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TO ORDER THE MARCH 18TH,[Board of Supervisors on March 18, 2026.]
UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TO ORDER.I'M GLAD TO SEE ALL OF YOU OUT HERE.
I JUST ASKED IF YOU HAVE YOUR CELL PHONES, WOULD YOU KINDLY PUT THEM ON MUTE OR OFF? OKAY.
WHICH IS MORE APPLICABLE TO YOU.
AND I'M GONNA ASK AT THIS TIME, UH, IF THE PASTOR NICHOLAS GRANGER, WHO'S THE PASTOR OF THE CVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WILL COME AND DO OUR INVOCATION AND YOU COULD REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I INVITE YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN ME IN PRAYER TO ADOPT THE MOST PRAYERFUL ATTITUDE FOR YOU.
HOLY ONE, KNOWN BY MANY NAMES.
AND IN MANY WAYS, WE LIFT BEFORE YOU ALL WHO GOVERN.
PARTICULARLY THOSE OF THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR MACK COUNTY.
BLESS THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT THEY MAY DO THEIR WORK IN A SPIRIT OF WISDOM, CHARITY, JUSTICE, AND MERCY.
HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT POWER IS A TRUST FROM YOU TO BE USED NOT FOR PERSONAL GLORY, PRIVATE, PROPHET, OR PARTISAN POLITICS, BUT FOR THE SERVICE OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST IN NEED, DRIVE FROM A CYNICISM, SELFNESS, SELFISHNESS, VINDICTIVENESS, AND PETTINESS.
AND IN YOUR MERCY, GIVE US ALL THE GRACE TO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY AND PEACE THAT WE MAY FAITHFULLY SERVE AND PROMOTE OUR COMMON LIFE TOGETHER.
I PGI TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THROUGH THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS ONE DAY NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I WANNA THANK YOU PASTOR GREEN JURY.
AT THIS TIME BEFORE WE ADOPT OUR AGENDA, 9.2 NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.
WE NOT DOWN THERE YET, YET ONE, I'M SORRY.
WE WOULD PROPERLY SECOND THAT WE, UH, ADOPT OUR AGENDA WITH THE 9.2 BEING REMOVED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
WE DO HAVE A NEED FOR REMOTE, UH, PARTICIPATION.
WE HAVE SUPERVISOR TAR NOTIFIED ME EARLIER TODAY THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENING'S MEETING REMOTELY BECAUSE HE IS VISITING FAMILY.
OUR ADOPTIVE REMOTE, UH, PARTICIPATION POLICY REQUIRES THAT ALL REQUESTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS TO BE REMOTELY PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CHAIR IN WRITING ON OR BEFORE THE DAY OF THE MEETING AND SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE BOARD.
I CAN ATTEST THAT THE REQUEST TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY WAS RECEIVED TO ME IN WRITING BY OH 3 16 20 26.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SUPERVISOR TAR IS CURRENTLY CONNECTED TO VIA ZOOM TO THIS MEETING.
FOR THE RECORD, SUPERVISOR TAR.
WOULD YOU STATE THE REASON YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY AND THE EXACT LOCATION FOR WHERE YOU ARE PARTICIPATING FROM? YES, MA'AM.
UH, I AM, UH, VISITING FAMILY IN MACON, GEORGIA.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SINCE WE HAVE A QUORUM PHYSICALLY ASSEMBLED HERE TONIGHT, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOW SUPERVISOR TAR TO REMOTELY PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S ME TONIGHT'S MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR BOARD ADOPTED REMOTE PARTICIPATION POLICY.
SECOND THAT WE ALLOW SUPERVISOR TAR TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
DID YOU WANT A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH THE CHANGE THAT YOU MADE? WE DIDN'T HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
DID YOU? DID YOU WANT ONE OR, OH, OKAY.
I, HOW DID THE MOTION READ NOT TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
I, I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, SUPERVISOR COURT AND, UH,
I JUST, I WAS MESSING WITH YOU.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE MADAM CHAIRMAN.
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UH, PUBLIC COMM, NOBODY SIGNED UP.HOW ABOUT THE MINUTES? MOVE SECOND.
IM PROPERLY SECOND THAT WE, UH, ADOPT OUR MINUTES IN THE DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MADAM CHAIR.
I'LL LET YOU, IF YOU WOULD, UH, ALLOW ME, I'D LIKE YOU TO GO DOWN AND, AND MAKE THE MOTION AND READ THE, UH, SURE.
I'LL ALLOW THAT RESOLUTION TO, UH, BILLY FERGUSON, WHO'S A MEMBER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MEMBERS I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING TASSIE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FOR 100 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.
WHEREAS FOR 100 YEARS, THE LEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY INCORPORATED HAS SERVED ITS COMMUNITY BY PROTECTING THE LIVES AND THE VILLAGE OF TASSIE AND SURROUNDING AREAS OF AKIMA COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS THE ORIGINS OF THE TASIE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY DATE BACK TO FEBRUARY 1ST, 1926, WHEN A FIRE NEARLY DESTROYED THE TOWN, THE FIRE WAS FOUGHT WITH BUCKET PARADES.
AND WHEREAS SHORTLY AFTER, THE FIRE COMMUNITY LEADERS MET AND FORMED THE TAZZIE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ELECTED THOMAS J MCT AS PRESIDENT FROM 1926 TO 1936, AND HIS FIRST FIRE CHIEF JOHN R RU FROM 1926 TO 1941.
AND WHEREAS LEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FIRE COMPANIES ON THE EASTERN SHORE, AND CURRENTLY OPERATES OUT OF THE NEWEST FIRE STATION, MOVING TO THE CURRENT LOCATION IN JULY, 2020.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 1926, TASIE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY HAVE BEEN, HAVE, HAS BEEN FIREFIGHTING PERFORMING RESCUE EXTRICATIONS OPERATIONS, AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON FIRE SAFETY AND THEIR CLEAN AND UPTODATE EQUIPMENT.
AND WE'RE TODAY, TASIE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY OPERATES A FLEET OF FIVE FIREFIGHTING AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND THE TAZ E VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY HAS REMAINED ENTIRELY STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE YAKIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAKES PUBLIC AND OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THAT THE TASSIE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY HEREBY BE COMMENDED FOR ITS LONG AND FAITHFUL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF MACK COUNTY AND BE FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD UPON THE MINUTES AND BE PUT UPON A PLAQUE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.
SIGNED ROBERT D CROCK AS SUPERVISOR DISTRICT SIX AND SEE RENITA MAJOR CHAIRWOMAN AND MAD MADAM CHAIR.
SECOND, IT'S FOR MOVING PROPERLY.
SECOND THAT, UH, WE DO THE RESOLUTION FOR
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALTHOUGH IN FAVOR, APPRECIATE IT.
ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, LEY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, YES.
SINCE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THIS AND IT'S OUR HONOR TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE DOWN TO 4.2 AND THIS IS A DELIGHT TO RECOGNIZE OUR COUNTY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR.
OH, YES, HE'S HIDING BACK THERE.
UH, UH, DIRECTOR SEARA RECIPROCATE OF 2025 GOVERNOR'S FOREST SERVICE AWARD.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, GOVERNOR ABIGAIL BERGER, ANNOUNCED ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 2026, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2025 GOVERNOR'S FIRE SERVICE AWARDS.
THESE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS ESTABLISHED IN 2002, RECOGNIZED EXCELLENCE IN VIRGINIA'S FIRE SERVICE, AND WERE PRESENTED DURING THE ANNUAL VIRGINIA FIRE AND RESCUE CONFERENCE IN VIRGINIA BEACH.
MACK COUNTY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY C RAY PRUITT WAS AMONG THOSE HONORED MR. PRUITT'S DEDICATION TO THE EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY MACK, BUT ALSO NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY HAS BEEN EVIDENT THROUGHOUT HIS, THROUGH HIS STRONG LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO KEEPING HIS COMMUNITY SAFE.
PRUITT EXCELS IN IN COMMUNICATION, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING ALL CAREER AND VOLUNTEER ENTITIES OF THE EASTERN SHORE INFORMED TO ENSURE SAFE AND TIME OF RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS.
ALTHOUGH THE EASTERN SHORE IS GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATED FROM THE COMMONWEALTH BY THE BAY, UH, PRUITT HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN ASSISTING LOCALITIES THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA BY EDUCATING FIREFIGHTERS AS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OR ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR FOR THE, UH, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT
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OF FIRE PROGRAMS. AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS A WRITE OUT THAT CAME OUT WITH, UM, UH, GOVERNOR SPAM BERGER'S ANNOUNCEMENT.UM, SHE ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT THESE AWARD RECIPIENTS EMBODY EXCELLENCE, DEDICATION, AND LEADERSHIP AND FIRE SERVICE.
I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF OUR FELLOW VIRGINIANS.
UH, WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO THESE PROFESSIONALS, UH, FOR THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION, BRAVERY, COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE COMMONWEALTH.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN WE GET PICTURES OF OUR, OF OUR FOLKS, UM, WITH THE, UH, THE GOVERNOR.
AND THIS IS ONE, UM, HE DID TAKE QUITE A BIT OF RIVING OVER THAT FROWN ON HIS FACE,
UH, BUT, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY THAT, UH, UH, MR. PRUITT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR, FOR HIS COMMITMENT.
THANK, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE, UH, UH, RECOGNITION.
UM, UH, IT WAS, I I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH AWARD THE PROBLEM.
RIGHT? I STUFFED IN THERE
NO, I, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT, BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WOULDN'T BE IN THIS POSITION WITH, FOR MY FAMILY MOST IMPORTANT, UH, TO PUT UP WITH ME TO GO TO THE CLASSES AND TRAINING AND ALSO TO THE SUPPORT AS BOARD AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROVIDE ME YEARS.
MADAM CHAIR, CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? YEAH, SURE.
YOU MAKE, MAKE A STATEMENT, SEARAY, AND I GO BACK A LONG, LONG WAYS.
WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG VOLUNTEER WITH BARN AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I WAS A YOUNG DEPUTY SHERIFF, A LONG, LONG WAYS TIME, 33 YEARS, SEARAY HAS, HAS MOVED UP THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR YEARS BECOMING THE DEPARTMENT HEAD.
AND HE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.
I REPRESENT THE BOARD ON THE, ON THE ACK COUNTY, UH, FIRE AND RESCUE COMMISSION.
AND HE HAS THE UTMOST RESPECT FROM THE, FROM THE MEMBERS.
AND THAT IS SAYING A LOT GOT THAT MIKE, THAT THAT IS SAYING A GREAT DEAL.
AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT SEA RAY, YOU ASK HIM A QUESTION, HE WILL GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.
AND HE IS, HE'S NOT GOING TO, HE IS NOT GONNA UP AT IT.
HE'LL, HE'LL GIVE YOU A STRAIGHT ANSWER.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT HIM.
YOU KNOW, YOU ASK HIM A QUESTION, IT'LL GIVE YOU, GIVE YOU THE STRAIGHT ANSWER.
AND IF YOU ASK HIM HIS OPINION, HE WILL, HE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.
AND THE KEY WITH SEA RAY IS HE KNOWS THE VOLUNTEERS.
HE WAS A VOLUNTEER HERE FOR YEARS.
AND HE, AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE HE HAS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES BECAUSE HE WAS ONCE PART OF THEM.
AND NOW WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER RECOGNITION OF OUR COUNTY DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. STEWART HALL.
AND, AND YOU CAN'T BE A GOOD LEADER UNLESS YOU DEMONSTRATE AND ACTUALLY DO THE WORK, YOU KNOW? SO I, I ADMONISHED, UH, MR. HALL FOR HIS VOLUNTEERISM, UH, EFFORTS IN LEADING BY EXAMPLE, MR. MASON.
SO AGAIN, A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS.
UH, THIS REC RECOGNITION DOES NOT INVOLVE THE GOVERNOR, BUT IT IS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE, IN MY OPINION.
UH, TONIGHT I RECOGNIZE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD ALIKE, MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR COUNTY DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR STEWART HALL'S OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO AKIMA COUNTY, BOTH WHEN HE IS ON THE CLOCK AND OFF, PARTICULARLY THE EXAMPLE HE SETS THROUGH HIS WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER HIS TIME AND SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND ITS CITIZENS.
UH, THE BOARD IS KEENLY AWARE THAT AMONG DEPUTY HALL'S, MANY RESPONSIBILITIES IS LITTER CONTROL, WHICH IS CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE HERE IN AKIMA COUNTY.
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THE DE THAT DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR HALL SPENDS MANY OF THESE LUNCH HOURS VOLUNTARILY PICKING UP ROADSIDE LITTER AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE.
UH, THE ATTACHED PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY A CITIZEN, UM, OF, OF MR. HALL DURING ONE OF HIS MANY LUNCHTIME EXCURSIONS AND FORWARDED TO ME, UM, AND IT, IT LED TO THIS, THIS RECOGNITION.
UH, MY MESSAGE TO DEPUTY MINISTER HALL IS THE TIME YOU VOLUNTEER DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED YOUR EFFORTS.
INSPIRE THOSE AROUND YOU AND REINFORCE A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION, SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS.
YOU SHOW THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT ONLY ABOUT GUIDANCE AND DECISION MAKING, BUT ALSO ABOUT PERSONAL INVESTMENT AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR HALL TRULY LEADS BY EXAMPLE, AND I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TONIGHT TO PUBLICLY, PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE HIS COMMITMENT TO THE COUNTY AND ITS CITIZENS.
JUST TWO QUICK COMMENTS, IF I MAY.
UH, THE FIRST IS THAT SEA RAY MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNDERDRESSED.
AND THE SECOND, MUCH MORE SERIOUS NOTE.
I CAN'T GIVE ENOUGH THANKS TO THE BOARD, UM, AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THROUGH THE YEARS,
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BOTH TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO ME PERSONALLY.UM, LOVE WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND, UM, IT'S, UH, I'LL NEVER FORGET THE SUPPORT I'VE BEEN GIVEN WHILE WORKING AT AKIMA COUNTY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA TAKE TIM PRIVILEGE AND, AND SAY WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU CAN'T LEAVE WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE WHY YOU DON'T GO.
AND SO THAT JUST SHOWS, YOU KNOW, SUCH CHARACTER WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR LUNCH HOUR AND GO AND PICK UP TRASH.
AND I MEAN, IT'S JUST, THAT JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES.
AND I JUST, AS PERSONALLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU.
I WANT TO GO, GO, UH, I PRAISE, UH, UH, STEWART FOR THE VOLUNTEER WORK, BUT I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT HIS WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
IT IS, IS I ALSO SERVE ON THE SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE AND WITH THE PRESENTATIONS THAT I, THAT WE HAVE HIM TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD WITH TO EXPLAIN, UH, I LIKE THE LANDFILLS.
WE REALLY GO IN, WE GO INTO DEEP WORK AT THE SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE CONCERNING THE LA LANDFILL.
IF, IF, IF EVERYONE KNEW THE DETAIL THAT HE HAS TO PUT IN TO THOSE LANDFILLS, THEY WOULD BE, THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED.
AND HE HAS IT SET UP SO THAT WE ARE GOOD UNTIL, UH, I THINK IT'S 2040 OR BEYOND.
THAT'S HOW, THAT'S HOW DETAILED HE IS.
SO, SO HE'S NOT ONE TO WAIT FOR THE LAST MINUTE TO, UH, TO MAKE PLANS.
I MEAN, WHEN IT, IT'S 2026 NOW, SO, SO AT LEAST 14, 15 YEARS OUT, HE HAS PLANS.
AND, UM, AND WE ALL SEE HIM WHEN HE MAKES HIS PRESENTATIONS HERE.
THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ORGANIZED.
HE ANSWERS EVERY QUESTION THAT WE HAVE.
IF HE CAN'T ANSWER AT THE TIME, HE WILL GET BACK WITH US AND, AND ANSWER.
AND ALSO, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS COUNTY.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS DO.
AND ALSO UNBELIEVABLE THE WORK THAT, THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES DO FOR THE COUNTY AND, AND THE ALL DEED RECOGNITION.
THIS BRINGS US DOWN TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
MR. HART, MAY I ASK FIVE ONE, BE REMOVED AND DEALT WITH SEPARATELY? OKAY.
THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, MOVE IT SECOND.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVING PROPERLY.
SECOND, UH, THAT WE, THE CONSENT AGENDA, 5.2, 5.354 AND FIVE FIVE, WE ARE VOTING ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEMS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THEM? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE, ON THOSE ITEMS. ANY OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
OKAY, MR. HART, YOU ASKED FIVE ONE.
MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BEFORE I MAKE THE MOTION TO RATIFY THAT, UH, 5.1, THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION, I WANTED TO GO OVER A FEW THINGS BECAUSE WE HAD A VERY HARROWING EXPERIENCE.
UH, THE COUNTY DID, AND ALL OF OUR CITIZENS THERE, A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS DID.
AND I JUST WANT TO GO OVER SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED BEFORE WE DO THAT, TO LET YOU KNOW, UM, WE, UH, ON FEBRUARY THE 22ND, WE BEGAN, WE STARTED GETTING, UH, WINTER WEATHER.
AND WE WERE THE ONLY ONES IN THE ENTIRE STATE, BASICALLY, NORTHAMPTON AND US.
BUT NORTHAMPTON DIDN'T GET IT QUITE AS BAD AS US, BUT WE GOT IT THE WORST.
AND WE WERE BASICALLY ALL ALONE.
THE STATE DID NOT DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY, WOULD NOT, UM, WE HAD TO DO IT OURSELF.
AND SO, UH, WE DID A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
BUT ON THE FEBRUARY 22ND, THEN, UH, HEAVY SNOW, HIGH WINDS, FREEZING TEMPERATURES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, YOU REMEMBER, UH, A AND N ELECTRIC AND VDOT, UH, BROUGHT IN ADDITIONAL CREWS.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE HELP WE GOT FROM ACROSS THE BAY AND FROM DIFFERENT AREAS TO HELP US.
UH, WE HAD AT ONE TIME OVER 10,000 PEOPLE.
10 10, 10,000 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER.
AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE OUT ALMOST THREE DAYS, OR MAYBE THREE DAYS, TWO OR THREE.
I KNOW ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WAS OUT FOR OVER TWO DAYS.
MR. PARKS, HE WAS OUT FOR OVER TWO.
AND IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION, WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE, BUT 10,000 PEOPLE IN AKIMA COUNTY BEING WITHOUT POWER, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING.
UM, SO THANKS TO CRAY MIKE AND MYSELF, WE DECIDED TO DECLARE A STATE, LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY ON FEBRUARY 23RD, JUST TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND ALSO TO LET EVERYBODY IN THE STATE AND KNOW WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH THEM, LETTING THEM, ASKING THEM, UH, TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
UH, WE OPENED UP TWO SHELTERS, WHICH IS UNUSUAL, AND FOR US TO DO THAT IN THE WINTERTIME.
AND THEY WERE WARMING SHELTER.
THEY WERE WARMING SHELTERS AT ARCADIA AND NADU BECAUSE, UH, JUST IN CASE PEOPLE, AND WE DID HAVE PEOPLE USE IT, NOT A LOT, BUT WE HAD PEOPLE USE IT.
UH, IT WAS JUST FOR THEM TO WARM UP, HAVE SOMEWHERE TO
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GO IF THEIR POWER WAS OFF, THEY HAD NO HEAT.AND SO WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT, WHICH I THINK WAS A VERY SMART THING TO DO.
SO THE WARMING CENTERS, THEY CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 24TH.
UH, WE LIFTED THE DECLARATION ON THE 24TH.
UM, AND THEN WE DID AN ACT, UH, ACTION REVIEW.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING THE BOARD FOR A LONG TIME.
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS BIG OR IN THE STATE, VIRGINIA BEACH, MARYLAND WILL NOT COME TO HELP US VERY LITTLE.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON FOR HAVING THE EMERGENCY FUND.
WE'LL HAVE TO DO THINGS JUST FOR OURSELVES.
THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE, BUT WE, WE MADE IT THROUGH, BUT WE COULD HAVE A HURRICANE AND A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY FUND TO KEEP THAT POT OF MONEY, TRYING TO GET TWO MONTHS WORTH OF MONEY PUT ASIDE.
UM, ANYWAY, SPECIAL THANKS TO AGAIN, C RAY AND MIKE.
WE STAYED IN COMMUNICATION THE ENTIRE TIME, UH, GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND ALSO WITH SOME BOARD MEMBERS, UM, AND THE AGENCIES.
I WANNA THANK AKIMA COUNTY SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, A NEC, VDOT V DM, AND ALSO 9 1 1 LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING STATE POLICE, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND FIRE AND EMS AGENCIES, ALL THE FIRE COMPANIES AND EMS AND ALSO LOCAL CITIZENS WHO HELPED FARMERS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HELPED, UH, GET CREWS AND THINGS IN.
BUT IT WAS VERY HAR HARROWING.
AND, UM, I HOPE, I WANT TO GIVE THEM ALL PRAISES TO EVERYBODY FOR WHAT WE DID THERE, BUT I JUST WANT THE BOARD TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
10,000 PEOPLE IN AKIMA COUNTY.
10,000, OVER 10,000 WE'RE IN THE DARK.
NO HEAT, NO ELECTRIC FOR SOME OF 'EM UP TO ALMOST THREE DAYS.
WELL, I MEAN, I WASN'T THE LAST ONE, SO IT WAS PROBABLY THREE DAYS FOR SOMETHING.
THEY WERE THREE DAYS, BUT I JUST POINTED AT YOU BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE OUT FOR TWO.
SO ANYWAY, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANTED THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT WHAT'S, WHAT WE WERE DOING, WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, RATIFY THE STATE E THE LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR THAT WINTER WEATHER EVENT ON FEBRUARY 23RD, ENDING ON FEBRUARY 24TH.
SECOND, LET'S BE MOVING PROPERLY.
SECOND THAT WE RATIFIED THE EVENT THAT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY THE 24TH.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
NEXT THING ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, 9.1.
UM, MS. TAYLOR, IS THAT GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN EIGHT MINUTES? OKAY.
MS. TAYLOR, READY TO GO?
MIKE, YOU OKAY? MADAM CHAIR THE BOARD.
I'M MYRA RILEY TAYLOR, THE PRESIDENT OF A NCO BAYSIDE REVITALIZATION.
AND WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A MONTH, WELL, THREE MONTHS PLUS AN EXTRA MONTH.
SO WE'RE DOING IT A QUARTER AND A MONTH FOR YOU TODAY.
UH, I WON'T BE BEFORE YOU LONG AS MY PASTOR SAYS
UH, BUT WITH THE AGENDA, WE ARE GONNA GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW, THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE MADE FROM OUR LAST BRIEF.
ALSO, O UH, A UPDATE ON THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE AT THE POINT OF BEING REMOVED, THE CHALLENGES AGAIN, AND THE CONCERNS AS WELL AS THE NEXT STEPS.
UH, JUST THE OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT.
YOU'RE AWARE THAT WE WERE GRANTED THE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY TO REMOVE UP TO 22 DEAL STRUCTURES IN THE OX BAYSIDE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HAD A YEAR AND SIX MONTHS EXTENSION WAS GRANTED FOR THAT PARTICULAR EFFORT AND A BUDGET OF $150,000.
WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THE TITLE SEARCHES.
THERE IS ONE THAT'S STILL PENDING BECAUSE ON ONE OF THE, UM, ON THE AKA MAP, THERE WAS A PROPERTY THAT WAS REVERSED.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT UPDATE TO BE DONE FOR THAT PARTICULAR TITLE SEARCH.
BUT TO DATE, THAT HAS BEEN THE LONG POLLING ATTEMPT FOR US.
WE SPENT, UM, AND YOU'LL SEE ON OUR CONCERNS, THERE WAS A FIVE MONTH PERIOD IN WHICH WE COULD NOT GET ANY TITLE SEARCHES DONE FROM THAT COMPANY.
SO THAT CAUSED, YOU KNOW, MATTERS AS FAR AS OUR SCHEDULING.
UM, WE, AS FAR AS THE CONSENT, THE WRITTEN CONSENT WE HAVE COMPLETED SIX AND 16 ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES, EITHER WITH THE HOMEOWNERS FOR SIGNATURE, WE'RE WAITING FOR THOSE TO COME BACK, OR WE HAVE A FEW THAT STILL NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO SOME OF THE HOMEOWNERS.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, A LOT OF THESE ARE AIRED PROPERTIES, SO WE'RE HAVING TO GET UP TO SOMETIMES 10 SIGNATURES TO HAVE A STRUCTURE REMOVED
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BECAUSE OF THE AIR PROPERTY.AS FAR AS THE ASBESTOS CHECKS, WE, UM, HAVE COMPLETED SIX OF THOSE COUNTY PERMITS.
WE WILL BE REQUESTING THOSE TWO THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE READY TO GO TOMORROW.
UH, THE, AS FAR AS THE DEALER STRUCTURE REMOVAL, WE HAVE HAD ONE CONTROL BURN THANKS TO A C**K FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AS FAR AS, UM, SCHEDULING, WE HAVE ONE THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK, AND WE HAVE ONE THAT'S PENDING TO BE SCHEDULED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ONCE THOSE ARE DONE, THEN THEY GO OVER TO THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE TO GET A BID, AND THEN WE'LL REMOVE THE DEBRIS FROM WHAT IS LEFT FROM THE DEPARTMENT, UM, BURN.
AND THEN WE HAVE NOTIFIED ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UH, IN YOUR BACKUP SLIDES, YOU DO HAVE A COPY OF WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN REFERENCE TO OUR EFFORT JUST TO NOTIFY THEM OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
AS FAR AS THE STRUCTURE REMOVAL.
UM, NUMBER, THE FIRST STRUCTURE AND THE LAST STRUCTURE WILL BE BURNED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE, OR AS A CONTROL BURN.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE ONE THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.
THE LAST ONE IS PENDING SCHEDULING.
UM, THE STRUCTURE NUMBER TWO IS, WHAT YOU SEE IS AT THE VERY TOP OF THAT PICTURE IS WHAT WAS THERE PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOING THE CONTROL BURN.
AND SO NOW WE'RE LEFT TO GETTING BIDS ON HAVING THAT DEBRIS CLEARED FOR THAT PARTICULAR STRUCTURE.
THE PHOTOS THREE AND FOUR ARE GOING, WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING
AGAIN, CONCERNS ARE THE SAME AS WHAT WE HAD BEFORE.
AS I MENTIONED, WE SPENT FIVE MONTHS GETTING, UH, TITLE SEARCHES DONE.
WE ENDED UP EMPLOYING ANOTHER TITLE COMPANY FOR THAT.
WE ARE GOING THROUGH UP TO 10 CONSENT FORMS FOR SOME OF THE PROPERTIES BASED ON IT BEING AIRED PROPERTY.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE DID NOT HAVE FUNDING FOR STAFFING.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE THESE, UH, CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
AND IF IT'S THERE, IF THERE'S MORE TO ADD, WE'LL DO THAT AS WELL.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WAS, UH, GRANTED TO US BY THE COUNTY OR IN OUR, UH, MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO, WE HAVE ONE TITLE SEARCH LEFT.
WE'LL GET THAT FINAL TITLE SEARCH DONE, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS GETTING THE CONSENT FORMS, ASSESS THE, UH, COUNTY PERMIT, AND THEN MOVING FORWARD TO GET EITHER BIDS OR BIDS FOR THE REMOVAL OF, OF THE PROPERTIES.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. TAYLOR? THANK YOU.
WE ONLY GOT A COUPLE MORE MINUTES HERE.
I THINK I'M GOING TO JUST WAIT THESE COUPLE MINUTES OUT.
DID ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING? MIKE, WHO'S GONNA SPEAR THIS? JAMIE, WHO'S GONNA BE, UM, WILL DO 11.4.
ONE POINT THREES CONTINUED TO, OKAY.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, MAY I SAY ONE FINAL? SURE.
ONE THING I FORGOT WAS THE STATE POLICE, AND THAT WAS POINTED OUT BY MR. PARKS.
THE STATE POLICE DID BRING EXTRA PERSONNEL OVER ALONG WITH VDOT AND V THEM AND, UM, AND ELECTRIC.
SO THEY BROUGHT EXTRA STATE POLICE OVER ALSO.
SO I DID WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH 11.3 IS A CONTINUED, UH, UH, HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE THAT'S SIGNED UP.
[00:30:01]
11 POINT THREES, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ON CONVEYANCE.YOU ARE FREE, SIMPLE OR A POR OF LAND DESIGNATE AS PUMP STATION LOT ON THAT CERTAIN PLOT ENTITLED SUBDIVISION ON SHOPPING CENTER TRACK T SQUARE ASSOCIATES, LLC, INCLUDING THE IMPROVEMENTS THERE THEREOF, UH, TO THE HAMPTON ROAD, UH, SANITATION DISTRICT.
YOU WANNA KIND OF BRING US UP TO SPEED A LITTLE BIT? YEAH.
IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S BEING CONTINUED UNTIL APRIL.
IT WAS CONTINUED LAST MONTH, SO IT'S GONNA DO BE CONTINUED AND IT'S, IT'S STILL NOT READY.
WE AT 11.4, UM, MR. BECK, THIS PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A, UH, AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 1 0 6, ZONING TO REGULATE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES.
NEED A VOTE ON THE CONTINUANCE? WE NEED A VOTE ON THE CONTINUANCE.
MOVING PROPER SECOND THAT WE CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, OF 11.3.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION IS CARRIED.
MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEAD HAMID, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 1 0 6, ZONING TO, UH, TO, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY REGULATE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS. I'VE GOT ABOUT NINE SLIDES HERE.
I WANNA TRY TO GET THROUGH THEM QUICKLY.
UM, UH, A FEW MAIN POINTS REGARDING BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS. UH, AND THIS ORDINANCE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BE ALLOWED BY CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IN THE INDUSTRIAL EYE DISTRICT.
THESE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS AND THEIR DEVELOPERS, THEY PREFER TO BE NEXT TO A SUBSTATION OR A TRANSMISSION LINE.
SO THAT FURTHER, UH, LIMITS THE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY WILL BE, UM, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THEY CAN, UH, UH, UH, BE SITUATED.
THE ORDINANCE GOES INTO, UM, SEVERAL, UH, UH, REQUIREMENTS.
SOME OF THEM ARE PLANS AND STUDIES.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, SOME REQUIREMENTS FOR AGREEMENTS AND, UH, FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.
BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, WITH REGARDS TO REQUIRED PLANS AND STUDIES, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO A SITE PLAN.
THEY WILL HAVE TO DO A LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT COMPLIES WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
UM, A NOISE STUDY WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED.
AND OUR, UH, OUR COUNTY CODE, OUR COUNTY CODE IN CHAPTER 38, ENVIRONMENT, ARTICLE TWO REGULATES NOISE.
SO ANY NOISE STUDIES WOULD HAVE TO, UH, WOULD HAVE TO HONOR.
UH, ARTICLE TWO OF CHAPTER 38 ALSO REQUIRED AS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN.
SOME OTHER REQUIRED AGREEMENTS, THERE WILL BE NOTICE AND CITING AGREEMENTS.
SO, AS FAR AS NOTICE IS CONCERNED, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DO A BEST HERE IN THE COUNTY WILL HAVE TO, UH, TALK WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE AND THEN, UH, NEGOTIATE A CITING AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR THE DESIGNEE REVENUE.
A REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT PER THE ORDINANCE THAT THIS BOARD PASSED ON JULY 20TH OF 22 IS ALSO REQUIRED.
THE MAIN POINTS BEHIND THAT REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT ARE $1,400, UH, $1,400, UH, CONTRIBUTION PER MEGAWATT OF STORAGE.
AND THAT'S CURRENTLY WHAT'S REQUIRED.
UM, UH, ON JULY 1ST OF 26, THAT INCREASES TO 10% AND THEN EVERY FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER WILL BE A 10% INCREASE.
SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE REFRESHER ON THE REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT FOR BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM.
SPECIFICALLY, WE DO NOT HAVE ONE FOR SOLAR CURRENTLY.
UM, OTHER AGREEMENTS, A DECOMMISSION AGREEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSURANCE.
SO WHAT THE DECOMMISSIONING AGREEMENT IS SUPPOSED TO SAY IS THAT, UH, SHOULD THEY CEASE OPERATIONS ON SITE, THEY HAVE TO RETURN THAT SITE BACK TO THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT CONDITION, UH, AND THAT THEY ALSO MUST POST A FINANCIAL ASSURANCE OR BOND, UH, PURSUANT TO THAT AGREEMENT.
ONE OF THE OTHER BONDS THAT, UH, THEY WOULD HAVE TO POST IS A REMEDIAL IS, IS A REMEDIATION FINANCIAL ASSURANCE.
SO REMEDIATION SHOULD THERE BE A SITUATION OR AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURS ON SITE, THEN, UH, THEN THAT BOND IS SUPPOSED TO COVER THE COST OF THAT CLEANUP OR THAT REMEDIATION.
UM, ALSO PART OF THAT REMEDIATION BOND IS IF THEY, IF WE HAVE TO SPEND THAT DOWN FOR SOME REASON, THEN THEY HAVE TO REPLENISH THAT.
SOME OF THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE A 200 FOOT SETBACK.
THERE IS WRITTEN IN THE, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE, A BOARD OPTION TO REDUCE THAT TO 100 FEET.
UM, THE BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER OF, UH, YOU KNOW, SHOULD CONSIDER PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS OR REQUIRING PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR ANY REDUCTIONS.
SAME THING WITH, UH, WITH ACCESS POINTS.
THERE ARE TWO, UH, ACCESS POINTS REQUIRED BY THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AND THE BOARD HAS THE OPTION TO REDUCE THAT TO ONE, REGARDING FIRE SUPPRESSION, EARLY DETECTION, REMOTE MONITORING, FIXED WATER SUPPLY, AND STAMP
[00:35:01]
PIPES ARE REQUIRED.AND WE ALSO TALKED, UM, ALREADY ABOUT LANDSCAPING AND NOISE ATTENUATION.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION ACTUALLY CONSIDERED THIS OVER THE COURSE OF THREE MEETINGS, AND THEY HAD SIX OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS OR RECOMMENDED MODIFICATIONS.
UH, FINANCIAL COMPENSATION IN GENERAL.
THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT, UM, THAT, UH, UH, APPLICANTS COULD INFLUENCE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS WITH A FINANCIAL CON, UH, WITH A FINANCIAL COMPENSATION.
OUR ADVICE WITH REGARDS TO THAT IS YOU NEED TO MAKE A LAND USE DECISION, NOT A FINANCIAL DECISION REGARDING THE OPTION FOR THE REDUCTION OF A 200 FOOT SETBACK.
UM, UH, THEY ASK THE QUESTION, IF WE HAVE A 200 FOOT, UH, SETBACK WRITTEN INTO THE ORDINANCE, THEN WHY WOULD WE WANT TO REDUCE THAT? SO IF YOU, UM, IF YOU REMOVE THE, UM, UH, UH, THE MECHANISM FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THIS REDUCTION, THEN THAT DEFAULTS TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, AND THEN THEY CAN MAKE THE DECISION.
SO THE, UH, SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WELL, THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, UH, ULTIMATELY IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU KEEP THE, UH, PROVISION FOR THE OPTION TO REDUCE THE 200 FOOT SETBACK AND MAINTAIN THE AUTHORITY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF, UH, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UH, THERE WAS A QUESTION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING STANDPIPES FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION WITH THE BOARD OPTION TO WAIVE SO THAT, SO THE, UM, UH, THE PLANNING STAFF AND THE LEGAL STAFF, UH, WROTE IN A, UH, UH, A REQUIREMENT FOR STANDPIPES THREE ADDITIONAL, UH, CONSIDERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS.
THEY SPECIFICALLY ASKED WHERE DID THE 200 FOOT SETBACK COME FROM? AND IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, YOU SAW WHERE THE, UM, WHERE THE STAFF HAD ACQUIRED THE NATIONAL FIRE, UH, PREVENTION, UH, UH, ASSOCIATION, UH, STANDARD 8 55, AND THIS G POINT 10.8 0.4 IS THE SPECIFIC CODE PROVISION COMING OUT OF THAT, UM, COMING OUT OF THAT STANDARD THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS 200 FEET IS THE, IS THE MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE FOR BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS. AGAIN, THAT, UM, THAT RELATES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S QUESTION ABOUT WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REDUCE THAT, UH, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE, UM, REGARDING THE REDUCED SETBACK, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED A MODIFICATION FOR THAT.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING, IF THE, IF THE, UM, IF THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AT THAT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SAY THAT 200 FEET IS THE MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE, AND YOU REDUCE THAT, THEN WE SHOULD BE GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL BARRIERS OR PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OFFSET THAT, UH, THAT, UH, UH, UH, THEORETICAL REDUCTION IN SAFETY.
AND FINALLY, WITH REGARDS TO THE CLEANUP BOND OR OTHER FINANCIAL RESERVE THAT AROSE, THAT AROSE FROM A CITIZEN COMMENT AND THE PC RECCO AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED A MODIFICATION, WHICH WE ADDRESSED, AND I DESCRIBED JUST A COUPLE MINUTES AGO, STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO BOTH THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL ON MOTION BY, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER TYLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WHITE.
AND THE, UM, UH, THEY, THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED WITH THE TWO MODIFICATIONS.
NUMBER ONE, REQUIRING THE ADDITIONAL SETBACKS FOR REDUCED, UM, UH, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR REDUCED SETBACKS.
AND CONSIDERING THAT BOND FOR CLEANUP SHOULD, UH, AN INCIDENT OCCUR ON SITE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I CAN FIELD ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. PAN? BUT, OKAY.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY GERMANE TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HOW MANY MEGAWATTS ARE WE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT NOW? AND IS THERE ANY FUTURE PREDICTION KNOWN? WE DO NOT HAVE A, A, A HANDLE ON IT.
IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON WHO ALL APPLIES.
I CAN GET YOU, UH, SOME FIGURES ON THE PROJECT IN HASSLEY, WHICH I BELIEVE IS FIVE.
AND THEN I CAN GET YOU SOME FIGURES ON, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY ON THE JUPITER SCOUT, UH, UH, UH, ENERGY PROJECT IN WATTS FIELD, WHICH I BELIEVE IS IN, IT'S EITHER IN YOUR DISTRICT OR IN, UM, UH, UH, SUPERVISOR JOHNSON'S.
THAT'S ONE RIGHT THERE ON TAKE, TAKE ROAD, RIGHT? CORRECT.
BUT I DO NOT HAVE THAT, UH, FIGURE, UH, RIGHT HERE.
WE, I, MADAM CHAIR, I APOLOGIZE.
ARE WE IN, UH, ARE WE DUE AT A PUBLIC HEARING OR NO, YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
UM, THANK YOU MR. PRICK AND, AND DIRECTOR PRUITT, IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO WORK.
WE'VE SEEN YOUR PICTURE NOW WITH THE GOVERNOR AND STUFF, BUT
[00:40:01]
INCREDIBLY HAPPY TO SEE THIS COME BEFORE THE BOARD.I HAVE WATCHED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE IN TALY CLOSELY, AND, AND I HAVE MULTIPLE CONCERNS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE ZONING, UH, BOARD, TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BUT, UH, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP, BUT I DON'T THINK IT GOES FAR ENOUGH.
SO I, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
ONE, HOW MANY OF THESE SITES DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE OR WE KNOW OF A PLANNED IN THE COUNTY? WE HAVE, WE HAVE ONE THAT'S, AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN TALY.
THE, UM, THE, UH, SITE IN WATTS.
PHIL HAS RECENTLY HAD THEIR PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING, WHICH IS REALLY THE KICKOFF FOR LAND DISTURBANCE.
SO THEY CAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE READY TO DISTURB LAND AT ANY MOMENT.
UM, UH, WITH REGARDS TO PLANNED ONES, WE, WE OCCASIONALLY GET INQUIRIES ON THESE, UM, UNTIL WE HAVE SOMETHING ACTIONABLE, WE CONSIDER THOSE CONFIDENTIAL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, WE, WE GET INQUIRIES OCCASIONALLY ON THESE, AND UNTIL WE GET, UNTIL WE GET AN APPLICATION, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE, HOW BIG, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, UM, WHAT I, WHAT I WILL MENTION IS THAT TO DATE, I HAVE RECEIVED TWO ADDITIONAL INQUIRIES ON BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS, UM, LET'S SAY WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
AND, AND I, AND I WANNA MAKE THIS WORK, BUT I THINK I, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A VERY CLOSE EYE TO THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO COME HERE IS PROPERLY, UH, PROVIDING DIRECTOR PRUITT AND OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH A SITUATION TO PROTECT THE POPULACE OF THE COUNTY.
I THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM, THAT WE WOULD WANT TO GET WITHIN THAT A HUNDRED FEET FOR THESE, SINCE FOR TO FIGHT A FIRE, YOU'RE TYPICALLY GONNA SET A 300 FOOT PERIMETER AROUND IT.
UM, AND ONE OF THE REASONS YOU'RE DOING THAT IS 'CAUSE IT IS SO HOT, RIGHT? IT IS GOING TO CONSUME MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER.
SO YOU MENTIONED A STANDUP PIPE, BUT IF YOU CAN GET TO THE PIPE, AND I, I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF OUR LOCAL FIRE CHIEFS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING WATER IN THERE, UM, TO THOSE, AND OF COURSE, WATER, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS THE KIND OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE DEAL WITH HERE IN THE COUNTY ON A REGULAR BASIS.
BUT IT, IT DOES TAKE, IT'S NOT A NORMAL FIRE.
AND I KNOW, UM, THE, THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING TRAINING FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR CARS.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO WANT TO BE CONCERNED, ARE WE DO, CAN WE BROADEN THAT AND GET MORE OF OUR LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THAT, INCLUDING YOUR TEAM? BECAUSE IT, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU TOOK THAT TALY SITE, UM, IT'S A, THERE'S NOTHING ON THE SHORE, IN MY EXPERIENCE, AS BIG OF AN ISSUE WITH THIS OTHER THAN MAYBE ROCKET FUEL AND THAT'S NOT AS CONSOLIDATED MM-HMM
UM, THE, AND THE OTHER THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER.
WE ALSO THOUGH I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT PART OF THAT PLAN, THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY THAT WOULD LOOK AT THE DOWNWIND EFFECTS FOR SMOKE FROM THE SITE IF IT WERE, IF WE DID HAVE AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
UM, SO I, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING TO MENTION THAT.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THERE AND I MISSED IT.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT IS A CONCERN THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE DOWNWIND PLANNING, WHICH IS, IS SOMETHING THAT'S, YEAH, IT, IT, THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO DO THAT.
BE GLAD TO HELP SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
UM, THE, THE, THE THIRD PIECE THAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME IS ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE LOCAL COMPANIES HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF OUR POLICY IS SUCH, THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS GONNA APPROVE THAT PLAN, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DOCUMENT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DISSEMINATED DOWN TO THE FIRE COMPANIES THAT MAY BE IN RESPONSE.
SO THEY KNOW ALSO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AND HAVE, AND WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAD SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
UM, SO DEPENDING ON THE, DEPENDING ON THE KIND OF PLAN THAT WE RECEIVE, WE MAY RECEIVE A PLAN FOR A MCDONALD'S, OR WE MAY RECEIVE A PLAN FOR, UH, A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM OR WHATEVER.
WE TAILOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THAT PLAN FOR REVIEW, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS.
IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA SEND EVERY PLAN TO ANNEX.
WE'RE NOT GONNA SEND EVERY PLAN TO CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES IF THERE'S NO NATURAL GAS INVOLVED.
UM, IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD CERTAINLY INCLUDE ANEC.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY ROUTE THE PLAN TO, UM, TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, THE FACT THAT THE, UM, THAT THE, THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN OR THE TRAINING PLAN IS WRITTEN INTO THE, INTO THE, UH, ORDINANCE, GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP.
WITH REGARDS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE, OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, I WOULD SAY THAT THE JUPITER SCALP ENERGY PROJECT AND THE REZONING AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PROCESS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH REALLY SET A HIGH STANDARD FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FOR THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANS AND FOR THE REVIEW.
[00:45:01]
I WOULD CERTAINLY APPLAUD MY PREDECESSORS IN, UH, IN, IN, IN PUTTING THEM THROUGH THE, UH, UH, UH, THROUGH THE PACES OF GETTING THOSE REZONING OF THAT REZONING AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT ACTUALLY A LOT OF THOSE ELEMENTS MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE US ADD TO DOCUMENT THAT A DISTRIBUTION PLAN TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S AWARE.
I MEAN, IT WOULD MAYBE BE INCLUDING 9 1 1 AS FAR AS THAT EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN, AND ACTUALLY GIVE THEM A VOTE.
AND I DID DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE DIRECTOR, PRUITT OR WHOEVER WOULD HAVE APPROVAL AUTHORITY OF THAT EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN.
BUT I, I'LL AGAIN, DRAW ATTENTION TO THE WATER ASPECT OF THIS.
I ASSUME TALY WOULD BE, SO YOU'VE GOT A POWER GENERATION ISSUE, SO YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT EXTERNAL WATER SOURCES AND THINGS START GOING DOWNHILL.
SO THOSE ARE CONSIDERATIONS FOR FUTURE PLANNING.
I'M NOT A FIREFIGHTER, BUT FIREFIGHTERS WOULD TELL YOU THAT DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE FIRE THAT'S GOING TO, UH, THAT'S GONNA DICTATE THEIR APPROACH TO HOW THEY PUT THAT OUT.
I GUESS TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I'M TELLING YOU THAT THE FIREMEN ARE CONCERNED YEAH.
AND, AND I AM TOO, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MM-HMM
MR. GLAD THINK IAM CHAIR, UH, LEE, UH, THINK I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD A CONCERN THAT, UH, WITH THE COUNTY RECEIVING $1,400 PER MEGAWATT HOUR PER YEAR, THAT THAT MAY INFLUENCE A DECISION THAT IT WAS A SEPARATE ISSUE.
SO THE, THE, UH, THE REVENUE SHARING ORDINANCE IS IT'S CODE.
THEY HAVE TO DO A REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT AND A CITING AGREEMENT WITH US.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, DID THEY, DID THEY SAY THAT THEY HAD A CONCERN THAT THAT MIGHT INFLUENCE THE BOARD? NOT ABOUT THE REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT? IT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD.
RIGHT,
UM, WELL, THEY SHOULD MAKE IT MORE CLEAR WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY, UH, MAKE A COMMENT, WHEN THEY MAKE A COMMENT LIKE THAT.
I CAN, I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD SINCE 2011, AND I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THIS BOARD TODAY.
I WOULDN'T CARE IF IT WAS $20,000 PER MEGA WIFE.
IT'S NOT SAFE IF EVERY I IS NOT DOTTED, EVERY T IS NOT CROSSED, NO MATTER WHAT THEY OFFER.
I WOULD NOT, AND I DON'T THINK THIS BOARD WOULD, IT WOULD APPROVE IT.
SO TAKE THAT MESSAGE BACK, PLEASE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MADAM CHAIR? GO AHEAD.
MR. HAR, UM, DID YOU CONTACT IN, IN THE, THIS PROCESS? DID YOU CONTACT THE STATE, UH, FIRE CHIEFS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE, TO ASK THEM WHAT'S GOING ON? BECAUSE THIS IS, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES DEALING WITH THIS.
AND I KNOW IN STATE MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES AND MAJOR PROBLEMS AND MAJOR CONCERNS FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA, SOUTHWEST, THE WHOLE STATE.
HAVE YOU, DID WE CONTACT ANYBODY AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON? WE RELIED ON S GOT HIS HAND.
BUT DID IT, DID ANYONE GO IN THERE AND SEE, BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING MAJOR ISSUES ALL OVER THE STATE.
SO, TO MORE SPECIFICALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AS IT RE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WE RELIED ON THE, ON THE, UH, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE OF, OF, UH, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR.
WELL, I KNOW THAT, BUT I'M SAYING THERE ARE, ARE ISSUES WITH ALL OVER THE STATE WITH THIS.
AND I KNOW THE STATE FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES.
THE STATE, UH, BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE, UH, AND STATE IS HAVING ISSUES WITH IT ALSO, UM, WHEN WE, THE PROVISION WE PUT IN ABOUT, UM, REMOVAL AND GOOD, PUTTING THINGS BACK AND ALL THAT, AND HAVING A BOND, IS THERE A STIPULATION IN THERE THAT, UH, WE ARE PROTECTED IF THAT COMPANY DECLARES BANKRUPTCY, THEY THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND OH, WE'RE LEAVING AND WE DECLARE BANKRUPTCY.
IS THERE, IS THERE, THEY JUST WALK AWAY? IS THERE, ARE WE PROTECTED UNDER BANKRUPTCY, YOU WOULD HAVE A BOND WITH SURETY, EITHER CASH SURETY OR, OR A LETTER OF CREDIT, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
SO WE WOULD BE PROTECTED EVEN IN, UNDER BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE THAT WAS A CONCERN FROM THE STATE TOO.
WE WOULD, WE WOULD GET THAT BOND BEFORE THE, UH, BEFORE THE APPROVAL OF THE PLAN.
BUT THESE, I'M TELLING, I'M TELLING YOU FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD AND GOING THROUGH AS MR. PARK SAID, THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS, OR COULD BE.
THEY'RE NOT DANGEROUS RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS.
A CAR BATTERY ALONE REQUIRES THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER TO PUT OUT ONE CAR BATTERY.
DO NOT PARK YOUR CAR WITH A BATTERY IN YOUR HOME, IN THE GARAGE.
IF IT CATCHES FIRE, YOUR HOME IS GONE.
THEY'RE VERY CONSIDERED VERY DANGEROUS, THE LITHIUM.
[00:50:01]
WE REALLY NEED TO WATCH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE BECAUSE IF THAT CASUALLY WHEN SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENED, YOU'RE TALKING, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL THE HEAT TO HERE WHERE WE'RE SITTING, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL THAT HEAT HERE AND YOU'RE GONNA FEEL IT IN AN C**K AND YOU'RE GONNA FEEL IT IN OTHER, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL THAT AND KNOW THAT'S HAPPENING.IF CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS, THE ONE UP IN WATVILLE SCARES ME WORSE THAN THE LEY ONE DOES.
BUT I'M JUST JUST SAYING THE, WE REALLY NEED TO DO OUR RESEARCH AND WE REALLY NEED TO WATCH.
AND HAVE YOU CONTACTED VACO TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON? VACO'S, UH, INTERACTION THEIR LAWYERS AND STUFF, WHAT'S HAPPENING? HAVE, HAVE YOU CONTACTED THEM AND JUST SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING? NO, I THINK THAT'S A SMART THING TO DO.
UH, OR HAVE JAN DO IT AND JUST SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THE STATE.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE WITH THIS ISSUE? THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
MR. PHILLIPS? YEAH, MS. PAMELA, YOU MIGHT ANSWER THIS.
UH, THESE UNITS, SO THESE CONTAIN SELF-CONTAINED UNITS.
UH, DO THEY HAVE FIRE SUPPRESSION BUILT IN OR IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A, WITH THE RE WELL, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME OUT HERE, BUT WITH REQUIREMENT OF THE STANDPIPE SYSTEM, THERE'S THE, THERE'S THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE SHOULD BE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM ALSO INCLUDED ON THAT.
IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T HELP TO HAVE STANDPIPES THAT DON'T DISCHARGE TO SOMETHING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 1 0 6, ZONING TO REGULATE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES.
ANYONE CARE TO SPEAK? I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE, UH, TO REGULATE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? I HAVE A QUESTION, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
IF THIS IS NOT APPROVED, WHAT HAPPENS? DO THEY GET TO BUILD IT ANYWAY?
THE SITUATION IN TAS E WAS AN INTERPRETATION BASED OFF OF A, UM, UH, UH, UTILITIES DISTRIBUTION, UH, UTILITIES DISTRIBUTION FACILITY, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH IN MY MIND WAS SIMILAR TO A, UH, TO A SUBSTATION, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE IN, IN THE COUNTY.
IF, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW OUR PREDECESSORS HAD DONE THE, UH, HAD DONE THE, UH, UH, THE WATTS BILL SITE, WHICH THEY DEFAULTED TO A PROVISION THAT SAID ANY, ANY, UH, DEVELOPMENT OVER, I BELIEVE IT'S 10 ACRES WOULD HAVE TO BE, WOULD HAVE TO APPEAR BEFORE THE, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC REGULATIONS THAT YOU SEE OR THAT THAT'S PROPOSED CURRENTLY IN THE ORDINANCE.
SO, UM, A LOT OF THAT REGULATION, A LOT OF THOSE AGREEMENTS, A LOT OF THOSE, UH, DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS EVERY TIME SOMEONE APPLIES FOR A REZONING AND A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
SO, SO IF I CAME TO YOU WITH A PROJECT THAT WAS LESS THAN 10 ACRES, WHAT CONTROLS IT RIGHT NOW WITHOUT HAVING THE ZONING ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF ME? UH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
SO, CAN I, UH, WAIT A MINUTE, MR. PARKS, I'M GONNA ALLOW MR. UM, MR. I, MR. IF YOU DON'T MIND, MR. THE QUESTION ABOUT V HAD THEY DID KNOW WAS WRONG, YOU DON'T MIND? SURE.
SO THE, THE QUESTION MR. HART HAD ABOUT V DAMS, UH, THEY ARE VERY MUCH AWARE, UH, ACROSS COMMONWEALTH.
SO DEPARTMENT FIRE PROGRAM, VERY MUCH AWARE THE, THERE WAS TRAINING CONDUCTED AT T, THE FIRE STATION, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DAY ON TOP OF MY HAND THAT ACTUALLY BM UH, HAD THAT SPECIALIST CAME AND I HAD THAT TEAM MEMBERS CAME TO TRAIN AT THET OF THE FIRE STATION WITH MULTIPLE VOLUNTEERS.
SO WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING A TRAINING, WHEN I ASK THEM, WE ARE, I TEACH OUR PURPOSE RESPONDERS, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO QUESTION ABOUT WATER SUPPLY, THAT'S, THAT IS A PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTY.
SO I THINK YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER IT'S A BATTERY STORAGE FACILITY OR A HOUSE FIRED IT, IT IS A COMMANDER.
HE OR SHE NEEDS TO ASSESS THE SCENE, MAKE DETERMINATIONS, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.
UM, IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH WATER, THEY DON'T, THEN WE WOULD END OUT IN A DECK PROBABLY DECLARATION.
WE WOULD DO EVACUATIONS AND SO FORTH.
SO JUST UNDERSTAND THOSE, THE MEASURES RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, WE, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS.
YEAH, I, AND I TOTALLY GET THE MEASURES ARE THERE.
MAY I ASK YOU, WAIT A MINUTE, HAVE YOU, ARE YOU FINISHED MR. PARKS WITH YOUR QUESTIONING OR COMMENTS? I'M NOT FINISHED WITH LEE.
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SO RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT THIS ORDINANCE, WE ARE IN A WEAK SPOT.NOW THE, WHAT WE COULD DO IS MAKE AN ALTERNATE DETERMINATION THAT IF IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN THE ORDINANCE, THEN IT'S NOT ALLOWED, WHICH WOULD BE A VERY STRICT, UH, INTERPRETATION OF THE ORDINANCE.
MAD CHAIR, I MEAN THAT MADAM COUNTY ATTORNEY
SET PRECEDENT THAT A CER OF FACILITIES OF A CERTAIN SIZE ARE PERMITTED BY.
THAT'S WHY THE ONE IS IN PASLEY RIGHT NOW.
'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK TO REQUIRE, USE PERMIT FOR THAT.
AND SO IF YOU DON'T ADOPT THIS TONIGHT, SOMEBODY COULD COME IN TOMORROW WITH A PERMITTING.
MA MADAM CHAIR, WE CAN'T LET THIS GO.
RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CONTROL WHAT'S WHATSOEVER.
IF WE ADOPT THIS, THEN WE HAVE SOME CONTROL.
AND IF WE NEED TO TWEAK IT AFTER THAT, LET'S DO IT.
SO, MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE, WE APPROVE SECOND.
OKAY, LET'S REMOVE A PROPER SECOND AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION,
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM CHAIRMAN, MR. UH, PARK, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE MAKER, HE CAN ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT IN YOUR MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS, THAT WE HAVE STAFF GO TO, UH, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND ALSO THE VACO, AND DO SOME FURTHER RESEARCH TO SEE IF WE NEED TO TWEAK TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN THE STATE.
AND ALSO SEE, RAY, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING OVER THE STATE, ISN'T IT CORRECT? WHAT? I SAID THAT THERE'S VERY STRONG CONCERN, BIG CONCERN EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE OVER THIS? YES.
OKAY, I ACCEPT THAT MAN CHAIR.
OKAY, SO YOU'RE VOTING ON THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ARE ADDED TO THE MOTION.
EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MOTION, THE FRIENDLY.
OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
AND THAT MOTION WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS PASSED.
NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
NO, I, NO, WITH THE FRIENDLY BECAUSE YOU, YOU ACCEPTED IT WASN'T A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE GOT IT ALL RIGHT.
WHO'S THE DRIVER FOR THE 11.5? OKAY, 11.5 PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 82, SECTION EIGHT OF AKIMA COUNTY CODE, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ERRONEOUS TAX FOR THE TREASURER, MAYBE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVAL FROM FIVE TO 10,000.
CHAIR MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
THIS IS A, A RELATIVELY SIMPLE REQUEST, UM, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT EFFICIENCIES.
THE CODE, OUR CODE CURRENTLY ALLOWS, UM, THE TREASURER TO REFUND ERRONEOUS TAX, UM, WITHOUT, UH, SEEKING THE BOARD'S APPROVAL UP TO $5,000.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU INCREASE IT TO WHAT THE CODE VIRGINIA M MAX IS, WHICH IS 10,000.
THE, THE EFFICIENCIES THAT'LL CREATE, ALLOW OUR TREASURER TO REFUND, ERR ANY TAX HOW MUCH QUICKER AND KEEP ONE MORE AGENDA ITEM OFF YOUR AGENDA.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR? I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING OF, OF THE, UH, WELL, WELCOME PLEASE.
OF THE PUBLIC HEARING OF, OF INCREASE AMOUNT OF ERRONEOUS TAX THAT THE JUDGE MAY REFUND FROM FIVE TO $10,000.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MOVE.
SECOND, THAT WE APPROVE, UH, THAT WE WILL CHANGE FROM FIVE TO $10,000.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? LET THEM BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED THAT, THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO OLD BUSINESS AT NINE THREE.
RECEIVE AN UPDATE OF THE CURRENT FY 26, UH, REGIONAL OP, OPIOID ABUSE OR REMEDIATION PROGRAM CONSIDER OF AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO REAPPLY FOR THE JUNIOR OPIOID ABATEMENT AUTHORITY CORPORATION F 27 PARTNERSHIP GRANT, WHICH IS GRANT, IF GRANTED, WILL ALLOW THE PERMIT PROGRAM TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE.
DOES A, UH, TYPE OF THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
UH, THIS, UH, REQUEST BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
IT, IT'S ACTUALLY A TWO PART AGENDA ITEM.
THE FIRST PART, UH, KELLY BUIN IS HERE.
SHE'S THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WITH THE, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD.
SHE'S GONNA, UM, TAKE ON TWO TOPICS REALLY.
ONE IS SHE'S GONNA GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF OUR CURRENT REGIONAL PROGRAM, REGIONAL BEING, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH HAMPTON AND THE CSB IS A PROVIDER, BUT SHE'S GONNA GIVE YOU, UH, AN UPDATE ON, ON HOW THAT PROGRAM'S GOING AND, AND POSSIBLY SOME METRICS AND, AND SIMILAR TO UPDATES YOU'VE RECEIVED BEFORE.
[01:00:01]
AND THEN IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE NEED TO START, UM, THINKING ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT ABOUT OBTAINING MORE GRANT FUNDS TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM INTO THE FUTURE.THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING FOR MORE STATE ASSISTANCE, WHICH OUR CURRENT PROGRAM DOES HAVE.
WE HAVE A GRANT THAT'S HELPING FUND THE MAJORITY OF THESE COSTS.
UM, THAT IS COMING UP ON APRIL 1ST.
SO THE IDEA IS, AGAIN, TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE WHERE WE'RE AT, TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH THE NEXT APPLICATION AND AUTHORIZE ME, UM, TO REAPPLY FOR, UH, UH, A VIRGINIA OPIOID ABATEMENT AUTHORITY COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP GRANT, UM, THAT WILL HELP THE PROGRAM CONTINUE.
UM, I AM KELLY UELAND, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP.
WE STARTED THIS PARTNERSHIP IN 2022, ACTUALLY WITH JUST ACK COUNTY AS A PILOT PROJECT.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, UM, SERVING, MAKING SURE THAT TANGIER RESIDENTS WERE SERVED.
UM, AND IT HAS GROWN FROM THAT INTO A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UM, WE CURRENTLY IN THIS YEAR, WE HAD TARGET, OUR TARGET NUMBER WAS TO SERVE 62 INDIVIDUALS, UM, IN THIS COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP IN OUR TREATMENT SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDED, UM, INTAKE ASSESSMENTS, PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENTS, CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, GROUP THERAPY, HEALTH NAVIGATION, MEDICATION TREATMENT, AND PATIENT TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE EXCEEDED, UM, BETWEEN JULY AND UH, JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
UH, WE HAVE EXCEEDED THAT TARGET OF 62 AND HAVE SERVED, UM, TWO PEOPLE JUST IN THE OUTPATIENT, UM, SERVICE DELIVERY AND HEALTH NAVIGATION.
WE HAVE PROVIDED SERVICES TO 309 INDIVIDUALS TOTALING 391 INDIVIDUALS, UM, THAT ARE UNDUPLICATED.
UM, THAT'S AN UNDUPLICATED NUMBER IN OUR OUT, UH, SUBSTANCE USE OUTPATIENT SERVICES.
UM, SO THAT IT HAS VERY THOROUGHLY EXCEEDED OUR TARGETED GOALS.
WE ALSO HAVE BEEN FUNDED UNDER THIS INITIATIVE TO DO SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION EDUCATION.
UM, THE PROGRAM IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM CALLED, UM, OPERATION PREVENTION.
UH, WITH THE FUNDING, WE'VE BEEN, UH, UH, ABLE TO HIRE A, UM, FULL-TIME PREVENTION SPECIALIST WHO IS IN OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN BOTH COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE, UM, IN THAT PROGRAM TARGETED TO SERVE 50, UM, YOUTH.
WE HAVE ALREADY SERVED 311 YOUTH, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE IN AKIMA COUNTY.
WE ARE APPROACHING OVER 400 YOUTH BY THE TIME WE WRAP UP THIS SCHOOL YEAR, UM, IN, UM, THAT PROGRAM.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS ONE, UM, FULL-TIME PREVENTION SPECIALIST PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES IN, IN ALL OF OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
UM, WE ALSO, IN THAT EFFORT, HAVE EDUCATED AND PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO 15 TEACHERS AND, UM, THE PARENTS OF ALL OF THOSE YOUTH RECEIVE SERVICES.
AND, UM, RESOURCE SUPPORTS FROM, FROM US, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT SERVICES.
OUR, UM, PREVENTION SPECIALIST WHO IS A, HAS A MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK WHO RECEIVES REFERRALS TO, UM, ASSESS YOUTH AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S THE EDUCATOR OR THE PRINCIPAL, OR THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR REFERS THINKING THAT THEY, UM, THE, THE YOUTH ARE EXPERIENCING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISTRESS OR POSSIBLE EXPERIMENTATION WITH SUBSTANCES.
UM, THAT PREVENTION SPECIALIST PROVIDES AN ASSESSMENT AND THEN MAKES A REFERRAL IF NEEDED TO, UM, INTERVENTION SERVICES.
UM, AND THAT IS GOING VERY WELL AS, UH, AS WELL.
WE WERE ALSO FUNDED TO DO A MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR BOTH COUNTIES TO INFORM OUR PUBLIC THAT THE OPIOID, UM, ISSUE CONTINUES, UH, ACROSS OUR COUNTIES.
WE, UM, EXPERIENCE, UM, WE STILL ARE EXPERIENCING OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS, UM, IN OUR REGION FOR THAT.
SO THAT'S THE HAMPTON ROADS REGION.
WE HAVE OVER 75,000 DEATHS DUE TO OPIOID OVERDOSE, UM, EXCUSE ME, 75,000 DEATHS OF SUBSTANCE USE OVERDOSE.
76% OF THOSE 75,000 DEATHS ARE OPIOID RELATED, AND 64% OF THAT 76% ARE DUE TO FENTANYL, UM, EXPOSURE AND OVERDOSE.
THAT'S EIGHT OUT OF 10 PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING BY OVERDOSE, UM, ARE, ARE DYING AS A RESULT OF FENTANYL.
[01:05:01]
NOT NECESSARILY IN PRODUCTS LIKE HEROIN OR PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS, BUT, UM, FENTANYL BEING LACED IN OTHER SUBSTANCES AS WELL.OUR YOUTH ARE EXPOSED TO THIS.
WE DO A YOUNG ADULT SURVEY, UM, EVERY OTHER YEAR.
THOSE ARE FOR 18 TO 25 YEAR OLDS TO COLLECT DATA, UM, WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE, WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND HOW THEY ACCESS SUPPORTS FOR THAT.
SO WE KNOW THAT YOUTH ARE SEEING THIS, THEY ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH IT, AND THEY ARE BEING IMPACTED THEMSELVES, WHETHER, UM, IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL IMPACT OR THROUGH THEIR FAMILY IMPACT.
IT'S PROGRAMS LIKE OUR PREVENTION PROGRAM AND OUR TREATMENT PROGRAM THAT CREATE THE SAFETY NET.
IT'S THE MEDIA PROMOTION THAT WE'RE DOING, TELLING OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT, UM, THE COUNTY CARES.
IT'S PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO TREATMENT AS WELL AS PREVENTION AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, TO GET PEOPLE TO OUR OUTPATIENT CENTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.
THIS INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION FOR TANGIER RESIDENTS.
WE REGULARLY TRANSPORT FOUR, UM, INDIVIDUALS, UM, WEEKLY FROM TANGIER.
WE PAY FOR THE FERRY THAT BRINGS THEM OVER.
AND THEN WE PAY FOR, UM, THE TRANSPORTATION TO GET 'EM FROM THE DOCK TO OUR CENTERS AND THEN BACK TO THE DOCK AND BACK OF, UM, ACROSS WITH THE FERRY.
UM, THAT WOULD NOT, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT TREATMENT IF THIS TYPE OF EFFORT DIDN'T EXIST.
UM, AT THIS POINT WE ARE ASKING, UM, MACK AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT AT STABLE FUNDING, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $215,109.
UM, THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF THESE EFFORTS THAT I JUST DESCRIBED FOR YOU TONIGHT.
UM, WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH COUNTIES ABOUT EXPANDING THIS EFFORT AND LOOKING AT THE USE OF DIRECT SETTLEMENT FUNDS THAT BOTH COUNTIES CURRENTLY, UM, HAVE BANKED, I'LL SAY, AND, UM, OR UNCOMMITTED TO EXPAND THE FUNDS, BOTH IN THE PREVENTION REALM, UM, DOING, UH, SERVICES SUCH AS, UM, INCLUDING VAPING EDUCATION IN THE PROGRAM.
THE OPERATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LIFE SKILLS, UM, BECAUSE WITH LIFE SKILLS AND IT, UM, MAKING THE COURSEWORK EXPERIENTIAL, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WORK WITH THEIR PEERS TO LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH ADULTS AND OTHER PEERS, BUT THEY ALSO LEARN OTHER LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS PROBLEM SOLVING, UM, INDEPENDENCE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE SCHOOLS ARE REPORTING TO US THAT THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE VAPING RATE AND HOW THAT ASSOCIATES WITH OTHER SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT CURRICULUMS THAT ALLOW US TO BOTH ADDRESS LIFE SKILLS AROUND, UM, HARDER DRUG USE, BUT ALSO TO ADDRESS THINGS LIKE VAPING WITH OUR YOUTH.
THAT IS ONE CONSIDERATION THAT WE HAVE PUT FORTH.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF CONSIDERATIONS UNDER TREATMENT SERVICES, THINGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SOCIAL, UM, ECONOMICAL AND EMPLOYMENT, UM, SUPPORTS.
WE RECENTLY, UH, DEVELOPED A PILOT PROJECT TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LONG-TERM RECOVERY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GETTING CERTIFICATIONS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE.
DESPERATE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE EMPLOYMENT, DON'T HAVE HOUSING, DON'T HAVE A MEANS OF SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILY, WIND UP DOING MORE DESPERATE THINGS.
AND SO RECOVERY, UM, LONG TERM AND SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A PATHWAY TO REMAIN IN RECOVERY AND HEALTHY.
UM, SO THAT'S JUST, I'VE PUT MORE IN WRITING, UM, AND I KNOW THAT MIKE HAS IT.
I THINK HE'S SHARED THAT WITH YOU.
I'M WELCOME IN ANY KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT OUR CURRENT PROGRAM OR FUTURE PLANS.
YOU'RE REACHING A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.
AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU SHARE WITH US IS, IS IMPORTANT.
BUT ONE THING I WANNA HIGHLIGHT ON 400 STUDENTS ARE GONNA BE REACHING BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND THE OLD SAYING IS THAT AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.
UM, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT IN REGARD TO THE YOUTH PROGRAM, WE'VE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED A YOUTH COALITION.
THE YOUTH REQUESTED THAT THEY WANTED A
[01:10:01]
WAY TO BE EMPOWERED AND TO SHARE THEIR VOICE GREAT.SO, UM, WE ARE, WE HAVE YOUTH THAT MEET WITH US.
THEY, THEY'VE DONE ART PROJECTS.
THEY WANT TO DO MORE CIVIC, UM, CONTRIBUTION PROJECTS.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH, UM, A GROUP OF KIDS THAT WAS BORN OUT OF THIS.
MR. HYATT, UM, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE GROUP, BECAUSE YOU DO FANTASTIC WORK.
UM, I WORK WITH KIDS EVERY DAY, UH, ALL LEVELS, ALL THE WAY FROM SIXTH GRADE ALL THE WAY TO 12TH.
AND ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP THEM, THEY THEY ARE, THEY NEED IT IN THIS SOCIETY IN OUR WORLD TODAY.
UM, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I WAS GONNA MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM AND WE AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO REAPPLY FOR THE VIRGINIA OP OPIOID O OPIOID, I CAN'T, OPIOID OPIOID OPIOID ABATEMENT AUTHORITY COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP GRANT, WHICH IS GRANTED, WILL ALLOW THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE.
AND IS THERE, IS THAT OKAY, MIKE, OR DO I NEED SOMETHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, SO I CAN I, WELL, CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? WAIT MINUTE.
SECOND THAT WE CONTINUE, UH, THE PROGRAM AND ALSO ALLOW, UH, THE ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATOR TO REAPPLY FOR THE, UH, THE OPIOID ABATEMENT, UH, GRANT.
MY ONLY QUESTION IS, YOU SAID IT'S $215,000 IN FUNDING THAT'S SITTING IN A BANK SOMEWHERE WITH THE OPIOID FUNDING.
IS THAT MONEY CONTINUOUS FOREVER OR IS THERE A FINITE AMOUNT AND IF THAT GOES AWAY NO, WHAT WE DO, SO, AND, AND MIKE CAN HELP ME OUT WITH THIS, BUT THE $215,109 RIGHT.
IS A COMPETITIVE GRANT THAT BOTH, THAT WE, IN COLLABORATION WITH AKIMA COUNTY AND NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY WILL APPLY FOR.
TO THE, UM, UH, ABATEMENT AUTHORITY.
THERE IS ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT NAMES.
SO DIRECT SETTLEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL, UM, DISTRIBUTION, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
THAT'S THE, THE MONEY THAT'S SITTING IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT IS DESIGNATED FOR OPIOID TREATMENT AND SPECIFIC OPIOID INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
BUT, BUT THERE'S EVENTUALLY AN END TO ALL THIS MONEY.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES, OKAY, THAT WAS MY REAL QUESTION.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A FOREVER SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR US.
THE, UM, MIKE, YOU KNOW, THE DATE THAT IT ENDS.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE, THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO GET SETTLEMENT PROCEEDS FOR DECADES.
BUT THEY WILL, THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE, OR AT LEAST FOR A LONG TERM.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY APPLICATION FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP GRANT IS IMPORTANT.
I, THAT WAS MY REAL, I'D HATE TO SEE IT BLOW UP IN THREE YEARS.
AND THAT WAS MY ONLY REAL QUESTION.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKED TO DO WHEN WE APPLY IS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN IT AT SOME LEVEL.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT, IF THE MONEY WENT AWAY TOMORROW, HOW WOULD WE CONTINUE ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM, IF NOT THE WHOLE PROGRAM.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT, BUT YOU'RE FINE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
CONSIDER APPROVING LISA SPACE AT THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTHOUSE TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
UM, ASAP, I FORGOT WHAT THE ACRONYM STANDS FOR.
ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROGRAM.
I CALLED, I FIGURED YOU KNOW THAT ONE.
CHAIR MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
UM, THIS, THE ISSUE OF RENTING SPACE OUT OF THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTHOUSE SLASH UH, JUVENILE DOMESTIC RELATIONS, UH, COURTHOUSE CAME UP DURING ONE OF YOUR BUDGET MEETINGS.
UM, THE, THE, THE REQUEST WAS BASICALLY, UM, MADE BY CHESAPEAKE BAY ASAP, WHO SOUGHT TO, UM, LEASE, IF YOU WILL, A ROOM, JUST ONE ROOM IN, IN THE COURTHOUSE.
AND SO THERE SEEMED TO BE CONSENSUS AT THAT TIME OF THE BOARD OF WANTING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO STAFF MOVED AHEAD, UM, WITH TRYING TO, UH, UH, GET THE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE TO DO THAT.
THERE IS ONE LITTLE, ONE OF THOSE CODE SECTIONS THAT YOU DON'T THINK OF VERY OFTEN, BUT THERE'S, UH, A CODE VIRGINIA SECTION THAT ACTUALLY STIPULATES THAT THE CIRCUIT CO COURT JUDGE MUST APPROVE OF RENTING VACANT ROOMS IN THAT COURTHOUSE.
EVEN THOUGH THAT THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE IS NOT IN THE COURTHOUSE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY BY CODE.
BUT I, I DID CONTACT, UH, JUDGE LEWIS.
HE DID TALK WITH THE OTHER JUDGES, UM, UH, OVER THERE AND, AND THE J-D-C-J-D-R COURT.
AND, UH, HE DID, UM, EXPRESS HIS APPROVAL TO RENT THE ROOM.
SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, AND WE'RE
[01:15:01]
ASKING YOU TO APPROVE, IS A LEASE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND CHESAPEAKE BAY ASAP.THIS DOES NOT NEED TO GO TO PUBLIC HEARING 'CAUSE THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO POLITICAL PARTIES.
MADAM CHAIR, THERE'S, THERE'S NO MONEY INVOLVED IN THE LEASE, CORRECT? NO.
BUT WE'RE NOT, THE LEASE ALSO SPECIFIES THAT WE'RE NOT PROVIDING SERVICES TO CHESAPEAKE BAY.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING, INTERNET, EQUIPMENT, ALL THAT.
SO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A A GOOD POINT.
SECOND THAT WE, UH, ALLOW THE SPACING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY, AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSING IN THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
CONSIDER A SOLICITOR BID FOR THE LEASE OF COUNTY OWNED PARCEL.
SEVEN FIVE A DASH SIX A FOR HUNTING PURPOSES.
MADAM CHAIR, THAT IS MY DISTRICT.
SO IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO COMMENT, COMMENT ON THAT.
UH, FIRST LET ME SAY I AM OPPOSED TO THIS FOR A COUPLE REASONS.
PROBABLY MORE REASONS, BUT I'LL STATE A COUPLE FOR YEARS THAT PROPERTY HAS BEEN OWNED BY THE COUNTY AND FOR YOU YEAR, FOR YEARS, NO ONE HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO HUNT THAT PROPERTY.
AND PEOPLE DRIVE OUT OR GO OUT OR BY BOAT EVERY DAY DURING THE DUCK HUNTING SEASON.
AND THEY PASSED THAT PROPERTY.
THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T HUNT THERE.
SO IF WE PUT THIS OUT FOR BID AND SAY SOMEBODY FROM VIRGINIA BEACH OR SOMEBODY FROM RICHMOND, GUESS THAT LEASE, THE FIRST THING THEY'RE GONNA DO IS POST NO TRESPASSING SIGNS, NO HUNTING SIGNS.
AND OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE GONNA PASS THAT SAME PROPERTY THAT THE COUNTY HAS NOT ALLOWED THEM TO HUNT.
AND THEY'RE GONNA SEE A NON-RESIDENT HUNTING THAT PROPERTY AND NOT ALLOWING THEM TO HUNT ON THAT PROPERTY.
THAT WOULD BE A BAD, BAD APPEARANCE.
AND SECOND, I THINK WE'D OPEN UP THE POSSIBILITY OF PEOPLE WANTING TO LEASE OTHER COUNTY, UH, PROPERTY.
UH, AND THAT WOULD BRING, UH, SOME, UM, SOME ISSUES.
WE, UH, IF IT TAKES A MOTION, I MOVE, WE DENY THE REQUEST.
I WOULD SECOND THAT MOTION IF NECESSARY.
SECOND, THAT THEY, WE DENIED THE REQUEST OF, UH, LEASING THE COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY FOR HUNTING PURPOSES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
MAKE IT POINT AFTER POINT AFTER APPOINTMENTS.
YOU, THAT'S WHAT I WAS, I DON'T HAVE THE, THE LUXURY.
EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD.
WHO'S THAT? UM, I BELIEVE THAT'S ME.
I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE TO TAKE HER PLACE.
SO YOU WANNA CONTINUE? PLEASE.
I NEED TO DISCUSS ONE WITH YOU.
DAVID MONTGOMERY IS A CITIZEN, UH, ALTERNATE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A NECESSARILY DISTRICT OR ANYTHING.
AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMISSION? YES.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MS. BES STERLING FOR THE, FOR THE VACANCY OF, UH, KENNY MILES.
AND I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE OTHER TWO THAT ARE OUT THERE.
BETH, WHAT'S HER NAME? BETH STERLING.
OF THE
AND THE OTHER TWO, UH, CONTINUE, CONTINUE THOSE TWO TO CONTINUE.
THE OTHER TWO THAT'S ON THERE, IT'S BEEN, IS IT BY SECOND THAT MOTION? YES, MA'AM.
ALL, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED IN THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
IS THIS ANOTHER ONE? ARE THEY BOTH OF THE AGRICULTURE FOREST DISTRICT? YEAH, THEY OTHER, UH, OKAY.
ARE THOSE TWO THAT WE JUST DID? ARE THEY WERE FROM YOURS? YEAH, THEY'RE THE TWO WE CONTINUING.
AKIMA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION.
MADAM CHAIR,
ALRIGHT, THAT'S ALL ABOUT OUR APPOINTMENTS.
SO HOW MANY WE STILL HAVE OPEN THAT, THAT ARE AT LARGE ON THE, UH, AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY DISTRICT? TWO.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO FOR.
IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYBODY 'CAUSE THEY'RE AT LARGE.
SO IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE, DO THEY HAVE SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR THAT? UM, MR. MR. MASON THERE TO BE A LANDOWNER? LANDOWNER.
[01:20:01]
THE PLEXUS DOWN TO 12.CONSIDER AWARDING THE RFP, UH, NUMBER THREE 40 FOOD BANK OF THE, UH, SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND A E SERVICES TO GEORGE MILES AND BURKE.
UM, I'M, I'M SORT OF KICKING THIS OFF TONIGHT.
UH, CHRISTOPHER TAN, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA, THE EASTERN SHORES ALSO HERE THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
THE KEY POINTS ON YOUR AGENDA ITEM.
UM, HAVE SOME STATS, UH, SORT OF THE, UH, THE LONG LEGACY OF THE FOOD BANK'S OPERATION HERE IN, IN AKIMA COUNTY.
UH, THE BOARD'S BEEN RECEIVING, UM, UPDATES ON A GRANT THAT THE COUNTY WAS AWARDED.
THAT GRANT IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND GRANT, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS GRANT FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE RECEIVED THAT LAST YEAR TO SUPPORT THE FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA'S DESIRED FACILITY EXPANSION IN TAS LEY, UH, THE FOOD BANKS, UH, SIX TO EXPAND ITS TALY OPERATIONS BY CONSTRUCTING AN ADDITIONAL FACILITY NEXT TO THE EXISTING WAREHOUSE.
AND THIS, UH, NEW FACILITY WILL BE DESIGNED TO INCREASE FOOD STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION CAPACITY, CREATE A CLIENT CHOICE MARKETPLACE, PROVIDE SPACE FOR VOLUNTEERS, PROVIDE BETTER TRAFFIC FLOW FOR DISTRIBUTIONS TO ENSURE LESS DISRUPTION TO COASTAL BOULEVARD AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.
UM, SO THE RECENT, UH, TRANSACTIONS OR OR ACTIVITY ARE IN, IN THE FALL OF 2025, THE COUNTY ON BEHALF OF THE FOOD BANK, UM, OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE, ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR A AND E SERVICES TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR PRELIMINARY PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE NEW FACILITY.
UM, WE DID RECEIVE SEVERAL PROPOSALS.
UM, THOSE PROPOSALS WERE, WERE EVALUATED.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS AWARD OF RFP NUMBER THREE 40 TO GEORGE MILES AND BURR, LLC FOR DESIGN PHASE OF THIS PROJECT AT THE COST OF 54,084.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF SETS THE STAGE FOR THE, UH, MOTION I'M REQUESTING TONIGHT, UH, FROM, FROM THE BOARD IS TO CONSIDER AWARDING THAT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. TAN, LET HIM COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PROJECT AND ITS IMPORTANCE HERE.
UH, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US.
AND THANK YOU MR. MASON FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.
UH, THE FOOD BANK HAS A RICH HISTORY OF, UH, PROVIDING FOOD FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT INVESTMENT.
UM, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF THE DATA AND THE, AND THE THINGS THAT ONE IN SEVEN NEIGHBORS IN MACK COUNTY IS FOOD INSECURE.
AND ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN ARE, UH, THE FOOD BANK IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS SUPPLIED 3 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COUNTY OF MACK, UM, WHICH IS UP 31% FROM THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS.
SO WE ARE FOCUSING GREATLY ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF, OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THAT 3 MILLION POUNDS IS A VALUE OF ABOUT $5.8 MILLION TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT THE CITY THAT, THAT THE FOOD BANK INVESTS.
UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IS THAT, UH, WE HAVE FOCUSED DRAMATICALLY ON NOT JUST FOOD, BUT THE HEALTH OF THAT FOOD.
SO, MORE PRODUCE, MORE PROTEIN.
UH, WE HAVE INCREASED PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION BY, TO ALMOST A MILLION POUNDS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IT'S UP 31% AND PROTEIN IS UP ANOTHER 30%.
SO THE, THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE FOOD THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO AKAMAK IS ACTUALLY 82% OF OUR FOOD IS DEEMED HEALTHY AND HELPFUL TO OUR, YOUR NEIGHBORS TO BECOME HEALTHY CITIZENS.
UH, THAT'S 10% HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
UM, PART OF THAT IS THE RICH AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF MACK THAT WE HAVE FARMERS THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO OUR WORK.
UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR FACILITY AS, AS, AS MR. MASON SAID, TO, UH, INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO STORE FOOD, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF DIGNIFIED, UM, SHOPPING EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN OTHER LOCALITIES THAT WE SERVE.
SO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEIGHBORS TO CHOOSE THEIR FOOD THAT THEY GIVE, AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEIGHBORS TO, UH, HAVE A BETTER, UM, OPPOR, UH, UH, TO REDUCE WASTE ON OUR PART, BUT ALSO TO HELP THEM MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THAT.
WE PLAN TO INVEST, OBVIOUSLY, IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO THE NEW BUILDING ITSELF AND WHAT WE ADD.
UM, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU ONE OTHER PICTURE OF, OF, OF THE NEED AND, AND, AND WHAT THE FOOD BANK'S BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, THOSE 3 MILLION POUNDS FOR US, EQUIVALENT TO 2.5 MILLION MEALS IN TWO YEARS.
UH, IF YOU TAKE THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE IN ACK COUNTY, THAT'S 25% OF ALL THE MEALS THAT THEY WOULD NEED IN TWO YEARS.
[01:25:01]
WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING WITHOUT THAT 25% OF MEALS.AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE, CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND, UM, CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU'LL, YOU'LL PASS THIS.
BUT, AND IF I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE FOOD THAT ANY QUESTION WE'RE HAPPY TO DO, MR. AND, UM, THE FEEDBACK DOES ALSO WORK ON THE SHO THANK YOU.
AND THE GROWTH IS WE ALL SEE THE GROWTH.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS RIDE BY THERE CERTAIN DAYS.
AND I'M SURE THE OLD CAR DEALERSHIP IS, IS, IS DATED FOR, FOR SURE, FOR SURE.
UM, BUT I, I WAS JUST LOOKING, I DO KNOW WE, THIS LOOKS LIKE THE, MAYBE THE FIRST STAGE OF THE DESIGN.
UM, SO, AND I THINK YOU KIND OF HINTED TO IT WHILE AGO.
UH, THE WHERE DO WE GO NEXT? WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT DAY? UH, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
SO WE'RE, THE, THE PART OF THIS FUNDING WILL HELP US TO TALK TO THE DESIGN FIRM ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS AND WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THOSE THREE THINGS PRETTY QUICKLY.
WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE A WAY TO GET THE TRAFFIC OFF OF, UM, COASTAL BOULEVARD WHEN THE DISTRIBUTIONS ARE HAPPENING.
WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO DO IT NOW, BUT THE FLOW IS JUST NOT VERY GOOD.
SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO REDESIGN THE PARKING LOT SO THAT THE TRAFFIC CAN GO ONE AROUND THE FOOD BANK AND THEN OUT A DIFFERENT EXIT SO THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO STAGE CARS MORE QUICKLY.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE SAFETY PRIORITY, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO WOULD BE TO ALLOW US TO PROVIDE A VOLUNTEER SPACE WHERE WE CAN UTILIZE MORE CORPORATE VOL AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE, THE COUNTY ITSELF.
UH, RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF OUR, THE CONSISTENCY OF VOLUNTEERS FOR US IS, IS IT'S BEING DONE IN A, IN AN UNCONDITIONED WAREHOUSE.
UH, THAT IS HARDER AND CHALLENGING TO GET VOLUNTEERS TO BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO.
AND, AND ALSO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE A MORE WELCOMING AREA FOR THEM.
UH, LOCKERS, PLACES TO PUT THINGS, UH, BUT ALSO A SEPARATE BUILDING FOR THAT SO THAT THEY CAN PACK YOUR BACKPACKS HERE.
AGAIN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PACKING THOSE IN NORFOLK AND SENDING THEM UP HERE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREAT CORPORATIONS TO CONTINUE THAT WORK UP HERE.
UH, AND THEN NUMBER THREE WOULD BE THIS KIND OF HEALTHY MARKET MODEL.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO EXPAND IS THE ABILITY, AND WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE, WE WERE DOING THIS AT THE, THE SMITH CENTER, UH, AND COULDN'T CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE BUILDING NEEDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALLOWING PLACES LIKE THE CSB AND OTHERS TO COME IN AND SERVE WITH US SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE COMING TO US FOR FOOD, TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO BE MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
SO WE NEED, WE NEED TO INVEST IN THAT, AND WE NEED TO PUT THAT ON THE PROPERTY WHERE WE'RE SERVING.
NEED FOLLOW UP OR FINE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT'S AT THAT POINT.
MAKE IT, UH, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, UH, CONSIDER AWARD ON, GO AHEAD AND WARD THE RFP THREE 40 TO, UH, GEORGE MILES AND BURR, LLC FOR THE DESIGN PHASE AND THE AMOUNT OF 54,000, UH, $84.
SECOND, LET'S REMOVE THE PROBABLY SECOND
IT, IT'S BEEN MOVING PROPERLY.
SECOND THAT WE AWARD THE RFP TO, UM, THE FOOD BANK AND TO, UH, AU SERVICES.
CHAIR, I BELIEVE MS. JOHNSON SECONDED THAT, THAT MEANS, OKAY.
I THINK SHE DID LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT MS. JOHNSON SECOND.
YOU GOTTA BE QUICK ON THE JAR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR LET YOU KNOW BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALRIGHT, AT 12 12 2, RECEIVE BRIEFING ON CHANGES TO THE AQUA MAP PLATFORM.
WHO'S DOING THAT? OH, MR. MR. BECK, THIS IS A GOOD NEWS STORY, RIGHT?
UM, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE CHANGES.
WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS TO JUST QUEUE THESE CHANGES UP FOR YOU IN A NARRATIVE, BUT PROVIDE YOU WITH A DEMONSTRATION NEXT MONTH.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, AKIMA COUNTY IS THE LAST CLIENT OF OUR ONLINE, UH, GIS VENDOR, CIVIC VANGUARD, USING THE CURRENT MAPPING PLATFORM, WHICH IS REACHING ITS END OF LIFE.
CIVIC, VANGUARD WILL STOP SUPPORTING THE CURRENT PLATFORM LATER THIS YEAR.
IN ADVANCE OF THAT, THE COUNTY WILL SWITCH TO A NEW CIVIC VANGUARD PLATFORM IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
SOME OF THE CHANGES, THERE'S GONNA BE A NEW PRICING STRUCTURE BY, UH, ESRI, WHICH IS THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE INVENTOR OF GIS.
AND THEY'RE THE, THEY ARE THE LONGEST RUNNING, UH, GIS SUPPORT, UH, COMPANY OUT THERE.
UH, AND, AND THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED ADDITIONAL ANNUAL FEES FOR EACH LOGIN ACCESS.
SO, UH, WITH THE CHANGES, THERE WILL BE NO MORE PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS OR STAFF LOGINS.
THAT'S ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS.
THERE WILL ONLY BE A PUBLIC SITE AND A STAFF SITE.
THE STAFF SITE, UH, WOULD BE, UM, WOULD BE ACCESSED THROUGH A VPN AND THE PUBLIC SITE WOULD BE, UM, ACCESSED.
OTHERWISE, ALL THE DATA AND ENHANCED SEARCHING CURRENTLY MADE AVAILABLE ON THE SUBSCRIPTION SITE
[01:30:01]
FOR A FEE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO THE PUBLIC.SO AGAIN, PROVIDING MORE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC PARCEL LINES, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE OVER AERIAL IMAGERY ON THE FREE AND SUBSCRIPTION SITE, WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE TO ALL.
IF WE COULD, UH, SCROLL DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT, UH, TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATION OF CAPABILITIES.
AS WITH THE LAST TIME THE COUNTY SWITCHED PLATFORMS, UH, THE STAFF INTENDS TO PROVIDE TRAINING SESSIONS FOR THE STAFF WHO USE WEB GIS REGULARLY, AS WELL AS A BRIEF DEMONSTRATION FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS ITS AT ITS REGULAR APRIL 15TH MEETING.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I CAN TRY TO FEEL ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. BECK? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, BRING US DOWN TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
I'LL TRY TO BE AS BRIEF AS I CAN ON THESE.
THE FIRST ONE, UH, THE TIMELINE FOR SUBMITTING, UH, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS, CPF FUNDS.
I, I STILL REFER TO THEM AS FEDERAL EARMARKS.
UH, BUT IN, IN ANY CASE, UH, IT WAS FAIRLY SHORT THIS YEAR.
UM, WE GOT THE REQUEST, WELL, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE, UH, PORTAL WAS OPEN A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND IT HAD A PRETTY QUICK DEADLINE.
SO WHAT WE DID IS ONE OF THE, UH, PRO THE ONLY PROJECT THAT WE SUBMITTED THROUGH CONGRESSMAN KEEGAN'S OFFICE EARLIER THIS MONTH WAS A PROJECT THAT WE SUBMITTED LAST YEAR THAT WASN'T FUNDED.
UM, BUT IT, IT, IT'S STILL A NEED OUT THERE.
AND IT WAS TO, UH, FUNDING TO CONSTRUCT AN ACCESS ROAD TO THE REAR OF THE WILDS RESEARCH PARK, UM, TO MAKE THE 66 ACRES BACK THERE MORE READILY ACCESSIBLE.
SO, UM, WE HAD, UH, FORMAL, UH, COST PROPOSALS PREPARED FOR THAT, UH, ROAD.
UM, WE SUBMITTED ALL THAT AS PART OF OUR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, AND NOW WE'RE WAITING FOR AN OUTCOME FOR THOSE, FOR THAT.
UM, SO, UM, MOVING ON, UH, 13 TWO, UH, IS THE RECEIPT, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S DETERMINATION THAT ESTABLISHING NEW VOTER SATELLITE LOCATIONS FOR IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING, IS NOT NECESSARY FOR APPROPRIATE ACCESS FOR THE APRIL 21ST, 2026 SPECIAL ELECTION.
THIS IS LARGELY ON YOUR AGENDA TO MEMORIALIZE A DETERMINATION THAT I MADE EARLIER THIS MONTH.
AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WERE COMING AT US PRETTY QUICKLY.
UM, HOUSE BILL 1384, WHICH WAS SIGNED INTO LAW EARLY THIS YEAR, STATES THAT LOCALITY SHALL ESTABLISH VOTER SATELLITE OFFICES FOR APRIL 21ST SPECIAL ELECTION THAT ALLOW FOR APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING.
UH, THAT, THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MUST DO IT, BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECT, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS ELECT OPINED ON THIS LANGUAGE AND HB 1384 STATING IT DOES NOT VIEW IT AS AUTOMATICALLY REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SATELLITE OFFICES.
RATHER, A DETERMINATION ABOUT APPROPRIATE ACCESS SHOULD BE MADE WHILE CONSIDERING A LOCALITIES PREVIOUS USE OF SATELLITE LOCATIONS AND OTHER ELECTIONS, UM, THE ANTICIPATED NEEDS OF THEIR VOTERS IN RELATION TO THE SPECIAL ELECTION AND THE RELEVANT FACTORS THAT WERE LISTED, UM, IN THE, UH, GR HANDBOOK CHAPTER 18.
SO WHERE THIS REALLY LEFT US WITH A LOT OF DECISIONS, OR AT LEAST SOME BINDING DECISIONS BEING MADE, UM, I, UH, I WROTE UP, UM, A MEMO OF ALL THE RESEARCH AND, AND THE DOCUMENTATION THAT I PUT TOGETHER ON, ON MAKING THIS DETERMINATION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE THEM ACK ELECTORAL BOARD.
SO I REACHED OUT TO THEM, UH, TO, UH, GET THEIR OPINION ON, ON THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION, UH, OR, OR NOT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION HOUSE BILL 1384, WHICH WAS ALREADY SIGNED IN LAW AT THAT POINT.
UM, AND I DID GET SOME COMMENTS BACK.
AND THEN TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT WITH REVIEWING STATE LAW AND GETS, UM, AND PRACTICAL LIMITATIONS.
UM, THE GRAB HANDBOOK PROJECTING THE NEEDS OF AKIMA COUNTY VOTERS.
UH, AND I CAME TO THE DECISION AND THE DETERMINATION THAT, UH, SATELLITE VOTING ADDITIONAL OR SATELLITE VOTING LOCATIONS WERE NOT NECESSARY.
AND THAT THERE'S A MEMO ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA THAT SORT OF, UH, OUTLINES EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE TOOK THAT I TOOK INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DECIDING WHETHER WE NEEDED TO PURSUE SATELLITE, UM, OFFICE LOCATIONS.
AND THERE WERE JUST, FRANKLY, A LOT OF PRACTICAL LIMITATIONS HERE.
WE COULD EASILY STAND UP ANOTHER SATELLITE OFFICE.
AND THEN THERE WERE STRICT ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS THAT WE COULD NOT, UM, WE COULD NOT MEET.
SO WHEN YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER, THE, THE, THE DECISION WAS FAIRLY, UH, CLEAR.
AND, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE, THE, UH, THE MEMO PRETTY MUCH STATES AND MEMORIALIZED.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S ON YOUR AGENDA
[01:35:01]
AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM.ANY ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? AND OF COURSE, I SAID I TALKED TO ELECTORAL BOARD, ALSO TALKED WITH THE REGISTRAR AND, AND OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
CHILDCARE, CHILDCARE, CHILDCARE GRANT.
UH, SO THE, THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO EXPLORE CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR EXPANDING CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY IN THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY.
UH, THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM NAS OPS INDICATING THEIR CHILDCARE FACILITY WILL BE MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION CAPABLE OF HANDLING THREE TIMES ITS CURRENT CAPACITY.
IT'S CERTAINLY EXCELLENT NEWS AND ADDRESSES MANY OF THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY RESIDENTS AND INDUSTRY OVER THE LIMITED CHILDCARE CAPACITY IN NORTHERN AAC.
FOR ONE, NASA WILL NOW ALLOW ALL OF ITS TENANT PARTNERS TO UTILIZE ITS CHILDCARE FACILITY.
NASA TENANT, NASA'S TENANT PARTNERS INCLUDE ROCKET LAB, FIREFLY, VIRGINIA SPACE, NORTHERN GRUMMAN, THE LIST GOES ON.
SO EVEN WITH THIS POSITIVE OUTCOME, GAPS IN AVAILABLE SERVICE STILL EXIST, UM, IN INFANT CARE, UH, CARE DURING NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS, ET CETERA.
SO, RECENT COUNTY EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED, UM, UH, ON EXPANDING CHILDCARE OPTIONS IN NORTHERN NAC BY INCENTIVIZES CHILD DAY CENTERS, LARGE FACILITIES TO LOCATE THERE.
UH, CODE OF VIRGINIA DEFINES A CHILD DAY CENTER AS, UM, I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO THE FULL DEFINITION, BUT BASICALLY IT'S 13 OR MORE CHILDREN.
WE'RE CHANGING OUR APPROACH A BIT.
AND NOW BECAUSE OF NASA'S EXPANSION, WE'RE GONNA CONCENTRATE ON TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE SMALLER WHAT ARE KNOWN AS FAMILY DAY HOMES.
UM, AND, AND THE IDEA IS TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE GROUP AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GROW AND, AND HANDLE MORE CHILDREN INTO, UM, THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE BEEN, UM, WORKING WITH, UH, MINUS NINE TO FIVE, WHO'S OUT OF ODU, UH, MINUS NINE TO FIVE HAS EXPERIENCED BUILDING CHILD CAPACITY AND BASICALLY WAS A, AN INTEGRAL PART OF A PROGRAM THAT SUFFOLK, UM, INTRODUCED THAT DID EXACTLY WHAT I'M, I'M DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW, WHICH INCENTIVIZE FAMILY DAY HOMES.
UM, SO THIS, THIS IS MORE JUST A REPORT OUT NOW.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'VE CHANGED DIRECTIONS SUBJECT AS, AS LONG AS THE BOARD'S COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND, AND FRANKLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY STANDING UP THE EQUIVALENT OF THE SUFFOLK PROGRAM HERE IN MACK COUNTY.
UH, SO I, I WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THAT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
UM, WITH THAT, UH, STRATEGIC INITIATIVE OF THE BOARDS.
MOVING ON NOW, 13 FOUR, UH, THERE'S THE COUNTY WEBSITE REDESIGN IS UNDERWAY, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR, OUR, OUR MAIN WEBSITE.
UH, IT, IT IS PROGRESSING THE BOARD APPROPRIATE FUNDING IN FY 26 TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL.
AND, AND, AND THE IT DEPARTMENT'S GONNA GIVE YOU A FULL PRESENTATION IN APRIL.
THE CATALYST FOR THIS PROJECT WAS EXTENSIVE REVISIONS TO TITLE TWO OF THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT WITH DISABILITIES ACT, WHICH, WHICH THOSE AMENDMENTS REQUIRE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR WEBSITES AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT THAT THE COUNTY MUST COMPLETE.
IT'S DESIGNED BY APRIL OF 2027.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE WELL AHEAD OF THAT.
AND, UH, YOU'LL GET, UM, UH, WELL, I, I JUST TOLD YOU, UH, THE VERY FIRST PAGE SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, REALLY QUICK, SO, SO I COULD CONTINUE DOWN.
ONE OF THE, THE THINGS WHEN WHEN YOU FINALLY GET THE FULL PRESENTATION, YOU'LL SEE HOW YOU CAN SCROLL, KEEP GOING DOWN AND SEE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST HAPPY ABOUT IS SUCH A SMALL THING TO MOST PEOPLE, BUT NOW WE HAVE, UH, SIX OF THESE BUTTONS.
THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE VERY TOO FAR DOWN INTO THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE THAT WERE HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO.
AND NOW WE HAVE ADDITIONAL, UH, LINKS TO DO THAT.
ONE OF 'EM WAS BIDS AND RFPS, BECAUSE OUR OLD WEBSITE WAS LOCKED IN TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER THAT WE COULD HAVE OF, OF THESE.
UM, AND, AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, PAY TAXES IS OBVIOUSLY A, A, WE, WE DETERMINE THESE BASED ON, UH, WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE NUMBER OF CLICKS OFF OUR WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE GO.
CONVENIENCE AND RECYCLING CENTERS IS ALWAYS, UM, ONE THAT PEOPLE GO OUT TO BECAUSE OUR CONVENIENCE CENTERS ARE CLOSED ON CERTAIN DAYS, AND, AND THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, ONE, IF HORN TOWN'S CLOSED ON ONE DAY, ONE OF THE OTHER, UH, UH, UNITS IS, IS, IS NOT GONNA BE.
SO SOMETIMES IF YOU GO BETWEEN THEM, YOU FORGET WHICH ONE'S OPEN OR NOT.
SO PEOPLE GO OUT HERE AND THEY, THEY CONFIRM THAT.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, AKA MAP IS USED A LOT.
[01:40:01]
WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EASILY GET TO, UH, OUR JOB OPENINGS, UM, BIDS AND RFPS AND OUR ACCESS ONLINE PERMIT PORTAL.AND AGAIN, I COULD GO DOWN AND SHOW YOU SOME MORE FRAMEWORK, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S LOOKING GOOD SO FAR, AND, AND, AND THE IT DEPARTMENT'S DOING A GOOD JOB WITH IT.
SO, UM, MOVING ON, UH, JUST QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT.
UH, WE, THE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE HAS A CHILI AND CHOWDER COOKOFF SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 10TH.
WE, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE CHILI YET.
SO WE'RE, IF, IF ANY OF THE NINE OF YOU
BUT, UH, THERE'LL BE OTHER THINGS THAT AT THE EVENT, AND, AND AGAIN, UH, WE HOPE THE BOARD CAN MAKE IT, UM, CLAM CHATTER OR ANY TYPE OF CHATTER.
CHILI CORN CHATTER, CHOWDER, JELLY.
NO, I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT TYPE OF CHARTER.
UM, THIR 13, UM, 0.6 IS JUST A REMINDER THAT, UM, ON MARCH 24TH, YOU HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE EASTERN SHORE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND PARKLEY, UM, REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
UM, PLEASE BRING YOUR, YOUR IPADS WITH YOU BECAUSE, UM, THE CONSULTANT PLANS ON, UM, USING SOME SOFTWARE, SOME VERY SIMP, UM, SIMPLE SOFTWARE, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE YOU TO CONNECT TO THE, THE WIFI THERE, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE STAFF THERE TO HELP WITH THAT.
UM, 'CAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT'S GONNA BE BASICALLY, UH, UH, POSS WELL, I I THINK WE'VE ALREADY CONFIRMED THAT A FEW PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT IF, IF IT WAS PERFECT ATTENDANCE, IT'D BE 18 PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING.
AND WHAT REALLY IS A KICKOFF MEETING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE? YOU SAID FIVE 30.
UH, ALSO YOU WERE SENT, UM, A SEPARATE EMAIL.
THE CONSULTANT WANTS TO HAVE SOME TWO ON TWO INTERVIEWS TO GET YOUR TAKE ON SOME THINGS.
UM, THEY WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, UH, ON, UM, TUESDAY, UH, MARCH 24TH.
SO, UH, YOU HAVE A LINK IN THAT EMAIL IF YOU CAN PLEASE THAT.
WHEN, WHEN YOU GET THE TIME, UH, CLICK ON THAT LINK AND CHOOSE A, A TIMEFRAME THAT YOU'RE AVAILABLE.
AND IF, AND IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN UH, ANOTHER SCHEDULE CAN BE PURSUED ANOTHER TIMEFRAME ON ANOTHER DAY.
UM, BUT IF YOU CAN MAKE THAT DAY, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
UM, 13 SEVEN WAS JUST AN WELL ON THE DATE THAT I MADE THIS, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
THEY WERE ACCEPTING VEGETATIVE STORM DEBRIS AT OUR LAND, AT OUR NORTH LANDFILL, SOUTH TRANSFER STATION.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, WE DID COLLECT A LOT OF VEGETATED DEBRIS FROM THIS STORM.
AND I THINK THE FACT THAT THE BOARD, UH, THAT THE TIPPING FEES WERE WAIVED WAS REALLY WELCOME BY THE PUBLIC.
UH, OTHER, I HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS WELL, BUT I, I THINK I CAN BE FAIRLY QUICK HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE LAST COUPLE DAYS, JUST A LOT OF THINGS JUST LANDED IN MY INBOX.
THE FIRST TWO REALLY SIMPLE THINGS WERE TWO SPEED OR TWO VDOT STUDIES THAT WE HAD ASKED TO BE PERFORMED.
I'VE ATTACHED THEM TO ITEM 13.8, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HERE.
UH, THE SPEED STUDY THAT WAS PERFORMED BY VDOT ON US 13 IN THE TEMPERANCE BILL AREA, DID NOT GENERATE ANY CHANGES FOR VDOT.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA LOWER THEIR SPEED LIMIT.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING.
THEY CONDUCTED THEIR ANALYSIS AND, AND THEY'RE CONTINUING THEIR PRESENT COURSE.
UH, THE VDOT STUDY THAT WAS, UM, REQUESTED FOR MINK FARM ROAD, UH, THERE WAS THE BOARDS EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS WITH THE WIDTH OF THAT ROAD.
VDOT IS NOT GONNA WIDEN THE ROAD, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BRING THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN AND POST, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE THERE ACCORDING TO, UH, THE STUDY RESULTS THAT, AGAIN, ARE ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA.
UM, THE, THE LAST ITEM, UH, IS A, A RESOLUTION THAT I DISSEMINATED BY EMAIL, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, VACO, THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF THE COUNTIES, UH, HAS SENT OUT TO, UH, ALL THE LOCALITIES THAT REPRESENTS A RESOLUTION, UM, ASKING FOR BOARDS TO CONSIDER OPPOSING MANDATORY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LEGISLATION, WHICH IS HOUSE BILL 1263, SENATE BILL 3 78.
UM, I CAN READ THAT, UM, IF YOU LIKE, I'VE ATTACHED THE AGENDA, UH, I'M SORRY, THE RESOLUTION TO YOUR AGENDA, BUT IT, IT'S, IT, AGAIN, IT'S A RESOLUTION THAT OPPOSES MANDATORY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LEGISLATION HERE IN VIRGINIA.
UM, AND IT CITES A NUMBER OF REASONS.
I WILL HIT THOSE REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, AS IS PROPOSED RIGHT NOW, WE DEVOTE LIMITED LOCAL RESOURCES FROM CORE
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SERVICES.LIMITED LOCAL RESOURCE FROM COURT SERVICES TO ADMINISTRATE AND BARGAINING STRUCTURES.
WITHOUT DEDICATED FUNDING, IT'S GONNA ELIMINATE THE LOCAL FLEXIBILITY TO LINE WORKFORCE DECISIONS WITH BUDGETS AND SERVICE NEEDS.
IT'S GONNA CREATE UNPREDICTABLE PHYSICAL OBLIGATIONS THROUGH ARBITRATION AND EXPANDED DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS PROCESSES.
AND IT'S GONNA INCREASE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN, THE LITIGATION RISK AND LONG-TERM COSTS FOR, FOR YOUR TAXPAYERS.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, MADAM CHAIRMAN, THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, IT'S A LOCAL OPTION RIGHT NOW.
THE, THE EVERY BOARD IN THE WHOLE STATE, ALL CITY COUNCILS AND STATE AND COUNTIES CAN HAVE THEIR OWN OPTION AND DO IT AND CHOOSE TO OR NOT TO.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TRYING TO FORCE IT DOWN EVERYBODY AND SAY, YOU MUST DO IT.
IT'S MANDATORY, WHICH IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PUTTING ANY MONEY IN IT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY VACO IS OPPOSING IT AND ASKING ALL THE COUNTIES TO OPPOSE IT.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE RECEIVING LEGISLATIVE UPDATES FROM YOUR, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY AND HER STAFF.
NOW, I, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP LOOKING AT THAT.
THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE, WE HAVE THIS WHERE WE HAVE A FORMAL, UM, RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
I CAN TELL YOU, I AM PLEASED THAT YOU, UH, YOU APPROVED THE, UH, BEST, UM, CH ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU DID EARLIER TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S LEGISLATION BEING PROPOSED RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD TAKE YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THOSE TYPE OF, UM, YES.
OF, OF ENTITY OR ACTIVITIES AWAY FROM YOU.
UM, SO THAT, THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND LISA'S PUT SOMETHING IN YOUR ZONING ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW THAT PROVIDES SOME PARAMETERS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO GONNA BE SOME, UH, MORE LEGISLATION TO, TO KIND OF SET FORTH HOW RETAIL MARIJUANA IS GONNA WORK.
THAT'S ALSO COMING DOWN THE PIPE, UM, WITH SOME CHANGES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OUT THERE.
AND, AND AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR, UM, WHAT'S COMING OUT.
YOU KNOW, IN YEARS TO COME, WE MAY NOT BE AROUND, BUT IN YEARS TO COME, WE'RE NOT GONNA NEED A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR A CITY.
THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE IT COUNCIL, THEY'RE GONNA DO IT ALL FROM RICHMOND.
WELL, SOME OF THE BILLS TOO, MADAM CHAIRMAN, SOME OF THE BILLS ARE LIKE THE BOARD OF ZONING.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOME THINGS ON THE LIST THAT THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS WILL MAKE DECISIONS INSTEAD OF THIS BOARD.
IF THIS BOARD SAYS NO, THEY CAN OVERRULE THE BOARD, WHICH THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE APPOINTED BY THE JUDGE.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN A ELECTED BOARD.
AND THEY'RE TRYING TO, THERE'S ONE BILL TRYING A COUPLE BILLS, TRYING TO DO THAT, TO TAKE THE POWER AWAY FROM THIS BOARD, AND THEY'RE DOING IT.
BUT I TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST FIGHTS THIS TIME IS, UH, AND WITH VA, NOT WITH VACO, BUT VACO IS WHY IS TRYING TO MONITOR THIS, IS THAT THE RURAL COUNTIES ARE BEING, IT'S A BIG FIGHT BETWEEN THE URBAN AND THE RURAL COUNTIES.
AND THE STATE IS, UH, TRYING TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN THE TWO.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THAT.
HEY, ALL THE COUNTY TRYING TO FIND, UH, AREAS THAT EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON.
BUT THE RURAL COUNTIES ARE IN BIG TROUBLE IN, IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW, NOT ONLY US, BUT ALL THE RURAL COUNTIES FROM SOUTHWEST, NORTHEAST, THEY'RE ALL BECAUSE THEY'RE THE LAWS AND THE RULES THEY'RE MAKING DO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT 'EM, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT A RURAL COUNTY IS, HOW IT OPERATES, WHAT PEOPLE DO, HOW WE THINK, AND THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT LOOKING AT IT.
THE RULES THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE ARE NOT MAKE, FOR INSTANCE, JUST LIKE ASSESSMENT.
THE ASSESSMENT RULES ARE LIKE THEY DO IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, RICHMOND, AND VIRGINIA.
WE HAVE TO FILE THE SAME, AND WE'RE NOT THE SAME AS THOSE AREAS.
SO VACO IS REALLY FIGHTING THIS.
SO BOARD, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND HOPEFULLY ALL OVER THE STATE, ALL THE RURAL COUNTIES ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS.
AM I SAYING SOMETHING WRONG? UH, JAM.
I WAS JUST GONNA POINT OUT THAT THE, UH, BILL YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE PCA HAS, IT WAS WITHDRAWN BY ITS PATRIOTS.
WE HAD TO THREATEN, I MEAN, APPRECIATE THAT.
PEOPLE HAD TO, PEOPLE HAD TO BE THREATENED, THAT'S ALL.
SO, SO, SO AGAIN, PLENTY OF THINGS LIKE AGAIN, CANNABIS AND ALL THAT STILL.
AND THANK YOU JAN FOR PROVIDING THIS.
YOU KNOW, SHIRLEY, LOT OF THAT WORK.
AND MS. SHIRLEY AND MS. SHIRLEY TOO, SHE'S ON.
SO THE ONLY REQ, UH, ACTION THAT'S ASKED OUT OF ALL THE THINGS I JUST LISTED AND INFORMED THE BOARD ABOUT RE WAS APPROVING OR NOT APPROVING CHAIRMAN.
IT WAS, AND I THINK EVEN WITH THE EMAILS I SAW PEOPLE IN YEAH.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME, AS I GET INFORMATION FROM VACO TO RESPOND BY, BY LETTER OR ANYTHING TO ANY
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TYPE OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT ERODES YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY, I'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT.WE SHOULD FIGHT EVERY, EVERY INCH OF OUR WAY.
ANYTHING THAT ERODES ANYTHING, WE TRY TO, OKAY, JUST LET ME CARRY THIS MOTION.
IT JUST MAKES ME VERY EMOTIONAL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL RIGHT, MR. WASHINGTON, WE DOWN INTO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COMMENT.
YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, I KNOW A FEW, UH, MEETINGS AGO I TALKED ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT ON MARY NINE HALF SMITH ROAD.
AND I WANT TO THANK IS MR. CHRIS FOR
AND VDO, THERE IS A POST AT 45 SPEED LIMIT SIGNED DOWN AND THAT, SO I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR GREAT, GREAT.
MR. JOHNSON, VICE CHAIR AS THE COIN BY MR. PHILLIPS.
I JUST WANNA THANK, UM, SEE RAY AGAIN, MR. MASON AND, YOU KNOW, UM, STEWART HALL AND UH, DONALD.
AND WHEN WE HAD THE STORM, YOU KNOW HOW YOU ALL KEPT US UPDATED ON ALL OF THE CONDITIONS AND ALL THOSE ONES THAT WORK BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK AND COME IN THE BOARD FOR ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, MAKING SURE AKIMA COUNTY WAS SAFE.
UM, I JUST WANT, AGAIN, I WANT TO AMAZING WORK BY OUR VOLUNTEER AND PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS DURING THE BLIZZARD.
UH, I WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSED AND VERY PROUD AND THEY DID A GREAT WORK TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I'LL ALSO POINT OUT WE'RE IN MARCH AND SO THE WEATHER IS ERRATIC AT BEST, AS WE'VE SEEN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS AND GETTING MORE RAIN.
AND THE COUNTY DOES HAVE A DITCH PROGRAM, DITCH DIGGING PROGRAM.
I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTACT THE COUNTY IF THEY HAVE DITCHES THAT NEED TO BE CLEARED OR CONTACT VDOT IF IT'S A, ALONG A STATE ROAD.
AND WE REALLY NEED OUR VDOT FRIENDS TO STEP UP AND HELP US DRAIN SOME OF THOSE WATER OUT.
WELL, I'LL PROBABLY GET IN TROUBLE, BUT NO
I ONLY HAVE THREE STATEMENTS AND, AND YOU CAN TAKE IT FOR WHAT THEY'RE WORTH.
IS ROB EMANUEL ALWAYS SAID, NEVER LET A GOOD CRISIS GO TO WASTE.
I WANT BOARD TO REMEMBER THAT, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T PROBABLY DO.
AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.
AND THE LAST ONE IS BOB WOODWARD.
BOB WOODWARD, WHO IS A FULLER PRIZE WINNER.
AND WASHINGTON POST JOURNALISTS SAID, AND THIS IS DEMOCRACY DIES IN THE DARKNESS.
AND I SAID, THE LIGHT OF THE TRUTH IS OWED TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND IF IT'S NOT OUT IN THE LIGHT, IT'S IN DARKNESS.
AND HOPEFULLY I DIDN'T OFFEND ANYBODY, BUT I THINK IT NEEDED TO BE SAID.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES WE FORGET WE'RE THE CITIZEN SERVANTS AND WE NEED TO BASICALLY KEEP THAT IN MIND.
CAN I, CAN I ASK HIM A QUESTION JUST FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION? YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW OF SOMETHING GOING ON WITH US.
ARE YOU, UH, MS. MR. GEORGE? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THIS IS, I WAS LIKE, NO, NO, I JUST, I JUST SAID THESE ARE OKAY.
YOU JUST PUT OUT SOME NO, MY, MY FATHER REST HIS SOUL ALWAYS MADE THOSE STATEMENTS EXCEPT FOR THE BOB WOODWORTH.
'CAUSE THAT WASN'T ONE OF HIS, AND HE SAID, ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND, IF YOU GO INTO POLITICAL LIFE, THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER.
AND DON'T GET CONFUSED WITH YOUR OWN SELF-WORTH.
BECAUSE HE WAS, YOU KNOW, GOOD ADVICE.
I MEAN, I DON'T, NOTHING DIRECTED TOWARDS ANYTHING OR ANYBODY.
AND THE CHAIR DOESN'T HAVE ANY, UM, SPECIFIC, UH, REMARKS.
JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, STAFF.
I SEE ONE OF MY CLASSMATES MAKING GESTURES BACK THERE.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD HIM FOR A WHILE.
MR. TAR, DO YOU HAVE ANY UM, UH, COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? HOPE, AM
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I ON THE AIR NOW? YOU, YOU ON PRIME TIME? UH, ALRIGHT.I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PARTICIPATE TONIGHT AND, UH, A LOT OF BUSINESS WAS COVERED AND HOPEFULLY SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY.
AND THE CHAIR DOESN'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL REMARKS.
UH, WE'RE DOWN TO, UH, BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ITEMS. MOVE THEM SECOND.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN MOVING PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, APPROPRIATE I'LL OR APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE BUDGET.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THERE BE NO BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED AND, UH, 16.
OH, YOU CERTIFY MR. MR. MASON? I DO.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO PAY THE BILLS? SECOND.
WE, IT IS A, WE HAVE MOTION AND SECOND THAT WE, UH, PAY OUR BILLS IN THE DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR? THERE BE NO BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, PASTOR GRANGER.
I DIDN'T MEAN FOR, YOU HAVE TO STAND THE WHOLE WOW
I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON.
I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR, YOU PROBABLY NEEDS TO START THE
IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN MOVING PROPER SECOND THAT WE ADJOURN NOW THAT'S NON DEBATABLE.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR THAT TO BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE A OPPOSED THAT? THE MOTION IS CARRIED AND WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED.