* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:06] GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THE HOUR HAS ARRIVED FOR US TO COMMENCE OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR THE COUNTY OF SIR FOR MAY 2ND, 2024. WE ARE ELATED [Invocation] TO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT, UH, REVEREND MASON, TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATIONS. WE'RE GONNA ASK HER NOW IF SHE WOULD ADDRESS THE DANCE AND COME HAVE A WORD OF PRAYER WITH US THIS EVENING. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, . GOOD EVENING. EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. AND I'M JUST SO GLAD TO BE HERE FOR ALL OF US AND, UH, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR COUNTY. LET US PRAY. DEAR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO COME THIS EVENING TO SHARE A WORD AND TO ASK THE BLESSINGS UPON OUR BOARD. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY THAT WE LIVE IN, THIS HISTORICAL COUNTY THAT WE ADORE AND LOVE BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO ARE ON THE BOARD WHO HAVE THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE IN SO MANY AREAS. WE THANK YOU FOR, WE JUST LOVE YOU. AND WE JUST KNOW THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO ENLIST EACH OTHER AND TO DO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO DO, WE THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'D HAVE US TO BE. WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING OF EACH AND EVERY PERSON. AND MAY WE JUST CONTINUE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND TO BE MINDFUL OF THE CITIZENS THAT WE DO COME AGAINST, COME FOR, AND COME TO REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE TOGETHER. AND IN THIS MEETING, MAY YOU JUST BLESS US. GIVE THEM A MIND OF WISDOM, GIVE THEM A MIND OF LOVE. GIVE THEM A MIND TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN YOUR BEHALF. AND WE ARE NOT TOO INTERESTED IN WHO IS RIGHT. WE ARE MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT IS RIGHT. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS. BLESS US ONE AND ALL IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. [Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption] WE NOW CALL THE MEETING OFFICIALLY TO ORDER AND WE WILL NOW OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. LET US NOW STAND FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE. OUR PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION, GOD, LIBERTY, LORD, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU OUR AGENDA FOR OUR MEETING ON TONIGHT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OF THE AGENDA? AND IF THERE BE NONE, WE WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA FOR OUR MEETING TONIGHT. CHAIR. MOVING TO BE, UH, APPROVE THE AGENDA AS LISTED. HAVE A MOTION OF A SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OUR AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. OUR BOARD MEMBERS, WE DO HAVE A LIGHT AGENDA TONIGHT. UH, WE HAVE [Consent Items] BEFORE US FIRST OUR CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE FIVE CONSENT ITEMS. FIRST WILL BE THE APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT MINUTES FROM OUR APRIL 4TH MEETING, APPROVAL OF DRAFT, UH, MINUTES FROM OUR WORK SESSION APRIL THE 17TH. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, A RESOLUTION DESIGNATED IN JUNE 15TH, UH, WORLD ELDERLY ABUSE AWARENESS DAY, AND OUR SOLID SOLID WASTE SITE PAVING PROJECTS IN WHICH WE DISCUSSED IN OUR WORK SESSIONS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR CONSENT ITEMS TONIGHT? IF THERE BE NO QUESTIONS ON CONSENT, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT OUR CONSENT ITEMS. SO MOVED. HAVE A SECOND, SECOND PROPERTY MOVE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE. AYE. OPPOSE, OUR CONSENT ITEMS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AND OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS [County Administrators Report] REPORT. FIRST ITEM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY MS. RENEE CHAPLIN. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MS. ROLLINS, MS. PERKINS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. FIRST I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT TOMORROW EVENING WILL BE THE FIRST OPENING OF THE FARMER'S MARKET. I THINK IT'S GOING TO OPEN AT FOUR O'CLOCK. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS ON YOUR AGENDA SINCE WE HAVE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND FUN FOR ALL. UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I HAVE BEFORE YOU A, UH, COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. MAY I APPROACH YOU? YES, I DO. THREE MARKETPLACE. WOW. I WANTED TO HAVE THAT. SO FIVE DELIVERABLE FOR ALL . THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, I WANT TO PASS THIS DOWN SO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS CAN SEE THIS. THIS IS OUR [00:05:01] CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR OUR MARKETPLACE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME. AND WE HAVE GOTTEN IT COMPLETED. LET THE EACH BOARD MEMBER SEE THAT. YES. SO ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN GOTTEN. THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS DONE THEIR CERTIFICATION AS WELL. UH, I THIS WEEK UNDERSTAND THAT THE POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS WENT IN AND THERE'S SOME LAST MINUTE TOUCHUPS THAT THEY'RE DOING, UH, STOCKING ALL THE THINGS WE'LL BEGIN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THEY'RE CHECKING REFRIGERATION AND ALL OF THOSE ITEMS, BUT IT'S GETTING SIDING. AND I TALKED TO MR. WHITE TODAY, HE SAID TO TELL YOU FOLKS NO LATER THAN THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE, MAYBE EARLIER. ALRIGHT, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. SO HE'S, HE'S WORKING ON IT, BUT HE SAID THAT'S WORST CASE SCENARIO. ALRIGHT, SO I THINK MANY OF YOU RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO THE SURY COUNTY CULTURAL TRAIL DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROJECT, PROJECT THAT'S GONNA BE ON MAY THE 16TH. AND THAT IS THE TRAIL LAUNCH. AND I KNOW THAT, UM, IT IS BY, UH, INVITATION ONLY. PLEASE, UH, RESPOND TO THAT SO THAT WE'LL KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE. IT'S AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, THIS, THIS MONTH, I KNOW WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, A LOT OF YOU FOLLOW OUR TOURISM PAGE. UH, WE HAD A LAWN AND GARDEN MONTH, A HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK EARTH DAY PROMOTION OF HIKING EVENT. AND THE KAYAKING EVENT WENT VERY WELL, UH, UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE. THAT WAS ON APRIL THE 27TH AND 28TH. UM, WE ALSO HAVE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND MYSELF, THE FAM TOUR, MAY THE EIGHTH. UM, BASICALLY THIS IS A, A TOUR TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER AND ALL AROUND THE AREA TO HELP THEM BE FAMILIAR WITH OUR AMENITIES. UH, AND A LOT OF THESE ARE CONCIERGE FOLKS THAT COME FROM, UH, THE DIFFERENT HOTELS THAT REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITIES. SO IT'S A REALLY GOOD MARKETING EVENT AND UH, PAT DOES A GOOD JOB WITH THAT. UM, WE ARE PLANNING OUR SECOND LUNCH AND LEARN AGRITOURISM WORKSHOP. AND THAT IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED IN THE MONTH OF JUNE. WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THE DATE SET IN STONE YET, SO I WON'T SAY IT 'CAUSE I'M WAITING ON ONE OF OUR, UH, GUEST PANELISTS THAT WILL BE THERE. UH, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT SET A FORMAL, UH, PLANNING COMMITTEE YET FOR THE AGRITOURISM SUMMIT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING IN THE FALL. THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS MONTH. SO YOU WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL. AND I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST OF BEING A PART OF THAT AS WELL. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAD 39 GUESTS THAT ATTENDED THE, UH, UH, VISITOR CENTER LAST MONTH, WHICH I THOUGHT THAT WAS, THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD MONTH. THINGS ARE STARTING TO GET BUSY. AND ON THE WORKFORCE NOTE, WE ARE HAVING, UH, JUNE THE 11TH, 12TH, AND, UH, 14TH WE'RE GONNA BE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. AND I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE DOMINION INTERNSHIP THAT WE DO. UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL STUDENTS THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, VERY WELL RECEIVED. UM, I HAVE ONE OTHER THING THAT'S, I WANTED TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU, AND I'LL ASK IF MR. HORSE WADE WILL JOIN ME ON THIS. UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, AND I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS BEEN WORKING LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE WITH THE, UM, WAYFAIR, UH, SIGNAGE PROGRAM. AND THIS PROGRAM'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES, UH, THAT VDOT HAS IMPLEMENTED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT HAS MADE IT A CHALLENGE. EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT. YEAH. UM, 'CAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, SOME AT THE ENGINEERING FIRM AND BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES, THE PROGRAM HAS GONE ON, UH, FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. AND WE ARE NOW TO THE POINT WE'RE NOT QUITE AT 80% APPROVAL BY VDOT, BUT WE KNEW THAT THE APA FUNDING WAS COMING UP AND WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND TRY TO PUSH THROUGH THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET WHAT WE NEED TO GET FROM THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PIECE. AND THEN OF COURSE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE FABRICATED. SO WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HEADS UP. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MR. WADE WANTS TO ADD HERE? UM, BUT HERE IS THE DESIGN OF THE SIGNS. AND WE STARTED OUT, I THINK WITH FIVE SIGNS IS WHAT WE THOUGHT SIX SIGNS TO BEGIN WITH. BUT AFTER VDOT GOT, UH, FINISHED WITH THE REDESIGN AND ALL OF THE, UH, REQUIREMENTS WE'RE UP TO 10 SIGNS. SO THIS WOULD BE WHAT WE ARE PRESENTING THIS EVENING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK. WE'VE GOTTA PUSH IT THROUGH TO GET FROM 80 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT TO BE ABLE TO START THE FABRICATION OF THIS SIGN. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT WAS TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO GET TO 80% WITH VOT APPROVAL. SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE SO FAR, AND WE ARE WORKING VERY, VERY DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO GET TO THAT JUNE 30. SO WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT, UH, COST FIGURES. YOU KNOW, WE, WE DID SOME PRELIMINARY, UM, OUTLOOKS ON WHAT, WHAT THOSE COST FIGURES MAY LOOK LIKE, UM, TO WORKING WITH, UH, UM, ON A, ON A PER SIGN [00:10:01] BASIS. ORIGINALLY WE WERE LOOKING AT, UH, SIX SIGNS. IT WAS GONNA COST BETWEEN 15 TO $20,000 PER SIGN. UM, A LOT OF THOSE FIGURES, UH, COVERED THE FABRICATION OF HER SIGN, THE ACTUAL POLES FOR THE SIGN. UM, AND INSTALLATION IS A NUMBER OF CHARGES, PROBABLY ABOUT, PROBABLY ABOUT 15 TO 20,000 PER SIGN WAS THE ESTIMATE. AND IT, WE, WE FIGURED TOO WITH THE NUMBER OF SIGNS THAT ACTUALLY COST PER SIGN MAY ACTUALLY COME DOWN, UM, DUE TO HAVING THE NUMBER OF SIGNS. UM, SO THAT, WE'LL, WE WILL LOOK AT THAT AGAIN. OUR, HONESTLY, WE, WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT OUT FOR RFP OR, OR OUR, UM, OR FOR OUT TO BID, UM, BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY, UM, START THIS PROCESS. BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE, I THINK MAYBE BUDGETING, I THINK UP TO $200,000 FOR PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK AT AND, AND, AND INCLUDING IN OUR CIP PROCESS, PROBABLY PHASING IT OVER ABOUT MAYBE A, A 2 2 2 YEAR PERIOD. AND I'LL JUST GO OVER TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE. THIS IS THE FINAL SLIDE, BUT THIS IS THE ROUTE THAT IS PROPOSED FOR ALL OF THE SIGNS. SO I WANTED YOU TO KIND OF SEE, UH, THE RHYME AND REASON THAT VDOT HAS GOT THIS LAID OUT. AND THEY ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE. UH, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS. I GOTTA BE HONEST, THIS IS MY FIRST, UH, PROJECT LIKE THIS AND I AM SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH INFORMATION THAT VDOT GETS INTO WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS. SO WE'LL BE GOING OUT AND TAKING SOME PICTURES OF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UH, TRENCHING AND ALL BESIDE WHERE THE SIGNS GO SO THEY CAN DO THE MEASUREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS CORRECT. BUT, UH, IT IS VERY DETAILED. NOT ASKING FOR ANY DECISION THIS EVENING. JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IT AND 'CAUSE WE WILL BE PRESENTING SOME THINGS TO YOU LATER ON AS WE MAKE OUR JUNE 30 DATE. OKAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MS. CHAP. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON PRESENTATION? UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK I REALLY LIKE THE SIGNS. I THINK THE DESIGN'S REALLY NICE. THEY, THEY'RE LOVELY AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THEM. DID YOU SAY THAT THE, THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS ON PERHAPS PUTTING IN RFPS FOR LOWERING THAT COST? THAT 15 TO $20,000 SEEMS A LOT PER SIGN? I NO, WE ARE, SO YOU ARE, SO WE ARE, YEAH. OKAY. WITH THAT AMOUNT WE ARE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR A FIT. IF WE DID NOT OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. JUST SHOCKED ME A LITTLE. HE'S BEHIND US SO HE COULD SNAP US UP. I CAN MAKE HIM FOR LESS THAN THAT THOUSAND. AND, AND MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY ADD TO, UM, THE QUESTION. SO, UM, AS MS. CHAPLIN AND MR. WADE REPORTED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, HAS TO BE THOUGHT OUT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO. UM, OBVIOUSLY IN TERMS OF A CIP THAT'S JUST ANOTHER PROJECT, UM, BASED ON A MYRIAD OF PROJECTS THAT, UH, IF IT'S DECISION OF THE BOARDS TO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD THIS, BUT WE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. SO THERE'S THE DECISION OR THE, THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD TO SAY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT THAT'S SUCH COMMUNITY FACING, UM, FOR A PROJECT SUCH AS THIS. SO TWO YEARS AGO PERHAPS MAYBE THE COST WAS NOT AS MUCH, BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW MUCH MORE COST, UH, THINGS COST, UM, EVEN IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. BUT JUST THE SAME, UH, WE JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE YOU A, A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF IT. AND CERTAINLY WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND ANY DECISIONS THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE BOARD SO CHOOSES, UH, FOR STAFF TO PROCEED IN GETTING DONE. THANK YOU MS. ROLLS, OUR BOARD MEMBERS. NEXT WE HAVE OUR REPORTS, WE HAVE OUR BILLING OFFICIALS REPORTS. OH NO, EXCUSE ME. I I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT ACROSS. GO AHEAD MS. ROSS. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. I WAS COMING. AND I ONLY HAVE JUST, UH, THREE THINGS TO MENTION REAL QUICK. UM, I WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED IN APRIL CLEANUP MONTH ACTIVITIES. UM, I DO KNOW THAT THE CHAMBER OF OF OF COMMERCE DID DO DO AN EVENT. UM, SO JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO, UM, TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SARAH BEAUTIFUL DURING APRIL CLEAN OF MONTH. I WANT TO THANK, UM, THE SARA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO COORDINATED WITH, UM, RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL TO BRING SOME INMATES IN TO HELP CLEAN UP CHAPEL BOTTOM AREA. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO COME THROUGH THAT, BUT IT IS A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. AND THE PICKUP LOADS OF TRASH, UM, THAT WAS SHARED, UM, THAT WAS PICKED UP IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE. SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND, AND WE DON'T THINK IT'S OUR CITIZENS THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S DEFINITELY LITTERING THE AREAS. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE NOT JUST CLEANUP IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, BUT CERTAINLY ALL YEAR LONG. AND ALSO TO THANK OUR SARA COUNTY SANITATION DEPARTMENT WHO ALWAYS GO OUT THAT EXTRA MILE ON THOSE SATURDAYS TO BRING [00:15:01] THE BINS IN. SO THE DIFFERENT TOWNS, UH, CAN CERTAINLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UM, THOSE CLEANUP MONTH ACTIVITIES AS WELL. UM, I ALSO WANT TO REPORT THAT ON YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND, UM, VACO REGION ONE IN FOUR MEETINGS. UM, AND OF COURSE, AS I HAD REPORTED ON LAST YEAR, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL COUNTIES TO DISCUSS WITH THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES REPRESENTATIVES AND ALSO THE DELEGATES THAT ARE PRESENT ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES. AND OF COURSE, IN NO SURPRISE WE HAD COMMUNITIES, UH, FROM RURAL, MOSTLY RURAL COMMUNITIES THERE REPRESENTED. AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY COUNTERPARTS IN THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT SOMETIMES WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY DO FACE SOME OF THE SAME GNARLY ISSUES THAT WE IN SURY COUNTY FACE AS BEING A RURAL COMMUNITY. AND I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A POP QUIZ, I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND TELL YOU SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WERE ALL TALKED ABOUT. AND OF COURSE THIS HELPS TO FORMULATE, UM, VACO POLICY. UM, SO THEY CAN BE AWARE OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING LOCALITIES. SO THEY CAN TAKE THIS TO, UM, THE GERMAN ASSEMBLY WHEN IT'S THAT TIME. BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS, AND WE SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A REAL ISSUE, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITIES. NOT JUST THE LACK OF IT, BUT EVEN THE COST. EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF EVEN TO BUILD A MODULAR HOME, UM, IN 2024. AND ALSO THAT'S REAL, AND THIS WAS, UH, TALKED ABOUT, BUT A COUPLE LOCALITIES IS, OF COURSE HOUSING NEEDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS AND TEACHERS, UM, IS A REAL ISSUE THAT A LOT OF ALL LOCALITIES ARE TALKING ABOUT. 'CAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE FIELDS ARE HARD TO ATTRACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF HOUSING. OBVIOUSLY THE COMPENSATION BOARD AND POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE COUNTY FOR STATE OFFICERS CONTINUES TO ESCALATE IN COST. YOU HAVE A LOT OF LOCALITIES, INCLUDING SIRI, WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S ONLY A PORTION OF THOSE STATE FUNDED POSITIONS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE COMPENSATION BOARD. AND THE MORE, UH, THOSE COSTS GO UP, THE MORE LOCALITIES HAVE TO FIT THEIR BILL. SO WE ARE ALWAYS ADVOCATING AT THE GERMAN ASSEMBLY, PLEASE, PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE STATE, UM, POSITIONS, UM, THAT INCREASE, UH, THAT CONTINUES TO ESCALATE COSTS FOR LOCALITIES. FOR AN EXAMPLE, EVEN SMALL SARA COUNTY, I WOULD USE OUR DISPATCH FOR AN EXAMPLE. WHEN YOU HAVE SIX DISPATCHERS FOR A 24 HOUR OPERATION, IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. SO WE HAVE ADDITIONAL DISPATCHERS, UM, THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR FULLY FUNDED BY THE COUNTY. SO THAT IS, UM, JUST ONE EXAMPLE. VDO FUNDING NOT ENOUGH MONEY GIVEN TO VDO OR RURAL TRANSPORTATION SECONDARY ROAD MAINTENANCE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ADVOCATED FOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATE IS RECOGNIZING THAT VDOT DOES NEED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO HELP WITH OUR ROADS. AND OF COURSE, OTHER TRANSPORTATION ISSUES WAS BROUGHT BY LOCALITIES, SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION COSTS, AND ASIAN SCHOOL FACILITIES. WOW. UM, OUT OF THE 11 OR 12 LOCALITIES PRESENT, I KNOW AT LEAST SEVEN OR EIGHT LOCALITIES MENTION THIS AS AN ISSUE. UM, THE COST TO BUILD A SCHOOL IS ABSOLUTELY ASTRONOMICAL. AND OF COURSE THAT YOU DO HAVE AGING FACILITIES IN THE WAKE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT DO LOSE SCHOOL POPULATION. UM, OF COURSE SOLAR FARMS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOPICS AS WELL IN TERMS OF KEEPING THAT DECISION, MAKING AUTHORITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, UH, POPULATION DECLINE IN RURAL COUNTIES. UM, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP. AND WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, OF COURSE I SPOKE ON THE COMPOSITE INDEX AS WELL AS ONE OR TWO OF MY OTHER COUNTERPARTS AS WELL. SO I DID SHARE THE ARTICLE WITH YOU ALL IN TERMS OF, UM, JUST HOW DIS APPROPRIATE THAT FUNDING FORMULA IS AND HOW THE STATE, UH, I'M PLEASED TO SAY IS MAKING SOME GROUND INTO LOOKING AT THAT FORMULA BECAUSE THEY DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A DIS DISPROPORTIONATE FORMULA, ESPECIALLY AS PERTAINS TO COMMUNITIES THAT DO HAVE A HIGH POVERTY LEVEL, HIGH POVERTY LEVEL FOR THE STUDENTS WHO DO RECEIVE, UM, FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. SO WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AS WELL. UM, PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE, UM, WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP, UM, AS, AS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT. AND I DO BELIEVE THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. UH, WE KNOW THAT THE COST FOR RESCUE SERVICES, THE COST TO PURCHASE A FIRE TRUCK AND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THE COST TO PURCHASE AMBULANCES ALL CONTINUE TO RISE. AND IN THE WAKE OF, UM, DECREASES IN EVERYBODY'S VOLUNTEER BASE. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS BRINGS AN ADDITIONAL COST TO LOCALITIES. UM, MADE THE LIST WAS SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD JUST STARTED TO WORK ON AND WHAT WOULD BE COMING TO YOU FROM MS. UH, PERKINS AND MR. PHELPS. WHAT ALSO MADE THE LIST WAS THE NEW DRUG BOX PROGRAM. SO THOSE WERE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, WERE [00:20:01] TALKED ABOUT AT THE MEETING. I JUST KIND OF WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT IT'S ALL GOOD THAT SOMETIMES THAT WE CAN HEAR, WE CAN GET AROUND THE TABLE AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE COLLECTIVELY HELPING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. JUST WANT TO ADD REAL QUICK THAT WE DO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK ON THE BUDGET. UM, THE EMAIL FOR BUDGET COMMENTS REMAINS AT BUDGET@SURYCOUNTYVA.GOV. UM, MAY 15TH IS OUR WORK SESSION AT 6:30 PM AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT. RAISE YOUR HAND TEAM MEMBERS, SURY COUNTY EMPLOYEES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THANK YOU FOR BEING PRESENT ON THIS EVENING. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU MS. ROLLINS. UH, THANK YOU FOR UPDATING US ON, UH, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR NEIGHBOR COMMUNITIES AS WE FACE THE SIMILAR ISSUES HERE AS THEY FACE THE SIMILAR, SIMILAR ISSUES WE DO HERE IN SURY COUNTY, UH, BOARD MEMBERS. [Reports] WE HAVE, UH, NEXT OUR BILL OFFICIALS REPORT THAT IS IN YOUR PACKAGE FOR REVIEW. AND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE [For Your Information] OUR INVESTMENT LETTERS THAT'S IN YOUR PACKAGE AS WELL FOR REVIEW. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS WITH OUR REPORT FROM BUILDING OFFICIALS IN INVESTMENT LETTER? IF THERE BE NONE, [Public Comments] WE WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE WILL TURN, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY, YES. TO, TO, UH, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO GIVE OUR OPENING STATEMENT FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, RULES FOR CITIZEN COMMENT, PERIOD. TO ENSURE THAT THE AFFAIRS OF THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES MAY BE CONDUCTED IN AN ORDERLY MANNER TO ENSURE THAT ALL PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON MATTERS PERTINENT TO IT ARE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. TO PERMIT PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE, TO OBSERVE AND HEAR THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD WITHOUT DISTRACTION AND TO PERMIT TO THE FULL FULLEST EXTENT OF THE BOARD FULLEST EXTENT THE BOARD TO CONDUCT COUNTY BUSINESS WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTION. THE FOLLOWING RULES ARE ESTABLISHED. A, EACH PERSON DESIRING TO SPEAK MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE OF THE OPENING OF THE CITIZENS COMMENT PERIOD ON THE AGENDA. B, EACH SPEAKER SHALL BE LIMITED TO A PERIOD OF THREE MINUTES PER COMMENT PERIOD. WHEN TWO MINUTES HAVE PASSED, THE SPEAKER WILL BE REMINDED THAT THERE IS ONE MINUTE REMAINING. C SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP MAY USE THEIR ALLOTTED TIME ONLY FOR THEMSELVES AND MAY NOT DONATE THEIR TIME TO OTHER SPEAKERS. D SPEAKERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO USE AUDIO, VISUAL MATERIALS OR OTHER VISUAL DISPLAYS, BUT MAY PRESENT WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS. E COMMENTS MUST BE CONFINED TO MATTERS, GERMANE TO THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND SHALL NOT BE CUMULATIVE OR REPETITIVE. THE BOARD MAY PREVENT OR DISCONTINUE COMMENTS FROM ANY SPEAKER THAT ARE IRRELEVANT. F SPEAKERS SHOULD ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH DECORUM, LOUD, BOISTEROUS, AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY SHOULD BE AVOIDED AS WELL AS OTHER WORDS OR ACTS TENDING TO EVOKE VIOLENCE OR DEEMED TO BE A BREACH OF THE PEACE. INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT ABIDE BY THIS POLICY AFTER A WARNING WILL FORFEIT ANY REMAINING SPEAKER TIME AND BE ASKED TO RETURN TO THEIR SEAT OR LEAVE THE MEETING. G THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD OR TIME FOR DIALOGUE WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS. QUESTIONS WHICH ARE RAISED DURING A COMMENT PERIOD MAY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD BE RESPONDED TO BY COUNTY OFFICIALS AFTER SUFFICIENT TIME FOR APPROPRIATE INVESTIGATION, H SPEAKER SHALL REMAIN AT THE PODIUM WHILE ADDRESSING THE BOARD, EXCEPT WHERE AN ACCOMMODATION HAS BEEN GRANTED IN ADVANCE. I SPEAKER SHALL NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY AUDIENCE, COMMENTS, CALLS SLASH WHISTLES, LAUGHTER OR OTHER GESTURES. INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO DO NOT ABIDE BY THIS POLICY AFTER A WARNING WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE MEETING. JAY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE PROHIBITED FROM CAMPAIGNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE OR OTHERWISE ENGAGING IN ELECTION RELATED SPEECH IN THE MEETING ROOM WHEN NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO AN ISSUE BEFORE THE BOARD. THESE RULES DO NOT PRECLUDE PERSONS FROM DELIVERING TO THE BOARD OR ITS CLERK WRITTEN MATERIALS INCLUDING REPORTS, STATEMENTS, EXHIBITS, LETTERS ARE SIGNED PETITIONS, OR TO PROHIBIT PERSONS FROM PRESENTING ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT GERMANE TO THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD, TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS OR TO THE BOARD THROUGH ITS CLERK OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE PUBLIC MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. PERKINS. WE HAVE FIRST, UH, MR. MIKE DREWRY. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. ON A SUMMER'S DAY IT SEEMS LIKE, DOESN'T IT? LISTEN, I JUST WANTED TO, SOMETHING THAT'S BOTHERED ME FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND CAME TO KIND OF MY ATTENTION OVER THE WEEKEND AS WELL, IS THAT I LEARNED THAT THE FAMILY HERE IN SURREY COUNTY THAT WE SHOULD VALUE OF PUTTING THEIR HOME IN THE MARKET AND MOVING AWAY. UM, I BELIEVE THEY FEEL THEY CAN BETTER THRIVE ELSEWHERE. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND I ONCE READ A QUOTE THAT IT SAYS IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO MAKE LASTING CHANGE. I BELIEVE IT TO MEAN THAT IT TAKES AN INCLUSIVE [00:25:01] COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING NEEDED POSITIVE CHANGE AS A CITIZEN OF SURREY COUNTY. THE TERM INCLUSION HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SO I LOOKED UP THE TERM HERE RECENTLY AND THE OXFORD DICTIONARY DEFINES IT. DEF DEFINES INCLUSION AS THE PRACTICE OF PROVIDING EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE EXCLUDED. MY PERSONAL DEFINITION OF INCLUSION MEANS TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE WITH PATIENCE, RESPECT, AND ASSISTANCE REGARDLESS OF CULTURE, RELIGION, OPINIONS, ECONOMIC STATUS, AND LISTS COULD CONTINUE IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH WE LIVE. IT SEEMS THAT THE COMMUNITY AND ITS GOVERNMENT HAVE NEVER BEEN INCLUSIVE. AND I DON'T MEAN THIS TO OFFEND ANYONE HERE TONIGHT. OUR HISTORY IN THIS COUNTY GOES BACK, BACK CENTURIES, AND A LOT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE BEFORE OUR TIME, SO TO SPEAK. BUT I BELIEVE WE HERE PRESENT NOW AND WE TRY TO DO BETTER WITH THAT INCLUSION. THE COMMUNITY MIGHT STUMBLE ALONG, BUT IT CANNOT THRIVE. WE CITIZENS IN OUR GOVERNMENT IN SURREY COUNTY OFTEN USE THE TERM UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH, WHICH I LIKE AND I KNOW WE DO TOO, BUT WE DON'T TAKE ACTION TO MAKE IT A REALITY. WE NEED MORE THAN WORDS. A COUNTY MAY THRIVE FOR SOME, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN SUCH. FOR ALL A COUNTY'S TOP TWO PRIVATE EMPLOYERS, WHICH HAS BEEN ON MY MIND TOO, DOMINION AND WINS AND MILLS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A MAJORITY OF THE STAFF DO NOT LIVE HERE. AND YOU'D HAVE TO QUESTION WHY. I PERSONALLY RETURN TO THE COUNTY, PRIMARILY TO ASSIST MY ELDER PARENTS ALMOST A DECADE AGO. AND I'M BLESSED THAT THEY MAY, I THINK NOW THEY MAY OUTLIVE ME AS THEY'RE 92 AND 96. UM, BUT IF I DO OUTLIVE THEM, UH, I PERSONALLY AT THIS PRESENT TIME, AM MAKING PLANS TO RELOCATE FROM THE COUNTY TO MORE INCLUSIVE AREAS AND HAVE TAKEN ACTIONS TO MAKE THIS A REALITY. YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED ELSEWHERE AND I GOT IT. I'VE LIVED ELSEWHERE AND I SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. AMY AND I HAVE HAD MUSIC FESTIVALS ON THE FARM, UH, ANNUAL COMMUNITY PICNICS AND ALL WAS GOING WELL PRE COVID. BUT, UH, COVID KIND OF PUT A SQUASH IN THINGS IT SEEMS AND IT KIND OF RESET US. AND SO I'M JUST HERE, WE NEED A RESET ON THAT. JUST THINK ABOUT IT. I KIND OF NEEDS TO THRIVE. FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE ALL FEEL WELCOME WOULD BE A GREAT GIFT TO LEAVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A THRIVING COMMUNITY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE AND TO MAKE PEOPLE WANNA STAY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. JURY. NEXT, MS. SU, SUSAN VELA, SUSAN VELA, UH, CLAREMONT DISTRICT. UM, JUST WANTED TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE BUDGET. UH, THE REC CENTER UPGRADE, I BELIEVE WOULD BE GREAT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE BEST TIME FOR IT WHEN WE'VE GOT A PROJECT, THE DATA CENTER THAT'S COMING TO THE COUNTY THAT WOULD MORE THAN PAY FOR WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO, TO SPEND, I DON'T THINK THE HUGE AMPHITHEATER THAT'S IN THE DRAWINGS IS NEEDED. YOUR BIGGER CITIES, EVEN LIKE HAMPTON, DON'T HAVE THIS BIG FANCY AMPHITHEATER THAT YOU'RE PORTRAYING. UM, I THINK A PORTABLE ONE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. UM, KIND OF LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU USE FOR 4TH OF JULY. YOU HAVE VANS OUT THERE. LET'S TRY OUT USING THAT AND SEE HOW IT GOES. HAVING EVENTS AND THE TIME THAT IT SPENDS TO PLAN THE EVENTS. I SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE RESPONSES IN REFERENCE TO THIS 10 MILLION PROJECT. AND THE RESPONSES THAT I RECEIVED WERE, I'LL KEEP IT IN MIND DURING THE WORK SESSION RECEIVED AND DULY NOTED. AND ONE STATED THAT THEY DID NOT THINK THAT 10 MILLION WAS FOR ALL THE PARKS AND REC WHEN THE BUDGET CLEARLY SHOWED 10 MILLIONS PARKS AND REC. WHEN I WENT TO THE WORK SESSION, NOBODY BROUGHT THE TOPIC UP FOR CLARIFICATION OR DISCUSSION. WHAT'S THE COST AFTER THE UPGRADE FOR EXTRA EMPLOYEES, POOL MAINTENANCE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE, EX INSURANCE, ET CETERA. THE COUNTY STILL HAS BUILDINGS THAT NEED REPAIRING AND SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR NEEDS FIRST AND THEIR WANTS BEFORE YOU HAVE BUILDINGS WITH ROOFS FALLING IN AND IN DISARRAY AND THEN WORK ON YOUR WANTS. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY COULD DROP THE TAX RATE DOWN TO AT LEAST 0.70 AND PROPERLY HANDLE ITS SPENDING WHERE THERE'LL BE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE HR DIRECTOR. AND WHY DID WE LOSE THESE PEOPLE SO QUICKLY? I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER HR DIRECTOR THAT'S NOT AFFILIATED OR RELATED TO ANYONE IN THE GOVERNMENT. UM, AFTER GOING TO THE WORK SESSION, I NOTICED IT REALLY WASN'T SO MUCH ON THE BUDGET BUT PERTAINED TO OTHER ITEMS. UM, IT DIDN'T APPEAR THAT PEOPLE LOOKED AT THE LINE ITEMS. UM, THERE WAS ONE ITEM THAT I FOUND [00:30:01] WHEN I PULLED UP THE BUDGET ONLINE UNDER GENERAL FUND PROPOSED LOCAL REVENUE THAT THE LINE ITEM FOR PERMITS AND LICENSES SHOWED A NEGATIVE WHEN IT SHOULD BE AN INCREASE OF $190,000 INSTEAD OF A NEGATIVE 25.6. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN CORRECTED SINCE, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I JUST PULLED UP ON THE WEBPAGE. UM, I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR LINE ITEMS ON THEIR BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. CILLA. THOSE ARE THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS TONIGHT. AND NEXT WE WERE MOVED TO [Board Comments] FOUR COMMENTS AND WE WILL START WITH MRS. DREW. WELL, TYPICALLY I WRITE OUT SOME BOARD COMMENTS, BUT I DID NOT DO SO THIS EVENING. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE FARM, IT IS SPRING AND WE'VE BEEN OUTSIDE MOST OF THE DAY AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. BUT I DID WANNA SAY A COUPLE THINGS. I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE RE'S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY. AND THEY HAD A BIG CELEBRATION YES, YES. ON SATURDAY. AND IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A HUGE FIRE IN DRON IN THE 1930S, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT FIRE AND DESTRUCTION, THAT'S WHEN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS FORMED. AND, UH, THE, THE FIREFIGHTERS SEEMED TO BE A, A GREAT GROUP OF, OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THEM. UM, IN REFERENCE TO, UH, THE COMMENTS TONIGHT ON INCLUSIVENESS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S THAT CROSSED MY MIND IS THAT PEOPLE WILL COME TO OUR FARM WHO'VE NEVER FARMED AND, AND HAVE NEVER MADE A LIVING OFF OF FARMING. AND THEY'LL START MAKING SUGGESTIONS TO US. THEY'LL SAY, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT? AND, UH, MY HUSBAND, THE FARMER WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK AND WE RULED IT OUT FOR A REASON. BUT, BUT, BUT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE NEW PEOPLE THAT MOVE INTO THE COUNTY, THEY COME WITH GIFTS AND TALENTS, BUT THEY ALSO COME SOMETIMES WITH AN ATTITUDE THAT MAYBE THEY KNOW BEST AND THEY, THEY CAN TELL US HOW TO DO THINGS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY CAN TELL US HOW TO DO SOME THINGS AND WE SHOULD BE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO THAT, BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE AND LEARN OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHO WE ARE BEFORE THEY START TELLING US HOW TO DO THINGS. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, I THINK THAT WE, AS YOU KNOW, OLD HERE COULD BE, UH, A LITTLE MORE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO, TO THE GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT THEY MAY BRING IN AND THEIR WORK EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'VE TRAVELED ALL AROUND THE WORLD OR THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SOME SPECIAL, UNIQUE TALENTS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME TOLERANCE ON, UH, BOTH SIDES THAT COME HERES AND THE OLD HEARERS AND JUST BEING MORE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO, TO WHO WE ARE. AND I THINK IF WE DID THAT, THEN WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO, UH, GROW AND LEARN AND THRIVE. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. DREWRY. THANK YOU MR. HOTTY. UH, GOOD EVENING ALL. I DON'T HAVE MUCH. UM, IT WAS A BUSY MONTH FOR ME AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET OUT AND, UM, MEET WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS AND ALL VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS JUST TO SEE HOW, YOU KNOW, UM, PUT MY FINGER IN THE PULSE TO SEE HOW THINGS WERE GOING. SO LIKE MR. DREW SAID, UM, OUT TO THE, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE CHIEF FOR A WHILE. SO, UH, SOME INFORMATION I'LL BE SHARING WITH THE BOARD HERE, UH, SHORTLY, UM, TRASH PICKUP, IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT COMMUNITY EVENTS GOING ON ALL AROUND. AND IT'S, IT'S SUMMERTIME, SO I GUESS IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THINGS. UM, SO PLEASE KEEP PUSHING YOUR CONCERNS AND COMMENTS, UH, TO BOARD MEMBERS, AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST. I I DO WANNA SAY ONE THING. I, I KNOW MR. DREWRY TALKED ABOUT, UM, A THRIVING COMMUNITY, BUT I, I, I MUST SAY MY HEART WAS TOUCHED, UM, BY, UH, A FEW INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I HATE TO CALL NAMES AND PUT PEOPLE ON THE SPOT, BUT, UM, WE HAVE, UH, MISS CHERYL VARNER HERE TONIGHT. SO WE RECENTLY LOST A MEMBER IN THE COUNTY, AND MISS, UH, ESTELLE PARSON AND I, I WAS SLIPPING THROUGH FACEBOOK AND I SAW THEM WITH A, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER IN A PICTURE. AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE, YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW'D THIS COME ABOUT? BUT, YOU KNOW, COME TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET TALKING TO PEOPLE, YOU LEARN THINGS. AND, UM, BACK DOWN ON MULLET DRIVE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY PEOPLE KNOW WHERE IT IS, BUT IT'S, YOU GOTTA LEAVE SURY COUNTY TO GET TO MOTHER DRIVE TO GET BACK INTO SURY COUNTY, WHICH IS A VERY RARE THING FOR SOMEONE. BUT THEY ARE A COMMUNITY WITHIN THEMSELVES BACK THERE. UM, [00:35:01] AGE, RACE, NONE OF THAT MATTERS. IT'S, IT IS NOTHING BUT LOVE. I'M GONNA TELL YOU, IT TOUCHED MY HEART. IT, IT REALLY DID. I THINK IT WAS, I MS. AMY HOWARD GOT OUT AT THE, UH, THE SERVICE TODAY AND SPOKE FROM HER HEART. AND IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. SO, UH, WHILE WE AREN'T PERFECT, UH, COMMUNITY IS THRIVING AND, UH, JUST FOR EXAMPLES, JUST LIKE THAT. SO, UM, HOPEFULLY, UH, THAT TOUCHES TO SOMEONE ELSE AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE. THANKS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. HARDY. MR. CALHOUN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I, UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK, UM, ALL THE COMMENTS MADE TODAY. I THANK THE THANK, UH, FOR THE UPDATES. UM, AGAIN, LIKE, UH, MR. HARDY SAID ANY CONCERNS, ISSUES THAT YOU MAY HAVE, PLEASE BRING THEM FORWARD TO THE BOARD OR YOUR, UM, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE. IF YOU HAVE ANY BUDGET QUESTIONS, PLEASE ADDRESS THOSE TO THE BOARD AND TO STAFF BEFORE, UM, NEXT THURSDAY'S, UH, PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR ATTENDING TODAY AND THOSE VIRTUALLY AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. COROLL. MR. PIERCE, EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR, MR. PIERCE. THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. CHAIR. UH, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. UH, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE'S HERE AND WATCHING AT HOME, UH, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS. UH, JUST WANNA THANK ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY. THANK YOU, MS. CHAPMAN FOR THE UPDATES AS WELL, MR. WADE. UM, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE FARMER'S MARKET. AND, UM, JUST WANT TO GIVE A, UH, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY UPDATE. UM, ON THE APRIL 26TH, THE AGRICULTURAL STUDENTS AT S COUNTY HIGH INSTALLED A FOOD FORCE RIGHT HERE ON THE S COUNTY HIGH CAMPUS. UM, AND WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS FOOD FOREST, THE STUDENTS, UH, IDENTIFY VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL ISSUES THAT'S SURROUNDING OUR WORLD. AND KNOWING THAT WE CAN'T REALLY RESOLVE EVERYTHING AROUND THE WORLD, HOW STUDENTS, HOW CAN WE RESOLVE THINGS AROUND OUR, OUR COMMUNITY BEING THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, FAR AS, UH, BEING A FOOD DESERT, FOOD SCARCITY IS AN ISSUE IN AGRICULTURE, THE STUDENTS DECIDED, UH, WE WANTED TO INSTALL A FOOD FOREST. SO THE STUDENTS PLANTED 27 VARIETIES OF, EXCUSE ME, 27 TREES AND SHRUBS, I BELIEVE 12 DIFFERENT VARIETIES FROM PEAR, PLUM, PEACH, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. BUT THE LONG TERM GOAL IS THAT THE STUDENTS BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY REAP THE, UH, UH, FRUIT OF THEIR HARD LABOR IN YEARS TO COME. I HAD, UH, KINDERGARTEN FROM KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY TO, I BELIEVE, 12TH GRADERS, UM, TO COME OUT THERE AND HAD ALSO SOME COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO COME OUT AS WELL AS DIFFERENT ENTITIES ACROSS THE STATE, ALL THE WAY FROM VIRGINIA TECH TO, FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY. SO, UM, AND LISTENING TO MEN, MANY OF THEM SAYING THAT, UH, INSTALLING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN S COUNTY IS TRULY SOMETHING SPECIAL, AND MANY OF THEM JUST HAVE COME HERE FOR JUST TO HELP THAT. SO, LISTEN TO SOME OF THE BOARD'S COMMENTS TODAY. AGAIN, I THINK WE ALL ON THE RIGHT TRACK AS FAR AS, UH, GROWING AND THRIVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UNDERSTAND, WE'LL HAVE SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD, BUT LISTEN TO HOW WE ARE COMING TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE HAVEN'T GOING OVER THE YEARS. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S COMING TO REALITY. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, UH, COLLABORATION EFFORTS AND ALL OF THAT. AND YOU GUYS, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND HAVE A, UH, SAFE DRIVE HOME. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, MR. PIERCE, UH, I AM, UH, PLEASED WITH THE BOARD COMMENTS AND CITIZENS COMMENTS ON TONIGHT. AND, UH, I THINK THAT WE ARE, AS A COUNTY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY. AND WHEN YOU ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE AND SPEND MORE TIME DEALING WITH THE POSITIVE INSTEAD OF DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE NEGATIVE, BECAUSE NOTHING IS EVER GONNA BE 100%, IF WE SPEND MORE TIME CONCENTRATING ON THE POSITIVE, IT WILL BRING US MORE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. UH, I LISTEN TO MR. DREW'S COMMENTS, AND I DO TAKE THEM TO HEART AS TO A DESIRE FOR US TO BE A THRIVING COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT TAKES US WORKING TOGETHER INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIGHT AND COMBAT ONE ANOTHER. IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN GET A WHOLE LOT MORE DONE. AND, AND, AND MY SENTIMENTS ARE HIS, MAYBE WE TALKING FROM A DIFFERENT ARENA, BUT IT IS MY DESIRE TO SEE THE COUNTY THRIVE AS WELL. AND I TAKE WHAT MS. MRS. DREW SAID TO HEART, TO, UH, INCLUDE OTHERS IN OUR DECISION MAKING. AND, BUT I, I REALLY LIKED WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT, UH, HAVING PEOPLE TO COME IN TO TRY TO TELL US WHAT TO DO THAT REALLY DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY. S COUNTY HAS A RICH AND STEEP HISTORY, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND AGAIN, I THINK IF WE CAN PUT OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND, AND SITUATE THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE COUNTY, WE CAN MOVE THE COUNTY EVEN FURTHER. SO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE COMMENTS TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARE AND CONCERN FOR A COUNTY CALL SIRI AT THIS TIME. MRS. ROLLINS WANTS TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON, UH, THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY THAT WE HAD IN THE COUNTY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND I DID HAVE IT ON MY REPORT, AND MR. UM, PIERCE REMINDED ME WHEN HE SAID APRIL THE 26TH, 'CAUSE WE USUALLY HAVE IT IN MAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD AN AWESOME TIME [00:40:01] ENGAGING WITH THE SENIORS WHO CAME OUT ON APRIL 26TH TO PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT FOR A DAY. AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING IN THE COUNTY FOR FOUR PLUS DECADES, AND WE ARE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE WORK WITH, UM, MR. BELL, UM, THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT TEACHER AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM. IT WAS AWESOME THAT OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND I SEE, UM, THEM IN THE ROOM WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT. AND IT ALWAYS JUST ENCOURAGES US AND GIVES US SO MUCH JOY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE STUDENTS SHADOW US. AND I HAVE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, BECAUSE HIS GRANDMOTHER IS IN THE AUDIENCE, THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, FOR MR. CAMERON DREW, UM, TO SHADOW ME AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. UH, SO WE HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO ENCOURAGE THESE STUDENTS TO, TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS A HARD PROFESSION AND WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT, LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE DO NEED THE TALENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WANT TO COME BACK AND WORK IN ALL OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT TAKES A PASSION TO SERVE. SO WE WERE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE STUDENTS TO COME OUT. AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT, ALL OF YOU FOR, UM, TAKING TIME OFF YOUR SCHEDULE TO SHADOW A STUDENT AS WELL. WE TOOK A WONDERFUL PHOTO THAT I CAN MAKE SURE THAT I WAS SHARE WITH THE BOARD. UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST WANT TO ADD THAT TIDBIT OF INFORMATION. SO THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO SO. THANK YOU MR. ROWLAND. UH, BOARD MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DRAW ATTENTION, UH, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT UNTIL MAY THE NINTH. WHAT TIME IS THAT? UH, REGULAR. UH, MAY 9TH. SIX O'CLOCK. FOR SIX O'CLOCK FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON OUR BUDGET. SO MOVED. YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY VOTING. SOUND OF AYE. AYE. WE ALL ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.