[00:00:03]
[Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption ]
SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE THIS EVENING.BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PASTOR CHARLES CYPRESS OF WAKEFIELD CHRISTIAN OUTREACH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM TO GIVE US OUR INVOCATION.
PASTOR CYPRESS, LET EVERY HEART PRAY.
FATHER AND I, GOD, WE BLESS YOUR NAME FOR THIS DAY, BUT THIS IS THE DAY GOD THAT YOU'VE MADE.
AND YES, LORD, WE REJOICE AND WE ARE GLAD IN THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU NOW AND GOD FOR ALL THINGS, FOR YOU SAID IN EVERYTHING, GIVE THANKS.
THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.
GOD, YOU'VE ALSO INSTRUCTED US IN YOUR WORD TO PRAY FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE AUTHORITY FOR KINGS AND PRINCES AND THOSE WHO HAVE AUTHORITY, GOD.
SO WE LIFT TONIGHT, LORD, OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UP TO YOU, THAT THEY MIGHT, UH, MAKE RIGHTEOUS DECISIONS.
GOD GIVE THEM WISDOM, GIVE THEM KNOWLEDGE, BUT ABOVE ALL, GIVE THEM UNDERSTANDING.
WE'RE GRATEFUL GOD FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE.
EVEN NOW, WE PRAY GOD TONIGHT, THAT THOU WILL GIVE THEM UNITY OF THE SPIRIT FOR WHERE THERE IS UNITY, THERE IS STRENGTH.
SO BLESS TONIGHT AS ONLY YOU CAN IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, WE PRAY THAT EVERY HEART SAY AMEN.
I NOW CALL THE AUGUST 5TH, 2026 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TO ORDER.
I'LL NOW ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I WILL NOW ASK IF YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE YOUR AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.
I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS EVENING'S AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. CHAIR.
SECOND BY SUPERVISOR DREW THAT WE APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA? ON SAID MOTION? HEARING NONE WILL NOW VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE.
A NOW, NOW ASK IF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HARRISON WILL PLEASE GIVE OUR ROLL CALL.
OH, MR. CHAIRMAN, COULD I PLEASE, UM, ADD OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE? YES, MR. HARRISON.
YES, MS. MS. MS. KAMAYA SUMMERS.
BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE AS WELL, BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL AS CITIZENS WHEN WE DO SPEAK ON THIS EVENING, IF WE ALL CAN SPEAK INTO OUR MICS SO THAT WAY WE NOT ONLY CAN HEAR INSIDE OF OUR, OUR MEETING ROOM, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING FROM HOME CAN HEAR EVERYTHING CLEARLY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOW
[Consent Items ]
GO ALONG FOR OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS OUR CONSENT ITEMS THIS EVENING.WE HAVE TWO CONSENT ITEMS, ONE BEING THE APPROVAL OF DRAFT MINUTES JULY 2ND, 2026, AND THE SECOND ONE BEING A RESOLUTION FOR MS. CAROLYN BLUNT FOR REACHING THE AGE OF 90 BOARD MEMBERS.
WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? SO MOVED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE FLOOR? IS THERE A SECOND? MR. CHAIR? I SECOND.
AND I, I, I AMEND THAT WE WILL PULL THE RESOLUTION FROM THE CONSENT ITEMS TO BE PRESENTED IN PERSON.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS APPROVING TONIGHT'S CONSENT ITEMS. LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UM, VOTE ON THAT MOTION FIRST, UH, DR.
ELLIOT, AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND AMEND IT, UH, AFTER THAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT ITEMS. IS THERE, UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON SAID MOTION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF SAID MOTION, SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE.
ELLIE, COULD YOU MAKE YOUR MOTION AGAIN?
[00:05:01]
YES, MR. CHAIR.I WOULD, UH, MOVE THAT WE WOULD PULL THE RESOLUTION, UH, FOR MS. BLUNT, UH, FROM THE CONSENT ITEM TO BE PRESENTED IN PERSON BY THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPERVISOR, ELLIOT.
IT'S BEEN MOVED THAT WE AMEND SAID MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT ITEMS BY ADDITIONALLY ADDING THAT WE PULL CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO, RESOLUTION OF CAROLYN BLUNT REACHING THE AGE OF 90 TO BE READ.
IS THERE ANY SECOND ON THE AMENDED MOTION? EXCUSE ME.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDED MOTION? HEARING NONE, WE NOW VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDED MOTION, SAY AYE.
THE MOTION IS AMEND AMENDED BOARD
[2. Resolution - Carolyn Blount - Age 90 ]
MEMBERS TONIGHT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR MS. CAROLYN BLUNT FOR REACHING THE AGE OF 90.IT'S MS. CAROLYN BLUNT'S FAMILY INSIDE OF THE MEETING ROOM TONIGHT.
SO, MS. CAROLYN BLUNT? ITS BLUNT IS HERE.
SO IF I COULD ASK MR. SUPERVISOR SEWARD, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND READING THE, UH, RESOLUTION, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S TALKING TO, TALKING TO MIKE.
UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SIT DOWN HERE SO THAT THEY CAN HEAR ME THROUGH THIS, AND THEN I'LL BE RIGHT OVER THERE.
AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTROOM OF THE SUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5TH, 2026 AT 6:00 PM WITH ALL FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT, THERE'S A RECOGNITION OF MRS. CAROLYN BLUNT FOR REACHING THE AGE OF 90, WHEREAS CAROLYN BLUNT, A RESIDENT OF THE SURREY DISTRICT OF SURREY COUNTY, VIRGINIA, OBTAINED THE AGE OF 90 YEARS ON JULY 27TH, 2026.
AND WHEREAS MRS. BLUNT DEVOTED 34 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE AS A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER AT THE SURY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM DEMONSTRATING DEDICATION, RELIABILITY, AND CARE FOR THE CHILDREN, FAMILIES OF SURY COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS MRS. BLUNT WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SURY COUNTY, AND AS A REGISTERED VOTER HAS CONSISTENTLY EXERCISED HER CIVIC DUTY BY VOTING EACH YEAR, REFLECTING A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY.
AND WHEREAS MRS. BLUNT WAS MARRIED TO THE DEACON HERBERT L BLUNT SENIOR FOR 24 YEARS UNTIL HIS PASSING IN MAY OF 1980.
AND SHE'S A PROUD MOTHER OF SEVEN CHILDREN, THREE OF WHOM WERE DECEASED WITH THREE GRANDCHILDREN, SIX GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, THREE GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN,
AND WHEREAS MRS. BLUNT IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF HOPE CHAPEL DELIVERANCE CENTER, WHERE SHE SERVES AS MOTHER OF THE CHURCH.
MRS. BLUNT IS ALSO SERVED AS DEACONESS OF A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, CHOIR DIRECTOR, TREASURER, PRESIDENT OF THE MISSIONARY CHOIR MEMBER AND CHURCH CLERK DEMONSTRATING FAITH AND LEADERSHIP.
AND WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, SURREY COUNTY, WISHES TO RECOGNIZE THIS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE AND TO HONOR MRS. BLUNT FOR HER LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WELLBEING SPIRIT OF SURREY COUNTY, AND THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT ABBREVIATION, APPRECIATION TO MRS. CAROLYN BLUNT FOR HER ENDEAVORS THAT HAVE IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, AND DOES FURTHER RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND HER UPON HER REACHING HER 90TH YEAR OF LIFE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS RESOLUTION BE DELIVERED FORTHWITH TO MRS. CAROLYN BLUNT, AND THAT A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION WILL BE SPREAD UPON THE RECORDS OF SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED THIS DAY, THE 5TH OF AUGUST, 2026, AND SIGNED BY DAVID HARRISON, INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
LET'S GET A, LET'S GET A PHOTO RIGHT BY THE FLAG IF WE COULD PLEASE.
[00:10:01]
IT'S BLOOD BEFORE MS. BLOOD, BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR SEAT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? YOU SUREIT'S ALWAYS A JOY TO CELEBRATE SUCH, UH, HUGE MILESTONES AND GOD WILLING, LORD WILLING, HOPEFULLY I CAN CELEBRATE MINE ONE DAY.
IT'S GREAT INSPIR INSPIRATION, SEEING ALL THE 90TH AND 100 BIRTHDAYS WE HAVE HERE IN SRE COUNTY.
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER, RIGHT? SO,
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT MRS. BLUNT.
[Public Comments ]
AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP.
I'LL DO ONE LAST CALL FOR A PUBLIC, UH, SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED UP, UH, TO WISH TO SPEAK, I'LL GIVE YOU LIKE 30 SECONDS.
IF YOU WANT TO GO SIGN UP NOW.
OH, IT'S, UH, THE SIGN UP SHEETS ARE IN THE BACK, UM, BACK TABLE IN THE RIGHT NEAR THE DOOR.
ALRIGHT, THE PUBLIC SIGNUP IS NOW CLOSED NOW.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, LET ME REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE INTENTIONS OF PUBLIC COMMENT ARE TO SPEAK ON THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY.
UH, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE REMAIN PROFESSIONAL.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE REMAIN RESPECTFUL.
AND AGAIN, UH, BE MINDFUL THAT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR CLAIM.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR FIRST PERSON FOR PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE MS. SUSAN COVELLO OF THE CLAREMONT DISTRICT.
MR. BROWN, DO YOU MIND BEING MY TIMEKEEPER? THANK YOU, SIR.
SUSAN CORELLO CLAREMONT DISTRICT.
I WANNA BEGIN BY SAYING THAT MANY CITIZENS, MYSELF INCLUDED, ARE NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING THE YMCA IN SURREY COUNTY.
THE CONCERN HAS BEEN ABOUT THE YMC, I'M SORRY.
THE CONCERN HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE YMCA ITSELF.
THE CONCERN IS THE METHOD OF TIMING AND THE FUNDING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE OTHER FINANCIAL NEEDS OUR COUNTY WILL FACE IN THE COMING YEARS.
IN REVIEWING THE YMCA PROJECTS ACROSS VIRGINIA IN THE PAST TWO DECADES, I FOUND A CONSISTENT PATTERN.
MOST COMMUNITIES CONDUCTED CAPITAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS SECURED PRIVATE DONATIONS OR RANGE FINANCING BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY RAISED APPROXIMATELY $4.5 MILLION FROM MORE THAN 40 DONORS, DONORS BEFORE CONSTRUCTION.
YOU HAVE MORE EXAMPLES IN THE PACKET THAT I SENT TO YOU.
BASED ON THE EXAMPLES I'VE REVIEWED, IT APPEARS UNCOMMON FOR A LOCALITY TO COMMIT THE MAJORITY OF PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION FUNDING BEFORE A SIGNIFICANT CAMP CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WAS UNDERWAY.
DURING THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSIONS, DAVENPORT ADVISED THAT SURREY COUNTY REMAINS IN A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION AND HAS ADDITIONAL DEBT CAPACITY.
HOWEVER, HAVING THE ABILITY TO BORROW DOESN'T REMOVE THE COST AND POTENTIAL TAXES REQUIRED TO SERVICE THE NEW DEBT.
ACCORDING TO MR. HARRISON IN AN EMAIL, THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET USES THE COUNTY'S REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND, PLUS A ONE-TIME FUND, UM, TAX PAYMENT TOTALING 1.99 MILLION THAT'S IN THE BUDGET, UM, TO ADDRESS THE DEBT SERVICE.
SEEING THAT FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET RELIES ON THESE ONE-TIME MEASURES.
WHAT IS THE COUNTY'S RECURRING REVENUE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE DEBT SERVICE? IN ALL THE FUTURE YEARS, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
[00:15:01]
AUTHORITY HAS DISCUSSED THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR INVESTING INTO APPROXIMATELY 17 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND LONG FOUR ROUTE FOUR 60 CORRIDOR TO SUPPORT FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.THE COUNTY WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO FACE FUTURE NEEDS RELATED TO SCHOOLS PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
MY QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER SURREY COUNTY CAN BORROW MORE.
MY QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS IS THE BEST USE FOR OUR BORROWING CAPACITY AT THIS TIME.
TONIGHT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO EXPLAIN WHY SURREY COUNTY'S FUNDING APPROACH DIFFERS FROM SO MANY OTHER LOCALITIES IN VIRGINIA, AND HOW TODAY'S BARRING DECISIONS WILL AFFECT THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO MEET FUTURE PRIORITIES WITHOUT IMPACTING TAXES.
THE BOARD HAS REPEATEDLY EMPHASIZED NO TAX INCREASES FROM THIS PROJECT, BUT WITHOUT ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, THE PATH SEEMS UNLIKELY.
OUR NEXT COMMENT, EXCUSE ME, NEXT FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT WILL COME FROM MS. MILDRED P JONES OF THE LEY DISTRICT.
I'LL ASK THAT YOU PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
I'M MILD P JONES REPRESENTING THE LEY DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TO, TO TODAY TO FORMALLY DISCUSS A HOSTILE WORK AND TOXIC, UM, WORK ENVIRONMENT WHERE I HAVE BEEN HARASSED AND RETALIATED AGAINST.
IT ALL STARTED WHEN I WAS, WHEN, EXCUSE ME, IT WAS, IT ALL STARTED WHEN I CALLED ONE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE BOARD MEMBERS WITHOUT ASKING IF I WAS GUILTY OF MAKING A STATEMENT.
I WAS, UH, INDIRECTLY ACCUSED.
SECOND, I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED AND THIS I WOULD MAKE IT KNOWN.
SHE ACCUSED ME OF MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS, DOING MEETINGS WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND, UH, THE COUNTY LAWYER.
SHE TOOK THE SENIORS AND THE SOCIAL SERVICE STAFF ON AN OUT INTO BUCK BEACH A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE GANGS BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ON LEAVE TIME.
THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHEN I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO AN OUTING WHERE SHE FUNDED AND SHE HAD A PROBLEM THAT I DROVE MY VEHICLE, PULLED ME ASIDE WITH ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER ONCE WE ARRIVED THERE BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT SHE HAD GAVE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN.
AND WE ASSURED HER THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS HAD BEEN GIVEN.
BUT SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ME DRIVING MY VEHICLE.
THE NEXT DAY WAS MY OFF DAY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
CALLED ME AT HOME, WANTED TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE PRIOR TO THE DAY BEFORE, WHICH WE HAD ALREADY DISCUSSED, AND MADE IT PLAIN AND CLEAR THAT THE SITUATION HAD BEEN RESOLVED.
HER INTENT WAS TO MANIPULATE ME IN SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT BEHIND THE OTHER STAFF BACK TO MAKE IT SEEM AS IF SHE WAS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH.
SHE WOULD COME TO SENIOR LOCATION TO THE SENIOR LOCATION IN DENVER AND NOT SPEAK TO HER STAFF, NOR RECOGNIZE THAT WE WERE THERE TO SEE IF WE NEEDED ANYTHING.
AND WE, THE STAFF ON OCTOBER THE 17TH, 2024, WE WORKED FIVE HOURS FROM 10 TO THREE WITHOUT PAYING, PREPARING FOR THE HOMECOMING.
THE NEXT DAY ON OCTOBER THE 18TH, THE DAY OF THE PARADE, WE WORKED THREE HOURS, 8:00 AM TO 11:00 PM PREPARING FOR THE HOMECOMING WITHOUT PAY.
HER RESPONSE TO US WAS THAT IT WAS NOT WORK RELATED.
THE YEARS PRIOR TO IT MAY HAVE BEEN WORK RELATED BECAUSE HE WAS PAID FOR IT.
UH, OTHER, ANOTHER INSTANCE, SHE PUR PURCHASED T-SHIRTS, HATS, AND JACKETS FOR HER STAFF, THE SOCIAL SERVICE STAFF, AND THE SENIOR STAFF.
AT THE GIVEN POINT, SHE DECIDED NOT TO GIVE THE ITEMS TO THE SENIOR STAFF BECAUSE SHE SAID THE FUND, THE ITEMS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY THE STATE FUNDS.
WHEN THE SENIORS HAD AN OUTING, THERE WAS ALWAYS THE THIRD DAY SHUT DOWN.
SHE RETALIATES WHENEVER I RESPONDED TO ANYTHING TRUTHFUL ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID OR DID, BECAUSE SHE DID NOT LACK MY RESPONSE.
TO BE HONEST, AUGUST 25TH TRIP WAS RESPONSED BY THE 55 INITIATIVE TO THE PEACH ORCHARD, MYSELF AND THE, AND THE OTHER STAFF.
WE SIGNED UP KNOWING WE WERE NOT GONNA GET PAID BECAUSE IT, IT WAS A 55 PLUS INITIATIVE TRIP.
NEXT WE WILL HAVE MR. DERRICK BOONE.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? DOING WELL.
I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY.
I'M HEAD COACH OF, UH, VARSITY FOOTBALL HERE, S SARAT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I WANTED TO COME OUT SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHO I AM SO I CAN SEE WHO YOU ARE.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE HEAR A LOT OF THAT ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
A LITTLE LESS, LITTLE LESS TALKING, A LITTLE MORE CLAPPING.
I HOPE WE HOPE WE CONTINUE THAT ON THAT, THAT SOUND PRETTY GOOD RIGHT THERE.
[00:20:01]
WE'RE COMING IN.UH, WE GOT SOME, SOME VETERANS HERE THAT USED TO GO HERE, UH, ALUMNI THAT WAS PART OF IT.
UH, OUR FRIDAY NIGHTS ARE GONNA BE FUN AND EXCITING, RIGHT? WE'RE GONNA HAVE GREAT FOOTBALL, BUT WE ALSO WANT YOU TO ENJOY YOURSELF WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE LEGACY NIGHT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE GREEK NIGHT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE COUGAR PRIDE NIGHT.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PINK OUT AND, UH, HOMECOMING IS GONNA BE WHAT IT USED TO BE.
BUT WE'RE GONNA ENHANCE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT HOMECOMING ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AS WELL.
WE'RE TEACHING THE KIDS, UH, AS BEST WE CAN.
UH, WE'RE, WE ARE OUT THERE LEADING THEM, GIVING THEM DISCIPLINE.
UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, GRAVITATING TO GRIND THIS YEAR, WHICH MEANS WITH GRIT BEING RESILIENT, BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, DOING THE LITTLE THINGS, UH, UH, NECESSARY THINGS AND BEING DEDICATED.
WE'VE HAD A GREAT, UH, WORKOUT SO FAR.
WE'VE GOT A FIRST SCRIMMAGE AUGUST 14TH.
UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME BEFORE I GET DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE CLOCK TICKING YET.
UM, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, T UNIVERSITY, UH, PRESIDENT OF SMITHFIELD ERS YOUTH SPORTS.
UH, AS THAT GO FORWARD, I'VE BEEN COACHING FOR MAYBE 16 YEARS.
UH, I'VE COACHED HIGH SCHOOL WASHINGTON FOOTBALL FOR SEVEN YEARS, UH, THERE AT SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.
AND NOW I COME OVER TO SURREY, WHICH I'M HOPING IT CAN BE, UH, A LONG, LONG, LONG CAREER HERE.
AND WE DO SOME THINGS GOING FORWARD.
UM, I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN THIS COUNTY.
THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT IT.
UH, ME AND THE KIDS HAVE, HAVE REALLY GOTTEN CLOSE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING MORE IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND BUILD AND DEVELOP HERE OURSELF AGAIN.
UH, HEAD COACH, VARSITY FOOTBALL.
I'M READY TO GET BACK TO PRACTICE.
SO I'M GONNA END THIS RIGHT HERE.
BUT AGAIN, I'M DERRICK BOONE, HEAD COACH.
UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOU GUYS FRIDAY NIGHTS AND SOMETIMES ON THURSDAY NIGHTS.
ALRIGHT, NEXT, UH, WE'LL HAVE MR. THOMAS HARDY OF THE BACON SCHOLAR DISTRICT.
YOU GUYS SAID YOU APPROACHED THE PODIUM.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE, YOU KNOW, HE WAS FORMALLY A PACKER, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SO WE WELCOME HIM INTO THE COUNTY, OF COURSE, IN THE KUGAR NATION.
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED A WHOLE THREE MINUTES.
I JUST WANNA SAY, GUYS, KEEP, AND, AND LADIES, UH, EVERYBODY, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, DON'T FALL INTO THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK THAT YOU'RE SAYING ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
WE NEED THESE THINGS FOR THE YOUTH AS WE, AS THEY COME UP.
UM, AND, AND, AND I THINK WE'LL BENEFIT FROM IT A WHOLE LOT.
WE'VE GOT COACH BOONE SPEAKING WITH THE YOUTH AND EVERYTHING.
UM, WE, WE GET SOME OPPORTUNITIES WITH SOME JOBS INVOLVED.
JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND, AND NEVERMIND THE NEGATIVE.
UM, IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND HELP, PLEASE OPEN YOUR ARMS TO 'EM.
BUT ALL THE NEGATIVE STUFF, JUST LEAVE IT OUTSIDE, PLEASE.
NEXT I'LL ASK MR. MIKE TON OF THE DUNGEON D DISTRICT, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SEE A LOT OF VOTERS AND POLITICIANS HERE TONIGHT.
AND TAXPAYERS, I ARE ONE TAXPAYER THAT'S NOT AT ALL HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY THE YMCA WAS FUNDED.
THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SYRIA AND MINNESOTA.
SLEAZY POLITICS COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT COLORS.
UH, TAXPAYERS DON'T LIKE HAVING THINGS RAMMED DOWN THEIR THROAT, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES WHEN VOTING THE NEXT TIME.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MR. GERSON.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE MR. ALLEN BARWELL OF THE SARAI DISTRICT.
WE ASK THAT YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I LOVE THE YMCA AND EVERYTHING THEY DO.
UH, WAS A MEMBER OVER IN SMITHFIELD FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I'M AGAINST THE SURY Y PROJECT FOR THREE REASONS.
WE'RE PAYING THE RENTER INSTEAD OF THE RENTER PAYING US.
AND IT'S KINDA LIKE A BIG REC CENTER, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THOSE.
AND I HEAR IT'S UNDERUTILIZED.
IF THE COUNTY'S GONNA BORROW BIG MONEY, IT SHOULD BE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.
AND SPEAKING OF BORROWING MONEY, I THINK IT'S WISE TO REMIND YOU OF DOCUMENTED FINANCIAL ISSUES FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 24 AND FISCAL YEAR 25 AUDITS THAT ANY RESPONSIBLE
[00:25:01]
LENDER WILL REVIEW BEFORE RISKING $24 MILLION.IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, SURREY COUNTY EXPERIENCED THE RESIGNATION OF TWO HIGH LEVEL FINANCE OFFICERS AND COUNTY'S BOOKS WERE NOT IN AUDITABLE CONDITION AND FISCAL YEAR 2024 AUDIT.
THE AUDIT CAME IN EXTREMELY LATE.
THE COUNTY HAD TO CHANGE AUDITORS MID-PROCESS.
THE AUDITOR OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS CLASSIFIED SURREY AS NOT LOW RISK, WHICH IS NOT GOOD LEADERSHIP TURNOVER.
LATE AUDITS AND UNREADY FINANCIAL RECORDS ARE CONSIDERED BY LENDERS TO BE MAJOR INDICATORS OF GOVERNANCE RISK.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE AUDITORS REPORTED A MATERIAL WEAKNESS IN INTERNAL CONTROLS.
THIS IS GONNA GET BORING, INCLUDING A TH $630,000 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ERROR.
A $14 MILLION CAPITAL OUTLAY MISCLASSIFICATION.
THERE WAS A BUDGET VIOLATION IN THE LANDFILL FUND.
A RESTATEMENT OF BEGINNING BALANCES, A $19 MILLION GAP BETWEEN BUDGETED AND ACTUAL EXPENDITURES, AND A SHARP DECLINE IN UNRESTRICTED CASH FROM 20.2 MIL TO ABOUT 12.5 MIL.
THESE ARE NOT PERSONAL ATTACKS.
THESE ARE SIMPLY DOCUMENTED FACTS ACTS.
LENDERS WILL READ THE SAME AUDITS AND THEY WILL ASK WHETHER THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BEFORE FINANCING ANY MAJOR PROJECT.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE BOARD TO STRENGTHEN SURREY COUNTY'S FINANCIAL CREDIBILITY NOW.
SO WE ARE NOT, SO WE ARE PREPARED TO BORROW FOR FUTURE HIGH PRIORITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE YMCA PROJECT IS NOT ONE OF THOSE HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MR. BARWELL.
NEXT WE WILL HAVE MR. LARRY'S BLUNT OF THE BIGGEST COUNCIL DISTRICT.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A Y BECAUSE I DRIVE TO SMITHFIELD AND ALSO GO TO WILLIAMSBURG TO THE Y AND BENEFIT ME VERY WELL.
I SAY, I WISH I COULD GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN SUR COUNTY, AND I SEE PEOPLE FROM S COUNTY OVER THERE SAID THEY HOPING WE COULD GET ONE ALSO IN SUR COUNTY.
I SAID, WELL, THEY GOT A MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I'M GONNA BE OUT HERE.
ALL I COULD DO IS SAY, I WONDER WHY IT IS UP TO Y'ALL WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO.
AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL BE ABLE TO GET ONE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. BLUNT.
YOU GOT GOT PROOF OF IT, HUH?
NEXT, FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENT, I'LL NOW ASK MR. HOWELL GODFREY, JR.
IF YOU PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, NUMBER ONE, I WANNA, UH, THANK THE BOARD FOR EVERYTHING, UH, THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
UM, I AM ONE, UH, IN FAVOR OF THE YMCA.
UM, I HAVE A PERSONAL BACKGROUND, THE YMCA.
WHEN I WAS IN, UH, THE ROTC PROGRAM AT VIRGINIA STATE, I WAS REQUIRED TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM.
I WAS, I WAS 20 YEARS OLD, COULDN'T SWIM.
UM, THEY TOOK ME OUT TO THE YMCA IN PETERSBURG.
I LEARNED HOW TO SWIM ENOUGH TO PASS.
I'M NOT A LIFEGUARD, UM,
I, I'VE TAUGHT 'EM ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO, YOU KNOW, UH, BREAST STROKE, FROG, FROG PAD, ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TO ACTUALLY HAVE THEM, UH, TAUGHT BY A TRUE INSTRUCTION WOULD GIVE ME, UM, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATE CONFIDENCE IN, UH, IN THEIR ABILITIES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. GODFREY.
NEXT I I'LL ASK MS. CAROL MARSH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
UM, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND COULD YOU PLEASE MENTION YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT? THANK YOU.
HI, I'M CAROL MARSH, AND I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF S CARSLEY DISTRICT.
SO, S COUNTY VIRGINIA IS A RURAL, MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY FACING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ITS
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RESIDENTS.NEARLY 29% OF THE RESIDENTS OF S COUNTY ARE AGED 65 OR OLDER, CREATING AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTHY AGING INITIATIVES, AND ACCESSIBLE WELLNESS SERVICES.
THE COUNTY'S RURAL GEOGRAPHY HAS LIMITED HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURES, TRANSPORT, TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS AND SHORTAGE OF COMMUNITY-BASED WELLNESS RESOURCES THAT CONTRIBUTES TO PERSISTENT IN INEQUITIES OF HEALTH OUTCOMES.
THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, INCLUDING LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PREVENTIVE SERVICES, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND SOCIAL SUPPORTS CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE HEALTH OF THE SYRIA RESIDENTS.
MY MANY INDIVIDUALS MUST TRAVEL OUTSIDE THIS COUNTY TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
AND THESE VARIOUS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT NOT JUST OLDER ADULTS, BUT CHILDREN, LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH CHRONIC DISEASES.
THESE BARRIERS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH RISK AND CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OBESITY, DIABETES, COPD, ARTHRITIS THAT CAN REDUCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PERSISTENT HEALTH INEQUITIES.
LOCAL ASSESSMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND OVERALL WELLNESS IS A PRIORITY IN THIS COUNTY.
THESE CHRONIC CONDITIONS CAN BE LARGELY PREVENTED AND MANAGEABLE THROUGH INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION, EARLY INTERVENTION, HEALTHCARE SCREENINGS, EVIDENCE-BASED WELLNESS PROGRAMS. SO, HOWEVER, OFTEN LACK THESE CONVENIENT ACCESSES HERE IN OUR COUNTY.
THE YMCA DEFINITELY WILL BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF SIRI.
YMCA AND S COUNTY COULD DIRECTLY ADDRESS LONGSTANDING HEALTH DISPARITIES BY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS AS WELL IS, UM, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE YMCA WILL EXPAND YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES, CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, SCHOOL, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND SUCH COLLABORATIONS AS THESE WILL INCREASE ASSETS TO PREVENTIVE SERVICES, IMPROVE HEALTH LITERACY, AND ALSO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
SO INVESTING IN A-Y-M-C-A IN S COUNTY WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN HEALTH AND EQUITY.
IT ALSO WOULD PROVIDE RESIDENTS OF S COUNTY A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES CAN IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH.
UM, ALSO IT CAN ALSO BUILD SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, DEVELOP HEALTHY HABITS AND ACCESS PROGRAMS THAT WILL REDUCE THE LONG-TERM BURDENS OF CHRONIC DISEASES.
AND SO, AS S COUNTY CONTINUES TO CONFRONT THESE CHALLENGES OF THE ASIAN POPULATION, RURAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND PERSISTENT HEALTH DISPARITIES, THE YMCA WOULD SERVE AS A LASTING CATALYST FOR A HEALTHY, STRONGER, AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
NEXT, WE'LL, FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE CYNTHIA FARLEY, CYNTHIA FARLEY OF THE SE DISTRICT.
I WOULD NOW ASK IF YOU COULD PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, ASK IF YOU COULD, UH, STATE YOUR NAME AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I LIVE IN SURREY VER UH, SURREY COUNTY.
I DON'T THINK, UM, THAT THIS IS SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THE YMCA.
IT'S THE FACT OF THE COST OF THE YMCA.
IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE, BECAUSE IT'S JUST, TO ME PERSONALLY, UM, IT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
AND I DO NOT WANT, IF MY, MY KIDS DECIDE TO MOVE BACK INTO THE COUNTY, I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE BURDENED WITH THAT FINANCE, WITH THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.
AND IT COSTING MORE FOR THEM TO COME BACK IF THEY DECIDE TO COME BACK.
UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE, LIKE TO, UH, ADDRESS IS CA SUR COUNTY NEEDS TO STOP THE US VERSUS THEM.
WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
WE HAVE TO AGREE WITH THINGS, WE HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE WITH THINGS.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, JUST LOOKING AT, LIKE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, IT GETS REALLY UGLY OUT THERE.
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO MOVE HERE.
AND WE WANT TO ATTRACT THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT WANT TO WORK TOGETHER INSTEAD OF WORKING SEPARATELY.
THANK YOU MS. FARLEY FOR YOUR COMMENT.
I NOW ASK IF, UM, MR. DR. DANIEL SHAY, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I ASK IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME, THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.
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HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY APPROACH.DR. DANIEL CHASE, SURRY DISTRICT.
THE BOARDS THAT GOVERNED SURREY COUNTY BEFORE THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA LOST THE TRUST OF MANY CITIZENS AND THEY DESERVE TO, BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE GOVERNMENT JUDGED AND MARGINALIZED THEM BY RACE INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING THEIR CHARACTER AND THE MERIT OF THEIR IDEAS.
ANY BOARD, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE THAT ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO BELIEVE THEIR JUDGED BY RACE OR TRIBAL LOYALTY WILL RIGHTLY LOSE TRUST AS WELL.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, SPEAKING OF SOCIAL MEDIA, I'VE BEEN CALLED A COLONIZER LIAR AND A CARPET BAGGER BY SOME BOARD MEMBERS OR THEIR PROXIES.
BOARD MEMBERS HAVE IMPUGNED THE PUBLIC'S CHARACTER AND MOTIVES, NOT JUST MINE.
I WATCHED A FORMER CHAIR INTERRUPT MS. CORELLO WHILE SHE EXPRESSED A DISSENTING OPINION.
I'VE EVEN HEARD SUPERVISORS TALK ABOUT BRINGING GUNS INTO THIS ROOM.
THEY'RE CLASSIC WAYS OF SAYING SOME VOICES MATTER MORE THAN OTHERS.
MELISSA ROLLINS EXPRESSED FEELING THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
HER WORDS ARE EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE STILL FEEL JUDGED FOR WHAT IS SKIN DEEP RATHER THAN FOR THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
THAT ISN'T THE SURY COUNTY, I BELIEVE IN CHAIRMAN PIERCE.
PERSONAL ATTACKS DISTRACT FROM REAL PROGRESS.
BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS THIS, WHAT IS THE WORST BEHAVIOR WE'RE WILLING TO TOLERATE FROM OURSELVES? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DEFINES CULTURE.
WHEN WE EXCUSE PERSONAL ATTACKS, WHEN SUPERVISORS IGNORE THEIR OWN CODE OF ETHICS, AS YOU ALL HAVE SIGNED HERE, WHEN WE PROTECT OUR OWN INSTEAD OF PROTECTING INTEGRITY, THE CODE BECOMES A DECLARATION INSTEAD OF PRINCIPLE.
IGNORING VIOLATIONS IS NOT NEUTRALITY, IT'S PERMISSION.
AND GOVERNMENT FORFEITS TRUST AND GOVERNMENT RIGHTLY LOSES TRUST WHEN IT BEHAVES THAT WAY.
HOW OUR LEADERS CONDUCT THEMSELVES SETS THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS A WONDERFUL TURNOUT.
THANK YOU EVERYONE HERE, PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH ME AND PEOPLE WHO DO NOT.
EVERY SUPERVISOR TOOK AN OATH TO SERVE UNDER THE SAME CODE OF ETHICS.
I JUST PASSED THEM ALL OUT, SIGNED BY YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO ENFORCE THIS CODE CONSISTENTLY, THEN WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES WHY WE HAVE IT AT ALL.
EVERY CITIZEN DESERVE THE SAME RESPECT, FAIRNESS, AND OPPORTUNITIES.
THE MEASURE OF THIS BOARD WON'T BE BUDGETS OR BUILDINGS.
IT WILL BE THE CULTURE YOU LEAVE BEHIND.
I HOPE IT'S ONE WHERE CHARACTER MATTERS MORE THAN TRIBE.
PRINCIPLES MATTER MORE THAN POLITICS, AND THE CODE OF ETHICS MEANS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS.
I'LL NOW ASK MS. MR. CARRIE CHARLES OF SPRING GROVE
I ASKED IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME, THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MY NAME IS KERRY CHARLES, I'M WITH THE SPRING GROVE DISTRICT.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR DOING THIS TONIGHT.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY A YOUNGER FAMILY AND, UH, NEWER TO THE AREA.
GOT TO MEET BROTHER ELLIOT YESTERDAY.
UM, THAT WAS, UH, AN HONOR TO MEET YOU, SIR.
AND, UH, I AM, I'M THANKFUL FOR YOUR POSITIONS.
MATTER OF FACT, I RESPECT IT HIGHLY.
UM, I DO NOT KNOW MANY OF YOU, BUT I DO HAVE SOME, UH, THINGS THAT JUST LIKE TO COMMENT ON A COUPLE THINGS WITH YMCA.
I THINK A-Y-M-C-A IS AN AWESOME ATMOSPHERE.
I GOT TO GO THERE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
HOWEVER, UM, I DO, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE THINGS.
UM, I I WAS, FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED AND, UM, AND GOT OUT OF THIS, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE OF SOME SORT, UH, TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO, TO GO.
WE NEED TO GET A-Y-M-C-A IN THERE.
UM, I JUST HAVE THE QUESTION, AND I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE, UM, UNTIL LATER ON, BUT JUST MY CONCERN IS, UM, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAVE NOT GOTTEN THAT SURVEY.
AND SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS, UM, HOW THAT SURVEY WAS DONE.
UM, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT WAS DONE WITH A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND NOT WITH THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A COUNTY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISAGREE.
UM, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
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WE BE TRANSPARENT AND THAT WE CAN HAVE A VOICE AND SAY WHAT WE BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS.AND SO, UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS.
IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT TO THE COUNTY, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, ALSO, I DO THINK, LIKE I SAID, THE YMCA IS A GREAT IDEA.
MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IT PROMOTES PHYSICAL WELLNESS.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY, UH, SUCH AS CLAREMONT.
THERE'S A WATER ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THERE ARE, UH, THE FACT THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A DENTAL OFFICE HERE IN SURREY.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, HEALTH THINGS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IN SURREY.
AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GONNA USE MONEY ON THE BETTERMENT OF THE SOCIETY, OF, OF COUNT, OF SURREY COUNTY, UM, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE FACILITIES IN PLACE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE TO HELP ME AND MY FAMILY.
MY FAMILY HAS TO GO TO SMITHFIELD IN ORDER TO HAVE HEALTHCARE.
WE HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY OVER THERE IN ORDER TO GET OUR FAMILY DOCTOR, WE HAVE TO DO THE DENTAL CARE AT ANOTHER PLACE.
WE HAVE TO, I HAVE TO GO ALL, I EVEN GO TO NEWPORT NEWS FOR SOME STUFF.
AND SO I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA USE MONEY ON ALL THIS, I THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY WE COULD USE THAT.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET THOSE THINGS TAKEN CARE OF, UM, WE CAN ADDRESS THE SITUATION OF THE YMCA.
UM, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD TO SAY.
I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, I'D PLEASE ASK THAT YOU WOULD NOT JUST BE A BOARD THAT HEARS THIS AND LETS IT GO OUT THE WINDOW, BUT WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER THAT AND THINK ABOUT IT AND PLEASE RESPOND.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MR. CHARLES.
NEXT FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, I'LL ASK MS. JOY WOODEN, IF YOU PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I ASK IF YOU JUST COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.
MY NAME IS JOY WOODEN OF SPRING GROVE, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR BRINGING A-Y-M-C-A TO CERE COUNTY.
AS A EDUCATOR, A HOMEGROWN RESIDENT OF SRE COUNTY, A PARENT AND SOMEONE WHO HAS SEEN THE IMPACT OF THE YMCA FIRSTHAND.
I BELIEVE IN INVESTING IN A YMCA A IS ONE OF THE SMARTEST INVESTMENTS OUR COUNTY CAN MAKE.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A TEACHER ASSISTANT IN THE YMCA'S PARTNERSHIP WITH PETERSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING ITS SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM.
FROM 2017 TO 2020, EVERY CLASSROOM HAD BOTH A LEAD TEACHER AND A TEACHER ASSISTANT ALLOWING STUDENTS TO RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT.
MORNINGS FOCUSED ON ACADEMICS WHILE AFTERNOONS WERE FILLED WITH ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE YOGA, CODING, AND READERS THEATER.
EVERY FRIDAY, STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS THAT INTRODUCED THEM TO EXPERIENCES AND PLACES MANY WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT.
OUR CULMINATING EVENT WAS A BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING TRIP TO TARGET, WHERE EACH STUDENT SELECTED CLOTHES AND SHOES AND RECEIVED BOOK BAGS FILLED WITH SUPPLIES.
NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE YMCA'S PARTNERSHIP.
THE YMCA'S COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE SUMMER MONTHS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT PROVIDES SWIMMING LESSONS TO EVERY SECOND GRADE STUDENT IN PETERSBURG, EQUIPPING CHILDREN WITH A LIFESAVING SKILL REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAMILY'S INCOME.
IT ALSO OFFERS RELIABLE BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL CARE, GIVING WORKING PARENTS A PEACE OF MIND WHILE PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH A SAFE, ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT.
THOSE PROGRAMS ALONE DEMONSTRATE WHY THE YMCA IS SUCH A VALUABLE COMMUNITY PARTNER.
BUT THE BENEFITS TO SRE COUNTY WOULD EXTEND FAR BEYOND YOUTH YOUTH PROGRAMMING.
A-Y-M-C-A WOULD PROVIDE AFFORDABLE YOUTH SPORTS WELLNESS PROGRAMS, SENIOR FITNESS CLASSES, SUMMER CAMPS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES.
IT WOULD PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES, IMPROVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING, REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND CREATE A PLACE WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN CONNECT AND FAMILIES WILL THRIVE.
A-Y-M-C-A HELPS MAKE A COMMUNITY A MORE COMPETITIVE PLACE TO MOVE.
IT ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO MOVE HERE INSTEAD OF ELSEWHERE.
IT SUPPORTS WORKING PARENTS BY PROVIDING DEPENDABLE CHILDCARE.
IT CREATES LOCAL JOBS, ATTRACTS VISITORS.
IT INCREASES DEMAND FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CONTRIBUTES TO A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY.
AS MORE FAMILIES CHOOSE S COUNTY, OUR HOUSING MARKET GROWS.
PROPERTY VALUES STRENGTHEN AND OUR TAX BASE EXPANDS.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
OUR FAMILIES DESERVE ACCESS TO QUALITY, CHILDCARE, RECREATION, WELLNESS PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT WITHOUT LEAVING THE COUNTY.
WE DESERVE AMENITIES THAT REFLECT THE VALUE WE PLACE ON OUR PEOPLE, OUR CHILDREN ARE WORTH INVESTING IN, OUR FAMILIES ARE WORTH INVESTING IN, AND CERE COUNTY IS WORTH INVESTING IN.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MS. WOODEN.
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OF THE BACONS HOUSE DISTRICT.I I ASK IF YOU COULD APPROACH THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME, THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M CHARLON PIERCE FROM THE BAKERS CASTLE DISTRICT.
AND YES, MR. WALTER HARDY IS MY BOARD MEMBER.
COUPLE THINGS I WANNA SAY, AND EVERY, YOU KNOW, I LOVE YOU TOO, CAM.
COUPLE THINGS I WANNA SAY IS THAT NUMBER ONE, EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THEY WANTED TO, WHY Y THEY DON'T WANNA PAY TAXES TO GET THE Y GOTTA GET MONEY FOR SOMEWHERE.
YES, THERE COULD BE CAPITAL THINGS AND ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BUT, UM, I GUESS THIS BOY IS TRYING TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IT HAS.
UM, SOME PLACES ARE ABLE TO DO THAT BETTER THAN HERE.
WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THAT WATER AND HAVE ALL THOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS DON'T TEND TO SEND THE MONEY TO US IN THE FORM OF, UM, YOU KNOW, DONATIONS AND THINGS.
SO WE GOTTA GET THE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE.
ONE THING I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN HERE UNDERSTANDS WHEN THESE FIVE PEOPLE VOTE ABOUT TAXES, THEY DON'T EXCLUDE THEIR TAXES.
WHEN THEY VOTE, THEIR, THEIR TAXES GO UP TOO.
AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN GETS PUT TO THE SIDE.
SO WHEN WE HAVE TAX ACTION WITH REPRESENTATION, AND WHEN WE VOTED FOR THESE PEOPLE, WE VOTED TO TRUST THEM TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR US.
YES, YOU HAVE THE, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME HERE AND SAY, WE AGREE OR WE DISAGREE.
BUT IN THE END, I HOPE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE BOARD MEMBERS VOTE THEIR HEART AND THEIR, AND FOR WHAT THIS COUNTY STANDS FOR, I BELIEVE EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN SUR COUNTY.
THEY'VE BEEN HERE ALL THEIR LIVES.
UNLIKE ME, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE, BUT I'VE GROWN TO LOVE SUR COUNTY.
THESE BOARD MEMBERS LOVE THE COUNTY TOO, AND THEY VOTE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTY, IN THEIR OPINION.
MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH YOURS, MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH MINE, BUT THEY DO WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST TOO MUCH.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR DOING THAT.
THERE'S A SONG WRITER BY A MAN NAMED BILLY PRESTON.
SAY, NOTHING FROM NOTHING LEAVES NOTHING.
IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, WE GOING TO HAVE WHAT? NOTHING.
WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE TO Y MAYBE WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOME CAPITAL AND WHATEVER THAT OTHER STUFF, FUNDING STUFF, I'M NOT A FINANCE PERSON IS MAYBE THAT CAN COME ALONG.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT MOST PEOPLE WANT IT AND IT'S GONNA COST MONEY TO GET IT.
AND IN THIS COUNTRY, TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION IS THE STANDARD FOR SOME THINGS.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
UM, CITIZENS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
THE PUBLIC PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF OUR MEETING IS NOW CLOSED.
[New Business ]
HAVE OUR NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING.WE, THIS EVENING EVERYONE, WE HAVE A MOU FOR THE TALENT OF DENVER.
I WILL NOW, UH, TURN IT OVER TO STAFF OR YOU, SORRY, MS. PERKINS.
THIS IS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN SURREY COUNTY, SURREY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND THE TOWN OF DRON FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, OR AN MOU IS ENTERED INTO THIS FIFTH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026, BY AND AMONG THE COUNTY OF SURREY, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, THE, THE SURREY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE TOWN OF DENVER, AND INCORPORATED TOWN WITHIN THE COUNTY OF SURREY.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY, THE EDA AND THE TOWN HAVE DETERMINED THE NEED FOR COLLABORATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BASED INITIATIVES, WHICH WILL ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES, COMMUNITY, EVENTS, REGULATIONS, AND LAWS THAT ENCOURAGE SOUND AND BALANCED ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE COUNTY AND WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY SEEKS TO IMPLEMENT THE SURREY COUNTY 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS APPROVED IN 2020 AS AMENDED BY STRATEGICALLY WORKING WITH THE TOWN OF DENVER TO DEVELOP LAND USE POLICIES AND ZONING REGULATIONS AND INVESTMENT DECISIONS THAT PROMOTE THE TOWN AS THE CENTER OF CIVIC AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN THE COUNTY.
WHEREAS THE TOWN SEEKS TO IMPLEMENT THE TOWN OF RE'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS LAST REVISED IN 2003 BY PROVIDING FOR THE EXPANSION OF DOWNTOWN AND HIGHWAY BUSINESS AREAS.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY EDA AND TOWN DESIRE TO JOINTLY SERVE THE COUNTY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FINANCING THROUGH GRANTS,
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ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WORKFORCE RESOURCES, REGULATORY GUIDANCE, AND ASSISTANCE WITH COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION.WHEREAS THE TOWN OF REN LIMITS ARE IN A KEY CORRIDOR THROUGH THE COUNTY AND TOWN COUNCIL DESIRES TO SERVE AS A PARTNER WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN EDA FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION IN THIS PRIMARY CORRIDOR.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY CURRENTLY OWNS AND MAINTAINS THE WATER SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE TOWN AND NECESSARY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY EDA AND TOWN ARE DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE COUNTY THROUGH INNOVATION, LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION TO MAINTAIN A PROSPEROUS PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND VISIT.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY EDA AND TOWN AGREED TO COMMIT STAFFING, ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND FUNDING RESOURCES TO BENEFIT THEIR SHARED ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES.
WHEREAS THE COUNTY EDA AND THE TOWN ARE INTERESTED IN ENTERING INTO A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE COUNTY EDA IN TOWN ARE COMMITTED TO PURSUING THIS PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE ENTERING OF THIS MOU AND FURTHER BY DEVELOPING AND OBTAINING APPROVAL OF A VOLUNTARY ECONOMIC GROWTH SHARING AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 13 0 1.
NOW THEREFORE, THE COUNTY EDA AND TOWN HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS.
ONE, THE COUNTY WILL COMMIT FUNDING STAFF POSITIONS AND TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES THROUGH THE OPERATIONS AND SERVICES OF THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BUILDING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS TO BENEFIT ECONOMIC INCENTIVES WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH FAST TRACK ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND AMENDED ORDINANCES.
TWO, THE EDA WILL COMMIT FUNDING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES TO BENEFIT ECONOMIC INITIATIVES WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS.
THREE, THE TOWN WILL COOPERATE WITH THE COUNTY AND THE RECRUITMENT OF BUSINESSES.
IDENTIFICATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT WILL TRIGGER PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN BUILDINGS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE TAX BASE AND OTHER INITIATIVES BENEFICIAL TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS.
SUCH COOPERATION SHALL INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES AS REQUESTED BY THE COUNTY CONSIDERATION OF NEW ORDINANCES AND ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS, ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND APPLICATIONS TO STREAMLINE PROCESSES AND OTHER EFFORTS AS DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY AND TOWN TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
FOUR, THE COUNTY WILL EXAMINE AND CONDUCT ALL NECESSARY STUDIES TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY AND COST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING WATER SYSTEM TO BETTER PROVIDE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOWN.
AGREE, AGREE REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN STAFF AND LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION ON PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS.
SIX, WHENEVER THE CONCURRENCE OR APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY EDA AND TOWN IS REQUIRED, SUCH CONCURRENCE OR APPROVAL SHALL NOT, SHALL NOT BE UNREASONABLY WITHHELD OR DELAYED.
AND THE COUNTY EDA AND THE TOWN AGREE TO COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER TO ACCOMPLISH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS MOU SEVEN.
THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN EACH AGREE TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS REQUIRED UNDER VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 13 0 1 TO NEGOTIATE AND PURSUE APPROVALS INCLUDING A JOINT RESOLUTION SEEKING SUBMISSION TO THE VIRGINIA COMMISSION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF A VOLUNTARY ECONOMIC GROWTH SHARING AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A DEFINED STRUCTURE FOR REVENUE SHARING BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF TAXES AND OTHER RETURNS GENERATED AND COLLECTED FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS.
THE COUNTY EDA IN TOWN AGREED TO TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS MOU CONCUR THAT THIS MOU BRINGS VALUE TO ALL PARTIES AND FURTHER AGREE THAT THE COLLABORATION AND INCREASED CAPACITY CREATED UNDER THIS MOU ADVANCES A SHARED VISION FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY AND SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES TOGETHER THAT WILL INCREASE REVENUES, STRENGTHEN, ENGAGE, BUILD, AND UNIFY THE COMMUNITY.
NINE, THE COUNTY EDA IN TOWN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MOU CONSTITUTES A VALID AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THAT IT IS SIGNED BY THE PERSONS WHO HAVE AUTHORITY TO COMMIT, COMMIT THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS, AND THAT IT IS BINDING AND ENFORCEABLE AGAINST ALL, BOTH JURISDICTIONS.
THE REC 10, THE RECITALS ARE INCORPORATED INTO THIS MOU AS IF FULLY SET FORTH WITHIN IN WITNESS FOR AWARE OF THE PARTIES HAVE EXECUTED THIS MOU ON THE DAY AND YEAR, FIRST WRITTEN ABOVE.
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THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOARD MEMBERS THIS EVENING WE HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE E-D-E-D-A MR. MYRON WOODEN.
WE ALSO HAVE MR. WALLY FA, MAYOR OF DRE AND THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING, AS WELL AS MEMBERS FROM THE DENVER TOWN COUNCIL.
TOO MANY TO NAME AT THE MOMENT, BUT I'LL ASK IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, UH, COME FORWARD, UM, MR. WOODEN AND MR. FA SO THAT WE CAN SIGN THIS MOU AND UH, PUT IT IN, UH, RECORD.
IF, IF I MAY JUST FOR THE, THE PUBLIC RECORD.
UH, THE TOWN COUNCIL OF REN APPROVED THE MOU AT THEIR JULY 6TH MEETING, AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APPROVED THE MOU AT THEIR JULY 23RD MEETING.
SO BOTH APPROVALS WERE OBTAINED, UM, AT, IN A, IN A PUBLIC MEETING SECTION SESSION, EXCUSE ME.
UH, WITH AN OFFICIAL VOTE OF BOTH ENTITIES.
BOARD MEMBERS, I NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE MOU TO VOTE ON IT SO THAT WE CAN SIGN IT.
MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN S COUNTY, S COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND THE TOWN OF DN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BOARD MEMBERS.
ELLIOT, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR DREW, THAT WE APPROVE THE MOU, UH, BETWEEN THE TOWN OF DN AS WELL AS SEDA.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SAID MOTION? HEARING NONE WILL NOW VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF SAID MOTION SIGNIFY YOU VOTE BY SAYING AYE.
WHERE WOULD LIKE YOU COMING, MR. CHAIR, AT THIS SIGN THAT MAY I JUST SPEAK TO THE, TO THE CROWD, UM, AS THEY'RE SIGNING THIS? ONE SECOND.
FOR ALL OF THE EDA TOWN, DRON TOWN COUNCIL AND BOARD MEMBERS, IF WE ALL COULD PLEASE COME UP FOR ONE SECOND SO WE GET A PHOTO WALK.
COME BEHIND YOU WALKING, COME BEHIND US, PLEASE.
MS. CHAPMAN, MS. CHAPLIN, WE WOULD LIKE YOU IN THE PHOTO, PLEASE.
IS EVERYONE, EVERYONE SEE THE CAMERA?
[01:00:02]
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY READY? READY.ALRIGHT, LET'S GIVE EVERYONE A RUN OF APPLAUSE IN THIS MONUMENTAL AGREEMENT.
I DON'T THINK EVERYONE REALIZED HOW, UH, I THINK ONE OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT WAS FAR AS, UM, WORKING TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIPS, UH, THIS IS EVIDENT OF, OF TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES LIVING IN THE SAME COMMUNITY, WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITIZENS.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S HUGE.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE NOW.
NOW, MR. DREW, I KNOW THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT AND EVERYTHING, SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE MOMENT IF YOU'D LIKE.
I JUST WANT TO FIRST OFF, THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE EDA, THE, UH, TOWN OF DRON, THE, THE BOARD.
I MEAN, THIS IS A MONUMENTAL AGREEMENT.
I, I WOULD LOVE TO ALSO SAY AS BEING THE FIRST TOWN TO, TO, UH, ESTABLISH THIS AGREEMENT.
I HOPE ALL THE, WE JUST PAVED THE WAY FOR THE OTHER TWO TOWNS.
UM, BUT THIS AGREEMENT WILL JUST HELP US WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON, ONTO, UM, OTHER INITIATIVES WE HAVE FOR THE COUNTY.
I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT OUR COUNTY IS LIKE A MACHINE.
THERE'S ALWAYS MANY THINGS WORKING TO, TO, TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, TOGETHER.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND THAT MANY OF YOU JUST HAVE NOT SEEN.
BUT THAT'S WHY I'M HAPPY YOU'RE HERE TO SEE THIS TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS A MONUMENTAL AGREEMENT, SOMETHING THAT WILL BRING A LOT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND THE DENVER DISTRICT.
AND I'M JUST PROUD AND THANKFUL MR. UH, MAYOR, MAYOR FACE AND THE REST OF THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR JUST COMING ON BOARD, UH, SITTING DOWN AND, UM, ALL THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD TO, TO GET THIS AGREEMENT SIGNED.
SO I JUST THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, UH, TO THE BOARD, TO THE EDA ENTIRE TOWN FOR THE, THE BEST TOWN IN, IN SURREY COUNTY,
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU DE FOR THAT MR. DREW
[Presentations ]
MEMBERS, WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION FROM OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS.
UH, WE ASK MR. CAL LAWS, IF YOU PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
THESE ARE FINANCIAL ADVISORS FROM, UH, DAVENPORT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, NICE TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.
MY COLLEAGUE ETHAN IS HANDING OUT A PRESENTATION THAT'LL BE FOR THE PUBLIC'S PURPOSES, THE EXACT SAME AS WE HAVE UP ON THE SCREEN ONCE WE GET THAT PULLED UP.
UM, SO AGAIN, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, NICE TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.
UM, UH, WE HAVE, UH, TONIGHT WE'RE ASKED TO COME AND GIVE, UH, MAYBE JUST AN UPDATE IN TERMS OF THE FINANCING PROCESS AND SCHEDULE FOR PURPOSES OF THE YMCA.
WE KNOW THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE COLLECTIVELY BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS AND REALLY YEARS EVEN.
UM, I THINK BEFORE WE GO INTO THE EXACT DETAILS, UM, ON THE SCREEN HERE, IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR ROLE IS YOUR ADVISOR.
UM, IS THAT OF JUST THAT AN ADVISOR? WE'RE NOT HERE TO TELL YOU AS A COUNTY WHAT IS A GOOD PROJECT OR A BAD PROJECT.
THAT'S CERTAINLY A, A DECISION AND DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD.
UM, NOR ARE WE, UH, ACCOUNTANTS AND AUDITORS, SO FORTH AND SO ON.
SO WE'RE REALLY HELPING YOU AS WE DO MANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND PEERS THINK ABOUT HOW WITH THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OTHERS, UM, YOU ARE ABLE TO, UH, MOVE THOSE FORWARD TO FINANCE THEM, TO PAY FOR THEM, UM, AGAIN, GIVEN THE BUDGETS AND SITUATIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
AND SO, UH, WHAT WE HAVE THIS EVENING IS REALLY AN UPDATE.
UM, I THINK FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE SPRING.
UM, WE KNOW THAT AS THE NEXT COMING MONTHS, UH, WILL ARISE, WE'RE HERE IN AUGUST, WE'LL LIKELY BE BACK IN SEPTEMBER AS THE EXPECTATIONS.
WE JUST WANNA COME AND GIVE AN UPDATE IN TERMS OF THAT TIME SCHEDULE AND WHERE WE ARE.
UM, BUT WE THINK WE'RE VERY MUCH ON THE SAME SCHEDULE AND PROCESSES WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THE MOUSE TO MOVE HERE.
UM, SO AGAIN, THAT INTRODUCTION, WE WON'T GO PAGE BY PAGE, UM, THERE IN TERMS OF THE BULLET POINTS EXACTLY WITH THAT, THE WINDOW TO CLOSE FOR THE FOLKS ON THE SCREEN.
[01:05:01]
TIME PERIOD THAT WE'RE LAST YEAR REALLY ADOPTED YOUR 2027 BUDGET, AND SO WE'VE TAKEN SOME OF THOSE THINGS INTO ACCOUNT, UM, IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.UM, BUT WE SEE THAT AS BEING FAVORABLE TO BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.
UM, SO OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THIS EVENING, WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT OF A, A REVIEW, IF YOU WILL, OF YOUR EXISTING DEBT PROFILE.
UM, NOTHING REALLY HAS CHANGED THERE.
AND SO YOU AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UM, YOU DO HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING DEBT, BUT THAT'S BEEN MANAGED WITHIN YOUR POLICIES.
WE'LL TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE, HOW YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE.
UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN NUMBER TWO, AN UPDATED CAPITAL PLANNING ANALYSIS.
IT'S REALLY, UH, SORT OF WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF A TIME SCHEDULE FOR THIS YMCA PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, AGAIN, GETTING TO THAT TIME SCHEDULE, UH, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, UM, UTILIZING THE VIRGINIA RESOURCES AUTHORITY.
UH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS.
BUT THE WAY THIS PROJECT, UH, WILL BE FINANCED, OBVIOUSLY PENDING THE BOARD'S APPROVAL, UH, WOULD BE UTILIZING THIS VRA PROGRAM.
AND SO WE'LL TAKE A MINUTE HERE AND DESCRIBE WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS.
UM, SO THE VIRGINIA RESOURCES AUTHORITY, AS WE SAY ON THIS PAGE, AND WE, WE SHORTEN THAT TO VRA, OFTENTIMES WE TALK ABOUT IT.
SO AS YOU LOOK AT VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AND DISCOURSE, YOU'LL HEAR US REFER TO VRA, UM, LONGSTANDING STATE PROGRAM.
AND SO THE ULTIMATE LENDER HERE IS REALLY EXPECTED TO BE A STATE PROGRAM WHO CERTAINLY, UM, WILL BE DOING A REVIEW OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCES AS IT HAS IN THE PAST.
UM, I THINK IMPORTANTLY, VRA HAS BEEN A LENDER TO THE COUNTY PREVIOUSLY, AND SO WE HAVE OUTSTANDING DEBT WITH VRA.
UM, WE ARE NOT A NEW ENTITY TO THIS, UM, STATE ENTITY, UH, VRA.
AND YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE THERE, WE AS A COUNTY HAVE OUTSTANDING, UM, SOME 20 14, 20 18, AND 2020 BOND ISSUES, IF YOU WILL.
SO THEY, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, REVIEW THE COUNTY'S FINANCIALS.
THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THINGS AND CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM LEADING UP TO THIS YMCA PROJECT.
THIS WON'T BE NEW FOR THEM AS WE WORK OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
UM, WHAT VRA DOES, UH, THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BUT THE ONE WE'LL BE UTILIZING, AGAIN, PENDING BOARD APPROVAL IS CALLED THE VIRGINIA POOLED FINANCING PROGRAM, GETS SHORTENED TO VPFP.
UM, THAT REALLY IS A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES.
AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY QUOTE UNQUOTE, POOL OR COMBINE, GATHER TOGETHER, UM, LOANS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE, UM, CITIES, COUNTIES, TOWNS, UM, AND THEY BASICALLY SERVE AS A CONDUIT TO THE PUBLIC CREDIT MARKETS.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE AS A COUNTY HAVE USED IN THE PAST.
UM, WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS TO GET INTO THOSE PUBLIC CREDIT MARKETS THAT TENDS TO OFFER VERY FAVORABLE, LONG-TERM FIXED INTEREST RATES, UTILIZING THE STATE'S BACKING MEANING, UH, THEY, UH, THE STATE PUTS THEIR BACKING BEHIND THAT PROGRAM ITSELF.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE, THE RATINGS, THE CREDIT RATINGS ON THOSE BONDS ARE VERY, VERY HIGH LEVELS.
AND SO IT'S BASICALLY AAA, AA RATING.
UM, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE
AND SO ONE WOULD EXPECT, AND THEY DO THAT THE FOLKS THAT RUN VRA, UM, ARE VERY PROTECTIVE OF THAT PROGRAM, UM, IN THEIR UNDERWRITING STANDARDS AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, IN THEIR DEALINGS, UH, WITH THE COUNTY.
UM, SO WHAT THAT LETS US DO AGAIN IS ACCESS LONG-TERM MONEY AT A FIXED RATE.
UM, THOSE PROGRAMS OFFER ALL THE ABILITY TO REFINANCE AS WELL.
UM, USUALLY A 10 YEAR CALL PERIOD IS A VERY TYPICAL, AND THAT'S THE WAY OUR, UM, HISTORICAL LOANS WITH THAT VRA PROGRAM HAVE WORKED.
SO, AGAIN, AS WE GO OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU A TIME SCHEDULE.
UH, BUT THE RECOMMENDATION HERE IS TO USE THAT STATE PROGRAM THAT YOU AS A COUNTY AND MANY, MANY NA OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND PEERS HAVE USED MANY TIMES OVER, UM, WITH GOOD SUCCESS.
UM, AND THAT IS THAT VRA PROGRAM.
UM, IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU START AS A COUNTY, UM, AGAIN, WE MENTIONED HERE YOU DO HAVE SOME EXISTING DATA OUTSTANDING.
UM, ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY GOALS AND ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY PURPOSES AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FINANCING UNDERLYING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S REQUIRED, UH, TO RUN THE COUNTY.
SO YOU SEE ON THE PAGE HERE, UM, CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING DEBT IS ABOUT $16 MILLION.
UM, THAT SEEMS LIKE A LARGE NUMBER, CERTAINLY FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL, BY ALL MEANS.
UM, BUT WE, WHEN VIEWED IN THE SCOPE OF THE COUNTY ITSELF, WHICH WE'LL DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE PAGES WITH YOUR ADOPTED POLICIES, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT NUMBER INTO PERSPECTIVE.
UM, IMPORTANTLY, WE'LL MAKE A COUPLE POINTS HERE.
UH, SECOND BULLET POINT, YOUR EXISTING DEBT IS PAID OFF VERY RAPIDLY.
SO THERE'S A RATIO THERE, WE CALL THE 10 YEAR PAYOUT RATIO.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU, WITH YOUR EXISTING DEBT, ARE PAYING OFF 92% OF THE PRINCIPLE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE.
IT'S A VERY RAPID REPAYMENT SCHEDULE.
UM, IT BASICALLY MEANS WE'RE NOT PUSHING AS A COUNTY, UH, THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FINANCED INTO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
[01:10:01]
DOES IS SETS YOU UP WELL TO BE THINKING ABOUT FUTURE CAPITAL PLANNING, WHICH YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.UM, SO YOU START, UM, IN TERMS OF THIS PLANNING PROCESS WITH THE YMCA AND PROBABLY FUTURE PROJECTS, UM, IN A GOOD SITUATION WHEREBY YOU'RE NOT OVER LEVERAGED, UM, AND YOU ARE PAYING THE EXISTING DEBT YOU HAVE OFF, UH, VERY, VERY RAPIDLY.
UM, NEXT COUPLE PAGES WILL SHOW YOU JUST WHERE YOU STAND RELATIVE TO YOUR OWN POLICIES.
AND SO THE COUNTY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HAS HAD FINANCIAL POLICIES.
UM, THOSE ARE IN PLACE, THEY'RE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD.
UM, WE WATCH THOSE, UH, CERTAINLY OUTSIDE ENTITIES LIKE A VRA WATCH THOSE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
UM, WE'LL ALSO SHARE ON THIS PAGE OR PAGES, HOW THOSE POLICIES COMPARE TO YOUR PEERS.
UM, AND SO WE'VE PICKED FOR THAT PEER GROUP, NOT NECESSARILY SCIENTIFIC PER SE, BUT PICKED, UH, IO EIGHT, JAMES CITY SOUTHAMPTON, AND PRINCE GEORGE.
SO ALL OF THOSE, UM, ARE VERY HIGHLY RATED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THEY HAVE GOOD CREDIT RATINGS.
AND WE'RE PURPOSELY COMPARING YOU AS A COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A CREDIT RATING TODAY.
UH, WE, WE ARE COMPARING YOU TO OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE VERY, VERY STRONG CREDIT RATINGS THEMSELVES.
UM, YOU LOOK AT THIS PAGE, UM, THIS RATIO IS DEBT SERVICE VERSUS REVENUES.
THAT'S BASICALLY, UH, HOW MANY PENNIES OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR IN THE BUDGET ARE GONNA MAKE A DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT.
YOUR POLICY IS TO BE BETWEEN 10 AND 12% AND NO MORE THAN THAT.
UH, ON THE PAGE THERE, TO THE FAR RIGHT, THE LOWER LEVELS, THAT DOTTED LINE, THE HIGHER LEVEL IS THAT BRIGHT RED LINE.
SO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS GRAPH, ABOUT 5.44%.
THAT'S IN THAT KIND OF ORANGE BAR.
UH, SO YOU'RE BASICALLY ABOUT HALF OF THAT POLICY LIMITATION.
UM, WHICH IS THE FIRST SORT OF INCLINATION OR FIRST MEASUREMENT TO SAY YOU AS A COUNTY HAVE CAPACITY, UM, FOR THE RIGHT PROJECTS.
THAT IS YOUR DECISION AS A BOARD, UH, TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL, UH, DEBT.
YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE PEERS HERE.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT PEER MEDIAN IS ABOUT 7%.
I'M ROUNDING UP THERE A LITTLE BIT AT 6.98 ON THE PAGE.
UM, AND SO YOU START BELOW THAT RATIO, UM, IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK HERE IN THE APPENDIX.
WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT RATIO LOOKS LIKE AFTER THE INCLUSION OF THE YMCA PROJECT, BUT I'LL PREEMPT THAT TO SAY YOU'RE VERY MUCH WELL IN LINE WITH THAT.
UM, UH, MEDIAN, UM, YOU'D BE IN AND AROUND 8%.
UM, SO ABOUT A LITTLE BIT BELOW WHERE, WHERE LIKE AN IS OF WIDE IS IN TERMS OF THAT POTENTIAL POLICY AND STILL BELOW, UH, THE 10 TO 12, UH, ON PAGE SEVEN, UM, ANOTHER OF YOUR IMPORTANT DEBT POLICIES, DEBT TO ASSESS VALUE.
UM, AGAIN, SIMILAR PICTURES, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT RATIO.
YOUR POLICY SAYS WE DON'T WANT TO BE ABOVE THAT RED LINE ON THE FAR RIGHT.
UH, YOU WRITE NOW ARE LITERALLY BELOW 1%.
SO 0.59, UH, THE POLICY COULD GO UP TO 3%, UM, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY RECOMMENDING THAT, BUT THAT GIVES US THAT RED LINE.
UH, YOU HAVE GOOD CAPACITY RELATIVE TO THAT.
AND AGAIN, WE'LL SHOW YOU IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK HERE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WITH THE YMCA INCORPORATED.
UM, IT REMAINS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THESE HIGHLY RATED, UH, NEIGHBORS.
UM, SO WITH THAT, IN TERMS OF, OF THE NEXT SECTION HERE, A LITTLE BIT OF REVIEW OF WHAT WE CALL THE CAPITAL FUNDING ANALYSIS.
UM, AGAIN, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PLANNING PROCESS AND WE'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO WORK WITH YOU HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IN TERMS OF THE BUILDUP TO THIS, UH, FOR PURPOSES OF THE YMCA, UM, WHERE WE UNDERSTAND, UH, THE PROCESS REALLY IS RIGHT NOW IS YOU'RE FINISHING THAT, THAT DESIGN PROCESS.
AND SO WE SAY THERE, THAT'S THE FIRST HALF OF FISCAL YEAR 27.
UM, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THE COUNTY'S FISCAL YEAR ENDS ON JUNE 30.
SO THE FIRST HALF OF FISCAL YEAR 27 IS REALLY THE SECOND HALF OF CALENDAR YEAR 2026, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THE ACTIVITY RELATED TO THIS FINANCING WILL REALLY BE AS WE'RE HERE IN AUGUST THROUGH SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER INTO NOVEMBER.
UM, THAT'S REALLY THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, PRIMARY, UH, ACTIVITY RELATED TO THE FINANCING ITSELF.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL BE OFF BUILDING THE PROJECT AFTER THAT.
UM, THE INTENT HERE WITH THE TIMING IS THAT WE'LL KNOW COLLECTIVELY WHAT THE COST OF THIS IS.
UM, AND ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE GO OUT AND DO THAT FINANCING.
AND SO AS YOU GET THESE CONSTRUCTION BIDS, YOU ENTER INTO THOSE CONTRACTS, UM, AGAIN, THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT PRIOR TO ACTUALLY FORMALLY ENTERING INTO THE FINANCING.
UM, AND THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN AND PROCESS HERE.
UH, THE NUMBER WE'VE BEEN USING IN THAT FOURTH BULLET POINT IS $24 MILLION.
I THINK AN IMPORTANT POINT WE'LL MAKE HERE, UM, FOR THOSE OBVIOUSLY THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, FOLLOWING THIS, AND CERTAINLY THE BOARD KNOWS THIS, UH, THERE WAS SOME INTERIM FINANCING THAT WAS BORROWED LAST YEAR, $5 MILLION.
UM, THAT INTERIM FINANCING WAS INTENDED AND SERVED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR UPFRONT COST RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
UM, THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE PAID OFF IN FULL AND RELATIVELY NEAR TERM.
AND SO THE ULTIMATE FINANCING THAT'S PLANNED HERE IS 24 MILLION.
IT'S NOT 24 MILLION PLUS FIVE.
[01:15:01]
OFF.UM, AND SO THE PLANNING HERE CONTEMPLATES BORROWING $24 MILLION FOR WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE KNOW THE FINAL NUMBER, UM, ON A PERMANENT BASIS, UM, UPCOMING THIS FALL.
UM, SOME ASSUMPTIONS WE'VE MADE HERE, UM, AN ESTIMATED PLANNING RATE OF 5% IN TERMS OF THE BORROWING RATE.
UM, THAT'S CONSERVATIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE PROBABLY IN THE 4% RANGE, PLUS OR MINUS IN THE CURRENT MARKET.
UM, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AS WE COME BACK TO THE BOARD TO BRIEF YOU ON THAT.
UM, BUT WE ARE PROBABLY IN, YOU KNOW, THE MID EVEN LOW 4% RANGE IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT MARKET INTEREST RATES, UH, FOR THE FINANCING ITSELF.
UM, AGAIN, ANTICIPATING THAT FINANCING HAPPENING OVER THE BALANCE OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, UM, THE BORROWING WOULD BE REPAID OVER A 20 YEAR TERM.
AND SO THIS FACILITY, UH, WILL BE A LARGE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
UM, IT WILL BE AROUND FOR DECADES TO COME.
AND SO THE CONCEPT AND ABILITY TO BORROW FOR THAT OVER A 20 YEAR TIME PERIOD MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
UM, INSOFAR AS A CONCEPT WE TALK SOMETIMES ABOUT IN TERMS OF GENERATIONAL EQUITY.
AND SO IT'S AN ASSET THAT THE COUNTY WILL OWN, UM, A LARGE NEW BUILDING THAT, UH, WILL SERVE YOU, UH, MEANING THE COUNTY RESIDENTS FOR DECADES TO COME.
AND SO IT'LL BE REPAID OVER 20 YEAR TIME PERIOD.
I THINK THE COROLLARY THERE IS TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE IN PERSONAL FINANCE, IF YOU'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN A HOME.
MOST FOLKS, WHEN THEY OWN OR BUY THEIR HOME, THEY'RE PROBABLY FINANCING THAT OVER AT LEAST 20 YEARS, PROBABLY 30 IN TERMS OF THE TYPICAL FIXED RATE MORTGAGE.
UM, THAT'S A PRETTY REASONABLE, UH, COROLLARY HERE TO MAKE IN TERMS OF COUNTY FINANCES, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD THE COST OF THAT ASSET THAT YOU'RE GONNA UTILIZE, UM, OVER THE YEARS AND THE USERS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM IT.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF PLANNING AROUND THE CASH FLOWS OF THIS.
UM, AS WE'VE SEEN YOUR 2027 BUDGET, UM, THERE IS, UH, DOLLARS BUDGETED IN THERE ABOUT 3.4 MILLION FOR DEBT SERVICE.
UM, THAT LOOKS TO BE SUFFICIENT IN TERMS OF THE PLANNING ESTIMATES HERE FOR THE MOMENT, UM, AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
UM, AND SO THAT GETS TO PAGE 11.
UH, JUST A VERY SIMPLE SUMMARY HERE.
THERE'S SOME INITIAL CASH FLOWS IN THE BACK, UH, BUT BASICALLY, UH, FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, $24 MILLION IS, IS THE PROJECT COST THAT IS ANTICIPATED.
UH, WE'LL SEE THAT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT ACTUALLY IS, IT'S NOT FOR US TO COME UP WITH.
CERTAINLY WE'LL REACT TO THAT, UH, REPAID OVER A 20 YEAR TERM.
UM, THE EXPECTATION IS, UH, BY VIRTUE OF THE WAY YOU'VE SET UP YOUR BUDGETS, UM, THERE'S NO NEED FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR PURPOSES OF DEBT SERVICE, UM, RELATED TO THE PROJECT, UH, BY VIRTUE OF, AGAIN, HOW YOU'VE SET UP THE THE 2027 BUDGET, UM, WITH THAT, ON PAGE 13, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
UM, WE'RE CERTAINLY HERE TONIGHT, JUST INFORMATIONAL.
WE DON'T NEED ANY ACTION THIS EVENING.
UM, WHAT WE REALLY PLAN ON DOING OVER THE BALANCE OF AUGUST IS WORKING WITH YOUR COUNTY STAFF, GETTING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION BACK, UM, AND WORKING WITH THE VIRGINIA RESOURCES AUTHORITY.
UM, WE HAVE ON HERE, UH, FRIDAY THE SEVENTH, WHICH IS THE BALANCE OF THIS WEEK, THE END OF THIS WEEK, UH, WHICH IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, UM, FOR THAT VRA PROGRAM.
UH, WE'VE TALKED TO VRA, 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE APPLIED, AS YOU KNOW, UH, TO THE SUMMER PROGRAM, JUST AS KIND OF A PLACEHOLDER, UH, IN THE PROCESS.
UM, WHAT VRA HAS SAID IS THAT APPLICATION STILL STANDS, AND SO WE DON'T NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION.
UM, THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROCESS.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM AS YOU HAVE, UH, AT THE COUNTY.
AND SO THAT APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN THE SUMMERTIME STILL STANDS.
UM, WE COLLECTIVELY WITH YOUR WORKING GROUP AND YOUR BOND COUNCIL, UH, WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BRA FOLKS, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
UM, BUT THEY'RE AWARE, CERTAINLY OF THE APPLICATION AND NO NEED TO SUBMIT ANYTHING NEW, UM, AS PER OUR LAST DISCUSSION WITH THEM.
UM, AND SO THAT REALLY LEADS TO THE BALANCE OF AUGUST.
UM, BUT THE INTENT THERE IS WE'LL GET SOME OF THAT MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION AROUND THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH AROUND $24 MILLION.
UH, WE DON'T EXPECT IT'LL BE THAT EXACT NUMBER.
UH, WE EXPECT BY THE TIME WE'RE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REFINE SOME OF THIS ANALYSIS BASED UPON, UM, THAT INFORMATION THAT COMES BACK FROM THE Y UM, THAT REALLY LEADS UP TO SEPTEMBER 3RD.
UM, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE BEING BACK AT THAT SEPTEMBER 3RD BOARD MEETING.
UM, AND THAT'LL BE THE TIME PERIOD WHEREBY FOR THIS FALL, VRA POOL, THE BOARD WOULD BE ASKED TO TAKE ACTION, UM, AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE FINANCING ITSELF.
UM, THAT AGAIN, IS PART OF THE TYPICAL PROCESS OF VRA.
UH, AND SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AS A PRECURSOR TO THAT.
UM, 'CAUSE THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION PREPARED BY BOND COUNSEL TO BE ADOPTED AT YOUR SEPTEMBER 3RD MEETING.
UM, THAT'LL ALSO BE, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, UH, THE SAME MEETING WHERE THERE'LL BE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS GROUND LEASE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FINANCING, BUT IMPORTANT TO THE PROJECT ITSELF.
UM, AND SO THE INTENT THERE IS THAT SEPTEMBER 3RD MEETING, UM, AGAIN, SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY'S,
[01:20:01]
UM, THE BOARD'S APPROVAL, KIND OF HAVE ALL THOSE ACTIONS TAKE PLACE ON THE THIRD, BOTH THE GROUND LEASE FOR THE PROJECT PROJECT, THE FINANCING ACTIONS.AND THAT'LL REALLY BE THE ONLY, UH, UH, ACTIONS NEEDED OF THE BOARD TO MOVE THE OVERALL FINANCING PROCESS FORWARD.
UM, FROM THERE, OCTOBER 27TH IS WHEN, UH, VRA IS ANTICIPATING BEING IN THE MARKETS.
AND SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO SELL THEIR BONDS IN THE PUBLIC CREDIT MARKETS.
THE INTEREST RATE IS SET ON THAT DAY.
AND SO ANY OF THE ESTIMATES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE JUST THAT ESTIMATES UNTIL THEY SELL.
SO BASICALLY, WE'LL KNOW RIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN WHAT THE ULTIMATE INTEREST RATE ON THE FINANCING IS.
UM, AND THEN BY THE MIDDLE PART OF NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 17TH IS ANTICIPATED.
UH, THAT'LL BE THE CLOSING DATE WHEREBY FUNDS WILL BE IN HAND.
YOU'LL HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE YMCA PROJECT.
UM, SO THAT, UH, MR. CHAIR MEMBERS, THE BOARD IS REALLY WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF PROCESS.
UM, I MIGHT JUST SHOW YOU A COUPLE MORE SLIDES HERE IN THE APPENDIX JUST TO GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE.
UM, ON PAGE 15, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK, AND SAME AS UP ON THE SCREEN.
ALL THIS IS SHOWING IS SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL DETAIL, UH, BEHIND THE EXISTING AND PROPOSED DEBT SERVICE.
AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS THE DARK GREEN IS YOUR EXISTING DEBT SERVICE.
JUST AS WE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, UH, THAT LIGHTER SORT OF ORANGE COLOR IS, UH, THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE ESTIMATED ON THAT YMCA AND SO PURPOSELY HAS BEEN FOLDED IN THERE, UH, TO GET TO AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL PAYMENT IN THE AGGREGATE, ABOUT $3.1 MILLION.
AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THE BUDGETS AND THE CASH FLOW, UH, THE ESTIMATE RIGHT NOW IS ON A RECURRING BASIS, UH, WE NEED ABOUT 3.1 MILLION.
THE FIRST YEAR IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, BUT YOU AS A COUNTY HAVE HAD VERY GOOD RESERVES, UM, HISTORICALLY, AND SO IT'S NOT A SURPRISE IN TERMS OF THAT FIRST YEAR BEING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IN TERMS OF 3.4, UH, VERSUS THE 3.1 GOING FORWARD.
UM, ALSO WE JUST WANT, UH, TAKE A MINUTE ON THIS PARTICULAR PAGE.
UM, THIS, AS I MENTIONED, THE PRIOR SLIDES, SORT OF FRONT PART OF THE BOOK HERE, UM, TAKES A LOOK AT YOUR POLICIES.
UM, AND THIS IS LAYERING IN THE YMCA.
SO PREVIOUSLY WE WERE LOOKING AT THOSE AND COMPARING TO THE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WAS PRE YMCA.
THIS IS ALL POST YMCA AND THIS IS PROJECTED OUT, UH, OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
UM, IMPORTANTLY LEFT HAND SIDE, THAT DEBT SERVICE TO REVENUES LINE ITEM.
UM, IN TERMS OF YOUR POLICY, AGAIN, YOUR 10 TO 12% IS THE MAXIMUM.
EVEN WHEN WE LAYER IN THE YMCA, WE END UP AT A MAXIMUM OF ABOUT EIGHT.
AND IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO EVEN SOMETHING LOWER THAN THAT.
SO IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE PLANNING, SO FORTH AND SO ON, UM, THERE IS ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THERE TO TAKE ON NEW PROJECTS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE AFFORDABILITY SIDE OF THINGS.
UM, BUT FROM A CAPACITY STANDPOINT, MEANING DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS WITHIN OUR POLICIES, UH, YOU DO HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY OVER AND ABOVE THE YMCA SIMILAR SITUATION ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IN TERMS OF DEBT TO ASSESS VALUE.
BUT EARLIER LIMITER WILL LIKELY BE DEBT SERVICE TO REVENUES, UH, GOING FORWARD.
SO FROM A FUTURE PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT AGAIN, UH, THE BOARD, UH, YOUR DISCRETION IN TERMS OF THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES.
UM, BUT AS WE LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN SEE BASICALLY WHITE SPACE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE BETWEEN THOSE GREEN BARS AND YELLOW LINES, UH, THAT TELLS US THERE IS CAPACITY FOR FUTURE PROJECTS UP TO THE COUNTY AND WHAT THOSE MAY BE.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE BEING HERE.
AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE PRESENTATION FROM DAVENPORT AND COMP.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. LOCK AT THIS MOMENT? I DO.
ALRIGHT, MR. SEWARD, UM, WHEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, BY THE WAY.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A, A, JUST AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE, JUST ON THE YMCA, NOT OUR, NOT OUR EXISTING DEBT OR ANYTHING MM-HMM
WHAT THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE WILL BE ON THE YMCO OR THE 20 YEAR PERIOD? YES, SIR.
IF YOU GO TO PAGE 15, WHICH I JUST PUT ON THE SCREEN THERE.
UH, YOU LOOK AT THAT MIDDLE COLUMN THERE, THAT PROPOSED DEBT SERVICE COLUMN, THAT IS TOTAL PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST ON THE YMCA PROJECT AS AN ESTIMATE, AGAIN, SO $24 MILLION IN PRINCIPLE.
UM, AND SO AT A 5% INTEREST RATE.
AND SO AGAIN, WE'RE PROBABLY ONE PERCENT-ISH ABOVE IN TERMS OF THE ESTIMATE HERE.
SO WE EXPECT THIS TO BE MUCH LOWER BASED ON CURRENT MARKET RATES, BUT THAT INDEED IS THE TOTAL P AND I PAYMENTS ESTIMATED.
UM, AS FAR AS WE HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE ADD, BECAUSE I, I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN, IN HERE.
UM, SO WE'RE ON THIS, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT, IT'S SHOW SHOWING US WHAT, UM, THE DARK IS OUR EXISTING DEBT.
WHEN WE ADD IN THIS PROPOSED DEBT, WHAT WILL OUR CAPACITIES BE TO BORROW
[01:25:01]
THEN? SO YOUR CAPACITY WILL BE DICTATED, UM, BY, LEMME ANSWER THAT TWO WAYS.SO IF WE LOOK HERE ON THIS GRAPH, WE TALK ABOUT CAPACITY.
WE'RE TYPICALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY DOLLARS CAN WE DO RELATIVE TO OUR POLICIES AND STILL BE RESPONSIBLE, STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE POLICIES.
UM, AND SO IN TOTAL, BY THE TIME WE HAVE ABOUT 24 MILLION THAT WE'D BE ADDING, AND WE'RE ABOUT, WHAT, 16 MILLION IN EXISTING DEBTS.
SO IN THE AGGREGATE, WHAT'S REPRESENTED ON THAT SCREEN RIGHT THERE, IT'S ABOUT $40 MILLION IN TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT SERVICE.
UM, SO OUR CAPACITY OVER AND ABOVE THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE YELLOW LINES, UM, AND ROUGHLY 40 MILLION, OR EXCUSE ME, THE, THE, THE GREEN BARS THERE.
SO, UM, WE COULD COME BACK TO YOU, MR. SEWARD, WITH A MORE PRECISE CALCULATION.
I DON'T WANNA SORT OF GO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD TOO MUCH, BUT WE CAN COME BACK WITH A MORE PRECISE, JUST TO KINDA GIVE YOU A BALLPARK OF WHAT REALLY REMAINS IN TERMS OF CAPACITY OVER THE FIVE AND EVEN NEXT 10 YEARS.
UM, BUT THAT'S HOW WE'D KIND OF COME UP WITH THAT.
WELL, I'M, YOU KNOW, JUST THINKING ABOUT FUTURE PROJECTS, WE MAY BE MORE, YOU KNOW, MAY BE A REAL NECESSITY WHILE MM-HMM
AS IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THIS DEBT SERVICE, UM, AFTER THE YMCA'S INCLUDED MM-HMM
OR, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST WHAT WOULD DOES THIS PUSH US TO, I KNOW THIS, YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS LEVEL, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW, WHAT NUMBER WOULD PUSH US TO THE LIMIT? KIND OF, YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELL BELOW THE LIMIT RIGHT NOW, SO IF YOU'RE, YOU'RE A SOLID IN A TWO TO FOUR PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW IN TERMS OF YOUR DEBT SERVICE VERSUS REVENUES, UM, ON A, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY 60 MILLION.
NOW, BEFORE WE ADD THE YMCA, OH, ACTUALLY ON THE, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, THAT'S POST YMCA, SO THAT'S GOT THE YMCA IN THERE.
UM, AND SO EVEN WITH THE YMCA IN THERE, YOUR, YOUR DEBT SERVICE TO REVENUES ENDS UP BEING ABOUT 7%, AND YOUR POLICY IS ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 12%.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH, WITH WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE EQUATES TO.
UM, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER.
UH, ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CHAIR? YES.
I'M JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING BACK AGAIN.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU ALL, WERE HERE MAY 7TH, SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK AGAIN, JUST LAYING IT OUT TO OUR CITIZENS, UM, THE, UH, THE FINANCING SO THEY CAN GET A, ANOTHER LOOK AT IT.
ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? MR. LOCK? IT'S ALWAYS GOOD.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION AND I GUESS WE'LL SEE YOU, UH, NEXT MONTH, SHORTLY, ABOUT A MONTH.
ALRIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS AND CITIZENS.
OUR AGENDA WILL BE OUR BOARD COMMENTS, BUT BEFORE, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO OUR BOARD COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS THAT THE PRESENTATION THAT WE JUST VIEWED COULD BE, UH, REVIEWED ONLINE AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT.
UH, YOU GUYS CAN GO ON TO OUR, OUR WEBSITE, GO ON THE AGENDA, AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE PRESENTATION THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED, UH, TO THIS EVENING.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SHOW THE PRESENTATIONS AT LIVE, LIVE TIME AT THE CURRENT MOMENT, BUT, UH, THE PRESENTATION HAS BEEN PUT ONLINE FOR THE CITIZENS TO VIEW THAT ARE AT HOME.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR BOARD
[Board Comments]
COMMENTS.I'LL NOW ASK IF MR. DREW WOULD MIND GOING FIRST THIS EVENING FOR OUR BOARD COMMENTS.
UH, WE'LL LET OUR, OUR, OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATION INTRODUCE HERSELF, MS. KAMAYA SUMMERS, UH, AT OUR FIRST MEETING.
MS. SUMMERS, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS KAMAYA SUMMERS.
UM, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR SELECTING ME, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU ALL.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE YMCA WOULD NOT ONLY BE IN A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, WITH THE ELDERS, ADULTS, AND THE KIDS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR FUTURE, WHICH IS THE YOUNGER GENERATION, UM, AS THEY WOULD HAVE MORE PLACES TO WORK, VOLUNTEER, ENJOY THINGS, AND JUST GAIN MORE OPPORTUNITIES CLOSER TO HOME.
LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THIS SUMMERS IS CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT CHERRY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UH, I DON'T WANT TO TALK TOO MUCH, BUT I BELIEVE SHE IS THE, UH, DRUM MAJOR OF THE, UH, OF OUR MARCHING BAND.
AND SHE HOLDS, LET'S GIVE, THAT'S A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THAT JUST, UM, JUST SHOWS THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR LEADERSHIP.
AND IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR, WE HAD MS. ARIA, UH, ANOTHER STUDENT THAT WE HAD A WAY OF SHOWING THEIR LEADERSHIP
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AND THEIR DEDICATION TO THEIR COMMUNITY BY SHOWING EXAMPLE HOW THEY CAN JUGGLE MULTI MULTIPLE THINGS BY GREAT, MAKING GOOD GRADES, BUT ALSO TO ATTENDING OUR BOARD MEETING.SO, AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, MS. SUMMERS GIVING THE BEST EXPERIENCE, UH, THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
NOW, MR. DREW, I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
UM, I FIRST OFF WANTED TO START OFF BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND I WANNA WISH YOU ALL A A A PHENOMENAL GOOD EVENING.
UM, BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE SUR FOUR H, UH, UH, CAMP, UM, WITH MS. WHITE.
UM, SHE DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH OUR, OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
I GOT TO INTERACT WITH SOME OF THEM.
UM, IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE BE IN, WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY IN THE ROOM, BUT IN THE NATURE WITH, IN NATURE WITH THEM.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE SUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ONCE AGAIN.
ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS TO GET SOME WORKFORCE EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO, UH, COLLEGE AND GOING OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD.
UM, AND THEN MY LAST THING, IT'S A LITTLE, IT'S A LITTLE LONG, BUT JUST BEAR WITH ME, UM, IS REGARDING THE YMCA.
UM, AND I JUST, UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE TRULY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS JUST SOME OF THE, THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN, UM, CIRCULATING REGARDING THE PROPOSED YMCA PROJECT.
UM, I KNOW, UH, MY COMMENTS AND EVEN POSTS THAT I LIKE ON AND COMMENT ON FACEBOOK WILL BE SCREENSHOTTED AND SHARED.
SO I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A SIMPLE FACT SHEET.
UM, BECAUSE IN THE WORLD OF MISINFORMATION, THE BEST RESPONSE IS FACTS.
AND STARTING ON MY FIRST EVER MEETING ON THIS BOARD, DECEMBER 4TH, 2026, THE SURRY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR APPROVES A MONUMENTAL TAX REBATE TO CITIZENS.
WHY SHARE THIS? THIS, THIS SHOWS THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO TAX YOU ALL WHEN, WHEN WE DO, UH, EXCEED THE THRESHOLD, WE'RE LOOKING TO GIVE IT BACK TO YOU ALL.
UM, THAT WAS VOTED FIVE OH, ALL BOARD MEMBERS VOTED FOR THAT JANUARY 15TH, 2026.
SURRY COUNTY BOS, UH, RESOLUTION TO APPROVE YMCA RECOMMENDATION OF ARCHITECTURAL FIRM CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM.
THIS WAS ANOTHER, ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING, UH, WHERE I HOPE YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO COME OUT.
ALL BOARD MEMBERS VOTED TO APPROVE THIS APRIL 2ND, 2026.
SURRY COUNTY BOS APPROVES 26 27 TAX RATE WITH NO CHANGE.
ALL BOARD MEMBERS, WELL WAS FOUR OF US AT THAT MEETING.
UM, AND THEN ON MAY 7TH, 2026, DAVENPORT AND COMPANY PRESENTS THIS SAME, UH, UH, FINANCIAL, UH, PLANNING ANALYSIS.
UM, AND ONCE AGAIN, WHAT THE PORT ESSENTIALLY TELLS US IS THE YMC EXPECT THE COST AROUND FOR 24 MILLION.
THE COUNTY CAN LIKELY FINANCE IT FOR OVER T 20 YEARS.
EXISTING REVENUE SOURCES, UH, WILL COVER PAYMENTS.
A $2.3 MILLION RESERVE FUND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL PROTECTION.
THE PLANS PROTECTED, UM, WITH NO INCREASE, NO INCREASE TO THE REAL ESTATE TAX.
UM, THE COUNTY IS EXPECTED, UH, AND WE WILL REMAIN FINANCIAL STABLE WITH WITHIN ITS DEBT POLICIES.
UM, SURREY DEBT EQUALS ONLY 0.59% OF ITS ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE COUNTY POLICY ALLOWS UP TO 3%, AND I'M HAPPY HE LEFT THAT REPRESENTATION UP THERE, RIGHT THERE.
UH, DEBT SERVICES VERSUS REVENUES ONLY REACHES 8%.
COUNTY POLICY ALLOWS UP TO 10%, UM, FOR LOW AND 12% FOR HIGH, UM, AND IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN 8%.
UM, AND THEN I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT ACCOUNTING HAS SOMETHING THAT CREATES A SOLUTION TO A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES WITHIN COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IS THAT WE ARE AN INSTITUTION BUILT TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND WHILE MANY MAY DISAGREE THAT THIS WHITE YMCA DOES NOT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, LEMME TELL YOU WHY IT DOES.
SOME OF THE THINGS THIS YMC WILL PROVIDE, FITNESS FACILITIES, SWIMMING GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES, PERSONAL WELLNESS, CHILDCARE, WHILE YOU WORK OUT, UH, YOUTH PROGRAM, SENIOR PROGRAM, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS, AND AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, ADDITIONALLY, IS A SAFE GATHERING PLACE FOR YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL.
EXPENDING YOUTH SPORTS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, SWIM LESSONS THAT IMPROVE WATER SAFETY NEAR AND BEING A RURAL COUNTY NEAR THE JAMES RIVER WHEN WE NEED THAT.
UM, SUMMER CAMPS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, WELLNESS PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP RECRUIT CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES, MEETING ROOMS FOR NONPROFITS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR TEENS AND OUR ADULTS INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, WHICH CAN MAKE THE AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FAMILIES AND EMPLOYERS.
AND LISTEN, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE YMCA, BOTH FROM SUPPORTERS, UM, OF IT, AND PEOPLE WHO JUST MAY NOT SUPPORT IT.
I GENUINELY APPRECIATE HEARING THE PERSPECTIVES OF SURY COUNTY RESIDENTS BECAUSE EVERY OPINION DOES MATTER.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT IN ANY COMMUNITY, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT SOME PEOPLE USE FREQUENTLY AND OTHERS JUST MAY NEVER USE AT ALL.
THAT'S PART OF LIVING IN A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.
AND I, I'VE HEARD ABOUT A REFERENDUM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THAT IS NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED FOR A PROJECT AS SUCH.
HOWEVER, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WHEN WE HOLD THESE BOARD MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE TRULY IMPORTANT TO BE THERE IN THE ROOM SO YOU CAN VOICE YOUR CONCERNS.
THEY PROVIDE EVERY RESIDENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS FOR CONCERN, TO PARTICIPATE IN DECISION MAKING PROCESSES.
[01:35:01]
ONE MAY NOT BE A PRIORITY FOR MY RESIDENT, MAY BE LIFE-CHANGING FOR ANOTHER.OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST ONE GROUP.
FOR TOO LONG, SURREY COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO LEAVE OUR COUNTY, LEAVE OUR COUNTY FOR THE BASIC RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
YOUTH PROGRAMS, SWIM LESSONS, WELLNESS SERVICES, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
INVESTING IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY MEANS INVESTING IN OURSELVES INSTEAD OF RELYING ON NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORING LOCALITIES TO PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
OUR REPEAT INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY MEANS INVESTING IN OURSELVES INSTEAD OF RELYING ON NEIGHBORING LOCALITIES.
AS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISING IN SURREY IN VIRGINIA, AND ONE OF THE YOUNGEST IN THE NATION, I GET TO TRAVEL ALL THE TIME TO LISTEN AND HEAR ABOUT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLES AND THEIR CONCERNS.
AND I THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE EVERY DAY IN THIS COUNTY.
I THINK ABOUT THE YOUNG FAMILIES DECIDING WHERE TO LIVE, CHILDREN LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE AFTER SCHOOL, SENIORS SEEKING WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESSES CONSIDERING WHETHER SURREY COUNTY IS THE COMMUNITY WORTH INVESTING IN.
THIS YMCA IS NOT JUST ABOUT TODAY, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING THE COUNT, THE KIND OF SURREY COUNTY WE WANT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
FROM MY GENERATION, IT'S ABOUT ENSURING WE START TO ADDRESS THOSE HEALTHCARE ISSUES, THOSE CHILDCARE ISSUES, THOSE WELLNESS NEEDS, AND SO MUCH MORE RIGHT NOW, WHILE ALSO SEEKING OTHER WAYS WE CAN INVEST IN THAT COUNTY.
AND THAT'S ALSO WHY COLLABORATION IS SO KEY, LIKE THE MOU AGREEMENT YOU'VE SEEN TODAY WITH THE TOWN OF RE.
AND I'LL ALSO SAY THAT I WORK IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
I, LIKE I SAID, I TRAVEL FROM STATE TO STATE, UM, ACROSS THE NATION, ADVOCATING EVERY DAY FOR THE NEEDS OF SURY COUNTY IN WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF OUR OTHER NEEDS WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE ISSUES AT HAND.
AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THIS REGIONAL PEOPLE.
WE CAN ALL DISAGREE ON THIS PROJECT, AND I RESPECT THOSE DIFFERENCES.
BUT OUR DISCUSSIONS SHOULD ALWAYS BE GROUNDED IN FACTS, NOT MISINFORMATION.
AND BECAUSE HEALTHY DEBATE MAKES OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER AND OUR WELCOMING, AND WITH THAT CHAIR, I YIELD MY TIME.
I'M NOW ASKED IF MR. SEWARD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, EXCUSE ME, BOARD COMMENT.
UM, SO I WAS KIND OF QUIET FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, LEARNING THINGS, AND
I DO HAVE, I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT MY COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED IN ANY PARTICULAR BOARD MEMBER.
MY, UM, MY COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED AT ANY, AT ANY PARTICULAR BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, BUT AS A BOARD AS A WHOLE, THAT WAS HERE AT THE TIME DURING THESE THINGS, THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN ON, YOU KNOW, IN THE PROCESS OF THIS, UM, PROJECT DEVELOPING.
AND I WASN'T HERE AT THE TIME, SO I WOULD'VE SAID THESE COMMENTS AS AS THEY WENT ALONG.
BUT START BY STAYING IN THE, IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING MY PETITIONS SIGNED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION.
UM, I, I GOT 130 SIGNATURES, UM, ALL PROBABLY, BUT LIKE FOUR PEOPLE ASKED ME ABOUT THE YMCA PROJECT, ONLY TWO OF THEM WERE IN FAVOR OF THE YMC PROJECT.
MOST PEOPLE WERE, WERE SAYING THAT THEY WERE, THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE, BUT THEY WEREN'T IN FAVOR OF PAYING THE, THE DEBT SERVICE THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO IT.
UM, AS, UM, UM, DAVENPORT PRESENTED IN THEIR, UM, PRESENTATION HERE THAT WITH A, SAY AROUND A $40 MILLION DEBT SERVICE, IF THEY'RE, IF THEIR, UH, INTEREST RATES COME IN LIKE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THAT CALCULATES OUT THAT IF WE DIDN'T DO THE YMCA PROJECT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOWER OUR TAXES AT LEAST 8 CENTS JUST ON DEBT SERVICE.
NOT TO COUNT THE ONGOING COSTS.
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONGOING COSTS WITH THE BUILDING, UM, WITH SUPPLEMENTS FOR PROGRAMS AND MAINTENANCE TO THE BUILDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT OF, AND IN THE 130 PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO, ZERO SAID THAT THEY FILLED OUT A SURVEY OR SAW A SURVEY, OR KNEW OF A SURVEY.
UM, WELL, LIKE I SAID, I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF SOME OR MORE OF THE SERVICES, BUT IN A MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY, IF WE COULD HAVE THE REFERENDUM, WHICH IS NOT ANYMORE.
IT USED TO BE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
NOW IT IS A, IT, THERE ARE OPTIONS THAT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA ALLOWS TO CIRCUMVENT THAT PROCESS.
BUT IF WE HAD THE REFERENDUM, THEN THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY DOUBT IN ANYBODY'S MIND WHERE THE, WHERE THE PEOPLE IN SUR STOOD ON THAT.
[01:40:01]
HAVE MORE LARGER, LARGE EXPENDITURES THAT WILL COME ALONG THAT WILL THEN FURTHER BURDEN OUR ABILITY, YOU KNOW, WITH DEBT SERVICE AND OUR ABILITY TO BORROW MORE MONEY.UM, AND THAT THIS PROJECT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CIP, WHICH IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE BY THE COUNTIES.
AND THAT LAW MUST HAVE BEEN CHANGED ALSO BECAUSE IT'S NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT ANYMORE.
BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A PLANNING TOOL THAT WOULD'VE, YOU KNOW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A COUPLE YEARS, AT LEAST WITH THE, WITH THE YMCA INCLUDED ON IT AND THESE, AND THAT WOULD'VE GIVEN IT CITIZENS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND WHAT THE, WHAT THE PLANNING FOR IT WAS.
AND IF THE, UM, ACCORDING TO THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, IF THE COUNTY CHOOSES TO DO A CIP, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CIP PLANS TO BE, UM, LET'S SEE.
VIRGINIA CALLS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CIP PLANS TO BE GOVERNED BY A SPECIFIC PREPARATION, CONSULTATION, AND TIMELINE AND MANDATES.
KEY ASPECTS INCLUDE THE ANNUAL PREPARATION BY THE LOCAL PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE HEARD ABOUT AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
UM, A MAXIMUM FIVE YEAR FORECASTING WINDOW AND AN INTEGRATION WITH THE LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE CORE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT ARE IN A TIMELINE THAT COVERS THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, NOT TO EXCEED FIVE YEARS.
UM, CONNECTION TO THE PLAN MUST ALIGN DIRECTLY WITH THE LOCALITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THE CONTENT OF THAT PLAN INCLUDES THE COST ESTIMATES, LIFECYCLE COSTS, AND SPECIFIC FINANCING, METH METHODS FOR PROPOSED FACILITIES, ROADS, AND TRANSPORTATION UPGRADES.
AND THEN I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS ON THE SURVEY.
UM, THE SURVEY WAS USED WHEN I GOT OFF THE COUNTY WEBSITE.
YOU USED A 10 MILE RADIUS AROUND THE, THE SITE FOR THE YMCA, WHICH CAME UP WITH 24,000, OVER 24,000 POPULATION.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE, THAT NUMBER WOULD BE IN JAMES CITY COUNTY.
IF YOU, IN THAT 10 MILE RADIUS, IF YOU INCLUDED ALL THE POPULATION OF SURREY COUNTY, IT WOULD ONLY BE 27% OF THAT NUMBER LEAVING 73% TO BE USERS OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.
UM, WHICH COULD BE LOOKED AT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT ONE WOULD BE WE WOULD BE PAYING, WE WOULD BE CARRYING THE BURDEN FOR PEOPLE IN OTHER LOCALITIES TO COME TO SIR TO USE, AND THAT IF THIS IS WHAT THE SURVEY WAS BASED ON.
AND, UM, YEAH, SO WE WOULD'VE $40 MILLION WORTH OF DEBT SERVICE TO PROVIDE RECREATION FOR PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.
IT IS WHAT THE SURVEY APPEARS TO SHUT, BUT LIKE I SAY, I, I, SORRY TO PILE ALL THIS ON RIGHT NOW, WOULD'VE MAYBE BEEN A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE IF I HAD BEEN ALONG IN THE PROCESS AS IT GOES.
BUT THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR LISTENING TO ME, MR. STEWART.
MR. STEWART, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, MY COMMENTS WILL BE, UH, BRIEF AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY DITO TO COMMENTS BY SUPERVISOR DREW.
UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A PROJECT THAT WE TOOK ON HAPHAZARDLY AS DAVENPORT REPORTED TONIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND THE FINANCING HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED, AND IT IS NOT AS IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS WEREN'T AWARE OF.
WE HAD, UH, COMMUNITY PROJECTS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, EVERYTHING THAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE HEARING THIS, AND WE ARE TAKING ON THIS DEBT.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT CAME ABOUT WAS STATING THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE ROOM TO TAKE ON ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAS BEEN, UH, SHOT DOWN TONIGHT BY OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
THEY ADVISE US THAT WE STILL HAVE BORROWING POWER.
WE ARE GOING TO ONLY GONNA BE AT, AT 7% BETWEEN DEBT AND INCOME RATIO, WHERE WE CAN BE COMFORTABLE UP TO 12%.
SO IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE GONNA BE BANKRUPTING THE COUNTY.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE ROOM TO DO THE
[01:45:01]
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE COUNTY.AGAIN, THIS IS A PROJECT, UH, THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID, A LOT OF THINGS ARE SAID TO TRY TO PUT FEAR INTO THE CITIZENS.
ONE OF THE THINGS TALKED ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL STATUS OVER THE COUPLE OF PAST YEARS, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST RATINGS THAT THE STATE CAN GET FROM OUR FINANCIAL, UH, DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY.
ONE OF ONE OF THE YEARS, UH, WE DID HAVE A DELAY IN THE AUDIT BEING REPORTED, BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A TURNOVER IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
BUT ONCE THE AUDIT WAS PRESENTED, EVERYTHING WAS INTACT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY DISCREPANCIES IN OUR FINANCES IN THE COUNTY.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND DONE EXTREMELY WELL BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUDITS THAT HAVE GIVEN OUR REPORT EVERY YEAR.
SO I DON'T WANT THE CITIZENS TO THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN MISMANAGING YOUR FUNDS AND THAT WE ARE IN SOME TYPE OF, UH, DEFICIT HERE IN THE CANADA.
WE ARE IN A GOOD, BORING POSITION.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION AND PUT OUT FALSE REPORTS, WE CAN'T STOP THAT.
BUT BLACK, UH, SUPERVISOR DREW JUST STATED TONIGHT, BASE YOUR OPINION ON THE FACTS.
SO I JUST WANT THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY TO KNOW THAT I, AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CLEMENT AND SPRING GROVE DISTRICT, I'M DOING WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE BETTER, THE BETTERMENT FOR THE COUNTY, NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT FOR THE FUTURE.
YOU CANNOT OPERATE IN THIS TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE, THINKING ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF.
IF YOU EVER HAVE WORKED IN ANY KIND OF ATMOSPHERE WHERE YOU DEALT WITH A UNION, A UNION WOULD DECIDE ON WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA ALWAYS HAVE YOUR WAY.
I'M NOT GONNA ALWAYS HAVE MY WAY.
BUT WHEN THE FINAL GAUNTLET GOES DOWN, IT IS WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.
I I, I GET EMOTIONAL OVER THIS THING BECAUSE I'M SERVING WITH THE HEART FOR THE PEOPLE OF SERT COUNTY.
I HAVE A SON, YOU HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, I BELIEVE SOME YEARS AGO.
I HAVE A SON THAT'S ABOUT TO MAKE ME A GRANDDADDY.
AND HE TOLD ME, HE SAID, DADDY, YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THE COUNTY BETTER.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE BACK AND BRING MY SON HERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS, NOT JUST PEOPLE SITTING UP IN HERE TONIGHT.
GET BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN SEE AND WHAT YOU WANT AND THINK ABOUT SURY COUNTY 20 AND 30 YEARS FROM DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, THIS HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED.
IF YOU JUST GETTING NEW INFORMATION TONIGHT, I ASKED YOU TO GO BACK AND RESEARCH.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HERE TO HEAR IT, YOU MAY NOT HAVE LOOKED AT IT ON THE, THE WEBSITE, BUT IT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY.
SO DON'T THINK WE'RE TRYING TO PULL A WOOL OVER ANYBODY'S EYES.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BETTERMENT FOR SURRY COUNTY.
I THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT, WHETHER YOU'RE FOR OR AGAINST, BUT THE DECISION THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE IS GONNA BE FOR SUR COUNTY, NOW, SUR COUNTY TOMORROW, AND SURRY COUNTY FOREVER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
SUPERVISOR ELLIOT, SUPERVISOR HARDY.
GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY IN THE PLACE TONIGHT.
UH, DON'T FORGET NEXT MONTH AT OUR, AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, COME OUT AGAIN AND THEN GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
I THINK ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE YMCA, SO I'LL FOREGO THAT.
BUT I WILL SAY ON MY DRIVE IN TONIGHT, I WAS LIKE, MAN, IT'S, IT'S HOT OUTSIDE.
IT SURE WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO TAKE A DIP IN THE POOL AT THE YMCA.
THAT'S ALL I SAID ABOUT THE YMCA
ALRIGHT, UM, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN HERE EARLIER, I THINK HE, HE LEFT, BUT HE WAS MENTIONING ABOUT KNOW FUNDS AND, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY COULD BE USED.
AND HE MENTIONED THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE STATUS OF CLAREMONT.
WELL, AS YOU ALL SAW, NIGHT, UH, TOWN, LIKE D IS MAKING THE STEP TO DO THOSE THINGS.
SO I URGE CLA MOUNTAIN AND SURY THE TOWN OF SURY TO JUMP ON BOARD AS WELL.
AND, UM, THOSE THINGS WILL COME TO FRUITION.
SO, UH, THERE IS NO PROGRESS WITHOUT ACTION AND ACTION MUST BE TAKEN.
IT JUST DOESN'T FLOW, UH, DOWNHILL WITHOUT, UH, AGREEMENTS.
SO, UH, PLEASE, UH, IF ANYBODY'S HERE, URGE YOUR TOWN COUNCILS TO, UH, LET 'EM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT.
AND, UH, PLEASE, UH, CONSIDER, UH, ENGAGING IN THE SAME PROCESS.
UM, I, I WILL BACK UP ONE TIME.
SO THERE ARE, AND, AND 24 MILLION, YES, LARGE NUMBER WE ALL KNOW.
UM, BUT WE KNOW THAT, UH, THROUGH OUR LONG TERM, UH, FIXED RATE FINANCING, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ATTAINABLE.
BUT THERE ALSO WILL BE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.
UM, WE'LL KICK THOSE OFF PRETTY SOON.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW EVERYBODY AT THIS TABLE WILL PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS, AND HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME GOOD CORPORATIONS OUT THERE TO, UH, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, DROP SOME BIG, SOME BIG DOLLARS ON US.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT NUMBER'S PROBABLY NOT FINAL.
[01:50:01]
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.AND, UM, AND OF COURSE, WE'LL KEEP THE CITIZENS INFORMED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
UM, UM, A LOT OF GREAT, UM, SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HERE, WE HERE IT ALL, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMETHING AGAINST SOMETHING, UH, A COUPLE CITIZENS TALK TONIGHT, IN REFERENCE TO, UM, COMMENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA OR IN PERSON.
UM, WE HAD OUR CITIZENS HERE TONIGHT TO CALL US SLEAZY POLITICIANS OUTTA HERE.
NOT ONE GASP, BUT THAT'S FINE.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE, THE ABUSE WE TAKE.
AND, UM, SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA GET WHAT YOU TAKE, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T MIND DOING THAT, BUT IT'S ALL OUT OF PERCEPTION OF CORRECTING MISINFORMATION, YOU KNOW? UM, I HAVE A PASSION FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE SIGNED ANY CODE OF CONDUCT, WHAT WE SIGNED, WHAT WE DID WAS TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF OUR OFFICE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF MISINFORMATION, GUESS WHAT? PEOPLE BECOME MISINFORMED.
SO I FEEL AS A PART OF MY DUTY TO CORRECT THAT.
NOW, I'VE BEEN ON TO BE A LITTLE SARCASTIC, AND I APOLOGIZE.
SO I'M WORK, I'M, I'M PRAYING, I'M PRAYING FOR ME.
I, BUT WE CAN AGREE AND DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY, AND LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER'S OPINION AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.
BUT THIS IS WHERE THE INFORMATION COMES OUT AT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT.
SO FOR PEOPLE TO JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, INTENTIONALLY POST MISINFORMATION, YOU KNOW, UH, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, AND I, I CAN'T ADDRESS EVERYONE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE ONE, THE STUFF I SEE, AND, AND, AND TRUST ME IF IT'S CORRECT, I DON'T, I DON'T REPLY, YOU KNOW, UM, EACH ONE OF THESE MEN UP HERE, WHETHER WE AGREE ON THINGS OR NOT, WE WE'RE A TEAM.
I PUT A FIVE UP AGAINST ANY BOARD IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, AND I GUARANTEE, UH, THE RESULTS WE YIELD ARE TOP NOTCH.
SO I, I TAKE THIS JOB VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, SO WHEN I THINK ANY OF MY PEERS APPEAR ARE, ARE, ARE ATTACKED, I, I, I PROBABLY ADDRESS IT.
AND SO, JUST, JUST BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE HUMAN TOO.
WE'VE BEEN CALLED FULL LETTER WORDS AND ALL KIND OF THINGS.
A LOT OF STUFF, YOU KNOW, JUST ROLLS.
AND WE KEEP PUSHING AND WE KEEP PRODUCING, UH, PRODUCING RESULTS FOR SUR COUNTY.
AND IN 2027, IT SAYS, SOCIETY, THEY'RE DONE WITH ME, TIRED OF ME.
HEY, ALL WE CAN DO IS WHAT WE CAN DO WHILE WE CAN DO IT.
AND, UH, WE'LL KEEP PUSHING FORWARD UNTIL, UNTIL THAT TIME, UNTIL THE END TIME COMES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ON THE CLOCK, WHETHER WE RETIRE, UH, UH, LOSE ELECTION, UH, JUST DECIDE NOT TO RUN AGAIN.
SO, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY PERSON WHO RAN FOR THIS, UH, POSITION AND HAD TO, WAS FORTUNATE TO SIT HERE, AND REGARDLESS OF THEIR INTENTIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, I, I CAN CL TRULY SAY THAT EVERY MAN ON THIS BOARD NOW IS FROM SUR COUNTY, FORESTER COUNTY.
REGARDLESS IF YOU AGREE WITH US OR NOT, NOTHING, THAT'S FINE.
BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING LONG ENOUGH HERE.
UM, I JUST WANNA, I KNOW STEAL, NOBODY'S STUMBLING ON THE SHERIFF IS HERE, BUT TOMORROW NIGHT, UM, IS OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
I'M SURE HE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN MORE DETAIL.
UM, UH, I HATE STEALING THUNDER, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN FRIDAY NIGHT IS OUR FIRST FRIDAYS ON THE LAWN, PLEASE COME OUT.
THIS IS THE KIND OF PARTICIPATION.
THIS IS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, UM, STAYING AT HOME, BEING MISINFORMED.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT COMMUNITY.
EVERYBODY CAN'T MAKE EVERYTHING, BUT YOU COME OUT, MEET AND GREET, SHAKE A HAND, HUG SOMEBODY, AND, AND GET, AND GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.
THAT, THAT'S HOW COMMUNITY IS FORMED, AND THAT'S HOW COMMUNITY IS, UH, IS FORWARDED.
AND, UH, I'D BE REMISS, MY, MY, MY, MY BEAUTIFUL LADIES HERE MADE A FIRST MEETING NIGHT.
SO I WANNA RE THAT
THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. HARDY.
THE FIRST FRIDAYS ARE AT SIX 30.
WE CHANGED THE TIME TO, UH, KIND OF BEAT THE HEAT.
SO THE FIRST FRIDAYS ARE AT SIX 30.
JUST WANT TO, UH, CORRECT THAT.
BUT, UM, BUT AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS, THANK Y'ALL, YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, AS ALWAYS, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
THOSE THAT WASN'T, UH, FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES OR, UH, WORK OR WHEREVER YOU MAY BE.
UM, TONIGHT WAS A VERY, UM, UM, INTERESTING MEETING.
UH, TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF, UH, CITIZENS WE HAVE IN HERE IS, IS PHENOMENAL.
UH, I SEE A LOT OF CARSLEY REPRESENTATION IN HERE.
SHOUT OUT TO LEY DISTRICT ALL YEAH.
SO, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SHOWS ME HOW WE COULD ALL COME TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD, RIGHT? UM, HEARING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT, AND I'LL MAKE MINE BRIEF ABOUT THE WHY, BUT JUST HEARING A LOT OF THE, UM, THE, SOME OF THE CONCERNS, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, EXCITEMENT,
[01:55:01]
YOU KNOW, IT'S MIXED.IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HALF AND HALF.
UM, BUT I, I, LISTENING TO SOME OF THE REMARKS THAT, AND COMMENTS MY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MADE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T AGREE TO SOME, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I'M A FARMER.
YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT HOW, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT THE FARMLAND, HOW WE'D HAVE TO PRESERVE IT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, RIGHT? UH, WE CAN GO OUT HERE AND, AND, UM, UH, DO BAD FARMING PRACTICES BY, BY PUTTING TOO MUCH, UH, UM, THINGS, ADDITIVES THAT MAY HARM THE SOIL THAT WAY IT MAY NOT BE ARABLE TO GROW FOOD FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
SO WHEN I SIT IN THIS SEED AS A, A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, I KIND OF LOOK AT THAT AS MY, MY MORALS, THAT I STAND ON IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M DOING TODAY.
I, I MAY NOT BENEFIT FROM IT, AND I'M COOL WITH THAT.
BUT TO KNOWING THAT MY CHILDREN, OR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN COULD BENEFIT FROM SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TODAY, I THINK IS, IS HUGE AND MONUMENTAL.
AND I, AND I'M FORTUNATE TO BE IN THAT POSITION.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE, THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.
'CAUSE WE HAVE A FEW, AND I JUST TRY TO, UM, SEE MANY AS I CAN.
OF COURSE, I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE TOWN COUNCILS THAT ARE, AND TOWN COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE IN HERE THIS EVENING, ESPECIALLY THE DRON FOR COMING OUT FOR THIS HISTORICAL MOU SIGNING, AS WELL AS THE EDA MEMBERS THAT WERE PRESENT THIS EVENING.
I, YOU ALL FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO COME OUT FOR THIS AGAIN, HISTORIC OCCASION.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE STAFF THAT IS PRESENT THIS EVENING.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AGAIN, UH, FOR NOT ONLY DOING YOUR, YOUR DAILY DAY-TO-DAY, UM, OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO TAKING THE TIME OUT TO ATTEND THIS MEETING THIS EVENING TO SHOW SUPPORT OF YOUR, THE COUNTY AND THE, UM, THE CITIZENS.
UH, I'VE SOUGHT THIS EVENING AS WELL, SOME FORMER BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEMBERS.
I ALSO SEE, UH, SOME SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATION IN HERE AS WELL.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, MR. CYPRESS, THANK YOU FOR THE LAST MINUTE INVOCATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, UM, THAT THERE'S A SAYING.
I'D LIKE TO SAY, BE READY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY READY.
YOU WERE A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THAT TONIGHT.
SO, AGAIN, I, UH, FORGIVE, UH, FORGIVE US FOR THE SHORT NOTICE, BUT THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO, TO DOING THAT FOR US.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, UM, UH, MS. KAMAYA SUMMERS FOR HER FIRST MEETING.
UH, LOOK, LOOK FORWARD TO MORE MEETINGS TO COME.
LET'S, YES, PLEASE GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, DAVENPORT AND COMPANY FOR MAKING THEIR PRESENTATION AGAIN, FOR COMING OUT TO, TO US FOR, FOR THIS EVENING.
UM, UH, HEAD COACH, UH, MR. UH, HEAD COACH DERRICK.
I THINK THAT WAS REAL NICE OF HIM TO COME TO OUR MEETING TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF.
I THINK THIS WAS A GREAT MEETING FOR HIM TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF.
AS FAR AS ALL THE, THE CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE THIS EVENING, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE, LET'S SUPPORT OUR YOUTH.
ALL RIGHT? UH, THE GAMES ARE ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.
I THINK THIS, BEING FROM A SMALL COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ATHLETES AND THEY'RE, AND THEIR ATHLETICS.
WE NEVER KNOW WHAT, WHAT THIS MAY BRING FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANT TO CLOSE THIS EVENING JUST TO REMIND ALL THE CITIZENS THAT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, UNCERTAINTIES OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SOME CONFUSION, EXCITEMENT, A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS, RATHER, RIGHT? UM, BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WAY I LOOK AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SEE IN WASHINGTON DC AT OUR STATE LEVELS.
UM, MANY OF YOU ALL ARE, ARE WE ALL ARE NEIGHBORS.
YOU KNOW, WE, SOME OF US ATTEND THE SAME CHURCHES.
UH, SOME OF US ATTEND THE SAME SCHOOLS.
AND, AND THE DECISIONS THAT THE BOARD AND I MAKE ARE, ARE NOT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY LIKE THEY DO IN OTHER, UH, UH, ENTITIES.
WE ARE, AGAIN, WE ARE NEIGHBORS.
I, I LOOK AT US LIKE WE ALL WEARING THE SAME JERSEY.
I DIDN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, LIKE I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD OUR DISAGREEMENTS AT PRACTICE, THAT WAS ONE THING.
BUT WHEN WE GOT ON IN THE FIELD AND COMPETED AGAINST OTHERS, THAT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
AND THAT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID EVERYTHING WE DID TO EXECUTE, EXECUTE AND WIN FLAWLESSLY AND VICTORIOUSLY, RIGHT? AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS SIMILAR.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, UM, OF STEPS TO TRY TO CONTINUE MOVING THE COUNTY FORWARD AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY BE SOME DISAGREEMENT AND THAT IS WELCOME.
BUT WE CAN DO THIS IN A CIVILIZED AND A RESPECTFUL WAY WITHOUT TRYING TO DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE SHOULD STAND STRONG, STAND FIRM, UM, AND, AND, AND SUPPORT YOUR LEADERS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT PEOPLE LOOKING OUTSIDE IN AND SHARING.
SAME WAY THE CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO LOOK AT OUR MEETINGS, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE NATION CAN SEE THAT OUR MEETINGS AND IF THEY HEAR ABOUT RIO COUNTY, VIRGINIA STILL ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE ARGUING OR, OR TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE PUSHING THE C COUNTY FORWARD.
I THINK THAT'S A HUGE EMBARRASSMENT TO ME IN MY COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE, THAT I TRUST.
AND AGAIN, I JUST ASK THAT YOU ALL, UM, BE PATIENT, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, TRUST IS VERY HUGE, YOU KNOW, AND BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN
[02:00:01]
OUR, OUR NEWS AND GOVERNMENT AND WE CAN'T EVEN GO SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE WE CAN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND GET FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITHOUT ANYTHING BEING RECALLED, RIGHT? AGAIN, THINK OF THE MENTALITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS NATION WHERE WE CAN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE QUESTIONING, IS THIS FOOD GOOD FOR US OR NOT? YOU KNOW, AND YOU LOSE A LOT OF TRUST IN THE INSTITUTES THAT YOU BELIEVE ARE HERE FOR YOUR GOOD.BUT I CAN SHOW YOU THAT THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UP HERE ARE HERE FOR, FOR THE GOOD OF BETTERMENT OF SARA COUNTY.
AND A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN SAY THAT, AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN SAY THIS WHOLEHEARTEDLY, THAT EACH OF US HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF SARA COUNTY AT HEART.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANT TO ENSURE YOU ALL THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST IN OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT PUSHING S COUNTY FORWARD IN THE MOST, UH, EFF EFFICIENT AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS GREAT FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
OKAY? SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL, FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I UNDERSTAND IT WAS A LITTLE WARM IN HERE THIS EVENING.
UH, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE, THESE ARE PROJECTS AGAIN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU SEE THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT WE DEAL WITH AS BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, ANSWERING QUESTIONS, ANSWERING EMAILS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AN ONGOING JOB, 24 7, BUT I THINK EVERYONE UP HERE IS, IS, IS SUITED FOR THE JOB AND WE'RE READY TO, TO GET THINGS DONE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, NEXT THING
[County Administrators Report ]
ON OUR AGENDA WILL BE OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT.SO I WILL TURN THE FLOW OVER TO MR. HARRISON.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN PIERCE, VICE CHAIR HARDY BOARD MEMBERS ASSEMBLE MS. PERKINS.
UM, MY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT THIS EVENING WILL BE VERY BRIEF.
I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT WE HAVE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TOMORROW SPONSORED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK SHERIFF TURNER AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO PARKS AND RECREATION AT FIVE 30 TOMORROW EVENING.
AND TONIGHT I WILL YIELD TO MR. SPENCER LOGAN, WHO WILL COME TO US WITH AN UPDATE ON THE YOUTH ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION, UM, PROGRAM.
SO, MR. SPENCER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
GOOD EVENING TO THE HONORABLE CHAIR AND TO ALL THE HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO BE ABLE TO COME AND TO SHARE WITH YOU, UH, A VICTORY FOR SIRI COUNTY.
UH, THIS IS IN THE AREA OF THE, UH, ALCOHOL DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROJECT IN WHICH THAT WE PARTICIPATED, UH, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT CHRIS, UH, CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY.
AND I WOULD NOT DARE GO ANY FURTHER WITHOUT LETTING YOU ALL KNOW OF MY AGENTS OF CHANGE.
I'M ASKING MY GIRLS TO COME ON UP AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MISSED IT THERE.
THE YOUTH ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROJECT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS YAP, IS A PEER LED PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ADDRESS UNDERAGE SUBSTANCE USE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
YAP TEAMS OF FOUR STUDENTS, PARTICIPANTS AND A DEDICATED ADULT SPONSOR ATTENDS A SUMMER KICKOFF CONFERENCE TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC PREVENTION PLANS ADDRESSING UNDERAGE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.
THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE, PARTICIPANTS MEET AND INTERACT WITH THEIR LIKE-MINDED PEERS DURING CLASSROOMS, CLASSROOM AND BREAKOUT SESSIONS, MOTIVATED THE SPEAKERS AND FREE TIME.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE, THE STUDENTS IMPLEMENT THEIR PLAN IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY UTILIZING LEADERSHIP AND PREVENTION SKILLS LEARNED DURING THE CONFERENCE SESSIONS.
THE EXCITEMENT OF THE CONFERENCE INSPIRES STUDENTS AND THEIR ADULT SPONSORED COUNTERPART TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING EACH YEAR AND TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STUDENTS TO BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
I HEAR HERE TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT WE WERE THE SIRI COUNTY
[02:05:01]
YOUTH AMBASSADORS REPRESENTING SIRI.AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, AT THE CONFERENCE WE ARE PUT DIVIDED INTO LETTER GROUPS AND IT USUALLY THEY'RE COMPETING AGAINST, UH, THREE OR FOUR OTHER TEAMS WHERE I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT THAT WE WON THE MINI GRANT FOR OUR, FOR OUR TEAM.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE MINI GRANT, WHICH IS SPONSORED, UH, BY THE VIRGINIA A, B, C, IS TO HELP FUND, UH, THE STAND PLAN THAT THEY HAVE, UH, THEY HAVE PROVIDED.
AND Y'ALL WANT TO SHARE WITH THEM THE, THE NAME OF YOUR STAND PLAN.
SO FOR THE S IT'S FOR A SITUATION.
IT MEANS MANY TEENS AND ADULTS START SMOKING BECAUSE OF PEER PRESSURE, STRESS, OR CAUTION.
SMOKING CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT LUNG DISEASE, HEART DISEASE, AND CANCER.
SECONDHAND SMOKE CAN ALSO HARM PEOPLE.
MY GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY SMOKE FREE AND TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF SMOKING AND VAPING.
I WANT TO PROMOTE HEALTH CHOICES AND PREVENT TALK TOBACCO USE.
AND AS FOR ACTION, MAKING POSTERS WITH FACTS ABOUT DANGER AND SMOKING, SHARE TIPS OF SHARING NOTES OF CIGARETTES AND VAPING.
AND IT MEANS TO CONTINUE SPREADING AWARENESS THROUGH SCHOOL EVENTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, ENCOURAGING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO MAKE SMOKE FREE CHOICES.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO THANK THOSE THAT SUPPORTED US, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND FAMILY RESOURCES, UH, GREATER REACH, UH, CSB, THE CAN DO COALITION THAT SPONSORED US TO BE ABLE TO GO TO CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT FOR THE WHOLE WEEK.
SO WE WANT HATS OFF TO THEM AS WELL AND THOSE THAT ALLOW ME TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE YOUTH.
AND I WANT TO SAY TO THE BOARD THAT THIS TEAM RIGHT HERE HAS ALLOWED ME TO WIN AND COME BACK WITH THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE MINI GRAND.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MR. HARRISON, FOR YOUR ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO, UH, PASTOR LOGAN AND HIS, HIS TEAM FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR, UH, SUCCESS.
LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ALRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[Reports ]
AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR REPORTS.UH, WE HAVE THREE REPORTS, BOARD OF BOARD MEMBERS, ONE BEING THE BUILDING OFFICIALS MONTHLY REPORT, BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED ON JUNE, 2026.
THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE THE INSPECTION PERFORMANCE BY DISTRICT AND PASS AND FAIL RATE, JUNE, 2026.
AND THE THIRD REPORT IS YOUR FOUR YEAR REQUEST SUMMARY, JULY, 2026.
ANY QUESTIONS ON REPORTS? HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD ON OUR AGENDA
[For Your Information ]
WE HAVE FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND PUR FOR YOUR INFORMATION PURPOSES, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE BY COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE ASSOCIATION AND YOU HAVE YOUR LGIP INVESTMENT LETTER, MAY AND JUNE OF 2026.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I I, I THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT ON THIS EVENING.
TYPICALLY DURING OUR CLOSED SESSION.
I DON'T GET TO SEE EVERYONE WHEN WE GET BACK, BUT IF YOU ALL ARE, UH, WILL BE GONE, I JUST WISH YOU WOULD SAY TRAVELS ON YOUR JOURNEYS HOME.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOW
[Closed Session ]
ASK MS. PERKINS IF SHE COULD, UM, UH, TAKE US INTO OUR CLOSED SESSION PLEASE.YOUR MOTION REQUIRED TODAY IS TO CONVENE A CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO ONE VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 37 11 A 0.1 TO DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND YOUTH SERVICES CITIZENS BOARD, AND TWO, VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 37 11 A 0.7 TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PERTAINING TO ACTUAL AND PROBABLE LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION IN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LI LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE COUNTY.
AND THREE VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2
[02:10:01]
37 11 A 0.8 TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING NETWORK SYSTEMS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, I WILL NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A ROLL CALL VOTE.THANK YOU FOR THAT MS. PERKINS SUPERVISOR, YOU HAVE HEARD MS. PERKINS REQUEST WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? SO MOVED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY DR.
SUPERVISOR ELLIOT, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR HARDY THAT WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A ROLL CALL VOTE.
WE'LL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD NOW ASK MS. PERKINS IF SHE COULD BRING US BACK INTO OPEN SESSION PLEASE.
UH, YOUR RESOLUTION CERTIFYING CLOSED SESSION FOR THIS EVENING IS WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SURREY COUNTY HAS CONVENED A CLOSED SESSION ON THIS DATE PURSUANT TO AN AFFIRMATIVE RECORDED VOTE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
AND WHEREAS SECTION 2.2 37 12 D OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES A CERTIFICATION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SURREY COUNTY.
THAT SUCH CLOSED MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN CONFORMITY WITH VIRGINIA LAW.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SURREY COUNTY HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE ONE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS, LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS BY VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION TO WHICH THIS CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION APPLIES.
AND TWO, ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING.
THE CLOSED MEETING WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SURREY COUNTY.
I'LL NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A ROLL CALL VOTE.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HEARD MS. PERKINS REQUEST WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? SO LOU, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR SE SECOND BY SUPERVISOR HARDY.
THAT WILL COME BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? WE'RE NOW IN VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? WE'LL NOW DO A ROLL CALL.
BUT NOW I'M BACK IN OPEN SESSION BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE AGAIN LISTENED TO MS. PERKINS AND, UH, THE DISCUSSION WE HAD IN CLOSED SESSION.
IS THERE ANY, UH, MOTIONS OR ANY REQUESTS NEED TO BE MADE FROM CLOSED SESSION? MR. CHAIR? MR. DREW, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE FOLLOWING A APPOINTMENT? YES.
UM, FOR, UH, ERNEST BLUNT FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO REAPPOINT HIM FOR HIS FIRST FULL TERM OF AUGUST 1ST 26 TO JULY 31ST, 2030.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. DREW, SECOND BY MR. ELLIOT THAT WE APPROVE MR. ERNEST BLANK TO BE, UM, A MEMBER OF THE EDA ADVISORY BOARD.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON SAID MOTION HEARING NOW? WE'RE NOW VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR SAID MOTION SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FOR THIS? THIS EVENING'S MEETING CHAIR.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT, UH, FOR THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS, UH, FOR SOCIAL SERVICE BOARD, UH, MS. ELIZA DREW FOR REAPPOINTMENT FOR SECOND TERM FOR JULY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH, UH, JUNE 30TH, 2030.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. HARDY, SECOND BY MR. ELLIOT THAT WE APPROVE MR. ELIZA DREW TO SERVE ON THE, TO BE APPOINTED AND SERVE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON SAID MOTION? MR. CHAIR? MR. DREW? UH, DUE TO A FAMILIAR FAMILY RELATIONSHIP, I WOULD LIKE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE VOTE.
MR. DREW, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE WILL NOW VOTE.
SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE.
BOARD MEMBERS, AGAIN, I THANK EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO OUR MEETING TONIGHT AND FOR THIS GREAT DISCUSSION.
I'LL NOW, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT FOR OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER THE THIRD, 2026.
THERE IS, UH, THERE'S A MOTION.
IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY SUPERVISOR DREW, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ELLIOT THAT WE ADJOURN UNTIL OUR
[02:15:01]
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2026.ALL IN FAVORS HEAD MOTION SIGNIFY YOUR VOTE BY SAYING AYE A.