[Board of Supervisors on August 19, 2026.]
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I AM ABOUT TO OPEN THE AUGUST MEETING OF THE ACK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M GLAD ALL OF YOU HAVE ARE IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING.
SHOWS THAT YOU DO CARE ABOUT YOUR COUNTY OR ACK COUNTY, IF YOU HAVE YOUR CELL PHONES, IF YOU BE SO KIND TO SILENCE THEM.
IF YOU WANNA MUTE THEM, THAT'S FINE, BUT PLEASE PREFERABLY SILENCE THEM.
AND IF YOU CAN INDULGE ME AS I SIT DURING THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I'M GOING TO ASK REVEREND, UM, MONICA GOUL, WHO'S A RETIRED PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, TO COME FORTH AND GIVE OUR VOCATION.
JUST WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME WORDS OF WISDOM.
SOME WORDS OF WISDOM THAT PERHAPS IS, UH, WORLD KNOWN.
AND IT WORDS COMING FROM MICAH SIX EIGHT.
WHAT IS GOOD? AND WHAT DOES THE LORD RE REQUIRE OF YOU? BUT TO DO JUSTICE, TO LOVE, KINDNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD, PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.
GOD, WE COME TO YOU AS SERVANTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU'VE OFFERED US A GRAND OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OTHERS AND TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT ON THE EASTERN SHORE THAT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN ALL OF US.
WE COME TO TONIGHT, TO THIS MEETING AS PEOPLE WHO LOVE LIFE HERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE, ESPECIALLY IN AKIMA COUNTY.
WE COME AS PEOPLE ORGANIZED TO DO GOOD THINGS, TO GROW, TO LEARN, TO LISTEN, TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND TO HOLD FAST TO WHAT WAS AND WHAT IS TO COME AT THIS MEETING.
AS THIS MEETING BEGINS, DISTURB US FROM OUR COMFORT AND ENGAGE US TO WORK TOGETHER WITH IMAGINATION, ENERGY, INTELLIGENCE, AND THE JOY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS POSSIBILITIES TO MAKE LASTING POSITIVE IMPACTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO REAPING THE BENEFITS OF THE HARD WORK THAT HAPPENS HERE AT THIS TABLE EACH MONTH THROUGH DISCERNMENT, WISDOM, THE STRUGGLES OF DEBATE, AND THE HUMBLE SERVANT HEARTS EAGER TO CREATE A COUNTY THAT FLOURISHES FOR ALL.
CONTINUE TO REMIND US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR PRESENCE WITH US AS WE LIFT UP OUR OFFICIALS AND THOSE PRESENT AND THE VALUE OF THE WORK NOW AND FOREVER.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, TO THE REPUBLIC STAND.
NATION, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE ARE AT 1.3 ADOPTION OF AGENDA.
SECOND, IT'S TO MOVE AND PROPERLY SECOND THAT WE MOVE OUR AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I DON'T HEAR ANY.
OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
SO WE DON'T NEED, UH, A REMOTE PARTICIPATION.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA HAVE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO COME FORTH AND READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IDENTIFY CERTAIN AREAS IN THAT THAT, UH, NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS, PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL NOT ADDRESS MATTERS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR FOR THE DAY.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL ADDRESS MATTERS ON THE CURRENT MEETING AGENDA.
HOWEVER, THE CHAIR SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ALLOW COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS PROVIDED.
DOING SO DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TIMELY AND ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS ON THE AGENDA.
NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD FOR MORE THAN FOUR MINUTES.
THE CHAIR SHALL ALLOCATE THE TIME AMONG THE SPEAKERS IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER.
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN ON A SUBJECT AT A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO READDRESS THE BOARD ON THE SAME SUBJECT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS SHOULD BE RESOLVED PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY CONTACTING A BOARD MEMBER OR THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR A PUBLIC MEETING MUST PRESENT THE PRESENTATION 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE FOR REVIEW BY STAFF FOR APPROPRIATENESS.
QUESTION SHALL BE DIRECTED TO THE CHAIR WHO WILL AT HER DISCRETION SOLICIT THE RESPONSE FROM THE APPROPRIATE PERSONS.
THE BOARD SHALL NOT USE INAPPROPRIATE OR THREATENING LANGUAGE OR VERBALLY ATTACK.
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BOARD MEMBER OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO DO SO MAY BE CAUSED FOR EJECTMENT FROM THE MEETING.THE CHAIR SHALL DIRECT ANY PERSON WHOSE BEHAVIOR IS VIOLENT OR DISRUPTIVE TO LEAVE THE MEETING ROOM.
THE CHAIR HAS THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPER ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE RULES.
THE FIRST PERSON THAT HAS SIGNED TO SPEAK IS JOHN CAMPBELL.
WE WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES AND I NEED YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR RESIDENCE.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE FOUR MINUTES, BUT SOON AS YOU START YOUR PRESENTATION, WE'LL START.
MADAM CHAIR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M DR. JOHN CAMPBELL, NASA RETIRED.
I LIVE ON B BROADWAY ROAD IN ONANCOCK.
I WAS THE WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY DIRECTOR FROM 2002 TO 2010.
YOU KNOW OF DAVE PIERCE, WHO IS THE CURRENT DIRECTOR.
CHANGING THE NAME OF WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY OR ANY PART WOULD BE DAMAGING TO THE WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY.
I WILL EXPLAIN WHY AND USE THE WORD WALLOPS TO MEAN BOTH THE MAIN BASE AND THE ISLAND.
WHEN I ARRIVED IN WALLOPS AT TWO, IN 2002, NEARLY 25 YEARS AGO, I WAS APPALLED.
MORALE WAS TERRIBLE BECAUSE WALLOPS HAD JUST FACED A CLOSURE THREAT.
HARDLY ANYONE UNDERSTANDS THE SCIENCE BENEFIT, UH, OF WALLOPS SOUNDING ROCKETS, BALLOONS, AND AIRPLANES AND NASA EXECUTIVES FROM HEADQUARTERS AND NASA CENTERS CAME FOR THEIR YEARLY EDUCATION HERE AT WALLOPS.
THEY SAW BUILDINGS FALLING DOWN AND JUST OUTSIDE THE MAIN GATE AND, AND DECREPIT BUILDINGS LEFT OVER FROM THE NAVAL AIR STATION INSIDE THE, THE, THE MAIN BASE.
IT WAS STILL COMPLETE WITH GRAFFITI.
FORTUNATELY, VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND SENATORS GOT INVOLVED AND WALLOPS WAS SAVED FROM EXTINCTION.
MY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY WAS JUST ONE SINGLE WORD GROW WITH GROWTH COMES NAME RECOGNITION.
WITH NAME RECOGNITION COMES FUNDING FOR MORE GROWTH AND FOR MORE NAME RECOGNITION AND SO ON.
DAVE PIERCE IS CONTINUING THIS SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY IN 2006 IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA SPACE ORBITAL SCIENCES AND AIR.
AND THE AIR FORCE TAX AT TWO WAS LAUNCHED TO ORBIT FROM VIRGINIA SPACE PAD ZERO B.
IT WAS THE FIRST LAUNCH TO FROM WALLOPS TO ORBIT SINCE 1985.
IN 2013, A LAUNCH FROM ORBIT PLACED A SPACECRAFT IN ORBIT AROUND THE MOON.
IT WAS THE FIRST DEEP SPACE MISSION TO LAUNCH FROM WALLOPS TOGETHER.
WALLOPS VER VIRGINIA SPACE AND NORTHROP GRUMMAN FUNDED AND BUILT A LAUNCH PAD AND A HUGE PROCESSING FACILITY FOR MISSIONS TO CARRY FOOD AND EQUIPMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ORBIT.
THE FIRST MISSION WAS IN 2013, MANY MISSIONS TO, TO ORBIT FOLLOWED.
IN 2023, ROCKET LAB HAD A LAUNCH FROM WALLOPS TO ORBIT, THE SPRINGBOARD FOR THE ROCKET LAB INVESTMENTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY.
IT WASN'T JUST LAUNCHES THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL DURING THOSE YEARS, MANY NEW BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES WERE BUILT.
THOSE ON THE MAIN BASE INCLUDED A PAYLOAD PROCESSING FACILITY, ENGINEERING BUILDING MISSION OPERATIONS BUILDINGS, AND AN AUDITORIUM ON THE ISLAND.
THERE ARE NEW PROCESSING AND SUPPORT FACILITIES, TWO DRONE RUNWAYS AND THE NAVY BUILT A BILLION DOLLAR FACILITY FOR TESTING THE NEXT GENERATION DESTROYER.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE MARINE SCIENCE CONSORTIUM AND THE BUILDINGS OUTSIDE THE MAIN GATE, AS YOU LOOK NOW, ARE NOW MODERN AND, AND VERY NICE NASA ADMINISTRATOR.
ISAAC MAN WAS CONFIRMED LAST DECEMBER.
HE VISITED WALLOPS IN JANUARY AND SAID IN FEBRUARY, YOU SEE THE LAUNCH CADENCE THEY'RE SUPPORTING AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
CAPE CANAVERAL WALLOPS WILL LOOK VERY SIMILAR TO KENNEDY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS OR SO, JUST BASED ON LAUNCH DEMAND AFTER 25 YEARS OF GROWTH.
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THROUGHOUT NASA.THE FOUR MINUTES IS, HAS EXPIRED, BUT I'LL LET YOU COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT.
CHANGING THE NAME WOULD PROVIDE A DISRUPTIVE, UH, NOT A DISRUPTIVE BENEFIT, BUT NO OBVIOUS BENEFIT.
WE HAVE, WE WILL NOT HAVE THAT.
YOU KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS AND YOUR APPLAUSE TO YOURSELF.
I RESIDE AT 31 0 3 1 0 4 2 BOWDEN LANE AS A WOMAN AND I WORKED FOR WALLOPS, UM, FLIGHT FACILITY FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING FIVE YEARS AGO.
I'M HERE TONIGHT ALONG WITH OTHER WALLOPS EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES TO OPPOSE THE AKIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSAL REQUESTING THAT NASA CONSIDER RENAMING A PORTION OF NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY AT WALLOPS ISLAND AS THE, A THOMAS YOUNG SPACE FLIGHT FACILITY.
AND THIS IS IN NO, UM, DISREGARD FOR HIM BECAUSE I'M SURE HE DID GREAT THINGS, BUT JUST NOT AT WALLOPS.
UM, IF IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MR. THOMAS YOUNG BEGAN HIS ENGINEERING CAREER AT LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER AND LATER SERVED AS A DIRECTOR OF NASA GODDARD FLIGHT FLIGHT CENTER FROM 1979 TO 1982.
HOWEVER, MANY WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY EMPLOYEES WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH MR. YOUNG BECAUSE HE DID NOT WORK DIRECTLY AT WALLOPS.
AND AGAIN, NO DISRESPECT TO HIM IS INTENDED.
JOHN CAMPBELL WAS OUR DIRECTOR, UM, AT WALLOPS FLIGHT AS WALLOP AS A WALLOPS DIRECTOR.
CRAIG PRETTY IS OUR, WAS OUR, OUR DIRECT, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS RAY STANLEY AND BRUCE UNDERWOOD THAT WORKED IN THE NEW BUSINESS AND POLICY OFFICE.
WE ALSO HAD, UM, DR. BILLY REED WHO SERVED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHT AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS DAVE, UM, THOMPSON.
HE WAS THE CEO OF ORBITAL AND DAVE.
AND THEN JR THOMPSON WAS HIS LIKE ASSISTANT IN THE 1990S TO HELP DEVELOP COMMER.
THESE, ALL THESE PEOPLE HELPED DEVELOP THE COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY MISSION FROM WALLOPS TO THE INTERNATIONAL STA STATION.
THEIR EFFORTS BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION TO VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE AND HELPED ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION OF THE CURRENT LAUNCH COMPLEXES AND LAUNCH CADENCE ON WALLOPS ISLAND.
THEY HELPED SHAPE THE FACILITY AND ITS LAUNCH CAPABILITIES AND DO WHAT THEY ARE TODAY.
THEIR VISION CAME TO FRUITION AND THEIR HARD WORK PAID OFF.
THE FIRST ANTARES LAUNCH CONDUCTED BY ORBITAL SCIENCE CORPORATION TOOK PLACE FROM PAD ZERO A AT THE MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL SPACE PORT ON WALLOP ISLAND ON APRIL 21ST, 2013.
WALLOPS MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VISION BEHIND THE LAUNCH COMPLEXES AND FACILITIES AS THEY EXIST TODAY, CREATING THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT MACK COUNTY NEW EXPERIENCE.
NOW EXPERIENCES, WFF LAUNCH COMPLEXES AND CAPABILITIES ARE ALREADY RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY.
THEREFORE, RENAMING THEM OFFERS NO APPARENT BENEFIT.
WFF EMPLOYEES, BOTH CIVIL SERVANT AND CONTRACTORS, HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY CHANGES OVER THE YEARS.
THEY'VE HAD TO ADJUST TO THE TRANSITIONS THROUGH CONSOLIDATION WITH GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER PROPOSAL FOR FACILITY CLOSURES, COVID-19 PANDEMIC WORK, UM, WORK MODE CHANGES AND JOB LOSSES RESULTING FROM SIGNIFICANT 2025 WORKFORCE REDUCTION.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU RESCIND THE PROPOSAL TO RENAME THE WALLOPS ISLAND LAUNCH COMPLEX.
SUCH A CHANGE WOULD REQUIRE EXTENSIVE FUNDING THAT WOULD BE BETTER DIRECTED TOWARD OTHER EFFORTS RATHER THAN AN UNSUCCESS THAN UNNECESSARY AND STRONGLY OPPOSED RENAMING OF THE LAUNCH COMPLEX OF WALLOPS ISLAND.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, AND IF I REALLY BOTCHED YOUR LAST NAME, I'M SORRY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JIM KAME, PARKLEY, VIRGINIA.
UH, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE HERE AND THANKFUL FOR THE AC IN THIS ROOM TODAY,
UH, I COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AIRPORT, BUT FIRST OF I SPEAK ABOUT THIS WALL ISLAND ISSUE.
SHE WAS A CONTRACTOR AND THEN A CIVIL SERVANT THERE FOR ABOUT THE 18 YEARS OUT OF THE 19 YEARS WE'VE LIVED HERE.
AND, UH, WE BOTH THINK CHANGING THE NAME IS KIND OF UNNECESSARY AND RIDICULOUS.
UH, THAT BEING SAID, I'M A TENANT AT THE YAKIMA COUNTY AIRPORT.
I'VE BEEN A TENANT THERE FOR OVER 16 YEARS, RENTING A HANGAR FOR MY PRIMARY AIRPLANE.
FIVE YEARS AGO, I BOUGHT A SECOND AIRPLANE ONCE
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I GOT AN END UNIT HANGAR THAT COULD STORE IT.FOR FIVE YEARS, I'VE HAD MY LITTLE BIPLANE IN THIS HANGAR WITH MY WARRIOR.
ALL OF A SUDDENLY THE AIRPORT MANAGER HAS DECIDED ON HIS OWN THAT TWO AIRPLANES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE IN A HANGAR.
AND I GOT A 15 DAY NOTICE TO REMOVE 'EM OR BE EVICTED, WHICH IS TOTALLY AGAINST THE AIRPORT OPERATING RULES AND REGULATIONS.
SO I HAVE A LETTER HERE FROM MY A OPA ATTORNEY.
I WANTED TO READ SOME STUFF OFF OF HERE.
HE SAYS, I UNDERSTAND YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SEAN COLLINS, WHICH IS ANOTHER ATTORNEY.
SEAN INDICATED TO ME THAT HE LEFT A VOICEMAIL WITH THE AIRPORT MANAGER AND FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL.
THIS WAS DATED AUGUST 18TH, 2026 AT SEVEN 10 LAST NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOT A HOLD OF THE AIRPORT MANAGER SINCE THEN OR NOT.
MATTER OF FACT, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE BECAUSE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS INSTRUCTED EVERYBODY NOT TO SPEAK TO ME SINCE I HAD TO GET AN ATTORNEY.
SO, AND THIS IS HIS WORDS, MY LAWYER.
I HAVE REVIEWED THE AIRPORT RULES AND REGULATIONS AND YOUR LEASE AGREEMENT.
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THE 2019 RULES AND REGULATION APPEAR TO BE LABELED AS A FINAL DRAFT.
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE A COPY OF AS A FINAL DRAFT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL RULES, EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED.
I'VE ASKED THE COUNTY FORM AND EMAILS AND UNRESPONSIVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I TURNED 60 AND I BROUGHT READING GLASSES FOR A REASON.
SO, UH, GIVEN THE LANGUAGE QUOTED BY THE COUNTY, IT APPEARS THE 2019 VERSION IS CORRECT.
THAT SAID, BOTH 2019 2013 VERSIONS CONTAIN SOME CONTRADICTORY PROVISIONS IN THE 2019 LEASE.
SECTION THREE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS, ONE IN FOUR BOTH APPEAR TO ADDRESS THE USE OF THE T HANGER.
SPECIFICALLY PROVISION ONE APPEARS TO ALLOW FOR THE STORAGE OF MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT PROVISION.
FOUR INCLUDES THE TERM IN QUESTION AN AIRCRAFT, AND THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY'S TRYING TO USE AGAINST ME SAYING IT'S ONLY FOR AN AIRCRAFT.
WHAT THE COUNTY'S FAILING TO SEND ME IN THE EMAILS IS THAT THE STATEMENT PRIOR TO THAT SAYS IT'S NOT TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL VEHICLES.
EXAMPLE, MOTORCYCLES, CARS, BOATS, IS TO BE USED FOR AN AIRCRAFT.
MY ARGUMENT IS, MY AIRPLANE'S AN AIRCRAFT.
MY BIPLANE IS AN AIRCRAFT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY AND MEETS MEANS ONE.
AND IT DOESN'T, IT MEANS IT'S FOR USE FOR AN AIRCRAFT.
IT'S NOT A TOY BOX TO PUT YOUR BOATS, YOUR JET SKIS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, IN THE 2013 LEASE, THE SAME ESSENTIAL PROVISIONS APPEAR, ALTHOUGH THEY MENTIONED AIRPLANE RATHER THAN AIRCRAFT.
SO THEY CHANGED THE RULES FROM AIRCRAFT TO AIRPLANE.
MEANING IF SOMEBODY WITH A GYRO COPTER MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE IT IN THEIR HANGAR THERE, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT AN AIRPLANE.
UH, C-SECTION FIVE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ONE AND THREE.
HERE IT IS MORE CLEAR THAT MULTIPLE AIRPLANES ARE ALLOWED TO BE STORED AS REFERENCED IN PROVISION ONE.
THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY, WELL, THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE PROBLEMATIC IN ADDITION TO THE USE OF USE OF PREMISES PROVISIONS CITED BY THE, THE COUNTY, THE RECITALS, IE THE PROVISIONS BEING WITNESSED THIS, HOWEVER YOU SAY THAT AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE, ONE SUGGEST THE HANGARS TO BE USED ONLY FOR AIRCRAFT NAMED IN THE LEASE, WHICH I TRIED TO ADD THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TO THE LEASE.
I THOUGHT I DID WITH THREE AIRPORT MANAGERS AGO.
THEY HAVE, UH, AND I'LL STOP RIGHT THERE FOR A SECOND.
THE, THE AIRPORT AND THE COUNTY HAVE MY REGISTRATIONS FOR THE AIRCRAFT INSURANCE ON BOTH AIRCRAFT LISTING THE AIRPORT AS THE INSURED PARTY.
AND FOR FIVE YEARS, IT'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE UNTIL I DID SOMETHING TO UPSET THE AIRPORT MANAGER.
UH, ALL THAT SAID, THE STRONGER ARGUMENT HERE IS TO BE HERE APPEARS TO BE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GRANT 22 ASSURANCE FOR SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT.
SIR, YOU HAVE EXPIRED YOUR FOUR MINUTES.
I DID EXPIRE IN MY FOUR MINUTES.
SAY AGAIN? YOU HAVE A FINAL STATEMENT.
WELL, BASICALLY WHAT WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT THE, THE FA NOW IS LOOKING AT TAKING AWAY GRANT MONEY FROM THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT.
'CAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE BREAKING THE RULES.
THERE'S OTHER HANGERS WITH TWO AIRCRAFT IN THEM.
THERE'S SUBLEASING GOING ON, THERE'S CONSTRUCTION GOING ON IN THE HANGERS.
I'VE BEEN DOCUMENTING IT, VIDEOING IT.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS ENFORCEMENT, WHAT THE AIRPORT MANAGER'S DOING, IT MAY END UP COSTING THE COUNTY FUTURE MONEY FOR THE AIRPORT.
UM, THANK, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE, JACK KRIEGER.
SO IF YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR RESIDENCE.
I LIVE IN HORN TOWN AND I'M HERE WITH THE KEEP WALLOPS WALLOPS CROWD.
I COME HERE TONIGHT WITH TWO VERSIONS OF MY PRESENTATION, DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING, A NICER VERSION AND A LESS NICER VERSION.
I'LL START WITH THE NICER VERSION.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO US OVER THE LAST MONTH.
SOME OF OUR POSTS GENERATED NEARLY A THOUSAND PAGE VIEWS.
THAT'S AMAZING TO ME AND SPEAKS TO THE EMOTIONAL TIES.
I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO EXPLAIN
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WHY THIS PROPOSAL HAS GENERATED SO MUCH CONTROVERSY.YEARS AGO, THERE WERE TWO DISTINCT SITES COMPRISING WALLOPS FLIGHT CENTER, WALLOPS ISLAND, HOME TO THE WORLD FAMOUS ROCKET LUNCHES AND WALLOPS STATION, THE CAMPUS ON THE MAINLAND THAT HOUSED THE AIRFIELD'S ADMIN AND SUPPORT FUNCTIONS.
WALLOPS ISLAND WITH ITS PIONEERING SPIRIT AND HISTORIC MISSIONS IS THE HEART OF THE CENTER'S IDENTITY AND A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKED AT EITHER LOCATION.
AS WRITTEN, THE RESOLUTION WAS PROPOSING TO SPLIT THE TWO SITES, RENAMING THE LAUNCH FACILITY AFTER MR. YOUNG AND LEAVING THE MAIN BASE AS WHILE IT'S FLIGHT FACILITY.
THE ARGUMENT WAS THAT THIS WOULD, THIS CHANGE WOULD PRESERVE WALLOPS LEGACY.
EVEN STATING WALLOPS WILL STILL BE WALLOPS.
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE ESSENCE OF A BRAND, WHAT A NAME MEANS TO PEOPLE.
FOR DECADES, WALLOPS CORE IDENTITY HAS BEEN DEFINED BY ITS 16,000 ROCKET LAUNCHES.
STRIPPING THAT PIECE AWAY WOULD LEAVE WALLOPS AS A SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF.
IN NO MEANINGFUL WAY WOULD WALLOPS STILL BE WALLOPS.
SINCE THE LATE 1940S, WALLOPS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN INTERTWINED.
MANY EMPLOYEES QUITE LITERALLY LIVED AND WORKED TOGETHER.
MANY, LIKE MYSELF, LIVED ON THE MAIN BASE.
THEY RAISED FAMILIES TOGETHER AND THEY CELEBRATED SUCCESS TOGETHER, THEY BECAME WALLOPS FAMILY.
UNFORTUNATELY, MR. YOUNG, THOUGH ABSOLUTELY ACCOMPLISHED ELSEWHERE, WAS NEVER PART OF THAT FAMILY.
MY OTHER MAIN ISSUE HAS BEEN WITH THE NOTION THAT REBRANDING WITH YOUNG'S NAME WOULD SOMEHOW REJUVENATE WALLOPS AND GENERATE GROWTH FOR THE SHORE.
I FIRST GOOGLED WALLOPS AND I GOT 17,900 HITS, NEARLY 20,000 HITS.
I SCROLLED THROUGH FOUR PAGES BEFORE I GOT TO THE ONE PAGE REFERENCING NASA'S MR. YOUNG, ADDING HIS NAME TO WALLOPS CLEARLY ISN'T THE SAME AS FEATURING KENNEDY'S NAME AT CAPE CANAVERAL AS SOME HAVE MAINTAINED.
IF YOU BELIEVE NOBODY KNOWS WHO WALLOPS IS.
LET'S DEVOTE RESOURCES TO PROMOTING WALLOPS UNIQUE CAPABILITIES, AND LET'S BUILD ON ITS LEGACY AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER LAUNCH SITES.
FINALLY, MR. CROCKETT MET WITH US EARLIER THIS WEEK TO SHARE AN AMENDMENT HE HE'LL BE PROPOSING TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.
HE WAS VERY CONCILIATORY, ADMITTED THINGS WERE MISHANDLED, AND I THINK HE IS SINCERE IN WANTING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
AND THE THEN THE AMENDMENT, MY MAJOR CONCERN IS ADDRESSED.
THE AMENDMENT STRIKES THE WORDS REQUESTING THAT WALLOPS ISLAND BE RENAMED AND INSTEAD ASKED NASA TO TAKE THE LEAD IN FINDING AN APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE FOR HONORING MR. YOUNG IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.
I THINK THAT IS TERRIFIC NEWS.
IT WILL BE BACK IN THE HANDS, BACK IN THE RIGHT HANDS.
AND I KNOW NASA WILL HAVE THE RIGHT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO GIVE THIS PROPER CONSIDERATION.
WOULD I RATHER HAVE THE MOTION FULLY RESCINDED? YES.
AND I HOPE YOU VOTE TO DO SO, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES TO RESCIND, THIS MIGHT BE A REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE THAT ACCOMPLISHES MY MAIN OBJECTIVE.
AND THAT'S TO KEEP WALLOPS WALLOPS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
UM, NEXT UP IS MS. UM, NICOLE RE AND MS. REVE, IF YOU COULD JUST RESTATE YOUR NAME AND, AND YOUR ADDRESS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
UH, NICOLE SHREVES AIRPORT DRIVE, MELVILLE, VIRGINIA.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I SUBMITTED MY COMPLETE WRITTEN STATEMENT BEFORE TONIGHT'S MEETING.
AND BECAUSE OF THE TIME LIMITS, I WANNA FOCUS ON WHAT'S MOST URGENT RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT IS THE EXCESSIVE SUMMER HEAT INSIDE THE AKIMA COUNTY JAIL.
VIRGINIA REGULATIONS REQUIRE JAIL TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN AT OR ABOVE 65 DEGREES DURING THE COLD WEATHER, BUT THEY ESTABLISH NO MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE DURING THE EXTREME SUMMER.
HEAT WHEN INDOOR TEMPERATURES EXCEED 85 DEGREES, FAN OR OTHER MECHANICAL VENTILATION MUST BE PROVIDED, BUT FANS DO NOT NECESSARILY LOWER ACTUAL TEMPERATURES INSIDE A AGING CONCRETE BUILDING.
WHEN THE AIR ITSELF IS DANGEROUSLY HIGH, CIRCULATING HOT AIR DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY RELIEF RECORDS I OBTAIN THROUGH FOIA CONFIRM THE INDOOR TEMPERATURES AT THE JAIL ARE NOT REGULARLY MONITORED OR RECORDED, AND I WILL CAN PROVIDE THOSE, UM, FOIA REQUESTS IF YOU ALL WANT 'EM.
UM, THAT RAISES A SIMPLE, UM, BUT IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
IF TEMPERATURES ARE NOT BEING MEASURED, HOW COULD ANYONE DETERMINE THAT THEY EXCEED 85 DEGREES, OR WHETHER FANS ARE BEING USED ARE ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE INSIDE
[00:25:01]
THE ABSENCE OF TEMPERATURE RECORDS? DO NOT PROVE THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE SAFE.IT ONLY PROVES THAT NO ONE IS CONSISTENTLY DOCUMENTING, UH, THE CONDITIONS INSIDE THE JAIL.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT MANY PEOPLE HOUSED INSIDE THE JAIL OR PRE-TRIAL INMATES, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED.
THEY'RE NOT DOC, THEY ARE AKIMA COUNTY JAIL.
SERVING A SENTENCE DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS OR BE TREATED INHUMANE.
THE SHERIFF OPERATES THE JAIL, BUT THIS BOARD CANNOT COMPLETELY SEPARATE ITSELF FROM THE CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTY FUNDED FACILITY.
YOU MAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING FUNDING, MAINTENANCE, AND LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THIS BUILDING.
YOU ALSO HAVE AUTHORITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, REQUEST INFORMATION, AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE BOARD OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL JAIL EXPECTS THIS FACILITY AND APPEARS TO PASS, BUT ONLY BY MEETING THE BARE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS.
NO OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING IN THIS COUNTY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO REACH THESE TEMPERATURES AND SIMPLY POINT TO THE PASSING INSPECTION AS JUSTIFICATION.
THIS COUNTY TAKES PRIDE IN ITS SCHOOL, ITS OFFICES, AND ITS OTHER BUILDINGS.
THE JAIL SHOULD NOT BE INCEPTION AND A TECHNICAL COMPLIANT SHOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR THIS BUILDING BEING SAFE.
SO RESPECTFULLY, I ASK EACH OF YOU, HAVE YOU PERSONALLY WALKED THROUGH THE JAIL AND EXPERIENCED THE CONDITIONS INSIDE? NOT SIMPLY VISIT THE ADMINISTRATION AREA, BUT ENTER THE HOUSING AREAS ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.
IF NOT, HOW CAN YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONDITION THAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO ADDRESS? I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHERE I STAND.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT OPPOSITION TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
CONCERN FOR INMATES DO NOT MEAN DISREGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT MEANS EXPECTING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE HUMAN DIGNITY RESPONSE, REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING ITS PUBLIC FACILITIES AND RESPOND TO KNOWN CONCERNS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HARMED.
THIS IS NOT MERELY A SHERIFF'S ISSUE.
THIS IS A COUNTY ISSUE, A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AN ISSUE REQUIRING LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOARD.
NOW THAT THESE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN PLACED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU, THE COMMUNITY DESERVES MORE THAN JUST SOLIDS.
WE DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT STEPS THIS BOARD WILL TAKE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THAT THESE CONDITIONS INSIDE THE JAIL NOT ONLY PROTECTS THE INMATES, BUT THE EMPLOYEES AND THE VISITORS WHO ENTER THIS FACILITY.
I PERSONALLY VISIT MACK COUNTY JAIL PROBABLY TWICE A MONTH.
THE THE AREA WHERE WE GO AND VISIT IS PAINT SHIPS.
YOU KNOW, I TRY TO REQUEST INFORMATION.
I GOT A BILL FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR OVER $40,000 FOR BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE JAIL.
AND IT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I WANTED.
BUT AS I STATED, UH, THE BOARD OF LICENSED AND REGIONAL JAIL, THE, WITH THE, WITH THE HEAT, THERE'S NO MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE.
AND JUST GIVING SOMEBODY A FAN INSIDE A CONCRETE BUILDING IS NOT, IT'S NOT REDUCING THE HEAT AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
SO I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS BOARD TONIGHT, SO I WANNA GO ON RECORD BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING SICK.
THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT SEWER BACKUP AND ELECTRIC, UH, OUTAGE.
THIS IS AN OLD BUILDING, ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE COUNTY, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE Y'ALL REALLY SHOULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRIDE IN THE JAIL AND THANK YOU.
YOU GOT A FINAL? NO, THAT'S, THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU MS. YOUTH, UH, RON WOLF.
MR. WOLF, IF YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YES MA'AM.
BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN ASS WOMAN, VIRGINIA.
AND, UM, I'VE BEEN ADDED A, A LITTLE BIT OF A MONIKER TO MY NAME HERE RECENTLY AS THAT CERTAIN FORMER COUNTY POLITICIAN.
SO, WITH THAT, LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING FIRST, UM, I MADE A MISTAKE JUST LIKE YOU DID ROBERT.
I BROUGHT THE WRONG SPEECH TONIGHT.
UM, THE LAST COUPLE DAYS HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HECTIC FOR ME.
UH, I'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS EFFORT TO KEEP WALLOPS WALLOPS, BUT MY OTHER JOB AND OTHER HAT THAT I WEAR IS WE ARE OPENING OUR FIRST SECTION OF EASTERN SHORE RAIL TRAIL TOMORROW AT 10 O'CLOCK.
AND I BROUGHT THE RIBBON CUTTING ADDRESS AND LEFT MY WALLOPS ADDRESS AT HOME.
SO AS, AS MR. KRIEGER ALLUDED TO, MR. CROCKETT MET WITH BOTH JACK AND I AT OUR HOUSE IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN AS A WOMAN.
AND WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.
ROBERT, UM, THE TRUE MAN THAT ROBERT IS, HE ADMITTED THAT HE MADE A MISTAKE.
HE DIDN'T REALLY LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS DEEPLY
[00:30:01]
AS HE SHOULD HAVE, AND HE WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE OUTPOURING THAT HAS COME ABOUT FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WALLACE.I HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 700 NAMES ON A PETITION TO KEEP WALLOPS WALLOPS.
AND IF THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT SUPPORT TO KEEP WALLOPS WALLOPS WOULD PLEASE STAND UP AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I GIVE YOU WALLOPS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW TODAY.
EITHER RESCIND OR AMEND THE MOTION.
KEEP WALLOPS WALLOPS REBRANDING AGAIN.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN OUR VIEW OR PURPOSE TO DISRESPECT MR. YOUNG.
I'VE KNOWN TOM YOUNG FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
HE IS VERY ACCOMPLISHED IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, BUT HE NEVER WORKED AT WALLOPS.
NOT ONE DAY TO CHANGE THE NAME OF WALLOPS TO A THOMAS YOUNG.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE DETAILS.
IS NOT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A STRONG FOCUS ON, EXCUSE ME HERE, PRESERVING THE HISTORIC NAME WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING MR. YOUNG'S ACHIEVEMENTS.
THEY'RE DOING BETTER THAN I AM.
AGAIN, TO CHANGE THE NAME OF WALLOPS TO A THOMAS YOUNG, IT DOES DISRESPECT.
IT DISRESPECTS ALL OF THE PRESENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES OF WALLOPS ISLAND, THE REBRANDING TO TOM YOUNG.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO ON THE SHORE WHEN YOU MENTION WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS.
AND I SAY THEY WANNA NAME IT AFTER A GOOD OLD EASTERN SHORE BOY WHO GREW UP HERE, EDUCATED HERE IN THE COUNTY AND WENT ON TO DO GREAT THINGS.
NOBODY KNOWS WHO TOM YOUNG IS.
I THINK I'VE TALKED TO ONE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY KNEW WHO TOM YOUNG WAS.
SO I IMPLORE YOU, WE IMPLORE YOU TO KEEP THE NAME WALLOPS WALLOPS ALONG WITH THE 700 AND OTHER.
SO FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED OUR PETITION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM CHAIRMAN.
MR. WOLF, NEXT UP, TANYA YOUNG.
MS. YOUNG, IF YOU'D BE SO KIND TO, UH, RESTATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE.
UM, MY NAME IS TANYA YOUNG AND I LIVE AT BLOCKS AND ROAD, PARKLEY, VIRGINIA.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND SUPERVISORS.
I CANNOT SPEAK FOR WALLACE FLIGHT FACILITY.
DAVE DAVID PIERCE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FACILITY.
I'M SPEAKING AS AN EMPLOYEE THAT HAS WORKED AT THE FACILITY FOR 25 YEARS.
AS OF, UM, WILL BE IN OCTOBER OF 2026.
I WAS A CONTRACTOR FOR 19 OF THOSE YEARS AND HAVE WATCHED ALL THE CHANGES AND HAVE LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF MY TIME AT WALLOPS.
MY MOTHER NOW DECEASED, WORKED FOR, WORKED AT WALLOPS WHITE FACILITY FOR 38 YEARS AND SHE WOULD ALSO TELL YOU THREE MONTHS AND MY FATHER ONLY BECAUSE, NOT 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU, BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ASKED YOU TO COME BACK AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING STARTS AT SIX AND IT'S MANDATED THAT WE START AT SIX.
I DON'T, UH, HAVE WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGN UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING? NO ONE SIGNED UP.
WELL, WE COULD DISPENSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING RULES.
UH, THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO, UH, APPENDIX A OF AKIMA COUNTY CODE ENTITLED, UH, SCHEDULE FEES TO INCREASE THE COUNTY'S TAR DISPOSAL FEES.
AND ANY STAFF MEMBER WILL SPEAK TO THAT.
[00:35:04]
EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STEWART HALL PUBLIC WORKS AND FACILITIES, UH, THIS HEARING IS ON A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE DISPOSAL FEE FOR CAR OR SMALL TRUCK TIRES, UH, BY A DOLLAR, UH, $4 PER TIRE FOR A CAR AND SMALL TRUCK.AND, UM, UP TO $7 PER TIRE FOR STANDARD TRUCK LIKE SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER.
UH, AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE COUNTY RECENTLY READVERTISED FOR WASTE TIRE RECYCLING SERVICES AND THE COST IS INCREASED BY $25 PER TON.
UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER INCREASING, UH, THESE USER FEES BY A DOLLAR PER TIRE.
AS A REMINDER, CITIZENS MAY BRING UP TO FOUR CAR OR SMALL TRUCK TIRES PER DAY TO ANY OF OUR SOLID WASTE FACILITIES FREE OF CHARGE.
THIS FEE ONLY APPLIES TO QUANTITIES OR TYPES EXCEEDING THAT, OR TO COMMERCIAL HAULERS WHO ARE BRINGING TIRES TO THE LANDFILL OR TRANSFER STATION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THE BOARD MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? I CLOSE.
IT'S BEEN MOVED PROPER SECOND THAT WE, UH, APPROVE THE APPENDIX OF A, OF THE SCHEDULED FEES TO INCREASE THE COUNTY TAR DISPOSAL.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE A FAVOR, LET IT BE BILL BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION IS CARRIED.
WHY NOT? PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CONVEYANCE OF THE FREE SIMPLE POR LAND DESIGNATED AS PUMP STATION LOT ON THAT CERTAIN PLOT ENTITLED SUBDIVISION SHOPPING CENTER TRACK, UH, CHESAPEAKE SQUARE ASSOCIATES, LLC, INCLUDING THE IMPROVEMENTS THEREOF TO THE HAMPTON ROAD SANITATION DISTRICT.
SO THIS HEARING IS REGARDING AGAIN, THE, UH, NORTHERN SPUR WASTEWATER PUMP STATION LOT, ALSO KNOWN AS CHESAPEAKE SQUARE PUMP STATION, AS IT'S LOCATED OFF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE, UH, CHESAPEAKE SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER.
AND ONLY, UH, AS YOU MAY RECALL, AT YOUR REGULAR MEETING ON OCTOBER 15TH OF 25, UM, YOU APPROVE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS PARCEL OF LAND, UH, FROM THE OWNERS CHESAPEAKE SQUARE ASSOCIATES, LLC, WITH THE INTENTION OF CONVEYING THE PARCEL TO THE HAMPTON ROAD SANITATION DISTRICT, UH, PURSUANT TO THE SEWER TRANSFER AND SERVICE AGREEMENT THAT THE COUNTY HAD ALREADY ESTABLISHED WITH HRSD.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UH, THAT AS OF THE LAST WEEK OR SO, UM, DOING GREAT PART TO THE DILIGENCE OF THE, UH, LEGAL STAFF FOR THE COUNTY, UM, THAT THE PROPERTY HAS TRANSFERRED FROM CHESAPEAKE SQUARE ASSOCIATES TO THE COUNTY.
SO STAFF IS NOW ASKING, UH, THAT THE BOARD CONDUCT THIS HEARING AND AFTERWARDS CONSIDER, UH, THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY FROM THE COUNTY TO HRSD.
THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARDS? MADAM CHAIRMAN? I, UH, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONVEYANCE OF THE COUNTY TRACK, UH, AS SHOWN ON THE PUMP STATION LOT.
UH, 0.120 ACRES, UH, FROM THE COUNTY TO THE HRSD SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVING PROPER SECOND, UH, THE MOTION THAT HE JUST STATED.
UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? I DON'T HEAR HEAR ANY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
AND WE'LL RETURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MS. Y WOULD YOU COME BACK AND YOU MAY START OVER.
DO I NEED TO STATE MY ADDRESS AGAIN?
UM, AS I SAID, I CANNOT SPEAK FOR WALLET FLIGHT FACILITY BECAUSE, UM, MR. DAVE PIERCE IS THE DIRECTOR.
I'M SPEAKING AS AN EMPLOYEE THAT HAS WORKED ON THE FACILITY FOR 25 YEARS AS OF OCTOBER, 2026.
I WAS A CONTRACTOR FOR 19 OF THOSE YEARS AND HAVE WATCHED ALL THE CHANGES AND HAVE LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF MY TIME AT WALLOPS.
MY MOTHER NOW DECEASED, WORKED AT WALLOPS FOR 38 YEARS, AND MY FATHER ALSO DECEASED, WAS A CONTRACTOR FOR CSC.
THEY, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY OR PROUDLY RETIRED, WORKED AT WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY.
I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH MR. YOUNG'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY.
HE'S FROM THE EASTERN SHORE, BUT HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF GODDARD FLIGHT FACILITY IN GREENBELT, MARYLAND FROM 1979 TO 1982.
IF YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, PERHAPS PURCHASE A PIECE OF LAND AND NAME IT AFTER HIM, OR CREATE AN, AN AWARD FOR EXTRAORDINARY ENGINEERING WORK ON SOUNDING ROCKETS.
[00:40:01]
THE BOARD DIDN'T SURVEY THE PEOPLE OF WALLOPS OR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO ASK WHAT OUR INPUT WAS.UM, I READ IT IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THE FACILITY EACH DAY ACCESS THE GATES TO GET IN AND PERFORM THE WORK THAT MAKES WALLACE WHAT IT IS.
THIS FALLS UNDER YOUR DUTIES OF REPRESENT LOCAL COMMUNITY INTEREST.
AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF OUR INTERESTS.
AND, UM, IT IS WHERE I WORK AND I WANT THE NAME TO REMAIN AS IT IS.
PEOPLE KNOW WHAT AND WHERE WALLOPS IS.
THEY KNOW ANTARES, WHICH IS LAUNCH CARGO'S, UH, SPACECRAFT TO THE ISS.
DID YOU EVER WATCH TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WERE WATCHING THOSE LAUNCHES? HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF THE COST OF REBRANDING EVERYTHING TO INCLUDE A NEW NAME? I HAVE A, I HAVE A T-SHIRT THAT HAS ALL OF THE FACIL, THE NASA FACILITIES.
WALLOPS IS INCLUDED ON THAT, ON THAT BIG CIRCLE.
WE ARE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER.
UM, WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY SHOULD REMAIN WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY.
THERE'S NO BENEFIT TO MAKE THE CHANGE.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO STEP BACK AND RETHINK THIS.
REBECCA WOLF, 3 0 4 0 3 THORNTON ROAD HALL WOOD, VIRGINIA TWO THREE THREE FIVE NINE.
SOMETIMES THE PHONE SAYS TEMPERA PRINCEVILLE.
OTHER TIMES IT SAYS ASK WOMAN.
SO TAKE WHICHEVER ONE YOU WANT.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO LISTEN TO THE MANIPULATION OF WORDS TO CLARIFY A THIRD TIME ADJUSTMENT TO YOUR RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF NASA WALLACE'S FLIGHT FACILITY.
IF THIS RESOLUTION PASSES, WE, THE PEOPLE MAY BELIEVE WE HAVE WON A BATTLE, BUT IN FACT WE HAVE NOT.
TO ACCOMPLISH THE ORIGINAL INTENT, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE REFLECTED IN THE WORDS AMEND VERSUS RESENDS.
SOME MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD HAVE NOW ACCEPT, ATTEMPTED TO AMEND THE WORDING OF THIS RESOLUTION AGAIN, TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS TO ACHIEVE ITS PURPOSE.
MY COMMON SENSE TELLS ME THAT ONCE YOU SEND YOUR AMENDED RESOLUTION TO NASA, YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL AT ALL OVER WHAT NASA DOES WITH IT.
YOU WILL BE SENDING A RESOLUTION THAT WILL LEAD NASA TO BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON IN NASA WOMAN COUNTY SUPPORTS YOUR REQUEST IN THE CHANGE OF OUR HISTORY.
NOW, I ADDRESS THE WORD RESEND.
RESEND MEANS TO PULL BACK, TO DO AWAY WITH IT NO LONGER EXISTS.
THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT CONSTITUENTS ARE CONVEYING TO YOU WITH ALL OF THESE SIGNATURES.
AND IF YOU WANT TO WRITE LETTERS AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, YOU HAVE THAT OPTION.
BUT SENDING A RESOLUTION AS A SEATED MEMBER OF THE AKIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT THAT THAT CARRIES AS OPPOSED TO A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
IT WILL CHANGE OUR HISTORY AND CARRY US INTO UNKNOWN TERRITORIES.
OUR HISTORY IS PRESS PRECIOUS TO US, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO MAKE THIS FACILITY WHAT IT IS TODAY.
IT IS KNOWN ALL OVER THIS WORLD.
YOU WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE ALL OF THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE AKIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
SO HELP ME, GOD, DO YOU IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS, REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IMPARTIAL TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WERE MEANT TO REPRESENT, REPRESENT, OR ARE YOU TRYING TO BE IMPARTIAL AT THE REQUEST OF A FRIEND? ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WILL HELP ALL OF THE RESIDENTS AND NEEDS OF OUR COUNTY.
THANK YOU MS. AND WE HAVE JAVA WADE, I GUESS SHEILA.
[00:45:03]
OKAY, THAT'S ALL.WHO HAVE, UH, SIGNED FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
UH, I'M GOING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES.
IT'S BEEN MOVING PROPER SECOND THAT WE, UH, APPROVE OUR MINUTES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED, UH, ANYTHING, ANYTHING.
SECOND, BEEN MOVING PROPER SECOND THAT WE APPROVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? IT'LL BE KNOWN BY AYE.
WE'RE DOWN TO OLD BUSINESS SIX ONE.
CONSIDER POSSIBLE ACTIONS INCLUDING CLARIFICATION OF OUR RESCINDING OF JULY 15TH, 2026, RESOLUTION PASSED BY MACK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR REQUESTING NASA CONSIDER RENAMING A PORTION OF NASA WALLACE'S FLIGHT FACILITY PHYSICALLY LOCATED ON WILDS ISLAND TO THE ED THOMAS, TO THE ED THOMAS YOUNGS, UH, SPACE FLIGHT FACILITY.
LET FIRST SAY THAT IT'S OBVIOUS, UH, THE REASON MOST OF YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE THE CONTROVERSY IN THE BOARD'S REQUEST TO RENAME THE FACILITY ON WHILE I'M SILENT, DEATH FAULT IS MINE.
IT'S NOT THE REST OF THE BOARD.
I FAILED TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A NON-CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE AND IT SURELY HAS NOT BEEN.
I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED NASA AND ATTAIN, UH, OBTAINED THEIR PROTOCOL IN NAME AND FACILITIES AND OR PROJECTS.
THEN I SHOULD HAVE PLACED IT ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA AND RECEIVED PUBLIC INPUT.
I'VE REVIEWED PUBLIC COMMENTS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND MADE NOTES AFTER REVIEWING, UH, RON WOLF'S AND JACK KRIEGER'S WBOC INTERVIEW AND NO TIME DURING THEIR INTERVIEW DID THEY SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT MR. YOUNG.
BOTH MADE VERY POSITIVE COMMENTS AND BOTH MADE SUGGESTIONS ON WAYS TO HONOR MR. YOUNG.
AS I JUST SAID, THE FAULT THAT BRINGS US HERE TONIGHT IS MINE AND MINE ALONE.
AND I FEEL IS INCUMBENT UPON ME TO TRY TO RESOLVE IT.
DURING THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, I PUT TOGETHER IDEAS THAT I, THAT WOULD FORM AN AMENDED RESOLUTION BASED ON WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHERS.
AND MR. WOLF AND MR. KRIEGER'S INTERVIEW IN WVOC, I ASKED STAFF TO FORMULATE AN AMENDED RESOLUTION BASED ON THOSE IDEAS AND AT APPROPRIATE TIME, I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.
I WANT TO THANK MR. WOLF AND MR. KRIEGER FOR AN EXCELLENT MEETING WE HAD ON, UH, ON MONDAY.
AND, UH, MADAM CHAIR, AT APPROPRIATE TIME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UH, MS. UH, JOHNSON? YES.
OVER THE PAST, UH, YOU GOT YOUR, YOU GOT YOUR MIC ON.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS CALLS, EMAILS, AND MESSAGES FROM CONSTITUENTS AND INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS THIS COUNTY AS WELL AS FAR AWAY AS METRO ATLANTA, EXPRESSING THEIR STRONG OPPOSITION TO CHANGING THE NAME OF NASA WILDS FLIGHT FACILITY, EITHER PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND AND SHARE THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NAME WALLOPS.
THE NAME WALLOPS CARRIES HISTORY, IDENTITY, MEMORIES, AND A DEEP CONNECTION TO THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
FOR GENERATIONS, PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN AND RECOGNIZED WALLOPS AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR REGION.
I BELIEVE THAT, I BELIEVE THAT RENAMING WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITIES IS MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY PRESERVING A NAME.
IT IS ABOUT PRESERVING OUR HISTORY, OUR IDENTITY, AND THE CONNECTIONS THE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WALLOPS IS A NAME THAT IS RECOGNIZED FAR BEYOND THE EASTERN SHORE, AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD REMAIN THE LASTING PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR HISTORY.
WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE AS MACK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE, I MADE A PROMISE TO THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I WOULD LISTEN TO THEIR VOICES AND RE AND REPRESENT THEIR CONCERNS.
THE MESSAGE I HAVE RECEIVED REGARDING NASA WALLACE'S FLIGHT FACILITY IS SIMPLE AND CONSISTENT.
THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE THAT WE FIRMLY, I FIRMLY BE IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING WALLOPS WALLOPS.
AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I HAVE
[00:50:01]
NOT NO DISTRIBUTIONS AGAINST THE FACT THAT MR. A THOMAS YOUNG IS WORTHY OF RECOGNITION FOR HIS SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE COMMONWEALTH.I BELIEVE HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE DESERVE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND HONORED.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THESE ARE, THERE ARE OTHER MEANINGFUL WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN RECOGNIZE MR. YOUNG WITHOUT RENAMING OR DIMINISHING THE HISTORICAL NAME OF WALLOPS.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME AND WORK TOGETHER TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE AND LASTING WAY TO HONOR MR. YOUNG, WHILE ALSO RESPECTING THE OVERWHELMING DESIRE OF OUR COMMUNITY TO PRESERVE THE NAME WALLOPS THAT HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO THE EASTERN SHORE AND GENERATIONS.
AGAIN, I FEEL THAT WALLOPS IS PART OF OUR HISTORY.
WALLOPS IS PART OF OUR IDENTITY, AND I BELIEVE WALLOPED SHOULD REMAIN WALLOPS PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY AND COMPLETELY.
YOU HAVE A MOTION, MA'AM? MEMBERS I MOVE THAT WE, UH, THAT WE, UH, ADOPT RESOLUTION GOT MIKE ON, EXCUSE ME, MEMBERS.
I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION REQUEST OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, NASA TO RENAME THE PORTION OF THE WILD FLIGHT FACILITY LOCATED IN THE WILD SOLID TO THE, A THOMAS YOUNG SPACE FLIGHT FACILITY.
WHEREAS ON JULY THE 15TH, 2026, THE AKIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION REQUEST, REQUESTED THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TO RENAME THE PORTION OF NASA WAPS FLIGHT FACILITY LOCATED ON WAPS ISLAND TO THE, A THOMAS YOUNG FLIGHT FACILITY.
AND WHEREAS UPON RECONSIDERATION, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WISHES TO RESPECT THE FEDERAL PROCESS FOR NAME AND FACILITIES UNDER NASA POLICY DIRECTIVE NPS 7 6 2 0 1 J, WHICH PROVIDES THAT NASA ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATORS OR CENTER DIRECTORS WILL INITIATE THE NAME SELECTION PROCESS BEFORE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS.
AND WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE TO AMEND ITS RESOLUTION ACCORDINGLY, NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE YAKIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY AMENDS A RESOLUTION OF JULY 15TH, 2026 AS FOLLOWS, STRIKE REQUEST THAT NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION HONOR A THOMAS YOUNG FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE BY RENAMING THE WALLET FLIGHT FACILITY IN WALLACE ISLAND, VIRGINIA, THE A THOMAS YOUNG FLIGHT FACILITY.
AND REPLACE THAT WITH REQUEST A NATIONAL AERON AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.
ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATORS OR CENTER DIRECTORS CONSIDER AS A DEEM APPROPRIATE, INITIATING THE PROCESS OF FORMALLY RECOGNIZED, RECOGNIZING A THOMAS YOUNG'S CAREER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO NASA BY ADDING HIS NAME TO SUITABLE NASA FACILITIES AND OR PROJECTS LOCATED AT OR INITIATED FROM NASA WILDS FLIGHT FACILITY.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS AMENDMENT OF THIS RESOLUTION OF JULY 15TH, 2026 IN NO WAY DIMINISHES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A THOMAS YOUNG, A DISTINCT DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AND NATIVE SON OF MACK COUNTY, WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATION SPACE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL BY NASA AND WHOSE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AFTER HIS CAREER WITH NASA, PROPELLED HIM TO POSITIONS OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF MARTIN MARIETTA BEFORE RETIRING AND RETURNING TO VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE.
SECOND, UH, THAT LONG
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED NO, NO, NO, NO.
I NEED A SHOW OF HANDS OF AYES.
I NEED A S SHOW OF HANDS OF NOS.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR YOU CAN DO, UH, YOU COULD JUST DO ANOTHER ONE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A SUBSTITUTE, YOU JUST CAN DO A MOTION.
I OFFER A NEW MOTION THAT, UM, LEMME SEE.
I WANNA SAY THIS, THAT OPS REMAIN WALLOPS AND, UH, I BELIEVE THAT OP SHOULD REMAIN WALLOPS PARTIALLY SHOULD REMAIN PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WANT TO RESEND, RESEND IT.
IS THAT, UH, DOES SHE HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING? THE RESEND MOTION? UH, I WOULD PREFER FOR CLARITY THAT, AND I CAN PULL THE RESCINDING MOTION UP AND THEN WE JUST READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
[00:55:01]
IS THIS AT? UH, WOULD YOU GIVE HER COPY THE RESEND MOTION OR I'LL PULL IT UP FOR THE PUBLIC AND I'LL, I LOVE IT.WHEREAS ON JULY THE 15TH, 2026, THE AKIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE NATIONAL, UH, NASA AND SPACE TO RENAME THE PORTION OF NASA WALLACE FLIGHT FACILITY LOCATED ON WALLOP ISLAND TO THE, A THOMAS YOUNG FLIGHT FACILITY.
AND WHEREAS UPON RECORD CONSIDERATION, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WISHES TO HONOR THE FEDERAL PROCESS OF NAMING NASA FACILITIES UNDER NASA POLICY DIRECT NPA 7 6 2 0 DASH ONE J, WHICH PROVIDES THAT NASA ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIONS OR CENTER DIRECTORS WILL INITIATE THE NAME SELECTION PROCESS, WHICH MAY INVOLVE PUBLIC INPUT OR THE INPUT OF OTHER STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR OR THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS.
AND WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEEMS INAPPROPRIATE TO RESENT ITS RESOLUTION AND WITHOUT RECOMMENDATIONS UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT INPUT IS INVITED BY NASA NOW.
THEREFORE, IT BE, IT RESOLVED THAT THE AIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY RESENTS THE RESOLUTION OF JULY THE SIX 15TH 2026, REQUESTING THAT NASA RENAMED THE PORTION OF NASAS WALLACE FLIGHT FACILITY LOCATED ON WALLACE ISLAND TO THE, A THOMAS YOUNG FLIGHT FACILITY.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE DISSENSION OF THE RESOLUTION OF JULY THE 15TH, 2026 IS NO WAY DIMINISHES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A THOMAS YOUNG, A DI, A DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AND NATIVE OF SON OF MACK COUNTY, WHOSE AC ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATION'S SPACE PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL BY NASA AND THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AFTER THIS CAREER WITH NASA PROPELLED HIM TO THE POSITIONS OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF MAIN MARRIOTT BEFORE RETIRING AND RE RETURNING TO VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE, THE RESOLUTION IS EFFECTIVE.
MELY OKAY, THAT THE MOTION, DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.
THE SEND MOTION THAT WAS JUST HEARD IN YOUR HEARING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE AYE.
NO, I WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE HAVE, HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN 'CAUSE I CAN'T TELL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RESEND MOTION.
AND THOSE WHO OPPOSE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP THIS AS PROFESSIONAL AS WE CAN.
UH, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT OF DEED OF TRUST NOTE AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY NOTE HOLDER AND CROMACK MANOR MAKER AND THE TRI PARTY PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT.
UH, WE'LL COME, WE'RE STILL IN SESSION.
MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SO THIS IS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT'S BEEN, UM, ON SEVERAL AGENDAS OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, AND IT'S NOW WE'RE PREPARED TO PROBABLY GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
UH, THE COUNTY DID RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON AUGUST 3RD, 2026 TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN EXECUTION OF A DRAFT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT AND FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE DEED OF TRUST NOTE PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON MAY 20TH.
ALL DOCUMENTS ARE NOW READY FOR APPROVAL BY THE BOARD, THE COUNTY'S GOAL DATING BACK TO 2005 WHEN MACK MANOR WAS CONSTRUCTED.
COULD YOU, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE HAPPY BECAUSE YOU MOVE, PLEASE.
SO THE COUNTY'S GOAL DATING BACK TO 2005 WHEN ABACK MANOR WAS CONSTRUCTED WAS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, TO COUNTY RESIDENTS.
THE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS THAT THE BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO APPROVE TONIGHT
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PRESERVE THIS GOAL GOING FORWARD, ENSURING THAT RENTS PAID BY INHABITANTS OF VAC BACK MATTER WILL REMAIN AFFORDABLE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND POSSIBLY EVEN LONGER.SO IN YOUR AGENDA, I DID GIVE, UM, SORT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TWO DOCUMENTS WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE.
UH, THESE ARE THE SAME HIGHLIGHTS I'VE GIVEN BEFORE.
UM, AGAIN, THE KEY, KEY PIECE THAT FELL IN, IN, IN LINE TO ALLOW US TO BRING THIS BACK BEFORE THE BOARD WAS DH CD'S, APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY'S PLAN.
SO, UH, TONIGHT AGAIN, WE REQUEST THE BOARD APPROVE THE PROPOSED FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE DEED OF TRUST NOTE, UM, BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND ACADEMIC MANNER AND THE PROPOSED PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT.
SO MOVED A SECOND, SECOND MOVING PROPERLY.
SECOND THAT WE, UH, APPROVE THIS FOURTH DEED OF TRUST.
LONG TIME COME BETWEEN THE, UH, THE NOTE HOLDER, WHICH IS US IN M ACT MANNER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I DON'T HEAR ANY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOW BY AYE.
OPPOSED? AND THEN MOTION HAS CARRIED.
OKAY, WE'RE DOWN TO APPOINTMENTS.
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO I CAN'T YOU SEE THAT? WHAT? YOUR JACKET.
ACK COUNTY WITNESS BOARD, BUT THAT NEED TO BE YES MA'AM.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, MOVE THAT, UM, MR. FORMER MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, AND THE GRANDFATHER SERVER, UH, BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THIS POSITION.
SECOND, I'LL SECOND THAT IT'S BEEN MOVING PROPERLY.
SECOND THAT, UH, MR. KEN TUCKER OF ACK COUNTY WITNESS BOARD.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED MADAM CHAIRMAN.
THE NEXT TWO ON THE AG IGON FORESTAL DISTRICT ADVISORY COMM, UH, COMMISSION.
I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THOSE BOTH UNTIL NEXT, UH, MONTH PLEASE.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT ONE IS THE ACKERMAN COUNTY AUDIT COMMITTEE AS MY REAPPOINTMENT.
I'LL MOVE RE REAPPOINTMENT CHAIR SECOND
WELL, Y'ALL JUMPED ON THAT QUICK.
UH, ALL THOSE, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET BE KNOWN BY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? AND I GUESS I'M GOOD FOR IT.
UM, THE EASTERN SHORE BOARD BROADBAND AUTHORITY, WHO'S THAT? JOHN VITTER.
THIS IS, UH, CONFIRMATION OF THE, UH, NORTH HAMPTON'S SELECTION TO THE BROADBAND READY MOVE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THERE BE NO BY AYE.
OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.
RECEIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTY'S NEW WEBSITE, WHICH IS NOW LIVE.
AND I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2026 COUNTY WEBSITE REDESIGN.
SO WE'LL START WITH A PROJECT OVERVIEW.
UH, WE COMPLETED THE REDESIGN OF THE COUNTY WEBSITE TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY AND SUPPORT A DA REQUIREMENTS.
UH, THE PROJECT BEGAN IN NOVEMBER, 2025 AND THE NEW WEBSITE WENT LIVE ON JUNE 30TH, 2026.
PROJECT TEAM INCLUDED EMPLOYEES FROM ALL DEPARTMENTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, SO PRETTY MUCH, UH, EMPLOYEES FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTY WERE INVOLVED.
AND WE MIGRATED THE CO.ECAC.VA US DOMAIN TO THE ECAC.GOV DOMAIN.
SO, NUMBER ONE, IT'S EASIER TO SAY
WE ALSO CONSOLIDATED MAJOR SERVICES UNDER MACK.GOV, SUCH AS THE TAX PAYMENT WEBSITE, WHICH WAS MACK TAX.COM.
NOW YOU GO TO AAC.GOV FOR THAT.
SAME THING WITH THE BOAT PARKING PERMIT PORTAL, THE GENERAL PAYMENTS PORTAL, UH, AKA MAP, AND THEN EMAIL AND OTHER VARIOUS OTHER SERVICES.
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UH, THE WEBSITE PROVIDES A MORE UNIFORM NAVIGATION PAGE, LAYOUTS VISUAL IDENTITY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND ONLINE SERVICES.UH, IT'S UPDATED FOR MOBILE DEVICES, RESIDENT SELF SERVICE, AND EASIER LONG TERM CONTENT MANAGEMENT.
UH, ESTABLISH A STRONGER PLATFORM FOR CONTINUED CONTENT REVIEW AND ACCESSIBILITY WORK.
WE ALSO ADDED ADDITIONAL FEATURES.
SO ONE OF THOSE IS MEETING TRANSCRIPTIONS.
SO WE HAVE SEARCHABLE MEETING TRANSCRIPTIONS THAT BEGIN IN 2025.
AND GOING FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE THE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE TO THEM, UH, RESIDENTS AND STAFF CAN, YOU CAN SEARCH DISCUSSION CONTENT, UH, WITHOUT NEEDING TO LISTEN THROUGH THE ENTIRE RECORDING.
UM, WE ALSO ADDED A CHAT BOT THAT UTILIZES CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE TO RESPOND, UH, TO INQUIRIES AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND PROGRAMS. THAT, OF COURSE, REQUIRES ONGOING MAINTENANCE, UH, OR ONGOING MONITORING AND UPDATES BASED ON THE RESPONSES RECEIVED.
BUT IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IT DOESN'T GO OUT, UH, AND GRAB CONTENT FROM FROM THE INTERNET.
IT ONLY GRABS IT FROM WHAT WE GIVE IT OR WHAT'S ON THE, UH, COUNTY WEBSITE.
AND YOU CAN SEE A SCREENSHOT THERE TO THE RIGHT OF WHAT IT, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOUR GENERATIONS OF ONLINE COUNTY SERVICE.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE TOP LEFT THAT WAS WHAT THE WEBSITE LOOKED LIKE.
PRE 2013, THE TOP RIGHT, THAT WAS 2013 TO 2018.
BOTTOM LEFT WAS 2018, ALL THE WAY UP TO JUNE 29TH, 2026.
AND OF COURSE, THE, THE, UH, SCREENSHOT ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS WHAT THE WEBSITE LOOKS LIKE NOW.
AND EACH REDESIGN REFLECTED THE TECHNOLOGY AND EXPECTATIONS OF ITS TIME.
AND SINCE THE LAST REDESIGN IN 2018, ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS, MOBILE USAGE AND DEMAND FOR ONLINE SERVICES HAVE PROGRESSED SIGNIFICANTLY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT ACCESSIBILITY IS AN ONGOING COMMITMENT.
AND TITLE TWO OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT REQUIRES STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES TO MEET CERTAIN ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS.
AND THE REDESIGN WEBSITE PROVIDES A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR THAT.
SO OUR CURRENT DEADLINE TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS IS APRIL 26TH, 2027.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE SOME DIG ABILITY, DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY TOOLS IN USE SUCH AS AUDIO I, DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY PLATFORM THAT BASICALLY HELPS US MONITOR THE SITE, HIGHLIGHT ISSUES WE NEED TO CORRECT AND, AND, UM, IT ALSO PROVIDES ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PRODUCT CALLED ACQUIA WEB GOVERNANCE, WHICH HELPS SCAN PAGES AND, UH, DOCUMENTS AND HELPS US PRIORITIZE THINGS AND TRACK REMEDIATION.
UH, ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT AUTOMATED TOOLS CANNOT SOLVE EVERY ISSUE, PARTICULARLY WITH PDFS.
UM, AND ACCESSIBILITY REQUIRES CONTINUED STAFF TRAINING, TESTING DOCUMENT REMEDIATION, SUCH AS PDFS, VENDOR COORDINATION AND RESPONSE TO PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
UM, BUT THE KEY TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT THE WEBSITE REDESIGN PROVIDES A STRONGER FOUNDATION, BUT ACCESSIBILITY REMAINS AN ONGOING RESPONSIBILITY, NOT A COMPLETED PROJECT.
BUT, UH, THE WEBSITE REDESIGN OR THE NEW WEBSITE IS A FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED IMPROVE IMPROVEMENT.
UH, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE ITEMS SUCH AS DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING CONTENT CURRENT AND ACCURATE 'CAUSE IT'S ONLY AS GOOD AS THE, THE CONTENT THAT IS, UH, OUT THERE.
AND ALSO MAINTAINING FORMS, CONTEXT CALENDARS AND SERVICE INFORMATION, APPLYING ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS TO ALL NEW CONTENT AND MONITORING AND CORRECTING BROKEN LINKS, WEBSITE ERRORS AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.
AND ALSO REVIEWING ANALYTICS FROM THE WEBSITE AND CHAT BOT ACTIVITY AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
UH, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER AS WELL WITH PDFS AND LEGACY DOCUMENTS.
WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO THERE.
AND UH, THAT REQUIRES SOME STAFF TRAINING IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO HELP OUT WITH THAT.
AND, UH, ALSO REFINE NAVIGATION AND CONTENT BASED ON USER NEEDS AND FEEDBACK AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS AND VENDORS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY.
SO I'M GONNA HOP OVER TO THE DESK THERE AND JUST SHOW YOU A FEW THINGS TO END THE PRESENTATION, UH, ON THE WEBSITE.
[01:10:16]
SO THE FIRST, FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU IS JUST THE GENERAL LAYOUT OF THE HOMEPAGE.SO YOU HAVE YOUR, UH, TOP NAVIGATION MENU HERE WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL THE VARIOUS PAGES, OF COURSE, THE, UH, THE, UM, PICTURES THAT ROTATE.
AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE, UH, BUTTONS HERE THAT TURN INTO CRABS THAT, UH, ARE THE, UH, MOST POPULAR PAGES BASED ON ANALYTICS.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE MOST USED PAGES ARE.
UM, SO IT'S FOR QUICK ACCESS AND THEN THE CALENDAR, UH, WHICH INCLUDES ALL THE MEETINGS SUCH AS THIS ONE AND LATEST NEWS WHERE DEPARTMENTS CAN HIGHLIGHT WHATEVER THEY'D LIKE TO.
UH, AND THEN POPULAR LINKS, WHICH IS THE SAME WHERE THEY'RE, UH, HEAVILY USED PAGES.
SAME THING WITH, UH, QUICK LINKS HERE.
SO TWO MODULES I WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ARE THE, THE BIDS MODULE WHERE ALL OF THE BIDS THAT THE COUNTY PUTS OUT ARE, ARE, UH, LISTED HERE.
UM, AND YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT, UH, PAST BIDS AS WELL.
AND THEN CAREERS, UH, SIMILAR TO TO THE BIZ MODULE.
UH, YOU HAVE ALL YOUR JOB OPPORTUNITIES, UH, LISTED OUT HERE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE QUITE A BIT RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO ABLE TO APPLY ONLINE, UM, COMPLETELY ELECTRONIC, JUST FILL OUT THE, THE, UM, APPLICATION AND SUBMIT IT.
SO I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE, UM, MEETING TRANSCRIPTS THAT WE ADDED.
SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE CAN, YOU CAN LISTEN TO, UH, MEETING AUDIO, UH, STREAM IT LIVE OR LISTEN TO ARCHIVED AUDIO AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, FROM 2025 ON, UH, YOU'RE ABLE TO, TO VIEW A TRANSCRIPT, WHICH I'LL SHOW YOU HERE IN A MINUTE.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT IT IS IF YOU TYPE IN SOMETHING LIKE VDOT AND JUST HIT SEARCH, IT'LL TELL YOU, UM, EVERY INSTANCE OF VDOT IN, IN, IN ANY MEETING, WHETHER IT'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR PLANNING, COMMISSIONING OR BZA.
SO YOU'LL, YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT JULY 15TH, THE MEETING ON JULY 15TH, YOU HAD THREE, UH, THREE TIMES WHERE VDOT WAS SPOKEN.
AND THEN YOU CAN JUST CLICK ON THAT AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THAT SECTION OF THE, UH, OF THE AUDIO.
SO THAT WAS AT AN HOUR AND THREE MINUTES.
SO MUCH EASIER TO FIND SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU NEED VERSUS BEFORE THAT YOU PRETTY MUCH HAD TO EITHER LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE THING OR, UH, YOU KNOW, SCROLL THROUGH IT OR, YEAH, I'VE TRIED IT, IT WAS WRONG.
RIGHT? SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A NICE, UH, ADDITION.
AND THEN THE TRANSCRIPT IS, UH, OVER HERE AS WELL, WHERE YOU CAN ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, DOWNLOAD IT AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH IT.
BUT, UH, IT, WHEN YOU START FROM THE BEGINNING, IT DOES, IT DOES FOLLOW ALONG.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IT HIGHLIGHTED THERE, SO ADD TURN.
UH, BEN, HOW FAR DOES IT GO BACK AND HOW, HOW FAR DOES IT GO BACK AS FAR AS BOARD MEETINGS? SO IT, THERE WAS A COST PER YEAR, AND WE WENT BACK TO 2025 DUE TO THAT.
SO IT'S EVERY MEETING IN 2025 FOR ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WE STREAM.
AND, UM, OF COURSE ANYTHING AFTER THAT, SO, MM-HMM
WE HAVE THE MINUTES, EVERYTHING.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S AVAILABLE MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE.
OF COURSE, THE, THE AUDIO IS AVAILABLE, IT'S JUST NOT THE TRANSCRIPT PORTION OF IT.
UH, LAST COUPLE THINGS HERE ARE TAX PAYMENTS.
SO I MENTIONED WE MOVED MACK TAX, UH, WHICH WAS OUR TAX PAYMENT, UH, WEBSITE UNDERNEATH THE MACK.GOV, UH, DOMAIN.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT IT'S, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE IT, UH, EXCEPT IT'S UNDER MACK.GOV.
AND THEN WE WENT AND WORKED WITH, UM, THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE AND TREASURER TO PUT ALL OF THEIR CONTENT THAT WAS ON THAT SITE UNDER THE MACK.GOV UMBRELLA.
SO THEY'RE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER OR DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT HAS THEIR PAGES DIRECTLY ON THE, THE MAINE COUNTY WEBSITE.
UH, LASTLY IS THE, UM, CHAT BOT THAT I TALKED ABOUT.
[01:15:01]
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE HERE, THERE'S JUST SOME ITEMS THAT YOU CAN JUST CLICK AND, UM, IT'LL GIVE YOU AN ANSWER TO IT, OR YOU CAN TYPE SOMETHING IN LIKE, UM, WHERE DO I TAKE MY TRASH? AND THEN IT TELLS YOU CONVENIENCE CENTER, AND YOU CAN GO RIGHT TO THAT PAGE AND THEN FIND YOUR CLOSEST CONVENIENCE CENTER AND, AND, UM, VIA THE HOURS AND ADDRESS AND ALL OF THAT.SO, SO THAT WAS EVERYTHING I HAD.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
DOWN TO NINE TWO STAFF REPORT REGARDING AUTHORITY OF COUNTY TO IMPOSE OHIO REAL ESTATE TAX ON DE BUILDINGS AND BLIGHTED PROPERTY.
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AGAIN, MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SO, UM, AT YOUR LAST MEETING, UH, THE BOARD PROVIDED STAFF A DIRECTIVE TO START.
UM, I'LL JUST REFER TO IT AS EXPLORING OPTIONS OR LOOKING AT OPTIONS TO IMPOSE AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON PARCELS, HAVING DERELICT BUILDINGS THUS FUNCTION AS A CATALYST FOR OWNERS TO REMOVE OR ADDRESS THESE STRUCTURES.
AND, UH, DURING THAT MEETING, THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH WAS, UH, SEEMS TO BE AHEAD OF US LOOKING AT THIS, AND THEY WERE PROVIDED AS SORT OF A, UH, AN EXAMPLE OR RESOURCE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT STATE UPFRONT IS THIS PRESENTATION IS, IS GONNA BE CENTERED ON MORE THAN JUST WHAT WE DEFINE AS DERELICT BUILDINGS.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE COVERED, UH, COVERING OPTIONS AVAILABLE, UH, TO BLIGHTED PROPERTY, WHICH ALL, ALL THESE, ALL THE LEGISLATION THAT IT GIVES YOU THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS IS IN THE SAME CODE SECTION.
AND, AND IT REFERS TO BOTH DELIB BUILDINGS AND BLIGHTED PROPERTY, BUT TREATS HIM SEPARATELY.
YOU THINK WE BROKE THE IT? YEAH.
IS THAT THE SLIDE YOU WANTED? YEAH, NO, NOT DO IT, IT'S GOOD.
LEMME GET MY BEARINGS STRAIGHT HERE.
SO THE ENABLING AUTHORITY I WAS JUST REFERRING TO AS CODE OF VIRGINIA 58.1 DASH 3 2 2 1 0.6.
AND, UH, IT, IT CONTAINS A CLASSIFICATION OF BLIGHTED AND DE PROPERTIES IN CERTAIN LOCALITIES.
AND SO WHAT THIS CODE SECTION SAYS, IT SAYS, FOR QUALIFYING LOCALITIES, IT ESTABLISHES A SEPARATE CLASSIFICATION FOR PRO A PROPERTY FOR BOTH DELI BUILDINGS AND BLIGHTED PROPERTY TOGETHER WITH SUCH, TOGETHER WITH THE LAND THAT SUCH PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED ON.
AND SO THIS CONSTITUTES, UM, ONCE THEY'RE SEPARATED LIKE THAT, A DISTINCT CLASSIFICATION FOR PROPERTY TAXATION PURPOSES.
AND SO ONCE THEY'RE SEPARATELY CARVED OUT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, IT ALSO AUTHORIZES A TAXATION OF DE BUILDINGS IN BLIGHTED PROPERTY ALONG WITH THE LAND.
SUCH PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED ON TO BE TAXED AT RATES DIFFERENT FROM THE RATE APPLICABLE TO THE GENERAL CLASS REAL PROPERTY.
FOR BLIGHTED PROPERTY, YOU CAN, UM, INCREASE THE TAX THAT THAT'S SUBJECT TO BY UP TO 5% OVER YOUR CURRENT TAX RATE FOR DE BUILDINGS UP TO 10%.
UM, AND, AND SOME OF THESE SECTIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED, THESE WORDS ARE HIGHLIGHTING RIGGS.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, SOME EXAMPLES AND HOW IT PLAYS OUT HERE IN AKIMA COUNTY, JUST SO, UH, THERE'S, YOU HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS WOULD WORK.
SO NOTHING IN THIS, UM, IN THIS CODE SECTION REQUIRES THE OWNER TO REMEDY THE DE DERELICT OR BLIGHTED CONDITION.
IT JUST TAXES THEM UNTIL THEY DO AT A HIGHER RATE.
[01:20:02]
SO THE REASON I QUOTED QUALIFYING LOCALITIES, NOT EVERY LOCALITY IN VIRGINIA CAN PURSUE THESE TYPE OF, UM, LEGISLATION.UH, YOU HAVE TO BE A QUALIFYING LOCALITY.
AND THE WAY THE CODE HAS IT WRITTEN TO BE A QUALIFYING LOCALITY, YOU HAD TO HAVE A, UH, A SCORE ON A PHYSICAL STRESS INDEX PUBLISHED BY DHCD OF GREATER THAN A HUNDRED.
UM, AX SCORE WAS A HUNDRED 0.43.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT A PHYSICAL STRESS INDEX, THERE'S THE, THE VARIABLES THAT, UM, COMPRISE HOW THE STATE COMPUTES THE PHYSICAL STRESS INDEX FOR EACH LOCALITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND, AND, AND THIS SECTION IS JUST A SNIP FROM THAT REPORT WHERE THOSE PHYSICAL STRESS LOCALITIES ARE IDENTIFIED.
ALL THOSE THAT ARE, UM, IN THE RED OR IN THE, UH, ORANGE ARE, ARE ABOVE AVERAGE OR HIGH PHYSICAL STRESS, AND THEREFORE THEY CAN, UM, PURSUE, UH, THIS DIFFERENT TREATMENT CLASSIFICATION OF DERELICT AND, AND BLIGHTED PROPERTIES.
SO WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, IN, IN, IN THESE, UH, IN, IN THE CODE PER SE, IS, IS WHAT THE DEFINITIONS OF DERELICT BUILDINGS AND BLIGHTED AREAS ARE.
SO, AND, AND THIS IS STRAIGHT IN CODE.
SO A DERELICT BUILDING MEANS A RESIDENTIAL OR NON-ORIGINAL BUILDING OR STRUCTURE, WHETHER OR NOT CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED THAT MIGHT ENDANGER THE PUBLICIST'S HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE.
AND FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD IN EXCESS OF SIX MONTHS HAS BEEN VACANT, BOARDED UP IN ACCORDANCE WITH BUILDING CODE AND NOT LAWFULLY CONNECTED TO ELECTRIC SERVICE FROM A UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDER.
OR NOT CON LAWFULLY CONNECTED TO ANY REQUIRED WATER AND SEWER SERVICE.
UM, SO IF THE, IF THE HOUSE IS NOT BOARDED UP, DOES NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF DELEY BUILDING, DELIGHTED AREA IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT MORE LIBERAL.
UM, IT MEANS THERE ANY AREA THAT ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE OR ANY AREA THAT'S DETERMINED, UH, THAT'S DETRIMENTAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND WEATHERFIELD BECAUSE COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES ARE IMPROVEMENTS OR DILAPIDATED OR DETERIORATED OR BECAUSE SET STRUCTURES OR IMPROVEMENTS VIOLATE MINIMUM HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
SO MORE THAN LIKELY, UM, THE DEFINITION THAT WOULD BE USED MORE THAN, UM, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IN MACK COUNTY TO SUBJECT A PROPERTY TO THE ADDITIONAL TAXATION WOULD BE THE, THE BLIGHTED PROPERTY VERSUS A DET BUILDING.
MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION.
MR. MASON, WHO DETERMINES WHETHER A PROPERTY COUNTY ASSESSOR? NEXT SLIDE.
SO, COUNTY ASSESSOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A PROPERTY CONSTITUTE EITHER BLIGHTED OR DERELICT BUILDINGS OR DELIT BUILDING, UM, THE TAX TO BE IMPOSED UNTIL THE COUNTY ASSESSOR, UH, DETERMINES THE PROPERTY, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE TAXES TO CONTINUE TO BE IMPOSED UNLESS THE COUNTY ASSESSOR CHANGES THAT.
AND THERE'S A WHOLE APPEALS PROCESS THAT'S OUTLINED IN THE CODE, HOW SOMEONE COULD CHALLENGE THAT.
BUT THE KEY POINT HERE IS IT'S A COUNTY REAL ESTATE ASSESSOR WHO DETERMINES WHETHER THEY'RE QUALIFYING OR NOT.
AND SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ON ANYTHING LIKE, UH, WHERE YOU'RE STARTING SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH IS THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATA IN AKIMA COUNTY THAT SAYS, THIS IS HOW MANY DERELICT STRUCTURES WE HAVE, THIS IS HOW MANY BLIGHTED AREAS WE HAVE AND WHERE THEY'RE AT.
UM, MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, WE DO HAVE A FEW, WHAT I'LL REFER TO AS LEADS, THE COUNTY'S, UM, CANVAS SYSTEM, WHICH IS A COMPUTER AUTOMATED MASS APPRAISAL SYSTEM, DOES ASSIGN A CONDITION CODE TO STRUCTURES LOCATED ON PARCELS, WHICH MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE, BUT SEVERELY D DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE.
LIKE, UM, YOU SEE IN SOME CASES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TAXABLE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
BUT IN, IN ANY CASE, IT DID HAVE THE ASSESSOR'S DEPARTMENT RUN, UM, A QUERY ON HOW MANY PARCELS IN AKIMA COUNTY HAVE A, UH, A STRUCTURE ON IT THAT'S CONSIDERED, UM, UH, SEVERELY DILAPIDATED.
AND, AND SO WHEN THEY DID THAT AND, AND THEY USED CONDITION CODES, THEY LOOKED FOR POOR OR VERY POOR CONDITIONS, AND THEY FOUND, UH, 2,541 PARCELS WITH SOME KIND OF STRUCTURE ON IT THAT WAS CONSIDERED, UM, POOR OR VERY POOR CONDITION.
BUT WHEN YOU DRILL INTO THOSE 2000 ONLY, UM, ONLY 680 OF THEM WERE DWELLINGS AND IT WOULD CLASSIFY UTILITY SHED THAT WAS IN SEVERE RE UM, DISREPAIR ON THERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT 2,541 PARCELS OUT THERE WITH DERELICT OR, OR, OR BLIGHTED PROPERTY POTENTIALLY ON IT.
IT'S, IT'S MUCH LESS THAN THAT.
UM, BUT IT'S, ANYWAY, IT'S, IT'S A LEAD IN SOMETHING THAT WE COULD START TO USE AS, AS WE START DECIDING, OR AT LEAST THE BOARD DECIDES HOW HE
[01:25:01]
WANTS TO PROCEED WITH THIS.UM, SO OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AND THINKING ABOUT NEXT STEPS IS WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE TO GET AN INVENTORY, UM, PUT TOGETHER BASED ON THE DEFINITIONS IN CODE OF WHERE THESE PROPERTIES ARE AND CLASSIFY THEM.
IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD JOB FOR AN INTERN OR SOMETHING IN THE SUMMER TO HELP WITH THAT.
UM, POSSIBLE COUNTY TAX BILLING SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS THAT COULD BE A, A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.
AND WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING THAT LOOKED AT AND TRYING TO SCOPE THAT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF REVISIONS WE MAY NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS.
AND I, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS IN A SECOND ON WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, WE'D HAVE TO ALIGN IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE TAX YEAR.
UM, AND THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY BE, IF, IF THE BOARD CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD, CHOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IN THE FUTURE, AMENDMENTS TO COUNTY CODE WOULD BE NECESSARY.
AND THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UM, SO I DID WANT TO JUST SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES AND KIND OF DISCUSS SOME INTERESTING THINGS, UM, OF WAYS OF LOOKING AT THIS.
SO HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE IS, IS BLIGHTED PROPERTY, IT'S NOT DERELICT.
'CAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IN THIS PICTURE, IT'S NOT BOARDED UP.
SO IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE THE DEFINITION OF DERELICT, UH, OF A DERELICT BUILDING, BUT IT IS BLIGHTED PROPERTY BASED ON THAT DEFINITION YOU JUST SAW ON CODE.
UM, SO ONCE, ONCE, LET'S SAY THE COUNTY ASSESSOR CLASSIFIED THIS AS, UH, AS, AS BLIGHTED PROPERTY AND APPLY AND, AND THEN THE INCREASED TAX RATE WAS APPLIED TO IT, IT WOULD APPLY TO THE STRUCTURE VALUE AND THE LAND THAT'S ON UNDERNEATH OF IT.
SO ALL OF THAT PARCEL GETS TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE.
WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING IS THAT SEEMS REASONABLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SMALL PROPERTY, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THIS PARCEL WAS PART OF A HUNDRED ACRES BEHIND IT.
UM, UNDER THE DEFINITION OF HOW THIS CO SECTION IS WRITTEN, ALL A HUNDRED ACRES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE HIGHER TAX RATE BECAUSE IT HAD THIS ONE BLIGHTED PROPERTY, UM, OR AT LEAST A PORTION OF IT WAS CONSIDERED BLIGHTED.
SO IT'S NOT CARVING OUT A PORTION OF THE LAND HERE AND A PORTION OF LAND THERE AND SUBJECT IN DIFFERENT TAX RATE.
IT'S ONCE A BLIGHTED PROPERTY, IT'S ONCE IT'S CONSIDERED BLIGHTED PROPERTY, THE LAND OF THAT PARCEL IS GONNA BE TAXED AT THE HIGHER RATE.
AND IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE A AND AND I'M ASKING YOU TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION HERE BECAUSE THIS PICTURE'S INCONCLUSIVE, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THERE'S A, THERE'S A, UM, A STRUCTURE ON THIS PROPERTY THAT MAY MEET THE DEFINITION OF A BLIGHTED PROPERTY.
AND SO IF WE, IF WE EXTEND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THIS CASE, UH, ONCE, ONCE THIS PROPERTY WAS DETERMINED TO BE BLIGHTED BY THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, THE ENTIRE PARCEL, THE LAND THAT IT'S ON IS GONNA BE TAXED AT THAT HIGHER RATE.
UM, AND SO THAT MEANS IF THIS NEWER HOUSE CONSTRUCTED NEXT TO IT IS ON THE SAME PARCEL AS THIS, THE ENTIRE PARCEL IS GONNA BE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE, EVEN THOUGH THE LAND UNDERNEATH THAT HOUSE IS CERTAINLY NOT BLIGHTED.
THAT'S HOW THE CODE IS WRITTEN ON THAT.
UM, WHERE WE COULD GET INTO SOME PROBLEMS IS THE WAY THE COUNTY'S TAX, UH, TAX SYSTEM WORKS RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T SEPARATELY TAX INDIVIDUAL, UM, STRUCTURES ON THE PROPERTY.
THE CAMMA SYSTEM REPORTS THE TOTAL LAND VALUE INTO THE TOTAL VALUE OF ALL IMPROVEMENTS.
IT ROLLS ALL THE STRUCTURES ON THAT PARCEL UP INTO ONE VALUE THAT COMES OVER TO THE TAX SYSTEM, AND THEN A TAX RATE'S AFFIXED TO THAT PARCEL.
AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THERE TOO.
UM, IF WE GET INTO WHERE WE HAVE TO START SEPARATING STRUCTURES ON A PARCEL, THAT'S GONNA BE VERY PROBLEMATIC.
AND I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR HOW OUR SOFTWARE VENDOR MAY SOLVE THAT.
UM, BECAUSE IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THIS PARCEL, THE TOTAL VALUE OF IMPROVEMENTS ON IT WOULD BE THIS NEW HOUSE AND THIS OLDER HOUSE.
THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA BE SHOWN ON THE, UH, ON, ON THE TAX BILL.
BUT IN ORDER TO APPLY THIS, THIS, THE, THE AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE IN THIS MATTER IN THE CODE OF VIRGINIA HERE, WE WOULD NOT, WE, WE'D BE TAXING THE WHOLE PARCEL AT THE HIGHER LAND AT THE HIGHER RATE, BUT WE WOULD NOT TAX THE STRUCTURE OF THIS NEW HOUSE HAS A BLIGHTED PROPERTY.
WE DON'T EVEN WANNA BE TAXING THAT HERE.
SO WE, YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN INTO THESE PARCELS AND SORT OF CARVE OUT, UM, WHAT POTENTIALLY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THAT ADDITIONAL TAX AND WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T BE.
AND THAT'S WHERE I FORESEE SOME, SOME, UH, PROBLEMS COMING POTENTIALLY.
UM, MADAM CHAIR, MIKE, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT? SO, BUT TODAY WHERE WE SEE THAT IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THE HOME THAT'S NOT, THAT'S BLIGHTED.
IS THAT PART OF THE, THE, UH, THE TAX FOR STRUCTURES ON THAT PROPERTY? UH, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS
[01:30:01]
HYPOTHETICALLY.AND IN THIS CASE, UM, I BELIEVE HYPOTHETICALLY YEAH.
IN, IN, IN THIS CASE, HYPOTHETICALLY THEY'RE ALL IN ONE PARCEL AND I THINK THEY ARE BECAUSE OF THIS REFERENCE UP HERE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE BOTH OF THEM ON THE SAME PARCEL OF LAND.
BUT I STILL HAVE MY QUESTION, BUT IF YOU GO TO STRUCTURES, IS THERE A VALUATION PLACED ON INSTANCE, IS THAT LOOKING AT EIGHT BEDROOMS VERSUS FOUR DID NOT DIVE INTO IT SO FAR.
IT IS NOT AS CLEAN CUT AS YOU MIGHT IT, IT THINK IT MAY BE.
UM, SO IT'S, IT REQUIRES A, A BIT OF NUANCING, UM, WITH, WITH THE SOFTWARE.
WHAT REALLY WHAT STAFF IS LOOKING FOR IS TO JUST GIVE YOU A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON HOW THIS WOULD WORK.
WE'LL KEEP COMING BACK TO YOU.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO HONOR THE BOARD'S DIRECTIVE STAFF HAS LOOKED AT IT.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE CODE SECTIONS.
WE KNOW WHAT AUTHORITY IS OUT THERE.
UM, WE'VE EVEN LOOKED AT THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH'S INFORMATION THAT THEY POSTED OUT ON THEIR WEBSITE AND UM, WE WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW FAR WE'VE GOTTEN AT THIS POINT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU WANT US TO KEEP LOOKING AT ANY MORE DETAIL, WE WILL.
BUT REALLY I THINK THE LINCHPIN RIGHT NOW IS TO GET BACK, UH, FROM OUR SOFTWARE PROVIDER WHEN IMPLICATIONS IT HAS AND WHAT THE COST MAY BE IF WE HAD TO MODIFY THE, THE HOW, HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.
AND THIS IS VICE CHAIR JOHNSON.
IF I MAY ASK, AND I KNOW YOU GET IT ALL THE TIME.
IS THAT
DOES IT FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION? AND IT'S NOT OUR DEFINITION, IT'S NOT OUR EYESIGHT THAT DETERMINES WHETHER IT MEETS THAT CLASS.
WE HAVE TO STRICTLY GO BY WHAT THE CODE SAYS IS DERELICT AND WHAT IS, UM, BLIGHTED.
AND I CAN'T RECALL IF THAT PROPERTY IS BOARDED UP.
UM, IF IT WAS BOARDED UP, IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE, UM, A DERELICT BUILDING AND SUBJECT IF THE BOARD WENT FORWARD WITH THE FULL AMOUNT YOU COULD TAX WITH IN THE FUTURE WITH, ONCE YOU GET THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS, YOU COULD, UM, TAX THAT AT THE HIGHEST RATE.
BUT IF IT WASN'T BOARDED UP, IT WOULD HAVE TO FALL.
IF IT MET THE CRITERIA INTO, UH, THE BLIGHTED PROPERTY CLASSIFICATION.
YOU SAID THE WORD FALL, IT'S GONNA FALL.
WELL THEN, AND THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER DEFINITION OF DANGEROUS BUILDING THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THIS.
WHEN, WHEN YOU GET INTO DANGEROUS STRUCTURES, THE COUNTY HAS SOME OBLIGATIONS TO ACT IF THERE'S A CERTAIN IMMINENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
BUT, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT HERE.
I SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE, UH, STAFF TO CONTINUE THE RESEARCH THIS SECOND.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, UM, MR. HALL, UH, DOES THIS APPLY TO TOWNS WITHIN THE COUNTY OR JUST IT, IN OTHER WORDS, DO WE DECLARE A DELL BUILDING IN A TOWN ALSO? MM-HMM
AND TAXES WOULD NOT, WOULD NOT EXTEND IT TO THE TOWNS, BUT IT'S STILL, THEY'RE STILL PAYING TO COUNTY TAXES.
BUT THEY, I GOT A SHAKE OF THE HEAD, UH, NO, FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HEAD.
SO OUR AUTHORITY DOESN'T CROSS IN INTO THE IN COURT BRIEF.
IS THERE ANY RESTRICTION OR DO YOU KNOW ANY, ANYTHING WITH THIS, UH, STATUTE OR WHATEVER, WHAT THE, THE MONEY HAS TO BE USED FOR A CERTAIN REASON THAT YOU COULD USE THE MONEY, YOU COULD USE THAT THE EXTRA TAXES DRAWN TO REMOVE OTHER DERELICTS? I MAY NOT THAT THERE, THERE WAS NO RESTRICTION IN THE CODE SECTION I READ.
QUESTION IF A, OH, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? GO AHEAD MR. WASHINGTON.
THIS IS A QUESTION I WANT TO ASK.
SO, UM, A HOME THAT'S FALLING DOWN THAT HAS THOSE ASBESTOS PLATES ON IT, IS THAT CONSIDERED AS UNSAFE OR IS THAT A, IS THAT A A A RISK TO THE COMMUNITY? YOU MEAN THE SHINGLES? YEAH, IF IT HAS THOUGH THE ASBESTOS SHINGLES ON IT, I, I'D HAVE, THAT'S A VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION.
STAFF WOULD'VE TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THAT.
THE REASON WHY I ASK, BECAUSE I, I'VE SAW, I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF THOSE STRUCTURES AND THEY'RE RIGHT INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, OKAY, THAT'S ALL IT WAS.
I JUST WONDERING, I WOULD, I'LL JUMP IN WITH HIS QUESTION 'CAUSE I SEE MR. HALL'S HIDING BEHIND, BEHIND MIKE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT A RESIDENTIAL ASBESTOS SHINGLES CAN BE TAKEN INTO A LANDFILL.
IS THAT A TRUE OR FALSE STATEMENT? NOT TO THE COUNTY LANDFILL.
WE DO HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVE SITES.
WE RECOMMENDED PEOPLE, BUT TYPICALLY THE HAZARD THERE IS WITH GRINDING AND SANDING AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
I, I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT THIS CODE WOULD, WOULD CLASSIFY A BUILDING UNDER, UNDER THESE DEFINITIONS JUST BECAUSE IT HAS ASBESTOS SHINGLES.
WELL, I THINK THE QUESTION IS, AND I AND YOU,
[01:35:01]
AND, AND I'LL PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THESE HOMES LIKE MR. WASHINGTON STATED IS REFERENCING ARE OFTEN IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THEY CAN AFFORD TO GET THEM DEMOLISHED BECAUSE THEY HAVE ASBESTOS SHINGLES.SO I MEAN, IF, IF WE PUT THIS IN PLACE, I MEAN, DO THEY HAVE, WHAT IS THEIR OPTION FOR DEMOLISHING OR REMOVING THEM OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE ALSO NEED TO RESEARCH AS PART OF THE YEAH, I CAN'T, I CAN'T SAY IT.
AND NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY USED TO TAKE THOSE MATERIALS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I BELIEVE THERE'S A PLACE IN SUFFOLK AND CHESAPEAKE, SOME PRIVATE LANDFILLS THAT DO EXPLAIN THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, DOES THE PROPERTY OWNER HAVE ANY, UH, UH, ARE THEY REQUIRED TO TO, TO FUND ANY OF THAT REMOVAL? IF, IF THERE IS, IT IS, YES.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE WERE YOU, I HEARD YOU SAY ABOUT THE COUNTY, BUT DOES THE PROPERTY OWNER, DO THEY, UH, SHARE THAT RESPONSIBILITY UNDER, UNDER THIS CODE SECTION? WE'RE THE, THE COUNTY IS NOT REQUIRING THE PROPERTY OWNER TO REMEDY A DERELICT OR BLIGHTED PROPERTY.
THEY JUST CONTINUE TO PAY ADDITIONAL TAX UNTIL THEY DO, UH, IF IT WAS A DANGEROUS BUILDING, A WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN COME BACK AND EDUCATE THE BOARD ON.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A, A DIFFERENT CODE SECTION WHERE WE HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS UNDER THAT.
I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET IT OUT THERE.
IF, WOULD ANYTHING IN THIS CODE LOOKING AT THE STATE CODE, UM, IMPACT A PROPERTY THAT CURRENTLY IS, IS EXEMPT FROM PLAYING PROPERTY TAXES? THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
THAT I CAN'T ANSWER RIGHT? THAT SUGGESTION? YEAH.
I THINK WE HAVE, UH, EXPLORED THAT.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, UM, IF, IF IF A BLIGHTED, AND I MEAN IT'S SUPPOSE ON THE, IT'S HYPOTHETICAL, A DERELICT OR A BLIGHTED BUILDING.
WHO, WHO MAKES THE DECISION? THE COUNTY ASSESSOR.
AND THE PROPERTY OWNER THERE, OR WHOMEVER DISAGREES.
IS THERE AN APPEAL? THERE'S AN APPEAL PROCESS AND IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
ANYTHING ELSE? UH, CAN WE MOVE ON? ALRIGHT, UH, NINE THREE RECENT VIRGINIA CODE CHANGES CONCERNING LOCAL, UH, ASAP PROGRAM ASAP.
THIS, THIS IS MORE OF AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S WANTED TO BRING TO LIGHT, UM, SOME INFORMATION, UH, THAT FRANKLY, UH, UH, THE, UH, CHESAPEAKE, UM, ASAP PROGRAMS DIRECTORS HERE AND I, THAT CAME OUTTA A DISCUSSION BETWEEN ME AND HIM A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE HE BROUGHT SOME OF THESE CODE SECTIONS TO MY ATTENTION.
BUT BASICALLY WHAT, UH, THE, UH, RECENTLY ADOPTED, UH, IT WAS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND NOW IT'S BEEN ENSHRINED IN CODE, BUT THERE'S SOME CONDITIONS AND NEW CODE SECTIONS THAT AFFECT THE LOCAL ASAP PROGRAMS. UM, ONE OF THOSE CODE SECTIONS 18.2 2 7, 3 0.4, UM, NOW MANDATES THAT EACH LOCALITY, UM, PARTICIPATE FINANCIALLY IN THE LOCAL ASAP PROGRAMS. UM, SO IN, IN THE PAST, UM, THE PROGRAMS HAVE COME TO THE BOARD AND REQUESTED FUNDING.
NOW IT WON'T BE SO MUCH OF A REQUEST AS IN A MANDATE FOR LOCALITIES TO CHIP IN ON THE COST OF THOSE.
AND AS A REMINDER, WE'RE PART OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ASAP, UM, ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S MACK, NORTH HAMPTON, VIRGINIA BEACH, AND NORFOLK.
UM, SO, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CHANGES.
THERE'S ALSO, UM, WITH THE, ANOTHER CODE SECTION 18.2, UH, DASH 2 7 3 0.6, THAT'S REQUIRING OF EACH LOCAL ASAP PROGRAM TO HAVE A PHYSICAL AGENT.
SO JUST LIKE A, A A 9 1 1 COMMISSION HAS A PHYSICAL AGENT.
NOW, CHESAPEAKE BAY ASAP HAS NOT APPROACHED THE COUNTY FOR IT TO BE IT'S PHYSICAL AGENT.
[01:40:01]
SEEMS MORE RESIDENT IN, IN ONE OF THE LARGER LOCALITIES ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE BAY.BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS, IS NOW BEING MA MANDATED BY THE STATE.
UM, SO JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THESE, UH, MR. ZAKI, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS HERE.
UM, YOU ALL WILL RECALL LAST TIME WE WERE TALKING ASAP WASN'T TALKING ABOUT MANDATES.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WORKING THROUGH AN ARRANGEMENT WHERE THE LOCAL PROGRAM WOULD HAVE, UH, OFFICE SPACE IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTHOUSE, WHICH WE DID ACCOMPLISH.
AND WE HAVE A LEASE WITH THEM NOW.
UM, BUT HE'S CERTAINLY HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND IF HE WANTS TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, HE'S WELCOME TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
MADAM CHAIR FIRST I HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, MR. CROCKETT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, MR. MASON, UH, HOW IS THE DECISION MADE AS FAR AS WHICH JURISDICTION IS THE, IS THE FISCAL AGENT? SO THAT'S GONNA BE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FOUR JURISDICTIONS THEMSELVES.
SO THE, SO THE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE CITY COUNCILS WILL HAVE TO VOTE TO AGREE TO THAT, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES.
UM, JUST TO ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT, OR, OR ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IS, UM, ASAPS IN GENERAL FOR A LONG TIME HAVE BEEN FULLY OFFENDER FUNDED, AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT PREVIOUSLY.
UM, WE, IT'S ABOUT $400 PER CLIENT.
THAT'S BEEN THE SAME COST FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS.
SO I WENT BACK AND DID SOME DIGGING IN OUR OLD FILES.
THE BUDGET WE HAVE NOW IS ABOUT $1.1 MILLION.
THE BUDGET WE HAD IN FISCAL YEAR IN 1990 WAS ABOUT $1.1 MILLION.
AND PART OF THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SOLELY OFFENDER FUNDED FOR SO LONG AND WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS, WE'VE HAD TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRY AND MAKE ENDS MEET.
AT THAT TIME, WE HAD 18 EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW, AND THAT WAS JUST FOR NORFOLK AND THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH.
AND NOW WE HAVE 12 FOR NORFOLK, THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH AND THE EASTERN SHORE.
AND THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MONEY FINANCIALLY IS LOOKING AT WHAT WE NEED TO NOT HAVE A DEFICIT.
LOOKING AT THE, THE AMOUNT OF REFERRALS WE GET FROM EACH LOCALITY AND THEN DIVIDING IT UP BASED ON, UM, THE PERCENTAGE OF REFERRALS THAT COME.
SO LET'S SAY WE HAD A DEFICIT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WE WERE EXPECTING, AND VIRGINIA BEACH GOT 75% OF THE REFERRALS, THEN WE'D EXPECT VIRGINIA BEACH TO CONTRIBUTE $75,000.
DO YOU HAVE NO COMMENT? GO AHEAD.
DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK FIGURE IS WHAT IT WOULD COST US? YEAH.
OKAY, WE'RE DOWN TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
HE HAS A WHOLE LITANY OF STUFF.
I'M GONNA FEEL THESE FROM, UH, THE CHAIR HERE SO WE CAN MOVE A LITTLE FASTER AND SCROLLING.
BUT MO MOST OF THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. SOME OF 'EM ARE REMINDERS.
UH, FIRST ITEM UNDER THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT IS JUST A REMINDER, AUGUST 25TH, UM, AT THE LIBRARY AT FIVE 30 IS YOUR NEXT JOINT WORK SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON, ON, UH, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DRAFT REVIEW.
UM, SO, UH, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ON YOUR RADAR.
IT'LL BE A SIMILAR FORMAT AS THE ONE THAT WE HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UH, AFTER THAT, UH, WE'D LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER SETTING, UH, NOVEMBER 4TH AS A WORK SESSION CENTERED ON, ON NORTHERN AAC WATER WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.
THAT THAT SUBJECT AND ALL THE DECISIONS AND INPUT THAT NEED TO COME FROM THE BOARD ON THAT'S JUST TOO BIG TO PUT ON ONE REGULAR AGENDA.
SO WE STAFF THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO CONSIDER A WORK SESSION SOLELY DEVOTED TO THAT.
AND IN LOOKING FORWARD AT POTENTIAL DATES, NOVEMBER 4TH WOULD ALIGN ITSELF.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE SAME DATE AS ONE OF YOUR WORK SESSIONS.
UM, AND IF THAT'S NOT, WE'LL ADVERTISE IT.
BUT ANYWAY, IT WORKS GOOD FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE IF, IF THE BOARD COULD, UH, CHECK ITS CALENDARS AND, AND SEE IF THAT'S A WORKABLE DATE AND WHETHER YOU DO WANNA HAVE, UM, SUCH A, A DEDICATED MEETING FOR IT.
I'VE BEEN UNDER THE WEATHER A LITTLE BIT, SO HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE REST OF THESE ITEMS BEFORE I LOSE IT, BUT, SO IS N NOVEMBER 4TH AT LEAST AT THIS POINT? UM, POSSIBLE FOR WEDNESDAY? YEAH.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE IT.
YEAH, THAT ONE'S ALREADY IN THE BOOKS.
UM, THESE ARE THE DATES THAT THE BOARD APPROVED WHEN IT HAD ITS FIRST JOINT PLANNING SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION FIVE 30
[01:45:01]
LIBRARY PARKLEY.WHAT ABOUT, UH, WE, WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED A-A-D-A-A PLACE, BUT WE'LL PROBABLY JUST HAVE IT IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS, BUT NOT TIME.
UH, WE'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE RESULTS, UM, FROM VDOT ONE, UH, ON SOME REQUESTS THE BOARD EITHER MADE OR WAS PART OF, IN THE CASE OF THE, THE SPEED STUDY FOR REDWOOD ROAD, WHICH WAS FROM AIRPORT, UM, ROAD TO TO ROUTE 13, UH, THAT DID COME BACK WITH SOME SPEED LIMIT CHANGES.
UH, VDO T'S GONNA, AS RECOMMENDED CHANGES THE SPEED LIMIT FROM 45 TO 40 ON, ON THAT ROAD.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, WE ALSO, UM, UH, WORK WITH THE TOWN OF ONLY TO, TO REQUEST SOME, UH, WATCH FOR CHILDREN'S SIGNS.
IT'S THE TOWN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO WRECK THOSE.
UM, BUT THEY DID KIND OF USE US AS A CONDUIT FOR THOSE SIGNS AND, AND THE TOWN'S TAKING IT FROM HERE.
UH, 10.5 IS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU'VE HAD ON, UH, THE LAST COUPLE MEETINGS.
UH, GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2027, UH, ON, UM, PULL THAT UP AUGUST 27TH, WHICH IS, UM, NOT THIS THURSDAY, BUT NEXT, UH, COUNTY STAFF AND, AND HOPEFULLY THE CHAIR WILL BE JOINING US TOO, WILL BE SITTING DOWN WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO GO OVER, UH, POTENTIAL LEGISLATION THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE, UM, SENATOR TO STUFF AND, AND DELEGATE BLOCKED SOME TAPE FORWARD, UM, INTO THE GENERAL SEMBLANCE NEXT SESSION.
UH, I'VE ATTACHED YOUR PRIORITIES FROM LAST YEAR.
MANY OF THOSE REMAIN VALID AND I WOULD THINK THE BOARD WILL WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THOSE.
BUT THERE'S, I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO ADD AND, AND THAT'S WHY I KEEP ASKING THE BOARD FOR SOME FEEDBACK ON THESE.
BUT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER, UM, JUST SOME, AND, AND I DON'T EXPECT THIS IS GONNA RESULT IN ANYTHING, BUT JUST SOME GENERAL BLANKET STATEMENTS BECAUSE, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF REVERSALS OUT THERE ON, UH, BETWEEN, UH, WHAT THE COUNTY IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR AND WHAT THE STATE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR AS, AS FAR AS COST SHIFTS, UM, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST, UM, THE LAST BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE, BY THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND SO WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A, A SORT OF A BLANKET STATEMENT ABOUT REVERSING THOSE, ALTHOUGH IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
AND THEN, AND THEN GETTING INTO LAND USE AND INSTRUCT, AT LEAST HAVE OUR STATE LAWMAKERS RESIST ANY STATE INITIATED EFFORT TO ROAD A LAND.
THE, THE COUNTY'S LAND USE AUTHORITY.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY RECENT STATE CODE CHANGES, PARTICULARLY IF YOU WANT SOME EXAMPLES, SITING OF SOLAR FACILITIES AND BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS. THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE STATE REALLY INTERVENING INTO THE LOCAL LAND USE MATTERS.
AND I, I WOULD THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT ANY LOCALITY WOULD, WOULD WANT TO OPPOSE.
UH, AGAIN, ONE VERY SPECIFIC CODE CHANGE I, WE, WE THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IS TO HAVE THE STATE CODE CHANGE SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO OFFER CERTAIN, UM, LAND USE TAXATION.
UH, THAT IT RIGHT NOW IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF A PROPERTY IS LOCATED, A CERTAIN PROP TYPE OF PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN AN A FD DISTRICT.
UM, WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THIS IS THE POSSIBILITY OF TRYING TO GET RID OF THE AFDS.
'CAUSE THEY REALLY ARE NOT SERVING ANY REAL USEFUL VALUE ANYMORE HERE IN MACK BECAUSE, UH, YOU CAN ACHIEVE LAND USE TAXATION FOR A PROPERTY WITHOUT IT BEING IN AN A FD IN MOST CASES.
THERE'S, AND, AND THAT'S, THERE'S SOME VERY SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS OF THAT, THAT WE WOULD TRY TO FIX WITH THIS TYPE OF CODE, UH, AMENDMENT.
BUT, UM, IT, IT, IT, IT IS JUST A LOT OF DELAYS THAT A HOMEOWNER, A PROPERTY OWNER ENCOUNTERS IF THEY'RE IN AN A FD AND THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE A A, A FAMILY SUBDIVISION OR, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND IT'S HARD, IT'S OFTEN VERY HARD WHEN, UH, FOLKS WANNA MAKE THOSE TYPE OF LAND U OR LAND CHANGES, UH, MAYBE CARVE A PARCEL UP OR SOMETHING.
IT'S, IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT APPROVALS HERE IN AKAMAK WHEN FRANKLY THE, UH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE APPROVED BECAUSE IT, THERE'S GENERALLY NOT OPPOSITION TO IT.
SO WHY ARE WE PUTTING, UM, HOMEOWNERS LANDOWNERS THROUGH THE PROCESS IF THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH BENEFIT? UM, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAD THE AFDS TODAY IS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS IT PUTS ON LAND USE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO FIX WITH A, AN ADJUSTMENT LIKE THIS.
AND, AND SUPERVISOR, UM, PHILLIPS IS ON ONE OF THE,
[01:50:01]
ON THE FD COMMITTEE AND HE, HE'S AWARE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES I'M TALKING ABOUT.SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TRYING TO REMEDY, UM, THROUGH, UH, COOPERATION WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS.
SOME, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS, UM, I THINK THE BOARD COULD, UM, SAY TO HELP SUPPORT CHILDCARE SERVICES, WHICH IS VITAL HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THE, THE STATE CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES, UH, HAVEN'T BEEN, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 2022.
THAT CERTAINLY DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR LOCAL PROVIDERS.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING MAYBE THE STATE SHOULD CONSIDER INCREASING THOSE SUBSIDIES.
UM, EVEN INDEXING THEM TO INFLATION IN SOME MANNER.
UM, AND, AND THEN JUST RECOGNIZING THERE'S A LOT OF CONDUITS OUT THERE, UH, WHERE A LOCALITY CAN PURSUE UNDER AN ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED GRANTS, BUT THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE CHILDCARE IS LIKE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, UM, PARTICULARLY HERE, UM, WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
SO THOSE WERE SOME IDEAS FOR POSSIBLE, UH, ADDITIONS TO YOUR STATE CODE, UM, TO, TO, UH, YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR, FOR YOUR, UM, STATE LEGISLATORS GOING INTO THE NEXT SESSION.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU YOU DON'T AGREE WITH, JUST LET ME KNOW NOW.
IF NOT HEARING ANY FEEDBACK, I'LL KIND OF ROLL THESE INTO THE PRIORITIES, IF THAT'S THE BOARD'S PLEASURE AND WE'LL JUST KEEP MOVING WITH IT.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THERE.
AND NOW'S THE TIME BECAUSE THE MEETING'S NEXT WEEK.
UM, TEN, TEN SIX IS, UH, SUPERVISOR PARKS HAD, UH, HAD MENTIONED TO ME THAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THE COUNTY TO EXPLORE GETTING, UM, NOAH WEATHER, UH, ALERT RADIOS AND, UH, OUR, UH, CAMPGROUNDS.
AND, UM, AND HE ACTUALLY MENTIONED IT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND I NEVER REALLY DID ANYTHING WITH IT FOR A WHILE, BUT I DID, UH, HAVE IT ON MY LIST AND I CONFERRED WITH, UH, DIRECTOR PRUITT.
AND, AND DIRECTOR PRUITT REMINDED ME THAT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WE HAD SOME EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MONEY THAT WE USED TO BUY THESE WEATHER ALERT RADIOS FOR THE SCHOOLS.
AND, AND WE INSTALLED THEM IN ALL THE SCHOOLS AND, AND THEY HAVE THOSE, UM, WE HAD, WE, I THOUGHT WE HAD A CACHE OF MAYBE A FEW LEFTOVER, WE ONLY HAD ONE LEFTOVER, BUT UM, WE, WE DID, WE DO HAVE ONE.
AND, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UNDER SEA RAYS LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN TALKING WITH THE LOCAL CAMPGROUNDS IN THE INCORPORATED AREAS.
AND WE'RE TAKING THE STEPS TO, WE'LL USE THE ONE WE GOT OR AT LEAST USE IT AS A SPARE AND WE'RE GONNA ORDER A FEW MORE.
AND SO THE IDEA IS TO GET ALL THE CAMPGROUNDS AND THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY, THE MORE REMOTE AREAS TO HAVE THESE, UH, IMPORTANT RADIO.
SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY FUNDING OR ANYTHING, WE'RE JUST A REPORT OUT THAT WE ARE TAKING THOSE ACTIONS TO FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, WITH SUPERVISOR PARKS BROUGHT UP, WHICH WAS A GOOD IDEA.
UM, ONE OTHER, JUST QUICK, UM, I DID TALK WITH THE CHAIRPERSON.
I WAS ASKED TO BE, UH, BECOME A, UM, A MEMBER OF THE VIRGINIA BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE FOR EARLY EDUCATION, WHICH IS VRE, UM, FOR THE, UH, READY REGION SOUTHEASTERN, UH, THEY, THEY RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE EFFORTS THE COUNTY'S DOING IN THE CHILDCARE SUBJECT MATTER AREA AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ME ON THIS REGIONAL, UM, BOARD.
AND BEFORE I, UH, SAID ANYTHING AS FAR AS YAY OR NAY ASKED THE CHAIRPERSON WHERE SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD FIT, IT'S VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
THEY TEND TO ONLY LAST 30 MINUTES AND THEY'RE HELD QUARTERLY.
SO, UH, SHE GREEN-LIGHTED IT AND I'VE, UM, I I'M NOW ON THE BOARD.
SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO PASS THAT ALONG.
THE ONLY OTHER I HAVE IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, UM, THE, UH, REGISTRATION FOR THE VACO ANNUAL MEETING IS, IS COMING UP, I THINK IT OPENS UP AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
SO ANY OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN, IN GOING CONTACT TINA, UM, SO THAT SHE COULD START TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENT, REMEMBER WE ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN ALLOCATION OF, OF ATTENDEES FOR THAT MEETING AND WE, WE NEED TO PROVIDE DECO WITH FEEDBACK ON WHO'S GOING AND WHO'S NOT.
AND THAT CONCLUDES, UH, MY REPORT THIS EVENING.
THAT BRINGS US DOWN TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR'S COMMENT, PERIOD.
MR. HU, I MADAM THE WASHINGTON.
YES, I DO HAVE A THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
I DO HAVE A, A COMMENT, UH, AS WELL AS THE REQUEST.
UM, UH, I'M GONNA SPEAK, UM, TOWARD WHAT THE YOUNG LADY WAS HEARING TONIGHT.
[01:55:01]
RIEVES MM-HMMUM, I THINK I BROUGHT IT UP THE LAST TIME AT THE BOARD MEETING THAT I HAD RECEIVED SOME PHONE CALLS MM-HMM
ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OVER AT THE JAIL.
WHAT, AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS I WANNA MAKE IS I WORK, I WORKED FOR A PO COMPANY FOR 40 YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS.
AND, UH, WHEN WE BROUGHT THOSE BIRDS IN, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE GONNA PROCESS 'EM, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE GONNA SLAUGHTER 'EM, WE HAD TO DO IT IN A HUMANE WAY.
AND WE HAD TO PUT THEM IN A COOLING PLACE IN A COOLING SHED TO KEEP THEM COOL SO THAT WE COULD ELIMINATE DOAS MM-HMM
UH, AS WELL AS IN THE WINTERTIME, THE TRAILERS THAT PICKED UP THE CHICKENS TO BRING THEM, THEY WOULD PUT SIDEBOARDS ON TO KEEP SOME OF THE COLD AIR OUT SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T FREEZE IN, IN, IN TRANSIT.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW WE GOT THESE INMATES IN THERE, THEY'RE WAITING TO GO TO UP THROUGH A PROCESS, BUT I STILL REAL FEEL AS THOUGH WE GOT TO STILL TREAT THEM HUMANELY WHILE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW I COULD SEE, OR WE COULD SEE THE RECORDS OF, OF THE TEMPERATURES AND THINGS THAT'S BEING MAINTAINED ON THE INSIDE, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE REQUESTS I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TOUR MYSELF OF THE INSIDE OF THAT JAIL FACILITY.
YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO WHAT SOMEONE TELL ME VERSUS SEEING IT FOR MYSELF.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT AS WELL AS MY REQUEST.
UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR STAFF CAN, UM, STAFF CAN CONTACT THE SHERIFF AND, AND ARRANGE FOR THOSE THINGS, I BELIEVE.
AND AS THE BOARD'S LIAISON TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, I'D LIKE TO ALSO, IF, IF MR. WASHINGTON GETS A TOUR, I'D LIKE TO ALSO GO AT THE SAME TIME.
WE HAVE TWO SUPERVISORS, ME SUPERVISORS.
WELL, BEFORE I COULD EVEN GET IT OUT, SHE'S REMINDING ME.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL ARRANGE THAT ANY BOARD MEMBER WHO WANTS TO TAKE THE TOUR, GETS THE TOUR WITHOUT CREATING A PUBLIC MEETING THAT CAN GO ONE BY ONE.
UM, MR. MCC CLARK, CAN YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I THINK IT'S MY TURN.
UH, I WOULD LIKE MAYBE TO, UH, NOT TO PUSH BACK ON MR. WEISER'S REQUEST, BUT, UH, MAYBE WE COULD FIND A WAY TO DISCUSS ENCLOSED SESSION, UH, WHAT, UH, WHAT WE SHOULD DO BECAUSE, UH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UH, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE ARE STEPPING INTO SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GET US INTO SOMETHING ELSE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
AND MADAM COUNTY ATTORNEY, IS THAT POSSIBLE TO DO THAT? CERTAINLY, YES.
MR. UH, MR. MADAM CHAIR, COULD WE, UH, SCHEDULE THAT, UH, CLOSED SESSION? I, NOT TONIGHT, BUT WE CAN'T SCHEDULE THAT.
WOULD THAT BE OKAY?
UH, STAFF, WOULD YOU PUT THAT ON? OKAY, MS. JOHNSON? NO PROBLEM.
JUST, UH, UM, ON A BROILER SIDE, I GUESS YOU'D CALL IT A BRIGHTER SIDE, BUT, UH, ON, UH, SEPTEMBER 11TH, THE TOWN OF SHTE AND THE SHTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, I'M PUTTING ON A, UH, CEREMONY AT, UH, ROBERT REED PARK.
AND IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME, I'D JUST RECOMMEND YOU CALL THE TOWN OFFICE AND TELL 'EM YOU'D LIKE TO BE THERE.
IT'S GONNA START AT 6:00 PM THAT'S A FRIDAY EVENING.
IT'S NOT GONNA LAST TOO LONG, BUT IT'S, UH, 25, 20 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT, UH, TERRIBLE INCIDENT.
I GOTTA BRAIN FREEZE AGAIN, MR. REPRESENTATIVE OF, UH, DISTRICT FOUR PARK
I THINK, UM, SO I DO HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
UM, ONE IS, I DON'T KNOW, I BROUGHT THIS, I WANNA BORE EVERYBODY 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
BUT I GOT A LETTER, MANY OTHERS HAVE TOO, AND CONTACTED ME FROM VERIZON.
AND VERIZON, UH, COMES OUT AND WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR UPGRADES.
AND THEY'RE SAYING AS A RESULT, THEY'RE ENDING THE PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE, WHICH MOST OF YOU KNOW IS YOUR COPPER LINE OR LANDLINE.
UM, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THIS IS COUNTYWIDE.
[02:00:01]
YOU KNOW, THEIR OPTIONS ARE THEY'RE GONNA GO TO CELL PHONE.YOU CAN DO, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, BROADBAND.
BUT MY DISTRICT, AND I KNOW SOME OTHERS, WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE'VE PROVEN, BY THE WAY, WITH MULTIPLE SURVEYS, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATION AND SERVICE.
UH, SO THAT IS VERY CONCERNING.
THEY DO, UM, I DON'T THINK, UH, ANYTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER OCTOBER.
THEY REFERENCED THE FCC UH, FINDINGS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THESE LETTERS WERE DATED AFTER THE FCC REFERENCE THEY PROVIDED, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD LOOK.
UH, WHAT IN ESSENCE, THEY, THE FCC, THEY'RE SAYING IS GIVING THEM THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR STAFF TO CONTACT VERIZON, AND LET'S SEE IF A VERIZON REPRESENTATIVE CAN COME HERE AND EXPLAIN, UH, THEIR PLAN, THEIR INTENT, AND IF THERE'S ANY, UM, PLAN BY THEM TO SUPPORT US FOR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GONNA, NOT SO MUCH COMMUNITIES, BUT AREAS THAT WILL HAVE NO COMMUNICATIONS ALTERNATIVE.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT OCTOBER, 2026? THAT IS CORRECT.
WOULD YOU LIKE THE LETTER? YOU DIDN'T GET ONE? NO.
SO, UM, WE'LL PASS THAT ONE AROUND.
I THINK, UH, THE, THE AMAZING TURNOUT WE HAD EARLIER TONIGHT AND, AND THE, THE ONGOING, THE INTERACTIONS THAT MANY OF US HAVE HAD WITH THE PUBLIC OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS OVER THE, THE FORMER RESOLUTION.
UH, FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS, ONE, IT'S GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE TURN OUT AND GET INVOLVED AND PAYING ATTENTION, BUT I THINK FROM A BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE, IT REINFORCES OUR NEED TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO GET THE FACTUAL STORY OUT.
PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR OPINIONS, THAT'S GREAT, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A BASELINE TO START WITH.
AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS, THERE WAS CONFUSION THAT WASN'T THE CASE.
AND AS WE SEE THAT COMPILED AND, AND IT'S CAUSED THE, THE STAFF AND EVERYONE A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF, A LOT OF ANGST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND AS WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, I THINK MIKE MASON IS A GREAT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, BUT HE CAN, HE HAS GOT TOO MANY HATS AND WE NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO BE ABLE TO HELP IN THIS ARENA.
AND I WOULD ALSO, LOOKING AT DIRECTOR PRUITT, SAY WE WOULD WANT THAT PERSON ALSO TO BE WORKING WITH OR PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.
ADD MR. HARRIS, JACKIE PHILLIPS.
PHILLIPS, NOTHING, NOTHING TO ADD.
YOU FINISHED? YOU GOOD? YOU'RE GOOD? I'M GOOD.
UM, I WANT TO, UM, EVIDENTLY, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING THROUGH A MEDICAL ISSUE THAT'S EVIDENT I'M IN THIS WHEELCHAIR, BUT ON MONDAY THE 24TH, I'M GOING TO SEE A NEUROSURGEON.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW THE WORTH THE PRAYER, CALL MY NAME AND PRAY FOR ME AS I GO TO THAT NEUROSURGEON ON THE 24TH.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED AND IS NOT SO SERIOUS.
BUT I DO ASK YOUR PRAYERS ON THE 24TH.
THAT TAKES US TO BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION THAT SECOND, WE MOVE PROPER SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR THAT BE NO BY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? THAT MOTION IS CARRIED.
I CERTIFY THE PAYABLES, PAY THE BILLS.
OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED, AND I THINK WE DO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION.
UH, ANYBODY WHO'S READING, I MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
PURSUIT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 1 1 A THREE FOR DISCUSSION OR CON CONSIDERATION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR OF THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC HELD REAL PROPERTY LOCATED NEAR THE TOWN OF MACK, VIRGINIA.
WITH DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION ON NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
SECOND, LET REMOVE A PROPER SECOND THAT WE GO IN CLOSE SESSION FOR THE REASON THAT WAS JUST STATED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
OPPOSED? AND THEN MOTION HAS CARRIED DO IT AGAIN.
[02:05:01]
CLOSED SESSION CERTIFICATION CERTIFIED TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE.I ONLY, BUT, UH, PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS.
LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER VIRGINIA LAW AND ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED SESSION WAS CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED IN THE MEETING.
THAT BRINGS US OUT A CLOSED SESSION.
YOU HAVE ONE MORE THING ON OUR AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.