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GOOD EVENING.[Economic Development Authority on October 23, 2025]
WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING FOR OCTOBER THE 23RD, UH, TO ORDER AT, UH, 6:11 PM IF WE ALL COULD, UH, OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.WE WILL NOW STAND AND RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
NEXT, WE WILL, UH, RECORD OUR ATTENDANCE FOR DIRECTORS PRESENT, STARTING WITH MR. ERNEST BLUNT PRESENT.
PRESENT MR. TRENTON HOWELL PRESENT.
MS. JANET MONAGHAN, PRESENT, MR. PRICE PRESENT AND MR. HOWELL DOCKER PRESENT? MM-HMM
I DO BELIEVE THAT IS A FULL PANEL FOR THIS EVENING.
UH, AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, OUR TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.
UH, CHAIRMAN ELLIOT AND MR. HARDY.
UH, DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING OUT AND ATTENDING THE MEETING.
AND OUR YOUNG CITIZEN THAT IS IN THE BACK AS WELL,
SO, UH, I DO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TONIGHT.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE, UH, A MOMENT TO GO OVER THE AGENDA, UH, AND THEN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
HAVING HAD A FEW MINUTES TO LOOK AT THE AGENDA, UH, BEFORE US TONIGHT.
UM, IS THERE ONE, ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, UH, AT THIS TIME WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO A, UH, TO ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA AS IS FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
UH, IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE A ADOPT THE, UH, AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING AS PRESENTED.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, WE WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
UNANIMOUS PASSING OF THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT? NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE ADOPTION OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES.
UH, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS UNDER THAT, UH, THAT, UM, LINE ITEM TONIGHT.
THERE WAS THE EDA MINUTES FROM THE MAY 29TH, 2025 MEETING AND THEN THERE WERE THE INFORMATION FROM THE WORK SESSION THAT TOOK PLACE ON JUNE THE 16TH OF 2025.
UH, NO BOARD MEMBERS, UM, HAVE GOTTEN THEIR PACKETS PREVIOUSLY.
WE'LL STILL GIVE, UH, YOU ALL, SOME TIME RIGHT NOW TO LOOK THINGS OVER AND THEN WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR EACH ITEM, UM, TO ACCEPT EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY
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AND WE JUST DIDN'T SCHEDULE.EACH BOARD MEMBER HAS HAD A FEW MOMENTS TO GO THROUGH THE PACKETS AND AGAIN, THEY WERE SENT OUT PREVIOUSLY.
UM, WE WOULD NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION OR DISCUSSION ON THE EDA MINUTES FROM MAY THE 29TH OR FOR 2025.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO THAT.
WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED FOR THE MEETING ON MAY 29TH, 2025 AT 6:00 PM ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ACCEPT THE EDA MINUTES AS PRESENTED FROM MAY 29TH, 2025.
UM, STARTING WITH ROLL CALL, VOTE, UH, MR. BLUNT, MR. HENDERSON, MS. HENDERSON? AYE.
MS. MONAGHAN? AYE, UH, MR. PRICE? AYE.
MOTION HAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
UH, THE SECOND ITEM ON THE, UH, UNDER THE ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES, UH, THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PACKET FROM THE EDA WORK SESSION FOR JUNE THE 16TH FOR 2025.
UH, AGAIN, AT THIS MOMENT WE'RE ENTERTAINING A MOTION OR DISCUSSION FOR THAT LINE ITEM AS WELL.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE WORK SESSION ON JUNE 16TH AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND HOW? OKAY.
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SECOND, UH, ON THE WORK SESSION MINUTES, UH, TO BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED, UH, FROM JUNE 16TH.UM, ROLL CALL, VOTE AT THIS TIME.
MOTION HAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
UH, AT THIS POINT WE WILL MOVE TO OUR AGENDA ITEM OF THE TREASURY REPORT AND I WILL YIELD TO MS. HENDERSON TO PRESENT OUR TREASURY'S REPORT.
UH, CHAIRMAN WOODMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST, UH, GO OVER AS I USUALLY DO, EACH OF YOU.
IT'S AT THE BACK OF THE, THE PACKET LEFT IN FRONT OF YOU.
I OVERLOOKED IT INITIALLY, UH, BUT AS OF APRIL AND OUR LAST MEETING, WE REPORTED $144,245 AND 81 CENTS IN OUR ACCOUNT.
AND WE JUST HAVE THE ONE ACCOUNT, SINGLE ACCOUNT, UM, SINCE, BUT THIS REPORT IS COVERING FOUR MONTHS, NOT THE TRADITIONAL THREE MONTHS BECAUSE OF OUR RESCHEDULING OF MEETINGS AND SO FORTH, BUT IT DEFINITELY WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT DEALS WITH ALL FOUR MONTHS.
SO THIS REPORT SHOWS OUR ENDING.
WELL, IT SHOWS THE BALANCE I JUST MENTIONED.
WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF INCOME, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR, UM, TWO 144,000.
WE'RE MAKING BIG INTEREST OF OVER THAT FOUR MONTH PERIOD, ABOUT $30.
DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, BUT ANYWAY, LEMME STOP TRYING TO BE COMICAL HERE AND GET MORE SERIOUS.
AS OF SEPTEMBER BEFORE ANY DEDUCTIONS WE HAD $144,275 AND 91 CENTS.
AND THEN BETWEEN ACTUALLY THE END OF APRIL, OR CONSIDER THE BEGINNING OF MAY AND SEPTEMBER 30TH, WE ACTUALLY HAD DEDUCTIONS OF 1008 $1,582, AND THAT BOUGHT OUR BALANCE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 TO ONE THOU $142,693 AND 91 CENTS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WE DON'T HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING CHECKS AS OF TODAY.
IT IS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT YOU KNOW, AS I TRADITIONALLY EMAILED IT TO YOU A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING.
APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, UH, YOUR DILIGENCE AS ALWAYS, AND YOUR, UM, YOUR TIME THAT YOU TAKE TO, TO PRESENT, UH, OUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION.
UM, HAVING HEARD MS. HENDERSON'S REPORT, UH, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME TO, TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE A MOTION, UH, TO ACCEPT THE TREASURY'S REPORT AS PRESENTED AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY SECONDED.
UM, WE WILL GO FOR A ROLL CALL.
VOTE FOR THE TREASURY'S REPORT, MR. BLUNT.
MOTION HAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ALRIGHT, NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS, UM, OLD BUSINESS AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS, AN UPDATE FROM THE CLAREMONT LOAN AND, UH, THE SECOND ITEM WILL BE THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM.
SO, MS. PERKINS, GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, SO I, I DO HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE.
UH, WE COMMUNICATED LAST WEEK IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING, UM, WITH THE TOWN CLERK IN CLAREMONT.
AND, UH, SHE INDICATED THAT, UM, ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR, UH, MR. SALMON, WHO IS THE SON OF THE PROPERTY PROPERTY OWNER, LUCY SALMON, HAD REACHED OUT TO THE TOWN TO ASK, UH, FOR THEM TO SEND, UM, AN UPDATED INVOICE.
UM, I GUESS THEY HAD LOST THE PREVIOUS ONE THAT HAD BEEN SENT, SO THAT SEEMED TO BE COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.
UH, SO THAT SEEMED TO BE A POSITIVE STEP.
UM, WE ASKED THAT THE TOWN CLERK PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
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UM, THEY DID GO AHEAD AND SEND, UH, ANOTHER COPY OF THE, OF THE LETTER IN THE INVOICE AS REQUESTED.UM, THAT KIND OF GOT MY SPIDEY SENSE A LITTLE UP.
AND, UM, I HAD, UH, MS. CARLSON DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF BY ANY CHANCE THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN PUT ON THE MARKET.
UM, KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BEHIND THE SCENES WHAT PROMPTED THIS PHONE CALL.
UM, THERE IS, THERE, THERE IS NOTHING THAT INDICATES THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN PUT ON THE MARKET, BUT PERHAPS THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THE PROPERTY ON THE MARKET AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR, UM, THEIR, THE MONEY'S OWED IN ORDER BEFORE THEY TAKE THAT NEXT STEP BECAUSE, UM, AS, AS YOU MAY RECALL ME SAYING A LONG TIME AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESS, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL THE PROPERTY, UH, BEFORE TAKING CARE OF THIS DEBT UNLESS THE, THE PURCHASER WAS WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS DEBT.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD PREVENT CLOSING FROM HAPPENING.
SO, UH, SO A SMALL UPDATE, BUT, UM, AGAIN, COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS POSITIVE, SO CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UM, THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM.
MR. CHAPLIN? YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF OUR EDA.
UM, AS YOU REMEMBER, BACK IN JUNE WE HAD THE WORK SESSION REGARDING OUR SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM.
MOST RECENTLY THE COUNTY HAD TRANSFERRED OVER $50,000, UH, TOWARDS, UH, USES THAT, UH, MIGHT BE APPLICABLE TO THE EDA, UH, INTEREST IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY AND WE REALLY DIDN'T DECIDE, UH, HOW WE WERE GOING TO EXECUTE THAT.
UH, AND OF COURSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO WELL INTO NEXT YEAR IF WE'RE GONNA DO TWO GRANTS, THREE GRANTS.
AND I KNOW I HAD RECOMMENDED A MAXIMUM GRANT OF $7,500 AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE DID HAVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT COME TOGETHER AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE NUMBER THAT THEY PUT OUT THERE.
UM, I'M GOING TO GIVE ANOTHER UPDATE HERE AND JUST, JUST A BIT, UH, ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS THAT'S, THAT'S GOING ON HOLISTICALLY WITH THE COUNTY AND, UH, OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND JUST, UH, NEEDS THAT WERE SEEING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO DECIDE TONIGHT OR IF WE WANTED TO.
I KNOW MS. MONAGHAN HAD MENTIONED THAT, UH, WE MAY WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION ON THIS, SO IF THAT EITHER WORK SESSION, MOVE FORWARD WITH A COUPLE OF GRANTS, ANY OF THOSE, EITHER OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COULD HAPPEN TONIGHT.
UH, AND ALSO SOME OF THE IDEAS FROM OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE.
WE'VE DONE A PRETTY IN-DEPTH, UM, REVIEW ON THE COUNTY AND WORKING WITH PLANNING AND I THINK WE'VE DEVELOPED SOME TOP TIER PRIORITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD.
ANY QUESTIONS? OR? WELL, I, I JUST, RIGHT NOW, I GUESS DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD AS TO WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO, WHETHER LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT OR WORK SESSION TO HASH OUT SOME MORE DETAILS.
SO I'M ONLY ONE PERSON AND, AND I THINK A WORK SESSION IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE WHEN I, WHEN I COME TO YOU AND MY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT TO, UH, PROPOSE AND WITH FUNDING LIMITED, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WANT THE HIGHEST AND BEST VALUE IS WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS TENDED TO, TO GO WITH WHAT WE CAN GET OUR BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.
AND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, HAVE A WORK SESSION, UM, JUST TO WORK IT OUT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT, UH, BETTER.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? I WILL SAY THAT I THOUGHT THE LAST WORK SESSION WAS EXCELLENT.
UM, GOT A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS OUT THERE AND JUST KIND OF GOT A BRAINSTORM AND HEAR ABOUT, OH, I GOT TO GO AND LISTEN TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
SO I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
SO IF I'M HEARING CORRECTLY, WORK SESSION IS THIS NOW, AM I CORRECT, UM, THAT THIS WORK SESSION WOULD BE JUST GEARED TOWARD THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM? IT WOULD, WOULD NOT BE LIKE THE LAST WORK SESSION.
AND AGAIN, I AGREE WITH MR. HOWELL, THAT WAS EX AN
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EXCELLENT WORK SESSION, BUT AM I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UNDERSTANDING THIS ONE WOULD BE SO THAT WE COULD REALLY SET IT IN PLACE.WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO WITH THE SMALL GRANT PROGRAM, YOU CAN SET IN PLACE THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANT OPPORTUNITY OR YOU CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THE NEED IS RIGHT NOW, THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER, UH, RETURN FOR THE COUNTY OVERALL.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S TO DECIDE REALLY THE DIRECTION THAT YOU WANT TO GO.
WE, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE, LITTLE MORE MONEY THAN WE HAD IN THE PAST.
UH, I THINK IT WAS A TOTAL OF $50,000 FOR, UM, NEEDS THAT THE, THE EDA MAY HAVE AS IT RELATES TO THE ALIGNMENT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HAVE $30,000 THAT WAS TRANSFERRED OVER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND THAT IS REALLY HOW YOU, YOU FOLKS WANT TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND, AND BUILD A PROGRAM UPCOMING FOR THE 2026 YEAR, UH, TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE TALKED A GOOD BIT ABOUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, PUTTING MONEY INTO SOMETHING THAT HAS AN ROI FOR THE COUNTY, UH, RATHER THAN JUST PUTTING IT INTO THINGS THAT KIND OF CREATES THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD YOU WANT THE BUSINESSES TO, TO REALLY BENEFIT FROM WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOU WANT THE, THE CITIZENS TO REALLY BENEFIT FROM WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO, UM, THAT DISCUSSION, UH, NOW THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND LOOK AT OUR, UH, WE'RE DOING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE AND A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, WE'RE STARTING TO REALLY CLEARLY SEE WHAT SOME OF THE BARRIERS ARE TO THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEN I, I WOULD SAY THAT MOST DEFINITELY WE WOULD, WE WOULD NEED A WORK SESSION SO THAT WE COULD DISCUSS THOSE THINGS AND WHAT'S THE BEST DIRECTION TO GO IN.
UM, AND THE WORK SESSION HIT WORK, THE WORK SESSION YOU'RE SUGGESTING, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CLEAR.
IT WOULD BE ONLY TO DISCUSS THE GRANTS OR IT'D BE TO DISCUSS THE GRANTS IN THE CONTEXT OF A LARGER PICTURE OR PRIORITIES THAT, THAT ARE HERE THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY.
I WASN'T SURE WHICH MS. ANDERSON, UH, ORIGINALLY I THINK THAT I WAS SAYING A WORK SESSION SO WE COULD DISCUSS THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM, BUT AFTER HEARING WHAT MS. CHAPLIN HAD TO SAY, I REALLY THINK THAT WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT A BIGGER PICTURE AS TO WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO AND WHAT DIRECTION TO GO IN, IN.
SO THAT, AND WE, THE SMALL GRANT, UM, THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM WOULD BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.
I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF GOING THAT ROUTE.
AND MOST OF US SEEM TO BE IN THE SAME PAGE.
RIGHT? WE DON'T NEED A MOTION.
I GUESS WE CAN, I THINK WE WOULD.
UH, AND WE WOULD ALSO NEED TO PROBABLY LOOK AT DATES.
I'M SORRY FOLKS, I MUST HAVE HIT THE WRONG BUTTON, BUT MY APOLOGIES.
WHAT WOULD, UH, WHAT WOULD BE, UM, GOOD DATES FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO ENTERTAIN A WORK SESSION?
UM, I KNOW YOU GOT, YOU KNOW, HOLIDAY WEEK COMING UP IN THE, IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ANYONE WOULD BE OPPOSED TO SOMETHING ON THE 10TH OR THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER.
TRY TO HAVE A WORK SESSION BEFORE THE HOLIDAY WEEK GETS HERE.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE 10TH 10TH THAT YES.
NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 10TH LOOKS, WHAT TIME OF THE DAY WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT? 10:00 AM
UM, EI, AGAIN, I'M ONE PERSON.
I'M PROBABLY SPEAKING FOR ONE OTHER ON THIS PANEL, BUT EVENING WOULD BE BEST FOR, FOR US.
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WE DID A FIVE O'CLOCK LAST TIME.YEAH, WE COULD DEFINITELY DO EARLY.
CAN YOU GET THAT THERE? WE COULD DEFINITELY DO EAR.
OH, OH, WELL, I, WELL, LET'S, OKAY.
UM, SO YES, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, YES.
AND YOU COULD DO 10:00 AM NO, I, UM, UH, FIVE O'CLOCK WOULD THAT WORK FOR BOARD MEMBERS? WORKS FOR ME? YES.
OH, IS THAT MR. PRICE? PUSH YOU GETTING IN FROM WORK? YOU CAN DO THAT.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE FIVE O'CLOCK NOVEMBER THE 10TH.
AND OUR COUNSEL IS GOOD FOR THAT AS WELL.
SO DATE NOVEMBER 10TH, 5:00 PM NOW I, WE WILL, WE'LL, WE'LL LET EVERYBODY KNOW THE LOCATION BECAUSE MOST LIKELY WE'LL NOT BE IN HERE.
IF WE CAN GET THE AUXILIARY BOARD ROOM, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE SAME PLACE WE DID LAST TIME.
FIVE O'CLOCK NOVEMBER THE 10TH FOR A WORK SESSION.
UM, DO I HAVE A, A MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? UH, MR. CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HAVE A EDA WORK SESSION ON NOVEMBER 10TH AT 5:00 PM IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
AND SECOND THAT THE EDA WILL HAVE A WORK SESSION AT 5:00 PM NOVEMBER THE 10TH.
UM, I WILL NOW MOVE TO A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING WITH MR. GODFREY.
MOTION HAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
MOVING DOWN TO NEW BUSINESS AND, UH, THE ELECTION OF A NEW SECRETARY.
YES, MS. CHAPLIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
WELL, AS EACH OF YOU HAVE BEEN WELL AWARE THAT, UH, WE HAVE HAD, UH, FOR THE LAST PROBABLY YEAR SOME VARIATION IN OUR SECRETARIAL DUTIES.
THANK GOODNESS OUR WONDERFUL MS. PERKINS HERE HAD BEEN HELPING OUT WITH THAT, WITH, UH, MS. JOANIE.
AND, UH, NOW OF COURSE MRS. GOLDSTON IS FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF THE THINGS AND SHE'S ACTUALLY WORKING IN HUMAN RESOURCES.
SO WE DO NEED TO, UH, APPOINT A NEW SECRETARY.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MS. DOHA
UH, SHE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL ASSET TO OUR OFFICE AND, UH, IS NOW, UH, IN AGREEMENT TO BECOME THE, UH, SECRETARY TO THE EDA.
AND, UH, SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB.
COMES TO US FROM SOME WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND KEEPING, KEEPING THOSE FOLKS HAPPY.
SO I THINK SHE CAN DO A GREAT JOB.
HEY, YOU GOT BETTER CANDY TONIGHT.
HEY, IT'S THE LITTLE STUFF, THE SMALL THINGS THAT MATTERS, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, WE JUST NEED TO HAVE AN ELECTION FOR, UH, MRS. PIERCE TO JOIN OUR TEAM.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY I AM THRILLED AND WELCOME HER.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT FEW MONTHS WORKING TOGETHER.
UM, AND YES, MS. PIERCE IS NO STRANGER TO US.
SHE HAS HELPED US OUT, UH, TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
SO, UH, THANK YOU MA'AM FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP HERE AND, AND, UM, PROVIDE YOUR SERVICES.
AGAIN, WE MOST GRACIOUSLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, ELECT MS. DOHA PIERCE AS THE EDA BOARD SECRETARY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ELECT MRS. DOHA PIERCE TO BE THE SECRETARY FOR THE EDA BOARD.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ELECT MS. DOHA PIERCE AS THE EDA SECRETARY.
I WILL NOW START WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE BEGINNING WITH MR. BLUNT.
MOTION HAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
MS. PIERCE, WELCOME AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK.
UM, MS. CHAPLIN, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS AT, AT THIS TIME? NO.
AND I JUST REALIZED CITIZENS' COMMENTS? YEP.
UM, WE ARE IN THE SECTION OF OUR AGENDA FOR CITIZENS' COMMENTS.
UH, WE ASK THAT IF THERE ARE CITIZENS THAT WANT TO SPEAK, IF
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THEY WILL COME GIVE THEIR NAME, UH, THE DISTRICT THAT THEY, UH, RESIDE IN AND THAT THEY WOULD LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR SPEAKING AS ASSISTANT TONIGHT.
UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
UM, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NO FAME
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE, I THINK WE HAVE A, AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA HERE IN SUR COUNTY TO GET THINGS ROLLING AND IT TAKES FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF, UH, LIKE-MINDED TO KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE, UH, FOR THE FUTURE OF SUR COUNTY.
SO PLEASE, UH, I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I KNOW I CAN PROBABLY SPEAK FOR CHAIR, THE BOARD IS BEHIND YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT GOES AROUND IN SUR COUNTY.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO CORRECT IT.
UM, BECAUSE WHAT WE DO, IT, IT IS NOT FOR PERSONAL, UH, GAIN FOR IT'S FOR SURY COUNTY 50 YEARS FROM NOW.
BE IMPACTED BY WHAT WE DO TODAY.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT, UM, I THANK GOD, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS WHO CAME BEFORE US WHO HAD FORESIGHT FOR THINGS LIKE SUR POWER STATION.
YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, IT'S GONNA TAKE THOSE KIND OF INVESTMENTS AND THOSE KIND OF, UH, DEALS, YOU KNOW, TO, UM, INCREASE OUR TAX BASE AND GET THINGS GOING.
NOW, I GOTTA APPRECIATE Y'ALL, I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW ALL THIS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS DON'T, DON'T CONSIDER THAT KIND OF THING.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN GET THOSE KIND OF, UH, INVESTMENTS TO LOWER, UH, TAXES AND ALL KIND OF THINGS IF POSSIBLE, IF WE WORK TOGETHER AS A COUNTY, AS A COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, KEEP EVERYBODY, UH, ON UP AND UP.
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CITIZEN COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR AND, AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
SO EVERYTHING THAT MR. HARDY, UH, SPOKE ON, BUT I DO WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT.
AND THAT IS THE PERSONAGE OF, UH, MS. JOY HENDERSON, WHO'S BACK WITH US TONIGHT.
IT SHOWS HER DEDICATION AND HER LOYALTY TO SURY COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN ILL, BUT GOD HAS BLESSED HER TO COME BACK AND SHE'S COMING BACK STRONGER, I BELIEVE IN BEFORE SHE LEFT.
SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AND HER DEDICATION TO SARAH CAN AND THIS BOARD.
EXCUSE ME, MISS, I CALL HER JOYCE 'CAUSE SHE'S MY COUSIN
UH, WE THANK, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE COMMENTS AND YES, WE, WE ARE ELATED TO HAVE MS. HENDERSON WITH US.
UH, MS. HENDERSON DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB AT WHATEVER SHE DOES, UM, IS VERY DETAILED AND THOROUGH AND, UM, WE, WE WOULD BE LOST AS A BULL WITHOUT HER.
SHE BRINGS A A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE WITH HER AND, UM, JUST DOES A LOT FOR, UH, THE COUNTY AS WELL AS CITIZENS ABROAD.
SO, MS. HENDERSON, WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICES.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CITIZEN COMMENTS AT THE MOMENT, UH, WE WILL ENTERTAIN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND I JUST WANNA ADD THAT MS. HENDERSON DOES GREAT JOB KEEPING ME STRAIGHT AS WELL.
UM, I THINK I WANNA START OUT TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ACTIVELY SEEKING, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, ATTRACTING TECH INVESTMENTS.
YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD SOMETIME BACK ABOUT THE ET DISTRICT EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH WAS A, A REZONING THAT WAS DONE.
UM, ENCOURAGING SMALL BUSINESS, SUPPORTING THEM WITH LOCAL, UH, UH, SUPPORT, LOCAL AMENITIES, PROMOTING, UH, HOUSING RESIDENTIAL GROWTH, AND STRENGTHENING OUR WORKFORCE PIPE PIPELINES.
THEY'RE ALL A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE TO THE PUZZLE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS AN EDA.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU, I SAW FACES, UH, AT THE HOMECOMING WHERE WE SAW THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES THAT WAS VERY EXCITING, VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND LOVING THE COUNTY AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT'S, THAT'S HERE IN THE COUNTY.
A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND WE WANNA KEEP THOSE STRONG AND HEALTHY AS WELL.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME, SOME COMMENTS, UH, THAT HAVE COME OUT IN SOME RECENT REPORTS WITH THE WELDON COOPER CENTER ABOUT DECLINE IN POPULATION AND SO FORTH.
AND WE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS AND, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT IS SAID ABOUT WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE DOING, UM, THE ACTIONS WE TAKE NOW IMPACTS 50 YEARS FROM NOW.
SO THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING PROJECTED NOW THAT MAY NOT BE SO GREAT, WE NEED TO PUT THINGS IN PLACE THAT'S GONNA SUPPORT THE, UM, POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THOSE.
SO THE COUNTY FACES TYPICAL RURAL CHALLENGES, POPULATION, TALENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, PROJECT
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RISK.AND THE COMING ONE TO THREE YEARS IS GONNA BE IMPORTANT IN SEEING WHETHER SOME OF THE KEY PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY TRANSLATE INTO LOCAL ECONOMIC GAINS.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS A CHALLENGE.
UH, SURREY COUNTY FACES INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES THAT AFFECTS POTENTIAL GROWTH, PARTICULARLY IN HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND JUST TO BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, TO NOT BE SO GENERIC SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIMITED WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY, UH, UH, FORTUNATE TO HAVE INVESTMENTS BY THE HAMPTON ROAD SANITATION DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY HAVE, UH, GIVEN US SOME, SOME VERY, UH, NEEDED SEWER, UM, LINE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO MUCH OF THE COUNTY STILL LACKS PUBLIC WATER, UH, DEVELOPMENT DEPENDS HEAVILY ON WELLS AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS, WHICH LIMITS DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY FOR NEW HOUSING.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST SOME OF THE HOUSING COSTS THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE LOT, THE, WELL, THE SEPTIC TANK.
AND THEN OF COURSE, EXTENDING WATER LINES IS ESSENTIAL FOR, TO ATTRACT THE DEVELOPERS AND SUPPORT THE HOUSING NEEDS AND ALSO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING NEEDS.
'CAUSE WE KNOW, UM, I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT THE, THE SOLAR TEAMS NOW ARE TAKING UP A LOT OF THE HOUSING FOR DOMINION.
SO IT'S, IT'S CREATED A, A KIND OF A PROBLEM FOR, FOR THOSE TWO COMPANIES AS WELL.
SO WE ARE IN A CHESAPEAKE BAY PRESERVATION DISTRICT, AND SO THAT PRESENTS SOME CONSTRAINTS ITSELF.
UM, THE DESIGNATION RESTRICTS DEVELOPMENT NEAR WETLANDS STREAMS AND SHORELINES TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY.
THE REGULATIONS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LAND READILY AVAILABLE FOR LARGE SCALE HOUSING OR INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS AS WELL.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, UH, HRSD, UM, THEY ARE IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS OFFERING, UH, REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPT OPTIONS.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY, THEY'RE A GOOD PARTNER.
UH, WE, WE'VE SPOKE WITH, UH, THE FOLKS AND, UM, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO UTILIZE THEIR SERVICES EVEN IN A GREATER CAPACITY AS, AS WE MAY NEED.
THAT'S A VERY GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, CONNECTING HRSD CAN RELIEVE LOCAL CAPACITY LIMITS, PROMOTE NEW HOUSING, AND REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ON AGING SEPTIC SYSTEMS BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT IS A RISK AS SEPTICS ARE GETTING, UH, UH, OLDER AND WITH LEAKS AND SO FORTH TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, HRSD ALSO PRESENTS, UH, STRENGTHENING FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION.
I THINK AS WE LOOK TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR USDA WORLD DEVELOPMENT, UH, HAVING THAT SEWER PIECE IS GONNA HELP OUR APPLICATION AND GIVE US EXTRA POINTS.
SO THAT IS VERY MUCH A POSITIVE, UH, POTENTIAL WATERLINE EXPANSION.
STRATEGIC WATERLINE PROJECTS COULD CONNECT EXISTING TOWNS LIKE SURREY, DENVER, AND CLAREMONT, OR EXTEND SERVICE ALONG MAJOR ROUTES, WHICH WOULD BE ROUTE 10 OR 31.
THESE PROJECTS WOULD ENABLE OUR SUBDIVISIONS AND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, POTENTIAL GROWTH SUPPORT, SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH, AND PROVIDE REDUNDANCY AND RESILIENCE FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE SUPPRESSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ANY INDUSTRY LOOKING AT US.
I KNOW THIS EDAI DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF YOU WERE ON HERE, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE EDA WORKED WITH WITH, UM, UM, I JUST LOST IT.
SURY WEST WINDSOR MILLS WINDOR MILL.
AND SO, AND, AND WE'RE A CAPACITY THERE.
NOW THERE, THERE'S NO EXTRA CAPACITY THERE, BUT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH THERE BECAUSE IF WE HAD A LARGER TANK, THERE MAY BE SOME SHIFTS IN THE EQUIPMENT OR WHATEVER.
'CAUSE WE STILL DO HAVE PROPERTY THERE.
UH, WE, WE COULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM, UH, WATER LINES AND EXPANSION THERE AS WELL.
SO LOOKING AT THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, C-D-B-G-C-D-B-G GRANTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE TIED TO HOUSING IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
UH, RURAL UTILITY SERVICE, OR RUSS, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS MR. WOOD, BUT LOANS AND GRANTS FOR RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS DO EXIST THERE.
UM, BDH DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND, EDA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
NOW WE ARE, WE'RE LIMITED ON THAT BECAUSE MOST OF THE EDA GRANTS ARE GONNA GO TO YOUR PLANNING COMMISSIONS.
BUT BEING A SMALL LOCALITY, OUR PERCENTAGE OF THAT IS USUALLY NOT WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE TO GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
BUT THESE ARE ALL OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE EDA COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WITH SOME COMMITMENTS WITH WORKING WITH OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO AT SOME POINT WHEN WE GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS, AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION, GRANTS HAVE BEEN FROZEN, A LOT OF MONEY'S BEEN FROZEN, INCLUDING LOANS, UH, HAVE BEEN LIMITED AS WELL.
BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
[00:40:01]
IN ADDITION TO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, THERE'S SOME, SOME THINGS OUT HERE THAT WE NEED.AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AS, AS ANYTHING WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THIS ON IN SMALL CHUNKS, YOU KNOW, ONE PARTICULAR FOCUS AREA TO DO AN EXPANSION AND GET SOME WATER LINES IN.
AND IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME.
UM, I THINK THE, THE VISION FOR THIS IS TO PROMOTE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND REALLY SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US WOULD BE TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.
AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WE ARE WORKING ON THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, LOOKING AT DATA UPDATES, FUTURE LAND USE MAPS, UH, ADDING EMPLOYMENT CENTERS AND NOTES TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, THE LONG RANGE OUTLOOK AND WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND, AND WATER LINES ARE, SEEMS TO JUST BE COMING UP AS THE BARRIER TO CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TONIGHT FOR TWO VOLUNTEERS THAT COULD COMMIT SOME TIME TO WORK AND BE JUST A PARTICIPANT IN SOME OF THE MEETINGS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT BECAUSE IT KIND OF LAYS OUT OUR FUTURE.
IT GIVES US A PATH OF WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHERE OUR EMPLOYMENT CENTERS ARE, WHERE OUR DEVELOPMENT AREAS ARE.
UH, ALL OF THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, TAKING CARE OF OUR FARMLAND AND COMMITTING TO, UH, LONG-TERM SECURITY FOR THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, BUT ALSO ESTABLISHING EMPLOYMENT CENTERS AND, AND HOUSING FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR YOUNG FAMILIES THAT WANNA COME BACK.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF MY FRIENDS IN THE COUNTY THAT, HEY, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME BACK HERE.
I HEAR THIS EVERY YEAR FOR ABOUT 90 DAYS AFTER HOMECOMING.
I, I START HEARING THIS AND PEOPLE START LOOKING THROUGH ZILLOW AND REDFIN AND, YOU KNOW, IS ANY MORE HOUSES, ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, COMING UP.
AND, AND, AND REALLY, I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD THING.
THAT'S A GREAT THING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK HERE.
UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION, I WON'T THROW HER UNDER THE BUS AND GIVE HER NAME, BUT IT WAS A, A LOCAL YOUNG LADY THAT LIVES IN ANOTHER STATE NOW.
AND I SPENT SOME TIME WITH HER AND I, I HAD MY CONVERSATION WITH HER ABOUT HOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN, IN, YOU KNOW, 50, 75 YEARS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND SHE SAYS, WELL, HOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA AFFECT THE SCHOOLS? THEY'RE DOING GREAT.
THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB NOW.
I SAID, YEAH, BUT THE COUNTY'S GOTTA HAVE MONEY TO GIVE TO THEM.
SHE SAYS, WHY DOES THE COUNTY GIVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S MONEY? SO HOW PEOPLE OPERATE.
BUT YOU SEE HOW SOME FOLKS DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT, THAT STREAM.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WE HAVE TO EVEN GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE TOO, AND DO A GOOD JOB AT THAT.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE YOUNG, AND SHE TALKED ABOUT COMING BACK.
SHE'S LIVING IN A GREAT AREA RIGHT NOW, BUT SHE, SHE'S TALKING, YOU KNOW, SHE WANTS TO COME HOME AND, AND TO HAVE A HOME TO COME HOME TO FOR HOPEFULLY HER CHILDREN TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE A GOOD JOB HERE.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'VE GOTTA CONSIDER TODAY.
'CAUSE THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
AND WE NEED TO START PLANNING AND MAKING A FUTURE.
AND THAT'S WHY I KIND OF THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS AND PUT THIS COMPREHENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN TOGETHER AND, AND BE, UM, INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT'S GONNA GET DONE.
WHAT YOU MEASURE YOU'RE GONNA ACCOMPLISH.
IF YOU DON'T MEASURE, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF HELPING YOU TO ESTABLISH THOSE METRICS.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT HOUSING DEVELOPERS THAT SEE THE BEAUTY THAT WE SEE THAT WOULD LOVE TO BE HERE.
WE HAVE FAMILIES LOOKING AT THE AREA.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MINIMAL OPPORTUNITIES AS FAR AS THE ABILITY TO EVEN, YOU KNOW, BUY A LOCATION AND, AND BE HERE.
SO I THINK THE WATERLINES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD, WOULD MAKE THINGS A LOT BETTER.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THIS, THIS GIFT HORSE WE HAVE CALLED HAMPTON ROAD SANITARY SEWER.
I MEAN, THAT'S AMAZING THAT WE'VE GOT THAT NOW.
AND SO THE LAST AND FINAL PIECE OF THAT WOULD BE TYING SOME OF THESE SYSTEMS TOGETHER AND EXTENDING SOME SYSTEMS AND THEN DEVELOPING AROUND THOSE CORRIDORS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU HAVE BODIES AND PULSES, YOU WILL HAVE SOME BUSINESS TO COME.
THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW IT WORKS.
ANY QUESTIONS? I THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.
YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT THE ONSET OF THIS REPORT MEETING VOLUNTEERS.
WOULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT
[00:45:01]
YOU THINK THE VOLUNTEERS, HOW, HOW THEIR INVOLVEMENT, WHAT THEIR INVOLVEMENT WOULD BE? WELL, THEY, THEY WOULD BE PEOPLE THAT WOULD ATTEND THESE MEETINGS.AND I, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE DATES OF THE MEETINGS TONIGHT.
AND ACTUALLY YOU WOULD BE WORKING WITH MYSELF AND PLANNING DIRECTOR CE WADE.
UM, I, HORACE AND I COLLABORATE A GOOD BIT BECAUSE WHAT WE DO, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A PIECE OF THIS.
AND TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE LINE, WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S WHY WE TALKED AND WE FIGURED THAT THE EDA SHOULD REALLY BE INVOLVED IN THIS AND MAYBE JUST BE ABLE TO BRING BACK SOME INFORMATION FROM THOSE MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, TO ADD VALUE.
UH, AND, AND YOU MIGHT LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN SAY THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WOULD.
EVEN IN YOUR COMMENTS, YOU UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT.
YOU UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO PROTECT THE FARMLAND.
YOU UNDERSTAND A LOT ABOUT THE COUNTY JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE EDA.
THAT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN SAY A, A CITIZEN OR EVEN, UM, A ANOTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION MAY HAVE.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST TO HAVE A GOOD, WELL-ROUNDED PROCESS TO GETTING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATED.
I THINK THIS WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE, BUT IT WOULD BE, UM, POTENTIALLY A COUPLE OF MEETINGS A MONTH.
I'LL VOLUNTEER TO WORK WITH IT.
AND IF PER CHANCE I FIND THAT THE SCHEDULE IS MORE RIGOROUS, RIGOROUS THAN I CAN TO TOLERATE, UH, I'LL LET YOU KNOW IMMEDIATELY.
BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE IT A SHOT OF VOLUNTEERING FOR THE GROUP.
THAT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME, BUT THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU MS. HENDERSON AND MR. GODFREY FOR, UH, BEING WILLING TO VOLUNTEER TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE MEETINGS.
ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.
UM, I WILL START, UH, FROM MY LEFT, MR. GAREY.
UM, I DON'T REALLY HAVE, UH, TOO MUCH TO SAY.
I AM LOOKING, UM, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING SOME OF THESE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, MEETINGS.
UM, JUST, UH, LIKE, UM, MS. CHAPLIN SAID, I, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE, UH, INVOLVED IN THAT.
LIKE, KIND OF LIKE LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND, EVEN AS JUST LIKE WE EVOLVED WITH THE, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISOR.
I DO THINK, UM, THAT'S VERY CRYSTAL, I'M SORRY, NOT CRITICAL, UH, FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE COUNTY.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, JUST, UH, AS ALWAYS, JUST THANK, UH, JUST WANNA THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR Y'ALL, UM, YOU ALL'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT, UM, TO, UH, MOVING THE COUNTY FORWARD AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO AND SACRIFICE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE, UM, OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT, SUPPORTING US, UM, OUR STAFF FOR THE EDA, UM, BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MS. PIERCE, UM, IN HER POSITION AS SECRETARY FOR THE E ED.
AND, UM, AS MS, UM, RENEE SAID EARLIER, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON, LOOK, LOOK THE UNDERLINE FOR, FOR THE FUTURE OF SIRI.
UM, 'CAUSE WE TRULY DO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING WITH IT, PRESERVING IT, BUT ALSO HAVING IT GROW AT THE SAME TIME.
WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY DITTO ON WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.
UM, AND AGAIN, I THINK EVERYONE HERE ON THE BOARD, I THANK MRS. PIERCE FOR ALL THAT SHE'S DONE FOR US AND WE WELCOME YOU.
ALSO, MS. PERKINS, MS. CHAPLIN.
THANK YOU MR. HARDY, MR. ELLIOT FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
AND I WANTED TO ALSO BRING BACK UP AND I KNOW THAT, UM, MR. HOWELL FELT THE SAME THAT THAT WORK SESSION WE HAD WAS VERY, VERY POSITIVE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE LEFT THERE I THINK ALL FEELING REALLY HOPEFUL, UM, VERY POSITIVE ABOUT A DIRECT, THE DIRECTION WE COULD GO IN.
I THINK UNTIL I REALLY LOOKED AT THE MINUTES FROM THAT MEETING, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WE REALLY DID DISCUSS THAT NIGHT AND HOW MUCH WE COVERED AND HOW, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY JUST PUT IT ALL ON THE TABLE OF WE, DR.
SO I JUST AGAIN, LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY CAN HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY
[00:50:01]
TO THINK TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER COOPERATIVELY TO MOVE FORWARD.MR. BLUNT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE THAT'S HERE THAT, UH, SUPPORT, UH, S COUNTY.
UH, LIKE I SAID, SARA COUNTY'S SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE AND IT'S BEEN MY GOAL FOR SOME TIME AND STILL IS, UH, TO MOVE SE FORWARD THAT OUR PEOPLE WILL ENJOY.
AND, UH, WHAT WE HAVE AND TRY TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE LIKE, UH, HAS BEEN STATED EARLIER.
UH, SOMETIME YOU TALK TO INDIVIDUALS AND THEY, UH, REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TALK ABOUT, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
AND, UH, YOU GET A, A CONVERSATION WITH 'EM AND THEN ON THE SECOND HAND, SOME OF 'EM REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW MM-HMM
SO WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT WHAT'S GOING ON AND REALLY, REALLY, UH, ECHO THE GOOD AND POSITIVE THINGS IS GOING ON HERE IN S COUNTY.
I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I'D LIKE, OH, OH, IT'S ON THIS TIME.
I'D LIKE TO DO A DITTO ON MS. MONAHANS.
I THINK SHE CALLED THE WATERFRONT.
THE ONLY THING I, IN OTHER WORDS THAT THE THANK YOUS THAT SHE MENTIONED IS, IS EXACTLY THE ONES I WOULD SPEAK ON.
BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, USE THE DITTO APPROACH.
AND THAT IS MY PERSONAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR ACCOLADES AND BEING SO SUPPORTIVE, BEING SO COOPERATIVE.
ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND OUT IF YOU CAN ALWAYS OFFERING HELP ANY FORM OR FASHION.
AND THAT'S THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE DOING IT.
THE BOARD OF VISIT, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THAT'S MY UNIVERSITY DAYS.
THE BOARD OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE DONE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND OF COURSE THE STAFF, THE EDA STAFF AND UH, I HOPE WE DON'T WORK YOU TOO HARD, MR. PIERCE.
ANYTIME YOU HAVE ON ONE HAND GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIKE THE DATA CENTER, LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE WINE, ALL THOSE THINGS.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT THE KIND OF BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO COME IN.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE STARING IN THE FACE IN.
I WOULD SAY IN SIMPLE TERMS THEY HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT, BUT IT CAN BE DONE.
A GROUP OF PEOPLE WILLING TO DO IT, WILLING TO PUT IN THE, THE TIME WE CAN DO IT AND I BELIEVE WE WILL.
SO I'M, I'M HIGH OFF OF OUR PROSPECTS OF WHERE WE CAN GO WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN HAND RIGHT NOW.
JUST WHAT WE HAVE IN HAND RIGHT NOW.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THAT.
ALRIGHT, WELL GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT.
UH, MS. CHAPLIN, MS. PERKINS, MS. PIERCE, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US.
UM, I WAS ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WAS AWAY AND WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME AND NOW START MY FAMILY HERE.
AND UH, I HAD TO JUST SAY IT'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, NO PLACE LIKE SUR COUNTY.
SO I'M JUST UH, VERY HAPPY AND THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF LOOKING TO GROW SUR AND MOVE SIR IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, JUST, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NOVEMBER 10TH MEETING.
UM, JUST LIKE I SAID, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IDEAS OUT THERE AND LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN BRING 'EM TO REALITY.
SO JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY, SO THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. HOWELL.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY, UH, DIRECTOR THAT'S HERE TONIGHT FOR, UH, THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS THAT THEY PUT FORTH IN TAKING CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY.
UH, ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.
UH, YOU ALL'S ATTENDANCE AND SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UM, AND THE STAFF THAT WE WORK WITH, UH, NOT ONLY FOR MEETINGS BUT A LOT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES, UM, COMMUNICATION, UM, KEEPING EACH OTHER ABREAST OF THINGS THAT ARE, ARE COMING THROUGH THE EDA, UH, MS. CHAPLIN, MS. PERKINS, UH, DEFINITELY THANK YOU, UH, AGAIN, MS. PIERCE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE MA'AM, UH, APPRECIATE Y YOU AND, UH, ALL THAT YOU DO.
UH, NOT ONLY FOR THE EDA BUT FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN ALL THE THINGS ALONG THE COUNTY, UH, LINE AS WELL.
[00:55:01]
UM, I, MYSELF, LIKE MR. HOWELL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AWAY, UM, FOR THE BETTER PART OF 17 YEARS.UM, I SAY AWAY, YES, I RESIDED IN OTHER LOCATIONS, BUT I COULD COUNT ON PROBABLY BOTH HANDS OUT OF THOSE 17 YEARS HOW MANY TIMES AND WEEKENDS THAT I DID NOT COME BACK TO SARAT COUNTY.
UM, I COULD TELL YOU JUST ABOUT EVERY EXIT FROM NINE FIVE FROM THE WASHINGTON DC QUARTER TO ROUTE 10, UH, BY HAND, BY MEMORY.
UM, BECAUSE I HAVE TRAVELED THAT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, AND AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP FOR ME TO COME BACK HOME.
UM, IT WAS DURING THE COVID SITUATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I SAW SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT, KINDA KEPT IT QUIET AND LO AND BEHOLD WE HAD TO PACK OUR OFFICES BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WE WEREN'T GONNA BE TRANSITIONING TO A WORK FROM HOME SITUATION.
UM, THE ONLY PERSON THAT KNEW WAS MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR.
MY STAFF DID NOT KNOW THAT I WAS PACKING MY OFFICE FOR ANOTHER REASON.
I WAITED UNTIL THE LAST TWO DAYS BEFORE I WAS TO REPORT BACK TO CORTLAND, VIRGINIA TO TELL MY STAFF THAT YES, I'M PACKING MY OFFICE FOR ANOTHER REASON.
UM, AND THAT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HOME.
UM, IT'S NO SECRET OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, SO ALL THE, ALL THE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY WERE AGING AND NOT ONLY WAS I ABLE TO RETURN BUT ALSO HAD A, A BROTHER THAT WAS ABLE TO RETURN AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THERE ARE FOLKS AND YOUNG FOLKS THAT HAVE ROOTS IN SURRY COUNTY THAT LOOK TO RETURN.
SO I KNOW WE HEAR A LOT OF TIMES THAT THERE'S NOTHING HERE IN SURRY AND NOTHING TO COME BACK HOME TO, I BEG TO DIFFER THAT THERE IS SOMETHING TO COME HOME TO.
THERE IS A LOT OF GOING, THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING ON HERE IN SURRY COUNTY.
IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE AND BE WILLING TO PUT YOUR HAND TO THE PLOW TO MAKE THINGS COME TO FRUITION.
LIKE MS. HENDERSON WAS SAYING.
DO WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES THAT RURAL AREAS HAVE? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT WE ARE NOT IN THOSE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS BY OURSELVES AND WE CAN LOOK TO OTHER NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AND THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO MAKE PROJECTS WORK.
UM, NOT SAYING THAT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO WILL MAKE MAKE IT WORK, SARA, BUT YOU CAN GET SOME IDEAS OF HOW TO DO SOME THINGS TO GET SOME DEVELOPMENT AND KEEP YOUR, YOUR AGRICULTURAL AND YOUR RURAL ASPECT INTACT.
SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS SPRAWLING METROPOLIS THAT EVERYONE, I SAY EVERYONE THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU'RE JUST GONNA LOSE EVERYTHING THAT'S RURAL ABOUT THE COUNTY.
UH, IT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPED RESPONSIBLY.
UM, AND I THINK LIKE MS. HENDERSON SAID, WITH, WITH THE THINGS THAT WE ARE BEING PRESENTED WITH AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
SO WE JUST NEED TO KEEP THAT MINDSET THAT, UM, TO WORK TOGETHER, UH, TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR STAFF AND COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, UH, TO THE RESIDENTS OF SUR COUNTY.
LIKE MR. HARDY SAID, IT'S NOT FOR OUR FAME OR FORTUNE, IT'S FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SUR COUNTY.
SO, AND I THINK IF WE KEEP THAT TO THE FOREFRONT, UH, S COUNTY WOULD BE BETTER OFF, UH, FOR ALL OF US.
SO I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND PARTICIPATION TONIGHT.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY DIRECTORS? IF NOT, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, GO TO ADJOURNMENT AT 7:06 PM THANK YOU ALL.
WHAT IS THIS? OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER SHOULD BE WHAT? JANUARY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WORK SESSION AND THAT WILL BE A PUBLIC MEETING.
SO NOVEMBER THE 10TH WOULD BE THE NEXT MEETING? YES SIR.
SO NOVEMBER THE 10TH AT 5:00 PM ALRIGHT.
ALRIGHT, DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? DO WE HAVE MOTION? DO WE, DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? YEAH.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AT SE? IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 7 0 7? MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT
[01:00:01]
WE ADJOURN.AND SECOND THAT WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 7 0 7.
MR. HENDERSON? AYE MR. BLUNT? AYE.