* 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. [00:00:01] GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THE [Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption] HOUR HAS ARRIVED FOR US TO COMMENCE OUR OCTOBER, EXCUSE ME, SEPTEMBER, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR THE YEAR 2025, AND THAT I HAD IT RIGHT. IT IS OCTOBER. IT IS MONTHS ARE ROLLING BY SO FAST. SORRY. YEAH. MR. HARDY MESSED ME UP OCTOBER, 2025 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, AND WE ARE ELATED TODAY TO HAVE THE PASTOR OF, UH, FERGUSON GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH, REVEREND DOUGLAS CHARITY GONNA COME AND GIVE US OUR INVOCATIONAL PRAYER. GOOD EVENING, BOY. GOOD EVENING. THAT IS PRAY. LET'S GRACIE TURNER, GOD, OUR FATHER, THE GOD OF OUR LORD, AND SAVIOR JESUS OF CHRIST. WE COMING BEFORE YOU NOW ASKING FOR YOUR SPECIAL ANOINTING UPON THESE SERVICE OF DYING ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR HERE AND ALL TOGETHER IN THIS PARTICULAR MEETING, LET YOUR HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE, PROTECT, DELIVER, AND GRANT THE WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING AND WHAT'S BEST FOR US AS SYSTEM OF THE COUNTY OF SERVICE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT SERVICE. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANK REVEREND CHARITY. AND AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD OBSERVE, WE WILL CALL OUR MEETING OFFICIALLY TO ORDER. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OUR PLEASURE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS MY NATION OF GOD, LIBERTY, OUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT THE AGENDA FOR OUR MEETING. AND THERE IS, UH, TWO AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO OUR ATTENTION. THE FIRST WOULD BE UNDER CONSENT. ITEM NUMBER THREE. UH, WE WERE ASKED TO REMOVE THIS ITEM, UH, FOR LEGAL COUNSEL TO HAVE MORE TIME TO WORK WITH THE CORPORATION FOR CONTRACTUAL MATTERS AND ALSO, UH, OUR CLOSED SESSION. WE ASKED HIM TO TAKE THAT OFF OF OUR AGENDA TONIGHT AND, UH, PLACE THAT ON OUR NOVEMBER MEETING. SO AT THIS TIME, UH, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON OUR AGENDA, WE WOULD SEEK APPROVAL ON ADOPTION FOR THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING. SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION. HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING AND SIGN OF AYE. AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OUR AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL [Consent Items] BE THE FIRST TWO IN CONSENT, WILL BE THE APPROVAL OF OUR DRAFT MINUTES FROM OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING, AND ALSO A RESOLUTION PROCLAMATION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2025, THIS MONTH BEING OCTOBER. SO AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF OUR CONSENT ITEMS, UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON THOSE ITEMS. SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OUR CONSENT. HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. BEEN PROPERLY MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING AND SIGN OF AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OUR CONSENT ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA [Public Comments] IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND WE ARE GOING TO ASK OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO GIVE THE PREAMBLE FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. MS. PERKINS. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. RULES FOR CITIZENS 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 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 [00:05:01] COMBINED 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 SPEAKERS SHALL NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY AUDIENCE, COMMENTS, CALLS, 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, OR 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. I'M GONNA ASK MR. HARRISON IF HE PREPARED TO BE THE TIME KEEPER IN A, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. AND WE HAVE THREE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TONIGHT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. AND WE'RE GONNA FIRST CALL SUSAN COVELO, IF SHE WOULD COME. IF YOU WOULD FOR PUBLIC RECORD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR DISTRICT. SUSAN CORVELL CLAREMONT DISTRICT. I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A REQUEST ABOUT THE BID PAGE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE, ASKING WHETHER IT'S KEPT UP TO DATE AND WHY INFORMATION WAS REMOVED. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A CLEAR RESPONSE AS OF YET, AND THAT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO. ALSO RECENTLY CONTACTED STAFF ASKING WHY THE PRESENTATIONS AREN'T INCLUDED IN AGENDAS SO THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD MEMBERS CAN REVIEW THEM AHEAD OF TIME. THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION. WE BELIEVE IT'S BEST FOR THE PUBLIC AND OTHERS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM THOSE WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE DURING THE MEETING ITSELF AND THROUGH THE OFFICIAL RECORD MINUTES IN AUDIO VIDEO RECORDINGS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MOVE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE END OF THE MEETINGS SO CITIZENS CAN SPEAK ON THE ACTUAL ISSUES NOT A MONTH LATER AFTER DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT BEHIND THE RESPONSE, BUT IT RAISES REAL CONCERNS. FOR EXAMPLE, TONIGHT IT APPEARS THE AUDIT INFORMATION IS BEING PRESENTED BASED ON THE COVER PAGE. YET AGAIN, NO PRESENTATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE IN ADVANCE. THE PUBLIC HAS NO CHANCE TO REVIEW OR RESPOND. THE CURRENT SETUP WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE AGENDA ITEMS PREVENTS MEANINGFUL INPUT FROM CITIZENS ON MATTERS BEING DISCUSSED. TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR FOSTERING PUBLIC TRUST, PREVENTING FRAUD AND ABUSE, AND ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR UPDATING AND MAINTAINING THE COUNTY WEBSITE, AND WHY AREN'T WE USING IT TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL, INCLUDING POST POSTING TIMELY PRESENTATIONS AND UTILIZING THE NEW SECTION TO THE BEST OF ABILITY. WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, NOT HINDERED. ONE MINUTE I URGE THE BOARD TO MAKE CHANGES THAT SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMED PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SHALON PIERCE. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SHALON PEARSON FROM THE BAKERS CASTLE DISTRICT. FIRST I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT WHAT WAS JUST SAID. UM, I AM GOING ON RECORD TONIGHT. I'M DISAGREEING WITH THE COMMENT OF HAVING THE, UM, COMMENTS AT THE END. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND WE SHOULD BE SPEAKING ON THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE CURRENT AGENDA, BECAUSE IF THESE JUST PEOPLE MAKE A DECISION WHO WERE BEFORE US, OUR [00:10:01] COMMENTS WON'T MATTER BECAUSE THE DECISION WOULD'VE BEEN MADE. SO I'M A PROPONENT OF HAVING THE COMMENTS IN THE FRONT AND NOT IN THE BACK SO THAT WE CAN SPEAK ON THOSE AGENDA ITEMS BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE LEGAL PART COMES WHEN THEY TAKING ACTION. SECONDLY, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING. I THINK IN THE PROCESS OF THAT, I WANNA SAY A COUPLE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, IMAGINE WHAT SUR WOULD LOOK LIKE. HAD SOMEONE NOT HAD THE INSIGHT TO ALLOW A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO COME TO THE COUNTY. WHAT WOULD OUR SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD THIS BUILDING LOOK LIKE? WE WOULD PROBABLY BE STILL IN HERE AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE. WE NEED TO HAVE INDUSTRY, WE NEED TO HAVE GROWTH. WE CAN HAVE A RURAL ENVIRONMENT WITH AS MANY AS 20,000 PEOPLE. LEMME FIRST STATE THAT I AM NOT A PERSON WHO SPEAKS OUT OF IGNORANCE. WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I HELPED TO WRITE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PLUS I WENT TO VIRGINIA TECH TO TAKE THE LAY PERSON'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I MEAN, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION WORK. AS SOON AS I GOT ON, I WENT TO TAKE THAT TRAINER. SO I'M NOT SPEAKING OUTTA WHAT I THINK, I'M SPEAKING OUT WHAT I WAS TAUGHT. AND I WAS TAUGHT THAT YOU CAN HAVE A RURAL ENVIRONMENT, YOU CAN HAVE SOME INDUSTRY, BUT YOU HAVE TO STRATEGICALLY PLAN SO YOU KNOW WHERE TO PUT THAT. AND THAT IS DONE THROUGH ZONING. WE HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ZONING. YOU HAVE TO PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE CANNOT HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IF YOU GOTTA PAY $30,000 FOR THE S DETAIN AND ANOTHER $10,000 FOR WATER, THAT'S $40,000. LAST TIME I CHECKED. WELL, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY LEFT. SO WE HAVE TO, I URGE THIS BOARD TO WORK WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE ONE MINUTE STRATEGIC GROWTH, HOW WE CAN HAVE INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT WHAT WE NEED IN THE COUNTY AND HOW WE CAN STILL MAINTAIN PARTS OF THIS COUNTY FOR RURAL ENVIRONMENT. LASTLY RELATED TO THAT IS THAT THIS IS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH WAS BUILT WITH THAT MONEY THAT CAME OUTTA DOMINION. THERE IS A QR CODE ON THE BACK BECAUSE THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE AND ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL FROM THIS SCHOOL DIVISION TO MENTOR OUR CURRENT STUDENTS. SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AUNTS, UNCLES, ANYBODY WHO WENT TO THAT SCHOOL OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS WHO ARE DOING ANYTHING RELATED TO WORKING, BEING IN THE MILITARY OR GOING THROUGH COLLEGE, PLEASE HAVE THEM SUBMIT THEIR INFORMATION THROUGH THESE QR CODES. THERE ARE SOME MORE OF THESE ON THE BACK, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, I THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DANIEL SHEA. SO, FREE SPEECH HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION LATELY. AND HERE FOR CONTEXT AND FOR OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS AT CONSIDERATION, THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CONSTITUTES A LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM. AND THE COURTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY FOUND THAT AT A LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM SUCH AS THIS, SOME CONTENT BASED RESTRICTIONS ARE PERMISSIBLE, BUT VIEWPOINT BASED RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT. AND LEGALLY SAFE HARBOR OPTIONS FOR RESTRICTING CONTENT ALLOW GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE CONTENT NEUTRAL CONDITIONS OF TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER OF ACCESS. THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO OUR CONSTITUTION PROTECTS THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH, ESPECIALLY SPEECH THAT CHALLENGES OR EVEN OFFENDS GOVERNMENT. A CITIZEN CAN SAY, I TRUST YOU, I VOTED FOR YOU. BUT THEY CAN ALSO SAY, I DON'T TRUST YOU. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU. THE CHAIR CANNOT LAWFULLY GAVEL THAT DOWN JUST BECAUSE IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE. THIS BOARD RECENTLY ALLOWED A CITIZEN TO CRITICIZE PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHILE LAUDING SUPERVISORS, SHE IDENTIFIES WITH, SHE SUGGESTED THAT I AND PEOPLE LIKE ME PACK UP AND LEAVE. I SUPPORT HER RIGHT TO SPEAK HER TRUTH. AND WHEN OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS ARE SILENCED, WHILE AGREEABLE ONES ARE ALLOWED, THAT'S NOT JUST BIASED, IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE BOARD MAY LIMIT TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER OF SPEECH. AND THE THREE MINUTE RULE IS CONSTITUTIONAL. BUT BEYOND THAT, WITH VERY NARROW EXCEPTIONS, THE CONTENT OF WHAT CITIZENS SAY IS PROTECTED. COURTS HAVE REPEATEDLY RULED THAT TERMS LIKE IRRELEVANT, ABUSIVE, OFFENSIVE, OR PERSONALLY DIRECTED ARE TOO VAGUE AND CANNOT BE USED TO SILENT SPEAKERS. THAT BRINGS US TO THE PHRASE OFTEN USED HERE, THE BUSINESS OF SURY COUNTY. IF WE APPLY THAT STANDARD EVENLY, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT WHEN IT'S USED SELECTIVELY TO SILENCE CERTAIN VIEWS WHILE ALLOWING OTHERS, THAT CROSSES INTO UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL VIEWPOINT TO DISCRIMINATION. LET ME BE CLEAR. DETERMINING WHAT IS OR ISN'T RELEVANT IS INHERENTLY SUBJECTIVE. AND WHEN THAT SUBJECTIVITY IS USED TO SUPPRESS DISSENT OR UNPOPULAR SPEECH, ONE MINUTE, IT BECOMES A FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION. SO I SAY THIS RESPECTFULLY, LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK. HOPEFULLY CITIZENS WILL SPEAK RESPECTFULLY AND KINDLY, BUT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LET ALL VIEWPOINTS BE [00:15:01] HEARD, NOT JUST THE COMFORTABLE ONES. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEW BUSINESS ON OUR [New Business] AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS. WELL, THE ONLY ITEM OF NEW, NEW BUSINESS IS, UH, ROBINSON FARMER COX ASSOCIATION, OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ON BATED BREATH WAITING FOR. SO WE ARE SO GLAD TO SEE TONIGHT. WE'RE GONNA ASK STAFF TO MAKE INTRODUCTIONS ON, UH, OUR PRESENTERS TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THOSE SEATED HERE AND TO THE PUBLIC. AS MR. CHAIRMAN ELEGANT ALLUDED TO, WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE MR. JASON UND. HE'S THE PARTNER FOR ROBINSON FOX, UH, ROBINSON FARMER, COX AND ASSOCIATES TO GIVE US OUR REPORT ON OUR AUDIT AT THE PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024. UM, THERE IS A REQUIRED ACTION TONIGHT FROM THE BOARD, AND THAT REQUIRED ACTION IS GOING TO BE FOR THE BOARD TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT THE AUDIT REPORT ON MS. EVENING. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UM, MR. NANDO WILL GIVE YOU A REPORT. UM, YOU DO HAVE THE REPORT THAT WAS RECEIVED ON TODAY, UM, IN FRONT OF YOU. AND YOU ALSO HAVE, UM, SOME COMMENTS THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG, UM, AS HE GIVES THIS REPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. AGAIN, MY NAME IS JAY. I'M A PARTNER WITH ROBINSON FARMER COX, AND I AM THE PARTNER IN CHARGE OF THE FY 24 AUDIT FOR THE COUNTY. AGAIN, AS MS. ROLLINS HAS STATED, I HAVE GIVEN YOU MY NOTES, UH, TO GO OVER AS I, AS I GO OVER THE REPORT SIMPLY FOR THE FACT THAT I GO PRETTY QUICKLY. UH, BUT FEEL FREE TO STOP AND ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS AT ANY POINT OR JUST WAIT TILL THE END AND ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS. I'LL START ON PAGE ONE. UH, THIS IS OUR AUDIT OPINION. WE ARE GIVEN THE COUNTY WHAT'S CALLED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT. PAGE TWO, THIS IS EXHIBIT ONE. I USUALLY TELL BOARDS. UM, EXHIBITS ONE AND TWO AREN'T REALLY THAT RELEVANT TO THE COUNTY, SIMPLY FOR THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF, UH, ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE DONE BY THE STATE FOR VRS AND OPEP AND SOME OTHER THINGS, UM, THAT'S REALLY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY. BUT, UH, EXHIBIT ONE, WHICH IS THE BALANCE SHEET ON AN ACCRUAL BASIS. AGAIN, WITH THESE ADJUSTMENTS, IT DOES SHOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS A 33.2 MILLION IN, UH, NET ASSETS, WHICH IS ABOUT 4.8 MILLION MORE THAN THE PRIOR YEAR. UH, PAGES 13 AND 14, EXHIBIT TWO. AGAIN, THESE ARE, UM, ADJUSTMENTS MADE BY THE COUNTY OR, UH, BY THE, BY THE STATE FOR THE COUNTY. BUT THIS IS THE ACCRUED INCOME STATEMENT AND JUST SHOW THE PRIMARY GOVERNMENT HAD A CHANGE IN, IN THAT, UH, POSITION OF 4.8 MILLION OR, UH, A NET PROFIT OF 4.8 MILLION. PAGE 15, WHICH IS EXHIBIT THREE. THESE ARE, UH, BETTER, UH, EXHIBITS, UH, FOR THE COUNTY BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THOSE VRS AND THOSE OPED AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER CHANGES DONE BY THE STATE. SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THESE, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT THE COUNTY'S ACTUALLY DOING. BUT EXHIBIT THREE IS A, IS A COUNTY'S BALANCE SHEET. UH, WE SHOW A FUND BALANCE OF 26.85 MILLION AS OF THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, 2024 AS IS COMPARED TO 28.3 MILLION, UH, THE PRIOR YEAR. SO A DECREASE OF ABOUT 1.5 MILLION. UH, YOUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS ABOUT 10.7 MILLION, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. YOUR UNRESTRICTED CASH AND, AND INVESTMENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WAS 12.5 MILLION, WHICH IS DOWN, UM, FROM THE PRIOR YEAR OF 20.2 MILLION. BUT YOUR RESTRICTED CASH AND, AND INVESTMENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WAS 14.7 MILLION, UP FROM 14 MILLION IN THE PRIOR YEAR. PAGE 17, WHICH IS EXHIBIT FIVE, THIS IS THE COUNTY'S INCOME STATEMENT. AGAIN, WITHOUT THOSE ADJUSTMENTS DONE BY THE STATE, IT DOES SHOW THAT REVENUE WAS UP, UH, UP, UP, UM, 36.1 MILLION. IT WAS 36.1 MILLION, WHICH IS UP ABOUT 1 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. REAL QUICKLY PAGES, UM, UH, EXHIBIT SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE, UH, THESE ARE THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. USUALLY I TELL THE BOARD IT IS A GOOD THING TO LOOK AT TO SEE HOW THE WATER AND SEW THOSE KIND OF FUNDS ARE DOING, UM, BECAUSE THEY CAN GO SOUTH PRETTY QUICKLY SOMETIMES. GOING ON TO PAGE 43, THESE IS OUR NOTES. UH, I THINK THIS NOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO LOOK AT AND FOR THE CITIZENS, IT'S, IT'S A LONG TERM DEBT. AGAIN, IT'S GOOD FOR THE BOARD TO LOOK AT THIS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. IF YOU TAKE OUT THE LANDFILL LIABILITY, WHICH IS REALLY JUST AN ACTUARIAL LIABILITY AND NOT A CASH TRANSACTION, THE COUNTY HAS ABOUT 22.5 MILLION IN LONG-TERM DEBT AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. UM, THERE'S ABOUT 1 MILLION OF THIS THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD. AND PAGE 44 SHOWS THE TIMING OF THE DEBT PAYMENTS THROUGH 2039. I DO, UH, WHEN I PRESENT TO THE BOARDS, I DO TELL 'EM ABOUT THE, UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S BALANCE SHEET, WHICH IS ON PAGE ONE 19 OR EXHIBIT 35. I DON'T REALLY GO OVER IT TOO MUCH. [00:20:01] UH, BUT I DO TALK ABOUT THE INCOME STATEMENT JUST A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS ON THE NEXT PAGE. PAGE ONE 20, EXHIBIT 36. I DO LIKE TO SHOW THAT THE BOARD, UM, THAT THE COUNTY HAD MADE A CON, UH, CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOLS AND ABOUT 13.1 MILLION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. WHAT PAGE IS THIS, SIR? THAT IS ON PAGE 1 21. 20 EXHIBIT 36. OKAY. I, YOU'LL SEE THAT'S THE LOCAL, UH, GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION AT THE TOP. UM, THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO GO OVER, I THINK THESE TWO SCHEDULES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS FOR THE COUNTY, UM, FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND FOR THE CITIZENS TO LOOK AT. SO STARTING ON PAGE 1 26, SCHEDULE ONE ONE, WHAT SCHEDULE ONE AND SCHEDULE TWOS ARE, WHICH I'LL GO OVER SCHEDULE TWO IN A SECOND, IS THE INCOME AND THE EXPENSES, UH, THAT THE COUNTY HAD FOR THE YEAR COMPARED TO THEIR BUDGET. SO I LIKED IT FOR THE BOARD AND THE CITIZENS TO SEE HOW WELL, UM, YOU ALL DID WHEN COMPARED TO YOUR PA BUDGET THAT YOU PASSED. IF YOU GO DOWN TO PAGE 1 28 ON SCHEDULE ONE, UH, THE COUNTY BUDGETED FOR, UH, 36.5 MILLION. UH, THE COUNTY RECEIVED 36.1 MILLION. THIS WAS ABOUT $400,000 LESS THAN THE BUDGET, BUT THIS WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO, UH, NOT RECEIVING A GRANT IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR, I BELIEVE THAT GRANT CAME IN IN FY 25. UH, PAGE 1 32. AGAIN, THIS IS SCHEDULE TWO. UH, THIS IS YOUR EXPENSES COMPARED TO YOUR BUDGET. AND IF YOU GO DOWN TO PAGE 1 35, WHICH IS, UH, SCHEDULE TWO, THE COUNTY BUDGETED FOR ABOUT FIVE, UH, 50 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURES, BUT ONLY SPENT ABOUT 37.5. THE VARIANCE IS MOSTLY DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AND THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM UPGRADES. THEY WERE BUDGETED IN FY 25 4, BUT WASN'T COMPLETED. A LOT OF THAT WAS DONE IN FY 25, PAGE 1 58. UH, THIS IS MY REPORT OR THE AUDITOR'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS. WE DO HAVE ONE FINDING, AND I WILL DISCUSS THAT FINDING IN A LITTLE WHILE. PAGE ONE 60 IS, UH, THE AUDITORS REPORT ON COMPLIANCE OF MAJOR PROGRAMS. UH, THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, UM, AND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO AUDIT. WE, UH, HAD NO FINDINGS ON, ON THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE AUDITED. PAGE 1 63, THIS IS YOUR SCHEDULE OF FEDERAL AWARDS OR YOUR CFA. THIS SHOWS THE ENTIRE, THE WHAT THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOLS RECEIVED, UH, FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE YEAR. AND FOR FY 24, FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THERE WAS ABOUT $4 MILLION RECEIVED FROM FEDERAL MONEY. PAGE 1 66 IS OUR SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONABLE QUESTIONED COST DOES SHOW THAT WE AUDITED THREE, UH, FEDERAL PROGRAMS. AND, UH, THE COUNTY IS NOT CONSIDERED LOW RISK BECAUSE WE'VE HAD FINDINGS IN AT LEAST ONE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL KIND OF TALK ABOUT, UH, THE ONE THING THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS. AND THAT'S ON PAGE 1 67, UH, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS. UH, WE ARE REPORTING A FINDING REGARDING THE BANK RECONCILIATIONS AND THE BANK ACCOUNTS NOT, UH, BEING RECONCILED AND COMPLETELY AND TIMELY. UM, IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE JUNE, 2024 BANK ACCOUNT, UH, HAD NOT BEEN RECONCILED UNTIL ABOUT JUNE OR, OR, OR UNTIL ABOUT JULY OF AUGUST OF 2025. AND THIS IS A REPEAT OF COMMENT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, WHICH IS ON THE NEXT PAGE IN THE HONOR REPORT. THAT IS, THAT IS ALL THAT THERE IS ON THAT. BUT I DO HAVE A MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENT THAT SHOULD BE ALONG WITH, UH, THE INFORMATION YOU ALL HAVE. THIS GOES INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT FINDING. AND ESSENTIALLY, UM, OUR RECOMMENDATION, AGAIN, OF COURSE, WE WANT BANK ACCOUNTS RECONCILED IN A TIMELY MANNER, NO MORE THAN 30 DAYS AT THE END OF THE MONTH. UM, AGAIN, SOME ACCOUNTS WERE MULTIPLE MONTHS OUTSTANDING, AND IT'S VERY CRITICAL FOR INTERNAL CONTROL FUNCTIONS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT BANK ACCOUNTS ARE RECONCILED TIMELY AND COMPLETELY JUST TO, UH, REDUCE THE RISK OF ERRORS OR MIS MISAPPROPRIATIONS GOING UNDETECTED. AGAIN, WE RECOMMEND ALL BANK ACCOUNTS BEING RECONCILED WITHIN 30 DAYS AND THEN TO BE REVIEWED BY SOMEBODY WHO'S KNOWLEDGEABLE AND, UH, IS OUTSIDE OF THE PROCESS OF THE RECONCILIATION ITSELF. AGAIN, TIMELY PRO UH, TIMELY REVIEW PROCESSES IS, IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE IS, IS ACCURATE. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? UH, THE ONLY, ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE ON, ON THIS FINDING, UH, AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION BEING GIVEN TO US, UH, HAVING CONDUCTED THE AUDIT. THIS DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE AUDIT, EXCEPT FOR THE NEED FOR THIS TO BE RECONCILED IN THIS MATTER. THE, THE ONLY NEGATIVE IS I'M HERE IN OCTOBER TALKING ABOUT THE FY 24 AUDIT. UNDERSTOOD. YEAH. UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, [00:25:01] I THINK ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, MR. CHAIR? MR. PIERCE, IF I MAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YES. AND, UH, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU DID GO THROUGH IT QUICK, VERY QUICKLY. UM, HOWEVER, JUST TO, UH, GET CLARIFICATION FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND, UH, MEMBERS, UH, THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE, UM, WE, UM, THE COUNTY IS IN A GOOD STANDINGS AS FAR AS THE AUDIT GOES. THAT'S MY QUESTION. FINANCES, YES. THE COUNTY'S IN GOOD STANDING AND I'M CURRENTLY IN THE, IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE FY 25 AUDIT. AND I CAN SAY THAT, UM, THE COUNTY HAS HAS, I CAN SEE AN FY 25, THE COUNTY HAS GROWN, AND YOU ALL ARE IN VERY GOOD STANDING FINANCIALLY. THAT'S, THAT'S MORE THAN THE QUESTION. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. BOARD MEMBERS. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH, UH, OUR AUDIT INFORMATION. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS AT THIS TIME? MR. CHAIR, PLEASE? MR. UH, IF I HEARD MS. UH, ROSS SAY WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS, TAKE ACTION ON THIS TODAY. APPRO THE AUDIT. I JUST HAVE A CONCERN, SIR, AS, AS IT WAS STATED, WE JUST RECEIVED THIS JUST NOW AND I PERSONALLY, AND, AND I'M SURE THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THIS, UM, JUST NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND ANYTHING, BUT JUST TO REVIEW, I JUST THINK IT'S KIND OF, UH, STRANGE. WELL, NOT STRANGE. I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO MAKE A VOTE ON THIS TO ACCEPT THIS WITHOUT ENOUGH TIME FOR REVIEW OF, OF THE DOCUMENT. I JUST WANNA PUT THAT ON RECORD. THANK YOU. YES. IF I, IF I MAY, AND MR. NANDO, YOU CAN CHIME IN IF YOU NEED TO. BUT, UM, BOARD MEMBERS OF MR. CALHOUN, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NORMALLY, UM, REQUIRED. UM, AND I WILL LET MR. SUNDO, UH, SPEAK TO THAT POINT AS FAR AS JUST ACCEPTING THE AUDIT REPORT. UM, OBVIOUSLY AT ANY POINT YOU CAN GO BACK AND, AND, AND DO IT, BUT THIS HAS BEEN AUDITED BY THE, UM, PROFESSIONAL FIRM OF ROBINSON, PROMAN, COX AND ASSOCIATES. SO, UM, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE STATE OF PROCEDURE. SO IT, IT IS A REQUIREMENT BY THE AU, UM, THE VIRGINIA A PA, UH, FOR YOU ALL TO EITHER ACCEPT OR REJECT MY PRESENTATION. UM, AND, AND IF, IF, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NEED TO BE REISSUED, THEY CAN'T, UM, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT OUT, IT WOULD BE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, BUT IT WOULDN'T, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO IT'S, IT'S JUST ASK, ASKING US TO ACCEPT THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US TONIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT. YES, SIR. AND I ALSO WOULD ADD TO THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT, UM, NOW THAT THE, UM, REPORT HAS BEEN PRESENTED, UM, THE NORMAL PROCEDURE IS AFTER IT IS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IS WHEN THE REPORT IS MADE AVAILABLE. AND OF COURSE, THE REPORT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE UNDERNEATH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S PAGE FOR, UM, ANYONE NEED TO, UH, REVIEW THAT REPORT. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN SPEAK TO, UM, THAT ALSO, UH, WAS POINTED OUT, THE, THE MOST THING THAT, UH, WE TALK ABOUT AS A BOARD IS THE SCHEDULE THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET AND IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES. UM, THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR SCHEDULES THAT MR. DU POINTED OUT IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COUNTY, IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET AND HOW WE RECEIVED OUR REVENUE, OUR ACTUAL, AND UH, OUR BUDGET TO OUR ACTUAL. SO THAT INFORMATION IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE EASIEST SCHEDULES FOR EVERYBODY TO GO TO, TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN THE YEAR. UM, AS I HAD ALLUDED TO IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS, UM, WE GET AN AUDIT REPORT LIKE THIS, AND IT'S A LOT OF, UH, UH, REQUIREMENTS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT TO THAT PARTICULAR SCHEDULE, THAT'S THE ONE THAT YOU CAN GO TO, TO SEE THE SPECIFICS AS PERTAINS TO THE BUDGET AND THE ACTUAL REPORTS OF THE COUNTY. IF I'M HEARING YOU CORRECT THIS, THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE BUDGET. THIS, THIS IS THE AUDIT REPORT. THIS IS NOT US LOOKING AT LINE ITEM, LINE ITEM. THIS IS A PRESENTATION MAYBE BY THE ACCOUNTING FIRM THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, UH, APPROVAL ON. THAT'S, THAT IS, THAT IS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE. IF I'M, IF I'M CORRECT, YES. AND I WAS, YES. AND I WAS JUST POINTED TO THE SCHEDULE THAT SHOWS THE END OF YEAR, UM, EXPENDITURES COMPARED TO THE BUDGET. YES, SIR. SO THIS IS BEFORE THE BOARD AT THIS TIME FOR A MOTION TO RECEIVE, TO APPROVE OR TO REJECT THE REPORT GIVEN TONIGHT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION, MR. CHAIR? MR. PIERCE? UM, AFTER THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION WITH THE, [00:30:01] WITH BOARD MEMBERS, UM, I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE PRESENTATION PRESENTED BY ROBINSON FARMER AND COX ASSOCIATION, AS GIVEN MR. CHAIRMAN? YES. IF, IF WE COULD GET SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THE RECORD, IT'S THE APPROVAL OF THE REPORT, NOT NECESSARILY THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, FOR THE RECORD, UH, A MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE REPORT GIVEN BY ROBINSON FARMER AND COX ASSOCIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON A MOTION? JUDGE WANT, UH, POINT OF CLARIFICATION I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE FOR MR. CALHOUN IS, IS THAT DIFFERENCE IN THE VERBIAGE ACCEPTABLE FOR HIS, UM, INQUIRY? ARE WE, IF IT'S JUST FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE REPORT, UM, THAT THE RE AND THE REQUIREMENT TO DO THIS, I, I WILL ACCEPT THAT. BUT MY, IN MY POSITION, IF I HAD THIS EARLIER, IF I HAD QUESTIONS TO ASK THE FIRM, UH, AFTER REVIEW, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO ASK THAT WHILE HE'S HERE. SO THAT'S JUST MY FOR RECORD PURPOSES, YOU KNOW, NOT ABLE TO REVIEW IT. IF I HAD ANY QUESTIONS, ANYBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD? YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT GONNA BE HERE NEXT MONTH. SO START FOR YOU, MR. HOT. YES. I, I MEAN, I JUST WANT HAVE YOU KNOW US ALL TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A WOMAN FUZZY. IF WE JUST PROVING THE REPORT, IT'S FINE. BUT, AND, UH, LIKE MR. CALHOUN IS SAYING, IS THERE A WAY TO FOLLOW UP IF HE DOES HAVE QUESTIONS? YES. SO, UH, UH, MS. ROLLS HAS MY EMAIL. SHE CAN, YOU, YOU ALL CAN EMAIL ME AT ANY TIME AND I MIGHT NOT BE BACK HERE NEXT MONTH, BUT I DON'T SEE THE FY 25 AUDIT BEING THAT FAR OFF. I MAY BE BACK IN A MONTH OR TWO. YEAH. SO THANK YOU MR. . I'M GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. COULD WE HAVE, WHAT DO, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? I'LL SECOND. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE. AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? REPORT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD. NEXT ORDER BUSINESS IS PRESENTATIONS [Presentations] AND WE WILL, UH, TURN IT OVER TO STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. YES. SO THE FIRST PRESENTATION, UM, BOARD MEMBERS AND OF THE IS THE VACO, UM, ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. I AM GOING TO INVITE MR. GREG HARTER TO COME FORTH AND, UH, PRESENT THIS ITEM TO THE BOARD AND TO THE CITIZENS, AND FOLLOWED BY MR. HARRISON, WHO WILL GIVE, UM, AN OVERVIEW AT THE DIRECTION OF MR. HARTER ON THE 55 PLUS INITIATIVE PROGRAM. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. UM, CHAIRMAN ELLIOT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GOOD EVENING. UM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU. I'M GAGE HARDER WITH THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. UH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW US, UM, VACO HAS EXISTED SINCE 1934 TO SERVE AND SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS AS COUNTY OFFICIALS. WE SUPPORT COUNTIES IN MANY WAYS. FIRST IS THROUGH OUR ADV ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN THE, UH, STATE LEGISLATURE AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. ALSO, WE SERVE COUNTIES THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, UH, MEMBER SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS. UM, IN 2003, WE ESTABLISHED OUR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE COUNTIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO PROVIDING PUBLIC SERVICES AND IDENTIFYING PROGRAMS THAT COULD SERVE AS MODELS FOR OTHER COUNTIES STIMULATE. UM, TODAY I AM PROUD TO PRESENT YOU, UH, WITH AN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. UM, JUST A, A COUPLE NOTES ABOUT THE PROGRAM. THIS IS OUR 23RD YEAR. UM, WE RECEIVED A HUNDRED, 155 ENTRIES. UM, OUT OF THOSE 155 ENTRIES, WE SELECTED 57 WINNERS. SO ONLY 36% ISH , UH, CAN BE, UH, WE'RE WINNERS. SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. UM, THIS IS SURY COUNTY'S SECOND EVER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. UM, YOU SHARED ONE IN 2022. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER WITH, UH, SUSSEX COUNTY. UH, THE PROGRAM WAS TITLED, UH, SHARED BUILDING SERVICES PROGRAM. UM, SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO, UH, MR. HARRISON TO TALK ABOUT THE 55 PLUS INITIATIVE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. CHAIRMAN, UH, ELLIOT. GOOD EVENING. MORE. BILL MEMBERS ASSEMBLED MS. ROLLINS, MS. PERKINS, MR. BROWN. UM, I'M PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS EVENING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. UM, I'LL GIVE A BRIEF INOP SYNOPSIS OF THE 55 INITIATIVE PROGRAM, AND THEN I'LL DEFER TO MS. VALERIE PIERCE, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES, TO GIVE HER COMMENTS ON THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS INTRODUCE OUR 55 PLUS TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE WITH US ON THIS EVENING. THE SURY COUNTY 55 PLUS INITIATIVE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, PARKS AND RECREATION, AND [00:35:01] YOUTH AND FAMILY RESOURCES THAT PROVIDES A ROBUST OFFERING OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR SURY COUNTY CITIZENS, AGES 55 AND OLDER. THIS COLLABORATION IS NOT ONLY, UM, IT NOT ONLY ENHANCES THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT DEMONSTRATES THE VALUE OF INTERDEPARTMENT MENTAL, UH, PARTNERSHIPS IN ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITY. BY WORKING TOGETHER, OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE CREATED A MORE VIBRANT, SUPPORTIVE, AND AGE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE 55 PLUS PROGRAM. A LOT. OUR PARTICIPANTS, UH, THEY TAKE VARIOUS TRIPS AND PLAN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, AND IT'S REALLY BEEN, I WOULD SAY, A BLESSING TO MOST OF MEMBERS OF, OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER TO MRS. VALERIE PIERCE, OUR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AND ASK ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS, ALL 55 PLUS TO COME BEFORE US, UH, COME UP THIS EVENING WITH HER. IF YOU COULD STAND, COME TO THE ROSTER ROOM BY MS. PIERCE AND SHE'LL GIVE SOME COMMENTS AND INTRODUCE OUR TEAM MEMBERS. MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. VICE CHAIRMAN, ALL SEATED AT THE TABLE AND TO OUR, UM, CITIZENS. IT IS A PLEASURE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TO BE ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF AN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR OUR 55 PLUS INITIATIVE. UM, IT'S AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT THAT REPRESENTS OUR HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND A COLLABORATION TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR OUR 55 PLUS COMMUNITY. IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, WHERE WE SERVE AS A LEAD AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND FAMILY RESOURCES, AND THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION. AND WE DO HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS DIRECTORS WITH US THIS AF OR THIS EVENING. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING. AND ALSO, WE HAVE OUR, UM, TWO EMPLOYEES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WHO ARE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE BEING PLANNED. AND THAT'S MS. TASHA JENKINS AND MS. UM, KIM WOODEN. SO I'LL ASK MS. UM, JENKINS TO COME TO JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEA SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. SO THE UPCOMING, UM, EVENTS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR ARE AS FOLLOWS. OCTOBER FEST WILL BE SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 25TH FROM 2:00 PM TO 6:00 PM AT THE GROUNDS OF PARK AND REC. UM, WE'RE HAVING A FRIENDSGIVING DINNER FRIDAY, NOVEMBER THE 21ST AT 6:00 PM AT LUTHER PORTER JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND, UM, WE'RE ALSO HAVING A CHRISTMAS PARADE SATURDAY, DECEMBER THE 13TH AT 6:00 PM AND THE CHRISTMAS PARADE WILL FOLLOW THE SAME ROUTE AS THE SURREY HIGH SCHOOL, UM, HOMECOMING PARADE RIGHT THROUGH THE TOWN. SORRY, WHAT'S THE DATE? SORRY, WHAT'S THE DATE THAT AGAIN? WHAT'S THE DATE ON THAT SE? UM, DECEMBER THE 13TH AT 6:00 PM THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. UH, IF WE COULD TAKE A PHOTO, THAT'D BE GREAT. THAT'D BE GREAT. YOU SEE? THANK YOU. AND, UM, PART OF OUR VISIT, WE LIKE TO SPEND MONEY IN YOUR COUNTY. UH, SO I WENT TO THE CHINESE RESTAURANT BEFORE , I GOT HERE. AWESOME. I'LL BE GLAD WHEN I GET OLD ENOUGH TO GET SOME OF THE BENEFITS. MOVING AROUND ALONG THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS [00:40:01] WOULD BE OUR TRANSPORTATION UPDATE. MR. CARROLL. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN ELLIOT, OTHER DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, HERE TONIGHT TO, UH, PROVIDE THE VOC QUARTERLY TRANSPORTATION UPDATE. UH, THIS QUARTER GOES FROM JULY 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2025. UH, I HAD TO CUT IT OFF A LITTLE EARLY, SO IF I COULD GET IT PREPARED FOR THIS, UH, REPORT. UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT TIMEFRAME, UH, WE RECEIVED 123 WORK ORDERS FROM THE PUBLIC. UM, OUT OF THOSE A HUNDRED TWENTY THREE, A HUNDRED SEVEN OF THEM HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. WE ALSO GENERATED ANOTHER, UM, 153 OURSELVES, UM, AND COMPLETED ALL OF THOSE. A LOT OF THOSE ARE DITCHING, UH, WORK ORDERS. AND, UH, QUARTER WE FINISHED WITH A 94.2 COMPLETION RATE OF ALL OF THE WORK ORDERS COMBINED. A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF MAINTENANCE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. UH, WE HAVE DITCHED ROUTE 31, UH, COMPLETED DITCHING ROUTE 31 FROM ROUTE 10 HERE, ALL THE WAY OUT TOWARDS THE FERRY. UM, WE'VE DONE POTHOLE PATCHING, UH, ON ROUTE 6 36 0 5, 6 16 AND 10 EAST. UH, WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR THIRD SI CYCLE OF, UH, MOWING FOR AND LITTER PICKUP FOR THE COUNTY. UH, WE ALSO DID SOME SLOPE MOWING SITE DISTANCE PRIOR TO SCHOOL START AT THE INTERSECTIONS. UM, AND THAT WAS A BIG PUSH. WE EVEN WORKED SOME OVERTIME TO MAKE SURE ALL THOSE ROADS WERE SAFE. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SEE WELL AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS PRIOR TO SCHOOL STARTING. AND THAT, I THINK THAT WAS A, A, A PARTNERSHIP OR A COMBINED EFFORT. WE WERE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL ON ROUTES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GOT THOSE CLEARED UP. UH, TREE TRIMMING WITH BUZZ CUTS, ALL LOW HANGING LIMBS ON 6 26, ROUTE 6 10, 6 0 9, 6 46. UH, TREE CLEANUP, UH, FROM VARIOUS STORMS DURING THIS TIMEFRAME. UH, WE DID SOME SHOULDER REPAIRS ON SECONDARIES. UH, WE DID, UH, CLEAN OUTFALL AREAS FOR DRAINAGE CURB, UH, CLEAN CURB AND GUTTER ON BANK STREET. AND, UH, UM, PREP TRUCKS FOR DRY RUN, WHICH IS, UH, GOING TO BE THE LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER. UM, WILL BE THE DRY RUN HERE IN SURREY. AND WHEN I SAY DRY RUN, WHAT HAPPENS IS WE PUT ALL THE SNOW EQUIPMENT ON, BRINE EQUIPMENT, UH, PLOWS, SPREADERS, BRING OUR CONTRACTORS IN, UM, RUN THROUGH ALL THE MECHANISMS, MAKE SURE, PUT LOADS ON 'EM, MAKE SURE THEY WORK, HYDRAULICS WORK, GO OVER SNOW PLANS, UM, DIFFERENT SECTIONS, WHO'S GOT WHAT ROUTE, AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. UM, SO THAT'S SORT OF THE, WHAT WE DO. UH, IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING, UH, WITH THE EMPLOYEES. AND, UM, JUST MAKING SURE WE GOT EVERYTHING FRESH GOING INTO THE WINTER SEASON. UM, AND THEN WE DID SOME SIGN MAINTENANCE, UH, ALWAYS ALSO, UM, SUPERINTENDENT AND I AND THE, UH, SURREY COUNTY SAFETY COMMISSION AND, UH, THE, THE SOLAR, UM, UH, A ES UM, SOLAR FARM. WE MET AND RODE, UH, ROUTE 6 26, UH, THIS PAST IN SEPTEMBER. UM, AND WE HAVE SOME AREAS THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE ON OUR, UH, UPCOMING PLANS FOR ROADWAY CRACKING. UM, ALSO A ES IS LOOKING AT SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF SIX 17 AND 6 26. UM, SO HOPEFULLY, UH, HOPEFULLY THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH 6 26 WITH THE PAVING. THERE'S JUST SOME FEW AREAS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. UM, AND IT'S GONNA BE SOMEWHAT OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE, ARE SAFE TO TRAVEL. UM, SOME OF THE PLAN WORK, UH, WE GOT SHOULDER WORK, UH, PLANNED ON HIGHGATE ROAD. UH, WE ALSO HAVE DITCHING ON LEBANON ROAD, UM, FROM THE TOWN LIMITS DOWN TO ROCKY BOTTOM. SO IT'LL BE THAT, THAT DIRECTION. UM, ROUTE 10 WEST. SO, UH, WE RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL DITCHING THIS YEAR, UH, THROUGH A, A SEPARATE SOURCE THAN OUR NORMAL MAINTENANCE MONEY. AND WE HAVE, WE'RE GONNA USE HIRED EQUIPMENT, UM, TO DITCH ROUTE 10 WEST FROM, UM, ROUTE 31 ALL THE WAY TO THE PRINCE GEORGE LINE. SO THERE WILL BE LANE CLOSURES, PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY ON 10 WEST, UM, AS PART OF THAT DITCHING OPERATION. SOME OF IT'S TRUCK DITCHING, SOME OF IT'S EXCAVATOR WORK. UM, BUT OUR INTENT IS TO GET ALL THOSE DITCHES OPEN PIPES. AND ONCE WE CLEAN THE DITCHES, THEN THE PIPES GET CLEANED OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEAN FLOW. AND THEN ROSEMAN SEDIMENT CONTROL, UM, FOLLOWS THAT AS WELL. UM, SO YOU'LL SEE SOME ACTIVITY OUT THERE OVER THE NEXT 2, 3, 4 MONTHS. UM, YES, YES, NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. UM, [00:45:01] SO WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTORS THAT ARE WORKING, UM, WORKING THAT JOB. UH, SLOPE MOWING CONTINUES, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, OUR LAST MOWING, AND I THINK, UM, OUR LAST CYCLE, MOW IS, UH, FOR PRIMARIES AND MAJOR SECONDARIES IS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. UH, HOWEVER, OUR SECONDARY MOWING FROM OUR STAFF, THEY HAVE GONE INTO THEIR THIRD CYCLE FOR THE SECONDARY MOWING AS WELL. SO THEY CONTINUE TO CUT THAT AND SHOULD HAVE THREE CYCLES DONE. UM, WHEN THEY GET READY TO START THE FOURTH CYCLE FOR OUR PRIMARY MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR SECONDARIES, UH, SOME COUNTY SAFETY FUNDS, UH, WE HAVE PLACED THE ORDER FOR THE RFB, THE RAPID FLASHING BEACONS FOR THE ROUTE SIX 16 AND SIX 18 CROSSWALKS. I KNOW THE COUNTY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR CONTRACT. UH, ONCE THAT IS IN PLACE, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE ALL OF OUR MATERIALS IN. IT'LL BE A VERY SHORT TIMEFRAME BETWEEN THE TWO. UH, THE LATEX, UH, IS COMPLETE. CAPE SEAL IS COMPLETE. YOU'LL HAVE A LIST OF ROUTES. UM, LOOKED PRETTY GOOD. I'VE, I'VE RIDDEN OVER ALL OF THEM. UH, OUR PLANT MIX IS NOT COMPLETE FOR THE COUNTY. UM, SO SIX 11, UH, SALISBURY IS ON THAT. AND THEN ALL THE, ALL THE STREETS HERE IN THE TOWN. I WAS HOPING THAT WE WOULD GET 'EM DONE BEFORE THE HOMECOMING PARADE, BUT I, I, I, I, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT WE WILL HAVE 'EM DONE BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS PRAY. ALRIGHT, . ALRIGHT. UM, THERE IS A FIXED COMPLETION DATE IN THE THIRD WEEK OF NOVEMBER FOR THE CONTRACTOR. SO, UH, I DID CALL THEM AND SAY, HEY, IF Y'ALL THINK Y'ALL GONNA COME IN HERE, SOME, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER 10TH, WEEK SIXTH THROUGH THE 10TH, NO, DON'T, SO DON'T WANT ANY, UH, ANY HICCUPS THERE. SO, BUT THEY ARE MOVING ALONG. UM, SYP UH, SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN, WE STILL HAVE THIS PROJECT THAT WE ARE, UH, SCOPING, UH, BUT ON BANK STREET FOR THE SIDEWALKS, WHICH WILL COMPLETE THE LOOP. YOU KNOW, YOU COULD WALK ALL THE WAY ON SIDEWALKS ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND, UM, LAND USE IN THIS TIMEFRAME, WE DID, UH, THREE PLAN REVIEWS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED. UM, WE'VE ISSUED 26 LAND USE PERMITS IN THE COUNTY, AND WE HAVE CLOSED THREE LAND USE PERMITS IN THE COUNTY. AND THE ONLY TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDY, UH, COMPLETED IN THAT TIMEFRAME WAS WE, UH, PER YOUR REQUEST, UM, WE PERFORMED A TRAFFIC ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION ON THE, UM, BANK STREET. AND AFTER REVIEW, UH, INCLUDING ADJACENT STRUCTURES AND PROPERTIES, WE DETERMINED IT'S CLASSIFIED AS A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT UNDER SECTION 46.2 DASH 100 VIRGINIA CODE. THEREFORE, IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECTION 46 DASH TWO, UH, 46.2 DASH 8 74 OF THE VIRGINIA CODE, UH, WHICH IS ADDRESSES MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS, UH, WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THIS IS A STATUTORY 25 MILE AN HOUR SPEED ZONE. UH, AND IT'LL BE SIGNED ACCORDINGLY. AND THEN I ADDED A FEW PICTURES JUST FOR YOU. YOU GOT ME? YEAH, I GOT YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CAR, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. CARROLL FROM THE BOARD? CHEER? SORRY. UH, THANKS MR. CARROLL. ALWAYS A PLEASURE. AND YOU COMING, UM, GRACIOUS AND GIVE US POSITIVE UPDATES OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY. UM, I DON'T, I JUST WANNA REMIND THOSE PRESENT AND THOSE ONLINE LISTENING, THAT THE, UM, S COUNTY, UH, HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMISSION, THE PROCESS WORKS. UM, SO THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK. CITIZENS SHOULD, UH, NOT NECESSARILY COMPLAINT ONLINE, ALTHOUGH THAT'S FINE TOO, BUT REACH OUT TO YOUR, YOUR, UH, SUPERVISOR MEMBER AND HAVE THEM PRESENT THE INFORMATION. MR. UH, CALHOUN IS THE REP ON THAT BOARD, AND WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. WE WORK THE PROCESS AS YOU KNOW, THINGS DON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT, UH, UM, I, IF MR. CARROLL, IF IT COMES ACROSS HIS DESK, IT WILL BE ADDRESSED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I CAN, I CAN, YEAH, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT. UH, HE'S VERY, UH, ASTUTE AND, UM, AND PROVIDES TIMELY FEEDBACK AND AS DOES THE, UH, THE PLANNING MEMBERS. 'CAUSE UH, WHAT HAPPENED IS IF YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING, ANY TRACTION AS A BOARD MEMBER, WE FOLLOW UP, HEY, WHAT'S THE STATUS ON THIS? AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL IN TURN, FOLLOW UP, MR. CAROL AGAIN. SO, SO PLEASE, UH, UNDERSTAND THINGS WILL BE FRUSTRATING AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET, UM, YOU KNOW, HEAVY RAINS LIKE WE'VE HAD IN SOFT DITCH BANKS AND POTHOLES AND STUFF. BUT UNDERSTANDING THERE'S A PROCESS AND MONEY'S BEHIND THE PROCESS THAT, UH, MAY OR MAY NOT BE THERE. SO, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UM, AGAIN, CITIZENS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND WE'LL GET THINGS DONE. THANKS, HONOR. MR. MR. CHAIR, MR. CO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CARROLL, FOR YOUR REPORTS AND ALL THE, THE, THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALL IN THAT STUDY FOR THAT 25 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT, ESPECIALLY ON THURSDAY NIGHTS OR TUESDAY NIGHTS WHENEVER THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S SOFTBALL. WE GET YOUNG KIDS THAT RUN BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THERE, AND [00:50:01] IT'S JUST CRAZY. PEOPLE GO BY THERE. WELL OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR EASILY. AND KIDS WILL COME OUT BETWEEN THE CARS. YOU CAN'T SEE THEM. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH. UM, I THINK THE, UH, HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION, UH, COMMUNITY CONTACTS YOU ON THE WHITE STRIPES AT THE STOP SIGNS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS. DID, DID, DID THEY NOT IN OUR LAST MEETING. IF NOT, I LIKE TO BRING THAT UP. BRING IT UP. THOSE WIDE STOP STOP BARS. STOP BARS. YES. . OKAY. UH, THEY'RE REALLY PAINTED IN TOWN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED THAT IN TOWN. MM-HMM . AT THE STOPLIGHT. OKAY. OKAY. YES, YES, YES. THIS SECTION RIGHT THERE. THE STOPLIGHT IN THERE. YES. YES. SO IF THAT CAN BE MAYBE LOOKED AT AND, YOU KNOW, OBSERVED BY YOU ALL. AND THEN ALSO COMING FROM THE FERRY INTO TOWN WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT DROPS TO 45 FROM 55 TO 45, AND HAS THAT LITTLE SWOOPING LEFT HAND CURB. THERE'S SOME VINEY BUSH THING THAT'S ON THE SIDE THAT PEOPLE CLIP IT. AND I'VE EVEN CLIPPED IT WITH MY TRUCK TO, IT'S EXTENDING INTO THE ROAD. UM, HIT MY ANTENNA A FEW TIMES, LIKE TO SCARE ME TO DEATH, BUT, UH, . SO IF, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOK AT THAT. SURE. UM, SO RIGHT AWAY COMES DOWN PRETTY, PRETTY NARROW AS YOU GET INTO TOWN, INTO THE CITY OF OH, DOES OKAY. OR TO THE TOWN LIMITS THERE, WE CAN TRIM IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN REMOVE IT RIGHT. WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE LANDOWNER. DEPEND UPON HOW BIG IT IS. I THINK I KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A FLAT WALL WHERE PEOPLE, IT IS ALWAYS BEEN HIT. SO, YOU KNOW, TRIM, I GO BUSES AND TRUCKS AND STUFF. HIT IT AND YEAH. IT JUST KNOCKS. YEAH. BUT WE, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND IF WE CAN REMOVE IT, PROBABLY THE BEST THING, BEST THING. BUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN CUTTING IT BACK SOME. YEAH, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND, AND WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU MR. CARROLL, FOR YOUR REPORT. THANK YOU ALL AND YOU'ALL, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. YOU TOO, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THE NEXT WE HAVE UNDERNEATH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S [County Administrators Report] REPORT, WE ARE GOING TO, UM, PUT OFF NUMBER ONE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING, BUT WE DO HAVE, UM, MR. DARRYL RAWLINGS, WHO'S HERE, AND MS. MAJE STONE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE US A, UH, DEPARTMENTAL UPDATE. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. DR. ELLIOTT, VICE CHAIRMAN PIERCE, MRS. RAWLINGS HARRISON, MR. BROWN, MR. PERKINS, OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. UH, PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON TO GIVE YOU, UH, JUST A BRIEF UPDATE OF THE HAPPENINGS AT PARKS AND RECREATION. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S, UH, LOADED HERE, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S IN YOUR PACKET. OKAY. AND LET'S SEE. APOLOGIZE. OKAY, THERE IT IS. OKAY. SO AT PARKS AND RECREATION HERE. UM, MA'AM. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAPPY, AS YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST SLIDE. UM, WE HAVE A COMPLETED PARKING AREA, UM, THAT HAS UPGRADED, UH, AT PARKS AND RECREATION. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, THAT ADDITION. UM, AND IT CAME AT A TIMELY, IN A TIMELY FASHION WHEN WE REALLY NEEDED IT DURING OUR 4TH OF JULY, UH, CELEBRATION. AND SO WE WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT, BEING ABLE TO TAKE PLACE. UH, NEXT WE HAVE, NEXT WE HAVE OUR ACTIVITIES AT PARKS AND RECREATION. NOW, THIS IS NOT AN ALL INCLUSIVE, UM, LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE AT PARKS AND RECREATION, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE, UH, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AT PARKS AND RECREATION. OF COURSE, WE OFFER THE 55 PLUS LIFT, UH, CHAIR, YOGA AND PICKLEBALL CLASSES AT PARKS AND RECREATION. WE ALSO, UH, THIS YEAR WE BROUGHT BACK ADULT, UH, ADULT LEAGUE SOFTBALL. [00:55:01] WE OFFER YOUTH SPORTS. UH, RIGHT NOW, SOCCER, FALL SOCCER AND WINTER BASKETBALL WILL BE COMING UP. OF COURSE, WE HAD OUR SUMMER CAMP, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT LATER. UH, DISC GOLF COURSE. AND, UH, EVEN IN EXERCISE CLASSES. NOW, AS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, WE HAVE JUST SOME PICTURES FROM OUR 55 PLUS LIFTING YOGA CLASSES. UM, THESE CLASSES ARE TAUGHT BY, UH, MRS. UM, STACEY HINES. UH, THE LIFT CLASS, OF COURSE, IS OUR FIRST CLASS'S OFFERED ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, UM, AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING FROM 10 TO 11. UM, LIFT STANDS FOR LIFELONG IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH FITNESS TOGETHER. AND WHAT IT IS, IS A PROGRAM THAT, UH, ACCENTUATES, UM, MUSCLE TONING BALANCE, UH, STABILITY, UH, CARDIO SELF-MOTIVATION AND, AND, AND MORE THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND AS I SAID, IT'S TAUGHT BY MS. STACEY HINES. UH, OUR CHAIR YOGA CLASS, ALSO TAUGHT BY MS. STACEY HINES IS HELD ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, ALSO FROM 1115 TO 1215. UM, AND THEN WE, UH, IN ORDER TO SIGN UP FOR THOSE CLASSES, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SHOWING UP, UH, SIGNING IN, AND THEN YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT IF WE HAVE ANY, UH, INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE TO CANCEL CLASS, THEN WE ABLE TO CONTACT THOSE PARTICIPANTS. AND IT'S BEEN A VERY GOOD WELL ATTENDED CLASS. UH, FROM THE, IN, IN, FROM THE, UM, THE START OF IT. UH, OUR FORMER INSTRUCTOR, MR. IRVIN JONES, OF COURSE, IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BECAUSE OF SOME PHYSICAL, UM, ISSUES THAT HE MAY BE HAVING. HE'S NO LONGER ABLE TO, UH, BE THE INSTRUCTOR. BUT MRS. HINES HAS TAKEN OVER BOTH CLASSES. AND NOW WE HAVE, UH, OUR PICKLEBALL CLASSES. PICKLEBALL STARTED, UH, WE STARTED OFFERING CLASSES IN PICKLEBALL ABOUT A MONTH AGO. , OUR INSTRUCTOR IS MR. ARTHUR ALMAN. UH, AND IT'S OFFERED EACH MONDAY FROM 10:30 AM TO 11:30 AM AND AFTER THE CLASS, THE COURT IS STILL OPEN ALL DAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A DESIRE TO COME UP AND PARTICIPATE. AND , I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL CAN SEE, BUT, UH, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAS, HAS PARTICIPATED SOME OF OUR CLASSES, UH, AND THAT THOSE, UM, PICKLEBALL CLASSES ARE OFFERED AT $5 PER CLASS. OR YOU COULD PURCHASE A, A $35 PUNCH CARD, WHICH ENABLES YOU TO ATTEND 10 CLASSES. MM-HMM . OKAY. AND THAT, UH, PICKLEBALL CLASS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT ALL AGES. THIS PAST, UH, SUMMER, WE REINTRODUCED , UH, ADULT SOFTBALL. AND THIS WAS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HAD, UH, THAT TOOK PLACE AT PARKS AND RECREATION YEARS AGO. AND IT WAS A, A BIG, UH, WELL ATTENDED FAMILY ORIENTED EVENT WELL ATTENDED. AND THIS PAST SUMMER, IT WAS ALSO WELL ATTENDED. WE HAD, UH, FOOD VENDORS OUT THERE. UH, WE USED BOTH FIELDS. UH, AND THE GAME TIMES WERE SUNDAY AFTERNOONS FROM, UH, 4:00 PM AND 5:00 PM SO WE HAD A 10 WEEK SEASON, UH, WHICH STARTED ON MAY 18TH. IT RAN THROUGH AUGUST THE THIRD, AND THEN IT CULMINATED WITH A TOURNAMENT ON AUGUST THE NINTH. WE HAD, UH, UH, SIX TEAMS PARTICIPATED. WE HAD TEAMS FROM SURREY, DENTON, WAVERLEY, CHARLES CITY, AND HAMPTON. WOW. UH, AND AS YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE, WE HAD OUR REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS. WERE THE LOST BOYS FROM HAMPTON, VIRGINIA. AND THE TOURNAMENT CHAMPION WAS THE TEAM UNITY FROM WAVERLEY, VIRGINIA. NEXT, WE HAVE JUST A, JUST A PICTURE OF, UH, OUR YOUTH BASKETBALL, UH, 12 TO 14-YEAR-OLD CHAMPION FROM LAST YEAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, UH, WE ARE, WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING REGISTRATION FOR YOUTH BASKETBALL. OUR WINTER SEASON IS COMING UP. UH, SO THAT'S JUST A PICTURE OF THE LAST YEAR'S, UH, 12 TO 14-YEAR-OLD CHAMPION SUMMER CAMP. AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT SUMMER CAMP THIS YEAR. WE WERE, AGAIN, ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE SUR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. UH, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN ALLOWING US SPACES, UH, WHATEVER WE NEED. UH, ALSO VOLUNTEERS, UH, AND SOME ADDED HELP WHEN WE HAVE, UH, OUR ACTIVITIES THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE SERVE A SMALL GROUP OF, A SMALL POOL OF STUDENTS. AND SO RATHER THAN COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER, WE SAW THAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES [01:00:01] FOR OUR STUDENTS. SINCE IT, SINCE IT IS A SMALL POOL OF STUDENTS, UM, THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT ENABLES US TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHILE NOT HAVING TO COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER. UH, SO THIS IS JUST A, A SLIDE OF ONE OF THE TRIPS THAT WE, WE CALL OUR FRIDAYS, OUR FRIDAY FUN DAYS. AND SO THIS WAS ONE OF THE TRIPS THAT WE TOOK TO THE NORFOLK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. UH, THE NEXT SLIDE IS BOLERO, UM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FRIDAY TRIPS WE TOOK TO BOLERO AND WILLIAMSBURG. WE HAD A DAILY AVERAGE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS AROUND 60 STUDENTS PER DAY. BUT THAT IN ALSO, IT, IT INCREASED OR DECREASED DEPENDING ON THE DAY OF THE WEEK, BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN SUMMER SCHOOL ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME SUMMER ENRICHMENT AS PART OF THE SUMMER CAMP, UM, OFFERINGS. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO NOT ONLY JUST CONCENTRATE ON THEIR, UH, ACADEMIC PORTION, BUT THEY ALSO WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME ENRICHMENTS FROM THE SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE, UH, TRIP TO THE SPLASH ZONE, UH, WHICH WAS THE HAMPTON AQUA PLEX. UM, THAT'S ALWAYS A, UM, A FAVORITE FOR THE KIDS. ALWAYS. KIDS LOVE TO PLAY IN WATER. SO THAT WAS A, ALWAYS A GOOD TRIP. UH, AND ONE OTHER TRIP THAT WE DON'T HAVE PICTURES FOR AT THIS TIME WAS WE TOOK A TRIP TO SURGE AT VENTURE PARK IN NEWPORT NEWS. AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE RELATIONSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH THE SURY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. UM, OKAY. AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THE SURY REC CENTER DISC GOLF COURSE. AND THIS DISC GOLF COURSE, YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON THE DISC GOLF COURSE ON THE WEBSITE, U DISC. AND THIS, UM, PARTICULAR WEBSITE IS AN EIGHT. IT GIVES US US INFORMATION ABOUT THE, THE DISC GOLF COURSE. IT'S A 18 HOLE COURSE, AND IT'S FEATURED IN THIS PARTICULAR APP, AND IT'S USED BY, UM, DISC GOLFERS FROM ALL AREAS, UM, ALL OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS. IT'S A FREQUENTLY USED COURSE. AND THIS COURSE WAS DESIGNED AS A BEGINNER FRIENDLY COURSE. UH, IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR AREA WHO ARE NOT REALLY FAMILIAR WITH DISC GOLF. AND SO IT'S, IT'S, IT IS A MEANS TO LEARN THE GAME OF DISC GOLF. AND SO IT'S BEEN VERY WELL ATTENDED. IT'S, UH, FREQUENTLY USED, IT'S FAMILY FRIENDLY. THE COURT ITSELF IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A MILE. TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES TO PLAY THE COURSE. UM, AS I SAID, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UM, DETAILS ON THE DISC, UH, THE U DISC SITE, IT HAS DETAILS ABOUT THE COURSE. IT ALSO HAS SOME PICTURES, UM, AND IT'S A FREE COURSE. AND SO WE DON'T CHARGE TO USE THE COURSE. AND IF YOU, ANYTIME DURING, DURING THE DAY, YOU'RE SUBJECT TO SEE PEOPLE OUT THERE PLAYING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY WELL USED. UM, THAT COURSE IS, AND IT'S, AND IT HAS REALLY GOOD RATINGS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIS U DISC, UM, SITE, IT HAS REALLY GOOD RATINGS FOR A BEGINNER FRIENDLY COURSE. AND THEN, UM, NEXT WE HAVE OUR, EVEN IN EXERCISE CLASSES, CURRENTLY WE OFFER WHAT'S CALLED THE T TWO, UH, T TWO ONE FITNESS CLASS INSTRUCTED BY MRS. ASHLEY TURNER. AND WE ALSO OFFER CUT UP IN DANCE, UH, WHICH IS A DANCE THAT, THAT NEW DANCE CRAZE, UH, THE CLASSES THAT ARE GROWN ON THERE. EVERYBODY WANTED TO PUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. UH, UM, AND OUR IN INSTRUCT US FOR THAT CLASS IS MS. KIMBERLY WOODEN AND MS. TASHA JENKINS. UH, TO ATTEND THOSE CLASSES IS, AGAIN, IT'S $5 PER CLASS, OR YOU CAN USE A PUNCH CARD, $35 PUNCH CARD, WHICH WILL ENABLE YOU TO ATTEND 10 CLASSES. NOW THAT PUNCH CARD CAN BE, UH, USED FOR ANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND CLASSES THAT WE HAVE. SO IT'S NOT JUST SPECIFIC TO ONE PARTICULAR CLASS. IT CAN BE USED FOR ANY OF THE CLASSES. OKAY. FINALLY, AS I SAID BEFORE, UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR FALL SOCCER SEASON. UM, WE ARE OUR THIRD WEEK ACTUALLY OF FALL SOCCER. WE HAVE THREE TEAMS. WE HAVE TEAMS IN THREE AGE GROUPS FROM SURY COUNTY. AND WE ALSO, UH, FOR THE THIRD YEAR, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH, UM, SUSSEX COUNTY TO ALLOW THEM TO PLAY UNDER OUR UMBRELLA. UH, WE PARTNER WITH MRS. UH, DR. PHYLLIS TOVER, WHO IS A MENTOR IN, IN THE WAVERLEY AREA. AND SO SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE A PARKS AND REC DIVISION, THEN IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS IN THAT AREA TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME RECREATIONAL SPORTS THAT OTHERWISE THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY IN. AND SO THEY PLAY UNDER OUR UMBRELLA FOR FALL SOCCER. UH, WINTER BASKETBALL REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY GOING ON. IT'LL BE GOING ON FROM [01:05:01] UH, SEPTEMBER THE 26TH UNTIL NOVEMBER 21ST. REGISTRATION IS $50 PER CHILD, AND IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN, THEN THE COST IS $45 PER CHILD. UM, OTHER ACTIVITIES WE STILL OFFER REC RACING, UH, BIKE SHARE, THE EXERCISE ANNEX. AND COMING UP SOON, YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT THE FRIDAY NIGHT CORN HOLE LEAGUE. SO THAT'LL BE COMING UP, UH, SOON. WE ARE STILL WORKING OUT SOME DETAILS. THE FRIDAY NIGHT CORN HOLE LEAGUE. AND ALSO ON SATURDAY WE WILL BE TAKING A GROUP OF STUDENTS TO THE VIRGINIA STATE FAIR. WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE CHILDREN, UH, WHICH INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION AND ENTRY INTO THE STATE FAIR. SO WE WERE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO FUND THIS, UH, PARTICULAR TRIP. AGAIN, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT SOME KIDS MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE STATE FAIR. AND SO THIS, THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE CHILDREN. AND AT THIS POINT WE HAVE A FULL BUS, SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT. WE ALSO HAVE SIX VOLUNTEER ADULT VOLUNTEERS GOING TO BE CHAPERONES. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION PART. UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. UH, MR. ROLLS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE JOB THAT YOU DO. YOU DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB, UH, WITH THE SPACE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF, THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE COUNTY. AND I JUST WANT TO, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, UM, HOPING THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY. WE WANNA SAY GREAT JOB IN DOING WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY AS FAR AS PARKS AND RECREATION GOES, SIR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBERS OR QUESTIONS? WELL, ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST ME AS A TEAM 'CAUSE THERE'S NO I AND TEAM AND, UH, THAT'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OF COURSE THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND FAMILY RESOURCES AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. BUT NOT ONLY THAT, WE HAVE, UH, OUR STAFF, UH, MR. DION BARTLETT AND MRS. JENNIFER FOSTER TO HER PEERS. AND SO, UH, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE. AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. YES, SIR. NOT, NOT ONLY DID WE SEE MR. CALHOUN PLAYING PICKLEBALL, WE, WE SAW, UH, I, I BELOVED MR. GEORGE FROY IN THE, IN THE, UH, YOGA CLASSES. SO WE, WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THE SERVICES ARE BEING USED. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. MR. STONE. . GOOD EVENING. TO THE BOARD CHAIRMAN, REVEREND ELLIOT AND ALL BOARD MEMBERS ASSEMBLE. WE ARE YOUTH AND FAMILY RESOURCES. WE ARE VERY HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL TONIGHT. AND WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR PRESENTATION AND I'M GONNA PUT THE SLIDE SHOW UP HERE. OH, OKAY. I HAVE SOME HELP . OKAY. SO WE ARE HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR SARAH YOUTH LIFE. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SEI YOUTH LIFE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE COVER PAGE THAT WE HAVE HERE, WE HAD THAT PHOTO OP TO TAKE PICTURES WITH OUR YOUTH, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND THEIR PARENTS AS WELL HERE. AND I THINK THAT'S A LOVELY PICTURE. WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED OUR SIGNATURE COLOR, WHICH IS THE LINE TYPE OF GREEN. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND WE ARE GETTING INTO OUR SIRI YOUTH LIFE. I'LL DO IT. I GUESS. , I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OH, I CAN, THANK YOU. SO WITH OUR ONTARIO YOUTH LIFE, UM, THIS IS A COUNTY YOUTH INITIATIVE AND OUR INITIATIVE STARTED IN MARCH OF, UM, 2025. AND WHO DO WE START WITH FIRST? WE STARTED WITH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN FROM PRE-K TO THE FOURTH GRADE, AND WE HAD A OUTING TO THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT UP THERE. I'M TRYING TO TAKE OVER. CAN I TAKE OVER ? IF I CAN TAKE OVER? I THINK I CAN DO IT. OKAY. WELL I CAN'T TAKE IT OVER GUYS. [01:10:01] CAN'T TAKE IT OVER. SO WE'LL JUST GO ON. UM, THE SERVING YOUTH LIFE, UM, WE, ON APRIL THE 17TH, WE WENT TO BOLERO. AND BOLERO WAS A, UM, BOWLING EXPERIENCE IN CHESAPEAKE. I REALIZED THAT, UH, YOU ALL HAD A TRIP TO BOLERO AS WELL, BUT WE TOOK OUR, THE STUDENTS THAT WE HAD TO CHESAPEAKE AND THEY HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. NOT ONLY DID THEY DO BOWLING, BUT THEY ALSO DID THE, UM, ARCADES HAD AN AWESOME TIME AT, WITH THE ARCADES SO MUCH THAT I ENDED UP TAKING MY FAMILY THERE AFTERWARDS, . AND SO, UH, WE ALSO WENT AND MAY, WE DID OUR SIRI YOUTH LIFE SUMMER BREAK PARTY. AND OUR SUMMER BREAK PARTY WAS ON MAY 23RD. AND WE HAD OUR VERY OWN DJ ROLLO, WHO WAS UM, THERE. AND HE TAUGHT LINE DANCING BECAUSE DURING THIS TIME EVERYBODY'S DOING LINE DANCING, AND SO WE DID BOOTS ON THE GROUND. EXACTLY. AND SO THIS, UH, STUDENTS HAD AN AWESOME TIME. WE HAD THE OLDER AGE STUDENTS. THANK YOU, . WE HAD THE OLDER AGE STUDENTS WHO WERE DOING BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND THIS WAS ALSO A COLLABORATION WITH PARKS AND REC. AND ALSO WE HAD SUPPORT FROM OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AND WE HAD A, A STUDENT, TWO STUDENTS ACTUALLY THAT ASSISTED US WITH THIS PROJECT. OKAY, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO OUR SIRI YOUTH LIFE ALSO HAD WHAT'S CALLED THE SURREY VACAY TOUR. IT IS CALLED A STAY VACAY BECAUSE DURING THIS TIME OUR STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO EXPLORE SURREY COUNTY. AND I THINK IT WAS AWESOME BECAUSE WE HAD EXCELLENT COLLABORATION WITH TOURISM, ALSO COUNTY HISTORICAL SITES, AND ALSO COUNTY BUSINESSES. WE ALSO HAD COLLABORATION WITH PARKS AND RECREATION CENTER ALONG WITH MR. DION T, WHICH, UH, ASSISTED US. AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT SMITH'S FOR PLANTATION, AS YOU SEE THERE ON THE SLIDE. AND WE ALSO, UM, HAD THAT CHANCE TO DO MORE PHOTO OPS THERE. IN THAT PARTICULAR PICTURE, WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO HAMPTON ROSE WINERY, WHERE WE HAD THE SHELDON'S, WHO WERE AWESOME HOSTS TO ASSIST US WITH OUR YOUTH. AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FEED THE GOATS. EACH YOUTH WERE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING TO FEED THEM. AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME FOR, I THINK JUST ABOUT ALL OF OURS EXCEPT FOR TWO TO FEED GOATS. AND SO IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. SOME WAS OF COURSE VERY SHY ABOUT IT AND I DIDN'T FEED THEM, BUT , THE STUDENTS ENJOYED IT. AND ISN'T IT JUST AWESOME THAT THEY HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE WORLD'S TALLEST GOAT TOWER RIGHT HERE IN SURY COUNTY? AND THEN WE TRAVELED TO BACON'S CASTLE AND WE, UH, FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS BUILT IN 1665. THE REBELLION WAS IN 1676, AND THEY HAVE AN AWESOME GIFT SHOP THERE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE LITERATURE THAT WAS THERE AND SOME OF THE WONDERFUL GIFTS AS WELL. WE TRAVELED TO CHIP OAKS AND I THINK THE CAPTURING OF THE STACKING OF THE HANDS THAT'S ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN WAS VERY AWESOME. OUR, IT SHOWS A SIGN OF UNITY, AND THAT WAS OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES COMING TOGETHER WITH THE STACKING OF HANDS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LIFT THEM LIKE THAT. THAT MEANS TEAM, WE ARE A TEAM, TOGETHERNESS AND UNITY. THEN, UM, WE ALSO HAD, ON THE RIGHT BOTTOM, YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE TOTALLY, THEY WERE TOTALLY INTERESTED IN THE SHARK TEETH BECAUSE OUR WONDERFUL TOUR GUIDE TOLD US ABOUT SHATI. AND SO HERE WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS OUT THERE WITH HER AND THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR THOSE SHATI AND MANY OF THEM CAME TO ME WITH EXCITEMENT BECAUSE THEY FOUND SOME, SO, SO THAT WAS A GREAT AND AWESOME TRIP. NEXT 2026 FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE OUR SURREY YOUTH LIFE LOGO HERE AT THE TOP. AND THE TWO YOUNG LADIES THAT YOU SEE IN THE FAR LEFT, [01:15:01] THEY WERE THE ONES THAT ASSISTED ME. I KIND OF GAVE THEM MY IDEA OF WHAT I THOUGHT SURREY YOUTH LIFE WOULD LOOK LIKE ON A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER, I'LL SCRIBBLE, SCRIBBLE. AND THEY WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THIS WITH A LIFELINE. AND SO WE, UH, TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW SIRI YOUTH LIFE WITH THE LIFELINE ON IT. AND SO OUR FIRST TRIP FOR 2026 WAS AUGUST THE 12TH. AND WE WENT TO KEYSTONE TRUCKS AND TRACTOR MUSEUM. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THAT WAS HERE AT COLONIAL HEIGHTS AS CLOSE AS WE ARE. SO THE STUDENTS REALLY HAD AN AWESOME TIME LOOKING AT ALL OF THE OLDER TRACTORS AND THE CARS AND TRUCKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN THAT IS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, RIGHT, WE HAD LIKE TRIVIA ON THE BUS WHEN WE WERE GOING BACK. HE KNEW EVERY ANSWER. SO , HE WAS DEFINITELY INTO IT. NOW WHAT'S TO COME WITH SIRI YOUTH LIFE? WHAT DO WE HAVE PLANNED? WELL, DECEMBER 30TH, 2025, WE ARE GOING BACK TO PRE-K AND THE FOURTH GRADE. ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WE HAD AT OUR DEPARTMENT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH ALL AGES. AND SO WE HAD BEEN DOING SOME THINGS WITH THE FIRST GRADE THROUGH THE FOURTH GRADE, BUT WE SORT LEFT PRE-K OUT, SO WE DON'T WANT GAPS. SO WITH THE INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY HAS GIVEN HERE, WE WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE OTHER ACTIVITIES. SO HERE WE ARE GONNA HAVE, IT'S A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS PARTY. DON'T YOU ALL WANNA COME? , ONLY YOU. BUT, UM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FOOD GAMES, ARTS AND CRAFTS. AND ALSO, UM, IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, THOSE THAT ARE ON ONLINE OR ANY OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, IT IS FREE REGISTRATION, IT'S OPEN NOW. AND YOU JUST WOULD, UH, CALL MS. BONITA VEGA. AND WE HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER DOWN THERE, WHICH IS 7 5 7 6 0 5 8 4 1 4. AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO RSVP BY DECEMBER THE 15TH, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. LESLIE, WE HAVE, UM, OUR BIANNUAL WINTER EVENT. THIS IS THE MOTHER'S SON WINTER EVENT. AND IT IS BIANNUAL BECAUSE WE DO THE FATHER DAUGHTER BALL AND THEN WE DO THE MOTHER, SON. SO WE GO BACK AND FORTH AND, UM, WITH THIS, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION CENTER. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ALWAYS GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO OUR EVENTS THERE. THE NAME OF THE MOTHER, SON IS, IF I COULD GIVE YOU THE WORLD, AND WE DO HAVE AREA FOUR QUEEN AND PRINCE CONTEST WITH THAT ON FEBRUARY 13TH, WE WILL CROWN THEM THE WAY YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH THAT. THE PRINCE HAS TO DO AN ESSAY ON IF I COULD GIVE YOU THE WORLD, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE JUDGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, DO EVERYTHING FAIRLY. SO WITH, UM, ENDING, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WITH OUR YOUTH INITIATIVE. AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE, UM, SCREEN WHERE YOU CAN REACH US AND REFERRALS TO ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS WILL, YOU CAN COME FROM PARENT, IT CAN COME FROM PARENTS COURT SYSTEM AND ALSO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. STONE. MY, MY COMMENTS ARE DITTO THAT I GAVE TO, UH, MR. ROLLINS GREAT JOB. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE CITIZENS, THE YOUTH OF SE COUNTY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU, MS. ROLLINS. UH, AT THIS TIME WE WILL, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU DO HAVE, UH, INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKET FOR REVIEW. AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL MOVE TO BOARD [Board Comments] COMMENTS. AND WE ARE ELATED TODAY, UH, TONIGHT TO ONCE AGAIN TO HAVE MS. UH, HAROLD WITH US. AND SHE WANTS TO GIVE US A REPORT THAT'S OUR STUDENT LAY LIAISON, AND WE WILL HEAR FROM HER AT THIS TIME. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN THANK THE BOARD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY. I WOULD FIRSTLY LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STUDENTS AT SURY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE TIRE ART COMPETITION FOR FFA AT THE STATE FAIR. FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO AND VISIT THE EXHIBIT, THE STATE FAIR SHOULD STILL BE [01:20:01] OPEN THIS WEEKEND. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF OUR HOMECOMING COMING UP NEXT WEEK, WEEK OCTOBER THE 10TH. THIS YEAR MARKS THE HISTORICAL MILESTONE OF 50 YEARS OF COUGAR PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE AND, UM, IN EDUCATION AT SURREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION. THERE WILL BE A 50 YEARS OF COUGAR PRIDE EXHIBIT WHERE ALUMNI CAN DONATE THEIR MEMORABILIA OR THINGS SUCH AS OD BOOKS AND TROPHIES OR OTHERS, UM, KEEPSAKES. UM, THERE'S ALSO A LINK FOR ALUMNIS TO, UM, COMPLETE A SURVEY SO THEY CAN GIVE THEIR OWN FEEDBACK BACK TO US. THERE IS A LINK AND BARCODE ON THE FLYER BY THE DOOR FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY. AND LASTLY, FOR THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT ALUMNI, THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE BY DONATING TO THE DECADE DONATION SPONSORSHIP OR THE ALUMNI ARTIFACT CONTRIBUTION. I'M SORRY. UM, THERE IS ALSO A LINK IN BARCODE FOR THE, UM, DONATIONS ON THE FLYER BY THE DOOR. AND LASTLY, THE CLOSE. I WOULD LIKE TO, AGAIN, THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MS. HARRELL FOR GIVING US THIS INFORMATION ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL. AND WE KNOW THAT, UH, CITIZENS OF THE, THE COUNTY SUPPORT S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GREATLY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARADE THAT'S COMING UP IN, UH, JUST A COUPLE DAYS. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE REPORTING, GIVING US THE INFORMATION ON HOW WE CAN BE A PART OF, UH, THIS 50 YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA FROM SARA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU. THANKS ONCE AGAIN AT THIS TIME WE WILL CALL ON MR. BELL IF HE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. JUST WANNA THANK ALL THE CITIZENS FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO COME TONIGHT AND TO JUST BE HERE A PART OF THE MEETING AND SUPPORT IN YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. IT MEANS A LOT TO SEE THE FEW FACES THAT WE DO SEE EVERY MONTH WHEN WE HAVE A MEETING TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE JUST DEDICATED TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN S COUNTY AS WE ARE AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. AND SO WE APPRECIATE JUST HAVING THE SUPPORT OF YOU OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE. AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CITIZEN COMMENTS THAT COME. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE BETTER. SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW FROM MY STANDPOINT, I TAKE YOUR COMMENTS TO HEART AND I'M MAKING NOTES AS YOU'RE MAKING YOUR COMMENTS. AND WE DEFINITELY WILL, YOU KNOW, NEED TO DISCUSS THOSE MATTERS AND TRY TO MEET SOME OF THE NEEDS WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED ARE SO THINGS ARE VERY EASY TO TAKE CARE OF. AND THE, WITH THE AUDIT REPORT, I KNOW THE AUDIT IS GONE NOW, BUT I DO GREATLY THANK HIM FOR HIS HARD WORK. AND IF Y'ALL DIDN'T SEE THE REPORT, IT'S QUITE THICK. THERE'S A LOT OF DOCUMENTS HERE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT BEHIND THE AUDIT. AND SO WE DO THINK THAT FOR GETTING THAT DONE TO US, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A WHILE COMING, BUT WE DO HAVE IT NOW. AND HE TOLD US WE'RE ON TRACK FOR THE AUDIT TO BE ON TIME FOR 2025. SO WE'RE IN GOOD STANDING THERE. UM, MS. PIERCE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK THROUGH THE 55 PLUS INITIATIVE, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PARADE. I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING TO A PARADE THAT I DON'T HAVE TO LINE UP AND ORGANIZE , THAT I CAN JUST COME AND I CAN JUST STAND BACK AND I CAN WATCH. AND SO JUST SPEAKING OF THAT, THIS COMING FRIDAY, THREE O'CLOCK HERE IN THE TOWN OF SURREY, THERE'S REAL, A PARADE GOING ON. I'LL BE BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. AND MS. STONE AND MR. ROLLINS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK THROUGH YOUR DEPARTMENTS AND ESPECIALLY WITH STAFFING CUTS. AND AS DEPARTMENTS HAVE DWINDLED DOWN AND WHERE WE HAD FIVE AND SIX PEOPLE WORKING IN DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE GONE DOWN TO TWO AND THREE PEOPLE WORKING IN DEPARTMENTS, AND YOU'RE STILL PROVIDING THE SAME QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE OF SERVICE. OUR HATS GO OFF TO YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT MORE TIME, A WHOLE LOT MORE DEDICATION. IT'S TIRELESS HOURS AND I KNOW YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. JUST KNOW THAT WE DO THANK AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU, AND YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MR. BELL. MR. HARDY. THANKS, CHAIR. WELL, I'LL SHARE THIS WONDERFUL FLYER. I KNOW IT'LL BE ONLINE FOR LONG, BUT, UM, UM, THE SECOND ANNUAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, VETERANS DAY APPRECIATION DINNER. WE HAD A, A BLAST LAST YEAR. IT WAS INAUGURAL MYSELF, MR. CALHOUN, UM, CHAIR ELLIOT AND VICE CHAIR PIERCE. WERE OUT THERE, UH, SERVING THE VETERANS AND, UH, WE HAD A FUN TIME AND, UM, IT, IT BURST THE SEAM. SO I'M EXPECTING MORE THIS YEAR, SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE GOTTA HAVE MORE FOOD. SO KEEP, KEEP THAT IN MIND. ALRIGHT, BUT I'M SURE THIS'LL BE ONLINE SHARED PLENTY OF TIMES. THAT IS, UH, NOVEMBER 7TH. SO IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, PLEASE RSS VP WITH MISS FOLK OVER THERE. AND SO WE CAN, UH, HAVE AMPLE SUPPLY. ALRIGHT? UM, ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP SAYING THE SAME STUFF, BUT IT'S, [01:25:01] IT'S WORTHY TO, UH, GIVE THANKS AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS WHERE IT'S DUE. SO ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATS TO 55 PLUS INITIATIVE FOR THE, UH, VEHICLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. UM, PARKS AND REC AND, UH, DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH. GREAT JOB. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. UM, I'M ALL ABOUT THE YOUTH, SO I ALWAYS SAY WE DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE 55 PLUS AND WE SHOWING WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THE 55 MINUTES AS WELL. SO KEEP THAT UP AS WELL. UH, TOMORROW, I BELIEVE IS OUR FINAL FIRST FRIDAYS OF THE SEASON. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. SO OUT, RIGHT OUT HERE AT THE PAVILION, 5:00 PM SO, UH, IT'S BEEN A GREAT SEASON. I KNOW ONE, I THINK WE HAD LIKE ONE WITH LOW TURNOUT 'CAUSE OF THE WEATHER. IT WAS A LITTLE RAINY AND MISTY OUTSIDE, BUT THE SHOW DID GO ON. SO, UH, PLEASE COME OUT TOMORROW. I BELIEVE IT'S A JAZZ BAND, THE YEAH. YEP. ELEMENT. OKAY. GOOD STUFF. I, WE GUARANTEE GOOD STUFF. AND I BELIEVE MS. CHAPMAN, SO I, I SHALL BE IN ATTENDANCE. LORD WILLING, I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ATTEND THE CANDIDATE FORMULA ANOTHER NIGHT. GREAT STUFF. I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT, UH, UH, THAT, UM, NO MATTER, UH, WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, SEAT HERE ON THE BOARD IS UP AND ALSO THE SCHOOL BOARD. AND FROM WHAT I HEARD, I THINK WE'D BE GOOD IN GOOD HANDS WITH ANYBODY. SO KUDOS TO ALL THE, UM, CANDIDATES WHO PRESENT IT. UM, GREAT STUFF. AND I THINK, UM, LIKE-MINDED, YOU KNOW, FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO THE BOARD SUPERVISORS AND I'M, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, PASSING FOR ANYBODY, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, GREAT STUFF WAS PUT OUT AS FAR AS WHERE THEY SEE THE COUNTY NOW AND WHERE THEY, WHERE THE COUNTY NEEDS TO GO. I THINK, UM, FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO THE BOARD SUPERVISORS, I THINK WE CAN'T LOSE. SO, UM, KUDOS AND GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY, UM, FIGHTING TO REPRESENT THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS. AND I DO WANNA MAKE ONE COMMENT ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, SO I KNOW IT'S A MONTH MOST TIME BETWEEN MEETINGS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT A MONTH. YOU KNOW, WE, UH, AS AS BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE. UH, WE HAVE EMAILS, UH, WE HAVE TELEPHONES. UM, I KNOW, UM, MS. UH, PERKINS HAS CONTACTED RIGHT, OFTEN FOR VARIOUS, UH, REASONS. , I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT IS. AND, UH, SO JUST PLEASE DON'T, IF YOU HAVE A PRESSING ISSUE, PLEASE DON'T WAIT A MONTH. UM, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR BOARD MEMBER AND WE'LL, UH, TRY TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO ADDRESS IT, UM, BEFORE A MEETING OR, YOU KNOW, OR IF YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MEETING FOR THE BOARD, I, I UNDERSTAND, BUT PLEASE DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO WAIT A MONTH TO, UH, GET ON THE PODIUM THERE AND I'LL HAVE A CONCERN BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, 30 A LOT COULD HAPPEN IN 30 DAYS. SO JUST WANNA THROW THAT OUT THERE. AND LASTLY, I DO HAVE ALL MY PINK TONIGHT. IT IS, UH, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. SO ALL, I ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT. AND MY BEAUTIFUL LADY IS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, SO, UM, I ALWAYS PRAISE HER AND THANK HER. SHE'S VERY STRONG AND, UM, THAT'S WHY WE'RE JUST HONOR HER TONIGHT. SO THANKS EVERYBODY. I'M DONE. THANK YOU, MR. HARDY. MR. CALHOUN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. UM, LIKE, UH, MR. HARDY SAID, I'M NOT GONNA RUN THROUGH ALL THESE LIKE, UH, THE FOLKS PRESENTATIONS AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE JUST RECENTLY WITH THESE TWO GENTLEMEN. UM, BUT THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL THE PRESENTERS, THANK YOU FOR THE DEPARTMENT STAFF THAT PRESENTED AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE. KUDOS TO YOU ALL. UM, I TELL YOU WHAT, PICKLE BALL'S GOOD. THIS IS FUN. UM, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. I SWEAT, I WAS SWEATING. YOU DON'T THINK YOU SWEAT IN THAT LITTLE SMALL SPACE. YOU DO, YOU DO. AND IT'S FUN. UM, ENJOYED IT. AND, UH, ENJOY ALL MEETING THE NEW FOLKS, UH, UH, WITHIN THIS LITTLE SMALL COMMUNITY OF PICKLEBALL. SO PLEASE TALK TO FOLKS AND Y'ALL COME RIGHT OUT AND PLAY. UM, I'D LIKE TO, UM, UM, AGAIN, THANK THOSE WHO ARE OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ON, ON, UH, ON YOUR TELEVISION. UM, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT HERE AND SPEAK, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE. UM, JUST AS MR. BELL SAID, I, I TAKE NOTES WITH EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS AS FAST AS I CAN. SOMETIMES Y'ALL TALK A LOT FASTER, I CAN WRITE, BUT, UH, I GET MOST OF IT DONE. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND YOU'RE ALL SUPPORT. WISH YOU ALL A GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU, MR. KYLE. MR. PIERCE. YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR. UM, AS ALWAYS, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. THANK EVERYONE THAT'S WATCHING FROM HOME. UM, IF THE BOARD DOESN'T MIND, I JUST WANT TO, UH, UH, DITTO TO EVERYONE, EVERYONE SAID AS FAR AS THE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE, UH, REWARDS RECOGNITION AND THE HARD WORK THROUGH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. UM, HOWEVER, IF I CAN BREAK, MAKE A BRIEF REPORT ABOUT THE, UH, NACO AGRICULTURAL RULE AFFAIRS POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE THAT I ATTENDED IN VIRTUALLY, UH, BACK IN SEPTEMBER, UH, IN DISCUSSION, UH, HIGHLIGHTED NATIONAL CONCERNS IN RURAL AMERICA SUCH AS HEALTHCARE ACCESS, FARMLAND PRESERVATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, BUT ALSO AFF REFORMED THAT S COUNTY ALREADY TAKING ACTION IN MANY OF THESE AREAS. FEDERAL LEADERS STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WITHIN THE FARM BILL AND SERIES, ALREADY LEVERAGING SIMILAR PRIORITIES THROUGH, UM, WE ALREADY HAVE ESTABLISHED THE, UM, BROADBAND EXPANSION, BUT ALSO INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND AGRICULTURE INITIATIVES. OTHER STATES ARE JUST BEGINNING TO ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE FOREIGN LAND ACQUISITION AND, UM, RENEWABLE ENERGY DEPLOYMENT. WHILE SIRI HAS LONG EMPHASIZED FARMLAND PRESERVATION, GENERAL [01:30:01] LAND RETENTION, AND SMART FARMING PRACTICES, A NEW 50, UH, $50 MILLION RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED, AIMING TO MODERNIZE RURAL HEALTH SYSTEMS THROUGH STATE LEVEL FUNDING. OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS POSITION US WELL TO BENEFIT FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY. THE MEETING, UH, UNDERSCORED CHALLENGES SUCH AS EMS FUNDING, WATER QUALITY, AND YOUTH OUT MIGRATION CONCERNS WE ALL ACTIVELY ADDRESSING THROUGH LOCAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OVERALL, THE MEETING ARE FORMED, THAT S COUNTY IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE, WHILE MANY RURAL COUNTIES AND JUST ARE JUST BEGINNING TO RESPOND TO THESE NATIONAL ISSUES, WE ARE ALREADY LEADING THE, UH, PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND SAFEGUARD OUR FUTURE. SO IN SUMMARY, UH, WHEN I, WHEN I, UH, LISTENING TO THE MEETING AND HEARING SOME OF THE, UH, CONCERNS, UH, ONE STATE WAS MENTIONING HOW IT TAKES OVER AN HOUR FOR THEM TO GET SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY SERVICE BECAUSE THEY'RE SO ISOLATED IN RURAL AREAS. AND AGAIN, HEARING THAT, UM, ACROSS THE NATION, I HAVE RURAL COMMUNITIES SIMILAR TO S COUNTY THAT ARE, I GUESS, IN DIRE NEED OF SOME OF THESE, UH, UM, DIFFERENT, UM, UH, PARTNERSHIPS AND DIFFERENT ASSISTANCE THAT SARA COUNTY. WE'RE ALREADY AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH MANY OF THESE THINGS. SO I JUST WANT TO, UH, REIN, UH, ENSURE OUR CITIZENS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH STAFF AND OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THIS STATE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT MO OUR CITIZENS ARE LOOKING FOR. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, THE BOARD AND THE CITIZENS AGAIN FOR TONIGHT FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UH, WE ARE LISTENING AND WE ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING NOT JUST A FEW, BUT ALL OF THE CITIZENS IN S COUNTY FROM OUR, OUR LISTEN TO THE, UH, PRESENTATIONS FROM OUR PRE-K ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR 55 AND PLUS, UH, CITIZENS. SO AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN TO STAFF, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THANK YOU TO ALL THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND, UM, UH, ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND TOGETHER WE MAKE SE STRONG. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT. I HOPE YOU ALL DRIVE HOME SAFELY. THANK YOU. ONE MORE, SORRY. AND MR. ARIA, GREAT JOB TONIGHT, UH, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR BEING SO, UM, ARTICULATE AND, AND BEING A GREAT ROLE MODEL TO THE YOUTH INS COUNTY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU MR. PIERCE. AND I CAN SAY DITTO TO ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE BOARD, UH, MEMBERS HAVE MADE. UH, WE ARE A GRATEFUL BOARD FOR ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING AND THE CITIZENS WORKING TOWARDS, UH, MAKING GREAT THINGS HAPPEN IN, SIR. AND I JUST WANT TO, UH, COME IN ON THE BACK END OF MR. PIERCE'S COMMENTS ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT. WHEN YOU SEE US UP HERE, WE SIT ON MANY BOARDS. THESE ARE NOT, THIS IS NOT JUST US AND THIS ALL WE DO. I SIT ON FOUR OTHER BOARDS BESIDES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BECAUSE I AM IN THIS POSITION AND I REPRESENT SIRI. AND I'M COMING BACK TO GIVE AN UPDATE TO THE CITIZENS OF SIRI FROM THE CRATER PLANNING COMMISSION. WE JUST MET, UH, THIS PAST WEEK AND WE ARE LOOKING TO DEVELOP A, UH, TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BOARD WITH CRATER, CRATER REPRESENTS. WE HAVE, UH, SUSSEX COUNTY, SIRI COUNTY, PRINCE GEORGE DENWITTY, PETERSBURG, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, AND CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING INTO, UH, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ASKING FOR FUNDS TO DEVELOP A, UH, TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. AND IN DOING THAT, UH, WE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SMALL GO ON THE BLOCK, WHICH WE KNOW IS SIR COUNTY. AND I ADVOCATED FOR S COUNTY THAT WE WOULD GET A FAIR SHARE OF THE MONIES THAT'S GONNA BE IN THIS AUTHORITY. IT'S ONE THING TO BE SITTING AT THE TABLE, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT EATING LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, THERE'S NO NEED TO BE SITTING AT THE TABLE. SO WE DID ADVOCATE FOR SARA, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING IT THAT EACH JURISDICTION WOULD HAVE ONE VOTE INSTEAD OF THE LARGEST JURISDICTION, HAVING THE, THE, THE MAJOR INPUT ON WHO'S GOING TO GET THE MONEY. SO AGAIN, NOT ONLY DO WE SIT HERE, BUT WE SIT ON OTHER BOARDS AND WE ADVOCATE FOR S COUNTY EVERYWHERE THAT WE GO. AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW, UH, ALSO AS BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF, UH, JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY SOMETHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN DOES NOT MAKE IT TO BE TRUE. I HAVE BEEN, UH, MISQUOTED AND TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT WHEN I TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND IT WAS STATED THAT I HATED TRANSPARENCY. NO, I HATED WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT THE BOARD IS NOT BEING TRANSPARENT. THE BOARD IS DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO INFORM THE CITIZENS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN S COUNTY. THERE ARE TIMELINES IN WHICH WE GET INFORMATION, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION. IF WE DON'T HAVE IT YET, IT HAS TO COME TO THE BOARD. AND THEN THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE, JUST LIKE THIS AUDIT TONIGHT THAT WE RECEIVED. THIS WILL BE PUT UP ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING FROM THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY. SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT, THAT THIS BOARD IS [01:35:01] GOING BEYOND, UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO BE TRANSPARENT. WE GOTTA GET THE INFORMATION BEFORE WE CAN GIVE IT TO THE PUBLIC. IT, IT, IT, IT WORKS THAT WAY, BUT WE ARE NOT HIDING ANYTHING AND NOT KEEPING ANYTHING FROM THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY. I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND I CAN SPEAK FOR THE BOARD, THAT THIS BOARD IS BEYOND REPROACH. WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING UNDERHANDED. WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, UH, TO TRY TO GET OVER ON THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY. WE ARE HERE WORKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY. MAKE SURE YOU COME OUT TOMORROW NIGHT. WE ARE ABOUT FELLOWSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP COME OUT AND LET'S, UH, REALLY MAKE THIS LAST FIRST FRIDAY THE BEST ONE THAT WE HAD WITH OUR ATTENDANCE. THIS IS FOR THE COUNTY. THIS IS BRINGING THE S COUNTY TOGETHER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THROWING OUT AND PASSING OUT CANDY TO THE CITIZENS AT, UH, THE UPCOMING PARADE. AND, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WOULD AGREE WE'RE GONNA BE A PART OF THE CHRISTMAS PARADE AS WELL. SO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUALLY DOING GREAT THINGS FOR THE BEST COUNTY IN THE COMMONWEALTH, WHICH WE CALL SIRI. GOD BLESS YOU. AND IF I CAN GET A MOTION FOR, UH, ADJOURNMENT UNTIL THE 22ND OF OCTOBER. * 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.