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GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption]
THE HOUR HAS ARRIVED FOR US TO COMMENCE OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED DECEMBER MEETING OF THE YEAR 2025.THIS IS AN EXCITING MEETING ALWAYS FOR THE BOARD BECAUSE WE COME INTO THE CLOSE OF OUR CALENDAR YEAR AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE AND BE THANKFUL FOR ON ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE THIS YEAR.
AND WE ARE SO BLESSED AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT OUR REVEREND CHARLES CYPRESS, UH, NATIVE BORN OF SRA COUNTY TO COME AND LEAD US IN OUR VOCATIONAL PRAYER.
REVEREND CYPRESS, PASTOR CHARLES CYPRESS WAKEFIELD CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTER CHAIRMAN, DR.
ELLIOT, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MRS. ROLLINS, FELLOW CITIZENS.
BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS OF CHRIST, WHO HAVE BLESSED US WITH SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES.
FATHER AND I, GOD, WE BLESS YOUR NAME TONIGHT FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR HEALTH, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR STRENGTH.
YOUR WORD HAVE TO CLA FIRST OF ALL, THE SUPPLICATIONS AND PRAYERS, AND GIVEN THE THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, FOR KINGS, FOR LEADERS OF OUR NATION AND ALL THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY.
SO THIS EVENING, WE THANK THEE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY, THOSE WHO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP.
AND THOSE ESPECIALLY TONIGHT FOR OUR GOVERNING BOARD, THE SURRY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
GOD, WE THANK THEE FOR OUR LEADERS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR LEADERS WITH WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABOVE ALL, GIVE THEM UNDERSTANDING AS THEY ASSESS THE NEEDS OF OUR SURY COUNTY.
WE PRAY THAT IT CONTINUE TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR RIGHTEOUS EXHAUSTION, NATION.
AND SIN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS A REPROACH AGAINST ALL PEOPLE.
OUR COUNTY HAS BEEN EXALTED THROUGH RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS AND DECISIONS, AND WE ARE THE BETTER BECAUSE OF IT.
GOD, IF YOU WILL TONIGHT, CONTINUE TO LEAD THEM, GUIDE THEM, AND GIVE THEM UNITY OF THE SPIRIT ONENESS.
FOR WHERE THERE IS UNITY, THERE IS STRENGTH.
THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, WE PRAY, THANK GOD.
WE NOW CALL OUR MEETING OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR THE BUSINESS OF SURY COUNTY.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
LET US STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SEEK MY LIFE BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND RE WE STAND ONE NATION, GOD, INDIVIDUAL JUSTICE FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE AGENDA FOR OUR MEETING ON TONIGHT.
UH, IF THERE BE NO QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF SUCH AGENDA.
LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE.
[Additional Item]
SOME VERY IMPRESSIVE AND IMPORTANT PEOPLE WITH US TONIGHT THAT WE WANT TO CELEBRATE.BUT BEFORE WE GO TO THE CONSENT ITEMS, WE HAVE, UH, A HISTORY MAKING YOUNG MAN IN OUR MISS THAT IS OFFICIALLY SERVING ON HIS FIRST BOARD MEETING TONIGHT WITH, UH, THE S COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HISTORY BEING THE FACT THAT HE IS THE YOUNGEST EVER APPOINTED ELECTED BOARD MEMBER IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND THE PERSONAGE OF MR. CAMERON DREW AND MR. DREW, I, AND I WON'T SAY HIS OPPONENT BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ELECTION, MR. DREW AND MR. BELL RAN ONE OF THE MOST CIVIL ELECTIONS I HAVE EVER WITNESSED IN ANY POLITICAL ARENA, AND WE WANT TO COMMEND THEM BOTH.
BUT IT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME, UH, MR. DREW TO, UH, THE SARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON TONIGHT.
AND I'M GOING TO DO SO I'M GONNA ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS TO FOLLOW ME AS I DO SO.
WE ARE GONNA PRESENT HIM WITH HIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PEN AND HIS OFFICIAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MANUAL SO HE WILL KNOW WHAT WE CAN AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
SO I'M GOING TO COME NOW AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA DO HIM MILITARY STYLE.
I'M NOT GONNA PUT IT ON HIM AND, AND HIT HIM HARD.
I'M GONNA JUST PUT IT IN HIS HAND AND TO WELCOME HIM TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ASK
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THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO FOLLOW ME AS WE GIVE HIM A HANDSHAKE OF FELLOWSHIP AND WELCOME HIM TO S COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.I KNOW HE IS GOING TO WEAR THIS PEN WITH PRIDE BECAUSE EVERYWHERE WE GO, WE REPRESENT SY COUNTY.
YOU, YOU GONNA, MR WAS IN THE WELCOME ABOARD MR. DREW.
[Consent Items]
ON OUR AGENDA ARE TWO ITEMS IN OUR CONSENT ITEMS IS A RESOLUTION HONORING MRS. JOYCE HENDERSON FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND A RESOLUTION, UH, HONORING MS. RUBY E PRICE.UH, COULD WE GET A MOTION ON OUR CONSENT ITEMS TO ACCEPT CHAIR MR. HARDY? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO BE ACCEPT CONSENT ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTE AND SOUND OF AYE.
OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED.
THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS LOVE TO DO, AND THAT IS TO HONOR AND TO RECOGNIZE, UH, DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY.
IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT TWO RESOLUTIONS, AND I KNOW THE BOARD IS GOING TO JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING THESE INDIVIDUALS.
AND THE FIRST BEING THE RESOLUTION HONORING MRS. JOYCE HENDERSON.
I'M GONNA COME TO HER AND I'M GONNA READ THE RESOLUTION AS I GET TO HER TO DO THAT.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION HONORING JOYCE HENDERSON, UH, FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE SURY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
WHEREAS THE SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE SURY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SEEK TO HONOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE MEANINGFULLY ADVANCED THE MISSION AND VISION OF S COUNTY AND WHERE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VALUE LEADERSHIP DETECT STRATEGIC INSIGHT AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ACROSS SECTORS ESSENTIAL TO THE COUNTY'S GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
AND WHEREAS MS. HENDERSON'S BEING A DISTINGUISHED BACKGROUND IN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT WITH SPECIFIED EXPERTISE AND PROCESSES AND PRODUCE DEVELOPMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL STARTUPS AND TURNAROUNDS, CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT, UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING.
AND WHEREAS MS. HENDERSON FAITHFULLY SERVED ON THE SURY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR SIX YEARS, DEMONSTRATING TIRELESS DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO BETTERMENT OF HER COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS DURING HER TENURE, MS. HENDERSON ASSUMED THE VITAL ROLE OF TREASURER OF THE EDA, EXECUTING HER RESPONSIBILITIES WITH INTEGRITY, DILIGENCE, AND RE RESPONSIVENESS
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TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS.AND WHEREAS DESPITE PERSONAL CHALLENGES, MS. HENDERSON REMAINS RESOLUTE IN HER SERVICE, EXEMPLIFYING COURAGE, RESILIENCE, AND A DEEP LOVE FOR SURY COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS HER LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVANCING THE INITIATIVE TO BRING THE GROCERY STORE TO SURY COUNTY, AN EFFORT OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC VAL VALIDITY OF ITS RESIDENCE, AND WHERE IT IS KNOWN FOR HER MODEST STATUTE.
AND DOWN THIS HEART, MS. HENDERSON HAS EMBODIED THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE, PROVING HERSELF TO BE A DO AND A SHAKER AND A LIFETIME RESIDENT, DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE COUNTY'S FUTURE.
AND WHEREAS HER SELFLESS SERVICE AND ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS MERIT THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE FOR HER COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF SURY COUNTY, HEAR BACK, EXTEND THE DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO MS. JULES HENDERSON FOR HER EXEMPLARY, EXEMPLARY DEDICATION, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE TO THE SURY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND TO THE PEOPLE OF SURY COUNTY.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE RECOGNITION OF HER EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS, MS. HENDERSON, IS HEREBY PRESENTED WITH A KEY TO SY COUNTY AS A LIFETIME SYMBOL OF THE COUNTY'S EX EXTREME GRATITUDE.
AND IN DUE AND RESPECT, ADOPTED ON THE FOURTH DAY OF OCTOBER BY THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND SIGNED BY YOURS TRULY AND ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, MR. CALHOUN AT THE TIME, MR. KENNETH BELL, UH, OUR KEN ADMINISTRATOR, MS. ROLLINS SUPERVISOR, UH, BRIANON PIERCE AND SUPERVISOR HARDY, AND MR. MYRON WOODEN, THE CHAIR OF SRE COUNTY EDA.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT KEY GONNA GET YOU, BUT YOU GOTTA GO
I THINK WE NEED TO STAND AND GIVE MS. HENDERSON A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HER DEDICATION TO, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH HER ON SOME PROJECTS.
AND WHEN MS. HENDERSON SPEAKS, EVERYBODY LISTENS, RIGHT? OH YEAH.
OH, I GOT, I'M ALL FLABBERGASTED HERE.
YOU LOST THE WORDS YOU CAN'T BELIEVE AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW SOME, SOMETIMES IT'S CER CERTAIN PEOPLE YOU DON'T CLAIM, BUT I, I'LL CLEAN HER.
YOU, YOU CLEAN? I CLEANED THIS ONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. HENDERSON.
I'LL JUST SAY REAL QUICK, THE, THIS IS QUITE A SURPRISE.
YOU GOT THE BIOS MIXED UP OR SOMETHING.
BUT ANYWAY, SOME OF THOSE THINGS DID RESONATE WITH ME.
BUT ANYWAY, WE, I AM SO DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD, AND I THINK ALL OF YOU WHO HELPED TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, WE DO HAVE A GREAT COUNTY.
AND I JUST HOPE I CAN CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF MAKING US GREATER.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE A LINE FROM OUR SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR OF THIS COUNTRY TO SAY, MAKING SOMETHING GREATER, BUT IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO MAKE SUR COUNTY GREATER.
AND I NEED ALL YOUR HELP AS WE TRY TO DO.
A LOT OF NAMES COULD GO ON THIS ALONG WITH MINE.
I, I GOT, WE GET THINGS DONE BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE ALSO SUPPORTIVE AND WILLING TO GET THEM DONE.
AND I LOVE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY IN A VOLUNTEER ROLE.
AND I KNOW YOU GOT BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF.
IT'S A DELIGHT TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
MY HUSBAND ALWAYS SAID, I'LL MAKE SURE THEY JUST SAID, BE HERE.
THEY DIDN'T, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP, BUT I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS SO MUCH AND GETTING THE KEY.
I I'M JUST OVERWHELMED WITH JOY AND MY HEART JUST GOES OUT TO EVERYBODY AND WISH EVERYBODY JUST A FANTASTIC UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS.
STAND AND GIVE OUR HONOREES AND LOVE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF THE THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE HAVE RECOGNITION TO A YOUNG LADY THAT IS HARD TO LEAD HER LIFE
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WHEN YOU LOOK AT HER AND THERE'S NOWHERE IN THE WORLD YOU WOULD THINK THAT THIS YOUNG LADY IS A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.BUT IT IS MY PLEASURE ON BEHALF OF COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION TONIGHT TO MRS. RUBY E.
THEN I PRESENTED TO HER AND HER FAMILY.
WHEREAS MRS. RUBY PRICE IS A LIFE LONG RESIDENCE OF SURY COUNTY, BORN IN DENVER, VIRGINIA, TO THE LAKE JOSEPH, AND HAS REACHED A REMARKABLE MILESTONE OF 100 YEARS ON NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025, A CENTURY FILLED WITH WISDOM, GRACE, AND COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS RUBY E PRICE WAS MARRIED TO THE LATE RUFFIN W.
PRICE SENIOR FOR 79 YEARS AND OUT MADE THEIR LIVELIHOOD ON THE LAND SERVING COUNTY AS FARMERS.
SHE'S A MOTHER OF 10, GRANDMOTHER OF 25, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF 40 AND GREAT GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF THREE.
AND WHEREAS MRS. RUBY IS A DEVOTE MEMBER OF ST.
PAUL'S HOLINESS CHURCH IN DENVER, WHERE HER FATHER, JOSEPH JENKINS, WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS SERVING AS A BIG SINCE 1955, TREASURER OF THE MISSIONARY CIRCLE FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND SERVED AS A MEMBER OF A SENIOR PARTY.
WHEREAS MRS. RUBY E PRICE WAS EMPLOYED BY S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR FIVE YEARS.
WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HER LIFE, RUBY E CHRIST HAS EXEMPLIFIED STRENGTH, KINDNESS, AND PERSEVERANCE, SERVING AS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL WHO KNOW HER.
AND HER LIFE STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE VALUES OF HARD WORK, COMPASSION, AND DEDICATION AND ENRICHING THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND HER.
AND WHEREAS HER CENTURY OF LIFE REFLECTS A LIVING HISTORY OF CHANGE, PROGRESS, AND ENDURING LOVE, WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COUNTY, WHICH TO RECOGNIZE THIS EXTRAORDINARY MILESTONE AND MRS. RUBY PRICE'S LIFE AND THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS SHE HAVE MADE TO MAKING SURY COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL CITIZENS.
NOW, THROUGHOUT, EXCUSE ME, NOW THEREFORE BEING RESOLVED, THAT THE SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXTEND HEART DEATH, CONGRATULATIONS AND GRATITUDE TO RUBY E.
MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO SURY COUNTY'S COMMUNITY.
HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS.
REMIND US ALL OF THE VALUE OF COMPASSION, WISDOM, AND RESILIENCE HAPPENED 100TH BIRTHDAY.
RUBY PRICE MAY REFUSED JOY, HEALTH AND LOVE FOR ALL THOSE WHO CHERISH YOU, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS REVOLUTION BE DELIVERED FORWARD TO.
AND THAT THE COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION IS SPREAD UPON THE RECORDS OF COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR SIGNED BY OUR ADMINISTRATOR.
COME, COME ON, GET ALL THE PICTURES THAT YOU WANT.
DON'T LOOK A HUNDRED WE, I WANT KNOW WHAT A HUNDRED YEARS SOUND LIKE.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THIS, THIS TONIGHT.
AND I WANT TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY BECAUSE HE HAVE BLESSED ME MANY YEARS AND I THANK EACH AND EVERYONE THAT CAME TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
I I'M THINKING WHEN I GET A LITTLE OLDER, I MIGHT MOVE ON.
SO I MIGHT MOVE LEVEL ROW WHEN I GET AROUND.
COULD WE HAVE ALL FAMILY MEMBERS TO STAND IF WE HONOR TONIGHT? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND WE'RE SO GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR YOUR LOVED ONE IN SUCH A WAY ON TONIGHT.
[00:20:03]
ALRIGHT, NEXT[Public Comments]
ON OUR AGENDA WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND WE HAVE TWO FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON TONIGHT.UH, WE HAVE FIRST, UH, MR. ROBERT CHANDLER, IF YOU WOULD COME AND, UH, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR DISTRICT.
THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE MEETING ON TONIGHT.
ROBERT CHANDLER BACON'S CASTLE DISTRICT.
I CAME TO SPEAK ON A SUBJECT, HOWEVER, I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT PART OF MY DISCUSSION IS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA.
LATER IN THE MEETING ON MONDAY, I PAID MY TAXES.
I ALSO ASKED FOR A COPY OF WHAT I PAID IN 2020.
AS A RESULT OF A COMPARISON, I PAID 27.1% MORE THIS YEAR THAN I DID IN 2020.
I'M 79 YEARS OLD GOING ON 80, AND SO I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME.
AND THAT'S NOT A HEALTHY RATE OF INCREASE FOR US WHO ARE LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES.
I THEN COMPARED THAT TO THE DEVALUATION OF THE DOLLAR OVER THE SAME TIMEFRAME, EXCUSE ME, SORRY.
THE DOLLAR DEVALUED 25% FROM 1920.
FROM 2020 TO 2025, YOU PUT THE DEVALUATION OF THE DOLLAR TOGETHER WITH THE INCREASE.
THAT MEANS I PAID IN EXCESS OF 57% EFFECTIVE DOLLAR VALUE IN FIVE YEARS.
WHEN IS SURY GONNA START CONSIDERING GIVING A RATE REDUCTION? THIS MORNING ON THE NEWS HAMPTON ANNOUNCED THAT FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, THEY'RE GIVING A RATE REDUCTION TO HELP THEIR CITIZENS.
WHEN IS SURY GONNA START THINKING LIKE THAT? THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, SUSAN COVELO.
SUSAN CARVELLO CLAREMONT DISTRICT.
FIRST I WANNA SAY I THINK THE NEW CROSSWALKS AT THE SCHOOLS ARE FANTASTIC.
THEY TURNED OUT BEAUTIFULLY AND I'M SURE THAT THE STUDENTS AND FACULTIES ARE GONNA APPRECIATE 'EM.
UM, THE CHRISTMAS TREE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND STUNNING, AND I'M ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE ILLUMINATIONS GONNA BE A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUED REDUCTION IN FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY WITHIN THE COUNTY.
MONTHLY AP REPORTS ARE NO LONGER BEING PROVIDED, THE LAST ONE BEING PRESENTED BACK IN JUNE AND THE LGIP INVESTMENT REPORT HAS NOT BEEN SHARED SINCE JANUARY.
UM, THESE WERE LONGSTANDING TRANSPARENCY PRACTICES THAT ALLOWED BOTH THE BOARD AND THE CITIZENS TO SEE HOW PUBLIC FUNDS WERE BEING MANAGED AND TIMELY.
MONTHLY BANK RECONCILIATIONS HAVE NOW BEEN FLAGGED FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY'S LOST ITS FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT PAYROLL EMPLOYEE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE COUNTY STILL RETAINS THE SAME FINANCIAL CONTRACTOR WHO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLED THE AP REPORT'S RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR BACK AS 2021.
GIVEN THAT THESE TRANSPARENCY REPORTS WERE PRODUCED EVEN UNDER LIMITED STAFFING IN THE PAST, IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'VE NOW STOPPED.
YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN STATES THAT THE COUNTY WILL BALANCE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES WITH FISCAL INTEGRITY WHEN DETAILED SPENDING AND INVESTMENT INFORMATION IS NO LONGER MADE PUBLIC.
AND WHEN TIMELY RECONCILIATIONS ARE NOT CONFIRMED, IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE FOR CITIZENS AND EVEN THIS BOARD TO VERIFY FISCAL INTEGRITY IN REAL TIME.
A QUARTERLY SUMMARY DOES NOT REPLACE THE DETAIL AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT MONTHLY REPORTS PROVIDE.
YOUR STRATEGY ALSO COMMITS TO THE COUNTY TO KEEP CITIZENS INFORMED, ENCOURAGE OPENNESS AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT,
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REDUCING TRANSPARENCY AND PROVIDING NO EXPLANATION DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY.CITIZENS CANNOT PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY, NOR CAN THEY TRUST THE FINANCIAL PROCESS WHEN ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL REPORTS DISAPPEAR.
RIGHT NOW, CITIZENS HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER MONTHLY BANK STATEMENTS ARE BEING RECONCILED AT ALL BECAUSE THERE'S NO REPORTING, NO UPDATES, NO DOCUMENTATION BEING SHARED PUBLICLY.
THE ABSENCE OF INFORMATION FORCES THE PUBLIC TO ASSUME THAT CRITICAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS MAY NOT BE OCCURRING.
FOR THESE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY BUT STRONGLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD RESTORE THE MONTHLY AP REPORTS, RESUME THE LGIP REPORT AND PROVIDE CONFIRMATION THAT BANK RECONCILIATIONS ARE BEING COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE.
RESTORING THESE PRACTICES WOULD DEMONSTRATE A TRUE COMMITMENT TO FISCAL INTEGRITY, OPENNESS, AND THE STRATEGIC VALUES.
THE COUNTY ITSELF HAS SET THREE MINUTES.
IT'S ALSO GONNA CAUSE MORE FOIAS FOR PEOPLE FOING THE AP REPORT.
[Presentations]
ON OUR AGENDA PRESENTATIONS.FIRST PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM CREATE CRATER DISTRICT AREA AGING AGENCY ON AGING FROM CRATER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, CHAIRMAN ELLIOT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND ALL ASSEMBLED.
UM, WE DO HAVE A REPORT, UM, THIS EVENING FROM THE CRATER DISTRICT AREA AGENCY ON AGING.
AND I WILL JUST INTRODUCE THE TWO, UM, YOUNG LADIES WHO ARE STANDING BEFORE YOU.
UH, WE DO HAVE WITH US THIS EVENING, MS. UH, SO ISHA HILL, SHE IS THE NUTRITION AND WELLNESS, UH, SPECIALIST WITH THE AGENCY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE MS. RENATA SNICK, WHO IS THE CEO.
SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, UH, SOME INFORMATION ON THE, UH, SERVICES TO OUR SENIOR.
OKAY, GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND CHAIR.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, UH, INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND ALSO PROVIDE UPDATES ON PROGRAMS, EXISTING PROGRAMS AND NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN OPENED.
WHERE'S THE NEXT ONE? SO, UM, IN, UH, FISCAL YEAR LAST YEAR, 2025, UH, WE PROVIDED OVER 2300, UM, UH, I'M SORRY, THERE ARE, I'M SORRY,
UM, THERE ARE MORE THAN, UM, UM, 2300, UH, RESIDENTS IN SURY COUNTY, UM, AGE 60 AND OVER, REPRESENTING 5.6% OF OLDER ADULTS, UH, IN THE CREATOR SERVICE AREA.
UM, THERE ARE ALSO 224 OLDER ADULTS LIVING BELOW POVERTY.
UH, WE PROVIDED LAST YEAR IN-HOME SERVICES, UM, UM, MORE THAN 250 HOURS, UM, UH, ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT 30 13% OF ALL HOMEMAKER, UM, HOURS.
REGIONWIDE, WE PROVIDED ALSO, UM, 37 HOURS OF LEGAL AID REPRESENTING, UH, 5.3% OF OUR TOTAL REGIONAL LEGAL SUPPORT.
WHAT ABOUT THE, UM, THE MEALS? I THINK I HAVE THE
UM, WE HAVE EX THE EXISTING PROGRAMS, UM, THAT ARE, UH, WE HAVE IS CASE MANAGEMENT, UH, SENIOR MEDICAL PATROL, UH, VIRGINIA INSURANCE COUNSELING, UH, IS THE MEDICARE, UH, NAVIGATOR, UM, EMERGENCY SERVICES.
UM, THESE SERVICES, UM, WE USE WHEN AN OLDER ADULT, UH, IS IN NEED OF, UM, YOU KNOW, PAYING BILLS, UM, EMERGENCY BILLS LIKE WATER, UM, HE OR OTHER SER, OTHER, OTHER BILLS.
UM, OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IS NOT A WELL KNOWN PROGRAM.
[00:30:01]
UM, IT'S BASICALLY, UH, AN ADVOCATE SERVICES, UH, FOR LONG-TERM FACILITIES.UM, CAREGIVER, UH, SUPPORT GROUP CARE COORDINATION, WHICH IS A VERY NEW PROGRAM, AND IT'S A ACTUALLY, UM, VERY BUSY CARE COORDINATION, UH, COORDINATES, UM, SERVICES FOR A CLIENT WHO IS ELIGIBLE AND INCLUDES, UH, HOME REPAIRS, UM, UH, AND ALSO, UM, HOME REPAIRS AND, UM, BUILDING SUCH AS RAMS, UM, YOU KNOW, BUILD, UH, UM, CORRECTING FLOORING AND OTHER REPAIRS.
CHORE IS A SMALL PROGRAM, WHICH IS NEW TO OUR AGENCY AS WELL.
UM, IT PROVIDES, UM, MAINTENANCE, UM, UH, ON THE HOUSE IF THE, UM, OLDER ADULT IS NOT, UM, ABLE TO, UM, DO THEMSELF.
RESPITE PROGRAM IS A NEW PROGRAM.
IT PROVIDES, UM, RESPITE SERVICE FOR CAREGIVERS.
COOL CARE IS A, UM, UM, SUMMER PROGRAM, WHICH IS, WE PROVIDE, UM, UM, AC UNITS FOR THE CLIENTS, UM, VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
WE ARE LOOKING, UM, UH, WE DO HAVE VOLUNTEERS.
WE ARE, UH, LOOKING INTO EXPANDING, UH, FOR OUR DRIVER, UH, TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM AND ALSO OTHER PROGRAMS AND THE OTHER, UH, PROGRAMS, UH, THAT ACTUALLY ISHA CAN TALK ABOUT.
SO WE ALSO OFFER, UM, SEVERAL OTHER NUTRITION PROGRAMS. UH, SO WE HAVE OUR HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAM, WHICH MANY PEOPLE KNOW OF AS MEALS ON WHEELS.
UM, AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT PROGRAM IS FOR SENIORS, THOSE WHO ARE 60 YEARS OLD AND OLDER, UM, WHO AREN'T ABLE TO GET OUT AND GROCERY SHOP AND, YOU KNOW, GET THEIR OWN, UH, FOOD AND PREPARE THEIR OWN MEALS.
UM, WE DELIVER THEIR FOOD RIGHT TO THEIR DOOR.
THIS YEAR, UH, WE PROVIDED 6,158 MEALS TO AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 38 HOMEBOUND SENIORS.
UM, OF COURSE, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE MEALS ARE NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED.
UM, AND WITH SURREY, IT REPRESENTED ABOUT 15.6% OF ALL REGIONAL DELIVERIES.
ONE IMPORTANT THING THAT I DO WANNA POINT OUT WITH THE HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAM THAT OFTEN GETS LOST IS THAT, YES, WE'RE PROVIDING THE MEALS, BUT IT ALSO SERVES AS A WELL CHECK.
SO FOR INSTANCE, IF A DRIVER GOES TO THE ST MR JONES' HOME AND SAYS, OH, MR. JONES DOESN'T COME TO THE DOOR FOR HIS MEAL, AND WE SEE, OH, THE MAIL IS STACKED UP, OKAY, WE WOULD KNOW THEN THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
MAYBE WE NEED TO CALL, WE NEED TO CHECK ON MR. JONES, SEE WHO'S HIS EMERGENCY CONTACT.
SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT PROGRAM, UH, THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.
UH, ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IS OUR FARMER'S MARKET PROGRAM.
UH, THAT PROGRAM IS A SEASONAL PROGRAM, SO IT OPERATES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMERTIME.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SENIORS WITH A $50, UH, VOUCHER.
SO BEFORE THEY WERE GETTING LIKE THE COUPONS, BUT NOW WE TRANSITIONED OVER TO THE CARDS.
IT'S LIKE AN E-B-T-E-B-T CARD, AND THEY HAVE $50 TO PURCHASE AT THEIR LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET.
A GREAT THING ABOUT THAT PROGRAM ALSO IS THAT NOT ONLY ARE THE SENIORS, UM, BENEFITING FROM THE $50, BUT IT ALSO HELPS AGAIN TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL FARMERS, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM, WHICH MANY PEOPLE CALL THE SENIOR CENTERS.
UM, BUT THIS PROGRAM WAS MEANT FOR SENIORS TO WHO, UM, FOR THEM TO BASICALLY GET TOGETHER, SOCIALIZE, ENGAGE, UM, WITH THEIR PEERS.
SO WHAT THEY DO, THEY COME TOGETHER, UH, THE SITE MANAGERS, THEY PROVIDE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, A PLANNED CALENDAR FOR THEM.
AND SO THEY DO DIFFERENT THINGS, ACTIVITIES, GAMES.
YES, OF COURSE THEY DO BINGO, BUT WE DO WAY MORE THAN BINGO.
THEY GO OUT TO MUSEUMS. THEY MAY DO A SHOPPING TRIP, THEY MAY GO OUT TO EAT, OF COURSE.
UM, BUT ALSO WE CONTRACT WITH, UM, SAY LIKE AN ART COMPANY TO DO, UM, ART, LIKE DANCE THERAPY, MUSIC THERAPY, JUST DIFFERENT THINGS TO HELP GET THEM MORE ENGAGED.
AND IT ALSO HELPS WITH THEIR COGNITIVE FUNCTION AS WELL.
SO TO SEE THEM DANCING IN THE CHAIRS AND, YOU KNOW, INTERACTING IN THAT WAY IS GREAT.
UH, SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, 1,759 MEALS, A WHOPPING 1,759
[00:35:01]
UH, WHICH IS GREAT TO THE SENIORS THERE.AND SO ALSO, NUTRITION EDUCATION AND COUNSELING IS PROVIDED, UH, FOR THESE PARTICIPANTS, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THIS HELPS US TO CAPTURE SENIORS WHO MAY HAVE MALNUTRITION.
FOR THOSE WHO WE DO IDENTIFY AS HAVING MALNUTRITION, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN OFFER ADDITIONAL SERVICES, SOMETIMES NUTRITION SUPPLEMENTS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, UM, TO HELP MEET THEIR NUTRITION NEEDS.
SO, AND THEN THIS LAST SLIDE, UH, JUST TALKS ABOUT SOCIALIZATION AND RECREATION, WHICH WE ACTUALLY INCORPORATE INTO OUR CONGREGATE NUTRITION PROGRAM.
UM, SO YOU'LL SEE THIS FISCAL YEAR WE PROVIDED NINE 4,901 HOURS OF ENGAGEMENT, A WHOPPING
UM, IT'S GREAT FOR, AGAIN, ENGAGING THEM IN ACTIVITIES AND DIFFERENT THINGS, HELPING THEM TO GET OUT AND JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I DID WANT, I INCLUDED A FEW QUOTES.
UH, SO EACH YEAR WE HAVE TO, UH, DO A PARTICIPANT SURVEY JUST FOR QUALITY PROGRAMMING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
AND SO SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED THIS YEAR.
SO WHEN ASKED HOW ATTENDING THE SENIOR CENTER MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE, PARTICIPANTS RESPONDED.
ONE LADY SAID, SINCE THE PASSING OF MY HUSBAND, IT HELPS ME TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND MEET OTHER PEOPLE FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM.
SO WHEN ELSE SAID, I AM A-P-T-S-D PATIENT, AND IT HELPS ME A LOT ASSOCIATING WITH THE GROUP, SOMEONE ELSE SAID, IT GETS MY MIND OFF OF EVERYDAY PROBLEMS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE MAY BE OLDER, THEY STILL GO THROUGH THINGS, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
AND LASTLY, SOMEONE SAID, UH, ENJOYING THE FELLOWSHIP.
SO THE STAFF LUNCH TRIPS AND ARTS AND CRAFTS ARE WHAT THEY ENJOY MOST.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO RENATA, OUR CEO TO FINISH UP.
AND I, I'D LIKE YOU TO TOUCH ON, UH, DIABETES PROGRAM IF YOU COULD.
SO AGAIN, I DO SERVE AS CREATORS, DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION AND WELLNESS.
UM, BUT ALSO I SERVE ON THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION'S COUNCILS, SO BOTH THEIR TIDEWATER COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THEIR CENTRAL VIRGINIA COUNCIL.
SO I'M ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION PREVENTION.
ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT CREATOR OFFERS IS OUR DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM.
AND THAT PROGRAM IS EXCELLENT AND HAS SHOWN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING OR DELAYING TYPE TWO DIABETES.
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, SAY THAT ABOUT WHAT 50% OF AMERICAN ADULTS SUFFER FROM ELEVATED GLUCOSE LEVELS.
SO THAT'S EITHER PRE-DIABETES OR DIABETES.
SO EVERYONE, IF YOU DON'T, SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS PRE-DIABETES OR DIABETES.
SO WITH THAT PROGRAM, WE DO OFFER IT, IT'S A 12 MONTH PROGRAM.
IT'S AVAILABLE FOR SURREY SENIORS AS WELL TO PARTICIPATE IN.
WE BRING THEM IN, WE PROVIDE THEM WITH NUTRITION EDUCATION, OF COURSE, WE WEIGH THEM IN.
IF THEY LOSE WEIGHT, THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS.
WE HAVE THEM RING THE BELL, THEY GET SO EXCITED TO RING THE BELL.
BUT AGAIN, THE GOAL IS TO DROP THEIR A ONE CS, HELP FOR THEM TO LOSE WEIGHT, HELP TO INCREASE THEIR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S A PROGRAM ALSO THAT WE, UM, ADDED ON ABOUT, WE'RE GOING INTO OUR THIRD YEAR NOW, AND WE ARE HEADED TOWARDS FULL RECOGNITION, WHICH I'M HOPING WE GET THIS YEAR, BUT WE ARE ON OUR WAY.
WELL, I LIKE TO THANK AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS SUCH A VALUABLE, UH, ENTITY WITHIN THE COUNTY, WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE, UH, SENIOR, UH, COMPONENT OF OUR POPULATION, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I KNOW THAT, UH, MR. HARDY SERVES ON THE, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD, SO I KNOW HE WANTS TO KICK IN AND HAVE A REMARKS, SO I WILL DECREASE.
SO HE MAY INCREASE MR. HARDY
UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, I, MATTER FACT, I GOT MY NOTES HERE.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET UP TO THE, UH, CENTER, UM, I THINK WEEK BEFORE LAST.
AND I TELL EVERYBODY, EVERY TIME I GO WHEN I LEAVE, MY CHEEKS ARE HURTING BECAUSE THEY HAVE ME LAUGHING SO MUCH UP THERE.
SO THANKS FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SEE IT ALL INCREASE.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE SENIORS IN THE, UH, IN THE COUNTY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE, UH, THE, UH, PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES YOU ALL PROVIDE.
SO THAT'S ONE OF MY GOALS TO, YOU KNOW, HELP INFORM AND GET FOLKS UP THERE, YOU KNOW,
[00:40:01]
COME UP THERE AND FELLOWSHIP FOR, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE HOURS A DAY, GET A MEAL, UH, WELLNESS AND ALL, AND EVERYTHING YOU ALL PROVIDE.SO, UM, I KNOW, UH, MS. PIERCE AND DSS FEELS THE SAME WAY.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS END, AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US WITH THE GREAT PROGRAMS YOU HAVE.
ANY, ANY OTHER REMARKS? BOARD, MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY, MR. PIERCE, OH, ALSO TOO, WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP HERE, INS COUNTY.
UH, AS WAS STATED, WE HAVE AN AGING POPULATION, SENIOR POPULATION HERE.
SO I KNOW THAT THESE SERVICES THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR CITIZENS HERE.
BUT GOING OVER YOUR PRESENTATION, I DID HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND ANSWERING.
WHAT THESE, I BELIEVE I COUNTED 12 PROGRAMS. EXACTLY.
I GUESS, HOW, HOW ARE THESE PROGRAMS FUNDED AS, UH, AS FAR AS TO, TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THE SENIORS HERE IN OUR, OUR COMMUNITY AS, AS THE, I GUESS THE ASIAN POPULATION INCREASES, HOW WOULD ALL THESE PROGRAMS BE FUNDED? SO THE MAJOR TWO FUNDING SOURCES IS FEDERAL AND STATE AND ALSO LOCAL.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTIES TO ACTUALLY, UH, INVEST IN THE PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE MORE FUNDING WE HAVE, THE MORE SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDE.
UM, I GUESS, AND I LOOKED ON THE PRESENTATION AS WELL, UM, I'M ASSUMING, I KNOW ONE OF THE SLIDES IT SAID THAT THE MEALS DELIVERED, UM, THIS SIRI, UH, IS WHAT, 15.6% OF THE REGIONAL DELIVERIES ALSO ON THE OTHERS, THE FARMER'S MARKET PROGRAM AND THE, UH, I GUESS THE, I'M SO USED TO SAYING THE SENIOR PROGRAM MM-HMM
UM, THEY HAD OTHER PERCENTAGES UP THERE, BUT THEY DIDN'T JUSTIFY.
WAS THAT SIRI? UH, PERCENTAGE? YES.
SO, UH, I GUESS AT LEAST MY NEXT QUESTION, UM, I GUESS WHAT, WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE FUNDING, I GUESS COMES FROM THE CRATER AND I GUESS WHAT DO WE AS A LOCALITY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP UP WITH? WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF FUNDING? YES, MA'AM.
LIKE, LIKE, UM, IF, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE HOME DELIVERY MEALS, IF, UM, THIS AREA IS GETTING, WHAT, 15.6% OF THOSE REGIONAL DELIVERIES, I GUESS WITH THE FUNDING THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDE WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING, UH, WHAT PERCENTAGE DO YOU COVER TO, TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN, I GUESS, KEEP THE PROGRAM, LIKE YOU SAID, WANNA KEEP THE PARTNERSHIP AND KEEP THE PROGRAMS GOING? UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE BUDGET.
SO, SO IT'S, UH, WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC PERCENTAGE PER COUNTY OR JURISDICTION.
IT'S, UM, IT'S, UH, IT DEPENDS ON THE DEMAND.
SO, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR MEALS, WE DON'T DELIVER, BUT WE PAY FOR THE MEALS.
SO A HUNDRED PERCENT, I BELIEVE IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT PAID BY CRATER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS NEW BUSINESS.
[New Business]
ON THE AGENDA IS NEW BUSINESS, AND WE WILL REFER TO MS. PERKINS ON THE NEW BUSINESS ITEM.GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, I HAVE BEFORE YOU A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND THAT RESOLUTION.
IT PERTAINS TO A REAL ESTATE TAX REBATE.
UH, AS YOU WILL PROBABLY RECALL AT YOUR NOVEMBER MEETING, UH, THE BOARD ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, UH, TO ALLOW PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE, UM, THE BOARD TO, IN THE FUTURE IMPLEMENT A, UM, A REBATE OR A CREDIT OR A, A METHODOLOGY TO RETURN SOME REVENUE IN YEARS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A SURPLUS OF REVENUE IN EITHER REAL ESTATE TAXES, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, OR BOTH.
UM, SO THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS FOR A ONE TIME REAL ESTATE TAX REBATE.
UM, AND I'LL JUST HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL IF YOU, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE ME TO.
SO, UM, WE START WITH ELIGIBILITY AND, UM, WE LOOK AT QUALIFIED PROPERTIES.
AND IF, IF I COULD ACTUALLY TAKE A STEP BACK AND EXPLAIN SOMETHING, AS I JUST STATED, THE, THE REVENUE THAT THE SURPLUS THAT CAN BE USED, UH, BY A LOCALITY TO DO SOME SORT OF TAX REBATE OR CREDIT, UH, TO TAXPAYERS, UH, CAN COME FROM REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX OR BOTH.
UH, BUT THE REBATE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT GIVING IS ONLY FOR TAXPAYERS WHO PAID REAL ESTATE TAXES.
[00:45:01]
UH, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE THERE, THAT, THAT CAN, CAN BE A LITTLE CONFUSING.SO FOR ELIGIBILITY, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, PROPERTIES THAT WERE ASSESSED FOR REAL ESTATE TAXES AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025, AND PROPERTIES THAT WERE DESIGNATED AS A PRIMARY RESIDENCE IN THE TAX ROLL OF THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, THAT WOULD BE WHAT A QUALIFIED PROPERTY IS.
UH, IMPORTANTLY, A AS THIS RESOLUTION IS SET UP, UM, AND, AND YOU ALL CERTAINLY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CHANGES TO WHAT THIS, UH, PROCESS AND METHODOLOGY IS, UM, PLEASE MAKE SUGGESTIONS AND, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TWEAK THINGS IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
UH, QUALIFIED PROPERTY DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PROPERTY THAT IS ENTIRELY EXEMPT FROM REAL ESTATE TAXATION OR FOR WHICH NO TAX BILL WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN ISSUED.
SO THAT'S KIND OF PRONG NUMBER ONE FOR ELIGIBILITY, LOOKING AT QUALIFIED PROPERTY.
THEN PRONG NUMBER TWO IS LOOKING AT WHAT, WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUALIFIED TAXPAYER UNDER THIS RESOLUTION.
AND THAT IS THE PERSON OR PERSONS LISTED AS THE TAXPAYER, UM, IN THE COUNTY'S REAL ESTATE TAX RECORDS AS OF FEBRUARY 1ST, 2025.
AND ANY CHANGES IN THE COUNTY'S REAL ESTATE TAX RECORDS AFTER FEBRUARY 1ST, 2025, WILL NOT CHANGE THE QUALIFIED PROPERTY OR THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER FOR ANY PARCEL.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE JUST HAD TO PICK A DATE.
UM, WE COULDN'T, UM, IT WOULD BE WAY TOO CUMBERSOME FROM A LABOR STANDPOINT TO DO SOME SORT OF CONTINUOUS ANALYSIS AND TO HAVE TO LOOK AT PROPERTY, UM, THROUGHOUT CERTAIN DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME.
SO THAT IS WHY WE SELECTED, UM, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE DATE OF FEBRUARY 1ST, 2025.
SO IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF THE REBATE, AGAIN, BASED ON GUIDANCE RECEIVED, UH, RECEIVED BY THE BOARD, UM, THE PROPOSAL IS $200, UH, PER QUALIFIED PROPERTY FOR A QUALIFIED TAXPAYER.
AND PAYMENTS UNDER THIS RESOLUTION WOULD BE MADE BY CHECK.
THERE IS ONLY GOING TO BE ONE PAYMENT THAT WILL BE MADE FOR EACH QUALIFIED PROPERTY, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARE LISTED AS THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER FOR THE QUALIFIED PROPERTY.
SO IF A QUALIFIED PROPERTY IS OWNED BY, LET'S SAY A HUSBAND AND WIFE, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE CHECK FOR $200 THAT'S ISSUED.
THERE WILL NOT BE A $200 CHECK THAT GOES TO THE HUSBAND AND A $200 CHECK THAT GOES TO THE WIFE.
UM, IF THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER IS THE OWNER OF MORE THAN ONE QUALIFIED PROPERTY, THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER WILL RECEIVE ONLY ONE REBATE.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, AS I STATED EARLIER, THE ELIGIBILITY, UH, FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUALIFIED PROPERTY IS THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE AND THE TAX ROLES OF THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, THE FACT THAT WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT PRIMARY RESIDENCE, THAT SHOULD HELP CLARIFY AND, AND CLARIFY ANY CONFUSION IF AN INDIVIDUAL OWNS MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN THE COUNTY, BECAUSE, UM, YOU CAN'T, MULTIPLE PROPERTIES CANNOT BE YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE CAN ONLY BE ONE PROPERTY.
UM, AND THEN REBATES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID IN REAL PROPERTY TAX BY THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER FOR, FOR THE APPLICABLE FISCAL YEAR.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IF ANY, IF ANY TAXPAYER PAID LESS THAN $200, THEY WILL ONLY GET UP TO THE AMOUNT THAT WAS PAID.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RECEIVE $200.
SO ANY REBATE FUNDS, UM, FOR MORE THAN THE AMOUNT PAID WILL BE USED BY THE COUNTY TO DEFRAY THE COSTS OF, OF ADMINISTERING THIS REBATE PROCESS.
UH, IN TERMS OF THE METHOD OF PAYMENT, AGAIN, I STATED EARLIER IT WILL BE, IT WILL BE A CHECK PAYABLE TO THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER AT THE MAILING ADDRESS OF RECORD.
AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S THE DATE WE'RE USING.
UM, THE OBJECTIVE AS SET OUT IN THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR, UM, ALL THE CHECKS TO BE MAILED ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.
UM, I, I WILL SHARE THAT, THAT THE TREASURER DID, DID EXPRESS, UH, THAT THAT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.
UH, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WOULD HAVE TO BE DEDICATED, UH, TO MAKING THAT DEADLINE, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS PART OF INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS AND WE'LL CERTAINLY TAKE THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD ON THAT.
UM, IMPORTANTLY, IF THERE'S ANY TAXPAYER THAT IS, IS CURRENTLY IN A DELINQUENT STATUS.
[00:50:01]
UH, TAXES, THEY OWE FEES, THEY OWE FINES.UM, IF, IF YOU AS A, AS A QUALIFIED TAXPAYER, UM, ARE LISTED IN THE TREASURER'S ACCOUNTS AS OWING SOME MONEY TO THE, TO THE COUNTY PER VIRGINIA CODE, THE AND PER TREASURER, UH, SURREY COUNTY TREASURER POLICY, NO REBATE CHECK WILL BE SENT TO YOU.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT THE REBATE, THAT $200 WILL BE APPLIED TOWARDS WHATEVER DELINQUENCY YOU HAVE.
AND IN THE EVENT, LET'S SAY THAT YOUR DELINQUENCY IS A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THE CHECK IS FOR $200, THE TREASURER WILL APPLY $100 TOWARDS YOUR DELINQUENCY AND THEN TAKE THE ADDITIONAL $100 AND PUT IT AS A CREDIT ON YOUR ACCOUNT FOR ANY FUTURE PAYMENTS, UM, THAT, THAT ARE OWED BY YOU.
UH, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR AS WELL.
ANYONE WHO'S IN A DELINQUENT STATUS, UH, WILL NOT BE RECEIVING THAT PHYSICAL CHECK IN THE MAIL.
UM, AND I, I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERS THE, COVERS THE WATERFRONT.
UM, IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM OR ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THEM ANYWAY.
THANK YOU MS. PERKINS, FOR PRESENTING THE RESOLUTION TO THE BOARD, BOARD MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. PERKINS ON THE RESOLUTION? MR. CHAIR? MR. CALHOUN? EXCUSE ME.
UM, I LIKE THIS RESOLUTION AND, UM, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO, TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, JUST FOR RECORD PURPOSES, I'D LIKE TO ASK IF I MAY, ANY FUTURE, UM, REBATES THAT MAY BE OFFERED, UH, DUE TO, UH, ADDITIONAL TAXES BEING RECEIVED, UM, THAT WE AS A BOARD AND STAFF MAYBE GET TOGETHER AND, UH, LOOK AT THIS AND MAYBE CHOOSE OTHER OPTIONS OF THE USE OF THOSE FUNDING.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, THE DETAILS OF, OF HOW IT'S PAID, HOW MUCH IT'S PAID.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK THAT WE, WE AS A GROUP, UH, IF WE EVER HAVE ANOTHER, UH, REBATE, IS TO LOOK AT THAT AS A GROUP AND, UH, AND LOOK AT ALL DECISIONS OR LOOK AT ALL POSSIBILITIES BEFORE WE MAKE THIS MAKE A DECISION.
THANK YOU, MR. MR. CALHOUN, THAT IS, UH, UH, RECEIVED WELL AS YOU HAS GIVEN IT.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, THIS IS ACTUALLY UNPRECEDENTED IN THE COUNTY WHERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A REBATE BACK TO THE CITIZENS.
AND THIS WAS THE MOST, UH, CONDENSED AND ECONOMICAL WAY WE COULD DO THAT THIS TIME.
BUT SURELY IF WE EVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN LOOK AT DIFFERENT AVENUES TO APPROACH IT.
BUT THIS IS THE MOST FEASIBLE WAY AT THIS TIME THAT A BOARD AND STAFF HAS COME UP WITH.
SO I, I DO TAKE WHAT YOU SAID.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CHAIR QUESTIONS, CHAIR, MR. HARDY? YES, SIR.
UH, UH, MS. PERKINS READ A LOT, BUT I, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF SMILEY FACES IN THE AUDIENCE.
FOR, FOR OUR HEADLINE, UH, MR. SURY COUNTY CITIZENS ARE GETTING A TAX REBATE.
SO, UH, IT'S A GREAT THING, EVERYBODY, I'M GLAD, UH, TO BE A PART OF THIS.
ANY OTHER REMARKS OR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE RESOLUTION? IF THERE BE NO OTHER, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED TO US ON THE TAX, UH, REBATE TO THE CITIZENS OF SURREY COUNTY CHAIR.
WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 21.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? BEEN PROPERLY MOVED? SECOND.
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE.
A OPPOSED RESOLUTION HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
WE HAVE AN ACTION ITEM THAT'S GONNA COME TO US IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS FROM MS. ROLLIS.
THE ONLY OTHER ACTION THAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO TAKE AT THIS TIME, UM, BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COMMISSIONER, REVENUE AND ESTIMATING THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS REBATE.
UM, IT IS ESTIMATED AT THIS TIME IS ABOUT 3,200, UH, CITIZENS.
SO, UH, WITH THE $200 REBATE, UM, THAT IS A TOTAL OF 640,000.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GONNA ASK THE BOARD TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROPRIATE, UM, FROM FUND BALANCE, UM, SURPLUS PROPERTY TAXES IN THE AMOUNT OF $640,000 TO, UH, COVER THE REBATE BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU HEARD THE REQUEST, UH, TO COVER THE REBATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF $640,000 FROM OUR FUND BALANCE, WHAT WOULD BE THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? SO MOVED.
[00:55:01]
SECOND.ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY THE VOTING SIGN OF AYE.
UH, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE, UH,
[County Administrators Report]
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, I, I KNOW THAT CITIZENS, WHEN THEY CAME TO THE MEETING ON TONIGHT, THEY WERE ABLE TO, UH, SEE SOME, UM, SHINY NEW APPARATUS THAT WAS IN THE FRONT OF OUR FACILITY.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK MR. PHE TO COME FORTH AND JUST GIVE YOU ALL A, UH, BRIEF UPDATE ON, UH, WHAT WE HAVE AND, UM, SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS.
MR. PHE? UH, GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, VICE CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS.
MISS MS. ROLLINS, MS. HARRISON, MS. PERKINS.
UM, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE CONTINUAL SUPPORT THAT THE BOARD GIVES OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, AND OUR AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS OUT FRONT.
UM, SO, UH, HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY GOT TO TAKE A, A GLANCE AT IT ON YOUR WAY IN.
UH, SO WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SEVERAL PROJECTS IS DRON, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE HAVE, UH, THE CHIEF, UH, SHELDON STEWART.
UH, WE HAVE CHANCE, UH, CHASE AND ASHLEY, OUR, OUR FIREFIGHTERS WITH THE DENVER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, SO, UH, WHAT WE PURCHASED FOR THE DENVER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS A 2023 FORD F FIVE 50 SUPER DUTY FOUR BY FOUR INITIAL ATTACK.
UH, IT'S A MINI, OKAY, SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE REASONS WE, WE LOOKED AT GOING WITH THIS, UH, OR DENDRON LOOKED AT GOING WITH THIS TYPE OF APPARATUS INSTEAD OF ONE OF THE LARGE PUMPERS LIKE SURY GOT, UH, A FEW YEARS BACK, UM, WAS, THERE'S A LOT OF TIGHT AREAS IN SURY COUNTY, A LOT OF LONG DRIVEWAYS, A LOT OF BRUSH THAT OVERCOMES THE DRIVEWAYS.
AND THIS, THIS ALLOWS THEM TO, UH, BE ABLE TO GET IN QUICKLY, UM, AND BE ABLE TO START, UH, FIRE SUPPRESSION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S GREAT FOR, UM, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT IT AS IT'S NOT A BRUSH TRUCK, OKAY? IT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN WHAT A NORMAL ENGINE IS, OR A BUMPER, BUT IT'S NOT A BRUSH TRUCK.
SO IT'S UTILIZED ON CAR FIRES AND, AND A, A GREAT DEAL OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT RAN APPROXIMATELY ABOUT $415,000.
UM, SO THAT WAS THE SUPPORTS FROM, UM, FROM THE BOARD.
AND, UM, OUT THERE ALSO IS A MEDIC UNIT.
WE'VE ADDED A, A NEW UNIT THAT, THAT'S OUR THIRD MEDIC, UH, FOR SURY COUNTY, UH, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
UM, THIS IS A 2023 FORD F 5 54 BY FOUR PL, CUSTOM EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, UH, VEHICLE.
ALRIGHT, SO, UH, WE'VE DECIDED A FEW YEARS BACK TO START WITH GOING WITH FOUR BY FOUR, UH, MEDICS FOR THE SHEER REASON THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF OFF-ROAD DRIVEWAYS THAT, UH, AREN'T PAVED.
UM, UH, A LOT OF 'EM ARE GRAVEL, A LOT OF 'EM HAVE PITS AND HOLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS IN THE PAST.
SO IT MADE, UH, PERFECT SENSE FOR US TO MOVE TOWARDS A FOUR BY FOUR TYPE, UH, VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MEDIC, UH, IF YOU GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT ON YOUR WAY IN, YOU'LL SEE A LARGE RED RIBBON ON THE SIDE OF THAT.
ALRIGHT, THAT LARGE RED RIBBON IS, IS WE WANTED TO BRING RECOGNITION TO STROKE AWARENESS TO SURREY COUNTY.
UH, WE DO RESPOND TO A GREAT DEAL OF STROKES IN SURREY COUNTY.
SO WE WANTED TO, ON THE SIDE OF THAT MEDIC, IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO READ IT, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE, UH, UH, BFA IS A, IS UH, UM, UH, A WORD THAT OR ACRONYM ON THIS SIDE OF THAT.
IT'LL TELL YOU, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASK YOU TO, UH, BE AWARE OF, UM, UM, BUT, UH, THAT'LL HELP, UH, IDENTIFY IF SOMEBODY IN ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES IS HAVING A STROKE OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT US AT OVER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WE CAN GIVE YOU SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT IF YOU HAVE SOME AGING, UH, RELATIVES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR, OUR, WE HAVE ONE OF OUR CREWS LEFT.
WE HAD TWO, TWO CREWS HERE THIS EVENING, BUT, UH, ONE HAD TO RESPOND TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
UM, SO THIS IS TWO OUTTA WHAT WE HAVE FIVE CREWS, FIVE, SIX CREWS.
SO, UM, THIS IS HEATHER AND JOSH.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OUT.
UM, BUT UH, THAT MEDIC UNIT WAS AROUND $398,000.
UM, SO WE ARE, UH, LOOKING TO PUT THAT IN SERVICE, UH, HOPEFULLY BY JANUARY 15.
WE'VE GOT A FEW HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH WITH THE STATE.
WE'VE GOTTA GET IT LICENSED, INSPECTED, UH, LICENSED AND, UH, RADIOS PUT IN IT, UH, CRADLE POINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE, OUR GOAL IS BY JANUARY 15TH TO HAVE THAT, UM, IN, IN PLAY.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO NOT ONLY GINGER FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALL THE OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CONTINUAL SERVICE AND SACRIFICES THEY MAKE, UH, DAY IN AND DAY OUT HOLIDAYS, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, UH, BAD WEATHER, GOOD WEATHER, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE
[01:00:01]
EVERYTHING YOU, YOU GUYS DO.ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, I APPRECIATE IT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR EMS WORKERS HERE IN S COUNTY FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU DO.
AND IF THERE'S A QUESTION OF, OF YOUR TAX MONEY, YOU CAN SEE IT AT WORK RIGHT THERE IN FRONT, YOU CAN SEE THIS COSTS 398,000, THE OTHER 415,000.
SO WE ARE NOT WASTING YOUR MONEY.
WE'RE PUTTING INTO GOOD USE TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS OF SIR CASH FUND DID NOT CASH FUNDED.
OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, I I, I DID WANT TO SHARE THAT COMMENT, UM, PUBLICLY, UM, REGARDING THE, THE TWO VEHICLES THAT YOU SEE OUTSIDE.
UM, BECAUSE THOSE WERE INVESTMENTS THAT THE BOARD, UH, DID MAKE AND THEY WERE CASH FUNDED INVESTMENTS AND THEY WERE NOT, UM, OCCURRED WITHIN THE DEBT FINANCING.
I THINK SRA COUNTY IS VERY FORTUNATE.
UM, WHEN WE HEAR COMMENTS THAT TALK ABOUT, UM, THESE, THE SPENDING AND HOW OUR FINANCES ARE, UM, MEAN, THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE SAVING, UM, DOLLARS, UM, AS MANY UH, TIMES AS WE CAN TO BE ABLE TO CASH FUND THESE PROJECTS.
UM, YOU HAVE, YOU WILL SEE INFORMATION, I KNOW I'VE SHARED IT IN SOME PREVIOUS BUDGET MATERIAL, AND ALSO YOU WOULD SEE SOME UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOARD THAT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS FUNDED OVER $8 MILLION IN CASH FUNDED PROJECTS.
AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE OFTEN SOMETIMES YOU HEAR, UM, SUPPOSEDLY COMMENTS REGARDING, UM, THE NOT SO GOOD IN TERMS OF FINANCES, BUT I JUST WANT TO ASSURE THE BOARD, AGAIN, AS I ALWAYS DO, AND ASSURE THE CITIZENS THAT, UM, WE ARE FINANCIAL STEWARDS OF THE COUNTY RESOURCES AND THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THESE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
NOT ONLY DO YOU SEE THE EQUIPMENT OUT THERE, IT HAS TO BE MAINTAINED, UM, THE ACTUAL, UM, MEDIC UNIT THAT'S OUT THERE.
UM, AND I'M, I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL AWARE THAT IT'S ONLY BEEN, UH, ABOUT TWO YEARS, MR. PHELPS, UM, THAT WE HAVE HAD OUR OWN LICENSE, UM, FOR OUR, UM, EMERGENCY, UH, RESCUE SQUAD.
AND THAT IS A COST TO THE COUNTY.
UM, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR OWN DRUG BOX.
UM, WE HAVE TO BUY ALL THE, UM, THE EQUIPMENT THAT GOES IN THE BACK OF THAT.
SO WE ARE EFFECTIVELY MANAGING THE COUNTY'S RESOURCES AND WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO WORK FOR THE CITIZENS.
AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVES REPORT, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ALSO
[Reports]
HAVE, UH, OUR REPORTS.WE, YOU WILL FIND THAT IN THE UPCOMING AGENDAS, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A FOUR YEAR REQUEST SUMMARY.
WE'VE HAD, UH, IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 DIFFERENT FOUR YEAR REQUESTS.
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS, UH, AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE HOURS THAT OUR LEGAL TEAM IS PUTTING IN WITH OUR FOUR YEAR REQUESTS.
AND SINCE JULY UNTIL OCTOBER, WE'VE HAD 39.
AND I'M SURE IT'S MORE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, BUT WE WANTED TO LET THE CITIZENS KNOW, UH, THE FOUR REQUEST IS COMING OUT.
AND SOMETIME YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS AND IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN ASKED, ADDRESSED BY OUR LEGAL TEAM.
UH, ALSO IN OUR REPORTS WE HAVE THE SUR COUNTY BILL BILLING OFFICIALS REPORT AND MONTHLY REPORT AND THE SUR COUNTY INSPECTIONS REPORT BY DISTRICT PASS AND FAIL.
UH, THAT WILL BE OUR REPORTS FOR TONIGHT.
[Board Comments]
UH, WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY.I'M GONNA GO FIRST WITH MY, UH, BOARD COMMENTS.
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO REPRESENT SY COUNTY AT THE SMITHFIELD RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL AND HAD THEIR OFFICIAL CROSSING AS, UH, UH, RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
AS YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE INCLUDED SY COUNTY IN THIS PROCESS AND, UH, THE GOVERNOR WAS THERE, A LOT OF DIGNITARIES, AND I WAS SO PROUD TO SAY ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, WE WERE PRESENT AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK A LITTLE SNIPPET OF THE RIVER THAT WE CUT.
AND, UH, IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE EASTERN PART OF SURY COUNTY, UH, FROM, I KNOW BACON'S CASTLE, PHIL, THEY GOT THEIR OWN HOSPITAL NOW.
UH, BUT IT IS A GREAT ADDITION AND I THINK ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY IN THAT MANNER.
ALSO, IN MY REPORTS, UH, WE COMING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND, UH, WHERE WE IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND WE WANT TO JUST WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
WE HAVE GOTTEN A WHOLE LOT DONE THIS YEAR AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS CITIZENS.
YOU MAY NOT SEE ANYTHING BUT THE FINAL PRODUCT, BUT A LOT OF EFFORT HAS GONE IN TO GETTING US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO SAY I SIT ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR S COUNTY AND I THANK GOD FOR THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, AND THERE'S EVEN MORE TO COME.
UH, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT CERTAIN
[01:05:01]
WORDS AND JUST THROWN OUT, I JUST WANT TO KEEP EVERYTHING BRIEF.UH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY GOES ALSO TO THE MOTIVATION TO SEE CLEAN THROUGH WHAT SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, MAKE SURE YOUR MOTIVES ARE RIGHT.
MAKE SURE YOUR MOTIVES UP HERE, THE BOARD, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IS ONLY HERE TRYING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY.
AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE THUS FAR.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
HOPE TO SEE YOU TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
TREE LIGHTING, I GOT, I GOT THE CUTTING ON MY MIND TREE LIGHTING.
AND IF, IF GOD SAY SO, WE WOULD HAVE SOME RIBBON CUTTINGS DONE IN S COUNTY.
THANKS AGAIN FOR OUR MERCY RESPONDERS COMING OUT TONIGHT.
I KNOW, UH, YOU'LL BE, YOU ALL WILL BE GLAD FOR THE, UH, RIVERSIDE SMITHVILLE MIGHT CUT DOWN YOUR TRAVEL TIME SMIDGEN.
AND ALSO ANYBODY WHO NEEDS YOUR SERVICES WOULD DEFINITELY BE GLAD ABOUT THAT.
PROBABLY SAVE 15, 20 MINUTES FROM THERE TO OVERSEAS.
UM, AND JUST WONDERFUL THAT YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR, EVEN THOUGH HE'S GOING OUT, YOU KNOW, HAD THE, UH, STILL HAD THE, THE WHOEVER THOUGHT TO COME DOWN AND REPRESENT, YOU KNOW, OUR LOCAL AREA.
NOT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT SURY COUNTY, BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE OUR AREA.
SO THAT WAS A WONDERFUL THING.
SO, UH, JUST KUDOS TO YOU ALL.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
I DON'T WANNA CALL 'EM TOYS, BUT ENJOY THE
UM, REAL QUICK, AND I I DON'T WANNA HOP ON, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE TWO COMMENTS WE HAD TO, TO JUST FOR, FOR THE RECORD.
UH, MR. CHANDLER TALKED ABOUT REDUCTION IN TAXES AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, THE PREACHER OF MY CHURCH SAYS GIVE WITH A CHEER FOR HEART.
IT'S HARD SOMETIMES, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITIZEN SOMETIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED HAMPTON, THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BAD EXAMPLE BECAUSE THEIR PERSONAL, THEIR, THEIR REAL ESTATE TAXES, A DOLLAR 14 CENTS PER 100 ASSESSED, OURS IS 71 CENTS.
UM, THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES $4 50 CENTS AND OURS IS THREE, UH, 75, WHICH WE REDUCED LAST YEAR.
SO WE'RE WORKING, I MEAN, THESE, THESE, THESE THINGS WE BOUGHT, NOT CHEAP.
UH, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING DOWN ANYTIME SOON.
WE CANNOT TAX CUT OURSELF INTO PROSPERITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE A EDA FOR.
SO WE HAVE TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE MORE REVENUE.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT AND REDUCE THE TAXES FOR EVERYBODY, UH, IN THE COUNTY.
UH, BUT WE, WE FEEL YOUR PAIN, MR. CHANDLEY.
IT'S NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, JABBING.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S, THAT'S THE REALITY.
WE ENJOY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ONE OF THE LOWEST TAX RATES IN HAMPTON ROADS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT'S 70.
IT'S, UH, IT'S CHALLENGING, YOU KNOW, CASH, UH, THESE CASH PURCHASES WE MAKE IS, IS CHALLENGING, BUT, UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT AND DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY ONE THING FOR MR. VELO.
HISTORICALLY RECONCILIATION HAS NOT BEEN DONE BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT THE, THAT WAS NOT THE RULE OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TREASURER.
SO I UNDERSTAND MAYBE DUE TO SOME CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, WE MAY, UH, UM, SEEK NEW GUIDANCE IN THAT, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS, THAT'S NOT BEEN THE, UH, ROLE OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE AP BEFORE THAT TOO, MA'AM.
ALWAYS FINANCE PERSON ON THE AP.
ALRIGHT, SO I'M GONNA WRAP UP HERE.
IT WAS A BUSY LAST MONTH, UH, FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
WE HAD A, A ANNUAL VETERAN'S MEAL.
UH, CRYSTAL CATERING AND SWEET TREATS CAME OUT.
UM, WE WANT MORE FOLKS TO COME OUT TO THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED ATTENDANCE TO, TO KEEP IT GOING.
IF ATTENDANCE START TO DECLINE, WE MAY SAY, WELL, MAN, IT LOOKS LIKE THE CITIZEN'S NOT INTERESTED.
GO, WE'LL SAVE THAT MONEY AND, AND PUT IT TO SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT PLEASE COME OUT AS A SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
THE CITIZENS ARE PROVIDE AND, UH, COME OUT AND ENJOY IT.
TELL THE OVERALL STORIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO, UM, PLEASE SUPPORT THESE, THESE LOCAL EVENTS THAT ARE PEOPLE WORK SO HARD TO PUT ON.
UH, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TRAVEL TO, UH, TO HOMESTEAD FOR THE, UH, 91ST ANNUAL VACO CONFERENCE.
WE LEARNED A LOT OF GREAT THINGS UP THERE.
UH, WE HAD, I, I ATTENDED THE SENIOR SERVE RETIREE LUNCHEON, UH, HONORED THOSE FOLKS.
UM, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, VISIT THE SENIORS, UH, STICK SOME FRUIT TO 'EM.
I USED TO GO UP THERE AND TAKE CANDIES AND SNACKS, AND IT'S LIKE, HEY, WE CAN'T BE EATING THAT STUFF.
SO NOW I TAKE 'EM PEARS AND APPLES AND, AND ORANGES.
SO THEY APPRECIATE THAT KIND OF STUFF.
UM, UH, MYSELF AND MR. HARRISON ATTENDED RPDC, UH, MEETING ON THE CAMPUS OF CNU.
UM, THAT, THOSE MEETINGS ARE VERY INFORMATIVE, VERY INFORMATIVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, THE, WE'RE THE SMALL GAL ON THE BLOCK, BUT, UM, I ALWAYS POST TO MY FACEBOOK IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY, THEY GET LOCAL AGENDAS AND, AND, UM,
[01:10:01]
AND, UM, LOBBY THE STATE FOR THINGS THAT WE NEED IN OUR LOCAL AREA.SO A LOT OF IMPORTANT STUFF HAPPENING THERE.
AND, UM, WE'RE GLAD TO BE, HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN THOSE, IN THOSE HUGE MEETINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, ATTENDING MR. UH, MR. DREW SWEARING IN.
GLAD TO SEE YOUR WORK AND WE'LL KEEP PUSHING.
UM, WE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR SCHOOLS, ALL BOARD MEMBERS, UH, FOR OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS DAY.
THE, UH, SCHOOL'S COMPLEX SAW A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON UP THERE.
UH, WE GOT A ENSEMBLE PLAYED, UH, UH, A BAND TUNE TO US.
WE GOT TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE, UH, THE WOODEN STICKS.
THAT'S ABOUT MY LEVEL OF, UH, UH,
THE STUDENTS ARE, WERE ENGAGED AND OUR TECHNOLOGY, I CALL IT TECHNOLOGY, IT'S CALLED SOMETHING ELSE NOW, BUT GO TECH LAB.
YEAH, IT, IT IS, IT IS AMAZING.
THEY'RE DOING 3D PRINTING MOVABLE PARTS, UM, COMPUTER ASSISTED WOODWORKING, UM, WELDING SIMULATION.
IT'S, IT'S AMAZING, UM, GETTING OUR KIDS READY FOR THE FUTURE.
AND IT'S, IT, IT IS WONDERFUL.
SO, UM, EVERY TIME I GET UP THERE, I LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
YOU KNOW, SAY IT'S HARD TO TEACH YOUR OLD DOG NEW TRICKS.
AND IT REALLY IS, BECAUSE I COULDN'T EVEN BREAK THE REMOTE CONTROL.
THE KIDS JUST OUT THERE PLAYING WITH IT, LIKE IT WAS NOTHING.
UM, AND LIKE, UH, CHAIR SAID, TODAY WE DID ATTEND THE, UM, THE RIBBON CUTTING.
SO WANNA WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY HOLIDAY.
UH, PLEASE ATTEND OUR ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING IF YOU CAN.
AND, UH, WE'LL SEE YOU IN JANUARY.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME, UH, AGAIN, CAMERON DREW ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FIRST MEETING, AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AND BEING THE YOUNGEST ONE IN, UH, COMMONWEALTH.
I WILL SAY, MR. HARDY, YOU DID KEEP A BEAT THE OTHER DAY IN SCHOOL WITH THE MUSIC
I WAS, BUT YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
UM, LAST MONTH, UM, EVERY THIRD THURSDAY, UH, OF THE MONTH, A FOOD BANK COMES INTO SURREY COUNTY.
I PARTICIPATED IN HELP HAND OUT FOOD LAST IN NOVEMBER.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP A WEEK FROM TODAY.
UM, I PLAN ON BEING OUT THERE TO HELP THEM OUT.
THEY, THEY ENJOY THE VOLUNTEERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOOD THAT'S BEEN GIVE, THAT GIVES OUT THIS, UH, I'M SORRY, THAT IS GIVEN OUT.
UM, OH MY GOSH, THE CARS WENT FROM THE PARKING LOT ALL THE WAY AROUND TO THE BACK OF THE BUILDING AND BRANCH OFF TO THE OTHER, TO THE RIGHT SIDE.
IT WAS A LOT OF FOLKS, AND IT WAS FUN.
UH, THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THE FOOD, UH, WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS.
UM, SO YES, UH, IF YOU CAN COME OUT THERE, UM, I THINK IT'S NINE O'CLOCK NEXT THURSDAY.
UM, AGAIN, THE THIRD THURSDAY.
UM, UM, MS. HENDERSON, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR, YOUR WORK, UH, IN SURREY COUNTY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND THAT WAS VOLUNTEER AND PROBABLY CAN BREATHE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
UH, CONGRATS ON, UH, REACHING A HUNDRED YEARS OLDER.
UM, I, I WENT PAST THE FIRE AND, UH, I'M SORRY.
YEAH, THE FIRETRUCK, THE, THE TRUCK IN THE, UH, RESCUE SQUAD OUT FRONT, AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S BRAND NEW AND IT'S JUST LIKE SHINY AND PRETTY UNDER THE LIGHTS.
UM, BUT MOSTLY I'D LIKE TO THANK THE, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE RESCUE SQUAD FOLKS WHO ARE DOING YOUR SERVICE.
UH, WE SURELY APPRECIATE YOU, DEFINITELY NEED YOU.
UH, BUT THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICES.
UM, UM, AS IT WAS MENTIONED, WE WENT TO THE RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL, UH, FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING.
WE'VE TOURED IT BEFORE, AND, OH MY GOSH, WALKING BACK INTO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
I, I JUST WAS THINKING ABOUT THE LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR VEHICLES, COUNTY VEHICLES RUNNING BACK AND FORTH, UH, SOME SAVINGS THERE.
AND, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, UH, EMPLOYING 350 THERE.
THAT'S, UH, THAT'S REALLY NICE.
I HOPE SOME OF THE STORY FOLKS, UH, MAYBE CAN FIND JOBS OUT THERE.
AND AGAIN, WANT TO, UM, MENTION THE TREE LIGHTING, AS EVERYBODY SAID IS, UH, NEXT, THIS TUESDAY TONIGHT.
IF YOU'RE TRAVELING AT AFTER MIDNIGHT OR WHATEVER THE SNOW STARTS IN THE MORNING, JUST PLEASE BE SAFE.
I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A, A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN IN 2026.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK OUR STUDENT LIAISON, MS. RELL, TO GIVE US HER COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO, AGAIN, THANK THE PORT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRSTLY, UM, AGAIN, UM, CONGRATULATE MR. CAMERON DREW ON HIS SUCCESS IN HIS CAMPAIGN AND BECOMING A NEW, HONORABLE MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE HOW PROUD I AM OF HIM, AND HOW GRATEFUL MYSELF AND THE REST OF THE YOUTH ARE TO HIM IN ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR US.
HE HAS SHOWN US THAT NO MATTER THE AGE, ANYONE IS ABLE TO CHASE THEIR DREAMS AND BECOME AN HONORABLE MEMBER IN SOCIETY AND MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD AROUND US.
[01:15:01]
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS THAT WERE MADE TO MAKE, TO PRODUCE THE CROSSWALKS AT SURREY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.AS A STUDENT, I CAN FIRSTHAND, UM, EXPERIENCE THESE CROSSWALKS, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THEY'RE VERY EFFECTIVE IN HELPING OUR STUDENTS STAY SAFE.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF SURREY AND THE LEADERS OF SURREY FOR HOW WELL THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WELL TOGETHER AND MAKING THEIR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE AND HELPING TO GROW THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO END BY HA, UM, WISHING EVERYBODY A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY, UH, NEW YEAR'S.
UM, I AM HONORED TO SIT HERE BEFORE YOU, UM, THIS EVENING.
I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, UM, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY MY MEMAW HEY, MEMAW
UM, THANK YOU TO THE DND DISTRICT FOR ENTRUSTING ME TO SERVE YOU ALL.
UM, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH, EVERY ONE OF YOU AND, AND JUST KNOW THAT I'M GONNA DO MY ALL TO SERVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
UM, THANK YOU TO THESE AMAZING GENTLEMEN AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND MS. PERKINS, UM, ON THIS BOARD FOR WELCOMING ME, UM, HELPING ME ALONG THE WAY, UM, GETTING ME, UH, UP TO SPEED ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I TRULY APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
UM, WHAT ELSE? WHAT ELSE, UH, I WANNA SAY ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. HENDERSON, UM, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE ECONOMIC, UM, DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
UH, IT, IT IS REALLY, IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO SEE, UH, UH, OUR CITIZENS SERVE ON THESE COMMITTEES.
AND JUST TO GIVE BACK TO THAT COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, ALSO A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MS. RUBY PRICE.
UM, I HOPE TO SEE 100 AS WELL.
UM, I HAVE, I HAVE 81 YEARS TO GET THERE, BUT
UM, THANK YOU MR. PHELPS AND THE EMS, UH, FOR ALL OF YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, AND SEEING THE RIVERSIDE, UH, HOSPITALS TODAY, I KNOW THAT WOULD BE, UM, SOMETHING TREMENDOUS FOR OUR COUNTY THAT'S GONNA HELP ALL THE CITIZENS AS WELL.
UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, UM, TO STAY UP TO DATE ON SOME OF LIKE THE, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA THINGS, FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, UM, OUR IT DEPARTMENT, MS. LAUREN AND ALL WHO WORK, UM, ON THAT, DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
UM, YOU ALSO CAN SEE OUR NEW TOURISM VIDEO THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED US ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
UM, ALSO THE, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A CHRISTMAS PARADE, AND BEFORE THAT, IT'S THE GLOW BEFORE, UM, PARADE, UH, PART OF THE PARADE AS WELL, RIGHT BEFORE THE PARADE.
UM, SO JUST FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO STAY UP TO DATE AND TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE HAVE GOING ON.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT ON MONDAY, I ALSO, NO, TUESDAY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO ATTEND TO BRING YOUR LEGISLATOR TO SCHOOL EVENT.
UM, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THAT SCHOOL, PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING.
JOIN THE PTA, UM, BEING A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
WE FUND, UM, A, A GOOD PORTION OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THE TEST SCORES, THE, THE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE'RE PRODUCING, UM, AND THE CLUBS AND, AND, AND AS A BASKETBALL COACH AS WELL.
THE SPORTS PROGRAMS ARE, ARE DOING VERY WELL.
THERE'S A LOT TO BRAG ABOUT IN S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I ACTUALLY HAVE IT RIGHT HERE,
BUT JUST PLEASE, UM, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, UM, CONT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND AS A BOARD.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HAPPY NEW YEAR'S, AND BE SAFE ON YOUR WAY HOME.
MR. PIERCE, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT CHAIR.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHO'S WATCHING AT HOME.
UM, MR. CHAIR, IT'S KIND OF TOUGH WHEN EVERYBODY GOES BEFORE YOU, RIGHT?
I JUST WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THANK THE BOARD, UH, OF SUPERVISORS FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY, SERVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR RESPECTED, UM, UH, DISTRICTS.
UM, AND, AND, AND, AND AGAIN, DITTO TO PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SAID.
UH, EMS AND OUR, OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE, EXCUSE ME, OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I HOPE I GOT YOU GUYS' NAMES, RIGHT.
IS IT MR. STEWART? IS IT? AND, UH, UH, HEATHER, JOSH, CHANCE, ASHLEY AND CHASE.
DID I GET EVERYBODY'S NAME? ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT HERE TONIGHT.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR SERVICES YOU DO FOR OUR CITIZENS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU MAY NOT HEAR IT ENOUGH, BUT WE TRULY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AS FAR AS, UH, FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND IN THE COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU ALL AND CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO ASSIST YOU GUYS, JUST LET US KNOW.
AND WE TRY OUR BEST TO, TO KEEP THINGS GOING, KEEPING THINGS,
[01:20:01]
UH, THE EQUIPMENT AND DIFFERENT APPARATUS YOU MAY NEED TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND ALL YOU DO AND YOUR EFFORTS.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THE PRE PRESENTERS TONIGHT.
UM, THE, UH, CRATER, UM, EXCUSE ME, THE CRATER DISTRICT AREA AGENCY, UH, THEY GAVE A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION AS FAR AS OUR SENIOR, UH, POPULATION HERE IN SHERRY COUNTY.
UH, WE DO HAVE A RISING SENIOR POPULATION HERE, BUT LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SENIOR, UH, THAT WERE IN HERE TONIGHT, UM, UH, LOOK LIKE WE HAVE THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH HERE IN SARA COUNTY AS WELL.
UH, EVERY ONE OF OUR, OUR SENIORS ARE ASIAN GRACEFULLY.
UH, WITH THAT'S BEING SAID, I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL A SHOUT OUT TO MS, UH, HENDERSON FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US HERE IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR BEING A, A, A GOOD, UH, INSPIRATION AND, AND DOING YOUR SERVICES AND, AND BEING SELFLESS AS FAR AS HELPING OUR COMMUNITY GROW.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR, UM, MY, UH, I CALL HER COUSIN RUBY, BUT I SEEN HER GROWING UP IN CHURCH.
UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, UH, UH, AGING GRACEFULLY, UH, A HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE, THAT'S TRULY A BLESSING AND JUST A REMARKABLE, UM, UM, TESTAMENT ON, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AND, AND LIVING RIGHT.
AND, AND, AND BLESSINGS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW.
UH, I WANT TO, UM, GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT AGAIN TO MR. DREW FOR YOUR FIRST MEETING TONIGHT.
UH, UH, FEELS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE UP HERE ON, ON THE DUNN SIDE, RE REPRESENTING THE DENVER, UM, UH, CITIZENS.
UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL, UH, ALL WHO HELPED WITH THE CROSSWALK AND THE NEW SIDEWALKS AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UM, THE STUDENTS WERE VERY SURPRISED WHEN THEY, UH, ARRIVED AT SCHOOL OR AFTER THE THANKSGIVING BREAK.
UM, THE COMPANY THAT REALLY, UH, DID THE SERVICES DID A GREAT JOB.
I THINK THE ONLY DAY THEY TOOK OFF, UM, WAS ON THANKSGIVING,
AND, UH, THEY WERE OUT THERE THE NEXT DAY ENSURING THAT THE PROJECT WOULD GET DONE BY THE DEADLINE ON NOVEMBER 30TH.
AND I'M PRETTY, I'M, I THINK THEY DID HIT THAT.
UM, SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT AS WELL.
UM, A REMINDER FOR, UM, THE PARADE THAT WE HAVE COMING UP, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE ON SEPTEMBER THE 13TH.
I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, DECEMBER THE 13TH.
UM, PLEASE COME OUT TO SUPPORT THAT.
I THINK THAT WILL BE A GREAT EVENT.
THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTING THAT WE HAVE COMING UP ON TUESDAY, CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING THAT WE HAVE COMING UP TUESDAY, WE ASK THAT YOU ALL PLEASE COME OUT TO, UM, TO, UM, SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.
I WANNA GIVE A, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY, MY CHURCH, ST.
PAUL HOLINESS CHURCH FOR THE MEALS THAT GIVE OUT TO, UM, THE, UM, FAMILIES OVER THE THANKSGIVING BREAK THAT WAS TRULY, UH, A, A BLESSING TO, TO MANY.
AND, UH, I HOPE I'M NOT, UH, OVERSTEPPING THE BOUNDARIES, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO, UH, SOMEONE WHO'S IN HERE TONIGHT THAT WILL BE RETIRING SOON.
BUT MISS BERTHA THOMAS, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, UH, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US, UH, STUDENTS HERE IN S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO PRETTY.
UM, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE YOU HAVE DONE, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.
UM, BUT WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, AGAIN, UM, UH, WORK IS STILL BEING DONE.
UH, WE AS A BOARD MEMBER, LISTEN TO THE CONSTITUENTS WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS, EMAILS AND, AND VARIOUS OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION, WHETHER IT'S FACEBOOK, FACE-TO-FACE.
WE TRY OUR BEST TO APPEASE EVERYBODY, BUT WE KNOW THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.
SO WE DO OUR BEST TO, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT AS IN A WHOLE, THAT EVERYONE'S LIFE HERE IN S COUNTY HAS THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE, WHETHER IT'S FROM OUR PRE-K KIDS AT S COUNTY ELEMENTARY, ALL THE WAY TO OUR ELDERLY THAT WE HAVE LOOK, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A HUNDRED PLUS YEAR OLD CITIZENS LIVING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT JUST SPEAKS WELL ON HOW HEALTHY OF A COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE AS A BOARD TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR OUR CITIZENS.
I HOPE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAYS, A HAPPY NEW YEAR'S, AND PLEASE DRIVE HOME SAFELY TONIGHT.
YOU TOOK, TOOK THE WIN OUTTA MY CELL JUST A LITTLE BIT.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY YEARS? 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR SIRI.
I JUST WANNA TAKE A REAL QUICK, UM, MOMENT JUST TO THANK ALL THE SARA TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE, IN THE MEETING ON TONIGHT.
UM, AND, UM, SOMEONE DID ALREADY MENTION REGARDING THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, SARAH TEAM DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB IN PUTTING ON THOSE EVENTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF LOGISTICS THAT'S INVOLVED.
UM, I KNOW ALL OF THEM ARE NOT HERE, BUT THOSE WHO ARE HERE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
UM, MS. CHAPLIN AND HER TEAM, MS. PIERCE, UM, THE, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES, THOSE WHO ARE PUTTING ON, UM, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE.
WE JUST WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY FOR, UM, FOR GETTING THAT TOGETHER.
UM, MR. UH, PIERCE MENTIONED, UM, THE SIDEWALL PROJECT AT THE SCHOOL AND THE TIMENESS OF THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT THAT WAS
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INTENTIONAL AND THAT WE CAN GIVE CREDIT TO OUR, UM, THE DEPUTY DIRECT, UH, DEPUTY ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATOR, MR. BROWN AND HIS OPERATIONS TEAM.UM, THEY WORKED WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS DONE OVER THE HOLIDAY AND THAT THE SCHOOLS KIDS WOULD COME BACK.
JUST WORKING THROUGH ALL THOSE DETAILS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT.
UM, SARAH, TEAM MEMBERS DO A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU MS. FA, FOR READING THE ROOM TONIGHT.
IT LOOKS VERY FESTIVE, SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL.
AND, UM, JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE DO APPRECIATE ALL SIR, TEAM MEMBERS.
THANK YOU MR. FELTON, MR. MR. WADE, UM, WHO'S PRESENT, AND HOPEFULLY I GOT EVERYONE.
BUT THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
IN CLOSING, IT ISN'T THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TURMOIL AND, AND OUR, UH, COMMUNITIES AND COUNTRY TODAY, LET US TRY OUR BEST TO SPREAD LOVE DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
I, I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S, YOU GOTTA JUST PUT THE AX DOWN AND JUST SPREAD LOVE.
AND WE CAN PICK UP THE AX AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, BUT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, LET'S BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.
CAN, CAN SARA COUNTY BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER? THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL, UH, ENTERTAIN ADJOURNMENT UNTIL JANUARY THE 15TH.