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FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025,[Board of Supervisors on February 26, 2025.]
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ORDER.FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE HAVE A BIT OF UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES TONIGHT.
UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NINE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
ONLY FIVE OF THEM COULD BE HERE TONIGHT.
AND THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE FIVE IS OUR QUORUM.
HOWEVER, WE'RE IN A BIT OF UNCHARTED ORDERS IN THAT BOTH OUR CHAIRMAN AND OUR VICE CHAIR ARE AMONG THOSE WHO CAN'T ATTEND.
SO THE PROPER PROTOCOL ON THAT IS FOR ME TO OPEN THIS MEETING AND FOR THE BOARD TO ELECT A TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN TO PRESIDE OVER THIS MEETING.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
SO, AS THE, UH, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON WHO THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE THE TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN FOR THIS MEETING TONIGHT? ONE.
WE, UH, HAVE ROBERT CROCKETT BE OUR TEMPORARY CHAIR FOR THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ROBERT CROCKETT TO BE THE TEMPORARY CHA CHAIRMAN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, MS. MAJOR IS OUT, OUT OF TOWN.
UH, MR. DEGEORGE IS RECUPERATING FROM KNEE SURGERY, I BELIEVE, AND MR. PHILLIPS IS WITH THE FLU.
MR. WASHINGTON AND MR. WE HAD A PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT THAT HE HAD SCHEDULED FOR A LONG TIME, SO HE COULDN'T MAKE IT EITHER.
SO, BUT WELCOME AND WE'LL STILL, STILL GET THE BUSINESS GOING AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OFFICIAL.
'CAUSE WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
UH, IF ANYONE HAS A PHONE, WOULD YOU PLEASE TURN IT OFF OR PUT IT ON SILENCE.
AND WOULD YOU STAND WITH US FOR THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? LET US PRAY.
DEAR GOD BLESS THIS MEETING AND ALLOW US DO OUR WORK THROUGH YOUR WILL.
I PLEDGE 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 FRAUD.
NO ONE HAS REQUESTED, UH, REMOTE PARTICIPATION.
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH 1.3, MOVE IT.
1.4 IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT UP IS CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR JANUARY THE EIGHTH.
JANUARY 15TH, FEBRUARY 3RD, FEBRUARY 5TH, SECOND, 2025.
PROBABLY SECOND TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
KARENS NEXT STEP IS 5.1 APPROVAL, CONSENT AGENDA, MOVE IT MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION.
PROBABLY SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UM, AND UNDER, UH, REPORT OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS, MR. MASON, YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE GENERAL MERCER? THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN CROCKETT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE MAJOR GENERAL RETIRED TED MERCER FROM VIRGINIA SPACE.
HE IS THE CEO FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.
HE IS HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE TONIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
UH, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
UH, THERE'S BEEN BEEN A WHILE SINCE, SINCE, UH, SINCE WE HAVE BEEN, UH, BEEN BEFORE YOU.
AND LET ME ALSO SAY THOUGH, THAT WE, UH, WE DID CATCH, UH, WIND THAT, UH, THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS, UH, CONCERNED THAT WE HAVEN'T COME MORE OFTEN TO TALK TO YOU.
LET ME SAY THAT WE ARE WILLING TO COME ANYTIME.
UH, IN FACT, I TALKED TO, UH, TO MR. MASON NOT LONG AGO ABOUT OFFERING TO COME BEFORE YOU ONCE A QUARTER AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AT YOUR SPACEPORT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE VIRGINIA SPACEPORT.
I DON'T OWN IT, I JUST OPERATE IT FOR YOU.
UH, BUT I, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU NEED ME TO COME, I AM HERE.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS CALL, PUT US ON THE AGENDA.
IF WE WANT ME TO COME EVERY THREE MONTHS, I'M HERE.
UM, SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO GET THAT, GET THAT OFF THE TABLE UPFRONT.
WE ARE HERE AS YOUR PARTNERS IN RUNNING THIS SPACEPORT FOR MACK COUNTY AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
SO, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON UP AT YOUR SPACE BOARD.
ON THE WAY UP HERE, THOUGH, I, WE WERE COMING UP AND, YOU KNOW, SIGNAGE IS IMPORTANT, RIGHT? IT, IT TALKS TO YOU, RIGHT? SO, ON THE WAY UP HERE, I SAW SOME SIGNS.
I SAY, I GOTTA GET A PICTURE OF THAT.
I GOT BECAUSE, BECAUSE THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME, RIGHT? SO NO CRIME BETWEEN EIGHT AND SIX.
IT'S OKAY BEFORE EIGHT AND AFTER SIX, I GUESS WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US, RIGHT? AND YOU CAN GET AN ANXIETY ORDER.
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HAVE TO HAVE ONE NATURAL, YOU CAN BUY ONE FOR $45 AN ANXIETY.I'M JUST SAYING, UH, IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SEE, TRUST ME, SKYDIVING IS NOT FOR YOU.
UH, THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY.
GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT YOUR SPACEPORT, OUR FACILITIES, LAUNCH PADS, AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR WORK, JOBS, ECONOMIC IMPACT AND, AND OUR IMPACT NOT ONLY TO THE COMMONWEALTH, BUT TO THE NATION.
WHO ARE WE? WE'RE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
THIS ALLOWS US TO OPERATE BASICALLY AS A BUSINESS WE'RE ABLE TO OPERATE AT, AT VERY AGILE QUICKLY.
AND THE ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE WITHOUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY TO DO IT.
AND IT'S WHY OUR SPACEPORT HAS GROWN TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.
OUR HEADQUARTERS FOR VIRGINIA SPACEPORT AUTHORITIES DOWN IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, BUT THE MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL SPACEPORT IS UP HERE IN ACK COUNTY ON WALLOPS ISLAND.
WE ARE A TENANT ORGANIZATION ON THE NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE SIT ON NASA'S LAND.
BUT ALL OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WAS PAID FOR, BUILT OPERATES, AND IT MAINTAINED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA THROUGH THE VIRGINIA SPACE BOARD AUTHORITY.
IT GETS A LITTLE CONFUSING SOMETIMES.
PEOPLE TEND TO TELL YOU THAT, WELL, YOU'RE NASA.
WE ARE THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
UM, WE ARE A COMMERCIAL SPACE PORT LOCATED ON A FEDERAL SITE.
THE FAA GAVE US, IN FACT, A LETTER IN WRITING, MAKING THAT DETERMINATION.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN A FEDERAL RANGE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLY OR, OR FALL UNDER.
SO IT'S BENEFICIAL TO US FROM THAT WAY.
UH, WE ARE, UH, FAA LICENSED FOR VERTICAL LIFT TO ORBIT, ONE OF ONLY FOUR SPACEPORTS IN THE ENTIRE NATION WITH THAT CAPABILITY.
TWO ON THE WEST COAST, TWO ON THE EAST COAST, THE CAPE, EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH AT CAPE AL.
AND WE ARE THE OTHER ONE ON THE EAST COAST.
OUR PURPOSE, UH, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE STOOD US UP, THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID THEY WANTED US TO DO, RIGHT? STIMULATE AEROSPACE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EFFICIENT COST TO SPACE, PROMOTE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT.
YOU GOTTA HAVE A TECHNICAL PIPELINE HERE FOR THE, UH, THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY TO COME AND HIRE PEOPLE.
WE WERE CHARTED WITH DOING THAT.
AND WE'LL SHOW YOU THAT WE'RE DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS AND PRESERVE THE EXPERTISE CAPABILITY FOR LAUNCH.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE, THE YELLOW PART THERE, THAT IS THE SPACE PORT.
AND YOU SEE WAY UP ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE ANOTHER AREA THAT'S YELLOWED OUT THERE.
THAT IS OUR PAYLOAD PROCESSING FACILITY.
THAT IS VIRGINIA'S PAYLOAD PROCESSING FACILITY.
AND JUST NORTH OF THAT IS A UAS AIRFIELD.
THIS IS WHAT WE WERE SET UP TO DO, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A PREMIER SPACE PORT FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZE ROCKETS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THE HEAVIES HERE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
THE DEMAND IS NOT GREAT ENOUGH TO DO THAT YET, BUT IT ISN'T OUR PLAN TO DO THAT AND PROVIDE FLAWLESS LEFT TO ORBIT.
UH, IF YOU WANT CUSTOMERS TO LUNCH HERE, THEY GOTTA FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET 'EM THERE AND NOT HAVE A, HAVE A BAD DAY.
SO, FLAWLESS EXECUTION IS IMPORTANT IN WHAT WE DO.
I THOUGHT A PICTURE AND A VIDEO IS ALWAYS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
LET ME SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SPACE FOR IT AND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
CAN ME RUN THE VIDEO? JUST HIT IT.
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THIS IS OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY, UH, THIS YEAR.AND, UH, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THAT LATER IN THE YEAR, UH, OF, OF OUR SPACE BOARD.
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S GROWN PAD ZERO A.
YOU SAW IT LAUNCH OFF PAD ZERO A.
IT'S A MULTI-USER CAPABILITY, WHICH IS LIQUID FUEL PROPELLANTS FOR WE WILL BE THE FIRST SPACEPORT IN THE NATION IN TWO TH IN 2026 TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH TWO SEPARATE KINDS OF ROCKETS FROM TWO SEPARATE COMPANIES FROM THE SAME LAUNCH PAD.
FIREFLY ALPHA WILL LAUNCH FROM HERE AND ANTARES THE NEW ANTARES NOR, UH, NORTH, NORTH OF GRUMMAN ANTARES THREE 30, WELL LAUNCHED FROM THIS LAUNCH PAD.
PAD ZERO B IS OUR SOLID PAD, BUT WE ARE BRINGING LIQUID FUEL CAPABILITY TO THIS PAD.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO LAUNCH NOW SOLID FUEL ROCKETS FROM THIS PAD AND LIQUID FUEL ROCKETS.
WE ALREADY HAVE A CUSTOMER SIGNED UP TO DO THAT PAD ZERO C.
THIS IS WHERE WE WANT LAUNCHED THE ELECTRON ROCKET.
THAT'S THE ROCKET LAB ELECTRON.
IT'S A SMALL CLASS ROCKET THAT IS LAUNCHED NOW.
UH, THE LAST LAUNCH WAS THEIR 60TH, CONSECUTIVE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE ELECTRON ROCKET.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT AGILITY AND ABILITY TO MOVE QUICKLY.
WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THIS LAUNCH PAD FROM GROUNDBREAKING TO FULL OPERATIONAL STATUS IN 11 MONTHS.
YOU'LL SEE THE CONSTRUCTION GOING WELL ON PAD ZERO D.
OUR UH, PORTION OF THIS WORK WILL BE COMPLETED ON THIS LAUNCHPAD BY THE END OF APRIL.
THIS LAUNCHPAD WILL BE READY TO OPERATE FROM.
THIS IS WHERE ROCKET LAB WILL LAUNCH THEIR NEW, THE NEUTRON ROCKET THAT YOU SEE THE ARTIST DEPICTION THERE ON THE LEFT PART OF THIS SLIDE.
THE NEUTRON IS GONNA BE A BIG ROCKET, 131 FEET TALL, SOME 25 FEET IN DIAMETER.
AND THE ENTIRE ROCKET IS REUSABLE.
UNLIKE MOST THAT YOU SEE TODAY.
THEY BRING BACK THE FIRST STAGE, BUT THE REST, UH, GOES, UH, GOES AWAY AND IS NEVER RETURNED.
THIS ONE, THE ENTIRE ROCKET WILL GO OUT, RELEASE A PAYLOAD, AND THE ENTIRE ROCKET WILL RETURN, REFURBISH AND REUSE.
THIS IS A SHOT AS OF AS OF TODAY.
UM, MOST, SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH THE TO VDOT TO GET A, UH, STOPLIGHT RAISING, UH, ISSUE DONE.
UH, THOSE FOR THOSE TWO TANKS YOU SEE ON THE LEFT, THEY WERE, THE SECOND ONE WAS PUT IN PLACE YESTERDAY.
SO ALL OF THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
THE OTHER TWO TWOS YOU SEE ACROSS ARE LIQUID OXYGEN.
BOTH HAVE THE SAME QUANTITY, 90,000 GALLONS A PIECE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE VOLUME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN METHANE AND UH, AND, AND LIQUID OXYGEN.
THE, UH, WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MIDDLE IS THAT GRAY STRUCTURE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE THE ROCKET WILL SIT WHEN IT LAUNCHES.
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SIZE OF THAT LAUNCH MOUNT THAT THE NEUTRON IS A PRETTY BIG ROCKET.
OUR FACILITIES, SCOM COMMAND BUILDING, UH, THIS IS THE SCOM BUILDING LOCATED UP, UH, JUST ADJACENT TO, UH, TO, UH, TO THE NASA, UH, WALLOP SITE FACILITY.
UH, THIS IS WHERE OUR, WE ACTUALLY CONTROL THE, THE LAUNCH OPERATIONS FOR ALL OF OUR LAUNCH BANDS.
THEY'RE REMOTELY CONTROLLED FROM THIS FACILITY IN THE ROOM THAT YOU SEE ABOVE YOU THERE.
THAT'S OUR ENGINEERING CONTROL ROOM.
NO MATTER WHICH ROCKET LAUNCHES OUT OF THE WALLACE FLIGHT FACILITY, THIS CONTROL ROOM IS ALWAYS UP AND RUNNING.
THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING IT, BUT THIS ONE'S ALWAYS UP AND RUNNING.
RIGHT AT OUR MARICON BUILDING.
THE INTEGRATION AND CONTROL FACILITY, THIS IS A BUILDING THAT IS OWNED, UH, BY, UH, BY THE VIRGINIA
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SPACEPORT AUTHORITY.WE BUILT IT, WE LEASE IT TO ROCKET LAB FOR THE ELECTRON ROCKET INTEGRATION AND PREPARATION.
THE ELECTRON, YOU CAN SEE IN THAT BUILDING ON THE LOWER PART OF THAT SLIDE, UH, THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR, THEIR, UH, THEIR, UH, LAUNCH CONTROL CENTER IS IN THIS BUILDING.
SO WHEN THAT BUILDING IS UP AND RUNNING FOR AN ELECTRON LAUNCH, THE CONTROL CENTER IS IN THERE.
BUT THE PREVIOUS CONTROL CENTER I SHOWED YOU IS ALSO UP AND RUNNING.
'CAUSE THAT'S HOW WE ACTUALLY OPERATE.
THE PADS, THE PAYLOAD PROCESSING FACILITY, THE NEWEST IN THE COUNTRY.
YOU SEE A SHOT ON THE OR BELOW OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE INSIDE.
IT IS A HUGE FACILITY, 18,000 SQUARE FEET THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE HORIZONTALLY OR VERTICALLY WITHIN THAT, UH, FACILITY.
WE CAN ALSO DO WHAT WE CALL HYPERGOLIC FUELING IN THERE, WHICH MOST PAYLOAD PROSTATE FACILITIES CANNOT DO BECAUSE HYPERGOLIC PROPELLANTS ARE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY NASTY TO HANDLE AND USE.
BUT THIS WAS DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
YOU'LL SEE, UH, THE, IT SAYS, UH, UH, 68 FEET, UH, THAT DOOR.
IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT OR TO TO THE RIGHT OF THAT DOOR, YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE GRAY DOOR.
THAT'S A NORMAL SIZE ENTRY DOOR.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF THAT, THAT INTEGRATION FACILITY.
OUR UAS AFIELD, 3000 FOOT BY 75 FEET, ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE FLYING 28 TO 33 WEEKS OFF OF THAT.
OFF OF THAT, UH, THAT, THAT AIRFIELD.
VARIOUS CUSTOMERS FLYING DIFFERENT AND VARIOUS KINDS OF PLATFORMS. WE ALSO WILL STORE THEIR ASSETS IN, UH, IN OUR HANGAR THAT YOU SEE OFF TO THE LEFT THERE.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL CUSTOMERS THAT ARE FLYING.
IN FACT, WE SIGNED A NEW CUSTOMER UP IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
THEY'LL PROBABLY START FLYING SOMETIME THIS SUMMER.
WHAT YOU SEE AT THE TOP IS 28 ACRES THAT WAS BOUGHT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
UM, AND ON THAT FACILITY IS THE NEW ASSEMBLY AND INTEGRATION AND TEST FACILITY THAT YOU SEE ON THE BOTTOM.
THAT IS WHERE THERE WILL BE INTEGRATING THAT BIG NEUTRON ROCKET AND THEN TAKING IT INTO THE GATE TO TAKE IT OUT TO THE PAD TO LAUNCH IT.
UH, THE COMMONWEALTH PROVIDED $15 MILLION OF MEI FUNDING TO BUILD THAT BUILDING.
WE PUT SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO IT.
THE BUILDING COST CAME OUT TO BE ABOUT $20 MILLION.
AND WE HAVE SIGNED A LEASE WITH ROCKET LAB ON THAT BUILDING.
THEY, WE'VE GIVEN THEM THE KEYS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE BUILDING NOW, UH, USING IT, PREPARING FOR THE NEUTRON.
THE, UH, A IT BUILDING THAT YOU SEE FROM THE AIR.
THE GRAY STRUCTURE IS BUILDING ZERO.
THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT THEY PUT THERE TO BEGIN PREPARING TO RECEIVE, UH, THE, THE NEUTRON ROCKET.
AND THEN BUILDING ONE WAS COMPLETED NOT LONG AGO.
AND AS I SAID, TURNED OVER TO THEM.
THEY HAVE A LONG RANGE PLAN OF IN THE SAME AREA FOOTPRINT, PUTTING ANOTHER COUPLE OF BUILDINGS THAT THEY WOULD BELIEVE THEY WILL NEED FOR THE, UH, FOR THE FUTURE.
UH, NEUTRON PROCESSING AND INTEGRATION.
WHAT'S COMING, UH, I JUST CLOSED ON THIS LAST WEEK.
WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT, THAT'S THE 28 ACRES ADJACENT FROM IT IS 553 ACRES.
AND I'VE, UM, MANY HAVE ASKED, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT? HOW ARE YOU GONNA DEVELOP THAT? WHAT'S THE PLAN TO DO THAT? IT'S NOT WHY WE BOUGHT IT.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT.
THE REASON WE BOUGHT THAT IS BECAUSE THE NEUTRON ROCKET AND THE NEW NORTHROP GRUMMAN AND TARS ROCKETS ARE GONNA EXTEND THE HAZARD AREA OUT INTO, OUTSIDE OF THE, THE NASA FENCE AND INTO THAT AREA.
THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL PUBLIC SAFETY IS TO OWN THAT AREA SO THAT WE CAN CONTROL WHO GOES IN IT, WHO GOES OUT OF IT, AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO EVACUATE FROM IT.
THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN TODAY, IF A DEVELOPER GETS IN THERE AND DEVELOPS, TAKES A HUNDRED ACRES OF THAT DEVELOPS AND PUTS A HOUSING COMPLEX IN THERE OR APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THERE, AND WE NEED TO LAUNCH.
IF SOMEONE IN THERE DECIDES THEY DO NOT WANT TO EVACUATE FOR A LAUNCH, IT'S A THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING LAUNCH.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO LEGALLY TO MAKE THEM DO IT.
'CAUSE WE CANNOT ENDANGER THE PUBLIC.
SO THE WAY TO CONTROL IT IS TO ACQUIRE IT AND THEN CONTROL WHO HAS ACCESS AND WHO DOESN'T DO IT.
THAT'S THE REASON WE BOUGHT IT.
NOW, THERE'S AN AADA BENEFIT TO THAT IN THAT THERE'S THE SUPPLY CHAIN MOVES UP TO SUPPORT THE SPACE LIFT INDUSTRY.
THEY WANNA KNOW WHERE COULD THEY GO, WHERE COULD THEY SET UP? THIS WOULD BE A PLACE THEY COULD DO THAT.
AND AGAIN, BECAUSE WE OWN IT, WE WOULD CONTROL ACCESS TO IT AND WHEN EVACUATIONS HAD TO OCCUR ON IT.
SO THAT'S THE REASONING FOR IT.
MACK COUNTY AIRPORT, YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE COMMONWEALTH TO BUILD A, AN A AIRPORT HANGAR OUT OF THE MELVILLE AIRPORT.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT IS.
UM, IT WAS DELAYED BRIEFLY BECAUSE INITIALLY WE GOT $2 MILLION TO DO IT.
WE DID A DESIGN AND, UH, THE COUNTY WAS NOT SATISFIED THAT DESIGN.
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A DIFFERENT, UH, KIND OF A HANGAR.IT REQUIRED ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS.
AND AS I RECALL, A DELICATE BOXER WENT AND WORKED THAT SO THAT WE GOT $3 MILLION DOWN FOR THE HANGAR TO MEET THE DESIGN THAT THE COUNTY WANTED TO HAVE.
AND OUR ONLY ROLE IN THIS PROCESS IS TO BUILD THAT HANGAR FOR THE COUNTY.
ONCE IT'S COMPLETE, WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND WE'LL HAVE NO MORE, UH, NO MORE CONNECTION WITH IT.
OUR JOB IS TO BUILD AND GENERAL SPEAKING OF, UH, DELICATE BLOCKS, I UNDERSTAND HE WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT TOOK A WHILE.
BUT HE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL GETTING THE, VERY MUCH SO.
HE'S, UH, HE'S BEEN A FRIEND OF THE SPACEPORT IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS.
SO, UH, I'LL, I'LL PUBLICLY STATE THAT.
UM, WE'VE EXPENDED ABOUT 115,000 OF THAT FOR THE DESIGN WORK.
OKAY? SO THAT MUCH HAS BEEN USED.
THE REST WE WILL, WILL BE SITTING OUT FOR SENDING OUT OUR AN RFP HERE BY THE END OF MARCH TO GO OUT AND SOLICIT BIDS TO, UH, TO BUILD A BUILDING.
UM, THE, THE SPACEPORT AND THE ACK COUNTY DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEET, MEET REGULARLY.
THEY, IN FACT, WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING TODAY.
DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS OF THAT, BUT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET TODAY.
SO WE STAY VERY CONNECTED, UH, WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS AND NEEDS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO.
WE EXPECT, UH, TO HAVE THIS COMPLETED SECOND QUARTER, 2026, TO, UH, READY TO TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY.
UH, THE, UH, HE'S TALKING ABOUT DELEGATE BLOCKS AND THE INVESTMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND SUPPORTERS LIKE DELEGATE BLACKHAM AND OTHERS, UH, HAVE, UH, HAVE MADE IT.
YOU CAN SEE THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO BUILD THE SPACE PORT FROM ALL THESE FACILITIES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN.
$207 MILLION TO DATE STEM EDUCATION, AS I SAID BEFORE, WE GOTTA BUILD A PIPELINE OF, UH, OF AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS THAT, UH, THAT THESE, THESE AEROSPACE COMPANIES CAN HIRE.
THEY'RE ALWAYS GREAT, GOOD WELL PAYING JOBS, BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE THE TALENT TO HIRE.
UM, SO WE ARE ACTIVE IN STEM DEVELOPMENT, UH, PREPARING THAT WORKFORCE TO GET READY.
THIS, YOU SEE, OUR LAST, UH, INTERNSHIP CLASS, THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN YOU SEE ON THE LEFT, MR. JOHN MACKLEY, AFTER HIS INTERNSHIP, WE HIRED HIM.
ABOUT 20% OF THE INTERNS THAT WE BRING ON BOARD, WE HIRE AND BECOME A PART OF OUR WORKFORCE, RIGHT? UH, SO THAT, THAT I WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE INCREASING OUR CARE K THROUGH 12 INVOLVEMENT TO GET KIDS ENERGIZED AND INTERESTED IN STEM.
IF YOU CATCH 'EM EARLY, YOU ENERGIZE 'EM EARLY, THEY NEVER GET RID OF IT.
IT STICKS WITH 'EM ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO COLLEGE.
SO WE'VE GOT AN ACTIVE PROGRAM FOR THAT.
WE'VE GOT A ROBUST PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE DIRECT PARTNERSHIP AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH 12 UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
WE ARE ABOUT TO HOLD LATER THIS YEAR, A PRESIDENT AND COLLEGE SUMMIT WHERE WE'RE GONNA BRING 16 OF THE PRESIDENTS OF UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES UP TO THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION OF SPACEPORT FOR A TWO A DAY EVENT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE DETAILED DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXERCISES TO SHOW THEM THE CAPABILITY THAT EXISTS THERE TO, TO ENTICE THEM, TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AND GET THOSE YOUNG STUDENTS OUT TO SEE US.
SO THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN LATER THIS YEAR.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT A, A SERIES OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS AND, UH, WE ESTABLISHED AN MOU WITH THE EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
THEY ACTUALLY HELPED BUILD CURRICULUM TO ASSIST THEIR TECHNICIANS TO COME AND, UH, AND WORK FOR US.
BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, WE ARE AN ENGINEERING COMPANY.
YES, BUT WE NEED ALL KINDS OF SPECIALTIES.
WE NEED TECHNICIANS WHO DON'T HAVE TO HAVE FOUR YEAR DEGREES COME OUT OF THE EASTERN SHORE.
WHEN I HAVE A, A HVAC PROBLEM ON A PAYLOAD THAT NEEDS TEMPERATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLLED AIR, AND THAT FAILS ON THAT PARTICULAR ROCKET OR PAYLOAD, I DON'T NEED AN ELECTRIC AND ENGINEER.
I NEED AN HVAC TECHNICIAN TO GO IN AND GET THAT BACK UP AND RUNNING.
SO WE NEED ALL SPECIALTIES WHEN IT'S TIME TO, TO EXECUTE PAYROLL OR TO WORK CONTRACTS.
I DON'T NEED ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS FOR THAT.
SO EVERYBODY HAS THEIR NICHE, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WE HIRE ACROSS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM BECAUSE WE'RE LIKE ANY OTHER COMPANY, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO OPERATE AND FUNCTION.
SO I WANNA SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
UH, OUR WORKFORCE, WE HAVE A UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION HERE, UH, IN THAT, UNLIKE ANY OTHER SPACEPORT IN THE COUNTRY, WHEN A CUSTOMER COMES TO US TO LAUNCH A ROCKET, ALL THEY NEED TO BRING IS THEIR ROCKET TEAM, THEIR PAYLOAD TEAM.
AND THEN WE ALL DO ALL THE REST.
WE HANDLE ALL THE GROUND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THEM.
IT'S DIFFERENT AT THE CAPE AND AT VANDENBERG, THEY NOT ONLY HAVE TO BRING A ROCKET TEAM AND A PAYLOAD TEAM, THEY GOTTA BRING A GROUND INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM.
AND THAT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 8,200 PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE TO BRING FOR EVERY ONE OF THEIR LAUNCHES OR STATION THEM PERTINENT OUT THERE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT HERE.
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THEY BRING THOSE TWO SMALL TEAMS. WE HANDLE THE REST AND GET THEM SUCCESSFULLY DOING WORK.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S INTERESTING, NOTE STATISTIC, WE ARE, WE ARE AN ENGINEERING COMPANY, BUT WE'RE 34% WOMEN, AND THEN 20% OF OUR INTERNS, UH, BECOME EMPLOYEES COMMUNITY JOBS.
THIS IS ONE I THINK THAT THAT GETS TO THE HEART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS JUST THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON UP AT THE, AT THE SPACEPORT TODAY PAD ZERO DECONSTRUCTION.
YOU SAW, WE'RE BUILDING THIS NEW NEUTRON PAD, 150 WORKERS AND 20 VENDORS.
THAT'S, THAT'S EVERY DAY RIGHT NOW, THE A IT CONSTRUCTION, THAT FACILITY THAT YOU, THEY SAW BUILDING ONE WHERE THEY'RE GONNA DO THE INTEGRATION AND, AND THE CONSTRUCTION FOR, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE NEUTRON 15 VENDORS, 120 WORKERS UP THERE.
AND THAT'S GOING ON EVERY DAY.
WE GOT 50 WORKERS UP THERE, EIGHT VENDORS, 50 WORKERS.
A TOTAL OF 35 OF THOSE ARE STILL ACTIVE EVERY DAY UP THERE.
THIS IS JUST THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
SO WE ARE PROVIDING WELL PAYING JOBS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT, THOSE WORKERS COME FROM YOUR COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF THOSE WORKERS SPEND THEIR MONEY IN YOUR COMMUNITY ECONOMIC IMPACT.
UH, EVERY FOUR TO FIVE YEARS WE HAVE, UH, OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY AT OUR DREGER CENTER TO COME AND DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY SO THAT WE CAN TEST WHETHER WE'RE DOING WHAT THE LEGISLATURE STOOD US UP TO DO.
AND THAT'S ENHANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE REGION.
AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS OVER THIS PERIOD, THE LAST ONE WAS DONE OVER FOR THE 18 TO 22 PERIOD.
DURING THAT PERIOD, JOBS WENT FROM 33 TO 4,500 JOBS.
THE JOBS THAT WE PAY TWO TIMES MORE THAN THOSE THAT ARE FOUND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
FOR EVERY JOB THAT WE, THAT WE HIRE HERE, INCREASED ANNUAL INDUSTRY OUTPUT FROM 1.2 BILLION AND 18 TO 1.5 BILLION IN 2022.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THERE IS THAT THERE WERE TWO SIGNIFICANT HEADWINDS THAT HAD TO BE OVERCOME.
ONE WAS COVID FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OF COVID.
THE OTHER WAS FEDERAL NON-EMPLOYEE SPENDING WAS DOWN 60% IN THE REGION.
BUT YET WE WERE STILL ABLE TO GO FROM 1.2 TO $1.5 BILLION.
THAT IS, TO ME, IS WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT.
AND THEN IT ALSO TOLD US THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE COMMONWEALTH INVESTS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL SPACE BOARD, FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU GET A $2 AND 90 CENT REAL RATE OF RETURN ON EVERY DOLLAR.
I LOVE THAT IN MY CHECKING ACCOUNT.
THESE ARE JUST SOME THINGS THAT YOU, SOME OF YOU HEARD AWAY, BUT THIS IS OUR IMPACT, RIGHT? FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED NATIONAL ASSET.
THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE CALLS US THE OFFICIAL LIMITED BACKUP TO THE CAPE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED.
MOST OF OUR PAYLOADS, MOST OF OUR LAUNCH OPERATIONS AND OUR SATELLITES ARE GOVERNMENT OR NATIONAL SECURITY SATELLITES.
SO WE ARE A FEDERAL INTERNATIONAL ASSET.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
UH, THE SPACEPORT EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN AN ENABLED GREATLY, AND I I CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE BY THIS COUNTY, YOUR SUPPORT FROM, FROM, FROM DAY ONE AS WELL AS STATE AND, AND, UH, AND FEDERAL.
BUT THE COUNTY SUPPORT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACCENTUATE THAT TO TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT YOUR SUPPORT AND THAT RELATIONSHIP IS TO US.
THAT'S WHY I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, YOU NEED ME OR YOU WANT ME TO COME TALK TO YOU.
CATALYST FOR GROWING THE EASTERN SHORE SPACE ECOSYSTEM.
AND WE HIGHLIGHTED LOCAL HIGH PAYING JOBS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT TRYING TO STIMULATE MANUFACTURING UP HERE.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING THEN BROADENS THE SCOPE OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
THEY DON'T ALL HAVE TO BE ENGINEERS.
WHEN YOU GET INTO MANUFACTURING, YOU GET INTO ASSEMBLY LINE PROCESSES WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO TEACH A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE A PROCESS THAT THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON THAT ASSEMBLY LINE.
IT BROADENS YOUR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES GREATLY.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO GET IN TO DO SOME OF THAT AS WELL.
UM, WE'RE ONLY FOUR SPACEPORTS IN THE ENTIRE NATION THAT'S LICENSED FOR VERTICAL LIFT TO ORBIT.
ONLY FOUR 98% OF ALL SATELLITE INSERTION IN THIS COUNTRY ARE DONE BY THOSE FOUR SPACE BOARDS, 98%.
UH, AND THEN ASSURED ACCESS WITH DATA IS A LIMITED BACKUP TO THE CAPE.
THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU.
UM, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
[00:30:01]
YOU FOR COMING.I'M ALSO THE RECENTLY ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE WALLOPS RESEARCH PARK LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
SO, AND, AND I'M PART OF THE WIND THAT WAS SAYING THAT WE WANTED YOU TO COME.
UM, TWO AND I, YEAH, I THINK THIS WORKED OUT AMAZINGLY WELL THAT YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT WHEN OUR SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THEIR BUDGET, BECAUSE, UH, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK I GET FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IS THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AT WALLOPS AND THEY DON'T SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE KIDS COMING UP THROUGH SCHOOL.
SO I'M HOPING THAT, THAT THIS IS A SUCCESS STORY, AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL EXPLORE WAYS TO, TO LET THAT FILTER DOWN TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE.
A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN LOW INCOME AREAS, AND THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR GET ACCESS TO THAT.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT EXPANDING TO K THROUGH 12 ENGAGEMENT.
I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
UH, WE DO, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A, A HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
I HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TODAY.
UH, OUR FIRST NAME IS ANI THAT IS INTERNING WITH US TODAY.
I HAVE A, A, UH, A, UH, A CHIEF OF EDUCATION AND INTERN DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UH, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CON CONNECT YOU WITH HER, UH, AS WE, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS AND COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
SO, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHAT CAN WE DO FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE TO HELP YOU GET MORE OF THESE JOBS OR MORE OF THESE FOLKS TO STAY IN AKIMA COUNTY? OKAY.
SO, UH, WHENEVER A A, A INDUSTRY PARTNER IS LOOKING TO COME UP HERE FOR THE, UH, THE, THE SPACE LIFT OPERATIONS, THERE ARE FOUR THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO KNOW RIGHT AWAY.
THE FIRST IS THEY ASK, IS THERE ADEQUATE HOUSING? THE SECOND IS THEY ASK, ARE THERE ADEQUATE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR CHILDREN? THE THIRD THING THEY ASK IS, IS THERE ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE? THE FOURTH THING THEY WANT TO KNOW IS THAT, IS THERE ADEQUATE DAYCARE AND SPOUSAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES? THOSE ARE WHAT I CALL THE BIG FOUR OR FIVE THINGS.
AND THE COUNTY, THROUGH MR. MIKE MASON.
AND, AND, UH, AND, AND HIS OFFICE, I THOUGHT, HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS AND, UH, AND LAYING OUT WHAT THE PLAN, THE, THE PLANS THAT THE COUNTY HAS, UH, IN THESE AREAS.
AND HE IS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT IT.
YOU SEE, NOW THAT WE HAVE NORTHROP GRUMMAN HERE, UH, WE'VE GOT ROCKET LAB HERE.
WE JUST SIGNED A MONTH AGO WITH FIREFLY.
THEY WILL NOW BE LAUNCHING OUT OF HERE.
AND THERE'S ANOTHER COMPANY I CAN'T RELEASE YET, BUT THAT HAVE SIGNED WITH US.
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE INTERAGENCY PROCESS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE SIGNED WITH US TO COME LAUNCH HERE.
SO THERE, UH, MR. MASON HAS BEEN, I THINK, VERY SUCCESSFUL IN, IN ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS THAT, THAT THEY HAVE ASKED.
BUT THEY ALL, THEY ALL ASK THE SAME FOUR QUESTIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? GENERAL, JUST, UH, FOLLOW UP ON THE PROPERTY THAT YOU JUST PURCHASED? I WAS CHAIR OF THIS BOARD WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED LOOKING INTO GETTING THAT PROPERTY.
AND, AND YOUR STORY'S BEEN THE SAME.
IT'S, IT'S TO PROTECT THE LAUNCHES.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LAUNCHES FROM THAT PROPERTY.
RIGHT? IT'S THE, SO IT, SO YOUR STORY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME AND IT HASN'T CHANGED.
UH, HOW MUCH DO YOU DEPEND ON FEDERAL FUNDS WITH YOUR OPERATION? UH, WE DON'T DEPEND ON FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND WE HAVE AN ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT RIGHT NOW, UH, WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LOOK AT INCREASING THAT.
WE DO GET FUNDING THAT WE LOBBY FOR EVERY YEAR.
IT'S CALLED THE SPACE BOARD ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
IT IS FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS PROVIDED FOR SPACEPORTS ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE SPACE BOARD AT ALASKA AND FOR US AT MARS.
SO, UM, WE GET THOSE ALLOCATED FUNDINGS, AND IT COMES TO US AND THROUGH THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE.
HALF OF IT GOES TO ALASKA, HALF OF IT COMES TO US.
WE GET ABOUT 11 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, UH, EACH YEAR THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING, UH, WITH OUR, UH, COLLEAGUES ON THE HILL ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BUDGET HERE FOR THE NEXT 20 25, 20 26.
THAT'S REASON WHY, THAT'S REASON I'M ASKING A QUESTION.
SO WE HAVE TO GO AND FIGHT FOR IT EVERY YEAR.
OUR, UH, THIS SIX SENATORS, UM, ARE, ARE BETWEEN DELAWARE, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA.
COLLABORATE TOGETHER TO HELP US GET THAT.
[00:35:01]
FORCE COMES THROUGH TO SPACE FORCE.THEY GOTTA HAVE A, THEY HAVE A HAVE TO HAVE A FEDERAL ENTITY TO GET IT TO US RECORD.
ANYONE ELSE? GENERAL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THE, UH, IT, IT'S, IT HIGHLIGHTS AKIMA COUNTY AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE GET OUT OF THAT, THE ECONOMIC, UH, BENEFIT.
I THINK SHTE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
SHIG, UH, THIS HAS MADE SHING METI A YEAR ROUND, UH, PLACE, UH, PLACE TO BE.
AND A LOT OF THIS BECAUSE OF YOUR ACTIVITIES, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE, UH, THIS, UH, THIS NATION AND THIS AND THIS COUNTY AND THIS COMMUNITY.
AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
AND AS I SAID EARLIER, I'LL COME BACK ANYTIME YOU WANT ME TO COME BACK.
AND EDUCATORS GET WITH ME ON THAT.
NEXT STEP IS RECEIVE THE YAKIMA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL FY 26 LOCAL FUNDING REQUEST.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND REQUEST THAT GENERAL MERCER PRESENT THIS BUDGET BECAUSE, UH, THAT IS A REALLY TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW UP.
JET, LET ME JUST ADD ONE THING WITH, UH, SINCE GENERAL MERCER IS STILL HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS I USE TO PROMOTE OUR, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS, UH, THE SHERIFF'S, UH, OLDEST SON IS AN MD.
HE'S A PRODUCT OF ACK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
MATTER OF FACT, I THINK HE'S IN HIS RESIDENCY TO BE A CARDIOLOGIST.
THE P THE PEDIATRICIAN OF MY TWO GRANDKIDS THAT LIVE HERE IS A PRODUCT OF, UH, ACK COUNTY SCHOOL.
SO I ALWAYS USE THOSE EXAMPLES TO, TO BOOST OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I SUSPECT THAT YOU'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE LEADING MEETINGS.
'CAUSE THAT WAS THE MOST STREAMLINED, FIRST PART OF AN AGENDA I THINK I'VE EVER HEARD.
UM, SO THE, THE, UH, PRESENTATION TONIGHT, THIS WILL BE MY 16TH, UH, PRESENTATION TO A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND UNLESS THERE'S AN ACT OF GOD, IT WILL BE MY LAST, UM, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
UH, BUT WE ARE IN THE, IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING THE SCHOOL BOARD'S IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING, VETTING APPLICATIONS FOR A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.
AND I DID WANNA MENTION THAT WE'RE GOING NEXT TUESDAY, UH, MR. GLENN NEIL AND MR. JASON WAER, WE'RE GONNA GO VISIT A FACILITY, UM, JUST NORTH OF MACK, THE TOWN OF MACK, THAT'S FOR SALE.
THAT WOULD BE A GREAT LOCATION FOR A FUTURE CTE, CURRENT TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER.
AND I UNDERSTAND THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE FOLKS AT NASA AND WALLOPS ISLAND IN PARTNERING WITH THE CT CENTER.
SO WE'RE GOING TO VISIT GREAT THIS SCHOOL.
SO GRAB YOUR WALLETS BECAUSE IT COULD BE THAT WE COME TO YOU, UH, OR SOMEONE COMES TO YOU SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE ABOUT, UM, STARTING THAT PROGRAM.
UH, I, I'M A FORMER CT SCHOOL DIRECTOR, AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S AN INVALUABLE, INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS.
UM, COLLEGE ISN'T FOR EVERYONE.
COLLEGE ISN'T FOR EVERY KID, BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME OPPORTUNITY.
AND I'M THE, I'M THE FATHER OF TWO BOYS.
ONE WHO WENT TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGE AND ONE WHO WENT TO CULINARY SCHOOL.
TOOK TWO VERY DIFFERENT PATHS, AND, UH, BUT BOTH BENEFITED GREATLY FROM, WELL, THE ONE TO SEE THE CULINARY STUDENT BENEFITED GREATLY FROM A CTE PROGRAM.
UM, SO THE, THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT IS BASICALLY, UM, THE SAME PRESENTATION I MADE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN I PRESENTED MY PROPOSED BUDGET.
UM, THE DIFFERENCE IS, UH, THE BOARD DID ADD A FEW PIECES TO MY PROPOSED BUDGET AND THEN APPROVED, UH, THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
SO I'LL GO THROUGH EACH, EACH PAGE.
THE BIGGEST, UM, PRICE TAG AS FAR AS THE REQUEST, UH, AND THE APPROVED BUDGET IS FOR, UH, TEACHER PAY SCALE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I, UH, IDENTIFIED RIGHT AWAY, AND THIS WASN'T REALLY A SURPRISE TO ANYONE, OUR TEACHER PAY SCALE IS, IS BADLY, BADLY COMPRESSED.
AND OPPRESS COMPRESSION OCCURS IN PAY SCALES.
WHEN YOU GO A NUMBER OF YEARS OR SOME YEARS WITHOUT GIVING A PAY INCREASE.
AND THEN WHEN YOU, UM, WHICH, AND THIS IS A LOT OF SCHOOL DIVISIONS DID THIS, THEY ADDED MONEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCALE TO ATTRACT NEW TEACHERS, WHICH IS A GREAT IDEA.
BUT IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS, UH, FOLKS DOWN THE LINE IN THE PAY SCALE, THEY BECOME COMPRESSED.
SO WE HAVE A SITUATION NOW WHERE OUR, OUR PAY SCALE IS COMPRESSED, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE PAY SCALE.
AND SO THE BIGGEST PRICE TAG IN TERMS OF MY PROPOSED BUDGET RELATED TO THE TEACHER PAY SCALE, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A MINUTE.
BUT THOSE ARE THE, ARE THE PIECES RELATIVE TO, UM, OUR REQUESTS.
UH, BUS DRIVER, ADMIN, AND CLASSIFIED INCREASE OF 3%.
UM, WE, THE SCHOOL BOARD, UH, IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, A RECENT MEETING,
[00:40:01]
THEY WENT IN AND UPPED THE MINIMUM PAY FOR CLASSIFIED FOLKS FROM 13, 13 AN HOUR TO $15 AN HOUR, AND ARE COVERING THAT, UM, THIS YEAR THROUGH A COMBINATION OF, UH, UNUSED FUNDS, CARRIER FUNDS, AND THEN, UH, UNFILLED POSITIONS.SO THE, THE REVENUES FROM THOSE TWO PIECES WENT TO COVER THAT EXPENSE THIS YEAR.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR TO SERVE OUR, UH, STUDENTS WHO ARE, UM, VIRTUAL STUDENTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VIRTUAL VIRGINIA STUDENTS, ALL-ED STUDENTS AND HOME-BASED STUDENTS, AND THEN GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AT OUR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE DON'T HAVE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, SECRETARIES HERE, UH, WHICH WAS A SURPRISE TO ME.
UH, BUT YOU REALLY NEED THOSE FOLKS.
PARTICULAR DURING THE TIMES WHEN THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AREN'T WORKING, UH, THREE FULL-TIME ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, UH, CHORUS BAND, OUR TEACHERS AT, UH, ARCADIA AND NUA, THEY'RE PART-TIME NOW.
WE WANT, WE'D LIKE TO MAKE THOSE FULL-TIME PROGRAMS. THE ENROLLMENT JUSTIFIES FULL-TIME, UH, FTES, UM, FOR THOSE, UH, ART AND MUSIC STUDENTS, UH, INCREASE IN THE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION OF THE MEDICAL INSURANCE.
THAT'S JUST TO KEEP THE PREMIUMS DOWN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES ACTIVITIES, SUPPLEMENTS TO COORDINATE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
THOSE ARE, WOULD BE STIPENDS PAID TO INDIVIDUALS, EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS TO MONITOR, COORDINATE, MANAGE AFTER AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS.
AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL SECOND NURSE.
UM, AT ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A, A, A HANDFUL OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT HAVE TWO NURSES BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF FRAGILE STUDENTS AND THE VOLUME OF, UM, STUDENTS THAT COME TO SEE THE NURSE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL ISSUES.
WE'D LIKE TO ADD ONE TO THAT GROUP AT ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THIS IS JUST A QUICK, UH, THIS IS JUST MORE OF A, UM, VISUAL OF WHERE OUR FOLKS LAND IN TERMS OF THEIR YEARS EXPERIENCE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME HERE IN FA YEAR IS THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS WE HAVE STARTING AT YEAR 24, FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGH YEARS 30 AND BEYOND, WHO'VE BEEN WITH MACK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HAVE BEEN, UH, LOYAL TO MACK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I THINK THAT'S A REAL TESTAMENT TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION IN GENERAL.
UH, THEY HAVEN'T LEFT AND GONE OTHER PLACES.
AND, UH, THAT'S A, AGAIN, THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE LOYAL TO THE KIDS AND THE CITIZENS.
UM, NOW I MENTIONED THE TEACHER PAY SCALE.
I WANTED JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS.
UH, THE, THE RED, THE, I GUESS THAT'S AN ORANGE LINE.
THAT'S THE AVERAGE PAY FOR TEACHERS IN VIRGINIA FROM YEARS, UH, ONE THROUGH 35.
THE BLUE LINE IS WHERE ACKERMAN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FALLS.
SO THAT, THAT SPACE IN BETWEEN REPRESENTS THE COMPRESSION I MENTIONED.
UM, UNDER OUR PROPOSAL, WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS APPROVED MEANS AN AVERAGE 8.7% INCREASE FOR ALL TEACHERS.
AND THAT'S A COMBINATION OF A 3% INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR, PLUS A MARKET ADJUSTMENT IN TERMS OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON THIS SCALE.
SO IT'S 3% ACROSS THE BOARD, PLUS THE MARKET ADJUSTMENT TO GET US CLOSER TO THE STATE AVERAGE.
THE TEACHERS WHO WILL BENEFIT MOST FROM THAT, UM, THAT, UM, DECOMPRESSION OF THE SCALE ARE TEACHERS WHO ARE AT THE END OF THE SCALE, THEY'RE THE MOST COMPRESSED.
SO THEY'RE GONNA SEE THE GREATEST INCREASE IN TERMS OF, UH, POTENTIAL PAY INCREASE, UH, ONE TIME PURCHASES.
SO, UH, JUST BRIEFLY, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THERE'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UH, UH, RESERVE FUND, UH, FOR THE SCHOOLS.
UH, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT, UH, NOTED RIGHT AWAY, MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS THAT WE START PAYING FOR AS MANY ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES OUTTA CARRYOVER AS WE CAN.
'CAUSE WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT.
SO THIS IS A LIST OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WERE PROPOSED BY DIRECTORS, PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ET CETERA.
AND I'M, I RECOMMENDED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD JUST GO AHEAD AND PAY CASH FOR THOSE THINGS.
'CAUSE YOU CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT.
AND I, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE ALSO, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS BEFORE MY TIME, BUT I THINK IT'S, UH, WORTH MENTIONING THE BUILDING PROJECTS, THE, THE GYM PROJECT AT PONCA TEAGUE AND THE GYM PROJECT PROJECT AT NANDUA.
AND THEN THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE OR GETTING READY TO BE DONE AT, UM, ACK PRE PRIMARY SCHOOL.
UH, THAT'S ALL BEING PAID FOR WITH CASH.
AND UH, I THINK THAT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD THING.
THERE'S NO DEBT SERVICE, UH, NO BOND REQUIREMENT, NO LE NO LENDING.
UH, IT'S JUST GONNA BE, THOSE PROJECTS WILL BE PAID FOR IN CASH.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT RESERVE.
MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD, AND IT DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY ARM TWISTING BY THE WAY ON MY PART, WAS TO PAY FOR AS MUCH ONETIME UM, EXPENDITURES AS POSSIBLE.
THOSE TWO BLANK SPACES ARE JUST THERE.
'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN REALLY GOOD BIDS ON THOSE TWO THINGS YET.
BUT, UH, ONCE WE DO, WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND IF WE HAVE TO AMEND, WE WILL
[00:45:02]
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.UH, JANET DOESN'T KNOW THIS YET, BUT UH, AT THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WILL BE, WILL WILL BE PRESENTING, UH, A LIST OF, UH, CARRY, CARRY OVER FUNDING EXPENDITURES IN ADDITION TO THE SLIDE I JUST GAVE YOU.
AND THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE PRIMARILY WHAT'S IN THE FY 26 LIST THERE.
THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
SO WHAT WE'LL BE ASKING THE SCHOOL BOARD IS, UH, GO AHEAD AND FUND THESE THINGS IN THAT FIRST LINE.
OR, UM, AND THEY CAN CHOOSE TO FUND SOME OF THEM, ALL OF THEM.
JULIE REALLY WOULD BE UP TO THE BOARD.
BUT I GUESS THE POINT IS WE CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGS, UM, AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE NEEDS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THINK WHEN, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN BOILERS EXPLODE AND WE HAD ONE OF THOSE AT TI UH, HVAC UNITS GO, BAD ROOFS GO BAD, ET CETERA.
AND, UM, IF WE CAN PAY FOR 'EM NOW, I THINK, I THINK WE SHOULD.
SOME OTHER ONE-TIME CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE STILL SORT OF ON THE TABLE, UH, THE GYM, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UM, IS, IS IT FOR A, AN AUXILIARY GYM OR IS IT TO EXPAND THE GYM THAT THEY HAVE NOW? IT'S REALLY FOR A GYM.
THEY HAVE A LITTLE QUARTER HALF GYM THAT SERVES AS THE CAFETERIA AS WELL.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A POTENTIAL FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURE MONEY, UH, AWNING AT THE PICK, AT THE BUS PICKUP AT
THAT'S, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PAY IS PAID FOR THROUGH MEDICAID FUNDING.
AND THAT'S AN ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURE WITH MEDICAID MONEY, UH, SENSORY PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
AND THE, UH, ONGOING EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION FOR MEDICAL INSURANCE.
AGAIN, THAT'S JUST TO KEEP THE PREMIUMS DOWN.
UH, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES, UH, ALMOST $1.2 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND THEN, UH, MIKE HAD INDICATED THAT, UH, AS IT STANDS NOW, THERE WOULD BE 300, 3000, UH, ADDITIONAL DOLLARS LOCALLY TOWARDS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR A TOTAL OF 1.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL REVENUES FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, AND I JUST, WE JUST LEARNED RECENTLY THAT THERE IS A BILL, I BELIEVE IT'S OUT OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES NOW AND ON THE WAY TO THE GOVERNOR FOR SIGNING THE, THE $1,000 TEACHER BONUS.
SO THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMING FROM THE STATE IN THE FORM OF TEACHER BONUS MONEY, BUT IT'S GONNA DEPEND ON IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BILL OR NOT.
HE HAS, HE'S DONE SIMILAR THINGS IN THE PAST RELATED TO TEACHER BONUSES OR MIDYEAR TEACHER PAY INCREASES.
UH, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE.
BUT THAT COULD BE A, A SLIGHT ALTERATION IN TERMS OF STATE REVENUES.
SO THE ESTIMATED OPERATING BUDGET, UH, 74,000,977.
SO JUST UNDER SHADE UNDER $75 MILLION AT THIS POINT.
THE ESTIMATED SHO PAUL IS $1.5 MILLION BASED ON ALL THOSE EXPENDITURES AND RECOMMENDATIONS I JUST SHOWED.
AND AT THAT, THAT, BY THE WAY, DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ONE TIME, ONE TIME MONEY, UH, ONE TIME EXPENDITURES THAT I MENTIONED.
'CAUSE THAT'S JUST GONNA BE PAID FOR WITH CASH THEORETICALLY.
UM, THIS IS, I I THINK TRULY A NEEDS-BASED BUDGET.
IT'S, UH, I CAN'T ACCENTUATE ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING THE TEACHER PAY SCALE ISSUE.
UH, AND AS I'VE SHARED WITH THE BOARD, AND I'VE SHARED WITH THE TEACHERS THEMSELVES, TEACHERS ARE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE AND TEACHERS CAN GO PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE AND FIND A JOB.
UM, AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HANG ONTO TO THE GOOD FOLKS WE HAVE AND PAY THEM ADEQUATELY.
UH, WE JUST CONCLUDED A TEACHER SATISFACTION SURVEY.
WE SET, WE SURVEY TEACHERS JUST TO DETERMINE WHAT, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT, UM, BRING YOU SATISFACTION WITHIN YOUR JOB? WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO LEAVE YOUR JOB? WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE MOTIVES AND THINGS THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO LEAVE EDUCATION ALTOGETHER? AND THE ANSWER LOCALLY IS THE SAME AS THE ANSWER NATIONWIDE.
IT'S COMPENSATION, STUDENT BEHAVIORS.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT JUMP TO THE TOP EVERY TIME.
UH, I'M SURE THERE'S SOME ANOMALIES OUT THERE WHERE THE KIDS ARE FAN FANTASTIC AND EVER MISBEHAVE, BUT I'VE NOT SEEN THAT SCHOOL DIVISION YET.
UH, BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT TEACHERS POINT TO.
COMPENSATION AND STUDENT BEHAVIORS.
AND, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HANG ON TO THE GOOD FOLKS WE HAVE.
'CAUSE THEY, THEY TRULY CAN GO PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE THEY WANT AND FIND EMPLOYMENT.
AND THEY'RE, THE SHORTAGE IS REAL.
THE DEMAND AND THE SUPPLY OF TEACHERS ARE GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS NATIONALLY.
AND THAT IS NOT, THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.
IT'S JUST GOTTEN MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID, WE STARTED IN COVID AND IT GOT WORSE SINCE COVID.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE.
[00:50:01]
OUR STAFF AND YOUR STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER ENOUGH FUNDING TO INCREASE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AT OUR SCHOOLS.AND TONIGHT WE WILL PROBABLY SEND OUR BUDGET TO PUBLIC HEARING, DRAFT BUDGET TO PUBLIC HEARING.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FACTOR IN SOME SCHOOL, UH, AID SOME, UM, FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD IN ORDER TO GET OUR, GET TO OUR NUMBER, UH, I'LL CALL IT OUR, OUR PLAN A, WHICH WOULD, UM, WHICH WOULD FUND THE, UH, HIGH SCHOOL, UH, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ON SHTE MM-HMM
IT WOULD ADD THREE AND A HALF POSITIONS ON THE MAINLAND THROUGH THE, UH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UH, MR. MASON, ARE WE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE CAN SAY WE CAN DO THAT? I CAN, I CAN TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE NOW.
UH, I'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SRO PROPOSAL WITH MS. TURNER.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SHARE IT WITH THE FULL BOARD.
SO I'M ALWAYS REALLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT, UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
BUT I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF, BEHALF OF MS. TURNER.
UM, THERE'S GREAT INTEREST IN ADDING SROS.
UH, THE CONCERN IS AT WHAT RATE ARE THE FSO, WOULD THE SROS BECOME AVAILABLE TO THE SCHOOLS? BUT I THINK THE COMMITMENT, AND THIS IS PENDING, THE SHARING WITH THE ENTIRE BOARD, IS WE WOULD FUND AS MANY SROS AS WE CAN GET.
UM, BUT IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE FAKI COUNTY, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET SROS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE LIKE HEN'S TEETH.
UH, BUT WHAT WE'VE, MIKE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS, UH, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ENCUMBERING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PAY TOWARDS, UH, SROS AS THEY'RE ON ONBOARDED.
IF THINGS WERE FABULOUS AND WE SUDDENLY HAD, WERE ABLE TO ADD UP MULTIPLE SROS, WE COULD FUND THAT IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE COULD, WE COULD FUND IT THROUGH ATTRITION, SSOS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO LEAVE THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE CAN FUND IT THROUGH OTHER UNFILLED POSITIONS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE, A LOT OF TEACHER VACANCIES THAT WE'VE JUST NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL.
WE COULD PAY FOR THOSE FOR A YEAR THROUGH CARRYOVER AND THEN BAKE IT IN IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
SO THERE, THERE'S WAYS WE COULD GO ABOUT FUNDING THOSE POSITIONS.
BUT AT THIS POINT, JUST IN CONVERSATIONS WITH JANET, WE COULD ALLOCATE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TOWARDS THAT.
BUT I WOULD NEED TO SHARE THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH BOARD.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING THAT A PLAN A.
THE PLAN B WOULD BE FOR, IT'D BE A FULL, EVERY SCHOOL WOULD'VE A SRO.
SO THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I FACTOR IN THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BECAUSE, UH, THE SHERIFF HAS TAKEN LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS, PATROL POSITIONS TO, UH, TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT HE, THAT HE CURRENTLY HAS.
UH, HE IS WITHDRAWN A REQUEST, WHICH HE WAS GONNA GET.
HE WAS GONNA GET AN ANIMAL CONTROL, UH, POSITION.
I THINK IT WAS GONNA COST LIKE 83,000.
HE'S TAKING THAT OFF THE BOARD TO HELP FUND THIS.
WE HAVE ADDED $150,000 OR WE WILL, IF WE, IF WE SEND OUR DRAFT BUDGET TO, UH, PUBLIC HEARING AND WE PASS THAT.
SO WE'RE ASKING THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BUT WE NEED TO, WE NEED A NUMBER.
WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY DON'T WE, UM, OUR, OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT TUESDAY, BUT I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
WHY DON'T, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? AND, AND I'LL GO.
WE NEED, HE'S A GOOD MAN BY THE WAY.
WE NEED TO PLUG SOMETHING IN THAT FOR THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE TO SEND A BALANCED BUDGET.
RIGHT? SO, SO I I DON'T MEAN TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AWAY FROM THAT 300, 3000, TIE IT IN TO THERE, AND THEN IF YOUR SCHOOL BOARD DECIDES TO GIVE IT TO US, WE'LL, WE'LL PUT IT BACK IN.
I MEAN, THAT SOUNDS REASONABLE.
CAN WE DO THAT MR. MASON? I MEAN, IS THAT, IS THAT ALLOWABLE? YEAH.
AND I WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT WHAT YOU'RE SENDING IS JUST, IT'S A DRAFT.
AND YOU CAN REACT TO WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING NEXT WEEK AT A LATER DATE.
OR THE IMPORTANT THING IS WHEN WE ADVERTISE A BOTTOM LINE NUMBER, WE CAN'T GO ABOVE THAT BOTTOM LINE NUMBER.
JAN, DO YOU RECALL JUST THE SIZE OF THE BUDGET? IS THAT RESTRICTED? NO.
SO YOU'RE JUST, IT'S, IT'S THE TAX RATE THAT YOU'RE ADVERTISING THAT'S REALLY YOUR CAP THAT YOU CAN'T WORK AROUND.
SO IF JUST SAY, WE GOT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND, AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE STRONG ARMING ANYBODY HERE, BUT IF WE GET TO THE, IF WE GET TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SAY, YOUR BOARD DECIDED NOT TO HELP FUND THIS.
THIS IS SCHOOL, THIS IS SAFETY FOR KIDS.
THIS, AND I, AND I THINK THEY WILL FUND IT, BUT JUST SAY THEY, THEY DIDN'T, WE CAN TAKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THAT 3 0 3 AND PLUG IT, PLUG IT IN, THEN THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED.
ALLOWED, WOULDN'T IT? SO PASS THAT ON TO YOUR
I I JUST, I I I KNOW I'M RELUCTANT.
THEY HAVE TO OFFICIALLY DO IT.
THAT'S LIKE MR. MASON, IF HE WAS SPEAKING BEFORE, YOUR BOARD IS
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NOT GONNA COMMIT ANYTHING UNTIL, UNTIL IT COMES FROM HERE.BUT JUST LET YOUR BOARD KNOW HOW IMPORTANT WE THINK THIS THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE.
AND ALSO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT, THAT EVERYONE RIGHT NOW IS COMMITTED TO, TO, TO HELP FUND THIS.
AND THEY'RE THE, THE, THE LAST PART OF THAT, THAT PUZZLE IS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? VERY GOOD.
CONSIDER AWARD IN DERELICT BUILDING REMOVAL GRANT ON C**K BAYSIDE REVITALIZATION COM.
TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN CROCKETT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
SO WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE NOT GONNA BE PUTTING UP ANY MORE POWERPOINTS TONIGHT.
SO THE REST OF IT IS JUST GONNA BE GOING OFF YOUR AGENDA.
BUT THIS ITEM, UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF BIT OF HISTORY, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED AN ORDINANCE BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2024 THAT ESTABLISHED A COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION FUND TO PREVENT NEIGHBORHOOD DETERIORATION.
THIS FUND IS A VEHICLE THAT IS BEING USED TO OFFER GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEMOLISHING DERELICT RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES.
UM, LATE PART OF LAST YEAR FOR THE PERIOD OF NOVEMBER 1ST 2, 12 31, UH, OF 2024, THE COUNTY INVITED NONPROFITS TO APPLY FOR GRANTS OF UP TO $150,000 PER AWARD WITH A TOTAL OF $300,000 AVAILABLE TOTAL FOR THE PROGRAM.
AND, AND THIS WAS TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY BY REMO REMOVING UNINHABITED DELIC STRUCTURES.
UM, TWO APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED DURING THIS TIMEFRAME AND HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY STAFF.
STAFF IS AWAITING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM ONE OF THOSE APPLICANTS, BUT IS PREPARED TO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD THAT THE OTHER, A APPLICANT, AN C**K BAYSIDE REVITALIZATION BE AWARDED A GRANT OF $150,000 TO REMOVE DELIC STRUCTURES IN THE BAYSIDE COMMUNITY WITH THE AWARD CONDITION ON THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT PREPARED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE APPLICANT.
UH, THIS AGREEMENT, OF COURSE, WILL SPECIFY THE PROGRAM'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PERFORMANCE PERIODS, UM, CALL FOR QUARTERLY STATUS REPORTS, DOCUMENT RETENTION, ELIGIBLE COSTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UH, TEMPLATE, UM, ON THAT AGREEMENT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR BOARD PACKET.
BUT AS I STATED IN, IN THE WRITEUP, THAT IS GOING TO LIKELY BE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU'LL GET THE PICTURE BY, UM, REVIEWING IT.
UH, I WENT ON AND, AND THE EXPLANATION ON, ON BOARD DOCS TO, TO DISCUSS WHAT THE ELIGIBLE COSTS OF THE GRANT PROGRAM ARE AND, UH, DISCLOSE HOW WE WENT ABOUT RANKING THESE APPLICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVED.
UH, THE STAFF DID WRITE UP A PROPOSED, UM, MOTION.
AND THAT'S AVAILABLE SHOULD YOU WANT TO, UH, UH, MAKE THE AWARD, THE CONDITIONAL AWARD THIS EVENING? MR. UH, MR. HART? NO.
I WAS GONNA WAIT FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING.
AND, AND, UH, EVEN THOUGH I'M CHAIR, USUALLY THE CHAIR WILL DEFER TO, OH, GO AHEAD.
AND, AND I, I HAVE WORKED WITH THIS, UH, REVIT REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THEY CAN GET THIS DONE.
SO, UH, MEMBERS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO THE, UM, THE GRANT UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS THAT MR. MASON, UH, SECOND SPECIFIED MEMBERS, WE HAVE MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
9.2 IS CONSIDERED DIRECTING STAFF TO ACQUIRE TWO AMBULANCES FROM THE WA CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SUMMER, $300,000.
AND TO DRAFT AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND PAINTER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE USE OF THEIR FACILITY BY COUNTY STAFF.
MR. MASON, WE'VE DONE A PUBLIC HEARING AT SIX O'CLOCK.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AT THE CLOCK.
WE'LL, WE'LL HOLD OFF ON THAT AND GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DIDN'T, WHAT'S HIS NAME? TEMPORARY ACTING.
UH, NEXT UP IS, UM, A, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING.
THEN I'LL GO TO MS. PROCTOR FOR THE, UH, PRO.
UH, FIRST DID ANYBODY SIGN UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING? WE MAY NOT NEED THE, WE MAY NOT NEED THE RULES.
BILLY JOE, THAT WAS A GOOD CATCH.
I WAS GONNA GO RIGHT ON BY IT.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE WAKES UP.
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THERE'S A SIGNUP, BUT IT'S NOT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.IT'S, IT SAYS PUBLIC HEARING SIX, SO I KNOW, BUT THE TOPIC IS, YEAH, WE'RE RULES.
IT'S, SHOULD I HAVE THAT? I THINK THAT'S FOR ME.
AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, OKAY.
I'LL GET, I'LL, I'LL GET YOU CONCERN CONCERNING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IT'S WHAT? YEAH, THAT WE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT SHOULD BEEN UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT VERSUS PUBLIC HEARING.
WAS HE HERE? NO, THEY WEREN'T HERE WITH THE JUDGE.
UH, SO WE HAVE NO ONE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC, UH, PUBLIC, UH, PARTICIPATION.
UH, SO WE'LL GO TO 11.2, CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDMENT TO COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 82, TAXATION FOR SURVIVING, UH, SPOUSES.
UH, CONSIDER MY COMMENTS TO STAFF REPORT.
THIS IS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING AND SIMPLE TOPIC.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NECESSITY TO, UH, CHANGES IN THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION IN VIRGINIA.
UH, THE REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO SURVIVE AND SPOUSE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES KILLED IN ACTION IS NOW BEING EXPANDED TO COVER THE SURVIVING SPOUSES OF MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
THE TAX EXEMPTION IS MANDATORY AND APPLIES IF THE US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ISSUES A LINE OF DUTY DETERMINATION.
THE MEMBER OF THE US ARMED FORCES DID NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF HIS OR HER CRIMINAL CONDUCT.
THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OCCUPIES THE PROPERTY FOR WHICH THE EXEMPTION IS SOUGHT AS HIS OR HER PRINCIPAL RESIDENT, AND THE SURVIVING SPOUSE IS NOT REMARRIED.
UH, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEWLY EXPANDED EXEMPTION IS RETROACTIVE THE TAX SHE IS BEGINNING IN 2015.
HOWEVER, INTEREST DOES NOT BEGIN TO ACCUMULATE ON ANY REFUND UNTIL THE SPINE SPOUSE HAS FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE THE REQUIRED AFFIDAVIT OR READ THE STATEMENT.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE, UH, THE SUMMARY OF THE STAFF REPORT.
AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS IS A MANDATE FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
AND, UH, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS, IS A NECESSITY TO GETTING IT, UH, ENACTED HERE IN AKAMAI.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF FROM MEMBERS? NO QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT TO COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 82, TAXATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES AS SECOND MEMBERS WILL HAVE MOTION.
ANY THE DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
WERE YOU GONNA LET THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN SPEAK? NO.
THE RULE WAS FROM THE SIGN UP TO SPEAK BEFORE 9.2, CONSIDER DIRECTING STAFF TO ACQUIRE TWO AMBULANCES FROM THE WHITE STREET VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS SUMMER.
$300,000 TO DRAFT IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE PAINTER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE USE OF THEIR FACILITY BY COUNTY STAFF.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR CROCKETT.
I'M, UH, GONNA GIVE, UH, JUST A GENERAL OVERVIEW.
UH, DIRECTOR PRUITT, WHO HAS, HAS BEEN THE, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND THE PERSON REALLY MANAGING A LOT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS IS HERE, CAN HANDLE, UM, MORE IN DEPTH QUESTIONS.
BUT AGAIN, I I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND, AND WE DO HAVE A RECOMMENDED ACTION FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER, UH, ONCE WE GET TO THE END OF, OF THE DISCUSSION.
BUT THE BOARD WAS BRIEFED BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2024 REGARDING WATCH, BREAK, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY'S DECISION NOT TO RE REMOVE, RENEW ITS EMS LICENSE AND THE RAMIFICATIONS THIS COULD HAVE ON EMS SERVICES PROVIDED IN THAT AREA.
IF THE COUNTY, UM, DIDN'T TAKE ACTION.
UH, THE BOARD'S DIRECTIVE WAS FOR STAFF TO TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THERE IS NO INTERRUPTION IN EMS SERVICES.
AND TO THIS END, STAFF HAS MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANY REGARDING THE COUNTY PURCHASING THEIR TWO AMBULANCES.
BOTH AMBULANCES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED BY A THIRD PARTY AND THEIR MECHANICAL CONDITION TO TURN TO BE IN GOOD ORDER.
THE, THE COUNTY HAS ALSO HAD THE AMBULANCES APPRAISED BY DCI SOLUTIONS.
A COMPANY PERFORMS SPECIALTY VEHICLE VALUATIONS, WHICH DETERMINE THE VEHICLES, EXCLUDING THE EQUIPMENT WERE WORTH APPROXIMATELY $279,000.
UH, THE COMPANY IS WILLING TO SELL BOTH VEHICLES FOR 300,000 GIVEN THE VALUE OF THE INSTALLED EQUIPMENT ON THESE AMBULANCES.
THE THIS PRICE IS FAIR AND WITHIN THE FAIR MARKET VALUE, STAFF HAS ALSO MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PAINTER VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF RENTING SPACE WITHIN THEIR FIREHOUSE TO PROTECT THIS
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EQUIPMENT AND SERVE AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR COUNTY STAFF ASSIGNED TO IT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PURPOSES.UH, THE PAINTER HAS INDICATED THEY'RE WILLING TO RENT THE COUNTY SPACE FOR $4,000 PER MONTH TO INCLUDE ALL NECESSARY SPACE EQUIPMENT AND UTILITIES.
FINALLY, STAFF HAS CONTACTED THE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES REVENUE RECOVERY BOARD, WHICH IS QUITE A MOUTHFUL, WHO IS STAFFED, UM, BY THE NORTHERN NECK PDC.
UM, AND WE CONTACTED THEM TO ASCERTAIN IF THE COUNTY CAN ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM WHEREBY THEY PERFORM ALL AMBULANCE BILLING SERVICES ON THE COUNTY'S BEHALF.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES AND CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED VIA A LETTER AGREEMENT WITH THIS BOARD.
UH, AT THIS POINT, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD, UH, ATE FROM THE 2024 UNA SIDE GENERAL FUND BALANCE 300,000 TO COVER THE COST OF THE AMBULANCE PURCHASE, UH, TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO HAVE A SALES CONTRACT DRAFTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURPOSE OF PURCHASING THESE TWO AMBULANCES, UH, TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HIS DESIGNEE, TO CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A LEASE BETWEEN PAINTER, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE COME IN AND THE COUNTY FOR USE OF THEIR FACILITY.
AND TO, UH, FINALLY DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO INITIATE ACTIONS TO OBTAIN AMBULANCE BILLING SERVICES FROM THE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES REVENUE RECOVERY BOARD.
UH, SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE RECOMMENDED ACTION, MS. CHAIR.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, LIKE I, AGAIN, I'M, I'M GIVING YOU SORT OF THE OVERVIEW.
UH, DIRECTOR PRUITT IS HERE TO, TO HANDLE SOME OF THE MORE IN DEPTH QUESTIONS.
MR. HART, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS, THAT WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IT AND, UH, GET IT, GET IT GOING.
THE PURCHASE, THE AMBULANCES, THE NEGOTIATING WITH PAINTER.
APPROPRIATE THE MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
HAVE A SALES CONTRACT DRAFTED.
DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NEGOTIATE TERMS WITH PAINTER, RIGHT.
AND DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
ADMINISTRATIVE TO PER STAFF REQUEST? YES.
ANY DISCUSSION MEMBERS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, WE CERTAINLY THANK, UH, RIGG AND PAINTER FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS.
SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND WORK THROUGH THIS ISSUE WITH US.
RIGG HAS MEANT SO MUCH, Y'ALL, MEMBERS OF, I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, JUST P WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, TO SURVIVE IN THE SOUTHERN END WITHOUT WATCH P WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN.
IT APPEARS IT WAS A VERY SMOOTH, SMOOTH TRANSITION.
WATCH P WAS JUST, WITHOUT 'EM, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
NEXT UP, 9.3, CONTINUED DELIBERATIONS ON THE COUNTY.
PROPOSED FY 26 BUDGET AND ASSOCIATE TAX RATES.
MS. JOHNSON? YEAH, I HAVE A DISCLOSURE I WANNA READ.
BECAUSE I WORK MACK COUNTY, I HAVE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE, I HAD A PERSONAL INTEREST IN APPROPRIATE OTHER FFY 26 BUDGET AND CORPORATIONS TO EXTEND A CONCERNING ACKERMAN COUNTY EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MATTER UNDER VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH THREE.
ONE, BECAUSE I'M A MEMBER OF A PROFESSION OCCUPATION ON A GROUP OF THREE OR MORE PERSONS AFFECTED BY THESE TRANSACTIONS, I'M ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTIONS FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
SO AT, AT THIS STAGE, STAFF IS READY TO, UM, UH, BRING UP WHATEVER BUDGET DISCUSSION THE THE BOARD WANTS TO HAVE AND ANY WORKSHEET ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UH, UH, JUST TO KIND OF RESET WHERE YOU LEFT YOUR LAST BUDGET SPECIFIC MEETING, YOU HAD A DEFICIT OF APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM AFTER ALL THE CHANGES THE BOARD MADE TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT I HAD PRESENTED BACK ON FEBRUARY 3RD.
UM, AS, UH, THE DISCUSSION WAS, UH, AS INDICATED BY THE EARLIER DISCUSSION THIS EVENING, THERE WAS ADDITIONAL FTES ADDED TO THE BUDGET FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.
UM, AFTER ALL THE DUST SETTLED ON ALL THE CHANGES, WE AGAIN HAD ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DEFICIT.
AND FROM WHAT YOU HEARD TONIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE AT LEAST THERE IS A, UM, A, A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO, UH, COVER THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AND THE BUDGET THERE.
SO, UM, IT'S REALLY IN THE BOARD'S HANDS AS TO WHERE IT WANTS TO GO.
WITH THIS, YOU COULD CONTINUE TO DELIBERATE AND MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES.
YOU COULD SEND US, UH, THE TAX RATES AND THE BUDGET, UH, FY 26 BUDGET TO PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT.
I DO HAVE THE BUDGET COUNTER I CAN PULL UP, WE CAN DISCUSS WHEN THAT HEARING MAY BE.
IT'S REALLY UP TO THE BOARD HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED FROM HERE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. HART, UM, TWO THINGS.
ONE, THE, UH, MONEY, THE EXTRA MONEY FOR THE F VOLUNTEER F IS,
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IS STILL IN.THAT WAS, THAT'S IN YOUR NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING.
AT, AT ONE OF YOUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
BUT I'M SAYING THAT IS STILL THERE.
AND, UM, HAVE YOU HAD ANY INDICATION, AND THIS IS ONLY A COURTESY, BUT HAVE YOU HAD ANY INDICATION FROM THE FOUR MEMBERS ABSENT THAT THEY HAD ANY INDIGESTION OR ANYTHING ABOUT US GOING AHEAD AND PROCEEDING AND MOVING FORWARD AND SENDING IT TO PUBLIC HEARING? HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATION WITH THEM OR ANY INDICATION FROM THEM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A DIFFICULTY WITH THIS? I, I HAVE NOT.
I'VE SEEN MANY OF THEM IN THAT PERIOD.
NO ONE HAS VOICED ANY OPPOSITION.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE TALKED TO, UH, ABOUT THE BUDGET TO ME, WERE IN SUPPORT.
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE GO AHEAD AND SEND THIS TO PUBLIC HEARING.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT, WE'RE SHOWING A DEFICIT FROM OUR WORK THAT WE, WE, THAT WE, UH, DID AT OUR LAST BUDGET WORK SESSION.
WE SHOW A DEFICIT OF, UM, $104,265.
THE WAY I SEE IT, HOW DO WE SEND THIS TO A, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA HAVE A, A, UH, A BALANCED BUDGET.
BASED ON THE DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT, WHAT WE SEND A PUBLIC HEARING WILL RECOUP THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE SCHOOLS.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND FROM THAT 3 0 3, CORRECT.
WE WILL HAVE THOSE, THOSE FUNDS FROM THE SCHOOLS.
THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS, BUT THAT'S THE MOST OBVIOUS ONE.
SO MEMBERS, WHEN WE VOTE, WE'RE GONNA BE VOTING ON A BALLOT, ON A BALLOT BUDGET.
AND JUST TO EMPHASIZE FOR THE PUBLIC, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ONLY FIVE OF US HERE, THIS BUDGET IS NOT OFFICIAL.
THIS IS JUST A DRAFT BUDGET THAT GOES TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEN WE VOTE NO SOONER THAN SEVEN DAYS, AND WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING JUST TO MAKE SURE IT BALANCES.
AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD ACTS, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE SEND IT TO PUBLIC HEARING.
I, I GUESS I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
MR. MACY, I JUST WANNA VERIFY, SO THIS BUDGET AS IS MAKES UP FOR THE EMS SHORTFALL AND, AND HOW MUCH IS THAT IS IN TERMS OF TAX RATE INCREASE OR IN TERMS OF DOLLAR SHORTFALL? WELL, ACTUALLY, I THINK MY QUESTION'S BOTH.
SO, UM, LET, LET ME PULL ONE SLIDE.
AND THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASE IN THE CIGARETTE TAX FROM, UH, 20 CENTS PER PACK TO TO 40 CENTS.
UM, SO THE FI THE, THE, THE ENTIRE TAX RATE, REAL ESTATE TAX RATE INCREASE IS 100% DEVOTED TO ELIMINATING, UM, THE DEFICIT IN THE EMS FUND.
ALL THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TOWARDS COVERING AND PAYING FOR EMS SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDED IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO THIS KIND OF DEPICTS WHAT, WHAT THE ISSUE IS, AND I'LL JUST KIND OF QUICKLY JUST WALK THROUGH IT HERE.
UH, IF YOU GO BACK TO FY 22, WE HAD, WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE TO BREAK EVEN WITH HOW MUCH REVENUE WAS BEING RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY IN THE FORM OF THE EMS TAX.
UM, AND WE WERE CLOSE TO BREAKING EVEN WITH THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURES WE WERE, UM, PAYING TO, TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO THE CITIZENRY.
UM, AND THEN THERE WAS A DECISION BACK IN THIS TIMEFRAME TO ADD 12, UH, FTE TO HELP, UH, EXPAND COVERAGE AT THE NORTHERN END.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A SERIES OF OTHER ACTIONS THAT WERE MADE THAT STARTED TO PUSH OUR EXPENDITURES UP AND TO THE POINT WHERE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTED AT, UM, THIS YEAR TO BE THE DEFICIT.
OUR EXPENDITURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE 2.3 MILLION OVER OUR REVENUES FOR THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE EXISTING FUND BALANCE TO COVER THAT.
WELL, IT'LL GO DOWN TO 794,000, BUT NEXT YEAR, IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN WITH THIS TYPE OF, UH, NET LOSS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S NECESSITATING THE INCREASE IN TAXES.
UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, 5 CENT INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE TO ELIMINATE, UM, THIS, THIS DEFICIT.
UH, THE EMS TAX 1 CENT GENERATES ABOUT 417,000 SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, IN PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS, WE'VE ANNOUNCED AT 1 CENT OF REAL ESTATE TAX, REGULAR REAL ESTATE TAX GENERATES OVER 500.
BUT THAT, YOU GOTTA HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS TAX DOES NOT APPLY WITHIN THE INCORPORATED LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF SHATI.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SLIGHTLY LESS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH
[01:15:01]
DOES 1 CENT GENERATE.AND MR. MASON, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS A DEDICATED TAX.
IT HAS TO BE SPENT ON THE MS. THIS IS 100% DEDICATED, UH, TO EMS, THAT THAT WAS WHY THE EMS FUND, UM, AND THE MSS TAXES CREATED YEARS AGO.
AND THESE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
SO, ONE FOLLOW UP, MR. CHAIR, BUT WE'RE NOT PRECLUDED FROM FUNDING THAT SHORTFALL FROM OTHER LINES OF THE BUDGET.
NO, YOU CAN SUBSIDIZE THIS FINE IN ANY MANNER YOU CHOOSE.
UH, NO, I WAS JUST, UH, I I'M FINE WITH MOVING AHEAD AS LONG AS WE ALL UNDERSTAND IT.
AS MR. HART SAID THAT, THAT WE'RE PRESENTING THIS BALANCE BUDGET TO GO FORWARD FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, AND LET ME EMPHASIZE ONE THING ALSO WITH THE, THE MS, THE MS DEPARTMENT OF, OF, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS THE MS FUNDS, UH, FUNDS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE AMBULANCE STAFF THAT RESPONDS TO AMBULANCE CALLS.
UH, MR. PRUITT'S HERE, SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT AT LEAST IF, IF SOMEONE IN AKIMA COUNTY CALLS FOR AN AMBULANCE AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, 90% OR MORE OR HIGHER, THAT THAT RESPONSE WILL BE WITH A PAID EMT FROM THE COUNTY.
SO THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
TH THIS, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO YOUR FRONT DOOR IF YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
I WOULD JUST, UH, CAVEAT THAT BY, IF YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE AND THAT AMBULANCE IS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN CHIN, TAKE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE.
IT'S ABOUT A 90% CHANCE THAT THE, UH, MEN AND WOMEN WHO KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR AND, AND COME TO TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL ARE GONNA BE, UH, COUNTY OF MACK, UH, CAREER FIRE MEDICS OR, OR PART-TIME FIRE MEDICS WORKING UNDER THE MANAGEMENT AND AND SUPERVISION OF MR. PRUITT.
AND IF WE DON'T, IF WE DO NOT INCREASE THE TAX RATE, THEN I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE PROBABLY 70, AT LEAST 75% OF THAT BUDGET IS TOWARDS PERSONNEL.
BUT IF 92% OF THOSE FUNDS ARE TO PAY FOR THOSE STAFF, THE STAFF THAT COMES TO YOUR FRONT DOOR, IF YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE, IF WE DON'T RAISE TAXES TO PAY FOR THAT, IT'S GONNA HAVE TO CUT STAFF.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE REDUCTIONS SOMEWHERE.
AND, AND, AND YOU ONLY HAVE 8%, UH, OF THAT, OF THAT BUDGET.
SO I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT TO THE PUBLIC, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS JUST TO RAISE GENERAL TAXES.
WE'RE DOING THIS TO KEEP PAID EMTS OUT ON THE, OUT ON RESPONSES THAT, YOU KNOW, 90% OF THE RESPONSE THAT, THAT SOMEONE WILL BE, UH, RECEIVING AMBULANCE SERVICES.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION, PROBABLY SECOND TO, UH, TO TAKE THIS, UM, DRAFT BUDGET TO PUBLIC HEARING.
WHAT'S YOUR DATE? SO WE'LL GO INCLUDE THE DATE IN THERE WITH IT.
CAN YOU, CAN WE HOLD OFF ON, ON APPROVING YOUR, YOUR MOTION? WELL, WHAT SHOULDN'T WE APPROVE IT TO GO TO PUBLIC HEARING? AND THEN WE CAN ALWAYS SET THE DATE.
WE NEED A DATE FOR THE HEARING, RIGHT? YEAH.
WE CAN DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME IF YOU WANT TO.
WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO SCHEDULE? WELL, WE, WE HAVE FOUR.
I'M GONNA, WE HAVE FOUR MEMBERS NOT HERE, SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT AS FAR AS SETTING A DATE.
SHOULD WE SET THE DATE? I'M JUST ASKING.
SHOULD WE GO AHEAD AND SEND IT AND THEN WE CAN GET, HE CAN POLL THE OTHER FOUR AND WE CAN GET TOGETHER ON, WE CAN, HE, WE CAN SET THE DATE.
NO, WE CAN'T SET, WE, WE CAN'T SET IT.
OR DO, DO WE HAVE TO DO THAT TONIGHT? WE CAN'T SEND IT IF WE DON'T HAVE A DATE.
MIKE, WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING AT? WELL, THIS, THIS IS, UH, AN EX AN EXCERPT FROM YOUR BUDGET CALENDAR THAT YOU APPROVED SOME MONTHS AGO.
AND WE SEEM TO BE TRACKING PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT THE, UH, UH, THE, THE PROPOSED CALENDAR WAS AT THAT TIME.
I MEAN, THE DRAFT BUDGET CALENDAR HAD US SENDING AT FOUR TO THE PRESS ON THE 3RD OF MARCH.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE WOULD CONTINUE ON THIS, ON THIS PATH.
WE WOULD SEND IT, UM, NEXT WEEK.
WE WOULD ADVERTISE IT ON, IN THE EASTERN SHORE POST ON THE SEVENTH, THE 14TH.
UM, THEN WE HAVE A, BASICALLY A WEEK HERE THAT WE WON'T BE DOING ANYTHING.
THE HEARING WOULD BE HELD ON MARCH 24TH.
AND THEN YOU, AS FAR AS LOOKING AHEAD OF THAT, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO, UM, RECONVENE AND START IF YOU WANTED TO, TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AND TAX RATES, UH, A WEEK AFTER THAT.
ALRIGHT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL PUT THE, UH, MARCH 24TH ON MY MOTION.
AND, UH, WHAT TIME AND HERE, OR ARE YOU GONNA, WE NEED TO HAVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND BECAUSE THERE IS A TAXI MAKIN, I THINK MA TOMPKIN WOULD BE ORDER ON THIS ONE AT THE SIX SIX.
[01:20:01]
IS THAT OKAY WITH EVERYBODY? YEP.SO WE'LL HAVE IT 24TH, SIX AT TONKIN.
ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UH, FIRST ONE THAT I SEE IS ELECTION DISTRICT THREE.
I'D LIKE TO APPOINT, UM, HAROLD WHITE.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
EACH EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD VACANCY, UH, JANET TURNER DOES NOT WISH TO BE A REAPPOINTED.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY? WANNA WAIT UNTIL MARCH? CONTINUE THAT.
UH, ACK COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION.
KAY LEWIS, UH, MR. CHAIR, CONTINUE THAT UNTIL MARCH AS WELL.
IT'S, UH, MR. PHILLIPS, CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS', UH, DISTRICT ACK COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
UM, UH, MR. MASON IS IN MY DISTRICT, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL GO AHEAD AND WELL, HE WAS, BUT HE IS, HE WAS MY APPOINTMENT.
BUT HE LIVES IN YOUR DISTRICT NOW.
IS THAT OKAY IF I GO, IF I HANDLE THAT? AS LONG AS YOU LET ME SACKING IT.
MEMBERS, I, UH, I MOVE TO RE SECOND ANDY MASON, UH, TO THE YAC COUNTY ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
AND WE HAVE A PROPERLY, WE HAVE A MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
EASTERN SHORE AREA AGENCY ON AGING.
CONSIDER REAPPOINTMENT OF SHEILA WALKER.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION.
WE RE REAPPOINT SHEILA WALKER TO THAT MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
CONSIDER APPROVING AGREEMENT BETWEEN VDA AND THE COUNTY AUTHORIZED AND V THEM TO USE CERTAIN COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY DURING A NATIONAL, STATE, OR LOCAL DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY, OR IN PREPARATION FOR ANTICIPATED EMERGENCY EVENT.
WHO'S GONNA SPEAK ON THIS? MR. MASON? MS. SARAH? MS. DICKEY.
I WAS GONNA ASK YOU RIGHT TO INTRODUCE YOU,
YOU DON'T WANT ME TO DO THAT?
I AM THE DEPUTY COORDINATOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACK COUNTY.
UM, THIS AGREEMENT ALLOWS US TO PUT IN PLACE PLACES IN THE COUNTY WHERE WE CAN PRESTAGE RESOURCES AND, UM, THEN THE ABILITY TO GET RESOURCES IN DURING AN EVENT MORE EASILY.
THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S WELL NEEDED.
ANY QUESTIONS? CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION SINCE I'M EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT FOR YOU.
CAN YOU GET A SECOND? FIRST, SECOND.
AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS WORKED FOR, FOR FEMA, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I WAS TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA AND TO DEAL WITH IT.
MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE, HAVE YOU CO WELL, I'VE GOT TWO.
HAVE YOU COORDINATED THESE WITH FEMA? THEY ARE, YES.
THE SECOND ONE IS, HAVE YOU ALSO REACHED OUT TO WALLOPS AND THE FEDERAL SIDE TO DO A SIMILAR THING WITH THEM? JUST, IT'S OKAY.
I'M KIND OF GIVING YOU A HINT.
YOU CAN HAVE A SIMILAR AGREEMENT AND, AND DON'T ASSUME THAT THE ENTIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TALKS MM-HMM
UM, IN FACT, I CAN TELL YOU THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, AS WE ALL KNOW.
I THINK THESE ARE GREAT LOCATIONS.
AND, AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR DOING THIS WORK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
NEXT UP, 12.2, RECEIVE FY 25 COUNTY SECOND QUARTER SUMMARY FINANCIAL REPORT.
MR. MASON? UH, I WAS, UH, HOPING FOR A BIT MORE REST IN MY CHAIR THERE,
SO, I, UM, I, I HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF, UH, OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT PREPARED.
MS. UH, MS. LEWIS, YOUR, YOUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, UH, WELCOMED HER FIRST GRAND BABY, UM, LAST WEEKEND.
AND, UM, ONE, UH, THEY WERE, THEY WERE BORN IN, IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH WAS QUITE A TRIP FOR HER.
AND TWO, I WAS TOLD I WAS QUITE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DIDN'T SCHEDULE THIS ON THE BUDGET CALENDAR CORRECTLY,
UM, BUT ANY CA IN ANY CASE, CERTAINLY GLAD FOR HER AND
[01:25:01]
HER, HER FAMILY BABIES DON'T ASK QUESTIONS WHEN THEY'RE READY.SO, I, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE TO SHOW UP.
I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU AS AN IN DEPTH, UH, REVIEW AS, AS SHE MIGHT HAVE.
BUT I, WHAT ALL I'LL SAY IS THAT RIGHT NOW, AS, UM, THROUGH HALF OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, WE ARE 7.4% IN OUR REVENUES OVER WHAT WE COLLECTED.
I DO NOT EXPECT THAT TREND TO CONTINUE.
THAT NUMBER WILL DROP, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE, UH, THE THINGS THAT I KNOW BEHIND THE NUMBERS.
BUT, UM, RIGHT NOW, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO BE BECAUSE OUR BUDGET DEPENDS ON BEING AHEAD.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE? I I, I'M COMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, THIS, WE ALWAYS PUT THIS SCHEDULE AND EMPHASIZE THE SCHEDULE BECAUSE WE HAVE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF REVENUE SOURCES IN THE COUNTY.
THESE, THESE ARE YOUR, WHAT WE CALL THE MAJOR REVENUES, AND THEY MAKE UP 82% OF ALL YOUR REVENUE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO IN AND SPEND ALL EVENING AFTER EVENING LOOKING AT REVENUE AFTER REVENUE.
BUT THIS, AS THESE, AS THESE REVENUES GO IN TOTAL, SO DOES THE COUNTY'S BUDGET.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS 82% OF, OF YOUR MAJOR REVENUES.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE 7.4 FOR THE, THE YEAR, FISCAL YEAR TO DATE, AND 9.2 OVER THIS QUARTER LAST YEAR.
UM, AND THIS IS REALLY YOUR, AS MS. LEWIS STATED, WHEN SHE PRESENTED THE FIRST QUARTER REPORT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, THIS IS A MORE TELLING REPORT 'CAUSE IT'S AFTER THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF TAXES HAD BEEN BILLED AND COLLECTED, UM, BY THE, THE TREASURER BY TREASURER TON.
SO, UM, AGAIN, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON WAS THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE BUDGET.
AND, UH, RIGHT NOW THINGS ARE, ARE LOOKING, UH, PRETTY GOOD.
AND THAT'S FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, CORRECT INFORMATION, NO ACTION IS NEEDED.
12.3, CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY TO JOIN THEM.
IMPOSE AN INDUSTRIAL ATLANTIC MAN HAYDEN FISHING WITH IN THE WATERS OF CHESAPEAKE BAY, UH, AND WITHIN THREE MILES OF ANY LAND OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
UH, BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING HERE, I I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT TO, FOR US TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS WITH NO INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US WHATSOEVER.
UH, THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE, I, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH CONCERNING, UH, IF, IF, IF WE SUPPORTED THIS AND IT WOULD GO TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THIS FISHERY WAS STOPPED, FIRST QUESTION CAME TO MY MIND.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES THIS AFFECT? DOES THIS AFFECT EMPLOYMENT WISE AND THE NUMBERS THAT DIRECT APPOINT, UH, UH, DIRECT EMPLOYMENT? THE NUMBERS I CAME UP WITH WAS A POSSIBILITY OF 400, UH, DIRECT EMPLOYMENTS DUE TO THIS FISHERY.
AND, AND I CAN'T SUPPORT TAKING ACTION TO SUPPORT THIS BEING STOPPED WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 400, UH, UH, JOBS WITH NO INFORMATION.
SO MY, MY, UH, REQUEST IS, AND I'LL, I'LL DEFER TO, UH, MR. TARR, 'CAUSE I THINK HE HAS A MOTION.
I I THINK WE NEED TO TABLE THIS.
AND, UH, MR. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION.
UH, CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN IS TO TABLE THIS AND TO LET STAFF BRING US BACK SOME MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THIS, WHAT IMPACT THIS WOULD BE.
SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS MEMBERS? WE HAVE A MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
RECEIVE NOTIFICATION ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH COUNTY POLICY FP 1200 AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS APPLYING FOR OR RECEIVING COUNTY FUNDS.
UH, SUPERVISOR CROCKETT COUNTY POLICY NUMBER FP 1200 REQUIRES ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE APPROPRIATED 10,000 OR MORE IN COUNTY FUNDS TO SUBMIT AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO THE COUNTY WITHIN NINE MONTHS AFTER THE END OF THEIR FISCAL YEAR.
ANY ORGANIZATION THAT FAILS TO SUBMIT THE REQUIRED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BY THE STIPULATED DATE HAS THEIR FUNDING WITHHELD UNTIL THEY ARE BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.
UM, ANY ORGANIZATION THAT DOES NOT SUBMIT ITS REQUIRED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE END OF THE FISCAL YEARS TO BE REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR POSSIBLE REALLOCATION OF FUNDING.
UM, SO TONIGHT IS BASICALLY TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WE'RE REQUIRED TO BY THE POLICY OF THE BOARD APPROVED THAT THERE ARE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MORE THAN 12 MONTHS DELINQUENT IN SUBMITTING THEIR FINANCIAL REPORTS.
UM, THEY ARE BOTH VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE COMPANIES, ONE BEING PARKLEY VOLUNTEER, FIRE AND RESCUE AND OAK HALL, UM, VOLUNTEER FIRE OR AMBULANCE COMPANY AS WELL.
UH, NEITHER ONE OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR, THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2021.
SO AGAIN, WHETHER THE BOARD CHOOSES TO ACT OR NOT IS CERTAINLY IN ITS INTEREST.
UM, STAFF BRINGS THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE POLICY REQUIRES US TO DO.
[01:30:01]
MR. CHAIR.I'VE SPOKEN WITH PARSLEY AND CAN, UH, CAN REPORT TO THE BOARD THAT THE PARSLEY, UH, ACCOUNT OR THE, THE FILES ARE WITH THE AUDITOR.
UM, AND WE, WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE AUDITOR TO TURN THOSE OVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ANYONE ELSE? HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT OAK HALL? I DID.
NO, I I SPOKE TO OAK CALL BECAUSE OH, OKAY.
THE CHIEF OF OAK HALL IS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF OUR COMPANY TOO.
AND, UH, HE WASN'T AWARE THAT THEY WERE THINK WHEN HE CALLED HIS FINANCE PEOPLE TO GET THE THINGS TO THE COUNTY AND, AND MEMBERS, UH, AND MR. MASON.
UH, THERE'S ONLY FIVE OF US HERE NOW FOR US TO TAKE ANY ACTION.
YOU WOULD WANT THE FULL BOARD HERE.
SO WHY DON'T WE, UH, TABLE THIS AND TO SEE WHAT, UH, WHAT THOSE COMPANIES CAN DO IN THE MEANTIME.
BUT, UH, WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION ON THIS.
WE'LL JUST, WE'LL, WE'LL TABLE IT IF, IF EVERYBODY'S OKAY WITH THAT.
SO I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS.
MEMBERS, WE HAVE MOTION, PROBABLY SECOND TO TABLE THIS ACT, UH, TABLE THIS, UH, THIS ITEM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
NEXT UP IS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
MR. MASON, MOST OF THESE ARE JUST INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, BUT THE FIRST ONE, 13.1 IS, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED, UH, NOTICE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS BY DEL MAR POWER TO TRANSMISSION LINES FROM THEIR PINEY GROVE SUBSTATION TO THE NEW YORK NEW CHURCH SUBSTATION.
UM, THESE, AGAIN, THESE ARE BASICALLY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINES.
THERE IS A LETTER ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA THAT, UM, DEL MARVA POWER SENT OUT JUST ANNOUNCING THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS WERE GONNA TAKE PLACE.
UM, ITEM 13.2, UM, WAS, UH, JUST TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THIS PARKING LOT, OUR MAIN PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, UM, WAS GONNA BE CLOSED, UH, TODAY, YESTERDAY, AND, AND THE DAY BEFORE, POSSIBLY AT ONE POINT.
UM, THE WORK THAT, UH, WAS, UH, CAUSING THAT TO HAPPEN HAS BEEN CONCLUDED.
AND IT'S, IT'S, IT OPENED UP THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, 13 THREE WAS AN UPDATE ON LIBRARY HVAC TESTING.
UH, I ACTUALLY EXPECTED TO HAVE A, UM, A REPORT ON, ON A THIRD PARTY TESTING OF THAT SYSTEM HANDY, UM, AND READY TO, UH, PRESENT TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.
BUT THE, THE TESTING HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THE REPORT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AT THIS POINT.
WE DO EXPECT IT, UM, VERY SOON, BUT WE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT TONIGHT.
THE TESTING ACTUALLY GOT DELAYED A FEW DAYS BECAUSE OF THE, THE SNOW, AND, AND THAT'S PUT ALL THIS A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
BUT, UH, AS FAR AS 13.4, JUST ANYTHING OTHER, UH, IT DID WANT TO, AFTER THIS AGENDA WENT LIVE, THE COUNTY WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD RECEIVED A-D-H-C-D PLANNING GRANT FOR, UH, THE FOOD BANK PROJECT.
UH, YOU WILL RECALL THAT YOU BLESSED THE APPLICATION, UM, A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO.
THIS IS FOR THE FOOD BANK TO, UM, ASSIST THE FOOD BANK BUILDING.
UM, ANOTHER FACILITY AT ITS TALY LOCATION.
UH, THE GRANT WE RECEIVED WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM DHCD.
AND, AND AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE PAPERWORK ON IT, BUT, UH, THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS RELEASE DID HIGHLIGHT THAT, UH, IT WAS APPROVED.
SO THAT IS THE CON THEY'RE, THEY ARE MY CLOSING REMARKS FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT SECTION OF THE, UH, OF THE AGENDA.
NEXT UP IS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COMMENT, PERIOD.
MR. PARKS, UH, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
I I JUST WANT TO CIRCLE BACK REAL QUICK TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET AND THE TAX INCREASE OF THE, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER THERE, BUT I, I WILL GO BACK TO MY ARGUMENT FROM OUR LAST MEETING FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION.
THAT, THAT WE DO HAVE THE MEANS WITHIN THIS BUDGET TO NOT HAVE TO RAISE TAXES AT THIS TIME.
AND I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO EXPLORE THAT.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT FUNDING THE EMS, BUT PERHAPS, UH, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, THE WATER EXPANSION PLANT FOR THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY MAY NOT BE, NEED TO BE FULLY FUNDED AT THIS TIME.
UM, AND, AND HONESTLY, I AM VERY COMFORTABLE THAT IF WE DON'T FUND THAT AT THIS TIME, IT'S NOT GONNA COST THE COUNTY OR VIRGINIA SPACE ANY BUSINESS.
SO FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION, BUT I DID WANT TO SWING BACK TO THAT MR. CHAIR.
JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR, UH, FOR MR. PARKS' COMMENT.
WE HAVE MONEY THAT WE CAN TRANSFER OVER THERE.
HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT GONNA STOP THE TAX INCREASE.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE, YOU EITHER DO IT NOW OR YOU DO IT NEXT YEAR.
SO EVERY, EVERYBODY NEED, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LEAVE HERE.
I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO, TO, TO THINK THAT, THAT IF WE TRANSFER FUNDS ONE TIME FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE DEFICIT IN EMS, FOR THE, UH, FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WILL BE FY 26, THEN FY
[01:35:01]
27, THE, THE TAXES WILL HAVE TO BE INCREASED.SO IT'S JUST, IT WOULD JUST BE DELAYING IT FOR A, UH, UH, FOR A YEAR.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, THE PUBLIC, UH, THAT WAS CLARIFIED.
UH, MEMBERS', BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ITEMS. MOVE THEM SECOND MEMBERS.
WE HAVE A MOTION PROBABLY SECOND TO, UH, APPROVE THE BUDGET APPROPRIATION ITEMS. ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
MOTION CARRIES MR. UH, PAY UP.
AYE, CERTIFY MOVE MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION.
CAN WE GET A SECOND? CAN WE GET A SECOND? SECOND
PROBABLY SECOND TO PAY THE BILLS.
ALL THERE'S A FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? NO, I DID THE OTHER ONE.
MS. PROCTOR, WE DON'T HAVE A CLOSE NEED.
SECOND MEMBERS WE HAVE MOTION AND PROPERLY SECOND TO ADJOURN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.