[A. Appalachian Trail Update – Joe Petty]
[00:00:07]
COLLARS THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM CURRENTLY IS FOR PHASE ONE, UH, WORKED WITH V.TO ACTUALLY SWITCH THOSE PORTIONS.
ORIGINALLY, PHASE ONE WAS THE WESTERN SECTION.
HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO EVEN GO THAT ROUTE BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD HAVE BUILT A SECTION IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT THE TWO ENDS.
UM, SO THEY RECOMMENDED PHASE ONE WOULD TECHNICALLY BE THE EASTERN SECTION ON THAT STILL FELL SHORT OF THE BUDGET.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE THIS TYPE OF GRANT, WE GET 80% MATCHING FUNDS FROM
THE COUNTY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 20% MATCH OF THOSE FUNDS.
AND THEN THE COUNTY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE OF PHASE ONE, WHICH IS CLOSE TO ME IN DOLLARS.
AND THIS IS ONLY PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY APPLICATIONS IN, WE HAVE NO FUNDING AT THIS TIME AND THAT'S ROUGHLY $2 MILLION.
SO AGAIN, $3 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT.
SO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE WE STARTED THIS, UM, THAT ORIGINAL CONCEPT DESIGN EIGHT TO 10 FOOT TRAIL, SOME SECTIONS WOULD ACTUALLY GO ON SMITHSONIAN WAS THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT.
ULTIMATELY THOUGH IT HAS RESULTED IN THIS PROPOSED DESIGN OF A FIVE FOOT TRAIL PAVED PATH, SOMETIMES ON THE SHOULDER, SOMETIMES A TWO FOOT BUFFER.
AND THEN IN SOME AREAS IT'S ACTUALLY A BOARDWALK, BUT AGAIN, FIVE FOOT ON THERE ARE GEOGRAPHICAL CHALLENGES.
THERE'S SOME ROCK OUT CROPS THAT PUSH IT TOWARDS THE ROAD.
WE'RE TRYING TO COMPLETELY DO THIS WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THERE'S SOME DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK AROUND AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS DO UP THE COST AS LOADED TOO LAST TIME, THERE'S A SAFETY CONCERN.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A FIVE FOOT TRAIL DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE ROAD ACTUALLY TOOK THIS PICTURE YESTERDAY.
I WROTE UP THERE ON MY BIKE YESTERDAY UP TO THE FOUR H AND WHEN I CAME BACK, I TOOK A PICTURE AND IT IS, IT IS NOT A FUN ROAD TO RIDE YOUR BIKE ON.
UM, AND YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO WALK ON THAT, WELL, NOT ON THE ROAD, BUT OBVIOUSLY ON THE SHOULDER.
UM, SO YOU KNOW, NOW IT PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN AND PEOPLE ARE WALKING, YOU KNOW, IN THAT SHOULDER, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, BUT EVEN WITH A TRAIL CLOSE BY, IT PRESENTS CHALLENGES.
SO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE DESIGN, YOU CAN ADD POTENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A BARRIER, BUT ONCE YOU START ADDING THOSE DESIGN ELEMENTS, IT'S, THE COST WILL CONTINUE TO RISE.
UM, THE USER EXPERIENCE, UM, THE USER EXPERIENCE ALSO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE BEEN ON THE ROLL SHANDO GREENWAY TRAIL, IT'S GREAT ALONG THREE 40, BUT IT IS CLOSE TO THE ROAD AND IT'S A 40 MILE AN HOUR.
THIS IS A 55 MILE AN HOUR ROAD.
SO THE USER EXPERIENCE, SOME PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALL THROWED MIGHT NOT FEEL AS SAFE BECAUSE OF THE SPEED LIMIT.
UM, AND THEN BUDGET, LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR VISION IS NOT MATCHING REALITY IN THIS BUDGET AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND IT'S, THAT'S A, THAT'S A TOUGH ASK FOR, YOU KNOW, TO COME UP WITH MANS A DOLLARS.
UM, LIKE AGAIN, WE HAVE ALLOCATED SOME FUNDS THERE AND, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY I BELIEVE WE'RE IN THE 167,000 THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE IN SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR OUR MATCH.
IT STILL LEAVES US PRETTY FAR SHORT OF PHASE ONE.
SO REALLY AT THIS STAGE HAVE, EXCUSE ME, IT'S ABOUT $200,000 SHORTER PHASE ONE, RIGHT? SO WE'LL KNOW.
SO PHASE ONE, SO WE HAVE THE 20% MATCH SAVED FROM, FROM WHAT WE, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE REQUIRED FROM V DOT V DOT, THEN WE'LL COVER 80%.
OUR TOTAL TAP TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM IS FOUR GRANTED $658,000.
AND THE 20% THE BUDGET THOUGH FOR PHASE ONE IS, UM, I ACTUALLY DIDN'T PUT THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S THE PHASE ONE BALANCE.
THERE'S STILL ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S REQUIRED TO COMPLETE PHASE ONE.
THAT WOULD BE THE REQUIREMENT OF THE COUNTY.
WELL, WE HAVE NOT SET ASIDE TO ME IN DOLLARS FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, SO IT HAS THIS FALLING WELL, SHORT OF PHASE ONE.
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN SINCE AROUND 2013 WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED AND THE BOARD CAME IN, SO IT'S BEEN WORKED ON AND WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, PUTTING ASIDE MONEY, PUTTING ASIDE MONEY FOR OUR 20% MATCH.
BUT WHEN THE PRELIMINARY BUDGETS CAME IN FOR THE DESIGN, THAT'S WHERE IT KEPT CREEPING UP.
AND WE'VE RESULTED IN THIS $3 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND
[00:05:01]
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM IS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THAT.YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
IT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THAT PROGRAM TO PAY FOR YOUR ENTIRE PROJECT.
UM, SO THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH MONEY.
SO I THINK IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, NEXT OPTIONS WOULD BE EXPLORE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE A NEW GRANTS COORDINATOR.
WE CAN LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY BE OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE TO PROCEED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, EXPLORE DESIGN ALTERNATIVES.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S, THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS AND WE KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME GREAT WORK UP UNTIL THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, LPGA AND OUR SURVEY OR STUFF.
YES, IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL VISION, BUT THEY'VE DONE THE WORK TO DEFINE AN AREA IN WHICH WE COULD BUILD A TRAIL, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.
AND AGAIN, THOSE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE GOING TO COST ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
SO WE WILL PROBABLY WANT TO WORK WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THIS AS A PRIORITY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER FOR IT TO MAKE FISCAL SENSE, WE HAVE TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS.
UM, AND AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, MR. MAY THE TROLLEY SERVICE, THE TROLLEY SERVICE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE USER GROUPS IS THE 80 HIKERS AND THE TROLLEY DOES SERVE THEM DURING PEAK SEASON.
SO IN THE INTERIM, IF WE KNOW WE CAN'T COMPLETE THIS PROJECT, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ENHANCE THAT SERVICE FOR THOSE USERS DURING PEAK SEASON? SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING, YOU KNOW, IN THE SHORT TERM, YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE THIS LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS TRAIL AND IN THE SHORT TERM, THAT COULD BE, UM, AN OPTION DEFINITELY FOR THOSE USERS AND IMPROVE THE EXISTING PARKING AREA IN DISCUSSIONS WITH V DOT.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THIS DESIGN IS IT DOESN'T HAVE, WHAT'S CALLED A LOGICAL TERMINI, IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOGICAL END.
AND IT'S KIND OF CONCERNING THAT THE PROJECT KIND OF MOVED FORWARD AT, I GUESS, AT THAT STAGE ANYWAYS.
AND AGAIN, THE RULES HAVE LIKELY HAVE CHANGED FROM WHEN THIS WAS APPROVED TILL NOW, BUT IT DOES TERMINATE AT THE END OF THE COUNT OR THE COUNTY AND TOWN LINE.
AND THEN THERE'S, THERE'S NO IMPROVEMENTS THERE AFTER, UM, IN TALKING WITH THE TOWN, YES, THEY HAVE A BIKE AND PET PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES THAT AREA, BUT THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO ACTUALLY DO IT IN THE SHORT TERM.
SO EVEN IF WE COMPLETED PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO WOULD JUST END AND THAT'S NOT, NOT RECOMMENDED BY V DOT.
UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT
AND THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN EITHER.
SO THAT AGAIN, WOULD BE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH TO MAKE THAT A VIABLE TERMINI.
SO AGAIN, THOSE JUST PRESENTED ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES TO US.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK AT THIS STAGE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD OWN THAT.
WE'LL GO OVER WITH OUR LEGAL STAFF TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE DOD AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE DO OWE THEM A LETTER.
UM, BASICALLY IF AN UPDATE THEY'VE BEEN GRACIOUS TO CONTINUE THIS OUT FOR US MULTIPLE TIMES ALREADY WITH PREVIOUS STAFF, AS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM THOUGH, I THINK IT'S AT THIS STAGE, IT'S, IT JUST MIGHT NOT BE FEASIBLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS WITHIN THIS TIMELINE, WHICH WAS TECHNICALLY THREE YEARS.
WELL, WE'VE FAR EXCEEDED THAT AT THIS STAGE.
UM, SO WORKING WITH THEM AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, NOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, BE GREAT TO SEE THAT COMMITMENT PUT FORWARD TO SOME TYPE OF PARK OR TRAIL AMENITY.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE KIND OF BRIEFLY TALKED ABOUT IT.
AND SO THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BIKE AND PET PLAN WE'RE WORKING ON THERE'S ETHICS TRAIL CARS, THERE'S OTHER PARKS OR AMENITIES THAT WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT OTHER DISTRICTS, UM, THE RURAL SHANDO GREENWAY TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS, SHANDO VALLEY RAIL TRAIL, OR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES THAT WE COULD DO THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY USE.
SOME OF THESE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE PUT ASIDE FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROJECTS LIKE THIS.
WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH A PROCESS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WHERE WE CAN START TO SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR THESE BIG TICKET ITEMS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT NOT JUST THIS PROJECT, BUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE GET ON THAT PLANE, OR AT LEAST VETTED THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION PROCESS TO SEE RANK IT AGAINST OTHER PROJECTS, TO SEE IF HOW WE WANT TO SAVE UP FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY DO COST A LOT OF MONEY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY WISELY, UM, AND MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.
[00:10:01]
BUT I THINK AT THIS STAGE WITH THIS PROJECT, IT, THE NUMBERS JUST AREN'T ADDING UP THE DESIGN IS JUST NOT MAKING SENSE.UM, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S UNFORTUNATE TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY OF POSSIBLY LOSING OUT ON AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT I THINK REALISTICALLY, IT JUST, IT JUST MIGHT NOT WORK AT THIS TIME.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A PROJECT IN WHICH WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT IT, THE FUTURE AS A PRIORITY, BUT WE KIND OF KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST AND WE'LL START TO WORK OUR WAY THERE AND SEE IF THERE'S OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OR TIME TO SAVE UP FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM NOW.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I'LL WORK WITH OUR LEGAL STAFF AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD, IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, TO, YOU KNOW, AT THIS TIME TO BASICALLY WE'VE KIND OF PUT IT ON HOLD, BUT OFFICIALLY, YOU KNOW, TALK TO V DOT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T THINK WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT AT THIS TIME.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF CAN WORK WITH DR.
DALEY AND THE BOARD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE THIS MONEY THAT WE'VE PUT ASIDE FOR THIS PROJECT, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT AT THAT STAGE? SO I'M GOING TO GET, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY DIRECTION YOU'D LIKE US TO TAKE, I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.
WELL, JUST FOR ME, JUST CONSIDERING THE SAFETY, I JUST, I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT A SAFE AREA.
AND I MEAN, BRINGING IT DOWN TO, UM, THE INTERSECTION THERE, JOHN MARSHALL AND COMMERCE AVENUE REMOUNT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO WALK AND THEN GET ACROSS THAT.
AND WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HIT BY CARS ON, UM, JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE OTHER.
THEN THE TOWN HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF PUTTING IN SOME, UM, WALKWAYS IN THE SIGNAGE ON UP CLOSER TO THE SHOPPING CENTER AND SO FORTH.
BUT IN THAT INTERSECTION, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD SAFELY DO THAT.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING IF IT WAS ABLE TO DO IT WITHIN THAT BUDGET AND SAFELY, BUT EVEN IF WE HAD $3 MILLION, I CAN'T SEE DOING SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT PEOPLE IN POSSIBLE HARM.
I, I MEAN, I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE $3 MILLION IS, IS A TOUGH ONE TO SWALLOW, BUT YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING EVEN IF WE HAD THE 3 MILLION AND WE BUILT IT, IT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL VISION AND YOU'RE ONLY GOING FROM THE 82 TOWN LIMITS WITH THAT 3 MILLION.
UM, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU JUST SPOKE OF, OR WITHIN TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL LIMITS IN ARE NOT PART OF THIS PROJECT.
SO I THINK I SAID, I THINK GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE UP TO THIS POINT.
UM, WE HAVE A GOOD FRAMEWORK ON MOVING FORWARD IN A PLANE.
IT'S JUST, HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT IT? AND I THINK IT, IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED IN THE SENSE OF ADDING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, TO COMPLETE IT ALL THE WAY TO TOWN AND MAKE IT SAFE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
UM, AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE MORE TIME.
AND I THINK, AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN GRACIOUS BY.TO EXTEND THAT TIMELINE, BUT THERE'S, I JUST DON'T SEE IT BEING POSSIBLE FOR US TO MEET ANY TIMELINES THAT THEY HAVE.
AND, AND FRANKLY, THE HOLDUP, ANY FUNDS THAT COULD BE USED FOR ANOTHER JURISDICTION, YOU KNOW, TO DO A PROJECT THAT THEY'RE READY TO GO WITH NOW.
I MEAN, UH, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE.
I THINK TO KEEP IT AS A PRIORITY I WOULD LIKE TO, AND WE CAN ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS AND FUTURE PLANNING, BUT I THINK TODAY, UM, IT'S KIND OF COULD THAT MONEY BE SHIFTED AND I KNOW THAT'S A
UM, AND AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL WORK WITH CAITLIN ON THAT DOCUMENTATION TO SEE WHAT'S IN THERE.
WE CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS WITH IT AND IF THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITH, WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS.
SO, UM, WHAT OTHER METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE APPLICATION ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL THROUGH HIKERS TO DATE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER AREN'T THERE? SOME LIKE PRIVATE VANS OR SOMETHING THAT ARE BEING, I THINK THERE'S, I THINK THERE'S THIS COMMUNITY AROUND THE 80 THAT PEOPLE, I THINK JUST KIND OF OFFER UP, HEY, CALL ME AND I'LL COME PICK YOU UP.
I KNOW WE HAD A SHORT-TERM RENTAL APPLICATION FEW YEARS AGO, WHERE THEY DID A SERVICE LIKE THAT, UM, WHERE THEY BROUGHT 80 HIKERS UP TO THEIR HOME AND THEY COULD STAY THE NIGHT, BUT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, HEY, GIVE ME A CALL.
I THINK THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THAT ON THE OTHER PART IS THE TROLLEY SERVICE THAT, THAT OPERATES DURING SEASONS ON THE GO UP THERE.
I THINK THEY GO UP THERE MAYBE TWICE A DAY, TWICE A DAY.
[00:15:01]
THAT SERVICE, EVEN THE SIMPLE FACT OF HAVING A BUS SHELTER FOR THEM TO STAY IN WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THAT SERVICE, BECAUSE THERE IS TIME.UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THERE ARE LOCAL CALVES, BUT I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE EXTENT OF IT FROM, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, I THINK THAT COULD BE IMPROVED AND LOOKED AT AS YOU KNOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE USERS WE'RE TRYING TO CONNECT WITH FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, IN WHAT WAYS CAN WE EITHER PHYSICALLY ENHANCE IT WITH A BUS SHELTER OR A TROLLEY SERVICE OR JUST MARKETING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND FIND OUT WHAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY IS TO GET THEM FROM THAT TRAIL HEAD TO TOWN? WELL, I KNOW THAT CARRIE BARNHARDT, UM, IS VERY ACTIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THERE HAS BEEN AN, THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS FORMED DEDICATED TO THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL TO THE HIKERS.
AND SO PERHAPS THAT THIS IS MORE OF A COOPERATIVE EFFORT FROM, YOU KNOW, THE PRIVATE ENTITIES AND THE COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES TO, TO SEE HOW WE CAN ENHANCE IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO ENHANCE THEIR ABILITY TO GET INTO TOWN.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST SEE THIS AS LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY, NOT REALLY AS AN ABANDONING THE IDEA, BUT MAYBE A POTENTIAL FOR OTHERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S, YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, AS YOU SAID, TO IMPROVE THIS, TO MAKE IT EASIER.
UM, I ACTUALLY JUST SPOKE WITH A STAFF MEMBER OR FAMILY MEMBERS HIKING THE 80 AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL, THEY ALL LOVE FRONT ROYAL.
IT'S LIKE ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE STOPS.
THEY IT'S LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AS THEY'RE MAKING THIS LONG JOURNEY.
UM, CAUSE WE'RE ALL MISSING THAT MIDPOINT.
SO I THINK, UH, TAPPING INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND REALLY SHOWING OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEM WHO COME THROUGH WOULD BE GREAT AND ADDING DIFFERENT AMENITIES FOR THEM.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THIS TRAIL WOULD BE GREAT FOR THEM, BUT I THINK IN THE SHORT TERM PINE AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO BE, WELL, I KNOW I'M SORRY.
I KNOW OUR TOURISM COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON ESTABLISHING KIND OF A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN WITH THE THROUGH HIKERS, UH, TO HASHTAG, YOU KNOW, FRONT ROYAL.
AND WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF POSITIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, RESULTS FROM THAT.
A LOT OF POSITIVE SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THEY DO LIKE FRONT ROYAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY CAUSE WE CRITICIZE OURSELVES AND EVERYBODY ELSE LOVES US.
I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE AND LOVE OURSELVES A LITTLE.
THIS IS A TOURIST OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO COME TOGETHER AS A TOWN IN THE COUNTY TO MAKE ART AND THE NAME FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY TO BE THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO.
AND THIS IS A GOOD, THIS IS A GOOD THING.
I MEAN, I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE TRAVELING 1100 MILES WALKING, WALKING, HECK I CAN'T EVEN WALK ACROSS THIS ROOM, BUT THAT THEY LIKED AND ENJOYED AND SPENT TWO DAYS HERE OUT OF THEIR WHOLE WALK.
SO TOWN IN THE COUNTIES GOT, GOT TO WORK TOGETHER AND THEY GOT, THEY GOT TO MAKE IT WORK.
AND I THINK, YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED WAS THE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN AND I KNOW THE COUNTY HAD BEEN WORKING ON IT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US.
AND I THINK TODAY OR YESTERDAY, THE NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWN STARTED.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'D LOVE TO ENGAGE THEM AND MOVING FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT'S A COHESIVE, UM, NETWORK FOR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN.
I THINK THE 80 CONNECTORS IMPORTANT PART OF THAT, THE, THE LITTLE PARKING LAYER AREA, UM, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TOWARDS RAPPAHANNOCK, THERE IS, IS THAT WHO OWNS THAT? IS THAT VEIT UP RIGHT AWAY OR I THINK IT'S JUST WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND IT'S JUST KIND OF CREATED ITSELF OVER TIME.
I'M SURE THEY'VE JUST, THEY PARKED FURTHER AND FURTHER AND THEY JUST PUT GRAVEL ON AND GRAVEL ON IT.
BUT THAT AGAIN, BEAT, I DID MENTION THAT IN MY LAST CALL WITH THEM ABOUT IF THAT BECAME ONE OF THE LOGICAL TERMINATES FOR A TRAIL, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO IT.
SO THAT WOULD ALSO WOULD NOT ONLY INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT, BUT OUR WHOLE TRAIL SYSTEM WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD.
SO WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO CREATE A SAFETY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO, UM, WHICH WAS LOOKED AT AT ORIGINAL DESIGN AND ANY TYPE OF ROAD CROSSING DEF OF THAT SCALE GETS EXPENSIVE AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY KEPT IT ON THE NORTH SIDE RATHER THAN HAVING PEOPLE CUT ACROSS THE ROAD AT ANY POINT.
SO I GUESS THE PEOPLE THAT PARK THERE ARE FAIRLY LOCAL, THEY'RE NOT, HEY HIKERS, THERE, THEY'RE PARKING THERE AND THEY'RE WALKING TOWARDS SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK OR THEY'RE EVEN WALKING THE OTHER WAY TOWARDS HIGH KNOB
[00:20:01]
COMMUNITY AND BACK TOWARDS FAUQUIER COUNTY.MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, UM, FOR THE, THE THROUGH HIKERS.
UM, THEY'RE STAYING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD MAINLY THEN.
CAUSE I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULDN'T HAVE LIKE A KIOSK BULLETIN BOARD OR SOMETHING WITH THAT, UM, THEY COULD GET INFORMATION ON WHAT'S AVAILABLE IF THEY DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE THAT AS FAR AS CALLING A CAB OR IF THERE WAS THAT NETWORK OF PEOPLE SO THAT THEY, WHEN THEY STOPPED, THEY COULD SEE, OKAY, THESE ARE SAFE PLATE, LIKE THE AREA ON MAIN STREET THAT HAS THE, THE LAUNDRY.
I CAN'T THINK OF IT DAY'S CAMP.
UM, THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE THERE FOR THEM AND THAT THEY, I MEAN, I GUESS IF THEY'VE HIKED THAT FAR, THEY PROBABLY THINK OF HIKE INTO TOWNS.
UM, BUT LIKE, UM, A WAYFINDING SIGN FOR HIKERS I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M SUGGESTING.
THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH ANOTHER THERE'S THE OUTDOOR DMO THAT WAS RECENTLY CREATED WORKING WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF THE EXPERTS IN THAT FIELD.
THEY WOULD KNOW THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED.
SO WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, A GROUP LIKE THAT, UM, AND HOW CAN THE COUNTY HELP ESTABLISH A KIOSK? BUT IF THEY EVEN MANAGED IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S UP TO DATE.
AND THAT THOSE ARE SAFE NUMBERS TO CALL.
YOU'RE NOT SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT ABLE TO JUST GO PUT THEIR NUMBER UP THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING NOT.
IT'S JUST BASICALLY A BIG POOL OFF THE GRAVEL PARKING LOT.
ANY PLACE THAT THE TROLLEY STOPS, IF WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SHELTER THERE, THEY'VE GOT SHELTERS AVAILABLE AND THERE WILL, THEY WILL PROVIDE THEM.
ALL WE'VE GOT TO DO IS PROVIDE A PAD.
SO I MEAN, WE CAN DO THINGS THAT WILL HELP IN ANY ONE OF THE SPOTS THAT THE TROLLEY THEORETICALLY STOPS AT BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THE ROUTE.
BUT, UH, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO SPEAK FOR THE TOWN BECAUSE THEY CONTROL THAT.
BUT THE, THE TROLLEY SYSTEM IS WILLING TO HELP US DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND WE SHOULD BE TOO.
AND I THINK AGAIN, GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF MANY FOR THESE 80 HIKERS AND ON PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAY JUST LIVE UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACTUALLY RELY ON THAT TROLLEY TO GET TO TOWN.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
SO, UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO EXPLORE ANY OF THESE AS THIS KIND OF SHORT TERM UNTIL, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE ABLE TO REENGAGE THIS FULL TRAIL PROJECT, BUT I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S GOOD THINGS WE COULD BE DOING TO HELP OUT THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I'M HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH THAT THROUGH THE TOURISM COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THERE'S TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW FOR DIRECTION THAT THE THROUGH HIKERS CAN CLICK ON VARIOUS.
UM, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S APPS OR WHATEVER, TO BE ABLE TO FIND SAFE TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USING TO MY KNOWLEDGE CURRENTLY.
AND SO IN THERE ALSO, AS YOU SPOKE, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME, UM, I GUESS RESPITES ON THE WAY THROUGH THE, THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL WHERE YOU CAN STOP AND PEOPLE CAN DIRECT THEM.
SO I, I, I'M STILL LIVING IN THE, IN THE AREA WHERE THERE'S A SINGLE AND WHERE THERE'S NOT A SINGLE OR WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE GOOD SINGLES EVERYWHERE SOON.
BUT, UM, YEAH, I, I DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT AS MUCH BECAUSE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LACK OF SINGLES.
SO WE HAVE TWO ASSIGNMENTS, I GUESS MA'AM, UH, NUMBER ONE IS TO TALK TO V DOT AND ARE THERE ANY ALTERNATIVE THAT WE COULD USE THE V JOB PROJECT MONEY FOR IN WARREN COUNTY? YOU KNOW, THERE WERE OTHER, COULD WE PRESENT SOMETHING ELSE TO THAT PERHAPS IN A SMALL PROJECT ENHANCING THAT PULL OFF AREA OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE OR ANOTHER TRAIL THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO PURSUE.
AND THEN NUMBER TWO, DEPENDING UPON THE RESULT OF THAT, WHAT OPTIONS DO WE WANT TO CONSIDER FOR THE USE OF OUR MONEY THAT WE HAVE RESERVED? IT'S ACTUALLY OUR LOCAL FUNDS, NOT V DOT AND THAT CAN BE USED.
HOWEVER, THE BOARD DEEMS APPROPRIATE AND THE BOARD HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT A PARK IN ONE OF THE DISTRICTS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A PARK AT THIS TIME AND WE'RE WORKING TO PRESENT SOME, GET SOME DETAILS POSSIBLE TOGETHER THERE WHERE HE MAY WANT TO USE SOME OF THIS MONEY.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLAN MOVING FORWARD THOSE TWO MONTHS.
DAILY ON, ON WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO FIND OUT.
[Additional Item]
[00:25:05]
ALL RIGHT, MR. BARRY, I GOT THE BOSS LADY HERE WITH ME TOO.SO, UM, I GUESS GO AHEAD AND SHOOT QUESTIONS HERE.
UM, WE DID, WE DID NOT HAVE A DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR POSITION CURRENTLY ESTABLISHED.
SO, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING TARA AND I, UM, HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR MONTHS.
UM, AND, UM, UM, WE JUST RECENTLY KIND OF GOT TOGETHER ON IT AND, AND SHE SHOT ME SOME STUFF AND REVIEWED THE, SEND IT BACK TO HER.
AND, UM, I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD PERSONALLY.
UM, I KNOW AS WE'VE TRANSITIONED, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO ESTABLISH, UM, SOME DUPLICITY AND, AND TO HAVE A BACKUP, UM, UM, AND THROUGH ALL THE CHANGES, UM, THAT I'VE SEEN SINCE, I GUESS LAST SUMMER, UM, AND REALLY ONLY WELL HIRED ONE POSITION AND THAT WAS MICHAEL, UM, AND THE COFFEE FOR THE SOLID WASTE MANAGER.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF DEPARTMENTS DO HAVE SOMEBODY TO BACK UP.
SO HIS TARYN AND I DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IS IF SOME REASON I'M GONE, I'M NOT HERE.
UM, ESPECIALLY ALL OPERATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY, UM, THAT THERE WOULD BE SOMEBODY WHO REALLY HAD A FAMILIARIZATION WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
AND, UM, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY NEEDED AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WE PROMOTE OR HIRE SOMEONE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IN PLACE, UM, EITHER WAY.
UM, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I COULD, I COULD BEGIN TO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE A IDEA, UM, I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PROMOTION, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED, UM, AFTER HAVING A DESCRIPTION.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO CAN ASSIST IN EVERYTHING I DO.
UM, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
SOME OF THEM MENTIONED BY THE BOARD, UM, SAFETY, YOU KNOW, BEING, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, ONCE I'VE OVER SAFETY PROGRAM, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW, UM, LIKE MICHAEL, HE HAS ALREADY SET UP A CPR TRAINING FOR, UM, THIS MONTH.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE STARTED INITIATING SOME SAFETY MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE TEAMS STARTED TO TRY TO BRING THE, UM, SOME OF THE, THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR TEAM TOGETHER, UM, WHEN THIS ROSTER LEFT IN JANUARY.
SO WE TOOK ON, YOU KNOW, GENERAL SERVICES.
SO WE HAVE THE CUSTODIAL SERVICES AND WE HAVE THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS AND, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'VE BEEN KIND OF BLENDING THOSE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, ACTUALLY BEGAN CROSS IN SOME OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS, UM, EMPLOYEES THIS WEEK THAT, UM, MS COLOR'S MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN USING THAT STAFF AND, UM, THE COURTHOUSE WE'RE WORKING ON THE FILE PROJECT.
UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER WITH PARKS AND REC ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT, UM, WE'RE NOT REALLY IN OUR WHEELHOUSE BEFORE, UM, IN REGARDS TO SIDEWALKS.
UM, IF YOU'VE SEEN THE ONE DOWN AT THE, UM, THE OLD LIBRARY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF IN PARKS AND REC STAFF DID THAT TOGETHER.
BUILDING INSPECTIONS WERE WORKED ON THAT TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND A LITTLE BIT OF WORK OVER HERE AT THE SCHRUM WILLIAMS. UM, BUT OUR, UM, OUR REALLY OUR MODELS CHANGED AS, UM, DR.
DALEY CAME IN, YOU KNOW, HE KINDA PUSHED ME TO, UM, HIRE SANITARY DISTRICT MANAGER AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S BEEN A GREAT THING.
I THINK IT'S HELPED A LOT, BUT I, I STILL THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE KNOW ABOUT MORE AND SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY FEEL MY SHOES.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF ON THE UPPER END ADMINISTRATIVELY THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN HAND OFF PROBABLY, OR SOMEONE COULD FILL IN SOME OF THE GRANT STUFF I DO FOR THE AIRPORT.
UM, FAA, DOE V UM, MAYBE I'LL, UM, AGGRAVATE OUR NEW PERSON BACK HERE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER REPORTING I DO FOR, UM, V DODD OR DEQ, YOU KNOW, UM, STORM WATER STUFF.
UM, SO I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT, UM, I, I HAVE, AND NOT TRYING TO GET RID OF MY WORK, REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIT IN THE RIGHT WAY, RIGHT DIRECTION, UM, YOU KNOW, FLEET MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, ACCIDENTS, YOU KNOW, I SEE THIS PERSON, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LITTLE LIGHT AND FINANCE NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN IMPROVE ON.
AND AS WE GET BIGGER, YOU KNOW, GENERAL SERVICE CUSTODIAL, YOU KNOW, I SEE A BIG TEAM, I SEE THAT WE CAN BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN, AND WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AND ALL OF US NEED TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF STEP OUT OF THE BOX AND FOR EACH OTHER.
SO I, I SEE THIS POSITION, UM, IS, UH, REALLY A BENEFIT TO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, AND YEAH, IT MIGHT BE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, A DAY THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, MY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BE HERE OR, UM, YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, SAYING I AM NOT GOING TO DO ANY
[00:30:01]
WORK.I JUST THINK THAT MIKE, SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE BEEN PASSING MARK OFF, UM, DONNA IS ANOTHER PERSON WHO'S REALLY STEPPED UP AND, YOU KNOW, UM, HELPED A LOT, YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, I NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, THE ALSO THAT CAN FILL IN FOR DONNA, YOU KNOW, AND WORK ON THOSE PIECES AND IN OPERATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I SPOKE TO KAREN ABOUT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE WHO REALLY KNOWS OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTY, AND IT CAN REALLY HELP IF I'M NOT HERE.
IF, YOU KNOW, IF ED WAS ON HIS OWN OR TARYN WAS ON HER OWN AND MIKE SOMEONE VACATION, AND I'M GONNA BE GONE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THIS WEEKEND, BUT SOMEONE WHO COULD SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND KNOW WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
SO, UM, IN REGARDS TO BUDGET, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THERE, I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY BUDGETARY IMPACT.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET TO THAT PLACE, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS POSITION WOULD BE AN EXEMPT POSITION, UM, IN MY DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW, I'M THE ONLY PERSON.
UM, SO I WOULDN'T ANTICIPATE ANY, UM, BUDGETARY CONCERNS, UM, IN THE SANITARY DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON WORKING, YOU KNOW, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCALE, AT MY HIGHEST GRADED POSITION, CURRENTLY, YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT $4,000.
SO IF IT'S MY HIGHEST GRADED POSITION THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE WORKING FOR ME, THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE SCALE.
YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT $4,000 DIFFERENCE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR AN EXEMPT POSITION, UM, WHEN YOU DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES, WE DEAL WITH ALL THE, THE FIRE ALARMS, UM, WHICH GO OFF FREQUENTLY AND I GET LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF THINGS COME BACK AND TELL YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, MISS DONNA DOES A WHOLE LOT OF VISITS ON THE WEEKEND, BUT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS POSITION WOULD BE AN EXEMPT POSITION AS CLASSIFIED.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE PAYING OVERTIME.
SO I DON'T WANT TO ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGE BUDGETARILY, UM, WITH, UH, INSTALLING THIS POSITION.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR BUDGET NOW? WELL, IT FIT IN MY BUDGET NOW.
I JUST GOT TO GET SOMEBODY IN TO CHANGE A TITLE, UM, ON THE BUDGET BOOK, BUT NOT A BIG DEAL.
SO IS THIS PRESENTED TO BE A PROMOTION? WELL, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO ESTABLISH A POSITION POSITION BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A DESCRIPTION.
UM, AND, AND THIS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME, BASICALLY LOOKING AT WHERE WE'VE COME FROM, WHERE ARE WE, WHAT DO WE NEED? HOW CAN WE PUT THIS TEAM TOGETHER? WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE COUNTY AND, AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, AND LOOK AT IT IN A, UH, A POSITION THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE BUDGET, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN REGARDS, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT QUESTIONS ARE, BUT I'M WILLING.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO KIND OF FEEL, YOU KNOW, WHAT I COULD THINK OR ANTICIPATE COULD BE SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
OH, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PROBABLY HAS GROWN MORE THAN ANY OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE IT MERGED WITH GENERAL SERVICES WHEN, WHEN GENERAL SERVICES, UM, WAS NO MORE SO.
AND HE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS PROBABLY THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A DEPUTY POSITION.
UM, I JUST THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S GROWN THE MOST AND THERE'S NO DEPUTY POSITION, WHEREAS THERE'S A DEPUTY PLANNING, DEPUTY FINANCE, DEPUTY BUILDING, UM, OR JUST ONES I CAN THINK OF EVERY PARKS.
UM, AND SO I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS DEPUTY POSITION ON THE, UM, IN OUR LIST OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
UM, AND IT DOES FIT WITHIN HIS BUDGET, BUT HE, UM, I MEAN, MIKE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF, OF ORGANIZING THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND DONNA'S AMAZING, MICHAEL, I MEAN, GREAT, BUT HE HAS GREAT STAFF, UM, IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, AND A LOT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THROWN IN THERE AND THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT DUTIES, BUT, UM, I MEAN, THEY, THEY, THEY DO A GREAT JOB THE DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY, I MEAN, I THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT HAVING THESE DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITIONS IN OUR, IN OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM THAT DOESN'T HAVE ONE THAT I DO THINK THAT IS NEEDED AND HAS GOOD IDEA.
A QUICK QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR, UM, I UNDERSTAND ADDING THE POSITION AS A JOB DESCRIPTION AND HAVING IT AS AN EMPTY SLOT, BUT DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN MIND FOR THAT ALREADY? ARE YOU TRYING, ARE YOU GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM LINE OR ARE YOU TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY HIRED TO BE YOUR SECOND?
[00:35:01]
THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.AND WHAT TYPE OF TIMEFRAME ARE YOU LOOKING TO DO THAT? I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME RIGHT AWAY.
YOU COULD OPEN IT UP THOUGH FOR APPLICANTS.
AND THEN INTERNAL PEOPLE CAN APPLY AND THEN YOU HAVE A, YEAH.
THAT'S THE, THE IDEAL PROCESS.
AND THAT IS TYPICALLY OUR PROCESS.
AND SO I SEE THIS AS A POSITION FOR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS, BECAUSE IF SOMETHING, I MEAN, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IF SOMEBODY, SOMETHING HAPPENS, IF SOMEBODY IS NOT AVAILABLE, YOU'D NEED SOMEBODY WHO, HOW TO MANAGE MOVING FORWARD.
WELL, I KNOW WE, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION AND I DON'T THINK IT WENT VERY FAR ABOUT, UM, CONSOLIDATING GROUPS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEN WITH MS. ROSS LEAVING THAT KIND OF MADE THAT CONSOLIDATION HAPPEN OUT OF NECESSITY VERSUS PLANNED, BUT CURRENTLY UNDER PUBLIC WORKS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE FOR PUBLIC WORKS? WELL NOW EVERYBODY'S CONSIDERED PUBLIC WORKS.
I MEAN, YOU'RE FOR YOUR, UH, LIKE ORIGINALLY I KNOW YOU HAD TRAVIS THE THREE AVERAGE THIS MORNING.
WELL, AND, AND THIS WAS, UM, I WAS JUST SITTING HERE SCRATCHING WHILE WE WERE, AND I I'D REALLY HAVE TO DIG DEEP ON THE NUMBER TOTAL NUMBER EMPLOYEES NOW, BECAUSE IT'S CHANGED SO MUCH BECAUSE WE HAVE FULL-TIME PART-TIME, I THINK WE'VE HAD SEVERAL LEAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WASTE YOU'RE, YOU'RE TYPICALLY RUNNING ABOUT 18 PART-TIME ONE YEAR PART-TIME ATTENDANCE.
UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE 1, 2, 3 FULL-TIME PEOPLE IN REFUSE ALTOGETHER.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE 12 PART-TIME AT THE TRANSFER STATION AT THE MAX.
USUALLY IT'S RUNNING EIGHT TO 10.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OVER WELL AT THAT IN REFUSE, YOU HAVE ONE SUPERVISOR SOLID AND THAT SOLID WASTE MANAGER HAS JAMIE.
SO WHEN I STARTED A SOLID WASTE MANAGER, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY, THERE WAS A, YOU HAD THE TRANSFER STATION MANAGER, YOU HAD THE ASSISTANT TRANSFER STATION MANAGER.
I WAS HIRED AS A SOLID WASTE MANAGER, AND I REPORTED TO THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WHO WAS THE DEPARTMENT HEAD AT THAT TIME.
AND ALL I DID WAS SOLID WASTE.
SO WHEN I GOT INTO SANITARY DISTRICTS AND GOT SANTERIA, I HAD TWO SANITARY DISTRICTS FOR MYSELF AND SOLID WASTE.
UM, I WAS PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR.
JAMIE WAS PROMOTED TO SOLID WASTE MANAGER, AND THAT POSITION CLASSIFICATION CHANGED.
I WAS EXEMPT HE'S NON-EXEMPT, YOU KNOW, DUTIES, ROLES, A LITTLE DIFFERENT, MORE OPERATIONS.
UM, BUT WE DIDN'T BACKFILL ANY OTHER MANAGEMENT THEN I GUESS THE WE'VE GROWN WELL.
ANOTHER, LET'S SEE WHAT THREE MORE SANITARY DISTRICTS IN THAT TIME, WE STARTED OUT WITH TRAVIS, WITH SANDERIA DISTRICTS, AND THEN WE HIRED JAKE.
SO WE'RE UP TO THREE WITH, WITH, UH, JUST THE SANITARY DISTRICTS.
UM, WHEN BOB CHILDERS LEFT DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR LAST WELL, OFFICIALLY SEPTEMBER, BUT AUGUST, HE WAS GONE.
UM, I BEGAN WITH MILAN, WELL, PRETTY MUCH ALL THE V THAT ROAD STUFF AT THAT POINT AS WELL.
AND, UM, I CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT ALSO A SHADOW FORM SANITARY DISTRICT.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ED HAD TALKED ABOUT THE SANITARY DISTRICT MANAGER, WHICH HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
AND ONE THING I THOUGHT OF, YOU KNOW, AS WE WERE TALKING, YOU KNOW, THE, WELL, I GUESS HE LEFT IN 2011, UM, BACK THEN THAT POSITION I BELIEVE WAS OFFERED.
I THINK IT WAS $70,000 TO STAY.
JUST THE MANAGER ENDED UP FARMS AS A MANAGER, NOT BOB, BUT THE MANAGER THAT WORKED UNDER THE DEPUTY.
SO IN THAT FIRST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, I GAVE YOU, THERE USED TO BE A SANITARY DISTRICT MANAGER FOR SHANNON AT FARMS BEFORE I CAME IN AS WELL.
AND THAT POSITION NEVER LEFT EITHER.
BOB JUST ASSUMED THOSE DUTIES.
UM, AND THEN AS BOB TRANSITIONED, AGAIN, WE TAKE THAT PIECE ON AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL V THAT RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM, AND THEN WE GO TO RANDY LEAVING AS WELL.
AND THEN I GOT THE CUSTODIAL SERVICE, THE GENERAL SERVICES THAT'S HEARING AT THE CIP.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECT WORK IN THERE.
AND AGAIN, WE'VE BEGAN TO TRY TO DO INTERNAL PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY HAND OFF THE CONTRACTORS.
AND I CAN SAY WE'VE SAVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS JUST IN SOME OF THE SIDEWALK WORKS.
AND SOME OF THE SMALL, UM, REHAB
[00:40:01]
WORK WE'VE DONE, UM, EVEN, UM, ONE OF OUR PART-TIME STAFF SITTING BACK HERE NOW, UM, THEY, OH, HE'S, YOU KNOW, HIM AND CHUCK HARPER DO A GREAT JOB WITH, UH, MAINTENANCE COMING IN AND WORKING ON SOME OF THE TABLES FORCE, DIFFERENT THINGS.SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A BIG CHANGE THERE.
AND THEN NOW, UM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE TECHS AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE FIRE SUPPRESSION FALLS UNDER THAT UMBRELLA AS WELL.
SO WE'RE, UH, WITH NO MORE QUESTIONS OR LAST TIME GOT NUMBERS.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, AND IT GOES OFF DAILY AND EVERY WEEKEND.
SO FIRE SUPPRESSION IS A BIG BANG.
UM, AND DON IS USUALLY JUMPING OUT OF THE GUN.
WHAT'S THE TOTAL DOCTOR, APPROXIMATELY 14, 40 TIME AND 12 PART-TIME PEOPLE.
SO 25 BUCKS A WEEK, 26, 27, AT LEAST, WELL IT'S 18 PLUS.
AND THEN WE HAVE WELL WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE F WE'RE BACK TO THE FARMS AS WELL, UM, WHICH IS IN THEIR OWN BUDGET, BUT THAT'S STILL THIS RESPONSIBILITY.
WE WERE DOWN THE ONE AND WE WE'VE HIRED TWO GUYS.
FULL-TIME THANKFULLY THAT'S UNDER THEM, THAT'S THREE, BUT THAT FALLS IN THIS WHEELHOUSE AS WELL.
AND THAT'S WITHIN THEIR BUDGET.
THAT FUNDING IS IN THEIR BUDGET, THE MANAGEMENT, YEAH.
BUT IT, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER THING YOU HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT THE TIME SPENT IN THOSE DISTRICTS OR, YOU KNOW, EVEN AT THE AIRPORT, BECAUSE SINCE WE HAVE THEM IN THEIR OWN FUNCTIONAL AREA, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SEND OUR STAFF OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TAKE FROM OUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WE CHARGE THE AIRPORT BUDGET, YOU KNOW, SHE ENDED UP FARMS, YOU KNOW, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
THEY HAVE IN THE BUDGET FOR A MANAGEMENT POSITION.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HIRE THEM A FULL-TIME MANAGER IF WE KNEW WE NEEDED IT, YOU KNOW, IF WE NEEDED TO, AND, AND YOU MAY GET TO THAT POINT SOMEDAY, YOU NEED TO, UM, BUT IT'S WORKING WELL, THE WAY WE'RE GOING, WE CHARGE THEM FOR THE HOURS THAT WE, WE SPEND THERE, WE CHARGE THEM FOR THE HOURS THAT WE SPEND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE DOING A V THAT PROJECT WHERE WE CHARGE IT TO THAT PROJECT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A RECOVERY, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROMOTION, YOU KNOW, AND SOMEONE WAS MAKING MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD CHARGE IN A DISTRICT NOW AND WORKING THERE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SOME OF THAT COSTS, WE PASSED THE ONE AND THE STUFF THAT'S OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH, LIKE I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, OUR FLEET MANAGEMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO BETTER WITH SOME OF OUR TRAINING AND PERSONNEL AS WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT BIGGER AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE DUTIES.
AND AS WE TRY TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND TRY TO CROSS TRAIN PEOPLE, CAUSE I LIKE TO USE PEOPLE AND BE ABLE TO REALLY SHARE AND SPREAD THE WEALTH.
UM, I THINK IT WORKS REALLY GOOD.
UM, YOU KNOW, NICK, YOU MENTIONED NICK EARLIER AND NICK IS, YOU KNOW, WILLING AND EAGER TO LEARN.
HE'S QUIET, BUT HE'S, HE'S A REALLY GOOD GUY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAVE NICK, YOU KNOW, HE'S WORKED IN THE FARMS, HE'S WORKED AT PUBLIC WORKS, YOU KNOW, HE'S GREAT AT ROADS.
AND NOW HE'S LEARNING ABOUT FIRE SUPPRESSION, WES, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE WAY HE USUALLY DOES MAINTENANCE.
BUT SIMILAR TO ME, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM CAUSE DONNA HANDLES IT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.
BUT IF SHE GOES OUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE NUTS AND BOLTS PART OF HER JOB.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'VE TRIED TO PUSH AS MUCH AS I CAN TO HER, BUT WE NEED SOMEONE TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IF SHE'S GONE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT IN THIS BUILDINGS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE GOT THEM WORKING ON OTHER THINGS AND I WANT THE MANAGERS TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON MANAGEMENT, LIKE YEAH, HPAC BETWEEN HOT AND COLD WEATHER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE SYSTEMS WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S VERY, VERY, VERY OLD AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DECIDE WHAT KINDA, WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO BEFORE? BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T BEEN DEALING WITH THAT A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KNOW, OKAY, WE HAVE 15, 20 UNITS, THERE ARE 30 YEARS OLD.
WE NEED TO PUT THEM ON A REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE.
WE NEEDED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE AND WE NEED TO BE READY TO BRING THAT TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, BUT IF I DON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN, YOU KNOW, REALLY WORK WITH MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, THEN WE'RE, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO AND DO BETTER.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THIS POSITION CAN HELP WITH THAT AND REALLY FUNCTIONALLY WITH OPERATIONS OVERALL.
AND I GUESS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO IS WE, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, RIGHT? AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THINGS COME UNDER AN UMBRELLA WHERE IF YOU HAVE THE DIRECTOR AND THE DEPUTY
[00:45:01]
DIRECTOR, AND THEN YOU'RE OVER THIS WHOLE THING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT PUBLIC WORKS.WE HAVE GENERAL SERVICES THAT IS PUT UNDER THAT, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR SOLID WASTE AND THEN YOU HAVE PARKS AND RECS.
AND THEN, UM, EACH ONE HAS LEADERSHIP, BUT IF YOU WOULD CONSOLIDATE IT DOWN AND YOU HAVE YOUR TWO LEVELS AND THEN SAY A FOREMAN, RIGHT.
TO ME, I, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO WORK MORE COHESIVELY AND TO, AND SHOW THAT WE'RE DOING THINGS AS EFFICIENT.
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD STAFF.
I'M NOT TRYING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD STAFF, BUT I THINK I'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN AND UNDERSTAND AND SEE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART BECAUSE IT'S THROWING NAMES OUT AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I, I JUST THINK WE'RE, WE'RE SPREAD OUT UNDER TOO MANY DIFFERENT LEADERS AND GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WHERE IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, I WANT TO SEE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, DOING THE SAME THING AND NOT DOING THIS.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M MAKING MYSELF VERY PLAIN, BUT WELL, EVERYBODY, I MEAN, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I MEAN, THE PUBLIC WORKS UMBRELLA GOES OVER EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION THAT YOU MENTIONED TYPE THING.
SO WHY ARE THEY NOT, WHY ARE THEY CONSIDERED PARKS AND REC WHEN IT TOMS, YOU BORROW PARKS AND RECS EMPLOYEES TO DO PUBLIC WORK STUFF.
SO WHY WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE THEM ALL UNDER ONE THING AND HAVE ONE LEADERSHIP AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALL FUNCTIONING ON THE SAME PAGE? WELL, I'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THAT TO THE RESIDENT EXPERT OVER HERE, WORKING ON THAT, WORKING ON THAT.
WE HAVE, WE SEE THE OVERLAP OF DUTIES IN SOME OF THAT IS UNAVOIDABLE IN A SMALL ORGANIZATION, BUT, UM, BUT WE'RE, I MEAN, EMILY AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS.
YOU'RE VERY SOFT-SPOKEN TO BEGIN WITH.
SO, UM, BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
I MEAN, SINCE WE HAVE HAD SOME CHANGE AND, UM, SO, AND THAT WILL BE, THAT'D BE GOOD FOR ALL EVERYONE TO HAVE.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE MORE HORIZONTAL AND LESS VERTICAL.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO SAY.
SO WHEN I'M ASKED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITHOUT BACKGROUND, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE LAYING ON ANOTHER LAYER OF YEAH.
AND WE HAVE TO JUSTIFY TO THE TAXPAYERS.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID IT FROM THE BEGINNING.
I DON'T LIKE TO SAY, WELL, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, THAT'S WHY I ASKED IF WE COULD TAKE THIS OFF AND HAVE A WORK SESSION SO I CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S MAYBE A NEED FOR IT, BUT BEING ABLE TO JUSTIFY AND UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE, UM, I DO FEEL LIKE WE WE'RE SPREAD OUT TOO FAR.
IT'S LIKE HAVING AN OCTOPUS AND THE ARMS ARE NOT COORDINATING WELL WITH EACH OTHER AT TIMES.
AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT WE, AS A GOVERNMENT ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE, TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AT THE BEST LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMICS AS WE CAN.
UM, WE, I MEAN, WE DO PROVIDE A LOT OF SERVICES WITH, AND ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH NOT AS MUCH STAFF, HONESTLY, MAYBE MORE READILY.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE.
YEAH, DEFINITELY GROWN AND WE HAVE LESS STAFF THAN WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, SINCE I KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT COUPLE OF YEARS AND I, I DO, AND I APPRECIATE THE STAFF THAT I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HARD WORK AND PEOPLE HERE DOING A LOT OF EXTRA THINGS AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I DON'T MEAN ANY OF MY COMMENTS TO MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE I DON'T APPRECIATE THEM CAUSE I DO.
I JUST NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, EVEN STAFF, I KNOW MYSELF AND THEN EMPLOYMENT.
WHEN I FIRST WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WORK, I WAS A FLOAT.
I DIDN'T HAVE ONE PERSON THAT I KNEW WAS THE PERSON TO TELL ME, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO TODAY.
WHAT I HAD WAS A CALENDAR THAT SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON TWO SOUTH THE DAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM TOMORROW.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE ICU THE NEXT DAY.
AND IT WAS, I NEVER FELT LIKE I HAD A HOME AND COHESIVENESS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO THINGS LIKE THIS, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE.
AND WE DEFINITELY WANT THAT TOO.
I MEAN, WITH, WITH, WITH THE CHANGE IN DEPARTMENTS AND, UM, AND JUST STAFF CHANGES, I MEAN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS AND THE DUTIES OF WHAT EVERYONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
AND, UM, AND, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
[00:50:01]
UM, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE.I'VE DONE ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS.
AND SO I REALIZE YOU HAVE TO THINK IT THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT WHERE YOUR INEFFICIENCIES ARE, IDENTIFY THOSE, IDENTIFY YOUR, YOUR OVERLAPS AND SERVICE, AND THEN TRY TO STREAMLINE YOUR, WE HAVE THEM AS SHIFTS, THERE'S BEEN CHANGE.
AND, AND, AND FOR, YOU KNOW, SITTING WITH BEING WITH US TODAY TO GO OVER THIS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOUR LAST POINT THERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COHESIVENESS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST REAL QUICK, BUT WE HAD TWO GUYS FOR THE FARMS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE PHARMACY WON'T COME TO TOWN AND BE PLOWING SNOW IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL PART OF A WORK GROUP.
WE DO, YOU KNOW, WE DO A SAFETY MEETING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, SO NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAD DONNA THERE, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T BRING EVERYBODY THAT WORKS AT THE COURTHOUSE OR WHATEVER, BUT WE HAD DONNA, YOU KNOW, UM, CHUCK AND DALE, AND THEN WE HAD, YOU KNOW, OUR THREE PUBLIC WORKS GUYS, YOU KNOW, AND COME IN MYSELF.
UM, MICHAEL, YOU KNOW, UM, TAMMY, THE FOREMAN OUT THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, MONICA AND DARYL WHO DO SOME OF THE CUSTODIAL KIND OF IN THE OUTLINE AREAS AND YOU JUST HAVE MEET AND GREET AND TRY.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT ONE TEAM, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT, YOU NEED TO, YOU, YOU GET THERE EVENTUALLY, BUT A LOT OF THE THINGS I'M TALKING ABOUT MORE WE NEED TO IMPROVE, AND THAT'S ONE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, YOU KNOW, BRING IT TOGETHER FOR TRAINING, YOU KNOW, THE CPR TRAINING, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE FARM RESCUE, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAD A MEETING OUT THERE YESTERDAY AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOME OF THEIR NEEDS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING FROM, YOU KNOW, NEW EMPLOYEES AND BUILDING THE TEAM TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING BUILDING CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO, AND WE'VE DONE VERY WELL, I THINK WITH THE CUSTODIAL MAINTENANCE AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE SANITARY DISTRICT TEAM AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM COMING TOGETHER AND, AND WE'RE COMING TOGETHER MORE AND MORE AND MORE IN THE COUNTY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE ABLE TO, AND IT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOT TRYING TO BLOW UP ANYTHING HERE, TRYING TO BUILD A TEAM, FOCUS ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
AND AGAIN, WHETHER I'M HERE OR NOT, IF MR. MABE HAS MY POSITION, THAT EVERYTHING COULD FLOW SMOOTH, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER COMES IN HERE, THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
THIS IS OUR TEAM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR STRUCTURE.
NO, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A BASIC NEED.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE'RE JUST PUTTING THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER AND PUT THEM IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE WORKING ON THAT.
SO IN KEEPING US IN THE LOOP OF THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, GO A LONG WAY AS WELL.
I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TOTAL STAFF, BUT I HATE IT WHEN I GO SOMEPLACE.
AND I, I DIDN'T KNOW, TRAVIS SUNDAY, HE CAME UP AND HE WAS, YOU KNOW, STARTED A CONVERSATION AND I'VE, I HAD TO LOOK AT HIM AND SAY, WHO ARE YOU? AND THEN WHEN HE SAID WHO HE WAS, I WAS LIKE, WELL, I'M GLAD TO MEET YOU.
CAUSE I'VE ALWAYS HEARD SUCH GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU, BUT I NEVER MET HIM.
SO HAVING SOME WAY OF BEING ABLE TO DENSIFY PEOPLE TO ME, I JUST LIKE THE, HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF IT.
CAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO EVER THINK THAT I DON'T THINK IMPORTANT AS PART OF THIS GOVERNMENT SYSTEM.
WELL, THE WAY THAT I SEE YOUR GROUP IS YOU ARE A TEAM.
AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW IS DEVELOPING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TEAM.
THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND UM, MAY I WANT TO HELP YOU ALL THAT I CAN.
UH, BUT I, I WOULD, UNLIKE CHERYL, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO YOUR PEOPLE ARE, HOW I CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM, BECAUSE IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU WANT TO KNOW.
UH, WE GET PEOPLE, WE GET, UM, PEOPLE THAT ARE ALL THE TIME ASKING, WELL, WHO DOES THIS? WHO DOES THAT? AND THEY'LL GO, MIKE BARRY DOES THAT.
I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND IF I DON'T KNOW THAT SECOND PERSON, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
I NEVER HAD ANYBODY SAY THAT TO ME.
I COULDN'T, IT HAS HAPPENED, BUT YOU HAVE ACTUALLY PASSED THE TORCH A COUPLE OF TIMES, YOUR TEAM, YOUR TEAM IS.
AND I APPRECIATE THEM EVERY ONE OF THEM.
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE BUILDING THE LEADERSHIP PORTION OF IT NOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE A LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HAD TO GO THROUGH A LOT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO START LEADING OUR TEAM.
[00:55:01]
THAT'S ALL.WELL THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING.