[1. ROLL CALL]
[00:00:07]
I HAD LIKE TO CALL THE REGULAR APRIL 16TH, 2024 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TO ORDER.COULD WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MR. LEE? HERE.
MR. CHAVIS, FOUR BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.
AND, AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. CHAVIS FOR, UM, HIS ABSENCE.
UM, I THINK HE PUT PRESSURE ON ME TO GET BACK, UM, UH, HERE.
AND, UH, MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW, UM, HOW MUCH OF A MIRACLE IT IS THAT I AM HERE.
UM, TONIGHT, AND, UH, SO BEFORE EVERY MEETING, WE HAVE A PRAYER BEFORE THE MEETING, AND PART OF THE STIPULATION WHEN I GOT BACK WAS I HAD TO SAY A PRAYER, UH, BEFORE THE MEETING.
AND I'M, I'VE GOT FOUR PREACHERS ON BOTH SIDES OF ME, UH, BOARD MEMBERS AND I, I DON'T DO VERY WELL WITH PRAYER.
SO ANYWAY, IT, IT, UM, THEY ALL CAME IN HERE WITH ME, SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD ON THAT.
UM, BUT, UH, I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY TO BE BACK AND, AND, UM, AND SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.
SO, UM, AT THIS TIME, IF WE COULD, UH, STAND AND DO THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I FOLLOW TO OUR IN HEAVEN.
TH WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US US A STAY ON DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASSED AGAINST US IS NOT TEMP TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US ON EVIL.
FOR PROVIDES THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, AMENDMENTS TO
[4. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA]
THE AGENDA? MR. CHAIRMAN? NO, NO AMENDMENTS FROM STAFF.ANY ANY FROM NO MOTION? WE ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE YOU, UM, MR. DOOLEY, DO YOU NEED TO READ A STATEMENT? I THINK I DO.AT THE APRIL 16TH, 2024 3:00 PM SESSION OF THE MEETING, MEETING OF THE ITY COUNTY BORDER SUPERVISORS, I, CASEY M DOOLEY, INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTES CONCERNING ITEMS EIGHT E CONTRACT AWARD EMERGENCY VEHICLES, UPFITTING AND EIGHT F HUMAN RESOURCE COMPENSATION POLICY UPDATE.
EACH OF THESE ITEMS PERTAIN TO THE TY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'M EMPLOYED BY THE DY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ITEM EIGHT E AND EIGHT F EFFECT OFFICES AND OR DEPARTMENTS BEYOND THE DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND I'M ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AS A RESULT OF MY EMPLOYMENT WITH DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'LL ABSTAIN FROM ANY VOTE ON THE MOU BETWEEN THE SHERIFF AND THE DENE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, NOW YOU HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA IN FRONT OF YOU.
IS IT ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED OUT AND EXPLAIN OR, UM, WHICH SOMEONE MIGHT PIP UH, MAKE A MOTION? MR. CHAIR, I THINK EVERYBODY'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE CONSENT AND AGENDA.
I MAKE A MOTION TO BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I BELIEVE MR. DOOLEY MEANS TO ABSTAIN ON THE ONE PART OF IT THAT PERTAINS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
MOUI ABSTAIN FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU ACCEPT MR. BONNER SECOND SINCE MR. DOOLEY ABSTAIN FROM THAT ONE PART OF THE VOTE.
ALRIGHT, SO MOVING ON TO REPORTS.
[6.A. Virginia Department Of Transportation]
WE HAVE, UH, AARON FRENCH FROM THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON, SHORT, UH, RELATIVELY SHORT REPORT THIS MONTH.
UM, MAINTENANCE WISE, WE ARE GONNA START SOME SHOULDER CLIPPING ON ROUTE FOUR 60.
WE DID 2 26 AND ROUTE ONE, UH, FROM THE NORTH
[00:05:01]
END DOWN, UH, TO THIS LOCATION HERE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.MACHINE HAD TO GO BACK INTO SERVICE, UH, UM, BUT IT IS BACK THIS WEEK.
SO WE ARE GONNA START ON FOUR 60.
YOU SHOULD SEE US OUT THERE RUNNING LANE CLOSURES BOTH DIRECTIONS ON FOUR 60 FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
UM, THE ROUTE SIX 60 HARDAWAY MILLS ROAD CULVERT, THAT REPAIR IS STILL ONGOING.
IT IS QUITE A TREMENDOUS HOLE.
THEY HAVE EXCAVATED OVER THERE ABOUT 25 FEET DEEP.
UM, IT'S, IT'S WORTH A LOOK IF YOU HAVE TIME TO GO SEE IT, BUT PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT PROJECT WILL BE ONGOING FOR PROBABLY AT LEAST ANOTHER MONTH GIVEN GOOD WEATHER.
UM, THEY HAVE DONE MOST OF THE EXCAVATION NOW THEY GOTTA GET DOWN AND SET THOSE LARGE PIPES ON GRADE AND START, START WITH THE COMPACTION AND BACK FILLING EFFORTS.
UM, ON A SMALL SCALE, UH, MY MCKINNEY AREA HEADQUARTERS HAS REPLACED SEVERAL PIPES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.
UM, WE DID ONE ON 6 93 WILLIAMSON ROAD, DID ONE ON 6 92 NY CHURCH ROAD AND DID A REPAIR ON A PIPE ON 7 0 3 CARSON ROAD LAST WEEK.
UM, ON OUR BAIN ROAD STRUCTURAL REPLACEMENT.
UM, I DID CONFIRM WITH THE UTILITIES THAT THEY ARE GONNA HAVE TO DO THE RELOCATION OUT THERE, WHICH IS GONNA PUSH OUR CONSTRUCTION BACK ANOTHER SIX TO NINE MONTHS.
UM, I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CITIZENS OUT THERE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT.
HOWEVER, I DID SPEAK WITH OUR STRUCTURE AND BRIDGE DIVISION.
UM, ORIGINALLY THEY WERE PLANNING TO INSTALL A CAST IN PLACE BOX CULVER, WHICH WE WERE LOOKING AT SIX TO NINE MONTHS FOR CONSTRUCTION ON THAT.
UM, THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR STRUCTURE TO A, A MODULAR STRUCTURAL ALUMINUM, UH, TYPE.
IT'S NOT A BRIDGE, NOT A CULVERT, KIND OF A A IN BETWEEN.
IT'S AN OPEN BOTTOM CULVERT MORE OR LESS.
UH, SO THEY PLAN TO GO WITH THAT, WHICH WILL HAVE ONLY A TWO TO THREE MONTH CONSTRUCTION TIME.
SO ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE UTILITY RELOCATION IN THE NEXT SIX TO NINE MONTHS, CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPEDITED ON THAT PROJECT.
HOPEFULLY THE ROAD WILL BE OPEN FOR MR. BAIN TO PICK IN HARVEST IN THE FALL.
UM, WORKING WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ON THE HALIFAX ROAD THROUGH TRUCK RESTRICTION, OUR NEXT STEP IS GONNA BE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, DUE TO THE INTER OR INTER-JURISDICTIONAL NATURE OF THIS RESTRICTION, IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE BECAUSE WE'RE TOUCHING THE CITY OF PETERSBURG.
WE'RE ALSO TOUCHING PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
I'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO PUBLIC HEARINGS IN RESOLUTIONS IN ALL THREE JURISDICTIONS, WHEREAS TYPICALLY WE WOULD HAVE ONE, UH, WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM CENTRAL OFFICE ON THAT.
GIVEN THE UNIQUENESS OF THAT SITUATION.
I GOTTA GET AN ANSWER BEFORE I GO THROUGH AND ADVERTISE AND HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ONE AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY, OH NO, THAT WASN'T LEGAL.
YOU'VE GOT TO JUMP THROUGH EVERYTHING.
SO WORKING WITH THAT SHOULD HAVE THAT ANSWER.
AND THEN I'LL WORK WITH THIS BROWN ON GETTING THAT PUBLIC HEARING ADVERTISED.
I'M GONNA TRY AND GET IT DONE WHERE WE HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 21ST MEETING, WHICH I'LL ALREADY BE AT AS WELL.
UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE PARTNERED WITH OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, FOR LITTER PICKUP ON RIVER ROAD THIS WEEK AS WELL.
UM, NEXT I PLAN TO MOVE ON TO MY PRESENTATION FOR THE SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN AND DO A RECAP OF WHAT I COVERED, UH, AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION.
BEFORE I DO THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE ITEMS? NO.
YEAH, I JUST, YEAH, JUST GOT ONE THING.
UH, I NOTICED THAT, UM, UH, DAWSON'S FUNERAL HOME IS, IT'S A, YOU HAVE A CONE THERE THAT'S OVER SOME, SOME DIRT OR WHATEVER, BUT IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
I WAS WONDERING, ARE YOU GONNA PAVE THAT OR WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO TO THAT AREA? IT MAY BE MARKING A UTILITY OR A HOLE THAT WAS EXCAVATED.
I'LL LOOK INTO IT, SEE WHY IT'S THERE.
YEAH, BECAUSE THIS, YEAH, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT IT 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS, THERE MAY BE A DRAINAGE ISSUE IN THAT AREA THAT WOULD COMING BACK.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO JUST A RECAP OF OUR SIX YEAR PLAN PRESENTATION.
UM, I'LL JUST COVER EXACTLY WHAT I COVERED THE OTHER WEEK AND JUST LOOK FOR BOARD CONSENT AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
UM, GIVEN THIS THAT THIS IS THE PUBLIC MEETING, I WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR DOLLAR VALUES AND THE PLAN AS WELL.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED.
IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
SO THIS IS OUR PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS FOR OUR NEXT, UH, STEP IN SIX YEAR PLAN, WHICH IS FISCAL YEAR 25 THROUGH 30.
OUR TFE FUNDING, UM, IS REMAINING STEADY THROUGHOUT THIS PLAN CYCLE IS $69,301 PER FISCAL YEAR FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE PLAN IN 2030.
OUR DIS DISTRICT GRANT UNPAID FUNDING, UH, FLUCTUATES A LITTLE BIT THROUGHOUT THIS PLAN.
UM, THAT IS OUR TFE FUNDING OUR, THAT IS OUR RURAL RUSTIC FUNDING, EXCUSE ME.
UH, THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA GET A HUNDRED SIXTY NINE, A HUNDRED NINETY $6,020.
[00:10:01]
AND 29, WE'LL BE GETTING $94,844 IN THE LAST YEAR OF A PLAN.AND 2030 WE DROPPED DOWN TO $82,110 FOR OUR ALLOCATION.
UM, AT THE END OF THE PLAN YEAR IN 2030, WE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF $1,073,312 TOTAL IN THE PLAN BETWEEN THE DISTRICT GRANT UNPAVED AND TFE FUNDING GO ON AHEAD AND COVER OUR PRIORITIES, UM, AS I LIST THEM AND GO THROUGH OUR BUDGET ON THEM.
THAT IS THE PRIORITY THAT, UH, VDOT AND THE RESIDENCY IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE, UH, COUNTY ACCEPT IN THE PLAN.
UM, FIRST IS THE CHERRY HILL ROAD, ROYAL RUSTIC.
WE HAVE A BUDGET OF $285,696 ON THAT PROJECT.
IT WILL BE COMPLETELY FUNDED IN THIS PLAN YEAR IN 2025.
SO WE WILL, THAT PROJECT IS READY TO GO.
UH, ONCE WE HIT, UM, FY 25 IN JULY, WE CAN GO ON AHEAD AND START CONSTRUCTION ON THAT PROJECT.
OUR NEXT ONE IN THE PLAN IS THE REESE ROAD ROYAL RUSTIC PROJECT.
UM, THAT PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED, FULLY FUNDED, UH, IN 25 AS WELL.
WE ARE, HOWEVER, MAKING THE RECOMME RECOMMENDATION THAT WE WAIT UNTIL TWO, 2026 TO BEGIN THAT PROJECT.
THAT WAY I'M NOT PUTTING TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN ON MY STATE FORCES TO GET TWO OF THOSE PROJECTS DONE WITHIN ONE YEAR.
UM, THOSE PROJECTS ARE TRACKED ON OUR STATEWIDE DASHBOARD, PROJECT TRACKING.
UM, AND I DON'T WANNA GET A RED LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD FOR FALLING BEHIND ON THE PROJECT AND WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO, UH, FOCUS ON THE CHERRY HILL PROJECT AND DO A MUCH BETTER JOB.
WE, WE'LL BE RUSHING THROUGH EVERYTHING.
THIRD, UH, IN PRIORITY IS THE SHIPPINGS ROAD, ROYAL RUSTIC.
OUR, UH, TOTAL ESTIMATE ON THAT ROAD IS $328,250.
THAT, UH, PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE FULLY FUNDED IN FOI 28 WITH A CONSTRUCTION DATE EARLY 27
NEXT IS THE 7 35 GOOSE POND ROAD, ROYAL RUSTIC.
THAT PROJECT HAS A BUDGET OF $154,000 RIGHT NOW.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY, UM, ON THAT PROJECT YET.
IT IS HOWEVER, SLATED TO BE THE FUNDING FOR IT WILL BEGIN IN 29 AND WE'LL END IN 30.
SO IT'LL BE FUNDED, UH, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF OUR PLAN.
CONSTRUCTION WILL BE, UH, PROBABLY OUT TOWARDS 2030.
TIMELINE LAST IN THE PLAN IS MARMORA DRIVE.
WE HAVE A $65,530 ESTIMATE ON THAT PROJECT WITH FUNDING NOT BEGINNING UNTIL THE LAST YEAR OF THE PLAN AT WHAT, UH, 2030.
AND THAT'S NOT GONNA BE FULLY FUNDED.
SO WE WILL, UH, WORK ON BUILDING THE FUNDING ON THAT PROJECT IN THE COMING YEARS.
IT'LL PROBABLY 31, 32 BEFORE WE SEE THAT PROJECT FULLY FUNDED AND GO TO CONSTRUCTION.
UM, THAT IS THE END OF THE RAW RUSTIC AS WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THE COMING CYCLE.
UM, THAT IS THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN HERE FOR THE FUTURE SECONDARY PROJECT.
UM, THOSE ARE THE TFE FUNDS THAT WE GET EVERY YEAR.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN IDEN WORKING ON IDENTIFYING PROJECTS TO USE THESE TFE FUNDS FOR, FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.
UM, THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN BUILDING AND WE WANT TO SPEND THEM.
SO GOT A COUPLE PROJECTS TO RUN THROUGH THAT WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, TO DEDICATE THESE FUNDS TO, UH, FIRST ONE BEING THE ROUTE 6 28 TRANQUILITY LANE IMPROVEMENTS, AND SECOND BEING THE ROUTE SIX 60 QUAKER ROAD REALIGNMENT.
ALRIGHT, FIRST ONE IS GONNA BE THE TRANQUILITY LANE IMPROVEMENT.
UM, AS WE'VE COVERED IN, UH, PREVIOUS YEARS OF THE PLAN, TRANQUILITY ROAD DOES NOT QUITE MEET THE GUIDELINES FOR THE RURAL RUSTIC PROGRAM.
UM, THERE'S SOME GEOMETRIC AND CLEAR ZONE ISSUES THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK OUTSIDE OF THE RURAL RUSTIC PROGRAM.
UM, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BUILD THE ROAD MUCH SAFER THAN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO UNDER ALL RUSTIC.
SECOND IS THE QUAKER LO QUAKER ROAD AT BOYDEN PLANK, UH, ROUTE ONE.
THIS WOULD BE A HORIZONTAL REALIGNMENT.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME CRASH HISTORY HERE WITH REAR END CRASHES AS WELL AS ANGLE CRASHES.
UM, AND IT IS NOT GEOMETRICALLY, UH, SUITABLE FOR LARGE VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY SCHOOL BUSES AS WELL.
SO THIS WOULD BE ABOUT A $600,000 PROJECT TO GO IN AND REALIGN THAT INTERSECTION.
UH, MAKE SOME SITE DISTANCE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS MAKE IT FUNCTION MUCH BETTER FOR OUR LARGE VEHICLES.
[00:15:01]
OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS? AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING IN MAY.YEAH, SO I THINK WHAT MR. FRENCH IS JUST LOOKING FOR TODAY IS JUST, YOU KNOW, HE GAVE THE PRESENTATION PREVIOUSLY.
YOU HAD A COUPLE WEEKS TO JUST KIND OF THINK IT THROUGH.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WISH, EITHER IN THE BUDGET OR THE PLAN THAT WOULD, THAT THAT SHOULD BE CHANGED PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING? AND IT, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE IS ANY, SO AARON, LET'S, LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
WE'LL GET, GET THAT ADVERTISED FOR HEARING.
AND GET, GET THE PUBLIC'S INPUT VOTE ON IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 21ST.
[7.A. Petersburg Area Regional Tourism (PART)]
REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND, UM, GOT A FAMILIAR FACE, MS. MARTHA BURDEN, UM, FROM POT.AND WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO SEE YOU SITTING THERE.
I'M, I'M, I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE THERE AS I'M HAPPY THAT ALL THE REST OF YOU ARE THERE.
IT'S A COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO MARKET THAT GEOGRAPHIC AREA FOR VISITATION.
AND, UM, MANY OF YOU SITTING THERE WILL REMEMBER IT CAME ABOUT IN 2007 WHEN WE WERE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, THE, THIS ALL OF, ALL OF OUR HISTORY AND THE PRESIDENT AND EVERYBODY WAS COMING, AND WE WANTED TO BE PART OF IT.
AND, UH, AND IT'S, IT HAS HAD A STAYING POWER OF WHICH I'M PROUD.
UM, LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, I WAS, I HAD ALREADY BEGUN A VERY PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION WITH A CONVENTION.
WE HAVEN'T HAD CONVENTIONS IN OUR REGION, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE IN JUNE.
UM, IT'S GOING TO BE HEADQUARTERED AT THE TRACTOR MUSEUM.
IT'S GOING TO, UM, THEY'RE GONNA SPEND A DAY AT PAMPLIN PARK.
PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEY ARE ALL OWNERS OF THE AMERICAN MOTORS CARS.
YOU KNOW, THE, UM, WELL, I CAN'T, UM, MY BRAIN HAS, HAS, HAS STOPPED, BUT, UM, RAMBLERS AND MM-HMM
THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR MAIN CARS.
AND, UM, AND THEY'RE COMING HERE.
SO, UM, THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
UM, WE ARE HAVING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY WELCOME CONVENTIONS AND THEY, LIKE, THEY WANT TO HAVE BAGS WITH LITTLE THINGS IN THEM, AND THEY, YOU KNOW, SO WE, WE HAVE, WE, WE ARE MOVING INTO, UM, SOMETHING PRETTY, UM, FUN AND EXCITING AND, UM, HOPE YOU'LL GET OVER TO THE TRACTOR MUSEUM.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE ALL THEIR CARS ON DISPLAY, AND IT'LL BE A FUN TIME TO WELCOME PEOPLE TO OUR AREA.
UM, AGAIN, THE TRAIN SHOWS ARE ANOTHER THING COMING TO THE TRACTOR MUSEUM.
SO THE TRACTOR MUSEUM IS, IS, UM, IS ACTUALLY A BIG DRAW.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THINK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT UNIQUE THINGS WE HAVE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO SOME PLACES, A LOT OF THINGS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR, BUT WE HAVE A TRACTOR MUSEUM WITH TRUCKS AND TRACTORS AND CARS.
WE HAVE A MUSEUM THAT FOCUSES ON THE HERITAGE OF THE CZECH AND SLOVAK PEOPLE THAT CA CAME TO OUR REGION.
UM, WE HAVE CIVIL WAR, REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CIVIL RIGHTS, HISTORY.
UM, SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A LOT OF THINGS.
WE HAVE AN OLD, WONDERFUL HISTORIC THEATER THAT HAS CONCERTS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT ON THE RIVER IN HOPEWELL.
SO, UM, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW PEOPLE FROM VERY, VERY MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT WE KNOW THEY'RE ALL, THEY'RE ALL GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME WHEN THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL ASSETS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALK ABOUT.
UM, SO THIS YEAR WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL BLITZ AT THE BRACY WELCOME CENTER ON I 85 IN JUST SOUTH OF, UH, SOUTH HILL.
AND OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE FILLED OUT THE LITTLE SLIP TO WIN OUR BASKET, WHICH MEANT THAT I HAD ALL THOSE NAMES AND ADDRESSES AND EMAIL ADDRESSES.
SO THAT KIND, THAT IS ONE OF OUR EFFORTS THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE AND WE'LL BE BACK THERE IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK IS COMING UP IN, UM, IN MAY, AND WE'VE BEEN INVITED TO COME DOWN TO THE WELCOME CENTER
[00:20:01]
ON I 95 AT SKIPPERS AND, UH, HAVE A DISPLAY.BUT WE, UM, ARE EXCITED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT TAKE DOWN THERE AND HOW WE MIGHT APPROACH THAT.
AND SO THAT'S A, A GREAT PROJECT.
UM,
AND THEY COME THROUGH HERE ALL THE TIME.
AND THEY WILL HAVE, THEY, THEIR, THEIR GUESTS WILL HAVE ALL BEEN IN CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH.
AND AS THEY COME BACK, THEY'RE COMING THROUGH OUR AREA AND THEY'RE GONNA SPEND THE NIGHT AND THEY'RE GOING TO EAT DINNER, AND THEY'RE GOING TO EAT LUNCH, AND THEY'RE GONNA VISIT ON, UH, THE TRACTOR MUSEUM AGAIN.
BUT, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE STAYING IN PRINCE GEORGE.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY'RE EATING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PACKAGE, BUT THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE ENTIRE REGION WHILE THEY'RE HERE, BECAUSE I'LL BE THERE TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION AND TALK TO THEM AND WELCOME THEM.
UM, WE, UM, HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME DURING THE HOLIDAYS FOCUSING ON DEN WITTY BECAUSE OF THE, UM, NOT ONLY YOUR PARADE, BUT THE SMITH GROVE ROAD.
WE, THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE FACEBOOK OPPORTUNITY, AND WE GET SO MUCH RESPONSE FROM THAT, UH, FROM EVERYWHERE AND PHONE CALLS FROM EVERYWHERE.
UM, I'VE GOT ALREADY, UH, ALREADY PLANNED IN ADDITION TO THE CONVENTION, A GROUP COMING OUT OF WILLIAMSBURG IN NOVEMBER.
THEY'RE ALREADY PLANNING THEIR TRIP.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE ABOUT 30 OR 40 PEOPLE SPENDING, UM, A LONG DAY IN THE REGION.
UM, WE'VE GOT, UM, GOING ON JUST THIS WEEKEND, THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE OF PETERSBURG REENACTMENT.
UM, THE CHILI PEPPERS ARE ABOUT TO START.
I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING FRESH AND, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, WE DO SOME TELEVISION, UM, NOT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT BECAUSE OF THE COST, BUT WE DO SOME, AND THEN WE DO A LOT OF FACEBOOK AND WE DO A LOT OF BOOSTED FACEBOOK.
UM, AND, AND YOU ALL, UM, DEN, WITTY COUNT YOU ALL, I'M FROM DEN WITTY TOO.
UM, ALL OF US BENEFIT FROM THAT FACEBOOK PRESENCE AND ALL OF THE REACTION THAT IT GETS.
AND, UH, I, I KNOW I JUST WAS LOOKING AT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TODAY TO JUST KIND OF REFRESH WHAT WE, WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT, WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW.
AND, UM, WE HAVE THIS WEEKEND A HUGE EVENT AT, AT VIRGINIA MOTOR SPORTS PARK, THE MID PBRA MID-ATLANTIC SHOWDOWN.
WE HAVE THE SOUTHERN KNIGHTS CRUISERS COMING TO RICHLANDS, UH, THE END OF APRIL.
UM, AS I SAID, THE REENACTMENT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE OF PETERSBURG THIS WEEKEND.
UM, WE TALKED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE ABOUT RED BARN FARMS EASTER EVENTS.
WE HAD ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THEIR CHRISTMAS EVENTS.
UH, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF INTEREST IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.
WE DID SORT OF A REGIONAL HAY.
WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS OUTDOORS.
AND WE GOT 1300 LIKES AND WAS SHARED 245 TIMES.
UM, A NEW VENUE THAT JOANNE WILLIAMS, OUR MARKETING, UH, UM, AND, UH, UH, OUR MARKETING, UM, PERSON WHO DOES, UM, ALL OF OUR FACEBOOK AND OUR PHOTOGRAPHY AND TELEVISION, UM, SHE HAS BEEN TO RIVERSIDE VINES.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BEING IN OUR TOOLBOX OF THINGS TO EXCITE PEOPLE ABOUT IN OUR REGION.
UM, AND WE ALSO DID A BIG, SORT OF VERY BROAD FACEBOOK, UH, CAMPAIGN RIGHT AROUND THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, BUT WE CONTINUED IT INTO FEBRUARY BECAUSE THINK OF ALL THE SNOWBIRDS THAT COME UP AND DOWN 85, 95.
AND UH, SO WE RAN THAT ALL THE WAY TO CANADA AND OVER TO OHIO.
AND, UM, AND, AND WHEN WE DID, WE GOT TREMENDOUS RESPONSE.
WE HAD OVER 7,000 LIKES, 2000 SHARES, AND 419 COMMENTS JUST ABOUT THAT ONE FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN.
SO, UM, I'M JUST HERE TO, AS I COME EVERY YEAR TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, WE ARE SEEING ACTIVITY.
[00:25:01]
WE THINK THAT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A COOPERATIVE EFFORT BECAUSE AS I SAID, THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS HERE AND DIFFERENT THINGS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT, UM, THEY CAN ALL FIND SOMETHING IN THE BEST PART OF VIRGINIA.AND I THINK MS. BROWN HAS TWO VIDEOS.
I HAD COMPUTER, UH, MESS THIS MORNING,
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE FIRST, BUT LET'S JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
AND THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF OUR MARKETING, I DUNNO, OR NOT
OH, THIS IS ABOUT ONE OF YOUR NEWEST BUSINESSES.
SO HERE THE COOP, THERE'S A BUNCH OF LOCAL PRODUCED ITEMS. THERE'S GOAT MAIL, POLLUTIONS AND SOAP.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF GIFT IDEAS, T-SHIRTS, FLAGS, ANYTHING YOU'D REALLY WANT AT A GREAT COUNTRY STORE.
WE LOVE THE COOP BECAUSE WE'RE HERE ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK OF SPENDING AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN ON WONDER OF A KIND ITEMS GOOD LOCAL HOMEMADE FOOD BY CARRIE HERE.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS AND CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.
WE MAKE HOMEMADE ROLLS AND WE DO CHICKEN SALAD AND, AND CHILI AND ZUCCHINI BREAD AND COOKIES.
WE ALSO CARRY RICHLANDS ICE CREAM AND NIGHTINGALE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES.
SHE'S VERY SWEET AND HARDWORKING.
SHE CARES A LOT ABOUT THE COOP.
SHE WORKS HARD FOR IT AND TRIES HER BEST TO MAKE IT A PLACE FOR LOCAL VENDORS AND LOCAL SHOPPERS.
MY CUSTOMERS END UP BEING MY FAMILY.
I'VE MET SO MANY PEOPLE, JUST EVERY DAY, LOCAL PEOPLE THAT COME IN TO SUPPORT MY BUSINESS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I TAKE AWAY MOST FROM ANYTHING IS THE FAMILY THAT I HAVE MADE JUST FROM CUSTOMERS.
YOU LOOKING AT ME? I AM DEFINITELY A PEOPLE PERSON, SO I DO LOVE TO, TO HELP PEOPLE.
IT REALLY GIVES ME PLEASURE TO MAKE THE ROLES AND TO SEE PEOPLE HAPPY IF YOU DON'T LIVE AROUND HERE.
THE REASON WHY YOU NEED TO STOP BY IS THE FOOD IS GREAT, THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT, THE SERVICE IS GREAT, AND IT'S JUST ONE, A KIND STORE.
I LOVE WHAT I DO AND YOU'RE GONNA LOVE COMING TO VISIT US IN THE BEST PART OF VIRGINIA.
SO THE SECOND ONE MIGHT, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S FROM TELEVISION OR FROM FACEBOOK.
UH, YEAH, JOANNE WAS OUT AT THE MUD BOG FROM SHOPPING TO MUD BOG.
WE HAVE A WEEKEND IN THE BEST PART OF VIRGINIA.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER OR ANY QUESTIONS.
OTHERWISE, GO OUT AND EXPLORE YOUR REACH AND CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR AND GO FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED.
CHAIR, NOT JUST, JUST TO COMMENT.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT A LONG TIME.
SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT, MARTHA.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S USUALLY A PLEASURE ALMOST ALL THE TIME.
[00:30:01]
MAKE US AWARE WHEN YOU'RE GONNA BE ON CHANNEL SIX AGAIN.UM, IN THE MORNING, JUNE 7TH, I WILL BE ON CHANNEL SIX.
YOU GO DOING, UM, OH GOSH, THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.
UM, OH, FORT CLIFTON FESTIVAL.
WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO LOOK FOR YOU.
[7.B. Richard Bland College]
WE HAVE RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE.UH, HOW ARE YOU TO VICE CHAIR LEE? UH, COUNTY MINISTER MASSENGILL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND ALSO THOSE PRESENT.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND A JOY TO REPRESENT THE COLLEGE AND FOR YOU, UH, VICE CHAIR LEE, I'M VERY THANKFUL TO SEE YOU HERE AS WELL, AND KNOW YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE BOARD FOR YOUR CONTINUAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE COLLEGE.
WE ARE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A ENDLESS, UH, LIFETIME OF LEARNING.
UM, AND THEN ALSO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR WHAT'S NEXT, PREPARING THEM FOR TRANSFER.
AND SO I WANT TO DO A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO.
SO THESE ARE SOME FIGURES AND NUMBERS THAT SHOULD INTRIGUE THE BOARD.
UM, GOING THROUGH WITH OUR DATA.
WE'VE, OVER THE PAST, SINCE FALL OF 2019, WE'VE HAD 444 DENWOODY COUNTY STUDENTS, OR DENWOODY HIGH STUDENTS COME THROUGH AND TAKE COURSES WITH US.
UH, AND OUT OF THAT 444, 328 WERE TRADITIONAL.
SO THOSE ARE STUDENTS EITHER COMING IN THE DORMS OR THAT ARE COMMUTING.
UM, AND THEN WE'VE HAD 116 DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS.
UH, AND THEN I LOOK BACK OVER THAT TIME TO SEE HOW MUCH AID HAS BEEN GIVEN.
AND SO WE'VE GIVEN OVER $191,000 OF TO DEN WE COUNTY STUDENTS, WHICH WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF, WHICH IS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $3,000, UH, ACADEMIC YEAR.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON DUAL ENROLLMENT.
SO LAST ACADEMIC YEAR, WE HAD EIGHT DUAL ENROLLMENT, DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS FROM DENDY COUNTY THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF CHRISTIE CLARK.
UH, WE NOW HAVE 91 STUDENTS FROM DENWITTY HIGH IN OUR PROGRAM, WHICH IS A THOUSAND PERCENT PLUS, UH, INCREASE.
SO REALLY EXCITED, GLAD TO SEE THAT PROGRAM GROWING AND WE HOPE TO GET MORE THAN WINNIE HIGH STUDENTS.
UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH DRONE UP.
SO JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON DRONE UP AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN UP TO.
SO, SO FAR, WE'VE TRAINED OVER 200 PLUS, UH, PILOTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHIPPED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HELP SERVICE WALMARTS.
UH, AND SO WHEN THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM AT RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE, THEY ALSO GAIN 12, WHAT THEY CALL UAS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM CREDITS.
AND THEY CAN TAKE THOSE 12 CREDITS AND APPLY IT TO A CREDENTIAL OR EVEN ENROLL AND BACK INTO COLLEGE.
SO ALSO OUR, OUR INNOVATION PARK.
UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON BUILDING OUT OUR INNOVATION PARK.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S ABOUT 333 ACRES OF OUR PROPERTY THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
AND SO FAR WE'RE AT TIER FOUR STATUS.
SO WE HAVE WATER, WE HAVE SEWER, AND WE ALSO HAVE FIBER.
SO WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ALMOST SHOVEL READY.
UH, AND WHAT'S EXCITING, UH, MORGAN INGRAM, UM, YOUR OWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, SHE SITS ON OUR AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING AND GUIDING THE WORK OF THE INNOVATION PART.
AND WE ALSO HAVE JUST OTHER MEMBERS FROM SURROUNDING COUNTY SERVING ON THIS BOARD AS WELL TO BE INCLUSIVE.
WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING AT RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE.
SO OUR ACADEMIC INNOVATION CENTER, UH, WE ARE PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE.
SO LAST YEAR, THIS TIME I SHOWED YOU A PICTURE OF THE PROGRESS.
UH, AND SO FAR, UH, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UH, WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR FURNITURE TO ARRIVE.
AND SO HOPEFULLY FOR THE BOARD, I WANT YOU ALL TO LOOK OUT FOR AN INVITATION.
SOMETIME IN THE FALL WE WILL BE DOING A RIBBON CUT AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL THERE.
THIS IS A, A NEW PROGRAM WE'RE SPEARHEADING.
SO, UM, THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE USING NAVITAS, WHICH WAS AN AUSTRALIAN BASED, UH, RECRUITING FIRM TO RECRUIT OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
UH, AND SO WE'VE DECIDED THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS INTERNAL, WE HAVE CREATED OUR OWN PLATFORM, WHICH WE ARE CALLING IRBC.
AND SO WE ARE INTERNALLY RECRUITING STUDENTS AND THE PROGRAM IS GOING REALLY WELL.
UM, THIS THURSDAY WE WILL HAVE SOME GLOBAL REPRESENTATIVES COME TO CAMPUS, MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND TALK
[00:35:01]
ABOUT HOW TO BUILD OUT THE PROGRAM.AND I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE WU BROTHERS, WHICH YOU'LL SEE.
UH, THEY STARTED TWO YEARS AGO, UM, AND NOW THEY ARE AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
BOTH OF THEM THIS SEMESTER STUDYING COMPUTER SCIENCE ALSO.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ONE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD OUT PATHWAYS AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR TRANSFER SCHOLARS NETWORK.
UH, THIS IS A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP AND SO THIS IS USED TO DIVERSIFY OUR TRANSFER PIPELINE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS, PRINCETON, JOHN HOPKINS, UH, YALE UNIVERSITY.
AND SO THROUGH THIS NETWORK, RBC GRADUATES, THEY'RE INCREASING THEIR, INCREASING ACCESS TO THESE IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS AND INCREASING THEIR ABILITY TO GET IN.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ONE OF OUR UNIQUE STUDENTS, MICHAEL MASON, UH, WHO'S A PRE-MED MAJOR.
HE'S ALSO THIS YEAR'S COMMENCEMENT STUDENT SPEAKER PART OF STUDENT ASSEMBLY.
HE'S BEEN ACCEPTED TO AMHERST COLLEGE WITH $95,000 IN FINANCIAL AID.
SO IT'S GONNA COST HIM NOTHING.
UM, HE'S GETTING READY TO VISIT AMHERST TOMORROW.
UM, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S STILL AWAITING OTHER TRANSFER SCHOLAR NETWORK SCHOOLS, BROWN CORNELL, JOHN HOPKINS.
SO WE ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT HE'S GOING TO GET INTO A FEW MORE.
UM, AND JUST WANNA, IF WE SIT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THE POTENTIAL OF THIS PROGRAM CAN BE, YOU CAN START AT RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE AND YOU CAN BE AT YALE UNIVERSITY, BE IT BROWN OR CORNELL.
AND WE KNOW SCH COLLEGES AND INSTITUTIONS LIKE THAT CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF A YOUNG PERSON.
SPORTS, WE HAVE 12 SPORTS TEAMS AND WE HAVE OVER 150 ATHLETES.
UH, AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR ATHLETES ARE STAYING IN OUR DORMS AND JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR TEAMS. SO THIS PAST, UH, SCHOOL YEAR, WE'VE HAD, UH, REALLY GOOD SUCCESS IN INDOOR TRACK.
UH, MS. JOHNSON PLACED SECOND AND 60 METERS AT NATIONALS FOURTH AND THE LONG JUMP 10TH AND THE TRIPLE JUMP, WHICH IS QUITE PHENOMENAL.
AND THIS IS OUT OF EVERY OTHER JUNIOR COLLEGE THROUGHOUT, UH, OUR NATION.
SO THAT'S, WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF HER.
UH, OUR MEN'S SOCCER TEAM, UH, THEY WERE CROWNED REGION 10 CHAMPIONS.
THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THEY'VE DONE THAT.
THEY HAD A SEASON OF 13 FOUR AND THREE.
UH, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE CAN GET INTO NATIONALS.
UH, AND AS FAR AS EVENTS, I WANT YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF MUSIC IN THE GROVE.
YOU'VE PROBABLY HAD COMMUNICATION.
THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY FUN FESTIVE EVENT ON CAMPUS.
UM, THIS SATURDAY, FOUR TO SEVEN FEATURING PLUNKING ONENESS IN DREW DUNBAR.
WE'VE GOT FOOD TRUCKS, BEER AND WINE, MUSIC.
I SAY BRING A CHAIR, BRING A FRIEND, BRING THE FAMILY.
THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT EVENT.
UH, AND THEN ALSO, UM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KEVIN MASCO, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
UH, HOPEFULLY ON MAY 3RD, WE WILL HAVE OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS FROM RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE COME TOUR COUNTY FACILITIES AND MEET SOME OF THE DIRECTORS.
UH, AND THEN WE WILL END THE SEMESTER OFF WITH COMMENCEMENT.
WE ARE BRINGING COMMENCEMENT BACK TO CAMPUS.
WE, WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOR ALL THEY'VE DONE, BUT WE HAVE NOW FIGURED OUT A WAY TO BRING IT BACK ON CAMPUS.
AND TO KICK OFF IT, WE WILL HAVE MAYOR SAM SAMUEL PERHAM FROM PETERSBURG GIVE, UH, THE REMARKS TO OUR STUDENTS.
UM, AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES CONCLUDES MY REMARKS TO THE BOARD QUESTION.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND, AND WE ARE REALLY PROUD TO HAVE RICHARD BLAND IN PART OF DENWOODY COUNTY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD JUST MAKE A, A COMMENT, BOTH RICHARD BLAND FIRST AND THEN I'LL SAY IT TO, TO MARTHA TOO.
I, I GET THE, THE PLEASURE TO BE ON BOTH THE RICHARD RICHARD BLAND FOUNDATION BOARD AS WELL AS THE, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OVER PARK, THE FIRST OF RICHARD BLAND.
AND TO YOUR, TO YOUR POINT, THE, THE INNOVATION PARK IS, AS YOU KNOW, RICHARD BLAND IS SPLIT, YOU KNOW, JOHNSON ROAD.
THE OTHER SIDE IS PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, DEY COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER HALF.
UM, SO TERRELL OF THE INNOVATION PARK, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS IN PRINCE GEORGE? I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
SO BEING ON THE BOARD, I'LL ANSWER FOR YOU.
SO IT'S, IT'S ZERO, RIGHT? SO IT'S ALL IN, IN WINY COUNTY, ALL ALL IN D WITTY COUNTY, ALL OF MAIN CAMPUS.
SO I KEEP REMINDING THE BOARD THE PART THAT IT'S ALL IN IN WOODY COUNTY.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF DRONE UP AND WHAT THAT DOES, NOT JUST FOR THE, THE COMMUNITY, BUT REALLY NATIONALLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF WALMART STORES THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS GONNA
[00:40:01]
GET DEPLOYED TO, AND TO THINK THAT EVERY OPERATOR WILL COME THROUGH THIS TRAINING FACILITY AND WHAT IT POTENTIALLY CAN DO FROM AN INNOVATION STANDPOINT, UM, TO GET TO THE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME SUPPLIERS AND, AND OTHERS THAT, THAT WOULD WANT TO BE AROUND SUCH AN ASSET.SO I THINK RICHARD BLAND IS REALLY LOOKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT DR.
WESTON AS YOU WERE TALKING, WE WERE, WE WERE TALKING THIS THIS MORNING, HAD GOVERNMENT DAY AND SHE POINTED TO A YOUNG MAN AND INDICATED THAT THIS YOUNG MAN'S GONNA GRADUATE WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROBABLY BEFORE HE GETS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, BEFORE HE GETS HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
SO, YOU KNOW, TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN, I KNOW FOR YEARS WE, WE'VE WANTED THE BOARD, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT TO FINALLY WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE HAVE THIS ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHERE YOU CAN NOW GO GET THAT ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE YOU'RE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'RE SAVING, YOU KNOW, THESE PARENTS WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO TAKE TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF OFF OF THAT HIGH COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
SO, UM, TREMENDOUS WORK, PROUD TO BE BOTH A PART OF, OF, OF PART AND RBC, MARTHA, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, THAT WHEN, WHEN DR.
LEMAN CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA OF REGIONAL TOURISM, UM, I THINK THAT IT, IT REALLY KIND OF SHOCKED THIS WHOLE AREA.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A STUDY DONE AND IT, AND IT SHOWED THAT WE COULD KIND OF COME TOGETHER TO DO THIS.
BUT I WANTED TO, I WAS GONNA SAY IN MY COMMENTS LATER, BUT I'LL SAY IT NOW, MARTHA ENDED HER PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OUR REGION TO GO EXPLORE.
I THINK WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE LIST, SOMETIMES YOU WONDER WHAT IS THERE TO DO.
AND SOME JURISDICTIONS JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT UP.
LIKE WHAT THAT, WHAT IS OUR HOOK? WHAT IS, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO MARKET? AND I THINK HERE, WHEN YOU LIVE IN THIS AREA, YOU FORGET ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE HERE.
SO YOU KNOW, THAT YOU, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A WEEKEND OR AN AFTERNOON, I MEAN, DIDN'T EVEN REALLY TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS AND UNIQUE SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND WHATNOT IN THIS REGION.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE WE MOVE TO ACTION ITEMS, I JUST WANTED TO, TO PUBLICLY THANK BOTH FOR PHENOMENAL WORK THAT THEY DO HERE.
AND THEY BOTH DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR FFY 25.
THAT ALWAYS MAKES UP, WE MAINTAIN THAT'S RIGHT.
JUST ONE COMMENT BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF, DON'T FORGET, THERE'S A UNIVERSITY, I, I LOVE MY FRIENDS UP NORTH THAT ARE IVY LEAGUE.
BUT THERE'S ONE, THREE AND A HALF HOURS THAT, THAT WAY TO THE WEST CALLED VIRGINIA TECH.
AND A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE COME THROUGH YOUR SCHOOL THAT HAVE GONE THERE WITH THAT RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR, WE GOT A LOT OF LOVE FOR THE HOKEY TOO.
MY POCKETBOOK IS STILL PAYING FOR TWO.
I WISH IT GONE TO RICHARD BLAND PRIOR TO GOING TO TECH, SO, YEP.
AND I KNOW SEVERAL STUDENTS THAT HAVE CHANGED THEIR MIND.
THEY WERE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO RICHARD BLAND.
HOW, HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU HAVE ON CAMPUS THAT, THAT, THAT STAY ON CAMPUS? WE HAVE, SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE RIGHT AROUND 4 75.
OH, THEY STAY ON CAMPUS? MM-HMM
AND TRELL, YOU MENTIONED TRACK AND FIELD SOCCER MM-HMM
BUT, UM, YOU'VE ACTUALLY DONE PRETTY WELL IN SOME OTHER SPORTS TOO.
VOLLEYBALL WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND GOT THE MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR.
AND THEN OUR INAUGURAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, UH, THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO NATIONALS AND THEY WERE IN THE LAST GAME AND THEY LOST IN OVERTIME IN THEIR VERY FIRST YEAR.
AND SO WHAT'S WHAT'S INTERESTING, I GUESS I'LL SHARE THIS STORY AS WELL, IS, SO WE ALL HAVE SEEN THE GAMECOCKS AND DON STALEY.
AND SO ONE OF HER PRODIGIES, UM, WAS, UH, OLIVIA GAINES MM-HMM
AND SO OLIVIA GAINES WAS WHEN SHE PLAYED JUNIOR COLLEGE, SHE WAS THE NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE PLAYER.
AND THEN SHE ALSO PLAYED FOR DAWN STALEY AS THEY WENT TO THE FINAL FOUR.
AND SO LAST YEAR OUR INAUGURAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH WAS OLIVIA GAINES.
AND SO NOW SHE'S GONE ON DOING REALLY GREAT THINGS.
AND SO IT'S REALLY UNIQUE CONNECTIONS AT RICHARD BLAND.
AND JUST RECENTLY, THIS WEEKEND, T EXPO, YOU'VE BEEN A PARTNER OF THAT FOR, FOR YEARS NOW.
AND YOU, I, MY SON HAD A COLLEGE BASEBALL GAME.
I COULDN'T MAKE IT, BUT JUST SEEING SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT MS. COLLINS SENT, AND AGAIN, I THINK ACCLIMATING OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO YOUR CAMPUS IS, IS PHENOMENAL.
SO THANK THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE A HOST FOR US.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO
[8.A. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week]
ACTION ITEMS. WE'VE GOT, UH, NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK, UH, MS. KREER.WELL, AND BEFORE DENISE COMES FORWARD, OR DENISE, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, UM, BECAUSE IT, I GUESS ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, DENISE CONTACTED ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, NATIONALLY THERE'S, THERE IS NATIONAL PUBLIC
[00:45:01]
SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK.AND SHE ASKED IF THERE WAS A WAY THAT WE COULDN'T MAYBE RECOGNIZE OUR, OUR DISPATCHERS, OUR, AGAIN, OUR EMERGENCY, UM, COMMUNICATIONS STAFF.
AND SO THIS HAS ALWAYS KIND OF HIT, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME.
I, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I, THE PEOPLE KNOW MY STORY.
THEY KNOW I, I GREW UP IN A, IN A PUBLIC SAFETY ENVIRONMENT WITH MY FATHER AND, YOU KNOW, BE A STATE TROOPER.
SO I GREW UP KNOWING WHAT THE VALUE, UM, IS FOR DISPATCHERS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS FOLKS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT OUR DISPATCH CENTER AND, 'CAUSE I LOOK ALL THE TIME, MS. LEE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT RECENTLY WITH CHIEF HALE, AND YOU SEE THESE LOCALITIES THAT ARE REALLY EXCITED.
IT SEEMS TO BE THE CRAZE AND THE, AND THE, AND THE TREND TO, UM, TO TRY TO GET ACCREDITED AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A, A SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, PROUD OF, OF GETTING THIS ACCREDITATION.
BUT WE GOT ACCREDITATION EARLY ON AND HAVE BEEN RE-ACCREDITED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THEN.
SO, WHICH IS, WHICH IS REALLY ONE OF THE TOP, UM, DESIGNATIONS THAT YOU COULD BE.
I, I LOOK IN THE NEWSPAPER AND I SEE DISPATCH CENTERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE HAPPY THAT THEY'RE GOING TEXT TO 9 1 1.
WELL, WE, WE'VE BEEN DOING TEXT TO 9 1 1.
WE WERE NUMBER EIGHT IN THE STATE, IN THE STATE TO, TO DO THAT.
UM, SO WE, YOU KNOW, SOME DEPARTMENTS COULD SIT AROUND AND, AND, AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE, WE CAN MAINTAIN WHERE WE'RE AT OR WE CAN TRY TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS.
UM, AND I KNOW DENISE HAS, HAS TALKED ABOUT HER RETIREMENT LATER THIS YEAR, BUT THESE WEREN'T THINGS THAT, THAT NECESSARILY WE HAD TO DO, BUT IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO.
UM, NOW THE PERSONAL PIECE TO THIS, WHEN, WHEN DENISE CALLED AND SAID, WE WANT TO DO THIS, AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY IS NOT ONLY IS IT RECOGNIZING THE DISPATCH STAFF, BUT IT'S ALSO DECLARING THEM AS FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND SO WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES A DISPATCHER OR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION A FIRST RESPONDER? AND I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE, I MEAN, THEY'RE THE FIRST INITIAL CONTACT.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS, YOU THINK A LOT ABOUT THE PERSON IN THE FIELD.
IT, IT STARTS WITH THAT NINE ONE ONE CALL THAT ANSWERS THE ANSWERS THAT PHONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IN ITSELF IS TREMENDOUS.
AND, AND THEY ALWAYS, MOST TIMES ARE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HAVING THEIR BEST DAY.
RIGHT? WE, WE KNOW THAT THIS, THESE, THESE ARE CRITICAL MOMENTS THAT, THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
SO WHETHER WE'RE TALKING FIRE, EMS, ANIMAL CONTROL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THE, THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THEY'RE THAT FIRST CONTACT.
THE SECOND THING I WAS THINKING THROUGH WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE CRITICAL DECISION MAKERS.
SO YOU AND I KNOW, EVEN IN MY JOB, I THINK I'VE SEEN IT ALL.
AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS THAT YOU SAY, HOW, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT UP? AND YOU CAN'T MAKE IT UP.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR, OUR STAFF, I MEAN, WHEN I TALK ABOUT CRITICAL DECISION MAKERS, IT'S, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN MANY CASES, LIFE AND DEATH OR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO GET THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT.
SO THE, THE STAFF THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE EXTREMELY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS, RIGHT? THEY, THEY'VE GOTTA BE CALM, THEY EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT.
AND SO THAT'S EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THAT OTHER PERSON'S MAYBE EVEN HAVING A WORST DAY, OBVIOUSLY.
SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HELD BACK COMMUNICATION STAFF BE CONSIDERING AS FIRST RESPONDERS IS THAT THE STATEMENT'S ALWAYS BEEN, EVEN WHEN I WAS AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WELL, THEY'RE IN NO PHYSICAL DANGER.
WELL, I WOULD CHALLENGE THAT TO SAY THAT NO, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL NOT PHYSICAL IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, RIGHT? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YES, PHYSICALLY, MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND I, I WON'T GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT THE STAFF CAN EXPLAIN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WORK THROUGH IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.
AND, AND I DON'T EVEN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LASHONDA AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT NOT LONG AGO.
I WAS LIKE, MAN, JUST TO, TO HAVE THAT CALL OR THAT CALLER.
AND SOMETIMES IT GOES, WELL, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.
BUT TO, TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, BUT YOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL PIECE IS SO THERE.
AND SO I CAN'T FIGURE, WE CAN'T FIGURE IT ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEN THE, THE TRAINING, AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THE CALMNESS AND THE PROFESSIONALISM.
THAT'S THE SAME THING WE DO WITH ALL THE OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF.
SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, AND WHEN DENISE CALLED AND SAID, LOOK, WE WANT TO DO THIS FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PERSONNEL, BUT ALSO TO DECLARE THEM FIRST RESPONDERS.
YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT DI'S ACTIONS TODAY, IF IT'S THE BOARD'S DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THAT IT
[00:50:01]
WOULD SWEEP ACROSS OUR COMMONWEALTH.AND THAT MORE AND MORE JURISDICTIONS WOULD REAFFIRM OFFICIALLY AFFIRM THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THEIR WORK.
AND, AND WHAT AGAIN, THAT, THAT SACRIFICE THAT'S BEING MADE BY OUR STAFF IN THIS CAPACITY, 'CAUSE TRULY THEY ARE THE, THE UNSUNG HEROES OF WHAT WE DO FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO DENISE, I TOLD YOU I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA READ THE PROC THE RESOLUTION HERE.
I MEAN, I, UM, IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS, WE CAN DO THAT.
I TOLD YOU I WANTED TO KIND OF TEE IT UP FOR YOU AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OF THE STAFF HERE TODAY.
UM, BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AS THE, THE DIRECTOR THERE.
BUT FOR YOUR STAFF, IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE THE STAFF FOR THE BOARD SURE.
SO I'M GONNA ASK HIM TO STAND.
SO WE HAVE WITH US OPERATIONS MANAGER CHUCK LEWIS.
WE HAVE SUPERVISOR MARQUITA CLINTON.
WE HAVE SENIOR, UM, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, CHARMINIQUE GROVE.
MARTA'S GOT 10, CHUCK'S GOT, OR 23.
BUT THEN ON THEIR FIRST DAY WITH THE COMM CENTER WE HAVE, AND I SAID I WAS GONNA HOPE I DIDN'T MESS HER NAME UP 'CAUSE I SAID I WASN'T GONNA CALL MICHELLE MELISSA NOLIN AND RA MARRYMAN TODAY IS THEIR FIRST DAY.
THAT THEY START BEING RECOGNIZED AS FIRST RESPONDERS ON THEIR FIRST DAY.
AND JUST TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT MR. MASSING SAID LAST YEAR WE ENTERED, UM, WE TOOK AN AVERAGE OF 65,000 CALLS.
14 TH OVER 14,000 OF 'EM WERE 9 1 1 CALLS.
AN AVERAGE AMOUNT OF CALLS ENTERED INTO OUR CAD SYSTEM WAS 2,500 A MONTH.
UM, MARQUITA IS TAKING THE RPL PROGRAM.
WE HAVE TIFFANY BECKELS, ANOTHER SUPERVISOR WHO'S TAKEN AN RPL PROGRAM, AS WELL AS DEREK HANKS HAS COMPLETED IT.
AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S THE REGISTERED LEADER PROGRAM.
IT'S NINE MONTH LONG PROGRAM THAT WILL ALSO, IT JUST DEVELOPS THAT FOUNDATION FOR MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY SKILLS.
UM, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO KEEP THOSE SKILLS UP AND DO CONTINUING ED.
EACH OF THEM ARE CERTIFIED, UM, CALL TAKERS.
THEY'RE CERTIFIED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DCJS AND A 40 HOUR CLASS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHICH IS THE COMMONWEALTH'S MANDATE, WE ALSO HAVE THEM CERTIFIED IN FIRE COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH, WHICH WE, WE ARE CREDITED IN.
UM, AND WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THEM CERTIFIED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS.
AND EACH OF THOSE CLASSES REQUIRE THEM TO DO CONTINUING ED EVERY YEAR.
THEY HAVE TO RE DO THEIR CONTINUING ED TO RECERTIFY EVERY TWO YEARS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S A ONE AND DONE CLASS AND EVERY DAY THEY'RE LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.
THERE'S A NEW TECHNOLOGY OF, I'M SURE AS SOON AS I GET BACK OVER THERE, THERE'LL BE SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE GOT COMING OUT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST COMPLETED OUR NEW RADIO SYSTEM.
THEY TOOK THAT ON, THEY CHALLENGED, THEY CHALLENGED IT, THEY ACCEPTED IT, AND THEY'RE MOVING ON TO SOMETHING ELSE NEXT YEAR, HOPEFULLY THE CIP WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO A NEW CAD SYSTEM, WHICH IS GONNA BE HUGE.
UM, AND IT'LL HAVE INTEGRATED OUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH SYSTEM.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, WE DO TEXT TO 9 1 1.
WE WERE IN THE TOP 10 TO DO SWITCH OVER TO NEXT GEN.
SO I'M PROUD OF THAT EARLY PIECE.
YOU KNOW, LET'S GO ON AND GET THIS OUT OF OUR WAY.
AND WE WANT TO KEEP US AHEAD OF THE GAME, SO TO SPEAK.
SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US.
SO MR. CHAIRMAN, ALL, UNLESS THERE'S ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU ALL, UM, WE JUST SIMPLY NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
CAN WE GET ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.
AND, AND I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK Y'ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND UM, ONE OF THE THINGS KEVIN WAS TALKING ABOUT IS, UM, MINDSET AND, UM, TWO INSTANCES WHEN I WAS AT MCV, THE ROOM FILLED UP WITH PEOPLE AND OF COURSE WHEN THE ROOM FILLS UP WITH PEOPLE, USUALLY YOU'RE NOT DOING VERY WELL.
AND THE FIRST THING THEY DID, ONE, UM, OF THE NURSES CALMLY TOOK MY WIFE OUT THE ROOM WHO WASN'T DOING SO WELL.
UM, BUT EVERYBODY IS METHODICAL, UM, AND CALM AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THAT'S PART OF YOUR JOB IS THE OTHER END OF THE LINE IS NOT, LIKE YOU SAID, NOT DOING WELL.
SO YOU NEED TO BE, UM, ON TOP OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND
[00:55:01]
CALM AND, AND I THINK CAN'T EVERYBODY DO WHAT YOU DO? SO I, I APPRECIATE IT.AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
MAY WE GET A PICTURE WITH YOU ALL? ABSOLUTELY.
AND WELCOME TO THOSE TO TEAM D WITTY.
I KNEW YOU WANNA LINE UP HERE? YEAH.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ALONG.
[8.B. Contract Award, Property Seizure And Public Auction Services]
WE HAVE CONTRACT, AWARD, PROPERTY, SEIZURE, AND PUBLIC AUCTION SERVICES.I'LL TREASURER MS. JENNY PERKINS.
UM, THIS SHOULDN'T TAKE BUT A MINUTE, UM, UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
UM, THE LAST MONTH WE HAD THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM VIRGINIA AUTO AUCTION AT THE WORKSHOP AND I THINK YOU HAD A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS AT THAT POINT.
THE GOAL HERE IS TO IMPROVE COLLECTION OF CERTAIN DELINQUENT PERSONAL PROPERTY ACCOUNTS AND THE COUNTY IS USING A COOPERATIVE PROCUREMENT WITH THE CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS CONTRACT TO PROCURE THESE SERVICES.
SO JUST RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE, I KNOW JENNY DISCUSSED IT WITH THOSE SET LENGTH, UM RIGHT A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS UPLIFTING AS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SEEING TODAY.
THE, UM, I VIEW IT AS ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO DO HER JOB RIGHT.
UM, AND SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? MS. JOB MAKE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONTRACT AS PRESENTED.
CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.
[8.C. Contract Award, Ballot Scanners]
CONTRACT AWARD BALLOT SCANNER.MS. STEPHANIE, RAY, MS. GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE A MEMO AND A CONTRACT AWARD FOR BALLOT SCANNERS FOR 19 BALLOT SCANNERS.
UM, THIS IS FOR THE SAME VENDOR THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING.
UM, YOUR MEMO WILL TELL YOU WE'VE EXPERIENCED A COUPLE LITTLE ISSUES, UM, BUT WITH ALL THESE RECENT SECURITY UPGRADES THAT THEY'RE REQUIRING, THE MACHINES WEREN'T BUILT FOR THAT AND WE'VE HAD 'EM FOR NINE YEARS, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND WHAT THE NORMAL LIFE EXPECTANCY IS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS.
UM, THE BRAND UNISON, VERY RELIABLE.
THE CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM OUR VENDOR ESO IS WONDERFUL.
UM, WE HAVEN'T SEEN UNISON IN THE NEWS ANY, UM, FOR ANYTHING THAT MAKES US FEEL OTHERWISE.
SO UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, MY, UM, ELECTORAL BOARD SECRETARY, MR. TALBOT IS HERE WITH ME.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US, YOU RETAIN 'EM OTHERWISE.
UM, WE ORIGINALLY WERE THINKING THIS PROJECT WOULD BE FUNDED OUTTA THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
WHEN WE STARTED OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WORK THIS YEAR, WE FELT LIKE A, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND B WE COULD DO IT THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, TO GET IT DONE.
AND SO WE ARE, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY HOPEFULLY TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD AND, AND FEEL COMFORTABLE.
IT CAN BE DONE IN, IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
IF, IF YOU DO APPROVE IT, UH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR THE JUNE 18TH PRIMARY.
SO GIVE US A LITTLE PRACTICE PRIOR TO NOVEMBER TO GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT.
ANY, ANYBODY WISH TO MAKE A MOTION? UM, LET'S SEE.
WE JUST NEED SIMPLY A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UH, CONTRACT AS PRESENTED.
MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE CONTRACT AS PRESENTED.
[01:00:01]
THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.[8.D. Contract Award, HVAC Rooftop Unit Replacement]
MOVING TO D CONTRACT AWARD.HVAC ROOFTOP UNIT REPLACEMENT 15.
MR. JEAN JONES, AFTERNOON BOARD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR APPROVAL FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE HVAC SYSTEM ON THE PAM BUILDING.
UH, WE HAD FIVE VENDORS BID ON THIS PROJECT PRICE RANGE FROM 174,000 TO 366 98.
UM, THE LOWEST BIDDER'S EQUIPMENT WAS NOT WHAT WE ASKED FOR.
UH, SO WE'LL WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE NEXT LOWEST BIDDER, WHICH IS WARWICK MECHANICAL AT, UH, 260 3077.
AND THAT UNIT WAS PROBABLY THE ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS WE'VE DONE WHEN I TOOK MAINTENANCE OVER, WASN'T IT? IT'S PROBABLY WHAT, 18, 19 YEARS OLD.
SUPPOSED TO BEEN DEAD ABOUT 15 YEARS.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SERVED US LIFE.
UM, AND WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE MAJOR TROUBLE WITH IT NOW.
GENE, THIS IS UP ON THE ROOF, AM I CORRECT? MM-HMM
AND OF COURSE WE'VE DONE ROOF REPAIRS AND THINGS.
SO WE'RE, WE'VE DONE ALL THE WORK ON THE INSIDE CONTROLS, VAV BOXES, UH, ALL THE LITTLE STUFF INSIDE'S BEEN DONE.
SO NOW, UM, AND IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD LOOKED LIKE EVERY SUMMER, I'VE GOTTA GO RESET THE, UH, THE ROOFTOP UNITS EVERY SUMMER WHEN IT GETS PAST 95 DEGREES, WE'LL COME FIND OUT.
SO, UH, THIS COMPANY'S ADDRESSING THAT PROBLEM TOO.
SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO GO BED 95 DEGREES AND RESET IT ANYMORE.
WHEN WE, WHEN WE REDID THE ROOF OVER THERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE DID IT IN ANTICIPATION OF WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO REPLACE THIS UNIT.
SO IT'S, IT'S ALREADY SET UP RIGHT? TO JUST TAKE IT OFF AND PUT THE NEW ONE ON.
IT, IT SHOULDN'T CAUSE ANY ISSUE TO THE ROOF.
WE RAISED THIS THING OFF THE ROOF, PROBABLY THREE FOOT PLUS, YOU KNOW, SO YOU CAN GET UP UNDER IT AND WORK ON THE ROOF.
FOR YEARS, WE COULDN'T EVEN PATCH THE ROOF WHERE IT WAS LEAKING BECAUSE THE UNIT WAS ON THE ROOF.
UM, NOW IT'S ABOVE, IT'S ABOUT THAT HIGH SO YOU CAN GET UP UNDER IT.
YEAH, THAT'S, AND AGAIN, THIS PROJECT WAS, UH, IDENTIFIED IN THE FY 24 CIP, UM, FOR THAT.
SO, ANN, WHERE ARE WE TO THE, UH, CONTRACT ESTIMATE TO BUDGET TO THAT CIP PROJECT? IT'S 300,000 FOR THE PROJECT, AND IT CAME IN AT 2 63.
SO THE, THE DIFFERENCE WILL PROBABLY BE USED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE CONTROLLERS ARE RIGHT AND, UM, GET TO COMPLETE THE WHOLE PROJECT, THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO HAPPEN.
ANY QUESTIONS? MS. JOHN? MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE HVAC ROOFTOP UNIT REPLACEMENT FOR THE PAMELA BUILDER AS PRESENTED.
CAN WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MR. LEE? A, MR. EBRA? BONNER.
[8.E. Contract Award, Emergency Vehicle Upfitting]
GO TO E CONTRACT AWARD, EMERGENCY B HICKLE, UM, UPFITTING, MAY NOT.GIL, I COME TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF SHERIFF ADAMS IN REFERENCE TO A CONTRACT WITH, UH, EMERGENCY, UH, EAST COAST EMERGENCY VEHICLES LLC.
UH, WHEN WE BUY OUR PATROL VEHICLES, THEY COME STRIPPED DOWN WITH NO EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT ON 'EM.
WE FOUND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE MORE ECONOMICAL TO PURCHASE THE, UH, EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE GOT A, UH, GUY, ROBBIE LAMB, WHO DOES ALL THE UPFITTING FOR US AS THE VEHICLES GO ALONG.
UM, AND, AND THROUGH THE, UH, PROCUREMENT, WE'VE USING, UH, PURCHASING ON THE CITY OF, UH, CHESAPEAKE'S CONTRACT THAT HAS COOPERATIVE PROCUREMENT LANGUAGE IN IT.
UM, EACH OF THESE VEHICLES CAN COST ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO $10,000 TO, TO UPFIT 'EM, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR USE IS GONNA BE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TRY TO STREAMLINE THIS AND WOULD, UH, RECOMMEND YOU ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT WITH, UH, ER EAST COAST EMERGENCY VEHICLES LLC.
UH, AS YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, THIS CONTRACT WILL ALSO BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES THAT MAY BE COMING ON BOARD.
UM, THE FIRE AND EMS VEHICLES GET SOME OF THE SAME EQUIPMENT AND MM-HMM
SO THEY'LL FALL UNDER THIS CONTRACT AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL? WHAT'S THE BOARD'S PLEASURE? MR. CHAIRMAN? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE
[01:05:01]
CONTRACT AS PRESENTED.CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.
[8.F. Human Resources Compensation Policy Update]
HUMAN RESOURCE COMPENSATION POLICY UPS UPDATE.MR. LEE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. MASS MCGILL.
I'M COMING TO YOU ALL TODAY TO DISCUSS REVISIONS TO THE COMPENSATION POLICY.
AS YOU ALL REMEMBER AT THE MARCH 5TH, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WORKSHOP, YOU ALL RECEIVED AN UPDATED COMPENSATION FO POLICY FROM ME, UH, FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW.
AND, UH, THIS CURRENT POLICY HAS MADE IT, UH, DIFFICULT TO, FOR ALL OF US TO ACHIEVE, UM, INTERNAL EQUITY.
UM, HOWEVER, TOGETHER WITH MR. MASSENGILL, WE PERSONALLY EVALUATED EACH PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND EACH HIRING OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL PARITY, UM, ACCOMPLISHED.
SO AFTER THE MARCH 5TH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WORKSHOP, YOU ALL WERE, UH, PROVIDED WITH A DRAFT COMPENSATION POLICY.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM, UM, RECEIVED COPIES OF THAT POLICY AS WELL FOR REVIEW AND COMMENTS.
AND SO, UM, WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME COMMENTS AFTER THAT.
AND THE COMMENTS CAN BE SEEN IN SECTION D OF THE COMPENSATION POLICY, WHICH IS TITLED PROMOTIONS.
THAT PIECE OF THE POLICY HAS BEEN UPDATED TO BETTER REFLECT THE ELIGIBLE INCREASE IN COMPENSATION FOR QUALIFYING PROMOTIONAL EMPLOYEES.
AND SO THIS PROVIDES COMPENSATION POLICY, PROMOTES CURRENT PRACTICES, AS WELL AS ESTABLISHES INTERNAL EQUITY, PROVIDES EMPLOYEES WITH CLEAR INTENTION AND DIRECTION INTO OUR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PRACTICES.
AND SO IT IS OUR ASK AND REQUEST THAT YOU WILL ALL APPROVE THIS DRAFT REVISED COMPENSATION POLICY.
I WOULD ALSO JUST OFFER THAT, UM, IN YOUR BOARD PACKET, YOU HAVE THE DRAFT.
AND JUST TO REMIND YOU, WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU ALL ON MARCH THE FIFTH, ALL THE ITEMS THAT WERE IN RED, UM, WERE ADDED.
AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS REDACTED IS WITH A STRIKEOUT.
AND SO THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN ADDED SINCE THAT MEETING, UM, IT'S ON PAGE THREE, PROMOTIONS AND PURPLE MM-HMM
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, THE ONLY THING I I WOULD ADD, I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY, UM, WELL STATED, UH, WHILE WE ADDED THE PURPLE SECTION, WAS WE DID RECEIVE FEEDBACK THAT IN OUR CURRENT POLICY, AN EMPLOYEE COULD FIND THAT THEY COULD, THEY COULD DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A PROMOTION, WHETHER THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR.
AND WITHOUT THIS SECTION, THIS SECTION DOES GIVE THE ABILITY FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO SEE THE EARNING POTENTIAL IF THEY QUALIFY.
UH, JUST AGAIN, KEEPING IN MIND TO THE, THE, THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD BEFORE WITH THE WAY THAT THE POLICY WAS WRITTEN, IT WAS REALLY KINDA CREATING SOME ISSUES OF EQUALITY AND, AND EQUITY AND THE WAY WE WERE TRYING TO DO IT INTERNALLY.
UH, BUT THE, I I REALLY JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK STAFF AND THE BOARD FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS AND HAVING THE PATIENCE FOR US.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ADOPTED THIS POLICY BEFORE, SOMETIMES YOU ADOPT A POLICY AND IT HAS OTHER CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UM, AND THIS, THIS PARTICULAR SECTION WAS CONCERNING TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE INEQUITY.
IT DID CREATE, BUT AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WHAT'S BEFORE YOU, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME TO GET IT TO YOU, THAT IT, IT DOES ADDRESS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND GIVES A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO THE HIRING MANAGER.
SO I THINK WE GOT A GOOD POLICY HOPEFULLY THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS? GLAD YOU'RE OF THE BOARD.
WE, UH, MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT WITH, UM, THE CHANGES FOR THE COMPENSATION.
WE CAN JUST GET A, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REVISED POLICY.
[9. CITIZEN COMMENTS (3 MINUTES)]
AT THIS TIME, UM, WE HAVE CITIZEN COMMENT.DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN COMMENT? YES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE PINKY HILL.
[01:10:33]
GOOD AFTERNOON.GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE BOARD.
I'M A RESIDENT AND A RETIRED TEACHER OF DIY COUNTY.
I COME TODAY AFTER BEING PROMPT BY A SITUATION THAT I FOUND MYSELF INVOLVED IN ON LAST WEDNESDAY, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND THE LADY WAS WALKING ALONG THE ROAD AND SHE HAD A PACK ON HER BACK, BIG BAG.
AND I, I DID PASS HER, BUT THEN WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH MY MIRROR, I STOPPED AND I ASKED HER IF SHE NEEDED A RIDE, AND SHE TOLD ME YES.
NOW SHE WAS ON VAUGHN ROAD, JUST IN THE AREA WHERE ALL THE NEW HOMES ARE.
AND I LIVE ON BUNKING, DUN, UH, DUNCAN ROAD, WHICH IS JUST FURTHER DOWN.
AND THE LADY WANTED TO GET TO JAR VIRGINIA.
I SAID, SO I SAID TO HER MOM, I SAID, YOU ARE A LONG WAYS FROM JAR VIRGINIA.
AND I JUST BEGAN TO TALK TO HER AND I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO GET TO JAR BECAUSE SHE WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE HOMELESS SHELTER.
SO ANYHOW, WE CALLED THE HOMELESS SHELTER THERE, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS ON A WAIT LIST.
SHE COULDN'T COME AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.
SO HERE I HAVE A HOMELESS LADY IN MY CAR AND RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND, AND I'M NOT A TEENAGER ANYMORE,
AND I, I KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT MY DAUGHTER WOULD'VE SAID, MOM, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? BUT I FELT THE NEED TO STOP.
AND I WAS GLAD THAT I DID BECAUSE MY SISTER AND I, WHO'S WITH ME TODAY, WE SPENT THE WHOLE AFTERNOON TRYING TO FIND HELP FOR THAT LADY.
AND, AND WHAT REALLY BROUGHT ME HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT DENWITTY COUNTY HAD IN PLACE FOR HOMELESSNESS.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE HOPEWELL CHESTERFIELD, DOWNTOWN PETERSBURG, ALL OF THESE PLACES.
AND I BEGAN TO WONDER AND SAYS, WELL, WHAT IF, WHAT ARE WE DOING? SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
UH, AND, AND LISTEN, HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A JOKE ANYMORE, RIGHT.
THE MORE THE PRICES GO UP ON FOODS, THE HIGHER THE RENT GETS.
WE GONNA HAVE MORE AND MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE MM-HMM
AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I SAY WE, BECAUSE I STILL HAVE SOME BREATH IN MY BODY.
I STILL HAVE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU NEED ME TO HELP, I WILL HELP.
DID YOU HAVE ANY, ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP? MR. CHAIRMAN? I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP.
UM-HUH WELL, I'M GOING CLOSE THE PUBLIC, UM, COMMENT PERIOD.
UM, I GUESS MR.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I, I WAS GOING TO THANK MS. HILL TOO.
[01:15:01]
DEWINE COUNTY AND, AND HER HEART HAS ALWAYS BEEN AS, AS BIG AS WHAT YOU JUST DISPLAYED HERE.AND, UM, TO, TO MR. LEE'S POINT, WE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS BECOMING A BIGGER ISSUE, NOT, NOT JUST IN DENWOODY COUNTY.
UM, BUT I, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES, I, I OVERSEE SOCIAL SERVICES AND IN TALKING WITH THE DIRECTOR THERE, WE'VE ASKED, UM, DONNA TO, TO LOOK AT, 'CAUSE SHE RECENTLY, IN THE LAST SIX, SEVEN MONTHS, I THINK SHE TALKED ABOUT IT DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, IS THAT DEWINE COUNTY IS STARTING TO SEE A HOMELESSNESS ISSUE BEFORE, I MEAN, THAT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY SEE BEFORE.
UM, AND HOMELESSNESS LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN A RURAL COMMUNITY THAN IT DOES IN THE URBAN COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE HEARTS THE SIZE OF MS. HILL, THAT, THAT HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE PEOPLE IN AND PROVIDE SOME TEMPORARY HOUSING.
UM, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT ADDRESS AND THEY'RE NOT A PERMANENT THERE.
AND SO IN, IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY, WE KIND OF TRY TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THE BEST WE CAN.
BUT I, I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH, WITH REALLY HIGH, WITH HOME PRICES, YOU'RE, YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD THAT.
THEY'RE DOING OKAY, BUT, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD ARE DOING A LITTLE WORSE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ASKED HER TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOME STRATEGIES WE COULD PUT INTO PLACE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS TODAY, BUT WE'VE ASKED HER TO TRY TO QUANTIFY WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
WE DO PARTNER WITH DOWNTOWN PETERSBURG AND THE CARES FACILITY WHERE WE PROVIDE PARTIAL FUNDING TO THEM.
AND THEY'VE RECENTLY DID AN EXPANSION AND RENOVATION.
AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF BEEN OUR APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE.
UH, BUT I THINK TO YOUR POINT, YOU WITNESSED SOMETHING FIRSTHAND THAT WE KNOW IS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR THE COUNTY IS THAT WE'RE FINDING PEOPLE THAT WILL MOVE TO THE COUNTY.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE HOUSING, AND INSTEAD THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO THE BACK 50 ACRES ON A TIMBER ROAD AND MAYBE THEY CAN AFFORD A TRAVEL TRAILER OR A CAMPER.
AND SO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE NOW A LOT OF SQUATTING IN THESE TIMBER PROPERTIES THAT ARE JUST KINDA LIVING OFF THE GRID, SO TO SPEAK.
SO IT, IT'S BECOMING AN ISSUE.
IT'S, IT'S BECOMING A VERY MUCH SO AN ISSUE.
AND I, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TRY TO HELP IN IT.
UM, I, I KNOW IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE HERE AND WE'VE STARTED TO TALK TO SOME OF OUR CHURCHES ABOUT THAT, UM, TO SEE IF THAT'S NOT A, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHURCH TO, TO DO SOMETHING AS IT RELATES TO HOMELESSNESS OR CHURCHES.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A BIG ISSUE.
AND I, I'M, I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FROM A SPIRITUAL STANDPOINT, I, I THANK GOD THAT THE PERSON RAN INTO PINKY HILL BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT PERSON'S GONNA GET LOOKED AFTER THE RIGHT WAY.
SO THANK, THANK YOU FOR WHAT, AND BRINGING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS BOARD THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A FACE TO THE ISSUE.
BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE, WE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT, BUT, BUT YOU TOOK THE, THE TIME TO DO THAT.
SO I, I THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD AND I, WE MIGHT HAVE PINKY'S INFORMATION, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE GET IT TO MS. BROWN AND WE'LL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP, UH, MOVING FORWARD TO HOW WE'RE GONNA TRY TO ADDRESS, ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
[10. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS]
I GUESS WE'RE AT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS NOW A SECOND, I JUST ROLL RIGHT THROUGH.UM, SO THE BLESSING IS THAT I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE CIP NOW I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
I, SO YOU, I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS A LITTLE BIT LESS BRIEF.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION.
I'M SO GLAD OUR DISPATCHERS WERE ABLE TO BE HERE.
UM, BUT THIS WEEK IS ALSO ANIMAL CONTROL APPRECIATION WEEK.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, AT BUDGET TIME WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT IS CHALLENGED.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO ANIMAL CONTROL, UM, PLEASE JUST, JUST THANK 'EM FOR THE JOB THAT, THAT THEY DO.
IF YOU WERE COMING IN, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT WE HAD PINWHEELS AT THE, AT BOTH THE FRONT, WELL, IT WAS KIND OF TWO FRONTS, BUT THIS SIDE AND THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND THOSE PINWHEELS WERE PUT IN BY OUR SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S IN, IN RECOGNITION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION MONTH.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WORK THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AS A COMMUNITY.
BUT I, I'VE OFTEN SAID IT, SOME OF THE, THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS THAT, THAT WE ENCOUNTER IS, IS IN THIS AREA.
AND SO THE, THE SOCIAL WORK STAFF, I MEAN, WE HAD, I THINK WE TOOK IN
[01:20:01]
FOUR KIDS IN THE LAST, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, ALL UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.AND ONE OF ONE OF THOSE, THE OLDEST WAS A 4-YEAR-OLD THAT WAS FOUND WALKING DOWN A, A MAIN ROAD WITHOUT ANY CLOTHES COMPLETELY NAKED.
AND SO ALL FOUR OF THOSE KIDS WERE BROUGHT HERE, UM, AT THAT TIME OF DAY, THEY SPENT THE NIGHT HERE IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE OASIS ROOM IN SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND, UM, SO I MEAN, THESE ARE THE, THE TYPE OF, OF SITUATIONS THAT WE, WE WORK THROUGH.
UM, ALSO, UM, I WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU THAT, THAT MR. CHAVIS AND I RECEIVED A, AN INVITATION BY GENERAL DONAHUE WITH FORT GREG ADAMS TO MEET WITH DI WITTY CHESTERFIELD, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THE BASE AND THE INSTALLATION AND SPECIFICALLY OUR TWO COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO, TO MEET WITH THE GENERAL AND HER STAFF IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES, UH, RELATIVE TO FORT GREG ADAMS, I'D ASK THAT YOU GET 'EM TO EITHER ME OR CHAIRMAN CHAVIS.
AND WHEN WE HAD THAT MEETING, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO, TO ADDRESS IT.
UM, MARTHA MENTIONED NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK, AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I, I HOPE, AND I KNOW STACEY'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT STACEY DOES A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO PROMOTE LOCALLY WHAT WE HAVE HERE TO, TO OFFER.
BUT AGAIN, UM, WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS EITHER, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, TO DE WITTY WHEN WE HAVE THE ADMISSIONS TAX AND THE LODGING TAX, I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING PRETTY WELL WITH, UM, THOSE TWO FORMS OF TAXATION THAT, THAT WE PUT ALL THAT MONEY RIGHT BACK INTO TO TOURISM.
SO IT FUNDS PART, AND IT FUNDS STACY AND SOME OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO.
SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHEN THEY QUESTION THAT EXPENDITURE KNOW THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A, I LOOK AT IT, I KNOW MARTHA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST IT'S REVENUE, A STREAM OF MONEY GOING DOWN 85 AND 95.
AND AGAIN, WHAT NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR WE'RE PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
UM, I WAS LOOKING OVER AT MARIE EARLIER AND I THOUGHT ABOUT CITIZENS ACADEMY.
AND SO CITIZENS ACADEMY WE'RE GETTING READY TO START OUR SPRING AND SUMMER SESSION OF THAT.
IT SAID MAY 23RD IS THE, THE FIRST NIGHT OF THAT.
WE STILL HAVE SPOTS AVAILABLE.
SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN GREAT THE FIRST TWO TIMES WE'VE DONE IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO I, I WOULD HOPE THAT IF Y'ALL KNOW ANYBODY, THAT Y'ALL CAN KIND OF SPREAD THE WORD OUT ABOUT THAT.
UM, LAST TWO THINGS I'LL MENTION IS, UH, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IS, AND I KNOW I'VE, I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH THE BOARD, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC TOO, MAY 2ND, UM, WILL BE OUR SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WITH OUR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE DOING BE AT THE DENVER SPORTS COMPLEX AT 6:00 PM AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO BRING A CHAIR, IF YOU HAVE ONE, WE'LL HAVE A FEW CHAIRS SET UP.
BUT THEN LAST TIME WE HAD KIND OF THREE INTENTIONAL PRAYERS AND MUSIC SELECTIONS, AND IT WAS PHENOMENAL.
IT DIDN'T LAST LIKE 30 MINUTES.
UM, BIGGEST CRITICISM WAS ALL THOSE PEOPLE DRIVING DOWN FOUR 60 DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
AND SO THEN WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS, THEY WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT.
SO I HOPE THIS, THIS TIME THEY CAN BE A PART OF IT.
AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, UH, IT'S CALLED ONE CHURCH COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND, UH, THAT'S THE DIMITY CLERGY ASSOCIATION PUTS THAT ON.
BUT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THAT COMMUNITY WORSHIP SERVICE AT OKRA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON APRIL 28TH.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE AT 3:00 PM THERE ON, ON FOUR 60 BESIDE THE COOP.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING THE VIDEO ON THE COOP
SO THAT'S, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE THERE FOR, FOR THAT.
BUT MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
[11. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
MS. BON, UM, WE'RE GOING TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.UH, WHAT, WHAT YOU GOT FOR US TODAY? UM, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO, UM, SAY, I KNOW AND MISS PINKY HILL, SHE'S GONE ALREADY ABOUT, UM, THE HOMELESSNESS AND SO FORTH.
AND I KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS IN TEXAS, AND I THINK I TALKED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT, THEY HAD A COMMUNITY AND IT WAS TINY HOUSES THAT THEY SET UP THERE, AND THAT'S PEOPLE WHO WERE HOMELESS OR PEOPLE WHO HAD, UM, HEALTH CHALLENGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, THEY WERE DOING WELL THERE.
THEY HAD, UM, THEY OWNED GARDEN, UH, THEY HAD, UM, CHICKENS, YOU KNOW, AND EGGS AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.
THEY HAD A, A, UM, A HEALTH, NOT A HEALTH STORE, A LIKE A MED STORE, LIKE A, A DRUG STORE, I'M SORRY.
AND A MINI MARKET THERE ON THE GROUNDS.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY NICE.
AND WE, UM, WE TOURED THERE AND, AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY NICE,
[01:25:01]
YOU KNOW, AND THE TINY HOUSES ARE REALLY NICE TO LOOK AT.SO, AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
AND THEY WERE DOING A SECOND SET AS AT SOME POINT, SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF LAND AND, UM, SOMEBODY WANTED TO DO TINY HOUSES.
IT WOULD BE GREAT, YOU KNOW, TO, AND IT DOESN'T COST THAT MUCH, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO STAY THERE.
SO IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING TO KIND OF LOOK INTO, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HELPING PEOPLE PLUS, UM, GETTING SOMETHING OUT THE DEAL AS WELL.
AND, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE, I KNOW KEVIN WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ANIMAL CONTROL.
I WAS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE SAW THIS ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING, YOU GOTTA BE REALLY CAREFUL WHEN YOU BUY ANIMALS.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY SAW THAT.
WELL, I SEE THAT, WELL, THE, THE YOUNG, UH, THE FATHER BOUGHT ONE FOR HIS SON, AND HE, HE DIDN'T KNOW, HE THOUGHT IT WAS A, A MALE, BUT IT WASN'T A MALE.
AND THEY HAD ALL THESE OCTOPUSES, I MEAN, IT WAS BABIES EVERYWHERE.
I THINK IT WAS LIKE MAYBE TWO OR 300 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, SO THEY HAD TO END UP CALL, CALL, UH, CALLING, UM, DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO TAKE 'EM.
BUT, UM, THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
SO THE MORAL OF THAT STORY IS YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A MALE INSTEAD OF A FEMALE IF YOU'RE GONNA GET AN ANIMAL.
UH, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THAT WAS, YEAH, IT WAS AN OCTOPUS, IT WAS ON, IT WAS ON TV, YOU KNOW, UM, SO IT, IT WAS SOMETHING I I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.
WELL, NO, IT'S NOT IN VIRGINIA.
SO IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY HAD SO MANY OF 'EM.
AND THEN, OOPS, YOU CAN'T PUT 'EM TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY'LL EAT EACH OTHER.
YEAH, SO IT, IT WAS ON CHANNEL EIGHT NEWS, SO, YOU KNOW, UM, THEY'LL PROBABLY TALK, TALK ABOUT THAT STORY AGAIN.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
UM, I WENT TO A COUPLE OF SESSIONS.
THE PARENTS WERE, UH, REALLY GREAT LEARNING ABOUT, UM, THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF IT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
AND THE, AND THE, UM, DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS, THEY WERE GOOD.
AND ONE THING I WAS GONNA MENTION, TAMMY.
I'M GONNA MENTION THIS, TAMMY.
WE WERE, UM, UM, I WAS GOING ACROSS AND THIS LADY PULLED UP NOT KNOWING, I THINK SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY SHE CAME DOWN THIS ROAD, BUT SHE STOPPED AND SHE WAS JUST CRYING AND CRYING AND CRYING.
AND SHE HAD THESE TWO LARGE DOGS IN THE BACK.
AND, UM, REVEREND PHILLIPS WAS THERE, TAMMY WENT OVER, AND THEN I WENT OVER, HER HUSBAND HAD JUST DIED AND SHE WANTED PRAYER.
AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST SOMETHING TO SEE AND HEARTWARMING BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY SHE WAS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
AND THEN SHE STOPPED AND, UM, AND, UM, HE ASKED QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, TAMMY WENT OVER AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PRAYED WITH HER AND SO FORTH, AND IT'S, YOU, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
BUT HER HUSBAND HAD JUST DIED AND SHE WAS, SHE WAS SO DISTRAUGHT AND UPSET AND SHE WAS JUST CRYING AND CRYING.
AND, UM, SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU NEVER KNOW WHY YOU IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE WE WERE GETTING READY TO GO ACROSS TO THE BUILDINGS.
AND, UM, SO THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS A HIGHLIGHT TRYING TO DO THAT THE KIDS ENJOYED, UM, OUTSIDE AND EVERYTHING.
I THINK IT'S, TAMMY ASKED A QUESTION 10 YEARS, AND I THINK IT'S ONE YOUNG PERSON THAT GOT IT RIGHT.
HE GOT A LITTLE GIFT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, YEAH, 10 YEARS, THAT'S A LONG TIME.
THEY, UH, REALLY ENJOYED THEMSELVES AND, UM, WHATNOT.
CASEY, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF AGAIN, UH, FOR MAKING THIS A PAINLESS PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE, UM, THESE ACTION ITEMS AND WORKING MAGIC TO, TO MAKE THESE ENDS MEET, UM, FOR MAKING THE CHANGES TO OUR COMPENSATION POLICY AND GETTING THAT RIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME START WITH ON MY 9 1 1, UH, COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE REALIZE HOW MUCH STRESS ON A DAILY BASIS IS ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT 12 HOUR SHIFT.
THAT THEY WORK A LOT OF STRESS.
UM, WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE THERE MM-HMM
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.
AND OF COURSE, TODAY WE HAVE TWO NEW EMPLOYEES THAT ARE COMING ON THE TEAM, THEN WITTY.
UM, WE JUST NEED TO PRAY FOR THEM OH YES.
THEM AND ANYBODY ELSE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER THINGS, BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN
[01:30:01]
OUR COMMUNITY TODAY ARE VERY DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO DEAL WITH.SO THANK YOU FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF DENVER WITTY COUNTY AND, UM, FOR THE JOB THAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND THE SHEER NUMBER OF CALLS, IF YOU LISTEN TO THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE ARE, WE'RE RECEIVING ON A MONTHLY BASIS, DIVIDE THAT BY 30 AND SEE HOW MANY THAT IS PER DAY.
UH, IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT THEY DO.
AND DENISE AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNICATIONS PART, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT, THAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS.
UM, GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT THE DUAL ENROLLMENT, UH, NUMBERS THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH OUR, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN DENWITTY COUNTY WITH RBC.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED ABOUT MULTIPLE YEARS AGO WAS OUR FRIENDS IN BOTH PRINCE GEORGE AND PETERSBURG WERE DOING THAT.
UM, AS A FATHER OF A FRESHMAN AT VIRGINIA TECH, UM, IF THEY CAN GO THERE FOR TWO YEARS, YOU'RE TALKING AT LEAST A $60,000 SAVINGS MM-HMM
UM, AND WITH THE DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AUTOMATIC ADMISSIONS, IF YOU HAVE A 3.5 GPA MM-HMM
INTO THOSE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, UH, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE, UM, GREAT THING FOR THE FAMILIES OF DENWITTY COUNTY IF THEY START EARLY AND PARTICIPATE.
UM, SO I, MY HAT'S OFF TO RBC FOR THAT AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH DR.
WESTON FOR PUTTING THAT IN PLACE.
AND HOPEFULLY WE AS A COMMUNITY WILL, UH, WILL, UH, EMBRACE THAT, UH, GOING FORWARD FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO HIRE, HAVE A HIGHER EDUCATION AS WE GO FORWARD.
UM, THANK YOU AGAIN TO RBC AND OUR TEAM THAT PUT THE TEAM EXPO TOGETHER.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE MISSED IN 10 YEARS,
UM, I HAD CLASS THIS WEEKEND TO KEEP MY LICENSE.
SO, UM, BUT I KNOW THE GREAT JOB THAT IS DONE BY OUR EMPLOYEES AND, AND THOSE THAT VOLUNTEER THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL AS OTHER INDIVIDUALS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THE EMS AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S THERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU DO AND THE LIVES THAT YOU TOUCH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT.
YOU'RE GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES, BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO BE GAME CHANGERS IN CHILDREN'S LIVES AND THAT THAT'S, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE THAT'S INVOLVED THERE.
OF COURSE, WE TALKED ABOUT DRONE UP AT RBC MM-HMM
UM, WE ARE, YOU HAVE ANOTHER ENTITY IN DENVER COUNTY THAT'S DOING DRONE AND THAT'S AT THE AIRPORT WITH VSU NOW, RIGHT? NO.
UM, SO WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WITH BOTH OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THAT WE PARTICIPATE WITH.
SO VSU IS STEPPING OUT IN THE DRONE SIDE, THEY SEE THE VALUE IN THAT, AND WE'RE A WILLING PARTICIPANT THROUGH THE DIMITY AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF, OF HELPING THEM.
SO, UM, THAT IS A, A, A FUTURE PRO, WELL IT ACTUALLY IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, UM, WITH RETAIL SPACE, THAT RENTAL SPACE THAT WE HAVE AT THE AIRPORT.
UM, AND THE LAST THING, WE'RE GONNA PRESENT A BUDGET TONIGHT AND I WANT TO JUST PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU TO MY, TO OUR STAFF MM-HMM
UM, WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION RIGHT NOW, I THINK, TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE, OF THE CITIZENS OF DENWITTY COUNTY AS WELL AS THOSE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR DENWITTY COUNTY, UH, WHETHER IT'S, UM, FIRE, EMS, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT'S INVOLVED.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU PUBLICLY TO KEVIN, TO ANNE AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THIS BUDGET PROCESS AS WELL AS OUR NEW CIP FORMAT THAT WE'VE GONE TO.
UH, I THINK THAT HAS BEEN A, UH, AN IMPROVEMENT AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND IT HAS HELPED IN THE PROCESS AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP US IN LINE WITH PROJECTS THAT, UH, ON THE CIP SIDE, THAT SO THEY DON'T GET CONTINUALLY SHIFTED DOWN.
AND HAVING GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THAT CIP AS WELL AS OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.
'CAUSE I KNOW THEY ARE INVOLVED WITH IT.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THE, THE BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO FIRST START OUT, UM, AND BRENDA KIND OF GAVE ME A, UM, A LEAD IN TO THAT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I GUESS IS GOING TO BE MY PLATFORM FOR MY JOURNEY, UM, THAT I'VE BEEN ON, UM, IS LOOKING, UM, NOTICING ANGELS IN YOUR LIFE.
AND PART OF THAT PROCESS IS EITHER BEING AN ANGEL OR NEEDING AN ANGEL.
AND I THINK THE LADY THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT NEEDED AN ANGEL.
UM, AND I THINK BEFORE ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO
[01:35:01]
ME, THERE WERE ANGELS IN MY LIFE, BUT I JUST WAS TOO BUSY TO SEE 'EM.SO RECOGNIZE THE ANGELS IN YOUR LIFE AND APPRECIATE 'EM AND, AND AT SOME POINT BE THAT ANGEL THAT, THAT SOMEBODY'S LOOKING FOR.
UM, I'D LIKE TO, UM, KINDA RECAP SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, WENT ON LAST MONTH.
OF COURSE, TODAY WAS GOVERNMENT DAY.
UM, THE STUDENTS, UM, IT, IT IS, UM, UNBELIEVABLE HOW, UM, DIFFERENT THEY ARE THAN A, THAN AN OLD MAN
AND, AND THE THINGS THAT THEY THINK OF AND MM-HMM
AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE YOUTH OF THIS AND THAT, BUT I, I THINK OUR FUTURE'S IN GOOD HANDS WITH MM-HMM
A LOT OF THESE KIDS AND, AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE GROWN UP, RIGHT? YEAH.
UM, GOOD PARENTING AND, AND SO IT, IT REALLY IS A GOOD DAY.
UM, AND, UM, NEXT WAS THE TEEN EXPO.
AND OF COURSE, UM, IT'S, IT'S PLANNED AT THE VIRGINIA TECH SPRING GAME, UM, EVERY YEAR
UM, YOU KNOW, 112 STUDENTS, 50 PARENTS.
UM, THE PICTURES ON FACEBOOK WERE AMAZING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK SOME KIDS JUST NEED THAT EXCITEMENT OF BEING OUTTA COLLEGE AND, UM, SEEING WHAT'S OFFERED AND WHAT, WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THE COLLEGE EDUCATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD, UM, MY SECOND SON, HE WAS GONNA SPEND TWO YEARS AT TECH AND SPEND SIX YEARS AT TECH.
SO, UM, AND HE WAS ACTUALLY LEARNING ALL SIX YEARS.
SO IT WASN'T THAT HE WASN'T, HE COULDN'T GET THROUGH IT.
UM, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONCE THEY SEE WHAT, WHAT'S OUT THERE, I THINK IT IT, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A GOOD THING.
UM, COUNTYWIDE NEWSLETTER IS GONNA BE HEADED TO THE PRINTER.
THE SHOULD HIT THE MAILBOXES THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY.
UM, SO THAT, UM, GOOD WAY FOR US TO GET INFORMATION OUT AND I THINK IT'S WELL RECEIVED.
AND THEN, UM, OF COURSE WE HAVE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BOTH OF THEM.
ANIMAL CONTROL APPRECIATION WEEK AND PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU DON'T NEED 'EM TILL YOU NEED 'EM, AND THEN YOU NEED 'EM.
AND, UH, SO WE WANT TO, UM, TELL EACH GROUP THAT HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE 'EM, UM, AND, UM, AND, AND WHAT A, WHAT A GOOD JOB BOTH OF THEM DO.
UM, AND WITH THAT WE HAVE A NEED TO, MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I, YEP.
I, I NEED TO GO BACK FOR ONE, ONE MORE ITEM IF THAT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
'CAUSE I PROMISED MECKLENBURG COUNTY I WOULD DO THIS.
SO WE, WE HAVE, UM, OUR FRIENDS IN MECKLENBURG CONTACTED US AS YOU, YOU MAY RECALL WHEN WE MET WITH, UH, DELEGATE WAXMAN.
HE HAD, HE HAD RECENTLY TALKED TO MECKLENBURG IN BRUNSWICK AND ASKED US ON GOVERNMENT DAY OR LEGISLATIVE DAY ABOUT 85, AND THE, THE ACCIDENTS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE ON 85.
SO SPECIFICALLY ON MARCH 21ST, UH, THE, THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, ALEX GOTCHU, HAD BY REQUEST OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SENT A LETTER TO, UM, KEVIN GREG AND, AND ANGEL DEAN, BOTH OF WHICH ARE WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS SPECIFICALLY, UM, IN RELATION TO THE, THE HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A CRASH TRUCK ON MAJOR CORRIDORS.
AND THE LITTLE, I SAY LITTLE, THE, THE, THE TOWN OF SOUTH HILL HAD A FIRETRUCK ON 85 THAT WAS TOTALED BECAUSE OF A, A MOTORIST THAT DIDN'T GET OVER THE WAY THEY SHOULD HAVE.
AND IT TOTALED THEIR FIRETRUCK.
AND IT, IT TOOK, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW ANN CAN, AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN IT COMES TO CIP PLANNING, YOU KNOW, FIRE TRUCKS, EVEN ONCE YOU GET 'EM APPROVED, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING MULTIPLE YEARS BEFORE YOU GET IT BACK.
SO NOW SOUTH HILL DOESN'T HAVE FIRETRUCK AND, YOU KNOW, SO SPECIFICALLY THIS, UM, THIS PARTICULAR AREA ON 85 HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BOTH NATIONALLY AND COMMONWEALTH WIDE AS A CORRIDOR OF SIGNIFICANCE, BUT IT'S THE ONLY CORRIDOR IN THE
[01:40:01]
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA THAT VDOT DOESN'T ASSIGN A CRASH TRUCK.AND SO THEY'VE ATTEMPTED TO GO THROUGH VDOT, THEY'VE ASKED FOR OUR BOARD'S, UM, AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
SO I HAVE DRAFTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT, I JUST WANNA GET YOUR ACQUIESCENCE TO GO AHEAD AND SEND IT.
UM, BUT IT, IT WOULD BASICALLY ADOPT THE MARCH 21ST CORRESPONDENCE BY THE MECKLENBURG BOARD THROUGH MR. GOTCHU, AND IT WOULD ADD SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT DIMITY COUNTY.
AND SO JUST YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING TO CHIEF HALE AND HE THREW OUT A COUPLE STATISTICS THAT JUST IN DIY, THERE'VE BEEN 190 CRASHES, UH, ON INTERSTATE 85.
UM, SO OF THOSE, UH, 195 CRASHES THAT DENWOODY RESPONDED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE ISSUES, AND WE THINK TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, IT'S THE SPEED DIFFERENTIAL.
AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN, IN THE MEETING, BUT JUST FOR US, WE, WE'VE HAD, UH, WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD A, A, UH, WAS IT A TANKER, ANN THAT WAS, THAT WAS DESTROYED.
WE'VE HAD MOST RECENTLY, ONE OF OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THAT WAS DOING, UM, UH, SPEED ENFORCEMENT, HIS CAR WAS DAMAGED.
WE'VE HAD AN AMBULANCE DAMAGED.
UM, WHAT ELSE HAVE WE HAD DAMAGED? THAT'S A, SEVERAL OF S SEVERAL FIRST RESPONDER VEHICLES HAD BEEN DAMAGED ON, ON I 85.
AND AGAIN, THIS WHOLE CONCEPT IS THAT THE, THAT THE OVERALL STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN ADOPTED BY THE STATE PUTS IN THIS CRASH TRUCK IN THESE AREAS, BUT YET THIS AREA'S NOT REPRESENTED.
SO I JUST, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF IT'S OKAY, AND IF THE BOARD IS OKAY WITH IT, I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT LESLIE WHITTINGTON, WHO'S THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN BRUNSWICK, IS ALSO DOING THE SAME TYPE OF, UM, SUPPORT LETTER.
BUT IF, IF YOU ALL ARE OKAY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE, I, I'LL GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THAT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING THAT DONE.
BUT SORRY, I, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT LONGER IN MY COMMENTS.
[12. CLOSED SESSION]
A NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO A CLOSED SESSION UNDER 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A ONE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS 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 A THREE, DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR OF THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 8 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.
LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION BROADBAND AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A 29, DISCUSSION OF THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT INVOLVING THE EXPENDITURE 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? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
UH, WE WILL BE BACK AT AT SEVEN O'CLOCK, UM, FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO COME OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.
DO WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.
WHEREAS THIS BOARD CONVENED IN A CLOSED MEETING UNDER 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A ONE PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A FIVE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION CONCERNING PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY OR THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS UPDATE 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A THREE DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR 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.
[01:45:01]
PROPERTY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 8 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.
LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION BROADBAND AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A 29 DISCUSSION OF THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT INVOLVING THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, INCLUDING INTERVIEWS OF BIDDERS OR OFFERS AND DISCUSSION OF THE TERMS OR SCOPE OF SUCH CONTRACT WERE DISCUSSION IN OPEN SESSION WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY BROADBAND CONTRACTS.
AND WHEREAS NO MEMBER HAS MADE A STATEMENT THAT THERE WAS A DEPARTURE FROM THE LAWFUL PURPOSE OF SUCH CLOSED MEETING OR OF THE MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION DISCUSSED NA YET CERTIFIED THAT ONLY THOSE MATTERS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED IN THE MEETING.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE SECOND.
DO WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.
ALRIGHT, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE UH, APRIL 16TH, UH, EVENING MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND, UM, AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO, UH, PUBLIC
[13. A. Conditional Use Permit Request Case C-23-6]
HEARINGS, UM, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST CASE C DASH 23 DASH UM, SIX.I WAS WONDERING WHETHER IT WAS YOU, BRAD, OR
GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS BRAD ROBINSON WITH THE COUNTY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
GONNA GIVE A STAFF PRESENTATION FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION C DASH 23 DASH SIX.
UM, THE APPLICANTS FOR THIS APPLICATION, UH, WHO ARE MARK LANGOWSKI AND HUNTER INGRAM ARE REQUESTING A CONDITION USE PERMIT TO ESTABLISH A FIREARMS TRAINING RANGE ON PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF REESE ROAD, WHICH IS ROUTE 6 64, APPROXIMATELY ALMOST ONE MILE EAST OF THE INTERSECTION WITH OLD STAGE ROAD, WHICH IS ROUTE 6 0 9.
UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE PROPERTY IS IDENTIFIED AS TAX PARCEL 84 DASH THREE DASH FIVE IN THE COUNTY'S RECORDS.
UH, THE PROPERTY IS ZONED A TWO, WHICH IS OUR AGRICULTURAL GENERAL DISTRICT, WHICH ALLOWS FOR AN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITY USE, UH, WITH APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, AS INDICATED IN THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN A RURAL CONSERVATION AREA.
AS MENTIONED, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF REESE ROAD.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY IS FORESTED AND SURROUNDED BY PARCELS THAT ARE OF SIMILAR SIZE OR LARGER SIZE.
AND THESE PARCELS CONTAIN EITHER RESIDENTIAL OR FORCED LAND.
USES THE SMALLEST PARCEL ON REESE ROAD BASED ON STAFF'S OBSERVATION IS 3.8 ACRES.
IN COMPARISON, UH, ONE OF THE ADJOINING PARCELS TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WAS OVER 3,100 ACRES.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE VARIOUS, UH, SIZE OF THE PARCELS IN THE AREA.
UH, WHILE THE GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE AREA IS AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL REESE ROAD IS A GRAVEL DEAD END ROAD THAT SERVES PRIMARILY 12 RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OVER 1.19 MILES.
THE CLOSEST HOMES TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ARE JUST OVER 600 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.
AND I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THERE THAT IS FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, NOT THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED, UM, FIREARMS TRAINING RANGE ITSELF.
ALL OF THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES ARE ALSO ZONED A TWO.
SO AS MENTIONED, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO A ESTABLISH A FIREARMS TRAINING RANGE, WHICH IS CLASSIFIED IN OUR ORDINANCE AS AN OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITY.
THE PROPOSED, UH, TRAINING RANGE WILL UTILIZE AN AREA OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S ALREADY DEVELOPED WITH AN EXISTING RANGE IN SHOOTING BURN THAT WAS BEING USED BY THE PREVIOUS PROPERTY OWNER FOR PERSONAL RECREATIONAL SHOOTING.
THE EXISTING SHOOTING BERM IS APPROXIMATELY NINE FOOT HIGH BY 60 FOOT WIDE ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT.
AND IT IS LOCATED WITHIN A CLEARED AREA THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 15,000 SQUARE FEET.
UM, THE SITE OF THIS, UH, BERM AND SHOOTING RANGE IS SURROUNDED BY FOREST ON ALL SIDES.
THE PROPOSED, UH, TRAINING RANGE AS REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT WOULD BE USED SPECIFICALLY FOR FIREARMS CLASSES THAT WOULD FOCUS ON WEAPONS SAFETY, SAFE HANDLING, WEAPONS PROFICIENCY, AND SITUATIONAL TRAINING.
THE CLASSES ARE PROPOSED ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AND WOULD LAST BETWEEN ONE AND
[01:50:01]
THREE HOURS, BUT THE CLASSES WOULD NOT INVOLVE CONSTANT GUNFIRE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE CLASSES.THE CLASSES WOULD BE LED BY AN INSTRUCTOR AT ALL TIMES AND WOULD NOT HAVE MORE THAN THREE SHOOTERS ON THE FIRING LINE AT ANY TIME.
WHEN FOLLOWING THE EXISTING, UH, ACCESS ROAD INTO THE PROPERTY FROM REESE ROAD, THE RANGE IS LOCATED OVER 2,300 FEET, WHICH IS ALMOST HALF A MILE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE TO JUST TAKE A DIRECT PATH FROM REESE ROAD, UH, GIVEN THE CORE, UH, CURVING ORIENTATION OF THE PROPERTIES IN THIS AREA, THE RANGE IS SLIGHTLY CLOSER TO REESE ROAD JUST OVER 1300 FEET.
THE CLOSEST DWELLING TO THE RANGE WOULD BE JUST OVER 900 FEET.
UH, DO YOU WANT TO NOTE THAT THAT DWELLING, HOWEVER, IS NOT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FIRE? THE FIRING LINE IS ORIENTED TOWARDS THE, UH, JOINING VACANT UNDEVELOPED LAND AND THE GUNFIRE WOULD BE DIRECTED INTO THE EXISTING SHOOTING BURN.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PROPERTY IS DESIGNATED IN THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS BEING WITHIN A RURAL REC CONSERVATION AREA, WHICH REPRESENTS ACCORDING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AREAS DEFINED BY TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE, OPEN SPACE, FOREST LAND, AND LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE PLAN, RURAL CONSERVATION AREAS MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR LIMITED NEW SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED, RESIDENTIAL AND MANUFACTURED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
HOWEVER, THE PRIORITY FOR THESE AREAS SHOULD BE PRESERVING THE EXISTING LANDSCAPE AND PROMOTING AGRICULTURE AGRITOURISM AND FORESTRY AS THE PREDOMINANT USES.
TO SUMMARIZE THE IMPACTS OF THIS REQUEST ON COUNTY SERVICES AND FACILITIES, UH, THE PROJECT IS NOT A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT, SO THAT WOULD NOT BE ANY IMPACT TO PUBLIC UTILITIES OR SCHOOLS.
THE STAFF REPORT STATES THAT THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO UTILIZE A PORTABLE RESTROOM THAT IS A CARRYOVER FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S REPORT.
UH, BASED ON THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE APPLICANT, THE APPLICANT IS NOT PROPOSING RESTROOMS AT THIS TIME.
AS FOR TRANSPORTATION, UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PROPERTY DOES HAVE AN EXISTING ENTRANCE ONTO TORE ROAD, WHICH IS A GRAVEL ROAD.
AND ACCORDING TO VDOT INFORMATION, IT HAS A FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF LOCAL AND A STATUTORY SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES PER HOUR.
VDO T'S LATEST TRAFFIC COUNT FOR REESE ROAD WAS 45 VEHICLES PER DAY IF APPROVED, A LOW VOLUME COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SERVE THIS PROPOSED USE.
VIDA DID NOT HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ISSUANCE OF THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AS SET FORTH IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 22 DASH 22.
ANY PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER WHICH ALLOW A USE WITH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SHALL NOT PROHIBIT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM DENYING AN APPLICATION FOR A PARTICULAR PERMIT.
UPON FINDING AFTER PUBLIC HEARING THAT THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH PERMIT WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE INTENT, PURPOSE AND DESIGN OF THIS CHAPTER AND OR SECTION 22 DASH TWO OF THE CODE AND THE LANGUAGE I JUST READ IS FROM OUR COUNTY CODE PLANNING STAFF HAS REVIEWED, UH, THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST AND HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, NOTE, WE NOTE THAT THAT WOULD ONLY BE IF THE RANGE OPERATES SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS, WHICH I'LL GO OVER IN A MOMENT.
UH, THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN AMENABLE TO ADDRESSING CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, UH, BY STAFF AND, UM, AREA RESIDENCE.
UH, THE APPLICANT DID REMOVE, UH, SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS HEARING, HE REMOVED A PROPOSAL TO ADD A 300 METER LONG DISTANCE RANGE ON THE PROPERTY.
SO, UH, WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS, UH, PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ONLY INCLUDES THE SITE OF THE FIREARMS TRAINING RANGE ON THE EXISTING, UH, RANGE ON THE PROPERTY AND THE EXISTING BURN.
THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL RANGES CONSTRUCTED ON THE PROPERTY.
SO BASED ON REVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, STAFF NOTES, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR CLARIFICATION MAY BE NEEDED TO THE FOLLOWING, UM, NOISE IMPACTS TO ADJOINING PROPERTIES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
UM, OFTENTIMES THIS REQUIRES A FORMAL STUDY.
THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED THAT, UM, DISTANCE EXISTING VEGETATION IN THE AREA AND THE LIMITED HOURS OF OPERATION WILL RESTRICT OR HELP RESTRICT NOISE LEVEL ISSUES.
UM, SECOND POINT CLARIFICATION
[01:55:01]
ON IF AN ADDITIONAL 12 FOOT HIGH BERM WILL BE INSTALLED AROUND THE EXISTING RANGE, AS WAS INDICATED IN THE PROPOSAL REVIEW BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.UH, CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THE FIRING LINE WILL CONSIST OF, UH, THE PROPOSAL REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, INDICATED THAT 10 LANES OF RETRACTABLE TARGETS AND 10 LANES FOR STEEL TARGETS, UH, WERE PROPOSED.
UM, THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED TO STAFF THAT, UH, NO LANES, NO SET LANES ARE PROPOSED.
UH, ANOTHER CLARIFICATION ON IF ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY ARE PROPOSED IN THE FUTURE.
THE PROPOSAL REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THAT TIME IN OFFICE, PORTABLE RESTROOMS AND A PARKING AREA WERE INCLUDED AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE RANGE TO STAFF UP TO FIVE EMPLOYEES.
UM, THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED TO STAFF THAT, UH, THE PROPOSAL TONIGHT WOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NO LONGER PROPOSED.
CLARIFICATION ON THE TYPE OF WEAPONS THAT WILL BE USED ON THE RANGE, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS REVIEW SPECIFIED THAT, UM, AUTOMATIC FIREARMS ARMOR PIERCING OR INCENDIARY AMMUNITION AND ANY ROUND THAT IS POINT 50, CALIBER BMG AND UP WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM THE RANGE.
UM, STAFF HAS RETAINED THIS RESTRICTION IN THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS.
UM, CLARIFICATION ON THE SIZE OF THE CLASSES THAT WOULD BE CONDUCTED AT THE RANGE.
UM, PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS INDICATION THAT THERE WOULD BE A A 10 PERSON MAXIMUM AND THAT THE CLASSES WOULD BE PRIVATE AND BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
UH, THE BOARD, UH, MAY WANT TO, UH, ADD A CONDITION ADDRESSING CLASS SIZE IF YOU SO CHOOSE, UM, CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER THE RANGE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS PREVIOUSLY, PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED, UH, THE APPLICANT HAS INDICATED TO STAFF THAT IS NO LONGER PROPOSING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE OTHER THAN, UM, SCHEDULING THROUGH CLASSES.
THE APPLICANT, UH, DID AMEND THIS PROPOSAL TO OPERATE ONLY ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS, UH, WHICH IS BASICALLY EIGHT DAYS PER MONTH.
THE RANGE PREVIOUSLY WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THIS WAS GOING TO OPERATE EVERY DAY EXCEPT WEDNESDAYS.
UM, IT WAS GONNA BE CLOSED TWO DAYS, BUT THOSE TWO DAYS IT WAS GONNA BE OPEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO WE DO WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE APPLICANT HAS CHANGED THE HOURS FOR THIS FACILITY TO OPERATE ONLY ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS.
AND THEN ONE LAST, UM, AREA OF CLARIFICATION AND STAFF WANTS TO NOTE, UM, THE, THE APPLICANT HAS REVISED THE PROPOSED HOURS, BUT WE DO NOTE THAT, UM, THEY, THE PROPOSED HOURS WOULD ALLOW THE RANGE TO OPERATE LONGER DURING SPRING AND SUMMER MONTHS.
SO THE APPLICANT, UM, HAS ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF, UM, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME AND CHANGES BETWEEN SEASONS.
SO PREVIOUS, AS I INDICATED, UM, WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THIS, THE RANGE WAS GONNA BE OPEN AS LATE AS 8:00 PM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, USE.
THE APPLICANT HAS REMOVED THAT PROPOSAL.
SO WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS.
UH, CONDITION NUMBER ONE ADDRESSES THE HOURS OF OPERATION, WHICH WOULD BE ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS FROM 10:00 AM UNTIL 30 MINUTES BEFORE DARK.
CONDITION NUMBER TWO, UH, BASICALLY, UH, LIMITED TO NO RIFLES EXCEEDING CALIBER POINT 50 WOULD BE PERMITTED EXCLUSIVE OF BLACK POWDER RIFLES.
CONDITION NUMBER THREE REQUIRES THAT FIREARMS AND SAFETY RULES AND REGULATIONS BE PROMINENTLY POSTED.
COMPLIANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE ENFORCED BY FACILITY STAFF CONDITION.
A MINIMUM OF ONE RANGE SAFETY OFFICER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE ON DUTY DURING OPERATING HOURS AND THAT OFFICER WOULD HAVE TO WALK THE RANGE PERIMETER TO ASSURE THAT NO PERSON IS IN THE DIRECT FIRE ZONE CONDITION.
FIVE, UH, NO PERSON WOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER OR LEAVE THE PREMISES WITH A LOADED FIREARM AND FIREARMS WOULD ONLY BE LOADED UNDER SUPERVISION BY THE RANGE SAFETY OFFICER.
UH, NO PERSON WOULD BE ALLOWED ON THE RANGE WHO APPEARS TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, NOR SHALL ALCOHOL OR DRUGS BE CARRIED INTO THE FACILITY CONDITION.
[02:00:02]
INDIVIDUALS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE WOULD BE ALLOWED, UM, TO UTILIZE THE FACILITY PROVIDED THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OR THEY ARE UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION.UH, AND ASSIGNED RELEASE BY THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN IS PROVIDED.
CONDITION EIGHT REQUIRES ADEQUATE SANITARY SEWER AND POTABLE WATER FACILITIES BE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OR BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD BE FURTHER EVALUATED AFTER THIS, UM, AFTER TONIGHT'S MEETING, SHOULD THE REQUEST UH, BE APPROVED.
CONDITION NINE UH, REQUIRES THAT ANY SITE LIGHTING ON THE SITE BE DIRECTED DOWNWARD TO, UH, PRESERVE THE NIGHT SKY AND NOT CAST LIGHT ONTO ANY ADJOINING PROPERTIES.
CONDITION 10 RESTRICTS, UM, USERS OF THE RANGE FROM CAMPING OR LODGING ON THIS PROPERTY OVERNIGHT.
CONDITION 11, UH, RESTRICTS HUNTING DURING OPERATION OPERATING HOURS.
CONDITION 12 REQUIRES A MINIMUM 50 FOOT BUFFER BE RETAINED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE SITE, UH, WHERE THAT'S WHERE CLEARING OF VEGETATION AND SHOOTING WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OCCUR.
CONDITION 13 REQUIRES POSTING OF SIGNAGE ALONG PROPERTY LINES ADJACENT TO THE RANGE.
CONDITION 14 WOULD REQUIRE, UH, ANNUAL REVIEW BY THE DEN COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.
CONDITION 15 GIVES, UM, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITS LAWFUL AGENTS OR DULY CONSTITUTED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WRITTEN PERMISSION TO GO UPON THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF TERM DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CONDITION 16, UH, REQUIRES THAT THE RANGE WOULD BE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES SPECIFIED IN THE NRA RANGE SOURCE BOOK, A GUIDE TO PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION LATEST EDITION.
UH, THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THESE GUIDELINES IN ITS POSSESSION AT THIS TIME, BUT WE THAT WOULD BE FURTHER EVALUATED SHOULD THIS REQUEST BE APPROVED.
AND LASTLY, CONDITION NUMBER 17, UH, PLAN SPECIFICATIONS AND OTHER FACILITY INFORMATION, UM, SHOULD BE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION RANGE DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT.
UH, SO TO RECAP, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID REVIEW THIS CONDITION USE PERMIT REQUEST AT THEIR MEETING LAST MONTH ON MARCH THE 13TH, 2024.
THERE WERE FOUR UH, SPEAKERS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ALL OF THE COMMENTS EITHER EXPRESSED CONCERN OR OPPOSITION TO THE REQUEST, THE PLANNING COMMISSION ELECTED TO RECOMMEND, UH, DISAPPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST TO THE BOARD BY A VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO.
SO THAT'S GONNA CONCLUDE STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, EMPHASIZE THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME CITIZEN CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE OF CORRESPONDENCE WAS RECEIVED TODAY.
I PLACED THAT AT YOUR SEEDS PRIOR TO THE MEETING, BUT DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED CAME FROM, UH, THESE PERSONS, UH, WILLIAM AND CAROL PUCKETT, DANIEL AND WANDA PEK, STEVE AND LISA BUNCH, UH, PASTOR JEAN BALANCE, JACQUELINE PHILLIPS, DANIEL PHILLIPS, CHARLES PHILLIPS JOE AND TIFFANY ARDI AND LARRY SEARS.
HOPEFULLY I PRONOUNCE ALL OF THOSE NAMES CORRECTLY.
UH, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF NINE LETTERS, UH, FOUR OF THOSE LETTERS WERE IN OPPOSITION OF THIS REQUEST.
FIVE OF THE LETTERS WERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST AND I DO NOTE THAT THOSE IN OPPOSED, UH, THAT EXPRESSED OPPOSITION ARE RESIDENCE ON REESE ROAD.
I CAN ATTEMPT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AT THIS TIME.
UH, MR. LANGOWSKI IS HERE THIS EVENING AS WELL AND HAS A PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, IF, EXCUSE ME, AT THIS TIME, WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SAY ANYTHING? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I LIVE AT, UH, 2 7 6 1 9 PERKINS ROAD NORTH IN WITTY.
UM, TO GET STARTED, I'D JUST LIKE TO TELL
[02:05:01]
YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.UM, I'M A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS.
I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR OVER 27 YEARS NOW.
I AM A FEDERAL FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, UM, AND I'VE TAUGHT FOR THE VOP.
I'VE INSTRUCTED, UM, SUPERVISED AND QUALIFIED OTHER OFFICERS IN FIREARMS IN THE CLASS SETTING AND AT THE RANGE SETTING.
I'M ALSO A SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR WHERE WE GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF FOR, UM, DISRUPTIVE INMATES AND ALSO FOR, UM, EVASION AWAY FROM THOSE INMATES.
UM, I HAVE EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND SAFETY USE OF HANDLING FIREARMS. I BELIEVE IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT, UM, THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THEIR GUNS SAFELY.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO CARRY THEIR GUNS.
SO MY THING IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN DO IT SAFELY.
UM, THIS SERVICE WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AS, AS WELL IN THE CLASS.
UM, IT'S GONNA BENEFIT THE THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHAT IT'S GONNA DO IS GONNA TEACH PEOPLE TO USE THEIR FIREARMS SAFELY.
ONE OF MY BIGGEST THINGS IS SAFETY ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, I HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION IN MY WORKPLACE AND THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M KNOWN FOR BEING EXTREMELY SAFETY MINDED WHEN IN HANDLING FIREARMS. I'VE BEEN A LANDOWNER AND A TAXPAYER AND A EMITY FOR OVER 17 YEARS NOW.
I'M MARRIED, FOUR CHILDREN, ONE GRANDDAUGHTER, WHICH MOST OF THEM LIVE IN DENWITTY.
I'M A CHRISTIAN AND A FAITHFUL CHURCH MEMBER.
AND IN SUMMARY, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
NOW I CAN GO ON AND ON, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROPERTY AND STUFF AND OUTTA RESPECT OF THE RESIDENTS, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A PUBLIC RANGE.
ALL I WANT TO DO IS, UH, DO SAFETY CLASSES, FIREARM CLASSES FOR THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT THE, THE, UH, RESIDENTS, THEY DISAPPROVED OF HAVING THAT PUBLIC RANGE OR EVEN A PRIVATE RANGE THERE.
AND OUTTA RESPECT, I JUST WANT TO DROP THAT AND JUST GIVE CLASSES BUT FOR THE LAYOUT OF THE EXISTING RANGE, THE RANGE ITSELF, AGAIN, LIKE HE ALREADY EXPLAINED IT, IT'S APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE OFF THE ROAD FROM THE ACCESS POINT FROM THE DRIVEWAY.
UH, IT'S A, IT'S A QUARTER MILE FROM THE CLOSEST POINT DUE TO THE CURB.
UH, THE CURB ORIENTATION AND THE LINE OF FIRE IS NOT TOWARDS ANY ROADS.
THE CLOSEST DWELLING IS, UM, A LITTLE OVER 900 FEET AND IS ALSO NOT IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
IT'S SURROUNDED, LIKE HE SAID, IN, UH, DENSE WOODS ON ALL SIDES, WHICH ACT BOTH AS A NOISE BUFFER AND A NATURAL EXTRA SAFETY PRECAUTION.
THE LINE OF FIRE IS NOT TOWARDS ANY OCCUPIED RESIDENCE OR PROPERTY.
UM, THIS IS A SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, EXISTING SHOOTING BURN WHERE ALL GUNS WILL BE DIRECTED.
AND AGAIN, IT WAS EXISTING ALREADY.
UM, THE RANGE ITSELF IS ON A 40 YARD BY 40 YARD AREA.
IT'S ALREADY CLEARED ON THE 26 ACRES AND, UH, WILL BE USED FOR THE PRIVATE FIREARMS CLASSES.
THESE RANGES WERE ALREADY EXISTENT AND BEING USED AS RECREATIONAL SHOOTING OF THE PREVIOUS OWNER.
UM, THIS APPLICATION OF CONDITIONAL USE IS A SAFER USE OF FIREARMS THAN, UH, PRIVATE PROPERTY, THAN LEASING IT TO A, A HUNT CLUB WHERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE UNSUPERVISED AND POSSIBLY INDIVIDUALS, THEY, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW, WILL TAKE THEIR FIREARMS AND SHOOT IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AT THIS, WHEN IN MY CLASSES, WERE SHOOTING IN ONE DIRECTION, ONE DIRECTION ONLY, AND THAT'S INTO THE SHOOTING BURN.
UM, AND MANY NEIGHBORS, OF COURSE, THEY, THEY SHOOT RECREATION ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY AS WELL.
SO THE NOISE LEVEL IS ALREADY RESTRICTED BY, UM, BY DISTANCE, A BUFFER OF, UH, THICK TREES, LIMITED HOURS OF THE DAYS, WHICH CLASSES WILL BE, UM, WILL BE HELD, AND ALSO THE CALIBER OF, OF GUNS THAT THE STUDENTS WILL BE USING.
WHILE I'M, I UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY CONCERNS BROUGHT UP, BUT SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO KNOWINGLY TRESPASS THROUGH POSTER PROPERTY LINE DEEP INTO THE WOODS AND STAND BEHIND A SHOOTING BURN THAT IS KNOWN GUN RANGE TO ACCESS A LINE OF FIRE.
AGAIN, THIS RANGE WAS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT.
THE PROPERTY IS LAID OUT AND, UM, AND ITS EXISTING RANGE IS A SAFE PLACE TO CONDUCT THESE CLASSES.
IF YOU LOOK HERE, HERE'S THE PROPERTY OUTLINE.
THE LITTLE GREEN BOX IS WHERE THE RANGE IS AT, AND THE LINE OF FIRE, YOU CAN SEE IT'S JUST GOING INTO THE DENSE WOODS.
THESE ORANGE DOTS RIGHT HERE ARE THE HOUSES THAT ARE SURROUNDING.
SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF HOW CLOSE OR IN PROXIMITY THEY ARE TO THE RANGE AND THE LANE LINE OF FIRE.
AS FAR AS THE CLASSES THAT I WANT TO DO, UM,
[02:10:01]
HE SPOKE ON IT ALREADY, BUT THE CLASSES WILL BE SCHEDULED, UM, PRIMARILY ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS, BUT NO MORE THAN EIGHT DAYS OUT OF THE MONTH AND NOT ON SUNDAYS.MAJORITY OF THE TIME WHEN I DO GIVE CLASSES, WE'RE FINISHED BY FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, SO IT'S ALL DONE.
CLASSES ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, AND THERE'LL BE NO PUBLIC USE OF THE RANGE
UH, THERE WILL ALSO ONLY BE THREE SHOOTERS ON THE FIRING LINE AT ONE TIME.
THE CLASSES WILL BE INSTRUCTOR LED AT ALL TIMES AS WELL.
AND, UH, THERE'S ONLY ONE DIRECTION OF FIRE IT'S IN, INTO THE SHOOTING BARN, AND THAT IS, UM, NOT IN DIRECTION IN THE DIRECTION OF ANY DWELLING.
ALL CLASSES WILL BE CONDUCTED AFTER 10 O'CLOCK AND THEN WE'LL FINISH 30 MINUTES BEFORE DARK.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'LL PROBABLY BE, IT WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE THERE THAT LATE SHOOTING IN ONE OF THE CLASSES.
AND I ALREADY, I ALREADY CARRY NRA RANGE INSTRUCTOR INSURANCE AS WELL.
UM, SO THAT'S ALL THE PRESENTATION I HAVE FOR YOU.
UM, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? I DO NOT.
COULD WE DO, UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE MIGHT ASK YOU TO COME BACK UP AND, UH, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA DO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, 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 OR CASE THAT IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE CUMULATIVE OR REPETITIVE.
YOU ARE ASKED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH DECORUM, LIGHT, DISRUPTIVE, OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TO INCLUDE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE WILL BE AVOIDED.
ALSO, AVOID WORDS OR ACTS TENDING TO INVOKE VIOLENCE OR DEEM TO BE A BREACH OF THE PEACE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TIME IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD OR TIME FOR DIALOGUE WITH BOARD MEMBERS OF STAFF.
UH, SO AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE SUSAN CARSON.
MY NAME'S SUSAN CARSON AND I LIVE AT 2 0 7 7 1 REESE ROAD IN DENWITTY.
UM, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST 18 YEARS.
UH, MIKE AND I BUILT OUR DREAM HOUSE OUT HERE, AND THEN OUR SON BUILT HIS DREAM HOUSE RIGHT NEXT TO US WITH MY FOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
UM, I'M PART OF THE DENWITTY COMMUNITY.
I VOLUNTEER FOR THE CHRISTMAS MOTHER AND THE SCHOOLS AND THE COWBELLS.
UM, AND OUR, OUR CONCERN IS WE CAME HOME ONE DAY AND FOUND A SIGN SAYING THAT THERE WAS SHEEP DOG DEFENSE TRAINING ON OUR ROAD.
HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.
CLASSES HAD STARTED BEFORE THERE WAS EVEN A PERMIT GIVEN TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST SPOKE, UM, WHICH WE STARTED RAISING QUESTIONS AND TALKING TO MY NEIGHBORS.
AND, UM, SO THERE'S 12 FAMILIES THAT LIVE ON OUR DIRT ROAD, WHICH IS LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD TO US, REALLY, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ON SOME BIG LOTS.
UM, AND WE WERE ALL CONCERNED.
AND THEN I STARTED CALLING THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TALKING TO BRAD TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A CONDITIONAL PERMIT APPLICATION.
UM, THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANYONE CAN SUPERVISE WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE, WHETHER YOU ALL DROVE UP OR ONE OF DENWOODY SHERIFF'S, IT'S JUST A ONE TIME OF WHAT'S SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, WE HAVE 14 CHILDREN ON OUR ROAD.
FOUR OF THOSE ARE MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND TWO OF THOSE CHILDREN ARE AUTISTIC.
ONE CHILD IS SEVERE AUTISTIC AND HE WANDERS AROUND ON REESE ROAD, AND WE'VE HAD DENWOODY SHERIFFS COME AND LOOKING FOR HIM WHEN HE'S BEEN LOST.
UM, AND MR. PUCKETT HAS GONE AND GOTTEN HIM IN HIS LITTLE SIDE BY SIDE AND TAKING HIM HOME A COUPLE TIMES.
UM, BUT THERE'S NOT ONE RESIDENT ON REESE ROAD THAT WANTS THE SHOOTING RANGE.
THERE IS NO SHOOTING RANGE IN DENWITTY COUNTY LIKE THIS THAT HAS EVER BEEN APPROVED.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE PEOPLE SPEAKING ON HIS BEHALF, BUT NONE OF THEM LIVE ON REESE ROAD AND WOULD NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS OR BE SUBJECT TO IT.
[02:15:02]
JOHN WILKINSON.GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING IN NOVEMBER OF 2019 WHERE THIS BOARD, UH, APPROVED THE RESOLUTION, PROCLAIMING DEN WITTY AS A SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY COMMUNITY, AND I WAS PROUD TO BE A PART.
FIRST, LEMME BACK UP, SAY WHO? I'M JOHN WILKINSON.
I RESIDE AT 1 3 5 1 5 WHITE OAK ROAD.
UH, I WAS BORN IN DENWITTY COUNTY, MOVED AWAY FROM HERE FOR SOME TIME, BUT I'VE BEEN BACK SINCE 2019.
UH, I'M A RETIRED PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN THE FIRE SERVICE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
UH, I WAS DONE PROUD BY SHERIFF ADAMS AND THE BOARD, AND I, I, I BELIEVE MR. UH, MASSENGILL WAS IN SUPPORT ALSO OF THAT RESOLUTION.
AND IN FACT, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A BRIEF QUOTE THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER CHAVIS WHO, UH, UNFORTUNATELY APPARENTLY IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, THAT, UH, HE WAS BEING INTERVIEWED BY CHANNEL EIGHT NEWS.
DENWOODY COUNTY IS A COUNTY THAT LOVES TO HUNT.
THEY LIKE OUTDOORSMEN, TARGET SHOOTING ANYTHING TO DO WITH FIREARMS. THEY LOVE IT AND THEY DON'T WANT IT TO BE INFRINGED.
AND I WOULD CONCUR WITH MR. CHA'S SENTIMENT IN SUPPORT OF THAT PROCLAMATION.
AS OF I'VE KNOWN MR. LANGOWSKI FOR APPROACHING FOUR YEARS NOW, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING SEVERAL OF HIS FIREARMS TRAINING COURSES AND SOME OF HIS PUBLIC, UH, OR, OR SELF-DEFENSE AND SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TYPE COURSES.
I CAN FIRSTHAND ATTEST THAT HE HAS TAKEN ME TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN TERMS OF FIREARM SAFETY, UH, A AWARENESS OF HOW TO HANDLE A FIREARM SAFELY, AND, UH, JUST BE AWARE OF ALL THE RAMIFICATIONS THAT CAN RESULT AS A USE OF A FIREARM.
UH, I I'M SURE THAT THIS BOARD KNOWS THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THREE, FOUR, MAYBE FIVE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN RECORD NUMBERS OF, UH, FIREARM SALES IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND I'M SURE A WHOLE LOT OF THOSE ARE IN OUR REGION.
AS, UH, THE LADY PRESENTING HERE MENTIONED THERE ARE NO RANGES, SANCTIONED RANGES IN THE COUNTY.
THE CLOSEST SANCTIONED RANGE IS A SMALL INDOOR RANGE IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS.
AFTER THAT, YOU HAVE TO GO, I, I BELIEVE THE NEXT CLOSEST IS IN RICHMOND.
AND I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OUTDOOR RANGES WITHIN CLOSE DRIVING DISTANCE OF HERE.
I BELIEVE THAT AS MR. LANGOWSKI, THE POINT THAT HE MADE THAT WITH ALL THE FIREARMS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE SAFE TRAINING, SAFE AND ADEQUATE TRAINING AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CARRYING AND USING THESE FIREARMS. I KNOW A LOT OF THE FIREARMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BOUGHT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SOME OF 'EM ARE USED FOR HUNTING OR JUST FOR SPORTS SHOOTING.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE USED FOR SELF-DEFENSE IN THE HOME AND BEING CARRIED WHILE OUT AND ABOUT.
AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT THE MORE SANCTIONED TRAINING THAT PEOPLE HAVE, THEY'RE CARRYING THESE FIREARMS. SO THEY'RE, SO, THEY KNOW THE LAWS AND KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE EXPECTED OF THEM WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARRYING A FIREARM, UH, AND KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE THEM SAFELY AND WHEN TO APPROPRIATELY USE 'EM AND WHEN NOT TO.
I THINK THAT THAT IS AN INVALUABLE, UH, THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHILE I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, NO, NOBODY WANTS ANYTHING IN THEIR BACKYARD, A A PRISON OR A WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY, PEOPLE DON'T, WELL, THEY WANT IT, BUT THEY DON'T WANT IT IN THEIR BACKYARD.
AND I CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH THEIR, UH, THEIR, THEIR CONCERNS, AND I'M SURE THE BOARD WILL DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND ASSESSING THIS.
HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THEIR RESOURCE THAT THIS WOULD, THE, THE, THE INVALUABLE RESOURCES THAT THIS BRING, NOT JUST TO DENWOODY COUNTY, THE 28,000 AND PLUS RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY, BUT TO PEOPLE AT THIS, IN THIS REGION, REGION AT LARGE, I THINK IT WOULD BE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE JUST TO GET PEOPLE, UH, THE, THE, THE ADEQUATE AND COMPETENT TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO CARRY FIREARMS SAFELY.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED WHEN I WALKED UP HERE, BUT I'M, I'M A VICTIM OF AN ACCIDENTAL FIREARMS DISCHARGE.
AND I THINK ANYBODY THAT TEACHES SAFETY WITH FIREARMS SHOULD BE APPROVED.
[02:20:03]
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT IT DOES TO YOU WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR FOOT, BUT IT'S REAL HARD TO WALK AT NIGHT WHEN YOU GOTTA GET UP AND GO TO THE BATHROOM.AND I HAVE A, IT WAS AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE SAFETY TRAINING.
HE DROPPED IT, IT HIT MY FOOT AND WENT OFF.
ANY SAFETY INSTRUCTOR WOULD'VE TAUGHT HIM.
YOU, AND I JUST HOPE YOU SEE THAT
IF THIS MAN'S TEACHING FIREARM SAFETY, AS MANY GUNS ARE BEING SOLD RIGHT NOW, WE NEED AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN GET.
UH, MY NAME'S NICOLE LANGOWSKI.
UM, I LIVE AT 2 7 6 1 9 PERKINS ROAD.
UM, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF HIS REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UM, TO TEACH GUN SAFETY AND PROFICIENCY CLASSES ON OUR PRIVATE PROPERTY.
UM, HE AMENDED THE REQUEST OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE NEIGHBORS AND TO WE, YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
UM, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE GUN OWNERSHIP IS A RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.
AND SAFETY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY PART OF THAT.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, THE TYPE OF INSTRUCTION HE OFFERS, WHICH IS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON SAFE WEAPONS USE AND DEESCALATION, UM, HE'S WELL QUALIFIED.
IT'S A FEDERAL FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, FEDERAL SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR, HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WAY HE COMBINES GUN SAFETY AND SITUATIONAL AWARENESS INTO A UNIQUE BLEND OF TEACHING IS ONLY OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I AM A MOM OF FOUR, I'M A GRANDMOTHER AND I, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY AND NOISE.
UM, BUT SHOOTING IS ALLOWED ON OUR PROPERTY AND THEIR PROPERTIES REGARDLESS.
UM, HUNT CLUBS ARE ALLOWED TO BE ESTABLISHED.
UM, I THINK THAT THIS CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST IS A SAFER AND REASONABLE, UM, REQUEST FOR OUR USE OF OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT BY TESTIMONY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRITTEN IN AND THOSE WHO ARE GONNA SPEAK HERE TONIGHT, CAN VOUCH FOR HIS GOOD CHARACTER AND HIS, UM, SAFETY RECORD.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO, UM, APPROVE THIS REQUEST FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE CLASSES UP TO EIGHT DAYS OF THE MONTH ONLY, UM, AT OUR LAND.
I LIVE AT 2 7 6 1 9 PERKINS ROAD, NORTH DIY.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT FOR THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR GUN OWNERS TO USE THEIR GUN SAFELY.
AND THAT IS WHAT MY DAD'S CLASSES ARE ALL ABOUT.
HE IS WELL QUALIFIED AND A WELL-RESPECTED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR.
AND OUR PRIVATE LAND SAFELY SUPPORTS THESE CLASSES WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS CONDITIONAL PERMIT.
I JAMES REESE, 2 1 5 0 1 AND 2 1 5 1 1 REESE ROAD.
I OWN THE FARM THAT SEPARATES THE TWO PARTS OF REESE ROAD.
UM, I AM A CPA, I AM A FORMER AUDITOR FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I SPENT 20 YEARS AUDITING, UH, FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND, UH, ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS. I, I FEEL BADLY WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT BAD, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THEM.
BUT, UM, HERE'S THE TWO THINGS THAT I SEE AS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE PAPERWORK.
HE OWNS A COMPANY, IT'S SHEEPDOG DEFENSE, LLC.
I DON'T SEE IT ON THE APPLICATION AT ALL.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO YOU, BUT, UM, UH, I SUSPECT CLARITY AND SEE THE FULL PICTURE.
ALSO, ANOTHER THING I DIDN'T SEE TONIGHT IS THE PRESENTATION OF
[02:25:01]
WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION CANCEL.IT WAS A, IT FUTURE PLANS PUTTING 20 RANGE, UH, A 20 LANE GUN RANGE ON THAT PROPERTY ADJACENT WITH ALL SAFETY, WITH ALL SAFETY, UM, CLASSES AND STUFF.
UM, NORMALLY I WOULDN'T BE AGAINST THAT 'CAUSE I'M A SHOOTER MYSELF, BUT I CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS AS FAR AS THE TRAFFIC THAT GOES.
IF YOU HAVE 20 LANES AND THEY'RE SHIFTING LANES BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE AN ONGOING CONCERN IN ORDER TO RUN A BUSINESS THERE.
SO MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION, 20 COMING IN ANOTHER 20 COMING IN TO RELIEVE THEM.
AND I, I CALCULATED UP 120 CARS ON REESE ROAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN ON RE ROAD 120 CARS ON RIDGE ROAD.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THE LANE IS.
IT'S REAL LONG TO GET TO A, UM, THIS, UM, GUN RANGE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SHIFT THE LANE SO THAT THERE'S SOME COMING OUT, SOME GOING IN.
I'VE BEEN TO PRIVATE OR PRIVATE PUBLIC OPEN RANGES.
OKAY? AND THAT'S MY ONLY DOG IN THE FIGHT HERE BECAUSE MY FARM IS DOWN THE ROAD.
REESE ROAD IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY FARM AND AMERICAN TIMBERLAND, IT DOESN'T END WITH MY FARM.
AMERICAN TIMBERLAND HAS LAND BETWEEN, UM, BETWEEN THE TWO REESE ROADS.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE COME IN, TAKE THE CATTLE GATES OFF OF MY ROAD AND THROW THEM IN THE DITCH COMING THROUGH AND SAYING, WELL, GOOGLE MADE ME DO IT.
I'VE HAD CAPTURED ON GAME CAMERAS, PEOPLE KICKING THE DEFENSES BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK, THEY THINK THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE REESE ROAD, THE OTHER SIDE, WALKER MILLS ROAD.
UM, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M UP HERE.
UM, ALL THE SAFETY FACTS WITH ALL THE PEOPLE HERE, WITH ALL THOSE TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
AND, UM, I HOPE YOU VOTE NO TONIGHT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MOLLY LANGOWSKI.
UM, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UM, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, AS AMERICANS, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN A GUN AND MOST OF US DO.
UM, AND THEN IT'S SEPARATE TO HAVE TO LEARN SAFETY OF OWNING YOUR GUN.
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, YOU CAN OWN A GUN, BUT SAFETY CLASSES WERE NEVER INVOLVED IN THAT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING MY DAD WANTS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER TO PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT IN OUR AREA TO FIND SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO TEACH YOU GUN SAFETY.
AND, UM, HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EASIER ACCESS FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN THAT.
AND HE'S WELL QUALIFIED TO OFFER THIS.
HE WORKS FOR THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT, UM, AND HE'S THE HEAD OF SECURITY AT OUR CHURCH, WHICH I DON'T KNOW, TO ME THAT SAYS A LOT.
SOMEONE'S TRUSTING HIM WITH THE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND CHILDREN.
UM, AND ANYONE WHO KNOWS HIM WILL SAY THAT HE IS LOYAL AND HE'S A GOOD FRIEND.
HE LOVES HIS FAMILY, HE LOVES HIS GOD.
AND MOST OF ALL, HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THESE CLASSES WOULD BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT IS TEACHING GUN SAFETY AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG PRIORITY RIGHT NOW WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN GUNS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU VOTE YES FOR THIS.
UM, ADDRESS 2 3 3 1 3 P TREE LANE, NORTH DIM, WITTY.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN RESIDENCE OF THIS COUNTY FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, UM, AND I'M ALSO A FRIEND OF MARKOWSKI AND COWORKER.
AND, UM, I MET HIM ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
AND HE IS A GOD-FEARING MAN, FAMILY MAN, AND A MAN OF INTEGRITY.
[02:30:02]
HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DOING THINGS HALFWAY WHEN HE DOES THINGS.HE ALREADY THOUGHT IT OUT, PLANNED IT OUT AND IN AND CONTINUOUSLY WANT TO SEE IT THROUGH.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS RANGE, MARK HAS BEEN A LEAD INSTRUCTOR, LIKE YOU SAID, SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR.
AND HE BELIEVES IN THE INTEGRITY OF THIS MISSION OF HIS.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIS FACE WHEN HE BOUGHT THIS PARCEL HE WAS IN.
HE WAS SO HAPPY 'CAUSE HE HAD JUST ON HIS HEART FOR THE LONGEST, FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
AND I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE COUNTY.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
PK, THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME.
NAME IS DANIEL PRIC, RESIDENT OF 2 0 8 8 1 REESE ROAD, DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM SAID RANGE.
I'VE BEEN BEHIND A GUN SINCE I WAS 18 YEARS OLD.
COMBAT VETERAN, 82ND AIRBORNE, 28 AND A HALF YEARS.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT, RECENTLY RETIRED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, MASTER FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, MASTER DEFENSIVE TACTICS INSTRUCTOR, K NINE.
I'M SURE THE GENTLEMAN IS ONE HELL OF A OFFICER.
I'VE QUALIFIED FEDERAL JUDGES AT THEIR RANGE.
I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO ANYTHING THAT ANYONE HAS SAID HERE OTHER THAN THE FACT I DIDN'T BUILD A DREAM HOME AS FAR AWAY FROM HUMANITY AS I COULD GET TO HAVE A PUBLIC RANGE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET WHERE I GET TO ENJOY THE FIREARMS, WHICH I'M A SHOOTER, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
I DON'T SHOOT BIG RIFLES ON MY LAND.
THERE'S A VERY NICE RANGE CHINEY DOWN ON ROUTE FIVE.
YOU GOT THE SHOOTING RANGE OVER IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS.
IF HE WANTS TO GIVE CLASSES, BY ALL MEANS, GIVE ALL THE CLASSES YOU CAN.
I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THE SAFETY OF A WEAPON.
YES, WE DO HAVE A SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT, BUT IT SAYS A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.
THAT MEANS POSSESSION, TRAINED AND SKILLED IN THE USE OF A FIREARM.
EVERYBODY THINKS, HEY, SECOND AMENDMENT, I CAN GO BUY ME A GUN.
OKAY? GUNS WERE DESIGNED TO DO ONE THING.
LET'S KILL PEOPLE AT VERY CLOSE RANGE, AND THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THAT.
I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH GUN SAFETY, NOT ON MY DOORSTEP.
THERE'S KIDS UP AND DOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I SPENT THREE HOURS IN THE WOODS WITH MY GRANDSON TEACHING HIM THINGS.
HOW LONG UNTIL SOMEBODY TURNS AROUND AND SAYS, WELL, THIS RANGE IS SO FAR OUT THAT NOBODY WILL KNOW I CAN GO THERE.
WHEN A CHESTERFIELD POLICE ACADEMY WAS TRAINED OUT THERE, RANGE WAS CLOSED, EVERYBODY WENT HOME.
A COUPLE OF 'EM DOUBLED BACK AND SET FIRE TO THE RANGE.
THEY WERE FIRING TRACER ROUNDS.
ANYONE WHO LIVES ON REESE ROAD, OUR LAND SHOWS THE SCARS OF A WILDFIRE THAT WENT THROUGH THERE THAT IT JUST DEVASTATED EVERYTHING.
I'M NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE EPA WITH 20 RANGES, 20 LANES.
I, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A-D-C-J-S RANGE OUT HERE THAT HAS 20 LANES WITH ONE FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIST OF AGENCIES THAT HE CONTACTED WHO ARE ALL ACCREDITED IN THE AREA.
DID WI BEING ONE OF THEM WHO WILL FIRE ON A RANGE THAT IS NOT ACCREDITED.
DCJS LOVE THE NRAI DON'T BELONG TO THE NRA BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN SOME OF THE THINGS THE NRA STANDS FOR.
I BELIEVE YOU SHOW TRAINING BEFORE YOU GET YOUR LICENSE.
YOU GOTTA HAVE A LICENSE TO DRIVE A CAR, BUT IT'S YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT.
I SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT PROBABLY MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE I'VE FOUGHT FOR MY COUNTRY.
I'VE FOUGHT, I'VE WORKED WITH DUCK.
I'VE, I'VE HUNTED BAD GUYS OUT HERE, TROOPER WALKER.
AND I WENT TO THE ACADEMY TOGETHER, BEAR AND I, THAT, THAT WAS A DEVASTATING DAY FOR ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS AREA.
AND EVERY TIME I GO UP 85, I SEE, YOU KNOW, THE INTERSTATE TROOPER JULIUS WALKER.
I SPEAK WITH HIS MOM QUITE OFTEN.
THAT IS ONE REASON I TRAINED MY YOUNG SON WHO TRAINED
[02:35:01]
HIS YOUNG SON, WHO IS NOW MY GRANDSON.YOU TALK ABOUT NOISE POLLUTION.
THEY'RE F THEY'RE SHOOTING SOUTH, THEY'RE GOING TOWARDS NORTH CAROLINA.
AND I'M STILL GETTING IT BACK THIS WAY.
HOW LONG UNTIL AN UNVETTED INDIVIDUAL ARRIVES IN OUR COUNTY AND DOES SOMETHING.
YOU'RE, YOU ARE, THERE'S A REASON WHY A LOT OF AGENCIES WON'T SHOOT ON PRIVATE RANGES.
IT DRAWS FLIES, IT DRAWS BAD PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A US CITIZEN, BUT VERY FEW WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
HEY, HOW, HOW ABOUT IF I JUST WALK THROUGH THE WALL? EVERYBODY WANTS A SAVIOR, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO FOLLOW GOD.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
I'M SURE THIS GENTLEMAN IN HIS FAMILY, GOD BLESS HIM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE OF THEM.
WHY DON'T YOU TEACH YOUR CLASSES AND SHOOT OVER, OVER ON YOUR LAND, NOT MY DOORSTEP, PLEASE.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
I LIVE AT 2 0 7 8 1 REESE ROAD.
I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A LETTER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL.
AND, UM, I WANNA JUST SAY THAT MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED OUR LAND 11 YEARS AFTER FINDING A FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD OF LIKE-MINDED LANDOWNERS WITH LARGE PARCELS DESIGNED FOR PRIVACY, SECURITY, AND PEACE OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRY.
THESE PARCELS ON REESE ROAD ARE CURRENTLY RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL AND PURCHASED PRIMARILY.
AS SUCH FOR OUR HOMES, WE ARE OPPOSED TO A COMMERCIAL GUN RANGE, UM, FOR THE SAME NON-SUPPORT REASONS THAT WERE ALREADY MENTIONED.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT DESIRABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
IT CREATES EXCESSIVE NOISE IMPACTING RESIDENTS, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, WILDLIFE AND NO NOISE IMPACT.
STUDY HAS BEEN DONE BY THE APPLICANT.
IT INCREASES TRAFFIC ON A GRAVEL RESIDENTIAL ROAD THAT IS A DEAD END THAT'S STATE MAINTAINED AND IT WILL BE AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE, INCREASING MORE TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD.
I'M ALSO OPPOSED TO RANDOM STRANGERS ARBITRARILY ROAMING OUR QUIET COMMUNITY.
IT WILL REQUIRE INCREASED VIGILANCE, UM, BY OUR INFORMAL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SYSTEM.
AND IT TO ME INCREASES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERPETRATORS OF CRIME BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE RANDOM STRANGERS ARBITRARILY ROAMING OUR QUIET COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, THERE'S AN INCREASED RISK FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR OUR EXISTING RESIDENTS.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED IT AS AN ATTRACTIVE TEMPTATION TO THE MANY CHILDREN THAT ARE PLAYING ALONG THE ROAD.
AND THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED UNCONTROLLED DANGEROUS GUN ACTIVITY, NOT SUPERVISED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE SEE POTENTIALLY THAT, UM, OTHER COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THEN COULD BE PROPOSED IF THIS IS APPROVED.
AND IT'S LIKELY GONNA CAUSE A DECREASE IN OUR HOME PROPERTY VALUES.
WE DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO RAISE A FAMILY OR ESTABLISH A HOME THAT CLOSE TO A GUN RANGE.
SO FINALLY, THIS PROPOSAL APPEARS TO BE A FOR-PROFIT ENDEAVOR BY A NEW LANDOWNER WHO WILL NOT BE A MUTUAL HOMEOWNER.
HE WILL NOT LIVE HERE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE DISTURBANCE OF OUR DAILY LIVING.
HE'S BROUGHT IN FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND, UM, THEY SUPPORT HIM AND, AND IF I WERE HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND I ALSO SUPPORT THAT.
BUT WE ASK THAT YOU DENY THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL IN OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
I SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
I SUPPORT GUN SAFETY, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT THE APPLICANT'S PLAN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
THOMAS MILLER, 21 300 REESE ROAD.
ANYBODY ELSE CALL ME IN THE COUNTY HOCKEY MILLER.
I'VE, UM, LIVED IN NEW COUNTY 30 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I'VE LIVED IN REESE ROAD SINCE 2019.
THAT WAS, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.
THAT WAS OUR DREAM PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WE BOUGHT IT SHORTLY AFTER COLLEGE AND THAT'S WHERE WE COMMENCED TO RAISING OUR FAMILY.
I DO SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WHAT MR. MARK DOES AND HIS RIGHTS TO SUPPORT THAT.
MY QUESTION IS THIS, AND I'LL CALL THE SPADE WHAT SPADE IS.
I'M TRYING TO SUM UP WHAT EVERYBODY SAID HERE TONIGHT.
YOU BROUGHT A HORNET'S NEST TO EDEN IS WHAT YOU DID.
WE ALL VIEW THIS AS A SANCTUARY.
AND WHEN I SPEAK FOR THE RESIDENCE,
[02:40:01]
IT'S OUR SAFE SPOT.WE HAVE ENOUGH WORRY ABOUT THE AMAZON GUY COMING DOWN THE ROAD AND HIS CREDENTIALS.
NOW, EVERY CAR I PASS, MIKE OR MAY, MAY EVEN MORE SO NOW HAVE A GUN IN IT.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S THE STATE ROAD AS MR. RE SPOKE, THERE'S ENOUGH DRAMA WITH THE STATE ROAD ENOUGH.
WE CAN GO HAVE A MEETING ON THAT ONE SOMETIME LATER.
THAT, THAT'S A WHOLE MEETING IN ITSELF.
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN THAT ARE OUTSIDE CONSTANTLY FROM SEVEN TO TWO.
THE BOYS RULE RIGHT NOW IS STAY WITH INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
SHE'LL BE HERE SHORTLY AFTER WE HOMESCHOOL.
WE HAD SEVEN CHILDREN THERE TODAY.
AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS.
I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THE POINT THAT THIS HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY.
THE INITIAL CONVERSATION AND MR. MARK AND I HAD, BUT SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE, WHAT IT'S KIND OF BEEN HONED INTO NOW.
THEN IT WENT INTO A FULLY FUNCTIONAL FIVE DAY A WEEK OPERATION.
SO WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLANET WITH THAT.
LET'S, LET'S ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF THIS DOES GO ANYWHERE, HONE IT IN.
I SAID I I, MY DAD AND I OPERATE A BUSINESS OUTTA THIS COUNTY.
HAVE OVER 20 YEARS AS A BUSINESS PERSON.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT COMES AFTER ONE IS TWO AND THEN THREE.
IF YOU OPEN THIS UP, YOU OPEN THE DOOR FOR TWO AND THREE.
I SPEND ENOUGH TIME IN PRAYER IN THIS, IN MY LIFE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
I BELIEVE HE'S A FELLOW AND BROTHER IN CHRIST.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'M PICKING UP TONIGHT.
I NEVER HAD THAT CONVERSATION, SO IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO GO AGAINST THAT.
BUT I HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR MY FAMILY.
AND WHEN YOU START BRINGING IN STRANGERS, I DON'T KNOW, INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE ARMED NOW, THAT'S A GIANT CONCERN FOR ME.
EVERY GUN I'VE EVER HAD, I'VE BEEN TRAINED ON BY MY FATHER.
MY, MY GRANDFATHER WORKED FOR FEDERAL PRISON.
THEIR CREDENTIALS OF FIREARM SAFETY GO A LONG WAY AS MY FAMILY.
I, I BELIEVE IN WHAT HE'S SAYING.
THERE'S TOO MANY UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENTS.
BUT TO MR. BAZAARS POINT, PLEASE NOD ON MY DOORSTEP.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE ALL THEIR LIVES AND HAVE BUILT THEIR DREAM HOMES.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE TRAVELED OVER 3000 MILES TO FIND THIS LITTLE AREA THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS AN AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE THERE AND YOU HAVE THE TREES AND YOU HAVE THE FIELDS AND IT JUST FEELS GOOD.
UM, WE ARE ALSO IN OPPOSITION OF HAVING THE RANGE PUT IN FOR, I WON'T GO OVER AGAIN.
ALL THE SAME REASONS THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE SAID.
UM, WE AGREE WITH GUN SAFETY ALSO, BUT I KNOW THAT I DON'T YET HAVE MY CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT AND I WANT TO GO TAKE A CLASS AND I'M WILLING TO TRAVEL BECAUSE IT'S THAT IMPORTANT TO ME.
EVEN THOUGH MY HUSBAND IS A DISABLED COMBAT VETERAN
UM, YEAH, IT WOULD JUST BE A LOT.
WE TRAVELED SO FAR TO GET TO A CERTAIN SETTING AND PUTTING BUSINESSES IN WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE GOT AWAY FROM.
I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS MEETING.
UM, I'D LIKE TO GET THE APPLICANT IF HE'D LIKE TO COME BACK UP.
UM, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU, UM, ADDRESS THE BOARD, UM, WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS, UM, AND NOT ADDRESS THE, UM, THE PUBLIC.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KEEP HEARING, UM, 'CAUSE THEY KEPT TALKING ABOUT THE 20 LANES THAT'S DROPPED COMPLETELY.
THERE'S NOT GONNA BE 20 LANES.
THERE'S ONLY GONNA BE THREE PEOPLE SHOOTING AT ONE TIME.
SO THERE'S NO LANES, THERE'S THREE PEOPLE SHOOTING.
UM, EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN IS GONNA BE ESCORTED IN AND OUT BY ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST FOR THE CLASS PURPOSES.
UM, AND I KEEP HEARING THAT OVER AND OVER.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE LANES, THERE'S, SO THERE'S, THERE'S NO A, THIS IS A, THIS IS, IT'S NO BC TWO OR THREE OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.
THIS IS ALL I WANNA DO IS TEACH FIREARM CLASSES TO PREPARE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO USE A GUN SAFELY.
UM, THE RANGE WAS THERE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AND ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS HERE TODAY ACTUALLY TOLD ME LAST TIME THAT
[02:45:01]
WE HAD THE MEETING THAT HE HELPED BUILD IT SO HE KNOWS THAT IT'S SAFE.SOME OF THEM HAVE PROBABLY EVEN SHOT THERE WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER.
AND OF COURSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHILDREN'S SAFETY, I HAVE FOUR KIDS.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I'M GONNA DO.
THE ONE THING THAT I I TEACH IS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IS KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU NO MATTER WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY TRY TO DO THAT SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
IF SOMEBODY VENTURES ONTO THE PROPERTY WHILE WE'RE DOING, GIVING THESE CLASSES, OF COURSE CLASS IS GONNA STOP.
EVERYBODY'S GONNA HOLSTER OUT AND IT'S DONE UNTIL WE GET ANYBODY TO SAFETY OR TO THEIR PROPER PLACE.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCKED BY A GATE.
SO THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT UNLESS YOU TRESPASS ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY AS WELL.
UM, AGAIN, UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO USE A FIREARM PROPERLY AND I EMPHASIZE THE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO THE MAIN THING THAT I KEPT ON HEARING WAS THE 20 LANES.
THERE'S NOT GONNA BE 20 LANES.
UH, AGAIN, THERE'S ONLY GONNA BE AT THE MOST THREE PEOPLE ON A FIRE AND LINE AT ONE TIME.
SOME OF THE CLASSES, THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON SHOOTING AT A TIME AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE ALL DAY.
UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S PRIMARILY JUST FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS.
SO ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I HAVE JUST A FEW.
IS THIS STATIC SHOOTING? IS IT SHOOTING ON THE MOVE? UH, LATER ON ONCE, LIKE, THERE WILL BE SOME WHERE YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD AND MOVING BACKWARDS, BUT THERE'S NOTHING RUNNING OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT'S WHENEVER YOU GET MORE PROFICIENT WITH YOUR FIREARM.
'CAUSE WE START OFF AT A, AT A LOWER LEVEL AND THEN MOVE UP AS FAR AS WE GO.
UM, AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHAT WOULD BE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CLIENTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ON THE PROPERTY SHOOTING? NOW I KNOW IT'S THREE AT THE RANGE, CORRECT.
BUT HOW MANY WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE HAVING THERE IN A CLASS? MM-HMM
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR HIGHEST NUMBER IN YOUR CLASS? THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN THE CLASS WOULD BE 10.
SO THAT COULD BE 10 INDIVIDUALS DRIVING TO THE PROPERTY.
AND YOU'RE GONNA ESCORT THEM IN EACH ONE OF THEM? YES, SIR.
BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA COME IN TOGETHER AND THEN WE'RE GONNA LEAVE TOGETHER.
WELL, WHERE ARE THEY GONNA PARK AT? SO ALONG THE PROPERTY, IN THE, UM, ON THE DRIVE, THERE'S PLACES TO PARK ALONG THAT, THAT ROAD IN.
SO THEY'RE GONNA CALL YOU AND SAY, I'VE, I'VE COME, I'M HERE.
CAN YOU COME GET ME TO ESCORT ME UP TO WHERE THE RANGE IS GONNA BE? I'M PROBABLY GONNA MEET 'EM IN TOWN AND THEN TAKE THEM TO THE RANGE.
I MEAN, I, IF TEN'S GONNA BE THERE, HOW DO YOU GET YOU, YOU'RE RIGHT.
I, I DIDN'T THINK THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
BUT, UM, YEAH, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I WILL MEET THEM AT THE GATE AND THEN BRING THEM IN.
BUT, UM, THEY WILL LEAVE AT THE SAME TIME TOO.
I MEAN, I'M JUST THINKING OF IT.
IF IT TOOK, IF, IF YOU'RE DOING A CLASS MM-HMM
AND THE CLASS STARTS AT 10 O'CLOCK RIGHT.
AND THERE'S 10 PEOPLE GONNA BE THERE, MORE THAN LIKELY THERE'RE GONNA BE 10 VEHICLES THAT ARE GONNA COME TO THE PROPERTY, RIGHT? I WOULD ANTICIPATE, YES, SIR.
WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO PARK.
THEY'VE GOTTA COME IN AND THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.
UM, WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS? ARE THEY GOING BE JUST CITIZENS OR ARE THERE GONNA BE OTHER INDIVIDUALS? UM, LET'S SAY I'M, UH, ME AND A COUPLE FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, WANT TO TAKE YOUR COURSE MM-HMM
I MEAN, WHO ARE YOU GONNA BE ADVERTISING TO? WHO? ARE THERE ANY AGENCIES YOU'RE ADVERTISING TO OR IT JUST INDIVIDUALS.
IS THE SHOOTING GALLERY IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS STILL OPEN? NO, SIR.
I I KNOW IT'S GOT A, IT'S UNDER A DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP NOW.
IT CAUGHT FIRE AND THEY CLOSED DOWN.
UM, AND THERE'S NO HOME ON THE PROPERTY AT THE PRESENT TIME, CORRECT? IT'S JUST ACREAGE? YES, SIR.
IS THE LAND THAT'S ADJACENT TO IT, OTHER THAN THE HOMEOWNERS HERE, IS THAT LAND, UM, HUNTED BY INDIVIDUALS? I BELIEVE THERE'S HUNT CLUBS.
IS IT THERE IS HUNT CLUB THAT HUNTS THE LAND.
THE, THE TIMBERLAND THAT'S AROUND.
SO IT IS THAT, SO, SO I COULD ACTUALLY COME THROUGH THAT HUNT CLUB TIMBERLAND YES.
TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS YOUR PROPERTY AND KNOW IT.
BUT I COULD STILL KIND OF, WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE NEIGHBORS, I COULD STILL PROBABLY COME IN THAT WAY.
SORRY, A QUICK FOLLOW UP TO THAT.
SO THAT'S 10 TO ONE 10 STUDENTS, ONE INSTRUCTOR.
[02:50:01]
YES SIR.BUT ONLY THREE ON THE SHOOTING LINE.
BUT THAT MEANS 10 OR SEVEN UNSUPERVISED.
WITH AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS AT YOUR BACK.
UNLOADED WEAPONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T LOAD ANY WEAPONS UNTIL THEY'RE ON THE FIRE LINE.
AND AND THAT'S AN HONOR SYSTEM? YES SIR.
AND MARK? I THINK 85 2 IS, AND I'M NOT TOTALLY RIGHT WHILE I'M RIGHT OR NOT.
I THINK THAT'S A HUGE TRACK OF LAND.
THAT, I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK HUGE, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGER TRACKS AND, AND INWOOD IT COUNTY.
IT'D TAKE A PRETTY GOOD WALK TO GET DOWN.
BUT YOU COULD, YOU COULD BUT COULD ACCESS IT FROM THAT DIRECT.
MS. BONNA, DO YOU HAVE, UH, YEAH, I JUST HAD A FEW QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, YOU DON'T LIVE ON THIS PROPERTY AND I, I THINK YOU JUST SAID THAT THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S NOT A HOME AND THE NEIGHBORS, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT NEIGHBORS WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, UM, I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, JUST BEING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY WANNA RETIRE.
THEY, UM, THEY DON'T WANT THEIR PROPERTY, UM, VALUE TO GO DOWN.
'CAUSE I CAN, UM, IMAGINE IF I WAS TO BUY A HOME AND DOWN THE ROAD WAS A SHOOTING RANGE, I MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A HOUSE DOWN THAT WAY.
UM, ALSO, UM, I NOTICED THEY, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND AUTISTIC CHILDREN MM-HMM
AND YOU CANNOT PREDICT WHAT AUTISTIC KIDS ARE GONNA DO.
AND, UM, GET LOST OR WHATEVER.
SO, UM, THAT'S A CONCERN FOR ME AS WELL.
UM, IT, IT'S, I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TEACH AND, UM, SHOW INDIVIDUALS HOW TO USE WEAPONS.
UM, THE ONLY THING ABOUT THAT IS, OF COURSE EVERYBODY'S NOT GONNA DO THAT.
THEY'RE GONNA GO OUT THERE AND SHOOT, DO WHATEVER THEY'RE GONNA DO AND NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT, UM, LEARNING HOW TO USE IT OR EVEN TRAINING.
WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IF THEY, IF THEY PURCHASE A WEAPON.
UM, BUT UM, JUST HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS WOULD LIKE BECAUSE UM, YOU ARE NOT THERE.
YOU JUST COME IN, UM, I THINK YOU SAID EIGHT TO EIGHT DAYS A MONTH AND DO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO AND UM, AND UM, AND THEN GO HOME
REALISTICALLY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, YEAH.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE DOING IT REALISTICALLY EIGHT DAYS A MONTH 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET STUDENTS FOR EVERY DAY THAT WE HAVE IT.
WE COULD, I MEAN, BUT REALISTICALLY, AND IT'S ALSO THERE, IT'S SEASONAL A LOT OF TIMES.
SO DURING THE WINTERTIME A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GO OUT TO SHOOT, SO MM-HMM
AND HOW DO YOU GET YOUR, UM, THE NAMES FOR YOUR INDIVIDUALS? DO THEY CALL YOU OR DO YOU DO ANY BACKGROUND CHECKS OR YOU JUST, THEY SIGN THROUGH THE NRA OR THEY CAN REGISTER ON THE WEBSITE.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET YOUR INDIVIDUALS.
I, I'VE JUST GOT A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN, UM, WE'LL DECIDE WHAT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD IS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN, UM, WE STARTED, UM, DIVIDING UP LAND AND WE HAD THE PRIVATE ROADS IN DENWOODY, I THINK WE HAD SOME PRETTY CREATIVE, UM, CUTS OF LAND.
AND THIS TRULY IS A CREATIVE CUT OF LAND TO, TO BE NICELY.
UM, THE SECOND THING, I, I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR SMILING WHEN SOMEBODY SAID THAT THIS WAS THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
'CAUSE THAT'S KINDA WHAT I THINK IT'S THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE TOO.
BUT, UM, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS.
UM, I'M A GUN OWNER, UH, HUNDRED ALL MY LIFE.
IF YOU LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR SOME GUNSHOTS AND, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE PEOPLE HUNTING AND, AND YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT.
I JUST THINK, UM, AND, UH, MR. LOKI, I I I, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS NEEDED.
I THINK YOU BOUGHT A PIECE OF LAND AND YOU'RE TRYING TO SHAPE IT TO, TO FIT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH.
UM, I WENT TO THE GUN RANGE AT CHICK HONY, DEER HUNTING AND UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT TALKED INTO IT, BUT I SAT BEHIND THE RIFLE BERM AND THAT'S PROBABLY A 30 FOOT
[02:55:01]
BERM.UM, AND I GUESS I WAS SAFE BEHIND IT.
BUT THAT 30 FOOT BERM, THERE WERE RIFLE SHOTS GOING OVER THE TOP OF IT THE WHOLE TIME I WAS OUT, I COULD HEAR 'EM WHISTLING OVER THE TOP.
SO I DO THINK THE PICTURE OF YOUR, YOUR BACKSTOP IS, IS NOT ADEQUATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND LIGHT PISTOLS, MAYBE YOU GO TO ANYTHING LIKE A 50 CALIBER, UM, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIZE, UM, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
UM, SO THERE ARE MY RESERVATIONS.
I I TRULY THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A PIECE OF LAND IN, IN WINDY COUNTY, UM, THAT FITS WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
I, YOU KNOW, I SAY THAT, BUT THEN THE NEXT TIME YOU COME IN HERE AND THE ROOM'S FULL OF PEOPLE, IT, IT DOESN'T LOOK SO GOOD EITHER.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, UM, BUT YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY LINE WITH, WITH WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
UH, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOTHING BACK THERE, UM, FROM MY HOUSE TO REALLY TO THE VILLAGE, IT THEN WHAT IS NOTHING FROM HERE TO MY HOUSE, BUT WOODS.
UM, BUT I ONLY OWN MY 25 ACRES THAT I, SO ONCE THAT BULLET LEAVES MY PROPERTY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, I CAN'T GET IT BACK.
UM, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE ANYBODY BACK THERE, BUT, BUT IT COULD BE.
UM, AND SO ANY BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE ON I DO, I DO HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
I, I DON'T THINK THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CONFUSED AS A SECOND AMENDMENT ISSUE AND NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS ON THE TABLE.
SECOND AMENDMENT, UH, IT'S WELL KNOWN WHERE THIS BOARD STANDS ONGOING GUN OWNERSHIP AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AS A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR MYSELF.
THE ISSUE IS THE BEST AND GREAT USE OF THIS PROPERTY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CITIZENS OF DEITY COUNTY.
UM, I THINK IT'S A WELL NEEDED COURSE FOR PRIVATE CITIZENS.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT ASPIRATION.
UM, BUT IS IT THE BEST AND GREATEST USE OF THIS PROPERTY? AND SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO REFLECT ON AS I CAST MY VOTE.
AND I'LL, I'LL KIND OF ECHO THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER YEARS AGO, UM, YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS, WHAT IS IN THE GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS AT DEWEY COUNTY? WELL, I'VE GOT A VARIETY OF CITIZENS RIGHT HERE THAT ARE TELLING ME THEY LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET OR ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
AND THIS IS NOT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST AS LANDOWNERS, AS CITIZENS OF DENWITTY COUNTY.
UM, AND I DON'T SEE THIS AS RECREATIONAL.
THAT'S GOING INTO A VERY RURAL AREA WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IT'S GOING IN OR THE CITIZENS IN GENERAL.
SO, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THEN.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL, I'LL READ THE STATEMENT, UM, BE IT RESOLVED THAT IN ORDER TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2286 A THREE AND SEVEN AND ZONING ORDINANCE SECTIONS 22 DASH 22 AND 22 DASH TWO.
IT IS STATED THAT THE PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS INITIATED IS TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, GENERAL WELFARE, AND GOOD ZONING PRACTICE.
I MOVE THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST C DASH 23 DASH SIX AS PRESENTED, BE DISAPPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS THE ISSUANCE OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE INTENT, PURPOSE, AND DESIGN OF THE DENWITTY COUNTY ZONING CODE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
CAN WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.
[03:00:01]
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO, UM, AMENDMENTS[13. B. Amendment To Dinwiddie County Code Sections 12-2, 12-3 And 12-4]
TO THE DENWOOD COUNTY CODE SECTION 12 DASH TWO, 12 DASH THREE AND 12 DASH FOUR.IF WE COULD GET COUNTY ATTORNEY, MR. SAL.
THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN, WITH THE LEAVE OF THE BOARD.
I'LL PRESENT FROM DOWN HERE AS I HAVE MY NOTES IN FRONT OF ME UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE STAND.
UM, ON MARCH 13TH OF LAST MONTH, THE, THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE BRASFIELD DAM BUFFER FROM 300 FEET TO 500 FEET IN THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY CODE.
THAT ORDINANCE ALSO INCREASED THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS FROM $50 TO $250.
AND THAT INCLUDED OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THAT SECTION OF THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY CODE DEALING WITH LAKE CHESTERTON.
UM, UNDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, DINWITTY WOULD ADOPT SIMILAR CHANGES TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY CHESTERFIELD.
UH, INCREASING THE BRASFIELD DAM BUFFER FROM 300 FEET TO 500 FEET.
LANGUAGE HAS ALSO BEEN ADDED TO THE DINWITTY ORDINANCE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO FISH OFF OF THE PUBLIC FISHING PIER, WHICH IS A LITTLE LESS THAN 500 FEET FROM THE BRASSFIELD DAM.
FURTHERMORE, PENALTIES FOR ANY VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 12 OF THE DEWINE COUNTY CODE, WHICH GOVERNS LAKE CHEIN WOULD BE INCREASED FROM $50 TO $250.
UM, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE STATE CODE, UH, GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS.
UM, IN, IN THAT POWERS VESTED IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, IN, IN CHESTERVILLE COUNTY DID SUBSTANTIALLY, DID A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR ORDINANCE.
THERE'S ALSO A TYPO IN SECTION 12 DASH TWO OF THE COUNTY CODE THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD WOULD FIX.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
SO, UH, IF, IF THE, IF THIS DOES MEET WITH APPROVAL OF THE BOARD TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, THERE IS AN ACTION ON PAGE TWO OF THE MEMO BEFORE THE BOARD, UM, THAT SIMPLY STATES BE IT ORDAINED THAT THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED AS PRESENTED AND THAT THAT COULD BE ADOPTED THROUGH A, A MOTION AND SECOND AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD SINCE THIS IS AN ORDINANCE.
SO MR. CHAIRMAN, I THINK THE NEXT STEP IS PROBABLY TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS ANYONE SIGNED UP? MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, DOES ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? MR. CHAIR? I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE ORDINANCE WITH THE CHANGES AS PRESENTED THIS EVENING.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE, UH, APPOINTMENTS
[14. A. Appointments]
AND AT THIS TIME I'LL TURN THE CHAIR OVER TO MR. MADISONVILLE.I THINK WE HAVE ONE APPOINTMENT TO MAKE TONIGHT THIS EVENING.
IT'S TO THE DEY COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE JUDGE, UH, THAT WE REAPPOINT ARTHUR DONNY BOSTIC TO A TERM TO EXPIRE 20 12 31 20 28.
CAN WE GIVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. LEE? AYE.
[Items 14.B & 14.C]
[14. B. Proposed FY 2025 Budget]
[14. C. Proposed Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) FY25-FY34]
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THE PROPOSED FY 2025 BUDGET.UM, MR. MASSENGILL, IF YOU WILL? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I THINK WE HAVE SOME DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE READ.
AT THE APRIL 16TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE DIMITY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I'M MARK E. MOORE.
INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 DASH 2034 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR DIM WITTY COUNTY, THE BUDGET AND CIP WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS APPROPRIATED TO THE DIM COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
MY WIFE IS EMPLOYED BY THE DE WITTY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, THE BUDGET AND CIP AFFECT ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DE WITTY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND I AM ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
AT THE APRIL 16TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE DEITY COUNTY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IKCM DOOLEY INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION CONCERNING FISCAL YEAR 2025
[03:05:01]
BUDGET AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2034 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR DIMITY COUNTY.THE BUDGET AND CIP WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR THE DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, INCLUDING FOR COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES.
I'M EMPLOYED BY DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE BUDGET AND CIP AFFECTS THE EMPLOYEES OF DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND I'M ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
ALL RIGHT, AT THE APRIL 16TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE DEITY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I, DANIEL D. LEE, INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE FY 2025 BUDGET AND FY 2025 TO 2034 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR DEWIN COUNTY.
THE BUDGET AND CIP WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEITY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
MY WIFE IS EMPLOYED BY THE DEITY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, EXCUSE ME.
THE BUDGET AND CIP AFFECT ALL EMPLOYEES OF DEITY COUNTY AND I AM ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST I'M EMPLOYED BY THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
AS SUCH, I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSION PERTAINING TO THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD.
OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO THE NEXT TWO ITEMS UNDER, UNDER OLD NEW BUSINESS, I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROPOSED FY 25 BUDGET AS WELL AS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
I, UH, I KNOW EARLIER I HAD MY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS AND I DIDN'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME MM-HMM
AND I NOTICED IT'S EIGHT 30 AND YOU ALL GOT STARTED THIS MORNING, I BELIEVE AROUND 10 30.
SOME OF YOU, MOST OF US MM-HMM
SO THIS IS GONNA BE MORE OF THE BRIEF BUDGET VERSUS THE FULL BUDGET, IF THAT'S OKAY.
IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
SO UNDER THIS FIRST PORTION, UM, SO THAT IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THE 30TH, SO IN ORDER TO GET TO THE 30TH, WE HAVE TO PUT THE, THE RIGHT ADVERTISEMENT IN THE, IN THE NEWSPAPER.
UH, THAT ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE, I THINK IS TOMORROW IN ORDER TO GET IT ADVERTISED, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD TO GET TO THAT HEARING ON THE 30TH.
SO I WANTED TO, TO JUST UPDATE THE BOARD TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, THAT WE DO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
SO THE AD THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE PAPER, UH, ADEQUATELY, UM, IS BALANCED AS WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO, UH, REOCCURRING REVENUE IS PAYING FOR REOCCURRING EXPENSES, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, OUR MAIN GOAL HERE.
UM, REVENUE, LEMME SAY THIS UP FRONT, RE REVENUE FROM THE TIME THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IT LAST, WE TOLD YOU THAT THIS IS ALWAYS SOMEWHAT OF A, A MOVING TARGET.
UM, REVENUE HAS IMPROVED ONCE, I KNOW YOU, YOU VOTED ON THE, THE OVERALL CALENDAR TAX RATES.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, MS. STEVENS HAS PROVIDED, UH, THE VERY BEST DATA THAT WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT, AND PROJECTIONS ON YOUR REVENUE BUDGET HAS BEEN ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY TO THAT.
UH, I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THAT IT'S STILL A CONSERVATIVE FORECAST.
IT'S ONE THAT MS. HAMILTON AND I BELIEVE IN, BUT IT, BUT IT HAS REFLECTED UPWARDLY AS WE WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE, UH, AND AND NEED TO BE.
SO SPECIFIC INTEREST, UH, IN THE EXPENDITURE BUDGET HAS, HAS REALLY BEEN SPECIFIED, UM, INTO A, THE COUNTY WORKFORCE.
AND SO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DURING YOUR, YOUR BUDGET MEETINGS, UH, THE NEED AND DESIRE AS FAR AS THE WORKFORCE IS TO GIVE, UM, A COMBINATION OF A, A COLA AND A STEP INCREASE THAT WOULD NET ABOUT A 3% BUMP TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THAT 3% IS SIMILAR TO THE 3% THAT IS TO BE OFFERED, UH, BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND IF WE GET A STATE BUDGET, UH, BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL POSITIONS AND STATE SUPPORTED POSITIONS LIKE SOCIAL SERVICES AND ALSO EQUALS WHAT BOTH THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE CONTEMPLATED FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE SOQ FUNDED POSITIONS.
SO THAT, THAT 3% IS IN THE SPECIFIC INTEREST TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE, WE HAVE ADEQUATELY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE MEHERON RIVER REGIONAL JAIL AUTHORITY, RECOGNIZING THAT WE DID HAVE TO GO UP THIS YEAR AND THERE IS ADEQUATE ANTICIPATION THAT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WILL PROBABLY, IF THE TREND CONTINUES, WILL CONTINUE TO GO UPWARDLY.
UM, SO AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY MEHERON FOR OUR INMATES.
UH, SECOND FUNDING FOR NEW FIRE MEDICS, UH, NINE NEW FIRE MEDICS, WHICH GIVES THAT ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY NOW ALLOWS THE CENTER PART OF THE COUNTY AS
[03:10:01]
WELL AS THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY TO HAVE, UM, UH, SPECIFIC FIREFIGHTING AND EMTS AT EACH ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC, UM, UM, STATIONS.ALSO, THERE WERE SOME REGRADES IN THAT SO THAT WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT WE ADEQUATELY ARE STAFFING OUR FIRE AND EMS THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE.
YOU CAME BACK AND SAID, LOOK, THE, IN ADDITION TO, TO THOSE ITEMS, YOU REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON DEPUTY SHERIFF COMPENSATION THIS YEAR WE KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING TALENT TO, TO OTHER PLACES AND WE, WE ALSO ARE DISAPPOINTED.
AND YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE DISAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPENSATION WAS THE LOWEST IN THE REGION.
WE SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T MIND NECESSARILY BEING, UM, SECOND TO, TO CHESTERFIELD AND TO HANOVER HENRICO IN RICHMOND, THAT WHEN YOU START BECOMING LAST TO BRUNSWICK AND SUSSEX AND NOWAY AND AMELIA, THAT SOME ADJUSTMENT HAD TO BE MADE.
SO THIS, THIS BUDGET CONTEMPLATES THREE NEW FTES IN THE, IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH INCLUDES TWO DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND THEN ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT'S FOCUSED ON MORE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, UM, INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
BUT IT ALSO DOES THE $5,000 INCREASE TO THOSE QUALIFYING LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS.
SO YOU'RE GONNA GET MOVED 3% IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE $5,000 IN ADEQUATE PLACEMENT ON THE SCALE, TWO SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, AND THEN THIS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POSITION THERE.
SO FROM THE GOAL OF, OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOME PARITY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GOOD BUDGET AND AGAIN, TRYING TO GET OUR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF AT LEAST ON PARITY WITH, UH, OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
WE DO KNOW WE'RE DOING A CLASS IN COMPENSATION PLAN RFP OF THAT, I THINK IT WAS TO BE RELEASED SOON.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT MOVING SO THAT BY NEXT YEAR, THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE AN IDEA OF, OF WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE.
UM, THERE, UM, AS YOU KNOW, AND I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF Y'ALL INDIVIDUALLY, EVEN, EVEN WITH THE ADJUSTMENT AND THE TAX RATE SPECIFICALLY TO DO THESE PUBLIC SAFETY ITEMS. WE STILL HAD TO MAKE SOME CUTS AND SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
AND SO, UM, NOT GOING THROUGH EACH AND EVERY, EVERY CUT.
'CAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE MISS HOWTON WAS REALLY GOOD AT GOING LINE BY LINE AND EVALUATING ALL ASPECTS OF SPENDING.
WE TRACK THOSE LAST THREE YEARS OF TRENDING SPENT EXPENSES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
SO A LOT OF THOSE LINE ITEMS HAVE BEEN TWEAKED, UH, TO REFLECT CURRENT DAY SPENDING AND PROJECTED SPENDING.
UH, BUT AS FAR AS OTHER POSITIONS, WE TRIED TO INCLUDE AS MANY AS WE POSSIBLY COULD.
THERE WAS SPECIFICALLY AN ACCOUNTING POSITION THAT WAS ASKED FOR BOTH IN THE COMMISSION, I MEAN IN THE, UM, IN ANN'S OFFICE AS WELL AS IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
WE FUNDED ONE OF THOSE AND I PUT IT IN MS. TON'S OFFICE.
UM, NOT BELIEVING THAT WE NEEDED TO AT THIS TIME, BUT I DID ADD SOME ADDITIONAL PART-TIME FUNDS OVER INTO THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
UH, ANOTHER SPECIFIC AREA WAS IN THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UH, WHAT MS. MANN INDICATED TO US WHEN SHE PRESENTED THE BUDGET THAT SHE WANTED TO KEEP THE INVESTIGATOR POSITION, SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A FULL-TIME COUNTY ATTORNEY, UH, UH, COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A PART-TIME.
SO WHILE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THE FUNDS TO, TO HIRE THE NEW FULL-TIME COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, MAINTAIN THE INVESTIGATOR, BUT I DID CUT OUT THE PART-TIME POSITION.
I FEEL LIKE WE CAN MORE ADEQUATELY REFLECT THAT LATER.
UM, A FEW THINGS HERE AND THERE.
WE HAD SOME INTERNAL CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE CUT THAT WE FELT LIKE WE COULD MOVE, UH, TO MAYBE NEXT YEAR.
UM, BUT THAT, THAT'S WHERE YOUR BUDGET IS.
WESTON HAD INDICATED IN THE JOINT MEETING, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS, UH, LEVEL FUNDED TO THEIR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, UH, WITH ANTICIPATION THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSION WOULD GET APPROVED.
THAT STILL IS TO BE DETERMINED.
I THINK RECONVENE SESSION IS TOMORROW.
THE GOVERNOR STILL HASN'T SIGNED THE BUDGET, SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THAT COMES.
BUT OUR BUDGET DOESN'T REFLECT ANYTHING OTHER THAN LEVEL FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOLS.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR, THAT'S YOUR FY 25 PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A MORE DETAILED BUDGET AND GAVE ME THE PACKET.
UH, SHE'S STILL BEEN TWEAKING, SO HE GAVE ME A PACKET, UH, AT, AT TODAY.
I'LL GO THROUGH THAT PACKET, WE'LL VERIFY IT FOR THE HEARING, AND THEN WE'LL GET IT BEFORE YOU, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE MY FULL PRESENTATION BEFORE THE HEARING.
SO I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK THROUGH ALL THE, THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS, ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
UH, WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY BE, BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER 'EM.
SO THE NEXT PIECE I WANTED TO TALK ANY QUESTIONS ON FY 25.
SO THE NEXT PIECE I WANTED TO DO IS WALK YOU THROUGH, THIS IS A LARGE SHEET.
UM, SO I'M GONNA PASS THE PROPOSED, UM, CIP TO YOU ALL, AND
[03:15:01]
I'M GONNA GET A COPY AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ADDITIONAL MOTION TO SEE THESE.SO IN ADDITION TO YOUR OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH AGAIN IS WHERE YOU HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TODAY, AND, AND DR. MOORE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT EARLIER TODAY.
UM, YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN, UH, HAS, HAS BEEN IN THE PAST WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO A, A BETTER JOB OF TRYING TO FORECAST SOME OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO THE SHEET THAT I, I JUST HANDED OUT, I WANTED TO KIND OF WALK IT THROUGH, BUT REAL, REAL QUICKLY, WHAT DO WE DO DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR THAN WE'VE DONE IN, IN YEARS PAST? WELL, ONE, WE FORMED A WORKING GROUP EARLY ON, AND THAT WORKING GROUP CAME TOGETHER.
WE HAD 26, 27 PEOPLE ON THAT GROUP.
AND WE THEN DECIDED THAT, AND THAT'S ANYBODY THAT PARTICULARLY WOULD HAVE A, A PROJECT.
AND SO THERE'S SOME KEY FEATURES THIS YEAR THAT I, I JUST WANTED TO TALK THROUGH, UM, WITH THAT.
SO YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS, IS AGAIN, THAT SYSTEMATIC APPROACH OF BOTH PLANNING AND FINANCING ALL OF YOUR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND SO IT'S IN INTENDED TO BE KIND OF A STRATEGIC GUIDE TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL OF OUR COUNTY SERVICES.
AND THEREFORE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THIS.
IN FACT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MR. TUS, ACTUALLY WAS, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PROVIDED A LOT OF FEEDBACK TO THIS.
AND WITH THE UPDATE OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN, WE REALLY FELT IMPELLED THIS YEAR, COMPELLED THIS YEAR TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE KIND OF FOLLOWED THAT COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN TO, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
UM, SO WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS WE REALLY WANTED TO, TO MAKE THE PLAN REALISTIC.
AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAD WAS THAT IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WE'VE HAD PROJECTS TO BE ON THE, ON THE, THE CIP THAT WAS ON THE FIVE YEAR CIP FOR PROBABLY 20 YEARS.
AND ONE REASON FOR THAT IS, IS THAT EITHER THE PROJECT IS TOO COSTLY AND GETS PUSHED BACK, OR IT'S NOT REALISTIC.
AND SO WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THIS YEAR WITH THIS WORKING GROUP WAS TRY TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT YOU COULD REALLY LOOK OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND YOU COULD SEE REALISTICALLY WHAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED DURING THAT, THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
AND THEN WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS, AT THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MORE, MORE PLANNING YEARS, BUT THAT FIRST FIVE YEARS BE SOMEWHAT REALISTIC.
SO THE COMMITTEE, I JUST WANT TO NAME THE NAMES OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORKED ON THIS WORKING GROUP FOR ME IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT WAS THE SHERIFF AND OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH MAJOR NOT, UM, WAS THAT REPRESENTATIVE CHIEF HALE, ALSO REPRESENTATIVE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION.
CARRIE WESTIN PLANNING, WE HAD MARK BASSETT, UH, FINANCE AND GENERAL SERVICES.
WE HAD MS. HAMILTON PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAD MS. COLLINS, AGAIN, PLANNING COMMISSION.
MR. TUS, MR. SPIERS REPRESENTED THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
EDDIE PEARSON REPRESENTED THE WATER AUTHORITY.
JEREMY POS REPRESENTED THE AIRPORT.
SO IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF TIE, I WOULD SET THE TIE BREAKER, BUT LUCKILY I DIDN'T HAVE TO CAST ANY VOTES.
EV EV WE, THE REAL GOOD PIECE OF THIS IS THAT THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD, UH, THE RIGHT WAY.
SO WHAT WE DID IN THIS PROCESS, WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS, AND I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF IT, BUT THE, THE FIRST MEETING WE SAID, LOOK, FY 25 NEEDS TO BE OF ITEMS THAT ARE URGENT THAT IF YOU DON'T DO IT, THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
AND THEN 26 AND 27 WERE HIGH PRIORITY YEARS, AND 28 29 WOULD BE MEDIUM PRIORITY YEARS.
BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THIS, THIS SHEET YOU'LL SEE FROM 30 TO 34 ARE KIND OF PLANNING YEARS.
THE OTHER THING WE DID, AND AGAIN, TRYING TO PRIORITIZE THIS, WE ACTUALLY GOT WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, SO DAVENPORT AND COMPANY CAME IN AND DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
AND THEY, THEY DEVELOPED A PRESENTATION.
THEY WANT TO GIVE IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND WE'RE THINKING AFTER THE CIP GETS DEVELOPED WITH, THIS ISN'T GONNA STOP THIS YEAR, WE'RE GONNA KEEP, KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT IT, WHAT IT REFERENCED WAS THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CAPACITY OF THE COUNTY TO BORROW AND, AND DO A PROJECT, AND THEN THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE COUNTY TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR IT.
AND SO THE CAPACITY SHOWED THAT WE WERE, WELL,
[03:20:01]
YOU COULD DO TWO, $250 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS IN THIS 10 YEAR PERIOD, BUT YOUR AFFORDABILITY WAS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO RAISE TAXES NEARLY 64 CENTS TO PAY FOR IT.SO WE SAID, WELL THEN WHAT'S OUR REAL AFFORDABILITY? AND THAT, AND EVEN THOUGH WE MAY HAVE THE CAPACITY, THE AFFORDABILITY, AND SO REALISTICALLY SPEAKING ABOUT $80 MILLION, THIS BOARD COULD TAKE ON BETWEEN YEARS FY 25 AND 34 WITH THE EXISTING DEBT STRUCTURE THAT YOU HAVE.
AND AS DEBT WOULD DROP OFF, YOU COULD LAYER ADDITIONAL PROJECTS IN.
AND THEN IT WAS, WE RECOMMENDED THAT.
WELL, IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF YOU, IF YOU REALLY HAVE A PROJECT THAT YOU WANNA DO, THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER RAISING TAXES TO DO THAT.
SO SPECIFICALLY, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN, UH, SOUTHERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND DOING ANY HIGH SCHOOL WAS BUILT, THERE WAS A COINCIDING TAX INCREASE TO, TO DO THAT.
SO IT REALLY FORCED THE, THIS WORKING GROUP TO KINDA LOOK AT THESE PRIORITIZATIONS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
SO I'M, I'M PROUD TO SAY IF JUST HOW TO READ THIS SHEET, LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH THAT.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE A COUPLE THINGS TAKEN OUT.
SO WHAT YOU DON'T SEE HERE THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO IN THE PAST, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROJECTS HERE FROM THE DENE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY OR THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
AND AGAIN, YOU HAD SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT REPRESENTED THESE ENTITIES, BUT KEEP IN MIND, THESE ARE AUTHORITIES THAT CAN ASSUME THEIR OWN DEBT.
AND THERE WAS SOME THOUGHT THAT, THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR THE WATER AUTHORITY AND FOR THE AIRPORT.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME CONVERSATION WITH THEM, BUT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT FORTH THEIR OWN SPECIFIC DEBT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IN THIS PROJECT THAT YOU, THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULD SEE IS THE SYSTEMATIC REPLACEMENT OF, UH, CERTAIN EQUIPMENT.
SO I'M TALKING POLICE CARS, SCHOOL BUSES, AND AMBULANCES.
SO THOSE THREE ITEMS, IF YOU JUST TOOK, AGAIN, SCHOOL BUSES, POLICE CARS AND AMBULANCES, YOU WOULD BE NEEDING ABOUT 1.6 TO $1.8 MILLION A YEAR JUST TO REPLACE THOSE.
AND SO I JUST WANNA REPORT, AND AGAIN, TALK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS.
THEY GOT THE TWO HOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU'RE GETTING MORE LIKE THE 20 MINUTE CONVERSATION.
BUT THE, WHAT WAS RECOGNIZED IS, IS THAT IN ORDER TO MOVE IT FROM YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET TO YOUR OPERATING BUDGET, AND I JUST MENTIONED YOU GOTTA HAVE REOCCURRING OP REVENUE TO PAY FOR REOCCURRING OPERATING THAT LUCKILY THIS YEAR YOU DIDN'T HAVE, UM, OTHER THAN SOME POLICE CARS, THE SCHOOL BUSES THIS YEAR, UH, DR.
WESTON FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING A TRANSPORTATION STUDY.
THAT STUDY MAY CON, MAY CONCLUDE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE BUSING.
IT MAY MEAN THAT THEY MAY NEED A COUPLE BUSES, BUT WHAT THEY INDICATE TO US IS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THEIR YEAR END FUNDS TO BUY ANY ADDITIONAL BUSES THIS YEAR.
AND THEN FORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AMBULANCES TO BE REPLACED AT THIS YEAR, REPLACED THIS YEAR.
SO WE FELT LIKE IT WAS A GOOD YEAR JUST TO, TO TAKE IT OUT.
NOW, NEXT YEAR, CIP THERE'S A BIG DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE.
'CAUSE THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO, IF YOU WANT PUT IT ON THE OPERATING SIDE, EITHER YOU'VE GOTTA DECREASE YOUR CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.5 TO 6 MILLION A YEAR, OR YOU'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAM TO PAY FOR IT.
OKAY? BUT WE, WE TOOK THOSE OUT.
BUT WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU HERE IS WHEN YOU TAKE OUT THAT SYSTEMATIC REPLACEMENT, THEN YOU CAN START GETTING SOME OTHER PROJECTS DONE.
SO I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA WORK THROUGH EACH ONE OF 'EM, BUT WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU IS YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE THE REQUESTER AND HE, AGAIN, THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY ASKED, YOU'LL HAVE THE, THE, THE DEFINITION OF THE, THE PROJECT ITSELF.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS READING LEFT OR RIGHT, YOU, YOU SEE THE GENERAL FUND AND YOU SEE OTHER FUNDING FOR FY 25.
SO YOU'LL SEE FOR 25 EXPENDITURE, YOU'LL SEE THE SOURCE, WHETHER IT'S COMING OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND OR WHETHER THERE'S OTHER FUNDING THAT POTENTIALLY WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
OTHER FUNDING COULD BE GRANT MONEY OR IN THIS SITUATION, OR COULD ALSO BE, UH, FUNDING THAT MAY BE REMAINING FROM A PROJECT THAT DIDN'T GET COMPLETE.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER FUNDING.
AND THE TWO BOLD LINES IN THE CENTER, UH, YOU'LL SEE ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS AND IT'S ESTIMATED 'CAUSE THESE, THESE NUMBERS CHANGE AND THEY GET REEVALUATED EVERY YEAR, BUT YOU'LL SEE WHAT THE PROJECT COSTS ARE.
AND THEN THE REAL FOCUS IS BETWEEN FY 25 AND 29.
AND SO I ASKED MS. HOWTON TO PUT TWO BOLD LINES.
SO AGAIN, THE URGENT CARE CATEGORY IS THAT WE HAD A, A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT DIESEL EXHAUST SYSTEM REPAIR.
AND THREE OF OUR STATIONS, YOU'LL SEE TANKER REPLACEMENTS THAT WE MOVE FROM LAST YEAR.
THIS IS ACTUALLY TWO TANKERS TO BE REPLACED.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE THAT THE MCKINNEY GYM, WE WERE LOOKING AT DOING A REPAIR OF THE MCKINNEY GYMS SO THAT
[03:25:01]
A NEW HVAC SYSTEM COULD BE PUT IN THERE.AS YOU KNOW, NOW WE CAN HEAT IT, BUT WE CAN'T AIR CONDITION IT.
BUT THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO, TO FULLY USE THAT FACILITY.
UH, WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT, UM, A WALKING TRACK.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE USING SOME, UM, FUNDING FROM THAT FROM OTHER SOURCES.
BUT THE, THE WALKING TRACK AT EAST SIDE, AND WE KNOW THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO, SO THIS IS A CIRCLE TRACK THAT WOULD BE BUILT WHERE, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SMALL SOCCER FIELD, THE RUSSELL SOCCER FIELD, THIS IS AN EXTERIOR TO THAT.
IT WOULD RUN THE PERIMETER OF THAT PARTICULAR TRACK AND IT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO, TO WALK AROUND IT, UM, AT THAT, AT THAT TIME.
SO THEN YOU HAVE SUNNYSIDE KEY CARD ACCESS, WHICH IS A SECURITY PROJECT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, WHICH IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PIECE, WAS A BOILER UPGRADE.
AND THE COMMITTEE, OR THE THE WORKING GROUP FELT LIKE THAT THIS WAS REALLY NEEDED THIS YEAR THEY'VE ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE EQUIPMENT AND IT'S BEEN STAGED, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN HOOKED UP YET.
AND THEY USED, UH, SOME OF THEIR ARPA FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT.
SO THE WORKING GROUP REALLY FELT LIKE, BECAUSE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED, WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT.
SO YOU'LL SEE JUST FOR FY 25, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES AT THE BOTTOM, AND THAT'S THE LAST YEAR.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE WOULD POTENTIALLY MOVE THIS TO THE, TO THE OPERATING FUND, YOU'RE STILL AT $4.4 MILLION.
NOW, LUCKILY, YOU'RE HIT TO THE, THE GENERAL FUND IS ONLY JUST, JUST ABOVE 2.2 MILLION IN THE RESIDUAL OF THAT IS, IS COMING FROM OTHER FUNDS, UM, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE FROM EXISTING CIP.
SO I, WE FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR WE'RE, WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THE HEARING ON THE C-I-P-F-Y 25 IS THE ONLY YEAR THAT YOU'RE FUNDING.
BUT WHAT YOU CAN ALSO DO WHEN YOU LOOK AT 26, 27, 28, 29, MY HOPE IS THAT IF A PROJECT IS ON IN THESE, THESE BOLD LINES, RIGHT, IF YOU START AN FY 29, REALISTICALLY WHAT WE'RE TELLING THE COMMUNITY IS THAT WHEN WE GET TO FY 29, THESE ITEMS REALISTICALLY SHOULD BE FUNDED.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF JOKED AT THE SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN AT VDOT, WHICH IS REALLY LIKE A 15 YEAR PLAN.
WE WANT TO TRY TO GET TO A POSITION WHERE IF YOU FALL WITHIN THE FIVE YEARS, THAT REALISTICALLY YOU CAN, YOU CAN GET AT IT.
NOW, AGAIN, I TOLD YOU WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO, BUT ABOUT 80 MILLION A YEAR.
SO WE DID MOVE, UH, FOUR SIGNATURE PROJECTS OFF TO FY 30.
AND I JUST WANNA MENTION THOSE TO YOU.
ONE WAS THE, THE THOUGHT OF A NEW KIND OF FLAGSHIP LIBRARY.
WHEN BRIAN MANNING CAME TO YOU, HE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THEN WHEN HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT FLAGSHIP LIBRARY, MS. COLLINS HAD PRESENTED THIS PROJECT OF WHAT'S CALLED DIMITY WORKS, WHICH IS MORE LIKE A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
AND THEN WE HAD, UM, MIKE PARRISH WITH EXTENSION THAT HAD, HAD BEEN LOOKING AT TRYING TO FIND SOME ADDITIONAL SPACE.
SO WE KIND OF PUT ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER, JUST MOVED THEM OUT TO THE FUTURISTIC PLANNING YEAR OF, OF 2030.
BECAUSE MORE STUDY IS NEEDED TO SEE IF THOSE THINGS EVEN CAN COEXIST.
IF IT COMES BACK THAT IT'S NEEDED SOONER, WE CAN MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT OR IF IT CAN EVEN HAPPEN AT ALL.
THE SAME THING FOR THE AIRPORT AREA FIRE STATION, WHICH IS NUMBER 11.
WE SEE THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A FIRE STATION NEEDED IN THE NORTHERN END, BUT THAT'S GONNA NEED SOME ADDITIONAL STUDY TOO OF WHERE IT SHOULD BE, HOW IT, WHERE IT SHOULD BE PLACED, WHAT THE SIZE OF IT'S GONNA BE.
UH, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS PROBABLY A, A FACTUAL ERA IS THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO A STATION.
TODAY'S DOLLARS FOR $7.7 MILLION.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, MAYBE A MEGA STATION AND OR IT COULD BE TWO SMALLER STATIONS.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU, YOU GO DOWN TO ITEMS NUMBER, UM, LET'S SEE, 32 AND 33.
THERE WERE TWO RENOVATION PROJECTS FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS A $67 MILLION RENOVATION.
AND SUNNYSIDE UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS A $32 MILLION RENOVATION PROJECT.
SO AT SOME POINT, YOUR RENOVATION BECOMES MORE THAN BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL.
AND SO THE WORKING GROUP LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BUILD, WE'RE BUILDING NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TODAY FOR THE 40 TO $45 MILLION RANGE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THAT'S WHAT A 300 PLUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS GOING FOR TODAY IS, IS THAT 40 TO 45 MILLION.
SO YOU, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO RENOVATE A SCHOOL, AN EXISTING SCHOOL FOR 32 IF YOU COULD BUILD A NEW SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WESTERN AGREED THAT THIS SHOULD BE STUDIED, SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT USING POTENTIALLY YEAR END FUNDING TO UPDATE SOME OF THESE FACILITIES FOR THE SCHOOLS, THEIR FACILITY STUDY.
[03:30:01]
SCHOOL.THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS AT 67 MILLION JUST FOR A RENOVATION.
SO THE COMMITTEE, THE WORKING GROUP, REALLY FELT LIKE, HEY, WE NEED TO TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THIS.
YOU'VE GOT THE HISTORIC SOUTH SIDE EDUCATION CENTER THAT MIGHT POTENTIALLY COULD ADD SOME SECONDARY SPACE.
AND IF YOU EVEN WERE TO DO A MIDDLE SCHOOL UPGRADE, WOULD YOU WANT TO DO IT AT THE EXISTING LOCATION? AND IF SO, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME DEMOLITION AND AND DISPLACEMENT OF STUDENTS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG PROJECT.
UM, HIGH SCHOOLS TODAY IS, AGAIN, HARDER FOR US TO BELIEVE.
'CAUSE WE JUST BUILT, WE FELT LIKE WE JUST BUILT ONE.
BUT HIGH SCHOOLS TODAY ARE IN THE 80 TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS RANGE, UM, FOR, FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THAT'S, SO A MIDDLE SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 40, 45.
AND WE, WE FACT CHECK THIS WITH OUR RMM AND MOSLEY ARCHITECTURE FOR WHAT YOU'RE PAYING PER SQUARE FOOT IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, YOU, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE IN THE $80 MILLION RANGE FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, SO AGAIN, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GONNA HIT.
AND THAT PROBABLY WILL SPECIFICALLY BE, UM, OBVIOUSLY A BORROW AND COINCIDING WITH A TAX INCREASE.
SO THE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO NOTICE IS THIS, THIS GR OUT AREA NUMBER 13, WHICH IS GENERATOR REPLACEMENTS.
WE'RE STILL WAITING ON SOME CONTRACTOR BIDS ON THAT.
SO IF THAT COMES IN SOONER, WE'LL PUT IT IN.
IF NOT, UM, WE'LL MOVE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS OUT.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS HOW YOU READ THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
THERE WERE, I MEAN, JUST KUDOS TO THE, THE GROUP THAT WORKED ON THIS.
THEY PUT IN HOURS, I MEAN HALF DAYS AT A TIME, GOING OVER ALL THESE PROJECTS TO TRY TO MAKE, MAKE THIS MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT AND MAKE IT SUCH THAT THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE SOME FAITH IN IT AND, AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I, AND I JUST, I THOUGHT THE, THE, THE WORKING GROUP DID A PHENOMENAL JOB IN TRYING TO PRIORITIZE THINGS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF GIVE AND TAKE TO, TO GET TO THIS POINT.
SO IN ADDITION TO YOU ADVERTISING THE BUDGET, YOU'RE ALSO ADVERTISING THE CIP FOR HEARING AND THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO TALK ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ON, ON APRIL 30TH.
SO, AND DID I MISS ANYTHING? IS THAT NO, THAT, THAT'S, THAT ABOUT COVERS IT.
WE, I WILL TELL YOU, WE HAD 65 PROJECTS ON HERE WHEN WE STARTED.
SO TO GET TO 38, WE, WE THOUGHT WE WERE REALLY ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING
SO I THINK WE DID SOME GOOD WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED AND PUT THEIR OPINIONS IN.
I THINK THE, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, UH, STANDPOINT FOR THE BOARD, THE BIGGEST THING THAT, THAT YOU ALL GONNA HAVE TO, TO TRY TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND, OF COURSE WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND SUPPORT IT, IS THIS IS SYSTEMATIC REPLACEMENT STUFF.
I MEAN, IT, IT IS AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR YOU'RE GONNA BE BUYING AMBULANCES, POLICE CARS AND SCHOOL BUSES.
AND SO IF YOU WERE TO DECIDE TO SAY, YEAH, WE'VE GOTTA KEEP THAT IN THE CAPITOL, THEN, THEN THESE OTHER PROJECTS HAVE TO GET SHIFTED OUT.
'CAUSE YOU, YOU'RE GONNA DO THOSE ANYWAY AND YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING 'EM EVERY YEAR TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.
RIGHT NOW WHAT ANN DIDN'T, WE, WE DECIDED TO KEEP AMBULANCES OUT, BUT SOME OF THESE BIG LIKE TANKERS AND LADDER TRUCKS AND SOME OF YOUR BIGGER APPARATUS, WE KEPT THOSE IN.
UM, BUT THE OTHERS WE HAD TO, TO HAVE TO TAKE OUT.
SO MS. CHAIRMAN, THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TONIGHT.
WHEN IT COMES TO NOW YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT OF GLIMPSE OF WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET THAT'LL GET ADVERTISED.
AND THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN IS, UM, IS IS ALSO PART OF THAT PACKAGE.
'CAUSE YOU'LL SEE IN THE BUDGET THERE'S A TRANSFER THAT TAKES PLACE TO OUR CIP SO THAT THAT'S IN THERE TOO.
UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTION, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, ANN'S GOT, THERE WAS A CURVE BALL WITH THE HVAC REPLACEMENT AT THE MCKINNEY GYM.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T THINK WE HAD ANY, SO YEAH, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE WORDING OF IT.
UM, NOT THAT I'M GONNA BE PLAYING BASKETBALL.
WE HAVE PICKLEBALL WALKING INSIDE AND SO IT'S, IT'S WORTH, IT'S AN OLD OIL FURNACE THERE NOW.
AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET THE PARTS FOR IT.
SO WE FIGURED THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IN THE, THE AC AND THE HEAT AND MAKE IT A USABLE YEAR ROUND BUILDING FOR US.
[15. CITIZEN COMMENTS (3 MINUTES)]
CITIZEN COMMENT THEN WE'LL DO BOARD COMMENTS TO, UM, IF, IF WE GOT ANY QUESTIONS, ANYTHING, UM, CITIZEN COMMENT.DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? YES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. FAYE DONAHUE EVENING FOR US.
HI, I'M FAYE DONAHUE AT 26 5 10 REAMS DRIVE.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A LONG DAY AND LORD KNOWS AFTER THAT BUDGET,
[03:35:01]
GREAT PRESENTATION BY THE WAY.I'VE DONE ENOUGH MYSELF AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE.
KNOW THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF EFFORT.
SO KUDOS TO YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR DOING THAT.
BUT I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BUDGET
UM, I DID WANNA REMIND YOU THAT, UH, WE WHO ARE COMING NEXT MONTH REPRESENTING, UH, THE HOPEFULLY NO VOTE THAT YOU'RE GONNA GIVE US FOR LILY PUNT.
WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEHIND THE SCENES DOING RESEARCH AND DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND TRYING TO EDUCATE OURSELVES.
AND, UM, I HOPE WE'RE NOT OVERWHELMING YOU WITH EMAILS AND DOCUMENTATION, BUT WE THINK IT'S, AS WE LEARN THINGS, WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE THAT WITH YOU AS WELL.
WE ARE REALLY, UH, FOCUSING ON, UH, REAM STATION BATTLEFIELD AND THE NUMBER OF LIVES LOST THERE, 3,400 PLUS.
AND, UH, WE DO THINK THIS IS HALLOWED GROUND.
WE ARE IN DISCUSSION WITH AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST.
'CAUSE WE REALIZE THEY HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR INITIAL STANCE ON THAT.
AND WE HAVE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT AND THAT WE DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, AND ALSO THAT THERE ARE A LOT MORE ACREAGES TO BE HAD ON THE REAM STATION BATTLEFIELD AREA THAT THEY COULD, UH, REALIZE VERSUS 26 ACRES THAT THEY'VE NEGOTIATED WITH LILY POND.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SUSSEX, SUSSEX COUNTY.
UH, THEY'RE IN A BIG HEATED DISCUSSIONS TODAY, ABOUT 8,000 ACRES PROPOSED FOR THAT AREA.
ALSO, LOUISA, UH, WE, WE FORWARDED ON TO YOU FOLKS AND WE HOPE YOU LOOKED AT THE VIDEO THAT WAS REPRESENTING FROM LOUISA BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ONLY WHAT THE SOLAR FARM IS IMPACTING, BUT ALL THE FARMING AROUND THAT.
AND, UH, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
ALSO, UH, WE'VE TOUCHED BASE WITH VIRGINIA TECH, UM, AND THE REFERENCE THAT WAS IN LILY POND'S, UH, PRESENTATION THAT, UM, REFERENCE, UM, VIRGINIA CENTER FOR COLON ENERGY RESEARCH.
THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS REFERENCE IN THIS PRESENTATION.
AND SO I FORWARDED IT ON TO THEIR DIRECTOR AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE WAITING NOW TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM.
THEY ALSO FORWARDED ME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES.
THEY'VE JUST BEEN GRANTED, UM, A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO RESEARCH THE EFFECT OF, OF INDUSTRIAL SOLAR ON FARMING LAND.
AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE HUGE.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'LL HAVE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THIS TIMEFRAME 'CAUSE THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN SIX YEARS.
BUT, UM, HOPEFULLY AS WE LEARN THINGS FROM OTHER COUNTIES, WE CAN PASS THAT ALONG TO YOU AS WELL.
I DON'T MEAN TO OVERWHELM YOU WITH THE DOCUMENTATION AND STUFF, BUT WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU MAKE THIS DECISION IN MAY.
UM, WE, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND IF YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO OPEN YOUR EMAIL OR TO READ THE DOCUMENTATION, I DO HAVE A BINDER FOR YOU IF YOU CARE TO TAKE ONE HOME WITH YOU.
UM, I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY HAS PRINTERS AND EVERYTHING THAT CAN DO THIS, BUT I I GOT YOUR NIFTY BINDER AND SO HEY, YOU GET A GIFT TONIGHT FROM THERE YOU GO.
THANK, BUT THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US.
WE, I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A LONG DAY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND UM, UH, I JUST, I I'M JUST OVERWHELMED AT WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY EVERY DAY.
AND AND WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE GETTING EMAILS,
SO, UM, ANYWAY, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AHEAD OF US.
WE KNOW THAT, BUT WE, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OTHER COUNTIES AND, UM, THERE'S A HUGE FIGHT ALL AROUND YOU.
I, I, I KNOW YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.
ANYONE ELSE, MR. CHAIRMAN? I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP.
ALRIGHT, WELL WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE CITIZEN COMMENT.
[16. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
START DOWN THIS END WITH BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.WELL, I HAD TWO THINGS, BUT I FORGOT ONE OF 'EM.
SO ANYWAY, I, I DO WANNA, UM, COMMENT ABOUT THE, UM, THE WAY THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT WENT AND HOW, HOW POLITE EVERYONE WAS.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S KIND THE WAY WE NEED TO DO BUSINESS.
AND, AND THEN WE, I THINK, UM, GUNS ARE A VERY PASSIONATE, UM, TOPIC.
UM, I THINK THAT WAS RIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, GOOD AND I DON'T WANNA SAY GOOD AND BAD 'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE IT WAS ANY BAD, BUT I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD BOTH SIDES OF IT AND WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION AND, AND I REALLY THINK, UM, THAT'S THE WAY LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD, SHOULD WORK.
UM, SO WITH THAT, MR. MASSING, YOU? NO, I'M GOOD THIS TIME.
ALRIGHT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A, A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
[03:40:01]
SO MOVED.