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OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGULAR MEETING[Board of Supervisors on March 19, 2025.]
ON THIS WEDNESDAY, NINE, UH, MARCH 19TH, 2025.IF YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE PUT IT ON SILENT OR TURN IT OFF FOR THE DURATION OF THE MEETING, WE'D CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND IF YOU'RE ABLE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND WITH US FOR INVOCATION AND OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
DEAR GOD BLESS HIS FEET AND ALLOW US TO DO OUR WORK THROUGH YOUR WILL.
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.
MR. HART, HOW ARE YOU? UM, ITEM ONE, THREE.
UH, WE DO NOT HAVE A, UH, REMOTE PARTICIPATION NIGHT.
UM, MR. TAR WILL NOT BE WITH US TONIGHT.
SO, UM, AND NEXT ON OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
UM, MR. PROCTOR, WE DO HAVE SOMEONE SIGN UP, SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE PUBLIC COMMENT RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THE CURRENT MEETING'S AGENDA, BUT SHALL NOT ADDRESS MATTERS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR FOR THE DAY.
NO INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR LONGER THAN FOUR MINUTES.
THE CHAIR SHALL ALLOCATE TIME AMONG THE SPEAKERS IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER.
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN ON A SUBJECT AT A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO READDRESS THE BOARD ON THE SAME SUBJECT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS SHOULD BE RESOLVED PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY CONTACTING A BOARD MEMBER OR THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION BY A PUBLIC MEET AT A PUBLIC MEETING MUST PRESENT THE PRESENTATION 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE FOR REVIEW BY STAFF FOR APPROPRIATENESS.
QUESTIONS SHALL BE DIRECTED TO THE CHAIR, WHO WILL, AT HIS DISCRETION SOLICIT THE RESPONSE FROM THE APPROPRIATE PERSON.
PERSONS ADDRESSING THE BOARD SHALL NOT USE AGGRESSIVE OR, OR EXCUSE ME, SHALL NOT USE INAPPROPRIATE OR DIS AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, NOR SHALL THEY USE INAPPROPRIATE OR THREATENING LANGUAGE OR VERBALLY ATTACK ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
THE CHAIR SHALL DIRECT ANY PERSON WHOSE BEHAVIOR IS VIOLENT OR DISRUPTIVE TO LEAVE THE MEETING ROOM, AND THE CHAIR HAS THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPER ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE RULES.
UH, FIRST ON THE LIST IS SARAH.
UH, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, WHEN YOU GET THERE, IF YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE YES, SIR.
MY ADDRESS IS 63 0 9 SMITH STREET, ONTE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUDGET.
I'M AN ENGLISH AND HISTORY TEACHER AT SHTE COMBINED SCHOOL.
I'M CONSIDERED HIGHLY QUALIFIED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BY HOLDING TWO MASTER'S DEGREES, AS WELL AS BEING ENDORSED TO TEACH SECONDARY ENGLISH MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY, FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE AND ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.
I AM FROM WHITFIELD, VIRGINIA IN THE FAR SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE, AND I HAVE NO TIES OR INCENTIVES TO STAY IN AKIMA COUNTY.
AFTER RETURNING FROM AN OVERSEAS TEACHING ASSIGNMENT IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, I CHOSE AKIMA COUNTY TO TURN TO RETURN TO TEACHING IN THE US.
I HAVE BEEN WELCOMED BY THIS COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
I AM THE TEACHER THAT THIS COMPRESSION BUDGET WAS CREATED FOR.
I'M IN YEAR 11 IN MY TEACHING CAREER, AND BY OFFERING A SALARY THAT IS COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER VIRGINIA SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THIS WILL HELP RETAIN TEACHERS AND RECRUIT OTHERS TO THE COUNTY.
IT MAKES ME WANT TO STAY IN MACK.
I HAVE BEEN WELCOMED INTO EACH SPACE I'VE STEPPED TO IN THE SCHOOLS, FROM ARCADIA MIDDLE TOHIN, FATIGUE TO THE MIGRANT PROGRAM AND ATHLETICS.
I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO KNOW THAT MY HARD WORK, DEDICATION TO MY CLASSROOM AND CONTINUED EDUCATION ARE VALUED.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED COMPRESSION BUDGET TO HELP KEEP HIGHLY QUALIFIED EDUCATORS IN AKIMA COUNTY.
HELLO, MR. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS PAT SMILEY, AND I LIVE AT 44 15 44 14 EAST WINDS IN CHINE, VIRGINIA.
FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM CHAIR OF THE YAKIMA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE BEFORE YOU.
TONIGHT IS A PROPOSAL TO, UH, MOVE THE RO VOTING, POLLING LOCATION AT TONKIN TO, UH, MARYANNE SMITH SCHOOL.
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I AM CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.UH, THE, UH, IT'S REALLY FOR ALL THE VOTERS I HAVE WITNESSED.
UH, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THERE IS REALLY CELL PHONE SERVICE.
UH, I KNOW THE SCHOOL WOULD TRY TO ACCOMMODATE US, BUT THERE'S NO CELL PHONE SERVICE, WHICH CAN AFFECT, UH, LOOKING UP, UH, YOU KNOW, VOTERS FOR THEIR INFORMATION.
AND THE MAIN THING IS THE REGISTRAR BEING ABLE TO CONTACT ELECTION OFFICIALS ON THE DAY OF ELECTION, AND THEY BEING ABLE TO CONTACT HER WITHOUT HAVING TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
IT HASN'T WORKED FOR A FEW YEARS.
I'VE BEEN THERE BECAUSE INCIDENTS WERE CREATED BECAUSE WE HAD A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
SO PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WERE GETTING UPSET, UH, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, SEEMING THAT THEIR RIGHTS WERE NOT BEING HONORED, UH, TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.
SO PLEASE TAKE THIS, UH, VERY SERIOUSLY AND CONSIDER MOVING IT.
THAT IS A, IT'S, IT'S A MATTER THAT I KNOW IS VERY SERIOUS, BUT, UH, IT REALLY HAS TO BE DONE.
AND, UH, I THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, SUE MATEL, 1 4 3 2 9 MERE CIRCLE HARTON.
UM, I'M ALSO GOING TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA ABOUT RELOCATING THE, UH, POLLING PLACE FROM THE MAT TOMKINS SCHOOL.
I, UM, LAST NOVEMBER VOLUNTEERED WITH THE DEMOCRAT PARTY TO BE AN OUTSIDE POLL VOLUNTEER, AND GOT TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND.
AND I WANT TO POINT OUT ONE ISSUE THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE BULLETED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ITEM IS, UM, LIGHTING.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ROTATE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE FRONT ENTRANCE AND USING THE SIDE ENTRANCE.
UH, LAST NOVEMBER WAS THE SIDE ENTRANCE.
THERE IS ZERO, I MEAN, ZERO LIGHTING FOR THAT ENTRANCE.
THE ONLY WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE ARRIVING AFTER SUNSET WITH TWO HOURS LEFT FOR VOTING WAS BY LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN.
ONCE THE POLLS CLOSED, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE STILL TRYING TO, AND POLL WORKERS, WERE STILL TRYING TO FINISH EVERYTHING UP AND WRAP EVERYTHING UP, THERE WAS NO LIGHTING AT ALL.
IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND I'M SURPRISED THAT IT'S ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
I DRIVE BY PUNGA TEA SCHOOL EVERY DAY, AND THAT PLACE IS LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CONSISTENCY IS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT, UM, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT A SAFE SITUATION.
SO IT'S ONE FACTOR THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED.
AND THAT'S ALL, UH, SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTARY.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE AGENDA.
THREE ONE, UM, UM, MEETING MINUTES.
UH, THAT IS FOR THE MEETING MINUTES OF TWO 13 AND 2 26.
UM, NEXT ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION WOULD BE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE A MOTION PROPERLY SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL OPPOSED, THAT MOTION CARRIES.
UH, NEXT ON THE AGENDA WOULD BE REPORT OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
AND ITEM 7 0 1 WOULD BE RECEIVE A REQUEST FROM THE ELECTORAL BOARD SEEKING THE RUE DISTRICT POLLING PLACE TO BE CHANGED FROM A TONKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO MARYAM, UH, SMITH, UH, CULTURE, EXCUSE ME, MARYHAM SMITH CULTURE ENRICHMENT CENTER.
UH, MR. MASON, I BELIEVE, UH, WELL, LET ME START WITH AN INTRODUCTION AS I NORMALLY DO.
UH, MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, YOU DO HAVE, UH, BEFORE YOU DENY MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORAL BOARD, IN FACT, THE CHAIRPERSON IS HERE AND SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT.
HER NAME IS, UH, MS. ELIZABETH BELL.
I COME BEFORE YOU ASKING THE SUPERVISORS TO, UM, HELP US START THE PROCESS TO MOVE.
UM, THE RULE LOCATION NUMBER 5 0 2, UH, BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCES TO THE PUBLIC, WE HAVE 1000 PLUS VOTERS THAT VOTE THERE AT THAT LOCATION.
AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THINGS WHICH YOU CAN SEE.
AND WE HAD SENT OUT, UH, INFORMATION WITH REGARDS TO THAT.
AND, UH, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE POLLING PLACES, ALL OF THEM, THERE ARE 15 OR 16 OF THEM IN THE COUNTY OF AAC, BUT THIS SPECIFIC ONE WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS. AND, UM, WITH THE LAST ELECTION, THERE WAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND PRETTY MUCH, UH, EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THEM.
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AND, UH, MS. SMILEY HAS, UH, EXPOUND ON THEM.AND WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE WORKED THOSE POLLS WHO ARE WORKERS, WHO ARE CHIEFS AND VICES CHIEF, DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO TO POLLING PLACES AND TO BE SAFE AND TO HAVE THE THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT ARE NEEDED, UH, WITH REGARDS TO THE SIGNALING AND THE PHONES TO BE.
UM, THIS IS THE TYPE OF COMMUNICATION THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, WHEN YOU CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AND YOUR COMPUTER'S, LAPTOPS OR WHATEVER'S NOT WORKING, YOU HAVE NO PHONE SERVICE AND WHATEVER, WHICH THIS LOCATION, UH, CAN'T HELP US WITH.
WE'D LIKE TO GO TO MARIAN SMITH CULTURAL CENTER.
AND, UH, IT IS IN DISTRICT FIVE, AND WE HAVE, UM, SUPERVISOR WASHINGTON.
AND WE HAVE HAD, UH, THE BOARD TO GO TO THAT LOCATION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT MOVED TO, TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING.
AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE IN ORDER, UH, WHICH, UH, IS REGARD TO ALL CITIZENS.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA SORT OF WAIVE MY TIME TOO.
WE DO HAVE, UH, ROGER AMIR, HE'S THE SECRETARY ON THE BOARD OF ELECTION.
AND, UH, IF HE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON IT, UM, WE COULD HAVE HIM SPEAK PLEASE.
I'LL TODAY, ALL THE INCONVENIENT ROGER WICK, UH, NEEDS STREET ADDRESS ON THAT.
AND A LOT OF IT, UH, IT'S, WE ONLY, WE COULD DO IT, RUN A HARD HARDWIRE LINE IN, BUT THAT'S THE SCHOOL BOARD'S PROPERTY.
WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO COME IN AND CREATE ANOTHER PHONE SYSTEM WITHIN THEIR, SO THE, THE WHOLE DEAL BREAKER ON EVERYTHING IS PHONE COMMUNICATION.
THE KEY PART IS THE STATE CHANGE TO SAME DAY REGISTRATION THAT THE VOTERS NOW CAN LITERALLY WALK IN ON ELECTION DAY, FILL OUT A VOTER APPLICATION, THEY HAVE TO VOTE PROVISIONAL, BUT THEY CAN VOTE IMMEDIATELY WITH THAT.
BUT YOU HAVE TO VOTE IN YOUR OWN PRECINCT WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE COMMUNICATION TO THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE.
THE FIRST THING SHE HAS TO DETERMINE, ONE IS WHETHER IT IS A LEGITIMATE ADDRESS.
AND THEN ONCE IT'S A LEGITIMATE ADDRESS, IS IT ACTUALLY IN THE 5 0 2 IN THAT IF THIS PERSON IS IN THE 5 0 1 OR ACROSS THE BORDER IN THE 6 0 2, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEY, WE FILL IT OUT THERE, THEY SAY, WE HAVE, WHEN WE HEAR THEIR PROVISIONAL BALLOT, WE HAVE TO DISALLOW THEIR VOTING.
SO THAT'S ALL, THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
AND IT'S JUST FOR, UH, MAKE SURE THAT HIS CONSTITUENTS VOTES ALL COUNT.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? MS. MS. JOHNSON AND YOU? I'M SORRY.
AHEAD, ARE YOU? YES, I THINK IT WAS MS. UM, SMILEY.
MR. SMILEY, HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THIS CONCERN? HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? WELL, ACTUALLY, UH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, IT'S BEEN AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
UH, ROGER AND I HAD TO GO THERE ONE TIME OVER AN INCIDENT BECAUSE, UM, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE THE POLLING AREA.
SO IF THE CHIEF HAS TO MAKE A PHONE CALL, SHE'S LEAVING THE AREA TO MAKE PHONE CALLS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
THE ELECTION OFFICIALS WERE COMING OUT AND THEN, UH, THE CHIEF IS IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THE ELECTION RUNS PROPERLY AND THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY COMING OUT ANYMORE.
SO THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION AT ALL.
SO WE WERE CALLED THERE TO ADDRESS THAT SITUATION.
SO IT'S REALLY BEEN A COUPLE YEARS AND OBVIOUSLY THE SCHOOL CAN'T FIX IT, YOU KNOW, AND WITH THE LIGHTING AS WELL, UM, YOU HAD THAT CONCERN THAT, THAT LONG SPAN.
UM, I HAD, I WAS NOT THERE LATE AT NIGHT TO HAVE THAT CONCERN, AND I DID NOT HEAR ABOUT THAT.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, VOTERS HAVE SAID THE SCHOOL CHANGES LOCATIONS WITHIN THE SCHOOL.
AND WHERE WE CURRENTLY ARE NOW IS TOO SMALL.
VOTERS WERE CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WERE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS OR TRYING TO VOTE, YOU KNOW, PRIVACY.
'CAUSE I THINK WE'RE IN THE LIBRARY AND, UH, THE SCHOOL CAN BE A MAZE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO A NEW BUILDING AND THIS IS A BIG BUILDING, YOU'RE WANDERING
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AROUND, SO MM-HMMTHOSE KINDS OF ISSUES HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
AND I DO AGREE WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, SUE ASTILL WHO SAID, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO ENTER FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
AND I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WAS ALSO IN THE REPORT SENT TO, UH, THE BOARD THAT, UM, THE PRINCIPAL WOULD BE NOTIFIED TIMELY.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA BE HOLDING AN ELECTION, BUT IT, THE PLACE WAS NOT ALWAYS READY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
SO THERE, THERE WAS TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THINGS NOT STARTING ON TIME, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD ASK TO MOVE A POLLING POLICE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE THE NEW PLACE IS.
BUT IRRESPECTIVE OF THAT, IT, IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE, UH, BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO VOTE.
AND ESPECIALLY AS MR. ROGERS, UH,
YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT IS A BIG ISSUE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE DO DO THAT.
AND I DON'T MIND BEING HONEST.
SO IF THEY CAN'T GET THEIR INFORMATION CLARIFIED FROM THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, THEN YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T.
AND I BELIEVE SOME PROVISIONAL BALLOTS HAD TO BE DISREGARDED.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SAME DAY VOTING.
AND, UH, PEOPLE DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHO TO ADDRESS MY QUESTION TO, BUT, UM, SO MS. BE I, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
AND, AND I, I WANNA SAY FROM, UH, AND A COUPLE THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I'VE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT THIS.
I THINK, THINK IT'S A ABSOLUTELY GREAT THING THAT THESE VERY SERIOUS ISSUES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, THE, AS AS YOU JUST SAID, UH, OUR POLLING PLACES ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS WE DO AS A BOARD.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE I ACTUALLY HAVE GREAT CONCERN THAT THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE YEARS ARE NOW JUST COMING UP TO LIGHT TONIGHT.
AND WE'VE GOT A SHORT WINDOW, WHICH WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A MOVE WITHOUT HAVING TO DO THE TIME, REALLY DUE PROCESS TO, TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES FROM A COUNTY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME, FROM WHAT I AM UNDERSTANDING FROM MR. MASON, THAT, AND I'LL BE QUITE HONEST, I MEAN, THIS IS A LIST OF ISSUES THAT COMES IN AN EMAIL TO THE COUNTY AND WE GET 'EM RESOLVED.
AND IF THE SCHOOL'S NOT SUPPORTED, WE GO TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SAY, WE NEED THIS RESOLVED.
THEN WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I'VE SEEN IN OTHER LOCALITIES WHERE I'VE LIVED A POLLING PLACE MOVED.
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY WERE PROPERLY REPRESENTED BY THAT MOVE.
UM, THERE WILL BE IN THE INSTANCE WHERE IT'S BEEN THE BEST FOR ME, AND I APOLOGIZE 'CAUSE I SAID I WAS GONNA ASK A QUESTION, AND NOW I'VE GONE INTO A DIATRIBE.
SO, UM, UH, WHERE IT'S BEEN THE BEST IS WHEN YOU VOTED, YOU GOT HANDED A CARD.
AND IT SAID, THIS IS WHERE YOUR NEXT POLLING LOCATION'S GONNA BE.
WHICH TOTALLY CONFUSED ME WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT THE, I DID HAVE EVIDENCE.
SO I, I, I, MY POSITION IS NOT THAT IT IS IN ANY WAY MY PLACE TO DETERMINE THE POLLING LOCATION FOR MR. WASHINGTON'S DISTRICT.
AND HE REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT.
I'VE ENJOYED MY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ON THIS TOPIC, HAS BEEN VERY INFORMATIVE.
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT GOOD GOVERNANCE MEANS.
WE AS THE GOVERNMENT, NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE BEFORE WE TAKE THE EXTREME ISSUE OF RELOCATING A POLLING PLACE.
SO MY ASK IS THAT WE WOULD TAKE THIS CONSIDERATION, RESOLVE, SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.
BECAUSE YOU, WHEN I REVIEWED THE PACKET, THE TIMING, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IS THE TIMING FROM STATE LAW THAT WE HAVE OR TO IT'LL TAKE TO MOVE THIS, TO MAKE THIS OFFICIAL? WELL, I DO KNOW THAT, LIKE I SAID, ONCE YOU GUYS AGREE WITH US THAT WE HAVE A REASON TO MOVE UPON PLACE, UH, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING.
WE'D HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT IN THE PAPER TWICE AND TO HAVE THE PUBLIC TO COME IN WITH THEIR FEEDBACK.
BUT APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE, UM, WE ARE CHANGING BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THE COLOR OF THE BUILDING OR WHATEVER.
WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THESE VOTERS.
I MYSELF WENT, UH, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ELECTORAL BOARD.
I WAS CALLED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY SIGNALS.
I HAD TO GET THE LAPTOPS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T LOOK UP PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT REGISTER TO FIND OUT ARE YOU IN THE RIGHT PLACE OR WHATEVER.
AND, UH, IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH NO SIGNALS AT ALL.
AND IT WAS CONFUSING IN THE LIBRARY WHERE THEY HAD US, IT WAS VERY SMALL.
I THINK VOTERS SHOULD HAVE PRIVACY.
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NO ONE SHOULD SEE WHO YOU'RE VOTING FOR.AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, THERE WERE A FEW OTHER THINGS.
BUT THE THING IS, UH, I JUST FEEL THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THIS JUST TO GO OUT THEIR FREEDOM TO VOTE.
AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT SHOULD, AND MAYBE, UH, WE HAVEN'T CHANGED IN A WHILE, BUT TO TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS SOME MORE, UH, TALK ABOUT, IT WAS AT MEAT LAND IN PARKLEY SOME YEARS AGO.
THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND IT DID GO TO, UM, WELL TO THE, UH, MARIAN SMITH.
BUT WITH THE SCHOOL'S, UM, SITUATION AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DISTURB THE SCHOOL.
SO IT WENT BACK TO THE TOMPKIN.
AND, UH, NOW THERE'S A PROBLEM THERE BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE YOU IN THE LIBRARY AND IT'S SO SMALL.
AND YOU, YOU WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT COMING IN TO VOTE.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE COMING IN AT THE SAME TIME, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
AND THE INCONVENIENCE, AND LIKE I SAID, CHECK IN TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN THE PROPER PLACE TO VOTE.
I THINK THIS IS JUST IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO FORCE YOU GUYS TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT ON SPUR OF THE MOMENT, BUT TO CONSIDER, UM, GIVE US A CHANCE TO TRY TO SEE WHAT THE PUBLIC'S SAYING AND TO ADVERTISE IT.
AND AT LEAST TO FIND OUT HOW THE PUBLIC FEEL.
THEY'RE THE VOTERS, UH, CHAIR.
LISTEN, UM, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO WHAT WE ARE HEARING, THAT THAT IS A PROBLEM.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS, AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND ANYTIME THAT PEOPLE GET DISCOURAGED FOR REASONS NOT TO VOTE, THAT CAN LEAD TO SOME VOTER SUPPRESSION.
AND SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO THE BOARD IS, THIS IS THE DISTRICT THAT I'M IN.
IF MY NAME IS ON A BALLOT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GET EVERY VOTE
AND IF THERE'S A CHANCE THAT I WON'T GET A VOTE BECAUSE OF SOME ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED, AND WE CAN FIND A PLACE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THAT DECISION TO MOVE THE POLLING PLACE.
AND SO I'M GONNA STAND WITH THE ELECTORAL COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE CONSTITUENTS.
AND I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THIS TOO.
I'VE GOT AT LEAST SEVERAL EMAILS FROM OTHER CONSTITUENTS, UM, THAT HAVE HAD THESE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS OVER AT THE SCHOOL.
FROM SPACE TO SECURITY, PRIVACY, ALL THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED.
SO I, I WANT TO HAVE THE POLL MOVED AS WELL AS THEY DO.
SO YOU PUTTING THAT IN FORM OF MOTION, I WANT, I WANT TO OFFER A MOTION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ELECTORAL COMMITTEES REQUEST TO RELOCATE THE POLICE PLACE TO MUR SMITH WITH, UH, THE LIBRARY AS AN ALTERNATE IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND BEFORE WE VOTE, UM, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, OR DO WE MAKE DISCUSSION SO THAT, TO CLARIFY, THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT HAS TO BE OBSERVED.
THAT'S 30 DAYS AND THERE'S CERTAIN ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS PERFECT.
THAT HAVE TO, UH, BE MET WITH THAT.
SO REALLY WHAT THE BOARD WOULD BE DOING TONIGHT IS, IS, UH, THE MOTION MAY NEED TO READ THAT YOU OR, UH, WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO MOVE AHEAD WITH A PUBLIC SCHEDULING.
THE, THE THING WE NEED TO DO, UM, IS IF, IF, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WE'RE GOING, WE NEED TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS.
AND WHERE DO YOU WANT TO HOLD THIS PUBLIC HEARING? DO YOU WANNA HOLD IT AT MA TOMPKIN BECAUSE OF THIS ROOM'S? UM, YOU NEED TO CUT A MOTION, PLEASE.
BUT, UH, BUT IN ANY CASE, THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION IS TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN STAFF WOULD HAVE TO REACH OUT, UM, TO THE SCHOOLS IF YOU WANT TO HAVE IT THERE AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF, OF THAT, UH, THAT SPACE.
THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THE SECOND GOOD WITH THAT DISCUSSION.
I JUST WOULD LIKE, I THINK THERE WERE SEVERAL POINTS THAT WERE MADE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS ALL OF THOSE, EXCEPT FOR THE CELL SERVICE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
AND PARKING IS CERTAINLY BETTER THERE THAN IT IS AT PARSLEY.
AND LIGHTING REALLY IS, THAT'S A LIGHT LIGHTING IS AN ISSUE IN PARSLEY IN GENERAL.
SO, UM, BUT I BELIEVE, AND THAT'S MY POINT TO THE BOARD.
WE, WE CAN GO FORWARD, WE CAN HAVE THIS HEARING, BUT THIS IS ABOUT 120 DAY PROCESS.
IT LOOKED LIKE TO ME FROM MY REVIEW OF THE PACKET.
I MAY HAVE MISINTERPRETED, BUT THERE'S THIS, THE STATE'S GONNA TAKE ABOUT 60 DAYS TO MAKE THEIR DETERMINATION.
MS. PROCTOR, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT IT'S ABOUT 135.
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YOU.WE JUST NEED YOUR APPROVAL TO START, TO START WITH.
WELL, I MEAN, I, YES MA'AM, THANK YOU.
BUT I'M CONCERNED HOW CLOSE WE'RE GONNA BE UP UNTIL THE ELECTION PERIOD BY THE TIME WE GET ALL THIS SCHEDULED.
AND THEREFORE, AS MUCH AS I, IF WE NEED TO MOVE IT, GREAT, BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA RUN INTO SCHEDULING ISSUES AT THIS LATE DATE, RAISING THIS ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN OUT HERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
UM, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE, UH, ISSUES LISTED IN THE EMAIL HAVE ALL BEEN ADDRESSED, INCLUDING MADE ACCESS TO A HARD LINE PHONE.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, WE SHOULDN'T BE, IN MY OPINION, AND I'M LOOKING AT MY ELECTORAL BOARD FOLKS, I'M KIND OF SURPRISED THAT THE, WE AREN'T GETTING COUNTY PHONES FOR THE POLLING PLACE CHIEFS INSTEAD OF THEM TRYING TO USE THEIR PRIVATE PHONES.
'CAUSE YOU'LL NEVER RESOLVE THAT.
'CAUSE MY T-MOBILE PHONE DOESN'T WORK WHERE YOUR VERIZON PHONE.
SO I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BUDGET ITEM FOR, TO PROVIDE PROPER CELLULAR SERVICE.
IF THAT'S A REQUIREMENT TO THE COUNTY AND I, IF I GOTTA BE OUT THERE WITH MY STAR LINK, I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE CAN PROVIDE CELL SERVICE TO THAT SPOT.
I LIVE, YOU KNOW, I'M FROM PARKLEY, SO THAT'S NOT AN INSURMOUNTABLE THING.
AND YET WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A, UH, VOTING PERIOD, WHICH IS PROBABLY GONNA BE RATHER CONTENTIOUS AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE A POLLING PLACE AND WE'RE NOT GONNA KNOW UNTIL WE GET 135 DAYS PAST TODAY OR PAST THE DAY OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIMING, OKAY, IF WE WANT TO DO THIS FOLKS, AND YOU'VE GOT THE CRITERIA, BUT WHY NOT DO THIS ONE MORE TIME, TRY TO FIX THE ALLOCATIONS AND OR THE ISSUES, EXCUSE ME, FIX THE ISSUES AND, AND MAKE A DETERMINATION WHEN YOU HAVE THAT TWO YEAR WINDOW BETWEEN ELECTIONS.
OH, DO I HAVE THE FLOOR NOW? YES, YOU DO.
I, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS AND, AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED, BUT IF THE SITTING SUPERVISOR THANK YOU, WANTS TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT, I JUST, USUALLY WHEN THINGS ARE DISTRICT SENSITIVE, I ALWAYS, AS A RULE OF THUMB, LOOK TO THE SUPERVISOR OF THAT DISTRICT.
IF THE SUPERVISOR, THE DISTRICT SAYS HE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT.
SO I MOVE THAT I CALL FOR THE QUESTION, WAIT A MINUTE.
I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD SINCE 2013 AND WE'VE ALWAYS YIELDED TO THE SUPERVISOR IN THE DISTRICT AS, AS TO WHERE THE, UH, ELECTION PRECINCTS ARE, ARE BEING HELD.
SO IF, IF, IF MR. WEISS HAS SAID TODAY, NO, I WANT IT TO STAY WHERE IT IS, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD GO.
HE WANTS IT TO MOVE, BE MOVED.
SO I'M, I'M IN SUPPORTIVE THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR, UH, TO LET THE ELECTORAL BOARD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WITH THIS TOPIC.
UNDER OLD BUSINESS, RECEIVE A STATUS UPDATE ON THE COUNTY'S REGIONAL OPIOID, UH, ABUSE, UM, UH, REMEDIATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING TESTIMONIALS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OPERATION PREVENTION AND COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM.
UH, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
A WRITTEN REPORT WAS PROVIDED DETAILING THE STATUS OF THE MULTIPLE GOALS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR REGIONAL OPIOID ABUSE REMEDIATION PROGRAM THAT WAS IN YOUR PACKET.
UH, THE BOARD WILL RECALL THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ACK COUNTY, UH, BETWEEN AKIMA COUNTY AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AND THE EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD.
IT'S, THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY OPIOID DIRECT SETTLEMENT PROCEEDS AND A GRANT FROM THE VIRGINIA OPIOID ABATEMENT AUTHORITY.
WHILE THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE SERVICES, THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF TONIGHT'S UPDATE IS TO HIGHLIGHT OPERATION PREVENTION.
AND, AND MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AN ARTICLE IN THE RECENT, UH, POST REGARDING THAT.
UH, THIS IS A SCHOOL BASED OPIOID PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED NOT ONLY IN AKIMA COUNTY, BUT NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY AS AS WELL AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING SOME VERY POSITIVE, UM, OUTCOME RESULTS.
SO, UM, TONIGHT WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS, UM, THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM.
UM, UP FIRST IS, IS CARRIE PHILLIPS.
SHE'S WITH THE ES, UM, THE CSB AND IS GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE, OF OPERATION PREVENTION AND UH, AND THEN SHE'LL BE FILED BY SOME OTHER, UH, FOLKS TO ADD TO HER COMMENTS.
[00:30:01]
MR. MASON.THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU LETTING ME COME AND TALK ABOUT THIS.
SO MY NAME IS CARRIE PHILLIPS.
I AM THE SENIOR PREVENTION SPECIALIST FOR EASTERN SHORT COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD OFFICE OF PREVENTION.
AND WHAT I AM GOING TO KIND OF OVERVIEW FOR YOU TODAY IS THE PROGRAM CALLED OPERATION PREVENTION THAT WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED THIS SCHOOL YEAR IN AKIMA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE 10TH GRADE CLASSROOMS AND IN THE NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE CLASSROOMS. SO BECAUSE WE'RE AKIMA COUNTY, WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON THAT 10TH GRADE, UM, CURRICULUM AS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM DOES VARY JUST A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
UM, BUT DO WE HAVE THE POWERPOINT? OH, SORRY, I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS YOUR POWERPOINT.
I WENT TO LOOK UP TO SAY, NOW YOU LOOK UP.
YEP, THAT'S WHERE I WANNA OH, WONDERFUL.
SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF JUST MY TITLE SLIDE.
BEFORE I GO INTO TELLING YOU ALL ABOUT THE DATA AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS, I WANNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM IS AND WHY.
I THINK THAT QUITE HONESTLY, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE LIVES AND TO TRULY IMPACT THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
SO OPERATION PREVENTION IS AN OPIOID, UM, PREVENTION PROGRAM.
SO WE FOCUS ON OPIOIDS, BUT WE DO TALK ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE AS A WHOLE.
UM, AND I WANNA START OUT BY SAYING I'M THE MAIN FACILITATE, I'M THE FACILITATOR FOR IT.
AND WHEN I GO INTO OPERATION PREVENTION, FIRST TIME MEETING THESE KIDS, I SET THE TONE WITH ASK ME ANYTHING, NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE.
EVEN QUESTIONS ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE THAT THEY MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE TALKING TO THEIR PARENTS WITH, THAT THEY MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE TALKING TO A TEACHER.
THEY'RE GONNA SEE EVERY DAY, THEY'RE GONNA SEE ME FOR SIX SESSIONS AND THEN MAYBE NEVER AGAIN.
UM, AND IT REALLY OPENS UP AND CREATES WHAT I, WHAT I WANT IT TO CREATE.
AND WHAT THE PROGRAM ALLOWS FOR IS SUCH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THESE KIDS TO ASK.
BECAUSE TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, I WOULD MUCH RATHER THEM ASK ME A QUESTION ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE OR OPIOIDS OR ANY OTHER DRUGS THAN THEM GOING ONLINE TO TRY TO FIND THAT INFORMATION.
WE KNOW THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS FULL OF FALSE INFORMATION MYTHS ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE AND OPIOIDS.
SO I WOULD RATHER THEM ASK ME AND ME BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE FACTS ABOUT WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OKAY? OR THE OTHER PLACE THAT THEY TEND, THAT TEENS TEND TO TURN IS EXPERIMENTATION TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTION.
AND THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, CAN BE DEADLY.
IT TAKES 0.2 MILLIGRAMS OF FENTANYL TO KILL YOU.
AND THAT'S BEING LACED IN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET OFF THE STREET.
NOWADAYS, ONE MISTAKE AS A TEENAGER CAN LITERALLY COST THEM THEIR LIVES.
SO ANYTHING'S ON THE TABLE, ASK ME ANYTHING, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IT AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU THE MOST INFORMATION.
BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE MORE INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN GIVE THESE KIDS, THE MORE TRUTHFUL AND FACTUAL INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE THEM.
NOT SOMETHING THEY'RE GETTING OFF SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHEREVER.
THE BETTER EQUIPPED THAT THEY ARE TO MAKE SMARTER DECISIONS WHEN THEY'RE PRO, WHEN THEY ARE PUT INTO THAT POSITION, WHETHER THEY'RE EXPOSED TO MAYBE PEER PRESSURE OR THINGS ALONG THAT NATURE, THE MORE INFORMATION YOU GIVE 'EM, THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT A TOPIC, THE BETTER YOU'RE INFORMED YOU ARE TO MAKE A DECISION.
SO I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THIS IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT A WORD CLOUD IS, IS YOU PUT ALL OF YOUR, YOU ASK A QUESTION.
SO MY QUESTION HERE AT THE VERY BEGINNING, MY FIRST DAY GOING IN WAS, WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW ABOUT OPIOIDS? WHAT DO YOU KNOW? SO YOU INPUT ALL OF THEIR ANSWERS.
AND THEN AS ANSWERS ARE REPEATED OR THE SAME THING IS ENTERED TWICE, THE WORD GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.
SO WHAT YOU CAN SEE HERE IS NOTHING.
THEY'RE ADDICTIVE, THEY'RE BAD.
SO PRETTY BROAD LEVEL INFORMA GENERAL ED INFORMATION COMING IN ABOUT THESE OPIOIDS.
AND WHY I INCLUDE THESE WORD CLOUDS IS BECAUSE I AM A PREVENTIONIST AT HEART.
AND PREVENTION IS ALL ABOUT REALLY GETTING TO THE ROOT OF TELLING THESE STORIES OF THESE KIDS.
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT BACKGROUND THESE KIDS ARE COMING FROM AND THAT'S GONNA AFFECT HOW THEY PERCEIVE THE INFORMATION AND TOPIC AROUND TOPICS LIKE SUBSTANCE USE.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THEY'RE GONNA PERCEIVE THAT INFORMATION.
NUMBERS PROVE THAT THINGS HAVE WORKED OR DID NOT WORK.
BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE HEART OF THE INFORMATION AND LIKE YOU'LL SEE AT THE END OF THIS SLIDE, I'M ALL ABOUT STORIES.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER HEAR ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTED A STUDENT OR A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAN YAY.
A NUMBER SAID THAT IT WENT UP.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT PREVENTION IS ALL ABOUT, IS GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT THERE,
[00:35:01]
TELLING THE STORY AND SEEING WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE.NOW I'M GONNA HIT YOU WITH YOUR NUMBERS 'CAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES THAT DATA FACTS.
SO 194 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN OPERATION PREVENTION IN AKIMA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MEANING IT WAS 194 10TH GRADERS AND 144 OF THEM COMPLETED PRE AND POST TESTING.
MEANING THEY WERE THERE THE FIRST TIME AND THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE AND I WAS ABLE TO COLLECT DATA BOTH TIMES.
THE AVERAGE PRE-TESTING SCORE OUT OF FIVE WAS A 3.44.
SO ABOUT RIGHT AROUND THE MIDDLE.
AND THE AVERAGE POST-TESTING SCORE WAS 4.41 OUT OF FIVE.
AND THESE ARE THE SCORES THAT I HAVE COMPILED OVER ALL OF THE SCHOOLS.
SO THIS ISN'T JUST ARCADIA OR NUA, THIS IS ARCADIA NUA, OKAY? AND THAT'S A 97% INCREASE.
THAT'S A PRETTY BIG INCREASE FOR OUR FIRST TIME DOING THIS, WHICH I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH.
UM, SO WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT TO GET THESE? WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS AN OPIOID? SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT AN OPIOID IS LIKE THAT YOU CAN GET FROM YOUR DOCTOR AS A PAIN MEDICATION OR IN THE HOSPITAL.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THAT IS VERSUS WHAT THE OPIUM POPPY IS.
SO WHERE SOMETHING COMES FROM, AND THEN THINGS THAT ARE DERIVED FROM THAT.
AND THEN WE ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE, UM, STREET DRUGS ARE.
SO THESE SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS THAT ARE COMING OFF THE STREET THAT YOU MAY THINK, YOU KNOW, A TRUSTWORTHY FRIEND GAVE YOU AN OXY, BUT IN ALL ACTUALITY, IF THAT'S LACED WITH FENTANYL, AND WE'RE FINDING MORE AND MORE THAT ANYTHING YOU'RE GETTING ON THE STREET NOW IS LACED WITH FENTANYL, THAT CAN BE A, IT CAN BE DEADLY.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WE DO TALK ABOUT FENTANYL AND HOW DEADLY IT CAN BE AND THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL AND HOW YES, IT CAN BE USED AS A MEDICINE JUST LIKE OPIOIDS CAN BE.
BUT FENTANYL ON THE STREET IS SO UNREGULATED THAT ALL IT TAKES IS THE PENS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN YOUR HAND.
WHAT WILL FIT ON THE VERY TIP OF THAT PEN IS WHAT IT TAKES TO KILL YOU.
SO IMAGINE TRYING TO PUT THAT INTO ME.
CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SURE, GO AHEAD.
SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY WAS COMING IN AND YOU WERE WAITING.
NO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST DIDN'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU.
FIRST QUESTION IS THE, UH, THE CLOUD THAT YOU HAD IN THE SLIDE BEFORE YES.
THAT WAS PRETESTING, RIGHT? THIS IS PRETESTING.
MAYBE YOU ARE, MAYBE YOU HAVE ONE.
DO YOU HAVE A CLOUD AFTER TESTING? YEP.
YOU JUST RUINED MY FINALE, SO THAT'S OKAY.
I'M A VERY, IT'S PART OF THE STORY, RIGHT? IT GIVES YOU THAT VISUAL VERSUS JUST THE NUMBERS.
SECOND QUESTION, WAS TANGER INVOLVED IN THE UH, SO TANGIER, I AM STILL WORKING ON GETTING INTO WHERE IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SOMETHING VIRTUAL.
UM, AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHERE THEY HAVE SO FEW STUDENTS.
IF I WERE TO JUST TARGET 10TH GRADE, I COULD END UP JUST BEING TALKING TO TWO KIDS.
YOU'D BE BETTER OFF TALKING WITH SEVERAL, YEAH, SEVERAL GRADE LEVELS.
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HANDS HERE AND WE ARE, WE ARE AWARE OF THAT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEIR PRINCIPAL TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GONNA BE THE BEST WAY.
I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE WE'RE GONNA DO A MIX OF THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND GO AHEAD AND TARGET THOSE, UM, AT LEAST SEVENTH AND EIGHTH UP TO LIKE NINTH AND 10TH.
THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THEM.
AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, WE WOULD LOOK TO SEE ONE, HOW MANY STUDENTS THEY HAVE NEXT YEAR.
AND IF IT'S ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ANOTHER SMALL GROUP, THEN WE WOULD DO IT.
IF NOT, WE'D HAVE TO LIKE KIND OF ROTATE THAT WITH THEM JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA GIVE THE SAME INFORMATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND THEY WOULD GET BORED, BUT YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT TANGIER.
SO I DO HAVE ANOTHER WORD, CLOUT
UM, BUT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT, SO WE TALK ABOUT THE MAKEUPS OF THE DIFFERENT DRUGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE CHEMICAL EFFECTS THAT THESE OPIOIDS HAVE IN YOUR BODY ON HOW THEY, UM, MIMIC THE OPIOID, THEN YOUR NATURAL ENDORPHINS IN YOUR BODY AND GO ONTO THE RECEPTORS.
WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NARCAN.
UM, I THINK AT THE END OF THE PACKET IT INCLUDES MY, YOU KNOW, LIKE LITTLE SUGGESTIONS, LIKE LEARNING CURVES THAT I'VE THOUGHT OF.
AND I, UM, GOING FORWARD, I WILL INCLUDE A BETTER SLIDE ON NARCAN BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP BY THE STUDENTS.
THEY HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT DURING OUR DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, LIKE, WHAT IS IT, HOW DO YOU USE IT? THAT SORT OF STUFF.
SO THAT WILL BE, WILL DEFINITELY HOLD LIKE A MORE INTENTIONAL DISCUSSION ON THAT AS WELL.
UM, AND WE ALSO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF THESE OPIATE, OF USING OPIOIDS.
SO NOT JUST THE IMMEDIATE EUPHORIC EFFECT THAT YOU MIGHT FEEL WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE IT, BUT LONG LOOKING AT IT LONG TERM, WHAT IT'S GONNA DO TO YOUR BODY.
AND THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT IN THE COURSE IS WE DO I AND I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING RECOVERY INTO THE CONVERSATION SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO SCARE THEM WITH ALL OF THIS SCARY INFORMATION WITHOUT TELLING THEM THAT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.
UM, I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS IF I WAS A KID AND
[00:40:01]
I DID SOME THINGS THAT I PROBABLY, LOOKING BACK NOW AS AN ADULT, AS WE MOSTLY WERE, I AM SURE EVERYBODY CAN AGREE WITH ME, YOU DON'T THINK THAT EVERY CHOICE YOU MADE AS A TEENAGER WAS PROBABLY THE BEST CHOICE.UM, BUT LOOKING BACK AT THAT KNOWING, BEING ABLE TO KNOW THAT I CAN COME BACK FROM THAT, THAT I CAN COME BACK FROM THAT ONE MISTAKE AND NOT LETTING IT RUIN THE REST OF MY LIFE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS OUT THERE AND THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN TRY TO COME BACK FROM THAT.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW TOO, THAT IF THIS DOES HAPPEN TO SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, OR IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU, RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE AND THESE OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMP REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT CONVERSATION AND WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
I'LL, LET ME PUT UP THE FIRST ONE AGAIN.
SO WE SEE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF, I DON'T KNOW, A LOT OF NOTHING.
THESE ARE THE RESPONSES THAT I GOT, RIGHT? WOW.
UM, IT AFFECTS THE, THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF OPIOIDS, THAT IT'S ADDICTIVE.
OPIOIDS CAN BE BAD DEPENDING ON HOW YOU USE THEM.
UM, IF YOU SEE THEM TALKING ABOUT SUSAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, A LOT OF 'EM MENTIONED SUSAN IN THEIR COMMENTS.
SUSAN IS A CHARACTER IN ONE OF THE INTERACTIVE VIDEOS FROM THE NIH THAT I PLAY FOR THEM.
IT'S CALLED, CALLED SUSAN'S STORY THROUGH ADDICTION.
AND IT SHOWS HOW SHE BROKE HER ARM AND SHE WAS GIVEN AN OPIOID AS A PRESCRIPTION AND ENDED UP BECOMING ADDICTED TO IT.
WENT INTO SORT OF THAT DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT CAN OFTEN COME.
BUT THEN SUSAN, IT ALSO SHOWS HER RECOVERY JOURNEY COMING BACK INTO THAT, DOING HER SMART RECOVERY GROUPS, GOING TO THERAPY AND GETTING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES FROM HER COMMUNITY THAT SHE NEEDS.
AND THEN YOU SEE SUSAN RIDING HER LITTLE BIKE AGAIN.
UM, THAT'S THE SHORT VERSION OF THAT VIDEO, BUT IF YOU SEE SUSAN, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY LIKED THE DRAMATIC VIDEO AT THE END AND THAT IT REALLY PUT IT INTO TERMS FOR THEM.
UM, I'M A BIG VIDEO PERSON, A BIG VISUAL PERSON IF YOU CAN'T TELL
UM, SO I TRY TO, ANYTHING THAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, I TRY TO BACK IT UP WITH A VIDEO OR HAVE A VISUAL UP BEHIND ME JUST FOR DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES.
BUT JUST BECAUSE I REALLY THINK THAT THAT HELPS HONE IT IN.
I CAN TALK ABOUT ENDORPHINS AND ALL THESE SCIENTIFIC WORDS ALL DAY LONG, BUT IF I SHOW YOU A CARTOON THAT SHOWS YOU HOW THIS ACTUALLY IS WORKING, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.
UM, I'LL BE BACK UP FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY FOR ME, BUT I DO WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO MS. BECKY HANEY.
SHE IS THE SOCIAL WORKER FOR MACK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND SHE JUST HAS A COUPLE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND OUR PARTNERSHIP THAT SHE WANTS TO GO THROUGH.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE WHY, UM, THE COMMENTS THAT I'M GONNA, THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT FROM THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS ARE ALL POSITIVE BECAUSE CARRIE, YOU CAN TELL, HAD THEM ENGAGED.
I MEAN, SHE'S SO LIVELY AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.
UM, THE FIRST TEACHER THAT I INTERVIEWED ABOUT THIS, UM, ACTUALLY SAID THAT IT WAS VERY REFRESHING FOR HIM TO HEAR FROM HER BECAUSE SHE'S A FIREBIRD AND UM, IS AN ALUMNI FROM THAT SCHOOL.
SO IT WAS VERY FULL CIRCLE FOR HIM.
I THINK HE TAUGHT HER AND THEN SHE CAME BACK AND WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT FOR HIS CURRENT STUDENT.
UM, SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE TEACHERS THAT I INTERVIEWED WAS, THEY WERE MOSTLY POSITIVE.
UM, THEY THOUGHT THAT THE PROGRAM WENT WELL, THEY WOULD SUGGEST DOING IT AGAIN.
UM, THEY LIKED THE DURATION OF THE COURSE.
IT WAS 30 TO 45 MINUTES, WHICH THEY FELT WAS ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THE STUDENTS WITHOUT MAKING IT BORING AND, YOU KNOW, THEM BEING OVER IT.
UM, THEY SEEMED TO BE FOCUSED, UM, FELT LIKE THE STUDENTS WERE ENGAGED.
UM, CARRIE DID A GOOD JOB OF CREATING A DIVERSE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
SO SHE WAS, UM, DOING A LOT OF INTERACTIVE, UM, INSTRUCTION.
THEY WERE DRAWING ON POSTER BOARDS, THEY WORKED IN GROUPS, THEY WATCHED VIDEOS.
SO THAT VARIETY OF LEARNING IS, IS HELPFUL FOR STUDENTS.
KIND OF TOUCHING ON ALL LEARNING STYLES.
UM, IT WAS ALSO NOTED BY TEACHERS THAT DRUG PREVENTION IS TOUCHED ON IN NINTH, IN THE NINTH GRADE HEALTH CURRICULUM.
UM, BUT THIS TEACHER LIKED THAT THE INFORMATION BROUGHT UP AGAIN, THE SUBSTANCE USE, UM, IN 10TH GRADE WITH A HEAVY FOCUS ON THE EFFECTS OF FENTANYL.
AND, UM, VAPING ALSO WAS, UM, A BIG SUBJECT AND OPIOID USE.
SO IT WAS GOOD FOR THEM TO GET IN NINTH GRADE, BUT THEN GET MORE IN DEPTH INFORMATION ON THAT IN 10TH GRADE.
UM, AS FOR THE STUDENT FEEDBACK, UM, BOTH OF THE STUDENTS THAT I INTERVIEWED VERY MUCH SO ENJOYED THE INFORMATION.
UM, THEY ENJOYED, THEY BOTH NOTED THE GROUP WORK WAS, WAS GOOD FOR LEARNING.
UM, THEY BOTH ALSO NOTED THAT LEARNING ABOUT THIS INFORMATION CAN OFTEN BE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A COMFORTABLE SETTING AND EASY FOR THEM TO LEARN ABOUT IT.
UM, THEY ALSO FELT THAT IT WAS BENEFICIAL AND WERE SURPRISED THAT THESE DRUGS AND THE DRUG USE IS MORE COMMON THAN THEY ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS.
ONE OF THE STUDENTS BROUGHT UP, UM, A GOOD POINT THAT IN 10TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE DRIVING, SO THEY'RE BECOMING MORE INDEPENDENT AND THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING EXPOSED TO THINGS LIKE THIS INCREASES.
SO IT WAS A GOOD TIME FOR THEM TO GET THIS INFORMATION.
[00:45:01]
ONE OF THE STUDENTS SAID THAT THE INFORMATION DIDN'T GET STALE BECAUSE THE SESSIONS WEREN'T TOO LONG OR TOO SHORT.UM, AND BOTH OF THEM RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM, UM, BE PUT IN PLACE FOR STUDENTS FOR NEXT YEAR.
THEY THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT, RELEVANT, AND, UM, GOOD INFORMATION.
UM, SO IN SUMMARY, THE PROGRAM WITH AKIMA COUNTY SCHOOLS WAS WELL RECEIVED BY STAFF AND STUDENTS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT IS VERY RELEVANT.
THE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA BOTH INDICATED THAT STUDENTS LEARNED FROM THIS PROGRAM.
AND THE HOPE IS THAT WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE, OUR STUDENTS WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES AND AVOID THESE EXTREMELY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES.
BOTH OF YOU, BOTH OF YOU STAND.
WHAT'S THE FUTURE HOLD FOR US AS FAR AS THIS PROGRAM GOES? IT'S GONNA CONTINUE.
WE GOT, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR NEXT ITEM.
I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO, I WOULD LOVE.
I'LL BE GLADLY I'LL, I'LL BE GLAD TO MAKE THE MOTION
I'LL SECOND DID MY JOB TO THIS PROGRAM.
I TRULY THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM, I I STAND BEHIND IT 110%.
UM, IT, IT'S ONE OF THE PROGRAMS, OH.
I MEAN, I STAND BEHIND ALL OF OUR PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AT CSV, BUT THIS ONE IS SO RELEVANT FOR RIGHT NOW AND SO RELEVANT TO OUR YOUTH.
AND I FEEL LIKE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP KIDS ALIVE AND NOT LET ONE MISTAKE KILL THEM, I THINK IT'S A NO-BRAINER THAT THIS HAS TO CONTINUE.
I SPENT 21 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE NEVER HAD TO, WHEN I WAS THERE, DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE THIS, RIGHT.
WE HAD DRUGS WE THAT WE DEALT WITH, BUT NOTHING, NOTHING.
WE COULD TAKE A LITTLE SPECK OF FENTANYL AND A CHILD DIE.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, WHEN IT COMES UP, I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE
WE WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO IT SHORTLY.
SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND THANK YOU LA FOR WHAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH FOR, WE'LL DO OUR BEST ENTHUSIASM HELP CONTINUE.
ALRIGHT, IS ANYTHING ELSE ON? NO.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY? WE GOOD? DID YOU ANYTHING, MIKE? I IF IT MINES THIS ONE OR THE NEXT ONE? MIKE.
MIKE AM COMING UP NOW OR SHE? YES.
CASE IF YOU, IF YOU WANT, YOU'RE NOT HAVE TO SAY MUCH.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE ON, YOU'RE UNDER THIS ITEM, BUT YOU CAN, SHE CLOSED THE DEAL.
I JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU HERE LISTENING TO ME RAMBLE AND TALKING AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS PROGRAM AND TO CONTINUE.
MAYBE THERE'S AN ALL RULE IN DEBATE WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THE DEBATE.
IF KELLY BUEN HADN'T HAVE GIVEN ME THIS TO, TO SPEAK, I, I FEEL LIKE IF I DON'T DO IT, THEN KELLY WILL BE MAD AT ME.
SO I'M MIMI SAJA, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CSP AND, UM, THE CLOUD PROUD EMPLOYER OF GARY, UM, AND COWORKER OF BECKY.
A COUPLE JUST POINTS SINCE WE LIKE NUMBERS THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FOR THE, UM, THE OPIATE ABATEMENT NUMBERS OVER THE LAST YEAR, FROM JULY ONE OF 24 TO MARCH OF 2025, SOME SERVICES THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED, UH, WE'VE INTAKE ASSESSMENTS WITH CLINICIANS AND PSYCHIATRISTS.
WE'VE DONE INDIVIDUAL THERAPY WITH CLINICIANS, INDIVIDUAL THERAPY WITH PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERS.
WE'VE HAD GROUP THERAPY, WE'VE HAD HEALTH NAVIGATOR TREATMENT, MEDICATION AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS AND PATIENT TRANSPORTATION.
UM, WE EXPENDED $51,944 ON THAT.
WE PROPOSED THAT WE WOULD TREAT 62 INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE ACTUALLY SERVED 104, UM, UNDER THE SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION EDUCATION, WE EXPENDED $34,538 WITH 15 EDUCATORS SERVED THE YOUTH.
WE PROPOSED WE WOULD, UM, SERVE 25 AND WE ACTUALLY SERVED 311.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT? WE'LL MOVE RIGHT TO 9.2.
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO APPLY FOR THE VIRGINIA OPIOID ABATEMENT AUTHORITY COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP GRANT.
AND WHAT THAT GRANT WILL DO IS ALLOW THESE LADIES CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY DO THROUGH PHYSICAL YEAR, UM, 26.
SO, SUPERVISOR CROCKETT, I HOPE YOU'RE READY WITH THAT MOTION.
IT ALSO FUNDS A, A NUMBER OF OTHER DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED.
BUT IN ANY CASE, ONE OF THE PRIMARY FUNDING MECHANISMS IS THIS COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP, UH, GRANT THAT THE COUNTY AND NORTH HAMPTON AND THE CSB OBTAINED FROM THE VIRGINIA OPIOID ABATEMENT
[00:50:01]
AUTHORITY.SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM IS TO, UH, GO AHEAD AND WITH THE BOARD'S PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF THAT FUNDING THAT WOULD FUND THIS PROGRAM AND THE OTHERS GOING THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026.
MS. CROCKETT, MR. CHAIRMAN, FIRST LEMME PREFACE BY SAYING THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE IN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
I'VE KNOWN BECKY SINCE SHE WAS A SQUIRT.
SHE AND MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER GREW UP TOGETHER AND THEY'RE BOTH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN A SPECIAL PLACE HERE.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, LADIES FOR WHAT YOU DO.
UH, PUBLIC HEARING WILL, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 MINUTES, SO LET'S MOVE ON, GET A COUPLE OTHER THINGS OUTTA THE WAY.
I DID SKIP OVER THAT APPOINTMENT.
UNDER TEN ONE, WE DO HAVE TWO, UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF APPOINTMENTS.
UH, FIRST IS THE EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD A VACANCY.
UH, JANET TURNER DOES NOT WISH TO BE REAPPOINTED.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE, UH, FOR THAT VACANCY? I'M SORRY, CAN I SPEAK REAL QUICK? I JUST THINK WE HAVE A VACANCY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS, WE, WE HAD TOO MANY FROM MACK AND NOT ENOUGH FROM A HAMPTON COUNTY.
WE LOOK AT WHO'S TRULY APPOINTED.
SO JUST, UM, MIKE, CAN YOU, CAN Y'ALL LOOK INTO THAT? TAKE CARE OF THAT AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT.
UM, NEXT WITH MACK COUNTY PARKS AND REC, WE DO HAVE A OPENING IN DISTRICT FOUR, UM, WHERE KAY LEWIS HAS RESIGNED.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING OR DO WE NEED TO TABLE THAT? HAVE TO TABLE THAT.
I HAVE ALSO HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING DISTRICT.
SO IF I HAD SOMEONE, UH, THEY, THEY DID NOT WANNA TAKE IT.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO TABLE THAT AS WELL.
SO LET'S MOVE TO, UH, NEW BUSINESS.
UH, 12 ONE, CONSIDER, UH, A WARNING DERELICT BUILDING REMOVAL GRANT TO, UH, A-M-P-D-C.
ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024, THE COUNTY INVITED NONPROFITS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO APPLY FOR GRANTS OF UP TO $150,000 PER AWARD WITH A TOTAL OF $300,000 IN FUNDS AVAILABLE.
UH, THE COUNTY ACCEPTED APPLICATIONS FROM NOVEMBER 1ST UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, UH, OF LAST YEAR, TWO APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED.
AT YOUR MEETING LAST MONTH, YOU AWARDED ONE GRANT, UM, TO, UH, AN BAYSIDE TONIGHT.
UH, STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU ORDER, YOU, UH, AWARD A SECOND GRANT TO THE A-M-P-D-C FOR, UH, WORK TO BE PERFORMED IN THE HORN TOWN COMMUNITY.
WHAT'S A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MAKE A MOTION APPROVE.
ALL OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION CARRIES.
UH, MR. MASON, WANNA YOU CONTINUE RIGHT INTO YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT? UH, SURE.
WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES OR SO.
AND, AND MOST OF THESE ARE JUST, UM, ARE JUST INFORMATION ITEMS. BUT 13 ONE IS JUST A, A, A REMINDER THAT YOUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND TAX RATES FOR FY 26 IS MARCH 24TH.
AND THAT'S AT THE TOMPKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND, AND JUST NOTE THAT THAT IS AT SIX O'CLOCK, CORRECT.
SO A DIFFERENT STARTING TIME THAN, THAN NORMAL.
UM, YOU WILL BE ALSO HAVING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, STAFF WANTS TO CONFIRM THAT DATE.
BUT BASED ON OUR BUDGET CALENDAR AND, AND OUR CONSTRAINTS, UH, STAFF IS, IS RECOMMENDED THAT THAT SECOND PUBLIC HEARING OCCUR ON APRIL 7TH, UM, AT MATOKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS WELL WITH A 6:00 PM START TIME.
UH, AND, AND OF COURSE STAFF WILL ADVERTISE ALL OF THIS A ACCORDINGLY.
UH, AND AND FURTHER, TYPICALLY ONE WEEK AFTER YOUR PUBLIC HEARING IS WHEN THE BOARD CONVENES BACK TO DISCUSS CHANGING THE BUDGET OR PERHAPS ADOPTING THE, THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATES THAT WOULD OCCUR ON MONDAY, APRIL 14TH.
UH, THE DECISION IS THE BOARDS OF COURSE, ON, ON WHERE YOU WANNA HOLD THAT.
WHETHER YOU WANNA HOLD THAT HERE IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS OR YOU WANT TO, UH, HOLD IT AT, UH, MA TOMPKIN ELEMENTARY.
BUT I WOULD FOR THAT ONE, I WOULD UH, SUGGEST THAT YOU START THAT AT FIVE O'CLOCK 'CAUSE THAT'S A, JUST A TRADITIONAL SPECIAL MEETING TIME.
UM, SO IF, IF THOSE DATES AND TIMES ARE, ARE SATISFACTORY, THE ONLY THING I WOULD NEED FROM THE BOARD IS, IS CONFIRMATION ON WHERE YOU WANT THE, UH, APRIL 14TH MEETING TO BE HELD.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? THE DATE'S GOOD.
UH, 14TH MEETING 14TH MIGHT BE HARD FOR ME.
HOW ABOUT LOCATION HERE IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS OR DO, DO YOU WANNA DO THAT TALKING? WHAT DO YOU THINK? 14TH?
[00:55:01]
YEAH, THAT'S FRIDAY, CORRECT? NO, MONDAY.OH, I WOULD BE OUT OF STATE ON THE 14TH OF BE LOUISIANA.
UM, HOW ABOUT THE TIME CONSTRAINTS? UH, WE MOVING IT ANOTHER TIME? SO MR. PARKS IS, UH, YEAH, WE'RE, I MEAN ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE IS THAT, UH, WE HAVE A CERTAIN WINDOW TO FINALIZE THE TAX RATES ON THE TAX BILLS AND GET THEM OUT THE DOOR.
WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY PRESSING IT RIGHT NOW.
UM, BECAUSE OF THIS DELAY WITH HAVING TO HAVE A SECOND HEARING, CAN WE MOVE IT TO THE LEFT? IT HAS TO BE SEVEN DAYS.
I MEAN, CAN DIAL BOARD MEETING.
YOU GOOD WITH THAT? HE SAID HE REMOTE.
MR. UM, WHY? PROBABLY 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAD IN MY CALENDAR A BOARD MEETING ON THE 15TH.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAD IT THERE.
WELL, WELL I DON'T WHY YOU DID ANYONE HAVE WE DON'T ANYONE ELSE HAVE BEEN? WE DUNNO EITHER.
I ON THE 16TH YEAH, I WROTE MEETING ON THE I KNOW I GOT THAT.
DID WE EVER HAVE ANY YOU SHOW UP NOW? YEAH.
DID WE EVER IT'S NOT A QUORUM, SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAD IT THERE.
WHAT'S THE LOCATION? SO, UH, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE PLEASURE? WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE IN THE CHAMBER FOR THAT MEETING? OH, WE GONNA SPEAK WITH THE 14TH.
THAT, SAY AGAIN? OH, YES, WE ARE GOING, YES, IT'S MR. PARKS HEARING, MR. IT'S, I WAS HERE, HERE IN THE CHAMBER.
I'D SAY HERE IN THE CHAMBERS 14TH.
SO, JUST ONE KIND OF, WE'RE TALKING PUBLIC HEARING DATES, BUT, UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S REQUIRED FROM THE ELECTORAL BOARD, UM, FOR THE PLAN TO POSSIBLY MOVE THE, UH, POLLING PLACE FROM, UH, MA TOMPKIN ELEMENTARY TO MAYOR SMITH.
UH, WE'RE GONNA SCHEDULE THAT FOR MA TOMPKIN IF THAT'S SUITABLE.
'CAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA NEED SOME MORE ROOM FOR, FOR THAT.
UH, MOVING ON 13.3, STATUS OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BUILDING PUBLIC PARKING AREA.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PARKED IN OUR SIDE PARKING LOT AND HAVE, UH, BEEN UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE TO PARK IN THERE AS A DIFFERENT HOLES IN CONSTRUCTION AND THE UNDERGROUND WORK HAS, UH, BEEN OCCURRING.
UH, THAT'S BEEN, UH, QUITE TEDIOUS.
BUT, UH, I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT ALL THE UNDERGROUND WORK IS DONE AND AS SOON AS WE CAN START GETTING ASPHALT, WE EXPECT TO HAVE THE PARKING LOT PAVED SO THAT, THAT, UH, THAT'S THE PRICE OF PROGRESS.
CAN YOU DO THAT IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES? UH, UPDATE ON THAT OR YOU WANNA HOLD, YOU WANT? WELL, I JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE NOTES THAT STAFF CONTINUES TO WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL OF MAKING SURE, AND, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA BE CLOSE.
AT LEAST THAT'S MY EXPECTATION OF HAVING ANY TYPE OF DISRUPTION SERVICE THAT'S NEVER BEEN PART OF THE PROGRAM.
WHAT OUR SCHEDULE IS, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT SERVICES IN THE, UH, SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY CONTINUE AMBULANCE SERVICES.
BUT THIS IS JUST, UH, SORT OF AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE, REVENUE RECOVERY BOARD.
THAT IS THE GROUP THAT IS, UH, STAFFED BY THE, UH, NORTHERN NECK, UH, PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION.
THEY'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING US WITH, UH, AMBULANCE BILLING SERVICES.
THEY'RE ALSO HELPING US THROUGH A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT, LIKE MAKING SURE WE EITHER GET A NEW PROVIDER NUMBER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID OR THE ONE THAT WE HAVE, WHICH WE'RE STILL RESEARCHING, MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN UPDATE THAT ONE.
AND THAT ONE IS STILL ACTIVE 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T USED IT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE KIND OF, UH, DETAILS WITH THEM.
UM, WE, UH, DEPENDING ON HOW ALL THAT WORKS, THAT WILL IMPACT THE DATE THAT WE ACTUALLY, THE AMBULANCES, BECAUSE SOME OF THE APPLICATIONS REQUIRE VINS OF THE, THE, THE VEHICLES YOU'RE GONNA USE AND YOU'RE GONNA USE AN AMBULANCE TRANSPORT.
AND SO HOW, WHETHER WE NEED TO, TO GET A NEW NUMBER OR NOT, THAT WILL IMPACT THAT DATE.
UM, AND, AND STAFF IS CONTINUING TO, UH, DISCUSS TERMS AND CONDITIONS, UH, WITH PAINTER, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF HOUSING THIS, THESE AMBULANCES.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
WE'RE JUST, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE TOWARDS THE GOAL OF GETTING THAT ALL TAKEN CARE OF WELL BEFORE.
UM, WELL, LET'S, WE'RE, WE'RE SHOOTING FOR JULY 1ST RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO, UH, MR. MASON, WHILE YOU'RE STANDING RIGHT THERE, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND WE'LL OPEN THE, UH, WE'LL START WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[01:00:16]
CAN WE TIE 11 1 11 2 TOGETHER? WE HAVE TO 'EM SEPARATELY.I'M GONNA ASK YOU THAT EARLIER.
WE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE HEARING THAT'S 11 TWO.
AND, AND CONSIDER THIS THE STAFF REPORT.
UM, AND IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN, IF, IF IT'S THE CHAIRMAN'S PLEASURE, YOU CAN OPEN THE HEARING AFTER I GIVE THE REPORT IF OKAY.
UM, SO, UH, STAFF HAS BROUGHT THIS TOPIC UP AND, UH, UH, FOR THE LAST COUPLE MEETINGS, THIS IS REGARDING AMENDING OR ACTUALLY REPEALING RE REENACTING THE AKIMA COUNTY CODE SECTION TWO THREE, WHICH IS BOARD MEMBERS TO FILE DISCLOSURE FORMS WITHOUT REHASHING ALL THE INFORMATION.
UM, WHAT THIS, WHAT THIS REENACTMENT WILL DO IS THIS TABLE ON, ON THE, THE COLUMN ON THE LEFT, THOSE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CURRENTLY REQUIRES DISCLOSURE FORMS TO BE, UM, COMPLETED BY.
SO THOSE ARE, ARE NOT IMPACTED BY THIS DECISION.
THE CODE SAYS THOSE, UH, MEMBERS OF THOSE DIFFERENT ENTITIES HAVE TO FILE A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT.
SO THAT'S HOW IT HAS TO STAY ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THOUGH IS IMPACTED HERE.
AND, AND WHAT THIS, WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES IS IT ESTABLISH POSITIONS OF TRUST, UM, AND REQUIRES THOSE POSITION OF TRUST TO FILE, UM, A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT.
IT AS A CONDITION OF ASSUMING OFFICES, UH, OFFICE AND ANNUAL ANNUALLY THEREAFTER.
THE WAY YOUR CURRENT, UM, CODE SECTION IS WRITTEN IS VERY BROAD AND IT LOOPS IN GROUPS THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY REAL AUTHORITY.
THEY ADVISORY IN NATURE AND REQUIRES THEM TO PROVIDE AND PREPARE DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DROP BACK FROM THAT POSITION, JUST MAKE THESE GROUPS, UM, SUBJECT TO THE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT, AND, AND NOT BE, UH, NOT, NOT HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT IS MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I I I CAN GO THROUGH THOSE.
THE, I WILL POINT OUT THAT WHERE YOU SEE THE LITTLE STAR NOTE, WHAT THAT'S THERE FOR.
SOME OF THESE, UM, ENTITIES ARE REGIONAL.
FOR INSTANCE, THE 9 1 1 COMMISSION, YOUR DECISION DOES NOT AFFECT NORTH HAMPTON'S APPOINTMENT.
IT ONLY AFFECTS THOSE THAT YOU APPOINT ON THAT BOARD.
SO, UM, JUST THAT'S A, A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
I CALL THIS PUBLIC HEARING, UH, OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, MS. MES, WOULD WE HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP? NO, SIR.
WE HAD NO ONE TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK.
I CLOSE THE, UH, COMMENTS, PERIOD.
AND WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THIS BOARD? MR. CHAIRMAN? MOVE.
I LIKE THE WAY YOU HANDLE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE NEXT, UH, NEXT THING IS BOARD COMMENT, PERIOD.
UM, WE'LL START WITH, UH, MR. HART.
UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO BRING UP THAT, UM, I HAD, UH, RECEIVED AN EMAIL, UM, FROM MY LADY.
HER NAME WAS HEATHER, UM, JERGENSEN.
UM, AND I THINK SHE PUT A LETTER IN THE POST LAST WEEK ABOUT TRASH.
UM, SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT, UM, AS WELL AS SHE WAS WILLING TO HELP WITH ANY, UH, THING THAT WE STARTED TO DO HERE ON THE SHORE TO RECTIFY SOME OF THE ISSUES OF THE TRASH PICKUPS.
UM, AND SHE SENT ME ALSO SOME OTHER INFORMATION, BUT I TOLD HER THAT WE HAD SOME PROGRAMS HERE ON THE SHORE THAT WAS SIMILAR, UM, LIKE ADOPT HIGHWAY, UH, WASTE WATCHERS, UM, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, UM, COMPANIES THAT GET TOGETHER TO HELP CLEAN UP THE BAY ON THAT CLEAN THE BAY DAY.
UM, AND SO I WOULD LET HER KNOW THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING THAT WE ARE DOING, AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO DOING IN THE FUTURE.
SO I JUST WANNA BRING THAT UP.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO, TO GO BACK ON OUR EARLIER DISCUSSION.
AND MR. WASHINGTON, I REALLY, TRULY WHOLLY YOU'D GET EVERY VOTE
[01:05:01]
THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET.UH, BUT I DO WANNA PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION.
MY DISCUSSION EARLIER IN THAT ONE.
'CAUSE I, THEY, IT REALLY, MR. CROCKETT SAID SOMETHING THAT RESONATED.
MY CONCERN IS WITH THE WAY THIS HAS COME TO PASS THE PROCESS, NOT THE TRADITION OF, UH, THE SUPERVISORS ADVOCATING FOR A POSITION.
THE, WE HAD THIS MANY ERRORS HAPPENING AT APPALLING SITE, AND THEN IT COMES TO US IN THE SHORT TERM.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ASK MR. CHAIR, IF WE COULD ASK THE COUNTY, IS TO LOOK INTO CAN, UH, WE FIND A WAY THAT WE PROVIDE CELL CELL PHONES, UH, TO THE ELECTION CHIEFS FOR ELECTION PERIODS.
BECAUSE MY REAL LINE OF WORK, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF YOU WERE TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE IT WAS QUESTIONED, SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL CELL PHONE IS NOT THE ANSWER, AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE CONFISCATED TO BE LOOKED AT, IS ONE OF THE POTENTIALS.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY NEEDS TO TAKE THAT ON AND RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.
I HAVE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO, UH, TALK ABOUT REAL QUICKLY, UM, THOSE THAT MAY KNOW.
BUT MARCH IS SOCIAL, UH, SOCIAL WORK WORKER MONTH.
UM, AND THE GOVERNOR DID PUT OUT A, UH, LETTER OF RECOGNITION.
IT'S PRETTY LENGTHY, BUT I'M JUST GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT OF IT.
UM, WHEREAS VIRGINIA SOCIAL WORKERS, UH, SELFISHLY DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE COMMON GOOD AND PROMOTION OF INDIVIDUAL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING OUT A GENUINE, UH, DESIRE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE HERE IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.
WHEREAS VIRGINIA SOCIAL WORKERS ARE FIRST RESPONDERS TO HUMAN CONDITIONS PROVIDING CRITICAL SUPPORT, EXPERTISE, AND COMPASSION IN TIMES OF CRISIS.
AND WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS IN VIRGINIA ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE, COURAGEOUSLY SUPPORTING THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, CHALLENGING, UH, CHALLENGES INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY.
AND I'LL JUST CLOSE THAT WITH I, UH, GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNG AND DO, UH, REC, UH, HEREBY RECOGNIZE MARCH, 2025 AS SOCIAL WORKER MONTH IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
AND I CALL THOSE, UH, IN OBSERVANCE TO AT, IN, IN, TO ATTEND OUR CITIZENS TO, UH, JOIN IN CELEBRATING AND SUPPORTING OUR SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION.
AND, UH, MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS, BUT WE DO HAVE, OUR VICE CHAIR IS IN THAT, UH, IN THAT ARENA.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR WHAT YOU DO.
VERY MUCH BECAUSE I, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT.
I AM ON THE SOCIAL SERVICE BOARD, I'M ON THE SOCIAL SERVICE BOARD, AND I HAVE, I'VE SEEN, AND I'VE, I'VE LEARNED A LOT, UH, IN THAT TIME PERIOD.
I, I, I FAILED TO, TO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, I'M WILLING TO, TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE HERE ON THE SHORE FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN MEETING SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS PROBLEMS AND REPAIRING ROADS, UH, IN THE PRECINCT.
UH, AND ALSO OUR COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS FOR DEALING WITH SOME OF THE DRAINAGE ISSUES WITH OUR, OUR NEW, UH, DITCH DRAINAGE PROGRAM.
BUT BOTH OF THOSE, I'VE HAD GREAT POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON, UH, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING AND JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUTSTANDING WORK.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 15, ONE, CONSIDER APPROVING, UH, RESOLUTION TO AN AMENDMENT.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MO UH, MO WE HAVE A MOTION.
ALL OPPOSED? AND MOTION CARRIES.
CERTIFY IN THE ORDER OF OUR CHAIR.
ALL OPPOSED? UM, WE DO NOT HAVE A NEED FOR A CLOSED SESSION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.
UM, SO I WILL ENTERTAIN ITEM NUMBER 18.
WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT IT? GOOD.