[Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption]
[00:00:06]
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR MARCH 5TH, 2026 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR MEETING, TONIGHT, WE'LL HAVE OUR INVOCATION WE'LL BE GIVEN BY PASTOR ANTHONY WASHINGTON OF ONE BAPTIST CHURCH, SPRING GROVE, VIRGINIA.
SHALL WE? OKAY, NICE AND LOUD.
SHALL WE BOW IN THE WORD OF PRAYER? FATHER GOD, FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER ONE MORE TIME.
GOD, YOU HAVE KEPT US FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
YOU'VE KEPT US FROM TIME LIKE THIS.
GOD AND GOD, IF WE EVER NEEDED YOU, GOD, WE NEED YOU NOW.
GOD, OUR NATION IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR, GOD.
WE NEED YOUR WISDOM, AND WE NEED YOUR UNDERSTANDINGS.
WE ASK YOU TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING.
FATHER GOD, THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE.
WE ASK YOU TO ENCOURAGE THE FAMILIES AND COMFORT THEM GOD, FOR TIMES SUCH AS THIS.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS NATION, AND WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
GOD, WE RECOGNIZE AND REALIZE, GOD, IF YOU DON'T LEAD US GOD, WE WILL FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
SO GOD, GIVE OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.
GOD, LET THEM OH GOD, NOT FORGET THAT THEY, WE ARE THE SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE, LORD GOD.
AND WE'VE BEEN CALLED FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS.
GOD, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS US AS WE CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS HERE IN S COUNTY.
THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY, THOSE WHO HAVE HAD NEEDS, PRESSING NEEDS, GOD, WE ASK YOU GIVE US WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS.
NOW, GOD, IF WOULD THOSE WHO ARE EVEN COMING THERE TO COMPLAIN OR HAVE ISSUES, GOD WE PRAY IT ALL BE DONE.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THINGS, FOR YOU.
THANK YOU PASTOR WASHINGTON FOR THE, THE PRAYER.
WE'LL NOW CALL OUR MARCH 5TH, 2026 BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING TO ORDER.
I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I WOULD NOW ASK THAT WE ALL RISE FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NATION LIBERTY BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE AGENDA FOR OUR MEETING FOR TONIGHT.
MAY I ASK A MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. CHAIRMAN.
THIS MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND THAT WE APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
ALL IN FAVOR? SOME VOTE OF AYE.
HAVE IT MOTION PASSES ANE ASK MADAM RODS, IF YOU MIND READING THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.
[Consent Items]
YOU HAVE YOUR CONSENT ITEMS. UM, TONIGHT WE HAVE FOUR CONSENT ITEMS, ONE BEING A RESOLUTION HONORING MR. MARVIN SHERLOCK HOLMES.WE HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANIE L LANE REACHING THE AGE OF 90.
WE ALSO HAVE A THIRD RESOLUTION OF, UH, CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH, 2026 HISTORICAL ANNIVERSARY, 160 YEARS, AND RECEIVING A VIRGINIA HISTORICAL HIGHWAY MARKER.
WE ALSO HAVE THE APPROVAL OF DRAFT MINUTES.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TONIGHT, MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.
APOLOGIES FOR INTERRUPTING, BUT, UM, I DO HAVE A FEW POINTS OF CLARIFICATION THAT ARE NEEDED ON THE MINUTES.
UM, IF, IF THIS WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO BRING THAT UP.
UM, LET'S, LET'S PULL THE RESOLUTIONS FROM THE, UH, CONSENT ITEMS FIRST AND THEN WE'LL REACH DOWN TO THE MINUTES FOR YOUR CORRECTIONS FOR CLARITY, PLEASE.
UM, BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE, UH, THREE RESOLUTIONS, UH, BEFORE US TONIGHT.
UH, ONE FOR MR. MAR, UH, MARVIN SHERLOCK HOLMES.
UM, I'LL DO THE HONOR OF READING THAT FOR MR. HOLMES.
WE ALSO TOO HAVE ONE FOR MS. JANIE L LANE.
I'LL ASK THAT SUPERVISOR HARDY BE PREPARED TO READ THAT.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE ONE FOR CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH.
[00:05:01]
DREW, BE PREPARED TO READ THAT AS WELL.WE ASK THAT YOUR, UH, EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT, UH, HERE AND VIRTUALLY.
I MOVE THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE AND WE WILL HOLD OVER ONE THROUGH ONE.
NUMBER FOUR FOR CLARITY FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
IS IT MOVED? AND PROPERLY? SECOND.
ALRIGHT, UH, THIS EVENING WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TONIGHT FOR MR. UH M SHERLOCK HOLMES.
WE DO HAVE HIS FAMILY PRESENT HERE TONIGHT.
UM, I WILL READ THE, THE RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF MR. HOLMES RESOLUTION, HONORING LIFE, LEGACY AND PROFOUND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MARVIN SHERLOCK HOLMES.
WHEREAS M SHERLOCK HOLMES, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SRE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 1ST, 2026, LEAVING BEHIND AN EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE PRINCIPLE LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING ADVOCACY FOR FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS DURING AN ERA MARKED BY ENTRENCHED RACIAL DEMI DISCRIMINATION AND THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF JIM CROW LAWS, M SHERLOCK HOLMES ROSE WITH DIGNITY AND COURAGE AND RESOLVED TO CHALLENGE INJUSTICE AND TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY AND MORAL CLARITY.
AND WHEREAS IN 1971, M SHERLOCK HOLMES MADE HISTORY WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO THE S COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, EY DISTRICT, ALONGSIDE WALTER N. HARDY, AND EDWARD JOHNS FORMING THE FIRST BLACK LEADERSHIP MAJORITY ON THE BOARD AND BECOMING AMONG THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICANS TO LEAD S COUNTY AN ACHIEVEMENT OF STATEWIDE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AND WHEREAS M SHERLOCK HOLMES SERVED THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, INCLUDING 17 YEARS AS CHAIRMAN, PROVIDING STEADY, INDEPENDENT AND NO NONSENSE LEADERSHIP GUIDED BY CON CONCISE CONSENSE RATHER THAN CONVENIENCE.
AND BY, EXCUSE ME, CONSCIENCE RATHER THAN CONVENIENCE BY WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS RIGHT RATHER THAN POLITICALLY EXPE EXPEDITED.
AND WHEREAS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, S COUNTY TRANSFORMED FROM A COUNTY ONCE DISPARED AS SE SORRY, COUNTY, AND TO A COMMUNITY MARKED BY IMPROVED PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NEW GOVERNMENT FACILITIES STRENGTHENED PUBLIC SERVICE AND RENEWED CIVIC PRIDE.
AND WHEREAS M SHERLOCK HOLMES WAS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, RECOGNIZING IT AS THE CORNERSTONE OF OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRESS.
AND HE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SECURING INVESTMENTS THAT LED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HIGH SCHOOL, IMPROVED TEACHER SALARIES AND A STRONGER COMMITMENT TO THE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE OF S COUNTY'S CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, M SHERLOCK'S EXEMPLIFIED THE VALUES OF FAIRNESS, CALM, RESOLVE, AND RESPECT ACROSS RACIAL AND POLITICAL LINES, EARNING THE TRUST AND ADMIRATION OF COLLEAGUES AND CITIZENS ALIKE, DEMONSTRATING THAT TRUE LEADERSHIP SEEKS JUSTICE WITHOUT SEEKING DOMINANCE.
AND WHEREAS EVEN AFTER STEPPING DOWN FROM PUBLIC OFFICE, M SHERLOCK HOLMES REMAINED A TRUST, EXCUSE ME, A TRUSTED ADVISOR, MENTOR, AND RESPECTED VOICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, CONTINUING TO SHAPE S COUNTY THROUGH HIS WISDOM, EXPERIENCE AND EXAMPLE, AND WHERE IS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, IT IS ESPECIALLY FITTING TO HONOR M SHERLOCK HOLMES AS A PIONEER WHOSE LIFE AND SERVICE EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY, STRENGTHEN DE UH, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AND HELP CHART A MORE JUST AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE OF SE COUNTY.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY HONORED AND AND CO COMM, UH, CONGLOMERATE THE LIFE AND SERVICE AND ENDURING LEGACY OF M SHERLOCK HOLMES, RECOGNIZING HIM AS A TRAILBLAZER, A PRINCIPAL PUBLIC SERVANT, AND A CORNERSTONE OFS COUNTY'S HISTORY.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXTEND ITS DEEPENED CONDOLENCES TO THE HOLMES FAMILY, AND EXPRESS PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR THE IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EMMA SHERLOCK HOLMES TO THE PEOPLE OF CHERRY COUNTY.
AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION BE PRESENTED TO THE FAMILY OF EMMA SHERLOCK HOLMES AND ENTER INTO THE PERMANENT RECORDS OF CHERRY COUNTY AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO HIS LIFE AND LEGACY ADOPTED THIS 5TH OF MARCH, 2026, UH, ATTESTED BY MS. MELISSA D ROBS.
I'LL ASK IF A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FAMILY COULD PLEASE COME UP
[00:10:45]
NEXT.WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL HAVE A RESOLUTION READ BY SUPERVISOR HARDY, RECOGNIZING MS. JANIE L LANE REC REACHING THE AGE OF 90 YEARS OLD.
IT'S RESOLUTION 26, I'M SORRY, 2026 DASH OH SEVEN AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTROOM, THE SURREY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2026 AT 6:00 PM ALL PRESENT RECOGNITION OF MS. JANIE L LANE FOR REACHING THE AGE OF 90 PLUS.
WHEREAS MS. JANIE L LANE IS A SAFE HARBOR OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND AFFECTION.
A WOMAN WHOSE WARMTH, COMPASSION, AND GRACE HAVE TOUCHED COUNTLESS LIVES.
AND WHEREAS SHE IS KNOWN FOR ALWAYS HAVING TIME TO LISTEN, TO SHARE KIND WORDS, AND TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL VALUED AND SPECIAL, OFFERING THE WARMEST HUGS AND THE GENTLEST ENCOURAGEMENT.
AND WHEREAS MS. LANE IS A VIRTUOUS WOMAN OF INTEGRITY AND GRACE, WHOSE LIFE EXEMPLIFIES FAITH, HUMILITY, AND STEADFAST DEVOTION TO HER FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND THE LORD.
AND WHEREAS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SURY COUNTY, VIRGINIA, MS. LANE WILL CELEBRATE HER 94TH BIRTHDAY ON JULY 6TH, 2026, MARKING NEARLY A CENTURY OF LOVE, SERVICE AND FAITHFULNESS.
AND WHEREAS BORN AND RAISED IN SURY COUNTY, SHE HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO HER FAMILY, TO SERVING GOD, FINDING JOY IN COOKING, CRAFTING, READING HER BIBLE, AND IN EARLIER YEARS, GARDENING FOR HER FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS.
AND WHEREAS MS. LANE HAS REMAINED DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY, SHE HAS CALLED HOME FOR MORE THAN NINE DECADES, SHE BODYING THE VALUES OF KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND DEVOTION THAT DEFINE THE SPIRIT OF SURY COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS SHE'S A FAITHFUL AND DEVOTED MEMBER OF MOUNT NEBO BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE SHE ONCE TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND SANG SOLOS IN THE JUNIOR CHOIR, SHARING HER FAITH AND TALENTS WITH OTHERS.
AND WHEREAS MS. LANE'S STRENGTH, WARMTH, AND ENDURANCE SPIRIT REFLECT THE VALUES THAT HAVE GUIDED HER THROUGHOUT HER LIFE, INSPIRING ALL WHO KNOW HER, AND WHEREAS SHE HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO HER FAMILY FIRST AS A LOVING WIFE TO THE LATE MR. MAURICE LANE SENIOR.
AND AS A DEVOTED MOTHER TO SIX CHILDREN, CONTINUING HER LEGACY OF LOVE AS A CHERISHED GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER.
AND WHEREAS MS. LANE IS ADMIRED BY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY ALIKE FOR HER KINDNESS, GRACE, AND STEADY PRESENCE, HER LIFE STANDING AS A TESTAMENT TO LOVE, FAITH AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THOSE CLOSEST TO HER.
WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SURY COUNTY, WHICH IS TO RECOGNIZE THIS MILESTONE AM MISS JANIE L LANE'S LIFE AND THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS SHE HAS MADE TO MAKE A SURY COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS.
NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY EXTEND ITS HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO MISS JANIE L LANE FOR HAVING REACHED THE 94TH YEAR OF HER LIFE AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS RESOLUTION BE DELIVERED FORTHWITH TO MS. JANIE L LANE.
AND THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD UPON THE RECORDS OF THE SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
ALL THE TESTS, MELISSA D. ROLLINS, CLERK, MR. HAND, MS. LANE.
[00:15:20]
OH, SURE.LAN YOU MAKE 90 PLUS LOOK SO WELL
I I DIDN'T, UM, UH, GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOLMES FAMILY.
DID YOU GUYS WANNA SAY SOMETHING? UM, ON BEHALF OF, UM, THE LATE MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES, THANK YOU AGAIN.
WE HAVE ONE MORE RESOLUTION, UM, ON BEHALF OF CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH, THE 2026 HISTORICAL ANNIVERSARY, 160 YEARS, AND RECEIVING A VIRGINIA HISTORICAL HIGHWAY MARKER.
AN ANSWER SUPERVISOR DREW, UH, COULD READ THAT FOR ME, PLEASE.
TONIGHT I HAVE THE HIGH HONOR OF READING THE RESOLUTION FOR CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH RESOLUTION 2026 DASH ZERO EIGHT AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTROOM OF SURREY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2026 AT 6:00 PM ALL ARE PRESENT RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION OF CYPRUS BAPTIST CHURCH ON ITS 2026 HISTORICAL ANNIVERSARY, AND TO COMMEND THE CONGREGATION ON RECEIVING A HISTORIC VIRGINIA HIGHWAY MARKER.
WHEREAS CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH LOCATED IN ELBURN COMMUNITY OF SURREY COUNTY, VIRGINIA, IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES IN SURREY COUNTY WITH ROOTS, ROOTS TRACING TO THE AUTUMN OF 1866.
AND WHEREAS THE CONGREGATION WAS ORGANIZED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF IRENE GEORGE AT THE HOME OF, I BELIEVE IT'S EASTER ELY, AND IN 1867, MOVED ITS MINISTRY TO SURREY COUNTY, WHERE THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED A LASTING PRESENCE AND LATER SECURED PROPERTY FOR ITS PERMANENT HOME.
AND WHEREAS FOR GENERATIONS, CYPRESS CHURCH HAS SERVED AS A PILLAR OF FAITH, COMMUNITY, AND FELLOWSHIP, SUSTAINING FAMILIES, NURTURING SPIRITUAL LIFE, AND STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF ALBERTIN AREA AND SURY COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA HAS RECOGNIZED THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CYPRUS BAPTIST CHURCH THROUGH THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL HIGHWAY MARKER PROGRAM WITH THE STATE BOARD APPROVING A MARKER HONORING THE CHURCH HISTORY.
AND WHEREAS IN 2026, CYPRUS BAPTIST CHURCH COMMEMORATES ITS HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY MARKING APPROXIMATELY 160 YEARS SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1866.
AND THIS MILESTONE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SURREY COUNTY TO CELEBRATE THE CHURCH'S LEGACY AND HONOR THOSE WHO BUILT AND SUSTAINED IT.
WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SURREY COUNTY IN VIRGINIA HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 2026 HISTORICAL ANNIVERSARY.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO CONGREGATION ON RECEIVING A VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA HISTORICAL HIGHWAY MARKER.
AND NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXTENDS ITS APPRECIATION TO PASTOR LUCY AS ROBERTSON, AS WELL AS TO CURRENT AND FORMER PASTORS, OFFICERS, MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS OF CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THEIR ENDURING SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPIRITUAL, SPIRITUAL LIFE.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS RESOLUTION BE DELIVERED FORTH WITH TO PASTOR LUCY S ROBERTSON IN THE CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD UPON THE RECORDS OF SUR COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED ON THE FIFTH DAY OF MARCH, 2026, AND IS TESTED BY MELISSA D. ROLLINS MEMBERS FOR A PICTURE.
[00:20:45]
ON BEHALF OF, UH, REVEREND LUCY SKATES ROBINSON, OUR PASTOR AT CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH.SHE COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE'S, UH, TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN, UH, WITH FAMILY, UH, FOR FUNERAL SERVICE.
BUT SHE DID ASK THAT AS MANY MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION COULD COME TO SUPPORT THIS THANK YOU MEMBERS OF CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH.
THANK YOU SARA COUNTY FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
IT IS INDEED AN HONOR AND I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, OUR TRUSTEES AND THOSE WHO HAD THE VISION TO INITIATE THE PROCESS FOR THE HIGHWAY HISTORICAL MARKER THAT HAS COME TO FRUITION.
WOULD THAT BE AN UNVEILING OF THE MARKER OR IS IT A LATER DATE OR IS IT A DATE OR SOMETHING? SAID ANOTHER DATE.
LET'S GONNA RUN ANOTHER RUN OF APPLAUSE.
UM, SUPERVISOR HARDY AND SUPERVISOR DREW FOR READING THOSE RESOLUTIONS.
[4. Approval of Draft Minutes - February 5, 2026]
OVER TO MS. PERKINS FOR, UH, SOME REMARKS ABOUT OUR FEBRUARY 5TH, UH, MINUTES.UM, SO I, I DID IDENTIFY TWO POINTS OF CLARIFICATION, UM, IN THE DRAFT MINUTES BEFORE YOU, UH, SO ON THE FIRST PAGE, UM, UH, VICE CHAIR WALTER HARDY IS LISTED AS ABSENT AND HE ACTUALLY ARRIVED LATE, UM, AT THAT MEETING, BUT HE WAS PRESENT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE MEETING.
UM, SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST CHANGE.
UM, AND THEN ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE MINUTES, UH, JUST SOME CLARIFICATION ON, UM, THE MOTION GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION AND THEN COMING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.
UM, AND, UH, THAT, UH, THOSE CHANGES ARE IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH ON THE LAST PAGE.
IF WE COULD STRIKE ON THE RESOLUTION.
SO IT WOULD JUST READ MS. PERKINS ASKED FOR A MOTION FOR THE BOARD TO CONVENE A CLOSED SESSION.
UH, THERE ISN'T A RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, IT'S JUST A MOTION.
AND THEN ON THE SECOND LINE OF THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S AN EXTRA PERIOD BETWEEN 37 AND 11 IN THE CODE SECTION.
AND THE CODE SECTION SHOULD BE 37 11, NO PERIOD.
UM, THEN IN THE 1, 2, 3, 4, IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH, UM, IF WE COULD I PROPOSE A CHANGE, UH, MS. PERKINS READ AND ASKED FOR A MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION AND THEN CERTIFYING CLOSED SESSIONS, SO TO DELETE, TO CERTIFY THE ACTIONS OF THE BOARD IN CLOSED SESSION.
AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THERE ARE NO ACTIONS THAT ARE TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.
ANY ACTION MUST BE TAKEN WHEN YOU ALL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION.
SO, UM, SORRY TO BE NITPICKY, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CLOSED SESSION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE, WE ARE, UH, ACCURATELY REFLECTING WHAT WAS DONE IN THE MINUTES.
BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CORRECTIONS? UH, MS. PERKINS JUST MENTIONED TO THE BOARD HEARING HONOR, I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, FOR THE APPROVAL OF CONSENT ITEMS. MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT, UH, WE APPROVE THE MINUTES AS GIVEN WITH THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS.
IT'S A MOVE AND PROBABLY SECOND THAT WE, UH, HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS.
ALL IN FAVOR OF SAY, MOTION, SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED, AYES HAVE MOTION PASSES.
[Public Comments]
MEMBERS, WE NOW HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.TONIGHT, WE HAVE RECEIVED TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
FIRST BEING FROM MS. MARILYN HOWELL, I'LL ASK THAT YOU COME BEFORE US FOR THE PODIUM.
[00:25:01]
FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT IF MR. HARRISON MIND BEING THE TIMEKEEPER FOR TONIGHT.I AM THE PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF CHIP OAKS STATE PARK.
IT'S A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION AND I AM COMING TO, AS AN INVITATION, I HAVE, UM, SOME INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLETS FOR THE BOARD.
AND I'M COMING TO INVITE YOU BECAUSE I SEE YOU ON FACEBOOK A LOT, THAT A LOT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PARK AND SOMETIMES THE INFORMATION IS MISINFORMATION.
AND I WANT Y'ALL TO COME OUT AND SEE THE THINGS THAT THE PARK DOES, THE THINGS THAT THE VOLUNTEERS DO FOR THE PARK.
BECAUSE WE, EVERYTHING WE DO IS DONATIONS AND IT GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE PARK.
AND WE HAVE SOME UPCOMING EVENTS.
NEXT MONTH WE HAVE OUR, UM, EASTER EGG HUNT ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE FOURTH.
AND THEN TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH WE HAVE OUR USED TO BE CALLED OUR GARDEN TEA.
AND NOW IT'S GONNA BE CALLED OUR AFTERNOON TEA.
AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO COME OUT TO SEE WHAT CHIP OAKS IS ALL ABOUT, WHAT FRIENDS OF CHIP OAKS VOLUNTEER IS ALL ABOUT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE PARK MEMBERS, PARK WORKERS THERE THAT COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE PARK.
AND, UM, SO YOU COULD JUST SEE THE THINGS THAT THAT'S HAPPENING IN SURREY THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES HERE.
SO I'M NOT ASKING QUESTIONS OR FUSSING OR COMPLAINING.
I'M COMING AS A OPEN INVITATION FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER TO OUR FAMILY AND OUR, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYBODY IN SURY COUNTY.
AND I'M JUST GONNA LEAVE THESE RIGHT HERE WITH THE CHAIRMAN.
NEXT BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE MR. TREVOR JOHNSTON.
I ASK THAT YOU COME TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHAT DISTRICT YOU ARE IN.
UM, I AM THE CURRENT PARK MANAGER OF OKE STATE PARK.
UM, I'M IN SURREY COUNTY, SO, UM, I APOLOGIZE.
I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND, UH, UH, A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UH, SINCE I'VE STARTED MY, UM, POSITION AS THE PARK MANAGER.
IT'S BEEN A, A LOT OF COURSE CORRECTION IN TRYING TO GET THE, UH, RIGHT POLICIES UNDERWAY OVER THERE ON THE AGENCY SIDE.
UH, KIND OF WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR ALMOST LIKE TWO YEARS NOW, KIND OF FEELS LIKE.
SO I APOLOGIZE THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME OUT.
IT'S BEEN, UH, IT'S BEEN TOUGH.
BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS KNOWS MY FACE AND KNOWS MY NAME, UH, JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND SAY THAT AS AN ENTITY.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE ARE SEEN SEPARATE FROM THE COUNTY, UH, AND OF COURSE FOR A STATE AGENCY.
BUT, UM, A BIG PART OF THE WAY THAT I LIKE TO MANAGE THE PARK IS MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T REALLY NEED THAT ADVERTISEMENT.
UH, WE DON'T REALLY NEED ALL THE THINGS THAT THE COUNTY CAN PROVIDE TO US.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE COUNTY.
UM, WE BRING IN A LOT OF TOURISTS AND A LOT OF IMPACT TO SURY COUNTY'S ECONOMY, AND WE WANNA BE ABLE TO TURN THAT AROUND TO THE COUNTY.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE, KIND OF LIKE A SIMILAR INVITATION, UM, THAT YOU ALL CAN REACH OUT TO ME WITH BUSINESS THAT RELATES BETWEEN US, UH, DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OR PROGRAMMING SPECIAL EVENTS.
'CAUSE I WANNA BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THAT BETWEEN US AND THE COUNTY.
UM, SO I KNOW I'VE ALREADY BEEN SPEAKING WITH YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, OVER EMAIL AND IF ANYONE WANTS MY BUSINESS CARD, I HAVE THEM.
UM, LIKE I SAID, I'M THERE ALMOST ALL THE TIME, UH, DAY OR NIGHT.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH ME AND, UH, CAN REACH OUT AT YOUR PLEASURE.
THAT IS ALL OF OUR, WE HAVE GO ON MR. JENKINS.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M HERE AS THE COM, JONATHAN JENKINS AS COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUE, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS, UM, FROM LAST YEAR'S REASSESSMENT.
WHAT, OH, BEFORE YOU START MR. JENKINS, I'M, UH, WOULD DESIGNATE SOME TIME FOR YOU BEFORE OUR BOARD COMMENTS.
UH, THAT WAY YOU WON'T BE RUSHED WITH THE THREE MINUTE, UM, CLOCK.
MR. HARRISON WILL MAKE SURE YOU'RE ABOUT.
BUT, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT MR. JUKI.
ALRIGHT, THAT WAS ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE HAD, UM, COMING IN FOR TONIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[00:30:01]
I DO ALSO WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE MAIL-IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.UM, AND, UM, THOSE COMMENTS WILL BE, UH, REPLIED TO, UM, AMONGST BOARD MEMBERS AS, AS AS SEEN.
[New Business]
HAVE OUR NEW BUSINESS.UH, WE HAVE OUR S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL WELL REPLACEMENT AND WATER SYSTEM UPGRADE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL.
MR. MR. WADE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ROLLINS, MR. HARRISON, MS. PERKINS.
UM, TONIGHT WE DO HAVE THE PLEASURE TO, TO BRING BEFORE YOU A PROPOSAL FROM BO FROM BOWMAN.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR, FOR SOME TIME NOW.
AND, AND, UM, CURRENTLY THE WELL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL SITE IS UNDER ORDER FROM DEQ TO BE REPLACED.
UM, WE, UM, AS A COUNTY, WE, WE RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING FROM THE, FROM, UH, CONGRESSIONAL FUNDS FOR $3.2 MILLION, UM, TO HELP REPLACE WITH THAT THE COST OF THAT REPLACEMENT.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, UM, WE HAVE THE ENGINEERING COSTS FOR THAT WELL, REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED AT, UM, 473,693, UH, DOLLARS AT THIS TIME.
THAT COVERS, UM, THE ENGINEERING COSTS PLUS THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AND OVER OVERSIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT.
WE WILL HAVE THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS COMING BACK TOWARDS YOU ONCE THE BIDS HAVE GONE OUT TO CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES.
UM, SO AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE THAT PART YET, BUT WE WILL HAVE THAT PART LATER ON.
BUT THESE, THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ARE NOT COMING OUTTA COUNTY COFFERS.
THEY ARE COMING FROM, UH, EPA, UM, ADMINISTERED FUNDS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS, AT AT THIS POINT.
IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M FREE TO ANSWER ANY OF THEM.
BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WADE? MR. WADE? OH, MR. CHAIR.
UH, MR. DREW, QUESTION FOR MR. WADE? YES, SIR.
SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THESE FUNDS WERE GIVEN THROUGH CON CONGRESS, CORRECT? CORRECT.
ALSO, ADDITIONALLY, UM, WHAT, WHAT ARE THESE FUNDS ARE JUST COVERING THE FIRST INITIAL PHASE, WHICH IS, WHAT IS THAT PHASE AGAIN? THE, THE, SO RIGHT NOW, SO WE HAVE, THERE'S TWO, TWO AGENDA ITEMS FOR RIGHT NOW FOR NEW BUSINESS.
THE FIRST PROJECT IS AT, AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS, UM, FOR THE, WELL, UH, REPLACEMENT FOR THE, UM, THE, THE STORAGE TANK AND THEN FOR THE, THE, UM, PIPING.
SO IT'S A WHOLE BIG PROJECT TO HAVE THAT PART DONE, TO HAVE THAT PART COMPLETE.
AND, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO DESIGN THAT RIGHT AFTER WE GET APPROVAL FROM, FROM, UH, FROM YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE WE CAN EVEN CONTINUE ON.
AND THEN WE STILL HAVE TO GO, WE HAVE TO MEET WITH EPA ON A REGULAR BASIS, UM, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING EPA GUIDELINES.
SO THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HOPING I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION WITH THAT WAS, IT'S, IT'S AS CONGRESS AND EPA, THEY HAVE A LOT OF, A LOT OF HOOPS WE HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, I THINK MS. PERKINS COULD PROBABLY ASSIST WITH SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE WORK.
SHE'S BEEN ASSISTING US VERY GRATEFULLY GOING THROUGH JUMPING, JUMPING THROUGH ALL THESE HOOPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, ARE GOING THROUGH ALL THE FEDERAL, THE, THE CORRECT FEDERAL PROCUREMENT FOR THIS.
BECAUSE WE, BOWMAN IS ACTUALLY SELECTED BY, UM, WE ACTUALLY ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH THEM FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENGINEERING SERVICES.
SO, UM, THAT IS HOW THEY WERE SELECTED AS THE ENGINEER.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ANSWERING ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT I'M TRYING, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE A STAY FOCUSED.
LET, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I'M ANSWER IF I, IF I DID TOUCH ON YOUR, YOUR, YOUR NO, YOU DID.
YEAH, YOU MAY HAVE SAID I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, BUT WHAT IS THE, UH, EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE ON THAT INSPECTED COMPLETION DATE? WE HAVE BUDGETED DATE FOR THAT ONE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S AT LEAST WHERE WE, WE PUT IN OUR BUDGET FOR THAT.
AND, AND FOR CLARITY, THAT DATE IS FOR THE, THE ENGINEERING DESIGN OR THE ACTUAL NO, THAT, THAT, THAT IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION.
BOARD MEMBERS ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
AND MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I, IF I COULD CLARIFY ONE THING.
YES, MS. BURKIN, UM, MR. WADE REFERENCED THAT WE HAVE AN EXISTING, UM, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH BOWMAN THAT WAS DONE THROUGH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL THAT WAS ISSUED BACK IN 2021.
UH, THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO MULTIPLE VENDORS AS IS PERMITTED UNDER THE PROCUREMENT ACT.
AND, UH, BOWMAN WAS SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT DUE TO THEIR SPECIALTY IN WATER RELATED, UM, TYPE OF ISSUES AND PROJECTS.
MS. BURKINS, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE PRESENTATION.
WHAT IS YOUR, DO YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THIS ACTION?
[00:35:01]
THE ACTION ITEM? YES.IF, IF I MAY ASSIST WITH THAT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF THIS TASK ORDER EXCEEDS $50,000.
THAT IS WHY IT IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
UM, AND THAT IS, THAT IS UNDER OUR NEW PURCHASING POLICY THAT, THAT YOU ALL JUST APPROVED LAST MONTH.
BOARD MEMBERS, UH, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU AN ACTION ITEM.
WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE, MR. CHAIR? MR. DREW, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE SARA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL WATER REPLACEMENT AND WATER SYSTEM UPGRADE, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY MR. DREW.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. DREW AND PROBABLY SECONDED BY DR.
ELLIOT THAT WE APPROVE, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UM, THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATOR TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN PROPOSAL FROM BOWMAN.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON SAID MOTION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR FOR MOTION? SAY AYE.
MR. WADE, YOU STILL, YOU'RE STILL ON THE, STILL ON THE CLOCK.
DIFFERENT PROJECT, DIFFERENT SITE.
UM, THIS ONE'S FOR THE INDUSTRIAL PARK WATER SYSTEM UP UPGRADE.
UM, AS, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, THE, THE INDUSTRIAL PARK IS AT CAPACITY AT THIS TIME.
AND SO IN ORDER TO EXPAND TO DIFFERENT USERS, UM, TO MORE USERS, WE'D HAVE TO DO SOME SYSTEM UPGRADES THERE.
UM, THE PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME FOR UPGRADES, UM, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION COSTS IS ESTIMATED AT 551,000, $125.
UM, AND WE'RE ASKING THAT THE BOARD TO, UM, AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO, UH, TO NEGOTIATE AND APPROVE THOSE FUNDS.
YOU HEARD THE PRESENTATION OF, UM, REQUEST, EXCUSE ME, A REQUEST FROM MR. WADE.
WHAT IS, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF REQUEST OF THE REQUEST? YES.
I JUST WANT TO VERIFY FOR, FOR PUBLIC RECORD, THIS IS ALSO FROM THE FUNDS FROM SAME FUNDS, SAME POT? YES.
CONGRESSIONALLY, UH, I PUT ON THE RECORD CONGRESSIONALLY, UH, CONGRESSIONAL FUNDS FROM EPA.
ARE THERE ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, CHAIR? YES.
UH, MR. CALHOUN? MR. WADE, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING IS 551,000 APPROXIMATELY FOR THE ENGINEERING AND THE CONSTRUCTION COST FOR THESE UPGRADES.
THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION, SO THE, OVER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE CONSTRUCTION BY THE ENGINEERS.
SO IT'S, IT'S, SO THERE'S A CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF IT.
I THINK THERE'S LIKE ONE OF YOUR LAST TASKS THERE.
THEY, THERE'S THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION.
SO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SITE WILL BE BID OUT, UM, TO OTHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES.
WE WILL BRING FORTH, UM, THE BIDS TO YOU ALL AT A LATER STATE.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THOSE BIDS YET.
THEY STILL HAVE TO DESIGN THE PROJECT FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN GO TO BID.
SO WE STILL HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS JUST YET.
JUST THE OVERSIGHT AND INSPECTION COSTS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALL BOWMAN'S ABLE TO GIVE US AT THIS POINT.
SO WHEN YOU COME BACK TO US IN THE FUTURE WITH ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THAT'S STILL NOT GONNA, UH, THAT'S STILL PART OF THIS.
IT'S STILL PART OF THE SAME POT OF MIND.
OH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, MS. COLLIN, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTION? BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS.
BUT NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, YOU HEARD THE REQUEST FROM MR. UH, WADE.
WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE CHAIR? MR. DREW? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE INDUSTRIAL PARK WATER SYSTEM UPGRADE PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MADE BY MR. DREW AND THE FLOOR, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. DREW, PROBABLY SECOND BY MR. HARDY, THAT WE RECOMMEND STAFF, UM, TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATOR TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN PROPOSAL FROM BOWMAN.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY MOTION, SAY AYE.
NEXT ON NEW BUSINESS BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE OUR LETTER OF OPPOSITION, SENATE BILL 4 43.
I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MS. LOLA PERKINS.
UH, BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS, UM, A REQUEST FOR YOU TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO, UM, SIGN THE LETTER THAT'S BEFORE YOU, AND TO SUBMIT THAT LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, UM, ESTABLISHING THAT SURREY COUNTY OPPOSES SENATE BILL 4 43 AND REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE VETO THAT BILL.
SO, UM, THERE IS A SENATE BILL 4 43.
THERE'S ALSO A BILL ON THE HOUSE SIDE HOUSE BILL 8 91,
[00:40:01]
WHICH IS NOT AS FAR ALONG IN THE PROCESS, UM, THAT THESE BILLS, UM, RELATE TO BATTERY, BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS, UM, ACRONYM BEST AND MAKES BEST A BUYRIGHT ACCESSORY USE ON ANY PARCEL THAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PURSUANT TO A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IN THE CASE OF SURREY.UM, THIS WOULD ENCOMPASS, UM, SEVERAL ACRES, A GRAND TOTAL OF 9251.63 ACRES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR DEVELOPMENT.
IT ELIMINATES THE REQUIREMENT THAT NOTICE BE PROVIDED TO A LOCALITY OF A FUTURE BEST PROJECT IF IT'S ON PROPERTY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE LOCALITY FOR SOLAR.
UM, THIS IS, THAT NOTICE IS CURRENTLY REQUIRED BEFORE A BEST CAN BE CONSTRUCTED BY REMOVING THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT.
THE BILL ALSO ELIMINATES THE OPTION FOR THE LOCALITY TO NEGOTIATE A HOST CITING AGREEMENT FOR BESS.
AND, UM, REALLY AT THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE, IT'S THAT IF THIS BILL WERE TO PASS, IT WOULD REMOVE AUTHORITY THAT LOCALITIES CURRENTLY HAVE EXISTING AUTHORITY, AGAIN, BY MAKING BEST, UH, A BEST PROJECT, A BUYRIGHT ACCESSORY USE, UH, ON PROPERTY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR SOLAR.
AND AS I STATED EARLIER, SURREY HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ACREAGE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR SOLAR.
NOW THIS, THESE BILLS AND THE BILLS ARE IDENTICAL.
BOTH THE SENATE BILL AND THE HOUSE BILL ARE IDENTICAL.
UH, BUT, UH, THE, THE BILLS WOULD NOT IMPACT ANY BEST FACILITY.
THAT WAS, UM, LET'S JUST CALL IT A STANDALONE.
SO IT WAS GOING TO BE ON ITS OWN PROPERTY, TOTALLY UNRELATED FROM A SOLAR FACILITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BEAR ISLAND, UH, BEST, BEST PROJECT THAT YOU ALL APPROVED, UM, TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR, THAT THIS BILL WOULD NOT IMPACT THAT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, AT ITS HEART, IT'S SLOWLY CONTINUING TO CHIP AWAY AT THE AUTHORITY AND THE ABILITY THAT LOCALITIES HAVE TO REGULATE THEIR OWN, THEIR OWN LANDS AND THEIR OWN ZONING.
SO THAT IS WHY, UH, THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF OF COUNTIES HAS URGED LOCALITIES THAT HAVE APPROVED, UH, SOLAR PROJECTS TO OPPOSE THIS BILL AND TOVO VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION THROUGH A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
AND AGAIN, THE LETTER BEFORE YOU IS JUST PERTAINS TO 4 43 SINCE THAT IS WHAT, UM, HAS REACHED THE STAGE WHERE IT'S GOING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
BUT THE OPPOSITION WOULD ALSO EXTEND TO HOUSE BILL 8 91, WHICH AGAIN, IS STILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
I BELIEVE IT JUST PASSED THE SENATE, UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. PERKINS PERTAINING TO THE TEMPLATE? UM, THE LETTER OF OPPOSITION SENATE BILL 4 43 CHAIR QUESTION? YEP.
YES, MR. DREW? QUESTION FOR MS. PERKINS? YES.
SO JUST FOR THE, TO REINSTATE THAT, UM, THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL, SO THIS BILL, IF I'M CORRECT, TAKES AWAY LOCAL CONTROL, UM, OVER THE VEST.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT TAKES AWAY LOCAL CON LOCAL CONTROL OVER BEST PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LOCATED ON PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR, UM, THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY APPROVED FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR.
SO IT, IT IS, IT IS LIMITED IN ITS APPLICATION.
HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FACT THAT SURREY COUNTY HAS, UH, OVER 9,000 ACRES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR, IT COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, UM, IMPACT ON SURREY COUNTY.
UM, AND, AND MOREOVER, I FAILED TO MENTION THIS EARLIER, BUT THE WAY THE BILL IS WRITTEN AND HOW IT TALKS ABOUT ACCESSORY USE AND VESTS AS AN ACCESSORY USE TO SOLAR, IT DOES, IT FAILS TO DEFINE WHAT AN ACCESSORY USE IS.
UH, IF YOU COMPARE IT TO SURY COUNTY'S ORDINANCE, SURREY COUNTY'S ORDINANCE ACTUALLY ALLOWS BEST AS AN ACCESSORY USE.
HOWEVER, OUR ORDINANCE RESTRICTS THAT THE POWER THAT IS GENERATED BY THAT BEST FACILITY MUST BE ONLY FOR USE ON THE PROPERTY OF, SO ON THE PRINCIPAL USE.
IT CANNOT GO BACK ONTO THE POWER GRID.
[00:45:01]
THE STATE LED THE, THE PROPOSED, UH, BILLS AT THE STATE DO NOT HAVE THAT SAME RESTRICTION.AND IN FACT, THERE IS NO DEFINITION OF ACCESSORY USE ANYWHERE IN VIRGINIA CODE.
AND THERE IS NO DEFINITION IN THE BILLS, WHICH FURTHERS THE, THE, THE POTENTIAL IMPACT AND THE AMBIGUITY THAT WOULD COME WITH THE, THE ENACTMENT OF THESE BILLS.
MR. CHAIR, FOLLOW UP, MR. DREW, MS. PERKINS IN THIS BILL, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IMPLEMENTS HOW MANY, UH, SPECIFIC BESTS CAN GO ON AN ALREADY CITED, UM, SOLAR, SOLAR, UH, PIECE OF LAND? NO, SIR.
MR. CHAIR, ONE MORE FOLLOW UP.
YES, MR. DREW? SO FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE WAS A COMPANY THAT WANTED TO IMPLEMENT FIVE BEST, UM, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO, AND IF, AND IF ABLE TO DO SO, UM, HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES WITHIN THE COUNTY? THE ANSWER TO YOUR FIRST, FIRST QUESTION IS YES.
NOW, THERE IS IN THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, UM, IT DOES STATE THAT A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL SAFETY OR FIRE CODES AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
SO TO THE EXTENT, AND I, AND I'M SORRY I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THOSE CODES, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT WOULD LIMIT THOSE, THOSE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL CODES WOULD IMPACT THE NUMBER OF BUSES THAT COULD LOCATE ON A PROPERTY, UM, THAT, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLIED WITH.
UH, BUT BEYOND THAT, IF THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD, UM, WOULD PUT A MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN ONE BEST FACILITY AND ANOTHER BEST FACILITY, AND THERE MAY BE WELL BE THAT I JUST DON'T KNOW.
UH, BUT WITHOUT THAT, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITLESS ESSENTIALLY.
AND THE IMPACT THAT THAT WOULD HAVE ON OUR FIRE AND RESCUE.
AND I, I DON'T SEE MR. PHELPS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT THESE FACILITIES, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS.
THERE WERE CONCERNS WHEN WE PASSED OUR ORDINANCE THAT WERE ADDRESSED IN THE, IN OUR ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.
UM, THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT WERE ADDRESSED WHEN THE BEAR ISLAND PROJECT, UM, CAME BEFORE THE BOARD THAT WERE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE CONDITIONS.
UM, SO FI FIRE ISSUES ARE A CONCERN WITH THESE FACILITIES.
AND AGAIN, WE FEEL LIKE IN SURREY COUNTY, WE APPROPRIATELY PUT SOME SAFEGUARDS AND SOME, UM, SOME, YOU KNOW, BELT AND SUSPENDERS IN OUR ORDINANCE AND IN OUR CONDITIONS FOR THE PROJECT THAT WE'VE APPROVED.
BUT THIS WOULD GIVE CARTE BLANCHE AND BE BY, RIGHT? SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, OUR ORDINANCE WOULD NOT APPLY TO THIS BEST FACILITY, UM, BEYOND ANY, YOU KNOW, FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PORTIONS OF OUR ORDINANCE.
AND, UM, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, PUT ANY CONDITIONS OR, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT COULD COME UP.
SOME OF THE PUBLIC'S POTENTIAL CONCERNS.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE REQUIRE A, A COMMUNITY MEETING BEFORE A PROJECT COMES UP.
NO COMMUNITY MEETING WOULD BE REQUIRED, WOULD BE ABLE TO BE REQUIRED BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE BY RIGHT.
AND THE STATE IS BASICALLY SAYING, LOCALITIES, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS.
JUST SPEAKING TO THE TOPIC, UM, I, WHAT YOURS, MR. CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE AUDIENCE, THIS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING TO RICHMOND AND ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF, OF THE COUNTY.
UM, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SUBMITTING THIS LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR.
'CAUSE IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND OUR, BUT OUR LAST HOPE IS FOR HER TO VETO IT.
SO THIS IS WHY IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GO UP TO, TO THE CAPITOL ENRICHMENT, TO ADVOCATE TO YOUR DELIC AND SENATORS, TO LET THEM KNOW THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AND, AND THE LAWS THAT SHOULD BE REJECTED OR THEY SHOULD VOTE AGAINST.
ELLIOT, JUST TO ADD ON TO WHAT MR. DREW HAS JUST STATED, UH, ALSO IF THIS IS PASSED, THEN THIS WILL TAKE THE ABILITY FROM THE COUNTY TO DO ANY TYPE OF SITE AND AGREEMENT.
THERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE BRING THESE CORPORATIONS IN TO INCREASE OUR REVENUE.
AND IF THIS HAPPENS, THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE ANY TYPE OF FINANCES TO OFFSET THE TAX RATE AND DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THE COUNTY TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
SO I DETAILED TO WHAT MR. DREW SAID, ALONG WITH THAT, WE WON'T BE RECEIVING THE REVENUE THAT WE HAVE FROM OUR PREVIOUS, SO THIS IS DEFINITELY NECESSARY FOR US TO STAND AND ASK THE GOVERNOR TO VETO.
ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OF MEMBERS? CHAIR? UH, VICE CHAIR HARDY, UH, I DEFINITELY ECHO, UH, THE SENTIMENTS OF MR. DREW AS WELL AS REVEREND ELLIOT.
UH, THIS IS BAD FOR THE BUSINESS OF SURREY COUNTY AS WELL AS OUR OTHER RURAL COUNTIES, AND WORSE THAN THAT, IT
[00:50:01]
TAKES AWAY THE VOICE OF THE CITIZENS WE SERVE.NOT JUST THIS BOARD, BUT THE VOICE OF CITIZENS WE SERVE.
SO, UM, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, IF YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT AND ARE LISTENING AT HOME, UH, ALSO FEEL FREE TO DROP AN EMAIL TO THE GOVERNOR OFFICE AND YOUR, YOUR, YOUR DELEGATE AND OR STATE SENATOR.
HORRIBLE, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR AS, UH, DR.
ELLIE SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTIES AND LOCALITIES ABILITY TO, UH, LEVY, UH, MUCH NEEDED REVENUE TO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, LOWER THE BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS.
ANY OTHER? THANK YOU, MR. HARDY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I ECHOED THE SENTIMENTS OF, UH, MR. DREW, DR.
UH, THIS IS AGAIN, UM, I THINK THIS LETTER THAT'S DRAFTED UP, KIND TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT HERE IN S COUNTY TO NOT ONLY, UM, UM, PROTECT OUR CITIZENS, BUT ALSO THE INTEGRITY OF S COUNTY AS WELL.
SO, UM, WITH THAT BEING STATED AND LISTENING TO, UH, MRS. PERKINS PRESENTATION, EXCUSE ME, HER, UM, REPORT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE WISHES OF THE BOARD CHAIR, VICE CHAIR HARDY, UH, UH, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, SUPPORT AND APPROVE THIS, UH, THESE EFFORTS BY, UH, UH, LEGAL TO DRAFT, WELL LETTER ALREADY DRAFTED TO, UH, SEND, UM, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS BOARD, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY VICE CHAIR HARDY, SECOND BY MR. CALHOUN, THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OPPOSING SENATE BILL 4 43.
IS THERE ANY QUESTION BY SAID MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR, A.
[Presentations]
WE HAVE OUR PRESENTATIONS.WE HAVE OUR FIRST PRESENTATION TONIGHT BY MS. ROLLINS AND JAY SONATO, UM, ABOUT THE, UH, FYE JUNE 30TH, 2025 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
I AM PARTNER AT ROBINSON FARMER COX IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTY'S AUDIT.
HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAVE MY NOTES.
I TEND TO GO A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY, SO, UM, IF YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG IT, IT MIGHT HELP, BUT AT ANY POINT, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE INTERRUPT ME OR, OR WE CAN TALK AT THE END EITHER WAY.
UH, I'LL START ON PAGE ONE OF THE AUDIT REPORT.
UH, THE COUNTY IS RECEIVING WHAT'S CALLED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
UH, THIS IS THE BEST OPINION WE CAN GIVE THIS STATING THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT AND THERE IS A RESTATEMENT OF BEGINNING BALANCES THAT I WILL DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN MY PRESENTATION.
THIS IS, UH, THE COUNTY'S BALANCE SHEET ON A FULL ACCRUAL BASIS.
I USUALLY TELL BOARDS AND CITIZENS THAT EXHIBITS, UH, ONE AND TWO, WHICH ARE, UH, THE ACCRUAL BALANCE SHEET AND ACCRUAL INCOME STATEMENT ARE NOT REALLY THE BEST, UH, INDICATORS OF THE COUNTY'S, UH, POSITION BECAUSE THESE INCLUDE ADJUSTMENTS MADE BY THE STATE FOR THINGS LIKE VRS AND OPEP.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE TOTAL NET POSITION FOR THE PRIMARY GOVERNMENT WAS, UH, 44.3 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 7.6 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
AGAIN, PAGES 13 AND 14, WHICH ARE EXHIBIT TWO.
THIS IS THE INCOME STATEMENT ON THE ACCRUAL, UH, BASIS.
AGAIN, WITH THOSE ADJUSTMENTS MADE BY THE STATE, BUT DOES SHOW THE PRIMARY GOVERNMENT HAD A NET CHANGE, HAD A CHANGE IN THAT POSITION, OR, UH, A BOTTOM LINE, NET INCOME OF 77.6 MILLION, PAGE 15, WHICH IS EXHIBIT THREE.
THESE NEXT EXHIBITS ARE A LITTLE BIT BETTER TO SEE WHAT THE COUNTY'S, UM, POSITION IS.
SOMEBODY FOR A FACT, THIS IS ON A MODIFIED ACCRUAL BASIS, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS DONE BY THE STATE FUND.
BALANCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR WAS 31.7 MILLION.
UH, THIS COMPARED TO 26.8 MILLION, UM, AT THE PRIOR YEAR.
SO AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 4.9 MILLION.
UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS ABOUT FIF 14.5 MILLION, WHICH HAS AN INCREASE FROM 10.6 IN THE PRIOR YEAR.
UNRESTRICTED CASH AND INVESTMENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WAS 12.5 MILLION, WHICH IS DOWN FROM 20.2 MILLION FROM PRIOR YEAR IN RESTRICTED CASH AND INVESTMENTS WAS 14.1 MILLION, UP FROM 12.6 MILLION PRIOR YEAR.
PAGE 17, WHICH IS EXHIBIT FIVE.
THIS IS COUNTY'S INCOME STATEMENT, REV, UH, AND IT DOES SHOW REVENUES OF 39.5 MILLION, WHICH IS UP ABOUT 3 MILLION FOR THE PRIOR YEAR PAGES 19, 20 AND 21.
UH, THESE ARE EXHIBIT 7, 8, 9.
I JUST LIKE TELL THE CITIZENS AND THE BOARD, THESE ARE THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I REALLY DON'T GO OVER THEM, BUT, UH, IT IS GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS TO SEE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME, SOME PLACES WHERE, WHERE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR, FOR COUNTIES, BUT THAT, THAT'S NOT A SITUATION HERE.
PAGE 43, THAT STARTS THE LONG-TERM,
[00:55:01]
UH, DEBT NOTE, THIS IS GOOD FOR THE BOARD AND CITIZENS TO SEE FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.SO LESS THE LANDFILL, UH, LIABILITY.
THE CAN, THE COUNTY HAD ABOUT 21.8 MILLION IN LONG-TERM DEBT, AND THERE WAS ABOUT 870,000 IN LONG-TERM DEBT ASSOCIATED, UH, WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND PAGE 44 SHOWS THE TIMING OF THESE DEBT PAYMENTS THROUGH 2039.
PAGE 94, UH, THIS IS WHERE I DISCUSSED THAT RESTATEMENT.
THERE WAS A NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD, UH, GASB 1 0 1, WHICH ESSENTIALLY TREATED, UM, ALL, UH, LEAVE THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD NO MATTER WHAT A, A POLICY FOR A LOCALITY WAS.
SO YOU CAN COMPARE THE LEAVE LIABILITY HERE AT SURREY COUNTY TO THE LEAVE LIABILITY AT, UH, SURREY NORTH CAROLINA TO THE CITY OF ATHENS, GEORGIA.
WE'RE ALL NOW ALL ON THE SAME BASIS NOW.
UM, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT, WHAT A CERTAIN LOCALITY WOULD PAY OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR BASED UPON, UM, WHATEVER THEIR SOPS ARE.
UH, PAGE ONE 20 IS EXHIBIT 35.
I DON'T PRESENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, BUT I DO LIKE TO SHOW, UM, EVERYBODY THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THAT'S WHERE THEIR BALANCE SHEET IS.
THIS IS SCHOOL BOARD INCOME STATEMENT AND DOES SHOW THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOLS WAS ABOUT 12.8 MILLION FOR THE YEAR.
PAGE 1 26 STARTS EXHIBITS ONE I I I LIKE TO TELL THE BOARD AND CITIZENS, UH, EXCUSE ME, SCHEDULE ONE, I LIKE TO TELL THE BOARDS AND CITIZENS SCHEDULES ONE AND TWO ARE I THINK, THE MOST IMPORTANT SCHEDULES IN ALL THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THIS SHOWS WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED COMPARED TO WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BUDGETED FOR.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS AND YOU ALL TO SEE, UM, HOW WELL YOUR BUDGET IS COMPARED TO WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, ON PAGE 1 29, UH, OF SCHEDULE ONE, THE COUNTY BUDGETED FOR, UH, REVENUES OF 35.4 MILLION AND YOU RECEIVED 39.5 MILLION, SO FI 4 MILLION OVER YOUR BUDGET.
THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE LEFTOVER ARPA MONEY THAT WAS USED, UM, IN 2025, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN PERSONAL PROPERTY AND LOCAL SALES TAX.
PAGE 1 32, WHICH IS, UH, STARTS SCHEDULE TWO.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE EXPENDITURES.
UH, PAGE 1 35, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE COUNTY BUDGETED FOR 54 POINT 54 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURES, BUT ONLY SPENT 35.2 MILLION.
THE VARIANCE IS MOSTLY DUE TO CAPITAL PROJECTS BUDGETED, UH, FOR IN 2025, BUT NOT DONE YET.
THIS IS THE AUDITOR'S REPORT ON THE INTERNAL CONTROLS.
WE DID HAVE ONE FINDING, WHICH I WILL DISCUSS LATER.
AND PAGE 1 59 IS THE AUDITOR'S REPORT ON COMPLIANCE FOR EACH MAJOR PROGRAM.
UH, THESE ARE FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND WE HAD NO FINDINGS.
THIS IS A SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS OR CFA.
SO THIS SHOWS THE ENTIRE FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FOR FY 25.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY YOUR EXPENDITURES PAID BY, UM, FEDERAL MONEY.
THERE WAS 37 POINT OR 3.7 MILLION IN FY 25, WHICH IS DOWN FROM 4 MILLION THE PRIOR YEAR.
PAGE 1 65, YOUR SCHEDULES OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONABLE COSTS.
WE AUDITED TWO, UH, FEDERAL PROGRAMS. UH, THE COUNTY'S NOT CONSIDERED LOW RISK BECAUSE WE DID HAVE FINDINGS IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE, OF THE TWO PRIOR YEARS.
PAGE 1 66 IS YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS.
UH, WE WERE REPORTING A FINDING REGARDING MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS WE HAD TO PROPOSE INCLUDING, UM, DEBT ISSUANCE FOR, UH, SECURITY UPGRADES.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS, UM, THE DEBT ISSUANCE WAS DONE AND KIND OF IN A, IN A SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNT.
AND SOME OF THESE TRANSACTIONS DIDN'T GET TO THE FINANCIAL, UH, TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
FINALLY, I'LL DISCUSS, UM, MY MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS.
WE HAVE, UH, A FEW MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS.
SOME OF THEM ARE REPEAT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
FIRST ONE IS A REPEAT REGARDING, UH, BANK ACCOUNT RECONCILIATIONS NOT BEING COMPLETED TIMELY.
WE RECOMMEND THAT BANK RECONCILIATIONS BE COM COMPLETED AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO THE END OF THE MONTH, SIMPLY TO THE FACT THAT, UM, IF THERE WAS SOME FRAUD OR SOMETHING GOING ON, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GONNA FIND IT.
AND YOU NEED TO DO THOSE BANK RECONCILIATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO MITIGATE, UM, THAT FROM OCCURRING.
WE ALSO HAVE COMMENTS REGARDING CONTROLS ON, ON CREDIT CARDS AND RECONCILIATIONS OF CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS DURING OUR TESTING OF CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS.
WE KNOW TO, IN INSTANCES WHERE RECEIPTS WERE NOT KEPT AND THE CREDIT CARD STATEMENT WAS NOT RECONCILED INVOICES OR RECEIPTS, WE ALSO HAVE A COMMENT REGARDING THE NON-RECURRING, THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT AND THE SUBSEQUENT EXPENDITURE TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DEBT IN THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.
BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS, UH, SPEAKING MANY TIMES FROM MRS. ROLL, MS. ROLLINS, UM, THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME CHANGES AND WE ANTICIPATE, UH, TESTING THOSE CHANGES IN THE FY 26 AUDIT.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE, UH, I FINISH, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS AUDIT.
I'VE BEEN THE PARTNER ON THIS AUDIT, I THINK FOUR YEARS NOW, BUT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS AUDIT OFF AND ON PROBABLY FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH MS. RAWLINGS DURING THE ENTIRE TIME AND SHE WILL BE MISSED.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THAT MR. SONATA BOARD OF SUPERVISOR.
YOU HAVE HEARD MR. SONATA'S PRESENTATION.
[01:00:01]
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SORRY,SO I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS ORDER REPORT,
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN TELL YOU THAT I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS BECAUSE THIS AUDIT WAS COMPLETED ON TIME, UM, AFTER LAST YEAR, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ALL WERE AWARE OF THE MANY INSTANCES WHERE WE WERE, UM, KIND OF DINGED, UH, FOR NOT NECESSARILY COMPLETING THE REPORT ON TIME, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD, UH, WHAT WE KNOW WERE VALID REASONS AS PERTAINS TO THE CONVERSION OF OUR ERP AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE WORKING IN DUAL SYSTEMS, THE FACT THAT WE HAD NEW STAFF AND WE HAD STAFF CHANGEOVER.
SO I AM VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT THIS REPORT COULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN JANUARY, BUT BECAUSE YOU ALL CHANGED THE DATE TO THE SECOND MEETING, UM, OUR AUDITORS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS, YES, WE HAVE HEARD A LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD, BUT THOSE ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE BUMPS IN THE ROAD BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SENT IN OUR CORRECTIVE ACTION TOOLS, UM, TO OUR AUDITORS.
I'VE SHARED WITH YOU ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS.
UM, SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE ARE A COUPLE OF ONE-OFFS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.
UM, I WILL ALSO MENTION THAT, UH, THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR WITH THIS AUDIT, THAT IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE COUNTY WOULD, UH, WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S FINANCE OFFICERS AWARD.
WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED THAT EVERY YEAR EXCEPT LAST YEAR.
AND BECAUSE OUR AUDIT WAS COMPLETED THIS YEAR ON TIME, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE HAVE SENT THAT IN AND WE WILL RECEIVE THAT FINANCIAL AUDIT RECOGNITION FOR OUR 2025 AUDIT.
I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO COME BACK TO SEE WHETHER THAT WE HAVE FIXED THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT.
UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, JUST ON THE BANK STATEMENTS, UH, RECONCILIATIONS, WE DO RECOGNIZE THERE WAS A PREVIOUS COMMENT, UM, SINCE THAT, UH, RESPONSIBILITY HAS BEEN RELINQUISHED FROM THE TREASURER, UH, WE DO HAVE OUR TREASURER, WHO IS A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, BUT THE TREASURER DID RELINQUISH THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR FINANCE TEAM.
AND WE CAN SAFELY SAY, AS I REPORTED TO YOU ALL BOARD MEMBERS, THAT OUR BANK RECONCILIATIONS ARE BEING RECONCILED WITHIN 30 DAYS AT THE CLOSE OF THE MONTH.
SO WE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT THAT WAS A CONTINUED COMMENT.
UM, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE RECEIVED THAT, WHAT WE CALL THAT CLEAN OPINION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU CAN SHARE WITH EVERYBODY EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS.
IS THAT THE BEST OPINION THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE ON AN AUDIT? YEAH, SO THAT'S THE BEST OPINION.
THERE'S THREE OPINIONS YOU CAN, YOU CAN RECEIVE.
ONE OF 'EM IS UNMODIFIED, ONE OF 'EM IS UN MODIFIED AND ONE IS ESSENTIALLY NO OPINION.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH RSE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AS WELL, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE DONE THIS BUSINESS BEFORE IN MY LIFETIME.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU COME IN THAT EVERYTHING MAY NOT BE 100% DOTTED.
UM, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, WE ARE A RESILIENT COUNTY HERE AND WE ARE, UH, FURTHER MAKING SOME CHANGES.
UM, JUST TO BELABOR JUST A LITTLE BIT, MR. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS, AND I'M GLAD THAT, UH, MR. SONATA IS HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD KNOWN BEFORE IS THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF REDUNDANCY IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT ANYTIME THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LEAVING, UM, SOMETIMES IT DOES CREATE, YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE, UH, NICK IN, IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO DO IS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, CREATE SOME, UM, FINANCIAL SERVICE MODELS THAT WILL HELP.
AND, AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS FROM, UM, OUR OTHER ENTITIES IN HERE, NAMELY OUR, UH, SCHOOL DIVISION PERSONNEL WHO HAVE STEPPED IN AND WORKED WITH YOU BEFORE.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE STRESSED YOUR, UH, THANKFULNESS FOR, UH, MS. HARVEY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR, UH, WORKING WELL WITH THE AUDITORS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THINGS WELL.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT A MODEL, UM, THAT WILL HOPEFULLY HELP SUSTAIN OUR ORGANIZATION, UM, BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE A ERP SYSTEM.
AND BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE SEEN OUT THERE IN THE ORGANIZATION, UM, THAT YOU, UH, UH, MANAGE, UH, AND THAT YOU AUDIT RATHER, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US REGARDING OUR CONCEPT OF CREATING A SHARED FINANCIAL SERVICE MODEL THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOLS? YEAH.
UH, THE, THE PLAN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED TO ME BY, UH, BOTH, BOTH MELISSA'S, UM, AND I AM, I AM COMPLETELY IN FAVOR OF IT.
I WILL SAY THAT SURY COUNTY HAS MADE SOME INVESTMENTS THAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE NOT IN, ESPECIALLY IN TO YOUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.
A LOT OF, UH, LOCALITIES, YOUR SIZE ONES THAT I AUDIT ARE STILL ON VERY MUCH A LEGACY SYSTEM THAT'S ABOUT TO, UM, ABOUT TO GO AWAY.
SO, UM, SURREY HAS, SURREY COUNTY HAS BEEN, UM, SEEN, SEEN THE FUTURE AND HAS MADE THE STEPS TO, TO DO THAT.
AND UH, I FEAR IN MY OTHER LOCALITIES WHEN THIS SYSTEM GOES AWAY, THAT THEY ARE GONNA BE IN A LOT WORSE
[01:05:01]
POSITION.UM, SPEAKING OF, OF THIS SPECIFIC PLAN THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN PLACE.
UH, I THINK, I THINK, UH, THE PERSONNEL AT THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE IN A GREAT POSITION TO HELP OUT THE COUNTY, AND I THINK, UM, CONTINUING INVESTMENT BY THIS BOARD IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS ONLY GONNA, UM, PROVE TO BE BENEFICIAL.
BOARD MEMBERS ARE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST WANNA COMMEND MS. ROLLINS AND, AND, UM, UH, AND, AND HER WORK ON WITH THIS AUDIT.
AND THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR UN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
MR. DREW, AT THE END OF THE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS, HEARING NONE, MR. SON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, ONE REMINDER THAT, THAT THE, THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO, UM, ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT THIS AUDIT REPORT.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE PRESENTATION FROM MR. SONATO.
UH, WHAT IS THE WISHES OF THE BOARD? MR. CHAIR? DR.
ELLIOT, I MOVE THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE AUDIT REPORT GIVEN TO US TONIGHT AS PRESENTED.
SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY.
SECOND, THAT WE APPROVE THE AUDIT REPORT THAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF SAID MOTION, SAY AYE.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA ITEMS, WE HAVE OUR, ANOTHER PRESENTATION, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
I WOULD NOW ASK MR. HO, WAIT IF HE PLEASE COME UP TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD.
MR. WAIT, SO YOU, YOU ALL, ALL OF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY, UH, INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FROM THE GET GO FOR, FOR THIS, AND SO THAT, THAT MUCH I, AS, AS PLANNING DIRECTOR AND PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR, FOR SURY COUNTY, I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A PROCESS THAT EVERYONE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A SMALL UPDATE.
UM, SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT A BIG UPDATE WOULD BE LOOK LIKE WITH YOU ALL INVOLVED WITH THAT TOO.
UM, THIS UPDATE HAS MOSTLY BEEN, UH, ABOUT SOME OF THE FUTURE, UH, CHANGES TO COMPLEX THE PLAN AROUND THE FUTURE, LAND USE MAPS, UM, INCORPORATING THE ENERGY AMENDMENT THAT WE PASSED A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND ALSO A, A ROUTE 31, UH, STUDY.
UM, THERE WAS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE THE PROJECT WAS INVOLVING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAPS, UM, IN THE COUNTY.
AND THERE WAS A, A BROAD DISCUSSION OF WHAT WE WERE AMENDING IN THE PLAN.
UM, A LOT OF THAT REVOLVED AROUND WHATEVER DEVELOPMENT WE, WE WERE INTENDING TO HAVE IN THESE DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO TO HAVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, IT WAS VERY IMPERATIVE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT TO INCLUDE THAT, THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
UM, ALL IN ALL, WE RECEIVED ABOUT 95 COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT DOCUMENT.
UM, OF THOSE, OF THOSE 95, 7 OF THOSE RESULTED IN SOME, SOME SORT OF CONTEXTUAL CHANGE, UM, WHERE THEY PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO DATA UPDATES, UM, AND, AND REFLECTED, UH, ADOPTED ORDINANCES.
UM, I THINK FOR SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WERE GIVEN OUR CONSULTANTS HELPED US OUT WITH THAT WAS THE LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL JOBS YET GROWING THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY.
WELL, THAT WAS A GROWTH IN THE VALUE OF PRODUCTS SOLD VERSUS THE GROWING AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S EXPLANATION.
SO, UM, TO PROVIDE THOSE TYPES OF EXPLANATIONS.
'CAUSE SOME, SOME OF IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
UM, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT TECHS, WHY DID THOSE THINGS HAPPEN? SO, UM, THEY PUT IN PLACE THE PERCENTAGE CAP ALSO CORRECTED, UM, WHERE THERE WAS A ORDINANCE THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD A 10% CAP ON, ON SOLAR IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WELL, YOU ALL RECENTLY HAD A 7% CAP IN YOUR ORDINANCE, SO WE WENT AND MADE SOME TEXTUAL CHANGES THERE TO MAKE THOSE, THOSE PERCENTAGES EQUIVALENT.
UM, THEN THE COMMENTS THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTEXTUAL CHANGES, UH, WE ADDRESSED THOSE, UM, WITH SOME CLARIFYING INFORMATION.
UM, WE DID REV, UH, ADD SOME, UH, BY LAW WE WERE REQUIRED TO, WHEN WE DO A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, WE WERE REQUIRED TO ADD, UH, ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE ABOUT MANUFACTURE HOUSING.
UM, AND WE DID SO, UM, BY, BY REFERENCING THAT INFORMATION IN THE AR DISTRICT AND FINDING THAT MANUFACTURED HOUSING IS AN APPROPRIATE USE IN THE RURAL PRESERVATION FUTURE LAND CLASS.
UM, AS FAR AS THE, THE EXISTING LAND USE, UH, WE, WE, UH, AMENDED THE FUTURE, THE EXISTING LAND USE MAPS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE, THE, THE MAP ON YOUR LEFT, THAT IS WHAT IS EXISTS IN OUR CURRENT CONFERENCE PLAN.
THE PROPOSED CHANGE, UM, USED UPTODATE INFORMATION FROM OUR, UH, COUNTY SUR
[01:10:01]
OUR, OUR ASSESSORS DATA, UM, TO PROVIDE, UH, MORE CALCULATED, MORE UPTODATE INFORMATION SO THAT IT, IT COULD BE USED FOR WHATEVER BENEFIT WE, WE NEEDED.THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP HERE WAS THE, WAS THE, THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR US HERE.
THIS IS WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME, EFFORT, AND, AND ENERGY HERE.
AND, AND, AND PROVIDING, UH, ADDING, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS TO THIS MAP.
UM, YOU, YOU WOULD SEE THE DIFFERENCES HERE.
AND THEN FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT, UM, YOU WOULD SEE THAT THERE'S A, UH, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE MIDDLE PORTION BETWEEN DRON AND THE TOWN OF SURREY, UM, THAT AREA, THERE IS A RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR.
THAT AREA YOU CAN SEE IS, HAS BEEN BUFFERED UP SO MUCH THAT, UM, IT IS NOW AN AREA THAT IS TO THE WEST OF WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE.
UM, DOWN, DOWN HOLLY BUSH ROAD.
UM, YOU'D ALSO SEE AN AREA THAT GOES JUST NORTH OF THAT.
UM, THAT'S THE RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT AREA.
THAT AREA HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN.
UM, YOU WOULD ALSO SEE SOME AREAS DOWN ON FOUR 60 WHERE THAT PROPERTY THAT THE COUNTY PURCHASED THAT IS NOW A, UH, FOR AN EMPLOYMENT CENTER.
UM, THE, THOSE, THESE ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT, THAT WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO PUT THE, SO SOLAR OVERLAY DISTRICT OVER TOP OF THE MAP SO THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR INDICATION OF WHERE OUR SOLAR PROJECTS ARE.
WE ALSO IDENTIFIED TWO NEW MIXED USE AREAS IN THE PLAN.
ONE OF THOSE AREAS AT GRACE CREEK, UM, THAT IS, UH, IN THE SAME VICINITY AS OUR MARINA.
THAT IS ONE AREA THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY STAKEHOLDERS ON A ROUTE 31 QUARTER STUDY AS POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USES TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY.
AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE THE BACONS CASTLE, UM, AREA.
IT'S, IT IS THAT AREA THAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE, UM, AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 10 AND HOG ISLAND.
UM, IT'S A MAJOR CONNECTION POINT TO EMPLOYMENT AGRITOURISM AND HISTORIC TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, THIS IS, IT'S A NICE CROSSROAD, UH, STYLE COMMERCIAL FOR RESIDENTIAL USES, UM, WITH SPECIAL CARE TO PRESERVE ACTIVE FARMS, ENGAGING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE SUCH AS CROP FARMING IN OR ANIMAL RY AND NATURE CONSERVATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS IS THE SOLAR OVERLAY.
UM, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED ON THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
THIS IS NOW INCLUDED ON OUR FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
SAME INFORMATION HERE, UM, FROM, UH, 2020.
AGAIN, THAT DATE WAS 2023, SO IT'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS NOW.
UM, SINCE WE ADDRESSED THAT THE ROUTE 31 CORRIDOR OPPORTUNITIES REPORT WAS REPAIRED, UH, BY THE VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
THAT THAT PROJECT WAS SOMETHING WE STARTED, UM, BEFORE, UM, BEFORE WE STARTED ON THIS REPORT, WE WORKED, WORKED WITH THEM THIS PAST SUMMER.
UM, THEY HAD INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND THEY FOUND THAT MORE DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES WERE NEEDED ALONG THE CORRIDOR, AND THAT THERE'S A LACK OF PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THROUGHOUT 31.
AND THERE'S ALSO INTEREST IN ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, AND SERVICES.
UM, THE REPORT RECOMMENDS DEVELOPING A SMALL AREA PLAN FOR THE GRAYS CREEK MARINO WATERFRONT, PURSUING MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS, ENCOURAGING DIVERSE HOUSING AND APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION BETWEEN SURY TOWN, SURY COUNTY, AND ITS TOWNS.
SO THE NEXT STEPS HERE, WE ALREADY, WE ALREADY HAD OUR, OUR, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD, UM, UNANIMOUS, UH, VOTE 8, 8 0, UM, THAT THE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SHOULD BE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD SUPERVISORS.
UM, THEY MADE ALL THE NECESSARY CHANGES BEFORE IT COMES TO YOU ALL.
UM, AND ANTICIPATION OF PUBLIC HEARING MAY BE AT YOUR, AT YOUR, AT YOUR MAY MEETING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
THEN, UM, THEN AF AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING THERE.
UM, WHENEVER, WHEN, IF AT THE TIME THAT YOU ALL ADOPTED ADOPT THE, UH, THE, UH, CONFERENCES PLAN AMENDMENT, WE WOULD MOVE TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OTHER CONFERENCES PLAN, WHICH, WE'LL, WE WILL GET BUSY DOING THE WORK
SO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE, YOU HAVE ME TODAY AND, AND, AND IN BETWEEN
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HEARD, HEY, HAVE LISTENED TO THE PRESENTATION GIVEN BY MR. WADE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS, BOARD MEMBERS? HEARING NONE, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. WADE, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, MYSELF AM A PART OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I, I CAN ATTEST THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF, UM, UM, UH, LATE NIGHTS IN THE EARLY MORNINGS, UH, TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THIS UPDATE IS PRESENTED AND APPEASING TO THE CITIZENS OF SARA COUNTY.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, MR. WADE, FOR YOUR, YOUR STAFF, FOR YOUR DILIGENCE ON THIS.
NEXT, ON OUR AGENDA BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION NUMBER THREE
[01:15:01]
BY SCHOOL SYSTEM FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27.BUDGET, I, NOW I'LL ASK MR. EXCUSE ME, DR. MONROE.
AND MS. HARVEY, IF YOU PLEASE COULD THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
CHAIRMAN PIERCE, MEMBERS OF THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MRS. ROLLINS, AND ALL IN ATTENDANCE, IT IS A PLUM, PLEASE AND PLEASURE FOR MRS. HARVEY AND I, DR. MONROE, THE PROUD SUPERINTENDENT FOR SURREY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PRESENT THE SURY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 26 AND 27 SURY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS'.
MISSION AND VISION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT PREPARES ALL STUDENTS TO BE COMPETITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN A HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND GLOBAL SOCIETY.
AND WE DO THIS BY BUILDING EXCELLENCE ONE STUDENT AT A TIME THIS EVENING, WE WILL SHARE WHAT IT TAKES TO CONTINUE IN EXCELLENCE IN REGARDS TO OPERATIONS AND ACADEMICS.
DES IT ALL BEGINS WITH OUR GOALS AND THE GOALS OF OUR BOARD, WHICH BEGINS WITH GOAL ONE.
THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR AND PROMOTE HIGH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS WHILE MEETING AND EXCEEDING STATE ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH SCHOOL.
TWO, THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN A POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELLBEING OF EACH STUDENT.
GOAL THREE, THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOUR AND SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ATTRACT, DEVELOPED AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND EFFECTIVE EMPLOYEES.
NUMBER FOUR, THE BOARD WILL ENSURE THAT POLICIES AND PRACTICES ARE IMPLEMENTED THAT PROMOTE SOUND, FISCAL STEWARDSHIP, AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND NUMBER FIVE, THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO ASSERT ITS ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY AS THE EDUCATIONAL POLICY LEADER AND GOVERN THE SCHOOL DIVISION FAIRLY AND OPENLY WHILE SEEKING THE ENGAGEMENT OF SCHOOL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN SURY COUNTY.
AS WE KNOW THIS, THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CORE VALUES WHERE CONNECTION, COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, AND CARE MAKE US THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY AND PROUD SURY NATION.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'VE PASSED OUT TO ALL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU ME THIS EVENING.
THE SURREY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIGHLIGHT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE LIST, WE ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN SURREY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WITH THAT SAID, THIS EVENING, OUR SPECIFIC AGENDA WILL ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHT THE FOLLOWING, THE FY 26 27 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, EMPLOYEE STEP UPDATE, HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, TEACHER SALARY, SCALE COMPARISONS, PROPOSED REVENUE AND EXPENSES, THE FY 26 27 SUMMARY OF ALL FUNDS, REVIEW OF PROPOSED GRANTS AND FOOD SERVICES BUDGETS, AN OVERVIEW OF THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AN UPDATE ON STATE REVENUE.
LET US BEGIN WITH THE FY 26 27 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS.
THIS NEEDS-BASED BUDGET REPRESENTS A COLLABORATION WITH SURREY COUNTY AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET ACTUALLY STARTS WITH THE FUNDING OF TWO NEW TEACHING POSITIONS AT SURREY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
NUMBER TWO, IT PROVIDES FOR A TWO TO 6.37% SALARY INCREASE DEPENDING ON TENURE BASED ON THE COMPENSATION STUDY OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
THE THIRD IS ABSORBS THE ANTICIPATED 12% HEALTH INSURANCE IN INCREASE.
AND NUMBER FOUR ACTUALLY COVERS THE INCREASES IN THE ELECTRICITY ATHLETIC TRAINER AND SPECIAL NEEDS EXPENSE LINE TO KEEP PACE WITH THE COST.
AS WE LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD COMPENSATION STUDY.
THIS ILLUSTRATION REFLECTS THE
[01:20:01]
JOURNEY OF AN EMPLOYEE WHO STARTED NINE STEPS BEHIND EACH YEAR.FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEY HAVE RECEIVED TWO STEPS, ONE FOR THE ADDITIONAL YEAR OF SERVICE, AND ONE TO ADDRESS THE NINE YEAR DEFICIT.
IT WOULD TAKE THIS EMPLOYEE FOUR MORE YEARS AT THIS PACE TO GET ON THEIR CORRECT STEP.
SOME EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.
HOWEVER, WE STILL NEED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF FIXING, OF FIXING THIS DISPARITY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MRS. HARVEY TO SHARE THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
SO THE NEXT TWO SLIDES ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
IT'S HOW DO WE RETAIN AND ATTRACT ALL OF THE TALENT THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE OUR SUCCESS? ONE OF THOSE BIG OBSTACLES OR BIG CHALLENGES IS TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S RELEVANT EVERYWHERE, UM, BOTH COUNTY AND SCHOOL SIDE.
SO WE FIND IT NECESSARY TO TRY AND ABSORB THOSE RATE CHANGES AND RATE INCREASES FOR OUR TEACHING STAFF.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS BASED ON 12%, UM, ANTICIPATED INCREASE.
THAT INCREASE, HOWEVER, CAME BACK IN AT 13.7%.
AND IN ORDER TO HOLD EMPLOYEES HARMLESS, IT WILL REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL $35,274 IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REQUESTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY NOTATED.
THE NEXT SLIDE DEALS WITH THE OTHER PRIORITY, AND THAT IS TEACHER COMPENSATION.
YOU CAN SEE ON THIS CHART RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PRETTY COMPETITIVE WITH OUR PEERS.
THE LAST TWO COLUMNS THAT YOU SEE THERE IS THE, ONE IS SRE COUNTY AS WE STAND RIGHT NOW, AND THE OTHER ONE IS SRE COUNTY.
THE STATE RIGHT NOW, AND WE'LL GET TO THAT SLIDE A LITTLE BIT LATER, BUT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE REALLY DIVIDED ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE DOING A MANDATED 2% OR 3% SALARY INCREASE.
AS OF THE TIME THAT WE DID THIS BUDGET, THE THE UPDATE WAS 2%, NOT 3%.
UM, RECENTLY WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM A GROUP OF PRINCIPALS WHO WENT TO A JOB FAIR, AND WHEN THEY GO TO THE JOB FAIRS FOR THE COLLEGES, THE COLLEGES LET THE STUDENTS KNOW, OR THE POTENTIAL TEACHING CANDIDATES KNOW WHAT STARTING SALARIES ARE IN VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THIS PARTICULAR JOB FAIR WAS AT NORFOLK STATE.
AND SO A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS OR POTENTIAL TEACHERS LIVE ON THAT SIDE OF THE WATER.
WE FEEL THAT WE ARE COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF EVERYONE ON THIS SIDE OF THE WATER, BUT IF WE WANT TO GET SOMEONE TO MAKE THAT COMMUTE, THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR SALARY SCALE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING THE TOP TIER TALENT HERE TO SURREY COUNTY.
AND ALSO, AS WE LOOK AT OUR NEXT SLIDE, THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND AND REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE SUMMARY IS AS FOLLOWS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT SHOWS THE INCREASE AMOUNT OF THE STATE CONTRIBUTION, WHICH IS $319,283, LEAVING THE NEEDED AMOUNT FROM THE BOARD OR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BE AT $554,257 TO FULLY FUND OUR NEEDS-BASED BUDGET AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE SUMMARY OF ALL FUNDS.
THE TOTAL FY BUDGET WOULD BE $20,239,113 BROKEN DOWN AS THE FOLLOWING, $18,823,120 IN THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND, $668,921 IN THE GRANT FUND, AND $747,072 IN THE FOOD SERVICE FUND.
AS WE LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOOD SERVICE BUDGET, YOU CAN SEE IN DETAIL THE FULL COST AND FUNDING THAT IS INVOLVED THERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SLIDE, FOOD SIMPLY COSTS MORE.
SO WE HAVE AN INCREASE THERE OF $107,845 ACTUALLY IN FOOD COST.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE SEE A LARGE INCREASE IN THAT AMOUNT.
AS WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS OUR GRANTS BUDGET, AGAIN, IT JUST GOES INTO DEEPER DETAIL WITH THE SPECIFIC COST OF OUR FEDERAL GRANT TOTALS.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING IN THE FY 26 27 FOR THE FOLLOWING.
[01:25:01]
WE PLAN TO REQUEST THE CARRYOVER FUNDS FROM THE FY 25 TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE GYM FLOOR.WE'VE HAD QUITE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE OF OUR GAMES PAUSED BECAUSE OF THE BOARDS IN OUR FLOOR.
ONE OF OUR GAMES PAUSED BECAUSE THE BOARDS IN OUR FLOOR WERE NOT QUITE UP TO PAR.
WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SURREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SWITCHGEAR, THERE'S CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 200,000 IN THE CIP DEDICATED FOR REPLACING THE SWITCHGEAR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ARE WAITING ON FINAL PRICING TO BEGIN THAT PROJECT.
AND NUMBER THREE, WE ARE WAITING ON FINAL PRICING ALSO FOR THE SWITCHGEAR AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND WE PLAN TO REQUEST FUNDING IN THE CIP FOR THE FY 26 27 BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT SWITCHGEAR IS ABLE TO BE REPLACED.
SO BACK IN DECEMBER, GOVERNOR YOUNGIN, ONE OF HIS LAST OUTGOING DUTIES WAS TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM OF 2026 2028.
THAT BUDGET HAS BEEN SENT TO BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR AMENDMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.
THOSE AMENDMENTS, THE HOUSE HAS COMPLETED THEIR VERSION.
THE SENATE HAS COMPLETED THEIR VERSION, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO COMMITTEE SO THAT BOTH OF THEM CAN PROBABLY CANCEL OUT EACH OTHER'S VERSION.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GET DOWN TO THE REAL WORK OF DECIDING WHAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE LIKE.
UM, AFTER THEY'VE DECIDED WHAT BUDGET THEY WANT TO PROPOSE, IT WILL THEN GO TO OUR NEW GOVERNOR SPAN BERGER FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
TRADITIONALLY, WE GET WHAT'S CALLED A CALC TOOL, AND THE CALC TOOL IS WHAT SCHOOL DIVISIONS USE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE LOCAL IMPACT OF ALL OF THOSE DECISIONS ARE.
THAT TOOL HAS NOT BEEN DISTRIBUTED AS OF YET, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY FIGURES FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE HOUSE VERSION GOING TO GIVE US, AND WHAT IS THE SENATE VERSION GOING TO GIVE US UNTIL AFTER THEY RECONVENE AND GET TOGETHER ON WHAT THE, THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE.
OF COURSE, WHEN WE GET THAT INFORMATION, WE'LL UPDATE OUR BOARD.
WE'LL UPDATE THE, THE, YOUR BOARD SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE NEXT STEPS AND AS FAR AS FUNDING AND ALL OF THE MANDATES THAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO, AS WE LOOK AT OUR NEXT STEPS, WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILL PRESENT HER PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL SET TAX RATES AND APPROVE A BUDGET, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL MEET TO MAKE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTED BUDGET AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FUTURE TO CONTINUE THE SUCCESS OF SUR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND WE ASK ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DR.
THANK YOU MS. HARVEY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE PRESENTATION GIVEN TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS ON BEHALF OF THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT? CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, HARDIN.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ANY, UH, DATA ON THIS, BUT I, I WAS WONDERING, AND I SAW YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE INCREASE OF, UH, THE COST OF ELECTRICITY.
WHAT KIND OF, UH, UH, NUMBERS ARE WE GETTING ARE, ARE, OR I GUESS LOWER OR RATE FROM OUR SOLAR PANELS THAT OCCUPY THE FORMER FOOTBALL FIELD OR TRAINING FIELD THERE? UM, IT WENT IN THE REVERSE OF WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD.
SO WE HAVE DISCOVERED THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MEETINGS SCHEDULED WITH PRINCE GEORGE ELECTRIC.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY, SOMEONE HAD A DEATH WHO WAS GOING TO BE THERE, AND THEN WE HAD THE INCLEMENT WEATHER SITUATIONS AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.
AND SO WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING UP WITH MEETINGS WITH THEM, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE COST OF THAT WE'RE, SO THE WAY IT'S WORKING, WE'RE SELLING THE ENERGY TO THEM, AND THEN THEY'RE SELLING IT BACK TO US.
UM, AND THE RATE THAT THEY'RE SELLING IT BACK TO US EXCEEDS WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR IT.
SO IT HAS RESULTED IN A NET INCREASE OF ABOUT 126,000 IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THAT'S BAD MATH THERE, BUT IT'S TERRIBLE MATH.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT WE SEE A LINE
WE'RE HOPING WE'LL MAKE SOME, SOME LEEWAY WITH THOSE MEETINGS.
VICE CHAIR HARDY, ARE THERE ANY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTION BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS OR CONCERNS? HEARING NONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
[01:30:01]
ONE MORE PRESENTATION.I'M GONNA ALLOW MR. UH, JONATHAN JENKINS TO COME UP TO, UH, GIVE US SOME, UH, UM, FEEDBACK FROM THE REASSESSMENT QUESTIONS GIVEN BY A FEW CITIZENS.
MR. JENKINS, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
OH YEAH, PUSH THE, BUT YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
JUST WANNA MAKE A FEW COMMENTS QUICKLY, UM, ABOUT THE 2025 REASSESSMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A LIMITED SCOPE REASSESSMENT, SO IT WAS NOT A FULL EXAMINATION OF EVERY PROPERTY.
I HAVE A FEW NOTES HERE THAT WINGATE HAS PROVIDED SOME FEEDBACK THAT I WANTED TO, WANTED TO JUST, UH, TAKE SOME TIME AND SHARE.
THE COMMISSIONER REVENUES OFFICE HAS RESPONDED TO SEVERAL INQUIRIES REGARDING THE 2025 REASSESSMENT.
AFTER THE TIME OF THE ASSESSOR'S HEARINGS AND THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATIONS HEARINGS, THERE WERE SOME FACTUAL ERRORS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE DATA ENTRY PROCESS OF THE REASSESSMENT.
AND THOSE CORRECTIONS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN MADE BY OUR OFFICE, UM, AS ALLOWED BY THE, UM, CODE OF VIRGINIA.
I MEAN, IT'S, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S IN ERROR ANYTIME, YOU KNOW, WE CORRECT AN ASSESSMENT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THAT'S A ROUTINE THING FOR US.
SO SOME THINGS WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND WE WERE, WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE.
ADDITIONALLY, UH, THERE WERE SEVERAL PARCELS THAT WERE SENT BACK TO WINGATE APPRAISAL SERVICE FOR FURTHER REVIEW IN WHICH MOST OF THOSE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THEM AT THIS TIME.
UM, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, UM, GOING BACK IN TIME, WE HAD, AT SUNKEN BETTA BEACH AND AT CLAREMONT BEACH, WE HAD CAMPGROUNDS AND MOBILE HOME PARKS, UM, FOR RECREATIONAL USE.
AND THOSE PROPERTIES HAD BEEN ON A STATE CLASSIFICATION CODE HAD BEEN LISTED AS COMMERCIAL.
THEY WERE REALLY NO LONGER COMMERCIAL.
WE HAD SOME THAT WERE SHOWING COMMERCIAL, SOME THAT WERE SHOWING RESIDENTIAL FROM, FROM A STATE CLASS CODE PERSPECTIVE, NOT A ZONING PERSPECTIVE.
UM, SO THAT LED TO A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION DURING THE REASSESSMENT WHEN THERE WAS SOME BULK EDITING THAT WAS DONE BY THE ASSESSOR, BY THE APPRAISAL COMPANY WHEN THEY WENT AND MADE, MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
SO I HAVE SINCE FIXED THOSE THINGS IN OUR REAL ESTATE ASSESSING SOFTWARE.
UM, AND I'VE ALSO, UM, HAVE CLARIFICATION FROM THE TOWN OF CLAREMONT, FROM THE CLERK.
THAT PROPERTY THAT WE WERE TOLD, UH, THAT HAD STILL BEEN CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL IN THE TOWN IS ACTUALLY RESIDENTIAL, AND THAT IS THAT CAMPGROUND AREA DOWN AT CLAREMONT BEACH.
SO, JUST A FEW THINGS THAT NORMALLY HAD NOT BEEN A PROBLEM 'CAUSE THEY'RE BEING ASSESSED FOR WHAT THEY ARE USED.
BUT, UM, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY WENT IN TO DO SOME ADJUSTMENT, UM, WHAT THEY CUT, WHAT, WHICH WINGATE REFERRED TO AS BULK, ANYTHING IN AREAS, SOME THINGS DID NOT GET A A COM, YOU KNOW, AN EQUAL APPLICATION BECAUSE OF THOSE STATE CLASSIFICATION CODES THE WAY THEY WERE.
SO THAT WAS JUST, UM, SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING FORWARD THAT I DID FIND
AND I APPRECIATE THE, UH, UH, TAXPAYERS WHO BROUGHT SOME OF THIS, YOU KNOW, TO OUR ATTENTION.
UM, BUT WE ALSO ARE LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, AT THE SAME TIME SINCE THE REASSESSMENT EFFECTIVELY IS OVER.
UM, AND JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WINGATE HAS PROVIDED BACK TO ME.
UM, THE REASSESSMENT WAS A LIMITED SCOPE REASSESSMENT, UH, CONTRACT WAS SIGNED ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2024, UM, TO BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2025.
AND IT DID HAVE A 90 DAY EXTENSION THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2025.
THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE REASSESSMENT WAS TO BRING UP THE SALES TO ASSESSMENT RATIO, UM, WHICH IS CRITICAL HERE AS WE KNOW.
UM, AND THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A, UH, A FULL REASSESSMENT WHEN PROPERTIES WERE, ALL PROPERTIES WERE VISITED, UM, WAS AFFECTED FOR JANUARY 1ST, 2022.
UM, AND A LOT OF THAT FIELD WORK ACTUALLY OCCURRED IN 21.
SO THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ONLY LIMITED VISITATION TO PROPERTIES.
UM, DURING THESE LAST TWO THAT WE HAVE, UM, BEEN THROUGH, UM, THE LIMITED DISCOVERY ASSESSMENT RELIED ON BULK ADJUSTMENTS WHENEVER MARKET TRENDS COULD BE ESTABLISHED.
UM, AND DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE DATE OF QUALIFIED SALES, WINGATE USED THOSE BULK ADJUSTMENTS TO MARK SETTLEMENTS WHERE CREDIBLE ANALYSIS COULD BE ACHIEVED.
AND THE CHALLENGE, OF COURSE, WAS TO DO MORE GOOD THAN HARM.
AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, UM, DON THOMAS WITH WINGATE MAKING THAT STATEMENT TO YOU.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO WORK THROUGH SOME THINGS WITH HIM, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE, TO MAKE, UM, THE EFFORT TO GET THAT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE ON, UM, THE, ON THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD.
HE ALSO SAID REASSESSMENTS ARE NEVER PERFECT AS THE UNIFORM STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL STANDARD STATES THAT PERFECTION IS UNATTAINABLE.
THEREFORE, IT IS EXPECTED THAT INEQUITIES AND ERRORS AND ASSESSMENTS WILL ARISE, WHICH IS PRECISELY WHY THERE IS ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL OF APPEALS KNOWN AS ASSESSOR'S HEARINGS, UM, ALSO FOLLOWED BY THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
MANY PROBLEMS DISCUSSED SINCE CERTIFYING OF VALUES WOULD'VE BEEN ADDRESSED OR CORRECTED DURING THE ASSESSOR'S HEARINGS, UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH VIRGINIA STATUTE.
[01:35:01]
NOTICES WERE MAILED BY UNITED STATES POSTAL, UM, FIRST CLASS, UM, BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2025.OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE MAIL IS TODAY, THERE IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU MAY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE, BECAUSE WE DO GET THEM BACK.
IN FACT, I JUST GOT ONE BACK IN THE MAIL TODAY,
SO WE, WE HOPE THAT EVERY TAXPAYER OR REAL ESTATE OWNER IS RECEIVING THESE, BUT WE DO KNOW THERE ARE CASES WHERE THEY DO NOT.
AND I THINK WE DID HAVE A CASE OF, OF THIS IT SOUNDS LIKE AS WELL, UM, WHERE SOMETHING, BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU SEE, WHEN YOU SEE THESE, THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
IT'S, IT DOES TELL YOU RIGHT ON THE, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ENVELOPE.
SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, YOU KNOW, IN THAT CASE AS WELL.
DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE AND PRESENTATION.
MR. JUKIN, BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS FOR MR. JUDKINS? WHILE WE HAVE HIM HERE, MR. CHAIR, ABOUT THE OTHER, JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT.
I, I THINK MR. JUDKINS FOR COMING IN AND SHARING THIS, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, A LOT OF THE VITRIOL COMES TOWARD THE BOARD AND THINKING THAT THE BOARD HAS, UH, DONE SOME TYPE OF INJUSTICE TO THE CITIZENS.
SO I HOPE THAT ALL WHO ARE HERE AND MAYBE LISTENING BY WAY OF VIDEO, REALIZE, UH, UH, AND ACCEPT THE COMMENTS THAT YOU GAVE AND HOPE WE GET SOME CLARITY SO THE CITIZENS WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THEM.
UM, THE ONLY COMMENT I WILL MAKE IS IT, EVEN AT THIS TIME, SINCE I'M HERE, I'LL SAY THAT THE THOUGHT OF A FULL REASSESSMENT IS GOING TO BE UPON US AT SOME POINT.
UM, AND A DECISION WILL HAVE TO BE MADE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
BUT JUST TO PUT THAT AT THERE FOR YOU TO BE AWARE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ABOUT THE OTHER END.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? HEARING NONE.
YOU HAVE A SAFE TRAVEL ZONE BOARD
[Board Comments]
MEMBERS NOW ON OUR AGENDA.WE HAVE OUR BOARD COMMENTS TONIGHT.
UH, LET'S START WITH MR. CALHOUN FOR OUR BOARD COMMENTS.
UM, THANK YOU EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN HERE IN ATTENDANCE AND, UH, WATCHING VISUALLY, UH, ON, ON, UH, MEDIA.
UM, I JUST, UM, LIKE TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, UH, MS. HOWELL AND MR. JOHNSON FROM CHIEF OAKS TO COME REACH OUT TO US AND, AND ASK US TO, UM, COME VISIT THE PARK AND, UH, MR. JOHNSON AS PART MANAGER TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE, UH, AND GIVE HIM A CALL AND, AND TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ANY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
MR. WADE, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRESENTATIONS,
UM, WE, WE, UH, UH, APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
UM, LIKE TO THANK THE AUDITING COMPANY THAT CAME IN AND GAVE THEIR NOTES AND PRESENTATION.
UM, AND OF COURSE THE SCHOOL BOARD, UM, FOLKS CAME IN, UM, GIVING THEM PRESENTATION.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR PRESENTATION FOR THE REASSESSMENTS AND, UH, MAKING SOME, UH, VALID POINTS AND, AND CLARITY ON, UM, REGARDING THESE REASSESSMENTS.
UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THE MOMENT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ELLIOT, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, I SIT ON THE CREATE A PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION, AND I THINK YOU HAVE A LETTER IN YOUR PACKET TONIGHT FROM, UH, MR. J ELLINGTON, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CRADLE PLANNING DISTRICT.
AND IT'S IN REFERENCE TO, UH, HOUSE BILL 1263, SENATE BILL 3 78 IN REFERENCE TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
AND, UH, AND OUR LAST COMMISSION MEETING THAT WE JUST HAD, UH, HAD IT IN GREENSVILLE COUNTY, UH, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SEND A LETTER.
THIS IS A COPY OF THE LETTER SENT TO, UH, OUR SENATOR, SENATOR AD AND CC TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO OPPOSE THIS, UH, BILL THAT IS BEFORE, UH, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
AND JUST SO YOU CAN KNOW, UH, WHAT THIS BILL IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE UNION UNIT UNIONIZATION OF WHAT THE COUNTY HAS TO PAY THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THEIR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.
AND IF THIS HAPPENS, IT WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE THE COUNTY TO HAVE TO, UH, RAISE ITS TAXES BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE PUTTING EVERYBODY ON ONE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
SOME REGIONS HAVE, UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
[01:40:01]
AND IT WORKS WELL FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.BUT IF THIS BILL IS ACTUALLY PASSED, THEN IT WILL TAKE, UH, THE LATITUDE THAT WE HAVE AS A BOARD TO SET ANY, UH, TYPE OF RATES OR TO RESIST, UH, ANY TYPE OF, UH, PAY SCALE THAT WILL COME DOWN FROM THE STATE.
SO THE, UH, COMMISSION, AGAIN, UNANIMOUSLY UH, VOTED AGAINST THIS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION AS A BOARD ITSELF TO ALSO DO THIS, BECAUSE WHAT, UH, IT WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE ALL OF THE DECISION MAKING AWAY FROM US.
AND WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TONIGHT, AND ANY OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, IT WILL BE A FLAT, UH, RATE THAT WILL COME DOWN FROM THE STATE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MEET.
AND WE DO KNOW THAT, UH, WE, AS A, A, A, A RURAL COUNTY, IT WOULD, IT WOULD NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE'RE RURAL OR URBAN, WE WILL HAVE TO MEET THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM THE STATE.
SO I, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS BOARD SHOULD STAND IN OPPOSITION OF THAT.
AND ALSO, UH, WE SENT A RESOLUTION, UH, TO THE CREATIVE PLANNING COMMISSION IN REFERENCE TO A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY THAT IS STILL UNDERWAY.
AND WE GOT SOME, UH, DATA FROM THAT.
IF, UH, THIS IS APPROVED, WE HAVE SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ON BOARD WITH THIS, THIS IS APPROVED.
THEN, UH, AND THIS WAS SOME BARGAINING THAT WE DID, UH, WITH THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE CRADLE PLANNING DISTRICT FROM CHESTERFIELD, DENWITTY, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY COLONIAL HEIGHTS.
IT'S, IT'S 11 DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS INVOLVED WITH THAT.
IF THIS GOES THROUGH, IT WILL BE A 0.7% TAX RATE ON GASOLINE, BUT RE COUNTY WOULD STAND TO GAIN $847,639 IF THIS IS APPROVED.
UH, AND UH, WE HOPING THAT THIS WILL GO FORWARD.
WE HAVE ALREADY SENT THE RESOLUTION, BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.
THAT'S ABOUT, UH, A LITTLE OVER 2 CENTS ON OUR, UH, TAX REVENUE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY.
SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE WITH THAT AND LET YOU KNOW, UH, PLEASE LOOK AT THE LETTER THAT YOU GOT FROM CRATER 'CAUSE THIS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
AND IF YOU, UH, WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND A EMAIL AS WELL TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND EVEN THE GOVERNOR IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
'CAUSE THIS WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE A LOT OF BARGAIN.
WE'LL TAKE ALL THE BARGAINING POWER THAT WE HAVE AS A COUNTY AND WILL PUT US IN A VERY, VERY, UH, UNFORTUNATE POSITION FINANCIALLY.
SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO OPPOSE.
THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT.
AND, UH, HOPE EVERYBODY WILL GO HOME SAFE.
COPY, ELLIOT, THAT WAS SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION.
UM, FIRST OFF, THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
I WANNA THANK ALL MY DENVER FOLKS FOR STOPPING BY.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE, UH, MY CONSTITUENTS HERE, UH, UH, AND STAYING ENGAGED.
UM, I WANNA ONCE AGAIN, THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PRESENTATIONS TODAY, BUT ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE CYPRESS BAPTIST CHURCH, UM, ON YOU ALL'S REMARKABLE ANNIVERSARY.
UM, AND ALSO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT ONCE AGAIN, THEY WILL BE HAVING A CELEBRATION CORRECT ON MARCH 22ND TIME, 10 45, 10 45 SERVICE.
UM, SO IF YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT TO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, ALSO THERE ARE MANY OTHER EVENTS HAPPENING WITHIN THE COUNTY, SO JUST, UM, BE ON THE LOOKOUT, UH, ON, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS START HAPPENING.
AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO ADDRESS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF, OF, OF EMAILS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT, AND THIS IS THE RE REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT THAT HAS COME UP.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO BE VERY VAGUE, BUT LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT AS A BOARD AND MS. PERKINS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT, UM, AS A BOARD, WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING.
UM, AS FAR AS STOPPING THIS, THIS IS, IS WE ARE SEPARATE FROM THE REGISTRARS.
THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS THE, THE COURT SYSTEMS. AND WE JUST SAW THAT THEY RULE RULED THAT THE VOTING WILL GO ON.
SO THE ONLY THING NOW THAT WE ALL CAN DO AS CITIZENS AND AND TO, TO, UM, AS CONSTITUENTS IS NOW GO AND VOTE.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO AS A BOARD.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE YOU CAN DO TO STOP AND WE JUST HAVE TO VOTE.
AND THAT IS WHAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND YOU ALL HAVE SAFE TRAVELS HOME.
THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPERVISOR, DREW, VICE CHAIR, HARDY VICE CHAIR.
UH, BEFORE I GET INTO MY COMMENTS, I WILL ECHO WHAT, UH, REVEREND ELLIOT, DR.
UM, I SIT ON THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION AND A FEW MONTHS AGO THEY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, UNFUNDED MANDATES.
AND, YOU KNOW, UNFUNDED MANDATES IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE TAXPAYER CITIZENS WORST, UH, NIGHTMARES.
[01:45:01]
AND I PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, UM, WE GO TO THE POLL, I THINK IT WAS, UH, MAYBE LAST YEAR, WE VOTED ON, UH, TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR WIDOWS OF, UM, UM, SERVICE MEMBERS WHO WERE, UH, YOU KNOW, KIA.NOW FROM A HEART PERSPECTIVE, I, MOST PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE VOTED YES ON THAT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON IS A GOOD, NOT SAYING THAT'S A GOOD OR A BAD THING.
HOWEVER, WHILE THAT MAY NOT IMPACT A LOCALITY LIKE SE COUNTY SO MUCH, LOOK AT YOUR HAMPTON ROADS AS A HUGE MILITARY DENSITY, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA BEACH.
SO IT COULD BE A, A CASH, UH, WELL, IT COULD BE A LOSS OF REVENUE OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, LITERALLY.
AND, UM, STATE SAID, HEY, DO THIS.
THEY, THEY OFFER NO FUNDS TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE UP THAT WINDFALL.