TALK ABOUT THEIR, UM, EXPERIENCES, UM, WITH THE, UH, FIREFIGHTER, UH, DEPARTMENT.
HE WAS OUT THERE SNAPPING PICTURES.
HE SITTING BACK THERE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK HE ACTUALLY PUSHED THE FIRETRUCK BACK IN.
I THINK HE WAS ONTO THE SIDE, BUT, UH,
AND, UM, THEY'RE EXCITED BECAUSE IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT, THAT NEW TRUCK IS GONNA ROLL OUT AND JUST HELP WHOEVER THEY CAN HELP OUT.
SO IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO DO THAT.
UM, ALSO, UM, THANKING THE STAFF AND, UH, ABOUT THE BUDGET AND I REALIZED, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT ALL THOSE NUMBERS AND WHAT ANN DOES.
SHE SAYS SHE LOVES NUMBERS AND YOU HAVE TO LOVE NUMBERS TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S A LOT.
AND, UM, I WOULD JUST, UM, JUST LIKE TO THANK THE ALL STAFF AND, UM, FOR, AND, AND FOR THE BUDGET FOR DOING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
AND ALSO, UH, VDOT, UM, HE WAS HERE, UM, AND WE DID GO OUT THROUGH, UM, WEST PETERBURG AND LOOKING AT THE ROADS AND DIFFERENT THINGS AND TRYING TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE.
HE'S, HE'S LEFT ALREADY, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
AND, UM, UM, HOPEFULLY, UM, I KNOW KEVIN HAS TALKED ABOUT, UM, OUT AT WEEKLY AND CHURCH ROAD AND CHURCH ROAD, THINKING ABOUT THAT, TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT WE COULD ALL WORK TOGETHER, COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF SOLUTION TO KIND OF HELP WITH ALL THE ROADS BECAUSE, UM, AND EVEN WHEN THE WEATHER COMES, THE ROADS AND THE POTHOLES GET TERRIBLE AND WE JUST HAVE TO KIND OF BE ON POINT WITH THAT.
UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO LASANDRA.
YOU KNOW, SHE, UM, WORKING HARD AND EVERYTHING, AND WHEN I SEE HER RUN UP AND DOWN THE HALL, I'M GOING TO REMIND HER ABOUT HER HEART AND EVERYTHING, SO THAT'S GOOD.
BUT, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR THE AWARD.
AND, UM, ALSO, UM, I WENT TO AN EVENT, UM, IN FORD, VIRGINIA, UH, MOUNT ZION CHURCH HAD A FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND WE HAD A, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA.
THE, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS REPRESENTED, THE FORD FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS REPRESENTED AND DISTRICT 19 SOCIAL SERVICES AND, UM, GIVING OUT INFORMATION.
THEY'VE, UM, THEY HAVE THAT EVERY YEAR AND, UH, IT WAS GOOD TO GO AND KIND OF REPRESENT.
AND THE LAST THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS IS, UM, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND, UM, JUST, UM, TALKING, TALKING TO PEOPLE AND SEEING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND, UM, AND WHEN PE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, YOU, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT SOMEONE, OKAY, THEY, THEY'RE LOSING IT.
THEY DON'T HAVE, THEY HAVE TO TAKE ALL THIS MEDICINE AND EVERYTHING, BUT PEOPLE SUFFER.
THEY HAVE ISSUES THAT COME UP AND THEY MAY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT.
AND, UM, AND, AND THAT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
THE ONLY TIME MENTAL HEALTH IS A
[01:15:01]
BIG PROBLEM IS WHEN THINGS LINGER ON FOR WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS, THEN YOU, UM, HAVE A ISSUE THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO, UM, HAVE SOMETHING, TAKE SOMETHING OR WHATEVER TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY.BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SUICIDE IS JUST UP, UM, WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS STAFF.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE 9, 8, 8 NUMBER THAT YOU CAN, UM, CALL.
I WAS JUST, UM, UH, LOOKING AT SOME DATA, TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ONE IN 11 PEOPLE SUFFER FROM SUICIDE.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.
AND WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT BEING A PART OF SOMETHING.
AND IF THEY ARE NOT A PART OF SOMETHING, THE ONLY OUTLET THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS, WELL, MAYBE I NEED TO, UH, TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO MYSELF OR TAKE MYSELF OUT OF THIS, UM, OUT OF THE WORLD.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A OPTION.
SO, UM, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN, UM, EXPRESS INTEREST IN IT.
AND AGAIN, I ALWAYS SAY THAT IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT'S, UH, DEALING WITH SOMETHING QUIET OR DOING SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY DON'T USUALLY DO, KIND OF REACH OUT AND TALK TO THEM.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE SIGNS IS WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE GIVING THINGS AWAY, UM, AND I WORKED IN THE, UM, IN THE AREA FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO DO THINGS, I WANNA GIVE THIS AWAY, GIVE THAT AWAY.
YOU NEED TO KIND OF LOOK AT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AND THAT'S, UH, ADULTS AS WELL AS YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO, UM, AGAIN, JUST, UM, THIS MONTH IS, UM, KIND OF SET ASIDE FOR THAT, BUT WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS, UM, IF WE CAN, UM, LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND LOOK OUT FOR OUR ELDERLY.
AS, YOU KNOW, AS KEVIN SAID ABOUT ELDERLY ABUSE, THAT IS A BIG THING.
PEOPLE, UM, OUR ELDERLY POPULATION, WE HAVE A LOT OF, OF, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT.
YOU SEE IT ON THE NEWS, THE SCAM CALLS, AND EVEN UNFORTUNATELY, FAMILY MEMBERS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UM, OUR ELDERLY.
AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S A PRETTY BAD THING.
SO, UM, IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, AGAIN, TRY TO REACH OUT OR CALL SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP 'EM AND, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN, UM, STILL LIVE A PRODUCTIVE LIFE.
UH, I'VE SEEN BEEN ON THE BOARD QUITE A FEW YEARS, BUT WE'VE INITIATED A COUPLE PROGRAMS HERE RECENTLY THAT I THINK MADE IT MADE THE TOP 10.
ONE OF 'EM IS THE ONE THAT, UH, MARIE GRANT INITIATED AND STARTED AS A CITIZENS ACADEMY.
I THINK THAT PROGRAM IS REALLY EDUCATIONAL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THAT JOINED IT.
AND IT ALSO JUST, IT, IT SHOWS 'EM HOW COUNTIES WORK.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW, 'CAUSE PEOPLE JUST HERE ON THE STREET WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT THEY REALLY, REALLY, UNTIL THEY REALLY GET DOWN TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL'S GOING ON.
SO I THINK, UH, THAT MAKES THE TOP 10, IN MY OPINION, OF ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN IN.
AND THE LAST THING WAS THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THAT WE, UH, GOT TOGETHER WITH THE, UH, FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY.
I THINK, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO BE IN PRAYER FOR OUR NATION, FOR OUR STATE, AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNTY.
I, I THINK IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT EVENT.
UM, I GUESS COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
ONE, UM, EXCEPT FOR MR. MOODY, UM, I GET GOT ON, WAS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD, UH, SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER THAN THE OTHER THREE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND IT WAS, UM, AT THE END OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, UH, ACTUALLY VOTED ON THAT FIRST BUDGET AND THOUGHT THAT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, IT IS PRETTY EASY BEING A BOARD OF SUPERVISOR.
THIS IS, THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD GIG.
UM, AND NOT A LOT WENT INTO THIS BUDGET.
AND SO THEN THE NEXT YEAR I WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THAT WAS WHEN I FOUND MY HATRED FOR, FOR BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS GOOD REQUESTS AND PICK THE PICKING AND THE CHOOSING IS, IS THE HARDEST PART.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR WAS NO DIFFERENT.
UM, A LOT OF GOOD REQUESTS AND, AND THE CIP IS PART OF THAT TOO, WHERE YOU HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE, UM, WHAT YOU CAN FUND AND WHAT YOU CAN'T FUND.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE, UM, WHAT STAFF DOES AND, UM, AND APPRECIATE THE, THE BUDGET THAT WE APPROVED TO TODAY.
[01:20:01]
AND THEN THE LAST THING, UM, JUST REMEMBER, AS YOU TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTY, UM, IT'S PLANTING SEASON, UH, WILL BE HARVEST SEASON FOR WHEAT PRETTY QUICK.UM, FARM EQUIPMENT HAS GOTTEN HUGE NOW.
AND SO WHEN YOU MEET FARM AND EQUIPMENT IN THE ROAD, IT TAKES UP THE WHOLE ROAD.
IT DOESN'T TAKE UP HALF THE ROAD, IT TAKES UP ALL THE ROADS.
SO JUST, UM, BE AWARE OF THAT.
UM, FARMERS HAVE, HAVE KIND OF, UM, LEARNED TO MOVE EQUIPMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, UH, VERSUS WHEN EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO GET TO WORK IN THE MORNING.
UM, BUT YOU STILL, UH, PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING THESE ROADS, UH, 24 7 NOW.
SO, UH, JUST REMEMBER THAT IN, IN YOUR TRAVELS.
MR. DAVIS, I DON'T HAVE MUCH, UH, MS. ZANIA, I, I HAD HEART PROBLEMS, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD A HEART ATTACK, SO BE AWARE.
SO I KNOW YOU WORK HARD AROUND HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
BUT I ECHO EVERYTHING EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID.
UM, UH, MRS. BONNER, YOU KNOW, YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON REPORTING ON ALL THE THINGS YOU DID AND I'VE, I'VE MISSED A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL.
SO, BUT THE, UH, THE PRAYER THING IS JUST ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I THINK WE'VE, UH, EVER STARTED AT THIS, UH, IN THE COUNTY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SAID IS PRAY YOU AND JUST, WE BELIEVE IN THAT BEFORE WE EVEN START MEETINGS, WE, WE ASK GOD TO BE HERE BEFORE, UH, WE EVEN COME IN HERE.
'CAUSE WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTY.
AND THAT'S WHAT LEADS US, IS OUR FAITH.
AND ALL OF US UP HERE ARE BELIEVERS.
THAT'S A GOOD THING ABOUT THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE A FAITH BASE THAT, UH, THAT ASKS GOD TO BE IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SO, UM, AND I CAN LOOK AT ALL OF US IN HERE AND KNOW THAT WE ARE BELIEVERS.
UM, BUT I'D LIKE ABOUT EVERYTHING EVERYBODY SAID TODAY AND IS A BIG THING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TOGETHER PULLING TOGETHER MAKES THE COUNTY STRONG.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN 12 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD A RUN IN WITH ANYONE.
THAT'S WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT, UH, THE COUNTY, GOOD LEADERSHIP.
AND WHEN WE HAVE THAT, I CAN GO AROUND AND TALK TO OTHER COUNTIES.
THEY HAVE CONFUSION, THEY HAVE RESENTMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT AFTER WE WALK OUT IN THE ROOM, IT'S OVER.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT MAKES SUCH STRONG.
SO, LIKE I SAY, FAITH, PRAYER MAKES ALL THINGS COME TOGETHER.
ALRIGHT, SO THERE'S BEEN A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE WE WERE HERE LAST MONTH.
UH, BUT ONE WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS THE LIVES THAT WERE TOUCHED OUTTA RICHARD BLAND WITH THE TEEN EXPO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, MS. COLLINS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
THE OTHER 50 OR BETTER THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE, IN THE PROCESS.
WE HAD 140 STUDENTS THAT ATTENDED, 60 FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ATTENDED.
THE PARENTS, UH, WERE TELLING THEM ABOUT A VARIETY OF THINGS, ABOUT WHAT AFFECTS THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES FROM PERSONAL HYGIENE TO FINANCIAL AID TO COLLEGE, UH, AND THE EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT WERE INVOLVED.
WE GOT IT IN JUST BEFORE THE RAIN CAME
SO, UM, BUT IT WAS A GOOD DAY.
AND I THINK OUR PARTNERS AT RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE, UH, FOR, FOR ALLOWING US TO, TO BE ON THEIR CAMPUS.
UM, AND SO THAT, IT WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY.
BUT JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED THERE.
AND I THINK THAT WAS OUR 10TH, UM, ONE, SO MS. BON WAY, I THINK WE'VE BEEN AT JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM.
UM, BUT WE THINK ABOUT THE LIVES THAT ARE TOUCHED AND, AND, UH, HOW IT'S GROWN AND WHERE THE LEVEL THAT IT'S AT NOW.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE THAT PARTICIPATE, IT'S A PRETTY DARN GOOD DAY FOR 'EM.
UM, IN PARTICULAR OUR SENIORS, THE THINGS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THEM MM-HMM
UM, THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IS, IS SIGNIFICANT TO ME.
WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR, UH, AT THE FOOTBALL COMPLEX, AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO ME, OUR, OUR LIVES IN GENERAL ARE ABOUT TOUCHING OTHER LIVES.
WE ARE THE LIGHT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THAT WE SHARE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
THERE WERE A HUNDRED AND GIVE OR TAKE 140 PEOPLE THAT WERE AT THAT EVENT, BUT WE HAD AT LEAST, UH, EIGHT OR NINE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED AT THE SERVICE ITSELF.
MY GOAL IS TO HAVE THEIR 80, UH, HOUSES OF WORSHIP IN DENWITTY COUNTY IS TO EVENTUALLY HAVE ALL 80 OF
[01:25:01]
'EM PRESENT WHEN WE DO A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER EVENT.AND, UH, WE PROBABLY HAD A DOZEN THAT WERE INVOLVED THIS TIME, BUT IT WILL GROW FROM HERE BECAUSE WE AS A BOARD BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND WE LIVE AND THAT WALK.
AND, UH, WE WILL, UH, TRY TO EXPAND THAT NEXT YEAR WITH, UH, MORE PEOPLE BEING INVOLVED.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR, OUR REVEREND AND, AND THOSE THAT ARE IN THE CLERGY THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH IT, AS WELL AS CITIZENS THAT WERE AT DIFFERENT CHURCHES THAT, THAT SANG AND SPOKE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT.
UM, AND MY STAFF HERE, UM, TEAM IN WITTY THAT CAME TOGETHER AND, AND PUT IT TOGETHER AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX.
SEVERAL, UH, WEEKS AGO WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO FORT LEE.
UH, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, DENWITTY AND COLONIAL HEIGHTS ARE, ARE CONNECTED TO FORT LEE IN TERMS OF THE QUARTERMASTER CORE THAT IS AT FORT LEE.
SO WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AS A BOARD AND PARTICIPATE IN A AN EVENT.
WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS IT HAS LED TO ANOTHER EVENT.
'CAUSE THE GENERAL THERE WANTED TO HAVE MORE INVOLVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THERE WAS A PROJECT THAT SAID, WELL, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? SO THE ANIMAL SHELTER HAS BENEFITED FROM THAT.
THERE WERE 27 SOLDIERS THAT CAME TO DENWITTY COUNTY AND, UH, DID, DID WORK FROM FORT GREG ADAMS, UH, AT THEY PAINTED THE SHELTER, DID SOME PAINTING WORK, UM, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS THAT WERE DONE AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS, TO THOSE SOLDIERS THAT HAD CAME OUT AND PARTICIPATED, UM, AND HELPED DEN QUIT DEN WITTY.
AND IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF A RELATIONSHIP THAT WE WILL HAVE, UH, WITH THOSE SOLDIERS AT FORT GREG ADAMS. SO THANK YOU TO THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS.
UM, AND THEN LAST, I'LL SAY THIS IS TO OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATION TO EVERY STUDENT AND THE CLASS OF 2023 THAT WILL BE GRADUATING THIS THURSDAY AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN THE NEW CONVOCATION CENTER AT 10:00 AM I WILL BE IN AT THAT, UM, UH, GRADUATION.
AND I'M THE PROUD PARENT OF A GRADUATE OF THE 2023 CLASS.
AND SO I, UH, I, I APPLAUD ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE, THAT WILL BE WALKING ACROSS THAT STAGE AND THOSE THAT HAVE TAUGHT THEM FOR 12, 13 YEARS.
I'M MARRIED TO A SCHOOL TEACHER.
UM, THERE WERE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HERE THAT, THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY INVOLVEMENT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND THEN ONE OTHER, MY SON DAN WHITTY, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, GRADUATED FROM VIRGINIA TECH ON FRIDAY, WHICH IS BACHELORS GREASE.
I'M GONNA SAY GO HOKEY WITH MY LAST COMMENT.
AND, UH, WITH THAT WE HAVE A NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
SLOW DOWN, WE'RE GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES.
SLOW DOWN, WE'RE ALL GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES.
[11. CLOSED SESSION]
THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO A CLOSED SESSION UNDER 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 180 1.PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS, APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY BOARD, BRIGHT POINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 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 1 180 3.
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.
AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 180 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 AND 2.2 3 7 8 29 DISCUSSION OF THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT INVOLVING THE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, INCLUDING INTERVIEWS OF BIDDERS OR OFFERS AND DISCUSSION OF THE TERMS OR SCOPE OF SUCH CONTRACT WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN SESSION WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY BROADBAND CONTRACTS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSE PLEASE? SO MOVED.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY ATTENDING.
[01:30:01]
DR. MOORE, WHEREAS THIS BOARD CONVENED IN A CLOSED MEETING UNDER 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A ONE, PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY BOARD, BRIGHTPOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 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 1 180 3.
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.
2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A EIGHT 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 IN 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A 29, DISCUSSION OF THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT INVOLVING THE EXPONENTIAL OF PUBLIC FUNDS, INCLUDING INTERVIEWS OF BIDDERS OR OFFERS AND DISCUSSION OF THE TERMS OR SCOPE OF SUCH CONTRACT WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN SESSION WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY BROADBAND CONTRACTS.
AND WHEREAS NOVEMBER 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.
OKAY, WE'LL BE AT RECESS UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK.
ALRIGHT, SO I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT.
SO THERE ARE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED TONIGHT.
THE FIRST ONE IS ON A REZONING, WHICH IS WHETHER OR NOT THE PARCELS ADVERTISED SHOULD BE REZONED FROM A TWO TO THE SPECIAL ENERGY DISTRICT OR THE SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT.
AND SO THAT, THAT IS THE REZONING THAT PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD FIRST.
AND THEN IF THE, IF UNLESS THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.
SO IF THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES, OR IF THE ANSWER TO THAT IS A DEFERRAL TO A FUTURE MEETING, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HOLD THE NEXT TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THE NEXT ONE IS ON THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS ON THE SITING AGREEMENT.
SO YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THAT REZONING AND BASICALLY SPEAK TO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO RELATED TO THE REZONING.
SO IF, IF YOU, IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT, YOU SHOULD SIGN UP TO SPEAK TO, TO THAT ONE.
WHETHER IF YOU, SO IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT, SIGN UP TO SPEAK TO THE FIRST ONE.
AND THEN IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS THAT YOU THINK ARE SPECIFIC TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE LATER, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR THAT ONE.
AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE SITING AGREEMENT, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR THAT ONE.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S CLEAR ENOUGH.
BUT IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT, I'D, I'D RECOMMEND YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK TO AT LEAST TO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEN IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC COMMENTS, YOU CAN ALSO SPEAK TO THE OTHER TWO.
THE, THE GOAL WOULD BE TO HOLD ALL THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT IF THE BOARD GETS THAT FAR DOWN, DOWN THE ROAD ON IT.
MR. SOUTHALL, THAT'S, THAT'S RELATIVE TO B THE LILY POND SOLAR.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER INPUT THAT WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE REGARDING RESOLUTION.
SO, SO THERE'S ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO, UH, A NO WAKE ZONE AT THE MOUTH OF WIPO KNOT CREEK ON LAKE CHEIN.
IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT TONIGHT, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THAT ONE.
THAT WILL BE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IF, IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A LUCKY PERSON WHO'S HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT ONE TONIGHT AND NOT SOLAR, THAT ONE'S GOING FIRST.
SO YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT AND THEN YOU CAN GO HOME.
UM, THERE ARE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR EITHER OF THEM.
IF YOU WILL TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP WITH MS. BROWN.
UM, IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP, THIS CHALLENGE JUST CLARIFIES ACTUALLY FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
YEAH, BUT THE THREE OF THEM ARE, YOU'RE RIGHT, PERTAINING TO TWO SUBJECTS THE SAME ISSUE.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR THOSE, I DID MAKE A STATEMENT A LITTLE WHILE AGO FOR THOSE SIGNING UP FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS ABOUT NO A NO WAKE ZONE ON WOCK CREEK OFF OF LAKE CHES.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT.
THE NEXT THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE ALL ABOUT THE SOLAR PROJECT, RIGHT? SO THE FIRST OF THOSE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS IS ABOUT THE REZONING OF THE LAND, WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR THE SOLAR PROJECT TO BE THERE.
[01:35:01]
AFTER THAT IS ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND THE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THAT IS ABOUT THE SIDING AGREEMENT.MY MY RECOMMENDATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT SPEAK TO SOLAR IS THAT YOU SIGN UP FOR THAT FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REZONING AND THEN IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC SAY ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OR THE SITING AGREEMENT, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR THOSE.
BUT IF THAT, IF THAT FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE AND THEN THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO VOTE YES, NO, OR DEFER, AND IF THEY VOTE YES OR DEFER IS WHEN YOU WOULD GET TO THOSE NEXT PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SIGN UP? OKAY.
ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO EVERYBODY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO READ A PUBLIC HEARING STATEMENT BEFORE WE GET, UH, OPEN UP THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMENT TIME IS PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS TO HAVE THEIR VIEWS HEARD.
YOUR COMMENTS DURING THIS TIME MUST BE CONFINED TO THE MATTER OF CASE THAT IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE CUMULATIVE OR REPETITIVE.
YOU ARE ASKED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH QUORUM, LOUD, DISRUPTIVE, OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TO INVOLVE OF, OF OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE SHALL BE AVOIDED.
ALSO AVOID A WORDS OR ACTS TENDING TO EVOKE VIOLENCE OR ARE DEEMED TO BE BREACH OF THE PEACE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TIME IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD OR A TIME OF DIALOGUE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS OR STAFF.
[12.A. Resolution Authorizing Approval To Apply For "No-Wake" Zone At The Mouth Of Whipponock Creek To Lake Chesdin]
CASE THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR A NO WAKE ZONE IN THE MOUTH OF WOCK CREEK TO LAKE CHESON.UH, MR. SOUTHALL, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IS GONNA PRESENT THE CASE.
SO THE BACKGROUND ON THIS IS THAT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE BOATING ACCIDENT ON LAKE CHEIN LAST SEPTEMBER, THE APPOMATTOX RIVER WATER AUTHORITY INSTALLED THREE NO WAKE BUOYS AT OR NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO WOCK CREEK, WHICH THOSE FAMILIAR WITH LAKE CHEAN WILL KNOW IS THE CREEK THAT GOES UP TO THE WHIP OCK MARINA.
UM, AND IT, IT BEGINS AT THE, AT THE ISLAND THAT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE MOUTH OF THE CREEK.
UM, SO THE, THE APPOMATTOX RIVER AUTHORITY HAS INSTALLED THOSE THREE NO WAKE BUOYS AT THE ENTRANCE TO WOCK CREEK.
THE BUOYS ARE LOCATED ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF THE ISLAND AT THE MOUTH OF THE CREEK.
AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD ONE ABOUT 1200 FEET UPSTREAM OF THE ISLAND AT THE MOUTH OF WOCK CREEK.
UH, AND THAT WAS INTENDED TO CREATE A NO WAKE AREA THAT WAS BETWEEN 1100 FEET LONG ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ENTRANCE TO WOCK CREEK AND ABOUT 1700 FEET ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ENTRANCE TO WOCK CREEK.
SO I HAVE THE GPS LOCATIONS OF THOSE THREE BUOYS AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE IN THE MEMO.
THOSE AS WELL AS THE OTHER INFORMATION FOR THE MEMO WAS PROVIDED, UM, BY THE APPOMATTOX RIVER WATER AUTHORITY.
SO IT HAS BEEN ADVISED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES THAT THESE BUOYS CANNOT BE ENFORCED AT PRESENT UNLESS AN APPLICATION IS MADE TO DWR BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO THERE IS A CODE IN THE VIRGINIA A CODE SECTION IN THE VIRGINIA CODE 29.1 7 44 A AND THAT STATES, AND I QUOTE ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS COMMONWEALTH MAY AT ANY TIME, BUT ONLY AFTER PUBLIC NOTICE FORMALLY APPLIED TO THE BOARD OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS WITH REFERENCE TO THE SAFE REASONABLE OPERATION OF VESSELS ON ANY WATER WITHIN ITS TERRITORIAL LIMITS, AND SHALL SPECIFY IN THE APPLICATION THE REASONS WHICH MAKE THE SPECIAL RULES OR REGULATIONS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE.
THIS ALLOWS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPLY FOR THE CREATION OF NO WEIGHT BUOY ZONES.
AND AS I STATED EARLIER, ROBERT WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE APPT RIVER WATER AUTHORITY PROVIDED THE INFORMATION ENCLOSED WITH THE MEMO.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS SOME INITIAL CONCERN THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A NO WAKE ZONE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE WHIPPER KNOCK MARINA, BUT THERE IS THAT BUOY ABOUT 1100 FEET BACK DOWN THE CREEK, AT LEAST FROM THE WEST SIDE THAT ENDS THE NO WAKE ZONE.
SO BOATS COULD AGAIN GO UP TO SPEED TO GO BACK TO THE MARINA TO FUEL AND THEN RETURN AT SPEED TO THAT LAST BUOY AND THEN PROCEED THROUGH THE NO WAKE ZONE.
UM, AGAIN, I PREPARED A RESOLUTION SHOULD THE BOARD DESIRE TO ADOPT IT THERE.
WE ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE A, A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY.
ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? YES, SIR.
I GUESS, AND, AND WHILE THE, UM, TYLER, YOU KNOW, THIS OR NOT, UM, THIS IS NEAR WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
I, AND I'VE BEEN ON CHARLESTON AND I'VE BEEN UP OCK CREEK, BUT I I DON'T GO ON IT ENOUGH TO REALLY KNOW, SO, SO I KNOW IT'S A CURVE THERE.
WHEN YOU COME OUT IN, INTO LIKE THE MAIN LAKE, TO
[01:40:01]
MY UNDERSTANDING THE ACCIDENT WAS OUT AT WHAT I CALL OXFORD POINT, WHICH IS WHERE IF YOU TAKE OXFORD ROAD AS FAR DOWN AS YOU CAN GO, YOU COME TO A CUL-DE-SAC.AND THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL POINT THERE WHERE YOU CAN LOOK IN ABOUT 270 DEGREES AT THE LAKE.
I THINK FOR THOSE WITH SOME HISTORICAL REFERENCE, I THINK MIKE TICKLE HAD A GREENHOUSE AT THE END OF THAT ROAD.
UM, PROBABLY, I DON'T, I'M NOT REAL GOOD WITH DISTANCES, BUT A MILE ABOUT A MILE WEST OF THERE IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE YOU ENTER INTO WOCK CREEK.
UM, KIND OF ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU TAKE A LEFT OFF OF OXFORD IN TWO SPOTS AND YOU ENTER THE WATERFORD SUBDIVISION, WHICH WRAPS ALL THE WAY BACKGROUND ALMOST TO THE MARINA.
AND SO YOU, YOU'RE BASICALLY ABOUT A MILE TO THE LEFT OR TO THE WEST OF THERE.
UM, WHERE YOU, WHERE YOU COME TO THE ENTRANCE TO, TO THE CREEK.
AND SO THE WATER AUTHORITY MADE THE DECISION TO INSTALL THESE BUOYS THERE.
AND AT PRESENT, ALL PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THEY'RE NOT ENFORCEABLE.
UM, AND, AND THIS, THIS AVENUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD THAT THE BOARD COULD APPLY TO DWR TO MAKE THEM ENFORCEABLE.
AND THAT I, MY SECOND QUESTION, DO YOU KNOW IF, IF, IF, UM, GAME AND LER FISHERIES SAID, I GUESS THE REASON IT'S COMING TO US, DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'VE RIDDEN SOME TICKETS? UM, AND THEN THEY FOUND OUT IF THEY WEREN'T ENFORCEABLE? TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY HAVE NOT RIDDEN TICKETS.
UM, BUT I, I COULD STAND CORRECTED IF THEY HAVE, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE NOT WRITTEN TICKETS.
I THINK SOME, UM, ASTUTE BOATERS REALIZED THAT THE BUOYS NEEDED TO BE APPROVED, UM, IN ORDER TO BE ENFORCEABLE AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BROUGHT THAT TO THE WATER AUTHORITY'S ATTENTION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS WITH DWR IN WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA OPEN.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE TONY DANIELS.
I LIVE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ISLAND WHERE, UH, WHERE ONE OF THE BUOYS IS.
JUST, JUST YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
SO, UM, I'M, I'M ALL FOR THE, THE NO WAKE ZONES THAT THEY PUT IN RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE ONE I GUESS HE SAID ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ISLAND, WHICH IS AWAY FROM THE WHIPPER KNOT COVE MM-HMM
YOU KNOW, OR THE, THE MOUTH OF THE, OF THE CREEK TO GET THAT ONE MOVED IF POSSIBLE TO A MORE VISIBLE LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S, IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE VERY VI VISIBLE TO TRAFFIC COMING IN AND AROUND THE ISLAND.
AND WE GET A LOT OF REALLY HIGH SPEED BOATS WHIPPING AROUND THE ISLAND AND THEY DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT ONCE THEY PASS THAT ONE AT THE MOUTH.
THEY THINK THAT'S IT AND THEN THEY COME AROUND THE ISLAND AND THEN THIS ONE'S CLOSER TO THE, UH, LAND THAN IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, OF THE, OF THE WATERWAY TO GET OUT OF THAT COVE.
SO THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD PROBABLY HELP WITH, UH, WITH VISIBILITY.
UM, THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO STATE IS THAT, UM, ALTHOUGH I'M TICKLED THAT THEY, THAT THEY ACTUALLY MADE THE AREA AROUND THE ISLAND A NO WAKE ZONE, UM, I DO THINK THAT THEY MISSED A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE ACCIDENTS THAT THAT KILLED THOSE TWO BOYS.
UM, AND I'VE SEEN ADDITIONAL ISSUES WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER TRAGEDY AND A BOAT PARKED RIGHT THERE WHERE THE BASS BOAT WAS SITTING AND THEN THE JOHN BOAT WAS COMING AND THEN THE BOAT RAN ACROSS HIM.
UM, A BOAT COME AROUND THERE AS WE WERE GOING AND BARELY SAW THAT BOAT SITTING THERE AND HAD TO, YOU SAW THE BOW JUST DROP DOWN.
I MEAN, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH IF THEY COULD PUT A BUOY OUT IN THE WATER AWAY FROM THAT POINT TO WHERE YOU CAN'T GO BETWEEN THE BUOY AND LAND.
THERE IS A BUOY THAT YOU CAN PUT OUT THERE THAT MAKES YOU HAVE TO GO AROUND IT.
IT'S, IT SAYS FORBIDDEN TO GO BETWEEN THIS BUOY AND LAND THAT WOULD STOP ALL FUTURE ACCIDENTS OR AT LEAST HELP CURTAIL 'EM.
YOU KNOW, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BUOYS MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKING THESE, UH, LICENSE ONLINE AND DON'T EVEN, DON'T EVEN KNOW THE FIRST UH, BUOY OUT THERE, THEY'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE TAKE IT FOR 'EM FOR $50 AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE BUOYS MEAN.
AND I, AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T STOP THAT, BUT AT LEAST THE ONES THAT KNOW WHAT THE BUOYS MEAN THOUGH, MIGHT HELP SAVE A LIFE, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
UM, THE OTHER BUOYS WERE, UH, PUT OUT, UH, MY NEIGHBOR, UH, JEFF GORE MM-HMM
[01:45:01]
HAS A FLOATING DOCK.UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, EXPRESSED A LOT OF OPINION ABOUT THAT, UH, DOCK AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY PUT BUOYS OUT THERE JUST SO ONE MAN'S FLOATING DOCK DOESN'T ROCK.
THIS MAN WAS GONNA HAVE A, A WOODEN DOCK PUT OUT.
THEY HAD THE POLES LAYING ON HIS LAND AND IT'S NOTHING BUT ROCK OUT THERE.
SO HE DOES HAVE A FLOATING DOCK, CAN'T GET AROUND IT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S A VERY NARROW PATH BETWEEN HIS DOCK AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAND.
SO HAVING BOATS PASSING AT WIDE OPEN, YOU KNOW, 45 MILE AN HOUR, SOMETIMES 70.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T ENFORCE THESE BUOYS UNTIL, YOU KNOW, WE GET THROUGH THIS.
WELL, THEY ALSO DON'T ENFORCE THE, THE SPEED LIMIT AND THE SPEED LIMIT CAN'T BE ENFORCED BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO ENFORCE THE SPEED LIMIT.
SO SLOWING IT DOWN AND GETTING, GETTING TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN THROUGH THAT NARROW MOUTH RIGHT THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING, YOU KNOW, ACCOMPLISHMENT.
I'M, I'M AGAINST SLOWING IT DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE BRIDGE.
GOT PLENTY OF ROOM TO GET BACK AND FORTH AROUND THERE.
SO I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT'S GONNA TAKE MY MONEY AWAY FROM THE, THE MARINA TRYING TO SELL GAS.
NOBODY'S GONNA WANT TO HAVE TO DO, YOU KNOW, FOUR MILES AN HOUR ALL THE WAY TO THE MARINA.
JASON BROOKS, LIFELONG RESIDENT IN DENWOODY COUNTY AS WELL AS LIFELONG BOATER OF LAKE CHESTERTON.
I LIVE AT 2 0 700 WHITE OAK ROAD, NORTH DENWOODY, VIRGINIA.
UM, I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE HOW THE MEETING GOT STARTED STARTING WITH THE ACCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON LAKE CHEST.
THAT PUTS A, A BAD LOOK, NOT JUST IN YOUR EYES, BUT EVERYBODY OUT HERE.
THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF THE NO WAKE ZONE AT THE END OF WOCK CREEK.
AND POTENTIALLY THAT BEING EXTENDED ALL THE WAY TO WOCK MARINA.
IT TAKES 19 MINUTES TO GO FOUR MILES AN HOUR BY WATER FROM THE RAMP AT WOCK TO THE LAST NO WAKE ZONE OUTSIDE THE ISLAND ON THE MAIN LAKE.
I, UM, I WANNA GO OVER MY CONCERNS.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT, UM, I'M A CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON, I MEAN THE BOARD OF SAFETY PROFESSIONALS IN INDIANA AS WELL.
UM, MY CONCERNS ARE THE SAFETY OF THE BOATERS THAT MAY BE UNDER ANY PHYSICAL DISTRESS.
IF A VOTER IS SUFFERING FROM PHYSICAL DISTRESS AND THEY HAVE TO BLOW THROUGH A NO WAKE ZONE OR, OR GO FASTLY THROUGH A NO WAKE ZONE, IT'S GOING TO PUT EVERYBODY THERE AT RISK.
IF A PERSON IS UNDER DISTRESS, BUT THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THEY'RE UNDER DISTRESS, SAY THEY'RE HAVE AN EMERGENCY, A A POTENTIAL HEART ATTACK.
'CAUSE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
UM, THE MAN WAS COMING ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON PLANE AT A SAFE SPEED.
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL HE GOT ALMOST TO THE BRIDGE AT WHIP ORNOT WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
IF THAT MAN WOULD'VE BEEN MADE TO GO 19 MINUTES, THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY TURNED WORSE.
HE MAY NOT HAVE MADE IT IF HE HAD TO GO THAT 19 MINUTES.
UM, MY OTHER CONCERNS IS IF WE HAVE TO TRAVEL BY BOAT FOR 19 MINUTES, THAT'S EVERY BOAT ON THE LAKE THAT GOES TO WOOD OR NORT, WHICH YOU KNOW, IS A LOT, HAS TO TRAVEL THROUGH, UH, NO WAKE ZONE OF 19 MINUTES LONG.
THAT'S GONNA PUT EXTRA CONGESTION AREA AT THE WOCK BOAT RAMP.
IT'S ALSO A GAS PUMP THERE THAT'S GONNA BE A CONGESTED AREA AROUND A GAS PUMP ON WATER.
SAME AS, UM, THE WAY IT STANDS NOW WITH THE THREE, UM, THE THREE NO WAKE BUOYS OUT THERE AT THE END OF WOCK CREEK AT THE MAIN LAKE.
NOW EVERYBODY'S HAVING TO SLOW DOWN.
BUT MY SAFETY CONCERN IS WHEN EVERYBODY TAKES OFF OUT OF THAT NO WAKE ZONE, WHICH IS RIGHT ON THE EXTERIOR LAKE, RIGHT WHERE THE MOUTH OF THE CREEK IS, ALL THOSE BOATS ARE GONNA CREATE A WAKE, A BIG WAKE THAT'S GONNA PUT EVERY OTHER BOAT GOING UP AND DOWN THAT LAKE AT RISK.
WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT? HOW DO, HOW DO WE FIX THAT? SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE WE GOTTA LOOK AT RIGHT THERE.
ALL THOSE BOATS TAKEN OFF AT ONE TIME, YOU HAVE WAKES GOING FROM EVERY DIRECTION.
UM, I FEEL AS IF THE CURRENT PLAN THAT THEY HAVE SETTING OUT THERE, I JUST DON'T, I FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED.
I, I AGREE WITH THE LAST SPEAKER TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.
UM, IT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT.
MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE.
MAYBE THEY NEED TO MOVE THOSE BUOYS BACK AND KEEP ONE OVER THERE TO THE RIGHT WHERE MR. WHERE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I AGREE WITH THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE, UM, EXTENDING THE NO WAKE ZONE ALL THE WAY TO THE MARINO.
UM, I'VE PRINTED OUT SOME PICTURES
[01:50:01]
HERE.I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN UP, BUT ON OTHER PLACES ON LAKE CHE WHERE THERE'S A, A SAFETY HAZARD OR THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A RISK OF SOMEONE GETTING HURT, THIS IS WHAT THE WATER AUTHORITY DID THERE.
I DO FEEL LIKE, UM, THIS COULD GO A LONG WAYS AS WELL.
MAY I SHOW YOU SIR, THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AS WELL.
I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD GO A LONG ADDITIONALLY FOR THE HOMEOWNERS OF THE, OF THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVES THERE.
UM, I DO HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEM AND I'M, I'M PRETTY SURE THEY KNOW THESE AS WELL, BUT I'D LIKE FOR IT TO BE ON BOOK.
UH, THE GENERAL MARITIME LAW STATES, UM, WHETHER YOU'RE IN A NO WAKE ZONE OR NOT THE OPERATOR'S, IT IS THE OPERATOR'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURY OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY HIS OWN WAKE.
THAT'S THAT OPERATOR'S OF THAT BOAT OPERATOR'S RESPONSIBILITY UNDER LAW DAMAGE CAUSED BY YOUR WAKE AND TREATED, IS TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS DAMAGE CAUSED BY PHYSICAL DAMAGE.
I FEEL LIKE THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO WOULD BE IF THEY, THEY HAVE, UM, A PROBLEM WITH THE BOATS GOING UP.
IF THEY WON'T SLOW DOWN, THEN THEY ADDRESS THAT WITH THE DGIF.
THEY TAKE PICTURES, WHICH THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THAT IS ON THE HOMEOWNER WHO BOUGHT THE LAKE IN THEIR BACKYARD TO ADDRESS WITH THE BOAT OPERATOR.
SINCE IT SAYS IN THE LAW RIGHT THERE, DAMAGE CAUSED BY YOUR WAKE IS THE OPERATOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.
I APOLOGIZE I CAN'T MAKE OUT THIS NAME.
I LIVE AT 38 0 6 SULLIVAN ROAD, SOUTHERN VIRGINIA.
UM, LIFETIME BOATER ON LAKE CHESTERTON.
AND UM, SOME OF THE COMMENTS I HEARD UP HERE, I'M BASICALLY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. BROOKS SAID BUT WHERE THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED, IT'S NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THEY PUT THESE BUOYS.
AND FOR ME, YOU COULD PUT SOMETHING THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE CUT THAT CORNER ON OXFORD POINT FROM THE OTHER WAY.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE COMING THIS WAY, THEN YOU'RE RIGHT HERE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE PLACES YOU NEED IT.
I DON'T SEE NO NEED IN HAVING IT THERE.
YOU COULD HAVE A SLOW DOWN, NO SLOW DOWN SIDE, BUT NOT A NO WAKE.
YOU COULD SLOW DOWN 25, 35 SOMETHING.
BUT THEN THEY GOT ANOTHER SPOT WHERE HE SHOWED Y'ALL A PICTURE OF WHERE THE CUT THROUGH, WHERE THE CUT THROUGH AIN'T NO WIDER THAN WHAT WE GOT RIGHT HERE AND YOU'RE RUNNING THROUGH THERE 'CAUSE THERE'S A STUMP ON, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, SOMETHING THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT THERE, PUT IN PLACE.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION.
THE ACCIDENT WASN'T RIGHT THERE AND UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS OUTTA LAKE, OUTTA WOCK AND IF WE GOTTA GO 19 MILES AN HOUR FROM HERE TO THERE, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO MOVE OUR TOURNAMENTS AND LOSE BUSINESS TO BOB'S A LIFETIME FRIEND.
BUT IT'S, THE VOTERS DON'T WANT TO TAKE, YOU GOT A THREE HOUR TOURNAMENT, THAT'S 19 MINUTES TO GET HERE AND 19 MINUTES TO GET BACK.
SO BASICALLY THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.
BUT, UM, THE, LIKE I SAID, THE ACCIDENT WASN'T NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THE WAKE ZONE IS.
PUT IT WHERE YOU NEEDS TO BE TO WAKE ZONE.
I HAVE ONE NOTE, NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT? OKAY.
HEARING NUMBER WILL CLOSE THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
I'M GONNA ASK THAT MR. MASSENGILL, UM, MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS HE SERVES ON THE ORDER AUTHORITY AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR DENWITTY COUNTY.
AND, UM, SO MS. MASS GILL WILL SAY A FEW WORDS.
IF I, IF I COULD, UM, MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SO THE, THE MR. DANIELS GREAT COMMENTS AND YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY WHEN THE WATER AUTHORITY PUT THESE IN, IT WAS REALLY MEANT TO BE A STOPGAP MEASURE INITIALLY.
UH, ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THE ENFORCEABILITY OF IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND HAVE A RESOLUTION PASSED, WHICH IS WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT.
UM, SO IF IT CAN BE TWEAKED, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, STAFF FROM THE APAX RIVER WATER AUTHORITY ACTUALLY DID THE INSTALLATION.
AND SO IF IT NEEDS TO BE MOVED AND WHAT OUR DIRECTION TO MR. WILSON WAS PUT THEM IN, UH, BASED ON OUR INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM, AND AGAIN, I THINK THEY CAN BE TWEAKED IF THEY NEED TO BE TWEAKED.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE ACCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE OXFORD POINT, UM, THIS IS NOT IT, IT, THE TIMING OF, OF THIS, UM, I KNOW LOOKS LIKE THIS, THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THAT PARTICULAR ACCIDENT.
ACTUALLY, WE HAD CONCERNS CITIZENS THAT BROUGHT UP THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION BEFORE THAT ACCIDENT EVEN TOOK PLACE.
[01:55:01]
BEING THAT THIS ISN'T EVEN AT THE SAME LOCATION, UM, WE DO AS FAR AS THE WATER AUTHORITY WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE, THE FINDINGS OF DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES ACCIDENT REPORT.THAT ACCIDENT REPORT HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC TO THE APAX RIVER WATER AUTHORITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
UM, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT THIS POINT, AND WHEN IT'S MADE PUBLIC, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL MEASURES.
AND THE GENTLEMAN, MR. BROOKS MADE A GREAT COMMENT ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF, UH, BUOYS THAT COULD BE INSTALLED TO GET PEOPLE PARTICULARLY AWAY FROM THAT PARTICULAR POINT.
UM, IN REGARDS TO LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF, OF WHIP KNOT CREEK, THERE WAS NEVER, AND STILL ISN'T ANY ONGOING CONVERSATION, THERE WAS NEVER ANY, ANY CONVERSATION PREVIOUSLY AS FAR AS LOOKING AT SLOWING PEOPLE DOWN THE ENTIRE LENGTH.
UM, THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS EARLY ON BY, BY DWR WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THAT, WHETHER THEY WANTED TO LOOK AT THE FULL PIECE OR NOT.
ACTUALLY THE COUNTY DISCOURAGED THAT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS VOTED ON LAKE CHESTER MOST OF MY LIFE TOO, THAT THAT WOULD CONSIDERABLY, WE THINK WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON, UH, GEORGE AND BARBARA IN THE MARINA.
SO WE, THAT'S NOT THE EXPECTATION WAS TO SLOW PEOPLE DOWN THAT, THAT WHOLE LENGTH.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE AND NOT NECESSARILY BEING, BEING CONSIDERED.
UM, ALSO JUST WANTED TO MAKE A A A COMMENT ABOUT THE SPEEDING.
SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE APAX RIVER WATER AUTHORITY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CHESTERFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, AS WELL AS THE EE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE BOARD MEMBER, UH, DR. MOORE, WHO REPRESENTS THAT SIDE OF, OF THE LAKE, AND KEVIN CARROLL, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHESTERFIELD BOARD, AND JOE UH, CASEY, WHO'S THEIR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
WE ALL MET TO HAVE A CONVERSATION A, ABOUT THIS AND THE POTENTIAL THAT IF THIS IS DONE ON THE DIMITY SIDE, DOES THIS CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL BUOYS TO BE PUT ALL OVER LAKE CHESTER.
AND SO WE WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL OF THAT.
IN FACT, WE REFER TO IT AS WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T WANT TO KILL A FLY WITH A HAMMER AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO, TO PUT, UH, JUST, JUST THESE BUOYS EVERYWHERE.
SO WE WANNA BE VERY SPECIFIC AND PURPOSEFUL OF WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE PUT IN.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ABOUT THE SPEED, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH THE SPEED IS THAT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ON THE CHESTERFIELD AND THEN WHEN SIDE OF WHERE ARE THE SPEED, UH, LIMIT SIGNS POSTED.
AND SO AT THIS POINT THOUGH, WE A, AFTER OUR INITIAL CONVERSATION, THE DIM UH, THE APAX RIVER WATER AUTHORITY IS INSTALLING SPEED LIMIT SIGNS AT EVERY PUBLIC BOAT RAMP, AS WELL AS PRIVATE BOAT LAMP THAT THAT IS AS FAR AS A HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION AND WHATNOT.
SO THOSE WILL BE PUT IN, WHICH WOULD GIVE, UH, ANYONE WHO'S OPERATING A, A WATER VESSEL ON THE, THE LAKE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THAT SPEED LIMIT IS IN ADDITION TO THAT, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY BEING LIMITED AND IS DWR AND, UH, PETERSBURG PD ABLE TO ENFORCE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, THEY'RE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT THAT THEY WOULD BE INSTALLING TO, TO HELP THEM WITH, UH, BEING ABLE TO DO.
ONE WAS A LIGHT LIDAR TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A BETTER ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE SPEEDING ON, ON LAKE CHE.
SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE THOUGHT OF THE AUTHORITY IS TO LOOK AT CREATING A, A KIND OF A STAKEHOLDERS GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM CHESTERFIELD AND DEM WITTY, UM, SPECIFICALLY, AND THEN OTHERS THAT MAY JUST ENJOY RECREATIONALLY THE LAKE, NOT JUST FOR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH BOATING, BUT JUST BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF LAKE CHE ITSELF TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT OVERREGULATING LAKE CHESTER.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE.
AGAIN, THIS WAS INITIALLY PUT IN PLACE AS YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE, LIKE YOUR SAFE SPEED IS, AND YOU SEE IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND YOU START SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE AT LEAST TO SLOW DOWN, UM, NOT NECESSARILY GET A TICKET, BUT TO SLOW DOWN THE OTHER.
AGAIN, ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS THE EXPECTATION THOUGH, THAT IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GREATER ENFORCEMENT, EITHER BY THE CHESTERFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE DENE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR DWR, THAT WE, THESE THINGS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED UP.
THAT'S WHY THE RESOLUTION IS BEFORE THE BOARD, SO THAT THEY SEE SOMEONE CLEARLY THAT'S DISOBEYING, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TEETH ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UM, BUT I JUST WANNA REAFFIRM EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA OVERREGULATE LAKE CHOSEN EITHER, BUT WE DO WANT TO CREATE SAFE SPOTS AND ONCE THE, THE, WITH THE FATALITY AND THE BOATING ACCIDENT ON OXFORD POINT, THAT'S COMPLETELY SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THIS, BUT WE'LL CAREFULLY REVIEW THAT WHEN IT, WHEN IT COMES OUT.
[02:00:01]
MR. CHAIRMAN, MY, MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE, UH, SPECIFICITY OF THE ACTUAL PLACES WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE.IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY DETAILED EXACTLY WHAT LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE IS GONNA BE.
IT SAYS, OR NEAR, UH, I GUESS, UM, ATTORNEY MIGHT CAN ADDRESS THAT.
AS FAR AS HOW, HOW MUCH CAN WE BE FLEXIBLE ON THAT, WHERE THE, WHERE THIS SAYS IT'S GOTTA BE? SO, MR. MOODY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YOU COULD ADD ANOTHER RESOLVED CLAUSE TO YOUR RESOLUTION THAT SAYS, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE APPLICATION MAY INCLUDE AN ADJUSTMENT OF THE BUOY LOCATION ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ISLAND AT THE MOUTH OF WIPA KNOTT CREEK.
YOU COULD ALSO ADD LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE ADDITIONAL OF A FOURTH BUOY AND THAT GENERAL LOCATION IF YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS NECESSARY.
BUT WE COULD JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY IN THE APPLICATION WHERE MR. MASSAL COULD TALK TO THE MR. WILSON AND THEY COULD DETERMINE THE BEST LOCATION FOR THAT EASTERN BUOY AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CREEK, AS THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT ITS VISIBILITY.
OKAY, MR. LEE, I, I'VE GOT TWO QUESTIONS AND, AND HARRISON, UM, TOUCHED ON, ON THE FIRST ONE WAS, YOU KNOW, HOW SPECIFIC, WHERE THE BUOYS WERE, WHAT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE WAS THE PERSON THAT DETERMINED WHERE THESE BUOYS WERE AT? AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, WELL, I'VE GOT THREE, BUT I I, THE SECOND IS, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN A NO WAKE AND A SPEED LIMIT? BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND NO WAKE IS FOUR MILES AN HOUR, RIGHT? A SPEED LIMIT COULD GET YOU DOWN, AND IT'S KINDA LIKE ME ON BACK ROADS.
UM, IF YOU'RE RUNNING 45 ON A BACK ROAD, IT'S A, YOU CAN STOP FOR A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING 55 OR 60, UM, DEER AND FARM EQUIPMENT GET UP ON YOU IN A HURRY.
SO LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT MIGHT BE AN ANSWER INSTEAD OF A NO WEIGHT ZONE.
UM, AND THEN THE THIRD THING, UM, I, YOU KNOW, WE GET THIS ON LAST FRIDAY.
UM, I, I WOULD LOVE TO GO OUT, UM, AND, AND RIDE THAT NO WAKE FROM WHEREVER TO WHEREVER.
UM, I DO HAVE A SON-IN-LAW THAT'S GOT A BOAT, SO, UM, HE MIGHT TAKE ME FISHING WHILE, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE RESEARCHING.
YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, THOUGHT PROCESS FOR US ANYWAY.
I GOT MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL, I'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF THOSE AND TITLE, PLEASE JUMP IN AS NECESSARY.
WE, WHEN WE HAD CONVERSATIONS, UH, EVEN WITH SOME OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF THAT AREA, UH, THE UNIVERSAL SPEED ON LAKE CHE FOR BOTH CHESTERFIELD AND DUNWOODY IS 45 MILES PER HOUR.
UM, WHEN THERE WAS CONCERNS, AT LEAST OF THE, THE SMALL GROUP THAT MET ON THIS IS IF YOU WERE TO DO A DIFFERENT SPEED LIMIT JUST FOR WOCK CREEK, THERE WAS QUESTIONS AS TO WHERE IT WOULD START, WHERE IT WOULD STOP, HOW YOU WOULD POST IT.
UM, WOULD THEY BE VISIBLE WHERE A NO WAKE BUOY WAS, IS AGAIN, MORE UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED AS, I MEAN FROM A VOTER STANDPOINT, AND WHEN YOU SEE IT AHEAD THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO TO IT, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THE THOSE THAT ARE ON THE LAKE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AGAIN, THE THE INTENTION IS, IS JUST AROUND THE ISLAND WHERE YOU HAD SITE DISTANCE ISSUES THAT POTENTIALLY SLOWING PEOPLE DOWN TO THAT, NO WAY, JUST IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA WOULD GIVE AMPLE TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON THE MAIN LAKE BEFORE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO AGAIN, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE LEAVING, UM, YOU KNOW, BARBARA AND GEORGE WILLIAMS'S MARINA, AS SOON AS YOU GET OUT FROM THE BRIDGE, YOU'RE ABLE TO GO FULL SPEED AT 45 MILES AN HOUR LAWFULLY UNTIL YOU GET TO THE NO WAKE ZONE.
AND AFTER YOU GET PAST THE NO WAKE ZONE, IF YOU'RE COMING BACK TO THE MARINA, YOU'RE ABLE TO TRAVEL AT, AT THE LAKE SPEED.
BEYOND THAT POINT, AS FAR AS THE EXPERTISE, UM, WE ASKED ROBERT WILSON, WHO HAS PLACED MANY OF THESE BUOYS IN CONJUNCTION WITH DWR.
UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT LAWFULLY HAVE PLACED THE BUOYS TO PUT THEM WHERE THEY FELT THEY WERE BEST OBSERVED.
UM, THAT WE ALSO INDICATED THOUGH, WITH MR. WILSON, THAT IF THEY NEEDED TO BE TWEAKED, WE HAD THE RIGHT TO GO BACK AND TWEAK THOSE.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE, THE LAT LONGS THAT'S BEEN GIVEN HERE, THAT'S BASED ON WHERE THEY PRESENTLY ARE.
UM, AND AGAIN, THAT WAS USING, YOU KNOW, HIS BEST
[02:05:01]
ESTIMATE IN WORKING WITH DWR IN THE PAST.UM, NOW FOR YOUR THIRD COMMENT, IF, IF THE BOARD'S PLEASURE IS TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, MORE THAN HAPPY TO, TO NOT HAVE THIS VOTED ON THIS EVENING, YOU COULD, YOU COULD VOTE ON IT ANOTHER DAY.
AGAIN, THE BUOYS ARE THERE, IT'S JUST WHETHER THEY'RE ENFORCEABLE.
UM, AND FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD, WE'VE HEARD A MIX.
WE, WE'VE HAD, UH, CITIZENS CONTACT US THAT THE BUOYS ARE BEING ADHERED TO, THAT IT'S WORKING.
WE'VE HAD OTHERS THAT ARE SAYING THEY'RE BEING BLOWN RIGHT BY, UM, AND THEY'RE NOT BEING ADHERED TO.
SO TO THE POINT THAT THE BOARD'S PLEASURE IS TO ENFORCE IT WITH PENALTY, THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION WOULD, WOULD PUT IN PLACE.
I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN ENFORCE IT IF THEY STILL NEED TO BE TWEAKED.
AGAIN, FOR THE PEOPLE AT HOME THAT MAY NOT HEARD THAT.
SO THE QUESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD GET THEM ABSOLUTELY SET IN THE, IN THE POSITION THAT WE FEEL COLLECTIVELY OR WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TRYING, TRYING TO GAIN, MR. BROOKS, YOUR, YOUR COMMENT AND, AND EARLIER, MR. DANIELS, IF, IF IT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED AND THE AUTHORITY HAS, BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE EAST BUOY, RIGHT? THE, THE OTHER BUOYS WE THINK ARE IN A, IN A GOOD LOCATION, THE EAST BUOY CANNOT SEE COMING OUT OF WOOD NORTH.
CAN YOU SEE IT COMING INTO OCK TO THE ISLAND BLOCKING IT? EVEN THE BUOY ON THE WEST WHERE THAT'S PLACED AT, SOMEBODY COMING AROUND THAT CURVE ISN'T GOING TO SEE IT HERE.
THE PROBLEM IS, IF YOU EXTEND THAT BUOY OUT TOWARD THE MAIN LAKE MOORE, WHEN THESE BOATS, EVERYBODY TAKES OFF AT THE SAME TIME GOING LEFT, GOING RIGHT, GOING STRAIGHT ACROSS, IT'S GOING TO CREATE THIS HUGE WEIGHT GOING EVERY WHICH WAY.
AND WHAT IS THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE BOAT COMING UP AND DOWN THE LAKE, UH, A HATCH, YOU KNOW, YOURSELF, IF YOU HIT A BIG WEIGHT, WHAT'S IT DO? SO THAT'S MY SAFETY CONCERN AS THE STANDPOINT FOR THE WEST SIDE.
MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, WHAT I WOULD, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WOULD BE, I MEAN, EITHER TWO THINGS.
EITHER YOU ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION CONTINGENT UPON, UH, ME IN A WORKING GROUP, PLACING THESE TO THE SATISFACTION, OR NOT PASSING THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT AND ALLOWING US TO PLACE THOSE AND THEN COME BACK AGAIN AND, AND ADOPT 'EM AT THAT TIME.
I'M, I'M FINE EITHER WAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY OUR GOAL IS TO GET IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE TOO.
AND SO IT'S HARD THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, ARE TRAVELING THE LATE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
I'M, I'M HAPPY TO DO EITHER, UM, THAT THAT'S THE BOARD'S PLEASURE.
UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M, I'M NOT FOR, I'M NOT FOR PUSHING IT OUT INTO THE LAKE, UH, YOU KNOW, INTO THE MAIN PART OF THE LAKE.
I WANT, I WANT IT JUST PUSHED OUT MORE TO THE MIDDLE OF THE OPENING SO THAT BOATS COMING AROUND THE, THE SHARP CORNER CAN SEE IT, CAN SEE, AND THEN BOATS COMING AROUND THE ISLAND TRYING TO GET BACK OUT TO THE MAIN IS, UH, MAIN PART OF THE LAKE CAN SEE IT QUICKER AND, AND KNOW THAT, OH, THIS IS, THIS IS A NORMAL ZONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
SO MR. DOWNS, YOU, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO PUT 'EM IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN ACHIEVE VISIBILITY, BEST VISIBILITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU, YOU COULD, CAUSE YOU COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS ON SMALL WATERCRAFT LIKE JET SKIS IF SOMEBODY RUNS OVER THAT THING, NOT SEEING IT.
YOU KNOW, AND IF THEY HOOK AROUND THERE, THEY KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE MAIN PART OF THE LAKE, THEN YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE NOT IN THE LAKE DUMP SITE SAYING JUST MOVE IT OUT MORE TO THE, TO THE MIDDLE OF THE OPENING BETWEEN THE ISLAND AND LAND.
ALRIGHT, MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, BASED ON SOME OF THE, THE, THE COMMENTS WE'VE RECEIVED TONIGHT, I, I THINK I WOULD, I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF WE COULD DELAY THE VOTE TONIGHT.
LET'S, LET'S GET THE FEEDBACK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT GOOD FEEDBACK FROM MR. DANIELS, MR. BROOKS AND MR. SADLER.
BUT ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPINIONS THAT MAY BE OUT THERE AS WELL.
I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY ADVERTISE THIS IN A WAY WHERE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE IT IS, BUT ALSO RESPECT THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT HEARING AND ADOPTION NEEDS TO BE THE, THE FINAL ONE IF WE CAN, WE, WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SOME FINALITY TOWARDS THIS, UM, AS THE SUMMARY IS COMING.
MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST A QUESTION.
IF WE ADD THE STATEMENT MR. S HALL PUT IN, THEN IF WE DEFER IT, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO, WE COULD JUST BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING OR A FUTURE MEETING TO VOTE ON.
IS THAT CORRECT? WILL WE HOLD ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AT THAT POINT? SO IF THE,
[02:10:02]
IF THE IDEA IS TO, I GUESS A COUPLE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS HERE.WHAT IF YOU ADD THAT LANGUAGE? RIGHT? I, I THINK SO.
WHENEVER WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH NOTICE IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS A PUBLIC NECESSARY IS NOT NECESSARILY LEGALLY REQUIRED.
WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T SURE HOW YOU PROVIDED NOTICE, THOUGH, WITHOUT LISTENING TO PEOPLE SPEAK.
'CAUSE WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE.
SO WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING.
UM, SO THE, THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE, CAN, CAN THIS BOARD ADJUST THE RESOLUTION A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT TO MAYBE ENCOMPASS THE FACT THAT THAT EAST BUOY COULD BE MOVED A LITTLE BIT? I THINK YOU COULD ADD THE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED CLAUSE AND IMPROVE IT TONIGHT.
IF YOU, IF YOU FELT COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE THE OTHER TWO BUOYS WERE AND YOU FELT COMFORTABLE THAT IT DIDN'T REALLY NEED MUCH MORE FURTHER STUDY.
'CAUSE I, I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING THE BUOY A A NUMBER OF FEET.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MOVING THE BUOY A LONG WAY.
I THINK THE BASIC CONCEPT IS STILL THERE.
UM, BUT I, I THINK GIVEN THE CONCERN ABOUT EXACTLY WHERE THE BUOY IS, UH, I, I, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH DEFERRING THIS TO A FUTURE MEETING, MAYBE THE JUNE MEETING.
UM, BUT, BUT HAVING MR. MASSEN GO CONFER WITH THE WATER AUTHORITY STAFF AND POTENTIALLY OTHERS AS TO WHAT EXACTLY THE BEST SPOT FOR THIS, FOR, FOR REALLY THE TWO BUOYS FACING THE LAKE ARE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN, AND THEN WE COULD MOVE FROM THERE AND, AND POTENTIALLY RE ADVERTISE THAT AND, AND HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.
IF THAT WAS YOUR DESIRE TO DO SO, WHICH I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
YEAH, NO, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SUE US.
SO THEN DURING THE SENATE, WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO DEFER SUB NOVEMBER.
THAT'LL BE TILL THE, THE JUNE 20TH MEETING.
WE GOT A SECOND MOTION AND SECOND ROLL CALL MR. MOODY.
SO WE'VE GOT THE NAMES AND WE WILL BE, YEAH.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE FOR THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT, I KNOW WE HAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, BUT IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU LEAVE TONIGHT THAT THE CLERK HAS YOUR, YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
WE'D LIKE TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ALL THREE.
ARE ANY ANYBODY ELSE WHO MAY HAVE INTEREST IN IT AS WELL? MI MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST TO STAFF, I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR.
THE PER THE IDEA WOULD BE TO COME BACK JUNE 20TH WITH MORE, UH, WELL, NOT MORE DEFINITE LOCATIONS, BUT LOCATIONS THAT REFLECT FURTHER EXAMINATION OF IT AND THEN HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT, WHICH WOULD MEAN WE'LL NEED TO FIGURE OUT THOSE NEW LOCATIONS BY ABOUT JUNE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND CASE
[12.B. Lily Pond Solar LLC]
THIS EVENING.UH, IT'S A REQUEST FOR A REZONING THERE.
UM, MR. BASSETT IS GONNA PRESENT THE CASE.
UM, AS YOU CAN HEAR, I HAVE, UM, SOME BAD ALLERGIES THIS EVENING.
SO
I'LL, I WON'T TRY TO DRAG THIS OUT, UH, TOO LONG.
AS FAR AS, UH, DETAILING OUR STAFF REPORT FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
UH, THE FIRST SLIDE WE HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, UH, DETAILS THE, UH, APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE, UH, PROPERTIES, UH, FOR, UH, REZONING THIS EVENING.
ALL THESE PROPERTIES ARE ZONED AGRICULTURAL GENERAL, AND AS YOU INDICATED, MR. CHAIR, THE APPLICANT IS APPLYING TO REZONE THE PROPERTY TO SED UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ENERGY DISTRICT.
UM, IF THAT'S APPROVED, UM, THEY WILL ALSO, THEY HAVE ALSO APPLIED FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND I'LL SUMMARIZE THE CONDITIONS OF THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AFTER I MOVED THROUGH THE, UM, REZONING APPLICATION AND STAFF REPORT.
UH, THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA ON THE SLIDE IS APPROXIMATELY 1,891 ACRES.
UM, THIS INCLUDES ALL OR A PORTION OF THE HIGHLIGHTED, UH, TAX MAP PARCELS.
THERE'S 19, UH, TAX MAP PARCELS THAT WERE ADVERTISED AS PART OF THE REZONING APPLICATION.
UM, THE SOLAR FACILITY ITSELF, UH, IF APPROVED IS FOR 80
[02:15:01]
MEGAWATT ALTERNATING CURRENT SOLAR VOLTAIC, GROUND MOUNTED ELEC ELECTRIC GENERATION PROJECT.ALONG WITH THAT, UM, IN THE, IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HIGHLIGHTED PROPERTY, UM, THERE WILL BE A, UM, UTILITY SUBSTATION BUILT, UH, THAT WILL BE A DOMINION POWER, UH, SUBSTATION THAT WILL BE RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING NORTH SOUTH, UH, TRANSMISSION LINES.
UH, IN THE TIME SINCE THEY ORIGINALLY APPLIED, UM, IN 2021 FOR A SIMILAR APPLICATION, THEY HAVE MADE, UM, SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS, UH, TO THE OVERALL APPLICATION.
UH, ONE OF THOSE IS THAT, UM, THE ORIGINAL, UH, PROJECT HAD 160 ACRES OF ACTIVE AGRICULTURAL LAND THAT'S UNDER CROP PRODUCTION.
AND THE REVISED SITE PLAN SHOWS A REDUCTION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LAND UTILIZED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 ACRES.
OF COURSE, THIS WAS POINTED OUT, UM, AT THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING IN MARCH.
UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL ZONING ORDINANCE, UM, THE DEFINITION FOR AGRICULTURE DOES INCLUDE, UM, FORESTAL USES AS WELL, NOT JUST CROP LAND.
SO WE DID WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL.
UM, PROPOSED PROJECT SETBACKS FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
UM, THOSE SETBACKS HAVE BEEN INCREASED TO 150 FEET, UM, FROM THE FENCED AREA OUT TO ANY ADJOINING, UH, PROPERTY LINE ALONG PORTION OF HALIFAX ROAD.
UM, THAT SETBACK, UH, TO THE FENCE LINE WILL BE 250 FEET.
UM, AN ADDITIONAL PROJECT REVISION, UM, THAT WAS PRESENTED THIS EVENING, YOU'LL SEE, UH, BY THE APPLICANT.
IT INCLUDES ESTABLISHING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 69 ACRES OF THE HISTORIC BATTLEFIELD AREA.
THAT'S THE REAMS ONE AND TWO BATTLEFIELDS, THE PROPO, AGAIN, UH, THE PROJECTS PROPOSED OVERALL SIZE IS 1,891 ACRES, UM, BUT UNDER PANEL WILL ONLY BE 500 ACRES APPROXIMATELY.
THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTY WILL INCLUDE, UH, HABITAT AREAS, POLLINATOR GARDENS, AND AS I SAID, BATTLEFIELD, UH, PRESERVATION, UH, BUFFERS AS WELL.
UH, THERE'S GENERALLY A HUNDRED FOOT VEGETATIVE BUFFERS, UH, SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY AS WELL.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE SETBACKS THAT I, UH, JUST DISCUSSED.
UM, THE POINT OF INTERCONNECTION, AS I MENTIONED, UH, PREVIOUSLY WITH DOMINION POWER'S TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WILL BE LOCATED AT NEW SUBSTATION SWITCHYARD IN THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE PROJECT SITE ALONG THE EXISTING, AGAIN, NORTH SOUTH TRANSMISSION CORRIDOR.
THE, UH, PANELS THEMSELVES, THEY WILL BE A SINGLE AXIS TRACKING SYSTEM, SINGLE PORTRAIT SOLAR PANELS MOUNTED ON A FRAMEWORK THAT TRACKS THE MOVEMENT OF THE SUN DURING THE DAY.
UM, THE APPLICANT DID SUBMIT A CONCEPTUAL PLAN DATED OCTOBER 7TH, 2022, AND THEY DID MAKE SOME MINOR UPDATES TO THE PLAN AS SUBMITTED ON MAY 7TH, 2023.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT, UM, UH, WILL HAVE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL PERMITS FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, A NOTICE OF INTENT FOR VIRGINIA DQS, SMALL RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS, SOLAR PERMIT BY RULE.
THIS REGULATION CONTAINS REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLAR POWERED ELECTRIC GENERATION PROJECTS CONSISTING OF PV SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES WITH A SINGLE INTERCONNECTION TO THE ELECTRICAL GRID THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR OR CAPABLE OF OPERATION AT A RATED CAPACITY EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN 150 MEGAWATTS.
AGAIN, THE APPLICATION IS FOR AN 80 MEGAWATT FACILITY.
UH, AS YOU CAN TELL, THIS GENERAL AREA, UH, FROM THE NORTH NORTHERN PORTION AT OLD STAGE ROAD AND REAMS ROAD, HEADING DOWN, UM, PAST MONKS NECK ROAD, UM, PERKINS
[02:20:01]
ROAD, THEN DOWN TO BRICK ROAD AND DOWN MOVING FURTHER SOUTH DOWN TO, UH, CARSON ROAD.AND THEN ON THE FAR EASTERN PORTION, THE CSX RAILROAD, UH, RIGHT AWAY, THAT'S APPROXIMATELY, UH, JUST STRAIGHT LINE IS ABOUT, UH, FOUR AND A HALF MILES, UM, OF, OF AREA.
THE AREA, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS GENERALLY RURAL AND USED FOR CIVIL CULTURE AND CROP LAND, UH, INTERSPERSED, UH, THROUGH THE RURAL AND SOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
UH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE SITE, UH, DRAINS SOUTH AND WEST ON WARNEY ANTE CREEK IN A VERY SMALL AREA ON THE EAST SIDE, UH, DRAINS INTO JONES HALL SWAMP.
EVENTUALLY ALL THE SITE DRAINS TO THE NOWAY RIVER.
UM, AS WE, UH, DISCUSSED AT THE UH, PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL, WE DID NOTE, UH, SEVERAL, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITATIONS THAT WE POINTED OUT TO THEM.
UH, ONE BEING FUTURE LAND USE, UM, HAS, UM, CONSIDERATIONS, UH, THAT WE THINK ARE APPROPRIATE.
UH, WHEN LOOKING AT THIS, THIS REZONING, ONE BEING PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND, UM, THAT BEING IDENTIFY LARGE PARCEL LAND AREAS CONTAINING THE BEST AGRICULTURAL SOILS, HIGH HISTORIC YIELDS, HIGH PROFITABILITY, AND, UM, POTEN PROBABILITY OF CONTINUING AND AGRICULTURAL USE.
ENCOURAGE THE LOCATION AND CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL RELATED INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES, WHICH SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND MAKE REGULATIONS SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE TO PERMIT SITE LOCATIONS WHERE DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN IDENTIFIED PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDS THAT MINIMIZE INTERFERENCE WITH AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND THAT USE MARGINALLY PRODUCTIVE LAND AND THAT CAUSE A MINIMAL LOSS OF PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL ACREAGE.
ALSO WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AS YOU YOU ALL WELL KNOW, UM, WE ENCOURAGE BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION, UM, ALSO ENCOURAGE, UM, RURAL CONSERVATION LAND.
AND THEN IN OUR POLICY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, THERE ARE MANY POLICY, UH, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, UM, THAT WE OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORT RELATED TO, UM, PROVIDING AND PRESERVING AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN THE COUNTY.
UM, PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
THEY, UH, THERE'S A GOAL WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WE PROVIDE COUNTY FACILITIES AND SERVICES NECESSARY TO PROMOTE A SELF SAFE, HEALTHFUL, AND DESIRABLE COMMUNITY IN WHICH TO LIVE.
AND OBJECTIVES RELATED ARE ENSURE THAT THE INTENSITY, TIMING, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE AND COORDINATED PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES, AND RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR CONTINUED PLANNING IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AND EFFICIENT PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR EXISTING AND FUTURE RESIDENCES.
ALSO, UH, WE HAVE GOALS WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RELATED TO OPEN SPACE, AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT THESE AREAS WILL BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS GROWTH CORRIDORS AND CENTERS AS THEY EXPAND.
UM, SO WE WANT TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE NATURAL FEATURES OF THE ENVIRONMENT, WETLANDS FLOODPLAINS FROM IMPROPER DEVELOPMENT, PRESERVE AND PROTECT HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS IN THE COUNTY, AND PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE COUNTY'S HISTORIC SITES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.
ALSO, UH, ONE OF OUR OBJECTIVES IS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVE RESOURCES FOR FUTURE USES.
ENSURE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT MINIMIZES ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL LAND AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
PRESERVE THE COUNTY'S SCENIC, CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES AS BEING ESSENTIAL TO BOTH THE COUNTY'S RURAL AND HISTORIC CHARACTER AND THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL AND TIMBERLANDS AND ACTIVITIES.
MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE AGRICULTURAL AND FARMING RESOURCES AS AN INTEGRAL SECTOR OF THE COUNTY.
PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE NATURAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.
AND LASTLY, UH, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT, UH, GOAL IN THE COUNTY'S CONFERENCE, THE PLAN IS ENSURE THAT SOUND PRACTICES ARE EMPLOYED AND GUIDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AN EFFICIENT, SERVICEABLE MANNER, WHICH IS PROTECTIVE
[02:25:01]
OF THE COUNTY'S PREDOMINANTLY RURAL CHARACTER AND CONCENTRATES DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGNATED AREAS RELATED OBJECTIVES, UH, TO LAND USE ARE ENCOURAGED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS COMPATIBLE WITH ANTICIPATED RATES OF GROWTH, AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND AVAILABLE OR PLANNED UTILITIES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES.AND ALSO EMPHASIZE COMMUNITY PLANNING, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS DESIGNED TO ECONOMIZE THE COST OF ROADS, UTILITIES, AND LAND USE.
AND ALSO MAKE PLANNING AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS DESIGNED TO ECONOMIZE THE COST OF ROADS, UTILITIES, AND LAND USE.
AGAIN, LOOKING AT, UH, IMPACTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UM, AND IS SUMMARIZED IN THE APPLICANT'S REPORT, UH, AS I INDICATED THEY DO HAVE TO DO, UM, THEY DID A COMMUNITY IMPACT ANALYSIS, NATURAL RESOURCES SURVEY, PRELIMINARY JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION FOR THE WETLANDS THROUGH THE CORE, UH, CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY.
THEY HAVE A LANDSCAPING PLAN AS PART OF THEIR APPLICATION, AND THEY ALSO HAVE VISIBLE IMPACTS BUFFER 3D MODELS AS WELL RELATED TO, UH, THE VISUAL IMPACTS.
THEY HAVE A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS, FA, A STUDY AND PRODO PROPOSED CONDITIONS FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST.
THEY ALSO PROVIDED A FISCAL IMPACT REPORT, A DECOMMISSIONING PLAN, AND, UH, LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT, UH, OVERVIEW AS WELL.
UM, LOOKING AT THEIR, UH, FISCAL IMPACT REPORT, THE APPLICANT IDENTIFIED UNDER THE CURRENT LAND USE, THE PROPERTY GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $6,760 AND ANNUAL REAL ESTATE TAX AND A PROTECT PROJECTED REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE OVER A 45 YEAR PROJECT LIFESPAN, UM, OF 304,000 WITH THE NEW USE.
THE SOLAR FACILITY, ANTICIPATED ANNUAL REAL ESTATE TAX GENERATED FROM THE REASSESSED VALUE, WHICH IS BASED ON $15,000 PER ACRE REASSESSMENT VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE ANNUALLY $224,000 OVER THE 45 YEAR PROJECTED LIFETIME OF THE PROJECT.
THE ESTIMATED REAL ESTATE TAX GENERATED TOTALS APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION.
THE PROJECT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX UNDER VIRGINIA CODE AND THE M AND T REVENUES ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION OVER THE 45 YEAR LIFE OF THE PROJECT.
THERE'S ALSO THE REVENUE SHARE OPTION THAT ASSESSES UP TO $1,400 PER MEGAWATT OF SOLAR PROJECT CAPACITY WITH AN ESCALATOR OF 10% FOR EVERY FIVE YEARS, UH, BEGINNING IN 2026.
THAT CREATES A REVENUE OF APPROXIMATELY $8.2 MILLION OVER 45 YEARS.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, COMMUNITY IMPACTS.
WE'VE SUMMARIZED THOSE, UM, CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, UM, COVERED THOSE AS WELL.
UM, THEY HAVE ALL THOSE STUDIES AS PART OF THEIR APPLICATION.
UM, WANTED TO TOUCH ON TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS, UH, RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
UM, WITH THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY GENERATING VERY FEW VEHICLE TRIPS AFTER THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
THE POST-CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS OF THE EXISTING TRANSP TRANSPORTATION NETWORK WILL BE MINIMAL.
HOWEVER, UM, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, UH, PORTION OF THE, UH, PROJECT, THE SECONDARY ROADS IN THE GENERAL AREA OF THE SITE ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR LARGE VOLUMES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC.
AND AS A RESULT, INCREASED ROAD MAINTENANCE COSTS MAY ARISE, UH, TO, TO HELP AMELIORATE THE IMPACTS OF THE INCREASED TRAFFIC ON THE AREA ROADS.
VDOT RECOMMENDED THAT A CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN BE REQUIRED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS PLAN WOULD INCLUDE A PLAN TO SHOW PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION ACCESS ROUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT SITE FROM THE STATE PRIMARY ROUTES, UH, PRE-CONSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE SECONDARY ROADWAYS TO BE USED AS A HAUL ROUTE TO, TO THE FACILITY WITH A COMMITMENT FROM THE APPLICANT TO REPAIR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED DURING CONSTRUCTION AND TO RESTORE THE ROADWAYS TO PRE-CONSTRUCTION
[02:30:01]
CONDITIONS.AND THREE, A PLAN TO IDENTIFY ONSITE AREAS SUITABLE FOR PARKING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
AND THAT AREAS EXIST ON SITE TO ALLOW TRUCKS TO BE UNLOADED AND TURN AROUND WITHOUT HAVING TO BACK INTO THE STATE MAINTAIN RIGHT-OF-WAYS.
ADDITIONALLY, VDOT ANTICIPATES AS SHOWN ON THE THE APPLICANT'S CONCEPT PLAN, THAT THEY WILL HAVE SOME LOW VOLUME COMMERCIAL ENTRANCES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE THE PROPOSED FACILITY.
THE ENTRANCES HAVE TO JUST DEMONSTRATE THAT STOPPING SITE DISTANCE IS AVAILABLE BASED ON THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT AND AT THE, UH, PROPOSED LOCATION.
ALL FUTURE TRANSPORTATION RELATED IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ENTRANCES AND COMMERCIAL ENTRANCES WILL HAVE TO MEET VDOT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS AS PART OF VDO T'S PERMITTING PROCESS.
AS I INDICATED, THE UH, PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, DID HAVE, UM, WHOLE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REQUEST.
WE'VE ATTACHED, UM, THOSE COMMENTS, UH, TO THE STAFF REPORT AS WELL AS THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER'S DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS THAT THEY HAD, UM, AT THEIR MARCH MEETING.
POISE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS HERE THIS EVENING AS WELL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE RELATED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED BY A VOTE OF THREE TO TWO TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REZONING APPLICATION.
BELIEVE NOW, I WAS ASKED TO, I WILL, UM, RELATED TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, I WILL JUST, UM, TRY TO OUTLINE, UM, THE CONDITIONS OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, SO WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, IF THE REZONING IS, IS APPROVED, THAT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED AND THE CONDITIONS AS PART OF THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UM, WOULD BE ENFORCED AS PART OF THE OVERALL, UH, REZONING AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, JUST IN SUMMARY OF THOSE, THERE ARE, UM, MANY CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
UM, STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THE, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY AS WELL AS THE APPLICANT'S ATTORNEY, UM, ON THESE, UH, CONDITIONS THAT, THAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
UM, THOSE ARE THE CONDITIONS AT THE VERY BACK OF THE STAFF REPORT.
AND, UM, THEY WERE PROPOSED ON MAY 2ND, 2023.
UM, WE JUST, UM, DEFINED THE, UH, PROJECT IN THE CONDITIONS, UM, DISCUSS THE DURATION OF USE AND THE, UH, PERMIT.
UM, THEN WE GET INTO THE STUDIES AND PLANS AS PART OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
AGAIN, I TOUCHED ON THOSE AS PART OF, UH, THE STAFF REPORT, RIGHT, RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION.
UM, AGAIN, THEY WOULD HAVE A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN, CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN, TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN, AND, UH, ROAD RE ROAD REPAIR PLAN.
UM, I ALSO DISCUSSED THE LANDSCAPING PLAN.
UM, WE GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AS PART OF THAT LANDSCAPING PLAN.
UM, THE BUILDING AND ELECTRICAL PLANS, OF COURSE, WOULD BE, HAVE, HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC STUDIES, UM, WE WOULD HAVE WETLAND AND STREAM DELINEATIONS, UH, THREATENED ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT ASSESSMENT, PHASE ONE, ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE PROJECT.
UM, AS PART OF THOSE, UH, FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND, UH, CULTURAL AND HISTORIC SURVEYS, THOSE ARE ALSO REQUIRED BY BY DEQ AND WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY DEQ AS PART OF THE PERMIT BY RULE PROCESS.
AND WE TALK ABOUT, UM, LIABILITY INSURANCE, UH, AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS, UM, GRADING PLAN, EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.
OF COURSE, THOSE HAVE TO BE, UH, APPROVED BY THE COUNTY, UH, AS PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.
AND, UM, NO LAND DISTURBANCE COULD TAKE PLACE UNTIL THOSE WERE APPROVED.
AND ALSO THEY RECEIVED A GENERAL PERMIT FROM DEQ.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT THE, UH, SITE PLAN FEATURES.
THE, UH, 250 FOOT SETBACK FROM HALIFAX ROAD, THE 150 FOOT SETBACK, UH, FROM THE FENCED AREA TO ALL PROPERTY LINES.
[02:35:01]
VEGETATIVE BUFFER WILDLIFE CORRIDORS, WHICH ARE, WHICH ARE SHOWN ON THE, UH, CONCEPTUAL PLAN, THE ACCESS POINTS AND DRIVES AND TURNAROUNDS, UM, THAT WOULD CONNECT TO HALIFAX AND PERKINS ROAD.UM, AND THEN WE DO, UH, I DID TALK ABOUT THE DOMINION POWER SUBSTATION THAT WOULD BE LOCATED ON TAX PARCEL 61 DASH FIVE, AND THEN LANDSCAPING ALONG HALIFAX ROAD IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED.
AND AS DEPICTED IN THE LANDSCAPING PLAN AS PART OF THE FINAL SITE PLAN, THEY HAVE, UM, SPECIAL, UH, LANDSCAPING, UH, RELATED TO HALIFAX ROAD.
SPECIFICALLY, WE TALK ABOUT ACCESS TO THE PROJECT, UM, LIGHTING ACCESS AND INSPECTIONS, UH, FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO, UM, GO ONTO THE PROPERTY.
UH, FOR INSPECTIONS, UH, TRAINING.
THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT, UH, THE APPLICANT WOULD PROVIDE TRAINING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, UM, FOR THE FACILITY.
UH, COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL STANDARDS IS APPLIC APPLICABLE.
UH, WE DO TALK ABOUT GRANT GROUNDWATER MONITORING.
UH, WE DO HAVE A CONDITION FOR, UM, GROUNDWATER MONITORING, UH, WITHIN THE, UH, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUATION PROGRAM,
UM, OFFSET OF IMPACT TO AGRICULTURAL USE IS ALSO DISCUSSED IN THE CONDITIONS.
UM, PROJECT COMPONENTS IN DESIGN.
AND THEN THERE'S AN EXTENSIVE, UH, CONDITIONS RELATED TO, UH, UNDER NUMBER 15, CONDITION 15 FOR RELATED TO DECOMMISSIONING.
UM, AS DISCUSSED, UH, IN PREVIOUS APPLICATION, THERE WOULD BE A, UM, PROJECT LIAISON AVAILABLE TO, UM, STAFF, UM, IF WE'RE NEED TO GET IN CONTACT.
UM, AND THAT'S, UM, SET FORTH AS WELL IN THE CONDITIONS, UM, COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LAWS AND ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE PROJECT.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE A, UM, SECTION ON VIOLATIONS AND REVOCATION, HOW WE WOULD HANDLE THOSE RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, THE CONDITION ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS RELATED TO THE, UH, CUP.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR THE, UH, STAFF REPORT OVERVIEW.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? I'D BE GLAD TO TRY TO ANSWER THOSE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR BOARD MEMBERS AT THIS TIME? OKAY, THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
PRO ICE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? OR WOULD YOU RATHER WAIT FOR THE APPLICANT? UH, OR DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I HAVE COMMENTS, BUT I PRAY AFTER THE, UH, PUBLICATION YOU GOT.
ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME WE'LL CALL THE APPLICANT FORWARD.
I'M A SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AT ENERGETIC.
UM, AND JUST LIKE MARK, UM, I APOLOGIZE, I'M UNDER THE WEATHER, SO I'M GONNA GRAB MY TEA.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TONIGHT.
UH, THIS APPLICATION FOR LILY POND SOLAR, IT'S A REVISED APPLICATION REQUEST FOR REZONING AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UH, SO VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT ENERGETIC.
UM, WE ARE, UH, OUR US HEADQUARTERS ARE IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
OUR ENGINEERING HEADQUARTERS IN THE US ARE IN ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, BUT WE ARE A GLOBAL COMPANY.
WE HAVE OPERATIONS IN POLAND AND IN ISRAEL IN THE US WE HIRE OVER 70 EMPLOYEES.
UM, TO DATE, WE HAVE INVESTED MORE THAN $500 MILLION IN AMERICAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE BROUGHT ONLINE 224 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR ASSETS, UM, AND PREDOMINANTLY IN VIRGINIA, BUT OUR OPERATIONS EXTEND TO OTHER STATES, UH, SUCH AS KENTUCKY, PENNSYLVANIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND ARIZONA.
UH, ONE THING THAT IS, UM, AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO, TO MENTION IS THAT WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER.
THAT MEANS WE ARE WITH THE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT ITS LIFECYCLE.
WE DON'T SELL IT OFF TO UTILITIES.
SO IF THE PROJECT IS APPROVED, WE WILL BE THE ONES, UM, IN
[02:40:01]
THE COMMUNITY, WE'LL BE THE POINT OF CONTACT, UM, THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, UH, WE HAVE NINE OPERATIONAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.UM, AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, I HAVE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS, UH, SIX PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
UH, AND WE HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO USE AMERICAN MADE EQUIPMENT.
UH, SO THIS IS A MAP OF OUR CURRENT NINE OPERATIONAL PROJECTS.
THE CLOSEST ONE TO HERE, UH, PRINCE GEORGE, THAT'S A 20 MEGAWATT FACILITY.
THIS PROJECT, LILY POND SOLAR 80 MEGAWATT FACILITY.
UM, THE CLOSEST PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION IS IN SUSSEX COUNTY, AND THAT'S 118 MEGAWATTS.
SO SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN LILY POND SOLAR.
SO, SO SINCE THE LAST TIME, UM, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO GATHER FEEDBACK, WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND, UM, AS A RESULT, WE IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL CHANGES TO OUR PROPOSAL.
UM, THE KEY ONES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON IN MY PRESENTATION, UM, ARE THE NET ZERO IMPACT TO CROPLAND ENHANCED SETBACKS.
SO WE DOUBLED THE PROPOSED SETBACKS TO ENSURE VISUAL SCREENING.
UM, WE RECONFIGURED THE PROJECT FOOTPRINT TO STAY IT OUT OF SENSITIVE AREAS.
UM, AND WE'VE INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SIGNIFICANTLY.
UM, WE'VE DONE THAT THROUGH HOLDING MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
SO WE REACHED OUT PAST THE, THE NEARBY COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'VE SENT, UH, DIRECT MAIL.
WE HAD A DEDICATED PROJECT, WEBSITE AND EMAIL ADDRESS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
UH, WE'VE EXPLORED PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THAT'S RANGING FROM, UM, FOUR H TO A RITUAL BLAND COLLEGE, UM, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.
UH, WE PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY EVENTS TO MAKE SURE WE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE PROJECT.
UM, SOME EXAMPLES ARE, UH, THE DEITY COUNTY FAIR, UM, PECAN FESTIVAL, AND WE HELP MULTIPLE SITE VISITS WITH DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS AND INTERESTED PARTIES JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS OUR PROPOSAL.
UH, JUST TO ORIENT YOU ALL, UH, WE HAVE FOUR YELLOW CALL OUT BOXES.
UM, IN THE MIDDLE WE HAVE HALIFAX ROAD AND BRICK ROAD.
SO THAT INTERSECTION, THE PREVIOUS APPLICATION INCLUDED BOTH OF THOSE AREAS ON BOTH SIDES OF BRICK ROAD.
THERE WAS ONE AREA NORTH OF BRICK ROAD THAT IS CURRENTLY REMOVED.
THERE WAS A BIG AGRICULTURAL FIELD THAT WE HAVE REMOVED FROM THE PROJECT.
UM, AND BETWEEN REMOVING THAT FIELD, INCREASING SETBACKS AND REMOVING ARRAY FROM OTHER, UM, AREAS THAT ARE IN CROPLAND.
THAT'S WHY ON THE, IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER, YOU SEE THAT AREA BEING ADDED.
THAT'S A NEW AREA WHERE WE HAD TO RELOCATE THE ARRAYS.
THE ARRAY FOOTPRINT IS THE SAME.
THAT'S STILL APPROXIMATELY 500 ACRES.
WE JUST MOVED IT FROM OTHER AREAS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO ADD THAT LAND BACK.
SO LILY ON SOLAR PROPOSED 80 MEGAWATT PROJECT LOCATED ON 500 ACRES.
UH, PRIVATE PROPERTY, THAT'S, UH, POWER TO, UM, POWER APPROXIMATELY, UH, ALMOST 13,000 HOMES.
UH, SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT APPROXIMATELY COMPARABLE TO HOW MANY HOUSES THERE ARE INGENUITY HOUSES AND BUSINESSES.
UH, SO THIS PROJECT WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE ENERGY USE IN IN WITTY COUNTY.
UM, THE PROJECT UNDER ITS OPERATION CREATES NO POLLUTION, NOISE OR TRAFFIC.
UM, SO THE ONLY, UM, DISTURBANCE TO THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY DURING CONSTRUCTION.
THE PROJECT LIFESPAN IS PROPOSED FOR 45 YEARS, AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL, UH, 500 ACRES PROPOSED FOR SETBACKS, VEGETATIVE BUFFERS, POLLINATOR PLANTS, WETLAND PROTECTION AREAS, AS WELL AS HISTORICAL PROTECTION AREAS.
UM, IN ADDITION, THE PROJECT WILL BRING APPROXIMATELY 250 WELL PAYING CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
SO THESE ARE TEMPORARY JOBS AND CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE OVER $22 MILLION, UM, IN THE REVENUE OVER ITS LIFETIME.
SO I WANNA JUST TAKE A MOMENT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NET ZERO IMPACT TO CROP PLANT.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TAKEN A LONG TIME DISCUSSING.
WE'VE HELPED MEETINGS WITH LOCAL FARMERS, FARM BUREAU, UM, ON THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL.
UM, SO AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, AS WE STARTED, AND YOU CAN SEE, UM, IN THE CALL OUT BOX, WE'RE POINTING TO THAT BIG CROPLAND AREA THAT WE REMOVED, THANKS TO THAT AND
[02:45:01]
MANEUVERING THE ARRAY EVEN MORE.THE FIRST PROPOSAL HAD 160 ACRES, THEN WE WENT DOWN TO 90 ACRES OF CROPLAND, AND NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY AT, UM, JUST UNDER 30.
IT'S AN 80% REDUCTION, REDUCTION FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
UM, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW CAN WE OFFSET THAT IMPACT TO, TO FARMERS, UM, AND CROPLAND.
AND IT WAS CLEARLY COMMUNICATED WELL, IF YOU TAKE ANY LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION, TRY TO REPLACE IT.
UM, AND WE HEARD IT MULTIPLE TIMES FROM LOCAL FARMERS AND FARM BUREAU.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A, UM, A SLIGHT CHANGE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO OUR PROPOSAL TO MITIGATE THE 30 ACRES IS TO, UM, PROVIDE AN OFFSET TO THAT FARMER WHO WOULD BE, UM, DISPLACED FROM HIS FARMING OPERATION BY THE PROJECT OFFERED TO HIM AT NO COST, UH, THE ABILITY TO FARM LAND AND, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE AT E'S EXPENSE TO CONVERT THAT LAND TO FARMING.
UM, AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WE STILL WERE PLANNING TO DO IT AT A ONE-TO-ONE RATIO, SO ONE DISPLACED ACRE WOULD BE REPLACED WITH ONE NEW ACRE.
UM, BUT WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HEARD MULTIPLE COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THAT LAND IS THE SAME? UM, SO WE DECIDED JUST TO OFFSET THAT BY A HIGHER RATIO, SO ONE AND A HALF ACRES.
UM, AND SO WE REALLY HOPE THAT BETWEEN THE ONE AND A HALF RATIO AND NO COST, UM, OF THE LEASE TO THE LOCAL FARMER WOULD HELP OFFSET THAT DIFFERENCE IN PRODUCTIVITY.
UM, WE OFTENTIMES, AS WE WORK IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, RURAL FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE, UM, WE OFTENTIMES GET QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT FROM SOLAR TO AGRICULTURE ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, SO WE JUST DECIDED TO LOOK AT, UM, THE NUMBERS THAT ARE THERE, JUST TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT.
SO, VIRGINIA CLEAN ECONOMY ACT, THE TARGET SET FOR THE STATE, JUST OVER 16 GIGAWATTS OF SOLAR AND WIND, IF WE ONLY ASSUME THAT THAT 16 GIGAWATTS COMES FROM SOLAR, SO I'M GONNA IGNORE THAT, THAT COULD BE SATISFIED BY WIND IF ALL OF THAT WAS PLACED ON AGRICULTURAL LAND.
SO AGAIN, I'M IGNORING IT COULD GO ON, UH, OTHER TYPES OF LAND, INCLUDING TIMBER, UM, FROM VDAX.
UM, WE TOOK THE NUMBER OF 7 MILLION, 700 HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES BEING CURRENTLY IN FARMING ACROSS VIRGINIA.
SO IF WE WANTED TO SATISFY THE SOLAR NEED ONLY WITH AGRICULTURAL LAND ACROSS THE STATE, THAT WILL BE, UM, JUST OVER 2%.
SO AGAIN, AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT AGRICULTURE IS IMPORTANT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROPOSING THE OFFSET, UM, ON A GLOBAL SCALE ACROSS VIRGINIA, THAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT.
AND NOW GOING BACK TO HOW THAT WOULD TRANSLATE FOR DITY AND THE PROJECT.
SO DITY COUNTY, 324,000 ACRES, UM, ALMOST 93,000 USED FOR FARMING.
LILY POND SOLAR PROPOSES TO 30 ACRES.
THAT'S, UH, OH 0.3% OF THE LAND THAT IS CURRENTLY FARMED.
UM, AND WITH THAT, I WANNA MENTION WE'RE NOT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO AGRICULTURE AND DIMITY BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF LAND FARMED FROM IF WE'RE TAKING OUT 30 ACRES OUT OF PRODUCTION, WE'RE ADDING BACK 45.
UM, SO THERE'S PART OF THE PROJECT, UH, CROPLAND, ANOTHER PART OF THE PROJECT THAT'S TIMBER.
IT'S CURRENTLY MIXED OF IMMATURE, IMMATURE TIMBER.
UH, SO WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF HARVESTING THIS.
UH, WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE FORESTRY TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT TYPE OF FOREST IS IT? IS IT HIGH VALUE FOREST? UM, THEIR DETERMINATION WAS IT, IT ISN'T, IT'S NOT 60, 80 YEAR HARDWOOD TREES.
UM, THIS IS RATHER LOW VALUE PINE, UM, PRODUCTION.
UM, AND YOU KNOW WHY, UH, WE'RE MENTIONING TIMBER BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION FROM, UH, LOCAL FARMERS THAT TIMBER IS AGRICULTURE, AND WE'RE NOT ARGUING AGAINST THAT.
WE, WE AGREE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, JUST WITH THE ONE DIFFERENCE THAT UNLIKE WITH GRAZING OR CROP CROPLAND WITH TIMBER, IT IS THE LANDOWNER WHO DECIDES WHEN TO TIMBER THE LAND.
SO BY PUTTING SOLAR ON IT, IT IS THE LANDOWNER MAKING THAT DECISION.
THERE'S NO IMPACT TO THIRD PARTY LEASING THE LAND FARMING IT.
UNLIKE WITH CROPLAND, WHICH IS
[02:50:01]
A REAL CONCERN FOR FARMERS THAT LEASE THE LAND.THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROPOSING TO MITIGATE THE OFFSET TO THE CROPLAND.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE, WE HEAR QUESTIONS ABOUT CUTTING TIMBER FOR SOLAR, SOLAR BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.
UM, WE USUALLY TRY TO QUANTIFY WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE IMPACTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PROJECTS.
AND FROM AN EPA TOOL, UH, THEIR ESTIMATE FOR OFFSET TO CARBON DIOXIDE IS THAT ONE ACRE OF SOLAR PANELS IS EQUIVALENT TO 67 ACRES OF FOREST LAND.
UH, SO SETBACKS AND VEGETATION, THAT'S ANOTHER BIG CHANGE.
WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED HEARING THE, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UH, SO WE'VE VOLUNTARILY DOUBLED, UH, THE SETBACK FROM THE REQUIRED 75 FEET IN THE ORDINANCE TO 150 FEET TO, TO MAKE IT MORE UNIFORM.
UH, WE'RE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THE EXISTING VEGETATION.
THIS PROJECT IS EXTREMELY WELL CITED, UM, OVER 80% OF THE PROPERTY LINES AND, UH, ROAD FRONTAGE IS EXISTING VEGETATION.
SO IT'S MATURE, UH, PRIMARILY EVERGREEN VEGETATION THAT REALLY HIDES THE PROJECT WELL.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 20% OF THE PROPERTY LINES WILL NEED ADDITIONAL VEGETATION.
UH, AND WE WILL ACHIEVE SCREENING OF THE SOLAR PROJECT, UH, BETWEEN BERMS FOR NECESSARY PLANTING, ADDITIONAL EVERGREENS, UM, AND HAVING THAT INCREASED SETBACKS.
UH, AND IN TERMS OF WHAT'S INSIDE WHAT'S IN THE SOLAR PROJECT, UM, WE ALSO OFTENTIMES GET QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, STORM WATER, UM, IMPERVIOUS.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO PLANT GRASSES, UH, PER D EQ HANDBOOK.
UH, SO IMAGINE A MEADOW WITH SOLAR PANELS ON TOP.
UM, IN ADDITION, AS WE ARE COMMITTED TO SCREENING THE PROJECT, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT COMMITTING TO PLANTING TREES AND WALKING AWAY, WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE VIEW SHED.
UM, SO WE ALSO PROPOSED A VOLUNTARY LANDSCAPING BOND TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE TREES ARE INSPECTED, THEY'RE HEALTHY, THEY'RE GROWING, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
UM, HERE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO PLAY A VIDEO.
SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR EXISTING PROJECT IN, UM, APPOMATTOX COUNTY.
AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM EYE LEVEL, YOU CAN'T TELL THAT THERE'S SOLAR PROJECT THERE.
AND THIS IS JUST 50 FEET SETBACK.
IF YOU GO HIGH ABOVE WITH A DRONE, YOU CAN TELL THE SOLAR PROJECT IS THERE.
SO JUST WITH 50 FEET OF VEGETATION, UM, IT'S VERY EFFECTIVELY SCREENED FOR LILY ON SOLAR, WE'RE KEEPING DOUBLE THE VEGETATION.
SO IT'S A HUNDRED FEET OF MATURE VEGETATION AND 150 FEET OF A SETBACK.
AND I DID WANNA SHOW THAT BECAUSE, UM, ACTUALLY IN ONE OF OTHER PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, UH, WE HEARD SOMEBODY SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS GONNA TALK ABOUT POORLY SCREENED SOLAR PROJECTS, BUT YOU'RE NEVER GONNA TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT YOU DON'T SEE BECAUSE THEY'RE WELL SCREENED.
AND, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES.
I, UM, SO THIS IS NOW EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS VEGETATION LOOKS LIKE ON LILY POND, UH, WHERE REAMS DRIVE LOOKING SOUTH INTO THE PROJECT.
UM, SO, UM, ON THE LEFT YOU CAN SEE KIND OF WE'RE LOOKING SOUTH ON THE RIGHT, THERE'S THE DRONE FOOTAGE AND, UM, WHERE YOU SEE THE DECIDUOUS COLORFUL, UM, TREES, THAT'S NOT THE PROPERTY, THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT'S BETWEEN, UH, REAMS DRIVE AND THE PROJECT.
AND AS SOON AS YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, GREEN EVERGREEN TREE LINE, THAT'S WHERE OUR PROJECT IS LOCATED.
SO IT'S, IT'S VERY FAR FROM THE ROAD.
UM, AND IT'S GOT EXISTING MATURE VEGETATION.
AND HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF, UH, VEGETATION THAT WE WOULD PLAN TO, UM, SCREEN THE FEW, UH, PROPERTY LINES THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE VEGETATION, UH, ADDITIONAL PROJECT FEATURES, UM, PRESERVATION OF NATURAL HABITAT.
UM, AS WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROPOSING APPROXIMATELY 500 ACRES FOR THE SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE THERE'S MUCH MORE LAND.
A LOT OF THAT LAND IS EXISTING WETLANDS, UM, PRESERVATION AREAS FOR HISTORIC BATTLEFIELD.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST IN THE PAST AND, UH, PETERSBURG BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION.
AND WE REALLY HOPE WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
[02:55:01]
THE POSSIBILITY TO PUT THIS LAND INTO CONSERVATION EASEMENT.AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THEM SO THAT WE CAN SOLIDIFY THAT SO THAT THAT LAND IS MANAGED BY A LOCAL, UM, HISTORIC GROUP.
UM, ENHANCE POLLINATOR ACTIVITY.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, ADDING POLLINATOR PLANTINGS TO ENHANCE THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE SITE.
WE'RE ACCOUNTING FOR WILDLIFE CROSSINGS, SO WE DON'T HAVE CONTIGUOUS FENCE AROUND THE ENTIRE PARCEL OR, OR PROJECT.
WE'VE BROKEN DOWN THE PROJECT INTO DIFFERENT SEGMENTS.
THEY'RE FENCED IN SEPARATELY TO ALLOW FOR WILDLIFE MOVEMENT, BUT ALSO FOR, UH, LOCAL HUNG CLUBS TO, UM, CHASE THROUGH PROPERTY.
AND WE'VE SPOKEN WITH, WITH, UM, SEVERAL HUNG CLUBS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T PLAN ON RESTRICTING THEIR ACCESS TO THE LAND THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE PROJECT AREA.
UM, UH, SO PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC BATTLEFIELD AREA.
UM, WE HAVE WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH DHR, UH, BUT WE'VE ALSO HIRED A CONSULTANT WHO HAS LOOKED AT, UM, AVAILABLE HISTORICAL RECORDS.
THEY'VE GONE TO THE SITE, UH, THEY'VE DONE SOIL SAMPLING, METAL DETECTING, UM, WORKED EXTENSIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT ARE THE CORE AREAS.
SO THE CORE AREAS ARE WHERE IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT, UH, AN ACTUAL BATTLE TOOK PLACE.
WE ARE NOT PROPOSING TO LOCATE THE PROJECT ON THE CORE AREAS.
YOU CAN SEE IN BLUE AND ORANGE, THESE ARE THE CORE AREAS.
THE PROJECT IS NOT PUTTING ANY INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.
WE'RE NOT DISTURBING THESE AREAS.
AND IN ADDITION, THAT BIGGER CHUNK IN THE MIDDLE, THE ORANGE AREA, 69 ACRES, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO PUT INTO CONSERVATION EASEMENT, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL.
UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR US.
UM, JUST LIKE ANY CONSTRUCTION, UH, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, UM, PERMITS FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL.
SO THE STANDARD MEASURES THAT WE, UM, APPLY ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, OUR SILT FENCES, DIVERSION DITCHES, SEDIMENT BASINS, SOIL STABILIZATION, SEEDING STRAW MULCHING, AND RETENTION PONDS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THOSE, BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE IN VIRGINIA, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE INTRODUCED SEVERAL CHANGES, UH, AND WE ACTUALLY DESIGN OUR PROJECTS TO EXCEED THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS.
WE'VE INTRODUCED SEVERAL CHANGES TO HOW WE HANDLE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, ORIGIN, SEDIMENT CONTROL, UM, ESPECIALLY DURING CONSTRUCTION.
UM, SO SOME OF THE VOLUNTARY MEASURES THAT EXCEED CURRENT REQUIREMENTS ARE DESIGNING OF DITCHES, UPSTREAM OF PONDS USE OF FILTER SOCKS, DITCHING THROUGH PANELS, STOCKPILING AND REDISTRIBUTION OF TOP SOIL AFTER GRADING.
THAT IS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE SOIL STABILIZATION IF THE TOP SOIL IS GONE.
SO THAT IS OUR UTMOST PRIORITY ON SITES.
UM, AND ON SITE, UM, MANAGERS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO INSPECTING AND MAINTAINING THESE FEATURES THAT ARE INTRODUCED FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
AND I KNOW, UH, WE HAVE ALSO PROPOSED CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW THE COUNTY TO HIRE THIRD PARTY INSPECTORS AND, UH, OTHERS ARE REIMBURSEMENT PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT.
UH, SO DECOMMISSIONING, AS I MENTIONED, AS WE ARE INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER, WE SEE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE LIFECYCLE UNTIL AND THROUGH DECOMMISSIONING.
SO THAT IS THE REMOVAL OF THE PROJECT FROM THE LAND.
UH, WE HAVE PROVIDED, UM, A PRELIMINARY PLAN.
SO JUST DESCRIBING WHAT ARE THE PRACTICES THAT WE, UH, PLAN ON EMPLOYING.
UM, FOR US, DECOMMISSIONING IS REALLY JUST REVERSAL OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, UM, AND THE WAY THAT WE GO ABOUT PUTTING OUR PLAN TOGETHER.
AND THE ESTIMATE IS REALLY LOOKING IN FIVE YEAR INCREMENTS.
SO THE PROJECT IS PURPOSED FOR 45 YEARS, BUT THE PLAN THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS GONNA GIVE YOU A PLAN FOR WHAT IF THE PROJECT HAD TO BE DECOMMISSIONED IN FIVE YEARS.
THERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR THAT.
ONE IS THAT WE TRY TO PROJECT CLOSER, SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE MORE ACCURATE WITH WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES, WHAT IS THE MARKET LIKE, UH, WHAT ARE THE COSTS? UM, AND, AND THAT'S REALLY THE KEY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, AND THE SECOND ONE IS THE SURETY BOND IS REEVALUATED EVERY FIVE YEARS TO, AGAIN, KEEP UP WITH INFLATION OR ANY MARKET CHANGES.
UH, SO THE SURETY BOND WILL BE ALSO POSTED WITH THE COUNTY, UM, IN THE AMOUNT EXCLUDING SALVAGE VALUE.
SO THAT'S THE FULL VALUE OF THE PROJECT, AND THAT IS IN CASE EEX GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, WE'RE UNABLE TO CARRY OUT DECOMMISSIONING.
[03:00:01]
COUNTY, UM, HAS THE ABILITY TO PULL THE BOND, UH, AND THE DECOMMISSIONING WOULD BE INITIATED.UM, SO WHAT DOES DECOMMISSIONING CONSIST OF? THAT MEANS REMOVAL OF ALL ABOVE AND BELOW GROUND EQUIPMENT AND RESEEDING THE SOIL.
UH, WE WOULD NOT BE REGRADING IT.
WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DISTURB THE LAND WHEN WE DO THE DECOMMISSIONING.
SO MINIMAL DISTURBANCE, RECEDING IT AND REALLY RETURNING IT BACK TO THE LANDOWNER FOR THE USE THAT THEY CHOOSE.
UM, MAJOR OF THE EQUIPMENT IS REALLY HIGH VALUE EQUIPMENT THAT GOES FOR RECYCLING, INCLUDING, UM, WITH OUR SOLAR PANEL PARTNERS FOR SOLAR.
THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE RECYCLING PROGRAM, UH, WHERE THEY RECOVER UP TO 90% OF THE MATERIALS PER PANEL.
AND HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER VIDEO.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST A QUICK DEPICTION OF THE RECYCLING FACILITY AND THE RECYCLING PROCESS, UM, AT THE, AT THE FIRST SOLAR FACILITY.
SO THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM IT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED IN 2005, UM, AS I MENTIONED, RECOVER 90% OF THE MATERIALS AND THEY'RE RECYCLED AND REUSED.
SO THE SEMICONDUCTOR GETS USED FOR A NEW SEMICONDUCTOR.
THERE ARE GLASS PRODUCTS, RUBBER PRODUCTS THAT GET CREATED FROM THE GLASS AND ADHESIVES THAT ARE USED IN THE SOLAR PANELS.
AND ONE KILOGRAM OR ONE UNIT OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR CAN BE RECYCLED 41 TIMES.
SO GIVING THE LONGEVITY OF THE PANELS.
AND THIS COMPANY FOR SOLAR, THEY'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR, UH, OVER 20 YEARS.
UH, RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE, UH, RECYCLING FACILITY IN GERMANY.
THEY HAVE A RECYCLING FACILITY IN PARISBURG, OHIO.
UM, AND THEY'RE PREPARING TO RAMP UP AS THE INDUSTRY IS COMING TO MORE END OF LIFE, UH, MOMENT WITH THE PANELS.
AND THEY'RE OPENING ANOTHER RECYCLING FACILITY IN ALABAMA.
SO ABOUT THE SOLAR PANELS, UM, WHY WE USE THIS TECHNOLOGY, UH, THE FIRST SOLAR PANELS ARE CHOSEN TECHNOLOGY FOR NEARLY HALF OF UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS IN THE US.
THEY'RE USED ANYWHERE FROM SCHOOLS TO, UM, BIG UTILITIES, UH, SUCH AS DOMINION, BUT ALSO THE AMERICAN MILITARY.
SO, UM, OCEANIA NAVAL AIR BASE, THEY'RE USING THIS TECHNOLOGY.
UM, ITS SAFETY IS BACKED BY OVER 50 RESEARCHERS IN MORE THAN 10 COUNTRIES, UM, AND ONE CLOSEST ONE AND, AND FAIRLY RECENT FROM VIRGINIA TECH.
BASED ON THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPACTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY, IT IS CONCLUDED THEY POSE LITTLE TO NO RISK UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS AND FORESEEABLE ACCIDENTS SUCH AS FIRE BREAKAGE, EXTREME WEATHER LIKE TORNADOES AND HURRICANES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY'S BEEN IN USE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
UM, THE OLDEST FACILITY WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY FROM FIRST SOLAR IS IN GOLDEN COLORADO.
IT'S, UM, I THINK IN 2018 THERE WAS A REPORT, UM, COMING OUT.
UM, IT IS ON A FEDERAL FACILITY.
IT'S A NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY.
THE REASON WHY IT'S THERE, IT'S SO THAT IT UNDERGOES CONTINUOUS TESTING.
SO ALL THIS TIME THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN OUT THERE.
IT'S BEEN TESTED FOR PERFORMANCE, FOR SAFETY, UM, AND AFTER ALL THIS TIME, IT, IT'S HAD NO ISSUES.
UM, OVER 250 MILLION PANELS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED WORLDWIDE, AND THIS IS THE ONLY AMERICAN MANUFACTURER IN THE TOP 10 MANUFACTURERS WORLDWIDE.
THE ALTERNATIVE TO THIS TECHNOLOGY IS SILICON, UM, AND ALL OF THE SILICON MANUFACTURERS ARE LOCATED IN CHINA.
UM, SO JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE FISCAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT, UM, OVER THE PROPOSED 45 YEAR LIFETIME, THIS LAND WITHOUT SOLAR WOULD GENERATE A LITTLE OVER 300,000.
WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECT, IT'S 72 TIMES MORE.
SO, UM, IT WOULD GENERATE A LITTLE OVER $22 MILLION.
UM, AND THAT'S A COMBINATION OF OUR PROPOSED UPFRONT VOLUNTARY PAYMENT, REASSESS REAL ESTATE TAXES AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS, TAXES OR REVENUE SHARE.
UM, AND WE'VE SPOKEN WITH COMMISSIONER REVENUE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CALCULATIONS ARE ACCURATE.
UM, JILL, YEAR ONE, UM, WE ARE, UM, PROPOSING TO CONTRIBUTE, UM, IN THIS, HOPEFULLY IN THIS, UM, BUDGETARY YEAR.
[03:05:03]
UM, THAT IS A VOLUNTARY PAYMENT FROM LILY POND SOLAR.UM, IT CAN BE APPLIED TO ANY BUDGETARY ITEM, ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEM, UM, IN, IN THE PLAN.
UM, THAT IS, UH, ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO 16 CENTS IN REAL ESTATE TAXES.
SO, UM, WITH YOUR RATE BEING 79 CENTS, UM, IF WE TAKE THIS AMOUNT, THAT WOULD EQUATE TO, UH, APPROXIMATELY 16 CENTS.
UM, SO WITHOUT THE VOLUNTARY PAYMENT, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE REASSESSED REAL ESTATE VALUE AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS OR REVENUE SHARE.
SO THAT ANNUALLY RANGES FROM, UM, 350 TO 490,000.
AND THAT'S COMPARING TO, UM, REVENUE FROM THIS LAND WITHOUT SOLAR.
ADDITIONALLY, ECONOMIC BENEFITS, UH, WE ALWAYS PRIORITIZE, UH, HIRING LOCAL CONTRACTORS.
WE'VE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
UM, THE CO THAT NEEDS FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS ARE CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, UM, SITE PREPARATION, CLEARING GRADING, UH, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, FENCING, NURSERY LANDSCAPING, ROADS, AGGREGATE, UH, GRAVEL SPECIALIZED INSPECTION.
SO THERE'S A REALLY WIDE ARRAY OF BUSINESSES THAT PARTICIPATE IN PROJECTS LIKE THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS IS A HUNDRED PERCENT PRIVATE INVESTMENT BAR BY, UM, AND OUR FINANCIAL PARTNERS.
UM, THE PROJECT IS NOT SUBSIDIZED BY ANY FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
UM, AND UTILITY SCALE SOLAR IS THE LOWEST COST ENERGY GENERATION RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS INFORMATION FROM ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.
UH, THEY JUST RELEASED THEIR REPORT.
UM, BUT ANNUALLY THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT COMPARING TO NUCLEAR, COAL OR GAS.
SOLAR IS THE CHEAPEST UNIT OF ENERGY PRODUCED RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I'M ALMOST DONE WITH THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS JUST A QUICK COMPARISON.
AS OFTENTIMES WE GET THOSE QUESTIONS OF WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR? HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER USES THAT COULD COME ON THE LAND? UM, THE ONE USE THAT WE LOOKED AT IS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A FAIRLY POPULAR ALTERNATIVE THAT WE SEE.
WE ARE NOT A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING THIS, WE, THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH US.
UM, WE HIRED A THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT JUST TO GIVE US AN, UM, KINDA AN OVERVIEW HOW WE WOULD COMPARE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
UH, SO GIVING YOUR ZONING ORDINANCE A LAND OF THE SIZE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 72 HOUSES.
UM, THAT GENERATES REVENUE FOR REAL ESTATE AUTOMOBILE TAXES, BUT IT ALSO BURDENS THE COUNTY WITH THE NEED FOR SPENDING ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION.
SO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, UM, WITH 72 HOMES ON THIS LAND WOULD YIELD A NEGATIVE 35,000 REVENUE TO THE COUNTY ANNUALLY.
UM, LILY POND SOLAR DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY INVESTMENT, UM, AND EDUCATION OR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO, UM, IT IS A REVENUE GENERATOR.
AND JUST IN SUMMARY, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.
UM, WE'VE WE'VE REALLY WORKED REALLY HARD WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR PROPOSAL.
UM, AND I REALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE AGRICULTURAL COMPONENT OF THE COUNTY IS THRIVING.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE NOT DISPLACING ANY FARMLAND.
WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDING MORE CROPLAND BACK.
UM, WE HAVE VOLUNTARILY DOUBLE SETBACKS.
WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR GROUNDWATER MONITORING CONDITION.
WE HAVE DONE SEVERAL THINGS THAT NOT ONLY MEET, BUT ALSO EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR ORDINANCE.
WE RECEIVED A F UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, AND POSITIVE DETERMINATION FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UM, SO THIS PROJECT REALLY, UH, NOT ONLY MEETS REQUIREMENTS FROM YOUR ORDINANCE BUT EXCEEDS IT.
AND WE ARE PROUD AND HAPPY TO DO THAT.
WE WANT TO SET A HIGH BAR AND BE THE GOLD STANDARD FOR SOLAR PROJECTS IN D WITTY COUNTY.
AND WE HOPE WE ILLUSTRATED SEVERAL POSITIVE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY, AMONG THEM POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? OKAY, THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION
[03:10:01]
THEN.WHO DO WE HAVE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? FIRST WE HAVE DAN ROBBINS.
THAT'S A PRETTY TOUGH PRESENTATION FOR A CITIZEN TO COMMENT ABOUT.
UM, MY NAME IS DAN ROBBINS, LIVE AT BONNEVILLE FARM ON COURTHOUSE ROAD.
UM, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE PETERSBURG BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION AND MYSELF AS A CITIZEN AND A LANDOWNER AND A STEWARD OF A BATTLEFIELD.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF THIS PROPOSAL, NOR THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE ZONING, NOR THE, THE RIGHTS OF THE LANDOWNERS.
BUT I'M HERE JUST TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT THIS PROPOSED 1800 ACRE INDUSTRIAL SOLAR ARRAY, UM, IS UP AGAINST HALLOWED AMERICAN BATTLEFIELDS, THOSE LANDS, AS WELL AS CONSERVATION LANDS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESERVED PARTIALLY BY AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST.
AND TO BE EXACT, UH, THESE LANDS THAT ARE ALREADY SET ASIDE ARE IN PERPETUITY.
AND THE LANDS ARE, ARE 385 ACRES OF BATTLEFIELD AND ADDITIONAL 210 ACRES OF CONSERVATION LANDS.
AND THESE ARE SUBJECT TO INCLUSION INTO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND ARE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR SUCH.
THEY'RE MORE ACREAGE OF THE CORE BATTLEFIELD THAT COULD BECOME AVAILABLE.
THEY WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION INTO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND, AND ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION, UM, THAT THIS PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL FOOTPRINT WILL BE MOSTLY ON FORESTED LANDS, WHICH WILL NEED TO BE CLEAR CUT AND MADE SITE READY FOR THE SOLAR ARRAYS AND PLACED IN BESIDE THESE PRESERVED IN CONSERVED LANDS.
THESE ARRAYS WOULD BE IN CONTEXTUAL CONTRAST TO ONE ANOTHER.
THE HISTORIC 600 ACRES OF LAND ALREADY PRESERVED IN CONSERVED IN PERPETUITY COULD BE SPOILED BY THE VISUAL EXPOSURE TO THE LARGER 1800 ACRE INDUSTRIAL SITE THAT HAS A 30 TO 45 YEAR LIFECYCLE, OR UNTIL NEW TECHNOLOGIES BECOME AVAILABLE IN CONSIDERATION OF LANDS FOR PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION.
A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR ENTITIES TO EVALUATE THESE IS THE VIEW SHED.
THIS IS ILLUSTRATED AT PETERSBURG NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD AT FORT STEADMAN AND THE CRATER, AS WELL AS IN DENWOODY COUNTY AT PAMPLIN PARK WHERE THE BREAKTHROUGH OCCURRED.
AND AT DENWOODY COURTHOUSE BATTLEFIELD, THEREFORE, IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT A BUFFER SHOULD BE REQUIRED, A LARGE BUFFER, WHICH THEY'RE INDICATING, UM, TO, TO KEEP A GOOD SEPARATION BETWEEN THESE LARGE TRACKS OF LAND.
ADDITIONALLY, PROFESSIONALLY DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED, POINTS OF ENTRY AND EXIT SHOULD BE REQUIRED AND MAINTAINED.
UH, AS NOTED ON THE OLD VAUGHN ROAD PROJECT, THERE'S A SOLAR ARRAY.
UH, FOR THE LONGEST TIME THERE WERE JUST TIRES ALONG THE, THE EASEMENT.
THERE WEREN'T, WEREN'T GOOD GRAVEL COVER FOR THE LANDING.
SO MUD AND DEBRIS WAS ENDING UP ON OLD VAUGHN ROAD.
SO WE HAVE THAT HISTORY OF SOLAR PANELS IN DENWOODY THAT WE AS CITIZENS HAVE SEEN TO DATE.
AGAIN, I'M NOT HERE TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF, OF THIS LAND USE, BUT JUST TO URGE THAT ZONING APPROVAL AND PERMITTING ONLY BE WITH SIGNIFICANT AND STRICTLY ENFORCED BUFFERS AND LIMITED ACCESS REQUIREMENTS.
I LIVE AT 26 5 10 REAMS DRIVE.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
I'M JUST HOPING MY HEART DOESN'T EXPLODE BY THE TIME I GET THROUGH HERE
BUT ANYWAY, UM, I WANNA SAY RIGHT UP FRONT 'CAUSE I BELIEVE IN, IN MY, UH, PROFESSION THAT I WAS TAUGHT, YOU NEED TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU WANT AND THEN EXPLAIN WHY, AND THEN
[03:15:01]
TELL 'EM AGAIN WHAT YOU WANT.UM, I AM FOR SOLAR TECHNOLOGY.
I AM NOT FOR THIS SOLAR FARM GOING INTO THE LOCATION WHERE IT'S BEING PROPOSED.
SO I WENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND IT WAS VERY INFORMATIONAL AND IT WAS VERY GOOD, BUT I IMMEDIATELY KNEW I NEEDED MORE INFORMATION.
SO I GOT WITH MARK BASSETT'S GROUP AND THEY KINDLY GAVE ME ALL THEIR DOCUMENTS THAT HAD BEEN PROVIDED FOR THIS.
THAT'S ALMOST SEVEN INCHES OF DOCUMENTS.
NOW, I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'VE NOT READ THEM ALL.
AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS IN THAT FULL STACK OF DOCUMENTATION BECAUSE IN MY PROFESSION AND NEGOTIATING LARGE CONTRACTS, THAT WAS ALWAYS A RED RED FLAG TO ME WHEN I GOT 10 TIMES MORE INFORMATION THAN I REALLY NEEDED TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION.
SO ANYWAY, THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT, EVEN THOUGH MARK WAS VERY GRACIOUS ABOUT GIVING ME THE DOCUMENTATION.
SO, UM, IN, IN LISTENING TO LILY POND, AND I'VE, I'VE LISTENED TO THIS PRESENTATION SEVERAL TIMES NOW, AND, AND I HEAR THAT THEY'RE OFFERING CONCESSIONS TO DO GREATER SETBACKS AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHY DON'T WE HAVE GUIDELINES FOR MASSIVE SOLAR FARMS ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN DEWINE COUNTY? WE SHOULD HAVE GUIDELINES THAT THEY'RE ADHERING TO VERSUS THEM TELLING US WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
SO THAT'S A BIG CONCERN TO ME.
I THINK WE'RE BUILDING THE WINGS ON THIS AIRPLANE AND THE AIRPLANE'S GOING DOWN.
THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO ME.
UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING SOME OF THEIR PROPOSED DOCUMENTATION.
WE ACTUALLY WENT TO HOLLY FIELD TO VISIT THAT SOLAR FARM, AND I KNOW THEY SAID THAT SOLAR FARMS ARE VERY QUIET.
WELL, I'M TELLING YOU, WHEN THOSE, THOSE PANELS START TRACKING ON THIS 145 ACRES THAT WE VISITED, IT WAS QUITE NOISY.
AND I'M SORRY IF IT, IF THAT'S A NO NOISE TO THEM.
THEY HAVEN'T LIVED IN DENWOODY COUNTY WHERE WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE NO NOISE.
UM, THEN I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I STARTED LOOKING THE THREE, I HAD TO NARROW IT DOWN THE DOCUMENTATION BASED ON THAT PHOTO OF WHAT YOU JUST SAW.
SO I FOCUS ON THEIR PRESENTATION AND THEN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR DEWITTE COUNTY AND THEN, UH, MARK BASSETT'S, UM, DOCUMENTATION OR STAFF REPORT TO YOU FOLKS.
AND MARK HAS, HAS STOLE MY THUNDER BECAUSE BASICALLY WHEN I LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, AND, AND, AND SOME OF THEIR DOCUMENTATION THAT TALK ABOUT 69 ACRES BEING IMPACTED, WELL, THE LETTER THAT WENT TO FROM THE AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST SAYS IT'S NOT 69 ACRES OF HISTORICAL BATTLEFIELDS IMPACTED IT'S 746 ACRES THAT'S IMPACTED.
AND THEIR COMMENT WAS, WE ARE ALARMED THAT SEVERAL OF THE PROPERTIES PROPOSED FOR REZONING OR EITHER WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY SITUATED WITHIN THE CORE AND STUDY AREAS OF THE REAM STATION BOARD AND PLANK ROAD AND HATCHERS RUN BATTLEFIELDS.
UM, AND BASICALLY IT SAYS IN ALL SOME 746 ACRES OF HALLOW GROUND WOULD BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSED ZONING AND PERMITTING CHANGES THREATENING TO COMPROMISE THESE BATTLEFIELDS AS BOTH HISTORIC SITES AND TOUR RESOURCES.
THAT GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST WHAT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS.
AND THEN I WAS TRYING TO COUPLE THAT WITH THE REPORT FROM STAFF.
AND, UH, THEY EVEN DOCUMENTED THAT, UM, THE ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCE PORTION OF THE REPORT DID INDICATE THAT THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL PREHISTORIC RESOURCES FOR A PORTION OF THE PROJECT AREA RELATED TO THE CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD PORTIONS OF REAM STATION ONE, REAM STATION TWO BOARD AND PLANK ROAD AND HATCHERS RUN BATTLEFIELDS.
THE BATTLEFIELD BOUNDARIES ARE DE DELINEATED BY A-B-P-P-C-W-S-A-C ARE WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE MEAN.
I'M SURE THEY'RE IN THIS STACK OF DOCUMENTS, BUT I I DON'T HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT THEY ARE.
AND IT SAYS, AS STATED IN THE CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY, THESE PORTIONS OF THE BATTLEFIELDS LOCATED INSIDE THE PROJECT AREA CONT CONTINUE TO RETAIN THEIR INTEGRITY OF LOCATION SETTING, FEELING AND ASSOCIATION.
HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN YOU'VE GOT 500 ACRES OF SOLAR PANELS SITTING ON IT? I, I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT A TRUE STATEMENT.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TONIGHT.
UM, I LOVE DIM WITTY AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR WHERE I LIVE.
UH, STRIFE IS A WONDERFUL PLACE.
AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, LOVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGY, JUST NOT HERE.
CROSS THE ROAD FROM ME WITH 500 ACRES.
[03:20:01]
THIS DOCUMENTATION, JUST LET ME KNOW.I'D BE GLAD TO PASS IT ON TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN DUTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MR. MASSING.
I'M IRVIN MEYER LIVE AT 5 9 1 8 COX ROAD, WILSONS, VIRGINIA.
UH, MY WORDS ARE JUST DIRECTED FOR A WORD OF CAUTION.
THE WORLD IS IN A CONJURE OF HOW TO REDUCE OR RELE REDUCE THE RELEASE OF CARBON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE NAME OF ALTERNATIVE GREEN ENERGY WITH ONE MESS METHOD OF CREATING SOLAR FIELDS.
THERE'S BEEN THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF AGRICULTURE AND TIMBERLAND CONVERTED TO SOLAR FIELDS WITH LITTLE TO NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WILL THE CONDITION OF THE LAND OR ADJOINING LAND BE DECADES FROM NOW.
THERE HAS BEEN A STUDY THAT LOST FOREST LAND COULD RAISE TOTAL NITROGEN PHOSPHATE AND SUSPENDED SUSTAMINE CONCENTRATIONS ACROSS THE WATERSHED.
WE HAVE A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WAS TOLD TO THE OWNERS OF THE LAND FOR TITANIUM MINING.
NOW THAT THE LAND HAS BEEN MINED, IT IS LEFT WITH A DILEMMA.
WHAT IS ITS USABILITY? WE SOLAR FIELDS BE CONTAMINATING.
AND SO IN SUCH A WAY OF CREATING A SUPERFUND SITE, THIS SHOULD BE OUR QUESTION AND CONCERN.
WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID THAT THOSE THAT FAIL TO LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.
DO WE WANT TO REPEAT RESULTS LIKE THOSE THAT WERE CREATED BY FALSE STATEMENTS OF THE PAST? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.
I'M NOT AS GOOD OF A SPEAKER AS WE JUST HAD
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING ME BE HEARD.
UM, I WAS REALLY SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT THIS WAS COMING UP AGAIN BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF LAST TIME IT WAS HERE.
IT WAS VOTED DOWN FIVE TO ZERO.
BUT AS A BUSINESS PERSON, I DO UNDERSTAND AND OBJECTIVES GOT A LOT INVESTED AND YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY.
UH, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE PROJECT HAS EXPANDED MORE THAN THE LAST PROJECT.
AND, UM, WHERE THEY'RE EXPANDING IT, ALL OF THAT HAS A TENDENCY TO DRAIN WHEN WE HAVE RAIN, UH, DOWN TO THE ANI CREEK AREA.
WELL, WITHOUT THE TREES AND WITHOUT THE AGRICULTURE AND WITHOUT THE GRASS THERE TO STOP IT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A HECK OF A DRAINAGE PROBLEM.
ALL OF THAT DRAINS INTO THE NOT AWAY RIVER, BY THE WAY.
UM, A FEW FACTS ABOUT SOLAR THAT I FOUND THAT I HOPE THEY'RE ALL CORRECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE INTERNET KNOWS EVERYTHING.
SO SOLAR WORKS ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME.
ALL TREES, ALL CROPS, ALL GRASS IS WORKING 24 7 TO CLEAN AND HELP PURIFY THE AIR.
THIS PROJECT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A 45 YEAR PROJECT.
WELL, 90% OF US IN THIS ROOM WON'T BE HERE IN 45 YEARS.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDKIDS ARE GONNA BE LEFT WITH WHATEVER IS THERE.
I DID A LITTLE LOOK WITH THE RE WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNET.
AND VIRGINIA HAS HAD 19 HURRICANES COME THROUGH AND IMPACT OUR AREA.
I COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY GALLONS OF WATER HAS FLOODED AND IT HAS SPUN OFF MULTIPLE TORNADOES.
ANOTHER THING THAT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS IS INTERJECT IS NOT AN AMERICAN COMPANY.
AND I FEEL A LITTLE FUNNY ABOUT FOREIGN COMPANIES INVESTING INTO OUR POWER PLANTS.
UM, ALSO EACH ONE OF THEIR LITTLE PLACES THAT THEY HAVE ARE INDIVIDUAL LLCS.
AND AGAIN, AS A BUSINESS PERSON, YOU ASK WHY ARE THEY INDIVIDUAL LLCS? WELL, WHEN I CREATED MY COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME TO GET AN LLC AND I SAID, WHY? AND THEY SAID, BECAUSE YOU CAN WALK AWAY FROM IT ANYTIME YOU NEED TO.
UM, AND, AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE DOING THAT, I'M JUST SAYING THEY'RE THAT AWAY.
[03:25:01]
45 YEARS FARMING HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY, WHICH WE'VE ALL SEEN.AND IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR PHONE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WENT FROM BAG PHONES TO SOMETHING THAT'S ABOUT THIS SIZE, AND IT'S NOT A PHONE, IT'S A DAMN COMPUTER.
UM, SO THINGS CHANGE ALL THE TIME.
SOLAR TECHNOLOGY IS GONNA CHANGE ALL THE TIME.
I'M JUST NOT FOR SOLAR FARMS. I THINK SOLAR HAS ITS PLACE AND IT'S NO PROBLEM WITH IT AT ALL AS, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT DESTROYING LAND TO MAKE IT A FARM.
UM, I ALSO READ WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF EN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HAS FINED INTERJECTS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR VIOLATING STATE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.
SO THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT A SOLAR FARM ADJOINING A LANDOWNER'S PROPERTY IS GOING TO DO REDUCE THE VALUE OF THE LANDOWNER'S PROPERTY.
THEY SAY IT WON'T, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE EXPERTS.
I'M NOT, I'M JUST SAYING, IN MY OPINION, I AS A PERSON FEEL THAT WAY.
SOLAR FARMS ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT OUR WILDLIFE AND HABITAT IN THAT AREA MOVES LIVES.
AND, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ANY ANIMAL IS GONNA WANNA GET NEAR A SOLAR FARM THAT IS PRODUCED, THAT IS RADIATING MORE HEAT THAN WHAT'S OUT THERE ALREADY.
UM, LOOK AT THE WIND FARMS THAT THEY HAD PUT UP IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY OFF THE SHORE THINKING THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY GREAT.
NOW THEY'VE GOT WHALES AND DOLPHINS BEACHING THEMSELVES ON THE SHORE DYING, AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THEY PUT THESE FARMS OUT THERE AM IN CLOSING, UH, I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU, AND IT WAS JUST REMINDED A FEW MINUTES AGO, UH, OF THE TITANIUM PROBLEM WE'VE HAD AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THAT.
VERY IMPORTANT, THAT'S THEIR EXPERTS TELLING YOU THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO BE.
AND IT NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS TRUE.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF THOSE FARMERS I'VE TALKED TO THAT CAN'T EVEN GROW GRASS ON THAT LAND, UH, IF THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED, JUST REMEMBER THERE ARE FOUR OR FIVE MORE OF THEM RIGHT.
WAITING IN LINE TO COME BEFORE YOU.
AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TELLING THEM NO TOO.
SO WE'RE GONNA NOT GO FROM ONE PROJECT, WE'RE GONNA GO TO MULTIPLE PROJECTS.
SO I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO SAY NO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MR. DANCE, WILL YOU JUST PUT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS? RECORD? OH, I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
IT'S CHRIS RIZZO, 2 4 3 0 1 DRIVER ROAD TO WINDY VIRGINIA.
UH, I THINK THE SOLAR PROJECT MEETS A NEEDED DEMAND FOR INCREASED POWER GENERATION AND ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY, BADLY NEEDED REVENUE FOR DEM WITTY COUNTY, WHILE PROVIDING A VERY MINIMAL EFFECT ON SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, CERTAINLY MUCH LESS THAN, UH, A LARGE APARTMENT PROJECT, WHICH WILL HAVE 1500 PEOPLE AND ON ONE SIDE ONLY A 10 FOOT SETBACK.
SO I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY COMPARED TO THAT, IT'S A PRETTY MINIMAL EFFECT.
UM, WHILE I STRONGLY DISAGREE FOR WITH THE PUSH FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COMING AND IT'S GONNA REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE POWER GRID AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO OUR SHARE IN THAT, AND THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF VIRGINIA LAW.
AS FOR THE, UH, REVENUE NEEDED BY DE WITTY COUNTY, LET ME JUST READ A COUPLE OF EXCERPTS FROM A LETTER TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM GEORGE STEVENS WHO SENT MORE, SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER FOR DEITY FIRE AND RESCUE.
IN REGARD TO NINE POSITIONS A BOARD IS PLANNING TO FUND IN THE NEXT BUDGET, THE NUMBER IS STILL SHORT AS IT REQUIRES AT LEAST FOUR FIREFIGHTERS TO ADEQUATELY STAFF ONE ENGINE COMPANY.
NOTE THAT THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION ADVISES AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE FIRST NEW COMPANY LEAVE THE FIREHOUSE 60 SECONDS AFTER NOTIFICATION AND BE ON THE SCENE IN AN ADDITIONAL FOUR MINUTES WITH AT LEAST FOUR PERSONNEL 90% OF THE TIME.
THEREFORE, NINE PAID FIREFIGHTERS COULD COVER ONLY PART OF THREE SHIFTS AND THEY COULD NOT COVER THE NEXT 24 HOUR SHIFT.
PLUS STRUCTURE FIRES REQUIRE INITIAL DISPATCH OF TWO ENGINE COMPANIES AND ONE LADDER COMPANY WITH A BATTALION CHIEF.
WHILE THE AFOREMENTIONED NINE POSITIONS ARE BEGINNING, THEY'RE NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
[03:30:01]
IN THE NEAR TERM, BUT IN INTERIM, BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS IN DIMITY COUNTY ARE BEING NEGLECTED.AND WHILE TORT LAW IN VIRGINIA REQUIRES, ALLOWS, UH, SIGNIFICANT PROTECTION FOR COUNTIES, THE LACK OF FIRE AND EMS PROTECTION IN WI DIMITY IS A LIABILITY WAITING TO OCCUR.
UH, THIS IS EXASPERATED IN DIMITY BY THE FACT THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE FIRE SUPPRESSION STATION FOR EVERY 84 MILES, 84 SQUARE MILES AND ONE EMS STATION FOR EVERY 126 SQUARE MILES.
SIMPLY STATED, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH FIRE STATIONS AND AMBULANCES AT ANY ONE TIME.
THERE HAVE BEEN SIX HOMES DESTROYED IN NORTH DE WITTY IN THE PAST YEAR DUE TO INADEQUATE RESPONSE.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW AND MY NEIGHBOR'S MOTHER-IN-LAW BOTH WAITED NEARLY 30 MINUTES FOR AN AMBULANCE AFTER CALLING DIM WOODY 9 1 1.
THERE ARE MANY MORE EXAMPLES, BUT I COULDN'T COVER 'EM ALL IN FIVE MINUTES.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE I'M TRYING TO GET TO HERE IS BRINGING IN BUSINESSES AND PROJECTS LIKE THIS IS WHERE DIM WOODY CAN GET THE REVENUE THAT IT NEEDS TO KEEP THEIR RESIDENTS SAFE.
AND ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE ONE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED ABOUT THE FOREIGN STUFF, THIS COMPANY DEALS IN AMERICAN MADE SOLAR PANELS.
I HAVE SOME, BUT BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE COUNTY, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PONZI SCHEME BECAUSE WHEN YOU BRING MORE PEOPLE IN, IT REQUIRES MORE SERVICES AND THAT COSTS THE COUNTY MONEY.
IN THE LONG RUN, THEY REQUIRE FIRE, EMS, MENTAL HEALTH, ET CETERA.
SO YOU JUST GET FURTHER AND FURTHER DOWN IN A HOLE, MONEY WISE, SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHICH REQUIRES NO SERVICES FROM DENWITTY COUNTY AND PROVIDES A EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY.
3.6 MILLION UPFRONT, 493,000 A YEAR.
THAT'S A FIRE STATION AND, AND SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT CAN STAFF IT.
SO I WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO APPROVE THIS PROJECT.
MY NAME IS PATTY CHAPEL FU 15 3 15 BRICK ROAD, CARSON, VIRGINIA.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY FAMILY, MY MOTHER, MY SISTER, MY HUSBAND, AND MYSELF.
WE ARE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THE SOLO PROJECT.
THIS WOULD MAKE MY MOTHER'S LIFE SO MUCH BETTER.
SHE'S 86 IN A WHEELCHAIR WITH A BAD LEG AND CAN'T WALK.
WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT DENWITTY AS AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY AND NOT TO, AND NOT LETTING LILY POND USE FARMLAND FOR THIS PROJECT.
LILY POND HAS DONE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ASKED OR SUGGESTED AND COME UP WITH VERY DETAILED IDEAS TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE, INSECTS, PROPERTY WITH FLOWERS, TREES, FOOD, FOOD PLOTS, AND MORE CROP LAND.
YOU'RE PUTTING FARMERS' RIGHTS LAND THAT THEY OWN AND LAND THAT THEY LEASE FROM OTHERS.
THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OVER FARMERS THAT OVER FAMILIES THAT HAVE WORKED HARD, STRUGGLED AND SACRIFICED TO KEEP THEIR LAND IN THEIR FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS.
THE PANELS WOULD BE AROUND MY HOUSE ON THREE SIDES.
THE FAMILY LAND WILL STILL BE THERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE COUNTY IS, THE COUNTRY IS PRODUCING MORE AND MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS MORE AND MORE VEHICLES HAVE TO BE CHARGED? NO ONE TELLS HOW LONG IT TAKES TO FULLY CHARGE OR HOW MUCH CURRENT IT TAKES.
LOOK OUT FOR ROLLING BLACKOUTS DUE TO CHARGING VEHICLES.
THIS IS ENERGY FROM THE SUN AND IT'S FREE.
YOU JUST HAVE TO SOAK IT UP AND FEED IT TO THE DIRECTLY TO THE POWER LINES.
PLEASE GIVE LILY POND SOLAR A CHANCE.
BE FAIR TO DENWITTY COUNTY LANDOWNERS OF ALL KINDS THAT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN ON THEIR LAND.
I LIVE AT 2 7 3 2 OH RE DRIVE NORTH DE WITTY 2 3 8 0 5.
ALL OF THESE FOLKS HAVE SAID JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT I WANTED TO SAY.
UH, AND I'LL TELL YOU, I FEEL LIKE I'M DAVID FIGHTING GOLIATH TONIGHT.
AND, UH, THESE PEOPLE ARE GREAT, DON'T YOU THINK? BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WENT TO, WHAT WAS IT, BABE HOLLY FIELD.
AND THERE WAS NOT ONE QUESTION THAT I ASKED THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO.
[03:35:01]
SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO RUN THESE FOR PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THEY GOT ALL THE ANSWERS.AND AS FAR AS THE COUNTY AND HELPING THE CITIZENS, YOU'RE GONNA HELP A HANDFUL OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
THEY'RE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE REST OF US.
BUT THE REST OF US GET NO BENEFIT BECAUSE THIS ELECTRICITY THAT'S GOING TO BE GENERATED, YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BRING OUR BILLS DOWN HERE IN DENWITTY? I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK THAT POWER'S GONNA GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND IF IT DOES OR IF IT STAYS HERE, OUR POWER BILLS, OUR UTILITY BILLS WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE DOWN.
I HAVE YET TO SEE, INCLUDING THE TAXES.
THEY GOING UP AND EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.
SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYBODY IN DENWITTY BECAUSE IF YOU LET ONE OF THESE HUGE FARMS AND 500 ACRES IS A LOT OF LAND.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE OF THESE LADIES OVER HERE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PUT UP 230,000 PANELS.
THAT'S 230,000 TIMES THAT WE HAVE TO HEAR THIS BANGING TO DRIVE 'EM DOWN INTO THE SOIL AND THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GONNA HURT THE SOIL SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER.
I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT, BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT THAT EDUCATED TO SPEAK TO THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST KNOW THAT WHEN I SAT OUT ON MY BACK PORCH, NOW I HEAR BIRDS AND TRACTORS IN THE DISTANCE.
AND AS SOMEONE BROUGHT UP, I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE IN 45 YEARS, BUT MY CHILDREN, MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND MY GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN WILL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THIS COUNTY AS PRISTINE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.
DEAR DUNWOODY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR LAY POND SOLAR.
MY FAMILY AND I ARE PROUD RESIDENTS OF DENWITTY COUNTY.
WE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 30 PLUS YEARS AND RAISED OUR SON HERE WHO IS NOW RAISING HIS SON HERE.
WE TRULY ENJOY BEING A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
WITH ALL THAT IN MIND, WE SEE LILY POND SOLAR AS A VALUABLE ADD TO THIS PEACEFUL COMMUNITY WE CALL HOME.
AS A NEIGHBOR, I TRUST THE FOLKS AT LILY POND SOLAR TO STAND BY THEIR WORD IN PROTECTING OUR VIEW SHEDS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR RURAL CHARACTER THAT WE ALL TREASURE REMAINS.
FURTHERMORE, IMAGINING THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT THE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE THIS PROJECT COULD DO FOR OUR COUNTY EXCITES ME AND I'LL BE VERY PROUD TO PLAY A ROLE IN BRINGING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DENWITTY.
FROM A LANDOWNER'S PERSPECTIVE, THIS PROJECT OFFERS US THE ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS LAND IN OUR FAMILY AND GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE LANDOWNERS IN THIS COUNTY, AND ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CHANCE TO EXERCISE OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS OF OUR LAND, WE WOULD NOT ENGAGE WITH A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WE DID NOT DEEPLY BELIEVE WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
WE FEEL WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THIS PROJECT IS A GREAT FIT AND HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY LILY POND HAS ENGAGED WITH US THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT UP TO THIS POINT, AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM SOLAR DEVELOPMENT.
THEY HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY TRANSPARENT WITH US AND HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO THOUGHTFULLY ENGAGE WITH OUR FAMILY.
THERE ARE DEDICATION TO BOTH MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR LAND THAT THEY LEASE AND THAT THEY AND ADJUST THE PROJECT FOOTPRINT TO MINIMIZE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IS EVIDENT THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE APPLICATION THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND LANDOWNER, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT LEPON SOLAR TODAY AND IMAGINE THE GOOD THAT IT CAN DO FOR OUR COUNTY.
I ALSO FEEL THAT WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, SOLAR PANELS ARE OUR FUTURE.
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE'D SEE ELECTRIC CARS, BUT I PASS 'EM EVERY DAY.
THEY'RE PUTTING UP CHARGING STATIONS EVERYWHERE.
WITH THE SOLAR PANELS, AT LEAST WE ARE GETTING IN AND GETTING AT IN AT THE START AND HAVE SOME SAY IN IS WHAT TO BE DONE.
UNLIKE OUR LAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT TOOK AS MNT DOMAIN TO PUT POWER LINES ON THAT WE HAD NO CHOICE OR ANY SAY IN AT ALL.
ALSO WITH THE SOLAR PANELS, THEY MAY MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE WHEN THEY TURN, BUT NOT MUCH.
WE ARE AT, WE WERE AT A WEDDING LAST MONTH AND ALL YOU HEARD THROUGH THE WHOLE EVENT WAS A CONSTANT BARRAGE OF SHOTS AND BOOMS WITH NO BREAK.
SO AT LEAST WITH THE SOLAR PANEL, THERE IS NO NOISE POLLUTION BECAUSE THIS COMPANY HAS JUMPED THROUGH HOOPS AND BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO TRY TO ADDRESS EVERYONE'S CONCERNS AND MAKE THEM HAPPY.
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I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT.FIRST NAME IS JEREMY, AND I'M NOT GONNA BUTCHER YOUR LAST NAME.
MY NAME IS JEREMY CHESKY AND I LIVE AT 2 7 3 3 3, UH, PERKINS ROAD.
UM, NOT A VERY GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE THIS A SHOT.
UH, I CONDENSED A LOT OF THIS AS NOT TO REPEAT IT, BUT, UM, FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M AN, UH, ADJACENT LANDOWNER TO THIS PROJECT.
UM, I'VE, I I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEARD A LOT OF THINGS.
UH, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ADDRESS A LOT OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TOXIC THESE SOLAR PANELS ARE AND YOU KNOW, HOW IT'S GONNA DESTROY THE LAND.
AND I, I'VE BEEN IN THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY FOR 25 YEARS.
I'VE SEEN THESE THINGS START COMING OUT, PUTTING THEM UP.
IN THE BEGINNING THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT AS DETRIMENTAL AS WHAT PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE.
UM, THEY, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BECOME EXTREMELY SAFE AND RELIABLE.
UH, YEAH, LIKE I SAID, THE DANGER IS JUST, IT ISN'T FACTUAL.
I, I SEE THIS PROJECT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING GREEN ENERGY TO THE COUNTY.
UH, AND IT ALSO MIGHT ATTRACT OTHER BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR GREEN INJURY TO THE COUNTY SO THAT, THAT'S EVEN MORE REVENUE.
UM, I ALSO SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING INTERNET CONNECTIVITY TO OUR NECK OF THE WOODS.
I HAD TWO KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL DURING COVID AND WATCHING THEM STRUGGLE JUST TO GET THEIR EDUCATION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OUT THERE.
THIS PROJECT WILL BRING THOSE RESOURCES.
UM, AND DEALING WITH THAT WAS A NIGHTMARE.
UH, UH, ENERGETICS, LILY POND SOLAR HAS REWORKED THE ENTIRE FOOTPRINT OF THIS PROJECT TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE THE NEIGHBORS TO IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE FARMERS AS WELL, INCREASING THE FARMLAND, YOU KNOW, ONE AND A HALF TRADE PER ACRE.
I MEAN, IT, IT SEEMS PRETTY HELPFUL TO ME.
UH, THEY HAVE IN PLACE ALL THE CHARITY BONDS THAT IF THEY DO WALK AWAY, LIKE I'VE HEARD PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, I, I'VE BEEN CONTRACTING AND, AND DOING BIG PROJECTS FOR A LONG TIME.
CHARITY BONDS ARE A BIG THING.
THEY'RE GONNA BE PERMANENT OWNERS OF THE PROJECT.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE PEOPLE BUILD THEM, SELL 'EM OFF, AND THEN WALK AWAY, AND THEN YOU'RE LEFT WITH A DISASTER AFTERWARDS.
UM, LASTLY, EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN IN HERE, EXCEPT FOR TONIGHT, I'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN COMMENT, PROTECTING THE RURAL NATURE OF THIS COUNTY.
UM, THIS PROJECT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR 45 YEARS.
IT'S NOT A FLY BY NIGHT THING THAT'S GONNA LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND THAT, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE DESIRED.
I MEAN, IF THE COUNTY WINDS UP LIKING IT, THEY'RE MAKING MONEY, THEY MIGHT WANNA STAY ANOTHER 45.
AND THE WAY I SEE IT, THAT'S NOT SUCH A BAD IDEA.
UM, IF WE DON'T DO THIS, WHAT ARE THE LANDOWNERS GONNA DO? I'VE HEARD 'EM, YOU KNOW, VOICE THEIR CONCERNS OF BEING ABLE TO PAY AND KEEP THIS LAND IN THEIR FAMILY.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY SELL IT TO DEVELOPERS? WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY SUBDIVIDE IT? AND THEN WE GOT A BUNCH MORE HOUSES YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY.
EVERY SINGLE DAY I GET A TEXT MESSAGE ABOUT A LATE BUS OR A BUS NOT SHOWING UP BECAUSE OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT CANNOT GET OUR KIDS BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL.
IT'S EVERY DAY, MORNING AND EVENING ON THE ROADS.
UH, MY OTHER CONCERN ABOUT THE RURAL NATURE OF THE COUNTY IS IF WE DO SUBDIVIDE THIS AND WE PUT 70 150 HOMES, HOWEVER MANY HOMES IN ON THIS PROPERTY, WHO'S GONNA FILL 'EM? LAST YEAR ALONE, THE WEST COAST, CALIFORNIA, 340,000 PEOPLE LEFT BECAUSE THEY WERE TIRED OF THE WAY IT WAS.
AND IF THEY COME HERE AND THEY LIVE HERE, THAT THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE COMING.
THEY WANNA COME TO RURAL AREAS.
THEY'RE GONNA BRING THEIR IDEALS AND THEIR VOTES.
AND THAT IS WHAT I SEE BEING THE REAL THREAT TO THE RURAL NATURE OF THIS COUNTY.
UM, I'VE LIVED IN THIS, I'M 41 YEARS OLD.
I'VE LIVED HERE 98% OF MY LIFE.
I CAME WHEN I WAS TWO YEARS OLD.
I WISH NOTHING HAD TO CHANGE, BUT I SEE THIS IS A BETTER IDEA THAN ANY OTHER AT, AT
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THE PRESENT MOMENT.SO I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, LETTING ME SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS, UH, JACOB CARELLA.
I'M A LIFELONG VIRGINIAN, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA.
SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT IN DENWOODY.
UH, I'M WITH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED ENERGY, RIGHT? UH, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF US BEFORE.
I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, HAVE TRAVELED INTO THE COUNTY, UH, ON PREVIOUS TRIPS.
UH, WE WANNA SEE ENERGY DONE THE RIGHT WAY ON THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH A FOCUS ON PROPERTY RIGHTS AND CONSERVATIVE IDEALS, INCLUDING AN ALL THE ABOVE ENERGY STRATEGY LED BY A MARKET BASED APPROACH.
UH, WE WANNA ENSURE THERE'S A COMMON SENSE VOICE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WHEN ENERGY DISCUSSIONS OCCUR.
AS YOU ALL CONSIDER SOLAR PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP A, A, A CAREFUL EYE ON PROPERTY RIGHTS.
MEANING SOMEONE CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR LAND AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THEIR NEIGHBOR OR COMMUNITY.
BUT ALSO BE MINDFUL OF THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME ALONG WITH CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS.
WE BELIEVE THAT SOLAR PROJECTS SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE IN TAXES TO THE COUNTY SO THAT ALL RESIDENTS CAN BENEFIT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUES FROM SOLAR PROJECTS, AS YOU HEARD TONIGHT, DO NOT STRAIN PUBLIC SERVICES LIKE OTHER TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT DEMAND.
THESE TAX DOLLARS CAN HELP LOWER TAXES ON CITIZENS, AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER VIRGINIA COUNTIES, SUCH AS CHARLOTTE, OR GO TO REPAIRING ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE, FUNDING, SCHOOLS, AND EVEN SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
SOLAR IS A QUIET ODORLESS, OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, LAND USE AND NEIGHBOR THAT CAN GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR COUNTY PROJECTS AND NEEDS WITHOUT BURDENS OR COSTS TO THE COUNTY OR TAXPAYERS.
NOT ONLY CAN THESE PROJECTS BE A BOOST TO YOUR LOCAL TAX BASE, BUT ALSO BE A HUGE BENEFIT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH A SMALL BUS, OR SORRY, EXCUSE ME, WITH A BUSINESS GROUP CALLED THE SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA BUSINESS ALLIANCE MADE UP OF, OF VERY MANY RURAL, SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN SOUTH SIDE IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
CVBA ENSURES THAT LOCAL WORKERS AND BUSINESS BUSINESSES ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST CHOICE FOR PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION, OPERATIONAL, AND RELATED SERVICES FOR UTILITY SCALE, SOLAR AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
S-C-V-B-A WANTS TO HIGHLIGHT HOW MANY BUSINESSES STAND TO GAIN FROM SOLAR PROJECTS BEING PASSED, LIKE A LAWN CARE BUSINESS, LOCAL HARDWARE STORE, OR EVEN A FOOD TRUCK, AS WE'VE SEEN TRAVELING FROM DIFFERENT PROJECTS, MAKING MONEY OFF OF, UH, GIVING, GIVING THE THE WORKERS LUNCH ENERGY, RIGHT IS WORKING TO INVITE MORE AND MORE BUSINESSES TO JOIN S-C-V-B-A SO THAT EVERYONE CAN BENEFIT FROM SOLAR COMING TO THEIR COUNTY.
PASSING SMART AND REASONABLE SOLAR PROJECTS DOESN'T JUST MEAN ONE PERSON IS BENEFITING FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO CITIZENS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THEY ALL STAND TO BENEFIT FROM SEEING PROJECTS DONE THE RIGHT WAY.
AG AGRICULTURE, UH, IS ONE OF THE LARGEST INDUSTRIES IN VIRGINIA.
UH, RECENTLY, GOVERNOR YOUNGIN REPORTED VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS HIT A RECORD HIGH IN 2022, FOLLOWING THE PREVIOUS RECORDS THAT IN 2021, UH, WHILE VIRGINIA LOST A NET OF, UH, ZERO ACRES OF FARMLAND, NET ZERO OF ZERO ACRES OF FARMLAND IN 2022, UH, ACCORDING TO THE RECENT REPORT, JUST, UH, RELEASED FROM THE USDA, UH, IN THE SAME YEAR WE SAW FARMERS ACROSS VIRGINIA BRING THOUSANDS OF MEGAWATTS OF VIRGINIA PRODUCED, UH, PRODUCED ENERGY TO THEIR FARM PORTFOLIO.
AS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, THIS PROJECT WILL CONTINUE THE PROGRESS AND BE A NET INCREASE OF MORE FARMLAND IN VIRGINIA.
UH, I WOULD URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF SOLAR DEVELOPMENTS IN DEADWOOD COUNTY.
SO LANDOWNERS MAY MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS AND THE BENEFITS OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT MAY BE FULLY UNLEASHED AND REALIZED BY THE COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S TIME AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE COUNTY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS ON THIS WORK AS WELL.
GOOD EVENING, HUDY TUS 18 425 COX ROAD.
I'M HERE TONIGHT AS THE CHAIRMAN OF ITY COUNTY FARM BUREAU.
NOT AS A CITIZEN, NOT AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER, JUST TY COUNTY FARM BUREAU.
EITHER ONE OF Y'ALL OR SOMEBODY IN ADMINISTRATION ASKED INTERJECTS TO CALL, UH, TO CALL ON DENWITY COUNTY FARM BUREAU TO TALK ABOUT CROP LAND AND HOW TO MITIGATE CROP LAND OR THE EFFECTS IT WAS GONNA HAVE ON TY COUNTY AND TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
SO I'VE MET WITH INTERJECTS THREE TIMES, RIGHT? THREE, OKAY.
WE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT CROP LAND AND MITIGATION.
WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS SUCH AS COST SHARE PROGRAMS TO INCREASED INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY ON ALREADY EXISTING LAND TO MAKE UP FOR LAND THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN.
WE TALKED ABOUT IRRIGATION PROGRAMS THAT WOULD MAKE LAND MORE PRODUCTIVE IN DENWITTY.
WE TALKED ABOUT REPLACEMENT OF LAND.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE WHOLE GAMUT OF WHAT YOU COULD DO.
UH, IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THEY HAD THE TALKS WITH
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THE FARMERS IN THE AREA THAT THE BIGGEST THING THEY WANTED WAS MITIGATION OF THE LAND BY ITSELF.SO I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY INTERJECTS CAME UP WITH THE, AT THE TIME WE FIRST STARTED TALKING, IT WAS A ONE FOR ONE AND THEY KEPT THROWING AROUND NET ZERO.
AND I SAID, PLEASE DO NOT USE THAT.
I WISH Y'ALL HADN'T USED IT TONIGHT, BUT WE'RE GOOD.
UH, BECAUSE YES, THEY'RE GONNA REPLACE AT 1.5, BUT UNTIL WE SEE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LAND, WE CAN'T TRULY SAY IT'S NET ZERO IMPACT.
I WAS VERY VOCAL WITH THEM ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT NEEDS TO MEET, UH, DENWITTY COUNTY AVERAGES FOR CROPS SUCH AS CORN, SOYBEANS, PEANUTS, WHATEVER, TOBACCO, WHATEVER'S GROWN, GROWN ON IT.
AND THOSE THINGS COULD BE FOUND AT THE FSA AND SOIL CONSERVATION OFFICES.
AND THEN THEY COULD COME BACK AND SAY, NET ZERO.
NOW AT A ONE FOR ONE, I KNEW IT WASN'T GONNA BE NET ZERO.
I KNEW WE TALKED ABOUT TWO TO ONE AT ONE TIME AND I FELT ANY LAND YOU CLEAR COULD PROBABLY BE 50% OF WHAT A GOOD PIECE OF FARMLAND COULD BE.
SO I FELT PRETTY GOOD WHEN THEY WERE TALKING THAT, BUT THEY CAME UP WITH 1.5.
NOW I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT THE STATE AND I, AS WE TALKED, I TALKED WITH MARTHA MOORE, HEAD OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WITH UH, STATE FARM BUREAU, WHO HAS ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ENERGETICS.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, I'M NOT A PROPONENT OR OPPONENT OF THIS TONIGHT.
I'M JUST GIVING YOU FACTS ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
WHILE IT, SOME OF WHAT I MIGHT SAY MAY BE MISCONSTRUED AS POSITIVE, IT'S JUST MEANT TO BE INFORMATION.
MARTHA MOORE AND I EXTENSIVELY TALKED ABOUT OTHER SOLAR PROJECTS THAT SHE'S SEEN COME THROUGH DIFFERENT COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
SHE SAID SHE HAS NEVER SEEN A COUNTY BE OFFERED A ONE-TO-ONE, A ONE AND A HALF TO ONE OR A TWO TO ONE RATIO OF MITIGATION ON FARMLAND.
MA MATTER OF FACT, SHE SAYS SHE REALLY HADN'T SEEN ANY MITIGATION OF FARMLAND.
SO SHE FELT, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FARMLAND AND IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FARM BUREAU, WHICH TALKS ABOUT PRESERVATION OF FARMLAND, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE SEE SOLAR.
BUT LOOK, IT DOESN'T STOP WITH SOLAR.
THE TWO ACRES THAT, THAT, UH, DOLLAR GENERAL JUST TOOK UP RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF WALMART, COULD WE HAVE MITIGATED THAT WITH THEM? YOU KNOW, THE LAND THAT THAT WALMART SITS ON, COULD THAT FARM HAVE BEEN MITIGATED IN CROP LAND CHANGE SOMEWHERE ELSE? OTHER THINGS I, WE WANT TO SAY, NOT JUST SOLAR, BUT WE ARE FROM MITIGATION OF CROP LAND.
IN ANY PROJECT THAT COMES IN FRONT OF Y'ALL, WE SEE THAT IF Y'ALL CONSIDERED THIS, IT WOULD SET A PRECEDENT WITHIN THE STATE THAT WHEN SOLAR COMPANIES COME BEFORE COUNTIES, THAT THERE IS AN OPTION OF MITIGATION OF CROP LAND.
THAT THERE IS A TALK THAT CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU DID IT.
OTHER PEOPLE COULD SEE IT, THAT IT COULD BE POSITIVE.
SHE THOUGHT ANOTHER THING THAT WAS POSITIVE WAS THE FACT THAT ENERGETICS IS NOT SELLING IT.
NOW OBVIOUSLY 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD THEY COULD SELL IT, BUT I'M GONNA TAKE 'EM AT THEIR WORD TODAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA OWN IT.
UNLIKE MANY THAT HAVE LEASES THAT WERE SOLD TO DOMINION OR AMAZON OR WHOEVER, I COULD SIT HERE AND TALK TO YOU FOR 20 MINUTES ABOUT THIS IN THE MITIGATION OF THIS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THEY'VE TALKED, THEY MET THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT JUST ON FARMLAND, MITIGATION, NOW NOTHING ELSE.
AND WE SAW THOSE THINGS AS A POSITIVE AND A POSITIVE FOR DI WITTY COUNTY.
I LIVE AT 26 7 29 PERKINS ROAD.
UH, I'M AGAINST THE SOLAR FARM LOCATION.
THE STORM WATER RUNOFF THAT WILL BE CREATED BY THIS WITH THE LOAN, UH, SANDY LOAN LAND THAT WE HAVE, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL.
UH, THIS WILL AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
ME AND MY WIFE RUN A BUSINESS
43 YEARS AGO I ASKED A HANOVER FARMER, PHILIP CHRISTIAN, HOW TO GET INTO THIS BUSINESS AND HE SAID, YOU HAVE TO HAVE WATER
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'CAUSE YOU'RE SELLING YOUR PRODUCT YOU'RE SELLING IS 80% WATER, 20% TASTE.SO IF THEY'RE ALLOWED TO COME HERE TO THIS LOCATION, UH, LEMME STOP.
'CAUSE OF NEIGHBOR ASKED ME TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THIS.
THE TIMBER ON THIS PROPERTY HAS ALREADY BEEN CUT.
SO THE STORM WATER RUNOFF HAS ALREADY BEGAN.
WE, WE'VE ALREADY TAKE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ON.
THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY HAS A APPLE ON THEIR PHONE AND THEY CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER THAT WILL ALREADY BEGIN TO RUN OFF PROPERTY.
WE RECEIVED STORM WATER RUNOFF FROM THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND COMING ONLINE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WILL BE A CONTINUOUS FLOW FROM THE NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT GOES ONLINE THAT WILL BE PIPED DOWN NUMBER ONE HIGHWAY AND DUMPED INTO PITCHER BRANCH, WHICH DUMPS INTO HATCHERY RUN, WHICH IS ENDS UP IN WAN CREEK.
40% OF THE WATER WE RECEIVE FROM RAINFALL, 60% WE RECEIVED FROM WAN CREEK FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES.
UM, THIS COMPANY HAS ALREADY BEEN FINED $97,651 BY THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, UH, FOR THE APPOMATTOX, BUCKINGHAM KING, WILLIAM PRINCE GEORGE HENRY.
AND WITH SITES I DON'T SEE WHAT'S GONNA MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE FOR THEIR OPERATION.
WHEN THEY COME TO DEWINE COUNTY, WE WILL HAVE THE STORM WATER RUNOFF AND IF WE HAVE THE SILT RUNOFF AND ALL, THEY'LL SHUT DOWN OUR OPERATION.
WE HAVE TO FILTRATE OUR WATER ALREADY FOR USE.
'CAUSE WE USE A LOT OF DRIP IRRIGATION.
UM, THAT'S ALL I WANNA TALK ON THAT.
UH, SECOND THING IS THE DARK SIDE OF SOLARS THAT PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IS FIRES.
THERE'S BEEN A HUGE NUMBER OF FIRES CAUSED BY THESE SOLAR FACILITIES.
AND 2022 MARCH 3RD AND MARCH 29TH, THE UNIT'S CAUGHT ON FIRE.
UM, PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY HAD ONE JULY 8TH, 2022.
EX EXA COUNTY SOLAR HAS HAD THREE FIRES, WHICH FIRES BURNED INSIDE THE FENCE AND 50 ACRES OUTSIDE THE FENCE.
IN OUR PART OF THE COUNTY, WE'RE VERY RURAL.
OUR RESPONSE TIME IS 15 TO 35 MINUTES IF WE'RE HAVING A GOOD DAY.
SO I, I CAN'T SEE THIS KIND OF INDUSTRY BEING LOCATED HERE IN THIS AREA.
I WORKED FOR AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY IN HOPEWELL.
WE HAD OUR OWN FIRE, EMS AND HAZMAT RESPONSE TEAM.
WE RESPONDED IN 400 ACRES WITHIN THREE MINUTES, BUT ALSO REQUIRED BY OUR INSURANCE CARRIERS WAS WE HAD A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN ON SITE 24 7 365.
IT IS JUST, I DON'T THINK THE COUNTY IS READY FOR THIS.
NOT IN ALL PART OF THE COUNTY.
MAYBE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE THEY'RE CLOSER TO, UH, THAT KIND OF FIRE AND EMS PROTECTION.
THAT'S, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
I, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT FOR THIS AT ALL AND I, I HOPE, HOPE THIS IS VOTED DOWN.
MY NAME IS WALTER BRIAN PITTMAN.
MY ADDRESS IS 2 6 8 5 3 PERKINS ROAD, DEITY, VIRGINIA 2 3 8 0 5.
UM, THE GRAPHIC THAT WAS DISPLAYED EARLIER, I LIVE APPROXIMATELY WHERE PERKINS ROAD CURVES BEFORE IT CURVES AGAIN INTO MONKS NECK ROAD.
AND LOOKING AT THAT GRAPHIC, I COULD SEE MY HOUSE ON THE MAP.
UM, AND WHAT CONCERNS ME IS IF I WALK OUT AND TURN 360 DEGREES, MORE THAN 180 DEGREES OF THAT, I'M SURROUNDED BY THIS, UH, SOLAR FARM.
SO IT, IT AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY AS A HOMEOWNER.
UM, I DO RESPECT THE LANDOWNERS, UM, THE
[04:00:01]
CHOICES OF WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR LAND.UM, MANY OF THEM I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS.
UM, NEIGHBORS HUNT WITH, UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE.
BUT MY MAJOR CONCERN, UM, WITH SOME OF THAT IS THAT, UH, AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IT'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, BUT I NEVER ENVISION HOME BEING IN AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, UM, WHERE I BUILT MY HOME.
UM, NOT TO CONTINUE ON WITH ANYTHING ANYONE ELSE HAS SAID.
JUST A COUPLE POINT OUT, UM, SOME RESEARCH DONE BY MITCHELL PYO ZUCKERMAN, UH, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT THAT'S CREATED BY LARGE SOLAR FARMS ON LARGE PARCELS OF LAND.
UM, BY DEFINITION THEY SAY A LARGE SOLAR FARM CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO HUNDREDS OF ACRES.
AND OF COURSE THIS IS 1800 ACRES.
UM, BUT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RAISE TEMPERATURES, UM, WITHIN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S CALLED THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, ANYWHERE FROM 5.4 TO 7.2 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, WHICH WE KNOW NOW.
AND THAT, UM, TIMES OF JULY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE EXCEED A HUNDRED DEGREES IN SOME DAYS, SO, YOU KNOW, IT COULD POTENTIALLY ADD ANOTHER SEVEN DEGREES TO THAT.
UH, I SIT IN A LOWER PART OF THE LAND.
UH, MY POND IS FILLED COMPLETELY WITH RUNOFF.
UH, RONIC CREEK IS BEHIND THE HOUSE.
I HAVE SEVERAL STREAMS AND BRANCHES THAT FEED INTO THAT.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THE RUNOFF OF THE SEDIMENT, UM, EVEN THOUGH THE PROPOSED DITCHES AND AND WATER DID, UM, IT, IT MAY NOT WORK AS PLANNED.
UM, SO I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
UM, ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS, IS, YOU KNOW, I I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT IT'S SAFE, BUT YOU KNOW, THE ICE STORM THAT WE HAD APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO TOOK DOWN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YEAR OLD OAKS NEAR MY HOME.
SO I IMAGINE SEEING WHAT THE DAMAGE THAT THAT ICE STORM DID ON MY PROPERTY.
I CAN IMAGINE IF THERE WAS 1800 ACRES OF SOLAR PANELS AND SOME OF THAT, SOME OF IT WERE TO LEAK INTO, UH, THE WATER SUPPLY.
WHAT, WHAT EFFECTS COULD THAT HAVE 10, 2000 HUNDREDS OF YEARS FROM NOW? UM, AND BASICALLY JUST, UM, TO CLOSE OFF, UM, I CURRENTLY DRIVE TO AND FROM SCHOOL PAST THE, THE, THE FARM THAT'S CURRENTLY ON, UM, OV ROAD.
AND ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THERE.
IN 10 DAYS TIME, I PLUGGED THREE TIRES, TWO ON MY MOM'S CAR, ONE ON MY CAR, AND HAD TO REPLACE A TIRE FROM A TWO INCH GAS OF JUST METAL THAT WAS IN THE ROAD.
UM, AND I KNOW IT WAS AT THAT SPECIFIC SPOT BECAUSE AS SOON AS I PASSED THE ENTRANCEWAY, I WAS ON MY RIM BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF THE RIM SUBSTATION BECAUSE I COULD LITERALLY HEAR THE TIRE BLOW.
SO THAT'S A CONCERN I HAVE IN MIND.
AND, UM, NOW I REROUTE MY, UM, TO AND FROM WORK AS ABOUT EXTRA FIVE MINUTES JUST TO AVOID THAT AREA.
AND I'LL BE BASICALLY SURROUNDED ON BOTH SIDES WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
UM, AND OF COURSE THAT'S A MUCH SMALLER SCALE.
UM, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE, I'M NOT AGAINST SOLAR TECHNOLOGY.
UM, I AGREE WITH LANDOWNER RIGHTS, BUT AN INDUSTRIAL FARM, AN INDUSTRIAL, I WOULDN'T CALL IT A FARM, BUT AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX THAT'S SURROUNDING MY PROPERTY.
I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M NOT REALLY FOR IT.
SO I ASK THAT YOU BUTT IT DOWN.
ACTUALLY NIGHT, PROBABLY
NOW I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I REALLY HAD NO INTENT ON SPEAKING TODAY.
I RECEIVED 35 PHONE CALLS FROM SEVEN 30 LAST NIGHT.
ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY, I AM A SITTING MEMBER ON THE FARM BUREAU BOARD.
ONE, I WANT TO SAY OUR PRESIDENT SPOKE.
WE NEVER HAD A MEETING WITH Y'ALL.
I HAD A PERSONAL MEETING WITH YOU.
I NEVER MET WITH THEM AS FARM BUREAU.
MUST NOT BE A HIGH UP ENOUGH ON THE BOARD THERE.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY TO OUR UNDERSTANDING AND TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FARM BUREAU IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF IT TO MY UNDERSTANDING.
SECOND, DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ONE OF THE MEMBERS STATED THAT THERE WAS LEGISLATION THAT WAS BE PUSHED THROUGH TO MANDATE THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE SOLD IN THE COUNTY.
WELL, LO AND BEHOLD, ALL THAT GOT THROWN OUT THE WINDOW 'CAUSE EVERYBODY SAYS, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THE COUNTY DO WHAT THE COUNTY DOESN'T WANT TO DO.
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JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE, A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.UM, THE ONE ACRE HERE, THEY WILL TAKE ONE ACRE TO GIVE AN ACRE AND A HALF.
I HATE TO TELL YOU, YOU GONNA SPEND A LOT OF MONEY
AND THE RUNNING JOKE IS, IT'S GONNA TAKE ME 10 YEARS TO EVEN START TO GET A RETURN BECAUSE IT'S ALL COMING FROM TIMBERLAND THAT HASN'T BEEN IN PRODUCTION.
AND YOU, IF YOU TAKE A FARM THAT'S BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR 80 YEARS, IT'S A REASON WHY IT'S BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR 80 YEARS.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU GO TO REPLACE IT ONE AT A TIME AND A HALF, IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
BUT I'M SURE THERE'S EXPERTS THAT CAN ARGUE IT OTHERWISE.
UM, THE LA THE LAST TWO THINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL, UH, OR PERSONAL CONCERNING ONE, THEY ASKED US WHAT THEY COULD DO TO NOTIFY THE COUNTY.
NOW THEY'RE ABOUT TO GIVE YOU $4 MILLION, $4 MILLION UPFRONT.
AND WE SAID, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO AND PUT SOME BANNERS OR SOME SIGNS UP ON ROAD PLACES.
UH, SEE THE EMAIL ON THE EIGHTH, I BELIEVE OF APRIL.
WE GOTTA WORK ON THEIR PLACEMENT.
I SAID, ALRIGHT, THREE DAYS AGO, THE FIRST ONE, WE ONLY GOT ONE, SO Y'ALL GET 4 MILLION.
BUT WE ONLY GOT ONE SIGN TO SHOW THAT LILY PALM WAS COMING.
I DOUBT ANYBODY SAW IT BECAUSE I HAD TO RIDE BY THREE TIMES TO FIND IT.
AND I ACTUALLY TOLD PEOPLE, I SAID, YEAH, THEY SAID HE PUT IT UP, BUT I AIN'T FOUND IT YET.
I FOUND IT WHEN I CAME BACKWARDS FROM WAY THAT NOBODY REALLY TRAVELS, BUT THEY SAID THE PLACEMENT OF IT WAS TRICKY.
SO NOW THIS IS ELECTION YEAR GUYS.
Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT? MAKE SURE WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR SIGN FOR ELECTION, IT'S TRICKY, BUT IN THE RIGHT SPOT.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF LANDOWNERS THAT OWN ROAD FRONTAGE THAT WANT SOLAR.
WOULDN'T YOU THINK THAT IF IT WAS A GREAT THING, THEY SAY, WELL, HEY, PUT IT RIGHT ON MY LAND.
I OWN THE LAND RIGHT NEXT TO THE HARD SURFACE ROAD.
ONE OWNS RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF CARSON AND BRICK ROAD, HEAVILY TRAVELED, ONE OWNED ON HALIFAX, SEVERAL OWN ON MONKS NECK, NO SIGNS.
BUT I'M, IT'S, IT'S TRICKY PLACEMENT, I THINK IS WHAT IT IS.
I JUST, LIKE I SAID, I'M AND THE OTHER THING, THE, THEY, THEY'RE ALL ABOUT, THEY, THEY'RE AROUND AND INVOLVED IN ALL THIS.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW FOR ONE YEAR THAT 180 ACRES GOT CLEAR CUT THAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON USING.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA THAT IT HAD BEEN CUT.
AND THEN UP TILL THREE WEEKS AGO, THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT 88, I THINK IT'S 88.6 ACRES THAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON USING AS A BUFFER WASN'T EVEN PART OF THE DEEDED LAND THAT THEY, THEY, LONG STORY SHORT, THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE RESEARCH ON WHO OWNS WHAT
BUT LIKE I SAID, THAT'S HERE NOR THERE.
CLEAR CUT THE TIMBER COMPANIES GO EXERCISE THE RIGHT, FROM WHAT I'M GATHERING AFTER TALKING TO PINEVIEW, LLC, IF THIS DOES COME, Y'ALL SEE THEM BEFORE TO DEVELOP MONK'S NECK ROAD IN JUST LIKE PERKINS ROAD WAS.
SO I, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST COMING FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES.
HEARSAY, I'D JUST LIKE TO RELAY THE INFORMATION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND UH, LIKE I SAID, THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY ON THAT, BUT I'M, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IT.
I, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T STATE THAT.
I WAS GONNA PUT TIMOTHY, BUT MY DAD WENT FIRST AND I DIDN'T WANT Y'ALL TO GET COMPLICATED
MY NAME IS EDNA SHELL, UM, PRESIDE AT 14 7 1 6 HALIFAX ROAD, CARSON, VIRGINIA.
AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF DENWOODY COUNTY ALL MY LIFE.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN DENWOODY COUNTY AND BOTH AS A PROJECT LANDOWNER AND A RESIDENT OF DUNWOODY COUNTY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SOLAR PROJECT.
THIS IS A WAY TO ENSURE THAT MY FAMILY WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR YEARS TO COME.
BOTH, IT WILL BOTH ENABLE US TO KEEP THE LAND IN OUR FAMILY, PRESERVING THE FUTURE OF THE VENTURES, WHILE PROVIDING SOME FINANCIAL CERTAINTY THAT EVEN LEASING THE LAND OUT FOR FARMING COULD NOT PROVIDE AT THIS TIME.
AND I HAVE LEASED MY LAND FOR MANY YEARS AND IT IS NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO PAY THE HALF FIRST HALF OF THE TAXES ON THE LAND.
SO EACH YEAR WE GOING TO HOLD.
AND, AND WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS, I DID LET THEM KNOW I DID NOT WANT TO USE
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ANY OF THE LAND THAT I WAS LEASING TO THE FARMS BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS A FARMER.AND I KNOW THAT'S, UM, IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED FARMERS IN ORDER FOR US TO SURVIVE, YOU KNOW, SO, AND MY HUSBAND, WE PLANT OUR OWN LITTLE LAND, BUT OUR OWN GARDEN.
BUT OTHER PEOPLE, THEY NEED THAT AND THAT'S HOW SOME OF THEM SURVIVE.
UM, ALTHOUGH I AM, UM, IN FAVOR OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT A STANDARD THAT PROTECTS THE RURAL CHARACTER OF OUR COUNTY.
LILY POND HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECT IS WELL SUITED FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S EVENTS OF APPLICATION THAT HAS IN HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU FOR YOUR, UM, CONSIDERATION TODAY AS IT DID WITH A RESIDENT.
I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME LILY POND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT 45 YEARS.
ALSO, I WOULD MAKE ME PROUD THAT MY LAND COULD BE USED TO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT RENEWAL THAT WOULD STAY IN ITY COUNTY AND COULD BE USED TO FUND CRUCIAL COUNTY NEEDS AS THEY INDICATED BEFORE FOR THE SCHOOLS, FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR OUR FIRST, UH, RESPONDERS, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO ME.
AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BEING A DEWI COUNTY, UM, RESIDENT.
AND WHEN TAKING AND, AND WHEN THINKING THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS SOLAR PROJECT, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO EVEN AGREE UPON IT.
THEY'VE APPROACHED ME MANY TIMES AND, AND I HAD SOME RESERVATIONS ALSO.
BUT, UM, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THEM, THEY ANSWERED ALL OF MY CONCERNS.
AND CONSIDERING OUR FUTURE FOR MY CHILDREN, I DECIDED IT WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO CONSIDER THIS.
UM, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL VOTE YES FOR THE PROJECT AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
I LIVE AT 14 8 10 BRICK ROAD, UH, IN CARSON.
AND, UH, I'M CALLING, I'M, I'M UP HERE TODAY TO, UH, TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT MY PETITION TO NOT APPROVE THIS ZONING CHANGE TO ALLOW THIS SOLAR FORM.
UH, WHY WOULD I ASK YOU THAT? UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS.
UM, WE COULD TALK ABOUT SOCIETY'S, UH, DECISION ABOUT MAKING CHOICES OF OUR LIMITED RESOURCES, POWER VERSUS FOOD, UH, AND, AND USE OF LAND RESOURCES.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE, THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL, UH, REASONS WHY SOLAR POWER, UH, IS NOT THE, THE, THE BEST WAY TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S EXPENSE, IT'S RELIABILITY.
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S INEFFICIENCY 20%, UH, EFFICIENCY RATE, UH, ITS EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, AND, AND, AND ADRENALINE RESOURCES.
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT, OR I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM,
UH, THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS IS I, I, I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I WOULD, UH, UH, TELL YOU, UH, TO, TO THE BOARD AS TO WHY I THINK THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
AND, YOU KNOW, I I I, I, I'M AN ENGINEER.
I, I I OWN BUSINESSES, UH, AND HERE IN DWIN COUNTY, I'M, I'M, I'M SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, THIS OPERATION.
AND, AND I THOUGHT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS JUST TO EXPLAIN, UH, HOW IT AFFECTS ME, BECAUSE I THINK IT AFFECTS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THE SAME WAY.
UM, I, I, I ACTUALLY MOVED TO DEWINE COUNTY IN 2021, HAVING RAISED MY KIDS IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
AND
UM, TWO AND A HALF HOUR COMMUTES TO WORK.
UM, I, I, UH, I MOVED A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE I WAS UP THERE RAISING MY KIDS.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY, MY, UH, ONE HOUSE, UH, UM, MY FIRST HOUSE, YOU KNOW, UH, HAD I FOUND OUT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD, LATER I FOUND OUT THAT 107 SCHOOL BUSES DRIVE BY MY HOUSE EVERY DAY.
AND IT CAUSED A REALLY BAD THING.
WE SOLD THE HOUSE, MOVED TO ANOTHER PLACE.
UM, I ENDED UP MOVING AGAIN, UH, TO, UM, AN APARTMENT
[04:15:01]
THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN APARTMENT BACK HERE.
WHEN I MOVED IN, THEY SAID THAT ONE WASN'T AVAILABLE, AND I HAD TO MOVE INTO THE APARTMENT RIGHT UP NEXT TO THE FOUR LANE ROAD.
I HAD, HAD TO, COULDN'T GET OUT OF THERE FAST ENOUGH.
UM, SO I WENT TO THE ONLY
I, UH, I CALLED IT CAMP ASEE, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE IN THE WOODS.
AND, AND, AND I, AND I LOVED IT.
THEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT'S A, UH, A CUT THROUGH FOR TRAFFIC.
SO I WENT TO THE VDOT, SAID, YOU NEED, YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THIS.
THEIR ANSWER WAS TO INCREASE THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD.
SO I MOVED, UH, AGAIN TO QUAIL CABIN, UH, WHICH WAS A CABIN IN THE WOODS, UM, NICE WOODED NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY YOUNGEST SON, YOU KNOW, HE LEAVE, HE, UH, GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL.
MY OTHER SON IS GRADUATING THIS WEEKEND FROM WILLIAM AND MARY.
UM, AND I, I LOOKED AROUND THE STATE AND I SAID, WHERE AM I GONNA GO? AND I DECIDED BRICK ROAD IN COUNTY VIRGINIA.
AND I, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I DROVE HERE OVER 90% OF THE TIME, UH, ON MY DRIVE HERE TONIGHT, UM, THERE WASN'T NO LINES ON THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, THE YELLOW LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, OR THE WHITE LINES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
OVER 90% OF THE TIME, THERE WEREN'T ANY LINES.
UH, THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THE, THE, THE IMPACT.
UH, I DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE ON BRICK ROAD UP TO HALIFAX ROAD, AND I STOP.
AND THAT'S THE MAIN ROAD, RIGHT? AND I GET ON THAT ROAD IN TWO YEARS NOW OF LIVING HERE.
I'VE ONLY HAD TO STOP THERE ONCE FOR CROSS TRAFFIC.
I MEAN, I ALWAYS STOP AT THE STOP SIGN.
I'M JUST SAYING, I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR TRAFFIC
SO I'M LIKE, SO MY POINT HERE IS, YOU KNOW, I I, I SAT OUT ON THE FRONT YARD OF MY HOUSE, UH, THE OTHER NIGHT AFTER, WENT DOWN WITH MY DOG AND I WATCHED THE STARS AND THE, THE, THE QUIETNESS IS WHY I MOVED HERE.
THIS, UH, OPERATION, UH, UH, IS ILL-ADVISED.
AND BOTTOM LINE, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WHY I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE ANTITHETICAL TO WHAT DENWITTY COUNTY IS ABOUT.
I FEEL LIKE I WAS, UH, IT, IT WAS, IT, I WAS SWAPPED OUT HERE.
I, I WOULD SAID THERE'S A COVENANT WITH THE, THE ZONING, UH, THAT WHEN I MOVED HERE, THAT THIS WOULD BE, UH, UH, A RURAL AREA AND I MOVE HERE, AND THEN LITERALLY MONTHS LATER WE'RE LIKE, OH NO, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE THIS WAY.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A GLOBAL CABAL AGAINST ME, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING ON THIS? WE'RE GONNA BRING THE APPLICANT BACK UP.
GIMME A SECOND, BUT IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU, SIR.
WE'VE BEEN THERE NOW ALMOST 50 YEARS.
WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION WHEN MR. TRUMP WENT IN.
HE LET THEM DEVELOP THE OIL, GAS PLUMMETED, PLENTY OF ENERGY.
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE ELECTION.
I AM FROM, UH, 7 1 1 FIFTH STREET, NORTHEAST IN WASHINGTON, DC I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST.
SORRY, I WAS A LITTLE LATE TO SIGN UP.
UM, I AM HERE TODAY TO ECHO WHAT OUR PARTNERS WITH THE PETERSBURG BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION HAD TO SAY.
UH, THIS PROJECT, UM, WE'VE BEEN, THIS WAS NOTED.
WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH INTERJECTS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
AND, UM, THE, THE MAPS THAT WE SAW TONIGHT AND WHAT WAS PUT UP ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE FOR THIS MEETING REFLECT SOME OF THAT BATTLEFIELD IMPACT.
I SHOULD GO BACK REALLY QUICKLY AND SAY THAT WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S FOCUSED ON CIVIL WAR REVOLUTION WAR BATTLEFIELDS, AND, UM, WE OWN AROUND A COUPLE HUNDRED ACRES, SIX TO EIGHT PARCELS OF THE CORE AREA OF THE BATTLEFIELD.
ADJACENT TO THIS PROJECT, UH, INTERJECTS HAS IDENTIFIED ABOUT 60 ACRES THAT THEY'LL BE PUTTING INTO EASEMENT UNDER THEIR PROPOSAL.
[04:20:01]
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.I THINK WHAT WE'D LOVE TO SEE AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DISCUSS WITH THEM, UM, IS FURTHER PROTECTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CORE BATTLEFIELD LAND THAT IS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD, OR MY MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE INTENTIONS CURRENTLY TO PUT PANELS, AT LEAST ON TOP OF THE REMAINDER OF THE CORE, CORE BATTLEFIELD LAND IN THE PROJECT.
BUT WE'RE IN THE FOREVER BUSINESS TO STEAL A TERM FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
AND WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS EITHER AN OFFER FROM THE DEVELOPER OR REQUIREMENT COMING FROM THE BOARD, UH, THAT THE REMAINDER OF CORE BATTLEFIELD LAND AND CORE IS TO FIND WHERE, WHERE BLOOD WAS SHED DURING A BATTLE, UM, BE PUT UNDER A PROPER PROTECTIVE EASEMENT AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, AN AGREEMENT IN, UH, IN WORDS BUT NOT LEGALLY BINDING, WHICH IS WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES WITH SOME OF THE REMAINDER OF THAT CORE BATTLEFIELD LAND.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT OVERALL WE'RE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT.
WE UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY'S INTEREST IN BOTH THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES, THE CLEAN POWER THAT WE PRODUCE.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO SAY WE'RE AGAINST THAT, BUT WE'RE, WE AND OUR, OUR, UH, MEMBERS, UH, CARE QUITE DEEPLY ABOUT THE HISTORIC LAND THAT VIRGINIA HAS AND THAT THE WHOLE NATION HAS.
AND WE THINK THAT WITH SOME ADDITIONAL TIME OR WITH A REQUIREMENT FROM THE BOARD, WE COULD REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD PROTECT THE LAND ADEQUATELY.
ANYONE ELSE? HEARING NOW WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC.
I LIVE AT 2 7 6 8 6 PERKINS ROAD.
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN I MOVED TO THAT AREA, I MOVED BECAUSE IT WAS AGRICULTURAL, IT WAS ZONED THE WAY IT WAS.
ZONING IS PUT THERE FOR A PURPOSE.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS BASED ON HOW LAND IS ZONED, AND I AM URGING YOU NOT TO APPROVE THE REZONING AND THE SPECIAL USE.
WE DIDN'T COME HERE, I DIDN'T MOVE HERE FOR THAT.
THESE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE ADJOINING LANDOWNER, THE ADJOINING LANDOWNERS, THEY DON'T WANT THAT.
THIS BENEFITS THE INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS ONLY THIS ELECTRICITY THAT'S BEING MADE, IT'S NOT BENEFITING DENWITTY COUNTY.
IT'S BEING SOLD ON THE OPEN MARKET TO GO.
IT'S HELPING THE INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS AND THAT'S IT.
UM, AND I AM URGING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS.
I'M GONNA LOOK AROUND ONE MORE TIME, MAKE SURE I DON'T MISS ANYBODY, ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK? OKAY.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.
UM, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DOES ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK? THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD POINT, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND LET THE APPLICANT COME BACK UP AND, AND HAVE SOME, HAVE THEIR TIME.
SO WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO COME BACK AND AS A REBUTTAL? YES.
UM, SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS BRIEFLY, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I HAVEN'T ANSWERED, PLEASE ASK ME.
I'M, I'M HAPPY TO, TO ANSWER THAT.
UH, SO I KNOW FIRES WERE MENTIONED, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY FIRES ON ANY OF OUR PROJECTS.
UM, I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANY OTHER, UM, PROJECT.
UM, IN TERMS OF TREE CUTTING, WE DID HAVE, UH, ONE OF OUR LANDOWNERS IS A TIMBER MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND LAST YEAR THEY'VE, UM, CLEAR CUT A PORTION OF THE LAND, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO SCREEN AND BUFFER.
ONCE WE WERE AWARE OF THAT, WE MET WITH THEM AND MADE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT CLEARING ANYTHING.
SO NO OTHER LAND THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH LILY POND SOLAR WILL BE CLEARED.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS CONFUSION BECAUSE THERE IS ONGOING CLEARING, BUT IT IS GOING ON ADJACENT PARCELS.
IT'S ON ANOTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD OR NEXT TO OUR PROJECT.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION OF IS IT ACTUALLY OUR LAND THAT IS BEING CLEARED OR NOT? IT IS NOT OUR LAND THAT IS BEING CLEARED.
UM, AND I KNOW, UH, THERE'S A MENTION, YOU KNOW, WHO DO WE ACTUALLY MEET WITH FARM BUREAU.
WE MET WITH, UM, STATE LEVEL FARM BUREAU.
UH, WE HAVE MET WITH MR. TMAS BECAUSE THAT WAS
[04:25:01]
RECOMMENDED TO US THAT WE SPEAK WITH HIM AS THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE.WE DID TRY TO MEET WITH, UM, LOCAL FARM BUREAU, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WERE TOLD, UM, THEY RESPECT PROPERTY RIGHTS.
THEY DON'T WANNA, UH, UH, PROVIDE INPUT ON THIS PROJECT.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE DID MEET WITH A GROUP OF FARMERS AND UM, I KNOW TJ WAS A PART OF THAT, SO I DIDN'T WANNA MISCONSTRUE THAT WE MET WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T MET.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE GQ FINES, UH, I KNOW WE'VE TRIED TO PROVIDE EXPLANATION.
UM, WE'VE HAD, UM, ISSUES ON, UH, TWO OF OUR PROJECTS WITH PHIL AND BUCKINGHAM.
AND AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FIXING THESE ISSUES WITH THE EQ, UM, LAST FALL, WE INVITED THEM TO COME AND INSPECT ALL OF OUR SITES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UP TO THE STANDARD.
SO THEY CAME WITH A LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT.
SO THIS IS WHAT THESE FINES ARE, UH, RELATING TO.
UM, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THAT WERE, UM, YOU KNOW, TECHNICAL, LIKE DIFFERENT MATERIAL USED THAN WHAT'S ON THE SITE PLANS.
UM, A LOT OF THE ISSUES WERE ADMINISTRATIVE.
NONE OF OUR PROJECTS HAS EVER CAUSED ANY RUNOFF.
UM, SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
AND AFTER I'M DONE SPEAKING, I'M GONNA ASK THAT OUR ENGINEERING CONSULTANT WITH KIMLEY HORNE, MR. SHA MALILLO, HE'S GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THAT, HOW STORM WATER MANAGEMENT WORKS ON SOLAR, WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO.
WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT COMES OFF SITE.
UM, SO THIS IS WHAT THESE MEASURES AND CALCULATIONS ARE REALLY AIMED AT, UM, DOING NOT JUST THE QUANTITY OF THE WATER, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER AS WELL.
UM, IN TERMS OF SOILS, I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
UM, SO NORTH CAROLINA IS A LITTLE BIT AHEAD IN TERMS OF HOW LONG THEY'VE HAD SOLAR, UM, WHICH, WHICH I KNOW, UM, MR. CHAVIS, YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY STARTED SOLAR ABOUT 10 YEARS BEFORE VIRGINIA.
UM, THE NC STATE UNIVERSITY AND THEIR AG EXTENSION, THEY'VE BEEN DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON, UH, WHAT IS IMPACT TO SOILS FROM SOLAR PROJECTS.
AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT MODEL IN NORTH CAROLINA.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF THESE 40 ACRES SOLAR PROJECTS.
UM, COMPANY THAT I USED TO WORK WITH.
WE'VE BUILT 150 OF THESE IN NORTH CAROLINA, UM, WITH THE OLDEST ONE BEING 15 YEARS NOW.
UH, SO A LOT OF THESE SITES WERE BEING STUDIED FOR WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS TO SOILS.
UM, THEY CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT GETS IN THE SOILS, UM, FOR ROOF PERIOD OF TIME.
THOSE CONCERN THAT OXIDATION FROM THE METAL BEAMS MAY CAUSE, UM, ISSUES WITH ZINC LEVELS IN THE SOIL, WHICH MAY IMPACT PEANUT GROWING.
BUT THEN THAT WAS AGAIN, REVISED UPON STUDIES WITH MORE TIME.
SO, UM, THAT RESOURCE THAT HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON SOIL, UH, HEALTH SHOWS THAT THERE'S REALLY NO IMPACT TO SOILS.
UM, AND I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE RURAL CHARACTER, THAT'S WHY THEY LIVE HERE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE DISTURBED.
THIS IS PRECISELY WHY WE HAVE INCREASED THE SETBACKS, WHY WE'RE KEEPING THAT VEGETATION SO THAT NEIGHBORS DON'T KNOW THAT THE SOLAR PROJECT IS THERE.
THERE IS NO AUDIBLE NOISE FROM THE SOLAR PROJECT OUTSIDE OF, OF THE PERIMETER.
IF YOU STAND NEXT TO AN INVERTER, IF YOU STAND NEXT TO THE SOLAR PANELS, YOU HEAR NOISE.
BUT IT IS NOT A LOUD NOISE THAT OUTSIDE OF THE PERIMETER OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE HEARD.
SO THIS WILL NOT DISRUPT THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND I KNOW ONE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED MOVING MULTIPLE TIMES WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND SCHOOL BUSES.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL NOT CAUSE THAT THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE PEACEFUL.
IT WILL NOT CAUSE INCREASED TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS.
IT WILL NOT CAUSE MORE PEOPLE MOVING TO THE COUNTY.
UM, IT REALLY WILL OUTSIDE OF CONSTRUCTION, AND I'M NOT DENYING IT.
OF COURSE, DURING CONSTRUCTION THERE WILL BE TRAFFIC, THERE WILL BE NOISE.
WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR TRAFFIC IS MANAGED, THAT ROADS ARE CLEAN, ROADS ARE MAINTAINED.
BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT BRIEF PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION, UM, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY IMPACT TO THE NEARBY LANDOWNERS.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA LET SEAN JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STORMWATER.
UM, I'M ELLO WITH KIMLEY HORNER ASSOCIATES CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM.
UM, WE HAVE MULTIPLE OFFICES IN VIRGINIA.
I'VE BEEN DOING SOLAR DESIGN IN VIRGINIA SINCE ABOUT 20 16, 20 17.
AND I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO START OFF WITH IS BACK IN 2016, SOLAR WAS VERY NEW, UM, TO VIRGINIA.
AND THE DESIGN THAT WE DO EVERY DAY HAS EVOLVED OVER THAT TIME.
BUT WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, I THINK, IS THE REGULATIONS ARE CATCHING UP.
UM, TWO WEEKS AGO WE MET WITH MIKE BAN, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THE HEAD OF D EQ TO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT DEQ IS IMPLEMENTING.
YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR D NEW DEQ DESIGN GUIDE
[04:30:01]
THAT HAS COME OUT THAT ENFORCES ADDITIONAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS THAT US THE ENGINEERS HAVE TO DO, ESSENTIALLY MODELING MORE RUNOFF COMING FROM THESE PROJECTS.AND IT'S NOT JUST SOLAR, IT'S EVERY PROJECT IN VIRGINIA, UM, WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS NEW DESIGN GUIDE.
AND IT'S JUST TO UPDATE THE CALCULATIONS AND DOWNSTREAM ANALYSIS THAT WE HAVE TO DO DURING OUR PROJECT.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE SITES ARE GONNA BE MORE OVER DESIGNED, IN MY CASE, IN MY OPINION, HELPING PROTECT THOSE DOWNSTREAM AREAS EVEN MORE.
AND ONE OF THE LARGEST ASPECTS OF THAT IS RELATED TO THE SOILS.
ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN CAME UP AND SPOKE ABOUT THE SOILS.
WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR STORMWATER ANALYSIS, WE USE THE USDA PUBLIC SOILS DATA TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF SOILS ARE ON THESE PROJECTS.
WE ALSO GET GEOTECH REPORTS TO HELP VALIDATE THAT THE PUBLIC INFORMATION WE GET MATCHES THE REAL WORLD CONDITIONS.
WITH THAT, THERE'S A RATING ASSIGNED TO THAT SOIL, A THROUGH D, A BEING GOOD D BEING BAD WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS AND DESIGN GUIDE THAT'S COME THROUGH.
DEQ IS FORCING YOU TO MAKE THAT SOIL WORSE THAN WHAT THE CURRENT CONDITION IS.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU'RE GONNA INCREASE YOUR RUNOFF.
WHEN WE RUN OUR MODELS, WE'RE WHEN BY MAKING A SOIL WORSE, MEANING MORE TYPE, MORE TYPE OF LIKE A CLAY, A SOIL THAT'S GONNA HAVE HIGHER RUNOFF, IT'S NOT GONNA ABSORB AS MUCH WATER.
SO WE HAVE TO MODEL THAT MORE WATER'S GONNA COME OFF THESE PROJECTS.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE CAN'T RELEASE MORE WATER, WE HAVE TO HOLD BACK MORE WATER.
SO WE'RE SEEING OUR PONDS GET LARGER AND LARGER ON NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE MEETING THIS DESIGN GUIDE.
UM, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS JUST GONNA HOLD BACK MORE WATER.
IT'S GONNA SLOW DOWN THE WATER EVEN MORE THAN WHAT, WHAT IT IS TODAY.
UM, 'CAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, WE CAN NEVER RELEASE MORE WATER THAN WHAT THE CURRENT CONDITION IS.
UM, SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT RELATED TO THE SOILS AND HOW OUR ANALYSIS IS CHANGING, UM, THIS NEW DESIGN GUIDE JUST CAME OUT IN FEBRUARY.
SO THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND WE'LL HAVE TO, UM, INCREASE THE PONDS AN ADDITIONAL EROSION SEDIMENT CONTROL MEASURES.
UM, BUT AS MENTIONED IN THE POWERPOINT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE DESIGNED MANY PROJECTS FOR EICS THAT ARE JUST STARTING CONSTRUCTION AS WELL.
WITH A LOT OF THE NEW, UH, EROSION SEDIMENT CONTROL MEASURES THAT ARE IN PLACE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THE MOST RISKY PART OF THE PROJECT, IS WHEN THE SOILS ARE EXPOSED, WE GET THESE RAIN EVENTS, WE'VE GOTTA STOP THIS SOIL FROM LEAVING THE PROJECT.
SO THE DITCHES THROUGH THE PANELS WHEN THERE'S PANELS UP, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THOSE NATURAL LOW SPOTS.
SO BY ENGINEERING CHANNELS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, WE'RE NOT LETTING IT JUST NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE AND ERODING, YOU KNOW, LIKE IN NATURAL STREAM THROUGHOUT THE PANELS, THAT BECOMES VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN, GET GRASS GROWTH.
SO BY ENGINEERING A CHANNEL, WE'RE ABLE TO CONTROL THAT WATER, STABILIZE THAT SOIL.
WE PUT MATTING DOWN TYPICALLY TO HELP PROTECT THAT UNTIL GRASS IS ABLE TO GROW.
UM, WE'RE ALSO DOING THINGS TO PROTECT THE PONDS, UH, BY DOING BUILDING DITCHES UPSTREAM OF THOSE PONDS.
SO AS THE WATER SORT OF SHEET FLOWS OFF THE PROJECT WHERE IT DOESN'T GET INTO THOSE DITCHES, WE'RE PROTECTING THOSE PONDS BY CAPTURING THAT WATER AND PUTTING IT INTO A POND THROUGH A STABILIZED ENTRANCE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ERODING THE BANKS OF THE PONDS.
IF YOU'VE BEEN ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE OR SEEN A VDOT PROJECT AND YOU'VE GOT BIG CUT SLOPES, YOU'LL SEE THE RAILS THAT JUST RUN THROUGH.
IT MAKES IT HARD TO STABILIZE AND COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THOSE BASINS.
UM, AND LASTLY THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS COMING UP, AND IT'S IN THIS PROJECT AS WELL, IS THE PRESERVATION OF TOP SOIL.
I THINK IN THE OLD DAYS IT'S JUST BEEN GRADE THE WHOLE SITE.
WE'LL HOPE FOR THE BEST AND TRY AND STABILIZE THE GROUND.
BUT BY PRESERVING THAT TOP SOIL STRIP ANYTHING OFF DOING YOUR GRADING, THEN REAPPLYING THAT TOP SOIL.
YOU'RE PROVIDING THAT BED OF SOIL THAT THE, THAT THE SEED WANTS TO GROW AND IT'S GOT THE NUTRIENTS, UM, IT'S GOT THE ORGANICS.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ONCE YOU'RE DONE WITH CONSTRUCTION, IS TO GET THAT SEED GERMINATING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I JUST FORGOT TO MENTION ONE OTHER THING BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE BATTLEFIELDS AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHY THE CONFUSION CAME.
UM, WHEN, UM, ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MENTIONED THAT THE, THE REPORT THAT WE HAD SAID THAT WE'RE LOCATING PROJECT IN THE CORE AREAS.
SO WHEN WE ASK THE CONSULTANT TO GO OUT AND DO A SURVEY, WE GIVE THEM ENTIRE FOOTPRINT OF ALL THE PARCELS.
THEY CAME BACK AND TOLD US THIS IS CORE AREAS, THIS IS NOT BASED ON THAT.
SO WE GIVE THEM THE FOOTPRINT, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CONSIDERED PROJECT AREA.
SO THEY, WITHIN THAT IDENTIFIED CORE AREAS AFTER WHICH WE DECIDED WE'RE NOT BUILDING ON THESE CORE AREAS.
SO I WANT TO CLARIFY, NO CONSTRUCTION, NO PROJECT IS GONNA BE LOCATED ON ANY CORE AREAS.
[04:35:01]
THANK YOU.I'M GONNA LET MR. COME UP NEXT.
UH, EVERETT PROCE 4 0 4 4 WHITE OAK ROAD, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN BOARD.
UM, THIS HAS REALLY BEEN INTERESTING AND ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S BEEN SO INTERESTING.
WE'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.
UH, AND I THANK THE PUBLIC FOR COMING OUT AND BEING A PART OF IT WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS DOESN'T FUNCTION VERY WELL AT ALL WITHOUT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH THAT, HAVING GOOD INVOLVEMENT ON THE PLAN AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND, AND HERE AS WELL.
UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED THREE TO TWO, UH, TO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT THEY APPROVE THE PROJECT.
AND LEMME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT.
WE HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS ON OUR BOARD, UM, ON OUR COMMISSION.
WE HAD ONE PERSON THAT WAS SICK THAT NIGHT, COULDN'T COME FOR HEALTH REASON.
WE HAD ONE PERSON TO RECUSE HIMSELF BECAUSE OF SOME FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT WHERE HE WAS LOCATED.
UH, I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE KINDS OF ISSUES.
UH, IF YOU FOLLOW THE, UM, DWI ISSUES FORUM ONLINE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY IMAGINATIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THEY, UH, MAKE IT UP AND THEN THEY PUT IT ONLINE AS IF IT WAS TRUTH.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT, UH, BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS, IS A WHOLE LOT OF WHAT RUNS THAT PROCESS.
AND SOMETIMES THAT PERCEPTION IS JUST NOT BASED ON FACT.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO CUT, CUT TO THE CHASE, REALLY.
UM, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND IN THIS COUNTY WHO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED WHO, WHO THINK THAT ALL THE DATA, ALL THE INFORMATION, ALL THE SURVEYS, ALL OF THAT IS WHAT SHOULD DRIVE THIS DECISION.
IT'S LIKE THE LADY SAID, I GOT SEVEN INCHES OF DATA, I GOT SEVEN INCHES OF, OF DOCUMENTATION.
AND THEN THERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE PROBABLY ON THE OTHER HALF OR OR OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT ABOUT THE DATA, IT'S NOT ABOUT DOCUMENTATION, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CORE AREAS IN IN THE, UH, ZONE THAT'S GONNA BE, UH, DEVELOPED.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE IN DWIN COUNTY WANT.
AND THE PEOPLE IN DWIN COUNTY HAS SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR THROUGH THE PROCESS WE'VE BEEN THROUGH FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I GUESS, ON DEVELOPING A NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND THE ONE THING THAT THEY ALL AGREE ON IS THEY LIKE DEN WITTY LIKE IT IS.
AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE DEN WITTY BECOME A CHESTERFIELD.
I MEAN, I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
I THINK CHESTERFIELD'S A PRETTY NEAT, NEAT PLACE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT THEY LIKE DEN WI THE WAY IT IS.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY ALL OTHER STUFF IS NOT IMPORTANT.
AND I KNOW THAT THE MONEY IS VERY TEMPTING, BUT THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE WHO BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY EITHER.
AND THEN THERE BELIEVE THOSE THAT BELIEVE THAT IT IS MONEY.
WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO DECIDE WHEN YOU VOTE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEN WE'RE JUST PAYING US BILLS, THEN WE COULD ALWAYS, UH, USE MORE MONEY.
WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE MORE, UH, FIRE STATIONS.
BUT WE'RE GETTING THOSE AND WE ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, YOU KNOW, PIECE BY PIECE WHEN WE CAN AFFORD IT.
I, I USE THIS NOW SOMETIMES TOO MUCH.
BUT IF WE ARE DOING THIS FOR THE MONEY BY SELLING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AND I, I AM BOTHERED BY PEOPLE DIMINISHING THE IMPORTANCE OF FORESTRY BECAUSE THAT'S BIG IN DENWOOD COUNTY.
WE DO A LOT OF EXPORTING OF FOOD AND FIBER.
BUT IT'S, IF YOU SELL YOUR RESOURCES LIKE THIS AND IT KEEPS GOING SNOWBALLING, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE DAIRY FARMER WHO NEEDS A NEW TRACTOR.
SO WHAT DOES HE DO? HE SELLS HIS COWS.
WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T THINK WE WANT TO DO THAT AND YOU'LL MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION.
BUT WE HAVE A, A, A GOOD DIVERSE PLANNING COMMISSION.
EXCELLENT QUESTIONS, EXCELLENT IDEAS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT, EACH PERSON'S DIFFERENT AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT.
I'VE GOT ONE VOTE AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ONE VOTE AND WE EXPRESS
[04:40:01]
THAT AND HERE WE ARE.SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I'D BE GLAD TO ENTERTAIN THOSE.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR DOMINIQUE.
UM, IF WE COULD GET, I GUESS THE BEST THING IS TO GET, UM, YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WITH THE, WITH THE MAP OF THE, UM, WHAT THE PROJECT LAYOUT.
AND, AND SO WE'VE GOT THE THREE CLUSTERS, I, I'LL CALL 'EM THREE CLUSTERS NOW.
THOSE THREE CLUSTERS THAT REPRESENTS EVERYTHING.
SO WITHIN THOSE THREE CLUSTERS, THERE'S, THEY'RE NOT, EACH ONE OF THOSE CLUSTERS ISN'T GONNA BE COMPLETELY FENCED IN.
EACH OF THESE CLUSTERS, UM, SO NOT THE THREE, BUT WITHIN THE THREE THEY'RE GONNA BE, ADDITIONAL CLUSTERS ARE GONNA BE FENCED IN.
SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE LIKE THREE AREAS THAT ARE FENCED IN.
WITHIN EACH OF THESE THREE AREAS.
THERE ARE SEPARATE AREAS FENCED IN.
AND THEN THE WAY THAT THE FENCES ARE POSITIONED WILL, UM, CREATE YOUR WILDLIFE ACCESS AND OKAY.
THERE, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS, UH, A FEW WAYS THAT WE DO IT.
UM, SOME OF THESE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS WILL BE BECAUSE, AND I THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THERE WHEN WE LOOK IN THE SOUTH, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE THAT GREENERY RUNNING UP AND THE BRANCHES KIND OF, UM, COMING OUT OF IT.
SO THE GRAY AREAS WILL BE FENCED IN.
SO THAT GREEN AREA WILL PRETTY MUCH BE THE WILDLIFE CROSSING.
BUT THEN THERE ARE SOME LARGER ARRAYS THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE WILDLIFE.
WE USE THIS WILDLIFE FRIENDLY FENCING.
SO INSTEAD OF CHAIN LINK FENCE, IT'S THIS WIDE, UM, GAP WIRE, IT'S WIDE GAP SO THAT IT ALLOWS MOVEMENT OF WILDLIFE.
AND UM, WE USUALLY INCORPORATE CROSSINGS FOR DEER.
SO THERE'S EITHER UNDERNEATH, UM, A WAY FOR DEER TO, TO GET THROUGH.
YEAH, I THINK, UM, 'CAUSE WILDLIFE MOVEMENT AND THEN THE, ALTHOUGH I GUESS WAS HUNT CLUB ACCESS ROUGHLY.
AND THAT THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST A ROUGH ESTIMATE.
HOW MANY ACRES WOULD YOU SAY WOULD BE HUNTABLE, I GUESS? AND SO THE PRIMARY, UM, ONE THAT WE DISCUSSED IS, UM, CATTAIL CREEK.
AND SO THEIR AREA IS UP THERE NORTH, UM, NORTHWEST.
SO ALL OF THOSE GREEN AREAS THAT YOU SEE, THOSE WOULD BE UNENCUMBERED AND, AND FREE FOR ACCESS RIGHT NEXT TO THE REAMS DRIVE.
AND THERE'S A BIG CHUNK UP THERE BY REAMS DRIVE WHERE YOU SEE THAT, UM, LIKE PURPLE DIAGONAL LINE, THAT'S A POWER LINE.
UH, AND IT'S A BIG WETLAND THERE.
SO ALL OF THAT WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE, THE EDGES.
AND THEN ON THE SOUTHERN END THERE, UM, A LOT OF THAT AS WELL.
UM, I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE IN ACRES, BUT UM, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY AROUND 150 ACRES JUST BY TRYING TO GET THE PROPORTIONS.
UH, 'CAUSE THAT IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIDDLE PART, THAT GREEN, UM, THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT IN THE MIDDLE, THAT GREEN AREA THERE, RIGHT BELOW PERKINS ROAD, THAT'S 69 ACRES.
SO I'M TRYING TO LIKE, IT'S APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE THIS SIZE ON, ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I THINK THAT ANSWERS, CAN I SAY SOMETHING REGARDING THAT? ABOUT HUNTING UP? YES MA'AM.
BECAUSE ALL OF OUR LAND IS ALREADY POSTED, HAS BEEN FOR AS NO HUNTING IS ALLOWED ON OUR LAND.
UM, THAT'S ALL THAT ONLY QUESTION I HAD.
ALL HAD A QUESTION? UM, I JUST, YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE, UH, QUESTION.
[04:45:01]
UM, I KNOW YOU WOULD, UH, AND THIS IS A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE BONDS MM-HMMAND, UM, THAT, UM, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THE, UM, COUNTY COULD USE THE BONDS.
UM, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT, UM, AND YOU NEVER HOPE THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
UM, SUPPOSE, UH, THE MARKET JUST PLUNGE MM-HMM
AND, UM, HOW, HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT THE BONDS? MM-HMM
UM, SO IN TERMS OF THE MARKET PLUNGES AND WE GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
SO, UM, AND UM, OUR ATTORNEY CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THAT PROVISION, UM, AND CONDITIONS.
BUT, UM, PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THAT THIS FUNCTIONS IS WE BUILD IN THAT PROVISION THAT IF, UM, SOMETHING HAPPENED TO US AND WE STOP PAYING THE, UH, PREMIUM PAYMENTS FOR THE BOND, THE COUNTY GETS NOTIFIED AND, AND THAT'S THE SIGN TO YOU ALL THAT WE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS OR THERE'S AN ISSUE.
AND THAT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO, TO ACT ON THE BOND.
AND AND THE BOND WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE.
IT'S REQUIRED AND WE UPDATE IT EVERY FIVE YEARS.
UM, SO THE CONDITION, UM, TO THE PERMIT, IF IF IT WASN'T THERE, THEN WE'LL BE IN VIOLATION.
BUT YOU ALSO, YOU ALL WILL BE NOTIFIED IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, THERE'S A MISSING PAYMENT OR THE BOND IS TO EXPIRE.
DOMINICA, TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMPLIANCE.
SO IN THE FIRST YEAR, HOW MANY, HOW MANY ACRES DO YOU THINK WILL BE UNDER PANEL MM-HMM
IN THE FIRST YEAR? SO WE ANTICIPATE THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE NINE TO 12 MONTHS.
SO AFTER WE BREAK GROUND, WITHIN 12 MONTHS, WE SHOULD HAVE ALL THE PANELS.
UM, WE WANT TO START WITH, UM, THE VEGETATION, SO TO GIVE THE HEADSTART FOR THE VEGETATION TO SCREEN THE PROJECT.
UM, THEN WE WORK ON OUR STORMWATER MEASURES, SECURING THE PERIMETER, UM, PUTTING IN THE STORMWATER, UM, MEASURES INSIDE AND, AND MOVING TO UM, KIND OF, UM, UP SLOPE WITH THE DISTURBANCE.
AND THEN IT KIND OF GOES AS A, ALMOST LIKE AN ASSEMBLY LINE.
SO WE HAVE THAT SIDE EARTH WORK PREP FIRST, THEN WE PUT THE POSTS IN, THEN WE PUT RACKING ON TOP, AND THEN WE PUT THE PANELS AND THEN EVERYTHING GETS CONNECTED, UM, ELECTRICALLY.
AND THEN IT'S GET GETS COMMISSIONED WITH, UM, OUR INVERTER PARTNERS.
SO IN 12 MONTHS ALL OF THAT WILL BE COMPLETE AND THE FOLLOWING MONTHS WE'LL BE WORKING ON CLOSING OUT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT.
SO WHEN DO YOU, WHEN WOULD YOU SAY IT WOULD BE OPERATIONAL? UM, OP PRODUCING POWER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF STARTING CONSTRUCTION? 12 MONTHS? MM-HMM
SO NOW THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO GO TO THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THAT BEING, HOW OFTEN WILL SOMEONE FROM DENWITTY COUNTY BE COMING TO THAT PROPERTY MM-HMM
FOR COMPLIANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT INTERJECTS DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
SO WE TRY TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT, THAT THAT PUTS A LOT OF BURDEN ON THE COUNTY.
UM, SO WE TRY TO KIND OF REWORK IT.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW OUR ATTORNEY'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT, THAT, UM, WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS.
UH, THERE'S THE CONSTRUCTION LIAISON, IF THERE'S ANY CONTACT FROM THE PUBLIC, ANY COMMENTS, ANY ISSUES WE HAVE TO MONTHLY PROVIDE, UM, AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE RECEIVED, WHAT WE DID ABOUT IT.
UM, AND THERE'S A PROVISION, UM, IN THE PERMIT ALSO SAYING, UM, THAT THE COUNTY WILL, UM, HAS THE ABILITY TO PERIODICALLY COME TO THE SITE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLIANT WITH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, AND THAT'S, UM, AT YOUR DISCRETION.
BUT, UM, THE, I THINK MAJOR OF THE BURDEN IS REALLY ON US TO, UM, PROVIDE FOR THAT.
SCOTT, DID YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING? THERE'S ALSO SCOTT FOSTER RETRY LOCK, THERE'S ALSO PROVISION REGARDING THE COST OF THOSE INSPECTIONS.
'CAUSE THAT'S AN ONGOING STAFF OBLIGATION FOR YOU ALL.
SO IN CONDITION FOUR, SECTION J, WE PROVIDE FOR THAT, UM, UP TO $50,000 A YEAR.
THAT'S DURING CONSTRUCTION IS CORRECT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHEN THE, THE BULK OF THAT WORK WOULD TAKE PLACE.
I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THERE WILL BE A COST TO DENWITY COUNTY AND COMPLIANCE ON THIS PROPERTY.
ALL THE MONIES THAT ARE COMING TO DENWITY IS NOT GONNA BE, DOESN'T HAVE TIES TO IN SOME SHAPE, FASHION OR FORM.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE ON THE PROPERTY FOR US, NO, DENVER COUNTY WILL.
WELL, THAT'S WHY WE BUILD IN THE MEASURE OF THE BURDEN ON US.
AND THEN THAT CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS THE REIMBURSEMENT ANNUALLY.
AND THERE'S REIMBURSEMENT UP TO SPECIFIC AMOUNT, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO STAFF TIME REIMBURSEMENT BUILT IN, UM,
[04:50:01]
INTO THAT.I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE STAFF THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW MM-HMM
THAT WE AS A COUNTY HAVE, UM, THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED MM-HMM
WITH THE PROJECT OF SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES THAT WE, WE WORK WITH, UM, HAVE STAFFING ISSUES.
SO WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE MINDFUL.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE LIAISON AND, AND IT HELPS THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE SAME COMPANY STAYS WITH THE PROJECT.
SO IT'S JUST EASIER WITH THE COMMUNICATION.
YOU MAKE, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.
I WANNA MAKE SURE WE, WE POINT THIS OUT, BUT, UH, LILY POND HAS AGREED TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR THE ACTUAL AND COST, ACTUAL COST OF AN EMPLOYEE ON AN ANNUAL ONGOING BASIS INTO THE FUTURE FOR UP TO 40 HOURS A YEAR, EXCUSE ME, 40 MAN HOURS A YEAR, UH, TO REIMBURSE THOSE COSTS SO THAT THAT WOULD DEFRAY RIGHT.
MS. BONNER WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SURETY BOND.
UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT INFLATION IS HERE AND OVER THE NEXT 45 YEARS, THERE'S GONNA BE PLENTY OF INFLATION.
IS THERE A COLA RELATED TO THAT SURETY BOND? MEANING IT GOES UP AS TIME GOES UP? IT IS THE VALUE OF THAT BOND.
AND, UM, THAT'S REQUIRED BY VIRGINIA STATE CODE.
AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER WILL, UH, LOOK AT THE PREVIOUS PLAN, THE PREVIOUS COSTS, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UPDATED TO REFLECT INFLATION OR ANY MARKET CHANGES.
AND SO AT THAT POINT, AT THE FIVE YEAR MARK, THAT VALUE OF THE BOND HAS CHANGED TO MATCH THAT.
THE VALUE TO THE DENWITTY CITIZEN, THE POWER IS GOING TO WHO? SO THE POWER IS GOING TO, UM, WE'RE SELLING THAT TO THE, UH, WHOLESALE MARKET.
SO THAT'S, PJM PARTICIPANTS IN THAT MARKET ARE DOMINION, UM, ODAC.
UM, SO IT WILL BE PURCHASED BECAUSE IT'S GENERATED HERE.
IT WILL BE, UH, VERY LIKELY THAT IT'S GONNA BE PURCHASED BY THE LOCAL CO-OP AND GO TO THE LOCAL RESIDENCE.
UM, THE COMMODITY THAT WE DEAL WITH IS, UM, DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN.
SO, UM, ACTUALLY TOOK THAT FROM SCOTT.
UM, IF YOU'RE STAYING IN A LAKE, YOU POUR A BUCKET OF WATER, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE WATER TOUCHING YOUR LEG CAME FROM THE BUCKET.
'CAUSE IT'S CLOSED, IT WORKS THE SAME WITH ENERGY GENERATION.
ONCE WE PUT THE ELECTRONS ON THE GRID, YOU CAN'T DISCERN WHERE THEY CAME FROM, BUT THE ENERGY GETS, UH, CONSUMED WHERE IT'S GETS GENERATED.
SO IF THERE'S ENOUGH CONSUMPTION NEAR THE PROJECT, THE ELECTRONS GO TO THE NEAREST HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES.
IF THERE'S LESS DEMAND, THEN, THEN THE POWER STARTS TO GO FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM, UM, THE, THE LOAD WE CALL IT.
SO THE DEMAND, I KNOW ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS, IT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC WAS HOW MUCH WOULD OF THE POWER GENERATED ON A DAILY BASIS WOULD A PERCENTAGE OF THAT POSSIBLY BE COMING BACK TO DENWITTY COUNTY TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS HERE? MM-HMM
AND I, I DON'T THINK WE EVER GOT THAT ANSWER.
'CAUSE THERE IS NO ANSWER TO THAT E EXACTLY.
BUT, SO THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO EQUATE THAT TO, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH POWER ARE WE PRODUCING IN TERMS OF HOUSEHOLDS, HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE THERE IN D WITTY COUNTY, WHICH IS A CLOSELY MATCHING NUMBER.
THESE ARE ALL OF COURSE, AVERAGES AND, UM, BUT IT IS A CLOSELY MATCHING NUMBER.
YOU SAID THAT YOU, UH, DON'T PLAN TO SELL THIS TO ANYBODY ELSE.
WELL, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE IN PLACE TO ASSURE THAT YOU'LL BE THE OWNER FOR 45 YEARS? UM, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER.
WE JUST CAN'T CALL OURSELVES LIKE THAT UNDER THE VIRGINIA LAW.
BUT AS A UTILITY INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER, THAT IS OUR BUSINESS SELLING POWER.
SO THAT'S WHY WE OWN THE ASSETS.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT A DEVELOPER THE WAY THAT WE'RE SET UP ANYWHERE FROM ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE TO OUR FINANCING, WE'RE SET UP JUST LIKE A UTILITY IS.
SO THIS IS JUST HOW WE FUNCTION.
NOT SURE IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION IN TERMS OF ASSURANCES.
I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT, BUT IT'S A SIMILAR CONVERSATION, UM, LIKE WITH DOMINION, RIGHT? THEY'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF, OF GENERATING POWER AND, UM, NONE OF OUR PROJECTS, UM, WE, WE WE OWN ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED AND BUILT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS RIGHT AHEAD, MR. LEE.
AND, UM, I'VE WRITTEN SOME THINGS DOWN.
UM, DOMINIQUE, IF YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN, YOU, YOU CAN,
[04:55:01]
I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO SIT DOWNUM, UH, AND, UM, I SAW DOMINIQUE AT A, A VACO CONFERENCE AND HER AND I TALKED ABOUT, UH, GETTING A GROUP OF FS TOGETHER.
SO IT IS THREE OF THE 10 FS THAT I, I GOT TOGETHER AND WE MET IN THE ROOM ACROSS THE HALL HERE.
UM, AND INTERJECTS PRETTY MUCH, UH, LED THE PROGRAM.
I JUST SAT AND LISTENED, UH, WITH THE TIM FAMAS.
UM, AND I, I APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT THEY WORKED, UM, WITH THAT, UM, SMALL FARM GROUP.
THE, THE ONLY PROBLEM I DID HAVE IS THE COMMUNICATION BACK TO 'EM, UM, MAYBE A LITTLE SOONER THAN, THAN UM, Y'ALL DID.
UH, BUT, UM, ANYWAY, UM, FROM THAT GROUP, I, I GUESS I'VE GOT A LIST OF THINGS THAT, UM, THAT TROUBLE ME, UM, ABOUT THIS.
AND, AND THE ONE THAT TROUBLES ME THE MOST IS RULE CHARACTER.
UM, AND HOW THAT PLAYS INTO, TO THIS DECISION THAT I MAKE, UM, PROPERTY RIGHTS IS, IS PART OF THAT EQUATION.
AND WE HEARD THAT COMING OUT OF THE, THE, UM, SMALL PHARMA GROUP OF ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS.
UM, THE, THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE LAST, NEXT TO LAST, UM, HE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, UM, BUT ENERGY PHILOSOPHY, AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT GONNA GET INTO POLITICS RIGHT HERE.
I WOULDN'T TOUCH IT WITH A 10 FOOT POLE.
BUT THE REASON WE HAVE SOLAR RIGHT NOW IS A PHILOSOPHY, UM, OF ENERGY IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND, UM, IN THAT SAME VACO CONFERENCE, WE WENT TO A MEETING ABOUT SOLAR AND ABOUT THIS ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THAT, UH, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, UM, ACT THAT WAS PASSED BY A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LAST YEAR, YEAR BEFORE LAST WHEN THE, THE DEMOCRATS HAD CONTROL OF, OF RICHMOND, UM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, AND, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, UH, AND IN THAT SAME MEETING, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT FOR A SECOND.
IN THAT SAME MEETING, WE HAD A DOMINION POWER EXECUTIVE THERE.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST I HAD HEARD OF IT, BUT I'VE HEARD IT NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER THAT, IS SMALL SCALE NUCLEAR AND SMALL SCALE NUCLEAR IS BEING USED ON EVERY NAVY SHIP, ON EVERY NEW NAVY SHIP IN, IN THE, IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT TECHNOLOGY IS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT WAS IN THE ELECTRICAL FIELD, THAT IF, IF YOU KNOW THE FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY, YOU'RE A FOOL.
UM, BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS THE FUTURE OF IT, BUT SMALL SCALE NUCLEAR IS OUT THERE.
UM, SO WHAT HAPPENS, AND, AND I'M JUST ASKING QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS IF IN FIVE YEARS THAT'S THE FUTURE OF, OF ELECTRICITY? AND, UM, THEN THE OTHER, THE LAST THING, UM, THAT I HAVE TO LOOK AT IS, UM, THIS PROPOSAL IS GONNA BE IN MR. CHAVIS DISTRICT.
WHAT WE DECIDE WITH THIS PROJECT, THE NEXT ONE WILL BE IN MY DISTRICT.
THE NEXT ONE WILL BE IN MR. MOODY'S DISTRICT.
BOY, YOU, YOU COULD BE NEXT, MS. BONNA, YOU PROBABLY GET A, A FREE PASS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THEY, THEY REALLY, THEY SHOULD BE IN YOUR DISTRICT, MS. BONNA.
THEY SHOULD BE ON TOP OF BUILDINGS, THEY SHOULD BE ON TOP OF WALMART, THEY SHOULD BE ON TOP OF AMAZON, AND THEY SHOULD BE ON TOP OF ALDI BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE PREACHING TO US THAT THEY NEED THE ENERGY.
SO TO, TO RAMBLE FOR THE LAST 10 MINUTES ABOUT THIS, WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS I'M NOT READY TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S ALL, I GUESS A COMPLIMENT TO INTERJECTS THAT I'M NOT READY TO
[05:00:01]
MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT.UM, SO, AND THIS IS JUST ME, UM, THESE THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT, I, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WILL GET AN ANSWER TO 'EM AND AT SOME POINT I'LL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.
BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT TROUBLE ME RIGHT NOW WITH THE, WITH THIS DECISION.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US TABLE IT FOR A MONTH, UH, AND COME BACK AND WE DID THIS WITH, WE'VE DONE THIS WITH SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS, UM, THAT HAVE, HAVE A BIG SIGNIFICANCE IN DENWOODY COUNTY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DECIDING ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE IS IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
IT'S A ZONING ISSUE WHETHER YOU WANT TO REZONE TO AN INDUSTRIAL, UH, FROM A TWO TO INDUSTRIAL FOR SOLAR.
UM, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND MR. LEE'S WANTING TO WAIT A MONTH.
UM, I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT, BUT, UH, WE'VE HAD SOME OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP BEFORE THAT WE HAVE DEFERRED AND KIND OF IT'S PEOPLE AT HOME THAT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT WANT TO ADD SOME INPUT TO WHAT WAS BEING SAID AT A WATCHING FROM HOME.
AND SO I WOULD WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WAITING A MONTH TOO TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION.
OH, UM, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT, UM, WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE, UM, HAD A, A LOT OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO US TONIGHT AND, UM, UM, INDIVIDUALS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE, UM, EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS.
AND, AND I FOR ONE, GLAD THAT YOU ALL CAME OUT TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT GIVES US, UH, SOMETHING EXTRA TO THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD TO, UM, TO TRY TO MAKE A DECISION.
SO, AND I, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT AND UM, AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL THE WAY THEY, THEY FEEL AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, GO ALONG WITH TABLING THIS UNTIL NEXT MONTH BECAUSE, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO US TONIGHT AND WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK BACK OVER THIS AND MAKE A DECISION.
WE HOPE THAT'S, UM, WILL BE PLEASING TO EVERYONE, SHALL WE? I MEAN, I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT TO MAKE SO WE CAN TRY TO DO THAT.
SO I GUESS THAT'S KNOCKED ME IN.
I GOT THREE TO THREE TO ONE, SO I AGREE, UH, THAT WE SHOULD, UH, TABLE IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH.
I'VE, UH, I BE, I BECAME VERY POPULAR IF YOU GO DOWN RIGHT DOWN THROUGH MY DISTRICT AND EVERY CORNER YOU COME UP ON IS CALL CHASE.
SO, UH, MY PHONE'S BEEN RINGING UP AND UH, I HAD TO CARRY MY CHARGER WITH ME
SO, BUT IT'S, IT'S A BIG DECISION.
YEAH, I'VE TALKED TO YOU HOW MANY TIMES.
SO, UH, IT'S STILL, I SEE EVERYBODY'S, UH, OPINIONS AND UH, IT'S REALLY HARD.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE, MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
MY OPINION AT THIS POINT IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE IN THIS COUNTY TO PROTECT THE LAND THAT'S HERE.
AND I THINK THAT AT SOME POINT WE'RE WORKING ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BUT DO WE REALLY HAVE A GAME PLAN FOR DENWITTY COUNTY FOR SOLAR IN THIS COUNTY? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE DO.
I MEAN WE'VE GOT CASE BY CASE AND WE TALK ABOUT WE PASS AND WE DON'T PASS.
BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION POSSIBLY BETWEEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THIS BOARD TO SAY, OKAY, WHAT IS THE GAME PLAN? WHAT ARE THE SAFEGUARDS PUT IN PLACE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH SOLAR AS YOU GO FORWARD? JUST MY OPINION.
UM, DOING THEM ONE HERE, ONE HERE, ONE THERE MAYBE IS NOT THE BEST APPROACH AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND SO I WOULD BE FOR THE DEFERRAL.
OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I MAKE THAT MOTION? YES SIR.
TO DEFER THIS CASE TILL THE NEXT MONTH? YES SIR.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
[05:05:01]
ROLL CALL MR. MOODY.ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE OTHER CASES, THE, UM, CONDITIONAL USE.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THEM.
AM I CORRECT MR. SOUTHALL? THAT IS CORRECT.
IF IT IS YOUR DESIRE, RIGHT, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS DO EVENTUALLY HAVE TO BE HELD.
SO AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST.
MR. BASSETT, UH, MR. CHAIR, MY PRESENTATION'S THE SAME AS IT WAS FOR THE REZONING.
UM, I WENT THROUGH THE CONDITIONS OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UM, AS AGREED UPON OR PREPARED ON MAY 2ND.
UM, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE CONDITIONS, I'D BE GLAD TO TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE.
WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ON THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT? OKAY, I'M THERE.
SO WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN FAYE DONAHUE.
I'M JUST HERE TO SAY WE WERE TOLD TO SIGN UP ACROSS THOSE THREE THINGS.
OKAY? SO I HAVE NOTHING NEW TO ADD THAN ONE I SAID BEFORE, BUT I WOULD HOPE IF YOU DEFERRED ONE, YOU DEFERRED ALL THREE OF THEM AND THEY AND APPROACH THEM AS A PACKAGE THAT JUST MAKES SENSE TO ME.
WE NEED GUIDELINES, WE NEED DIMITY GUIDELINES FOR SOLAR FARMS AND IT NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE SMALL, MEDIUM, AND LARGE OF THOSE ASPECTS.
ANYWAY, THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING US TALK TONIGHT.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? OKAY.
HEARING THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR MOTION TO WHAT WOULD, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? WELL, JUST MY COMMENT, UM, I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, NEED TO DEFER ALL THREE OF 'EM.
SO, UM, UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE HAS A COMMENT, I MOVE.
SO THE DEFERRALS ON THE CUP MR. LEE, RIGHT? WHAT'S THAT? THE DEFERRAL IS ON THE CUP.
AND WE'VE GOT A SECOND BY MR. CHAVIS.
THE THIRD IS LILY POND SOLAR CITING AGREEMENT.
UM, MR. SOUTHALL, UM, GIVEN THAT THE HOUR IS LATE, I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE A PROCLIVITY TO A LOT OF WORDS ON THE CITING AGREEMENT.
IT, IT SAYS WHAT? IT SAYS IT'S ACTUALLY STREAMLINED FROM THE LAST TIME THE CITING AGREEMENT WAS BEFORE YOU.
I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT OFFERS THE $3.6 MILLION WITHIN THE 60 DAYS OF APPROVAL OF THE CUP, UM, AND THEN AF THEREAFTER, IT ALLOWS THIS GREATER OF PROVISION WHERE YOU GET THE GREATER OF YOUR MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX OR, UM, A REVENUE SHARE.
SO I, I THINK THAT'S THE QUICK SUMMARY OF IT AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT FOR A LOT LONGER, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY TO DO THAT AT THIS HOUR.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE, FROM THE APPLICANT? EVERYBODY'S GOOD.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION FOR THE LELY POND CITING AGREEMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES.
MR. CHAIRMAN? UM, FAYE DONAHUE
AND JEAN SHELL, I AGREE WITH MS. UE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY, HEARING NUMBER, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION FOR LILY POND CITING AGREEMENT.
ANY FIRST, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ENTERTAIN A MOTION THEN WHAT YOUR PLEASURE TO, WHAT DOES YOUR SO MOVE TO, UM, POSTPONE.
YOU GOT A MOTION TO THE SECOND ROLL CALL MR. MOODY? AYE.
AND THE FOURTH PIECE IS ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LILY POND SOLAR, LLC.
[05:10:02]
NO ACTIONS NEEDED ON THAT MR. CHA? NO ACTION TONIGHT.IT'S JUST DOCUMENTS I CORRECT, CORRECT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I, I I JUST WOULD SAY, UM, NOW THAT YOU'VE MADE THIS DECISION TO DEFER OVER THIS NEXT 30 DAY PERIOD, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT AS YOU'RE REFLECTING ON THE COMMENTS MADE TONIGHT AND THE MATERIAL THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, EITHER FROM THE APPLICANT OR FROM THE COUNTY AND OUR STAFF REVIEW OF THIS MATTER, WE WOULD, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UM, EVEN IF THERE IS THE POTENTIAL OF SOME DISCUSSION BETWEEN SOME PLANNING COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WANTED US TO ORCHESTRATE SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, WE WOULD AGAIN LIKE TO, TO BE A PARTY OF THAT IF THAT'S YOUR, YOUR DESIRE TO DO SO.
UM, SO AGAIN, JUST, JUST THINKING THROUGH IT, IF YOU, IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WE'D LIKE TO BE RESPONSIVE, I KNOW THE APPLICANT I'M SURE WOULD, WOULD BE AS WELL.
UM, SO THIS WOULD BE PUT ON THE BOARD'S DOCKET FOR 7:00 PM ON JUNE 20TH.
NOW WE, WE'VE HELD THREE HEARINGS TONIGHT.
UM, AND I GUESS WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATION AS TO WHETHER YOU WISH TO HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
IF SO, WE WOULD NEED TO DULY ADVERTISE THAT OR IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE SOLICITED INPUT PUBLICLY AND YOU JUST WANT TO HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THE, UM, JUNE AGENDA.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE APPLICANT WOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO COME BACK AND, AND STAFF TO ADDRESS ANYTHING PUBLICLY THAT WOULD'VE ALSO BEEN TALKED ABOUT DURING THAT 30 DAY REVIEW.
SO, UM, I KNOW WE NEED, DO WE HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS IF WE'RE GOING TO THE NEXT, NEXT PORTION? NO.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE NO APPOINTMENTS TO MAKE NO APPOINTMENTS THIS EVENING.
[14. CITIZEN COMMENTS (3 MINUTES)]
IS CITIZENS COMMENTS.UM, SO ARE THERE ANY, ANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP FOR THIS SEGMENT OF THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MAUREEN JONES, 49 0 3 STERLING ROAD.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I'D WELCOME ENERGETICS BECAUSE THEY GIVE MUCH BIGGER BUFFERS BETWEEN THEM AND THE PUBLIC BEING AS NORTH AND WITTY WAS GIVEN A 10 FOOT BUFFER FOR 349 APARTMENT UNITS TO ONE PRIVATE NEIGHBOR.
AND A 50 FOOT BUFFER ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO I DON'T SEE THE BAD DEAL HERE.
NOT TO MENTION Y'ALL ARE NOT BEING VERY PROGRESSIVE, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN AS DISCUSSED WITH MANY IN NORTH IN WHITTY THAT IN NORTH IN WHITTY IS NOT BEING HEARD.
RATHER THERE IS A SOUTHERN MAJORITY BLOCK ON THE BOARD THAT PUTS THEIR THUMB ON THE NECK OF THE NORTH TIANS AND DOESN'T LISTEN TO THEM.
AND WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT WE'LL GET USED TO THESE CHANGES REFERRING TO THIS GARGANTUAN APARTMENT COMPLEX COMING TO OUR WAY.
AND THEN THEY WENT, PROCEEDED OR FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH A LAUGH.
UM, MUCH OF THE CITIZENS OF NORTH IN WITTY HAVE FELT LIKE THE BOARD REPEATED THIS WHEN THE SOUTHERN MAJORITY BLOCKED AN RV PARK COMING TO NEAR THEM DUE TO TRANSIENCY CRIME, LACK OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND INABILITY TO ENFORCE CODES.
YET Y'ALL HAD NO OBJECTION FORCING THOSE SAME ISSUES DOWN THE THROATS OF NORTH D WITTY RESIDENTS.
SO QUITE FRANKLY, THIS IS REFRESHING AN ECONOMIC BOOST FOR THE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA NEED.
WITH A THOUSAND PEOPLE MOVING INTO 25 ACRES, YOU'RE NOT THINKING THIS THROUGH, RIGHT? AND THE NORTH END WHITNEY CITIZENS ARE SEEING IT AS, YEAH, NO MATTER WHAT WE SAY, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, THE SOUTHERN MAJORITY BLOCK IS GONNA STOP US.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, MANY OF THEM ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT Y'ALL CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO US WITH THE WAY THIS BOARD SITS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER IT BEING MORE PROGRESSIVE.
NOT NECESSARILY IN POLITICS, BUT HOW ABOUT IN HUMAN KINDNESS? THANK YOU.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
VICKI RIZZO, 2 4 3 0 1 NORTH IN WHITTY.
GREETINGS FROM NORTH IN WHITTY.
I CAN MILK A COW, DRIVE A TRACTOR.
[05:15:01]
WHO LIVES IN THE FARM LIFE.IF ONLY THIS BOARD WOULD BE AS CONSIDERATE OF THOSE OF US WHO LIVE, WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE RURAL AREA.
WE DESERVE THE SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTIONS.
I KNOW THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, NOT THE SAME PROTECTION.
I UNDERSTAND PROTECT THE RULE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE GET NO PROTECTION FROM THIS BOARD.
I COME HERE TONIGHT, I HEAR YOU SPEAK OF ZONING LAWS ONE LADY VERY CORRECTLY ZONING LAWS ARE HERE TO PROTECT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA.
THAT ARGUMENT WAS MADE LAST SUMMER.
OKAY, WELL THAT ARGUMENT WAS MADE CHANGE OUR WAY OF LIFE.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE MOVED HERE.
THIS IS FOR WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE WANTED TO BE.
WE LOVED IN WITTY ALL THESE SAME ARGUMENTS WERE MADE TO YOU LAST SUMMER.
YOU DISREGARDED THEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T VALUE THE PEOPLE IN NORTH DEN WITTY THE SAME WAY YOU BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO VALUE THE PEOPLE IN THE OTHER PARTS OF DEN WITTY.
YOU HAVE PROVEN IT TOO MANY TIMES, SO DON'T BOTHER DENYING IT.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU LOVE AND CARE ABOUT ALL OF DENWITTY OR JUST CERTAIN PARTS OF IT? 'CAUSE YOUR ACTIONS ARE SHOWING WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR MIND AND IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY, WE'LL CLOSE THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD.
[15. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
COMMENTS.THIS TIME I SAID ENOUGH HEARD
UH, WE JUST, UM, HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND BE PRAYERFUL.
I'LL SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU FOR COMING OUT.
IT'S BEEN A LONG EVENING, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT, UM, AND, AND LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC HEARING CASES.
UM, AND THERE WILL BE A DECISION.
IT'S JUST NOT GONNA BE TONIGHT.
UM, WITH THAT, I, I THINK THERE'S ONE THING LEFT ON THE, ON THE AGENDA.
SOUNDS LIKE A STORMING, RAINING.