[B. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
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GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.UM, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START OUR MEETING, UM, WITH AN OPENING PRAYER FROM PASTOR BROWN.
WELL, LET'S JUST GO IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I'LL BE CALLING THIS LEADING TO ORDER.
IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEDGE OF ALL ALLEGIANCE, THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR AUGUST 1ST, 2023.
UM, I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]
ITEM IS TO, UM, THE ADOPTION OF OUR AGENDA.IS THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO OUR AGENDA? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR PUBLIC
[D. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit)]
COMMENT PERIOD AND I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO GIVE INPUT ON ANY RELEVANT ISSUE, NOT SUBJECT TO A PUBLIC HEARING, AND IS NOT INTENDED AS A QUESTION OR ANSWER PERIOD.THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD SHALL BE LIMITED TO 60 MINUTES WITH A MAX OF THREE MINUTES FOR ANY ONE SPEAKERS.
SPEAKERS MAY ONLY SPEAK ONCE AND WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START MR. HENDERSON, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? THE FIRST ONE IS THERESA BRIGIDA.
I LIVE AT 8 2 9 DALE ROAD AND I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 25 YEARS AND HAS BEEN SOME OF THE HAPPIEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I HAVE COME TONIGHT TO TELL YOU I'M STRONGLY AGAINST THE ZONY OF ROCKLAND AREA.
IT IS A MAJOR DEPARTING FROM THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ROCKLAND, WHICH WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR FARMLANDS AND HISTORIC DISTRICT OF WARREN COUNTY AND THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
IF THIS REZONING WERE TO TAKE PLACE, IT WOULD ALTER THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO PRESENTLY LIVE THERE AND IT WOULD NOT BE FOR OUR GOOD.
IT WOULD CAUSE INCREDIBLE INCREASE IN OUR TRAFFIC.
SINCE THE 286 PROPOSED HOMES WOULD INCREASE OUR POPULATION ABOUT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
OUR MAJOR ROADS FAIRGROUND DALE ROCKLAND, ARE ALREADY NARROW AND LACKING PROPER SHOULDERS JUST IN OUR OWN FAMILY.
WE HAVE HAD TWO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN.
I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE WITH THAT INCREASE IN POPULATION.
THE DE DEVELOPMENT WOULD ALSO CAUSE HARMFUL WASTE GOING INTO OUR WATER RESOURCES.
I'VE READ OVER THE PROPOSED PLAN AND ALL THREE SUGGESTIONS DO NOT SEEM TO PROVIDE THE PROPER PROTECTION, UM, FOR OUR WATER.
ALSO, THEY HAD MADE SEVERAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE ODOR THAT WOULD BE CAUSED, BUT THAT THEY WOULD MAKE IT A MINIMAL.
WELL, THERE'S NO ODOR RIGHT NOW.
THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS REZONING DEVELOPMENT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND OUR OUTRAGE AND WONDERED WHY WE MIGHT HAVE SIGNS POSTED OUT THROUGHOUT ROCKLAND SAYING THIS IS MADNESS, BUT THIS IS HOW WE FEEL.
I WAS TOLD OF AN INCIDENT RECENTLY WHERE A GOLFER WAS, UH, APPROACHED BY ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE GOLF COURSE AND WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS COMING AND HE STOPPED HER AND SAID, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU, AND TOLD HER WHY.
AND THEN THREE OTHER GOLFERS BEHIND HIM PIPED UP AND TOLD HER THE SAME.
THEY WERE AGAINST THIS REZONING LAST WEEK, MY SON JAMES WAS
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HELPING A LOCAL CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN IN THE ROCKLAND AREA AND EVERYONE BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE REZONING AND THE MAJORITY WERE STRONGLY AGAINST IT.THESE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE YOU INTO OFFICE.
WE TRUST YOU TO PROTECT, UH, THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND THAT WE HAVE AND AND THE ZONING THAT HAS BEEN SET UP TO PROTECT IT.
I ASK YOU PLEASE TO CONSIDER NOT REZONING ROCKLAND FOR THE GOOD OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE GOOD OF WARREN COUNTY AND OUR STATE.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? NEXT UP IS MARK ROWENA.
I LIVE AT 3 9 2 MILLVILLE VALLEY DRIVE IN FRONT ROYAL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE REZONING REQUEST OF MR. RUNYON OF THE GOLF COURSE PROPERTY, WHICH IS OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED BY RESIDENTS.
I WANNA SHARE JUST A HANDFUL OF THE REASONS WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU OPPOSE THIS.
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT.
FIRST, IT, IT IS AGAINST THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH SHOULD BE FOLLOWED ABSENT A FULL PROCESS TO DEBATE A CHANGE.
SECOND, THIS REZONING REQUEST WILL GREATLY DIMINISH THE RURAL CHARACTER OF THE ROCKLAND HISTORIC DISTRICT.
PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC RURAL FARMING AREAS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR US IN WARREN COUNTY.
IF WE TAKE A LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE SEAL JUST BEHIND YOU, UM, IT'S NOT HARD TO IMAGINE US GOING FROM PLENTY TO LACKING WHAT WE NEED IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
THIRD, AS WAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, THERE ARE NARROW, INSUFFICIENT COUNTRY ROADS AS IT IS, WHICH ARE ALREADY DANGEROUS.
THE FIRST DAY THAT I MOVED INTO THE AREA, I SAW A HEAD ON COLLISION ON ONE OF THOSE STREETS.
UM, IT'S UNTENABLE AS IT IS NOW, BUT WITH DOUBLING THE TRAFFIC, UM, THE DANGER, THE DANGER TO CITIZENS IS REALLY UNIMAGINABLE.
AS ONE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS NOTED, I HAVE NOW ALMOST A A IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, UH, SECOND TEENAGE DRIVER AND THE IDEA OF THEM TAKING ON THE ROADS WITH THIS ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC REALLY SCARES ME.
THIS IS ALSO A POPULAR AREA FOR BICYCLISTS IN THE SCENIC SCENIC BYWAY THAT IT IS.
AND YOU CAN COME ON THOSE BICYCLISTS VERY QUICKLY.
UM, I THINK ANYBODY WHO'S DRIVEN EVEN AT A RESPONSIBLE SPEED THERE CAN ATTEST TO THAT.
JUST FINALLY, A QUICK WORD ON THE 55 AND OLDER NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHILE THIS MAY NOT IMPACT THE SCHOOLS IS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD.
ALTHOUGH I STILL WILL HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT HOME WHEN I'M 55, UM, THERE WILL BE A HIGHER DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE AREA AND EVERYBODY WHO LIVES AROUND THEIR KNOWS UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITH NO RHYME OR REASON, THOSE STREETS ARE EASILY BLOCKED BY TRAINS.
AND SO THAT EXTRA DEMAND AND THE EXTRA INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET THOSE EMERGENCY NEEDS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND IT'S NOT IN THE PLAN AT ALL.
I DO SYMPATHIZE WITH MR. RUNION, BUT HE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY PROPERTY WITH THE CURRENT ZONING, UH, RATHER THAN HIS ZONING CONTINGENCY.
SO PLEASE KEEP THIS AREA OF ONE OF WARREN COUNTY'S JEWELS.
DO WE HAVE ANOTHER BILL? POWERS? HELLO, MY NAME IS BILL POWERS.
I LIVE AT 27 10 ASHBY STATION ROAD AND MY SISTER AND I ARE ON THE FARM THAT RUNS THE LENGTH OF SHENANDOAH.
I'M GONNA BE GONE ON THE 22ND, SO I CAME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
SO SHANNON DO HAS BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO US.
MY DAUGHTER'S WORKED THERE AS WAITRESSES.
ONE DAUGHTER WAS A CART GIRL, SO NOW THEY'RE BOTH, BOTH MARRIED.
MY SON-IN-LAW LIKE TO COME AND PLAY GOLF THERE AND I JUST CAN'T SEE ANY ADVANTAGE TO REZONING IT AND CHANGE ONE OF OUR PRIMARY RECREATION FACILITIES TO HOUSES.
AND I KNOW RICHARD NEEDS TO MAKE A PROFIT AND I, AND IF YOU ALL CHOOSE NOT TO PROVE HIS ZONING, I HOPE HE CONTINUES TO RUN A REALLY GOOD GOLF COURSE AND IT'S PROFITABLE.
THERE'S ANOTHER POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE AND THAT IS THAT THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF LAND IN THE TOWN FRONT ROYAL, UH, THERE'S MARY SHADY LANE.
THERE'S SOME PLACES, IT'S ACTUALLY A LOT WHERE WE HAVE CITY WATER AND SEWER, FAIRLY GOOD ROADS AND IF WE REALLY NEED SOME ADDITIONAL HOUSES AND DEVELOPMENT, THAT SEEMS TO ME LIKE TO BE A LOT BETTER PLACE TO DO IT.
SO I HOPE HE VOTED AGAINST THIS REQUEST TO RESUME AND HE DID KNOW WHAT IT WAS DONE WHEN HE BOUGHT IT.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
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ANN? BAD WAY.I, UM, WAS HERE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND I HEARD TWO COMMENTS THAT WERE VERY DISCONCERTING TO ME, WHICH LED ME TO, UH, LOOK INTO WHAT, UH, LEGAL CASE LAW, WHAT WHAT POSSIBLE LEGAL GUIDELINES OR POLICIES MAY ALREADY BE IN EFFECT THAT MAY GUIDE YOU ALL IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.
AND SO A CAREFUL REVIEW OF, UH, MR. NAPIER'S 1994, UH, LEGAL OPINION ON SPOT ZONING.
AND THE BURDEN THAT MR. RUNYON MUST OVERCOME BEFORE YOU ALL IS TO PROVE THAT THIS IS NOT INDEED SPOT ZONING AND IT MUST BE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
THIS 286 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT MUST BE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
IT MUST PROVIDE A PUBLIC BENEFIT.
THERE MUST BE A PUBLIC NEED FOR THE PROPOSED USE OF THE PROPERTY.
THE STANDARD IS WHAT IS THE EFFECT ON THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, A SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL UNIT.
NOW, THE REAL EVIL OF SPOT ZONING TO QUOTE MR. NAPIER IS THAT AN AREA IS REZONED FOR USE, NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU RIGHT NOW THAT THIS IS SO INCONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU HAVE A, UH, 119 ACRES, 119 ACRES AFTER YOU SUBTRACT THE 76 ACRES THAT WOULD BE ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL 119 ACRES THAT WOULD BE MOWED DOWN OF PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF TREES, PLANTS, GRASSY AREAS, WHICH IS A, WHICH IS AN ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TO CONTAIN, UH, FLOOD WATER, STORM WATER EROSION.
NOW, I WOULD WOULD SUBMIT THAT, THAT HE DOES NOT MEET ANY OF THIS BURDEN ON THE SPOT ZONING.
AND SO THIS ALSO LED ME TO ONCE LOOKING AT THE MR. NAPIER'S OPINION, A CAREFUL REVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY MR. RUNYON FOR YOUR REVIEW IDENTIFIED TROUBLESOME CONCLUSIONS THAT WERE MADE WITHOUT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT.
THERE WERE ALSO SERIOUS OMISSIONS OF RELEVANT FACTUAL INFORMATION, WHICH WHICH SHOULD BE BEFORE THE BOARD WHEN THEY CONSIDER THAT.
CONSERVATIVELY, SEVEN ITEMS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT LACK ANY AND EVIDENTIARY BASIS RELATED TO THE CONCLUSIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, PARAGRAPH, A MODIFICATION OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO QUOTE, NATURAL CONDITIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MODIFIED.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT WILL THEREFORE HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
AGAIN, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE GEOGRAPHY.
119 ACRES, 119 ACRES WILL BE MOWED DOWN TO LAY CONCRETE ASPHALT IN BUILDINGS, COMMERCIAL RESTAURANT, A BAR, A BREW BREW PUB, WHICH IS IN ONE OF THE, UH, REPORTS THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON MR. RUNYON'S BEHALF, A BREW PUB GENERAL SHOPS.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? MIKE BRITA.
I'M MIKE BRITA, 8 29 DALE ROAD.
I'M A BIT SURPRISED THAT A, A PRUDENT BUSINESSMAN WOULD BUY A PROPERTY WITHOUT REALIZING THAT, UM, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE VIABLE FOR HIM IN THE WAY THAT HE BOUGHT IT.
UM, I'VE SOLD AND INVESTED IN REAL ESTATE FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND USUALLY SOMEONE WILL, UH, PUT A PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT AND THEN GET, UH, REZONING AND MAKE IT SUBJECT TO REZONING BEFORE THEY MOVE FORWARD.
APPARENTLY HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY AND NOW WE'RE FEELING A LITTLE BIT OF A PINCH TO KIND OF BAIL HIM OUT.
AND MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT IF WE DO BAIL HIM OUT ON THIS, UH, WE'RE GONNA WIND UP BAILING HIM OUT EVEN MORE LATER ON.
WHY DO I SAY THAT? THE COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT CLAIMS THAT HE'S, HE'S PROVIDING A SOLUTION FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS EAGER TO MAKE THEIR HOMES IN THE SHENANDOAH COUNTY.
UM, OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBOR, UM, IN TERMS OF 55 PLUS COMMUNITY, UH, STARTED IN 2006.
IT STARTED AS SHENANDOAH AND IS NOW CALLED, UH, LAKE FREDERICK ABOUT, UH, THEY BUILT 172 HOMES AND THAT WAS OVER A SEVEN YEAR PERIOD, SEVEN YEARS, 172 HOMES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 286 HOMES.
I SHOWED A PROPERTY TO A CLIENT IN FREDERICK LAKE FREDERICK AND SHE TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY.
AND SHE FOUND OUT WHEN SHE READ THE, THE
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FINE PRINT THAT HER GRANDKIDS WERE RESTRICTED ON HOW MANY DAYS THEY COULD OVERNIGHT WITH GRANDMA AND HOW OFTEN THEY COULD COME TO OVERNIGHT.THEY COULDN'T PLAY OUTSIDE IN THE STREETS AND THEY COULDN'T ENTER THE COMMUNITY CENTER WITHOUT A GUARDIAN PRESENT.
THIS IS KIND OF INTEGRAL TO A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY.
SO SHE DIDN'T BUY THERE AND IN FACT, THEY RAN INTO PROBLEMS, UH, WITH THAT CONCEPT.
AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT IF THIS COMMUNITY GOES FORWARD AS A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY, THEY'RE GONNA RUN INTO PROBLEMS. AND THEN JUST LIKE LAKE FREDERICK, THEY'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP TO FAMILIES AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL ASK FOR A PIVOT AND WHO'S GONNA BE THERE TO BAIL THEM OUT? HE'S GONNA BE LOOKING FOR US TO BAIL 'EM OUT.
SO IN 2 20 13, THE COMMUNITY WAS SO SOLD TO LANSDOWN DEVELOPMENT, THE FIRST PEOPLE COULDN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THAT THE REAL HOUSING NEED IS FOR SINGLES AND YOUNG FAMILIES.
I MEAN, IF IT WERE, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA WOULD BE ALL SAYING, YEAH, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.
WE WANNA JUMP INTO THIS NEW COMMUNITY.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE NEAR THE HOSPITAL AS WAS MENTIONED.
THERE ARE TREAT AREAS, UH, ACROSS FROM THE HOSPITAL.
I'M SORRY, THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
MR. HENDERSON, HUGH HENRY, HUGH HENRY 1 75.
HUGH HENRY LANE, LIFELONG RESIDENT, FRONT ROYAL, AND I'M ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON OUR LOCAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
OH, I COME IN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BAD NEWS.
I WANNA BE A LITTLE CRITICAL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SOME BUDGET ISSUES.
I FEEL LIKE THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB VETTING BUDGETS CORRECTLY.
UM, I'M GONNA SINGLE ONE EXAMPLE OUT WOULD BE THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET.
UH, IN THREE MINUTES I WON'T BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH 'EM ALL OBVIOUSLY.
OH, YOU GOT LINE ITEMS IN A BUDGET THAT SAY LIKE $10,000 FOR DOG TOYS AND $24,000 IN MISCELLANEOUS JANITORIAL SERVICES.
IT DOESN'T EVEN COME OUT OF HIS BUDGET.
AND MS COLOR'S THE ONLY ONE WITH ENOUGH STRENGTH TO QUESTION THE MAN ON HIS INCORRECT BUDGET.
AND ANSWERS WERE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS.
OH, AND THEN WE USING WORDS LIKE BUNDLE BUDGET IN DISCUSSION.
BUNDLE BUDGET IS EXACTLY HOW WE GOT AN E D A MESS TO START WITH.
YOU NEED LINE ITEM BUDGET AND WHATEVER DEPARTMENT HEAD OR FACULTY THAT COMES IN WITH A BUDGET, IF HE CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT EACH OF THOSE LINE ITEMS ARE, IT SHOULDN'T BE APPROVED.
YOU CANNOT TAKE A STAFF MEMBER AT THEIR WORD.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THE E D A M S STARTED TO MAGNIFY THINGS.
YOU'VE TAKEN THE WORD OF A DISHONEST MAN, WHICH IS OUR SHERIFF, AND THAT'S NOT MY OPINION.
HE IS NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO TESTIFY IN COURT AND YOU TOOK HIS WORD AND DID NOT VET IT AT ALL.
THE ONE I'M MOST DISAPPOINTED IN IS YOU, MS. COOK, WHEN YOU CAME FOR MY SUPPORT TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN AND FOR ME TO VOTE FOR YOU AS I DID AND SAID I WOULD, YOUR CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TO ME WAS TRANSPARENCY AND BUDGET AND THAT YOU WERE SICK OF THE E D A MESS AND YOU HAD AN ACCOUNTING BACKGROUND AND YOU'VE DONE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.
YOU HAVE SUPPORTED AN UNVETTED BUDGET.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR INFATUATION WITH MR. BUTLER IS, BUT I THINK IT'S TO THE POINT THAT YOU'RE USING YOUR POLITICAL PLATFORM TO LAUNCH AN INAPPROPRIATE CANDIDATE.
I MADE SIMILAR COMMENTS THAT OUR PLANNING MEETING WAS NOT RECORDED, SHOULD HAVE BEEN, I DIDN'T MENTION ANY CANDIDATES WHEN I TALK AT MY SECTION, NOR WILL I TONIGHT.
BUT I WILL MENTION HOW DISGRACEFUL THAT THAT BUDGET IS.
IN FACT, I'VE GOT ENOUGH SUPPORT TO START A PETITION TO HAVE YOU REMOVED.
I REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD DECISION FOR YOU TO TAKE YOUR CALIFORNIA POLITICS BACK HOME AND GO AHEAD AND RESIGN AND SAVE EVERYBODY THE TROUBLE OF DOING ALL THE PAPERWORK TO GET YOU REMOVED.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? TINA JOHNSON? YES.
YOU ALL KNOW I'M, YOU ALREADY KNOW I'M LOUD ENOUGH BEEN HERE ENOUGH.
I HOLD A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN
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CHILD DEVELOPMENT.BEFORE I START WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE TO SAY I AGREE COMPLETELY AND WHOLLY WITH THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST WENT BEFORE ME.
EVERY 45 SECONDS AN L G B T Q CHILD ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE TREVOR PROJECT, I BEGAN COMING TO SPEAK AT THESE MEETINGS WITH THE HOPES OF CHANGING THE MINDS OF THE SUPERVISORS THAT WAS WRONGHEADED.
THE ONLY ONE I'VE SEEN ACT WITH INTEGRITY HAS BEEN MS. CALLERS AND MRS. AND I DON'T VOTE IN HER DISTRICT.
AFTER ALL, MANY OF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACTIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS THAT WERE MOVING TO HAVE BOOKS BANNED FOR THE LIBRARY SUPERVISOR BUTLER EVEN FILLED OUT TWO OF THE FORMS. OTHERS OF YOU SIMPLY WEREN'T BRAVE ENOUGH TO STAND UP FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS EVEN THOUGH YOU TOLD US YOU WOULD.
AND WE WILL NOT FORGET THAT MR. MR. MAYE.
IT'S DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING AND SHAMEFUL THAT RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM IS BEING EMBOLDENED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN IS GIVEN A SECOND SEAT TO THE POLITICS OF ADULTS.
WE ALL KNOW YOU ROULETTE WHEN THE LAWSUITS BEGIN.
WE ALL KNOW WHERE YOUR INTEGRITY ENDS.
WE ALSO KNOW IN THAT THAT MONEY IS ALSO MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THE WORDS OF ONE SUCH CHILD FROM THIS COMMUNITY THAT ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AS A BISEXUAL 19 YEAR OLD.
MY NAME IS DONNA CHUTE, THAT IS HER NAME.
I ATTENDED CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE FROM 2002 TO 2006 AND GRADUATED SUMMA KLAU.
MY DAD AND SIBLINGS WOULD LATER MOVE TO FRONT ROYAL.
I'M BISEXUAL, AGNOSTIC AND DIVORCED FROM A FELLOW CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE ALUM.
I'M DIAGNOSED WITH COMPLEX P T S D DUE TO RELIGIOUS TRAUMA.
AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO SO MANY YOUNG WOMEN AT THAT COLLEGE.
I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT 19 WHEN MY THEN FIANCE DUMPED ME SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING IN PART DUE TO THE BELIEF THAT I WAS A SINNER.
SORRY, I'M GONNA FINISH THAT FOR HER.
UM, I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT 19 WHEN MY THEN FIANCE DUMPED ME SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING.
IN PART DUE TO HIS BELIEF THAT I WAS A SINNER FOR WANTING TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIM, HE VISITED ME IN THE HOSPITAL TO LECTURE ME AND TELL ME I SHOULD REALLY APOLOGIZE TO JESUS.
INSTEAD, I TOOK THE MESSAGING TO HEART AND CARVED THE WORD WHO UNDER MY LEG WITH A RUSTY RAZOR BLADE.
IF THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES CLOSING YOUR EYES WON'T MAKE HIM ANY LESS NAKED.
THE HOMOPHOBIC BOOK BURNERS ARE THE SELF SAME CULT CULTUS WHO HAVE CAUSED UNTOLD PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR NOT ONLY ME, BUT FOR HUNDREDS OF OTHER SEX POSITIVE QUEER OR QUESTIONING ATHEISTS OR AGNOSTIC KIDS.
AND IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE KIDS, PLEASE KNOW YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN ALLY IN ME AND I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, FREEDOM TO LOVE WHOEVER YOU WANT, AND FREEDOM TO CHECK OUT WHATEVER BOOK YOU YOU DAMN WELL, PLEASE.
FROM THE LIBRARY, FOUR L G B T Q CHILDREN ATTEMPTED TO COMMIT SUICIDE DURING THESE THREE MINUTES.
80 L G B T Q CHILDREN HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY THE END OF THIS HOUR LONG COMMENTARY.
THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THE CHILDREN OF WARREN COUNTY.
KEEP IT THAT WAY BY ALLOWING THE CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY TO BE GIVEN A VOICE.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM A FRONT RAIL RESIDENT.
I'M DEEPLY SORRY THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING, BUT I FELT SO STRONGLY IN THIS TOPIC THAT I HAD SOMEONE ELSE READ THIS FOR ME.
IN MY ABSENCE, I'M A LIFELONG PATRON OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I VOLUNTEERED ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS FROM AGES 12 TO 18.
I CREDIT MY TIME SPENT AT THE LIBRARY IS CRUCIAL TO MY DEVELOPMENT AS A YOUNG WOMAN AND I FOUND NOTHING BUT LOVE, ACCEPTANCE AND GUIDANCE THROUGH SAMUEL'S PUBLIC
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LIBRARY AND THE STAFF OF THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT, NAMELY MICHAEL ASHBY.I'M HORRIFIED BY THIS TOWN'S TREATMENT OF THE HONORABLE INSTITUTION OF SAMUEL'S OVER WHAT IS LESS THAN 1% OF ITS COLLECTION.
THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY WILLING TO COMPLY WITH COMPROMISES GIVEN TO IT BY THE BOARD.
AND I THINK THAT FURTHER ESCALATING THE SITUATION WHILE THEY'RE SCRAMBLING TO COMPLY WITH A LOUD MINORITY OF WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS IS UNFAIR AND RIDICULOUS TO ATTEMPT TO GET RID OF THE SAMUELS LIBRARY.
OVER 1% OF IT, WHICH YOU TAKE OFFENSE IS LIKE IF WE BURN SKYLINE DRIVE DOWN BECAUSE OF A SINGLE CHESTNUT TREE DAMAGED BY BLIGHT.
IT IS LIKE IF WE DEMOLISHED MAIN STREET BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE PAVEMENT OR IF WE DRIED UP THE SHENANDOAH BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE FOUND A DEAD FISH.
THROUGHOUT MY YEARS ATTENDING THE LIBRARY, I'VE BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THE HOMELESS WHO USE IT FOR SHELTER.
THE CHILDREN WHO USE IT TO LEARN AND THE ELDERLY WHO USE IT TO STAVE OFF LONELINESS.
WOULD YOU BURN SKYLINE LEAVING ALL THE BIRDS WITHOUT A NEST? WILL YOU CLOSE? AND SENSOR SAMUELS LEAVING OUR PEOPLE WITHOUT A PLACE TO GO? THE ISSUE IS NO LONGER JUST ABOUT BANNING BOOKS AND I KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER CONVINCE YOU OF WHAT BOOKS YOU LIKE AND DISLIKE, BUT PLEASE DON'T THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATH WATER SUPPORT.
UM, MR. BUTLER, I'M ASSUMING WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED THAT YOU HAD ETHICS TRAINING AND HAD TO SIGN A DOCUMENT AS TO SUCH, SO JUST I WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT WE KNOW THAT.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NEXT UP IS CONNOR TREVOR.
HELLO, I AM CONNOR TREVOR OF FRONT ROYAL.
UM, TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR A CRUCIAL ISSUE THAT HOLDS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF L G B T Q REPRESENTATION IN LIBRARY MATTERS.
LIBRARIES ARE NOT JUST REPOSITORIES OF KNOWLEDGE, THEY ARE BASTIONS OF INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY WHERE EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED AS WE STRIVE FOR PROGRESSION AND UNDERSTANDING.
LET US REMEMBER THE SCIENTIFIC FACTS IN WISDOM OF FAMOUS INDIVIDUALS THAT UNDERSCORE THE NECESSITY FOR L G B T Q REPRESENTATIONS.
SCIENCE HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT L G B T Q REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT EXPOSURE TO DIVERSE NARRATIVES FOSTERS EMPATHY AND REDUCES PREJUDICE.
A LANDMARK STUDY BY THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE FOUND THAT L G B T Q REPRESENTATION IN LITERATURE POSITIVELY IMPACTS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF L G B T Q YOUTH BY SEEING THEMSELVES REFLECT IN THE STORIES THEY FEEL VALIDATED AND ACCEPTED.
FAMOUS AUTHOR JAMES BALDWIN ONCE SAID, YOU THINK YOUR PAIN IN YOUR HEARTBREAK ARE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, BUT THEN YOU READ IT WAS BOOKS THAT TAUGHT ME THAT THE THINGS THAT TORMENTED ME MOST WERE THE VERY THINGS THAT CONNECT ME WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ALIVE OR WHO HAVE EVER BEEN ALIVE.
BALDWIN'S WORDS RING TRUE TODAY REMINDING US OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF LITERATURE AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON SHAPING OUR IDENTITIES AND SENSE OF BELONGING.
L G B T Q REPRESENTATION IN LIBRARIES IS NOT ONLY PROVIDES SOLACE TO THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS L G B T Q, BUT ALSO CREATES ALLIES AMONG THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE STRUGGLES FACED BY THE BY THIS COMMUNITY.
THE LACK OF L G B T Q REPRESENTATION LIBRARIES PERPETUATES HARMFUL SCENARIOS AND PERPETUATES THE ERASURE OF THEIR EXPERIENCES.
BY EXCLUDING L G B T Q STORIES, WE DENY THEIR CONTR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY AND UNDERMINE THE ESSENCE OF DIVERSITY THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER.
FAMOUS L G B T Q RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARVEY MILK ONCE SAID, IF A BULLET SHOULD ENTER MY BRAIN, LET THAT LET THAT BULLET DESTROY EVERY VERY, EVERY CLOSET DOOR.
HIS POWERFUL WORDS RESONATE WITH THE URGES OF REPRESENTING L G B Q REPRESENTATION IN ALL SPHERES OF LIFE.
WHEN WE CHAMPION L G B T Q REPRESENTATION, WE TAKE A CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS DISMANTLING DISCRIMINATION AND FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF ACCEPTANCE.
OUR LIBRARY SHOULD BE PLACES OF REFUGE WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, FEEL SAFE, RESPECTED, AND VALUED.
IN CONCLUSION, LET US RECOGNIZE THAT L G B T Q REPRESENTATION IN LIBRARY MATTERS.
IT'S, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT CHECKING BOXES, IT IS ABOUT AFFIRMING THE IDENTITIES OF OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
BY EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, WE ENRICH OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES AND CULTIVATE EMPATHY AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LET US HEEDED THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, THE WISDOM OF INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS.
MY NAME IS KELSEY LAWRENCE AND I LIVE IN FORK DISTRICT.
UM, TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL, SORRY, BUT AS A MOTHER,
[00:30:01]
A ROLE THAT HAS IGNITED AN UNWAVERING FIRE WITHIN ME.MOTHERHOOD HAS TAUGHT ME THE TRUE MEANING OF CARING AND COMPASSION, NOT ONLY FOR MY CHILDREN, BUT FOR ALL OF THOSE AROUND ME.
IT HAS OPENED MY EYES TO THE INJUSTICES AND DISCRIMINATION THAT EXISTS IN OUR SOCIETY.
I ADDRESS YOU THE DECISION MAKERS WITH A DEEP SENSE OF CONCERN AND URGENCY.
IT SADDENS ME TO WITNESS OUR LIBRARY NOT RECEIVING THE FULL FUNDING.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS NOT JUST A REPOSITORY OF BOOKS, IT IS A SANCTUARY OF KNOWLEDGE AND A SAFE SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
AS A MOTHER OF FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN, I CANNOT REMAIN SILENT.
WHEN FACED WITH BOOK BANNING AND EXTREMIST VIEWS, I MUST BE A FIERCE DEFENDER OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, PROMOTING OPEN DIALOGUE AND EMBRACING THE STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM DIVERSITY, THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF BOOK BANNING.
DENY OUR CHILDREN ACCESS TO DIVERSE PERSPEC PERSPECTIVES AND HINDER THEIR INTELLECTUAL GROWTH.
THIS IS NOT THE WORLD I WANT FOR MY CHILDREN.
A WORLD RESTRICTED BY NARROW-MINDEDNESS AND INTOLERANCE.
MY ROLE AS A MOTHER AND CAREGIVER GOES BEYOND MY OWN FAMILY.
I HAVE A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY WHERE I TOOK MANY COURSES ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE FAMILY.
ALL BOOKS AT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.
WE HAVE SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED STANDARDS THAT DETERMINES WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN.
UM, I HAVE A DUTY TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I MUST ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS TO SHAPE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL.
I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE FULL FUNDING OF OUR LIBRARY.
RECOGNIZING AS IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COLLECTIVE WELLBEING AND PROSPERITY.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO REMEMBER THAT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A POLITICAL PAWN.
I IMPLORE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF REASON AND NOT BE SWAYED BY EXTREMISTS WHO SEEK TO SILENCE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND KNOWLEDGE.
AS A MAMA BEAR, I STAND UNITED AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND INJUSTICE TEACHING MY CHILDREN THE VALUES OF EMPATHY, RESPECT, AND INCLUSIVITY.
I CALL UPON YOU POLITICIANS TO HEEDED MY CALL FOR A FULLY FUNDED LIBRARY AND TO CHAMPION THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND EDUCATION.
BY STANDING TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A WORLD WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN THRIVE AND FLOURISH AND WHERE THEY CAN EXPLORE, LEARN, AND GROW WITHOUT FEAR OF CENSORSHIP OR EXCLUSION.
LET SORRY, LET US WORK HAND IN HAND TO NURTURE A COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES DIVERSITY AND EMBRACES THE BEAUTY OF OPEN DIALOGUE.
IN CONCLUSION, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF YOUR DECISIONS AND RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF FULLY FUNDING OUR LIBRARY.
EMBRACE THE IDEALS OF INCLUSIVITY AND REJECT ANY ATTEMPTS TO CURTAIL INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM.
TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THE SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL CHILDREN.
MR. ANDERSON, DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TO SPEAK? BETHANY O'NEILL.
HELLO, HELLO, MY NAME IS BETHANY AND I'VE BEEN A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT AND SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LI UH, PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD HOLDER FOR 14 YEARS.
I'M ALSO A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN.
THIS WEEKEND I WAS LISTENING TO AN AUDIOBOOK, NOT ONE THAT'S ON THE BAND LIST.
BUT I CHECKED IT OUT OF THE LIBRARY AND WAS HEARING WORDS LIKE ECHO CHAMBER SYNDROME, MORAL EXCLUSION AND FALSE DICHOTOMY.
AND AS I LISTENED, I STARTED TO TAILSPIN.
UH, THERE IS SO MUCH BLATANT DE HUMAN-HUMAN
I'M SO FLUSTERED FROM CLEANUP SAMUEL'S TOWARD ALL THE CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE THEM, PRAY LIKE THEM, LOVE LIKE THEM, AND THOSE THAT DON'T READ LIKE THEM.
INTERESTINGLY, 75% OF THE LIBRARY BUDGET STILL HASN'T BEEN RELEASED.
AND YES, I KNOW THERE ARE MOAS AND THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN OKAY, RELEASE THE BUDGET, BUT LET'S NOT FOOL OURSELVES.
COME SEPTEMBER, YOU, THE BOARD MIGHT SAY ENOUGH HASN'T BEEN DONE AND THAT YOU STILL THINK THAT THE YOUTH ARE AT RISK.
AND HONESTLY, I WON'T BE SURPRISED, UM, TO QUOTE MY FRIEND, YOU HAVE BEEN BAMBOOZLED BY A GROUP OF BIGOTS.
SO WHAT WILL I DO WHILE I WAIT FOR THE BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT? I WILL KEEP READING AND CONTINUE TO 100% SUPPORT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARY STAFF, BUT MAYBE I SHOULD SAVE MY TIME AND TAKE THE LAZY ROUTE AND JUST TRUST THE 500 REQUISITION FORMS AND BASE BASE MY JUDGMENT OFF THAT.
BUT COME ON, IF MY MATH IS CORRECT, SOMETHING LIKE 99% OF THE FORMS WERE WRITTEN BY SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T EVEN READ THE BOOK.
I MEAN, WHO DOES THAT? WHO MAKES SUBMISSIONS BASED OFF A SUMMARY ALONE OR BASED OFF WHAT A FRIEND SAID OR A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OR EVEN WHAT A CONSTITUENT SAID? I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD THAT MADE REQUESTS ON BOOKS THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN READ.
YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T DO THAT.
[00:35:01]
TIME TO READ THE BOOKS FROM THE LIST AND I'M PERPLEXED.I HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING WORRISOME.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES IN THE BOOKS I'VE READ.
I WOULD LET MY CHILDREN CHECK OUT EVERY SINGLE BOOK THAT I'VE READ SO FAR.
IT'S REALLY TOO BAD I HAVEN'T GOTTEN PRIZES FOR THE BOOKS I'VE READ LIKE THOSE THAT DID FOR WRITING THE REQUISITION FORMS BECAUSE THE TOTAL, WITH THE TOTAL I'VE READ ACCORDING TO THE ACTUAL WINNERS OF THE CLEANUP SAMUEL'S EVENT, I EASILY COULD HAVE GOTTEN THIRD PRIZE.
BUT KEEP IN MIND, I ACTUALLY COULD HAVE GOTTEN FIRST PRIZE IF SO MANY BOOKS FROM THE LIST WEREN'T CHECKED OUT.
JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY, 44% OF THE BOOKS FROM THE PROPOSED BAND LIST WERE ACTUALLY CHECKED OUT FROM THE LIBRARY.
NOW, WHILE I DIDN'T GET A PRIZE FREE BABYSITTING OR FREE BEER FOR READING, IT'S CLEARLY APPARENT THAT WE MUST HAVE A LIBRARY WITH BOOKS ON THE SHELF THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR LIVES AND THE DIVERSITY THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS MORE THAN JUST A LIST OF BOOKS.
IT IS A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL CHILDREN, AND THESE BOOKS HAVE NO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES AND THEY ARE GRAPHIC NOVELS AND YOUNG ADULT NOVELS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ANDERSON.
MY NAME IS THERESA JENKINS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD THIS EVENING.
I'M GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE MY VOICE CAN BE HEARD AND MY VOTE COUNTS.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN VIRGINIA.
I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF HARDWORKING FARMERS AND WATERMEN.
I STOOD AS A CHILD AND STILL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND THE IDEAS FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
AND THAT'S WHY I WEAR THIS SHIRT THAT STATES, WE ARE ONE NATION OF MANY BELIEFS.
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT OVERSEE THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS COUNTY, YOU HAVE A COMPLEX JOB AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THE ACTIONS OF THE BOARD TO TARGET THE SAMUELS LIBRARY HAS BROUGHT NATIONAL ATTENTION TO OUR SMALL TOWN AND A SHAMEFUL PALE OVER OUR COMMUNITY.
THE ETHICS OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION FOR ITS BLATANT FAVORITISM TOWARDS A SMALL, HOMOPHOBIC, CULTISH CHRISTIAN GROUP, A GROUP THAT SHOULD CLEAN THEIR OWN HOUSE BEFORE TRYING TO SWEEP OUT THAT OF OTHERS.
THERE ARE ATTEMPTS TO DEMONIZE, INTIMIDATE AND UNDERMINE THE HARDWORKING, DEDICATED LIBRARIANS AND QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS HAS PROMOTED THEIR CAUSE, BUT THEY'RE UN-CHRISTIAN AND HURTFUL AND DANGEROUS, AND DO NOT SUPPORT MY VIEWS OR THOSE OF MY, UM, FRIENDS.
I RECOMMEND THE BOARD RELEASE THE FUNDING FOR SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
THE LIBRARY HAS ACTED IN GOOD FAITH TO ESTABLISH SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO READING MATERIAL, LET THEM CONTINUE THEIR UNIMPEDED, UH, WORK IN THIS AREA.
ANY ATTEMPTS BY THE BOARD TO DEFUND THE LIBRARY AND MOVE TO MAKE THE LIBRARY.
A COUNTY ENTITY WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS AND FINANCIAL IMPACT UPWARDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
YOUR CONSTITU CONSTITUENTS IN THIS COUNTY DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT.
THEY'RE ALREADY ANGRY ABOUT GROSS MISMANAGEMENT OF COUNTY FINANCES.
MY MOTHER TURNS 88 THIS FRIDAY.
I'M THE WIFE OF A NAVY VETERAN WHO RETIRES AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
I AM AN EDUCATOR WITH 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, TEACHING CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND ALL DIVERSITIES.
AND I WANT TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY ALL ITS MEMBERS.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL CHILDREN AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED AND FULLY FUNDED.
I AM A VOTER AND I'M IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL.
DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE SIGNED UP? TRACY LANE.
I LIVE AT 6 4 5 BRAGG DRIVE FOR ROYAL VIRGINIA.
AND I'M GOING TO FIRST ADDRESS YOU AS THE CHAIR OF P O S F AT A SITUATION THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
[00:40:01]
COUNTY BECAME THE MANAGING AGENT OF CDO FARM SANITARY DISTRICT IN 2022, WARREN COUNTY CUT P O S F OUT OF THE MANAGEMENT OF SHENANDOAH FARMS. TODAY WE HAVE A PROPERTY OWNER WHOSE SALE OF THEIR HOME IN SHENANDOAH FARMS IS IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE THE MANAGING AGENT WARREN COUNTY REFUSES TO COMPLETE THE RESALE DISCLOSURE PACKET REQUIRED FOR THE SALE OF PROPERTY UNDER VIRGINIA CODE 55.1 DASH 2317.THE ASSOCIATION'S MANAGING AGENT SHALL DELIVER SUCH RESALE CERTIFICATE TO THE SELLER.
WARREN COUNTY IS THE MANAGING AGENT.
THE REFUSAL TO COMPLETE THE RESALE CERTIFICATE PUTS THE SALE OF PROPERTY IN SHENANDOAH FARMS IN JEOPARDY.
FOR 2,800 PROPERTY OWNERS, WARREN COUNTY COLLECTS BUDGETS AND SPENDS THE SHENANDOAH FARMS SANITARY DISTRICT FEES WITHOUT THE INPUT OF P O S F OR ANY SHENANDOAH FARMS PROPERTY OWNERS.
THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS ISSUE REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE, IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE PART OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
A RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE FOUND IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE ANY PROPERTY OWNER TRYING TO BUY OR SELL IN SHENANDOAH FARMS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE SALE.
THE RESELL ARTICLE CANNOT BE COMPLETED BY P O S F BECAUSE P O S F DOES NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION REQUIRED.
WARREN COUNTY IS IN POSSESSION OF THIS INFORMATION.
ARE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND WARREN COUNTY PREPARED FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS WHEN MORE PROPERTY OWNERS CANNOT COMPLETE THE SALE OF THEIR PROPERTY? MY NAME'S TRACY LANE.
I'M AN EDUCATOR AND I'M A LIBRARIAN.
AND THE IDEA THAT YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE THE AUDACITY WITHHOLD THE FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY BASED ON, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IS ABSOLUTELY REPREHENSIBLE.
EVERY CHILD, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY ADULT, EVERY CAT THAT WOULD WALK IN THE LIBRARY HAS A RIGHT TO SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED.
I HAVE READ MANY OF THOSE BOOKS ON THAT BOOK LIST AND THERE IS NOT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT.
UM, IF YOU REALLY WANNA GET RID OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT IN SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, PERHAPS WE SHOULD LOOK AT PUTTING BOOK CHALLENGES AGAINST THE BIBLE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS THE ERASURE, THE REP OF, UH, L G B T Q FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHO'S NEXT AND THE FACT THAT SOME OF YOU WOULD ACTUALLY FILL UP THAT FORUM AND NOT READ THE BOOK.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NEXT UP IS MELISSA CHAPEL.
WHITE GREETINGS, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY, BUT REALLY EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY FOR REFLECTING ON HOW IMPORTANT OUR FREEDOMS ARE.
INDEED, WE VIRGINIANS HAVE A DEEP AND PROUD HISTORY IN THE FOUNDATION OF THIS GREAT NATION.
FIVE OF THE SEVEN FOUNDING FATHERS WE'RE VIRGINIA VIRGINIANS.
AS WERE FOUR OF THE FIRST FIVE PRESIDENTS.
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IS RICH WITH THIS HISTORY, AND OUR ANCESTORS KNEW THE VALUE OF THE FREEDOMS. THEY SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO SECURE FOR US.
MANY OF THEM WERE FLEEING OPPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS BACK IN ENGLAND AND WERE EVEN TRANSPORTED HERE AS PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR DISSENTING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, WHICH WERE LITERALLY A CRIME.
AND SO IT WAS AT THE VERY TIME VIRGINIANS WERE PREPARING TO SEPARATE FROM ENGLAND AND FORM THIS FREE INDEPENDENT NATION.
THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE WAS AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT MOVEMENT IN THE VIRGINIA COLONY.
THERE WAS AN ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT RELIGION.
MEMBERS OF ALL OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS WERE LABELED AS DISSENTERS AND LEGALLY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME CIVIL RIGHTS.
THEIR MARRIAGES WERE NOT RECOGNIZED AS LEGITIMATE, AND A RELIGIOUS TEST WAS USED TO BAR THEM FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.
YET EVERYONE, DISSENTERS INCLUDED, HAD TO PAY TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT RELIGION.
SO AS PART OF THE MOVEMENT FOR INDEPENDENCE HERE, VIRGINIANS WERE ALSO CLAIMING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AS A NATURAL RIGHT.
AND ON JUNE 12TH, 1776, EVEN BEFORE THE FEDERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BECAME OFFICIAL IN PHILADELPHIA, A MONTH LATER, VIRGINIA ADOPTED OUR OWN DECLARATION OF RIGHTS PROVIDING FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY INSTEAD OF A GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED CHURCH.
THEN IN OCTOBER, 1776, A PETITION WAS SIGNED BY ALMOST 10,000 PEOPLE.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF ELIGIBLE ADULTS ALSO URGED OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ASSEMBLY TO END TAX PAYMENTS TO CHURCH ESTABLISHMENTS.
[00:45:01]
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, VIRGINIA ENACTED THE STATUTE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, WHICH PROHIBITED ANY ESTABLISHED CHURCH OR GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED RELIGION.HERE, MANY OF THE SIGNERS OF WHAT IS CALLED THE 10,000 NAME PETITION CARED MORE ABOUT THEIR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THAN SEPARATION FROM ENGLAND.
THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS WERE BEING AFFECTED HERE WHERE THEY LIVED AND WERE MADE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS SUBJECTS.
ACTUALLY, THE MARRIAGES AND BAPTISMS AND DISSENTERS WERE LEGALLY ILLEGITIMATE.
DISSENTERS WEREN'T ABLE TO HOLD PUBLIC OR MILITARY OFFICE HERE BECAUSE OF WHO THEY WERE.
WE SHOULD ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD FEEL LIKE TO LIVE WITH FEAR AND PUBLIC SHAMING.
IMAGINE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WHO STILL HAVE TO PAY ALL THE TAXES, INCLUDING TO SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN BEING BARRED FROM CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND OFTEN THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT ATTACKS SOLELY BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO READ ARTICLE ONE OF THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION BECAUSE IT STATES BOTH THAT NO ONE'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS MAY BE FORCED ON OTHERS AND THAT NO ONE CAN BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS DUE TO THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. HENDERSON.
IF WE HAVE A SOMEONE ELSE SIGNED UP.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARTHA RACKER AND I LIVE AT 34 52 BENTONVILLE ROAD.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE A GROUP OF BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS, SUBCONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, REALTORS AND LENDERS.
ANYONE IN A CONSTRUCTION RELATED FIELD IS WELCOME TO BECOME A MEMBER.
WE DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT.
WE DO NOT ENDORSE ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT OUR BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IS BEING INVESTIGATED COVERTLY.
I HEARD THAT WE ARE NOT A LEGAL NONPROFIT AND THAT OUR S C C STANDING HAD LAPSED FIRST AND FOREMOST AS THE TREASURER.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN A 5 0 1 C THREE CORPORATION.
WE'RE NOT A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
WE WERE INCORPORATED AS A NOT FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN A DONATION WITH THE PROMISE OF A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT.
OUR FUNDS ARE RAISED THROUGH MEMBERSHIPS AT OUR ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.
I LITERALLY WRITE 15 TO 20 CHECKS A YEAR TOPS.
AS FOR OUR SS C C STANDING, I APPRECIATE THE HEADS UP THAT IT HAD LAPSED.
AND LET ME TELL YOU HOW THAT HAPPENED.
THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF 2018, AT ALL OF 2019, I WAS TRYING TO SURVIVE CHEMO AND RADIATION FOR A VERY AGGRESSIVE CANCER.
MULTIPLE SURGERIES, SURGICAL ERRORS, BLOOD CLOTS, YOU NAME IT.
WHEN I WASN'T IN THE HOSPITAL, I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO WORK AND EARN A LIVING.
I BARELY HAD ENOUGH ENERGY FOR THAT.
SO KEEPING UP WITH THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDERS ASSOCIATION BUSINESS WAS NOT MY PRIORITY.
AND IF YOU WANNA BLAME SOMEONE, BLAME ME.
BUT WE ARE NOW ONCE AGAIN IN GOOD STANDING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M AN OPEN BOOK.
IF ANYONE FEELS THEY NEED TO LOOK AT OUR BANK STATEMENTS, THERE'S NO NEED TO GO TO THE I R S OR THE F B I.
ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS ASK FOR A MEETING.
ANY OF YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO OUR MEETINGS.
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? THE RUMOR THAT I HEARD IS THAT WE ARE FUNNELING CAMPAIGN DONATIONS FOR CRYSTAL KLEIN AND YOU ASK WHO WOULD COME UP WITH THIS UNFOUNDED ALLEGATION.
SADLY, THIS IS BEING DONE BY OUR CURRENT SHERIFF MARK BUTLER AND HIS COVERT CAMPAIGN TEAM OF SKIP COUNCILMAN, SKIP ROGERS CANDIDATE CONNIE MARNER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VICKI COOK.
WHILE I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR SO-CALLED INVESTIGATION IS LEGAL, IT MOST CERTAINLY IS UNETHICAL AND SHOWS A LACK OF INTEGRITY.
I JUST DON'T GET DRAGGING INNOCENT ORGANIZATIONS INTO SHERIFF BUTLER'S SMEAR, SMEAR TACTICS.
WHAT'S NEXT? ROTARY PHOENIX PROJECT.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP? NO, MA'AM.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO'D LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK? LAST CALL, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
[00:50:01]
MOVING ON.[E. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
UM, OUR REPORTS FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, MR. BUTLER.THE UH, FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO START OFF WITH WAS, UH, I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS ON, UH, ON BOTH SIDES AS FAR AS THE LIBRARY.
I'VE GOT, UH, SOME FOLKS WHO, UM, UM, WHO FEEL THAT, UH, UH, THE, UH, THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THE LIBRARY.
AND THEN I'VE GOT THE CONSTITUENTS WHO FEEL THAT, WELL, THERE SHOULD BE SOME BOOKS NOT TAKEN OUT OF THE LIBRARY, BUT JUST SEGREGATED.
SO THERE IS, THERE IS NO ONE MADAM UH, MADAM PLEASE, MADAM CHAIR.
THE, UH, UH, SO I, I HAVE NO CONSTITUENTS WHO, UH, WHO WANT TO SEE BOOKS BANNED.
SO LET ME MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.
SO THE, UH, THE OTHER ONE IS, UH, I MET WITH THE, THE FOLKS OVER AT, UH, MY CONSTITUENTS OVER AT HIGH KNOB AND, UH, THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE, UH, OF, OF GETTING THE FUNDING FOR THE INTERSECTION ON 55 INTO HIGH KNOB.
AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S, UH, THAT'S THE END OF MY REPORT.
UM, OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, UH, THAT CONSISTS OF, UM, TWO COUNCILMEN FROM THE TOWN AND MRS. OATS AND I FROM THE COUNTY MET ON JULY 19TH.
WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT AVENUES AND TALK TO VDOT, UM, LANDOWNERS ALONG THE, UM, 6 0 6 CHAND SHAND SHORES ROAD TO, UM, TRY TO WORK ON THE EAST WEST CONNECTOR.
AND, UM, WE WILL MEET AGAIN ON AUGUST 16TH.
I ALSO ATTENDED ON JULY 26TH, THE CHAMBERS SPONSORS EACH YEAR.
AND MR. HANSON WAS HERE AND HE LEFT A NEW TEACHER, UH, RECEPTION.
AND I THINK WE HAD 50 PLUS NEW TEACHERS, UM, NEW TO WARREN COUNTY.
SOME OF THEM WERE, UM, STRAIGHT OUTTA COLLEGE.
THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT WE MADE THE COMMENT, THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE ABOUT 16, BUT WELCOME THEM, WELCOME THEM HERE.
THE CHAMBER ALWAYS PUTS ON A NICE EVENT FOR THEM, AND I ENJOY GOING TO THAT.
ALSO, ON THE 27TH, I WAS INVITED TO THE COALITION LUNCHEON WHERE THEY, UM, HONORED LAURA HAAS FOR THE, UM, LARRY FUNK AWARD, WHICH IS A VERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
LARRY FUNK WAS, UM, A DEPUTY HERE, DID DARE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND, UM, SHE WAS, SHE WELL DESERVED THAT AWARD AND THAT WAS NICE LUNCHEON THAT EVENING.
THE CHAMBER, UH, SPONSORED THE SECOND ANNUAL VALOR AWARDS.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY NIKKI FOSTER AND THE CHAMBER MEMBERS DID AN AWESOME JOB, UH, WAS AT THE CHAND VALLEY GOLF COURSE, AND IT WAS ALWAYS THE MILL AND, UM, UH, VENUE WAS VERY NICE.
BRIAN BIGGS DID A GREAT JOB AS MC JEAN BLOGGERS FROM, UM, JEAN'S JEWELERS DONATED ALL THE AWARDS, WHICH WERE VERY NICE AWARDS AND WE THANK HER.
AND FUSEL FLOORS DONATED THE TABLE ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH WERE REALLY NICE.
UM, AND THEN THE REST OF MY TIME I'VE BEEN SPENDING QUALITY TIME IN THE BEAUTIFUL CHANDRA RIVER, WHICH I'M BLESSED TO LIVE ON WITH MY GRANDSONS SWIMMING AND FISHING.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY TIME.
UM, AND I WOULD ASK PEOPLE TO TAKE TIME TO SPEND IT WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND ENJOY THEM.
I, UM, WOULD LIKE TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE VALOR AWARDS, AND THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA REPORT ON.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DOES THIS EVERY YEAR, AND THEY AWARD HEROISM AND THE SELFLESS NATURE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THOSE AWARDEES AND THEY GOT SOMETHING CALLED THE GOLD AWARD, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARD YOU CAN GET IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.
AND SO THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AWARDED, UM, A, A GOLD VALOR AWARD, ERIC ROSENE.
UM, THERE'S, UH, ANOTHER, UH, PERSON.
THE SECOND ONE WAS TO ERIC SEUSS AND RACHEL MARTIN, AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN ANTHONY TCO AND PARAMEDIC LISA WILBURN AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO, UM, SERGEANT JOHN GREGORY.
AND THEN THERE WAS A CERTIFICATE OF VALOR TO JESSICA ATCHINSON, WHO
[00:55:01]
IS A COMMUNICATIONS PERSON.AND SHE, UM,
UM, THESE FOLKS JUST THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING THEIR JOBS, BUT THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE OTHER END WHO ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF SELFLESS HUMAN BEING IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY, UM, TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY.
AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THEM.
UM, ASIDE FROM, UM, MY WEEK OF ANSWERING EMAILS, VISITING CONSTITUENTS, AND MAKING PLENTY OF PHONE CALLS, WHICH CONSIST OF A LOT OF MY DAY EVERY DAY, UH, SINCE THE LAST B O S MEETING ON THE 25TH, I'VE, UH, ATTENDED THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW MEETING.
UH, I AND, UH, MRS. KOHLERS, YOU FORGOT TO MENTION THE BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING AT L K.
UM, YOU WERE, YOU WERE THERE WITH ME AND, UH, I CAN'T SAY HOW, UH, EXCITED I AM IF THAT FIRST PHASE IS IS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE.
UH, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB UNDER BUDGET, UH, AND UNDER BUDGET.
UH, ALSO I VI I VISITED THE TREATMENT CENTER AFTER THEIR GRAND OPENING ON THE 27TH.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I DID MISS THE E D A MEETING.
THAT'S ONE MEETING AND I TRY TO HIT EVERY SINGLE TIME 'CAUSE IT'S, THERE'S SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT THAT IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, ON THE 29TH, UH, DID A, I HAD, I HAD A, A SIT DOWN AT THE GAZEBO WITH CHRISTMAS IN JULY, THANKS TO SUE AND CHRIS LAWRENCE.
THAT WAS AN EXCITING TIME WHERE YOU COULD GET ICE CREAM, YOU COULD GET, UM, SEEING PEOPLE DO CRAZY STUFF, JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME.
AND IT WAS HOTTER THAN HADES OUT THERE, BUT IT WAS A GOOD TIME AND I BELIEVE EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD TIME.
SO, UH, THAT'S MY REPORT, MA'AM.
UH, FOR MY REPORT, UH, WE HAD THE FINANCE AUDIT FINANCIAL MEETING, UM, I THINK IT WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE ON THAT, UM, COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE WITH THEIR INPUTS.
UH, ALSO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR AIRPORT, UM, THERE'S A BUSINESS CALLED FRONT ROW SKYDIVE THAT SPONSORED A, UH, VETERAN SKYDIVE EVENT.
UM, I WENT OUT THERE JUST TO KIND OF SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THERE WAS LIKE 30 VE VETERANS THAT CAME ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE.
UM, SO IT WAS, UH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL, UM, UH, TIME.
AND UM, I REALLY WANNA THANK FRONT ROW SKYDIVE FOR WHAT THEY DID.
UM, I THINK WE HAD THE TOWN AND COUNTY LIAISON MEETING THAT WE ATTENDED.
AND I ALSO TOO, UH, UH, ATTENDED THE VALOR AWARDS AND I AGREE WITH MS. OATS WITH, UH, WHAT SHE HAD SAID WITH ALL OF THE, UM, ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICE PEOPLE.
AND THEN LAST, UM, I DID ATTEND THE E D A MEETING.
IT WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT MR. DALEY.
UH, WE WERE BEEN ADVISED, UH, BY THE MEDIA THAT UH, WE HAVE RECEIVED A, A GRANT AT THE AIRPORT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR TO COMPLETE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE, START THE NEW HANGERS.
AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THE PAPERWORK YET, BUT IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, UH, THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING IT.
AND UM, WE AIN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
UH, YOU HAVE THE REPORT FROM MR. CARTER.
UH, MR. HENDERSON, DO THEY HAVE THE VDOT REPORT? I HAVE, I HAVE THE REPORT.
WE'LL SEND IT OUT IN THE MORNING, MA'AM.
UH, AND REMIND YOU THAT FRIDAY IS THE SCHOOL CONVOCATION AT, UH, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, BEGINNING AT EIGHT 30.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE GONE OUT TO OUR
[F. Approval of Minutes - June 6th 2023]
NEXT TOPIC.UM, ON OUR AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF OUR MEETING MINUTES FOR OUR MEETING DATED JUNE 6TH, 2023.
IS THERE ANY, UM, REVISIONS OR CHANGES TO OUR MEETING MINUTES? AND IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT IT AS SO PRESENTED?
[01:00:01]
SO MOVED.OKAY, MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[G. Consent Agenda]
OUR CONSENT, UH, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.SO ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FOR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[H. Contract Award for Health Insurance Consulting Services - Alisa Scott/Jane Meadows - Alisa Scott, Finance Director, Jane Meadows, Human Resources Director]
FOR DIS UH, FOR DISCUSSION IF NEED BE IS THE CONTRACT AWARD OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE CONSULTANT CONSULTING SERVICES.MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, THE FINANCES AND PURCHASING DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW A COOPERATIVE CONTRACT WITH ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA FOR HEALTH INSURANCE CONSULTING SERVICES WITH MCGRIFF.
UH, THIS WAS A CONTRACT THAT WE INITIATED LAST YEAR ALSO THROUGH A COOPERATIVE CONTRACT AND IT WAS, UM, PROCURED UNDER A DIFFERENT METHOD IN FISCAL YEAR 22.
SO WITH THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THE CONTRACT TOTAL IS 32,000 AND IT IS BUDGETED AND APPROPRIATED IN THE HR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LINE ITEM.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. SCOTT? WHEN ARE THEY LOOKING AT TO COMPARE, UM, SAY BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD TO UNITED TO AETNA OR IS THAT WHAT THIS STUDY IS FOR? YES, THAT'S WHAT THEY PROVIDE.
THEY CONSULT FOR, THEY, THEY SEND OUT THE R F P ON OUR BEHALF AND THEY GET THE BEST BIDS BACK FOR US FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.
SO DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE OPEN TO, 'CAUSE I, I KNOW I'VE HAD, I DON'T HAVE THE COVERAGE SO I DON'T, YOU KNOW, REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW IT, UM, COVERS, BUT I KNOW I'VE HAD SEVERAL EMPLOYEES, UM, WITH CONCERNS THAT IT DOESN'T COVER WHAT OUR CURRENT PLAN DOESN'T COVER WELL FOR PROVIDERS IN THIS AREA.
SO I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T HAVE IT, DON'T USE IT.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT THEM AND WHEN WILL THE NEXT INSURANCE DOES IT, ARE WE DOING THIS? THEY'RE GOOD UNTIL JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.
I KNOW FOR MINE, THAT'S WHEN IT COMES UP IN BETWEEN.
THIS IS JUST FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE CONSULTING SERVICES.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MS. MEADOWS.
SO MCGRIFF DOES DO, IF WE'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE PROVIDERS, AND ACTUALLY EVERY YEAR WHEN WE START TO EXPLORE, THEY LOOK AT A VARIETY OF PLANS COMPARING THE CURRENT PLAN THAT WE HAVE WITH OTHER PLANS THAT ARE OFFERED WITHIN, WE ARE THROUGH UNITED HEALTHCARE, SO WITHIN UNITED.
AND THEN IF WE WANT TO GO OUT TO BED, THEY THEN UTILIZE OUR INFORMATION TO SECURE ADDITIONAL BEDS FROM DIFFERENT PROVIDERS.
SO IT'S A CHOICE UPON US TO SAY, YES, WE WANNA GO OUT TO BED OR WE WANNA SEE WHAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THE UNITED NETWORK.
SO WE'RE STILL STAYING IN WITHIN UNITED.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT IF CHOOSE CHANGING, WE CHOOSE CURRENTLY, UM, WE HAVE CHOSEN TO REMAIN WITH UNITED.
THE FIRST YEAR WAS A VERY ROUGH YEAR FOR OUR TEAM.
UM, BUT OUR NETWORK IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY EXTENSIVE NETWORK.
UM, THERE ARE A FEW PROVIDERS WHO WILL ONLY ACCEPT CERTAIN INSURANCES AND YOU'LL FIND THAT ANYWHERE WHAT WE RUN INTO IS A LACK OF PROVIDERS.
BUT THAT'S, NO MATTER WHO YOUR INSURER IS, IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.
WELL I, I, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAD SEVERAL THAT MADE COMMENT IN PASSING AND I DON'T HAVE IT SO I CAN'T SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THE, SO WHERE WE WOULD RUN INTO A CHALLENGE, UM, SO WHEN OUR, WE SWITCHED FROM THE LOCAL CHOICE, WHICH WAS BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD TO UNITED, UM, THEY'RE REQUIRED PRE-APPROVALS BECAUSE YOU'RE A NEW PATIENT.
IF WE WERE TO SWITCH BACK TO BLUE CROSS, WE WOULD RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEMS 'CAUSE YOU'D BE A NEW PATIENT EVEN THOUGH WE USED TO HAVE THEIR COVERAGE.
SO THAT IS THE ONE CHALLENGE WITH SWITCHING INSURANCE PROVIDERS FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
UM, THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE WITH UNITED, IT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE AND A HURDLE FOR OUR TEAM.
THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN PRETTY SEAMLESS AS PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT BASICALLY HOW TO USE THEIR INSURANCE.
BUT THIS SPECIFIC ACTION IS JUST FOR THE, UM, BASICALLY THE BROKER.
[01:05:01]
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL PLAN THAT WE'RE IN.DO WE HAVE A SECOND? UH, THERE IS A SCRIPTED MOTION.
I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUTHORIZED THE AWARD AND CONTRACT WITH MCGRIFF INSURANCE SERVICES L L C FOR $32,000.
I FURTHER MOVE THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.
SECOND? SECOND WILL CALL PLEASE MR. BUTLER.
[I. Festival Permit Request - Homesteaders of America Conference - Chase Lenz - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator]
NEXT ITEM IS A FESTIVAL PERMIT REQUEST FOR THE HOMESTEADERS OF AMERICAN CONFERENCE.MR. LENTZ, TYPICALLY THESE FESTIVAL PERMITS ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO I WAS, I'M SORRY,
SO FIRST OF HOMESTEADERS, SUE.
UM, YEAH, JUST A GENERAL OVERVIEW.
UM, AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY CHANGES FROM HOW IT WAS RUN LAST YEAR.
UM, I MAYBE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NO.
NOW ONLY COMMENT THAT I, THAT I HAVE, I SEE THAT THERE'S A MAX NUMBER OF 4,500 ATTENDEES, WHICH IS A BIG EVENT AND I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR OUR COUNTY.
AND ALSO I SEE THAT, UH, WE HAD THE COMMENTS FROM OUR, THE VDOT FIRE AND RESCUE AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT ALL CAME OUT POSITIVE.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE SAFE AND GOOD TO GO.
IS THERE, IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE FESTIVAL PERMIT REQUEST OF THE HOMESTEADERS OF AMERICA FOR THE HOMESTEADERS OF AMERICA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 13TH TO 14TH OF 2023 AT 26 FAIRGROUND ROAD.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
[J. Festival Permit Request - Appaloosa Music Festival - Chase Lenz - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator]
IS THE, UH, FESTIVAL PERMIT REQUEST OR THE APPALOOSA MUSIC FESTIVAL.SO, YES, THIS ONE, THIS, UH, FESTIVAL IS HELD AT THE SKYLINE RANCH RESORT OFF OF SIX 19.
UH, BELIEVE IT'S THE NINTH TIME, NINTH ANNUAL, UH, FESTIVAL.
UH, I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FROM THE BOARD REGARDING, UM, USE OF OFF-DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR THE FLAGGING ON THE, UM, STATE MAINTAINED ROAD.
AND, UH, I SPOKE WITH THE APPLICANT AFTER I RECEIVED THAT QUESTION.
AND THEY DO INTEND TO DO THAT THIS YEAR.
SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR ARE THEY GONNA HAVE PRIVATE, IT'LL BE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
AND THEY'VE COORDINATED THAT WITH THEIR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR IS THAT MM-HMM.
THEY, I THINK THAT THEY, WELL HE SAID THAT, UH, HE'S WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL DEPUTIES OKAY.
RATHER THAN THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
ARE THEY PAYING THEM DIRECTLY? IS THAT THE ARRANGEMENT? I THINK, I DO NOT KNOW.
ARE WE O OF THE, WE HAVE SOMEBODY NOTICE THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION,
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY HAVE NOT REACHED OUT, UH, SCHEDULED, UH, DEPUTY FOR, FOR THAT EVENT.
UM, AND THE WAY EXTRA DUTY IS WORKING NOW, THE VENDOR, UH, ORDER REQUEST OF SECURITY WILL THEN, UH, SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WHEN IT COME UP TO THE, OH, THE MICROPHONE, SORRY.
UH, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THE, THE APPLICANT HAS NOT CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO SCHEDULE A, A, A DEPUTY FOR THOSE NIGHTS YET.
UM, WE'VE CHANGED EXTRA DUTY A BIT, UH, IN COORDINATION WITH MS. MEADOWS, UM, AND ALYSSA, UM, THE, THE VENDORS OR APPLICANTS WILL NOW PAY THE COUNTY DIRECTLY AND THEN THE DEPUTY WILL PUT THAT ON THEIR TIME SHEET IS WHAT'S CALLED AN EXTRA DUTY EVENT.
SO, BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, AS OF ABOUT A WEEK
[01:10:01]
AGO, THEY STILL HAVE NOT REACHED OUT.WELL WE GOT A PLAN IN PLACE ANYWAY, IN EVENT.
IS, IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A DROP DEAD DATE ON THAT? I DON'T KNOW.
IS THERE, I MEAN, YOU'VE GOTTA, YOU'VE AT LEAST I WOULD THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TIME ENOUGH TO SCHEDULE PEOPLE THAT ARE OFF AND, AND SO YOU'RE AWARE OF WHO'S GONNA BE WHERE IS IT LIKE A CUTOFF DATE BY THE TIME YOU DO YOUR JOB? I, I, I DON'T WHEN IS THE EVENT? SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 1ST, FIRST THROUGH THE 4TH OF SEPTEMBER.
YEAH, SEPTEMBER 1ST THROUGH FOURTH.
SO I WOULD SAY MIDDLE OF AUGUST THAT WE'VE BEEN PLAN PEOPLE AND, AND ESSENTIALLY THE WAY IT WORKS NOW IS IF A DEPUTY HAS AVAILABILITY AND THEY WANT TO WORK EXTRA DUTY, THEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR AVAILABILITY TO THE EXTRA DUTY COORDINATOR.
UM, AND IF SOMEONE'S AVAILABLE TO WORK THAT EVENT, THEY'VE SAID THEY'VE WORKED THAT EVENT, THEN THEY'LL BE SCHEDULED FOR THAT EVENT.
THEN THE NEXT QUESTION ON MY PART WOULD BE IF THEY, IF IF THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO? UH, THEN WE'LL NOTIFY THEM THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO, TO PROVIDE SECURITY AT THEIR EVENT.
THEN WHAT IS APPALOOSA GONNA DO? THEY CAN HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY.
THEY'RE HIRING PRIVATE SECURITY.
IT'S FOR THE FLAGGING OF THE STATE ROADS, WHICH VDOT REQUIRES BE DONE BY UNIFORMED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
I'D BE HAPPY TO LET THE APPLICANT KNOW THAT THE PROCEDURE HAS CHANGED.
I'M GUESSING HE'S OPERATING UNDER SOME PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE.
I WAS GONNA MAKE THAT SUGGESTION.
MR. LLOYDS IS PERHAPS YOU SHOULD REACH OUT TO HIM AND SAY THE PROCESS HAS CHANGED AND WE NEED SOME, AN APPLICATION RIGHT AWAY SO THAT MR. BROGAN AND HIS STAFF CAN SCHEDULE PEOPLE.
YEAH, JUST BEING MORE PROACTIVE IS PROBABLY, 'CAUSE THIS IS A GREAT EVENT AND IT ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.
UM, I KNOW THAT AS A MEMBER OF THE TOURISM BOARD, UM, FROM THIS BOARD, WE, WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO ASSIST APPALOOSA BECAUSE IT PRODUCED A LOT OF INCOME TO THE COMMUNITY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YEAH.
MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE FESTIVAL PERMIT REQUEST OF JIM CLARK FOR THE APPALOOSA MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD FROM SEPTEMBER ONE THROUGH 4 20 23 AT 7 51 MOUNTAIN ROAD.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE, MR. BUTLER? AYE.
NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING? SO MOVED.