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OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BUDGET,[Board of Supervisors Budget Meeting on February 12, 2026.]
DEPARTMENT, HEAD AND AGENCY FFY 27.PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
I WANNA SAY GOOD EVENING TO ALL OF YOU.
AND I ASK IF, IF YOU HAVE YOUR CELL PHONES WITH YOU, I ASK THAT YOU WILL KINDLY MUTE THEM, PUT THEM ON VIBRATE IF YOU SO DESIRE.
BUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE WOULD DO.
OKAY? AND AT THIS TIME, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD JOIN US AS MR. CROCKETT.
WILL HE GIVE US OUR INVOCATION AND KEEP, REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? LET'S PRAY.
DEAR GOD BLESS THIS MEETING AND ALLOW US DO OUR WORK THROUGH YOUR WILL.
AMEN 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.
OUR AGENDA IS TO CONSIDER ALLOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION.
I'M ASSUMING MR. PARKS WILL BE HERE.
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON THEN NEXT TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
SECOND THAT WE ADOPT OUR AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? LET BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED, WHICH IS BRING US DOWN TO NEW BUSINESS.
MR. MASONS, ARE YOU GOING MS. MASON, ARE YOU GONNA GIVE US THE OVER OVERVIEW OF THE MEETING? FORMAL FORMAT AND HAND OUT YOUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, MS. LEWIS? OKAY.
MS. LEWIS, LIKE I LIKE TO CALL MS. MARTIN.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE MEETING AND THE, BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE PRESENTERS AND WE TRY TO MAKE IT EASY.
WE PUT, UM, YOU ALSO HAVE THIS HANDOUT.
AND ON THE FOURTH COLUMN, YOU'LL SEE THE PAGE THAT RELATES WHEN YOU SEE THE PRESENTER'S NAME, THE PAGE THAT RELATES ON THE HANDOUT.
IT'S ALSO A PAGE NUMBER FOR IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PDF, WHERE IT CAN BE FOUND, THE PRESENTER.
AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR BOOK, IT'S THE PAGE NUMBER.
AND I AM GONNA START OFF THIS EVENING OKAY.
THIS YOU'LL ALL HEARD BEFORE THE ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SOFTWARE, ERP FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE AND LISTING OVER THE INTERNET.
WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SCOPE OF THIS PREVIOUSLY FUNDED COUNTY PROJECT.
ERP IS A SOFTWARE SOLUTION USED BY GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE COMPANIES AND NONPROFITS TO STREAMLINE AND MANAGE DAILY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING ACCOUNTING, BUDGETING, PROCUREMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, FIXED ASSETS, GRANT MANAGEMENT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND MORE ERP SYSTEMS INTEGRATE DIFFERENT BUSINESS PROCESS, ALLOWING SEAMLESS DATA FLOW ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND FUNCTIONS.
THE NEXT PAGE, I THINK YOU ONLY HAVE TO SEE ONE ITEM.
THE COUNTY HAS BEEN USING THE SAME APPLICATION SINCE 1989.
SO IT'S TIME TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, THIS, THE OLDER SOFTWARE LACKS THE CAPABILITY OF MODERN SOFTWARE, REAL TIME ACCESS, NOT AVAILABLE TO ALL END USERS.
NO ABILITY FOR MANAGERS TO TIMELY REVIEW THEIR BUDGET.
MANY TASKS STILL HAVE TO BE PERFORMED MANUALLY.
SPECIALIZED SKILLS ARE REQUIRED TO EXTRACT DATA THAT SHOULD OTHERWISE BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT 'CAUSE THE CURRENT LIFESPAN OF OUR CURRENT SOFTWARE IS VERY UNCERTAIN AND LIMITED.
THE COUNTY CAN RECEIVE NOTICE AT ANY TIME THAT THE SYSTEM IS BEING PHASED OUT, LEAVING US WITH A LIMITED WINDOW TO FIND OR IMPLEMENT A REPLACEMENT.
THE PROJECT HAS ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED AND APPROPRIATED, WHICH IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
HOWEVER, DUE TO RISING COSTS, ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NOW BEING REQUESTED JUST FOR, TO JUST LET THE VIEWER SEE THIS IS WHAT WE LOOK AT.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
THE OTHER REMINDS ME OF THE FLOPPY DISC NOW.
YEAH, THAT'S ANOTHER OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND IT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS OF AHEAD MS. PARKS? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
AND SORRY I'M LATE BY THE WAY.
WHAT SYSTEM IS THE NEW SYSTEM? THE ERP? NO, NO, I UNDERSTAND.
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HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T.WE'VE NOT GONE OUT AND YEAH, WE HAVEN'T DONE, WE HAVEN'T.
SO YOU'RE EXPECTING INCREASED COSTS? WE, YES.
AND I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY WE DIDN'T NEED IT, BUT I THINK THAT WILL BE THE CASE.
BUT THE FOLLOW UP WOULD BE, THOUGH, IN THAT ESTIMATE, ARE WE, ARE WE EXPECTING NEW HARDWARE COST AS WELL TO SUPPORT IT? IT IS IN THE, IT'S A CAPITAL PROJECT.
SO WE ALREADY, IT'S ALREADY BEEN FUNDED IN THE CIP WE'RE JUST ASKING, WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA NEED MORE.
AND MY REQUEST IS PARTIALLY FOR THE HARDWARE FOR THIS AND PARTIALLY FOR OPERATING FOR, WE'RE EXPECTING A CLOUD SOLUTION.
SO NO HARDWARE, I THINK IT'S 40, 50 AND 40 OPERATIONAL, 50 CAPITAL.
WELL, I THINK WHEN I, WHEN I, WHEN YOU SAID HARDWARE, I ALWAYS THINK OF THE CLOUD.
THAT'S, THAT'S, I MEAN, TODAY, WHO PUTS IN A SYSTEM? I, I'M GOING JUST, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A WARNING RIGHT NOW.
YOUR HARD CURRENT HARDWARE IS GONNA HAVE ISSUES, PROBABLY RUNNING IT, PROCESSING.
YOU GOTTA LOOK AT PROCESSORS AND MEMORY AND STA EVEN IF YOU'RE USING THE CLOUD.
SO GO FORTH TO DO GREAT THINGS.
BUT DON'T ASSUME THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE HARDWARE COSTS.
DO YOU WANNA GIVE US MORE MONEY THEN THAT WHAT YOU'RE I ABSOLUTELY WILL, ACTUALLY.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MS. LEWIS.
WOULD YOU LET MR. MORGAN KNOW WE GOT A COUPLE SEATS FRONT? UH, MR. MORGAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIT? I PROMISE THEY WON'T.
YOU GOTTA STAND AND MADAM CHAIR, IF HE HASN'T CHECK TO PRESENT IT SO HE CAN GET A OH YEAH, THAT TOO.
WE CAN GET FOR YOU TO HER HERE.
UH, NEXT UP IS THE VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM.
WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG TO GENERAL DISTRICT COURT.
JUDGE ROBBINS? I AM, I AM SIMPLY THE JUDGE.
I'M LIKE, UM, I HAVE TAKEN THE PLACE OF, UH, VINCENT JUDGE VINCENT, WHO RETIRED, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY DAYS.
SHE RUNS, SHE RUNS AND THAT'S, I BET SHE DOES RIGHT THERE.
UH, I JUST HAVE TO SIT ON THE BENCH AND, UH, THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.
I GOT YOU THE CASES THAT I HEAR MADAM CHAIR.
IN OTHER WORDS, IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, HE'S PRESENTING WHAT FRANCINE GAVE HIM.
ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE NOTES FROM HER.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE REQUEST, AT LEAST IN MY, UH, HUMBLE OPINION.
LAST YEAR, IF YOU RECALL, JUDGE BERGE CAME AND, UH, PRESENTED A REQUEST, UH, JUDGE VINCENT PRIOR TO HIM RETIRING ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
UH, AND JUDGE BERG GOT TOGETHER AND THEY RESEARCHED THE NEED TO, UH, UPGRADE SALARIES TO MAKE THEM MORE COMPETITIVE SO WE COULD EITHER HIRE PEOPLE OR, OR RETAIN THEM.
SO SHE PRESENTED AN AMOUNT AND YOU ALL APPROVED IT, UH, FOR BOTH HER COURT, J AND DR AND FOR OUR COURT, GENERAL DISTRICT COURT.
WE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED A $6,000 EXTRA SUPPLEMENT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO OUR CLERK.
UH, THERE WAS A SIMILAR AMOUNT FOR THE J AND DR THAT WAS APPROVED.
AND I THINK, UH, WITHOUT TRYING TO BLAME ANYBODY, I, I GUESS THE BUCK STOPS WITH ME NOW THAT I AM THE CHIEF JUDGE.
I THINK WITH JUDGE VINCENT'S RETIREMENT AND WITH HIS NUMBERS, I'VE GOT SOME OLD SHEETS THAT HE PUT TOGETHER.
AND, AND SPEAKING WITH JUDGE BERGE, THIS $6,000 REQUEST SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL LAST YEAR AND WOULD'VE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
GOT SO THAT'S, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST SIMPLY, UH, ASKING, YOU'RE TRYING TO RECTIFY HIM.
WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THAT.
AS YOU SEE ON HERE, HE HAS, UH, RECOMMENDED THAT, UH, YOU ALL FUND THAT $6,000.
SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD? THANK YOU.
UH, THE NEXT UP IS AKIMA COUNTY HEALTH DEPART DEPARTMENT.
EASTERN SHORE REGIONAL NAVIGATIONAL WATERS COMMITTEE.
YOU ALL RIGHT? YEAH, YOU, YEAH.
I GOT HERE SUPPOSED TO RUN ON TIME.
UM, I'M GONNA MAKE THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
I KNOW YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE AND I BORROWED MY DAUGHTER'S IPAD AND SHE'S GONNA WANT THAT BACK.
SO, UM, I THINK I'VE WORKED WITH MOST OF YOU GUYS.
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PROJECT MANAGER AND COASTAL PLANNER FOR THE AKIMA NORTH END PLANT DISTRICT COMMISSION.UM, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE EASTERN SHORE REGIONAL NAL WATERWAYS COMMITTEE.
UM, JUST, UH, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE FY 27 BUDGET REQUEST, UH, RELATED TO, UM, OUR JUDGING EFFORTS HERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
SO, KIND OF WANNA BE CLEARING UP WHAT, UH, THE COORDINATION WORK ALREADY HAS BEEN CARRIED THROUGH, THROUGH THE GENERAL FORM FUND OF THE A-A-P-D-C.
UM, ALL THEY'RE REQUESTING IS THAT, UH, IT'S A SEPARATE REQUEST, UH, BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE'S ROLE AND WORKLOAD AND EXPECTATIONS HAVE GROWN.
SO, UM, THE EASTERN SHORE REGIONAL NAVAJO WATERWAYS COMMUNITY EXIST BECAUSE NAVI WATERWAYS ARE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY SUPPORT SEAFOOD AND AQUACULTURE, PUBLIC ACCESS AND TOURISM AND SAFE NAVIGATIONS AS WELL AS FOR LOCAL USERS.
AND FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, THE COMMITTEE'S JOBS IS KEEP US, US FROM, UH, KEEP US FROM HANDLING DREDGING IN A REACTIVE ONE-OFF WAY.
REGIONAL WATERWAY COMMITTEE PROVIDES A CONTINUITY TO MOVE PROJECTS FROM NO NEED TO FUNDABLE AND IMPLEMENTABLE CONVENING, DOCUMENTING QUARTERLY PUBLIC MEETINGS, MAINTAINING PRIORITIES AND ACTION TRACKING ACROSS MULTI-YEAR TIMELINES, COORDINATING STAKEHOLDERS AND DOING THE STEADY AGENCY WORK THAT PREVENTS PRODUCTS FROM STALLING BETWEEN FUNDING CYCLES.
UM, THE COMMUNITY TRACK RECORDS INCLUDES, UH, MAJOR STATEWIDE MILESTONES.
FOR EXAMPLE, KINGS CREEK COMPLETING 2320 2,288 CUBIC YARDS BENEFICIAL USE, UM, IS THE FIRST AND ONLY IMPLEMENTED WATERWAY MAINTENANCE FUND EFFORT IN THE CITY OF VIRGINIA, UH, COMPLETED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
UM, AND FROM THAT, IT WAS ON TIME ON BUDGET, AND WE GOT ANOTHER NINE, $9,993,000 FROM IT TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS IN NASSAU CREEK, WHICH BRINGS NASSAU CREEK, UH, ABA COUNTY BENEFITS IN A VERY REAL WAY, UM, NOT ONLY JUST MAINTAINING THAT WATERWAY, BUT FOR OUR PLAN TO PLACE 24,200 CUBIC YARDS ON TANGIER, UH, THAT IS GONNA BE ESTIMATED TO OCCUR SPRING SUMMER OF THIS YEAR.
UM, SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE REASON A WAYS COMMITTEE IS KEPT PROJECTS ALIVE BY ADAPTING QUICKLY AND DOING AGENCY'S WORK TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT PIVOT MATTERS BECAUSE RAL USE IS WHERE WE DELIVER EXTRA VALUE AND JUDGMENT.
MATERIAL CAN SUPPORT SHORELINE STABILIZATION, BEACH, SPRING CONCEPTS, AND OTHER RESTORATION OUTCOMES.
UM, AS WELL, WE HAVE EFFORTS NOW IN FIES CREEK, UH, TO THAT EFFORT.
WE'RE GONNA REQUEST ANOTHER $2 MILLION FOR THAT TO BE IMPLEMENTED EITHER THIS YEAR, Q4 OR Q1, Q3 TWO NEXT YEAR.
UM, AND OUR PURVIEW'S ONGOING, WE WORK WITH THE US COAST GUARD, UH, THE US CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
UH, WE WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
UM, ANYWAYS, THIS REQUEST IS MODEST.
IT'S, UH, DIRECTLY TIED TO OUR EXPANDED WORKLOAD.
IT REQUESTS $7,350 $5,000 FOR THE COMMITTEE'S OPERATING SUPPORT, AND 2003 $50 FOR THE COMMITTEE'S FEE AND MILEAGE.
UM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT DUPLICATING WHAT THE A PCE DOES.
IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT THE COMMITTEES RESPONSES HAVE GROWN.
PROJECTS ARE BIGGER, PERMITTING PLACEMENT ARE MORE COMPLEX, AND THE AGENCY COORDINATION BURDENS ARE HEAVIER.
ANYWAY, HEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, THAT BRINGS US DOWN TO MATIC YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SUMMER PROGRAM.
CHAIR AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME TO YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT, UM, IS A NEED FOR THE EASTERN SHORE OR FOR MACK COUNTY.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM INITIATED BY MACK COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION.
IT'S PROBABLY BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE THEN, THE MATERIALS I'VE GIVEN YOU.
AND, UH, NOBLE TALKS A LOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOME OR YOUTH ARE NOT ENGAGED IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OR OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND GROW AND BE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
SO THERE ARE DOCUMENTATIONS IN THAT BOOKLET AND WILL HELP YOU GUIDE YOU THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
SO, LOOKING TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO
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SERVE YOUTH IN ABA COUNTY, SERVING ANYWHERE FROM 600, 400 TO 500 TO 600 YOUTH AGES FIVE THROUGH 12.YOU'VE SEEN THE REPORT THAT ASKED FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, AN ALLOCATION OF OVER $900,000 FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM FOR EIGHT WEEKS.
THAT INCLUDES STAFF, PERSONNEL, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER THINGS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM.
ACK COUNTY, WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO COMPLETELY FUND THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
YOUTH INVESTMENT OR THE INVESTMENT IN YOUTH AND OUR CHILDREN IS AN INVESTMENT.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR RESOURCES, WE THINK ABOUT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES SUCH AS OUR LAND, OUR WATER, OUR SPACE, OUR BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT THE GREATEST RESOURCE THAT YOU HAVE IS, UH, ARE YOUR CHILDREN.
SO HOW DO WE INVEST IN THEM TO MAKE THE EASTERN SHORE OR ACK COUNTY A BETTER PLACE? LOOKING AT JOB DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, LOOKING AT CAREER PREPAREDNESS, AND HOW DO WE HELP THEM DO THAT? SO IN THE DOCUMENT THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU, I HAVE GIVEN YOU INFORMATION THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
HOW DOES IT COST TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM? WHERE DO YOU GET THE FUNDING? NOW, IN THE BOOKLET THAT I GAVE YOU IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU WERE GIVEN BEFORE BECAUSE IT ASKS OR TELLS WHERE'S THE MONEY, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM.
THERE'S FEDERAL AND NATIONAL GRANTS THAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU HAVE BUSINESSES ON THE EASTERN SHORE, SEVERAL MAJOR BUSINESSES.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THEM TO INVEST, INVEST A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR THREE YEARS TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM WORK? SO IT'S DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO HELP IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM THAT WILL AFFECT THE YOUTH ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, BOARD, MS. HOLDEN? THANK YOU.
NEXT UP WAS CHESAPEAKE, UH, BAY AS ASAP.
UM, MR. MATTHEW, I DON'T WANT TO ZAKI HOW YOU ZAKI.
I THINK
SO I WANNA THANK MR. MASON FOR INVITING ME OUT TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
I'VE ALSO HAVE MR. MORGAN HERE TOO, WHO WILL HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY AS WELL.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF ASAP, I LIKE TO JOKE THAT THAT'S USUALLY A GOOD THING.
'CAUSE THAT MEANS YOU HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED OF A DUI IN COMMONWEALTH VIRGINIA.
SO, IN ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROGRAMS WERE CREATED THROUGH LEGISLATION ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO.
SO ANYONE WHO'S CONVICTED OF A FIRST OR SECOND DUI IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA HAS TO GO THROUGH AN ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROGRAM.
EITHER WHERE THEY LIVE, WHERE THEY WERE CONVICTED, OR THEY CAN CHOOSE TO GO THROUGH ONE WHERE THEY WORK, IF THEY WORK, IF THAT WOULD BE MORE CONVENIENT TO THEM FOR WHERE THEIR OFFICE LOCATION IS.
UM, CURRENTLY CHESAPEAKE BAY IS BASED IN VIRGINIA BEACH, NORFOLK, AND WE HAVE AN OFFICE HERE IN AKAMAK ON THE EASTERN SHORE ABOUT THREE MINUTES AWAY FROM HERE.
SO THE PURPOSE OF ASAP IN GENERAL, AS A PROBATIONARY ARM OF THE COURT, WE PROVIDE THE MONITORING SERVICES FOR CLIENTS, FOR DEFENDANTS THAT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF DUIS.
AND THAT CAN LOOK FROM ANYTHING LIKE IGNITION INTERLOCK MONITORING.
INTERLOCK MONITORING IS BASICALLY LIKE A BREATHALYZER YOU PUT IN YOUR CAR.
SO IF YOU CAN'T, IF YOU CAN'T STOP DRINKING, THEY PUT THAT IN YOUR CAR AND YOU CAN'T TEST POSITIVE FOR BREATH ALCOHOL NOR TO DRIVE.
SO EVERY MONTH WE MAKE SURE THAT CLIENTS ARE STAYING COMPLIANT WITH THAT, OR WE'LL SEND THEM BACK TO COURT AND THEY'LL SEE EITHER JUDGE ROBBINS OR JUDGE HAYNES AND HAVE TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES.
AND SOMETIMES THAT LEADS TO THEM BEING REINSTATED INTO THE PROGRAM.
SOMETIMES THAT LEADS TO THEM HAVING TO GO BACK TO JAIL, OR SOMETIMES IT LEADS TO MORE TIME UNDER THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF ASAP.
PROBATION COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM ONE YEAR TO THREE YEARS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR LICENSES BACK AND FOR RECKLESS DRIVING CASES AS WELL AS YOUNGER, YOUNGER OFFENDER PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE GOOD.
AND MR. MORGAN, I WANNA TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY DATA.
SO THIS IS THE, UH, BREAKDOWN OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DATA.
WE ARE, UM, GENERALLY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, AVERAGING, UM, A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED, UH, ASAP REFERRALS, WHICH TRANSLATES TO, UM, THAT CORRESPONDING AMOUNT OF CONVICTIONS EITHER FOR DUI OR IN SOME CASES, SOME RARE CASES, WILL REDUCE A, UH, DUI TO A, WHAT WE CALL WE RECKLESS.
BUT THAT WILL INCLUDE AN ASAP UH, VIOLATION.
SO AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DUI CONVICTION COMPONENT,
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UM, WHICH IS REALLY, UH, UH, IT, IT'S ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING CRIMES IN THE COMMONWEALTH 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S EVERYBODY.IT CATCHES EVERYBODY, UM, FROM EVERY, EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, THE GOAL HERE IS REALLY A REHABILITATION, UH, STANCE WHEN IT COMES TO DUIS.
AND THE, THE DATA BEHIND A LOT OF THIS IS THAT IF WE CAN INTERVENE AND GET PEOPLE FOCUSED ON BOTH THE DANGERS OF DRUNK DRIVING AND THE ABUSE DANGERS OF THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL, UM, IT'LL BENEFIT THEM IN THE LONG RUN AND BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY IN THE LONG RUN.
'CAUSE IT, BECAUSE IT WILL REDUCE, UH, THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES.
BUT THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY ARE, UH, BREAKDOWNS.
UM, IN SOME INSTANCES, UH, THERE MAY NOT BE AN INTERLOCK REQUIRED, WHICH IS THE VARIANCE IN THE DATA THERE.
UM, BUT THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
I WORKED OUR NUMBERS, OUR DUI CONVICTION RATE, UM, HOVERS AROUND A LITTLE ABOVE 90%.
UM, SO THERE, UH, IS A VALUE IN THIS PROGRAM ON THAT BASIS.
SO WE'RE HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FUNDING.
UH, CHESAPEAKE BAY ASAP IS CURRENTLY SOLELY FUNDED, FUNDED BY OFFENDER FEES.
SO COOKIE CUTTER CASE, SOMEONE'S CONVICTED OF A DUI, THEY PAY $300 TO ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM.
THEY PAY A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO TAKE A, TAKE OUR COURSES, IF THEY DON'T PAY THE $400 IN FULL, THEN THEY CAN'T GET THEIR LICENSE BACK.
SO ON TOP OF THE CLASSES, ON TOP OF THE MONITORING FOR IGNITION INTERLOCK, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT AS WELL.
AND THEN THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER FEES ON TOP OF THAT.
THERE'S COURT COSTS, THERE'S FEES THAT THE INTERLOCK VENDORS MAKE THEM PAY.
IF THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUTPATIENT TREATMENT, THEY HAVE TO PAY FEES AS WELL.
THOSE FEES, THE $400 THAT WAS SET IN STONE IN THE 1980S, AND IT HASN'T GONE UP.
UM, AND PRICES HAVE GONE UP A LOT SINCE 1980S.
THIS IS SET BY THE COMMISSION.
UM, SALARIES HAVE TRIPLED QUADRUPLED IN THAT TIME.
RENTS GONE UP, AND THE FEES ARE STILL THE SAME.
AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
AND ALSO IT'S SOMETHING THAT CLIENTS ALREADY HAVE A DIFFICULTY IN PAYING STILL.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A CLIENT WHO HAS TO PICK BETWEEN KEEPING THE HEAT ON IN THE WINTERTIME OR PAYING A HUNDRED, PAYING 400 BUCKS TO GET THEIR LICENSE BACK, A LOT OF THEM WOULD PROBABLY SAY THEY'D RATHER JUST RISK DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE IN ORDER TO STAY WARM.
SO SOME OF THE NEEDS OF THE AGENCY ARE A LITTLE COMPLEX.
UM, IN TERMS OF MONETARY FUNDING, I DIDN'T PUT A REQUEST DOWN WHEN I PUT MR. MASON IN, I THINK NOVEMBER, WE'D LOOK FOR SOMETHING FROM ACK OF $15,000.
SOME OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS THAT REALLY WE NEED AND BE GREAT OUTTA CONVENIENCE AND AND OUTTA MONEY IS PERMANENT SPACE IN THE AKIMA COUNTY GENERAL DISTRICT COURTHOUSE.
THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS BEHIND THAT.
PART OF IT IS WE PAY $24,000 A YEAR ON AVERAGE TO RENT AN OFFICE OFF OF COMMERCE DRIVE.
UM, THAT'S NOT FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE FOR THE LONG RUN.
WE AVERAGE ABOUT $50,000 A YEAR IN OUR EASTERN SHORE OFFICE, AND THAT THAT INCLUDES AKIMA COUNTY AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
SO WE'RE MAKING HALF HALF OF THAT'S GOING TO RENT, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO PAY STAFF AS WELL.
AND LOOKING AT THE BUDGET FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, IF WE HAD TO MAKE CHANGES, WE'D PROB UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO PULL OUT OF THE EASTERN SHORE.
SO IF CLIENTS HAVE TO TAKE CLASSES, THEY'D HAVE TO GO TO VIRGINIA BEACH TO TAKE CLASSES.
IF THEY WANTED TO ENROLL OR DO INTAKE, THEY'D HAVE TO DRIVE FROM PARKLEY TO VIRGINIA BEACH FOR INTAKE.
AND IF THEY MISSED THAT, THEN THEY HAVE TO PAY A RESCHEDULING FEE ON TOP OF ALL OF THE OTHER FEES.
SO THAT'S THE BIG NEED REALLY, IS HAVING SPACE IN THE COURTHOUSE.
UM, SPEAKING WITH NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, THE GOAL WOULD BE WE COULD BE IN ACK COUNTY, MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS, AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ON TUESDAYS AND TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FULL TIME.
IT'S ALSO CONVENIENT IF SOMEONE'S CONVICTED OF A DUI IMMEDIATELY LEAVE COURT AND ENROLL AND PARTICIPATE IN INTAKE IN THE PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT OTHER LOCALITIES PROVIDE FOR FUNDING.
UM, ABOUT 19% OF THE LOCALITIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH PROVIDE SOME FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FURTHER ASAP PROGRAMS. ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD? YES, MR. HOLD IT.
CHAIR, UH, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH THE JUDGES IN THE COURT? YEAH, IN THE COURTHOUSE.
IS IS THERE ROOM? UH, THERE IS, THERE'S A SMALL ROOM.
WE HAVE TWO, UM, WE HAVE, UH, AT EACH COURTHOUSE DOWN THE ROAD AND UP HERE WE HAVE TWO, UH, ATTORNEY, UH, CLIENT ROOMS, IF YOU WILL.
SO THERE IS ROOM, UH, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WHEN WE CONVICT SOMEBODY, THEY CAN WALK RIGHT OUT AND SOMEBODY, THAT BASE APP IS THERE.
THEY CAN, THEY CAN GET THAT PAPERWORK AND, UH, DONE.
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MR. MASON, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACT ON OR, I WOULD IMAGINE THE JUDGE IF THE JUDGE, WE, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ON IT.AS LONG AS THE JUDGES ARE OKAY WITH IT, THEN OKAY.
JUST A QUICK HISTORICAL NOTE, MR. MR. ZAKI HAS, UH, INHERITED AN AGENCY, UH, UH, IN THE LAST, I'D SAY SIX, EIGHT MONTHS, FOUR MONTHS, UM, FOUR MONTHS.
SO HE'S STEPPING INTO SORT OF A FISCAL, UH, NIGHTMARE.
UM, HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AT, AND I SHOULD DISCLOSE, I'M ALSO ON THE ASAP BOARD, BUT I'M HERE AS A COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY.
UM, HISTORICALLY, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE ATTEMPTS IN THE PAST TO SHUT DOWN THE EASTERN SHORE ASAP OFFICE.
UM, JUDGE VINCENT, UM, SORT OF SINGLE-HANDEDLY PREVENTED THE LAST ATTEMPT A FEW YEARS AGO.
UM, IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS HARDSHIP ON, UH, PEOPLE CONVICTED OF DUIS WHO ARE ALREADY PROBABLY NOT DRIVING OR HAVE ISSUES DRIVING, UM, TO GET ACROSS THE BAY.
AND SO HAVING THAT ACCESSIBLE TO THIS PROGRAM IS, IS ONE OF THE GOALS, UM, THAT I THINK WE SHOULD, SHOULD KEEP OUR EYES ON BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S MANDATORY IF THEY WANT TO DRIVE, AND I THINK WE'LL SEE THE PARTICIPATION RATES.
AND, UM, EVEN THE, AND I SHOULD NOTE WE LOOKED AT WHAT, UM, WE'RE, IT'S A SELF-FUNDING AGENCY OR LARGELY TRIES TO BE A SELF-FUNDING AGENCY.
AKAMAK AND NORTHAMPTON DO VERY WELL IN THEIR, IN THE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS AND YOU LOOK AT OUTSTANDING FEES, IT'S UM, THEY'RE AT ABOUT, I'D SAY ABOUT 70, YEAH, ABOUT 9% OF ALL FEES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF ANYWAY.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING WELL ON PEOPLE ACTUALLY PAYING, BUT WE, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM WHEN WE'RE PAYING $24,000 OF, OF RENT PLUS THE, THE STAFF COSTS.
SO KEEPING THIS PROGRAM ON THE SHORE FOR BOTH ACK AND NORTHAMPTON IS IMPORTANT AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THE CONSIDERATION.
I WAS ON THE ASAP BOARD ALSO YEARS AGO.
ARE YOU MAKING THE SAME REQUEST, UH, FOR NORTHAMPTON COUNTY? YEAH, WE WILL BE.
AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, PROGRAM, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND FOR THAT TO MOVE, UH, TO VIRGINIA BEACH OR THE NORFOLK WOULD NOT BE, UH, WOULD NOT BE GOOD AT ALL.
I THINK WHAT YOU'D HAVE, YOU'D HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT ATTENDING.
THEY WOULD NOT SIGN UP FOR THE, UH, FOR THE CLASS.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET TO THE CLASS.
I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU PICKED ON PARSLEY AS YOUR EXAMPLE.
IS OTHER THAN THE ROOM, IS THERE A, IS THERE A, DID YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL ASK? YEAH, FISCAL ASK WOULD BE ABOUT 15,000.
THE WAY I GOT THAT WAS FROM LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE PROBABLY NEED TO BREAK EVEN THIS YEAR VERSUS THE AMOUNT OF REFERRALS WE GET FOR ALL OUR DIFFERENT LOCALITIES.
SO OBVIOUSLY FOR VIRGINIA BEACH, WE'D BE ASKING FOR SOME QUITE LARGER SURE.
IS THERE, IS THERE A SECOND OR THIRD ORDER EFFECT? AND I'LL TURN TO THE JUDGE OR THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY IN REALLOCATING THIS ROOM THAT WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MITIGATE.
WE, WE'D LOSE AN, AN ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT ROOM, BUT THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL ROOMS UP IN THE J AND THE R COURT.
AND HOW FOR JOE ROBINSON, HE WAS A, HE WAS A PRACTICING DEFENSE LAWYER FOR MANY YEARS PRIOR TO ASSUMING THE BENCH.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WOULD BE A MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MORE OF A SPACE CRUNCH.
BUT NOW WE'VE SPREAD OUR DOCKET OVER FIVE DAYS IN GENERAL DISTRICT COURT SO THAT THE COURT JUST SO IT'S IN ITS PACKED AS IT'S TRADITION BENEFIT.
UM, WHEN THEY BUILT THAT COURTHOUSE, THEY BUILT A ROOM FOR VAP.
UM, MR. HEARN, SOME OF Y'ALL MAY KNOW STEVE HEARN.
SO THERE IS A PHONE LINE AND A COMPUTER LINE WHO HAS SET DORMANT FOR YEARS.
ANY FURTHER? APPRECIATE ANY FURTHER.
I'M JUST GLAD I CAN SEE JEFF PARK BY PARK
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO SHT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M JOANNE MOORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HIN KATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE HIN KATI CHAMBER, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF AND 333 BUSINESS MEMBERS, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP AND BELIEF IN TOURISM.
AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER IN AKIMA COUNTY, YOUR INVESTMENT IS NOT SIMPLY SUPPORT OF THE CHAMBER.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN JOBS, TAX, REVENUE, SMALL BUSINESS, AND LONG TERM VITALITY OF OUR ISLAND AND COMMUN ISLAND COUNTY.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, UH, HOW YOUR SUPPORT HAS TRANSLATED INTO MEASURABLE IMPACT IN 2025 THROUGH STRAT.
[00:30:01]
VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, OMA ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AKIMA COUNTY REALIZED 1.92, UM, $192.2 MILLION IN VISITOR SPENDING.UH, WHICH WAS A 47, A 42.7% INCREASE OVER 2019, AND A 7% INCREASE OVER 2023, UH, SUPPORTED 1,468 TOURS, TOURISM SUPPORTED JOBS, AND, UH, REALIZED $11.9 MILLION IN GENERATED SALES TAX, UH, FOR STATE AND LOCAL.
AS VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION DESTINATION, UH, DESIGNATED DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, THE CHAMBER IS TASKED WITH INCREASING VISITATION TO SUPPORT LODGING, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, AND RECREATION, AS WELL AS CIVIC AND BUSINESS SERVICES.
YOUR SUPPORT ENABLES THE CHAMBER TO FULFILL THIS MISSION.
UH, THIS SLIDE, UH, IS IS MORE ABOUT OUR, OUR MARKETING SPEND FOR LAST YEAR, UH, THROUGH STRATEGIC PRINT, UH, DIGITAL EARNED MEDIA AND BROADCAST PLACEMENTS.
WE GENERATED 10 TIMES OUR RETURN ON MARKETING VALUE.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE THINGS 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU HAVE THE ANNUAL REPORT ALREADY, BUT OUR STRATEGIC DESTINATION MARKETING HAS LEVERAGED EVERY DOLLAR TO EXTEND FAR BEYOND OUR GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT.
OUR DIGITAL PRESENCE ALSO CONTINUES TO GROW.
UH, LAST YEAR WE REACHED OVER 5.4 MILLION POTENTIAL VISITORS, UH, SHOWING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES ACROSS NA NEARLY EVERY KEY PERFORMING INDICATOR.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE, UH, THROUGH THERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN OUR PAGE VIEWS, UM, AND, AND OTHER, UH, KEY COMPONENTS.
EVERY ONE OF THESE TOUCH POINTS RE REPRESENTS INFLUENCE, ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO STAY LONGER, DINE LOCALLY, SHOP LOCALLY, AND RETURN AGAIN.
AND OUR EFFORTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE APPROXIMATE 1.3 MILLION VISITORS WHO EXPERIENCE S CHIN TAKE ISLAND EACH YEAR AND ENJOY S CHIN, TAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND THE ACE TAKE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE.
OF COURSE, LAST YEAR WAS THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF PONY SWIM.
UH, AND IT WAS A LANDMARK YEAR BRINGING UNPRECEDENTED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE ISLAND.
UM, BUT IT WAS NOT JUST A CELEBRATION, IT WAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT BRINGING VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO WITNESS THIS CENTENNIAL EVENT.
AND THESE ARE JUST SOME OF OUR, OUR STATISTICS THAT WE, WE RAN, UH, OF, OF THE IMPACT THAT PONY SWIM HAD.
UH, NOT ONLY FOR THE CHAMBER, BUT FOR THE ISLAND.
UH, AND WE ALSO, UM, REVAMPED OUR, OUR PONY SWIM GUIDE, UH, WHICH REACHED 91,000 PEOPLE.
AND IT WAS A, A WAY TO, UM, ENHANCE THE SAFETY MESSAGING THAT WAS INVOLVED FOR LAST YEAR AS WELL AS VISITOR EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAD AN ENJOYABLE, UM, EXPERIENCE AND A SAFE EXPERIENCE.
IN 2025, WE WERE 328 MEMBERS STRONG.
WE WELCOMED 56 NEW MEMBERS LAST YEAR AND RETRIEVED A 94.1% RETENTION RATE WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BEING ABOUT 81%.
UH, WE HO HOSTED 21 JOB FAIRS AND WORK WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS, 23 NETWORKING EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND NON RIBBON CUTTINGS.
THE CHAMBER'S JUST NOT MARKETING TOURISM.
WE ARE STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM THAT TOURISM SUPPORTS OUR CHAMBERED SPONSORED SHOULDER SEASON EVENTS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE, THEY WERE DEVELOPED YEARS AGO, UM, TO STIMULATE BUSINESS IN THE SLOWER MONTHS, BUT TODAY THEY SERVE AS STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DRIVERS INTENTIONALLY FILLING ROOMS, RESTAURANTS, AND SHOPS DURING TRADITIONALLY LOW DEMAND PERIODS.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE YEAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, GRANTS, UM, WE LAUNCHED FIVE NEW MEMBER ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, UH, SECURED HOUSING, UH, FOR CONTRACTED LIFEGUARDS.
UH, THROUGH THAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TOWN, THE COUNTY, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE NAVIGATED A LEADERSHIP TRANSITION WHILE MAINTAINING STRATEGIC MOMENTUM.
AND IN 2026, UH, WE ARE PLANNING INTENTIONALLY AND RESPONSIBLY.
WE ARE ALREADY STARTED A TWO-PART TOURISM ACTION PLAN THAT HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER STRATEGIC PARTNERS, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO DEVELOP AND DEFINE SHORT AND LONG-TERM GOALS FOR THE FUTURE OF TOURISM ON CHIN KATI ISLAND.
WE'LL ALSO BE HOLDING A INTERNAL CHAMBER STRATEGIC PLAN LATER IN THE YEAR.
UM, AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING WITH STRATEGIC MARKETING INNOVATION AND WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS.
ALL OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE CARRIED OUT BY AN AMAZING TEAM THAT IS LEANED BY DESIGN WITH EACH OF THE THREE FULL-TIME POSITIONS CARRYING CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES, ROLES THAT CANNOT BE PAUSED, ABSORBED, OR EASILY REPLACED.
CONTINUITY MATTERS IN MARKETING, VISITOR SERVICES, AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT AN ADDED BENEFIT, IS A BASIC REQUIREMENT TO RETAIN THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE THIS WORK DEMANDS.
WITHOUT IT, WE RISK TURNOVER, LOSS OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, OPERATIONAL DISRUPTION, AND ULTIMATELY
[00:35:01]
A DIMINISHED RETURN ON THE COUNTY'S TOURISM INVESTMENT.WE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE COUNTY.
AND, UM, BUT OUR FISCAL YEAR 2027 REQUEST DID INCLUDE AN INCREASE THAT REFLECTS TWO REALITIES, RISING HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS, AND A MANDATORY AUDIT REQUIREMENT.
THESE INCREASES, THIS INCREASE IS NOT JUST ABOUT COVERING EXPENSES, BUT ABOUT MAINTAINING STABILITY FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS PRODUCING RESULTS.
RELIABLE HEALTH INSURANCE FUNDING ALLOWS US TO RETAIN QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS, SUSTAIN MOMENTUM, AND CONTINUE DELIVERING STRONG RETURNS FOR THE COUNTY.
ON, UM, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THE STAFF AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE IN THE SHTICK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN PEOPLE BEHIND THE RESULTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU AND ENSURE TOURISM REMAINS STRONG, STRATEGIC AND SUSTAINABLE THROUGHOUT FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONSIDERATION.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MR. MIMI, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO TACKLE YOUR LAST NAME.
MIMI SAJE, LIKE I LIKE TO SAY, IT'S ONE MORE THING MY EX-HUSBAND DID WRONG WAS GIMME THAT, GIMME THAT LAST NAME.
WE DID GET A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER OUT OF IT,
UM, SO GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
UM, THE EASTER SHORE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD, UM, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND FROM THE FY 25, WE SERVED, UM, 7,155 INDIVIDUALS AND, UM, THAT INCLUDES OUR MENTAL HEALTH, OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE, DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SERVICES, PEER RECOVERY SERVICES, ASSESSMENTS.
EVALUATIONS, EXCUSE ME, CONSUMER MONITORING FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AT THE STATE HOSPITALS, OUR PREVENTION DEPARTMENT, WHICH OFFERS VARIOUS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOLS.
UM, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN, WE'VE RAMPED UP OUR, UM, WE CAN'T TECHNICALLY CALL IT ADVERTISING, BUT, UM, TO LET Y'ALL KNOW WHAT THE CSB DOES, WE'VE GOT BILLBOARDS NOW, WE'VE GOT COMMERCIALS ON WTKR, WE ARE ALL OVER MOST OF THE, UM, BUSES THAT RUN UP AND DOWN THE SHORE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO, TO GET THE WORD OUT OF THERE, OUT THERE ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL SERVICES THAT WE DO.
UM, PART OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR BEING A, UM, POLITICAL SUBDIVISION IS OUR REGULATORY ENTITY, DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, OR D-B-H-D-S REQUIRES THOROUGH STATE CONTRACT THAT WE GET A 10% LOCAL MATCH, UM, TO THE STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING LEVELS.
UM, WHENEVER WE DON'T GET THOSE LOCAL MATCHES, WE HAVE TO REQUEST A WAIVER FROM D-B-H-D-S.
AND IF THE WAIVER IS NOT GRANTED, WE GET, UM, UH, PUNISHED PER SE.
THEY, THEY DON'T GIVE US THEIR FULL FUNDING.
SO, UM, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE BEEN, I'VE, I'VE BEEN HERE 12 YEARS AND EVERY YEAR WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WRITE THE WAIVER AND IT'S BEEN GRANTED, UM, 'CAUSE WE'VE NEVER MATCHED FOR EITHER COUNTY.
UM, THE LAST YEAR, UH, D-B-H-D-S HAS BECOME A LOT STRICTER ON THAT FOR ALL 40 OF THE CSPS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND SO, UM, NOW THEY HAVE NOT GRANTED US THE WAIVER AND WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING IS THE 66,287 THAT WOULD, UM, CATCH US UP AND GET HER, UH, CLOSER TO, UH, WHAT WE NEED FOR THAT MATCH.
UH, YOU'RE SAYING THE REQUEST WOULD BE MADE OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ALSO, CORRECT? YES.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT AMOUNT, BUT YES.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF, IF THIS BOARD APPROVED IT AND NORTHAMPTON DENIED IT, THEN JUST HYPOTHETICAL IT WOULD BE, UH, THE, THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OVERALL.
SO WOULD YOU NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT? CORRECT.
WE WOULD NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT, BUT WE WOULD ONLY BE, UM, PENALIZED ON THAT AMOUNT.
SO WE'RE ONLY, WE'RE PENALIZED ON THE DEFICIT.
THERE'S ONE THING I NOTICED IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UH, IN YOUR REQUEST, IT'S NICE TO HAVE THE WORD REQUIREMENT.
IT, UH, IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER FOR US TO DECIDE.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ONE? GO AHEAD.
MR. PARKS, UM, DO, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE WAIVER DENIAL.
COULD YOU, IS THERE AN APPEALS PROCESS FOR THAT? UM, I'VE GOT OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HERE.
I, THERE IS NOT, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE, OUR, OUR WAIVER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT THEY'VE STARTED DENYING 'EM.
UM, AND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CSP THAT THEY'VE DENIED.
CAN YOU TELL ME AGAIN WHO THAT IS? JUST, UH, I'M SORRY.
DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.
IT'S OUR REGULATORY ENTITY AT THE STATE LEVEL IN RICHMOND.
HAVE YOU CONTACTED DELEGATE BLOCKS? UH, ABSOLUTELY.
WHERE'S CHILI? CHILI IS EATING DINNER RIGHT NOW? YES.
[00:40:01]
MISSION.WE'RE BACK FOR OUR SECOND FUNDING REQUEST.
WE'RE PROBABLY ONE OF YOUR NEWEST AGENCIES.
BEEN OPERATING 18 MONTHS AND WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF FIXING HOMES SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T FALL.
AND WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU.
I'VE GOT JOVAN SMITH, OUR ASSISTANT TREASURER OF THAT RICK KING, OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, AND OUR BOARD CHAIR, DONNA SMITH, WHO FOR SOME REASON WASN'T GONNA GET UP WITH US, BUT SHE'S GONNA HAVE HER OWN LATER ON
SO ANYWAY, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, IS, UM, LET YOU SEE WHAT WE'VE SEEN.
IT'S IN SAXES AND IT'S ACTUALLY JUST OUTSIDE OF AN C**K.
THE BOTTOM ONE IS THAT'S GOOD.
UH, BELIEVE ME, THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE RUN INTO BECAUSE THE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE, ARE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL AND THEY'RE AGED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STEPS HERE, RICK, IF YOU HOLD THAT ONE UP, TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THAT WITH A CANE, I KNOW WHERE THAT IS, IS USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS.
AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS THE PERSON'S GONNA FALL AND THEY'RE GONNA END UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
AND, AND BESIDES THE, THE IMPACT TO THEM PERSONALLY, IT'S A FINANCIAL COST TO GET 'EM, GET 'EM BACK, GET 'EM BACK TO HELP.
OUR FOCUS IS WARMER, SAFER, AND DRIER.
THAT'S WHAT WE, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE ONE PART-TIME PAID PERSON ON OUR TEAM.
IT'S ALMOST PREDOMINANTLY VOLUNTEERS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN, BEEN ABLE TO DO.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE DO WHEN WE FIND THOSE ISSUES, THEY'RE EITHER GETTING A, A FULL BLOWN WOOD STICK RAMP OR A METAL RAMP OR A FLOOR REPAIR OR, UM, YOU KNOW, WINDOW REPAIR, ET CETERA.
WE HAD THE, WE HAD THE HONOR OF HAVING THE ATLANTIC BAPTIST CHURCH COME AND VOLUNTEER FOR A WEEK WITH US TO DO MISSIONS.
THEY NORMALLY GO TO APPALACHIA AND THEY CAME IN FOR A WEEK.
SO EVERY DAY WE HAD 30 VOLUNTEERS OPERATING ON TWO SITES.
THIS WAS DURING THE HOTTEST WEEK OF THE YEAR.
THEY WERE WORKING IN ATLANTIC AND ALSO IN NEW CHURCH AND AROUND, UH, PARKLEY.
UM, AND TO HAVE SOME OF THESE YOUTH WORK ON PROJECTS IN THEIR OWN HOMETOWN THAT EVERY DAY WHEN THEY GO TO CHURCH OR THEY GO TO SCHOOL, THEY'RE GONNA RIDE BY AND SEE WHAT THEY DID.
AND THE CHURCH HAS ALREADY CALLED US.
THEY'RE READY TO SIGN UP FOR FOUR MORE THIS SUMMER.
UH, WE CARRIED A BACKLOG OF 15 PROJECTS INTO THIS YEAR.
UM, WE ARE, UM, PICKING UP VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEER GROUPS.
AND ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS BROUGHT HER CHURCH.
VANESSA, WHO WAS ON OUR BOARD, UH, SHE BROUGHT HER CHURCH AND VOLUNTEERED AND I THINK IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
SHE'S BEEN OUT THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS QUESTION, MR. CROCKETT? YES, SIR.
UH, THIS IS ON TOP OF THE MONEY THAT WE APPROPRIATED LAST YEAR.
I THINK IT WAS $9,999 AND WE'VE ASKED FOR 20 MORE.
SO YOUR TOTAL FUNDING WOULD BE $30,000, CORRECT? YES.
10 OF THAT IS GONNA GO FOR THE AUDIT.
WE CAN'T GET ANY MORE THAN, WE CAN'T GET ANY MORE THAN 10.
THAT'S WHY YOU, THAT'S WHY YOU REQUESTED $999 LAST YEAR TO TO, TO GIVE OUT THE AUDIT, SIR.
YEAH, WE, WE, WE, WE HADN'T GOTTEN FAR ENOUGH WITH THE AUDITORS AND NOW WE HAVE BEGUN THE AUDIT.
BUT YOUR REQUEST IS, IS REALLY FOR $30,000 WHEN YOU, WE ALREADY GIVE YOU NINE, $9,999, SO ABSOLUTELY.
SO YOUR, YOUR BUDGET WOULD BE 30,000, CORRECT? YES.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SO ONE, ONE FINAL PIECE OF OF NEWS, WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IS WE TRACK FALLS WHEN WE GO AND VISIT SOMEONE AND WE ASK 'EM IF THEY'VE FALLEN IN THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS.
AND THAT'S ALL RECORDED AND DOCUMENTED.
THIS PAST YEAR WE SERVED 25 CLIENTS.
EIGHT OF THOSE CLIENTS HAD FALLS IN THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS.
WE JUST FINISHED THE FOLLOW UP FOR 2025.
FOR THOSE EIGHT CLIENTS, WE FALLS.
[00:45:01]
THEY'RE NOT GOING INTO RIVERSIDE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ANY SPECIAL CARE.WE'RE KEEPING 'EM SAFE, THEY'RE KEEPING 'EM SAFE AND KEEPING THEM IN THEIR HOUSES.
UH, WE'VE GOT SOME BROCHURES HERE THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR CONSTITUENTS IF THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO HELP.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTION, A QUESTION, MR. MR. PARKS? THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
SO WITH THE INCREASE IN FUNDING, I THINK YOU JUST SAID THAT LAST YEAR YOU, YOU SERVED 25 CLIENTS.
SO WHAT'S THE PLAN NUMBER FOR THE 40 40? WE HOPE TO GET 40.
SOME OF THAT DEPENDS ON, RICK RUNS THE OPERATIONS TEAM AND GETTING THE SUPERVISORS ON THE JOB SITES.
SO IF WE'RE DOING A YOUTH GROUP, WE MAY NEED SIX OR SEVEN ADULTS THAT ARE THERE.
SO IT'S GETTING THAT ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEER SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE THAT WE NEED TO ENABLE US TO GO THAT HIGH.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY WHAT YOU DO IS REMARKABLE.
I JUST WONDER, DO YOU SEEK FUNDS THROUGH ANY GRANT FUNDING OR ANY OTHER SOLICIT? WE, WE HAVE GONE, UH, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS TO US.
WE FUNDED OUR TRAILER AND TOOLS, UH, PEOPLE LIKE AN C**K BUILDING SUPPLIES GIVE US SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNTS.
UH, PURDUE IS A, A COMMITTED FUNDER, A THREE YEAR FUNDER.
TAYLOR BANK IS A THREE YEAR FUNDER, I'M SORRY, UNITED WAY.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING AFTER, WE'RE TRYING TO GET MULTI-YEAR 'CAUSE IT'S, IT, IT'S HARD AS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO, TO GO AFTER FIVE OR GO AFTER 10 AND HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY, UM, HONORED TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY HAS RECOGNIZED THE CRITICAL NEED.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE IT'S GONNA CONTINUE.
I WOULD ALSO COMMEND YOU GUYS TOO 'CAUSE I ACTUALLY HAD VOLUNTEERED WITH YOU GUYS AS WELL.
UM, YOU FIXED THE BUILD A RENT OVER AT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HOUSE.
WHAT IS HER NAME? UH, JENNY RICH.
AND IT, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL RAMP MAN.
AND, BUT YOU GUYS ARE A REMARKABLE GROUP TO WORK WITH AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
AND PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS IF THEY'RE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET SOMEONE OUT THERE TO TALK TO 'EM, GET A REFERRAL, GET IT APPROVED, UH, BY OUR MEDICAL TEAM, WHICH CONSISTS OF DONNA AND JENNIFER BARNES WHO WORKS FOR RIVERSIDE.
THEY GO THROUGH AND PRE-QUALIFY.
EASTERN SHORE VIRGINIA TOURISM COMMISSION.
HOW YOU DOING? WELL, GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS ROBERT SAINI AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA TOURISM COMMISSION.
I WILL KEEP THIS AS SHORT AND AS SWEET AS I POSSIBLY CAN FOR Y'ALL TONIGHT.
AND LET ME FIRST TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA TOURISM COMMISSION OVER THE YEARS.
SO LET ME FIRST START WITH SAYING IT IS NO SECRET THAT WE HAVE INCREDIBLE SUNRISES, SUNSETS, BEAUTIFUL BEACHES ON BOTH THE BAY AND THE SEASIDE PRISTINE NATURE.
BUT I BELIEVE OUR BEST AND STRONGEST ASSET HERE ON THE SHORE ARE OUR PEOPLE.
AND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE SITTING RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, WHETHER YOU DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY KNOW YOU HAVE SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON TOURISM.
I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE DILIGENCE AND VERSATILITY OF OUR TOURISM COMMISSION TEAM, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF TWO INDIVIDUALS, MEGAN LAWSON AND EILEEN KEL.
BOTH OF THESE LADIES ARE EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE 'EM WORKING FOR THE TOURISM COMMISSION.
WE'VE ALSO GOT AN INCREDIBLE TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD WHO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS ACROSS THE EASTERN SHORE.
SO WHEN YOU PUT THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND IT, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EXTRAORDINARY THINGS TO OCCUR IN AN ORGANIZATION.
AND WE ACCOMPLISHED JUST THAT IN 2025.
BUT GIVEN WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS BUDGETS, I'VE ALWAYS HELD FIRM IN THE BELIEF THAT WHEN TAXPAYER MONEY AND RESOURCES ARE GIVEN TO AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM, FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE NEED TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THAT TAXPAYER MONEY IS ESSENTIAL AND PARAMOUNT.
[00:50:01]
YEAR, I WANT TO GIVE Y'ALL JUST BRIEFLY SHARE HOW THE TOURISM COMMISSION, BY BEING GOOD STEWARDS, HAVE DONE JUST THAT AND ACHIEVED AND SURPASSED MANY MILESTONES.ONE OF, ONE OF THE BIGGEST MILESTONES THAT I AM INCREDIBLY, EXCUSE ME, UH, PROUD OF IS THE TOURISM COMMISSION AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THEY BOTH MAKE EACH OTHER STRONGER AND WE, THAT CONTINUES TO, EXCUSE ME, I SHOULD ADD SOME WATER BEFORE I CAME UP HERE.
THAT RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES TO THRIVE TODAY.
OUR ANNUAL TRAVEL GUIDE, WE'VE ENHANCED THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENHANCE IT IN 2025, THE GUIDE CONTINUES TO BE A GO-TO FOR VISITORS ACROSS THE EASTERN SHORE.
OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND COPIES WERE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS VIRGINIA, THE EAST COAST AND THE COUNTRY.
OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE CONTINUED TO MAKE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR WEBSITE, MAKING IT A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR VISITORS AND HELP THEM DISCOVER BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE SHORE.
SOME SPECIFIC DATA POINTS THAT I WANT TO TOUCH ON OUR VISIT SVA.COM WEBSITE HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH OVER 110,000 UNIQUE USERS VISITING THE SITE BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER OF 25.
THE MONTH OF JULY, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SAW THE BIGGEST USERS VISITING, VISITING THE SITE WITH OVER 11, 11,000.
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE CONTINUES TO HAVE A HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL PRESENCE WITH OVER 1.5 MILLION VIEWS ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ALONE IN 2025, FEBRUARY.
YOU'LL FIND THIS INTERESTING FEBRUARY OF 25.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHEN YOU WANT FOLKS LOOKING AT YOUR MATERIAL.
BECAUSE THEY'RE PLANNING THEIR VACATIONS, PLANNING THEIR TRAVEL SCHEDULES HIT A PEAK NUMBER OF OVER 250,000 INDIVIDUALS VISITING FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES.
WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENCE ON YOUTUBE AND PINTEREST TO CAPTURE AS MANY SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, AND ONLINE USERS AS POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO OVERSEE THE SOUTHERN GATEWAY WELCOME CENTER AT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE TUNNEL.
THE WELCOME CENTER CONTINUES TO ATTRACT OVER 10,000 VISITORS A MONTH ON AVERAGE.
IT CONSISTENTLY RECEIVES FIVE STAR REVIEWS ON GOOGLE, SOMETHING WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF.
MEGAN, SALLY WILLIAMS, HH SCOTT.
THE ENTIRE STAFF OF THE WELCOME CENTER ARE A PERFECT REFLECTION OF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR EASTERN SHORE HOSPITALITY.
ONE MORE INTERESTING FIGURE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ON THE WELCOME CENTER.
IT HAS BEEN OPEN 17 YEARS AND THE WELCOME CENTER AND TOURISM COMMISSION HAVE SERVED OVER 1.6 MILLION VISITORS THROUGH, THROUGH THAT WELCOME CENTER.
WE HAVE EIGHT PART-TIME STAFF AND 10 VOLUNTEERS WORKING THERE.
WE CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE RAILS TO TRAILS WORKING GROUP.
OUR SIGNATURE EVENT, THE TOURISM SUMMIT IN 2025 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
THIS YEAR'S SUMMIT IS SLOTTED FROM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD AT THE IMPACT CENTER IN CAPE CHARLES.
WE'VE GOT A NATIONALLY KNOWN KEYNOTE SPEAKER, JOHN SHALLARD ATTENDING ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS, UH, SLOTTED FOR THE SUMMIT FEATURE THE VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, ALONG WITH THE HAMPTON ROAD SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO, TO FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY.
JOANNE TOUCHED ON THIS, UH, EARLIER, AND I THINK THIS STAT IS ONE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF AND SHOULD TAKE A LONG, LONG VICTORY LAP AROUND IN 2024 VISITORS THROUGH THE EASTERN SHORE SPENT $261.6 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 5.5% OVER 2023.
AS JOANNE POINTED OUT, AKIMA COUNTY ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR 192.2 MILLION OF THAT TOTAL.
IT SUPPORTED 1,468 LOCAL JOBS AND GENERATED ALMOST 12 MILLION IN LOCAL TAX REVENUE.
AND LET ME STRESS, I I THAT TOURISM PROMOTION AND SUCCESS IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION.
I THINK IT'S ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT HOSPITALITY, THAT EASTERN SHORE HOSPITALITY IS WHAT MAKES VISITORS COME BACK TO THE SHORE YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR, OUR CURRENT GOALS HAVE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE, UH, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED WE'VE GOT TWO EXTRAORDINARY LADIES WORKING THERE AT
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THE TOURISM COMMISSION.I'VE GOTTA KEEP 'EM, YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE.
BENEFITS, HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION, RETIREMENT, LIFE INSURANCE.
THE THE TWO I HAVE ARE VERY COMPETENT, KNOWLEDGEABLE INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE REALLY TRANSFORMED THE WAY WE'VE LOOKED AT TOURISM ON THE SHORE.
WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT A NATIONAL LISTING, OUR EXPOSURE INITIATIVE, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH INTO REGIONS IN VIRGINIA AND ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
SO LET ME CLOSE AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO, UM, THIS YEAR, I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA TOURISM COMMISSION'S EFFORTS AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MINDS AND KNOW THAT OUR BUDGETARY REQUEST OF $259,438 IS REASONABLE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN GOOD HANDS.
I, AGAIN, GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND IF Y'ALL NEED ANYTHING, DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND MEL MALFA, MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
MY DAUGHTER HAS PRACTICE THAT I MUST PICK HER UP AT
JUST WANT CLARIFICATION, ROBERT? YES SIR.
YOU ARE NOT ASKING TO FOR 200 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS IN YOU MONEY, SO NO CAPITAL FUNDING.
THAT'S YOUR LEVEL, THAT'S YOUR, THAT'S OUR OFFER, RIGHT? CORRECT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THE MEDIA TO, TO THINK YOU'RE ASKING FOR NEW MONEY.
THAT KIND OF NEW MONEY, RIGHT? NO, THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS, UH, IT SHOULD SHOW YOU ON AGING.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M THE CEO FOR THE EASTERN SHORE AREA AGENCY ON AGING COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE AGENCY, WE ARE A TRIFOLD.
WE NOT ONLY COVER THE AGING, WE COVER POVERTY, AND WE ALSO COVER EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HERE ON THE SHORE.
WE ARE ALL UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE EASTERN SHORE AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS WE SERVE HERE IN ACU COUNTY TONIGHT, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN INCREASE OF $26,570 ABOVE LAST YEAR'S FUNDING LEVEL AND INVESTMENT THAT WILL COMPLETE AND COMPLETE THE HARDWOOD COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND STABILIZED CRITICAL HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND SENIORS.
AIMA COUNTY IS THE HOME OF APPROXIMATELY 33,400 RESIDENTS.
27% OF OUR POPULATION IS AT THE AGE OF 65 YEARS OR OLDER, AND NEARLY 20% LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
MANY FAMILIES ARE FACED WITH SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, AND LIMITED ACCESS TO CHILDCARE AND SUPPORTED SERVICES.
THIS, I WOULD SAY IS REALISTIC IN INCREASING DEMAND FOR PREVENTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, LIKE THOSE THAT WE SERVE THE PEOPLE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALSO IMPROVES THE LIVES BEFORE CRISIS STRIKES THROUGH OUR HEAD START PROGRAM, WE SERVE 50 FAMILIES IN HARWOOD AND 94 FAMILIES IN ACUMA, WHICH IS THE ACUMA CENTER ON FRONT STREET.
WE PROVIDE THE EARLY EDUCATION, NUTRITION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT, THE STRENGTH OF THE SCHOOL READINESS AND WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION.
OUR AGENCY EMPLOYS 45 DEDICATED STAFF WHO LIVE RIGHT HERE IN ACUMATIC COUNTY, ARE SHOWING THAT THE RESOURCES STAY LOCAL AND RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
AT THE SAME TIME, JUST LAST YEAR, WE SERVED 50,927 MEALS BETWEEN OUR AAC AND HARWOOD LOCATION.
31,780 OF THOSE WAS RIGHT ON FRONT STREET AND 18,787 WERE IN HARWOOD.
ALONG WITH THAT, WE SERVE 360 SENIORS IN OUR HARWOOD SITE THREE DAYS A WEEK.
THESE MEALS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THOSE SENIORS AS WELL AS OUR CHILDREN.
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THEY MEAN A LOT TO THEM.THEY REPRESENT NOT ONLY A PLACE TO COME TO ENJOY, BUT IT ALSO REPRESENT HEALTH, DIGNITY, AND REDUCE ISOLATION, AND THE ABILITY FOR OUR SENIORS TO REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR HOMES RATHER THAN FACING COSTLY INSTITUTIONAL CARE.
THE NEED FOR OUR CHILDREN IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT FOR MANY OF OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
OUR SCHOOL MEALS ARE MAY BE THE MOST RELIABLE PLACE THAT THEY MAY HAVE RECEIVED A MEAL THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
IT ALSO ASSISTS THEM WITH MAKING SURE THAT THEY RECEIVE NUTRITIONAL MEALS EACH DAY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THESE CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE LOTS.
WE ARE VERY CONSISTENT IN THE FOODS WE SERVE.
WE HAVE A REGISTERED DIETICIAN WHO LOOKS AT THE MEALS AND HELP US PREPARE THESE MEALS.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE CHILDREN, THOSE THAT MAY BE FACED WITH HUNGER, POOR CONCENTRATION, BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES, AND LOWER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES.
WE KNOW THAT THE MEALS THAT WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE TO THEM IS THE PLACE THAT THEY, WE CAN COUNT ON IN ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE THOSE NUTRITIONAL MEALS.
THE FACILITY IS THERE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'VE PROVIDE AN IMPACT FOR THEIR PHYSICAL GROWTH.
WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP THEM IN THEIR IMMUNE HEALTH, IN THEIR HEALTH AS WELL AS THEIR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.
IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE PROVIDE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO HELP THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CHILDREN FOR OUR FAMILIES.
THESE MEALS ARE A LIFELINE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE COST OF MEALS AND FOOD IN OUR STORES TODAY.
THIS MEAL THAT THEY GET, THEY NOT ONLY GET ONE MEAL, BUT OUR CHILDREN RECEIVE SNACKS AS WELL.
IT HELPS REDUCES THE GROCERY EXPENSES WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE, THEIR ACTUALLY RECEIVING BREAKFAST.
THEY RECEIVE THEIR LUNCH AND THEIR WEALTH BEFORE THEY GO HOME.
THIS HELPS THE FAMILY WITH THE FINANCIAL STRAIN AND ALLOW THE PARENTS TO STRETCH THE LIMIT BUDGETS THAT THEY NORMALLY HAVE.
WHEN PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES IN OUR AGENCY TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE ALSO MAINTAINING AND PROVIDING AND HELPING THEM TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, WE ARE CARING FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND WE ARE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE DEPENDABLE ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL MEALS.
WE STRENGTHEN FAMILIES RESILIENCE, PROMOTE ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND BUILD A HEALTHIER AND MORE SECURE COMMUNITY.
THE $10,000 THAT I'M ASKING FOR ONE TIME INVESTMENT WILL COMPLETE THE HARWOOD COMMERCIAL KITCHEN BY CONNECTING THE RANGE HOOD AND INSTALLING THREE COMPARTMENT COMMERCIAL SINKS AND MEETING THE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.
ONCE COMPLETED, WE WILL PREPARE MEALS ON SITE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE TRAVELING FROM ACUMA COUNTY ON FRONT STREET TO HARWOOD.
THE AGENCY HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 20 SOME YEARS, AND WITH THE SUPPORT AND LOOKING INTO THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE TEMPERATURES ARE UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE WE ARE PACKAGED WELL.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE DO MORE THAN THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THAT FACILITY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RIGHT ON SITE HOT MEALS TO THE SENIORS AS WELL AS TO THE YOUTH.
I BELIEVE WITH THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE TO US, WE ALL CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL AND UTILIZE THE TRANSPORTATION, GETTING IT TO AND FROM.
OUR BUSES ARE OLD, AND CERTAINLY I CAN TELL YOU IT IS WEAR AND TEAR, JUST BRINGING IN THOSE MEALS ON A DAILY BASIS.
BUT WITH THE HELP OF YOU GUYS AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM YOU, WE KNOW THAT THIS CAN BE A MEANINGFUL AND GIVING US ASSETS TO HOT AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO BOTH THE SENIORS AND CHILDREN.
THE ADDITIONAL $16,570 THAT I'M ASKING FOR IS ALSO TO HELP WITH THE HEALTH AND WELFARE.
IT WILL HELP OFFSET MOST OF THE RISING FOOD AND HEALTHCARE COSTS AND MEET INCREASED DEMAND FOR OUR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
WHEN YOU SAY, DONNA, WHAT SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE YOU PROVIDED? SUPPORTIVE SERVICES JUST THIS PAST WEEK WHEN THE TEMPERATURES REACH VERY LOW BELOW ZERO DEGREES OR TWO, I THINK
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THEY SAID 12 BELOW HERE, OR WINDSHIELD.WE
SO WITH THE SUPPORT IN ASKING FOR THE ADDITIONAL HELP IN OUR HEALTH AND WELFARE NEEDS, THAT CAN HELP US OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS.
THIS IS A MODEST INVESTMENT COMPARED TO LONG-TERM COSTS OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, HOSPITALIZATION, OR INSTITUTIONAL CARE PREVENTION IS ALWAYS MORE FISCALLY AND FINANCIALLY SAVVY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE COUNT ON THOSE THE WAY THAT WE KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
AND THE STAFF THAT DOES THE CURE COORDINATION.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU HELP US TO MEET THE CRISIS RESPONSE THAT WE NORMALLY ARE FACED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE EASTERN SHORE AREA AGENCY ON AGENT COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE WORKFORCE, STABILITY, HEALTHY AGENT, AND STRONG FAMILIES.
IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN KEEPING ACUMA COUNTY RESIDENTS SAFE, INDEPENDENT, AND THRIVING.
AGAIN, WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT AND THE CONTINUOUS PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU PROVIDE TO US.
WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDED TO ME ON NOVEMBER, 2020.
WHAT WAS IT? 20? IT WAS JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
YOU PROVIDED THE SUPPORT IN MAKING CERTAIN THAT ALL STAFF RECEIVED THE PAYCHECK.
I, AGAIN, WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT AS, AS WE PROMISED WE WERE GOING TO GIVE IT BACK.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, VERY QUICKLY.
UH, THE FEDERAL FUNDS NOT ALWAYS COME AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD LIKE, AND I HEARD EARLIER ABOUT THE COST SHARE.
WE ARE ALL UNDER THAT AS RESTRAINTS, ESPECIALLY EVEN IN OUR HEAD START.
WE ALL HAVE TO COME UP WITH MATCHES.
SO AGAIN, I SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PLEASE CONSIDER HELP MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A SAFE PLACE AND PROVIDING THE SERVICES TO THOSE OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE IN ACUMA COUNTY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE.
ANY, UH, QUESTIONS ON MS. SMITH? THANK YOU AGAIN.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MR. POPE.
MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER POTE AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE EASTERN SHORE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
ON BEHALF OF THE SYSTEM, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, LIBRARY STAFF, AND PATRONS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
ESPL IS REQUESTING A SLIGHT 4.5% INCREASE THE EQUIVALENT OF $39,500 IN OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 27.
THESE FUNDS WILL GO TOWARDS COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL 22 STAFF MEMBERS TO ADDRESS INCREASES IN OPERATING EXPENSES AND TO ADDRESS INCREASES IN HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. I DETERMINED THE AMOUNT OF THE REQUEST BY CALCULATING ANTICIPATED NEEDS, AND THEN I DIVIDED THAT NUMBER IN HALF.
UM, TRYING TO BE A GOOD PARTNER TO YOU ALL AND TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF TAX DOLLARS.
MY INTENT WAS FOR ESPL TO ABSORB 50% OF THE ANTICIPATED INCREASES AND THEN REQUEST THE REMAINING 50% OF AKAMAK AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES.
AS PER THE 75 25 PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.
AS I WAS HERE MONDAY NIGHT, I'M AWARE, APPRECIATIVE, AND ACCEPTING OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS PROPOSED 2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
THE REAL CONCERN HERE, AS MR. MASON CLEARLY INDICATED ON MONDAY IS THE ALMOST 50% INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
THIS IS JUST NOT TENABLE FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND STAFF TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB.
AND ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PLAN THAT MR. MASON DISCUSSED, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF REASSESSING THE CURRENT PLAN AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF MR. MASON FOR SEEKING ALTERNATIVES AND TRUST.
HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE PRESENTED A VIABLE OPTION, AND I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
MY CALCULATIONS DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR A 28% INCREASE IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS. ESPL RE ESP L'S REQUEST ALSO INCLUDES FUNDING FOR AN ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GREATER LIBRARY SECURITY AND TO ALIGN WITH COUNTY FACILITIES ALONG THESE LINES.
THIS YEAR WE INSTALLED 11 NEW CAMERAS AT THE REGIONAL LIBRARY AND HERITAGE CENTER IN PARKLEY FOR A TOTAL OF 27, AND WE ALSO INSTALLED A NEW SECURITY SYSTEM AT THE NORTH HAMPTON FREE LIBRARY IN NASS, OTICS.
ALL OF THAT CAME OUT OF OUR EXISTING OPERATING
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BUDGET.UM, THIS FIRST PAGE BEFORE YOU, UM, ACTUALLY, LET ME GO BACK ONE.
UM, THIS FIRST PAGE SHOWS ANTICIPATED FUNDS FROM OUR THREE MAIN SOURCES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, STATE AID IS DIRECTLY TIED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID, AND AS THE MAJORITY PARTNER, MACK COUNTY HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO THE STRONG FUNDING WE HAVE NOW.
AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARIES IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UM, THIS ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE NEED TO, AT THE VERY LEAST, REMAIN LEVEL FUNDED.
SO WHERE DOES THIS RES, WHERE DOES THIS SUPPORT GO? ALLOW ME TO TURN YOU TO THE SECOND PAGE.
AND DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT GONNA READ THIS VERBATIM.
I'M GONNA SUMMARIZE, SUMMARIZE IT, SUMMARIZE IT AS I GO.
ESPL PATRONS HAVE ACCESS TO HALF A MILLION BOOK TITLES IN PRINT AND ELECTRONICALLY 50,000 STREAMING TYPE VIDEO TITLES.
MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND HAITIAN CREOLE.
THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO FREE UNLIMITED WIFI PRIVATE STUDY MEETING SPACES, AND THROUGH OUR RECENTLY OPEN MAKER SPACE PATRONS CAN NOW USE OUR 3D PRINTER, UH, ART TABLET, CRAFTING, CUTTER SEWING MACHINE AND MORE.
AND NONE OF THIS MENTIONS ALL THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING WE PROVIDE TO ALL VARIETIES OF AGES AND DEMOGRAPHICS.
AS YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, OVER A QUARTER OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ACTIVE LIBRARY USERS.
TURNING TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE LET ME HIGHLIGHT A FEW STATISTICS.
FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WE CIRCULATED ROUGHLY 65,000 ITEMS TO CARD HOLDERS OUTTA THE REGIONAL LIBRARY AND HERITAGE CENTER, SAVING AKIMA COUNTY RESIDENTS NEARLY $950,000.
AND MACK COUNTY ACCOUNTED FOR ROUGHLY 40% OF THE HERITAGE CENTER'S.
QUESTIONS RECEIVED AND TOPICS ANSWERED OR TOPICS RESEARCHED SYSTEM-WIDE LIBRARY VISITATION WAS UP 21% LAST YEAR TO NEARLY 130,000 VISITS.
WE MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR PROGRAM'S ATTENDANCE REACHING 13,000 PEOPLE.
WIRELESS INTERNET WAS ACCESSED ALMOST 80,000 TIMES, NEARLY DOUBLED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND ESPL BENEFITED FROM 2100 VOLUNTEER HOURS FURTHER INDICATING THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING.
AND FINALLY, THE LAST PAGE IS JUST A COLLAGE OF VARIOUS PROGRAMMING AND EVENT IMAGES THAT INDICATE THE VARIETY OF OFFERINGS AND THE DIVERSITY OF OUR PATRONAGE.
I HOPE THIS ALL PROVIDES ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
LASTLY, BEFORE I GO, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT ASSIST US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, WITH MUCH APPRECIATION TO MR. LITTLETON AND THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
MS. LEWIS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, MS. CARTY AND HER SUCCESSOR IN THE HR DEPARTMENT.
MR. MASON, MS. MES IN THE ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MR. HALL AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, UM, INCLUDING MR. NUNNELLY, MS. MCGUIRE, MR. SHIFFLET, AND MR. CASTRO.
MR. CASTRO, THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE AND TAKE GREAT CARE OF THE PARSLEY FACILITY.
AND OVERALL, YOU HAVE WONDERFUL, GREAT STAFF.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THANK YOU,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANY QUESTIONS.
NEXT UP IS, IS THE STAR TRANSIT, MR. JASON.
SO I AM, UH, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS PHIL THOMPSON, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS JASON FOR VIRGINIA REGIONAL TRANSIT.
WITH ME THIS EVENING IS MR. BILL MOORE.
HE IS THE TRANSIT MANAGER FOR STAR TRANSIT.
BASED HERE IN MACK COUNTY IN TASSE.
SO, UH, THIS EVENING I WILL ATTEMPT TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT THE EFFORTS OF STAR TRANSIT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND PROVIDE SEVERAL INITIATIVES FOR GOING FORWARD.
UH, BEFORE THE BOARD, YOU HAVE STAR TRANSIT'S ANNUAL 32% LOCAL MATCH REQUEST FOR OPERATING ASSISTANCE.
AND WE'VE HEARD THE LOCAL MATCH, UM, REQUIREMENT AND REQUEST THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.
UM, STAR TRANSIT IS A 53 11 RURAL FUNDED TRANSIT SYSTEM.
UH, IT RECEIVES, UH, FEDERAL AND STATE OPERATING ASSISTANCE, UH, TO RECEIVE THE OPERATIONAL FUNDING.
UH, THE TOTAL COST IS SPLIT WITH FTA PROVIDING 50% OF OPERATING COSTS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THEN PROVIDES 18% OF THE OPERATING COSTS, AND THEN ASSOCIATED LOCALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS FUND 32 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR FOR OPERATING, OR 32% LOCAL MATCH.
WE'RE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT IN FY 25, UH, WHICH FOR STAR TRANSIT IS THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR.
OCTOBER ONE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
STAR TRANSIT PROVIDED THE SECOND HIGHEST PASSENGER RIDERSHIP NUMBER IN THE HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION, PROVIDING 97,333 RIDES ALONG THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
THIS IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE SAYS A LOT ABOUT, REALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE NEED FOR TRANSIT ACCESS ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
THE FY 25 RESULTS ALSO SPEAK WELL OF STAR TRANSIT ROUTES, ITS VEHICLES, ITS VEHICLE OPERATORS, THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM, AND IT SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF TRANSIT THAT YORK COUNTY STEADFASTLY SUPPORTS.
AND IT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE NEED AND UTILIZATION
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OF TRANSIT SERVICES BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, STAR TRANSIT LAUNCHED, LAUNCHED THE ORANGE ROUTE, SERVING THE TOWNS OF ONLY ONANCOCK AND DOHERTY IN ITS FIRST MONTH.
THE ORANGE ROUTE PROVIDED 690 RIDES.
IN ITS FIRST YEAR, IT PROVIDED 7,642 RIDES.
SO AN IMPRESSIVE FIRST YEAR FOR THAT ROUTE.
SEVERAL GRANT FUNDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WERE ALSO COMPLETED.
THE STORM WATER RETENTION POND REPAIRS AND MODIFICATIONS AT THE FACILITY.
PHASE THREE OF STAR TRANSIT'S DRIVEWAY EXPANSION, A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PROJECT FOR CRACKED SEAL, SEAL, COAT AND LINE PAINTING OF STAR TRANSIT ENTRANCE, EXIT FRONT GUEST PARKING LOCATION, AND BUS PARKING LOCATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, STAR TRANSIT, UH, PRESSED FORWARD WITH AND COMPLETED A TITLE SIX INITIATIVE, UH, WHICH WAS TRANSLATING AND PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTING BUS SCHEDULES IN BOTH SPANISH AND CREOLE ACROSS THE SHORE.
STAR TRANSIT WAS SELECTED FOR AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ONE OF THE FUNNEST THINGS WE EVER GO THROUGH, WHICH IS A FULL FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION TRIENNIAL REVIEW.
THEY CONSIST OF AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW OF ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, FINANCIAL REPORTING PRACTICES, FLEET PROCUREMENT AND FLEET MAINTENANCE RECORDS, AND STAR TRANSIT DID A VERY GOOD JOB WITH THEIR TRIENNIAL.
THIS PAST SUMMER STAR TRANSIT ALSO WORKED LY DILIGENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR TO ENSURE THAT THE FLEET IS IN A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR.
FOUR OF OUR RETIRED BUSES, WHICH HAD MET THEIR FTA USEFUL LIFE AND HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, THEY WERE DISPOSED OF DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
UM, WE ALSO ORDERED TWO REPLACEMENT VEHICLES LAST OCTOBER, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WILL BE RECEIVED DURING FY 27.
UH, ONE OF THOSE IS A 16 AND SIX BODY ON CHASSIS.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO US IS THAT BUS CAN ACCOMMODATE 16 AMBULATORY PASSENGERS AND SIX DISABLED CLIENTS WHO MAY USE MOBILITY DEVICES.
SO, UH, IT IS A VERY VERSATILE VEHICLE THAT WE ANTICIPATE, UH, RECEIVING.
ADDITIONALLY, A 12 AND TWO BODY ON CHASSIS, UH, WILL ALSO, UH, ARRIVE.
STAR TRANSIT HAS ADDITIONALLY APPLIED FOR A MERIT CAPITAL GRANT TO REPLACE ONE BUS IN FY 27.
UM, AND WE'LL FIND OUT IN JUNE ONCE THE CTB VOTES, WHETHER THAT IS, UH, APPROVED OR NOT.
UM, STAR TRANSIT WILL ADDITIONALLY BE WORKING TOWARD INSTALLATIONS OF BUS STOP SHELTERS, BIKE RACKS, BENCHES, AND OTHER AMENITIES FOR THE RAIL TRAIL AT THE TRAIL HEADS AS THEY DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
UH, STAR TRANSIT EVALUATES ALL OF ITS ROUTES AND OPERATION EVERY YEAR TO ENSURE SAFE PATHS OF TRAVEL AND TO, AND ACCURATE BOARDING AND ARRIVAL TIMES IN ADDITION TO THE IN-HOUSE EVALUATION.
ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, WE UPDATE THE MAP, WE UPDATE THE TIMETABLE, WE PRINT A NEW BROCHURE AND DISTRIBUTE IT ACROSS THE EASTERN SHORE FOR OUR RES, OUR PASSENGERS TO USE.
THE STAR TRANSIT SYSTEM IS SUCCESSFUL 'CAUSE OF OUR DEDICATED VEHICLE OPERATORS, THE NEEDS BASED DESIGN, AND THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL MATCH CONTRIBUTORS SUCH AS THE COUNTY OF MACK.
WE APPRECIATE THE TRUST THAT YOU HAVE PLACED IN STAR TRANSIT TO SERVE YOUR RESIDENTS AND GUESTS, AND, UM, WE, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW OF OUR ANNUAL APPLICATION.
IF DID MANY RISES, YOU GUYS GIVE AS MUCH AS Y'ALL ARE UP AND DOWN THE UP AND DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT'S Y'ALL SAFETY SCORE? WELL, SO FOR THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THERE WERE ZERO, WHAT WE CALL NTD, UM, ACCIDENTS.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE ACCIDENT THAT IS REPORTABLE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
STAR TRANSIT HAD NONE OF THOSE GOOD.
AND OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, I THINK THE WORST THING WE HAD WAS A DEER STRIKE.
AND WE JUST REPAIRED THAT ONE.
DID IT HIT YOU OR DID YOU HIT IT? IT HIT US.
WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THIS INSURANCE INFORMATION.
I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE DEERS CONSIDER THAT EVIDENCE, SOME EVIDENCE GUYS TRAVELING AND MANY RIDE YOU GIVE TO HAVE A SCORE LIKE THAT.
I HAVE VERY GOOD DRIVERS, VERY SAFE DRIVERS.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND GENTLEMEN.
IT MAY BE IN HERE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT WHAT WAS YOUR TOTAL RATE, UH, RIDERSHIP IN THE LAST YEAR? 97,333, I BELIEVE.
UNDERLINED IT SOMEWHERE IN MY TALKING POINTS.
DO YOU, ARE YOU ABLE TO ASCERTAIN HOW MANY OF THOSE AND AND WOULD I ASSUME IT WOULD BE AN ESTIMATION WE'RE GOING, FOR INSTANCE, TO THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX AREA? GENERALLY, WE DO AN ON OFF STUDY EVERY YEAR AND WE CAN GET PERCENTAGES, UM, LIKE A SNAPSHOT FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.
AND I CAN GET THAT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. BRACKET?
[01:20:01]
OH, I THOUGHT YOU HAD THAT.WILL D TEXAS DOWN TO THE CORPORATE EXTENSION.
THAT PERSON IN HERE, EITHER? UH, COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY.
HE MOVED THOUGH, UH, THIS YEAR.
WE, UH, MADAM CHAIR, WE DO NOT HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REQUESTS.
WE DO HAVE SOME JUST OPERATIONAL REQUESTS, UH, FOR THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY SIDE.
I KNOW THERE IS ALSO A VICTIM WITNESS, UH, REQUEST.
MS. MOORE WAS, UM, DETAINED BECAUSE THE FIRE ON FOX ROAD ROAD, UH, SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF HER ROAD.
SO THERE'S APPARENTLY A, A LARGE FIRE THERE.
UM, OUR REQUESTS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, THE BIG, THE OUR, OUR BIGGEST ONE, I BELIEVE IS THE, UM, INCREASED, UH, INTERNET SPEED RATE.
WE, YOU ALL WERE VERY GENEROUS.
WE, THE SOFTWARE IS GOING REALLY WELL.
IT'S MADE, UM, DISCOVERY, UH, IN CRIMINAL CASES MUCH EASIER FOR BOTH OUR OFFICE AND COUNSEL IN MOST EVERY CASE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME THINGS LIKE LARGE SCALE PHONE DUMPS, UM, WE CAN PROVIDE EVERYTHING THROUGH CLOUD-BASED SOFTWARE.
UM, THE BIG, UH, ISSUE IS THOUGH THERE'S SOME AGENCIES, UH, IN THE COUNTY LIKE STATE POLICE AND, UH, TI THEY DO NOT USE, UH, AXION.
UM, SO WE HAVE TO GET, UH, A DOWNLOAD LINK, UH, TO THEM, WHICH THEY CAN THEN PUMP THEIR INFORMATION, THEIR BODY CAMERA, THEIR DASH CAMERA INTO THAT.
AND THERE'S SOMETIMES WHERE IT TAKES HOURS, UH, SOMETIMES, UH, MS. LEWIS, OUR, UH, UH, PARALEGAL WILL LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT TO TRY AND GET IT TO LOAD UP.
SO WE THINK THE INCREASED INTERNET SPEED WILL HELP US WITH THAT.
SO THAT'S A BIG REQUEST FOR US.
UM, WE'VE SEEN SOME INCREASE IN DUES, UM, FOR, UH, SOME OF THE ASSOCIATIONS WE'VE WORK WITH THAT, UH, WE GET ALL OUR TRAINING THROUGH.
IT'S ALL PAID FOR THROUGH ALL.
OUR TRAINING IS PAID FOR THROUGH CASK AND VACA.
AND, UM, SO, UH, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE, UH, THE DUES INCREASE AS WELL AS THE VIRGINIA STATE BAR FEES.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY THERE'S A REQUEST FOR OUR COPIER, WHICH DESPITE BEING LARGELY CLOUD-BASED NOW, WE STILL, UH, WEAR OUT PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THOSE, UH, REQUESTS.
MR. MR. MORGAN, IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, UH, I THINK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS RECOMMENDED ALL OF YOUR REQUESTS.
WE ARE VERY, WE ARE VERY, UH, GRATEFUL TO AS RECOMME.
TAKES US DOWN TO OUR TREASURER, LIL
JAMES LILLISTON, MACK COUNTY TREASURER.
UM, I CERTAINLY DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING BECAUSE UH, I THINK SOMEBODY JUST SPOKE TO IT.
IT'S GOOD TO MAKE IT TO MR. MASON'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, AND I THINK, UH, MR. SABATINI SPOKE TO IT ABOUT JUST BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY.
UM, BUT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HAS AFFECTED ALL OF OUR OFFICES, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND, UH, I JUST APPRECIATE ANY, ANY, UH, RECOMME ANY, ANY AMOUNT THAT YOU, YOU, YOU CAN, UH, POSSIBLY GIVE TO ME
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THANK YOU.
OKAY, MR. WATSON, JUST ONE QUESTION.
IS THERE A GOAL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SET FOR COLLECTING THE TAXES ON A BASIS, A GOAL SET? IT'S ALWAYS A GOAL SET.
SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE GOAL? HUNDRED PERCENT YOU WANNA DO? A HUNDRED PERCENT.
YOU WANNA DO A HUNDRED PERCENT? UM, GOOD ANSWER.
PERSONAL PROPERTY IS ALWAYS HARDER.
WE'RE SITTING AROUND 81, 82 FOR THAT, BUT WE GOT SOME THIRD PARTIES THAT'S TRYING TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT.
UM, BUT PERSONAL PROPERTY IS ROUGH.
TAKES US DOWN TO OUR REGISTRAR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
I AM HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TONIGHT TO DISCUSS OUR BUDGET REQUESTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE ELECTORAL BOARD AND THE REGISTRAR TO CONTINUE TO MEET DEPARTMENTAL GOALS.
THREE OF OUR BUDGET REQUESTS FOR BOTH THE ELECTORAL BOARD AND GENERAL REGISTRAR ARE THE REVERT THE RESULT OF HOUSE BILL 1384 AND THREE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT CLEAR THE 2026 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.
THESE REFEREND ARE SET TO BE PUT BEFORE VOTERS IN THE 2026 CALENDAR YEAR HOUSE BILL 1384.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, IS A 2026 VIRGINIA HOUSE BILL THAT SOUGHT TO SUBMIT
[01:25:01]
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO VOTERS FOR TEMPORARY REDISTRICTING OF VIRGINIA'S CONGRESS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.THE AMENDMENT WILL PERMIT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO TEMPORARILY ADOPT NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WHILE MAINTAINING THE STANDARD REDISTRICTING PROCESS FOR FUTURE CYCLES AFTER THE 2030 CENSUS.
THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES APPROPRIATIONS RELATED TO CONDUCTING THE REFERENDUM AND VOTER EDUCATION.
THE PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL MAPS HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON FEBRUARY 6TH, 2026.
AND GOVERNOR SPAN BERGER SIGNED THE BILL ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL BE DECIDED BY VIRGINIA VOTERS IN A SPECIAL ELECTION ON APRIL 21ST, 2026, WITH A BALLOT QUESTION THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER REDISTRICTING EFFORT WILL HAPPEN OR NOT.
ALTHOUGH REGISTRARS AND ELECTORAL BOARDS ACROSS THE COMMON ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS TO CONTINUE PREPARING FOR THE APRIL 21ST SPECIAL ELECTION.
THE REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT HAVING BEEN BLOCKED BY LOWER COURT, HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE ON THE FOUR.
REFERENDA ALSO CHANGED THE ELECTION CYCLE FOR THE 2026 CALENDAR YEAR WITH THE JUNE 16TH, 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION BEING CANCELED AND PUSHED FORWARD TO AUGUST 4TH, 2026, AND THUS CREATING AN ADDITIONAL ELECTION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.
WE HAVE ASKED FOR FUNDING FOR THE ADDITIONAL ELECTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000.
THIS WILL BE USED FOR CODING THE BALLOT SCANNERS AND A DA COMPLIANT VOTING EQUIPMENT, LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING, BALLOT ORDERS, AND OTHER FEES RESULTING FROM THE ADDITIONAL ELECTION.
WE HAVE ALSO ASKED FOR FUNDING FOR OUR VENDOR TO PRINT AND MAIL POSTCARDS TO THE REGISTERED VOTERS.
IF THE RESULTS OF THE APRIL, 2026 SPECIAL ELECTION ARE IN FAVOR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AND STREET FILES CHANGING AS A RESULT OF THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
AND AN INCREASE IN MILEAGE PAY FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO WILL BE TRANSPORTING THE VOTING EQUIPMENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL ELECTION.
THREE OF THE EXISTENCE SECURITY CAMERAS THAT WE HAVE WERE LICENSED BY CISCO MERAKI.
THE MERAKI LICENSES HAVE EXPIRED ON THE DROPBOX CAMERA AND TWO CAMERAS COVERING THE ENTRANCES TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION BUILDING.
WE HAVE ASKED FOR 7,500 TO UPGRADE THREE OF THE OUTDOOR SECURITY CAMERAS BY REPLACE REPLACING THEM WITH NEW CAMERAS THAT ARE NOW LICENSED BY ADA.
IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET REQUEST, WE SUBMITTED A LETTER AND QUOTE FROM OUR VENDOR ELECTION SERVICES ONLINE, WHICH DETAILED THAT THE OPEN ELECT VOTING OPTICAL SCAN MODEL OF OUR BALLOT SCANNER SCANNER WAS COMING TO THE END OF LIFE SOONER THAN EXPECTED DUE TO FEDERAL AND STATE MANDATES REQUIRING VENDORS TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY AND ENCRYPTION WITHIN THEIR SOFTWARE PACKAGE.
THE VENDOR DETAILED A THREE YEAR PLAN TO PHASE OUT THE VOTING EQUIPMENT AND REPLACE IT WITH THEIR LATEST MODEL SCANNER, WHICH IS THE FREEDOM VOTE SCHEME.
IT IS PROTECTED BY A MULTI-TIERED SECURITY POLICY THAT MEETS THOSE FEDERAL AND STATE MANDATES.
THE THREE YEAR PLAN WAS APPROVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PLAN.
AND LAST MONTH, THE OVO BALLOT SCANNERS FOR OUR CAP EARLY VOTING, OUR MAILED ABSENTEE AND CAP POST-ELECTION WERE REPLACED BY THE NEW FVS MODELS AS PART OF YEAR ONE OF THE THREE YEAR PLAN.
WE ALSO INCLUDED A PROVISIONAL BALLOT SCANNER FOR OUR SAME DAY REGISTRATION BALLOTS, WHICH PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN HAND COUNTED.
YEAR TWO IS INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 TO REPLACE THE OBO SCANNERS TO BE USED IN ALL 16 OF MACK COUNTY'S VOTING PRECINCTS ON ELECTION DAY.
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OVER THE YEARS HAS SEEN SO MANY CHANGES IN UNFORESEEN EVENTS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE CREATED UNANTICIPATED EXPENSES THAT HAVE HAD TO BE ABSORBED EACH FISCAL YEAR BUDGET CYCLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
IN MY TIME AS REGISTRAR FOR ACK COUNTY, YOU HAVE CONTINUOUSLY OFFERED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST US WITH ACCOMMODATING THESE CHANGES AND MEETING OUR DEPARTMENTAL GOALS.
ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTORAL BOARD AND MYSELF, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR TIME.
ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD PREVIOUSLY ABOUT MOVING POLLS WAS THE SITUATION WITH CELL PHONES, UH, FOR POLL WORKERS.
DOES, IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET? NO, WE DID NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026, YOU ALL HAD APPROVED THE THREE YEAR PLAN FOR PHASING OUT THE OLD EQUIPMENT WITH THE NEW EQUIPMENT.
AND WE ALSO KNEW THAT WE HAD TO UPGRADE THE SECURITY CAMERAS BECAUSE WE, WE REQUESTED SO MUCH FOR THE VOTING EQUIPMENT.
I SKIMMED DOWN A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD REQUESTED.
[01:30:01]
WE WERE GONNA REQUEST AS PER HOMELAND SECURITY TO HAVE THE SECURITY CAMERAS ADDED TO THE OUTSIDE OF OUR BUILDING AND TO TWO ADDITIONAL INSIDE ROOMS WHERE WE HAD BALLOT EQUIPMENT AND BALLOTS.WE HAD TO CONDENSE THAT BECAUSE OF THE REQUEST THAT WE HAD SUBMITTED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING YOU ALL TO APPROVE SO QUICKLY.
AND SO OUR ELECTORAL BOARD SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE KIND OF BETTER JUST TONE DOWN AND JUST ASK FOR WHAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEED.
BECAUSE I LIKE YOUR THINKING
SO WHEN I MET WITH MR. MASON BEFORE I CAME BEFORE YOU AND HE WAS MAKING HIS RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THERE WAS ONE OF THE THINGS ON MY LIST, WHICH WAS BALLOT ON DEMAND SCANNING.
WE WANTED, WE WANTED THE PRINTERS FOR EARLY VOTING.
AND HE SAID TO ME, WELL, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET THE THINGS THAT ARE MANDATED AND REQUIRED.
AND SO I SAID, LISTEN, THE BOARD AND I, WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS CONVERSATION, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT SOME THINGS WOULD NOT BE APPROVED, AND WE TRIED TO SCALE DOWN.
SO I HAD A LOT OF OUR VENDORS RESUBMIT QUOTES, AND I JUST KEPT CHIPPING AWAY AND CHIPPING AWAY AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS REQUESTING, BECAUSE WE KNEW WE HAD A LARGE ASK LAST YEAR, AND WE KNOW THAT SOME LOCALITIES HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN TO PRESENT THIS UPGRADE OF THE VOTING EQUIPMENT.
AND SO WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE WERE JUST TRYING TO PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT WAS COMING.
AND YOU ALL APPROVED ALL THREE YEARS AND THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST REQUEST OF THE THREE YEARS.
SO WE WERE LIKE, NO, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE JUST GONNA WAIT ON THAT.
BUT THAT IS ON OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR WISHLIST STORY.
ALL KIDDING ASIDE, UH, THAT DOES HELP YOUR CREDIBILITY.
AND I WOULD ASK IF MR. MASON AND THE COUNTY COULD LOOK FOR ANY, UH, WAY TO MITIGATE THAT AND POSSIBLY FIND PHONES THAT THE ELECTORAL BOARD ELECTORAL VOLUNTEERS COULD USE THAT WERE GOVERNMENT PHONES JUST FOR ELECTIONS.
WE, I MEAN, IT'D APPRECIATED, I MEAN, JUST TO HAVE ONE.
AND, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL, IF THAT WOULD BE LIKE A, A CELL PHONE THAT'S COUNTY ISSUED, UM, JUST FOR EACH ELECTION PERIOD THAT WE WOULD GIVE BACK TO THE IT DEPARTMENT AND THAT THE CHIEFS WOULD ALL HAVE, THAT'S EVEN FOIBLE.
YOU KNOW, THOSE, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE STARTED THE DISCUSSION ON IT.
AND WE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU BROUGHT THAT UP WHEN WE WERE LAST HERE.
UH, HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER DISTINGUISHED MR. PLAT.
MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE LED THE OPENING OF THIS MEETING WITH OUR LIST OF FOLKS WHO ARE EITHER, UH, ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, FOR ONE, HAVE ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF VIRUSES AND THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, SO I'VE GOTTEN QUITE A FEW CALLS TODAY.
BUT OUR INTERIM, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, UH, UH, DON PLATT IS, IS UNABLE TO BE HERE FOR, FOR REASONS, UM, SUCH AS THAT.
UH, OUR IT DIRECTOR WHO'S LATER ON THE LIST BEEN IS, IS UNABLE TO BE HERE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA SHOEHORN HIM INTO YOUR, UH, AGENDA NEXT WEEK.
UM, JOHN RICHARDSON, YOU ALREADY HIT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HE HAS, UM, SOME ISSUES TO DEAL WITH.
JEFF LONO COULDN'T MAKE IT TONIGHT.
HE'S BEING, UM, PUT ON YOUR AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK.
AND SHERIFF WESSELS ALSO HAD, UM, A EXISTING, UM, UH, OBSTACLE TO ATTENDING, UH, ATTENDING THE MEETING.
AND THE HR, UH, DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTOR WERE VERY SMALL AND, UH, OTHER THAN PAID THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE'S FEE, UH, UH, THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WAS RECOMMENDED.
UH, HOW ABOUT BRETT? HE'S NOT HERE.
WE DO HAVE A RE NOT, NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR LAURA MOORE, BUT WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT.
IF YOU CAN, IF MR. LEE, IF YOU WOULD DEFER.
UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A MINUTE TO TALK WITH YOU ALL.
UM, LAURA WAS SUPPOSED TO TALK, SO I'M JUST, AND YOU FROM WHAT AGENCY DO YOU WANT? THIS IS FROM THE ACUMATIC VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US.
I DO HAVE A COPY OF WHAT I'M ABOUT TO READ, IF I CAN AT LEAST GIVE THAT TO YOU ALL AND LOOK AT IT.
SO, MY NAME IS CARRIE BROCKMEYER, AND I THANK
[01:35:01]
YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE AKIMA COUNTY VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM AND OUR REQUEST TO CONVERT OUR PART-TIME ADVOCATE POSITION TO A FULL-TIME ROLE.OUR PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE INFORMED, SUPPORTED, AND ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS AS REQUIRED BY VIRGINIA LAW AS MANDATED BY THE COMMONWEALTH.
OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS AND WITNESSES, INCLUDING NOTIFYING VICTIMS OF COURT DATES, CHANGES, AND CASE OUTCOMES, PROVIDING CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SAFETY PLANNING, ASSISTING WITH PROTECTIVE ORDERS, PREPARING VICTIMS OF WITNESSES FOR COURT TESTIMONY, GUIDING VICTIMS THROUGH THE VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND, ASSISTING WITH RESTITUTION AND IMPACT STATEMENTS, COORDINATING WITH PROSECUTORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND OTHER PARTNERS.
THESE SERVICES ARE NOT OPTIONAL.
THEY'RE REQUIRED BY STATUTE AND VITAL TO A FUNCTIONING JUSTICE SYSTEM.
VICTIMS RELY ON US FOR GUIDANCE DURING WHAT IS OFTEN ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PERIODS OF THEIR LIVES.
LAST YEAR, WE SERVED ABOUT 225 VICTIMS, OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.
OUR PROGRAM IS STAFF BY ONE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO ALSO SERVES AS PROGRAM DIRECTOR, HANDLING BOTH A FULL CASELOAD AND ALL ADMINISTRATIVE GRANT AND REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES AND ONE PART-TIME ADVOCATE.
THIS STAFFING MODEL WAS ESTABLISHED MANY YEARS AGO AND NO LONGER MATCHES THE DEMANDS OF THE WORKLOAD, POPULATION NEEDS COM AND COMPLEXITY OF CASES WE NOW SEE.
IN RECENT YEARS, OUR COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WHICH HAS LED TO MORE VICTIMS NEEDING SERVICES, MORE COMPLEX CASES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, AND VIOLENT CRIME, MORE COURT APPEARANCES, CONTINUANCES AND SCHEDULE CHANGES, INCREASED DOCUMENTATION, COORDINATION, AND FOLLOW UP.
THE VOLUME AND INTENSITY OF WORK HAVE EXPANDED BEYOND WHAT ONE FULL-TIME AND ONE PART-TIME EMPLOYEE CAN SUSTAINABLY MANAGE.
LAST YEAR, OUR PROGRAM REQUESTED FUNDING TO CONVERT THE PART-TIME ADVOCATE POSITION TO A FULL-TIME POSITION AT A COST OF $35,684.
HOWEVER, IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2026, BUDGET, AIMA COUNTY PROVIDED THE AIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH AN ADDITIONAL $33,600 IN OPERATIONAL FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR FCC CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH INMATE TABLETS.
WHILE THESE TABLETS SERVE A PURPOSE WITHIN THE JAIL, THEY HAVE ALSO CREATED SIGNIFICANT NEW CHALLENGES FOR VICTIMS. INMATES NOW HAVE EXPANDED AND NEAR CONSTANT ACCESS TO COMMUNICATION TOOLS, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO MAKE FREQUENT CALLS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND SAID MESSAGES WITHOUT LIMITATION.
AS A RESULT, WE ARE SEEING PERSISTENT AND UNWANTED CALLS DIRECTED AT VICTIMS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE VICTIMS' FEELINGS OR DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CASES, SETTING OR MANIPULATIVE MESSAGE DELIVERED THROUGH THE TABLETS.
INDIRECT PRESSURE APPLIED THROUGH FRIENDS AND FAMILY CONTACTED BY THE INMATE.
THESE INCIDENTS CREATE REAL FEAR, STRESS AND EMOTIONAL STRAIN FOR VICTIMS, AND THEY REQUIRE IMMEDIATE AND TIME SENSITIVE RESPONSE FROM OUR OFFICE.
EACH SITUATION INVOLVES CRISIS RESPONSE AND EMOTIONAL STABILIZATION.
RAPID SAFETY PLANNING, DOCUMENTATION FOLLOW UP WITH JAIL AND PROSECUTORS.
ADDITIONAL PREPARATION FOR VICTIMS WHO NOW FEEL UNSAFE, STRESSED AND INTIMIDATED.
ENHANCED COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR INMATES HAS DIRECTLY INCREASED HARASSMENT RISK FOR VICTIMS. AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THESE INCIDENT FALLS ON OUR ALREADY OVEREXTENDED STAFF.
VICTIMIZATION DOES NOT FOLLOW A PREDICTABLE SCHEDULE.
CRISES OFTEN EMERGE LATE IN THE EVENING, OVERNIGHT, OR ON WEEKENDS, TIMES WHEN VICTIMS ARE FRIGHTENED, CONFUSED, AND UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO NEXT.
WHEN THESE ISSUES ARISE, VICTIMS FREQUENTLY NEED IMMEDIATE GUIDANCE, NOT A RESPONSE DAYS LATER.
URGENT NEEDS MIGHT INCLUDE CLARIFYING COURT ORDERS OR VIOLATIONS.
UNDERSTANDING INTI INTIMIDATING OR UNEXPECTED COMMUNICATION FROM AN OFFENDER.
CHANGES TO SAFETY RISKS PREPARING FOR SUDDEN HEARINGS OR BOND CHANGES, EMOTIONAL STABILIZATION AFTER A TRAUMATIC EVENT OR NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE CASE, A FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER CAN BEGIN ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES FIRST THING THE NEXT MORNING.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE ADVOCATE ASSIGNED TO THE CASE WORKS PART-TIME, THERE ARE LONG STRETCHES WHEN THERE ARE SIMPLY NOT IN THE OFFICE, MEANING VICTIMS NEED TO WAIT DAYS FOR HELP.
THREATS OR CONCERNS MAY GO UNADDRESSED.
SAFETY PLANNING MAY BE DELAYED.
PROSECUTORS MAY NOT RECEIVE TIMELY INFORMATION, AND VICTIMS MAY FEEL ABANDONED OR UNPROTECTED.
THOSE DELAYS DO NOT REFLECT A LACK OF CARE.
THEY REFLECT A LACK OF MANPOWER.
THE UNPREDICTABLE TIME SENSITIVE NATURE OF VICTIM NEEDS IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH A PART-TIME SCHEDULE.
IT PLACES A VICTIM AT A DISADVANTAGE THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
THIS POSITION TO FULL-TIME IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE VICTIMS RECEIVE PROMPT, CONSISTENT SUPPORT WHEN THEY NEED IT.
[01:40:01]
ADVOCACY INVOLVES DAILY EXPOSURE TO STORIES OF VIOLENCE, FEAR, LOSS, AND TRAUMA, EVEN WITH TRAINING BOUNDARIES AND HEALTHY COPING STRATEGIES.THIS WORK CARRIES SIGNIFICANT RISK OF VICARIOUS TRAUMA, THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SUPPORTING VICTIMS THROUGH THEIR MOST PAINFUL EXPERIENCES.
WHEN STAFFING IS INADEQUATE, THESE EFFECTS ARE AMPLIFIED.
A SMALL TEAM CARRYING A HEAVY CASELOAD EXPERIENCE, HIGHER EMOTIONAL STRAIN, MORE INTENSE AND PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO TRAUMATIC INFORMATION, LESS TIME TO DECOMPRESS OR RESET BETWEEN DIFFICULT CASES, FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO ROTATE RESPONSIBILITIES OR BALANCE WORKLOADS, GREATER DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING BOUNDARIES AND SELF-CARE.
THIS CREATES A CYCLE WHERE THE STAFF BECOMES INCREASINGLY OVERWHELMED, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BURNOUT, REDUCED EFFECTIVENESS AND TURNOVER.
THAT INSTABILITY ULTIMATELY IMPACTS VICTIMS WHO DEPEND ON CONSISTENT EXPERIENCE.
SUPPORT ADEQUATE STAFFING IS NOT ONLY ABOUT WORKLOAD IS ESSENTIAL TO THE EMOTIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE PROGRAM, ENSURING ADVOCATES CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS OUR THIRD REQUEST TO PART, TO CONVERT THE PART-TIME ADVOCATE POSITION TO A FULL-TIME ROLE.
THIS REQUEST HAS BEEN DENIED TWICE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY MUST BALANCE MANY RESPONSIBILITIES ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.
HOWEVER, THIS PROGRAM, THE ONLY COUNTY PROGRAM DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO EXCLUSIVELY TO VICTIMS OF CRIME, HAS NOT RECEIVED THE STAFFING SUPPORT NEEDED TO KEEP PACE WITH WORKLOAD DEMANDS.
DESPITE MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED REQUESTS DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD, OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE BEEN GIVING STAFFING AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MEET THEIR OPERATIONAL NEEDS.
THOSE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADJUST THEIR PERSONNEL LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN MANAGE CASELOADS, MEET THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, AND OPERATE EFFECTIVELY.
OUR PROGRAM IS SIMPLY SEEKING THE SAME ALIGNMENT.
VICTIMS DESERVE CONSISTENT, DEPENDABLE SUPPORT EQUAL TO WHAT OTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM COMPONENTS RECEIVE WHEN OUR REQUEST REQUEST IS DENIED.
WHILE OTHER DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE FULL FUNDING, IT CANNOT UNINTENTIONALLY SIGNAL THAT VICTIM NEEDS ARE NOT BEING PRIORITIZED AT THE SAME LEVEL.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS REFLECTS THE COUNTY'S TRUE VALUES, BUT THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT VICTIMS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS OFTEN PERCEIVE.
ONE FULL-TIME DIRECTOR AND ONE PART-TIME ADVOCATE CANNOT MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF VICTIMS OR THE DEMANDS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THIS REQUEST IS ROOTED IN OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO VICTIMS. THEY DESERVE CONSISTENT SUPPORT, CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AND A FULLY STAFFED PROGRAM THAT CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS.
AND WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT IN CONVERTING THE PART-TIME ADVOCATE POSITION TO A FULL-TIME ROLE.
THIS INVESTMENT WILL STRENGTHEN VICTIM SERVICES, PROVE JUSTICE OUTCOMES, AND DEMONSTRATE THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY HARMED BY CRIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEAD, PAM, A DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PREPARED REMARKS AS WELL, SO I'M KIND OF IN THE SAME BOAT AS, UH, UH, UH, MR. WILLISTON.
BUT, UM, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND JUST GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MY DEPARTMENT AND WHAT YOU'RE GETTING FOR THE, UH, FOR THE BUDGET REQUEST, ESSENTIALLY.
BUT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT I CONSIDER A REGULATORY AND STRATEGIC AGENCY.
UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR DIVISIONS, UH, THAT, UM, ACCOMPLISH SOME, UH, SOME BROAD OVERARCHING GOALS THAT REALLY DOVETAIL WITH A LOT OF WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
FOR INSTANCE, UH, CODE ADMINISTRATION.
OUR CODE ADMINISTRATION DIVISION ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH ITS INSPECTIONS AND PERMITTING REGIME.
WE ENSURE THROUGH CODE ADMINISTRATION THAT, UH, THAT BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES ARE SAFE.
FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE DO HAVE, UM, AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS DIVISION ALSO WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS THEIR MANDATE.
SO THINGS LIKE STORM WATER EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL AND, AND PROTECTION OF WETLANDS AND MARSHES IS A FIRST AND FOREMOST WITH THAT DIVISION.
WE ALSO HAVE A PLANNING DIVISION, WHICH, UM, WHICH, UH, UH, ENHANCES THE FUTURE OF AKIMA COUNTY THROUGH ITS SHORT, UH, SHORT AND LONG TERM, UH, LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR, UH, PLANNING FOR GROWTH.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH, UH, SUPPORTS BUSINESSES AND, UH, AND HOPEFULLY WILL ASSIST IN ENHANCING AND GROWING THE TAX BASE.
WHAT WE ALSO DO IS THAT WE SUPPORT EIGHT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO AMONG THOSE, UH, EIGHT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, OR THE OTHER SEVEN, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, THE WETLANDS BOARD, THE WAPS RESEARCH PARK LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WHICH SUPERVISOR PARKS IS THE CHAIR OF THE AG ENFORCEABLE DISTRICT, UM, UH, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE STORMWATER APPEALS BOARD, AND THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE APPEALS BOARD.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE NOT REALLY REQUESTING
[01:45:01]
ANY MAJOR INCREASES.WE'RE JUST HOPING TO KEEP PACE WITH THE, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, UH, UH, INCREASE OF COST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS.
THERE IS, IN YOUR SUMMARY, A, UM, A, UH, AN ENTRY FOR $150,000 FOR THE DERELICT BUILDINGS REMOVAL PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN, UH, SUCCESSFULLY, UH, DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THE, UH, EFFORTS IN WHITESVILLE AND NOW IN BAYSIDE.
THAT'S DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND WE ARE ALSO ASKING TO MAINTAIN STAFFING LEVELS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO SAY THAT WE ONLY HAVE THREE VACANCIES NOW OUT OF AN AUTHORIZED STRENGTH OF 19.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS AND I CAN FIELD ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. P? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, MR. PRUIT.
MADAM CHAIR, BEFORE MR. PRUIT GETS UP, UH, WE ARE IN TIME SLOTS HERE AS FAR AS PRESENTATION.
SO, UH, I MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COMMENT.
AND THE REASON IS, UH, IT'S CONCERNING, UH, FUNDING FOR 9 1 1.
THE, UH, DPS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND, AND I WANNA SHARE SOME, SOME THOUGHTS, UH, BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT DEPARTMENT.
MAKE ME WORRY, MY KNOW THAT THEY WILL SAY ANYTHING
YOU GOOD DEPART ABOUT THAT? I'M DONE, MAN.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CHARLES PR PUBLIC SAFE ACT BACK COUNTY.
THANKFULLY, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU SOME INFORMATION AND ALSO OUR REQUEST.
MOST IMPORTANT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR FIRE MEDICS, UM, AND, AND FOR WHAT THE SERVICE THEY DO.
AND THANK MR. MASON FOR HIS, UH, SUPPORT YOUR FIRE MEDIC.
SO, UM, I'M ON THE, I'LL START OFF AT THE TOP THERE.
I'M LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, LOGISTICS FACILITY.
I'VE REQUESTED FOR, BEEN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, IF WE'RE EVER GRANTED THAT, THAT WE PLACE THAT THE TRAINING CENTER, YOU ALL KNOW THE TRAINER.
SO THE GYM OF OUR ORGANIZATION, UM, ALLOWS US TO TEACH FIRE EMS CLASSES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT ALSO USE THE FACILITY.
UM, IT SUFFERS FROM THIS AS MANY AGENCIES DO SPACE NEEDS.
UH, IF WE EVER GRANTED THAT, WE WOULD BASICALLY TAKE THE SIX LITTLE BUILDINGS WE HAVE, HAVE THERE, SPREAD IT THROUGHOUT THE COMPOUND, UM, PUT 'EM IN ONE, UM, PLACE THAT WE COULD DO, HAVE BETTER CLIMATE CONTROL AND HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY ACTUALLY HAVE A FIRE ENGINE THERE AT THE TRAINING CENTER USED FOR OUR RECRUIT ACADEMY.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM OF THERE IS A GRAIN PEN EXTRICATION, CONFINED SPACE EQUIPMENT.
UM, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY GET THAT FUNDING.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE OUR RURAL COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE NUMEROUS GRAIN BIN, UH, FACILITIES IN, UM, THIS COUNTY AND, AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
UM, WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY FORTUNATE.
KNOCK ON WOOD, WE HAVE NOT HAD A EMERGENCY.
ONE OF THESE FACILITIES HAVE WE EVER DO, QUITE HONESTLY.
WE DO HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF CAREER AND VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED, UM, BUT WE HAVE VERY LIMITED EQUIPMENT.
UM, SOME AGENCIES LIKE THE FARM BUREAU HAS PURCHASED, UH, GRAIN BIN CHUTES, UM, FOR SOME STATIONS.
UH, C**K HAS ONE AND ALSO DOES GREEN MANVILLE.
UM, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THE OTHER ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
SO IF WE'RE EVER GIVEN THIS, I WILL USE AS A REGIONAL APPROACH, UM, BY THE EQUIPMENT.
UM, PUT IT AT GREEN MAP, SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT AT GREENVILLE.
UM, ATLANTIC HAS A MEDIUM DUTY RESCUE, AND SO DOES THE C**K HAVE A, UH, MEDIUM, MEDIUM DUTY RESCUE AND, AND A PLATFORM LA A HUNDRED FOOT LADDER.
UM, THE REASON THAT REGIONAL APPROACH IS IF WE EVER HAD ONE OF THESE EVENTS, UM, IS QUITE HONEST.
IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED TO DO THIS.
UM, THE NEXT ONE ON THERE, UH, IS THE AIR DATA SUBSCRIPTION.
BASICALLY, WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO DRONES.
UM, THEY'RE, UM, ON OUR BATTALION CHIEF VEHICLE.
UM, WE USE 'EM A QUITE SAY FOR ANYTHING.
SHERIFF'S ALSO USE 'EM MULTIPLE TIMES.
UM, IT'S BASICALLY A SOFTWARE.
IT GIVES US MORE ABILITY TO TRACK WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, THE ITEM THERE THAT MR. MASON DID FUND, UM, IS OUR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FUNDING.
UM, UM, WE ARE MERGING TO EVERBRIDGE, UM, THAT ALLOWS US TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR PUBLIC AND EVENT OF A, UH, NATURAL, MANMADE OR NATURAL DISASTER.
SO THAT, THANK YOU FOR THAT FUNDING.
TO FLIP OVER TO THE NEXT PAGE, WE'LL START OFF WITH THE PART-TIME E-M-A-E-M-S.
UH, IT COMPLIANCE, AS YOU REMEMBER, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, UH, UNDER A FEDERAL MANDATE, WE WERE REQUIRED TO TAKE OVER THE DRUG BOX PROGRAM AND, AND THE COUNTY, UM, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY HANDLES ALL THE DRUG BOXES IN ANY KIND OTHER THAN
SO WE ARE MANAGING ALL THE DRUG BOXES FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND, UH, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, ALSO THAT POSITION HANDLES ALL OF OUR REPORTING.
WE DO ROUGHLY ABOUT 600 EMS OR 600, UH, EMS CALLS A MONTH THAT, THAT IS MANAGED THAT THEY TRACK.
UM, OBVIOUSLY QAQI AND I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE WE'LL BE DOING OTHER EXPANDING THINGS WITH EMS BILLING.
[01:50:01]
UM, THE PERSON ALSO WITH THAT IS WE HAVE 20 IPADS THAT WE, UH, OUR MEDICS USE.SO IN THE AMBULANCE, THAT'S HOW THEY GET THEIR CALL INFORMATION IS HOW THEY REPORT.
THIS PERSON RIGHT NOW, UH, BATTALION CHIEF BUREAU MANAGE THAT.
UM, HE HAS LET US KNOW THAT HE'S GONNA BE RETIRING SOON, SO WE'LL REPLACE THAT.
AND I BELIEVE IN TIME WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A PART-TIME POSITION TO HANDLE THAT.
THE NEXT, UH, SEVERAL ITEMS THEY HAVE TO GO INTO PAY AND SO FORTH.
I'LL, I'LL SCRIPT THROUGH THAT.
UM, TELESTAFF, UM, THE REQUEST FOR A $30,000 FOR TELESTAFF, UM, WHAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY WENT THROUGH A PROGRAM UKG TO, UM, HANDLE, UM, UH, CALLED SCHEDULING.
UM, I DON'T WANNA NECESSARILY SAY WE'RE UNIQUE, BUT WE ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE 63, UM, FIRE MEDICS THAT ARE ON THREE BATTALIONS.
UH, YOU CAN IMAGINE THEY HAVE, UH, ANNUAL LEAVE, SICK LEAVE, FMLA LEAVE, PTDA, LEAVE, TRADE LEAVE.
UH, WE ARE STILL USING AN ANTIQUATED CALCIUM CALENDAR TO MANAGE THOSE, UH, ROUGHLY TAKING ABOUT TWO AND A HALF TO THREE HOURS FOR A BATTALION CHIEF TO MANAGE MOVING PEOPLE AROUND.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY TAKES OFF MOVING THAT PARAMEDIC HERE OR SOMEONE WAS TAKING A TRAY AND SO FORTH, THAT'S A SOFTWARE THAT'S BA BASICALLY GEARED FOR FIRE M MS PRO UH, PROVIDERS.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM WAS A SMALL INCREASE IN UNIFORMS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MOST PEOPLE SPEAKING IN THIS ROOM, PRICES GOING UP.
UH, WOULD IT COST TO PUT UNIFORMS ON ON 63 PER, UM, PERSONNEL? UM, THE NEXT ITEM WAS PHYSICAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT.
ALL THE STATIONS THAT ARE, THAT HAVE CAREER STAFF HAVE PHYSICAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT.
THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IT YET IS AT OUR TRAINING CENTER FOR OUR RECRUITS.
UH, AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY.
WE HAVE, UH, FOUR OR FIVE OF OUR FIRE MEDICINE HAVE GRABBED A HOLD OF THAT.
OUR RECRUITS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN THEY COME TO COME TO WORK FOR NINE MONTHS, EVERY DAY THEY DO PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING FROM RUNNING CAL THINGS AND SO FORTH.
MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVED ON NINE 11 EVENT, THEY RAN AROUND A TIME OF MACK.
I FOLLOWED 'EM IN THE VEHICLE.
I DIDN'T WANNA GET HIT BY A CAR.
I SAID, WELL, I'M LOOKING FOR THEIR SAFETY
BUT, UH, IF WE WERE FUNDED THAT WE WOULD PUT IT IN A TRAINING CENTER, CREATE A GYM.
UH, MR. MASON DID FUND THAT, AS I SAID BEFORE, AS OUR, UM, MS TRACKING REPORT.
UM, WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS ACTUALLY GIVE US THE ABILITY TO TRACK MORE DATA.
SO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT C**K AND OAK CALL AND I BELIEVE SUGAR TAG, WE WILLING TO TRACK THEIRS ARE ALSO PUTTING, HAVE GOT VENTILATORS ON THEIR AMBULANCE.
UM, SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GIVE 'EM BETTER DATA TO SEE HOW MANY, NOT JUST HOW MANY CALLS WE RUN, WHAT TYPE OF CALL, AND TRUTHFULLY, WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH MEDICATION AND STUFF FOR EVASIVE ACTION WE'RE DOING.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS ALSO IS, UH, I GUESS IT WAS, OH, I'M SORRY, I MISSED IT.
UM, THE SIMULATION MANIC, UH, SOFTWARE FOR RESPONDERS.
WHAT THAT IS, IS A SOFTWARE BASICALLY IT BALLS OUT INTO, IS WE CAN, UH, AS SIMULATE LIKE A ON A SCREEN, A HOUSE ON FIRE, AND YOUR COMPANY OFFICERS VOLUNTEER AND CAREER STAFF CAN STAND THERE AND GO THROUGH THE MOMENTUM OF, YOU KNOW, INSTANT ACTION PLAN, WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO.
IT, IT IS A SOFTWARE PROGRAM, THE WAR, UH, SWIFT WATER RESCUE SUITS.
UH, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAINED AT SWIFT WATER.
UH, SOME OF 'EM HAVE THEIR OWN GEAR.
UM, IF WE WERE GIVEN THAT FUNDING, WE WOULD, UH, OBVIOUSLY BUY THE, EQUIP THE EQUIPMENT AND PLACE IT ON ONE OF OUR MEDIUM DUTY RESCUE TRUCKS IN THE COUNTY.
THE OTHER ITEMS LISTED, UH, MR. MASON, GRANTED, THEY'RE BASICALLY FOR YOUR EMS UNITS, YOU KNOW, IN JULY, I, AKIMA COUNTY HAS THREE AMBULANCES.
THEY PROVIDE A VITAL LINK TO THE SOUTH END OF COUNTY.
UM, SO THAT FUNDING THERE HELPS, UH, TO MAINTAIN THOSE PIECE, THOSE EQUIPMENT.
DO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. THANK FOR TIME.
HE'S THE ONLY, NOW
MR. HALL, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GOOD EVENING, STUART HALL PUBLIC WORKS AND FACILITIES.
UM, IN STICKING WITH TRADITION, I PUT TOGETHER A FEW SLIDES OF THE HIGHER DOLLAR VALUE PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN MR. MASON'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
I KNOW EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF REQUESTS, BUT JUST FOR REFERENCE, UH, THESE ARE REQUESTS AND JUSTIFICATIONS THAT I SUBMITTED TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND MR. MASON, AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT ENDED UP IN HIS, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO, UM, AND I PLAN TO, UH, MOVE THROUGH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY, IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD.
PLEASE STOP ME WITH QUESTIONS,
ALRIGHT, SO THE FIRST ITEM, STARTING WITH THE AIRPORT, THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT, UH, AS, AS MR. MASON MENTIONED ON ON MONDAY EVENING, THE EXISTING SYSTEM
[01:55:01]
HAS EXCEEDED ITS EXPECTED SERVICE LIFE FOR 40 YEARS.UH, THE STORAGE TANK AND ITS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE SHOWS SIGNIFICANT, UH, CORROSION.
YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND THE PIPING AND PUMPS ARE NEED OF REPLACEMENT.
UM, WITHOUT TIMELY REPLACEMENT, THE CONDITION OF THE SYSTEM COULD POSE A POTENTIAL RISK TO FUEL QUALITY AND OVERALL, UH, RELIABILITY.
AND I BELIEVE MR. MASON ALSO MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE NEW HANGAR BEING CONSTRUCTED THERE AND WE HOPE TO GET, UH, ONE OR MORE GOOD TENANTS IN THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR AIRCRAFT COMING THROUGH THE AIRPORT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND IF YOU'RE PULLING THAT AIRCRAFT UP TO A FACILITY LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE A, YOU KNOW, SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, IT IS, IT DOES MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.
WE DO THE, UM, THE, THE TEST EVERY MORNING.
THE FUEL IS QUALITY FUEL, BUT AGAIN, IT'S TIME IT NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT ITEM, COUNTYWIDE ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM.
THIS CONSISTS OF ALL THE ELECTRONICS AND CARD READERS AT THE COUNTY FACILITIES, THE DOOR CONTROLS BASICALLY.
AND, UM, THE CURRENT SYSTEM, UH, WE'RE RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT TO ENSURE A CONTINUED RELIABILITY AND TIMELY SERVICE.
UM, WE HAVE NOW AS PROPRIETARY SYSTEM, AND THERE'S ONLY ONE PROVIDER IN THIS AREA, AND WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, THEIR ABILITY TO, UM, MEET OUR NEEDS BASICALLY.
UM, SO THIS REQUEST IS TO REPLACE IT, THE WHOLE SYSTEM WITH A MORE ROBUST SOLUTION THAT, UM, THAT HAS THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT OF, OF OTHER COMPANIES IN THE AREA.
AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, THIS IS ONE OF THE AC CONTROL ACCESS PANELS AND ONE OF THE FACILITIES.
SO IT'S BASICALLY CONTROLS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, ALL THE UM, UH, ENTRANCES AND EXITS OF THE FACILITY.
THE NEXT SHERIFF'S OFFICE ANNEX A PLACEHOLDER FOR $150,000.
UM, AS, AS YOU, AS YOU'VE HEARD OVER RECENT YEARS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL SPACE, PARTICULAR, UH, OFFICE SPACE FOR INVESTIGATORS.
SO THIS REQUEST IS FOR SEED MONEY THAT COULD BE COMBINED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FUNDS.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SOME FUNDS THROUGH, UM, UH, UM, DIFFERENT, UM, YOU KNOW, MONEY THAT THAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM THROUGH THE YEARS, AND THEY'VE KEPT SOME OF IT IN RESERVE FOR CAPITAL NEEDS AND THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH RENOVATIONS IF PROPERTY CAN BE ATTAINED.
AND THERE, THERE IS SOME AVAILABLE PROPERTY IN THE AREA, AND WE'VE STARTED INVESTIGATING THAT AND, AND LOOKING INTO WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
UM, AGAIN, ON PROPERTY REAL ESTATE ADJACENT TO THE NORTHERN LANDFILL, THIS IS ANOTHER PLACEHOLDER OF $300,000.
THE ADDITION OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY WILL ALLOW FOR EXPANSION IS NEEDED, AND ADDITIONAL BUFFER AREA.
UH, ONE OF OUR LANDFILL ROADS.
IT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO THE SHOOTING RANGE THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
UM, IT'S RIGHT ALONG THE BOUNDARY, THE PROPERTY BOUNDARY.
UM, SO YOU KNOW, IF THE, THE PROPERTY RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US, UM, WOULD IT BE PURCHASED AND OTHER ACTIVITIES GO IN THERE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE AT THE LANDFILL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR STOCKS OF SOIL THAT WE USE FOR DAILY COVER OF PUTTING ON THE WASTE, UM, THOSE ARE BECOMING LESS AND LESS.
WE HAVE SOME BORROW PITS, BUT WE'RE HAVING TO DE-WATER LARGER AREAS GO REALLY DEEP WITH THE EXCAVATORS TO TRY TO PULL THAT SOIL OUT.
AND THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL IS, IS NOT OF A VERY HIGH QUALITY.
AND AS WE GET READY TO BUILD THE NEXT CELL CELL EIGHT, THE, UM, THE BOTTOM DRAINAGE LAYER HAS TO BE WHAT THEY CALL SELECT FILL.
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY SELECT FILL AVAILABLE, UM, AT OUR BORROW PITS NOW.
SO HAVING THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY, IF IT HAS GOOD SOILS ON IT, WOULD GIVE US A SOURCE TO OBTAIN THAT AND SAVE MONEY IN BUILDING THE NEXT CELL.
UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, AFTER RELOCATION OF THE SCHOOL'S OFFICE, OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO THE, UH, RENOVATED AKIMA PRIMARY AND, UM, MR. PAM'S DEPARTMENT'S, UH, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE GOING IN THE OLD MACK LIBRARY.
UM, RENOVATIONS WILL BE NEEDED HERE IF WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE UTILIZATION OF IT, WHICH I THINK WE DO.
UM, SO WE, WE NEED TO DO SOME PLANNING THERE AND, UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, UH, GET OUR, GET OUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON ADJACENCIES AND WHAT MAKES SENSE, WHICH DEPARTMENTS NEED TO BE CLOSER TO CERTAIN THINGS THAN OTHERS, AND, UH, TRY TO TRY TO LAY OUT THE BUILDING, UM, THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
THE NEXT ONE IS A, IS A GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS CONTINGENCY FUND OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS ISN'T NEWS TO ANYONE, BUT THE BIDDING ENVIRONMENT IN OUR AREA CAN BE QUITE UNPREDICTABLE.
WITH SOME PROJECTS WE'VE SEEN A LARGE AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN NUMBER OF BIDS AND OTHERS RECEIVING VERY LITTLE.
IN ADDITION, RAW MATERIAL PRICES CAN FLUCTUATE GREATLY FROM BEGINNING OF A FISCAL YEAR, UH, TO THE END.
WE, WE SAW THAT IN THE PAST BEFORE TARIFFS, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAME IN, IN THE NEWS AND THE HEADLINES.
SO, UM, THE REQUEST IS FOR THIS CONTINGENCY FUND THAT CAN BE USED TO COVER THE SHORTFALLS AS THEY ARISE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DELAY PROJECTS AND PUSH 'EM TO A FUTURE FISCAL YEAR OR AS WE SAY ROB PETER, TO PAY PAUL.
UM, YOU SEE ON YOUR BUDGET ITEMS, YOU KNOW, EVERY SO MANY MONTHS YOU'LL SEE A REQUEST TO PULL FROM ONE PROJECT AND, AND SHIFT
[02:00:01]
IT TO ANOTHER ONE, WHICH WE MAY NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO.BUT THIS, THIS WILL HELP WITH THAT SITUATION, ALLEVIATE IT TO SOME DEGREE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ROOF REPLACEMENT.
AND I HAVE A, A SLIDE JUST TO PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH JUST THE, THE EXPANSE OF THAT BUILDING AND, AND HOW LARGE THE ROOF IS.
BUT PORTIONS OF THAT ROOF HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED IN OVER 30 YEARS.
IT'S TIME WE LIKE TO DO THE WHOLE THING, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD SOME LATER ADDITIONS AND SO FORTH.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'D LIKE TO, TO DO A FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT ON THERE.
AND THERE'S A SHOT, YOU KNOW,
THE NEXT ONE, UM, FORMER MACK LIBRARY, WHICH AGAIN, MR. PAM'S DEPARTMENT WILL BE, UM, GOING IN THERE, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AT THE TIME WHEN, WHEN THE PROJECT WAS BEING DEVELOPED, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE, UM, CONDITION OF THE SEPTIC SYSTEM.
IT'S NO LONGER SUITABLE OR RATED FOR THE BUILDING'S FUTURE YEAST.
IN FACT, IT FAILED THE INSPECTION.
SO, UM, WE'RE REQUESTING THIS 125,000, UM, FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE, OF THE SEPTIC SYSTEM.
THAT'S JUST A, I DIDN'T WANNA SHOW A PICTURE OF, OF THE GRASS WHERE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM IS.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE LIBRARY.
ABANDONED STRUCTURES DEMOLITION.
UH, SO THERE ARE TWO DELIC BUILDINGS, VERY ASSOCIATED DOCKS ALONG THE WATERFRONT.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS PROPERTY WAS DONATED TO THE COUNTY, UM, I THINK IT WAS AROUND LATE NINETIES, EARLY TWO THOUSANDS BY THE WISHARD POINT HARBOR CORPORATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE USED TO BE A SNACK BAR THERE AND BOAT RACES AND BOAT SHEDS AND ALL ASSOCIATED DOCKS AND THINGS THERE.
AND WE HAVEN'T DONE MUCH OF ANY MAINTENANCE THROUGH THE YEARS.
UM, WE, WE TRIED, TRIED FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO GET THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DREDGE THAT CHANNEL AND TO PUT IN A, A BOAT RAMP.
AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BUT NOT GONNA HAPPEN IN OUR LIFETIME.
THIS IS TOO LARGE OF A PROJECT.
BUT, UM, FROM A LIABILITY STANDPOINT, WE DO THINK WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY SOMEWHAT.
AND I PUT A FEW PICTURES TOGETHER HERE.
I TOOK THESE JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.
UM, YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF DOCKS KIND OF COBBLED TOGETHER.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAT WALKING THROUGH AND GRAFFITI AND, AND CANS.
UM, NOT ALL SODA CANS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE OLD SHEDS ON THE RIGHT PICTURE IN THE BACKGROUND.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S BE QUITE A BIT OF CLEANUP, BUT, UM, I THINK, I THINK IT'LL BE WORTHWHILE THE NEXT, AND YOU'VE SEEN THIS ONE BEFORE, BEFORE OLD NASA FERRY DOCK DEMO AND HAVE A SLIDE, UH, FOLLOWING THIS WITH A PHOTO AS WELL.
BUT WE PUT THIS PROJECT OUT FOR BID.
I'VE GOT THERE, ALL BIDS CAME IN OVER BUDGET.
WE DID HAVE ONE THAT APPEARED TO BE UNDER BUDGET, BUT IT TURNED OUT THEY WEREN'T LICENSED IN VIRGINIA.
AND, AND THEY, UM, DID NOT TAKE THE STEPS.
WE TRIED TO GIVE 'EM A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND DELAY AWARDING THE BID, BUT THEY JUST COULDN'T GET THE LICENSING.
SO, UM, WE'RE REQUESTING THIS ADDITIONAL $130,000 AND THAT'LL REMOVE ALL OF THAT OLD EQUIPMENT.
UM, THE STEEL WOULD BE RECYCLED, THE WOOD PROPERLY DISPOSED.
AND HERE'S A PICTURE OF A PORTION OF IT, AND I BELIEVE MR. MASON MENTIONED ON MONDAY, UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WERE ROCKET LAUNCHES, PEOPLE HAVE SENT US PHOTOS AND VIDEOS THAT I, ONE OF THOSE EYE BEAMS UP AT THE TOP OF SOMEONE, CAT WALKING ALONG THAT OVER THE WATER.
AND, UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT TOOK QUITE AN EFFORT EVEN TO GET OUT THERE AND TO CALL UP THERE.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING HURT.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.
THEY WERE CRESO POLES ORIGINALLY.
ALL OF THAT'S PRETTY MUCH LEACHED OUT.
SO WE KNOW THERE'S WORM DAMAGE AND JUST CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AT SOME POINT THEY'RE GONNA FALL INTO THE CREEKS.
IT'S GONNA BE A NAVIGATION HAZARD.
AND THEN TO GET THAT STUFF OUT OF THERE IS GONNA BE 10 TIMES HARDER THAN WHEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH ABOVE THE WATER.
WILL, WILL IT HAPPEN THE NEXT YEAR, NEXT 10 YEARS? I DON'T KNOW.
UH, BUT WE'VE GOT THE REQUEST IN THERE AND WE PUT UP SIGNS, YOU KNOW, DANGER KEEP OUT AND SOME CABLES.
BUT CAN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW THAT WORKS.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE FOR LANDFILL WASTEWATER TREATMENT.
THIS IS UP AT THE NORTH LANDFILL.
SO DEQ ADMINISTERS A GRANT PROGRAM AIMED AT ADDRESSING WHAT THEY CALL EMERGING CONTAMINANTS, WHICH INCLUDE SUBSTANCES SUCH AS PFAS AND I, I SUSPECT EVERYONE'S HEARD OF PFAS AT THIS POINT, BOTH LOCALLY AT NASA WALLOPS, AND THEN IT'S BEEN IN NATIONAL NEWS WITH THE CARPET INDUSTRY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA.
BUT, UM, THESE ARE SUBSTANCES, UM, WELL FIRST OFF, THEY DON'T READILY BREAK DOWN IN THE ENVIRONMENT, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY A CONCERN.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'VE BEEN USING THINGS SINCE THE 1940S.
UM, SCOTCH GUARD, STAIN MASTER CARPET, UM, FURNITURE UPHOLSTERY, TEFLON COATED FRYING PANS POST-ITS A LITTLE BIT EVERYTHING.
UM, THEY'RE NOT CURRENTLY REGULATED AT LANDFILLS, BUT THEY MAY BE IN THE FUTURE.
SO COUNTY STAFF WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY.
[02:05:01]
TRY TO BE ON THE FRONT END OF THIS THING CONSIDERING OUR CONSTITUENTS HEALTH AND SO FORTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT, FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE.SO WE'D LIKE TO PURSUE THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE'LL ALSO NEED SOME LOCAL FUNDS FOR THE ADDITIONAL SAMPLING.
UM, OVER AND ABOVE WHAT'S CURRENTLY REQUIRED BY LANDFILL PERMITS.
PFAS TESTING IS ONE OF THOSE THAT'S NOT REQUIRED RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO THE REQUESTED FUNDING WOULD BE TO COVER THESE COSTS, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ACTIVITIES.
AND WE HAVE HAD SOME INITIAL, UM, UH, UH, REMOTE MEETINGS, MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETINGS WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING AT NASA NOW AND DOING SOME OF THE WORK, UH, OUT THERE.
AND THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY INTERESTING TECHNOLOGY FOR DEALING WITH THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO THIS WOULD BE SOME SEED MONEY TO, TO START INVESTIGATING REALLY THAT WHOLE ISSUE.
THE NEXT, UH, IS BIGGIE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION FOR LANDFILL CELL EIGHT.
UM, AS YOU RECALL, WE GET, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF CELL, WE GET ABOUT SIX YEARS OUT OF A WASTE CELL AND WE DON'T WANNA BE IN A SITUATION.
WE RUN OUT OF SPACE FOR THE TRASH, SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE WELL AHEAD OF IT.
SO WE EXPECT THE CURRENT CELL TO REACH CAPACITY IN 2028.
SO IN THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE'D LET IT START THE, UM, ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PERMITTING FOR THAT.
AND, UH, HERE'S A, UM, A DRAWING.
THE, UM, UH, LET'S SEE, WELL, THE BOOMERANG SHAPED CELL, THEY'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN.
THAT'S CELL SEVEN THAT WE'RE IN NOW.
THE ONE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE LEFT WOULD BE CELL EIGHT, THE NEXT CELL NINE, AND THEN DROPPING BELOW IT'D BE, UH, CELL 10, CELL 11.
UH, THE WATER TANK AT THE INDUSTRIAL PARK, $150,000.
UH, THE WATER TOWER HAS NOT BEEN TREATED, MEANING THE INTERIOR OR, OR REC COATED OR PAINTED ON THE EXTERIOR SINCE 2012.
UH, WE ACTUALLY WENT FARTHER LAST TIME BETWEEN PAINTINGS, BUT, UM, HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT STRUCTURES LIKE THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY USED TO IN THE PAST.
AND DURING A RECENT INSPECTION BY, UM, VDH, THE INSPECTOR NOTED, UM, THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO PERFORM THIS WORK DURING THE COMING YEAR.
AND THERE WAS ALSO SOME MENTION, I BELIEVE SUPERVISOR HART MENTIONED AT MONDAY'S MEETING ABOUT LEASING SPACE ON THE, UM, TOWER FOR CELL PHONE CARRIERS.
AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE OLD INFORMATION FROM 2010 WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO THE MAJOR CARRIERS.
AND, UM, THEY, THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN, IN AT THAT TIME.
THE, UM, OVERALL HEIGHT OF THE WATER TOWERS 130 FOOT, BUT THE HEIGHT OF, OF THE CATWALK AROUND THE GLOBE WHERE YOU COULD PHYSICALLY MOUNT THE ANTENNAS, UM, IT'S ONLY 108 FOOT AND THE PREFERRED HEIGHT FOR CELL TOWERS IS TYPICALLY FROM A HUNDRED FIFTY, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY FEET.
AND, UH, VER VERIZON WIRELESS, UM, LATER AFTER THIS CONVERSATION IS CONSTRUCTED, THE ONE BY THE C**K WATER TOWER, WHICH IS 224 FEET AND IT'S, UH, NOT QUITE FIVE MILES FROM MEL ALPHA, THAT WATER TOWER, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP, YOU KNOW, WATCH QUIMBEE AND PAINTER, NOT ON THE SEASIDE AGREE WITH CASH.
CASH DIDN'T EVEN HELP CASHFLOW, RIGHT? NOPE.
AND I, I DID, UM, LOOK UP THE, UM, THE TOWER SPECS ON THE ONE AT MALFA IN THE FIELD ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.
UH, SO YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT EQUIPMENT'S ON THERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT CARES OR WHO'S USING IT, BUT YEAH, IT'S NOT A VERY TALL TOWER.
I THINK IT SLAMMED WITH THAT TUNNEL.
SO IT'S LAWSUITS ARE ALL YEAH, RIDICULOUS.
SO, AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE WATER TOWER AT THE BOTTOM THERE.
UM, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, UNLESS THERE HAVE QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU LADIES.
THE, THE, FOR THE PAINTING OF THE WATER TOWER.
IS THERE MONEY IN THAT ALSO FOR US TO PUT SOME LOGOS OR ADVERTISING ON THERE FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK? WE DID NOT PAD IT WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY.
CAN CERTAINLY DO IT AT THE SAME TIME THAT THAT IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE, WELL, I'M HAVING MORE SENIOR MOMENTS THAN CAN, UH, LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, MR. MASON.
MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
UH, MOST OF THE ITEMS, UH, THAT I CONSIDER MATERIAL I, I WENT INTO DEPTH ON, ON MONDAY.
SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE SORT OF HAD A BITE OF THE APPLE ALREADY.
UM, JUST A COUPLE QUICK NOTES.
UM, UNDER I AGREE UHHUH TO, UM, REITERATE, UM, FOR OUR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SOME OF THE MANDATED COSTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE.
UM, THERE'S, UH, WE, WE TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT THE SNAP PROGRAM AND SOME, AT LEAST ON THE SHORT TERM, SOME ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT'LL BE ASSOCIATED WITH LOCAL ADMINISTRATION OF THAT PROGRAM.
UH, CSA MANDATES, AGAIN, UM, I'M A, A PROGRAM THAT, UH, WE ARE SEEING PRETTY, UH, SIGNIFICANT COST ESCALATION IN AND ALSO UTILIZATION OF, UH, I ALSO, THE SHERIFF CAN BE HERE TONIGHT.
[02:10:01]
AT LEAST TAKE NOTES FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT HIS BUDGET.I, I WILL SAY THAT THERE WERE, UH, A NUMBER OF SAFETY, UM, ITEMS IN HIS BUDGET THAT I, I FUNDED.
THERE WERE SOME MANDATES IN THERE AS WELL, SPRINKLED IN BETWEEN THE JAIL AND ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY.
UH, WHAT I DID NOT FUND WAS, UM, ADDITIONAL POSITION.
AND I DIDN'T DO THAT IN ANY, UH, DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS.
UM, AGAIN, I, I'M CERTAINLY, UH, READY TO RESPOND TO ANY, UH, FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FROM LAST WEEK OR WE CAN HOLD THOSE.
I DID CARVE OUT ON YOUR AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK TIME AFTER THE SUPER INTENDED PRESENTS, THE AKIMA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET.
AND AFTER, UH, THE 9 1 1 DIRECTOR AND, UM, AND OUR IT DIRECTOR PUT FORTH THEIR REQUEST.
THERE IS TIME ON THAT AGENDA FOR YOU TO START, UM, DIVING IN.
YOU TALKING ABOUT WEDNESDAY, THE REGULAR MEETING? MM-HMM
AND THEN YOU HAVE SET A MEETING, I BELIEVE, THE THURSDAY AFTERWARDS, BUT MM-HMM.
SO YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TIME AT, ON BOTH THOSE DATES.
IT, UH, BEFORE YOU START, MR. CROCKETT, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. MASON? IF NOT, I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO MR. CROCKETT.
UM, I WANNA JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO, TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON A, WHAT I THINK IS BECOMING A, A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH OUR, UM, OUR CONSOLIDATED EMS FUND.
IT'S CONTINUED TO RUN A DEFICIT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
ON PAGE 42 OF THE BIG BOOK, IT'S CLEAR IF NOTHING'S DONE THIS YEAR, IT'LL BE A $1 MILLION DEFICIT NEXT YEAR.
AFTER THAT, IT'LL BE A $2 MILLION DEFICIT.
IT'S RUNNING A DEFICIT AND IT'LL CONTINUE.
IF, IF WE GAVE A 1 CENT TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR IN ANOTHER TWO YEARS, ANOTHER TAX INCREASE IS GOING TO, IS GONNA HAPPEN.
AND, AND I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND, AND I'D LIKE TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS WITH THE BOARD BETWEEN THE, UH, BEFORE THE THREE OF US ARE OFF THE BOARD.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANY LONGER.
AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NEW BOARD THAT COMES ON TO HAVE A, UH, HAVE A WORKING, UH, SOLUTION HERE.
THERE IS, A YEAR AGO WE INCREASED THE, UH, THE FUND THE TAX BY 5 CENTS.
AND THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT A MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, THAT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE.
WHAT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, NOT THAT ACT ON IT NOW, BUT JUST FOR THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THIS WHILE WE'RE WORKING THE BUDGET OF IT.
AND I'M GONNA PIGGYBACK ON MR. PARKS OVER THERE.
UH, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST USING ONE-TIME FUNDS TO SOLVE A RECURRING EXPENSE.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST IT, BUT, BUT I THINK MAYBE OUR BEST, OUR BEST BET HERE WOULD BE TO USE ONE TIME FUNDS FOR THE NEXT THREE, I I'M SAYING THREE YEARS.
BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE THE NEW BOARD ONE YEAR, ONE TIME FUNDS TO FUND IT TO HELP, WELL, IT WOULDN'T HELP, BUT IT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE DEFICIT.
THIS IS GONNA RUN IN FOR, FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND FOR STAFF.
UH, AND IF STAFF WOULD WANT, I THINK MR. PARKS AND I, IF THE, IF THE CHAIR, UH, THOUGHT IT, UH, NECESSARY WOULD WORK WITH THE STAFF TO, YOU KNOW, TO HELP RESOLVE THIS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM UNTIL WE WORK IT, IT'S A BAD FUNDING SITUATION HERE AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
AND, AND HOW WE CHANGE THAT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CHANGE IT, BUT I, I KNOW THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE A PROCESS TO WORK IT TO TRY TO WORK THE PROBLEM, UH, COVER, COVER THE DEFICIT FOR THREE YEARS AND IF, AND IF IT CAN BE RESOLVED BEFORE THREE YEARS, THEN THEN YOU'RE GONNA SAVE SOME ONE TIME FUNDS.
SO, SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN WOULD BE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THIS, TO CONSIDER NO, NO, UH, TAX INCREASE, UH, WHICH IS WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO COVER THIS DEFICIT, UH, FOR THIS YEAR, UH, TO GIVE US LIKE TWO TO THREE YEARS TO WORK UP.
'CAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE WHEN YOU HAVE TO TOTALLY CHANGE A FUNDING ISSUE.
AND, UH, AND THERE'S SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE, IF WE DID IT FOR THREE YEARS, IT WOULD COST $2 MILLION TO, TO PAY FOR THE, UH, THE DEFICIT TO COVER THE DEFICITS.
AND UH, AND I THINK IT'D BE WORTH OUR WHILE, EVEN THOUGH I'M TOTALLY AGAINST USING ONE-TIME FUNDS FOR, UH, FOR RECURRING EXPENSES, BUT WE NEED SOME TIME TO WORK THIS OUT.
IT'S NOT GONNA END, IT'S GONNA BE EVERY TWO YEARS.
WILL, WE WON'T BE HERE THEN, BUT EVERY TWO YEARS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE TAXES.
AND I THINK IT'S UP, IT IS UP TO US WHEN WE SEE A PROBLEM TO TRY TO RESOLVE
[02:15:01]
IT.SO I THROW THAT OUT THERE FOR CONSIDERATION DURING OUR BUDGET CONVERSATION, UH, AS OPPOSED TO CONSIDERING THE, UM, THE 1 CENT, UH, 1 CENT TAX INCREASE.
AND MR. PARKS, THANK YOU FOR, UH, I'M PI TOLD YOU I WAS PIGGYBACKING ON YOU
BUT THE BIG DIFFERENCE FOR ME WITH THAT IS BEFORE YOU WERE ON THE BOARD, WE WERE OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE WE BROUGHT IN 12 YOU FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? AND, AND MY POSITION IS IF I'M GOING TO AGREE TO BRING SOMETHING ON BOARD THAT'S GONNA COST MONEY THAT I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE WAY TO PAY FOR IT.
SO THAT'S WHY I WAS AGAINST THAT.
BUT I THINK, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO, UM, UH, TO THOROUGHLY EXAMINE THIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TAXPAYERS.
THANK YOU MADAM JUDGE, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.
DID I HEAR, UH, MR. WASHINGTON, NOW DID I HEAR YOU SAY IN YOUR CONVERSATION THAT, THAT THERE IS THERE FUNDS AVAILABLE? THERE'S, THERE'S ONE TIME FUNDS AVAILABLE.
WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS THEM NEXT, NEXT WEDNESDAY.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.
I HEARD YOU SAY THERE WAS FUNDS AVAILABLE.
MR. WE I WAS EXPECTING THAT CALL AND THAT, THAT QUESTION FROM SOMEONE.
THAT'S WHY I COULD, THAT'S WHY I COULD ANSWER SO, SO FAST.
MADAM CHAIR, YOU ARE GOOD WITH THE BOARD.
I, I JUST WANT TO, I WANT TO BE GLAD TO, TO, FOR MR. CROCKETT TO BE ABLE TO PIGGYBACK ON ME THAT I CAN STILL CARRY IT, BUT I WILL SAY WE GOTTA BREAK THIS CYCLE.
AND DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER IS NOT GONNA FIX IT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN 3.1.
SO MOVE WE ADJOURN AUR SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVING APPROXIMATELY SECOND THAT WE ADJOURNS NON-DEBATABLE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR BY I, ALL THOSE DE VOTE.