Jul 02, 2026 Board of Supervisors

[Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption]

[00:00:07]

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR JULY 2ND, 2026 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK REVEREND JAMES HARRISON OF THE MAIN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, IF YOU COULD, UM, COME TO THE PODIUM TO PRESENT US WITH OUR INVOCATION, REVEREND HARRISON.

THANK YOU, MR. PIERCE AND TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CITIZENS OF SURY COUNTY.

GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

LET US PRAY.

WE ARE THANKFUL.

GOD, OUR FATHER, FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU GIVE TO US.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS TO US TO LIVE IN, TO US.

KEEP US ON TASK THAT WILL GLORIFY THE KINGDOM.

KEEP US ON TASK THAT WILL GLORIFY YOUR PEOPLE.

HELP US, GOD, OUR FATHER, THAT WE MAY CENTER OUR WORKS AROUND LIFTING THE POOR, THE INDIGENT, THE INFIRM, THE WIDOW, THE ORPHAN.

HELP US TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED OF OTHERS.

WE PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND COURAGE.

AND WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THESE MARVELOUS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THEIR LIVES IN GRATITUDE AND LIVING THEIR LIVES IN RESPONSIBLE ACTION TOWARDS YOU.

THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD, WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INVOCATION FROM REVEREND HARRISON.

I NOW CALL THE JULY 2ND, 2026 BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING TO ORDER.

I'VE NOW ASK IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU AVENE.

ASK IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE AS WE SAY, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE PLAY, ALLEGIANCE TO THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH GOD, LIBERTY, JUSTICE.

THANK YOU.

BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE YOUR AGENDA.

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE AGENDA.

IF THERE IS NO QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA OR DISCUSSION, I ASK IF THERE I COULD RECEIVE A MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. SEWARD, SECONDED BY DR.

ELLIOT, THAT WE APPROVE TONIGHT'S ADOPT TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON DEMOTION? HEARING NONE.

I'LL NOW ASK FOR A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF SAID MOTION, SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE.

A.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED, AYES HAVE IT.

THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

I'LL NOW ASK COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HARRISON FOR THE ROLL CALL VOTE.

EXCUSE ME.

ROLL CALL.

GOOD EVENING.

CHAIRMAN PIERCE, VICE CHAIRMAN HARDY BOARD MEMBERS ASSEMBLED THE ROLL CALL IS AS FOLLOWS.

SUPERVISOR DREW, PRESENT SUPERVISOR HARDY.

PRESENT.

SUPERVISOR PIERCE.

PRESENT.

SUPERVISOR ELLIOT.

PRESENT.

SUPERVISOR.

SEWER PRESENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MS. HARRISON.

BOARD MEMBERS ON OUR

[Consent Items ]

WE HAVE CONSENT ITEMS. TONIGHT WE HAVE NINE CONSENT ITEMS. THERE'S NINE CONSENT ITEMS INCLUDE, NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL OF MINUTES, DRAFT MINUTES.

APRIL 30TH, 2026.

NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL OF DRAFT MINUTES.

JUNE 4TH, 2026.

NUMBER THREE, RESOLUTION FROM MS. LENE ELLIOT, AGE 90.

NUMBER FOUR, RESOLUTION HONORING MS. LINDA A. BAILEY.

NUMBER FIVE, A RESOLUTION HONORING, HONORING JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS NUMBER SIX, EVELYN ELLIS, APPOINTED TO THE BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY BOARD.

NUMBER SEVEN, JOHN SEWER APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF WILLIAM CALHOUN TO THE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMISSION.

NUMBER EIGHT, THE 2026 2027 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STUDENT REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVE KAMAYA SUMMERS.

AND LASTLY, NUMBER NINE, THE DAVENPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BOARD MEMBERS, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE, MR. CHAIR? SUPERVISOR ELLIOT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WOULD, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS AND THAT WE WOULD, UH, DRAW OUT NUMBER THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE FOR SPECIAL RECOGNITION.

[00:05:01]

ELLIOT.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY SUPERVISOR ELLIOT THAT WE, THAT WE APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS BY TAKING OUT CONSENT ITEMS. NUMBER THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE HAS BEEN SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR HARDY.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON SAID MOTION? MR. CHAIRMAN? IF MRS. I JUST, UM, FROM SOMETHING LEFT FROM LAST MINUTE OF WEEK'S MEET LAST MONTH'S MEETING? YES, SIR.

UM, MS. VEO ASKED THE QUESTION OF, OF ABOUT THE FOIA, UM, HER NAME BEING LIKE, OR SOMETHING ON THE FOIA LIST.

I JUST WONDERING IF THAT QUESTION HAD BEEN ANSWERED.

YES.

IT'S NOT, WASN'T IN CONSENT ITEMS, BUT YES.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, QUESTIONED, UM, SUPERVISOR ER, UM, THAT, UH, QUESTION WAS ANSWERED, UH, THROUGH VIA EMAIL.

OKAY.

UH, SO MS. UM, UH, CABELLO HAS, UH, GOT HER RESPONSE THROUGH VIA EMAIL.

OKAY.

THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

DO, THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON CONSENT? CONSENT ITEMS? ALRIGHT.

WELL, BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS, UH, BY TAKING OUT NUMBER THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE TO BE READ AND PRESENTED.

HEARING.

THERE IS NO DISCUSSION.

WILL NOW VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF SAID MOTION, SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE.

ALL OPPOSED, AYES HAVE IT.

CONSENT ITEMS ARE PASSED.

BOARD MEMBERS AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE MEETING TONIGHT, WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS TO BE, UH, HONORED TONIGHT.

ONE BEING A RESOLUTION FOR MS. LENE ELLIOT REACHING THE AGE OF 90.

THE OTHER HONORING MS. LINDA, A BILLING AND THE OTHER HONORING MS. JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS.

I WOULD NOW,

[3. Resolution - Jerline Elliott - Age 90 ]

PLEASE BEAR WITH ME MS. HER FAMILY IN HERE TONIGHT ING OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THE RECOGNITION OF MS. LENE F ELLIOT FOR REACHING THE AGE OF 90, WHEREAS MS. LENE F ELLIOT, A RESIDENT OF THE CAUSLEY DISTRICT OF S COUNTY, VIRGINIA, OBTAINED THE AGE OF 90 YEARS OF JULY 7TH, 2026.

AND WHEREAS MS. JOLENE F ELLIOT WAS BORN AND RAISED IN S COUNTY AND HAS BEEN A REGISTERED VOTER AND MAKES SURE SHE VOTES EVERY YEAR.

AND WHEREAS MS. JOLENE F ELLIOT WAS MARRIED TO ALBERT D ELLIOT SENIOR FOR 55 YEARS UNTIL HIS PASSING ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2012 FROM THE UNION, THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN.

SYLVIA, VANESSA, ALBERT, JR.

AND BONITA, SIX GRANDCHILDREN, TAVEN GRAVES, RODNEY KING JR.

SATYA MCKAY, SADE GRAVES, ISIS VEGA, AND JOSHUA ELLIOT, AND SIX GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.

KAYDEN MCKAY, ARIA KING KENNEDY, KING CALLIE HOLLANDS, UM, CAIRO MCKAY AND RAVEN KING.

WHEREAS MISS LENE F ELLIOT IS A MEMBER OF JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM BAPTIST CHURCH WHERE SHE IS THE MEMBER OF THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, MEMBER OF THE TRIUMPHANT WOMAN OF GOD, MEMBER OF THE SENIOR, AND MY CHOIR AND MEMBER OF THE USHER BOARD.

WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF S COUNTY WISHES TO RECOGNIZE HIS MILESTONE IN MS. GERLING F ELLIOT'S LIFE AND THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS SHE HAS MADE TO MAKING S COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS NOW AND THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT S COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO MS. JOLENE F ELLIOT FOR BEING A MODELED CITIZEN AND HER ENDEAVORS AIM TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AND RECOGNIZES MS. JOLENE F ELLIOTT FOR HAVING REACHED THE 90TH YEAR OF HER LIFE AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS RESOLUTION BE DELIVERED FOR WITH TO MS. JOLENE F ELLIOT.

AND THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE PRESENTED UPON THE RECORDS OF THE SHERRY COUNTY BOARD OF SUP SUPERVISORS ADOPTED THIS SECOND DAY OF JULY, 2026.

I TESTIFIED BY MR. DAVID HARRISON.

LET'S GIVE MS. JOLENE ELLIOT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THIS MILESTONE.

GET SOMEONE FROM HER FAMILY TO

[00:10:14]

NOW I WILL NOW

[4. Resolution - Honoring Linda A. Bailey ]

[5. Resolution Honoring Jacqueline Hardy Ricks ]

ELLIOT FOR HIS PRESENTATIONS.

DR.

ELLIOT.

GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

GOOD EVENING.

I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF, AND STILL HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, AND I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SELECTED TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

AND IN DOING SO, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AN AFFAIR IN WHICH THE ASSOCIATION, THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION THAT PUT ON HERE IN SURY COUNTY, AND WHICH THEY HAD HONORED TWO OF SURY COUNTY CITIZENS FOR THEIR GREAT WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS SURY COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

AND THEY LAID IT ON SO THICK THAT I SAID, UH, SRY COUNTY NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE CITIZENS FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE.

AND, UH, THIS IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY, WE USUALLY DO BY AGE, BUT THIS IS A SERVICE AWARD THAT WE WANT TO EXTEND TO THE CITIZENS OF S COUNTY THAT HAS REPRESENTED US SO WELL.

NOT ONLY THE CITIZENS OF SIRI, BUT ALSO OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES OF BRUNSWICK, DENWITTY, SIRI, SUSSEX, AND GREENSVILLE GREENSVILLE COUNTY.

AND THE HONOREES TONIGHT WOULD BE THAT FOR MS. LINDA BAILEY AND MS. JACKIE HARDY RICKS AND I WILL READ THE FIRST RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE SERVICE PROVIDED TO THIS GREAT, UH, ORGANIZATION, THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR MS. LINDA BAILEY RESOLUTION, HONORING LINDA A. BAILEY FOR HER SERVICE TO THE SURY COUNTY COMMUNITY IN SOUTH SIDE VIRGINIA.

WHEREAS LINDA, A BAILEY HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF SURY COUNTY FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HER COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS LINDA, A BAILEY WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL, THE ORIGINAL INDIVIDUALS WHO PERFORMED GRASSROOTS EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING THE AWARD OF THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION INITIAL HEAD START GRANT.

AND WHEREAS LINDA, A BAILEY HAS SERVED AS A FAMILY SERVICE WORKER FOR THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION HEAD START PROGRAM FOR 36 YEARS, ADVOCATING CHANGE AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT.

AND WHEREAS THROUGH HER TIRELESS EFFORT, LINDA A. BAILEY HAS MADE A POSITIVE IMPACT THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IN RE SUSSEX, BRUNSWICK, GREENVILLE AND CITY OF EMPORIA.

AND WHEREAS LINDA, A BAILEY HAS SERVED ON THE VIRGINIA FAMILY ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING TEAM ASSISTING AT HIGH RISK YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH COORDINATED SERVICES TAILORED TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

AND WHEREAS LINDA, A BAILEY SERVED ON THE 21ST CENTURY ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION THAT OFFERS ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND WHEREAS LINDA, A BAILEY SERVED ON VARIOUS CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO INCLUDE SURY COUNTY, AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY AS TREASURER FOR 10 YEARS, AND SUSSEX COUNTY LIONS CLUB TREASURER FOR FIVE YEARS IN CURRENTLY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR THE LION CLUB.

AND WHEREAS LINDA, A BAILEY HAS VOLUNTEERED FOR POLITICAL CANVASSING EFFORTS SUPPORTING THE ELECTION OF LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS FOR NUMEROUS CANDIDATES.

AND WHEREAS LINDA A. BAILEY SERVES AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION IN SRE COUNTY, HELPING TO ENSURE EQUITABLE, FAIR AND CONSISTENT PROFIT TAX ASSESSMENT FOR SRE COUNTY RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS LINDA A. BAILEY IS MARRIED TO THEODORE ARA BAILEY JR FOR 48 YEARS, AND THEY HAVE TWO CHILDREN, THEODORE THIRD AND WHITNEY, ONE SON-IN-LAW, ANDRE BARNES.

AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY JOIN THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING LINDA A. BAILEY FOR HER MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO SURY COUNTY COMMUNITY AND SOUTH SIDE VIRGINIA, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS RESOLUTION WOULD BE DELIVERED FORTHWITH TO LINDA A. BAILEY.

AND THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD UPON THE RECORDS OF SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED THE SECOND DAY OF JULY, 2026, ATTESTED BY DAVID HARRISON, INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

MS. BAILEY, WILL YOU COME AND WE ALSO HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATE.

I'M GONNA ASK HIM TO COME MR. RUFUS TYLER, AS WE TAKE OUR PICTURES, WE HAVE OUR TREASURER, I MEAN OUR SECRETARY

[00:15:01]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SOME REMARKS, MS? WELL, THEY SAY Y'ALL TALK A LOT, BUT NOW I'M ALL SHAKEN UP.

BUT I'M GONNA SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK GOD, UM, THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND WORKING AT THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR 36 YEARS.

'CAUSE I KNOW WITHOUT HIM I WOULDN'T HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT JOB.

UM, ALSO, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK GOD FOR MY FAMILY AND MY SUPPORT, MY HUSBAND, MY KIDS, UM, WHEN I WAS OUT THERE, A YOUNG LADY WITH BABIES OUT THERE DOING MY THING AS FAR AS HELPING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

AND ALSO I WANT TO THANK, UM, THE BOARD FOR SUPPORTING THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION OF ALL THESE YEARS.

AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE COULD COLLABORATE AND YOU ALL WOULD HONOR ME, UH, AND THINK THAT ENOUGH, ENOUGH OF ME TO HONOR ME FOR SUPPORTING THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL DOING THAT.

OKAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

WE HAVE OUR SECOND HONOREE FROM THE APPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND THE RESOLUTION READS RESOLUTION HONORING JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS FOR HER SERVICE TO THE SIRY COUNTY COMMUNITY IN SOUTH SIDE VIRGINIA.

WHEREAS JACQUELINE, JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS IS A RESIDENT OF SURY COUNTY, VIRGINIA IN BACON'S CASTLE DISTRICT AND HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HER COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS WAS EMPLOYED BY THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND WAS HIRED IN 1991 AS THE FIRST, THE FIRST HEAD, HEAD STOP TEACHER FOR RY COUNTY.

AND WHEREAS YES, WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS WAS HOUSED AT THE HISTORICAL SCHOOLHOUSE BUILDING ON 1111 ROAD IN SURY COUNTY.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS THROUGH HER TIRELESS EFFORTS, HAS MADE A POSITIVE IMPACT THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IN SIRI, SUSSEX, BRUNSWICK, GREENVILLE, AND THE CITY OF EMPORIA.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS WORKED 35 YEARS WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHSIDE, VIRGINIA TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAD A GREAT HEAD START ON LIFE.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDIE, RICKS FORMER STUDENTS HAVE BECOME EDUCATORS, LAWYERS, NURSES, MUSICIANS AND ARCHITECTS, AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDIE RICKS SERVES ON THE VIRGINIA HEAD START ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN OF VIRGINIA RECEIVED EVERYTHING THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAD THE BEST EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS IS A CERTIFIED PRESCHOOL OBSERVER FOR CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEMS WHERE OBSERVATIONS ARE DONE TO ENSURE TEACHERS ARE TEACHING TO RELIABILITY.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MOUNT NEBO BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE SHE SERVES IN THE CHOIR PRAISE AND WORSHIP TEAM, EVENT COORDINATOR, YOUTH DEPARTMENT AND NURSE DEPARTMENT.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS IS THE PROUD MOTHER OF ONE SON, JEVON AND THE GRANDSON MAVERICK.

AND WHEREAS JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS IS THE OWNER OF POOL'S FUNERAL HOME SERVING SIRY SUSSEX, ALL WHITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SIRY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY JOIN THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IN RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS FOR HER MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO SURY COUNTY'S COMMUNITY AND SOUTH SIDE OF VIRGINIA BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVE THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS RESOLUTION BE DELIVERED FORTHWITH TO JACQUELINE HARDY RICKS.

AND THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD UPON THE RECORDS OF SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED THIS SECOND DAY OF JUNE, 2026.

ATTEST BY DAVID HARRISON,

[00:20:01]

LET'S GIVE MR. RICKS SOME LOVE.

ASK THE SAME GROUP TO COME ON BACK FOR ANOTHER PHOTO.

GRANDSON.

SURE.

Y'ALL, GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN PIERCE BOARD MEMBERS.

AND, UM, MR. ELLIOT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I AM MORE THAN HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS FROM YOU ALL TONIGHT.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE BUILDING ON LEBANON ROAD WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.

BUT IT DIDN'T BEGIN THERE.

IT BEGAN IN MY CAR BECAUSE WHEN YOU ALL GAVE US THE BUILDING, THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, IT WAS NOT READY FOR US.

BUT HEAD START WAS READY, THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WERE READY.

SO I HAD TO GO TO THEIR HOMES FIRST.

AND I THINK WE GOT IN THAT BUILDING AT THE END OF THE YEAR, JUST IN TIME FOR THEM TO GRADUATE.

AND I'M SO HONORED AND PROUD.

I DO HAVE THE FIRST STUDENTS HERE, ONE OF THEM, TWO OF THEM, WHITNEY, MY OTHER SON, LALL CHER AND HIS SON JUST GRADUATED IN HEAD START FROM SIRI ANYMORE, HEAD START STUDENTS, JASMINE.

AND SHE JUST GRADUATED FROM HEAD, UM, HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE WAS IN HEAD START.

AND THEN WE HAVE HEAD START TEACHERS HERE.

MY TEACHER ASSISTANT IS HERE.

LORRAINE DAVIS.

DR. DAVIS IS HERE, AND COWORKERS.

AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED.

AND MY OTHER SON, DANTE WRIGHT, HE'S PROBABLY RUNNING LATE, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST HEAD START STUDENTS.

SO SRE COUNTY HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WENT THROUGH THE HEAD START PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT SUPPORTING THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

MR. RUFUSS, TYLER, I EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

HE WAS LIKE, MS. RICKS, YOU'RE GOOD FOR SIR, YOU'RE GOOD FOR SIR.

AND MS. BAILEY, IF IT WASN'T FOR LINDA BAILEY, MS. BAILEY WAS IN THE WEEDS, THE WOODS, THE BACK ROADS, MAKING SURE WE HAD CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO SERVE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

MY SON CAME FROM MARLON AND I DIDN'T LIE TO YOU, DR.

ELLIOT.

I THINK HE CAME BECAUSE OF YOU.

'CAUSE YOU HAD SEEN HIM.

SO HE SURPRISED ME AND MY GRANDSON, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, MY GRANDBABY IS DUE ANY MINUTE, ANY DAY.

SO HE DROVE DOWN TO SURPRISE ME.

I WEREN'T EXPECTING THEM.

SO I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER THAT'S ON THE WAY.

THANK YOU.

FELLOW FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, AS I STATED BEFORE, I WAS IN THE SETTING IN WHICH THEY WERE HONORED BY THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND I THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY, THAT THE COUNTY WOULD RECOGNIZE THE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE MADE TO OUR SOUTH SIDE OF VIRGINIA.

AND THEY ARE SO HIGHLY THOUGHT OF THAT.

STAFF FROM THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION HAS COME.

TEACHERS, UH, WORKFORCE DIRECTORS, THEY ARE ALL HERE.

AND I'M GONNA ASK THEM TO STAND TO LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEM HERE IN S COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

LET'S GIVE OUR HONOREES ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO MILESTONES AND GREAT HARDWORKING EFFORTS.

THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE.

THANK YOU DR.

ELLIOT.

UH, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, EVERYONE, WE

[Public Comments ]

THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS COMING FROM MR. ALLEN BARDWELL FROM THE AREA DISTRICT.

I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

PLEASE RECITE, UH, STATE YOUR NAME, WHAT DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. BROWN.

DO YOU MIND KEEPING THE TIME FOR ME PLEASE, SIR.

.

THANK YOU.

UM, GOOD EVENING, MR.

[00:25:01]

MY NAME'S ALAN BARWELL.

I LIVE IN THE SURREY VOTING DISTRICT.

I'M REQUESTING PUBLIC RECORDS TO SHOW THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO CITIZEN CONCERNS RAISED DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE JUNE MEETING.

TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT REQUESTING DRAFTS IN, UM, INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS, PRELIMINARY NOTES OR, UH, INTERMEDIATE EMAILS ONLY.

ANY RECORD THAT REFLECTS THE FINAL RESULT, SUCH AS A COMMUNICATION TO THE CITIZEN AND INTERNAL SUMMARY OF ACTION TAKEN OR A FINAL REPORT FINDING.

UM, I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A, A WRITTEN RECORD, WRITTEN REQUEST IF YOU WANT ONE OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

YOU CAN, UH, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.

WOULD LIKE IT, PLEASE STATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. BALDWELL.

NEXT.

THANK YOU MR. BALDWELL.

NEXT OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE MS. SUSAN CARVELLO FROM THE CLAREMONT DISTRICT.

YOU ASK YOU, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, WHAT DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MR. BROWN, IF YOU PLEASE KEEP THE FINE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, SUSAN VELO CLAREMONT DISTRICT.

I WANNA SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE COUNTY'S FOIA SUMMARY REPORT.

I RECENTLY RECEIVED THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE FROM LAST MONTH'S REQUEST EXPLAINING THAT THE FOIA REPORT IS INTENDED TO DOCUMENT STAFF WORKLOAD, INCLUDING REQUESTS THAT MAY NOT TECHNICALLY BE FOIA REQUESTS.

I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY TAKING THE TIME TO RESPOND AND EXPLAIN ITS POSITION.

HOWEVER, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE CURRENT REPORTING PRACTICE.

MY INQUIRY WAS NEVER SUBMITTED AS A REQUEST UNDER VIRGINIA FOIA.

IT WAS SIMPLY A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNTY OPERATIONS.

DURING MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAIR, I WAS TOLD HE WOULD LOOK INTO THEM AND GET BACK WITH ME.

AS OF TODAY, I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.

IF WE CANNOT GET CLARIFICATION OF QUESTIONS WITHOUT THEM BEING SENT TO FOIA, HOW IS A CITIZEN SUPPOSED TO GET ANSWERS? DESPITE THAT, MY QUESTIONS WERE INCLUDED IN A DOCUMENT TITLED FOIA SUMMARY REPORT.

MY CONCERN IS NOT ABOUT THE WORK PERFORMED BY COUNTY STAFF.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.

MY CONCERN IS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.

WHEN A REPORT IS TITLED FOIA SUMMARY REPORT, IT INCLUDES, INCLUDES INQUIRIES THAT ARE NOT FOIA REQUESTS.

IT CAN CREATE THE IMPRESSION THAT CITIZENS SUBMITTED FORMAL FOIA REQUESTS WHEN THEY DID NOT.

THE COUNTY HAS STATED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE REPORT IS TO MEASURE STAFF WORKLOAD.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT THE TITLE OF THE REPORT ITSELF SHOULD CLEARLY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AN ACTUAL FOIA AND GENERAL CITIZENS INQUIRIES.

THAT SIMPLE CLARIFICATION WOULD ACCURATELY REFLECT THE WORK BEING TRACKED WHILE AVOIDING CONFUSION FOR BOTH THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AGENDA FROM LAST MONTH HAS BEEN ADOPTED, BUT IF THE COUNTY INTENDS TO CONTINUE LISTING MY INQUIRY IN THE FOIA SUMMARY REPORT, THEN I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT IT ACCURATELY REFLECT WHAT MY QUESTIONS WERE AS OTHERS ARE LISTED IN THEIR FOIAS.

IS THE COUNTY REPLENISHING THE STABILIZATION FUND THAT WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLAN FUTURE BORROWING WITH THE YMCA AND WHY WAS AN EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT USED FOR A COMPANY THAT WAS ALREADY PROVIDING THE COUNTY'S LANDSCAPING SERVICES? THOSE WERE MY TWO QUESTIONS.

THEY'RE SIMPLE, YES, NO QUESTIONS.

MAYBE A LITTLE EXPLANATION.

AND IT WAS SENT TO FOIA.

I KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T GET AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION ON FOIA, SO I'VE ASKED A QUESTION TO A SUPERVISOR, DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER.

IT GETS FORWARDED TO FOIA, IT'S NOT GETTING ANSWERED.

SO HOW DOES A CITIZEN GET ANSWERS TO A QUESTION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MR. CARLO.

THAT NOW CLOSES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, SECTION FOR OUR AGENDA ON THIS EVENING.

NEXT ON

[Board Comments ]

I'M GONNA ASK IF SUPERVISOR ELLIOTT, MIND GOING FIRST FOR OUR BOARD COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT AND, UH, IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HONOR TO WHERE HONOR IS DUE.

AND I, I THANK THE BOARD FOR GIVING ME THE LEEWAY TO DO SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE WORTHY.

UH, JUST WANT TO ADMONISH EVERYBODY TO STAY COOL.

IT'S HOT OUT THERE.

WE DO HAVE OUR FIREWORKS ON TOMORROW.

WE ASK EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND LET US HAVE A MINDSET OF UNITY THAT WE CAN STAND TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND, AND MAKE LIFE AS BEST AS IT POSSIBLY CAN BE.

THAT

[00:30:01]

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STRIVING TO DO.

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DOT EVERY I AND CROSS EVERY T AND GET TO EVERY QUESTION THAT'S ASKED, BUT WE ARE WORKING COHESIVELY AS A BOARD TO MAKE, UH, LIFE, UH, BETTER FOR THE CITIZENS OF SRE COUNTY.

SO, UH, IF YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT IT, BE PATIENT WITH US.

WE'LL GET TO YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE FIREWORKS.

THANK YOU, DR.

ELLIOT.

MR. DREW, SUPERVISOR DREW.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

GOOD EVENING.

GREAT TO SEE ALL YOU ALL OUT HERE TODAY.

UM, I DO HAVE A FEW UPDATES WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, UM, ABOUT EVENTS THAT I'VE ATTENDED.

UH, I HAD THE HONOR TO ATTEND THE TOWN OF DRES A HUNDRED 20TH, UM, ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ALONGSIDE, I THINK, UM, SUPERVISOR HARDY FOR ALSO BEING IN ATTENDANCE.

UM, I CAN'T SAY IT WAS A GREAT OCCASION, UM, CELEBRATING THE BEST TOWN IN, UH, SURREY COUNTY .

UM, SO YEAH, AND I THINK, UH, THOSE WHO ARE IN HERE FROM THE, UM, THE TOWN OF DENVER AS WELL, I ALSO HAVE TO CONGRATULATE OUR INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, HARRISON.

UM, I KNOW YOU WILL LEAD US.

YES, I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD US FORWARD.

UM, AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU.

UM, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE JAMESTOWN REDISCOVERY PROJECT.

THIS IS, UM, A PROJECT, UH, THAT IS HAPPENING ON, IN THE, ON THE 1865 SIDE OF JAMESTOWN.

AND I HAD TO, UH, A, A TOUR WITH MARIANNE, A SURREY COUNTY RESIDENT WHO'S AN ALSO ALSO ARCHEOLOGIST ON THIS SITE.

UM, IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE, PLEASE GO VISIT.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, SURREY COUNTY, UH, NAMES AND HISTORICAL, UH, PEOPLE, UM, FROM, FROM ON OUR SIDE WHO SOUGHT FREEDOM, UH, AND RAN OVER TO, UH, THE 1865 LANDMARK.

SO IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE, PLEASE GO VISIT.

UM, I ALSO HAVE TO TAKE RIGHT NOW, TAKE THE TIME TO THANK STAFF.

UM, I KNOW IN THE PAST THERE WAS A, UH, INQUIRY ABOUT, UM, THE LIVE VIDEO FEEDS WEREN'T, WE'RE OPERATING.

UM, HAVE TO THINK, I BELIEVE MR. BROWN WORKING ON THAT.

UM, SO NOW IT'S UP AND RUNNING.

IF YOU CHECK RIGHT NOW, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WATCHING MYSELF AND US AS WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING OUR MEETING TODAY, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING.

SO I THANK YOU ALL, UM, FOR TAKING TIME TO WORK ON THAT.

UM, I ALSO HAD OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER MY SERVICES AT THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL THIS, UH, YEAR.

IT WAS PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE.

WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT, GREAT FOOD, GREAT, GREAT MUSIC, A LOT OF GREAT MUSIC.

UM, WE HAD TIME TO, TO JUST, UH, SIT BACK, RELAX, AND, UM, ENJOY OUR TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY.

UM, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE GOVERNOR'S BILL SIGNING THAT HAPPENED IN SURREY.

UM, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SURREY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, I MEAN, WE NEED, WE NEED GOVERNORS TO KEEP COMING BACK TO SURREY NO MATTER WHAT, WHAT PART OF YOU'RE PART OF.

WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SURREY, BUT ALSO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED HELP WITH IN SUR.

UM, SO THAT WAS, UH, UH, REALLY, UM, ADMIRABLE FOR THE GOVERNOR OF HER ADMINISTRATION TO COME DOWN.

ALSO TO CONGRATULATE, UM, MS. LENE ELLIOT ON YOUR NINE 90TH BIRTHDAY.

UM, I PRAY TO GOD, I MAKE IT TO 90 .

GOT A LONG TIME TO GO.

UM, ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. LINDA BAILEY AND MS. JACQUELINE HARDY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

UM, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

AND WE, AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, AND LAST I JUST WANNA SAY, I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW AT THE 3RD OF JULY CELEBRATION.

I'LL BE THERE IN THE HEAT, UM, PROBABLY DANCING, BUT WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER AS WELL.

SO, THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MR. DREW.

SUPERVISOR STEWART, UM, LIKE I SAID, SAID, ASK ME AND I'M STILL GETTING WARMED UP, BUT I'D LIKE TO, UM, CONGRATULATE MR. HARRISON AND HOPE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING, WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE ON THIS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT MR. SE, SUPERVISOR HARDY.

GOOD EVENING.

ALL GOOD EVENING.

GOOD TO BE INTENDANCE.

ONE MORE TIME.

UH, AGAIN, CONGRATS TO, UH, MR. HARRISON AND MR. BROWN DOWN THERE.

THEY GOTTA SEAT AT THE TABLE NOW.

SO, UH, , THEY ALL VERSED IN WHAT THEY DO, AND I KNOW, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS.

UH, NOT MUCH SHORT MEETING.

THAT'S THE BEST KIND, I GUESS.

UM, I WOULD SAY CONGRATS AGAIN TO THE HONOREES, UH, MS. ELLIOT.

AND I DO WANNA SAY FOR THE, FOR THE RECORD, UH, MS. LINDA BAILEY AND MS. JACKIE HARDY RICKS ARE OUR RESIDENTS OF THE GREAT BEACONS CASTLE DISTRICT.

NOTHING BUT GREATNESS COMES OUT OF THAT DISTRICT.

JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT SHE REMIND ME OF THAT ONCE BEFORE, AS SHE SHOULD, AS SHE SHOULD.

AND ALSO, I DON'T RECOGNIZE OUR GOOD FRIEND FROM SUSSEX COUNTY, OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BACK THERE.

YOU CAN CRITIQUE US IF YOU NEED TO AFTER THE MEETING.

SO THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO AGAIN.

UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANKS, CHAIR.

THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPERVISOR HARDY.

UM, AS ALWAYS, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT, THOSE FROM WATCHING AT HOME.

UM, I'M GLAD TO HEAR, UH, MR. DREW'S UPDATE AS FAR AS THE, UM, DIFFICULTIES, UH, SOME OF THE CITIZENS WE'RE HAVING WATCHING OUR MEETINGS FROM HOME.

I, I RECEIVED A FEW TEXTS AND PHONE CALLS ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

AND GREG GLAD TO KNOW THAT STAFF HAS WORKED THAT OUT.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND,

[00:35:01]

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, SHORT MEETING, GREAT MEETING.

UH, I WANT TO AGAIN, THINK, EXCUSE ME, LIKE OTHER SUPERVISORS DID CONGRATULATE MR. HARRISON ON HIS INTERIM POSITION AS A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

I KNOW YOU WOULD DO GREAT THINGS IN THIS POSITION.

UM, AND MR. MR. BROWN AS WELL.

I WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE, UH, DN PARADE HUNTER AND 20TH, UH, CELEBRATION.

I MISSED THE PHOTO OP THOUGH, MR. DREW, BUT, UH, , I IT IS, IT IS FINE.

IT'S FINE.

BUT NO, I, I, I WISH I HAD A BUSY DAY, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO, UM, NOT STOP BY TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE AND JUST THE JOY JUST TO SEE, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE PEOPLE OUT THERE CELEBRATING AND THE PARADE, SEEING THE OLD CARS AND, AND, AND, UM, FIRE ENGINES.

THERE WAS, WAS A TRUE DELIGHT.

SO, UM, THERE WAS A HUGE EVENT.

UM, LIKE OTHER SUPERVISORS MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE FIREWORKS COMING UP ON TOMORROW.

UH, PLEASE COME OUT IN ATTENDANCE.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE HYDRATE PRIOR TO YOU COMING OUT THERE.

BUT I'M SURE THAT WE WILL BE, UH, PLENTY OF REFRESHMENTS FOR THOSE WHO MAY NEED SOME OUT THERE AS WELL.

UH, BUT PLEASE MAKE THE, THE PROPER, UM, UM, UM, PREREQUISITES TO COME OUT THERE TO BE IN ATTENDANCE, UM, FOR OUR FIREWORKS.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOVERNOR, UM, FOR COMING TO VIRGINIA FOR THE BILL SIGNING.

UM, BUT MANY OF YOU MAY NOT NOT KNOW.

THE BILL SIGNING WAS, UH, SIGNIFICANT FOR THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

UM, UNDERSTANDING THE, UM, IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE HERE IN IN VIRGINIA, UM, BEING THE NUMBER ONE PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

SO, UM, IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THAT, UH, RECOGNITION HERE IN OER COUNTY, UH, TO HAVE A, A ACTIVE GOVERNOR COME TO SIGN SOME BILLS.

SO THAT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND A OPPORTUNITY.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO, UM, RECOGNIZE THE CITIZENS THAT, UH, ARE HERE TODAY, UM, FOR OUR, OUR CITIZENS WHO HAVE GOT HONORED.

UM, THERE'S ARE SOME HUGE MILESTONES AND HUGE ACCOLADES.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR YEARS OF, OF SERVICE.

UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UM, UH, THANK FOR ALL THE CITIZENS FOR YOUR, YOUR ENGAGEMENT, UM, FROM OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, UM, FOR OUR MEETINGS, UM, FOR, FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN SRY COUNTY.

UM, SEEING SOME OF THE FACEBOOK COMMENTS.

I SEE SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY ADVOCATING FOR S COUNTY THAT MAKES ME FEEL GREAT AS A LEADER HERE IN S THAT YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE REALLY TAKING SOME OF THE WEIGHT OFF US, YOU KNOW, REALLY ADVOCATING, SPEAKING TRUE TO WHAT SIR NATURE IS.

HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME, SOME THINGS ARE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DOT EVERY I ACROSS EVERY T AND I I'M HOPING THAT WE COULD, UH, CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO PUSH S COUNTY FORWARD.

UM, LASTLY, UH, BEFORE I, UH, CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS, UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT I WAS, UM, UM, JUST VISITED, UM, MOR MORRIS, ILLINOIS, UM, THIS, UH, RURAL COMMUNITY.

UM, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ENERGY.

AND I KNOW THAT AROUND HERE, UM, IN SYRIA AND OTHER, UH, COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA, THERE'S THE BIG, UH, HUGE, UM, UM, UM, GUESS CONCERNS AND UNCERTAINTIES OF HOW ENERGY IS GONNA LOOK IN THE FUTURE.

WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE NUCLEAR, WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, SOLAR, UH, UM, UH, DATA DATA CENTERS.

A MR IS AS SMRS AS A LOT OF, A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE COMING OUT THERE.

BUT AS LEADERS, THE BEST WAY TO REALLY ADVOCATE FOR YOU ALL IS TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND, AND EDUCATED, TO SEE EXACTLY NOT ONLY WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IN VIRGINIA, BUT WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING ACROSS THE, THE COUNTY.

UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR NATION.

AND THERE ARE OTHER RURAL COMMUNITIES BESIDES CHERRY COUNTY, THAT KIND OF HAVE THE SAME, UH, DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE HAVE.

UM, SOME MAY HAVE A LARGER POPULATION, BUT MAY HAVE A SMALLER LAND MASS AND VICE VERSA.

BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AND REALIZED THROUGH MY TRAVELS AND MY STUDIES IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE COMMUNITIES, UH, WORK TOGETHER AS FAR AS TRYING TO MAKE A PLAN TO BETTER THE FUTURE GENERATIONS, UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE, I'VE TRAVELED, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MORRIS MORRIS, UM, UH, ILLINOIS, I THINK THE POPULATION WAS 12,000, BUT IT WAS A RURAL COMMUNITY, RIGHT? BUT WITH THAT 12,000 POPULATION, THEY HAD INDUSTRY, THEY HAD JOBS IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY HAD, UH, BUSINESSES, UH, SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, TOURISM, THINGS THAT I, I COULD FORESEE POSSIBLY IN S COUNTY.

BUT AGAIN, IT, IT COMES WITH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

KNOWING THAT EVEN WITH THE WORK THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN TODAY, WE MAY NOT EVER FORESEE THAT.

BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S ONE THING THAT AS A LEADER, I'M WILLING TO DO, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M MAKING SARA COUNTY BETTER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND UNDERSTANDING IN DOING SO, EVERYONE MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE COLLABORATIVELY, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ALL HAVE SARA COUNTY THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR HEARTS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS FOR THIS EVENING.

I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAS A SAFE TRAVELS HOME.

I HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE ON TOMORROW.

AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, LET'S STAY COOL OUT OUT HERE.

OKAY.

UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR NEXT

[County Administrators Report ]

SO I'LL NOW TURN IT

[00:40:01]

MR. HARRIS, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

CHAIRMAN PIERCE, VICE CHAIR HARDY, UH, EVERYONE ASSEMBLED, BOARD MEMBERS ASSEMBLED, EVERYONE PRESENT.

MY REPORT THIS EVENING WILL BE, UM, BRIEF AND WILL CONSIST OF, UH, UPDATE ON OUR FIREWORKS EVENT, UH, TOMORROW.

THAT WILL BE HELD ON TOMORROW EVENING.

UM, AND ALSO I WOULD, WHILE I HAVE, UH, THE FLOOR, I WILL GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ON THE GFOA CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING THAT WE DID RECEIVE.

SO I'LL DO THAT NOW IF YOU ALL DON'T MIND.

AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET OUR UPDATE ON THE FIREWORKS EVENT FROM TOMORROW.

THAT WILL BE GIVEN BY MR. RENEE CHAPLIN, AS WELL AS MR. DARRELL ROLLINS.

UH, IN REFERENCE TO THE GFOA CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT, SURRY COUNTY IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN AWARDED A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING BY GOVERNOR, GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE REPORTING.

THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE PREPARATION OF ITS ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

A CFR SURY COUNTY HAS CONSISTENTLY EARNED THIS DISTINGUISHED AWARD OVER THE YEARS, REFLECTING THE DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCE TEAM AND LEADERSHIP.

THE COUNTY IS ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION FOLLOWING A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN 2024 WHEN THE APPLICATION PROCESS WAS NOT COMPLETED DUE TO SIGNIFICANT STAFF EFFORTS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW COUNTY'S, UM, EERP SYSTEM.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE MS. ROLLINS IN HER ABSENCE, AS WELL AS MR. BROWN AND MS. MELISSA HARVEY FOR THEIR HARD WORK DEDICATION, AND ALL OF THE SUR COUNTY STAFF AND TEAM THAT WORKED, UM, TO ACHIEVE THIS AWARD.

AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO MS. RENEE CHAPLIN AND MR. DARRYL ROLLINS FOR OUR, OUR UPDATE ON THE FIREWORK EVENTS AND FESTIVITIES TO BE HELD TOMORROW EVENING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. HARRISON.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR POSITION HERE AS INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I APPRECIATE THE TIME HERE, VICE CHAIRMAN AND ALL OF OUR, UH, HONORED, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.

UM, I'M GONNA START OFF, UH, DID YOU GET YOU, OKAY, GREAT.

START OFF HERE.

I KNOW THIS IS A HORRIBLE THING TO TALK ABOUT, AS HIGH AS IT IS, BUT WE GOT FIRST FRIDAYS COMING UP IN AUGUST, AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO ATTEND AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BRING YOUR FRIENDS, BRING YOUR FAMILY.

IT'S AT FIVE 30, GOES TO SEVEN 30.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL BAND, AUGUST THE SEVENTH, WHICH IS THE FORTE JAZZ BAND, SEPTEMBER THE FOURTH IS BLACKOUT, OCTOBER THE SECOND.

WE HAVE FORTE JAZZ BAND, AND THAT CLOSES IT DOWN FOR THE SEASON.

SO LET'S HAVE REALLY BIG CROWDS, FOOD, TRUCKS, ICE CREAM, AND A GOOD TIME.

UH, IF YOU WANNA FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS AND GET, GET ON THE CALENDAR, IT IS ON THE SURREY COUNTY TOURISM CALENDAR.

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, AND PLEASE LIKE US AND LOOK AT US AND ENJOY THE, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE PUT OUT THERE, BECAUSE WE TRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY UPDATED.

NOW, I'LL LET MR. ROLLINS SPEAK ON THIS.

ALRIGHT, MAY I APPROACH? I HAVE JUST A, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING CHAIRMAN PIERCE, UH, VICE CHAIRMAN HARDY, UH, MR. HARRISON, OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, MR. BROWN, MRS. PERKINS, UH, MRS. A PLEASURE TO STAND BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS MR. HARRISON, ON YOUR APPOINTMENT AS INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR, UM, ENTRUSTING ME OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO BE ABLE TO PUT ON THIS ENDEAVOR, THIS, UM, ACTIVITY FOR THE COUNTY.

UH, WE PRAY THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

AS YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WAS PROBABLY OUR BIGGEST, OUR LARGEST ATTENDANT, UH, EVENT.

UM, SINCE WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE, THE FIREWORKS CELEBRATION, UM, THIS YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF FOOD OFFERINGS.

WE HAVE 11 FOOD, UH, TRUCKS AND FOOD PREPARERS.

UH, WE HAVE FOUR COOLING, UH, OFFERINGS SUCH AS SLUSHIES, ICEES, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THAT WILL BE, I'M SURE, VERY POPULAR WITH THE KIDS.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE A VARIETY OF LEMONADE AND DRINKS.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, SEVEN CRAFT VENDORS WHO WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.

AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT, AND WE'RE EXPECTING AS MANY OR MORE IN ATTENDANCE THAN WE

[00:45:01]

UM, WE WILL HAVE A VARIETY OF MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT STARTING AT FIVE 15.

WE ADJUSTED THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE EXPECTED HEAT WAVE THAT'LL BE HERE TOMORROW.

UM, SO AT FIVE 15 TILL SIX 30, WE'LL HAVE, UM, THE CALLED IN COMPANY BAND.

AND THEN FROM 6 45 TILL, UH, EIGHT O'CLOCK, WE WILL HAVE THE JASON KALE BAND OUT OF VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA.

AND FROM EIGHT 15 TILL NINE 30, WE WILL HAVE POINT OF VIEW BAND OUT OF THE HAMPTON ROADS AREA.

UM, SO IT'S A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSICAL OFFERINGS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL APPEAL TO THE MASSES.

UH, WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, MRS. RENEE CHAPLIN FOR, AS YOU SEE THE BANNER, UH, THAT HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND STRATEGICALLY PLACED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, UM, COMMEMORATING THE FIREWORK CELEBRATION, THE STARS AND STRIPE FIREWORKS CELEBRATION, AS WELL AS THE, UH, AMERICA TWO 50.

SO THANK YOU TO MS. CHAPMAN FOR HER ASSISTANCE IN PURCHASING, UM, THE SIGNAGE FOR THIS EVENT.

ALSO SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO, UH, MR. RAY PHELPS OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, OFFICE, THE DIRECTOR THERE AND HIS TEAM.

AND IN ADDITION TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, SHERIFF TURNER, UM, PARTICULARLY, UM, LIEUTENANT COMER WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ASSISTING US IN, UH, CREATING A, A EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN.

SO KUDOS TO THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS FOR THE ASSISTANCE THEY HAD, THEY HAVE GIVEN US.

AND SO WE ARE JUST THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, PUT ON A, WHAT WE HOPE TO BE AN EXTRAORDINARY, UH, EVENT ON TOMORROW.

SO I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. WRONGS.

MM-HMM .

BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WRONGS? THIS EVENING? CHAIR? UM, MR. DREW, UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION IN THE STATEMENT.

UH, FIRST OFF THE QUESTION, ARE WE, UM, IS THERE, ARE WE, UM, HAVING COMPLIMENTARY WATER AVAILABLE? WE WILL, WE WILL.

OKAY.

WE WILL BE PROVIDING WATER FROM PARKS AND RECREATION, AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE.

AND I BELIEVE SHERIFF TURNER SAID HE HAD SOME, UM, GATORADES THAT HE WILL BE, UM, PASSING OUT AS WELL.

OKAY, GREAT.

AND MY, MY SECOND THING IS REALLY JUST A STATEMENT.

I JUST WANT TO, UM, FIRST ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

UM, MR. PHELPS AND SHERIFF CARLOS, UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY TO OUR CITIZENS, I KNOW, UM, LAST YEAR WE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT, UH, UH, JUST TRAFFIC AND GETTING OUT OF THE, THE PARKS AND RIGHT.

I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE DONE A, A PHENOMENAL JOB TO IMPLEMENT PROBABLY BETTER PROCEDURES AND STUFF.

I JUST WANNA TELL OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR CITIZENS TO GIVE, GIVE OUR SHERIFF OFFICE AND OUR, OUR EMERGENCY SERVICE SOME TIME, GIVE 'EM A CHANCE TO LET EVERYTHING WORK AND PLAY OUT, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE THE PLAN IN PLACE.

JUST DON'T, UM, AND IF EVERYTHING DON'T WORK OUT, JUST GIVE 'EM SOME GRACE.

UNDERSTAND THAT THEY PUT SOME, UH, PROCEDURES IN PLACE, UM, AND JUST TO LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS.

I KNOW THAT YOU ALL WILL GET US IN AND OUT IN A SAFE AND ORDERLY FASHION, SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND, AND THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.

UH, WE WILL HAVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS, UH, ASSISTANCE FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

UH, LIEUTENANT COMER AND MR. PHELPS HAVE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB PLANNING FOR THIS EVENT.

AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA, UH, BE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE ONE DRIVEWAY IN ONE DRIVEWAY OUT, SO IT CAUSES SOME BACKUP.

THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED.

BUT, UM, WITH THE HELP OF GOD, WE'LL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO GET EVERYBODY OUT IN AND OUT SAFELY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? THANK YOU MR. DREW.

AT ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? JUST A COMMENT.

JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK MR. ROLLINS FOR, UH, THIS SPECTACULAR EVENT THAT WE PUT ON EACH YEAR HERE IN SIERRA CANYON.

I KNOW IT'S NOT, UH, A MENIAL TASK.

IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT, AND I JUST WANT TO TIP MY HEAD TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE DONE THUS FAR.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING SUCCESSFUL AGAIN ON TOMORROW.

AND I FAIL TO, IN MY COMMENT, TO CONGRATULATE MR. UH, HARRISON.

SO I DO SO NOW.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPERVISOR, ELLIOT.

ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? MS. ROBINSON, BEFORE YOU HAVE A SEAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE ON THIS, UH, EVENT.

IT HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR, UH, LAST YEAR IN THE YEARS PAST.

UM, JUST TO REITERATE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED, 11 FOOD VENDORS, UH, SIX, UM, I GUESS COOL STATIONS AS FAR AS WHETHER IT'S ICY OR, OR A COOL TREAT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE SEVEN ARTS AND CRAFT VENDORS AS WELL, RIGHT? CORRECT.