[00:00:07]
WELCOME TO THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR JULY 18TH, 2023.
[D. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
ARE GONNA OPEN UP OUR MEETING WITH A PRAYER WITH REVEREND ROBERTSON.UH, AND ONCE AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, FAITH COMMUNITIES OF WARREN COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO OPEN THIS WITH THE WORD OF GOD, UH, PRAYER FOR ANOTHER EVENING.
ALMIGHTY GOD, IT'S ACCORDING TO YOUR MERCY AND WISDOM THAT YOU HAVE ORDAINED THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR PEOPLE.
WE PRAY TONIGHT THAT YOU WOULD BESTOW UPON THEM SUPERNATURAL WISDOM, COURAGE, FAITH, AND ABILITY TO LEAD US IN THE WAYS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO GO.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT WE PRAY.
OKAY, I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER.
LET'S ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.
I PLEDGE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[E. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]
OF BUSINESS IS WE'RE GOING TO MA, UM, ADOPT OUR AGENDA.UM, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO OUR AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, WE NEED TO ADD THE NOMINATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, TO THE AGENDA PLEASE.
OH, AND IS THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES? DO WE HAVE, IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE, UM, AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION? SO MOVED.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE, MR. MA? AYE.
[F. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit)]
OUR NEXT, UM, ITEM IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.SO I'M JUST GONNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO GIVE INPUT ON ANY RELEVANT ISSUE, NOT THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND IT'S NOT INTENDED AS A QUESTION OR ANSWER PERIOD.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD SHALL BE LIMITED TO 60 MINUTES AND I WILL MAKE SURE IT'S 60 MINUTES.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, BUT UM, IT'S GOING TO BE RESTRICTED TO THAT OF THE MA UH, MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A TIMER AND IT'LL BE THREE MINUTES WILL BE HEARD AND, AND THEY'LL BE HEARD IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP.
SO WITH THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START THEIR, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
UM, MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP? UH, YES MA'AM.
HELLO, MY NAME'S STEVIE HUBBARD.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT, UM, QUITE A FEW THINGS TONIGHT.
UM, ONE IS ABOUT THE LIKING PRINCIPLE.
WE LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIMILAR TO US, WHO PAY US COMPLIMENTS, WHO WORK WITH US ON COMMON GOALS.
IT MAKES US IT EASIER TO JUST KIND OF BRUSH THINGS THAT THEY DO UNDER THE RUG AND NOT ADDRESS 'EM BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE LIKE US AND IT JUST GOES AWAY.
UM, OUR COMMUNITIES NO STRANGER TO THIS.
UM, IT WASN'T LONG AGO THAT WE WERE ROCK WITH THE E D A SCANDAL WHERE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW, LIKED AND LOVED WERE ABLE TO FLEECE THIS COMMUNITY FOR 28 MILLION ALL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T QUESTION IT BECAUSE WE LIKED THEM.
AND WHILE IT'S NOT AS LARGE AS SOME, WE FIND OURSELVES IN A SIMILAR SITUATION TODAY, DOLORES SOLTZ THROUGH HER CAMPAIGN FOR STATE DELICATE, HAS SPENT AN OUTLANDISH AMOUNT OF MONEY ENTRUSTED TO HER BY THE PEOPLE OF FRONT RAIL TO ONE THOMAS HENAN, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED NATIONALIST AND LEADER OF THE CLEANUP SAMUEL'S MOVEMENT FOR POLITICAL CONSULTING.
HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE AND FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE, POLITICAL CONSULTANTS WITH 20 PLUS YEARS EXPERIENCE EARN ABOUT HALF OF WHAT HE MADE.
[00:05:01]
OR QUESTIONED BECAUSE OF LIKABILITY.WHILE WE CAN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN WHAT HAPPENED HERE, IT'S ONE OF TWO THINGS.
DOLORES EITHER MADE AN EXTREMELY UNETHICAL CHOICE TO FUND THIS CLEANUP SAMUEL'S MOVEMENT OR SHE PROVED HERSELF UNFIT TO HOLD THE OFFICE BY WASTEFUL LEASE SPENDING 20 K THAT THE PUBLIC TRUSTED HER WITH IN A PRIMARY THAT SHE WASN'T EVEN BEING PRIMARY IN UNTIL THE FINAL THREE WEEKS OF THE SEASON TO A MAN WHO WASN'T EVEN FIT TO CARRY MY BRIEFCASE, MUCH LESS FETCH SUCH HIGH FEES.
IT'S JUST NOT ADDING UP AND IT'S GOING UNCHECKED AND THE CAUSE ISN'T EVEN A NOBLE ONE.
TONIGHT YOU WILL HEAR FROM AN IMPRESSIVE YOUNG PERSON OF 13 WHO REPRESENTS THE L G B T Q COMMUNITY AS YOU WILL SIT THERE WHILE YOU HAVE THEM EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THEY SHOULD ENJOY THE SAME RIGHTS THAT WE DO.
WHILE YOU'LL HAVE THEM SIT THERE AND FIGHT WITH YOU TO VALIDATE THEIR VERY EXISTENCE, WHICH ONE OF YOU WILL HAVE THE UNMITIGATED GALL TO LOOK THEM IN THE FACE AND TELL THEM THEY AREN'T EXACTLY WHO GOD CREATED THEM TO BE? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ALLOW THINGS LIKE THIS TO CONTINUE.
AND GOD FORBID ONE OF THESE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY SUBJECTED TO ENDURE THIS HATEFUL RHETORIC WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK, DECIDES THEY CAN'T LIVE WITH THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY START TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THEM.
LIKE THE YOUNG WOMAN WHOSE FINAL SPEECH BEFORE SHE TOOK HER LIFE, YOU WILL HEAR SHORTLY FROM ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA SPEAK TONIGHT, HOW WILL ANY OF YOU GUYS LOOK YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR? BECAUSE MAKE NO MISTAKE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ENTERTAINED THIS HATEFUL DISPLAY WITH NO REBUKE, NO REBUKE, NO REBUKE WILL MAKE YOU GUILTY.
KING ONCE SAID, IN THE END, WE WILL REMEMBER NOT THE WORDS OF OUR ENEMIES BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS.
I STRONGLY URGE, URGE THIS BOARD TO END THIS HATE PARADE TONIGHT AND LET THIS COMMUNITY KNOW THAT YOU INTEND ON FULLY FUNDING THAT LIBRARY AND THAT THIS HATE PARADE IS OVER.
WE WANT YOU TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE FULLY FUNDING THIS LIBRARY TONIGHT AT THIS MEETING AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
NO, PLEASE, NO APPLAUSE PLEASE NO APPLAUSE OR DISRUPTION CUZ ALL I DOES IS GONNA TAKE UP THE HOUR FOR EVERYONE TO COME UP AND SPEAK.
MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HAVE ANOTHER? NEXT IS TINA JOHNSON LOUD.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
UH, MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL, I'VE TOLD YOU THIS BEFORE, BUT UH, JUST IN CASE I HOLD A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, CHILD DEVELOPMENT FROM TUFTS UNIVERSITY AND I HAVE MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
I HAD TO RETIRE EARLY, BUT UH, THAT'S THE FRAME OF REFERENCE I'M USING IN SPEAKING TO YOU.
I, I'VE COME BEFORE THIS BOARD WITH FACTS RESEARCH WITH RELEVANT STATISTICS.
I'VE SHARED MY EXPERTISE, MY EDUCATION AND MY EXPERIENCE IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.
UH, I SUPPOSE THIS TIME I'M APPEALING TO YOUR HEART, BUT REALLY TO THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MY TOWN AND MY COUNTY.
DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, A WOMAN WHO SELF-IDENTIFIED AS BELONGING TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SPOKE AND ASKED THE BOARD NOT TO HAVE THESE NAMED BOOKS REMOVED BECAUSE THE LIBRARY, WHEN SHE GOES, IT FILLS HER HEART TO SEE MATERIAL THAT SUPPORTS HER BELIEFS AS A CATHOLIC AND BOLSTERS, UM, THOSE BELIEFS FOR HER FAMILY.
I DON'T SUPPORT HER BELIEFS, MINE ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
UM, BUT THOSE BELIEFS BEING REPRESENTED IN OUR LIBRARY, WHICH IS A PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR ALL THE TAXPAYERS IS SOMETHING I DO SUPPORT.
THE IDEA OF PERSONAL FREEDOM REFLECTS THE BEST OF THE HEART OF WARREN COUNTY AND FRONT ROYAL TO LIVE AND LET LIVE.
WE RIDE OUR ATVS, HAVE BONFIRES, SHOOT OFF FIREWORKS, DRINK BEER.
AND EVEN IF WE DON'T LIKE WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS ARE DOING IT, WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS ARE HOOTING AND HOLLERING, WE KNOW IF WE LEAVE THEM ALONE, THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE
[00:10:01]
US ALONE.I'M ASKING FOR NEIGHBORLY TREATMENT.
I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH A POEM BY MARTIN.
YOU'VE PROBABLY ALL HEARD IT BY MARTIN NE MOLER WHO WAS A MINISTER.
I BELIEVE FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE COMMUNISTS AND I DID NOT SPEAK BECAUSE I WAS NOT A COMMUNIST.
THEN THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A SOCIALIST.
THEN THEY CAME FOR THE TRADE UNIONS AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN A TRADE UNION.
THEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A JEW.
THEN THEY CAME FOR ME AND THERE WAS NO LONG LEFT TO SPEAK FOR ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. HENDERSON.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? UH, NEXT IS CAMMIE HUBBARD.
NO, YOU'RE DOING JUST FINE HUN.
ALL RIGHT, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS CAMERON HUBBARD.
I HAVE GROWN UP IN WARREN COUNTY.
I HAVE FIRSTHAND SEEN THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF DECISIONS SUCH AS THESE AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR TOWN, YOUR YOUTH AND YOUR SCHOOL.
NOT ENOUGH OF OUR YOUTH IS MOTIVATED TO FACE YOU.
THEY'RE SCARED TO BRING UP TOPICS TO THE TABLE BASED ON THE PREVIOUS VOTING.
THEY'RE SCARED OF THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED BREAK US DOWN, HAVE HELPED SLOWLY STRIP AWAY OUR PASSIONS AND BELIEFS AND BELITTLE OUR BELIEFS AS WELL AS SILENCE OUR VOICES WHEN WE ARE THE ONES WHO ELECT YOU TO PROTECT ALL OF THESE THINGS.
I COME TO THE PODIUM TO REFRESH YOUR MINDS ON A TOPIC THAT IS HEAVILY ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
REFUNDING THE LIBRARY NOW, NOT IN SEPTEMBER.
THIS IDEOLOGY HAS BEEN, THIS IDEOLOGY HAS BEEN BUILT ON PROTECTING CHILDREN IS QUITE HYPOCRITICAL.
MAY I REMIND YOU TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN YOU ARE TAKING PROTECTION OF THE OTHERS BY DEFUNDING THE LIBRARY.
YOU ARE DELIVERING THE MESSAGE TO CHILDREN, TEENS AS WELL AS ADULTS THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH THEIR SEXUALITIES.
YOU ARE APPROVING THE MESSAGE TO YOUNG CHILDREN WITH PARENTS OF THE SAME SEX THAT THEY'RE UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU ARE SUPPLYING TO THE FUEL OF THE FIRE THAT WILL AND IT WILL BURN DOWN AND DESTROY OUR TOWN AND ITS COMMUNITIES.
WILL IT STOP AT THE LIBRARY? WHO KNOWS? ROOT OF THIS ISSUE COMES DOWN TO PARENTAL SUPERVISION.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO READ, SAID BOOKS, THEN PROTECT YOUR OWN.
THIS IS A PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH INCLUSIVE SELECTIONS.
BOOKS TRAVEL WITH US THROUGHOUT OUR YEARS.
WE FIND COMFORT IN READING AND WE FIND INTELLIGENCE IN READING AS WELL TO DECIDED TO FUND THE LIBRARY.
IT SENDS OUT A MESSAGE THAT IS VERY UNSETTLING.
IT MAKES MAJORITY OF YOUR COMMUNITY QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OF YOU ALL.
TO WHICH WE, YOUR PEOPLE HAVE VOTED YOU ON HERE, PLEASE REEVALUATE YOUR DECISIONS AND REVISE CAUTIOUSLY WITH YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY IN MIND.
AND LASTLY, PLEASE CONSIDER REMOVING MS. OATS ABILITY TO VOTE ON THIS TOPIC DUE TO PRICEY AFFILIATION WITH MR. HENNE.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I AM BRUCE WHITE AND I RESIDE AT 87 FERN COURT IN SHENANDOAH FARMS. UH, AND I URGE YOU IN THE STRONGEST TERMS POSSIBLE TO FULLY FUND SAMUELS LIBRARY.
NOW, MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO WARREN COUNTY IN 2005 AND WERE IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED WITH THE LIBRARY, THE PROFESSIONALISM OF ITS STAFF, THE BREADTH OF ITS COLLECTION, ITS PROGRAMS, AND THE NEW FACILITY BUILT SHORTLY AFTER WE ARRIVED.
THE RECENT CONTROVERSY, UH, UH, CAUSED BY DEMANDS TO BAN CERTAIN BOOKS CONTAINING L G B T Q OR WOKE CONTENT CAUSED ME TO READ SOME OF THOSE BOOKS, THOSE THAT I COULD GET ACCESS TO, AND I DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING THINGS IN THE PROCESS OF READING THOSE BOOKS.
I DISCOVERED SURELY ENOUGH, NOT SURPRISINGLY GIVEN MY AGE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ SUCH BOOKS WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, NOR WOULD MY SON AND DAUGHTER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ SUCH BOOKS.
BUT IF THEY HAD, I WOULD'VE RESERVED THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL WITH THEM MYSELF ABOUT WHICH BOOKS THEY READ AND WHY AND THE VALUES REPRESENTED IN THOSE BOOKS.
[00:15:02]
IF MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE TO READ THOSE BOOKS, I FULLY TRUST THEIR PARENTS TO EXERCISE THE SAME COUNSEL AND OVERSIGHT OF THOSE BOOKS WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN.I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE RIGHT OF ANY GROUP OF PARENTS TO DETERMINE FOR OTHER PARENTS HOW THEIR CHILDREN SHOULD BE, UH, UH, COUNSELED WHAT VALUE SYSTEM THEY SHOULD HAVE, NOR HOW THOSE, UH, OTHER PARENTS WOULD WANT TO RESTRICT THE READING OF THOSE CHILDREN.
TO PUT THESE OPINIONS IN IN SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT, I OFFER THE FOLLOWING.
I LEARNED IN THE NEWS RECENTLY OF THE DEATH AT AGE 89 OF DONALD TRIPLET, THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED AS AUTISTIC.
IN HIS EARLY YEARS, HE WAS UNCOMMUNICATIVE WITH HIS PARENTS, WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND HE WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED AS WAS CUSTOMARY THEN AT AGE OF THREE, HIS PARENTS, HOWEVER, AFTER ONE YEAR TOOK HIM OUT OF THAT INSTITUTION AND SOUGHT FURTHER MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? UH, NEXT UP IS KATHY STRIDE.
I'M THE MOTHER OF THREE ADULT CHILDREN, ONE IN HEAVEN AND TWO ON EARTH.
I'M ALSO THE GRANDMOTHER TO A BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT, AND CURIOUS FOUR AND A HALF YEAR OLD WHO LOVES THE LIBRARY.
I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND I AM THE MOTHER OF A CHILD LOST BY SUICIDE.
I'M NOT HERE TO REPRESENT AFS P I'M HERE AS AN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE IN CRISIS AND IT'S NOT FROM READING A BOOK OFF THE LIBRARY SHELF.
THIS, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE LIBRARY BOOKS OR PORNOGRAPHY.
LET'S CALL THIS WHAT IT IS AND IT'S AN ATTACK ON OUR L B G L G B T Q, CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HUMAN BEINGS, PEOPLE WHO WANNA LOVE AND LIVE FREELY JUST LIKE YOU AND ME.
FEAR, FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.
HERE ARE THE COLD, HARD FACTS.
SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AGE 10 TO 24 AND LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS, TRANSGENDER QUEER AND QUESTIONING L B G T Q YOUTH ARE AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER AND INCREASED RISK.
LGBTQ Q YOUTH ARE MORE THAN FOUR TIMES LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE THAN THEIR PEERS.
THE TREVOR PROJECT ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN 1.8 MILLION L G B T Q YOUTH 13 TO 24 SERIOUSLY CONSIDERS SUICIDE EACH YEAR IN THE US AND AT LEAST ONE ATTEMPTS EVERY 45 SECONDS.
LGBTQ Q YOUTH ARE NOT INHERENTLY PRONE TO SUICIDE RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, BUT RATHER PLACED AT A HIGHER RISK BECAUSE OF HOW THEY ARE MISTREATED AND STIGMATIZED IN SOCIETY.
EXPERIENCES OF PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION INCLUDING FAMILY REJECTION, BULLYING, CYBER BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND MISTREATMENT ARE ALSO FACTORS.
THE ONE THING I CAN'T DO IN GOOD CONSCIENCE IS SIT BACK AND WATCH HATE DESTROY OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
KIDS NEED TO HAVE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS.
THEY NEED SOMEWHERE TO GO WHEN THE HOME IS A BATTLEGROUND.
THEY NEED TO BE ALLOWED TO LIVE THE LIFE THEY CHOOSE TO BE CURIOUS TO READ BOOKS.
I WANT MY GRANDSON AND EVERY CHILD TO GROW UP IN A WORLD WHERE TOLERANCE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING ARE THE NORM.
I WANT MY GRANDCHILD TO COME TO ME
[00:20:01]
AND NOT BE AFRAID OF JUDGMENT.HOW ABOUT YOU? WE DEMAND THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY BE FULLY FUNDED NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. HENDERSON.
I'M HONORED TO SPEAK FOR TWO STRONG WOMEN WHO ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
THESE WORDS ARE WRITTEN BY BRIDGET RANDOLPH.
SHE LIVED IN, I LIVED IN FRONT ROYAL VA FROM THE AGES OF FIVE TO 22 AND MY FATHER IS STILL A RESIDENT.
WHILE I LIVED HERE, MY FAMILY WERE PARISHIONERS AT ST.
I ALSO ATTENDED CHRISTIANDOM COLLEGE GRADUATING SUMMA C*M LAUDE IN 2000 THOUSAND NINE WITH A DEGREE IN HISTORY.
AS AN AVID AND EARLY YOUNG READER, I RECEIVED A LOT OF BENEFIT FROM MY ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND COLLECTIONS OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, ALL OF WHICH STILL SERVES ME TODAY IN MY WORK AS A PROFESSIONAL ACTOR, WRITER, BUSINESS CONSULTANT, ENTREPRENEUR AND LEADERSHIP COACH.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE MAIN REASON I AM SHARING TODAY.
IN 2017, I LOST MY YOUNGEST SISTER ROSE WHEN SHE TOOK HER OWN LIFE AT THE AGE OF 19.
SHE HAD RECENTLY GRADUATED THE TOP OF HER HIGH SCHOOL CLASS AND WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN HER UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AT UVU ON A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.
SHE PLANNED TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AFTERWARDS.
WHILE WE, WHILE WE CAN NEVER KNOW ALL THE FACTORS THAT LED UP TO SUCH A DECISION, WE DO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE FACTORS WAS HER DIAGNOSED PTSD, WHICH SHE STRUGGLED WITH AS A RESULT OF GROWING UP AS A GAY TEEN IN THE TOXIC CULTURE OF THE FRONT ROYAL CATHOLIC HOMESCHOOL AND ST.
JOHN'S CHURCH COMMUNITY AND THE BULLYING ABUSE SHE RECEIVED BY THAT COMMUNITY.
ROSE GAVE IN HER OWN WORDS THIS SPEECH.
I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS AND NO WAY TO ANSWER THEM, BUT WHEN I WAS 10, MY CHANCE TO EDUCATE MYSELF HAD FINALLY COME.
AND DURING THE 45 MINUTES THAT MY MOTHER WAS GONE, EACH DAY AT CHURCH, I BIKED A MILE AND A HALF TO THE LIBRARY TO TAKE OUT FORBIDDEN BOOKS, WHICH I HAD UNDER MY MATTRESS TO READ.
LATER I READ EVERYTHING FROM HARRY POTTER TO THE QURAN AND FOUND MY WORLDVIEW INFINITELY EXPANDED AS THE INCONSISTENCIES I HAD QUESTIONED MY WHOLE LIFE WERE RESOLVED.
I FELT AS THOUGH I HAD WOKEN UP FROM A BAD DREAM.
SO TREASURE, THE EDUCATION YOU RECEIVE HERE FOR IT IS EASY TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.
EVERY HUMAN BEING DESERVES TO BE EDUCATED IN TRUTH.
YOU CAN READ HER WHOLE SPEECH ONLINE IF YOU GOOGLE HER NAME AND HER SCHOOL.
BUT THE POINT IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OF OTHER OTHERS OF HER LIKE AND LIKE IN THIS TOWN WHO THIS LIBRARY IS A SOURCE OF SAFETY, TRUTH AND COMFORT AND COMMUNITY IN A ENVIRONMENT THAT HATES THEM AND WANTS THEM TO NOT EXIST.
AND THAT IS WHY THESE PEOPLE WANT TO REMOVE THESE SPECIFIC BOOKS.
NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE PORNOGRAPHIC, BUT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IF WE HAVE ACCESS TO SAFETY AND TRUTH, THEIR LIES AND OPPRESSION WILL NOT HOLD.
SO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BAN FREE SPEECH IN THE NAME OF PROTECTING KIDS, YOU CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
SPOILER, YOUR CHILDREN ARE GAY, THEY ARE NON-BINARY AND TRANS.
THEY'RE QUEER, THEY'RE QUESTIONING, THEY ARE DOUBTING, THEY'RE SEEKING TRUTH.
PREVENTING THEM FROM ACCESSING INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY WON'T CHANGE THAT.
YOU FAILED ROSE AND HER SISTER BRIDGET AND YOU WILL FAIL MORE OF THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IF YOU'RE FORCED THE LIBRARY TO REMOVE THESE BOOKS.
YOU SPEAK OF PROTECTING CHILDREN AND THAT YOUR ACTIONS ARE NOT THE SAME.
YOU HAVE A DUTY TO YOUR TOWN AND TO YOUR PEOPLE.
YOUR VOTE AND YOUR ACTIONS WILL BE NOTED.
AND WHILE YOU MAY BE PRAISED FOR YOUR EFFORTS BY THIS RELIGIOUS GROUP, YOUR LEGACY WILL BE FOREVER TAINTED BY YOUR MISMANAGEMENT OF THIS ISSUE.
WHEN YOU HAVE LEFT THIS OFFICE AND YEARS HAVE PASSED, PEOPLE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS AND IT WILL BE ABOUT HOW YOU LISTEN TO AND ALLOW BULLIES TO CONTROL INFORMATION.
YOUR NAMES WILL BE FORGOTTEN AND YOUR GOOD WORKS WILL BE SHADOWED BY THIS EVENT.
PLEASE, PLEASE, MR. HENDERSON, SOMEONE, BETHANY O'NEILL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BETHANY O'NEILL AND I'M A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT OF 14 YEARS.
MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN SAMUEL PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRON AND CARD HOLDERS OF ALL OF THESE YEARS.
IN JUNE, YOU VOTED TO WITHHOLD 75% OF THE BUDGET UNTIL THE LIBRARY COULD PROVE THEY WERE WORKING IN GOOD FAITH ON POLICIES THAT PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM EXPLICIT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL AND AND ENSURE PARENTS HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN'S READING, UH, CHOICES.
THIS IS DIRECTLY FROM YOUR UM, FACEBOOK PAGE, SUPERVISOR OATS.
SINCE THEN, THE LIBRARY HAS CREATED A NEW ADULT SECTION AND CREATED A THREE-TIER LIBRARY CARD SYSTEM.
THESE CHANGES WERE MADE AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN RELEASED.
I AM SO DISAPPOINTED AND I'M HEARTBROKEN.
IT'S APPARENT THE SMALL GROUP THAT CONTINUOUSLY SPEWS HATE AND IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE L G BT COMMUNITY THAT HAS ACTUALLY PERSUADED YOU TO SILENCE THE LARGER DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT REPRESENTS WARREN COUNTY.
I'M SO DISAPPOINTED, DISAPPOINTED WORDS LIKE PORN, GROOMERS, PEDOPHILES ARE BEING USED TO DESCRIBE OUR LIBRARY COLLECTION AND STAFF.
IT APPEARS YOU MUST ACTUALLY BELIEVE THESE THINGS THAT OUR YOUTH ARE AT RISK.
IT APPEARS THAT WAY BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL HOLDING THE BUDGET HOSTAGE.
I HAVE READ 13% OF THE BOOKS ON THE BAND, THE PROPOSED BAND LIST, AND I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL.
WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS BEAUTIFUL STORIES WITH CHARACTERS
[00:25:01]
THAT HAPPEN TO BE QUEER OF COLOR WITH VARIOUS LEARNING ABILITIES.PERSONS WITH DISABILITY, THE CHARACTERS ARE THOSE THAT MY CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN OF THE COMMUNITY CAN RELATE TO, NEED EXPOSURE TO, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED.
I AM READING ABOUT CHARACTERS STRUGGLING TO BE UNDERSTOOD, BEING BULLIED, BULLIED IN WAYS THAT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART.
MISUNDERSTOOD BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE.
ISN'T IT OBVIOUS WE DON'T ALL LOOK THE SAME, PRAY THE SAME, LOVE THE SAME, LEARN THE SAME.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A FULLY FUNDED LIBRARY THAT HAS MATERIAL THAT REPRESENTS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE ARE LOOKING SIMPLY AT THE LIBRARY AND NOT JUST THIS LIST OF BOOKS, PLEASE KNOW MY FAMILY HAS USED THE FREE INTERNET, TAKEN CLASSES, EXPLORED LANGUAGES HAVE MET AUTHORS, GONE TO STORY TIME, PARTICIPATED IN THE WINTER WRITING CONTEST, BROWSED AND CHECKED OUT BOOKS AND EVERY SECTION OF THE LIBRARY.
THESE OPPORTUNITIES WILL NOT EXIST WITHOUT A FULLY FUNDED LIBRARY.
WHEN YOU WITHHOLD FUNDING FROM THE LIBRARY, YOU ARE WITHHOLDING IT FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE WITHHOLDING IT FROM THE 21,000 PLUS SAMUEL PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRONS.
YOU ARE TAKING AWAY THE FREEDOM TO READ OF OUR CHILDREN.
YOU ARE TAKING AWAY THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO PARENT OUR OWN CHILDREN.
YOU ARE TELLING OUR COMMUNITY THAT THOSE FILLED WITH HATE AND IGNORANCE MEAN MORE THAN THOSE FILLED WITH LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING.
JESUS SAID, LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.
YOU ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO YOUR NEIGHBOR BY WITHHOLDING THE BUDGET OF THE LIBRARY.
I ASK THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE MAJORITY IMMEDIATELY AND RELEASE THE REMAINDER OF THE BUDGET OF THE LIBRARY TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? UH, JACKIE STOCKER.
UM, I THINK AT THIS POINT WE KNOW IT'S NOT ABOUT PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS.
IT'S ABOUT ATTACKING THE BT Q I COMMUNITY KNOWING THAT I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH A QUOTE.
WE LIVE THROUGH TIMES WHEN HATE AND FEAR SEEM STRONGER.
WE RISE AND FALL AND LIGHT FROM DYING.
EMBERS REMEMBRANCES THAT HOPE AND LOVE LASTS LONGER AND LOVE IS, LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE CANNOT BE KILLED OR SWEPT ASIDE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION STATES CONGRESS SHALL NOT MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF OR BRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR OF PRESS OR OF THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE.
TO PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE AND PETITION THE GOVERNMENT PROTECT SEVERAL FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
THIS MEANS THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT ESTABLISH OR FAVOR ANY PARTICULAR RELIGION BY VOTING TO WITHHOLD BECAUSE OF A BUNCH OF BULLIES FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, YOU ARE FAVORING A RELIGION.
UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA THERE, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DID HAVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY IN THE CONSTITUTION BUT ARE IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.
JAMES MADISON SAID THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS TO KEEP FOREVER THESE SHORES, THE CEASE CEASELESS STRIFE THAT IS SOAKED THE SOIL OF EUROPE AND BLOOD FOR CENTURIES.
THAT WAS A LETTER TO THE BAPTIST CHURCHES IN 1803.
GEORGE WASHINGTON WROTE, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS NOT IN ANY SENSE FOUNDED ON CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
THAT WAS A LETTER TO THE UNITED BAPTIST CHURCHES IN 1793.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE ABC OF DEMOCRACIES BY UM, HAKEEM JEFFRIES FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AMERICAN VALUES OVER AUTOCRACY, BENEVOLENCE OVER BIGOTRY, THE CONSTITUTION OVER THE CULT, DEMOCRACY OVER DEMAGOGUES, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OVER EXTREMISM, FREEDOM OVER FASCISM, GOVERNING OVER GASLIGHTING, HOPEFULNESS OVER HATRED, INCLUSION OVER ISOLATION, JUSTICE OVER JUDICIAL OVERREACH, KNOWLEDGE OVER KANGAROO COURTS, LIBERTY OVER LIMITATION, MATURITY OVER MARRA LARGO, NORMALCY OVER NEGATIVITY, OPPORTUNITY OVER OBSTRUCTION, PEOPLE OVER POLITICS, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES OVER Q ANON, REASON OVER RACISM, SUBSTANCE OVER SLANDER, TRIUMPH OVER TYRANNY, UNDERSTANDING OVER UGLINESS, VOTER RIGHTS OVER VOTER SUPPRESSION, WORKING FAMILIES OVER THE WELL CONNECTED XENI OVER XENOPHOBIA.
YES WE CAN OVER YOU CAN DO IT.
AND ZEALOUS REPRESENTATION OVER ZERO SUM CONFRONTATION.
I URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND THE LIBRARY NOW, NOT WAIT TILL SEPTEMBER.
JUST REMEMBER HISTORY HAS ITS EYES ON YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON SIGNED UP? NEXT UP IS CAROLINE TEMECO.
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I HOPE YOU'RE ALL WELL MY NAME IS CAROLINE TEMECO.I'VE BEEN A LIFELONG LEFT RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1773.
SO, SO COULD YOU, UM, UM, STATE YOUR ADDRESS AS WELL? SURE.
TWO 70 WOOD LANE FRONT, ROYAL VIRGINIA 22 6 30.
BUT MY FAMILY COMES FROM THE BROWNTOWN AREA.
BOOK BANNING BOOKS WON'T PROTECT OUR KIDS, BUT TEACHING THEM TO READ AND THINK CRITICALLY WILL BOOK BANS IN CENSORSHIP HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, RUSSIA, CHINA, BUT NOT IN AMERICA, NOT IN AMERICA.
WE FOUGHT WORLD WARS OVER THIS AS A BOARD ELECTED TO RESPECTFULLY HEAR ALL THE CONCERNS OF ALL CITIZENS IN THE COUNTY.
I ASK THAT YOU WOULD LISTEN WITH AN OPEN MIND.
ONLY 53% OF THE 21,000 PATRONS AT THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS 0.25 OF 1% HAVE FLOODED THE LIBRARY WITH FRIVOLOUS REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION FORMS TO UNLAWFULLY CHALLENGED BOOKS WITH L G B T Q CONTENT SEVERELY DISRUPTING THE NORMAL OPERATIONS OF THE LIBRARY.
THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROCESS IS OF 134 BOOKS BEING CHALLENGED EQUALS TENS OF THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND STAFF TIME AND RELATED COSTS.
AND IN-KIND VOLUNTEER TIME OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND ALL TOTAL.
WARREN COUNTY IS STILL UNDER FINANCIAL PRESSURE FROM THE ED SCANDAL AND CANNOT AFFORD TO RISK LAWSUITS THAT MIGHT RESULT FROM VIOLATING CIVIL RIGHTS.
WARREN COUNTY HAS ALREADY COMMITTED $10,000 TO LEGAL FEES.
THE LIBRARY HAS ALLOCATED $25,000 TO FIGHT THE CHALLENGES.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF THIS BOOK CHALLENGES.
GUYS, I CAN'T AFFORD MY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES
WE HAVE TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.
ALL THE BOOKS IN QUESTION THAT ARE BEING CHALLENGED CONTAIN LGBTQ CONTENT AND THERE'S NO OTHER REASON FOR THIS EXCEPT FOR DISCRIMINATORY AND VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
SO I JUST, I'M A CHRISTIAN, I'VE BEEN A LIFELONG CHRISTIAN AND I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
THE ONLY CLEAR LINE I DRAW THESE DAYS IS WHEN MY RELIGION TRIES TO COME BETWEEN ME AND MY NEIGHBOR.
MY L G B LGBTQ NEIGHBOR, MY MUSLIM NEIGHBOR, MY CATHOLIC NEIGHBOR, MY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR NEIGHBORS.
I WILL ALWAYS CHOOSE MY NEIGHBOR.
JESUS NEVER COMMANDED ME TO LOVE MY RELIGION.
HE COMMANDED ME TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOR, INCLUDING THE LGBTQ THANK YOU AND PLEASE FUND SAMUELS TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? SIGN UP.
UH, NEXT UP IS CHARLES STEWART.
I'M IN A FRONT ROYAL RESIDENT ATTORNEY CARD CARRYING SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY MEMBER AND A FATHER TO A 12 AND 13 YEAR OLD BOYS.
DO YOU MIND STATING YOUR ADDRESS TOO, PLEASE? UH, SURE.
UH, AFTER READING SEVERAL OF THESE BOOKS, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MY BOYS READING THEM.
THEY CAN READ THE OTHERS WHEN THEY'RE OLDER, BUT THAT SHOULD BE MY WIFE'S AND MY DECISION AND NOT SOME STRANGER.
ASSUMING INHERENT MORAL AUTHORITY.
I'VE RECENTLY WITNESSED DISTURBING ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT ACCESS TO LITERARY WORKS AND CENSOR OPPOSING IDEAS.
REMOVING BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY IS BANNING THEM BY LIMITING THEIR EXPOSURE.
LIBRARIES ARE IMPORTANT TO A DEMOCRACY AND FOSTER THE EXCHANGE OF THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.
BOOK BANDS NOT ONLY STIFLE INTELLECTUAL GROWTH AND FOSTER IGNORANCE, BUT ACTUALLY THREATEN THE VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
CONTROVERSIAL OR CHALLENGING IDEAS SHOULD NOT CONDEMN A BOOK TO THE FIRES OF CENSORSHIP.
UH, LATE LATELY, HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE A TINY MINORITY, IN THIS CASE ONE QUARTER OF 1% OF THE PATRONS OF THE LIBRARY WANNA BAN BOOKS UNDER THE GUISE OF PROTECTING MORALITY AND SHIELDING US FROM OFFENSIVE CONTENT IN JACK OF ELLI VERSUS OHIO.
JUSTICE POTTER STEWART CHARACTERIZED OBSCENITY STATING, I KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT.
HIGHLIGHTING THE HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF CENSORSHIP.
WHAT IS OFFENSIVE TO ONE PERSON MIGHT BE THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND ENLIGHTENING TO OTHERS.
THE OBJECTIONS OF VERY FEW DO NOT JUSTIFY DENYING EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO READ AND EXPLORE A WORKS FULL, FULL CONTENT.
IN MILLER V CALIFORNIA, THE SUPREME COURT ESTABLISHED A THREE-PRONGED TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER A WORK IS OBSCENE OR SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
THEY FOCUSED ON WHETHER A WORK AS A WHOLE LACKS SERIOUS LITERARY, ARTISTIC, POLITICAL, OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE.
IF SO, TO BE DEEMED OBSCENE, IT STILL MUST DESCRIBE SEXUALITY OR EXPLORATORY FUNCTIONS IN AN OFFENSIVE IMP PRT WAY.
THIS RECOGNIZES IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLACE TO IMPOSE A PARTICULAR SET OF VALUE ON ITS CITIZENS.
CUTTING LIBRARY FUNDING OVER SELECT CONTENT IMPOSES ITS VALUES ON ITS PATRONS, INFRINGES UPON OUR INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES AND RESTRICTS OUR RIGHT TO ACCESS A DIVERSE RANGE OF THOUGHTS, IDEAS, AND OPINIONS.
CLASSIC LITERARY WORK LIKE HARPER LEE TO KILL A MOCKING BOARD BIRD GEORGE ORWELL'S 1984 AND JD SALINGER'S, CATCHER IN THE RYE ENTERTAIN READERS BUT ALSO EXPOSE THEM TO IMPORTANT IDEAS LIKE RACISM, TOTALITARIANISM AND ADOLESCENT STRUGGLES.
THEY SHAPE OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAVE PROFOUND SOCIETAL IMPACT.
WHEN I FIRST READ KEER RIOT AT 13, I FOUND A DISTASTEFUL,
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BUT A FEW YEARS LATER I FOUND RESONANCE WITH THE BOOKS.ISSUES OF SUPER SUPERFICIALITY, IDENTITY, ISOLATION, AND BELONGING AND DEPRESSION.
BOOKS ARE WINDOWS TO NEW WORLDS VESSELS TO KNOWLEDGE AND CATALYSTS FOR INTELLECTUAL GROWTH.
THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PROMOTING EMPATHY, FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING, AND BROADENING OUR HORIZONS.
BANNING BOOKS DENIES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFRONT UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS, EXPLORE NEW PERSPECTIVES, AND EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD.
IT STIFLES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, UNDERMINES CRITICAL THINKING AND HINDERS SOCIETAL PROGRESS.
BY SHIELDING OURSELVES FROM CHALLENGING OUR CONTROVERSIAL CONTENT, WE RISK LIVING IN AN ECHO CHAMBER DEVOID OF CRITICAL THINKING AND AND EMPATHY.
THAT IS WHY I DEMAND THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR.
WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE? SO I AM, UH, LAMAS, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR TWO YEARS AT 1174 HAPPY CREEK ROAD.
LIBRARIES ARE TREASURE TROS OF KNOWLEDGE, BOTH FICTION AND NON-FICTION HOUSING.
AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTION OF BOOKS FEELS OUR CURIOSITY AND EXPANDS OUR HORIZONS.
FROM TIMELESS CLASSICS TO THE LATEST NOVELS, LIBRARIES OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF READING MATERIALS THAT CATER TO EVERY INTEREST IN READING LEVEL CUTTING LIBRARY FUNDING LIMITS, ACCESS TO THESE VALUABLE RESOURCES TO BRAVING KIDS OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE NEW IDEAS, DISCOVER DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND DEVELOP A LOVE FOR READING.
EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO UNLOCKING A BRIGHT FUTURE WHEN NOT EVERYONE HAS EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.
LIBRARIES BRIDGE THIS GAP BY PROVIDING FREE OR AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO BOOKS, COMPUTERS, AND, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. BY CUTTING LIBRARY FUNDING, WE RISK CREATING AN EDUCATIONAL DIVIDE WHERE SOME CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WHILE OTHERS ARE LEFT BEHIND LIBRARIES.
SPO PROMOTE EQUALITY LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD ENSURE THAT ALL KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.
SAMUELS LIBRARIES JUST IS NOT JUST A COLLECTION OF BOOKS, IT IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR LEARNING AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
IT OFFERS A PEACEFUL AND FOCUSED ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES STUDYING RESEARCH AND EXPLANATION FOR MANY LIBRARIES PROVIDE A REFUGE FROM OUT DISTRACTIONS, MAKING IT EASIER TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR STUDIES.
ADDITIONALLY, LIBRARIES OFTEN HOST WORKSHOPS, TUTORING PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS THAT ENHANCE CHILDREN'S LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
CUTTING FUNDING ELIMINATES VITAL RESOURCES AND CRUSHES THE SUPPORTIVE CRUCIAL ENVIRONMENT LIBRARIES PROVIDE.
IN A WORLD DOMINATED BY TECHNOLOGY.
LIBRARY STANDS AS TIMELESS SYMBOLS OF KNOWLEDGE AND IMAGINATION.
CUTTING LIBRARY FUNDING FOR KIDS WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE ROBBING THEM OF THE COUNTLESS BENEFITS THAT LIBRARIES OFFER.
AS A CITIZEN OF FRONT ROYAL, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK UP AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIBRARY FUNDING, ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN EX CONTINUE TO EXPLORE, LEARN, AND GROW THESE MAGICAL SPACES.
WE DEMAND SAMUEL'S LIBRARY BE FUNDED NOW, NOT IN SEPTEMBER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. HENDERSON.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? NEXT UP IS SUSIE WILTON.
HELLO YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
I LIVE IN TOMS BROOK, VIRGINIA.
MY NAME IS SUSIE WILBURN AND MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF WOODSTOCK CHAPTER OF P PFLAG, WHICH SERVES RESIDENTS IN THE SHANAN VALLEY.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE AND STUDENTS TO ACCESS A WIDE RANGE OF IDEAS AND LIBRARIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS STORIES AND CONCEPTS THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO.
ALL PEOPLE, CHILDREN INCLUDED NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES IN BOOKS THEY READ.
FINDING CHARACTERS IN BOOKS THAT REFLECT THEIR SITUATION IS IMPORTANT FOR GOOD MENTAL HEALTH.
PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL THEY ARE PART OF A SOCIETY AND NOT OUTSIDERS.
IF BOOKS ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE LIBRARY.
HOW WILL FOLKS FIND THEMSELVES IN OUR SOCIETY ALONE, EXCLUDED, DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, ANXIOUS FOR THEIR SAFETY.
BOOKS ARE ALSO WINDOWS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THEIR EXPERIENCES TOO.
IF WE DON'T TRY TO KNOW HOW OTHERS LIVE, HOW CAN WE BE A HEALTHY SOCIETY? WHEN WE REMOVE STORIES OF MARGINALIZED PEOPLE, WE SEND THE MESSAGE THAT THE THEIR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE, THAT THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
PUBLISHERS AND LIBRARIES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE GUARDIANS OF THE PEOPLE'S FREEDOM TO READ.
THIS IS WHY I AM HERE TONIGHT AT SA IN SUPPORT OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
IT IS INEVITABLE IN THE GIVE AND TAKE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS,
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AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP, WILL OCCASIONALLY COLLIDE.IN A FREE SOCIETY, INDIVIDUALS ARE FREE TO DETERMINE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY WISH TO READ, AND EACH GROUP IS FREE TO DETERMINE WHAT IT WILL RECOMMEND TO ITS FREELY ASSOCIATED MEMBERS.
BUT NO GROUP, NO GROUP CAN TAKE THE LAW INTO ITS OWN HANDS AND TO IMPOSE ITS OWN IDEALS.
FREEDOM IS NO FREEDOM IT IF IT IS ACCORDED ONLY TO THE ACCEPTED AND THE INOFFENSIVE.
WE ARE MORE SAFE, FREE, AND CREATIVE.
WE ARE WHEN WE ARE NOT RESTRICTED BY GOVERNMENT OR BIGOTRY.
AS THE PRESIDENT OF P FLAG, WOODSTOCK, I SEE THE ANXIETY OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, BUT ADDITIONALLY I SEE THE ANXIETY OF THOSE CLOSE TO THE G B T Q COMMUNITY WHO ARE TRYING VERY HARD TO SUPPORT THEIR LOVED ONES.
IT COULD BE A GRANDMOTHER THAT IS TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT HER GRANDCHILD AND HAS ENOUGH EMPATHY TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT CHILD IS EXPERIENCING.
WHEN THEY SAY THEY'RE GENDER FLUID, SHE GETS A BOOK TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION.
IF THAT BOOK ISN'T, IS TAKEN AWAY FROM HER, YOU ARE ALSO DEPRIVING OTHERS OF LOVING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN IN THAT SAME WAY.
OUR WORLD IS CHANGING, BUT ACTUALLY THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WITH US ALL ALONG.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. HENDERSON.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? NEXT UP IS CHRISTINA LAWSON.
WOULD YOU PLEASE, UM, SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE? UH, I'M CHRISTINA LAWSON.
I LIVE AT TWO 20 RABBIT HILL LANE IN WINCHESTER AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING P FLAG LIKE SUSIE AT THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTINA LAWSON.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ PLUS SUPPORT GROUP CALLED PFLAG.
SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW ME FROM WORK I DO IN WARREN COUNTY.
WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS THAT MY FATHER CAME OUT AS GAY IN 1978 WHEN MY PARENTS DIVORCED.
I WAS 13 AND MY SISTER WAS 10.
I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS BUT FELT VERY ALONE.
WHAT DID THIS MEAN FOR MY FAMILY? DID THIS MEAN I WOULD BE GAY TOO? IF I TOLD MY FRIENDS MY FATHER WAS GAY? WOULD THEY MAKE FUN OF ME? WHY DID I FEEL SO MUCH SHAME WHEN I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG? I COULDN'T TALK TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND HAD NO SUPPORT SYSTEM TO SPEAK OF.
IN 1978, THERE WERE NO BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT FAMILIES LIKE MINE.
NO BOOKS ABOUT HAVING TWO MOMMIES OR TWO DADDIES, NO BOOKS ABOUT QUESTIONING ONE SEXUALITY OR GENDER IDENTITY.
NO BOOKS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE L G B LGBTQ COMMUNITY LIBRARIES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THEY PROVIDE ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS OUR SOCIETY HAS.
WHEN YOU RESTRICT ACCESS OR BAND BOOKS ALTOGETHER, YOU'RE DEPRIVING YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BECOME WELL ADJUSTED, COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND REMEMBER THERE ARE ACTUAL CHILDREN SUFFERING AND STRUGGLING WITH THESE KINDS OF QUESTIONS EVERY DAY.
SOME OF THESE ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND TODAY IN OUR LOCAL LIBRARIES.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO FUND THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR OTHER CHILDREN LIKE ME.
I HOPE BY SHARING MY STORY, I CAN PUT A NAME AND FACE ON A TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY.
I WANT TO LET YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
THERE IS NO SHAME AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? UH, NEXT UP IS MICHELLE MCKENNEY.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I LIVE AT 13 7 0 2 CREST HILL ROAD.
UM, I'M A FAITHFUL SAMUELS LIBRARY PATRON.
I HAVE A SON WHO'S 24 YEARS OLD AND WE SPENT MANY SATURDAYS AT SAMUEL'S.
I REALLY LOVED THOSE SATURDAYS.
I'VE LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF BEING HIS MOM.
I WAS A SOCCER TEAM MOM, A PT OFFICER, CUB SCOUT LEADER SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.
ANY ACTIVITY MY SON WAS IN, MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED.
IT REALLY GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW HIM WELL.
IN SPITE OF ALL OF THIS, I STILL REMEMBER THE PANIC I FELT THE SUMMER BEFORE HE LEFT HOME FOR COLLEGE.
I HAD MOMENTS OF ANXIETY AND I HAD FEARS SUCH AS WHAT IF HE'S OUT ALL NIGHT? AND I DON'T KNOW, WHAT IF HE GETS LOST ON THE BUS? WHAT IF HE'S DEPRESSED? EVEN SILLY THINGS LIKE WHAT IF HE HAS A FASHION MISHAP? WHAT IF HE WEARS ORANGE WITH YELLOW OR SOME STRANGE COLOR COMBINATION AND HE DOESN'T KNOW.
BUT NOW I LOOK BACK AT THIS TIME AND I LAUGH BECAUSE
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I REALIZE I WAS GOING THROUGH TYPICAL EMPTY NEST SYNDROME AND IT WAS NORMAL AND IT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT.IT WAS ADJUSTMENT TO STEP BACK AND TRUST THAT I HAD PREPARED HIM WELL.
AND LOOKING BACK, I REALIZE IT WASN'T JUST ME WHO PREPARED HIM, IT WAS ALSO HIS TEACHERS, HIS COACHES, HIS RELIGIOUS LEADERS, HIS NEIGHBORS.
IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO RAISE HIM.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DID THAT.
I ALSO THINK OF THE PEOPLE WHO INVESTED IN ME, MY PARENTS, MY GRANDPARENTS, MY RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
I'M 52 YEARS OLD AND MY GRANDMOTHER DIED 30 YEARS AGO, BUT I STILL HEAR HER VOICE IN MY HEAD.
AND NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE OF THAT.
I TRUST IN THE FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I KNOW WHEN I WAS, WHEN I WAS A KID THAT IF YOU WANTED TO INFLUENCE YOUR KIDS, YOU KNOW YOUR, YOU WERE THE COOL PARENTS, YOU BOUGHT THE TRAMPOLINE, YOU BOUGHT THE BASKETBALL HOOP, YOU MADE SURE YOUR HOUSE HAD THE COOL SNACKS, YOU TOOK THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE KIDS AND BECAUSE OF THAT YOU GOT TO HAVE THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS AND YOU GOT TO KNOW THEM AND YOU HAD FAITH IN THEM.
I'M THANKFUL THAT THE SAMUELS LIBRARY IS GIVING PARENTS TOOLS NOW TO HELP.
I WANNA END ON A POSITIVE NOTE.
UM, ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES I USED TO TELL MY SON WHEN HE WAS LITTLE IS FROM MR. ROGERS.
AND IT WAS, UM, HIS MOTHER USED TO TELL HIM WHEN HE SAW SCARY NEWS, UM, AND WAS FRIGHTENED.
SHE WOULD SAY, DON'T LOOK AT THE FIRE, LOOK FOR THE HELPERS, LOOK FOR THE GOOD GUYS.
THERE ARE ALWAYS GOOD GUYS HELPING.
SO THIS IS A TIME OF HIGH CONFLICT AND DISAGREEMENT AND WE NEED HELPERS TO JUST FUSE THE SITUATION.
I'M ASKING THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL BE THE HELPERS.
THEY WILL BRING GRACE AND THEY WILL HELP US THROUGH THIS TIME OF TURMOIL.
MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? UM, I HOPE I SAY THIS RIGHT.
MAY I DEFER TO MR. WHITE TO FINISH UP WHAT HE WAS SAYING? I DON'T, HE'S ALREADY SPOKEN SO I CAN'T GET YEAH, I'M SORRY MA'AM.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS ADELE ME THAT I LIVE AT 62 SOUTH MARSHALL STREET HERE IN TOWN.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
NEARLY 70 YEARS AGO, MY FATHER TOOK ME TO SAMUEL'S TO SIGN FOR MY LIBRARY CARD THAT BEGAN MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THIS GEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WAS ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN 1980 WHEN WE MOVED FROM THE BELOVED BUT OUTGROWN LOCATION ON CHESTER STREET.
OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER THEN AS WELL AS LATER WHEN WE OUTGROUP THE FACILITY WE MOVED TO IN 1980.
THE STATE ADMISSION OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT IT BRINGS PEOPLE INFORMATION AND IDEAS TOGETHER TO ENRICH AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
REMINDS VAL REMAINS VALID NO MATTER WHERE YOU STAND ON THE BOOK ISSUE.
THE MOST RECENT EMAIL I SENT TO EACH OF YOU ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTAINED THE SUBJECT LINE.
IT WENT ON TO SAY LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT WE AGREE ON SETTING A POSITIVE EXAMPLE IN OUR COUNTRY.
WE NEED THAT, THAT IT CAN BE DONE.
I HOPE WE ALL AGREE ON AT LEAST ONE THING.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A VALUABLE AND CHERISHED RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN RAISING MONEY FOR SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL MAKE AN IMPACT.
REMEMBER, THIS IS THE LETTER I WROTE,
YOU CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO S SPL IF FACEBOOK ISN'T YOUR THING, NO MATTER WHAT, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE FUNDS THAT COULD BE USED IN A MUCH BETTER WAY ARE BEING DIVERTED.
THE COST TO BOTH SPL AND THE TAXPAYERS THREATEN THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE ALL COME TO KNOW AND LOVE.
I CHALLENGED EACH OF YOU TO JOIN THE 50 PLUS PEOPLE TO INCREASE OUR ALREADY 2000 PLUS.
WE HAVE DONATED MORE THAN THAT.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FULLY FUND SAMUEL'S LIBRARY TODAY.
GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
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STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE? SANDY SCHWAB, 6 64 BRANDY ROAD FRONT OIL.THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM.
AS I SAID, MY NAME IS SANDY, I'M A VOTER.
I'M A SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRON.
I'M A MOTHER OF A TEACHER, ANOTHER CHALLENGING PROFESSION, AND I'M PART OF THE SAVE THE SAMUELS GROUP AND I AM AGAINST BOOK BANNING.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE MANY AND VARIED RIGHTS GRANTED IN THIS DOCUMENT WHERE THESE DOCUMENTS, THE US CONSTITUTION, WHICH I URGE EVERYBODY TO READ PROPERLY.
UM, BUT SOMETIMES LIKE NOW, CITIZENS HAVE TO FIGHT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED.
IN 1982, THE SUPREME COURT REAFFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION WAS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT PROTECTED UNDER THE US CONSTITUTION WHEN IT CONSIDERED WHETHER A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION BY REMOVING BOOKS FROM THE SCHOOL LIBRARY.
IN THAT DECISION, THE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT QUOTE, THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE IDEAS IS A NECESSARY PREDICATE TO THE RECIPIENT'S MEANINGFUL EXERCISE OF ITS OF HIS OWN RIGHTS OF SPEECH, PRESS AND POLITICAL FREEDOM.
THAT'S FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VERSUS PICO.
SO WE KNOW THIS ISN'T A NEW BATTLE, BUT THIS BATTLE IS NOT JUST HAPPENING HERE IN IN WARREN COUNTY.
THERE ARE FORCES OUTSIDE OF THIS COMMUNITY PUSHING POLITICAL AND DARE I SAY, RELIGIOUS AGENDAS.
I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT OF THE MORE THAN 20,000 LIBRARY PATRONS IN WARREN COUNTY, 53 PEOPLE, A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE HAVE FLOODED THE HARDWORKING STAFF, THE LIBRARY STAFF WITH REQUESTS FOR CO CONSIDERATION TO CHALLENGE AT THIS POINT.
I'M DISTURBED WITH YOUR DECISION TO HOLD BACK THE FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY RATIONALES OF PLENTY, BUT IT WAS A TERRIBLE DECISION.
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR HOLDING OUR LIBRARY HOSTAGE.
I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT THERE ARE CALLS FOR THE SAMUELS LIBRARY TO END THEIR AFFILIATION WITH THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, THE PREEMINENT LIBRARY ORGANIZATION IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE LARGEST AND OLDEST LIBRARY ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD.
I'M DISTURBED BY CALLS TO REMOVE THE LIBRARY LEADERSHIP BECAUSE WHY THEY WON'T TOE THE LINE OR BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING FOR ALL PATRONS.
I GO TO CLASSES, I GET BOOKS, I DO ALL THE STUFF THAT THE LIBRARY'S SUPPOSED TO DO AND WE DEMAND THAT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY GET FULLY FUNDED, NOT IN SEPTEMBER.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? NEXT UP IS GRANT KNE.
I AM GRANT CONNOT FROM LAKEFRONT ROYAL.
UM, COULD YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE? 6 84 CREEK ROAD.
UM, I'M A FATHER AND I'D LIKE TO START OUT BY MENTIONING A NEW FAVORITE BOOK AT OUR HOUSE CALLED BATHE THE CAT, WHICH I KID YOU NOT WE FOUND ON A LIST CALLED PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS ON THE CLEANUP SAMUELS WEBSITE.
HERE'S THE ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY.
DAD HAS POSTED A LIST OF CHORES FOR THE FAMILY TO DO BEFORE GRANDMA COMES INCLUDING BATHING THE CAT, BUT THE CAT DOES NOT WANT A BATH, SO SHE MIXES UP THE INSTRUCTIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO HILARIOUS EFFECT.
SOON THE FAMILY IS MOWING THE FLOOR, VACUUMING THE LAWN, SCRUBBING THE FISH, MOPPING THE BABY, AND THE HOUSE IS IN CHAOS.
THE LAST PAGE SHOWS TWO ADULT MEN HAND IN HAND, WHO ARE PROBABLY SAME SEX PARENTS, ALTHOUGH IT'S NEVER EXPLICITLY STATED.
ALL I CONFIGURE IS THAT SOME PEOPLE MUST CONSIDER THE TERM PORNOGRAPHIC TO INCLUDE TWO ADULTS HOLDING HANDS OR IS IT ONLY WHEN IT'S SAME SEX ADULTS OR SAME SEX ADULTS OF UNCLEAR RELATION, LET'S CALL IT WHAT IT IS.
THE SUGGESTION TO BAN THESE 134 BOOKS IS SUCH THINLY VEILED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST G B T Q CONTENT IN OUR LIBRARY'S COLLECTION.
THAT I WOULD POSE THIS QUESTION TO THE BOARD GIVEN THAT THE BIPARTISAN VIRGINIA VALUES ACT INCLUDES SOME OF THE STRONGEST PROTECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY AGAINST LGBTQ DISCRIMINATION AND EXPLICITLY COVERS PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.
SHOULD OUR COUNTY RISK EXPENSIVE TAXPAYER PAYER FUNDED LAWSUITS WHEN THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESPONSES TO THE LIBRARY'S ANNUAL USER SURVEY ARE POSITIVE? AND DO WE REALLY WANT THAT STAIN ON
[00:55:01]
OUR IMAGE? LIKE WHEN WE WERE AMONG THE LAST COUNTIES IN THE STATE TO DESEGREGATE OUR SCHOOLS OR WHEN WE HAD THE E D A EMBEZZLEMENT SCANDAL? I WOULD ALSO ASK THE BOARD, SHOULD WE ALLOW FOR DUE PROCESS AND SHOW SOME RESPECT AND SUPPORT FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY STAFF AS THEY REVIEW THESE REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION? OR SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO HOLD THE LIBRARY FUNDING HOSTAGE? WHILE AN AMAZING GROUP OF PUBLIC SERVANTS FEARS FOR THEIR JOBS, HOW MUST THAT FEEL AND THEY ARE FACING WHAT IS FRANKLY SOME DISGUSTING NAME CALLING.I, FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR LIBRARY STAFF AND I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THAT SENTIMENT.
I'M SORRY FOR WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD ABOUT THE SCARLET LETTER, A BOOK ONCE BANNED BY SCHOOL BOARDS FOR DEPICTING A CHILD BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK AND NOW AN AMERICAN CLASSIC WIDELY READ IN SCHOOLS.
DESPITE THE IMPRESSION YOU MAY GET FROM THE VOCAL MINORITY GALLUP POLLING SHOWS THAT SUPPORT FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN OUR COUNTRY HAS GONE FROM 27% IN 1996 TO 71% TODAY, INCLUDING A MAJORITY OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES.
PLEASE STAND UP FOR OUR LIBRARY.
ITS STAFF, ITS BUDGET, ITS EXISTING BOOK REVIEW PROCESS AND THE VERY AMERICAN IDEA INTERRUPT.
UM, MR. HENDERSON, SUSAN KOSTER.
I LIVE IN BENTONVILLE AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND I WANT TO THANK SUPERVISOR COLLINS FOR VOTING TO SUPPORT OUR LIBRARY.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT AFTER WE HAVE ALL SPOKEN, THE REST OF YOU WILL AS WELL.
I KNOW YOU'RE ALL VERY BUSY AND I'M SURE YOU HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED.
I HAVE ONLY READ A FEW, BUT NONE OF THE BOOKS I HAVE READ HAVE HAD ANYTHING REMOTELY PORNOGRAPHIC OR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT.
THERE ARE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING THEIR LIVES.
THERE JUST HAPPEN TO BE SOME CHARACTERS IN THERE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER OR GAY OR ARE COMING TO TERMS WITH BEING ATTRACTED TO SOMEONE OF THE SAME GENDER AND WONDERING WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEM.
AND BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ THESE BOOKS.
THEY NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED IN OUR LIBRARY.
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T HAVE FAMILIES LIKE THIS, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO READ THESE BOOKS BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE GAIN EMPATHY AND WE ALL NEED EMPATHY IN THESE DAYS.
I WOULD HOPE SINCE THE LIBRARY HAS PUT INTO PLACE MEASURES THAT WILL HELP THESE PARENTS WHO DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO READ THESE BOOKS, TO RESTRICT THEM FROM READING THEM WITHOUT PREVENTING OTHER PARENTS WITH, WHILE KEEPING THOSE BOOKS AVAILABLE TO OTHERS WHO WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.
I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD NOW FULLY FUND SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY TODAY AND NOT IN SEPTEMBER.
CATHERINE CONNET, PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CATHERINE KENT.
I LIVE IN THE LAKEFRONT ROYAL SANITARY DISTRICT.
I'M CATHOLIC AND I'M A LIBRARY PATRON.
I'M HERE TODAY CUZ I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT, THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS AND THAT OUR NATION IS BUILT ON PILLARS OF FREEDOM THAT ARE ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION, THAT INCLUDE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION.
AND I HONESTLY HAVE BEEN SCARED THAT THOSE FREEDOMS MIGHT NOT BE THERE FOR MY CHILD IN THE FUTURE IF I DON'T GET UP HERE TODAY AND STAND UP FOR THEM, STAND UP FOR THOSE FREEDOMS THAT I WANT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.
I'M MONITORING WHAT MY CHILD READS AS MY MOTHER DID BEFORE ME.
SO, UH, I MEANT READING THE BOOKS THAT ARE ON THE LIST AS MUCH AS I CAN.
UH, AND I FOUND A BOOK CALLED AARON SLATER ILLUSTRATOR.
IT'S ABOUT A LITTLE BOY WHO HAS DYSLEXIA AND HE LEARNS THAT THROUGH HIS DRAWINGS HE CAN TELL BEAUTIFUL STORIES BECAUSE HE IS HAVING TROUBLE LEARNING HOW TO READ AND WRITE.
SO I READ THIS BOOK AND I REREAD THIS BOOK AND I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS ON THIS LIST OF BOOKS THAT, THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY.
UH, BUT SINCE I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALSO BEING SUBJECTED TO A, A TARGETED
[01:00:01]
CAMPAIGN TO EXPUNGE L G BT Q STORIES FROM THE LIBRARY, AS I LOOKED MORE CLOSELY I SAW THAT YOUNG AARON SLATER ILLUSTRATOR, HE'S IN THE ARMS OF TWO FEMALE CAREGIVERS.IN ONE OF THE PICTURES I TOLD MY DAD ABOUT THIS, HE'S ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE HERE TODAY AND HE LAUGHED AND HE SAID, OH, I FEEL LIKE I WAS RAISED BY TWO MOMS. HE WAS AT HOME WITH HIS FATHER WHO WAS BLIND AND HIS MOTHER AND HIS AUNT HOW TO RAISE HIM ALSO.
AND YOU KNOW, EACH FAMILY LOOKS DIFFERENT, RIGHT? ALL FAMILIES LOOK DIFFERENT.
WHAT'S BEAUTIFUL ABOUT FAMILIES IS WHEN THEY HAVE LOVE IN THEM TO HELP CARE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEM.
IN MY FAMILY, MY DAUGHTER HAS TWO AUNTS WHO ARE MARRIED AND THEY'RE LOVING PEOPLE IN HER LIFE.
I WOULD NEVER CONSIDER EXPUNGING THEIR STORIES FROM OUR LIFE OR CLEANING THEM UP FROM OUR LIVES.
SO WHY WOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT A BOOK IN THE LIBRARY THAT REFLECTS MY FAMILY? I'M A LIBRARY PATRON TOO, AND I WANT TO, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE LIBRARY SERVES ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMU OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE FAMILIES THAT LOOK LIKE ME.
ANOTHER REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I'M ALSO VERY SCARED LIKE OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE, THAT THERE WILL BE LGBTQ TEENAGERS WHO ARE LISTENING TO THE ADULTS TALK THIS HATEFUL RHETORIC.
AND I WANT THEM TO HEAR ME STAND UP TO THE BULLIES AND SAY THAT THEIR LIVES ARE WORTH LIVING.
THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO REALLY WANT THEM TO BE HERE AND WANT MUCH.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE ON THE LIST? NATHAN BEDELL.
HELLO AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, MY NAME IS NATHAN BEDELL AND I'M A RESIDENT OF STRASSBURG, VIRGINIA IN CHINO COUNTY.
I REMEMBER HELPING MY MOTHER PHOTOGRAPH A LOCAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
UH, SHE'S A SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER, ONE OF THE KIDS CALLING, UH, ANOTHER KID BY THE N WORD.
I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT KIND OF HATE FROM A KID SO YOUNG IN THAT DAY AND AGE.
FAST FORWARD ABOUT TWO DECADES, MY SISTER, WHO WAS ADOPTED FROM CHINA, WAS BULLIED FOR THE COLOR OF HER SKIN WITH CHILDREN BLAMING HER FOR THE CHINA VIRUS.
WHY DO I BRING THESE STORIES UP? WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO DO WITH BOOKS? WHAT I'M TRYING TO EMPHASIZE HERE IS THAT CHILDREN ARE SPONGES AND THEY'RE LISTENING TO HOW YOU TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
I'LL QUOTE FROM A SONG I REMEMBER FROM MY YOUTH GROWING UP IN THE VALLEY IN, UM, FREDERICK COUNTY GOES, THE FATHER UP ABOVE IS LOOKING DOWN IN LOVE.
WHAT YOU HEAR, WHAT CLEANUP SAMUELS IS TRYING TO DO WHEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT LARGE HAVE EVIDENTLY FALLEN FOR, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CHILDREN.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PROTECTING THEM.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HATE.
LET ME QUOTE YOU FROM ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS FILED BY A MARK EGGER.
I AM RESEARCHING BOOKS THAT INDOCTRINATE CHILDREN INTO THE LIE OF TRANSGENDERISM.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PORNOGRAPHY.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PROTECTING CHILDREN.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE AGGRESSIVE WING OF THE GOP'S LATEST TARGET WAR PANIC TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, AND LEMME MAKE SOMETHING ELSE CLEAR, ALTHOUGH THEIR NUMBERS ARE NOT NEARLY AS HIGH AS THE MORAL PLANET CROWD WOULD HAVE, YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND THERE ARE TRANSGENDER PARENTS HERE IN OUR COUNTIES AND CHILDREN WHOSE LITTLE EARS PICK UP A BIT TOO MUCH FROM THEIR PARENTS OWNING THE LIBS AND UP MAKING FUN OF, OR EVEN BULLYING KIDS WHO HAVE TWO DADS OR KIDS WHO HAVE TWO MOMS. WHAT ABOUT THOSE KIDS? THEY DON'T DESERVE TO SEE FAMILIES LIKE THEM REPRESENTED IN THEIR PUBLIC LIBRARY BECAUSE A SMALL GROUP IS AGAINST IT.
ONE OF THE BOOKS CLEAN UP SAMUELS WOULD LIKE TO SEE OFF THE SHELVES IS MAMA AND MAMA, MOMMY AND ME AND THE MIDDLE.
THIS KIND OF LITERATURE IS WHAT MANY IN THE CLEANUP GROUP HAVE CLAIMED IN THEIR RECONSIDERATION REQUESTS IS GROOMING CHILDREN BY SHOWING KIDS THAT OTHER KIDS WHO HAVE TWO MOMS MIGHT EXIST FOR THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ACTUAL GROOMING.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SAY HOW SICKENING AND CAN CONTEMPTUOUS THIS LINE OF THOUGHT IS TO EQUATE ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A CHILD WITH KIDS BEING AWARE THAT L G B T PEOPLE EXIST TO THE CLEANUP.
SHAME ON YOU AND TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEMBERS WHO VOTED FOR THESE MEASURES.
I HOPE YOU SOON CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND MAKE A PUBLIC APOLOGY TONIGHT AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE CLEARLY ASKING FOR.
IF I HAVE ONE MOMENT LEFT FOR A FINAL REMARK, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THESE PEOPLE AREN'T SOME LIBERAL CITY FOLK FROM LOUDOUN FREDERICK COUNTIES.
FREDERICK WARREN, UH, SHENDO PAGE.
THEY'RE MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS, AND MAYBE EVEN YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I WON'T STAND FOR THEIR ERASURE.
[01:05:01]
OR THEIR DEFAMATION.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOD, FOR 60 MINUTES.
UM,
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE COMING OUT AND SPEAKING.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, AND I JUST WANNA JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS SESSION IS JUST, UM, AND IN A NOTED ANSWER OR QUESTION PERIOD.
[G. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
ON TO OUR NEXT, UM, ITEM, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE REPORTS.I'LL KEEP MY, MY, UH, EXCUSE ME, MR. BUTLER.
WHY DON'T WE JUST WAIT TILL EVERYONE COME OUT? OH, REALLY? YEAH.
DID THINK THOSE WERE FOIBLE, DID YOU WE DON'T NEED ANY, MR. BUTLER.
YOU CAN, WHEN SHE'S, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, HER ADDRESS.
SO, IN, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL KEEP MY, UH, MY COMMENTS SHORT.
ONE IS, UH, I, I ATTENDED THE, UH, UH, LIBRARY BOARD MEETING LAST, UH, UH, THE 10TH OF JULY.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU AND MR. MAY WERE THERE ALSO.
I ATTENDED THE, UH, UH, AIRPORT, UH, UH, BOARD MEETING OVER IN WINCHESTER LAST WEEK, AND THEY HAD SOME VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS THAT, UH, CONCERNED OUR AIRPORT, UH, TO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, UH, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES.
AND THEN, UH, FINALLY, UH, ATTENDED A, UH, A MEETING WITH THE, UH, WITH THE FRONT ROYAL AIRPORT, UH, CONCERNING THE, UH, UM, OH, THE, THE SKYDIVING.
JUST WANNA SAY, I HAD A GOOD TIME VOLUNTEERING WITH THE, UM, FOOD TR UH, SHACK AT THE FRONT WORLD VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S CARNIVAL, AND, UH, WORKED WITH A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE IN THERE.
JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED THEM.
THAT MONEY GOES TOWARDS, UH, THEIR OPERATIONS AND PAYING FOR, UM, THEIR FIRE ENGINE AND SO FORTH.
ALSO WANTED TO MENTION, WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING THE SECOND ANNUAL VALOR AWARDS THAT, UM, THE CHAMBER, THAT'S GONNA BE JULY 27TH AT THE CHAND VALLEY GOLF CLUB AT SIX O'CLOCK.
AND THEN I WANTED TO THANK MR. HENDERSON FOR ALWAYS GIVING ME MY COPIES THAT I NEED AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND OUT THAT.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, MS. OATS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR DOING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB ON THE AFFAIR AS WELL AS THE PARADE.
THE PARADE WAS BIGGER THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN, UM, AND IT WAS HOT AS BLAZES OUT THERE.
I NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE UNDER A TURKEY OR A TURKEY UNDER A BROILER.
UM, AND, BUT IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY FUN TIME.
I ALSO WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO PUT OFF FIREWORKS.
THERE WERE MORE FIREWORK SHOWS IN THIS REGION THIS YEAR THAN THERE HAS BEEN SINCE.
PRIOR TO COVID, UM, WARREN COUNTY DID FIREWORKS, UH, THE FOUR H DID FIREWORKS.
AND SO THERE WERE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE FOUNDING OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY, UM, WHICH PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK FREELY AND OPENLY AND GIVE THEIR OPINIONS AND, UM, ADDRESS THEIR GOVERNMENT.
[01:10:01]
MAIB.ON, UH, JULY 10TH, WE HAD THE, UH, SAM LIBRARY MEETING, UH, AND ENJOYED THAT.
LISTENED TO ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE.
TALK ABOUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
ON THE 11TH, WE HAD THE, UH, BOS MEETING, OF COURSE, UH, ALSO ON, ON THE 11TH AT A WEBINAR ON THE OPIOID CRISIS.
UM, ON THE 12TH, UH, I HAD A MEETING WITH PEOPLE INC.
ON THE 13TH, I HAD, UH, AN ACTIVE SHOOTER CLASS, WHICH TURNED INTO A LONG, A LONG MEETING WITH THE SHERIFF, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATED.
UH, THE 14TH I HAD CONSTITUENT MEETINGS, UH, THE 16TH, UH, I TALKED TO WITH SHANNON DO SHORES.
AND ON OF COURSE, THE 18TH, WHICH IS TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, UH, FOR MY REPORT.
WELL, I'M ON THE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE AT THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS, UM, A VERY, UM, GOOD MEETING, POSITIVE MEETING IN MY OPINION.
UM, ALSO, I WANT TO, UM, UH, LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UH, OUR SENIOR CENTER, OUR SENIORS, WENT TO VISIT THE NEW LOCATION ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
AND, UM, THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE IN.
SO I JUST WANNA PUT OUT A BIGGER, UH, A GOOD SHOUT OUT TO, UM, ALL OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT SUPPORTED THIS PRO PROJECT FOR OUR SENIORS.
UM, ALSO OUR, UM, I ATTENDED THE MEETING ALONG WITH, UM, MR. BUTLER ON OUR SKYDIVING, BUT ALSO, I JUST WANNA LET FOLKS KNOW THAT OUR AIRPORT IS GETTING A FACELIFT.
AND, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SMALL BUILDING RENOVATIONS.
WE'VE ALREADY PAINTED, WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACING THE FLOOR.
AND WE'VE DONE SOME, YOU KNOW, SMALL, UM, UH, RENOVATIONS, I GUESS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
BUT ANYWAY, I WANNA JUST GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC WORKS TO COME OUT AND DO THAT.
SO, UM, ONCE THE RENOVATIONS ARE COMPLETED, I'LL SHARE IT WITH THE, WITH THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, HAVE EVERYONE COME OUT AND SEE THE AIRPORT.
UM, REMIND THE BOARD THAT, UM, WE ARE WORKING ON THE, UH, STUDENT UNION FACILITY, THE OLD, UH, YOUTH CENTER.
AND IT'LL BE APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER HAVING TALKED WITH RON WHEN WE WILL HAVE OUR WORK DONE.
THIS INCLUDES THE, UH, EVAC SYSTEM, IT INCLUDES THE ASBESTOS REMOVAL, UH, CHANGING THE, UH, SEWAGE.
AND THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF MOLD IN THERE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE, UH, SECURITY.
SO THOSE FIVE THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON.
AND, UM, MRS. JORDAN HAS STARTED AN AGREEMENT, A DRAFT AGREEMENT WITH RON, WHICH WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK TO YOU, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
UH, SECOND PROJECT YOU MENTIONED, WE'RE WORKING TO FINISH UP THE, UH, SENIOR CENTER.
UH, COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, AND THEY'LL BE DONE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT, WE MAY END UP FINISHING THE PATIO, UH, IN THE SPRING, VERY POSSIBLY THERE.
AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN REMODEL THAT A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THIS IS LOGAN, AS YOU KNOW, HAS GONE OVER TO THE REGIONAL COMMISSION, BUT SHE DID TAKE SOME THINGS WITH HER FOR US.
AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE, UH, BOAT RAMP DOWN IN BENTONVILLE AND FINISHING UP, HOPING TO HAVE THAT, UH, OUT TO A BID IN THE NEXT MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF, SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT UNDERWAY BY, UH, SHORTLY AFTER LABOR DAY TO GET THE CONSTRUCTION DONE.
UM, SHE IS VERY CONFIDENT OF THE FUNDING FOR THAT FROM OUR OUTSIDE AGENCIES, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT THAT IS IN PLACE.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT SHE IS GRACIOUSLY HELPING US WITH ALSO IS THE, UH, ROCKLAND PARK GRANT APPLICATION THAT IS FOR ALL THESE ATHLETIC FIELDS.
AND THAT'S A VERY BIG PROJECT.
WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE HOOPS WE'RE JUMPING AROUND.
WE'RE, UH, FORTUNATELY SHE IS VERY PERSISTENT.
SHE REMEMBER IT TOOK ALMOST THREE YEARS TO GET OUR MONEY FROM THE EMERGENCY COVID EMERGENCY, BUT EVENTUALLY SHE GOT IT.
SO WE APPRECIATE SHE IS STICKING TO THAT.
[01:15:01]
HAM.I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T MIND, FOR DR.
UM, I HAD TALKED TO YOU EARLIER ABOUT THE TRANSFER STATION BUILDING, BUT JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY, COULD YOU TELL THE REST OF THE BOARD WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT? THE TRANSFER STATION? OH, TRANSFER.
THE TRANSFER STATION, UH, THE FACILITY HAS, IS, IS COMPLETE ITSELF.
IT DOES NOT HAVE THE ELECTRIC COM CONNECTED TO IT.
AND THE BOARD APPROVED AND EASEMENT FOR SHENANDOAH ELECTRIC TO RUN A LINE ACROSS THERE.
AND MRS. JORDAN HAS CHECKED AND SENT THAT OVER TO THEIR ATTORNEY AND WE CHECKED BACK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE OPERATIONS PEOPLE KNEW WHAT SHENANDOAH ELECTRICS, UH, LEGAL OFFICE HAD RECEIVED.
AND MR. BERRY HAS SENT A NOTE TO THEM AND IS ON TOP OF THAT.
AND THEN IT'S A, IT'S A REAL QUICK FIX TO, TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
UM, MR. FELD HAD TAKEN THAT ON TO KEEP TRACK OF IT SO THAT WE DIDN'T LOSE IT, BUT HE'S OFF THIS WEEK, SO MR. BERRY WAS CHECKING ON IT.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY KIND I DON'T SEE HIM HERE AT TIMELINE BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, I, I, THIS IS VERY SHORT TERM.
IT SHOULD BE DONE AS SOON AS, AS SOON AS THEY, WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE LAID THE LINE, WE CAN CONNECT IT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.
UH, TODAY WE WERE TALKING BETWEEN THE AIRPORT MEETINGS, MA'AM, TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET THAT LAID AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN.
SO, WE'LL YOU A DATE, THE ELECTRIC'S THE ONLY HOLD UP WATER.
THAT'S THE ONLY, I'M TOLD EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE.
YEAH, CUZ THEY, ELECTRIC IS THE ONLY THING WE NEED IN THIS HEAT.
THEY DON'T HAVE, THEY'VE GOT ONE LITTLE SHACK AND I, I THINK, UH, FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, IT'S READY TO GO IN THE DUMPSTER.
SO I, I JUST FEEL FOR 'EM OUT IN THIS HEAT NOT HAVING A GOOD PLACE TO, TO WASH UP AND BE ABLE TO SIT AND EAT THEIR LUNCH IN THE POOL.
WE WERE HOPING TO HAVE IT A YEAR AGO.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION WAS, UM, WE HAVEN'T HEARD AN UPDATE ABOUT THE SHEETS AND LINDEN AND WHETHER WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO ABOUT A BUS STOP DOWN THERE AS WELL.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD AN UPDATE ON THAT.
NO UPDATE ON SHEETS AT THAT, MA'AM.
THEY HAVE NOT SUBMITTED ANYTHING ELSE TO THE COUNTY.
UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS DOING WITH REGARDING THE BUS STOP.
WELL, THEY HAD, UM, CHAIRMAN, UH, PENCE HAD, UM, ASKED ME IF I KNEW ANYTHING AND I, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR THE UPDATE.
SO THEY MAY BE REACHING OUT TO YOU OR SOMEONE, UM, TO FIND THAT OUT.
CUZ AUGUST NINTH'S GONNA BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
THOSE WERE THE TWO THINGS THAT I HAD.
I JUST HAD ONE REQUEST THAT YES, MA'AM.
UM, WE COULD LOOK INTO RECORDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS.
THE ONE RAN SO LONG THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING.
WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING THE NEXT MONTH, WHAT GETS PUSHED ON TO US, IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND REVIEW IT.
AND MR. JONES IS LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DO THAT.
IT, IT ALSO WOULD HELP WITH SOMEONE KNOWING HOW TO MAKE THESE THINGS WORK.
UH, IT WAS HARD TO HEAR PEOPLE.
UM, I WAS IN THE BACK AND I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT MR. KURTIS WAS SAYING, OR, UM, MS. RICHARDSON, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T, EVERYONE ELSE WAS PRETTY GOOD, BUT THOSE TWO, MIKE SEEMED TO HAVE A PROBLEM, SO.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? VERY
[H. Appropriations and Transfers]
GOOD.LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT, UH, AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVAL OF OUR APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO.
IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS? THERE? IT'S MADAM CHAIR.
IS THERE A SECOND HEARTBEAT, PLEASE? IS HE OKAY? HE'S TRYING TO LOOK AT THE, THE, YEAH.
[I. Approval of Accounts]
[01:20:01]
YOU.NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL ACCOUNTS.
THERE'S, UM, WE HAVE A REV REVENUE REPORT, EXPENDITURE REPORT, OUR AP REPORT, OUR PCARD REST STATEMENT, OUR FUEL REPORT, OUR 2023 DELINQUENT TAX REPORT, AND WE HAVE OUR SAM ANDERSON INVOICE REPORT.
DOES ANYBODY ON THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ISSUES, UM, ON ANY OF THESE REPORTS? SO I MAY MA'AM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE REPORTS, THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ARE THE COPIES THAT MR. HENDERSON GAVE YOU RATHER THAN THE ORIGINAL.
THE ORIGINAL HAD ALL 12 MONTHS.
AND, UM, MRS. SCOTT GOT THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
SO AGAIN, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, UM, ON THESE REPORTS OR ANY, ANY DISAPPROVAL OF ANY, ANY COSTS? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT? SO MOVE MADAM CHAIR.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MADAM CHAIR? AYE MRS. CUTS? NO.
SO IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T MIND, MS. CALLERS, IF YOU HAVE, UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO TO GET YOU TO ACCEPT THE, UM, APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS? I, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF WORK, BUT I COULD ASK FOR EVERYTHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE A DESCRIPTION.
THE RECEIPT PULLED SO I CAN LOOK AT 'EM AND THAT'S GONNA BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK.
HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU ASKED FOR THAT? I HAVEN'T BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE DESCRIPTIONS IN HERE, BUT CUZ I KNOW THAT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF WORK.
BUT THAT'S, UNTIL I GET A DESCRIPTION ON ALL OF THEM.
I'M VOTING NO, WELL, THERE'S ONE REPORT IS THERE, OR WHAT WE ARE, THE AP REPORT AND OUR SYSTEM, IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY TO PUT THE DESCRIPTIONS IN IT'S CUT.
YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY CALL IT A LEGACY SYSTEM.
SO, SO I GUESS WITH THE AP REPORT, UM, THE, UH, P P CARD STATEMENT, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF GAPS IN THAT, THAT YOU SEE WHEN IT JUST SAYS AMAZON PURCHASE.
THAT'S NOT TELLING ME WHAT AN AMAZON PURCHASE IS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY COMPLAIN ABOUT ME VOTING NO ON THESE.
THEY EXPECT ME TO DO THE OVERSIGHT AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.
WELL, I JUST WANNA ASSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT THE OVERSIGHT IS AT, THAT WE'RE NOT APPROVING DIS ALLOWABLE COSTS.
SO, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY IS DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT, BUT FOR ME TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO VOTE THAT I KNOW WHAT MONEY HAS BEEN ON, I NEED TO HAVE THE DESCRIPTION.
AND THAT'S JUST MY LEVEL OF, OF OVERSIGHT AND DUE DILIGENCE.
AND IF EVERYBODY ELSE IS FINE WITH THEIRS, THEN I WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE THE WAY I'M VOTING AND HOPE THAT THE DESCRIPTIONS GET IN THERE.
SO, MS. SCOTT, I LOOKED AT THESE REPORTS AND I SAW SOME REPORT, UH, THAT THEY HAD DESCRIPTIONS.
SO I KNOW THE AP WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PUTTING DESCRIPTIONS IN THE AP.
THAT'S THE, THE BRIGHT SYSTEM THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THERE'S NO FUNCTIONALITY THAT WE HAVE.
NO, EVEN IF YOU MANUALLY TRY TO PUT THE DESCRIPTION IN THAT SYSTEM, IT DOES NOT HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.
SO WE DO HAVE THE RECEIPTS THAT IS THIS, YES, WE DO HAVE THE RECEIPTS FOR THE INVOICES.
SO, SO WE DO HAVE THAT PAPER TRAIL.
THIS IS JUST A LIST OF PAYMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT OUT.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS ONE IS THE ONE THAT CANNOT HAVE THE DESCRIPTION PUT IN? CORRECT.
THEN WHY DOES IT HAVE A DESCRIPTION ON IT, COLIN? IT'S A, MAYBE A HEADER, BUT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PURCHASE, IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO ADD A DESCRIPTION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CHECK.
IT'S VERY DECEIVING WHEN IT'S GOT A DESCRIPTION CALLED HEADLINE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED LEGACY SYSTEMS. BECAUSE, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WHEN WE DID A, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WALK THIS THROUGH, UM, WITH THE AP REPORT, THE WAY IT'S, WE LOG THINGS INTO THE SYSTEM IS BY A, A, UM, AN ACCOUNT, IF YOU WILL, RIGHT? I D AND SO IF YOU PUT THE DIS THE ACCOUNT CODE AND YOU PUT THE DESCRIPTION IN IT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR AP CODES, BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT GLA NUMBERS AFTER THAT.
SO THE SYSTEM WILL SAY, OKAY, WELL HERE'S YOUR INVOICE.
[01:25:01]
THAT ARE DIFFERENT GLA NUMBERS, WHICH COULD BE, YOU KNOW, PINS AND PENCILS OR YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.SO IF YOU GO IN AND YOU PUT THE DESCRIPTION UNDER THAT, THEN ALL THOSE GLA NUMBERS, WE'LL HAVE THE SAME DESCRIPTION.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LIMITATION THAT THE SYSTEM HAS.
THEN SOME OF THESE, IT SAYS FOR ELECTIONS, AND THEN THERE'S ONE THAT SAYS FOR PERMITS MM-HMM.
SO YOU CAN PUT SOMETHING IN THERE.
SO THAT'S, IF THE GLAS ARE ALL THE SAME, I I THINK WE MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS AND HOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY RUN.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE INVOICES, THE AP REPORT, THAT'S DONE BY ONE INDIVIDUAL, OUR SENIOR ACCOUNTS COORDINATOR, IT'S HER RESPONSIBILITY TO ENTER IN THE GENERAL LEDGER, THE DATE ACCOUNTING PERIOD, THE CHARGES.
SO THE DESCRIPTION, IF YOU TAG ONE DESCRIPTION INTO THAT INVOICE, IT TAGS IT ONTO ALL GENERAL LEDGER.
WE SPECIFICALLY UPDATED THE CHART OF ACCOUNTS THIS YEAR, JUST SO WE COULD HAVE A MORE DESCRIPTIVE GENERAL LEDGER, UH, ACCOUNTS.
SO THAT'S, WELL I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT CAN'T, BUT THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THE PCARD.
IT'S THERE, IT'S JUST NOT BEING DONE.
AND THE PCARD UM, THE PCARD USERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ADD THE DESCRIPTION, UH, INTO THE, UH, BANK OF AMERICA PORTAL.
THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WHERE THEY WERE ACTUALLY ENTERING IN SOME COMMENTS.
SO I REMINDED STAFF TO ENTER THE DESCRIPTION TO MAKE THAT ACCURATE TO THE TRANSACTION.
SO FROM NOW ON, I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF PCARD USERS WILL BE ABLE TO UPDATE THAT ACCORDINGLY.
AND, AND WHEN IT IS, THEN MY VOTE WILL CHANGE PROBABLY, BUT WELL, UM, THEN I, I NEED A LITTLE EDUCATION HERE.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE, UM, THE PCARD AND I SEE PURCHASE DESCRIPTION AND IT SAYS AMAZON PULL SECURITY CAMERA GEAR.
BUT IT SAYS, THEN YOU GO DOWN AND THEY'LL SAY, WHICH ONE? SHOW ME WHAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
THEN IT GOES DOWN AND IT JUST SAYS AMAZON PURCHASE.
IF YOU GO DOWN LINE LINE, WHICH I DO, THEN IT'S, I SEE AMAZON MARKET POOL, SECURITY CAMERA, AMAZON MARKET.
SO THAT'S THE ONE YOU'RE LOOKING AT? WELL, THERE'S, SO I, I SEE.
SO I SEE WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT AGAIN, IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A DIS ALLOWABLE COST.
NO, AND I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT POINT OUT.
AND I'VE NEVER, IF ANYBODY GOES BACK AND LOOKS AT ANY OF THE RECORDINGS OF THESE MEETINGS, I HAVE NEVER ACCUSED ANYONE OF DOING ANYTHING INTENTIONALLY ILLEGAL.
I'M SAYING FOR ME TO FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT I CAN APPROVE THESE AND I KNOW WHAT THE MONEY WAS SPENT FOR.
WELL, WE'LL JUST KEEP ON, KEEP ON DOING WHAT WE DID BECAUSE WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED POLICIES, WE HAVE INSTRUCTED THE, THE STAFF.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, SOME BABY STEPS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE ASSU, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT IS BEING PURCHASED THAT WAS DISA ALLOWABLE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
[J. Approval of Minutes - 5/09/2023 - 5/16/2023 - 5/23/2023]
OKAY.MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM IS, UH, THE APPROVAL OF, UH, MEETING MINUTES FOR MAY 9TH, 2023.
DO WE NEED TO DO THOSE INDIVIDUALLY? NO, YOU CAN DO 'EM ALL TOGETHER, CAN'T YOU? YOU CAN DO 'EM ALL TOGETHER UNLESS THERE'S SOME REASON TO DO 'EM SEPARATELY.
LIKE SOMEBODY WANTS TO VOTE FOR ONE AND NOT THE OTHER.
SO I'D MAKE A MOTION TO DO ALL THREE TOGETHER.
AND IF SOMEONE OBJECTS, THEN TO 'EM INDIVIDUALLY.
MADAM CHAIR, I MAKE A, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MEETINGS AS PRESENTED.
MADAM CHAIR? AYE MRS. SCHOLARS? AYE.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS, UM, UM, FINISHED BUSINESS.
[K. Conditional Use Permit 2023-04-08 - Yesl Cho for a Short-Term Tourist Rental - Chase Lenz ]
THE FIRST ITEM IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.2023 DASH OH FOUR DASH OH EIGHT.
C CHAO FOR A SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL.
WE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ON JUNE 27TH, AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO TABLE THIS UNTIL A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS RECEIVED.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND IT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU.
UM, AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OF YES, LAKE CHO FOR A SHORT TERM TURTLES RENTAL WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED
[01:30:01]
BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF.[L. Conditional Use Permit 2023-04-02 - Roman Semenov for a Short-Term Tourist Rental - Chase Lenz - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator]
NEXT ITEM IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2023 DASH OH FOUR DASH OH TWO OF ROMAN FOR A SHORT TERM T RENTAL.SO LARGELY THE SAME AS THIS PREVIOUS ITEM, UH, PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON JUNE 27TH.
THE DECISION WAS MADE TO TABLE THIS DECISION UNTIL A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS RECEIVED.
WE DID RECEIVE A, A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THEY DID INCLUDE A, UH, MORE LOCAL CONTACT THAN THEMSELVES FOR, UM, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
OTHER THAN THAT, I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, CAN I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST OF ROMAN SEMINAR FOR A SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL WITH CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[M. Animal Impound Agreement - Dr. Daley]
OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE ANIMAL IPO AGREEMENT.UH, THIS HAS BEEN, UM, GONE AROUND, UH, SEVERAL TIMES.
WE STARTED MEETING AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH THE SHERIFF AND, UH, SERGEANT CAVE, UH, MRS. SCOTT AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE, UM, HUMANE SOCIETY AND THEN MRS. JORDAN.
AND WE WORKED OUT WELL, WE LIKE THIS.
WE WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR A WHILE AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER MEETING AND WE WENT THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
AND THEN MRS. JORDAN WAS ABLE TO DRAFT UP THE INITIAL AGREEMENT.
IT WENT TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY ATTORNEY AND TO SERGEANT CAVE, WHO AT THAT POINT WAS, UH, ASSIGNED THE DUTY OF REPRESENTING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THE DOCUMENT ITSELF.
AND, UH, THEY CAME BACK WITH, UH, THE DOCUMENT AND THEN IT, THEN IT WENT TO MR. HAM.
WE HAD MR. HAM GET IN THERE AND HELP US WITH IT A LITTLE BIT TOO.
AND THEN IT WENT BACK TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY ATTORNEY AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS FINISHED HIS CHANGE.
UH, AND THEN MR. HAM APPROVED THEIR CHANGES AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS SIGNED THE DOCUMENT.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, MA'AM.
AND I, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, LIKE YOU SAID, THIS HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US BEFORE.
WE HAD A MEETING WITH THEM AT A WORKSHOP BEFORE.
BUT THIS WAS PRESENTED TO US, THEN WE HAD THE DRAFT AGREEMENT.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. DALEY ABOUT THE AGREEMENT I BROUGHT UP TO YOU EARLIER AND MAYBE MR. HAM, BUT, UM, THERE IS A REQUEST IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT BASICALLY SAYS THE COUNTY SHALL UNDERTAKE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO REQUEST THAT THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PARTICIPATES IN THE FOLLOWING TRAINING.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT GOOD FAITH EFFORTS AND HOW DOES THAT, HOW DO YOU MEASURE THAT? BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY THAT MAKES ITS OWN DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TRAINING IT NEEDS AND SO FORTH.
SO IT, UM, IS BASED ON OUR DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE TABLE OUT THERE, MA'AM.
UM, AT THIS, AT THIS POINT IN THE ADMINISTRATION, THE SHERIFF HAS ASSIGNED THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO SERGEANT CAVE.
AND HE INDICATED HE IS GOING TO SEE THAT THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AND OTHERS AS NEEDED, PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING.
AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO SEE THAT THEY MAKE THE TRAINING ON THEIR FACILITY AND THEIR PROCEDURES AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY ON A REGULAR BASIS.
IT'S A, UM, IT'S NOT THOROUGHLY CAST IN STONE, BUT IT IS THE BEST PART, BEST EFFORT ON THE PART OF, UH, TRAVIS CAVE WHO'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THIS.
AND ALSO THE STAFF AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND THE, UH, CHAIR OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
AND I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THESE THINGS AND MAKE THIS A POSITIVE, UH, WORKING RELATIONSHIP FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT THAT PUTS A BURDEN ON THIS BOARD, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THAT TRAINING.
AND WHEN I ASKED FOR DOCUMENTATION OF TRAINING AFTER SEEING A VIDEO THAT SAID ALL THE DEPUTIES WERE TRAINED IN ANIMAL CONTROL AND I NEVER RECEIVED IT.
SO IF I CAN BE REFUSED NOW, WHAT GIVES, WHAT SAYS WE ARE GONNA BE UPHOLD
[01:35:01]
ABLE TO UPHOLD THAT PART OF THIS CONTRACT WHEN I WASN'T GIVEN IT, WHEN I REQUESTED THIS TIME.WE WILL, UM, WE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST UPHOLD THIS CONTRACT.
UH, AS I SAY, THE SHERIFF WAS IN SOME OF THE MEETINGS, AND THEN SERGEANT, THE SHERIFF AND SERGEANT CAVE WERE IN THE MEETINGS AND THE SERGEANT CAVE SAID HE'S GOING TO DO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS PEOPLE TO DO THIS TRAINING AND SEE THAT THEY DO.
UM, AND IF THERE'S A LOG OR SOMETHING OVER THE NEXT TRAINING OR SOMETHING, WE'LL BE, BE HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
IT'S A, BUT AGAIN, IT IS A, IT IS A BEST FAITH EFFORT ON EVERYBODY'S PART, ON OUR PART, ON THE SHERIFF'S PART AND ON THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S PART.
DOES DOES, UM, GOING AGAINST THAT, I'M JUST SAYING WITH WHAT IS IN HERE AND IT SAYS WE ARE RESPONSIBLE AS THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THIS IS BEING DONE.
AND WHEN WE ASK FOR PROOF OF IT, I WASN'T GIVING IT.
NOW HOW ARE WE GONNA, CAN IT BE REFUSED LATER? SO IF I WAS THE BOARD, I WOULD DEDICATE, I WOULD DE DEDICATE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SEE THAT WE WORK WITH THE SHERIFF THAT WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
AND, AND THIS WAS MY LANGUAGE THAT I PUT IN HERE, YOU KNOW, DR.
DALEY'S HERE, HERE DEFENDING IT, BUT THEY, THE, UM, SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS, AS, UH, SUPERVISOR OATS CORRECTLY POINTS OUT AS AN INDEPENDENT CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER.
AND SO, UM, UH, JORDAN HAD, DON'T BELIEVE HE SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE.
I'M JUST SAYING IT CONCERNS ME OF IT'S PUTTING US BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
NO, IT, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TOO.
DALEY SAYS TO THE SHERIFF, HEY, PLEASE DO THE TRAINING, OR YOU MISSED THE TRAINING LAST WEEK.
IT IS NOT A HIGH STANDARD AT ALL.
AND I'M THE ONE THAT PROPOSED THIS.
THIS IS NOT DAMAGING TO THE COUNTY IN ANY WAY.
I MEAN, IT'S POTENTIALLY WE GET REFUSED AND YEAH.
I MEAN THE, THE PARTY THAT THAT COULD SUFFER COULD BE THE SOCIETY BECAUSE THE, YOU, THE SHERIFF DOESN'T GO.
AND A LOT OF THEIR ISSUES WHEN WE FIDDLED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, UM, WERE AROUND ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE RULES WERE.
THIS WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO, UM, NO, I AGREE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE SOCIETY AND THIS IS, THIS IS THE BEST THAT THE COUNTY CAN DO CUZ THE COUNTY DOESN DIRECTLY CONTROL THE SHERIFF.
SO, NO, AND I I I AGREE IT SHOULD BE IN THERE.
I'M JUST SAYING HAVING BEEN REFUSED IN THE PAST.
DOES HE CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO REFUSE IN THE FUTURE EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THERE? WELL, THE SHERIFF CAN REFUSE TO DO IT.
BUT THE COUNTY HAS EXERCISED ITS DUTY AND THE COUNTY'S THE ONLY PARTY THAT IS CONTRACT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE DOC DR YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR HIS DESIGNEE CAN BE THE PERSON THAT TALKS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IF THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH ATTENDANCE.
AND THAT IS EXERCISING GOOD FAITH EFFORTS.
UM, MR. HAM, UH, DO WE ALSO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF? LIKE, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE
AND SO IS THERE AN AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE OR SOME MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE EXECUTE WITH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL? UH, NOT A WRITTEN MEMORANDUM, MA'AM.
THE, THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE ANIMAL SHELTER, NOT THE SHERIFF.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A SHELTER AND THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES OUR SHELTER.
WE HAVE VERBAL AGREEMENTS AND NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE, AS I SAY, SERGEANT CAVE HAS BEEN HELPING US WITH THIS AGREEMENT THROUGHOUT AND IS FULLY AWARE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THERE.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR SERGEANT.
UM, BUT THE, WHAT I'M CONCERNED, SO I GUESS THERE'S, SO WHAT WHAT I HEARD MR. HAM SAY IS THAT THERE WERE, UH, MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT WAS, UH, POLICY, WHAT WASN'T POLICY, AND WHAT WHAT ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS COULD AND COULD NOT DO OR WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING TO ME THAT THE COUNTY HAS THE AGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, BUT THE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED TO EXECUTE ON THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
SO DO WE NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM BASED ON WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE? WE DO NOT HAVE ONE OTHER THAN THEIR PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPING THE AGREEMENT.
AND IF WE WANT TO WRITE A SECOND AGREEMENT JUST WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE CAN,
[01:40:01]
BUT THEY PART FULLY PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT.IT WAS, UH, WE HAD OUR MEETINGS AT HIS OFFICE AND HE WAS THERE.
UH, SO HE, HE KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT'S IN HERE AS WELL AS THE REST OF US.
MR. HAM HAS IT UNCOMMON TO NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IF THEY, THEY HAVE AN EXPECTATION, A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AND THE REQUIREMENTS THEREOF BY THE STATE CODE? I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ONE.
I, YOU KNOW, IF THE SHERIFF WAS A PARTY TO THIS, THAT WOULD GET RID OF THAT.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S NOT, NOT AN OPTION.
UM, AND THIS GOOD FAITH EFFORT WAS THE, THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT PLUS INVOLVING THE SHERIFF IN, IN THE AGREEMENT.
IT'S MUCH EASIER WHEN IT'S CHIEF OF POLICE MA'AM.
DALEY? IF NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION WE'RE SCROLLING.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE ANIMAL IMPOUND AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF WARREN COUNTY WITH SUCH CHANGES.
THIS MAY BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE, MR. BUTLER? AYE.
MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS CONSENT
[N, Consent Agenda]
AGENDA.DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO PULL NUMBER FOUR OR NUMBER FIVE FOR DISCUSSION NUMBER FOUR AND NUMBER FIVE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE NUMBER NINE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS? OKAY.
IF NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR BLAH CONSENT AGENDA? UM, UH, LESS ITEM FOUR, FIVE AND NINE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[4. Amend Board of Supervisors Policies and Procedures - Dr. Daley - Ed Daley, County Administrator]
NUMBER FOUR, A MANNED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS POLICY AND PROCEDURES.DALEY, THIS WAS THE, UH, REUGG SUGGESTION, AND THIS IS JORDAN LOOKED AT IT THAT YOU MADE TO GO BACK AND REVIEW AS TO HOW ALL OF OUR POLICIES, UH, AFFECTED ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND THERE IS ONE SENTENCE IN THERE.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE BACK THERE.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE NUMBER IS ON THAT SECTION.
UM, IT'S THE, THE AMENDMENT IS IN REGARDS TO SECTION, I BELIEVE IT'S 6.3.
I'M TRYING TO PULL IT BACK UP.
UM, IT JUST CLARIFIES THAT THE EXPECTATION, UM, WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE BOARD, UM, EACH MEMBER IS APPOINTED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD TO SERVE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES, UM, REGARDING VARIOUS THINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND SO WHAT WE ADDED WAS LANGUAGE THAT ESSENTIALLY JUST CLARIFIED THE NOTICE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE MEETINGS AND COM COMMITTEES.
WE WILL, UM, PROVIDE NOTICE AND THEN ONCE WE RECEIVE AGENDAS, THOSE AGENDAS, UM, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO, UH, THE PUBLIC AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE.
IT'S JUST TO, AGAIN, TO ENSURE THAT NOTICE IS BEING GIVEN, UM, REGARDING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IN RELATION TO THESE COMMITTEES AND ADMISSIONS, UM, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.
NOW, ALL OUR COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE, DO ALL OF THEM HAVE TO COMPLY UNDER THIS OR JUST THE COMMITTEES THAT ARE, UM, PUBLIC COMMITTEES? IT, IT WOULD BE, SO I HAVE A COPY OF, UH, THIS WAS DATED JANUARY 18TH.
UHHUH
AND THE COMMISSIONS THAT EACH OF YOU ARE APPOINTED TO IT WOULD APPLY TO THESE.
BUT YOU'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO, TO, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
WELL IN THIS, UM, WHEN YOU START WITH SECTION ONE, IT SAYS, UM, THAT WE WILL HAVE MEETINGS THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS OF EACH MONTH AT SEVEN AND THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT SIX WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS.
[01:45:01]
TUESDAY? SECOND TUESDAY'S A WORK SESSION, MA'AM.BUT SHOULDN'T THAT BE LISTED EVEN IF IT'S A WORK SESSION? I DON'T HERE DON'T THINK SO.
IT'S NEVER BEEN LISTED BEFORE.
THE WE LIST IN HERE ARE REGULAR MEETINGS WHERE WE CAN DO ANYTHING, WORK SESSIONS COME AND GO, SPECIAL MEETINGS COME AND GO.
SO THE DIFFERENCE IS A, UM, REGULAR MEETING YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ON LIKE A SPECIAL MEETING WHERE YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT IT'S CALLED FOR ON LIKE A WORK SESSION WHERE YOU CAN'T TAKE ANY ACTION.
AND THEN LET ME MENTION MRS. MRS. JORDAN DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING EXCEPT THAT ONE SENTENCE.
I, WELL I WAS SEEING THE RED HERE AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE DIDN'T LIST ON THE, UM, THE WORK SESSION.
SO THAT'S JUST ME CLARIFYING FOR ME.
UM, UNDER NOVEMBER, IT'S THE LINE GOES THROUGH, WHICH I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING ON THE FIRST TUESDAY, CUZ THAT'S ELECTION AND THEN, BUT WE USUALLY HAVE IT THE NEXT DAY ON WEDNESDAY.
BUT THAT'S MARKED THROUGH, UH, YES IN CONSULTATION WITH DR.
DALEY, THAT, THAT WAS RE REMOVED IN LIGHT OF ELECTION SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH, UH, JUNE 20TH.
UM, BECAUSE WE OBSERVED JUNETEENTH AS WELL AS ELECTION DAY.
WE REMOVED JUNE, JUNE 20TH, THAT MEETING.
CORRECT? I'M SAYING WE JUST RECENTLY DID THAT IN JUNE.
THIS IS GOING AHEAD AND REMOVING THE NOVEMBER MEETING IN LIGHT OF THE, UM, THE ELECTION.
AND SO THAT PLUS THE, UM, EDITS TO SECTION SIX POINT, UM, SIX DASH THREE, WHICH IS THE VERY LAST PROVISION.
THOSE WERE THE ONLY EDITS MADE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DATE AT THE TOP OF WHEN THIS WOULD BE APPROVED.
SO WHEN DO WE PLAN TO GO TO THE NEXT TUESDAY FOR THAT NOVEMBER? DEPENDING UPON WHAT YOUR AGENDA IS AT THE TIME AND WHAT YOUR BUSINESS IS, YOU COULD GO IN LIEU OF THAT NEXT WORK SESSION OR GO TO THE MEETING ON THE THIRD DEPENDING UPON WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOUR BUSINESS IS AT THE TIME, MA'AM, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO THINK.
DO WE, WE USUALLY DO HAVE THE THIRD MEETING EVEN THOUGH THAT'S IN NOVEMBER.
DALEY, I KNOW THIS, UM, UH, THIS IS A POLICY.
SO, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE NOTICE OF THE DATE AND TIME AND LOCATION FOR EACH BOARD COMMISSION COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE WILL BE POSTED AT THE WARREN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER.
I, UM, THAT THIS POLICY, I GUESS WHAT I NEED, WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATIONS FROM US? I SHOULD ASK.
CUZ LIKE I HAVE, UM, I CHAIR THE, UM, THE FINANCIAL AUDIT COMMITTEE AND MS. SCOTT HAS BEEN GREAT TAKING CARE OF BOTH POSTING AND THE MINUTES AND THAT KIND OF THING.
SO SHOULD WE GO THROUGH THAT LIST OF OUR COMMITTEES? SO I DON'T THINK THAT IS ON THIS LIST, IS IT MA'AM? NO, IT SHOULD BE ON THE LIST.
IT'S, I THINK THE, THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE.
THEN IT WOULD BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AND UH, BE AVAILABLE, POSTED ON OUR MONTHLY CALENDAR.
SO, SO IF THERE IS A COMMITTEE THAT WE'RE, THAT WE ARE ON, WE NEED TO LET ZACH KNOW YES.
48 HOURS BEFORE WE ATTEND THE MEETING SO HE CAN POST IT.
IS THAT KIND OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING? THAT'S IF IT'S YOUR, IF IT'S OUR MEETING, IF IT'S, IF IT'S YOUR MEETING, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE LIBRARY MEETING, THAT'S THE LIBRARY'S MEETING THAT'S RESPONS.
YOU'RE HAVING YOUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING UHHUH, THEN THAT'S YOUR MEETING.
PROBABLY WANNA BE 96 HOURS CUZ YOU GOTTA GIVE THREE WORKING DAYS NOTICE.
SO, AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE WEEKENDS.
SO KIND OF PRACTICALLY SPEAKING AS MUCH NOTICE AS YOU CAN AS YOU HAVE NOW, IF THERE, I KNOW SOME OF OUR MEETINGS IN THERE, UM, THEY, WE SAY EVERY THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH OR EVERY, CAN'T WE JUST USE THAT? GIVE THAT TO AS LONG, AS LONG AS THAT, AS YOU HAVE THE MEETING EVERY THIRD TUESDAY, WE WILL KEEP IT ON THE CALENDAR AND IT'LL BE ON THE WEBSITE.
AND SO, AND IF THERE ANY, UM, POSSIBILITY OR A CHANCE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE RESCHEDULED, THEN WE JUST LET ZACH KNOW MM-HMM.
WHAT IS THE TIME LIMIT, UH, FOR RESCHEDULING? WELL, I, I PUT IN NOTICE REASONABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF SPECIAL EMERGENCY OR CONTINUED MEETINGS SHALL BE GIVEN CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH NOTICE PROVIDED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BODY CONDUCTING THE MEETING.
SO IF YOU GOT INTO A BIND, YOU CAN, YOU CAN USE THAT.
BUT IN THE GENERAL COURSE OF EVENTS, UM, IF WE KNOW IT, WE GIVE THREE DAYS NOTICE.
[01:50:01]
OF THE PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING LAST MINUTE THAT THEY CAN'T COME.SO YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL MAYBE THAT MORNING THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO JUSTIFY HAVING THE MEETING.
THAT, THAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT CHANGE, TO GIVE YOU SOME FLEXIBILITY IF THAT KIND OF STUFF HAPPENS.
AS FAR AS MINUTES FOR THE MEETING, I ARE THEY REQUIRED FOR EVERY MEETING FOR YOUR COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS? UM, YOU CAN GIMME A MINUTE, I CAN TELL YOU NO IS THE ANSWER THERE.
THE FOIA TELLS YOU WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE MINUTES.
IS IT, IS THE LIST THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD RIGHT? JANUARY? UM, WELL IT'S DATED JANUARY 18TH.
I THINK IT WAS APPROVED ON JANUARY 17TH.
BUT IT'S JUST, IT IS JUST THE LIST ASSIGNING EACH OF YOU TO YOUR DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.
I THINK I, I HAVE A SPREADSHEET THAT I KIND OF LOG THOSE FREQUENCIES.
SO, UM, I'LL SEND IT TO ZACH AND ZACH CAN SEND IT TO THE COMMITTEE AND TO THE, THE COMMITTEE, TO THE BOARD.
AND IF YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT YOUR COMMITTEES AND MAKE SURE, OOPS, KEEP, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE, THE, THE THE TIMES ARE WHAT'S WHAT YOU ARE WORKING TOWARDS.
SO, SO MINUTES ARE NOT REQUIRED UNLESS THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE INCLUDES A MAJORITY OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE COUNTY MAJORITY.
IF IT'S A JOINT MEETING WITH THE TOWN OR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT HAS A J A GOVERNING BODY.
IF IT'S NOT A MAJORITY OF EITHER GOVERNING BODY, YOU'RE GOOD.
AND YOU KNOW, THE MINUTES REQUIREMENT IS DATE, TIME, LOCATION MEMBERS PRESENT.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSION, NOT AS THOROUGH AS YOU GUYS DO, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, COMMENDABLE.
BUT MINUTES IS NOT AS HARD AS IT NEEDS TO, AS SOMETIMES IT IS.
WELL, JUST ON THE RECORD, FOR THE COMMITTEES THAT I'M IN, I WANT MEETING MINUTES.
SO, BUT I WON'T SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? CAN I JUST MAKE A COMMENT? SO THE TOUR, THE TOURISM COMMITTEE IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL ON THAT, THAT I THINK IT SAYS DISCOVER FROM ROYAL, UM, OR TOURISM.
AND I'M ASSIGNED TO THAT AND THAT ONE IS NOT.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT MR. PETTY IS GONNA CREATE A, ANOTHER, AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE STYLE THING.
SO I, I I DON'T, BUT THE NAMES ARE GONNA CHANGE AND THE DATES WILL CHANGE.
IT'S GONNA BE A THOUGHT COMMITTEE RATHER THAN A FORMAL COMMITTEE PER SE.
IT'S GONNA BE JUST AN ADVISORY.
WELL, AND THE WAY THIS IS, IS WRITTEN IS THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT YOU HAVE, I MEAN, WITH THE NEW COMMITTEE, WELL WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT'S LISTED HERE, IF IT'S NO LONGER MEETING, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A MEETING THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE NOTICE FOR.
SO THAT, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MEETING, THEN THAT COULD BE SOMETHING YOU COULD PROVIDE TO ZACH.
BUT AS FAR AS THE ONE THAT IS LISTED HERE, YOU WOULDN'T BE OBLIGATED TO CONTINUE POSTING BECAUSE YOU NO LONGER HAVE MEETINGS SCHEDULED.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT ON A CALENDAR THAT SAYS THE THIRD THURSDAY MORNING OF EVERY MONTH BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
BECAUSE IT USED TO BE THE, IT WAS THE THIRD THURSDAY, RIGHT? YEAH, IT WAS ALYSSA.
WELL, WHEN I HAVE ZACH SENT OUT MY SPREADSHEET BECAUSE I WE'LL STRIKE IT.
EVERYONE WILL, CAN JUST PUT THEIR COMMENTS IN IT TO REVISE WHAT WE HAVE AND THEN WE'LL UPDATE THE, THE INFORMATION FOR EVERYBODY.
SO LET ME, LET ME JUST CLARIFY WHAT I SAID ABOUT MINUTES.
SO THAT THE EXCEPTION TO MINUTES IS IT'S IF IT'S A MINUTES OF A MEETING APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNING BODY.
SO THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPOINTS THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THOSE MEMBERS DO NOT CONSIST OF AT LEAST THREE SUPERVISORS.
SO YOU KNOW, ANOTHER COMMITTEE THAT YOU MIGHT SERVE ON.
SO, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE LIBRARY LATER, N 90% OF THEIR FUNDING COMES FROM THE COUNTY.
SO THEY, THEY NEED TO TAKE MINUTES AND THEY DO AND THEY DO.
SO, WELL, I DON'T HAVE A TIME, A HARD TIME WITH, YOU KNOW, MINUTES.
I CAN'T TYPE AT THE RATE, YOU KNOW, SO I WRITE DOWN A SUMMARY.
UM, BUT IF, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SUPPLY ME WITH SOMEBODY TO TAKE MINUTES, THEY CAN, THEY'RE WELCOME TO SIT IN THERE AND DO 'EM.
BUT IF WE HAVE A SCHEDULE, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY THERE, MA'AM.
[01:55:01]
BUT, UM, YEAH, NOTHING TO HIDE.I JUST AM NOT A TRANSCRIPTIONIST.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? IF NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE TO.
WE HAVE A SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[5. Approval of the Virginia Department of Aviation's 2022 Master Agreement on Terms and Conditions for Accepting State Aviation Funding Resources - Caitlin Jordan - Caitlin Jordan, Senior Assistant County Attorney]
ITEM, UH, CONSENTED ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION 2022 MASTER AGREEMENT ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCEPTING STATE AVIATION FUNDING RESOURCES.MS. JORDAN? UM, SO I BELIEVE MO MOST OF YOU HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, MR. BARRY AND I HAVE BROUGHT, AT LEAST RECENTLY WE BROUGHT ONE GRANT WHERE THE STATE THROUGH THE D OAV OFFERS GRANT FUNDING TO THE, TO THE COUNTY.
THOSE GRANTS ARE ALWAYS BASED ON THE MASTER AGREEMENT.
UH, THIS BOARD BACK IN 2018 APPROVED THE MASTER AGREEMENT, UM, THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE, THE BOARD OF THE DO, UH, DAV.
AND THAT IS WHAT THE, THE GRANT OFFERS THAT WE'RE GIVEN IS BASED ON THAT AGREEMENT.
UM, EARLIER THIS MONTH WE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE DAV THAT THEY HAVE AN ESSENTIALLY ISSUED A NEW POLICY THAT IF A LOCALITY DOES NOT APPROVE OR HAS NOT EXECUTED THE 2022 MASTER AGREEMENT, WE'RE NO LONGER, WE CAN NO LONGER RECEIVE FUNDING.
UM, SO THAT IS WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO YOU IS THE 2022 MASTER FUNDING.
THERE ARE SLIGHT CHANGES, MOST OF THE LANGUAGES IDENTICAL TO WHAT WAS APPROVED BACK IN 2018.
YOUR COVER SHEET DOES HAVE THE DIFFERENT PARAGRAPHS THAT NOTES THE DIFFERENT CHANGES.
UM, I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE D OAV THAT THE BOARD, IF YOU, UM, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THE AGREEMENT AS IS THEY WILL NOT ENTERTAIN ANY SUGGESTED EDITS.
UM, BUT THIS AGREEMENT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR US TO RE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THOSE STATE FUNDS FOR THE AIRPORT.
UM, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE, IF THE BOARD WISHES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVING THIS, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE IT EXECUTED BY AUGUST 11TH.
UM, OTHERWISE WE, WE WOULD LOSE THAT FUNDING.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS I WOULD ASK IN THE FUTURE THAT THINGS LIKE THIS WE GET ON A WORK SESSION BECAUSE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, THE AIRPORT'S NOT MY THING.
I, YOU KNOW, I'VE LEARNED A LOT SINCE BEING ON THE BOARD THERE, BUT THIS IS, UH, IT'S A LOT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WITHOUT THE PEOPLE THERE TO, TO HELP ME THROUGH IT.
SO, UM, THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST IN THE FUTURE THAT IF WE COULD GET ON WORK SESSION BEFOREHAND.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR? SO MOVED.
IS THERE SECOND? SO SORRY, CHERYL WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT PUTTING ON THE WORK SESSION.
SO WHAT I THINK, I THINK OKAY, I THINK THERE WAS A, A MOTION THAT WAS HERE PROPOSED OR SUGGESTED MOTION THAT I THINK IT'D BE BETTER IF, IF OKAY.
ALRIGHT, SO WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON? ARE WE VOTING TO PUT IT IN ORDER SESSION? I'M TRYING TO GET A SECOND TO THE MOTION THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT RIGHT OFF OF THE COVER SHEET.
SO IN 2018, NONE OF US WERE ON THIS BOARD, SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO, UM, TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF IT.
IT'S JUST A, IT'S, SO IF SOMEBODY CAN EXPLAIN TO ME, SO THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THAT MUST BE IN PLACE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING.
WE CAN'T CHANGE THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE IT'S A FEDERAL AGREEMENT THAT IS INITIATED BY THEM.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT IT'S A STATE.
IT'S THROUGH THE, THE DEPARTMENT, THE DAB DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, UM, DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA.
I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION.
OKAY, SO IT'S FOR, IT IS FOR, UM, STATE FUNDS, NOT, NOT FEDERAL.
AND IT'S A GENERIC AGREEMENT MA'AM, THEY'RE ALL WHAT? I YES.
UH, THE WINCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS IDENTICAL.
SO THE, UH, GRANT FUNDING, I BELIEVE WE CAME HERE IN MARCH WITH A PROPOSED GRANT OFFER FROM THE D OAV THAT GRANT
[02:00:01]
OFFER WAS BASED ON THE TERMS OF THE 2018 MASTER AGREEMENT.UM, THEY HAVE JUST NOW UPDATED, UPDATED IT TO THE 2022.
AND IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ANY MORE FUNDING, WE WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS AGREEMENT.
YOU GETTING SO THERE'S NO GRANT, EVEN IF WE HAVE A WORK SESSION, WE CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT? NO, THAT IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL WILL NOT ACCEPT.
IT'S, IT'S ALL OR NOTHING BECAUSE WE'RE RECEIVING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, IS THIS IS GRANT MONEY, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE MATCHES OR EACH GRANT OFFER IS DIFFERENT.
SO I BELIEVE WE'VE HAD ONE WHERE WE, WHERE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAD TO APPROVE A GRANT MATCH.
AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER, UM, THE ONE WE DID IN MARCH, NOT SURE IF IT HAD, I WANNA WANNA SAY WE'VE DONE ONE WHERE IT DIDN'T REQUIRE A MATCH, BUT EACH GRANT OFFER IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S REGARDING DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE AIRPORT, WHETHER IT BE THE TARMAC, WHETHER IT BE THE HANGER.
UM, AND SO THOSE GRANT OFFERS ALWAYS COME TO YOU WHEN WE HAVE THEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THEM SEPARATELY.
SO BY DOING THIS, WE, WE STILL HAVE AN OPTION OF IF IT'S A GRANT THAT HAS SUCH A HIGH MATCH THAT WE CAN'T DO IT, WE CAN, WE CAN DENY THAT OFFER.
YOU GET ALL OR NOTHING WITH THE GRANTS IS YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT ANY OF THE GRANT OFFERS.
IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT THE GRANT OFFER, THEN WE DON'T TAKE THE MONEY, WE DON'T DO WHATEVER IT IS AS INDIVIDUAL GRANTS.
SO THIS DOESN'T TIE AS INDIVIDUAL GRANT TIES INTO.
IF WE HAVE, IF THIS, UM, GRANT IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD, ANY ADDITIONAL GRANT OFFERS THAT THE DO D OAV, WE WILL HAVE TO BRING THEM TO YOU JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH THE 2018.
SO THE BOARD CAN ALWAYS DENY THEM THIS IS NECESSARY FOR THOSE GRANT OFFERS TO EVEN COME THE OFFER.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HEARD OF THIS AND I WASN'T EVEN SURE WHAT EXACTLY THAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE.
I READ IT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE ASKING, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE COULD CHANGE TERMS. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE, THE, UH, EXPECTATIONS WERE.
NO, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, CORRECT? WE HAVE A MOTION.
SO I THOUGHT YOU SAID NO I DIDN'T SECOND.
[9. Award Recommendation: 5 New Asset Replacement Vehicles for Sheriff's Department - Alisa Scott]
NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NINE, AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR FIVE NEW ASSET REPLACEMENT VEHICLES FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THIS IS AN AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR FIVE NEW ASSET REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
THIS, UH, THESE VEHICLES ARE PROVIDED TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO THESE VEHICLES, UM, ARE GOING TO BE OUTFITTED AND PROVIDED WITH THE RADIOS AND ANYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED TO HAVE THESE VEHICLES ROAD READY.
THERE'S A LIST OF VEHICLES THAT, UH, COULD POTENTIALLY BE REPLACED.
THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGH MILEAGE AND THEY ARE FIRST ON THE LIST OF ASSET REPLACEMENTS.
UM, WHEN A DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED THEY USE THE ASSET, UM, REPLACEMENT FUND.
AND THIS IS MOSTLY THROUGH COOPERATIVE CONTRACTING, WHICH ALLOWS US TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF VARIOUS OTHER COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS.
THIS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE ASSET REPLACEMENT FUND UNDER VEHICLE REPLACEMENT AND HAS BUDGET BEEN BUDGETED FOR AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
UH, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FUNDING AND FOR FINANCE AND ALSO THE SHERIFF AND HIS DESIGNEES.
ARE HE HERE AS WELL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO THERE'S NO NEW MONEY, CORRECT? THIS IS NO NEW MONEY.
THE, THE RADIOS THAT ARE IN THE CURRENT VEHICLES, UH, AT $25,340 AND 80 CENTS, CAN WE SWAP THOSE INTO THE NEW CARS? I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS ACTUAL RADIOS.
I BELIEVE THAT NEW CAR CAMERAS, WE DID NOT ASK FOR ANY NEW RADIOS FOR THESE VEHICLES.
NO, MAYBE IT IS CAMERAS, BUT I I'M SEEING THE MOTOROLA MOTOROLA'S KIND OF THE MOTHER S**T.
THEY KINDA OWN EVERYTHING NOW.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE ASKED FOR ANY RADIOS ON THAT.
I I THOUGHT IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT RADIOS.
IT'S UH, PANAMA PANORAMIC CAMERAS.
THAT'S CAMERAS, THAT'S IN CAR CAMERAS.
AND DRILL MOUNTS AND, BUT WHAT USED TO BE WATCH CARD, MOTOROLA PURCHASED WATCH CARD.
SO SO YOU'RE SWAPPING THE RADIOS IN THE, THE THE RADIOS ITSELF? YEAH.
[02:05:01]
OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR? I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR OR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF 5 20 23 FORD POLICE INTERCEPTORS FROM SHEHE FORD IN THE AMOUNT OF $196,798 80 CENTS.THE PURCHASE OF POLICE EQUIPMENT FROM DANA SAFETY SUPPLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,995 98 CENTS AND OTHER ASSOCIATED COST FOR A TOTAL PURCHASE OF $292,879 AND 54 CENTS.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MADAM CHAIR? AYE MRS. COLORS? AYE.
GO HAVE JUST A REALLY QUICK QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OLD ONES? THEY'RE AUCTIONED.
DO WE, WE AUCTION THEM AT SOME AUCTION PLACE.
DO WE GET MONEY FOR THEM? WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, SCOTT, WE PUT THEM, WE CAN AUCTION THEM OFF OR WE ACTUALLY COUNTY OKAY.
MEAN? YEAH, SO, BUT YEAH, MY SON'S CAR IS 2013 AND HE HAS UM, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING OVER 140,000 MILES ON IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO CHASE CRIMINALS EITHER, BUT, BUT STILL I KNOW THERE'S LIFE IN SOME OF THE CARS.
OKAY, WE'VE BEEN ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM O, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT TO THE WARREN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION FOR SHANANDOAH DISTRICT.
THAT WOULD BE WILLIAM GORDON GORDON AND FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN SHANANDOAH ANO DISTRICT.
[O. Additional New Business]
IS, UM, ANY ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS? DOES ANYBODY LIKE TO BRING UP? IF NOT, ARE WE READY TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING? IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN? SECOND.THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK.