[Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption]
[00:00:05]
OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR SURY COUNTY FOR MAY THE FIRST, 2025.
UH, AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE OUR INVOCATION.
WE WERE EXPECTING A VISITING CLERGY TO BE HERE, BUT AT THIS TIME, HE'S NOT PRESENT.
SO I ASK THAT EVERYBODY, WE JUST KINDLY BOW.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME LY BEFORE YOU, THRONE OF MERCY AND GRACE, SEEKING DIVINE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION.
MASTER, I SAID, WE, YOU WILL LEAD GOD AND DIRECT US.
AND LORD, LET YOUR SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, REST, RULING ABOUT IN THIS PLACE.
LORD, WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE FOR JUST BEING WHO YOU ARE AND ALLOWING US TO COME BEFORE YOUR THRONE OF MERCY AND GRACE, BLESS US NOW AS ONLY YOU CAN IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS I PRAY.
WE DO NOW CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND WE WOULD ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
LET US STAND FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE, UNITED STATES AMERICA, REPUBLIC NATION, UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE AGENDA FOR OUR MEETING ON TONIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA? AND IF THERE BE NO QUESTIONS, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF OUR AGENDA.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE.
[Consent Items]
FIRST ORDER IS OUR CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE THE SUSSEX SERVICE SERVICE AUTHORITY FOR YEAR 25, 26.THE CONTRACT WITH THEM, THE ACCOUNT PAYABLE FOR APRIL 25 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,203 AND $450 AND 19 CENTS.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT ITEMS, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF CONSENT.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTE AND SIGN OF AYE.
OPPOSED? CONSENT ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
[Public Comments]
AT THIS TIME, WE MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE HAVE FIRST SIGNUP WILL BE, UH, MR. MIKE EGGLESTON.WOULD YOU COME? SAYON? GIMME ONE MINUTE BEFORE YOU COME.
RECENTLY COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FLEW FIRST CLASS TO A NATIONAL BOARD OF SUPERVISOR CONFERENCE IN FLORIDA.
THEY FLEW FIRST CLASS TO TAXPAYERS EXPENSE BOARD, JUSTIFIED FIRST CLASS FOR SUCH A SHORT FLIGHT.
I FLEW HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD TO BANGKOK, THAILAND TO WORK AND DIDN'T FLY FIRST CLASS.
SOME MEMBERS OF FOR THE SUPERVISORS TALK TO TALK TO DON'T WALK TO WALK.
I HEARD SOME TRANSPARENCY IN THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL DEALINGS AND HIRING POLICIES.
WHERE DO THEY ADVERTISE COUNTY JOBS? WHAT IS THE TOTAL SALARY AMOUNT AMOUNT FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES? THAT'S ALL OF 'EM.
AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE THERE ON THE COUNTY? PAYROLL? IT APPEARS TO ME THE COUNTY LIKES TO SPEND WOOL MONEY LIKE IT GROWS ON TREES.
WE'VE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR TWO YEARS ABOUT THE FIASCO OF WHITE MARKS AND JONES DRIVE, WHICH A LOT OF COUNTY TAXPAYERS USED TO GO TO WORK TO PAY YOUR SALARIES.
EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS NOT FREE.
YOU NEED TO GET WITH BDOT AND THE COUNTY AND FIX IT.
I MEAN, THAT SAME ROAD FLOODED FOR 30 YEARS TILL I CALLED RICHMOND AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE OAK FALLS.
UH, WHAT'S SO DIFFICULT ABOUT FIXING A ROAD? APPARENTLY, MOST PEOPLE THANK YOU.
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YES, WE HAVE, UH, DR.I MISS BEING CALLED OUT AS THE GUY IN THE RED SHORTS RATHER THAN BY MY SKIN COLOR.
I MISS THE GAME WHERE NOBODY REALLY CARES ABOUT YOUR SKIN.
THEY JUST CARE IF YOU CAN BALL OR NOT.
IF YOU FOUND YOURSELF IN RWANDA, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW TUTU T FROM HUTU, BUT YOU'D LEARN FAST.
WHEN I LIVED IN AFRICA, LOCALS FOCUSED RESENTMENT ON ASIANS.
RACE, ECONOMICS, TRIBALISM, POWER.
THESE FAULT LINES APPEAR WHEREVER YOU FIND PEOPLE NOT HAVING BEEN BORN IN SURREY COUNTY, I'M EITHER AT A DISADVANTAGE NOT KNOWING WHOM TO DISTRUST OR MAYBE IT'S AN ADVANTAGE.
I PREFER THE BLESSINGS OF NOT HAVING LEARNED DISTRUST TO A RELATIVE OUTSIDER LIKE ME, WHO NOW CALLS SURREY COUNTY HOME.
THE WAY RACE SOMETIMES GETS LEVERAGED HERE FOR POLITICAL POWER AND INFLUENCE IS SO 1960 AND IT'S UNIMAGINATIVE, UNHELPFUL, AND UNNECESSARY.
REVEREND DR. LAWRENCE BEAL DESCRIBES HOW SUR COUNTY'S POLITICAL FAULT LINES ARE RACIAL, NOT RACIST.
BEAL IS OF A GOOD EARNEST MAN WHO'S SEEN A LOT, MAYBE EVEN TOO MUCH.
ANYONE WOULD ACCEPT RACE AS THE DEFINER OF WHICH TEAM YOU PLAY FOR AS JUST THE WAY IT'S, WE HAVE TO ASK IF OUR POLITICS FOLLOWS RACIAL LINES, HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE BETTER? IT'S TIME FOR SURREY COUNTY TO CHAMPION PROGRESS.
AND BY PROGRESS I MEAN HUMID ADVANCEMENT.
ADVANCEMENT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CONCRETE AND PAVEMENT IN INDUSTRY.
NOW, WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A THRIVING, WALKABLE, SAFE, ATTRACTIVE DOWNTOWN WITH SHOPS AND EATERIES AND SERVICES TEAMING WITH DIVERSE LOCALS AND TOURISTS FLOCKING HERE BECAUSE SURREY IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.
WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING TO HAVE SURREY COUNTY HIGH RANKED 25TH IN THE NATION BY 25TH IN VIRGINIA BY US NEWS AND WILL REPORT? ONE MINUTE, SIR, RATHER THAN 205TH.
WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING IF MELANIN WOULD BE IRRELEVANT IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS WITH CHARACTER IN THE QUALITY OF PERSON'S IDEAS, RULING? WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL US TO RETAIN OUR QUIET COUNTRY, PEACEFUL WAY OF LIFE AND HAVE RELIABLE REVENUE STREAMS THAT BUILD BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND AMENITIES, A GUEST AND CITIZENS MARVEL AT SAYING, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS SURRY COUNTY.
ANOTHER KEY TO MOVING FORWARD WAS SO ARTICULATELY PUT BY DR. MONROE.
WE MUST TURN TOWARDS EACH OTHER, NOT ON EACH OTHER.
WHEN WE DISAGREE, OPPOSE IDEAS AND BEHAVIORS NOT ATTACKING PEOPLE WHO HOLD THOSE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND VALID VIEWPOINTS.
I STAND FOR EQUALITY AND I STAND FOR PROGRESS.
I WILL OPPOSE SUGGESTIONS THAT ANY GROUP IS SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR OR CHOSEN OR BENEATH.
LEVERAGING RACE USING DIVISION FOR GAIN OR ANY REASON IS WRONG.
IF WE SHOOT HOLES IN OUR BOAT, WE SINK TOGETHER.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, SUSAN COVELO, SUSAN VELO, CLAREMONT, DISTRICT TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND LOVE.
I KNOW THAT THESE WORDS HAVE BEEN USED A LOT RECENTLY.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE A BUDGET HEARING TODAY THAT WE STILL HAVE NOT SEEN THE AUDIT FROM 2324.
AND THERE'S NOT BEEN AN UPDATED DATE AS TO WHEN IT WOULD BE COMPLETED SINCE THE NOTIFICATION COMPLETION DATE WAS GIVEN.
AS OF APRIL 1ST, 24, 25, AUDIT WILL BE STARTING SOON.
STATE LAW STATES THE STATEMENTS SHALL CONTINUE TO BE POSTED AND UPDATED UNTIL THE AUDIT IS COMPLETE.
TO ME, THAT MEANS THERE SHOULD BE AN UPDATE AS TO AN UPDATED DATE.
THE COUNTY'S MOVE FORWARD WITH PROPOSED YMCA PROJECT ON THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLAR.
WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS WITHOUT HAVING YOUR AUDITS COMPLETED? ACCURATE INFORMATION? MANY OTHER LOCALITIES HAVE RECEIVED DONATIONS, GRANTS, AND DONE FUNDRAISERS.
CAN WE SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS AND DO THIS BEFORE WE AGREE TO ANY LEASES AND PAYMENTS? IT WOULD EVEN BE BENEFICIAL TO DO A REFERENDUM AND PULL ALL THE CITIZENS, NOT JUST A SELECT FEW AND GET THEIR OPINION IF THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH TAKING OUT THAT MUCH MONEY.
BY DOING THIS, IT SHOWS THE COUNTY IS BEING OPEN WITH ITS
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CITIZENS.PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT.
ELECTED OFFICIALS AVOID BACKLASH.
PUTTING THE DECISION ON THE VOTERS AND BORROWING THAT MUCH MONEY COULD AFFECT THE COUNTY'S BUDGET TAXES AND CREATING CREDIT RATINGS FOR YEARS.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD WITH LOVE, NOT HATE.
THAT MEANS FOSTERING A CULTURE OF RESPECT.
IN OUR PUBLIC DISCOURSE, IT MEANS MAKING SURE YOUR POLICIES REFLECT FAIRNESS, INCLUSION, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.
AND IT MEANS STANDING UP WHEN WE SEE ACTS OR ATTITUDES ONE MINUTE THAT SEEK TO DIVIDE RATHER THAN UNITE.
IT IS WHAT BRINGS NEIGHBORS TOGETHER SAFER COMMUNITIES AND ENSURES THAT NO ONE FEELS UNSEEN OR UNWELCOME.
LET'S BE A COUNTY WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT JUST COEXIST, BUT THEY CARE FOR EACH OTHER.
WHERE LEADERSHIP SETS A TONE OF COMPASSION EVEN AND DISAGREEMENT.
WHEN WE CHOOSE LOVE INSTEAD OF HATE, WE DON'T JUST CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE, WE SHAPE A FUTURE WORTH BELIEVING IN.
I THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER FOUR.
NEXT WILL BE, UH, HELEN EGGLESTON.
I BELIEVE MR. MR. CHAIRMAN THAT COMMENTS WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING THAN IT WOULD BE FOR JUST PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MR. HOTTY, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, DR. MONROE.
GREAT AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN ELLIOT.
MRS. ROLLINS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, I'M DR. MONROE, A SUPERINTENDENT, PROUD SUPERINTENDENT FOR SRE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I JUST WANNA, UH, MAKE THREE COMMENTS BRIEFLY.
ONE, I WANNA GIVE A SINCERE THANK YOU TO MRS. ROLLINS AND ALL OF THOSE THAT HAD A HAND IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY.
IT WAS AMAZING AGAIN, AND IT WAS SO AMAZING.
I CALLED MY MOM ON THE WAY HOME AND SAY, MOM AGAIN.
WE HAD SOMETHING AMAZING THAT UNFOLDED HERE IN SURREY COUNTY THAT WAS A WIN-WIN BOTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
THE KIDS ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT.
THE PARENTS ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT, AS PARENTS MENTIONED IT TO ME AT THE SOFTBALL GAME THIS WEEK.
SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN AND WE'LL MAKE IT EVEN BIGGER AND GREATER NEXT YEAR.
NUMBER TWO, I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE WILL BE CELEBRATING A CLASS OF 2025 AT LUTHER PORT AT JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ON MAY 31ST AT 9:59 AM THAT MEANS WE START AT 10
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT SOMEONE DEAR TO OUR HEARTS HAS GONE ON TO GLORY.
MRS. LAURA, LAURA P RUFFIN, UM, WHO SERVED OUR SCHOOL DIVISION FOR OVER 50 YEARS IN NUMEROUS CAPACITIES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, AS IT WAS ASKED BY OUR BOARD MEMBERS, FOR ME TO ASK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IF WE COULD HONOR MRS. RUFFIN POSSIBLY TOMORROW AND OR MONDAY BEING THAT THE FUNERAL WILL BE SATURDAY AT 12 NOON BY HAVING OUR FLAGS FLOWN AT HALF STAFF BEING THAT THE COUNTY ACTUALLY OWNS THE PROPERTY BY WHICH OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE ON.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING.
AGAIN, I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AS WE BUILD EXCELLENCE ONE STUDENT AT A TIME.
I'LL JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE PLANNING ON TAKING ACTION ON THAT AT THE CLOSE AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE WOULD NOW HAVE PRESENTATIONS
[Presentations]
FROM SMITHFIELD REGIONAL HOSPITAL.EXCUSE ME, YOU GOT RIVERSIDE ON HERE.
SMITHFIELD RIVERSIDE, EXCUSE ME.
AND YOU'RE MIXED UP WITH THE RIVERSIDE JAIL
I DON'T WANNA BE MIXED UP WITH THE JAIL
MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEMBERS IN ALDEN AUDIENCE, IT GIVES ME A PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE MS. JESSICA MINO, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT, HOSPITAL PRESIDENT OF RIVERSIDE
[00:15:01]
SMITHFIELD HOSPITAL.UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY DID PARTICIPATE IN.
I WON'T STILL ENTER HER THUNDER, UM, BUT, UM, WE WELCOME HER THIS EVENING AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND MS. ROLLINS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, UM, MS. ROLLINS ALSO SERVES ON OUR HOSPITAL BOARD, AND SHE'S A TREMENDOUS ASSET.
SHE REPRESENTS THE SURREY COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS VERY WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE AND A PARTNER.
UM, I, I, I WAS JUST SAYING TO SUPERVISOR HARDY OUT IN THE, UM, IN THE WAITING AREA THAT IT WAS MAYBE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO THAT I WAS HERE.
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE.
AND I WAS HERE REQUESTING THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT OUR APPLICATION, OUR CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC NEED FOR THE HOSPITAL.
AND IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NOW ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS OUT FROM OPENING.
UM, OUR BUILDING WILL BE COMPLETE IN AUGUST.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN TRULY INCREDIBLE TO BE A PART OF, OF THE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH.
BUT WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU ALL.
SO I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR HOSPITAL.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED ON THE PRESENTATION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO START WITH A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHO WE ARE AT RIVERSIDE.
I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT WE ARE AN INTEGRATED HEALTH NETWORK.
UM, SO WE ARE, WE ARE MUCH MORE THAN HOSPITALS.
WE REALLY DO PROVIDE CARE ACROSS THE CONTINUUM FOR OUR PATIENTS AND THE RESIDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
WE ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM.
WE SERVE, UM, SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA.
WE HAVE OVER 9,500 TEAM MEMBERS.
AND THAT'S CONTINUING TO GROW AS WE, UM, CONTINUE TO GROW AS A HEALTH SYSTEM, ADD NEW FACILITIES.
WE'RE ADDING NEW TEAM MEMBERS.
WE HAVE FOUR ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS, INPATIENT HOSPITALS, SOON TO BE FIVE WITH THE ADDITION OF SMITHFIELD.
WE HAVE THREE SPECIALTY HOSPITALS.
WE HAVE RIVERSIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY IN HAMPTON.
UM, WHICH BY THE WAY, THAT FACILITY ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO OPENED UP THE COMMONWEALTH'S FIRST PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF.
AND, UM, OF COURSE THERE'S SUCH A BIG NEED.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THAT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY BUSY, BUT WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT IN OUR HEALTH SYSTEM.
WE ALSO HAVE RIVERSIDE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN YORKTOWN, UM, AND SELECT MEDICAL AND SELECT SPECIAL SPECIALTY HOSPITAL, WHICH IS A LONG-TERM ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL IN, UH, NEWPORT NEWS.
WE ALSO HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST LIFELONG HEALTH DIVISION THAT INCLUDES OUR NURSING HOMES, OUR ASSISTED LIVINGS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE IN, UM, SMITHFIELD, THAT'S A COMPREHENSIVE NURSING HOME ASSISTED LIVING AND REHAB FACILITY.
WE ALSO PROVIDE HOME HEALTH, AND WE'VE RECENTLY STARTED PROVIDING HOME HEALTH SERVICES IN ISLE OF WHITE AND SURY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE PHYSICAL THERAPY, UM, CLINICS ACROSS ALL THE MARKETS WE SERVE, AS WELL AS TWO WELLNESS CENTERS, ONE IN NEWPORT NEWS AND ONE IN GLOUCESTER.
WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST MEDICAL GROUP WITH JUST ABOUT ALL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SPECIALTIES REPRESENTED.
SO THAT INCLUDES AROUND A HUNDRED, UM, OUTPATIENT CLINICS AND OVER 700 PROVIDERS.
THAT INCLUDES PHYSICIANS AND ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS LIKE OUR NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND OUR, UM, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.
WE ALSO HAVE A COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES IN NEWPORT NEWS THAT WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF.
UM, WE GRADUATE QUITE A FEW STUDENTS ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING NURSING, UM, ALLIED HEALTH, SURGICAL TECHS, RADIOLOGY.
UM, SO THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS, UH, THERE CONTINUE TO BE SHORTAGES IN THOSE SPECIALTIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS ASSET WITHIN OUR HEALTH SYSTEM.
UM, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OVERVIEW OF THE ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS THAT WE HAVE AND THE REGIONS THAT WE SERVE.
UM, SO AGAIN, WE HAVE FOUR, SOON TO BE FIVE WITH THE SMITHFIELD EDITION.
WE HAVE A LEVEL TWO TRAUMA CENTER, THAT'S OUR FACILITY IN NEWPORT NEWS OFF OF J CLYDE MORRIS.
UM, WE HAVE OVER 685 BEDS TOTAL ACROSS ALL OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A HOSPITAL IN GLOUCESTER, ONE IN WILLIAMSBURG, AND ONE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
NOW, GETTING INTO A LITTLE BIT OF, OF, OF THE BACKGROUND AS TO WHY WE'RE BUILDING IN SMITHFIELD.
I SHARED A LOT OF THIS WITH YOU ALL THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE.
BUT JUST TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LEVEL SET, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR STRATEGIC COMMITMENT TO EXPAND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITIES OF, UH, THAT ARE IN NEED.
AND ISLE OF WHITE AND SURREY COUNTY ARE BOTH FEDERALLY DESIGNATED AS MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS THAT RESIDENTS IN THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE TO TRAVEL 30 MINUTES OR MORE TO RECEIVE INPATIENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AND I'M SURE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE EITHER BEEN A PATIENT YOURSELF OR HAVE BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH A LOVED ONE WHO WAS EITHER IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR NEEDED CARE QUICKLY AND HAD TO TRAVEL THAT DISTANCE.
UM, WE'RE ALSO IN A UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY WHERE, UM, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATERWAYS, TUNNELS, BRIDGES, BACK, COUNTRY ROADS.
UM, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO CARE IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR EMS AND OUR, UM, FIRST RESPONDER TEAMS WHO HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTIES TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL, DROP THE PATIENTS OFF, AND THEN COME BACK INTO THE COUNTY THAT COULD KEEP THEM OUT OF THE COUNTY, ANYWHERE FROM TWO HOURS TO FOUR HOURS, DEPENDING
[00:20:01]
ON TRAFFIC AND DEPENDING ON THE PATIENT NEEDS.UM, AND THAT'S A RESOURCE, A VITAL RESOURCE THAT'S NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES QUICKLY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT OVER 6,000 RESIDENTS ARE TRAVELING ANNUALLY FROM THE ZIP CODES, SURRY AND ISLE OF WHITE TO RECEIVE CARE AT A RIVERSIDE FACILITY.
SO WE KNOW PATIENTS ARE TRAVELING, WE KNOW PATIENTS ARE NOT GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE THE HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE SO FAR AWAY.
UM, SO, SO THIS, IN ADDITION TO THE TREMENDOUS POPULATION GROWTH THAT WE'RE SEEING IN ISLE OF WHITE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN SUFFOLK, UM, THAT IT, IT NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO DO THIS.
UM, ISLE OF WHITE COUNTY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS A FAST GROWING COUNTY.
IT'S, UM, I FEEL LIKE IT CHANGES EVERY SIX MONTHS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE EIGHTH FASTEST GROWING COUNTY, THE SEVENTH, THE NINTH, BUT IT'S GROWING FAST.
UM, THERE'S OVER 4,000 NEW HOUSEHOLDS COMING TO THE COUNTY.
UM, AND THAT GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT AN 8.6 PERCENTAGE, UM, GROWTH RATE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT 25% OF THE POPULATION IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE SERVING IS OVER THE AGE OF 65.
THAT AGE GROUP TENDS TO USE HEALTHCARE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS.
UM, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DISEASE BURDEN IN SURY COUNTY AND IN ISLE OF WHITE COUNTY, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE HIGH RATES OF SMOKING, COPD, UM, HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, LATE STAGE CANCERS, MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS.
UM, AND SO WE ARE PREPARED TO, TO HANDLE ALL OF THESE, UM, CONCERNS, HEALTH CONCERNS, HEALTH ISSUES IN THESE, IN THESE COMMUNITIES BY BUILDING THE HOSPITAL, BUT NOT ONLY BUILDING THE HOSPITAL, BUT BUILDING OUTPATIENT CLINICS AND HAVING THAT CONTINUUM OF CARE, UM, ACROSS, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTH ISLE OF WHITE AND SURREY TO, TO, UH, CARE FOR OUR, OUR RESIDENTS.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE 6,000 PATIENTS THAT ARE TRAVELING FOR CARE, UM, THE, THE BEAUTY OF HEALTHCARE TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF DATA, RIGHT? ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS ALLOW FOR US TO SEE WHAT ARE PATIENTS COMING IN FOR.
THEY ALLOW FOR US TO PULL THOSE REPORTS BY ZIP CODES AND SEE WHAT ARE PATIENTS TRAVELING TO HOSPITALS AND TO OUTPATIENT CLINICS FOR.
AND WHAT WE SAW WAS GENERALLY SPEAKING, UM, A LOT OF GENERAL MEDICINE, A LOT OF EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, UM, A LOT OF HEART DISEASE, A LOT OF HEART FAILURE, A LOT OF CARDIAC RELATED ISSUES.
UM, IN ADDITION TO GENERAL SURGERY, PATIENTS COMING INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR THINGS LIKE APPENDICITIS, GALLBLADDER REMOVALS, WE SEE A LOT OF THAT HAPPENING.
UM, OF COURSE, CARDIAC AND VASCULAR, LIKE I MENTIONED, NEUROLOGY, STROKE.
UM, SO THIS AREA HAS A HIGH RATE OF STROKE.
UM, SO WE SEE A LOT OF THAT THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.
UM, WITH AN AGING POPULATION, YOU TEND TO HAVE MORE FALLS.
YOU TEND TO HAVE MORE BROKEN BONES, YOU TEND TO HAVE MORE TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENTS, HIPS, KNEES, UM, SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT IN OUR HOSPITALS.
AND THEN THAT TRANSLATES INTO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE OUTPATIENT CLINICS, RIGHT? THAT DRIVES A LOT OF THOSE FOLLOW UP VISITS.
BUT IT ALSO, OUR OUTPATIENT CLINICS ARE DRIVING A LOT OF THOSE SURGERIES IN HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS.
SO WE TAKE ALL OF THAT AND, UM, AND, AND WE DEVELOPED WHAT I CALL THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN ISLE OF WHITE COUNTY AND SURREY COUNTY.
AND THIS IS A RENDERING, WHICH, UM, I SHOULD HAVE PUT AN IMAGE OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE NOW BECAUSE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THIS.
UM, WE, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT AND WE STILL NEED A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, THE GREENERY, BUT, BUT WE'RE GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO LOOKING JUST LIKE THIS.
UM, SO, SO WHAT THIS IS, IS OUR HOSPITAL, RIGHT? IT'S OUR 50 BED INPATIENT HOSPITAL THAT'S OPENING IN JANUARY, 2026.
UM, WE BUILT THAT ON ABOUT 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF LAND.
WE HAVE 50 INPATIENT BEDS, 32 MED SURGE, UM, 12 ICU AND SIX OBSTETRIC BEDS, WHICH WILL BE FUTURE STATE BEDS.
UM, WHEN WE BRING ON THE LABOR AND DELIVERY PROGRAM, WE HAVE FOUR OPERATING ROOMS AND TWO PROCEDURE ROOMS. WE HAVE A FULL, UM, SERVICE, 24 7 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING CAPABILITIES.
SO CT, MRI, ULTRASOUND, X-RAY, UM, EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, UH, FROM AN IMAGING STANDPOINT WE'LL HAVE, WHAT WE'RE ALSO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE JAMESON LONGFORD MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING THAT'S ALSO ON CAMPUS WHERE ALL OF OUR PHYSICIAN SPECIALTIES WILL BE HOUSED.
UM, THAT'S ACTUALLY OPENING, WE BROKE GROUND ON THAT ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE BROKE OUT GROUND ON THE HOSPITAL, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY OPENING IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE, UH, MOVING A LITTLE BIT FASTER ON THAT.
IT'S ABOUT 20,000 SQUARE FEET, 40 EXAM ROOMS THAT'LL HAVE A PHYSICAL THERAPY, UM, UH, DEPARTMENT WITHIN IT.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THOSE SPECIALTIES THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED AROUND WHERE WE'RE SEEING PATIENTS TRAVELING, UH, FOR CARE TOO.
SO, ORTHOPEDICS, SPORTS MEDICINE, UROLOGY, UM, GI GENERAL SURGERY, CARDIOLOGY, AND VASCULAR AND NEUROLOGY.
NOW, SOME OF THIS WILL BE RE PHYSICIANS WHO ARE RECRUITED TO THE AREA.
AND SOME OF THIS WILL BE A ROTATION OF PHYSICIANS THAT ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN OUR NEWPORT NEWS LOCATIONS.
AND THEY'LL ROTATE TO THE CLINIC AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD VOLUME AND, UH, AND HAVE THE NEED FOR FULL-TIME PROVIDERS.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE JUST HIRED A, UM, TOTAL JOINT SURGEONS.
SO, UH, WE WILL HAVE A, A FULL TOTAL JOINT PROGRAM, TOTAL KNEES,
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TOTAL HIPS, UM, AND HE'LL START WITH US IN AUGUST.SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM THAT THAT'S LATE BREAKING NEWS.
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THAT ONE YET.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE ALSO OPENING UP A NEW PRIMARY CARE LOCATION.
WE KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PRIMARY CARE IS, AGAIN, TO THE, THAT ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF PATIENT CARE.
IT REALLY STARTS WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO OPEN ONE UP IN SMITHFIELD.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LOCATION IN EAGLE HARBOR IN CARROLLTON.
UM, AND SO THE SMITHFIELD LOCATION IS ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE OLD RITE AID.
UM, ON ROUTE 10, WE HAVE ACQUIRED THAT BUILDING AND WE WILL BE TURNING THAT BUILDING INTO PRIMARY CARE AND WOMEN'S HEALTH.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THE GOAL, FINGERS CROSSED, IS THAT WE CAN GET THAT OPEN BY THE SUMMER, BY THE END OF SUMMER 2025.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT, THOSE ARE THREE NEW LOCATIONS THAT WE'LL HAVE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS.
BUT THEN WE HAVE OUR EXISTING FACILITY.
SO WE HAVE THAT NURSING HOME THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
UM, WE HAVE OUR OUTPATIENT PHYSICAL THERAPY AND CYPRUS RUN THAT'LL REMAIN, UM, OUR EAGLE HARBOR PRIMARY CARE, WHICH I JUST MENTIONED.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A FREE STANDING, UM, DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING CENTER THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE RELOCATING TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN WE OPEN.
UM, SO I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MENTION SOME OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT WE INCORPORATED WHILE BUILDING THE HOSPITAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
WE JUST BUILT OUR EASTERN SHORE HOSPITAL NOT TOO LONG AGO.
OUR HOSPITAL IN WILLIAMSBURG WAS BUILT ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE A LOT TO SAY, WHETHER IT BE, DON'T EVER DO THIS AGAIN, OR, HEY, LET'S TRY DOING IT THIS WAY 'CAUSE IT WORKS REALLY WELL FOR US.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT SAID, WE, WE HAD A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CAME TOGETHER AND WE DID WHAT'S CALLED AN IMMERSIVE DESIGN PROCESS WHERE WE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS, LARGE WHITEBOARDS, ALL THE, YOU KNOW, PROCESS DESIGN MAPPING YOU CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF IF YOU LOVE THAT STUFF.
IT WAS REALLY FUN AND EXCITING.
UM, BUT WE WERE REALLY ABLE TO, TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND DESIGN THE FACILITY BASED ON WHAT TRULY DOES THE COMMUNITY NEED, WHAT DO OUR PATIENTS NEED, AND WHAT DOES OUR STAFF NEED? AND SO PLANNING FOR FUTURE GROWTH WAS IMPORTANT.
I I HEAR A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT 50 BEDS IS JUST NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH.
UM, THAT'S ALL THAT WE GOT APPROVAL FOR, BUT WE DID PLAN FOR FUTURE GROWTH.
SO THE WAY WE'VE BUILT THE FACILITY ALLOWS FOR US TO EXPAND ONTO THE, ONTO THE FACILITY.
UM, SAFETY AND SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS, WORKPLACE VIOLENCE.
UM, THE RISE OF THAT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENING, UM, IN MANY OF OUR FACILITIES AND JUST ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND SO WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WORKING WITH OUR PROTECTION OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE BUILDING, SAFE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND SAFE FOR OUR VISITORS, AS WELL AS OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
SO WE HAVE THINGS LIKE LIMITED ENTRY POINTS, SEPARATE EXITS, SEPARATE ENTRANCES, UM, A LOT OF CAMERAS, A LOT OF, UH, EXTERNAL LIGHTING.
IF YOU ALL HAVE DRIVEN PAST THE LOCATION AT NIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S VERY WELL LIT.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN ALL THE LIGHTING.
UM, SO THAT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL TO BE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF ARE WORKING 24 7.
AND SO WHEN THEY'RE LEAVING AT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FIVE O'CLOCK, FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING WHEN IT'S STILL DARK OUTSIDE, THEY WANNA FEEL SAFE.
UM, AND SO THAT LIGHTING WAS IMPORTANT.
TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT, UM, WE HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART OPERATING ROOMS. UM, WE HAVE REMOTE CAPABILITIES.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL IN A RURAL AREA, RIGHT? SO RECRUITING THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS THAT WE NEED, RECRUITING ALL THE SPECIALISTS THAT WE NEED IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
SO WE'RE REALLY GONNA HAVE TO RELY ON TELEMEDICINE, UM, EITHER WITH, YOU KNOW, PROVIDERS FROM OUR NEWPORT NEWS GROUPS OR, OR OTHER LOCATIONS.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT TELEMEDICINE CAPABILITY, UM, THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY.
FLEXIBILITY WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
UM, ENHANCING THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE.
SO RIGHT SIZING OUR KITCHEN TO ALLOW FOUR ROOM SERVICE CAPABILITIES, WHICH IS A NEW CONCEPT IN HEALTHCARE.
UM, BUT DEFINITELY MAKES THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE BETTER.
UM, WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY AT ONE OF YOUR WORST MOMENTS, RIGHT? FOOD IS IMPORTANT.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH GOOD FOOD, UM, WHEN YOU WANT IT.
UM, THE NATURAL LIGHTING AND ORGANIC ELEMENTS, I'LL SHOW YOU A FEW PICTURES IN, IN JUST A MINUTE.
UM, WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THIS, THAT THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE HEALING PROCESS FOR PATIENTS.
AND SO WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT LOTS OF WINDOWS, LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT, LOTS OF HEALING COLORS.
UM, AND THEN WE WORKED WITH OUR EMS PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT OUR EMERGENCY ROOM WAS DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWED FOR THEM TO HAVE OPTIMAL WORKFLOWS.
UM, AND SO THEY WERE, THEY WERE VERY INVOLVED, VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT, UM, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WERE, UM, WERE, UM, WELL EQUIPPED AND DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
AND SO THESE ARE JUST SOME RENDERINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU.
AGAIN, THOSE VERY LIGHT, CALMING COLORS, UM, JUST NATURAL ELEMENTS THAT YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY.
UM, THIS IS WHAT THE FACILITY LOOKS LIKE.
SO THIS IMAGE WAS TAKEN MAYBE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.
UM, SO IT'S EVEN, IT'S EVEN MORE DEVELOPED THAN THIS.
[00:30:01]
I, YOU KNOW, COULD BEAM INTO THE CAMERAS NOW AND SHOW YOU 'CAUSE IT'S TRULY INCREDIBLE.IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT CHANGES.
BUT, UM, HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE PAST IT AND SEE IT.
AND THESE ARE JUST SOME IMAGES, ACTUAL IMAGES OF THE INSIDE OF THE FACILITIES.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE RENDERINGS REALLY COMING TO LIFE HERE.
SAME COLORS, THE SAME WOOD ELEMENTS, THE SAME NATURAL LIGHTING.
AND THEN JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON THE JAMESON LONGFORD MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING.
AGAIN, THE SPECIALTIES THAT WE'LL HAVE ARE LISTED HERE.
UM, I WON'T GO OVER THOSE AGAIN, BUT THEY, THIS, UH, WE WILL START WITH ALL OF THESE SERVICES AGAIN, EITHER WITH PERMANENT PROVIDERS OR A ROTATION OF EXISTING PROVIDERS.
AND THIS IS SET TO OPEN IN AUGUST.
WE ARE ACTUALLY SCHEDULING PATIENTS ALREADY.
UM, SO IF YOU HAVE A NEED FOR ANY OF THESE SPECIALTIES, ANY OF THESE SERVICES, UM, PLEASE CALL, I WILL GET YOU THE NUMBER TO CALL AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO MELISSA, 'CAUSE I STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S THAT NEW.
UM, BUT WE ARE SCHEDULING PATIENTS, SO WE'LL, WE'LL WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET YOU SCHEDULED IF YOU NEED TO SEE ANY OF THESE SPECIALTIES.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL TALK ABOUT IS, UM, I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT RECRUITMENT.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION WE ARE GONNA BE RECRUITING OVER 200 POSITIONS IN THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS, WHICH IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING.
UM, BUT WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY GRATEFUL FOR A TEAM OF LEADERS, AGAIN, ACROSS THE SYSTEM WHO ARE HELPING US WITH THIS.
AND SO WE ARE NOW IN WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE PHASE TWO OF RECRUITMENT.
MYSELF AND OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, WE WERE IN THAT FIRST PHASE.
WE'RE NOW IN THE SECOND PHASE OF OUR LEADERSHIP LEVEL POSITIONS.
SO DIRECTORS, MANAGERS, UM, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO PHASE THREE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, OUR SUPERVISORS, COORDINATORS.
AND THEN PHASE THREE WILL BE OUR TEAM MEMBERS, OUR, OUR FRONTLINE STAFF.
UM, BUT THIS RIVERSIDE INSIDER, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I MENTIONED HERE FOR ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN, UM, LEARNING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT OP OPPORTUNITIES, THIS WEBSITE ALLOWS FOR YOU TO GO, UM, AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES ON POSITIONS THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN WHEN THOSE ARE POSTED.
UM, AND IT JUST ALLOWS FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING AT RIVERSIDE AND RIVERSIDE, SMITHFIELD.
I I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I THANK YOU FOR SUCH A THOROUGH PRESENTATION AND LETTING US KNOW WHAT IS COMING, UH, TO BE A BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CHAIR, MR. HARDY? YEAH, NIA, THANKS A LOT FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, AND TO ECHO WHAT, UM, THE CHAIR SAID, THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING AS WE KNOW.
UM, I KNOW MR. PHELPS CAN ATTEST THAT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY, YOU KNOW, UM, EVERY SECOND, EVERY MINUTE MATTERS.
SO TO HAVE A FACILITY, YOU KNOW, WITH CLOSE PROXIMITY, UH, I KNOW NOBODY WANTS, YOU KNOW, THAT, BUT IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY NEEDED, UM, ON A DAILY BASIS ACTUALLY.
SO, UM, THANKS SO MUCH, UM, FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
AND IT'S ALSO, I WANT KUDOS TO, UM, MR. ROLLINS.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE, UM, REPRESENTATION AT THE TABLE.
UH, SO I KNOW THROUGH COLLABORATION, GREAT THINGS WILL BE DONE.
AND ADDITIONALLY, THE LAST PART IS AWESOME AS WELL.
SO I KNOW GOING FORWARD OVER THE YEARS THAT MANY, MANY, UH, GRADUATING STUDENTS FROM SURY COUNTY, UH, THROUGH THEIR, UH, CONTINUING EDUCATION WILL PROBABLY HAVE EMPLOYMENT THERE.
SO THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING AS WELL.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS BOARD, UH, SUPPORTS, UH, EVERY LAST FACET OF WHAT YOU DO.
AND PLEASE, UH, DON'T BE A STRANGER.
COME BACK AND VISIT US SOME MORE WITH MORE UPDATES.
ANY, ANY OTHERS? THERE BE NONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
[Public Hearing]
UH, OPEN UP OUR PUBLIC HEARING FOR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 25, 26, PROPOSED BUDGET.AND AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE, UH, PRESENTATION FROM STAFF.
AGAIN, I JUST HAVE A VERY SHORT PRESENTATION, UM, AT THE LAST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, UM, AS IT WAS STATED, I DID A VERY LONG PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO I JUST HAVE A FEW SLIDES JUST TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT IT IS THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25, 26 BUDGET.
UM, THIS SLIDE IS JUST A BUDGETING BRIEF.
I JUST WANTED TO KINDA SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS DUE TOTAL OF 62.49 MILLION, THAT IS A DECREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND THAT'S BASED ON THE CONCLUSION OF SEVERAL ONE-TIME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
UM, THE PARTICULAR FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WHERE THAT'S BUDGETED AT 36.79 MILLION.
AND OF COURSE, THAT IS DRIVEN BY THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD ON THE REASSESSMENT RELATED REVENUE STATE MANDATED COMPENSATION
[00:35:01]
INCREASES, AND OF COURSE, TARGETED SAVINGS THAT WE DO HAVE FOR FUTURE PLANNING OF THE COMMUNITY.IN TERMS OF SOME KEY BUDGET PRIORITIES, OF COURSE, THE BUDGET WAS PROPOSED BASED ON THE 71 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUES.
UM, UH, AS FAR AS THE SAVINGS AND AND ABILITY THAT I MENTIONED, $1.1 MILLION IN ONE TIME REVENUE FROM PERSONAL PROPERTY BILLING CHANGE IS, IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IN ADDITION TO A LITTLE OVER A MILLION ALLOCATED FOR A REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND.
IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT TO EDUCATION, WE RECOGNIZED THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAD REQUESTED A LITTLE OVER $737,000 IN LOCAL SUPPORT.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE ABOUT 448,000 IN OPERATIONAL SUPPORT IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER 135,000, UM, THAT WAS, UH, ALLOCATED AT THIS JUNCTURE FOR A CAPITAL, UH, PLANNING FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR A BUS.
UM, IT DOES INCLUDE A 3% COLA FOR, UH, COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SLATED TO GET MANDATED INCREASES FROM THE COMPENSATION BOARD.
AND THAT'S PRIMARILY THE, UH, THE COMMUNICATION OFFICERS.
UM, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE IS, UH, SITE SUPPORT INCREASES FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES AS WELL AS CONTRACTUAL INCREASES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
UM, FOR ONE THING, WE ARE, UH, STAFFING OUR OWN AMBULANCE NOW.
SO THAT DOES INCLUDE SOME COSTS FOR, UM, STAFFING THE NEW AMBULANCE THAT WE SLATED TO RECEIVE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, MAYBE, UH, SOMEWHERE AROUND THAT TIME.
UH, AGAIN, AND THAT WAS A PROJECT, A, A, AN EQUIPMENT THAT WAS, UH, ACQUIRED VIA CASH FUNDING.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF SOME REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS, UM, BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND EVERYONE ASSEMBLED FOR OUR PROPERTY TAXES, UH, TOTAL ABOUT 31 MILLION.
IT DOES INCLUDE ABOUT $9.5 MILLION FOR REAL PROPERTY AND 17.86 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION TAXES, OUR LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE.
UM, MOVING ON DOWN TO THE EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN, WHICH YOU WILL SEE ON SOME LATER SLIDES, BUT I WON'T GO THROUGH THAT AT THIS JUNCTURE.
UM, CIP PLANNING, THERE IS NO IMPACT ON DEBT SERVICE AND THE FISCAL YEAR 25, 26 BUDGET.
UM, I DID INDICATE THAT WE WILL DO A ONE YEAR, UM, APPROACH THIS YEAR, UM, FOR THE CIP.
AND OF COURSE, THIS GIVES US TIME TO EXAMINE SOME OF THE FUTURE NEEDS AS PERTAINS TO A LOT OF THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE ARE, UH, SLATED TO, UM, DISCUSS FOR FUTURE PLANNING OF SURRY COUNTY.
IN TERMS OF POLICY CONSIDERATIONS, UM, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.
UH, WE DO ANTICIPATE, UM, CONTINUING ON OUR TAX RELIEF OF THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED VETERANS.
UM, AND ALSO IN THIS BUDGET, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ADDITIONAL TAX RELIEF IS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD.
YOU ALL DID HAVE YOUR WORKSTATION ON THIS ITEM, AND THIS IS THROUGH A PROPOSED ONE-TIME TAX REBATE ON REAL ESTATE TAX BILLS.
THAT WOULD BE DUE DECEMBER, 2025 AT THIS JUNCTURE.
YOU ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS, UM, ABOUT IT, AND OF COURSE THERE WOULD BE FURTHER DELIBERATIONS BY THE BOARD IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT YOUR POLICY DECISION WOULD BE FOR THAT PARTICULAR, UM, TAX RELIEF.
THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, ABOUT $36.7 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS BREAKDOWN OF ALL YOUR TAXES SOURCES HERE.
AGAIN, A, UH, NEARLY 13% INCREASE.
HOWEVER, WE DO AGAIN REITERATE THAT A LARGE PORTION OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND AND THE ALLOCATION OF, UM, REVENUE FROM ONE TIME.
THE BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS, AS I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER, WAS ABOUT SIX TO 2.49 MILLION.
THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE COUNTY FUNDS.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ADAPTING YOUR BUDGET, YOU'RE GONNA BE ADOPTING ALL COUNTY FUNDS.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT IS THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS, INCLUDING THE TRANSFERS OUT TO THE VARIOUS FUNDS, ABOUT 19.5 MILLION AS SHOWN THERE.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE REVENUE SAVINGS, ABOUT $2.1 MILLION TO STABILIZATION FUND, THE RESERVE FOR THE ONE TIME FUTURE CIP NEEDS, UM, GENERATED FROM THE ONE TIME PERMANENT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILLING TAX SLATED TO OCCUR BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER OF 2025.
THE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX RATES ARE SHOWN HERE.
BOARD MEMBERS YOU DID DECIDE TO ADOPT TWO RATES.
THEY WERE THE $3 AND 75 CENTS FOR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.
THAT IS A QUARTER DOWN FROM THE $4 THAT WE ARE, UH, HAD ADOPTED THIS PARTICULAR YEAR.
AND ALSO THE 71 CENTS ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.
Y'ALL MAKE THE DECISION TO ADOPT IT AT YOUR PREVIOUS MEETING AS WELL.
THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS ALL THE OTHER TAX RATES THAT YOU WILL BE CONSIDERING, UM, WHEN YOU, UH, CONVENE AGAIN TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
AND, UH, THE NEXT SLIDE JUST SHOWS THAT CIP APPROACH THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER CURRENTLY, AND THIS MAY, UH, EVENTUALLY CHANGE BASED ON, UM, ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET.
[00:40:01]
WE ARE ANTICIPATED ALLOCATING A LITTLE OVER 3 CENTS ON YOUR TAX RATE, UM, AS A POLICY YOU ALL IMPLEMENTED TO FUND, UM, CIP.AND THIS IS A PRELIMINARY LISTING OF THE PROJECTED PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED WITH THAT, UH, LITTLE OVER 3 CENTS ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.
AGAIN, SOME ADJUSTMENTS WILL NEED TO BE MADE.
UM, ALSO, I KNOW YOU CAN'T READ THIS SLIDE, BUT YOU DO HAVE THIS INFORMATION IN YOUR BUDGET BOOKS, BUT IT'S JUST PUT UP HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL AWARE THAT WE NEED TO ADOPT THE PLANNING FEES THAT WERE ALSO A ADVERTISED IN THE, UH, ADVERTISEMENT.
AND THESE ARE THE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT STATED, UH, THIS IS THE BUDGET CALENDAR, AND I'M JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU SEE IN GOAL.
THERE WE ARE AT OUR MAY 1ST PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN ON MAY 8TH IS THE DATE THAT YOU RECONVENE TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 25, 26 BUDGET, AND ALSO THE TAX RATES THAT ARE REMAINING TO BE ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE 25 26 PROPOSED BUDGET.
IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE ROSTER AND STATE YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
SUSAN VELO CLAREMONT DISTRICT WATCHING THAT PRESENTATION AND LOOKING AT THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.
CONFUSED BECAUSE IN THE BUDGET IT HAD $4 PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND ON HERE IT'S SAYING 3 75.
SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO THE NUMBERS.
UM, I'VE GOT THREE DIFFERENT CHARTS, AND THE ONE THAT IS ONLINE, THE REAL PROPERTY TAX COMPONENTS, THE BUDGET SAYS $4.
SO ARE THESE NUMBERS $4 OR ARE THESE NUMBERS 3 75? BECAUSE IF YOU ADD UP THESE COLUMNS, THEY DON'T MATCH THESE TOTALS.
NOW, UM, IF YOU HAVE A FISCAL BUDGET, TWO TH 2,000,446 IN 25, AND IN 26 YOU'VE GOT 2 MILLION 303 9, TO ME, THAT'S A NEGATIVE.
BUT ON THE CHANGE YOU'VE GOT POSITIVE 84,000.
AND IF YOU DO THE NUMBERS, IT'S A NEGATIVE 1 0 6, 2 3 3, OH, SORRY.
UM, THIS PERSONAL PROPERTY ON 26, BUDGET SAYS 2 MILLION 3, 3 9.
UM, SO I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHARTS, IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND, BECAUSE I DID FIGURE OUT THAT ONE OF THESE NUMBERS IS MISSING THE 90,000 ON THE LATE FEE.
UM, THE FISCAL BUDGET, 25, THE TOTAL THAT'S ON THERE, IF YOU ADD THE $90,000 LATE FEE, I'M COMES UP TO THE 26 THAT'S ON HERE.
UM, SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE BUDGET.
THESE WERE THINGS THAT JUST CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE.
ARE THESE FOR $4 OR IS THESE NUMBERS 3 75? I ALSO WANNA APOLOGIZE.
I WALKED OUT WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MS. RUFFIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS OR KNOWS THAT I AM RELATED TO MS. RUFFIN THROUGH MY GRANDKIDS.
SO IT JUST BROUGHT BACK A CONVERSATION WITH MY GRANDCHILD TODAY.
THANK YOU, MS. I'VE NOT REVIEWED VERY MUCH OF THE BUDGET EXCEPT FOR THE LITTLE STATEMENT I GOT ON MY REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT.
BUT OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TELLS US THAT THIS COUNTY
[00:45:01]
IS CURRENTLY CARRYING, AT THIS POINT, 23 POINT $28 MILLION IN DEBT.NOW, WE, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING 24 MILLION TO THAT, THAT IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO $50 MILLION IN DEBT FOR A SMALL COUNTY OF APPROXIMATELY 6,000 PEOPLE.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE DEMANDED THAT THE COUNTY, AND THAT IS REALLY YOU AND I, WHO PAY THE TAXES TO CHOOSE TO BORROW $10 MILLION TO BUILD A SWIMMING POOL, AN AMPHITHEATER, AND A BANQUET HALL FOR THE COUNTY OF A LITTLE OVER 6,000 PEOPLE.
YOU DID SOMETHING WISE FOR A CHANGE.
I'D HAVE THOUGHT YOU HAD LOST ALL YOUR SENSE.
IF YOU HAD VOTED FOR THAT, THAT VENTURE WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE HIRING OF LIFEGUARDS AND INSTRUCTORS SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND MORE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
THEN THERE WOULD BE MAINTENANCE POOL CHEMICALS, WHICH ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND MORE EMPLOYEES, HOWEVER, THAT IS SORT OF UP AT THE AIR, I GUESS.
NOW CONSIDER, IF YOU BORROW THIS $24 MILLION, WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE 24 MILLION RATHER THAN 10 MILLION? AS I POINTED OUT, WE WOULD ALL HAVE THE, THE COST OF STAFFING PLUS THE BUILDING OF THE FACILITY AND THE EXPENSE OF THE POOL SYSTEMS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
BUT IF WE TURN IT OVER TO THE YMCA AFTER WE BUILD THIS $24 MILLION FACILITY, THE YMCA WOULD HAVE THE EXPENSE OF OPERATING.
THEY WOULD HAVE THE EXPENSE OF HIRING, THEY WOULD HAVE THE EXPENSE OF POOL CHEMICALS, THEY WOULD HAVE THE EXPENSE OF INSTRUCTORS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND THEY WOULD ALSO PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY AND THE MIRRORED LITTLE EXPENSES THAT GO ALONG WITH SUCH FACILITIES.
YMCA WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE IF THAT $24 MILLION WASN'T STARING US IN THE FACE, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, PERHAPS CONSIDERING ALL OF THE EXPENSES, OKAY, PERHAPS IT WOULDN'T BE SUCH A UNWISE DECISION.
THINK ABOUT IT CAREFULLY PLEASE.
MIKE TON DINNER IN BLACK WATER.
REALLY HEARING THIS BUDGET, I THINK IT HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH REALITY.
YOU'RE LETTING YOUR WARRANTS OVERCOME THE REALITY OF THINGS.
THIS COUNTY OF 6,000 PEOPLE CANNOT SUPPORT THAT MUCH DEBT.
YOU TAX PEOPLE ENOUGH AND THEY MOVE TO OTHER COUNTIES, THEN WHO'S GONNA PAY THE TAXES? I, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT YOU SIT DOWN AND REALLY THOUGHT THIS TO $24 MILLION ADDED TO THE CURRENT 23 MILLION.
SHA SURRY DISTRICT, THOUGH I HAVE, I I HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH DEBT FUNDING.
UM, AND YET I WANT TO, IN THE INTEREST OF FINDING COMMON GROUND, REGARDLESS OF DISAGREEMENTS I MAY HAVE ON CONTENT OF THIS BUDGET, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS BUDGET.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL.
DISTRICT, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, I THINK THE GOALS THAT YOU PUT INTO THE BUDGET SHOW THAT YOU'RE RECOGNIZING WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR.
I THOUGHT YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT PART OF THE BUDGET.
AND, UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU DID THIS, BUT I
[00:50:01]
BELIEVE THE TREASURY OFFICE AND THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE OFFICE, UM, THEY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING US THROUGH THE TRANSITION OF THE TAXES.AND SO MAYBE THERE WAS A LITTLE BONUS.
MAYBE IT COULD BE IN THEIR PAYCHECK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU ALL CAN DECIDE THAT.
BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THEM.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER STAFF THAT, UM, ALSO, UM, RECENTLY I WENT TO THE STATE LIBRARY AND, UM, UH, DOING STUDYING, UH, LOOKING AT GENEALOGY.
AND, UM, I FOUND THAT THE SURREY RECORDS ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T GET BURNED.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF RECORDS HERE, AND I KNOW THAT THE CLERK OF THE COURT ASKED FOR MONIES TO HELP PRESERVE OUR RECORDS.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT LET'S SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WITH, AS A STATE AND NATIONAL TREASURE, WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COUNTY.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT HOW THINGS ADD UP IN THE BUDGET, BUT I CAN ALWAYS SEND THAT.
I AM CHARNAY FROM THE CARSLEY DISTRICT.
I JUST WANT TO COMMEND STAFF, THE BOARD MEMBERS ON RECOGNIZING WHAT MY GENERATION NEEDS AND THE GENERATIONS THAT ARE COME BE BEYOND ME BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE VALEDICTORIAN WOO WOO
UM, AND SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER HER THINGS TO COME HOME TOO
I WANT HER TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME AND WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND LOVE BEING IN THIS COMMUNITY VERSUS SAYING THERE'S NOTHING HERE TO, THAT SURY HAS TO OFFER.
AND SO THAT IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY BIGGEST CONCERN AS BEING A GROWING UP HERE, LIVING HERE, CONTINUING TO STAY HERE, TO WORK HERE, IS ACTUALLY HAVING SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO FOR MY KIDS TO ENJOY SO THAT THEY WOULD WANNA GROW UP HERE BECAUSE SIR IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.
WE BREED A LOT OF INTELLIGENT, TALENTED PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO KEEP THEM, BECAUSE AS MR. OLSON STATE, THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE AND THEN OUR COUNTY IS GOING TO BE AT A DETRIMENT BECAUSE YES, YOU THINK THE TAXES ARE HIGH.
NOW, IF PEOPLE KEEP LEAVING, GUESS WHAT? GUESS WHO BEARS THAT BURDEN? THE FEW PEOPLE WHO STAY HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO PROGRESS US.
GO ON ONCE, NO OTHER COMMENTS.
WE WILL NOW CLOSE OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY OTHER PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF? NO, SIR.
ANY COMMENTS FROM BOARD? MR. CHAIR? MR. MR. PIERCE? THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK EVERYONE FOR THE PUBLIC CON, EXCUSE ME, FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THANK STAFF FOR THEIR HARDWORKING DILIGENCE ON THIS, UH, BUDGET.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOARD? IF THERE ARE NO COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND WE'LL MOVE TO NEW
[New Business]
BUSINESS.AND, UH, FIRST WE HAVE IS OUR VDO QUARTERLY REPORT.
MR. CARROLL, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN ELLIOT, OTHER DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, HERE TO GIVE QUARTER FIRST QUARTER, JANUARY 1ST TO MARCH 31ST, UH, ASSESSMENT, UH, REPORT.
SO, UM, SURREY COUNTY, UM, CUSTOMER GENERATED WORK ORDERS EQUALED 88, UH, I'M SORRY, 97 THIS QUARTER, UH, WITH NINE, UH, OUTSTANDING, UH, WHICH WAS A 90.7 COMPLETION RATE.
UH, WE ALSO CREATED OURSELVES, UM, BEAR WITH ME.
I DID FRONT AND BACK, UM, 119 WORK ORDERS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE SAW OR OR FOUND IN OUR TRAVELS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED.
OUT OF THOSE 119 THINGS, WE ONLY HAD ONE OUTSTANDING, UH, WHICH WAS A 99.2% COMPLETION RATE.
SO COMBINED TOTALS, THERE WAS 216, UH, WORK ORDERS.
UH, WE COMPLETED 206, WHICH IS A 95.4 COMPLETION RATE FOR THE F FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR.
A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MAINTENANCE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE DITCHING ON ROUTE SIX 18, SECTION ROAD TRIMMING ROUTE 6 0 9 SUNKEN MEADOW, SPR LAKE MILL ROAD, UH, CLUBHOUSE ROAD.
WE DID TREE REMOVALS OVER ON, UH, PLEASANT POINT POPULAR LAWN.
UM, WE DID REGULAR STREET MAINTENANCE AND DEBRIS REMOVAL ON BOTH PRIMARIES AND SECONDARIES.
WE DID SOME SIGN MAINTENANCE ON ROUTE 40, ROUTE 10 AND ROUTE 31.
UH, WE DID THE BEACHLAND ROAD CLEANING.
THE CROSS PIPEE, UH, STOPPED UP BY BEAVERS.
[00:55:01]
UH, WE'VE HAD AN UPTICK WITH BEAVER INTRUSIONS INTO OUR PIPES.UH, I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THIS QUARTER, BUT WE JUST COMPLETED, UH, UH, A FAIRLY LARGE WASHOUT OVER IN CLAREMONT, UH, WHERE THE BEAVERS HAD, UH, WE EVEN HAD WHAT THESE CALL BEAVER DECEIVERS TRY TO KEEP THE BEAVERS FROM GOING INTO THE PIPE.
UM, THEY STILL, STILL ENDED UP, UH, UH, STOPPING EVERYTHING UP.
AND WITH THAT, UH, LARGE AMOUNT OF RAIN WE HAD, UH, LAST MONTH, UM, CREATED A SWIRLING AND, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE ROAD WAS GONE.
SO WE ENDED UP DOING THAT, UH, WHICH IS, LIKE I SAID, END THIS QUARTER.
UH, WE DID DO SNOW OPERATIONS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT'S 80 SOME DEGREES OUTSIDE TODAY.
UH, WITHIN TWO MONTHS AGO, GUESS WHAT, WE WERE PUSHING SNOW.
SO, UH, BIG CHANGE IN THE WEATHER.
BUT WE DID HAVE FOUR MAJOR EVENTS IN THE, UH, COUNTY THAT WE RESPONDED TO FOR SNOW REMOVAL.
UH, WE HAD ALSO, UH, IN THIS QUARTER, ROADWAY FLOODING, UH, YOU KNOW, RAIN EVENT, UH, WHERE WE RESPONDED TO, UH, HIGH WATER AND, UH, WASHOUTS.
WE DID SHOULDER WASHOUT REPAIRS ON ROUTE 6 0 2 AND A COUPLE OTHERS.
UH, CROSS-TRAIN, CLEANING, CLEANING VARIOUS ROUTES.
UH, SURFACE SCHEDULES HAVE STARTED, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, STARTED OVER IN, UH, THE CLAREMONT DISTRICT AND, UM, AND IT ALSO STARTED OVER ON 6 28, 6 27.
I THINK THAT'S MANURA MOONLIGHT, BURNT MILL, UH, OVER IN THAT DISTRICT.
SO, UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, POTHOLE REPAIR COUNTYWIDE, UH, CURRENTLY GOING ON.
IT'S ALWAYS, CERTAINLY AFTER A HEAVY WINTER.
UM, SPRINGTIME SEEMS TO BRING ON THE STATE FLOWER, THE POTHOLE.
SO, UH,
UM, SOME THINGS JUST TO GO OVER THE RESCHEDULING SURFACE, WE'RE DOING LATEX ON ROUTE 10 BETWEEN COLONIAL TRAIL WEST AND, UH, I'M SORRY, ON COLONIAL TRAIL WEST, UH, BETWEEN RIGHT THERE AT THE SURREY AREA HEADQUARTERS OUT TOWARDS, UH, HOLLY BUSH.
AND, UM, WE ALSO ARE DOING CAPE SEAL, PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE TOWN OF CLAREMONT, UH, ROUTE SIX.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, WE ARE DOING PLANT MIX, OH, I'M SORRY, AND MOONLIGHT LEBANON ROAD, HOLLY BUSH, UH, MANURA BURNT MILL ROAD.
AND THEN WE'RE DOING PLANT MIX, UM, HERE IN THE TOWN.
SO THERE'LL BE A MILLING AND, UH, THEY'LL MILL UP THE EXISTING PAVEMENTS AND PAVE BACK PRETTY MUCH ALL THE ROADS.
UM, CHURCH STREET, BANK STREET, UH, 6 26 IN FRONT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALL OF THOSE ROADS, UH, WILL BE, UH, AND THIS SUMMER'S PAVING SCHEDULE AS WELL.
BANK STREET, SCHOOL STREET, CHURCH STREET, OAK STREET, SALISBURY AND BEACHLAND ROAD.
UM, MOWING, UH, AND LITTER PICKUP.
SO OUR FIRST, UH, MOWING AND LITTER PICKUP FOR THE COUNTY STARTS TODAY.
UM, SO WE DID OUR NOTICE TO PROCEED TO THE CONTRACTOR ON FOUR 17.
UH, THEY HAVE A COUPLE DAY GRACE PERIOD, BUT, UH, THAT'LL GET KICKED OFF AND THEY'LL START, YOU'LL SEE THE LITTER PICKING UP FIRST, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE MOWING SIGNS OUT THERE.
UH, THEY DO THE PRIMARIES AND I CALL IT MAJOR SECONDARIES ROUTE SIX SEVENTEEN, SIX FIFTY.
UM, THEN OUR STATE FORCES DO THE SECONDARY MOWING FOR ALL THE OTHER ROUTES.
SO, UM, WE'D HAVE COM CLOSED, A COUPLE PROJECTS, THE ROUTE 40 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, AND THE, AND THE BEACONS CASTLE.
UH, FINALLY GOT THROUGH ALL THE DEQ PERMITTING FOR THAT MM-HMM
UH, WE ALSO SIX YEAR PLAN, UH, WE, AND IT WAS ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT TO INSTALL SIDEWALK ALONG BANK STREET, UH, CHURCH STREET TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES.
I SAW, I HEARD SOMEONE TALK ABOUT THE, THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND, AND BUILDING UP THE TOWN.
UM, SO THAT IS IN YOUR SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN THAT, UH, THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED.
AND WE ALSO IN THIS QUARTER DID SOME LAND USE, UH, PLAN REVIEWS.
UM, WE HAD A TOTAL OF FIVE, WHICH IS A UPTICK FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, ONE OF THEM BEING THE, UH, CROSSWALKS IN SCHOOL, UH, AT THE SCHOOL AND OR SIDEWALK PLAN, CROSSWALK PLAN AT SCHOOL.
UH, AND THEN, UM, 12 PERMITS ISSUED, AND WE HAVEN'T CLOSED OUT ANY OF THOSE 12 PERMITS IN THIS QUARTER.
UH, DID RECEIVE A, UH, EMAIL FROM, UH, CAVALIER A ES.
THEY WERE GONNA START SCHEDULING THE ROUTE 6 26 PAVING.
UM, SO WE'LL SEE WHEN THAT GETS KICKED
[01:00:01]
OFF.UH, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, WE HAD TWO STUDIES WITHIN THIS QUARTER.
ONE OF 'EM WAS COMPLETE, I MEAN, WAS, UH, SIGNED AND SEALED ON JANUARY 21ST.
THAT WAS THE SCHOOL BUS STOP AHEAD, SIGN ON WHITE MARSH, IT'S COMPLETE.
AND THEN ON FEBRUARY 3RD, UH, WE HAD THE SPEED STUDY RIGHT HERE AT ROUTE 10, ROUTE 31.
THOSE SIGNS HAVE BEEN RELOCATED AND EXTENDED THE, UH, 45 MILE AN HOUR SPEED ZONE, UH, PAST ROUTE 10 ONTO, UH, ONTO 31.
SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY, UH, QUARTERLY REPORT.
I'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, MR. CARROLL, FOR YOUR REPORT.
I JUST WANT TO, UH, PERSONALLY SALUTE YOU, SIR, UH, EVERY TIME I, ME PERSONALLY AS A BOARD MEMBER, HAVE CONTACTED YOU AND ASKED YOU TO LOOK INTO SOMETHING.
YOU HAVE BEEN JOHNNY ON THE SPOT AND I APPRECIATE IT.
AND THE PEOPLE IN CLAM MOUNT, THEY ARE SO EXCITED GETTING NEW ROADS AND NEW PAVEMENT THERE.
SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
AND HAVING SAID THAT, UH, COULD YOU PLEASE PUT IT ON YOUR RADAR TO LOOK INTO JONES ROAD THAT MR. EDISON IS, IS TALKING ABOUT, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THERE.
AND I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE.
BUT, BUT AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU SIR FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY AND WE CAN SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ROADS, SECONDARY ROADS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE GOING ON AND KNOW YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THE TOWN LOOK REAL RE REAL, REAL WELL AND ALSO.
SO AGAIN, JUST PERSONALLY FOR ME TO YOU, THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. MR. SCOTT, THANK YOU ALSO MR. CARROLL FOR YOUR UPDATES AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN RESPONDING TO MY PHONE CALLS AS WELL.
UM, I'M HAD A INQUIRY ON SWANS POINT ROAD.
IS THAT YOU ALL DOING SOME PAVING ON SWAT OR SOME TYPE OF WORK ON SWANS POINT ROAD? I DON'T KNOW ROUTE NUMBER, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEAVER DAM.
YEAH, BUT THEY WERE, I THINK YOU WERE WORKING ON SWANS POINT ROAD THOUGH.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS INQUIRING ABOUT.
WELL, I WILL LOOK, 'CAUSE I HAVE ALL THE SCHEDULES RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME
SO LAUREL SPRINGS 6 0 9 RIVER ROAD SIX 13.
I WAS TOLD THIS IS AN ACTUAL PAVING THAT WAS BEING DONE YESTERDAY AND HOPEFULLY COMPLETED TODAY.
THIS IS JUST WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY, UH, CITIZENS.
SO I'M JUST ASKING
MR. CALHOUN ON HOLLY BUSH TALKING.
I KNOW HE IS, BUT I'M TALKING THE SAME GENERAL AREA.
IS THAT SIX 10? YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S ACTUALLY SIX 18.
BUT IS THAT IT'S FROM SIX 10 TO SIX 70.
THAT SECTION IS BEING PAVED? YES.
IS THAT A SHORT DURATION? I DON'T, UH, DOES IT SAY IT'S ONLY A MILE? MILE AND THE 10TH? IT'S NOT RIGHT.
USUALLY THEY CAN DO WELL, DEPENDS UPON OPEN ROAD LIKE THAT.
UM, I GO, ONE ELSE WAS SAYING, MR. CARROLL, I I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS FROM ME AS WELL.
I KNOW LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, I ASKED IF YOU COULD, UH, ADD SOME, UH, PHOTOS TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND I
UM, I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S, UM, LIKE I'M NOT USED TO ALL THE NUMBERS PER SE, BUT SOMETIMES THESE SPECIAL LANDMARKS IN SRE COUNTY TO SEE WHERE YOU GUYS ARE DOING THE ROAD, LIKE THE TREE LEMMING.
UM, SEEING YOU GUYS, UH, BACK WHEN WE HAD THOSE WINTER STORMS OUT THERE, SNOWING, UH, COMING BACK A FEW DAYS LATER, COVERING UP THE POT HOSE, YOU KNOW, THAT STUFF DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE.
AND ALSO, IF I MAY ADD, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NEXT REPORT, WE WILL SHOW ALL THE NICE PICTURES.
UM, UH, MR. PIERCE DID, UH, ASK IF I COULD GET IT ON, BUT BY THE TIME YOU HAD CONCLUDED, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE, BUT IT IS IN THE AGENDA PACKET, SO, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE WE ARE, SHOW THE PICTURES THE NEXT TIME YOU DO YOUR REPORT.
[Board Comments]
WILL HAVE MORE COMMENTS AND WE'LL START WITH MR. HARDY.[01:05:01]
IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE IN SUR COUNTY, SO I'M PROBABLY GONNA STEAL OUT A LOT OF THUNDER, UH, SINCE, SINCE I'M GOING FIRST.BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TOMORROW.
UH, FIRST FRIDAY'S ON THE LAWN FREE CONCERT EVENT.
SO IF YOUR CALENDAR IS FREE, PLEASE COME OUT AND, UH, ENJOY YOURSELF WITH, UH, FELLOW CITIZENS.
OTHER THAN THAT, GREAT PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT FROM, UH, RIVERSIDE, UM, AS WELL AS VDOT.
I, I ECHOED ALL THE, UH, BOARD SENTIMENTS, UH, MYSELF.
UM, I, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, I, I'M A, UH, AN OPPONENT OF MISINFORMATION AND, UM, MR. SSON, WE DID NOT FI FLY FIRST CLASS, UH, DURING OUR LAST, UH, OUTING.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK WE SAVED THE COUNTY A LITTLE MONEY WHEN WE GOT THERE.
I USED TO LIVE IN TAMPA WHEN I WAS IN THE MILITARY, AND INSTEAD OF RENTING CARS, WE ACTUALLY TOOK UBERS TO OUR, UH, OUR DESTINATIONS.
I DID NOT EVEN, UM, SUBMIT, SUBMIT THE EXPENSE REPORT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GOT THAT INFORMATION, BUT, UH, YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK YOUR SOURCE, BUT, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, MISINFORMATION IS OUT THERE, BUT, UH, I'M GONNA TRY TO CORRECT WHENEVER I, UH, CAN.
OTHER THAN THAT, AGAIN, GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, UM, MOVING THINGS FORWARD.
AND AS ALWAYS, I CLOSE WITH SIR, SOMETHING SPECIAL.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE, UH, SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS BY, UH, RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL, UM, PRESENTATION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING BY STAFF, AND THEN ALSO THE, UH, COMMENTS MADE BY OUR CITIZENS ON THE, ON THE BUDGET.
UM, MR. CARROLL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THIS COUNTY AND MAKING IT AS PRETTY AS WE CAN.
AND, UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME FOLKS OUT TOMORROW NIGHT ON FIRST FRIDAY.
THANK YOU MR. MR. PIERCE? YES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. CHAIR.
THAT ALL HOLD, HOLD MR. PIERCE.
I, I MISSED SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD.
YEAH, I THOUGHT MR. CARROLL WAS, WAS GIVING US A SIX YEAR PLAN.
BOARD MEMBERS, MS. RAWLINGS AND ALL OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE.
UM, I'LL BE BEFORE YOU BRIEFLY TO DISCUSS THE COUNTY'S CURRENT, UM, PROPOSED SIX YEAR SECONDARY ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH WILL EXTEND FROM FISCAL YEAR 2026 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031.
THE PROJECTIONS PRESENTED IN THE PLAN ARE BASED ON ANTICIPATED FUNDS BEING AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION IN THE COMING YEARS.
THE FUNDING AMOUNTS CAN CHANGE AND TEND TO FLUCTUATE AS THE FINANCIAL CLIMATE OF THE STATE CHANGES.
THE CURRENT ANTICIPATED SIX YEAR PLAN ALLOCATIONS FOR S COUNTY ARTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 20 26, 20 27, 20 28, AND 2029.
THE ALLOCATION FOR EACH YEAR IS $19,329 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2030.
THE AMOUNT IS $19,597 AND FISCAL YEAR 30 31 $19,596.
THE TOTAL PROJECTED ALLOCATION OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS, IT'S A TOTAL OF $116,509.
AT THIS TIME, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE PLAN AS PRESENTED.
THE STATE REQUIRES THAT A RESOLUTION BE SIGNED AND AGREEMENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, MR. WADE PREPARED THE RESOLUTION FOR INCLUSION IN THE BOARD PACKAGE FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
IF IT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, STAFF IS REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE PLAN AND SUBMIT A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED SIX YEAR PLAN ALLOCATIONS.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, UH, REQUEST FOR A RESOLUTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SIX YEAR SECONDARY ROAD APPROVEMENT PLAN FOR YEAR 26 THROUGH 2031.
WHAT IS YOUR, UH, DESIRE ON THE REQUEST FOR THE RESOLUTION BY STAFF, MR. CHAIR? MR. PIERCE? UM, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PROPOSED SIX YEAR PLAN AND AUTHORIZED THE SUBMISSION OF THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS OF THE SIX YEAR PERIOD, TOTALING
[01:10:01]
$116,509.THANK YOU MR. PIERCE, FOR THE MOTION.
AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION? THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.
ALL IN FAVOR THAT IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE.
THANK YOU, MR. ALRIGHT, BACK ON YOU MR. PIERCE.
UH, AND AS I WAS MENTIONING, AS I WAS SAYING, AS ALWAYS, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
UH, THANK EVERYONE THAT'S TUNING IN FROM HOME.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH.
I'VE BEEN, UH, PARTAKING IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY DAY AT THE, UM, S COUNTY, UH, UM, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UH, THERE WAS A VERY FESTIVE EVENT, UM, UH, WENT OUT TO THE, UM, THE, UM, THE PAVILION OF THE LOVE SIGN.
UM, SHOUT OUT TO OUR, OUR STAFF FOR THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND THE ARTISTS FOR THAT.
UM, IT'S TRULY INSPIRING LOOKING AT THE PICTURES TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SHOW WHATS COUNTY REALLY IS.
AND I, AND I THINK, UM, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SAID OUT THERE, I, I AGREE TO THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE THE, THE BEST, UH, PRETTIEST, UH, LOVE SIGN HERE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
UM, BUT, BUT AGAIN, UM, BACK TO THE MEETING TONIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AGAIN, THE PUBLIC HEARING ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERYONE IS BEING HEARD.
UM, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST AS BOARD MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE ARE, ARE, ARE ENSURING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERY CITIZEN OF CHERRY COUNTY IS, IS BENEFICIAL FOR HIM OR HER AND THEIR FAMILY.
SO, UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME THINGS MAY NOT, UM, LOOK, UH, PLEASANT AT THE MOMENT, BUT JUST KNOW THAT BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE, LISTENING TO CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THE PLAN WE HAVE IN PLACE IS REPRESENTATION OF ALL OF ALL.
ALRIGHT? AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THAT ON MY BEHALF.
UM, BUT AGAIN, UH, JUST ANOTHER REMINDER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, DR.
UM, MA MONROE MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON MAY 31ST.
THAT IS A EXCITING TIME OF THE YEAR TO SEE OUR, OUR FUTURE, UH, COUNTY IS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE WORD OR NOT, BUT, UH,
UH, BUT JUST SEE OUR FUTURE, UH, REALLY EMBARKING WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP OF THEIR LIVES, UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, OUR STUDENTS HAVE GREAT SUPPORT FROM THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, FROM THEIR, THEIR SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND I'M HOPING AND PRAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WORK WELL AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE FOR THE GREAT OF THE GOOD AND THE GREAT OF THE GOOD.
I REALLY BELIEVE IN IS THE FUTURE OF CHERRY COUNTY.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR LITTLE ONES, WHETHER, UH, K THROUGH 12, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE, OUR YOUTH, I THINK WE ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO AGAIN, UM, THANK AGAIN FOR EVERYONE FOR THAT COMMENTS.
THANK AGAIN FOR EVERYONE COMING OUT TONIGHT.
UH, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IN MY COMMENTS WOULD BE, UH, REQUEST FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT THE FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN HALF STAFF ON TOMORROW FOR, UH, THE PASSING OF, UH, MS. LAURA RUFFIN, WHO HAS MANY YEARS OF SERVICES TO, UH, OUR YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, WE KNOW THAT SHE WILL BE FUNERALIZED SATURDAY AT 12 AT MOUNT NEBO.
SO IT IS A REQUEST OF THE BOARD TO FLY THE FLAG TO HALF STAFF.
SO CAN WE GET A MOTION ON THE REQUEST AT THIS TIME? MR. CHAIR? MR. PIERCE, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, THE COUNTY FLOWER FLAGS HALF STAFF ON FRIDAY, UM, IN THE REMEMBRANCE OF MS. LAURA P RUFFIN, UM, PASSING.
ALL IN FAVOR? IT'LL BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGNED.
UH, IN, IN MY COMMENTS AGAIN, MR. MR. HARDY MADE A REFERENCE TO MISINFORMATION AND WE WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING AT THIS TIME.
SO I WANT TO GIVE AWAY TO, UH, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IN REFERENCE TO A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE IN OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE ARE OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE LAW.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE AUDIT AND THE DELAY IN THE COMPLETION OF THE AUDIT, THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT WAS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE THAT, UH, EXTENDED THAT DATE UNTIL APRIL THE FIRST.
THERE WAS ANOTHER NOTICE THAT WAS POSTED ALSO ON OUR WEBSITE THAT EXTENDED THAT DATE, UH, UNTIL JULY 1ST, 2025.
UM, AND IN ADDITION THAT NOTICE BOTH THE APRIL 1ST ONE AND THE ONE WITH THE JULY 1ST DATE, UM, HAS BEEN POSTED IN OUR PUBLIC NOTICES CABINET HERE IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
[01:15:01]
SO I JUST WANTED TO ASSURE ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT, UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF VIRGINIA CO.I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE COMMENTS THAT THEY MADE IN TONIGHT'S MEETING IN REFERENCE TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON, ON THE, UH, THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
UH, AND I, I AGREE WITH A LOT THAT WAS BEING SAID, AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT ON TODAY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WALK HERE IN SURY COUNTY.
AND WITHIN THAT WALK YOU HAD ALL DIFFERENT CREED, COLORS, GENDER, AND THIS CAME TOGETHER AND FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND PRAYED.
AND I THINK THAT IS A GIANT STEP IN THE SOLIDARITY OF S COUNTY, THE CITIZENS.
AND I JUST HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
I HAD A, A, MY PRAYER PARTNER, A WALKING PARTNER WAS THE NEW PASTOR OF, UH, THE BACON CASTLE BAPTIST CHURCH.
ME AND HIM HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.
AND WE HAVE THE LOVE SIGN THAT'S PLACED OUT, UH, BEFORE, UH, OUR GOVERNMENT CENTER.
AND WE, AGAIN, MR. PIERCE, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR AN AWESOME JOB.
WE HAD A GREAT DAY WHEN WE UNVEILED THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, ON TOMORROW, AS MR. HARDY HAS STATED, IS THE FIRST FRIDAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR CONCERT ON OUR SERIES.
AND IF YOU WANT THE COUNTER TO BE WHAT YOU SAY YOU WANT IT TO BE, JUST DON'T TALK THE TALK.
BE A PART OF THESE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING TO UNIFY AND BRING US TOGETHER BECAUSE RELATIONSHIPS IS WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE CAN ALL STAND ON THE SIDELINE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG, BUT IF YOU GET INVOLVED WITH WHAT IS IN PLACE TO BRING THE CAN TOGETHER, THEN I THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, I DO WISH ALL THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY NOTHING BUT LOVE, PEACE, AND JOY.
AND HAVING SAID THAT, WE WILL CLOSE OUR BOARD COMMENTS.
[County Administrators Report]
WE'LL MOVE TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT, IF THERE'LL BE ANY.FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK THESE, UH, TEAM MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED ON YESTERDAY WITH THE EMPLOYEE CLEANUP.
UM, WE DID CLEAN UP THE LITTER THAT WAS FROM THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER DRIVEWAY TO HOUSH ROAD.
UH, SO WHILE THERE WERE MANY, MANY TRUCKS PASSING BY FAST AND CARS, UH, I WAS GLAD THAT EVERYBODY KIND OF MADE IT OUT SAFELY.
WE MAY HAVE TO RETHINK HOW WE ARE GONNA DO IT NEXT YEAR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF THANK ALL OUR TEAM MEMBERS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT CLEANUP ACTIVITY AND FOR MR. LORENZO TURNER AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR LEADING THOSE EFFORTS FOR US THIS YEAR.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO, UH, THE TEAM MEMBERS FOR, UM, EXECUTING WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON TOMORROW.
IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO DRIVE UP.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GROUNDS AND EVERYTHING ARE LOOKING, UM, AMAZING FOR OUR CITIZENS AND ANY GUESTS WHO MAY DESIRE YOU TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT EVENT ON TOMORROW.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS JUST TO DO A SLIGHT CORRECTION AS WELL.
WHILE ONE CITIZEN, UH, DID, UH, THANK ME FOR THE BUDGET GOALS, I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION AND SAY THAT THESE ARE THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT I RECEIVE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND, UH, THE BUDGET IS DRIVEN BASED ON THEIR, UH, STRATEGIC GOALS AND PRIORITIES THAT ARE GIVEN TO ME BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
BUT JUST THE SAME, JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION AS WELL.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET YOUR REPORTS FROM THE INSPECTION PERFORMED BY THE DISTRICT AND BUILDING OFFICIALS REPORT.
THAT IS IN, UH, YOUR PACKET ARE FOR OUR INFORMATION.
AND IF THERE NO QUESTIONS ON THAT, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT UNTIL MAY, MAY THE EIGHTH.